{"id":159,"date":"2019-06-11T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/the-giants-gamble-pt-18\/"},"modified":"2022-05-04T14:12:44","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T13:12:44","slug":"the-giants-gamble-pt-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/11\/the-giants-gamble-pt-18\/","title":{"rendered":"The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 18"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 18: The Sewers<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Marteen clutched the edge of the ship as they soared up into the clouds. \u201cThis is a provocation,\u201d he said seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat is?\u201d Kilian asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The dark-skinned captain turned to them. \u201cIymrith. The blue dragon. If she is in Klouth\u2019s domain, she has started something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They all nodded, remaining quiet. Finally, Thia spoke up. \u201cWe need to go to Mirabar next. We have things to sell and supplies to get before the next leg of our journey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Feeling tired and not all-together talkative, Roon found a quiet spot below deck and pressed his forehead to the symbol on his staff. As they travelled southwest, he prayed, feeling wholly uncomfortable with their path ahead. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Soon the thick walls of the dwarven city of Mirabar came into view. Roon stood on the deck, watching the crew anchor the floating ship a fair distance from the city and dropping the rope ladder. They climbed down, leaving Marteen and his crew aboard and promising to keep in contact with Roon\u2019s sending spell. Kilian and Thia were able to use simple fly and levitation spells to bring Evelyn\u2019s horse to the ground, and the girl promised she would sell the beast once they were inside the walls. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They entered the city without trouble, buying some simple supplies and spending time in various shops to purchase healing potions and spells for their wizard. Evelyn sold her horse and came back with two happily barking mastiff\u2019s, which she named Davis and Daisy. Despite Kilian\u2019s warnings that the dogs would not fair well in their travels, the girl insisted on keeping them. Roon found a hat that he liked the style of, and the shopkeeper explained that it was a Hat of Vermin, a magical hat that could produce either frog, rat or likewise, when tipped just so. Roon excitedly purchased the expensive accessory and immediately placed it on his head. They bedded down for the night in an inn called \u2018the Hammer of Lightning\u2019. Thia hired her usual company for the evening, purchasing her own private room for the escapades. The rest split two rooms and went to sleep with the hopes that a full night\u2019s rest would give them time to decide where they would go next. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The following morning, Roon woke early and was just finished dressing when Kilian said in a groggy voice, \u201cwhere\u2019r you going so early?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon shrugged self-consciously. \u201cI thought I\u2019d find a temple and spend the day healing people who need it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian raised his eyebrows and sat up. \u201cReally?\u201d Then, his eyes turned suspicious.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI feel\u2014guilty,\u201d Roon admitted. \u201cAbout Harshnag,\u201d he added to Kilian\u2019s look of confusion, \u201cI need to make it right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is very unlike you, Roon,\u201d the sailor said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was just a feeling I had,\u201d he told him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAlright,\u201d Kilian relented, \u201cI\u2019ll let the others know. Be safe. Don\u2019t get into any trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNor you,\u201d Roon smirked half-heartedly, cracking open the door and slipping outside. Beatrice meowed at once and scratched at the door, and Roon opened it again. \u201cOh, alright then. Come along.\u201d The tressym purred happily and trotted ahead. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The streets of Mirabar were busy with children and merchants running about or carting supplies. He noticed a few elven children with dirty faces and tattered clothes, which he found a rather surprising and unusual sight. On the islands, the elves were highborn and wealthy. Even Thia was the very sight of a pompous elf. To see an elven child in hard times would be an incredible shame to his family and their kin. In fact, it would be an impossibility. Unallowable. Here, though, the elves seemed to be the lowest race. Humans and dwarves cast scathing glances at the downtrodden souls. Roon passed an elf woman with her small child, who were crouched beside a low stone building and holding out a clay pot, begging for coin. Roon smiled kindly to her and touched two fingers to his forehead, as was custom to the elves of Evermeet. \u201cTidings,\u201d he said, dropping several weighty gold coins into the pot. The woman looked surprised, but quickly thanked him as he carried on. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The need for atonement was not satisfied by this action, but the opportunity became clear almost at once. \u201cPlease<\/em>,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice was shouting pleadingly. \u201cPlease. He\u2019s my grandson. <\/em>He\u2019s been missing for days. Won\u2019t someone help?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon jogged to the street and saw an elderly elven woman sobbing into a raggedy shawl, grasping at a human soldier\u2019s arm desperately. \u201cGerroff me,\u201d the man shook her hand off roughly, then waved a hand at her. \u201cGe\u2019 away!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d Roon asked her, and she turned to him and sunk to her knees, so their eyes were level, clutching his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMy grandson,\u201d she sobbed. \u201cHe\u2019s been taken, and no one will do anything about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTaken? By whom? When?\u201d Roon looked around and spotted a bench a few yards away. He noticed the glare of the soldier and patted the woman\u2019s hands. \u201cCome with me. Over here, where we can speak freely.\u201d She got painfully to her feet and they both sat. Roon jumped easily onto the small bench, which had been made for dwarves, whereas the elf woman had to crouch low. \u201cTell me everything,\u201d he told her. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cT-thank you,\u201d she said, wiping her lined face with her hands. Roon could only guess as to how many hundreds of years old the elf woman was. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDon\u2019t thank me just yet,\u201d Roon warned her. \u201cI haven\u2019t done anything. Just tell me what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cM-my grandson. Lee. He was t-taken. Three days ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo you know who took him, or why?\u201d Roon kept his voice steady, which seemed to calm her. <\/span><\/p>\n

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She shook her head bitterly. \u201cThere are stories, of course.\u201d She cast a nervous glance back at the soldier across the way. \u201cEvery ten years, they say, little elves go missing. The authorities don\u2019t look into it.\u201d She lowered her voice. \u201cI blame the dwarves. Elf-kind aren\u2019t taken well to in these parts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon couldn\u2019t help but feel dubious over a legend. \u201cWhere was your grandson\u2014sorry, Lee\u2014when he was taken? And did you see what did it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She shook her head fiercely, some of her white hair coming undone from her messy braid. \u201cHe was playing out by the sewers where all the elf children play.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe sewers,\u201d Roon said, unable to keep the judgement from his voice. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey\u2019re not allowed anywhere else,\u201d she said in a biting tone. \u201cThey\u2019re always being chased off by the others.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd there\u2019s nothing else you can tell me? Nothing at all?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cP-please,\u201d she began sobbing anew, \u201cp-please find h-him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon took a deep breath, then said, \u201ctake me to the sewers where he went missing. I\u2019ll see what I can do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The woman got to her feet rather unsteadily, then wobbled down the street, Roon trailing behind her. Beatrice flapped her wings and soared over them, keeping her gnome master in sight. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon saw that indeed there were many dirty-faced elven children running around the entrance to the sewers, playing with sticks or brawling. The younger ones were drawing in charcoal on the cobblestone street, while the ones breeching adulthood were covertly passing smoking pipes and uncorked bottles of fire whiskey despite the early morning hours. None seemed to be enrolled in any form of education, religious or otherwise. Roon sent the woman home, assuring her he would find her if he had any news. She gave him an address to a group home, then shuffled away wringing her hands anxiously. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon examined the grated entrance to the sewers. It was large enough for Kilian to stand to his full height inside. Roon closed his eyes and cast his mind to Kilian\u2019s, speaking a message into his mind. \u201cKilian. I\u2019m by the entrance to the sewers. A woman has told me her grandson Lee is missing. I\u2019m going to check it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The sailor responded immediately, his voice unsure. \u201cBe careful, Roon. You don\u2019t know what\u2019s down there. I\u2019ll tell the others where you are. We,\u201d he paused, \u201ccan\u2019t get caught up in every sob story.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon spent a few minutes observing the elves and found a few adults and asked about the tale of missing children. Some had heard of it. Most didn\u2019t believe it. Others had been around long enough to know children had gone missing before, but that it could be any manner of things. No one saw the boy Lee go missing, either. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRoon?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon spun around and saw Opal standing there. \u201cOpal! What are you doing here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cKilian told us you were helping people,\u201d the genasi said with a bright smile. \u201cCan I help too?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCertainly,\u201d he said, feeling relieved. \u201cWhere\u2019s everyone else?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, Thia said she needed to spend the day\u2014ah, studying,\u201d she smiled apologetically, \u201cand Evelyn and Kilian are just around the corner. Something about training Davis and Daisy and making money off it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon had enough sense not to mention that it sounded like Evelyn wanted to put the animals into a fighting pit for money. He wouldn\u2019t doubt that\u2019s what the girl was up to. He only hoped Kilian kept an eye on her. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRight, well here\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned so far\u2026\u201d Roon explained the dilemma, and they agreed to search the tunnels for signs of the missing boy. \u201cI can polymorph into a creature for a short while,\u201d Roon offered. \u201cThen, at least if we do run into trouble, we\u2019ll both be rather well disguised.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal agreed and they opened the grating. No one around seemed to care what they were up to, so they slipped inside without obstacle. Opal used her druidic wild-shape to transform into a large bat. Roon copied her, using a different spell to nearly the same effect. With a screech, they set off, flapping their wings through the darkness. The sound bounced off the curved stone walls and guided them forward over the wet, reeking floors. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon\u2019s spell wore off when they were deep inside the sewers, and he waved to Opal, who flew to land next to him on the tiny walkway beside the river of sludge. \u201cI\u2019ll try to look for magical auras,\u201d he told her, \u201cgo on further and meet me at the entrance of the sewers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal screeched and flew off, and Roon cast his detection spell as he trotted off back the way they came. Another hour passed before Opal caught up to him. \u201cI found some cold spots in the deeper parts of the sewers,\u201d she told him. \u201cI followed them and found another tunnel. It wasn\u2019t carved like the rest. It looped away and I went down it. It smelled better once I got to a big room full of little, er, gnome statues. There was a door at the end of the room, but,\u201d she held up her now transformed hands, \u201cI couldn\u2019t open it as a bat, and I didn\u2019t want to set off any kind of traps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s good work,\u201d Roon nodded appreciatively. \u201cI want to investigate it, but I don\u2019t think we should go without our friends.\u201d They clambered back into the sunlight smelling much worse than Roon would\u2019ve liked, and Opal led him to the dog fight. \u201cA bit early for animal cruelty, no?\u201d Roon said loudly as they approached the ring, which was currently empty. A few other humans and elves looked up at this, murmuring as they dispersed, clearly unsure if he was an authority, but not willing to stick around long enough to find out. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian turned to look at them, startled. Evelyn was throwing scraps of what looked like petrified mice down to her dogs, who began playing with them. Roon saw Daisy had a large gash in one leg and Davis was limping slightly. Roon crossed his arms and Opal gasped, running to the dogs and putting her arms around them. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI-I didn\u2019t know,\u201d Kilian said quickly. \u201cNot until the fight started, anyways. It happens a lot, you know, in the cities around the docks\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Evelyn was smiling serenely, clearly unaware that any faux pas had been made. Roon thought he saw her tucking away some gold. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe can talk about that later,\u201d Roon said. \u201cLook, Opal and I might\u2019ve found something interesting in the sewers. A room with a door. I say we investigate. The boy could be locked up somewhere inside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd what I said about not getting involved?\u201d Kilian asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon stared at him pointedly. \u201cWe need to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian nodded grimly, then pulled out a fist-sized stone from his pocket. \u201cThia gave me this. She said it\u2019s a sending stone. I should be able to talk through it and hear her response.\u201d He pressed it to his ear, then shook it with scrunched eyebrows. \u201cI\u2019m not really sure how it works.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDidn\u2019t she give you a word to use?\u201d Evelyn asked vaguely.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh, right, of course.\u201d Kilian cleared his throat, then spoke into the stone. \u201cThia. Meet us at the entrance to the sewers. We have a mission.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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There was a pause before the response. It began with a long sigh. \u201cI\u2019m on my way.\u201d Another pause. \u201cI do hope it\u2019s something we\u2019re getting paid for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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It was a slow and careful journey through the sewers as they tried their best to avoid touching the slimy walls or slipping into the slow-moving river of brown. Small rats squeaked and skittered in the darkness, and Thia was often heard muttering unhappily behind them all as they walked. \u201cIf it weren\u2019t for a fellow elf\u2026\u201d she said under her breath, and not for the first time. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Beatrice flew over their heads, occasionally swooping down after one of the rats. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The room was as Opal had described it. They cautiously entered and saw a door with a lever next to it. In the room there were at least a dozen rats amongst the twenty-odd gnome statues. The rats\u2019 mangy brown and gray forms wriggled and moved away as they entered with their lit torches. One of the rats stood on a dusty table. It raised itself on its hind legs as they entered and stared at them strangely, then bolted for the door, leapt up onto the lever, and pushed it down. Before any of them could react to the strangeness of that, various slits along the walls opened and darts whizzed in every direction. Roon felt several strike him before he was able to throw himself to the ground. The dogs yelped and barked as they were hit, and Roon heard several heavy things fall around him. He moved to pluck out one of the darts, and felt his vision go blurry. \u201cWe\u2019ve been\u2026\u201d his voice was failing him, and he felt numb all over, \u201cwebeenpoisoned\u2026\u201d He thought he saw the heads of some of the statues turn. Then, everything went dark. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia barely managed to get to her feet once the darts stopped. She pulled a couple out of her arm and cast them aside, looking around. Roon and Opal and the two dogs and tressym were unconscious. Kilian was moaning and Evelyn drew her swords, looking paler than usual. Thia turned as she saw the statues move. She threw up a wall of fire to separate the room, but the fire sputtered and went out. \u201cWhat\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A small goblin stepped out of a dark corner holding a wooden staff with a squirrel sitting atop it, very still as though it were stuffed. \u201cNo, no,\u201d the goblin said grimly, shaking his finger. \u201cNo spells!\u201d Its voice was rather high-pitched and wheezy. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Then, the statues attacked all at once, running at them with little angry battle cries. They held up clawed stone hands and began scratching at whatever they could reach. The rat standing on the lever spun on the spot and transformed into a small imp with little red horns and a forked tail. It hissed and went invisible. Kilian threw out his hands and some of the statues exploded around him. He waded through the little forms as they slashed his legs, and grabbed Roon, shaking him awake. Roon muttered and his eyes opened into slits. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGet them, Nibbles!\u201d The goblin cried, and the squirrel atop his staff hunched its back and caught Evelyn and Kilian in its gaze. The two of them went still, their faces turning into blank expressions. They began walking towards the goblin. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo!\u201d Thia shouted, batting the little statues away from her as she tried to grab her hypnotized friends. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The goblin started to glow brightly until it was a blinding light. Thia threw up her arms to shield her eyes from it, and felt the statues crawling up her and weighing her down. Roon started to get to his feet but the statues grabbed his arms and legs and pinned him to the ground, and he felt the poison bring him back into unconsciousness. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia tried shooting fire wildly, but her spells were again blocked by the goblin. The elf was the only one left to fight. She thrashed and swore and felt jagged claws ripping at her skin and hair. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEnough!\u201d A woman\u2019s powerful voice came from the door, but the light was still too bright to see her. \u201cSurrender now, or we will finish you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The statues paused in their assault. \u201cWe surrender,\u201d Thia said breathlessly, throwing up her hands and sending a few of the statues tumbling off her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shackles appeared magically and clamped themselves on her wrists. The bright light faded, and she saw Kilian and Evelyn shaking themselves out of their hypnosis. The squirrel had gone completely still on the goblin\u2019s staff, again looking like it was stuffed. Opal stirred on the ground but Roon was out cold. Soon they were all shackled and pushed to their feet. All except Roon, who Kilian carried in his arms. The statues skittered back to their tables and clambered onto them, returning to their frozen whimsical stances. \u201cKeep an eye on them, Hiccup,\u201d the woman said, then swept away in her midnight blue robes, leaving them all with the goblin, Hiccup.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cC\u2019mon then,\u201d Hiccup wheezed, and the shackles pulled them through the door and into another chamber. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They followed the goblin down a hallway, and he opened another heavier door, inside which sat two large cells. Their weapons and bags zoomed off them and flew into a cupboard, which slammed shut after. The unconscious mastiffs and tressym floated in and were settled on the ground in the corner. The prisoners were pulled inside one of the cells and their shackles suddenly snapped up and dragged them against the wall backwards, pinning them all to it and leaving their toes hanging. They all protested as their heads hit the stone wall, and Hiccup closed the cell door, locking it with a ring of keys, then sitting on a stool and staring at them grimly. His squirrel climbed into his hands and he began to stroke it. \u201cYes, good work, Nibbles. I think she never even noticed you this time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian glanced over at Roon, who was still unconscious and pale. He wet his lips nervously, but Opal spoke first.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSo. Hiccup?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes,\u201d the goblin said, sitting straight on his stool.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou like to watch people?\u201d Opal demanded, wriggling her wrists in the shackles.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiccup smiled hesitantly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s a, uh,\u201d Kilian looked at the goblin, \u201cnice squirrel you have there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes!\u201d Hiccup squeaked. \u201cHis name is Nibbles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s a nice name,\u201d Kilian said, glancing around their cell.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, it\u2019s Sir Nibblesworth the seventh,\u201d Hiccup explained seriously, still petting the squirrel\u2019s head. The squirrel watched them with beady black eyes, nose twitching. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat happened to the other six?\u201d Kilian asked kindly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The goblin looked at the door, then leaned in and said in a quiet voice, \u201cIsabell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIsabell. Is that the woman\u2019s name?\u201d The goblin nodded. \u201cWhat does this woman do for you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe doesn\u2019t kill me,\u201d Hiccup shrugged.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, that\u2019s good, I suppose. What does Isabell do to people like us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUsually she takes the elves,\u201d Hiccup said conspiratorially. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd the others?\u201d Kilian pressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNormally she doesn\u2019t have the\u2026\u201d the goblins voice trailed off and his eyes seemed to bug out, the pupils trailing off in two directions. A bit of drool slid out of his mouth as it went slack, and Kilian had to snap his fingers to break the goblin out of it. \u201cHuh?\u201d He jumped and wiped his mouth, forcing the squirrel off his lap. It chattered away angrily at him. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou were saying, the others?\u201d Kilian asked again. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, yes. Normally there aren\u2019t others. Just,\u201d the goblin paused, \u201cjust the elves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia huffed impatiently. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHiccup,\u201d Kilian said carefully, \u201care there any more people like Isabell? Or is it just you and her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cJust us. And Nibbles,\u201d Hiccup added. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal jumped in, sensing the direction Kilian was taking the conversation. \u201cSo, you don\u2019t have any colleagues nearby?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiccup stared, uncomprehending.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou know,\u201d Opal tried to explain, staring at the ceiling in search of the right words. \u201cCoworkers? Co-minions?\u201d She twisted a hand in its shackle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiccup continued to stare. \u201cBig words,\u201d he said, looking intrigued but also lost.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHiccup,\u201d Thia said finally, \u201care you a prisoner here? Do you want to go outside?\u201d She said the words slowly, and the goblin nodded, a crooked-toothed grin alighting his face. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNibbles would like to go outside, and not\u2014die.\u201d He patted the squirrel\u2019s head, then picked it up and placed it back on his lap.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe could get you both out of the sewers,\u201d Kilian assured him, \u201cif you let us out of these shackles first.\u201d The goblin looked nervous, but Kilian continued. \u201cPicture it, Hiccup. A nice cozy hut up in the mountains, surrounded by lots of space, and as many squirrels as you\u2019d like. We could get you away from this horrid woman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSir Nibblesworth would like that,\u201d the goblin said, and his eyes started to trail in different directions again as he zoned out. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian snapped his fingers loudly. \u201cUnlock the cell. Take off the shackles,\u201d Kilian said. \u201cLet us out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The goblin stared for a moment, then unhooked the ring of keys from his belt and fitted one into the lock, swinging the barred door open. \u201cUnlock,\u201d he said, then held up his staff and their shackles all fell to a loud clatter on the ground. Roon fell limply to the ground, still unconscious. \u201cIsabell sucks the life out of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the one taking the elves?\u201d Thia asked, rubbing her wrists. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cShe takes the elves for their long life.\u201d Hiccup looked down at his squirrel and nodded. \u201cWe will help, if you can kill the imp.\u201d He stared at them, eyes bugging again. \u201cShe feeds my squirrels to the imp.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe can do that,\u201d Kilian promised. \u201cCan we have our stuff back?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Their weapons and bags flew out of the closet and landed in each of their open arms. Kilian quickly rummaged through his and pulled out a healing potion, administering it to Roon. Roon sat up with a gasp, looking around frantically. \u201cWh\u2014how\u2014where are we?\u201d the gnome demanded, getting to his feet and pointing at the goblin. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright,\u201d Kilian assured him, glancing at Hiccup. \u201cWe\u2019ve come to an\u2014arrangement.\u201d Then he quickly filled his friend in on what transpired. Opal healed Evelyn\u2019s dogs and Beatrice back to consciousness as they talked. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Roon said unhappily, picking up his bag and his staff, \u201cI suppose we ought to find this witch lady, then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI can show you,\u201d Hiccup offered. Nibbles skittered back up to the top of his staff as he threw open the door and ushered them along. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\n

Before they pushed the next door open, Opal summoned a group of small mud creatures with four legs. \u201cMud puppies,\u201d she explained as the little dog-like mud forms ran around her feet excitedly, squashing and leaving puddles wherever they stepped. She pointed to each of them and said their names. \u201cThere\u2019s Mudpie, Mudpuddle, Muddled, Smudge, Mudslide, and Harriet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The all nodded appreciatively at the little creatures. Davis and Daisy sniffed them curiously, but Beatrice kept her distance, maintaining her feline superiority. Roon dug into his pack and pulled out the small clockwork knight he\u2019d assembled. \u201cI\u2019ll put this through the door, then,\u201d he whispered, \u201cand we\u2019ll see what comes out.\u201d He wound the toy and Kilian opened the door a crack so the little thing could click click click<\/em> across the ground. It kept going until it hit a far wall, fell over, and continued to click until the gears stopped. They heard a few rats scatter, but nothing else. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere are more statues in there,\u201d Kilian murmured, peering through. \u201cBut they don\u2019t seem to be moving.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLet\u2019s keep an eye out for levers, shall we?\u201d Roon suggested, and Opal sent the mud puppies through first. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They ran through the room and sparked nothing, so the rest of them entered. The room was lavish and draped in thick, elaborately designed tapestries. Two large armchairs and a fine woodwork desk took up most of the space, but the little gnome statues were placed on various shelves and decorated tables. Cautiously, they tiptoed through, keeping a wary eye on the unmoving little beasts. \u201cThese statues won\u2019t come to life,\u201d Hiccup assured them in a quiet voice. \u201cThe others were her watch. Not these ones.\u201d Then, as an afterthought he added, \u201cI painted some of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

There was a thick scent of incense in the air, probably to mask the scent of sewer, but Roon also noticed vents in the ceiling to bring in fresh air from outside. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIs it much further?\u201d Kilian asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Hiccup said, taking them to another closed door, \u201cyou\u2019ll be able to smell the imp coming. He smells like\u2026\u201d the goblin trailed off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYes?\u201d Kilian asked, bringing him back with more insistent snapping. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe imp smells like bad eggs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSulfur,\u201d Roon said knowingly. All demonic creatures were known to carry the scent. It was a lingering aftereffect of the realms below. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cShe should be in here,\u201d Hiccup said, pointing at the door. \u201cLook out for her wand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Kilian swallowed and reached a hand out for the knob. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWait,\u201d Roon said, pulling up his hat and producing a rat, which scurried off his head. Roon grabbed the squirming vermin in his hands and held it up. \u201cLet\u2019s try sending this through first. She might mistake it for the imp.\u201d Kilian nodded and opened the door, allowing the rat, which was now frantically thrashing against Roon\u2019s grip, to run free. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCrur?\u201d The woman\u2019s voice came immediately as the rat squeaked and looked for a dark corner. \u201cIs that you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYes!\u201d Evelyn said in an unconvincingly high-pitched voice from the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d The woman said, and Kilian threw open the door. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The woman had curly brunette hair that reached the small of her back and was pulled away from her distinctly human features. Her eyes were dark and her features sharp and attractive. She wore finely made silk robes. She stood in front of a stone altar, upon which lay the prostrate form of an elderly, elven male. Around her were the littered bodies of other elves, fleshless and gray and seemingly long dead. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They all ran in at once. Roon shot a magical bolt that the woman just barely managed to duck under. She was hit at the same moment with Thia\u2019s blight spell, and she gasped as the magic pulled energy from her. Hiccup ran in with a squeaky battle cry and made to hit her with something magical, but the spell faltered. Roon conjured his spiritual weapon and the giant middle finger pushed her off her pedestal, where she stumbled and turned angrily toward them. Evelyn had her blades drawn and charged and Kilian\u2019s chest erupted with a swirling storm of dark energy and lightning. It hit the woman and threw her back just as Evelyn reached her. The dogs stayed back, barking from a safe distance. Roon saw the woman was bleeding from a gash in her cheek left by Evelyn. She had gotten to her feet again and a glowing shield formed around her. The little mud puppies ran and began leaping at the shield, spewing mud from their mouths, making the floor slippery. Thia ran in with her blade drawn, but the shield was holding up against their blows. Roon\u2019s middle finger slammed into it, and after a moment of resistance, the shield burst, and the woman was hit again by a flurry of attacks. Roon saw Kilian draw a small, glowing dagger from the belt around his front and run toward the woman, then release more lightning straight into her body. The woman screamed as the energy hit her. Evelyn and Thia stepped back from the heat of it. \u201cENOUGH!\u201d She shrieked, then threw down her hands. A swirling mist wrapped around her legs and in a blur of incredible speed, she zoomed past all of them and through the door. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAfter her!\u201d Thia shouted, pounding after the escaping woman. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Roon hesitated, wondering if he should check on the elf atop the altar. He suspected it was the boy, Lee, greatly aged from having the life sucked out of him. His companions all ran for the door, and Roon followed behind, casting spiritual guardians that whipped around him as a sharp tornado of playing cards. They heard clattering and saw through the door into the lavish room that there were stone gnomes, now awake and charging after them. And, in their forefront, the imp in its devilish form. It hissed at them. Isabell had already blurred past them and escaped through another door. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Evelyn and Thia were smashing the statues left and right. Kilian seemed to have cast something on the imp, leaving it blank and confused. Opal\u2019s mud puppies had just past all of them and were spewing mud, tripping several of the little things and causing some of them to shatter into pieces. A few of them got hold of the imp and tore it apart with their little teeth. Opal shot a thunderous wave through the room and more of the statues went flying against the walls. Hiccup finally caught up to them and an explosion of fire rocked the room as he threw his spell into the midst of the statues. When the creatures moved too close to Roon, his card guardians slashed them apart. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Kilian ran to Evelyn and shouted, \u201cwant to help me kill a wizard?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The white-haired girl nodded, and Kilian grabbed her arm. Then, in a flash the two of them disappeared through a door that appeared there for one moment and was gone the next. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOpal!\u201d Thia shouted, reaching out and grabbing the druid\u2019s hand. She stepped, and the two of them shot forward, leaving an explosion behind them. More statues went flying, and only a few remained. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Roon shot bursts of white flames at them as he ran through the room and Opal turned, and with a final, thunderous roar, shook the room and shattered the last remaining statues. They all took a moment to catch their breath. \u201cWe need to go after her,\u201d Thia said, holding a stitch at her side. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Roon turned and looked behind him, and saw Beatrice sitting by the doorway calmly licking her paw. She looked up at him, meowed, then continued her bathing. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHonestly,\u201d Roon admonished. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d Thia said, and they ran.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The companions leave the Temple of the All-Father after the loss of their frost giant friend Harshnag, and travel by airship to the dwarven city of Mirabar. Here, they hope to take a break, and instead discover an underground lair inside the sewers containing an evil magic, and a dark setting for kidnapped elves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[18,19,17,14,15,16,23,20],"series":[],"class_list":["post-159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-giants-gamble-dungeons-and-dragons-series","tag-campaign","tag-cult-of-the-dragon","tag-dnd","tag-dungeons-and-dragons","tag-fantasy","tag-series","tag-the-giants-gamble","tag-wizards-of-the-coast"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Giants-Gamble-Blog-Photos10-copy-9.png","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"https:\/\/music.amazon.ca\/podcasts\/09c34bbc-b359-49af-a286-31830ed5634c\/short-stories","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_play":{"key":"google_play","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Play","class":"google_play","icon":"google-play.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0lcQCRs52MfYlKs35lVX4K","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"itunes":{"key":"itunes","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"iTunes","class":"itunes","icon":"itunes.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 18<\/a><\/blockquote>