1995-06-10
Recovered original text · preserved verbatim
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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 86
Week Ending 6-10-95
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to Whiiplash for winning last week's News of the Realm
contest.
Whiiplash has earned choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes) WTG!
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Come join NW Kishpa and NW Ulfius for the June edition of:
<<>><<>> Who/What/Am/I <<>><<>>
Thurs. June 15th at 10 pm ET in the Great Hall Tavern.
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Having heard rumors of an evil mage plagueing the good folks of Floodblest,
the following adventurer's joined me in the quest to find the foul magicker:
KEVINB110
LRD ARIKIA
STYRL
KELSENAL
ARYABA
GREYGAR
DRAGN FANG
After losing several party members to the foul mage's guardian owlbears, we
were joined by olorin9986 and whtleopard.
Having transversed the carvens under the well, we sped to intercept the mage,
but alas, he escaped us! Vowing vengence for our fallen comrades, we agreed
to await another day to heal and search for more clues to the mages
whereabouts. :)
NW Sparkle
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The winner of the Location Hunt tonight (6/7) was ITB Lilyth who found the
location of Scylla Kaleus' stone wall cottages in record time. :)
NW Kel
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On this cold, chilly night we set out to clean the street of evil for Lord
Nasher. Not far into our adventure we meet many creature who wished to stop
our quest.
Some big, some small and even some with magicial powers.
We had a strong party, no one was weak other then the creatures we met this
evening. We entered Windy Cliffs not long after we left NW City. As we headed
North on our journey we meet people who needed help and also people who just
wished us luck as we past there homes and farms.
We entered LLast and everyone could feel the Evil in the air. Not to long ,
up the path we ran into a big battle which we LOST 4 to a PUNT monster
including myself./ When we came back our friends that we had meet to quest
with where still in the thick of things. CHARGE was heard and all 4 of us
jumped back into the battle. Die Die Die was heard from all the party. Soon
after the battle was over we rested in the inn. Once rested we headed out to
contuine our quest, BIGGER Monsters began to show we was onto something. More
Battles more monsters and soon we stood at the entrance to what looked like a
Cave? We preped not sure what to expect and entered to find that the cave was
empty<good or bad, or luck?> Off we set foot down the path to clean more evil
from this area. Once, back at the inn, Gman71 and BB GriceJ. The only ones
left from our journey, wished me well and I set off for my trip back to NW
City for the night.
I want to thank the following people for coming on this jounrey and to say a
pray for thoses that didnt make it ./
-Duke Bhors
-Moonflames
-Gman71
-Stonebeard
-Perrigren
-BB GriceJ
-Stelt
-X vile
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*** June Trivia Results ***
June 6, 1995
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*** First Place - Raithe 28 points! ***
** Second Place - SirHuma 27 points! **
* Third Place - Eileyana 19 points! *
Random Drawing Winner - Cadife
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Congrats and thanks from NW Baldor and NW Strahd : )
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NEVERWINTER CALENDAR
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Be on the look out for those Mini Booths that seem to pop up out of nowhere!
Can you be at the right place at the right time when the NW calls for a
location?
Keep your eyes and ears open for these events! Watch for the banners!
Come join NW Kishpa and NW Ulfius for the June edition of:
<<>><<>> Who/What/Am/I <<>><<>>
Thurs. June 15th at 10 pm ET in the Great Hall Tavern.
New Player Tour:
June 12th Monday 7:30 PM ET - Join NW Kishpa for a tour of the Realm.
Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to
meet!;D
New Player Tour
June 13th Tuesday 8:00 PM ET - Join NWA Archer for a tour of the Realm.
Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to
meet!;D
New Player Tour:
June 16th Friday 10:00 PM ET - Join NW Zephyr for a tour of the Realm.
Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to
meet!;D
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The Great Purge Part Five
(Submitted by: Simarin )
Davaub rushed us only to be thrown back by a burst of LTT's magic.
As he fell back, two bandits and two thieves rushed in against us. I heard
LTT begin to chant as they did so, and I moved to guard him from our
attackers. The first thief swung his dagger in an arc towards my neck as a
bandit thrust his sword in at my chest. My shield knocked both dagger and
sword out of my way, and I lunged in with my long sword, badly wounding the
bandit. My sword ripped a huge line across his chest and completely severed
his left hand, and I thought him finished. It nearly turned out to be a
fatal mistake. As I turned to confront my other attackers the bandit lunged
forward with the last of his strength. Too late I saw his movement, too late
to block or parry his blow or even move away from it. I prepared myself to
meet my maker when the sword abruptly stopped moving.
I turned in amazement to find two other attackers in the same state,
leaving me with only one stunned thief to deal with. I swung deliberatly
high, and the thief blocked just as I had thought he would, crossing his
daggers in an X and raising them high above his head to block my long sword.
The only thing wrong with the move was the fact that it gave LTT's flail the
perfect opportunity to blast the thief back into the wall.
LTT had moved off to slaughter the held bandits and thief when
Davaub came barreling back into the fight. His attacks were low, high, and
everywhere in between. I could barely keep him off me, much less attack.
Things were looking grim for me when Davaub lunged in and accidentally
slipped in a pool of blood. I didn't hesitate, and my sword dove in at his
exposed neck. He would have been able to twist aside or gotten enough of a
guard up to keep my strike from being fatal, would've been able to get back
up and continue the fight. But when LTT's flail descended and shattered
every bone in his face, he could no longer hope to do any of those things. My
sword slashed his throat, insuring that Tandel Davaub would never trouble
Neverwinter or any place in the Realms ever again.
For a long moment LTT and I only stared at each other. Then smiles
began to bloom on both of our faces. "We've done it," breathed LTT. I
nodded. "There will be no shortage of adventurers and Royal Guards prepared
to storm and destroy what's left of the Thieves's Guild along with everyone
inside. With Davaub gone they won't be able to act quick enough. The few
who do escape will be hunted down. We've done it," I repeated, for I
couldn't think of any better way to put my feelings into words.
We didn't even stop to plunder the bodies before hurrying out the
only door in the roofless structure to find that we'de had our battle in the
Farmer's Well. LTT and I were both physically and mentally drained from our
adventure but we still ran the whole way back to Lord Nasher's castle. After
we had given a quick explanation of what had happened, Nasher immediatly
dispatched a unit of his elite soldiers to guard both the Farmer's Well and
the old mansion so that none of the thieves would escape. Only five minutes
later an entire strike force of over 300 men had been assembled and was soon
marching to Southwall, with adventurers joining them every step of the way.
All entrances to Southwall were sealed and put under guard. Only
guards and adventurers were only allowed in, and no one without personal
permission from Lord Nasher was allowed out. Royal Guards and adventurers
stormed the Thieves's Guild, killing everyone inside. The attackers would
have accepted surrender, yet every thief fought to the death. Once this was
completed Nasher began to search all of Southwall for the remaining thieves.
Regular patrols of Royal Guards were sent out, and adventurers scoured
the region as well. A base of operations was soon set up at the Farmer's
Well. From a record book found in the Thieves's Guild lair Lord Nasher was
able to determine exactly how many thieves still roamed Southwall, and no one
rested until all the thieves were found. Finally, on the afternoon of the
third day of the manhunt, a group of adventurers arrived back at the Farmer's
Well carrying the heads of the ten remaining thieves still unaccounted for,
and at the sight of them a great cheer went up. It was begun by those at the
Farmer's Well and quickly spread all throughout Southwall.
One of the guards must have already gone ahead of us and delivered
the news to the city, for when LTT and I entered Neverwinter beside Lord
Nasher we found nearly everyone in the city dancing and capering in the
streets. A throng pursued the group that emerged from Southwall all the way
back to the castle. Nasher quickly declared the rest of the day a holiday
and a feast was to be thrown in the castle that night in our honor.
That night LTT and I stepped into the Great Hall of the castle,
the last to enter the room. Gathered here was everyone who had taken part in
the quest, and I felt a pained when I looked out and couldn't find Ardrim
among those gathered. Then I saw THREE chairs set at the head of the table
just before I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned around with a huge grin
and gave Ardrim a hearty clap on the back. "Hail and well met!" I cried.
"It's good to see you friend!" "Glad you could make it," said LTT with a
smile. Ardrim returned our greetings before the three of us all sat down at
the table.
Once everyone was seated and quiet, Lord Nasher stood up. He gave a
long speech which I won't include in this tale, as you have already read
everything that Nasher told of. When Nasher finished there was a thunderous
applause from everyone gathered at the feast and me, LTT, and Ardrim stood up
and bowed low. The feast went on for two hours, and once it was done all
present gathered in Neverwinter Square and spent the rest of the night
talking, laughing, playing music, engaging in contests, and telling stories
beside the large fire that had been set up. Only with the coming of dawn did
the party break up.
LTT, Ardrim, and I returned to Daglow's Inn where LTT and I slept and
healed our wounds and for days. When we finally came back downstairs, the
innkeeper rushed over to us, bearing a message that had been left for us by
Ardrim. "There's been rumors of orges hiding out in the Warehouse District,"
it read. "If you've managed to wake up before Midsummer, please meet me in
Neverwinter Square on any given day around noon and we'll check it out. Hope
to see you there." LTT looked up at the innkeeper. "What time is it?" he
asked. "Five minutes to noon, good sir," replied the innkeeper.
I looked at LTT. LTT looked at me. Does it ever end, I asked
myself silently. There was only one way to find out for sure. "Let's go," I
said.
A Meeting, A Rescue:
(Submitted by HG Renn)
The late evening sky was deepening to an almost cobalt blue as Renn guided
Moonsilver thru the darkening shadows of the East Woods. It was indeed good
to be back on familiar turf, the deep woods Ranger thought, especially after
the recent encounter with the evil Shadow Wraith. Renn quickened
Moonsilver's pace, even though the dense foliage made the passage treacherous
for even a highly skilled Ranger. Moonsilver, however, was no ordinary
mount, he was one of the "Lightning Steeds", the fastest mounts in all
Faerun, and Renn's tireless companion thru many a long and dangerous journey.
Cresting a small ridge, densely populated with scrub oaks, Renn was afforded
a slightly better view of the trail ahead. His keen, sky-blue Ranger eyes
detected movement off to the south. He reigned Moonsilver to an abrupt stop,
and listened. Renn quickly surmised the danger, a hunting flock of four
large Griffons had their next meal trapped and were closing in for the kill.
In the waning evening light Renn could barely make out a tiny figure as she
valiantly tried to keep back the Griffons which were slowly ripping her to
shreds. Renn spurred Moonsilver towards the battle, racing down the small
escarpment at breakneck speed. Using Moonsilver's pounding hooves to trample
the first Griffon, Renn leapt from his back, drawing his longsword in midair,
swinging down, and decapitating the Griffon that was about to pounce on the
terrified, young Rangerette. He hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the
impact, and using his momentum to carry him into the third Griffon. Two
lightning quick parries deflected the Griffons razor-like talons, exposing
it's feathered chest for his deadly sword as he thrust, piercing its heart.
Glancing over his shoulder, Renn saw that Moonsilver had felled the last
Griffon with his powerful hooves, the petite, young female Ranger now laying
crumpled in a pool of her own blood.
Renn raced to her side, ripping the Amulet of Health from around his neck,
and placing it on the tattered remains of her light green and brown forest
leathers. Renn could feel the warmth from the golden amulet, as it's magic's
reduced her profuse bleeding from multiple talon strikes, to a slow ebb.
She's beautiful, he thought, as he leaned close to her face to insure she
till breathed. Knowing she was in desperate need of further Clerical
healing, he whistled Moonsilver to his side. Renn cradled the young
Rangerette in his arms as he remounted, and began a hurried and dangerous
night ride thru the East Woods towards Harper Hall.
Fingers of golden light in the eastern sky were signaling the upcoming dawn,
as Renn, Moonsilver and the wounded Rangerette arrived in Longsaddle. Her
wounds had begun bleeding more freely again, and her small delicate chest
barely rose and fell, as her breathing came in shallow gasps. Renn knew he
had to hurry. He spurred Moonsilver on to the Church of the Magic Yeoman,
where he knew his friend, and faithful Cleric, My Qyl awaited. "Heh, what's
all this commotion Ye red haired giant?", asked Qyl, as Renn kicked open the
door to small temple. Qyl then noticed Renn's small, delicate, burden, and
guided them to the alter, where Renn gently laid the injured Rangerette.
Qyl's holy symbol glowed a bright azure light as he immediately set to
casting healing spells on the small lady Ranger. "Fetch me some cookies ye
big oaf" said Qyl, "this looks likes it may take awhile". Sometime later Qyl
came to the kitchen were Renn sat staring out at brightening new day. "Her
name is Ldy Marian" Qyl said with a smile, "and she'll be good as new in a
couple 'o days". "Marian", Renn smiles, what a beautiful name for such a
lovely little Lady.
to be continued....
Humbly,
HG Renn
A Grand Adventure... Part 3
(Submitted by: Ringleron)
We were rounding one of the last few turns to the inn of Luskan,
when we got jumped by a group of yetis and spiders. Dragonklaw casted an
entangle spell, but, it only slowed the creatures due to the lack of trees in
the area. I casted my last fireball which took out the yetis and most of the
spiders. Khaymara and Red Erik took care of the ones that were left, then we
moved on.
We caught sight of the inn and made a dash for it.
At last, we made it and got a well deserved rest. We had a few
drinks to celebrate our successful trip to Luskan. Red Erik said that he had
to go. Good-byes were exchanged. Red Erik then walked down the hall that
leads to the rooms and disappeared. Dragonklaw and I replenished our spells.
It took us a little longer for we had to flip through our spellbooks because
we decided to memorize different spells. I remembered how some of the
creatures that we would encounter use bows, so I memorized a protection spell
against normal aroows, hoping that the creatures don't use magical ones.
We packed our things and headed to the southeast corner of Luskan.
We stopped in front of a secret door. Knowing that a bunch of trolls and
ogres were usually encountered behind the secret door, Dragonklaw and I
casted a few preparatory spells. By the time we passed through the secret
door, I knew all three of us glow with various magical enchantments.
Sure enough, there were a couple of trolls, ogres, goblins and
hobgoblins having a little get together of their own. Khaymara charged into
the fray, but, Dragonklaw advised a tactical retreat. Hesitantly, Khaymara
moved back and pulled out her bow. She aimed and fired. Two arrows planted
themselves on a shoulder of a troll. I rushed forward, placed myself between
Khaymara and the monsters, then casted my spell. I aimed my spell at the
back of the chamber where most of the monsters were. That side of the
chamber burst into flames. Every creature caught in the blast perished. The
hobgoblins that escaped the blast, grinned, aimed their arrows at me and
fired. Their grins faded into sheer horror as they watched their arrows
harmlessly bounce off an invisible barrier around me. Before they could do
anything else, Dragonklaw ended they miserable lives with a fireball.
Khaymara didn't want to miss the fun, so she dropped her bow and pulled out
her weapon. She charged two goblins that were just staring at their
companions demise. Khaymara swung her weapon. Both goblins didn't know what
hit them. They did not NEED to know. The battle ended as quickly as it
started.
The Quests of Sharna Tyr
"The Gallant Prince"
Chapter 2
(Submitted by Verdina)
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By midday, Sharna arrived on the outskirts of Port Llast, a small seaport
village strategically located on the high road between the warring cities of
Luskan and Neverwinter. Several times that morning after breaking camp,
Sharna's intuition told her that she was being followed. Twice, she had
hastily stepped off of the road and blended into the foliage to lie in
waiting for whomever was shadowing her. Each time, however, no one appeared.
"Heh," she tittered, "I must be having suffering from anxiety attacks.
Malek's ghost stories about the haunted ship have affected me more than I
thought." Moving back on to the road she took one last long look at the
empty road behind her, then shook her head and laughed again before entering
the village.
Known primarily for its skilled guild of stonecutters, Port Llast is also
the home port to a fishing fleet of twelve small, but proud vessels. Once a
thriving community, the village has fallen on hard times since the day the
Gallant Prince drifted into the harbor. The local townsfolk, consisting
mostly of fishermen who refused to take their boats out, wandered aimlessly
along the narrow dusty streets, stopping to stare and whisper as Sharna
walked by and headed for the "The Alliance Arms," Port Llast's only inn.
"Another foolish adventurer and treasure seeker come to meet her death." she
overheard a gray bearded fisherman say as she passed. Glancing in his
direction, she observed the nodding heads of his companions, followed by
quick hand motions that signified the letter T being drawn on their chest in
reverence to Tymora, God of Good Fortune.
After securing a room at the inn, Sharna visited "The Jack and Saber," for a
quick meal, then followed the road west from the tavern that lead to the
harbor. Before long, a tall masted galleon loomed up ahead of her. As she
grew nearer to the ship, the sun was suddenly blocked out by a mysterious
clammy fog that rolled in across the harbor making the galleon's battered
and macabre appearance even more ghostly. A small sign, posted at the bottom
of a long gang plank leading to the Gallant Prince's main deck read:
"DANGER! DO NOT ENTER!", did little to build her confidence. Bolstering all
of her courage, Sharna took a deep breath, uttered a silent prayer to Helm,
and boarded the eerie galleon.
The upper decks and cabins of the once proud vessel were deserted and quiet.
The only sound to be heard was that of the hull creaking and groaning as the
ship swayed on the current of the incoming tide and rubbed against its
moorings. Sharna looked up to see a thousand ghosts flying overhead as the
shredded sails rippled and oscillated in the swelling, churning wind. The
young ranger shivered again, this time not from the cold, but from the errie
facade the scene presented.
A swift, but thorough search of these areas uncovered nothing of value and,
moving aft, Sharna entered a small cabin that contained a rickety wooden
staircase that led down into darkness. Descending the wobbly stairs, she
found herself at the end of a long central passageway that ran the length of
the ship from aft to stern. On both the port and starboard sides of the
shadowy corridor, lit solely by whatever natural daylight filtered in through
cracks in the upper deck, were three sets of closed doors.
Drawing her sword, she advanced cautiously down the passageway and approached
the first set of doors. Selecting the door on her right, she opened it and
entered the food storage locker of the ship. Empty wooden barrels and crates
that once held salted meat, barley and other dried grains lay askew around
the room, their contents spilled on to the deck. With each advancing step,
grimy long tailed rats and large multi-legged insects scurried under and
around her feet disturbing their own quest for whatever scraps of food
remained in the ruptured containers. Finding nothing, and appalled by the
stench of rotting meat, she quickly moved to the room across the hall, only
to find similar conditions in a second food locker.
Continuing along the passageway she arrived at the second set of doors that
led her into the crew's quarters. Bunks, hammocks and seabags hung in
various states of disarray and ruin on both sides and down the center of the
room. By the profusion of spider webs that Sharna had to cut her way through
in order to enter this area, it was evident that no living beings had
occupied, or even visited these quarters for a long time. As before, her
search proved fruitless.
As Sharna re-entered the passageway, her keen eye detected movement beyond
the last set of doors, accompanied by a rattling sound and the clang of metal
striking metal. Whirling swiftly to meet any threat that approached, she
confronted the undead remains of several former crew members engaged in a
battle among themselves. Even in death, the skeletal mariners fought each
other over ale they would never drink, treasure they would never spend, and
women they would never possess.
Raising her sword, she held it upright so that the cool steel blade pressed
firmly against her cheek as she crept closer to the fiendish crew. Casting
spells of protection from evil as she advanced, Sharna removed one hand from
the hilt of the sword and raised an open palm in their direction. When she
came within a few feet from the battle, the pitiful creatures spotted her
and turned to attack. From the tips of her long, slender fingers. a ball of
flame erupted and exploded in the midst of the charging monsters. What
decomposing flesh remained on the repugnant skeltons was quickly incinerated,
and the force of the blast separated their skeltal frames, scattering the
shattered bones in all direction along the corridor.
From the opposite end of the corridor, the hooded, red cloaked figure stood
unobserved, cloaked under a spell of invisibility. "Impressive," she thought
as she watched Sharna Tyr's quick series of offensive tactics against the
skeletons.
As Sharna moved on, the phantom moved with her through the third set of doors
and into the old ship's galley. Once again, Sharna unknowingly gained the
watcher's respect as she encountered and eradicated three very large phase
spiders that lunged at her as she entered the room. "Well done," the
watcher's disembodied voice said as the spiders lay burning in their web.
Pivoting in the direction of the sound, Sharna thought she saw a young woman
lurking in the shadows, but the specter vanished as she approached. "Who are
you? What do you want of me?" Sharna cried out.
"That which you seek is close." the voice replied. "Your current path leads
to your goal, but beware. Great danger lies ahead as well. Be well prepared
. . . my sister." And silence ensued.
(To be continued)
Verdina, OGS Guild Scribe
* So sayeth Volothamp Geddarm, Master Traveler and author of "Volo's Guide
to the North." This writer acknowledges and thanks Master Volothamp
(aka Ed of the Greenwood) for much of the information regarding Port
Llast used in this story.
The Story of the Bracelet
Chapter 21: Sapphire Surprise
(Submitted by Vallus)
The Phoenix's eyebeams failed to even slow the giant because they
splashed off of a green shield which appeared around it. The emeralds on it's
body had to be power emeralds, each drew power from a Master gem hidden, no
doubt, in a place of great evil. As The Phoenix came around for another pass,
Aladdin saw that the giant was made of metal with a cloth tunic and a brass
eyepiece exactly like that of an old enemy of Aladdin's, an enemy known as
"Mechanocles!" said Aladdin "But this doesn't make sense! Mechanocles isn't a
wizard, he uses machinery to do his dirty work."
"Well Al," began Genie "there is always the chance that he's teamed up
with a wizard whose path we've crossed before, and there are a lot of them."
Just then, a panel opened up on the top of the clockwork giant's head and out
popped the man who the giant was based on. He got out a scroll and quill pen
saying as he wrote "Test magic shield.. Check. Now, nothing stands in the way
of..Doing the ironing! HAHA!" and with that, he withdrew back into his giant
with iron in hand.
"We can't let him get any closer to Agrabah!" said Aladdin "Genie, you
punch a hole in that magical shield and me and Carpet will get inside to stop
Mechanocles." "Right Al!" came Genie's reply "This looks like a job for" and
suddenly, Genie was wearing a mask and tights with a picture of his lamp on
the chest "Super Genie!" Genie flew towards the giant with Aladdin following
on his flying carpet.
"I'll blast a hole in that shield with my Blast Beam!" said Genie as he
fired a beam of energy from his palm. The beam bounced off the shield and
came right back at Genie who got blasted backwards, past Aladdin who dodged
to one side on carpet, to crash onto the wall near Jasmine. "Oh Ma, I don't
want to take a bath right now" came from Genie's mouth, indicating that he
was rather stunned. On carpet, Aladdin flew around the green shield trying to
find a hole as another green fireball flew from the emerald on it's chest.
Just then, The Phoenix completed it's turn and fired it's eyebeams
again, this time coming to a stop behind the giant and continuing to fire.
The shield didn't even crack under the barrage. Then, the sapphire in
Jasmine's headband began to glow. Aladdin came back to the wall after his
aborted attack to find that Jasmine's eyes were glowing with a blue light.
"Jasmine! What's wrong?" he said as he approached her. But as he came near, a
blue barrier sprang up around her, knocking him away.
Jasmine stared at the giant and a blue beam shot out of her sapphire
which caused the shield around the giant to flare and then crack and then
shatter under the combined fury of the twin attacks. Without it's shield, the
beams of energy blasted the giant to pieces in seconds. The head went flying
until in mid-air, it sprouted a parachute to land far out in the desert.
Back on the city wall of Agrabah, Jasmine's sapphire stopped glowing and
she fell to her knees. "What's happened to me?" she said in a low voice.
EASY COME, EASY GO
(Submitted by GRAYvemark)
Eron Leafskimmer was a typical leprechaun. He was a simple, solitary creature
living his dreary life in the massive forest that surrounded the small hamlet
of Thane. The life of Thane was as interesting as watching a flower grow. He
remembered a time when all the villagers cursed him with all the names of the
Three Gods when he was able to satisfy himself with a prank at the expense of
the stupid peasants. Eron recalled the time he tied the shoestrings of Mo
Sternson's widow while she gathered eggs from the hen coop and she tripped
and fell face first into the basket. Eron had laughed so hard, seeing the
yolk dripping from her crooked nose, he nearly got caught.
But that's all changed now.
The villagers had started ignoring all the tricks he would pull no matter
what he tried. Even the time when he loosed Josh Rowan's swine herd to rout
the fall garden had not induced one curse. Eron was thoroughly disgusted with
the whole lot and as a result was thoroughly bored. He needed a change. He
needed adventure. He prayed to the Three Gods reverently for a change in his
dull life.
With nothing better to do Eron had decided to move his treasure hoard which
consisted of five gold pieces, nine silver pieces and an amber colored nugget
he had happened to 'find' in Thim Moggan's top dresser drawer. He didn't know
exactly what it was but he did know what was valuable. The purpose of the
move stemmed when some of the village children began playing near his
original hiding place. Even though he moved only forty feet away from the
previous location, Eron was confident the villagers were too stupid to find
this one. It never occurred to him they had never found the first hiding
place anyway.
Being an upstanding citizen of the race of leprechauns, he was also very
meticulous when it came to counting his money. Settling into a new home was
basis enough for any normal leprechaun to recount their collection (not that
leprechauns didn't count their money everyday anyhow). Eron counted it once.
He counted twice. He said a prayer to the Three Gods then frantically he
counted it again. To his dismay it was gone. The amber nugget had
disappeared.
Thinking back, he quickly deduced he must have dropped the jewel during the
move. Eron swiftly retraced his steps. In the process he had to stop and hide
when he heard the heavy thud of approaching footsteps. Peering behind a large
green leaf of a fern, Eron saw a human boy on the nearby pathway that led to
and from Thane.
The lad was the casual sort found in any of the surrounding villages. Dark
hair and eyes, he wore the drab clothing of the poverty-stricken farmers of
Thane. Eron was sure the youth would pass him undetected and he could resume
his search. He was mildly surprised as the boy hesitated and stared around
him.
Eron observed as the lad raised his head sniffing, testing the air like a
wolf catching the scent of its prey. He muttered a curse to the Triple
Deities as the dark maned boy stepped three paces off the worn trail and
picked up the amber piece as though he had known it was there all along.
Eron was appalled at the human's audacity. Did the boy know where the nugget
was or was it by chance he had found it? Had he hidden it earlier only to
retrieve it just now? Eron wanted to voice his outrage but it took all his
strength to hold his tongue. If the lad knew it belonged to Eron, the boy
would surely demand the three wishes Eron was obligated to give him.
Leprechauns only begrudgingly gave those and if Eron could ever weasel his
way out of the contract, he would do it at the howl of a banshee. No, he
would follow this lad and just take back what was rightfully his when he had
the chance. Like when the boy was sleeping.
To the small man's bewilderment the boy had started down the path away from
the village. He was not sure where the youth was headed but Eron was
determined to regain his property. Keeping to the underbrush, the leprechaun
followed.
His pursuit took Eron deeper into the thick forest toward the nearby looming
mountains. The manling had turned from the common trail and now followed a
path through the trees only the boy could see. Twice Eron had tripped and
floundered in a tangle of vines trying to keep pace with the boy who seemed
to have no trouble picking his way through the dense thicket. The diminutive
man cursed the fickleness of the gods that put him through such torture.
Infuriated, Eron plowed ahead regardless of the noise he made.
After a frustrating fight with snagging limbs and clinging burrs, Eron and
the brat, as Eron now dubbed the boy, entered a clearing near the foothills
of the towering mountains. Weaving between some scattered boulders,
resembling some giant's play toys, the boy disappeared. Following cautiously,
the leprechaun discovered the large stones opened to a huge gash in the
mountainside. A cave. Eron waited in concealment when he heard the youth's
voice within the cave.
"Mama? Mama, are you here?"
Eron heard no reply as he saw the boy return to the mouth of the cave to look
around. When the boy called again and received no response, Eron made a
decision. He would approach the thief and demand his rightful property. The
worst the boy could do was to demand his wishes.The leprechaun would have
approched the gods themselves as the tiny man was to the point he would do
anything to get back the nugget and return home before dark.
Eron pulled himself up to his full height of thirteen inches and proceeded to
cross the small clearing. Halfway across he halted as he heard a strange
sound. He couldn't discern the direction of the noise until a massive shadow
enshrouded his tiny form. Looking skyward, he had no time to say a prayer to
the Triple Gods, just enough to emit two syllables.
"Uh-oh."
The vast weight of the crimson dragon landed with a thunderous crash, causing
the nearby boulders to tremble in answer. The broad, leathery wings filled
the expanse and the trailing spiked tail twitched in irritation. The spined
head snaked forward as smoldering eyes pinned the boy to the ground. Heat
radiated from the fanged mouth dripping with hot saliva and smoke drifted
from the nostrils. Two bloodied cows rested under each taloned foreleg.
"What do you think you are doing?" came the dragon's resounding voice.
"I was looking for you," the boy replied, "Mama."
"Well, here I am," she snorted imperiously. "And what have you been doing in
that ridiculous form? Have you been getting into trouble again?" The dragon
had turned her head sideways to peer at the diminutive form of her son.
"No, Mama. I've been playing with the village children."
Her head came up sharply. "You know I don't like you associating with the
lesser species. Especially humans! They are so uncouth." The great red beast
shivered, causing the boulders to quiver again.
"Yes, Mama. But look what I found." The boy held the amber fragment up
triumphantly for his mother's inspection.
"Yes, that's nice, dear," the dragon said dragging the dead cattle into the
cave. "Now, put it away with the rest of your hoard and hurry and change.
It's time for supper." She hesitated as she stretched her sinuous neck to
lick the bottom of her right rear claw.
"Blood? Now what could I have stepped on?" She bobbed her head in a shrugging
manner. "Oh, well," she commented to her son as she slithered into the cave,
"now don't dawdle. The food will be cold before you know it."
And the gods laughed and laughed.
SIMM
Chapter 4
(Submitted by YKSS)
They were in a courtyard of a castle. The ground underneath them was dirt,
and very stoney. The castle and the courtyard were cut into the side of the
mountian. A stone wall twenty feet high surrounded the courtyard. There
were two exits to the courtyard, two huge oak and steel doors on one side,
and two smaller doors of the same type leading into the interior of the
mountian. There were also many small wooden doors leading into the mountian
that had hinges on the top and swung up, like a pet door. Windows of the
castle, with various shapes & sizes, looked out on the courtyard.
In one of them stood the man. From the way he carried himself it was obvious
that he was the master of the place.
"Welcome my friends, it is so very good to see you!" he shouted. "I trust
your bodies are sound after so many long years on the road."
"Thank you muchly," replied Berr, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I had
no idea you cared so much."
Sana gave Dert a poke.
"But I do," came the reply. "You have something I want, and if you had fallen
down a bottomless pit somewhere, it would be lost to me forever. Now where
is it?"
"Now, why should I tell you, you worm?" retorted Berr. "Do you really think
that I would hand it over to you? Or is your head going in your old age,
Opoto?"
"I have an offer to make you," Opoto said. "It is quite simple give me the
rest of the key, and I will throw you in a dungeon instead of killing you."
"Oh, you plan on killing us?" taunted Berr. "You have been planning on
killing us for a long time, yet we are still alive."
"Oh, very well," Opoto sighed. "You know, I really don't know which I would
enjoy the most, killing you now or keeping you in a dungeon so I can gloat at
you for the rest of your lives. No matter, I will enjoy killing you very
much."
Suddenly most of the small wooden doors opened. Dogs, wolves, some unheard
of monsters, and animated statues burst forth. The later were not disguised
at all. They had the shape of a barrel with spinning blades circling them in
five places. They were mounted on wheels, and could go very fast.
"Allow me to introduce my pets," Opoto gloated. "Some of them took me years
to perfect. That purple lizard-thing has a skin of a croc and it's nails are
as hard as nails. But I'm sure you'll have a chance to get closely
aquainted."
The army advanced on them. Smim, Ater, and the two old men began slowly
backing up. Suddenly, the barrel-things charged at them. Smim and Berr
dodged to one side, Ater and Sana to the other. The barrel-things were fast
on their wheels, but couldn't turn well. The first wave of them tried to
follow their target's movements, but they couldn't turn, so they all crashed
into each other at the spot where the foursome had been standing. There was
a horrible screeching and crashing, and pieces of statue flew everywhere.
"They do that sometimes," Opoto shouted at them. "But really, it enhances
their leathalness. If they don't get you, their pieces will."
Indeed he was right. A piece or two pinged off Smim's armor, and a red spot
grew on Ater's sleeve. Sana let go with a wall of fire on the advancing
horde. Most of the dogs were burnt, as were some of the other creatures.
But the most of it kept coming. Ater raised his arm, and a rain of darts
came from a concealed launcher up his sleeve. The two magi began casting
spells right and left. The horde was thinned out by these attacks, but kept
coming. Smim couldn't use his sword since the horde wasn't near him, so he
began to throw rocks. He discovered that rocks broke the barrel-things'
blades, which caused them to shake and eventually crash into things nearby or
tip over into the ground, which made quite a spectacular show when the pieces
flew in all directions. But it took a few good hits to down a statue, and
the others were finishing them off by the dozens.
Smim decided to concentrate on opening the doors. He ran a few steps toward
the big doors, when one of his feet sunk sunk into a pit! He plunged through
the ground, but he managed to grab hold of the edge and pull himself up. He
looked at the ground he had fallen through. It looked to him the same as the
ground around it. He took his sword and slashed it through the ground. The
illusion rippled slightly. He kept at it, but the "ground" still seemed to
be real. The other three were slowly retreating toward him fighting as they
went. If he didn't hurry, they would back up into the pit. He dropped to
the ground and stuck his head under the illusion. The pit was shallow with
metal spikes on the floor. He had an idea. He dropped into the pit and made
his way through the spikes to the other side. He then grabbed one of the
spikes from the ground and drove it into the wall of the pit so that it stuck
through the illusion. He repeatedly did this, until the illusion was so
disrupted it didn't resemble the ground any more. He then pulled himself out
of the pit. The pit was placed in front of the doors so that an unwary
intruder might walk into it, but if you knew and turned to a side immediately
you could go around it. Smim then inspected the doors to see what he could
do about them.
Opoto was passivly standing in the window the whole while and watching the
battle below. His attention was on the magi and Ater when he noticed
something out of the corner of his eye. His carefully laid trap wasn't
working! "Curses!" he thought to himself. "Doesn't anything I make work
right?" Then he saw Smim climb out of the pit. "Curse that meddler!" he
thought. He was VERY displeased that Smim had ruined his latest invention.
He was very mad so mad that he took ten seconds to gather the right spell to
hurl at him. He threw a Concentration of Bluegreen Fireball, so hot that
they could melt solid rock where it expanded. The small pulse of energy flew
from the window to the gate.
Smim was looking over the gates when the energy hit right next to him. He
was blown backward, nearly falling into the pit. The gate fared much worse.
When the pulse hit, it expanded into the fireball, which in it's moment of
existance left the gate a skeleton of half=molten steel, which fell backward
into the pit, thoroughly destroying the illusion. Sana was casting a spell
when his concentration was interupted by the crash. He looked behind him.
He didn't know exactly what happened, but he saw their chance. He cast a
spell of Smoke Wall in front of them, and signaled the others to retreat.
They ran around the pit, collected Smim, and ran through the empty gate and
into the woods beyond. As they were exiting Opoto threw another fireball,
but he couldn't see and the the ball hit the ground where the gate had been,
toppling the threshold and cratering the ground.
Opoto was seething. After so many years, he had them in his grasp, and he
let them escape again!
"Wait a minute," he thought. "So what if they escaped? Now that they know
where I am, they have no choice but to attack me to get the rest of the key.
They will be a while in returning, and I can prepare a decent welcome. Let
them live for now, and I'll have my fun later." He smiled. Yes, he was
going to have his fun.
************************
They stopped running when they realized that they weren't being chased.
"What do we do now?" asked Ater.
"We wait for that thief," replied Sana, "and if he doesn't return, we will
steal the rest of the key ourselves. This fued has gone on long enough. It
is time Opoto met his fate. We will move closer to the fortress. Opoto may
be able to dectect us there, but if that thief succeeds, he might run out and
never find us."
They paused for an hour for Ater to make himself some more darts, and they
set out.
Tactics For Fighters
(Submitted by Spurius)
A Few Words For The Fledgling Fighter ...
In recent times, many a new adventurer has arrived in NeverWinter. Desiring
aid in the struggles of our realm, I have accompanied several of these brave
souls in their first quests. Some have shown great skill and teamwork in our
battles, while others tried their best without knowing how to be more
effective. This grimoire is for any fighters, paladins, or rangers who seek
to improve their tactics against the creatures besetting NeverWinter. The
creatures of NeverWinter come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and
capabilities. A fighter will need to change their tactics by situation, but
the number of strategies to learn are not overwhelming. The tactics of
competing in Player Versus Player (PVP) battles are much more complex, and
are not covered by this tome.
* Work In Groups:
The rate of damage delivered by a fighter traveling alone is severely
limited. When an encounter has many foes, a single fighter can at best
attack 2 (or 3, if the first two dagger throws kill) opponents. Given
multiple foes, more attacks are made against a single fighter than she or he
can deliver. A fighter is most effective in protecting a magician or cleric,
allowing them to cast spells to help defeat the opponents.
* Protect Yourself:
Use single handed weapons, combined with shields. Better armor (such as
plate mail) weighs more, and can limit your movement. Movement speed is
critical for teamwork and gaining tactical advantages. Lesser armor with a
higher magical bonus (+2 chain versus +0 plate) is better in two ways. The
armor weighs less, allowing you to move faster, and the added magic bonus
helps your saving throws versus magical effects. The best items for
protection without loss of mobility are magical rings, followed by magical
cloaks. Note that multiple rings of protection do not "add up", only the
best one will apply to both your armor class and saving throws.
* Use Ranged Attacks:
Always carry some sort of weapon that can make ranged attacks. Most fighters
prefer the two attacks given by bows, but there are situations that call for
other weapons. Thrown daggers allow three attacks per round. This is
particularly effective against spell casting foes, as any successful attack
will disrupt their concentration. Thrown and hurled weapons (as opposed to
bows) can also be used while a foe is engaging you in hand to hand combat. In
many encounters, several lesser creatures will surround you, while a more
dangerous foe looms in the background. A hurled weapon (some prefer the
sling-staff) can attack the big foe, while the surrounding creatures flail at
you. This tactic works only if you have a good (low) armor class, such that
your hand to hand foes will miss you consistently. In this manner, you can
damage the dangerous opponent, using his or her minions as a barrier. If you
are in the open, keep moving beyond the foe's movement rate, and attack with
your ranged weapon. This allows you to switch to a melee weapon and go "En
Guard": before the foes catch up to you.
* Position Yourself:
This tactic is probably the most effective rule I have observed in fighting.
Limiting the number of opponents that can attack you (or another party
member) greatly improves your chances of winning a fight.
- When indoors, use walls and corners to prevent backstab attacks. Fighting
through doorways is ideal when there are many foes (such as stirges),
reducing the number of attackers from as much as eight, down to two.
- When outdoors, seek a thick stand of trees. These can limit the number and
facing of opponents that approach you.
- When facing huge opponents (dragons, mammoths), avoid standing underneath
them. Getting trampled is no fun.
- When fighting alone, use the "Guard" option to gain first strike against
approaching foes. You can also approach but not contact a foe, and go "En
Guard". At higher levels with multiple attacks per round, use your second
attack after defeating a foe to return to "En Guard". If you approach a new
foe instead, they will get the first swing! If the new opponent moves slower
than you, move away and use missile weapons. In addition, approaching and
guarding near a foe can be timed for a round in which you have multiple
attacks. This delivers your maximum effort before the foe strikes you.
- When teaming with other characters in a melee, position yourself to allow
them access to opponents while blocking the access of more foes. Almost all
NeverWinter creatures will stop and melee with characters when they enter any
of the eight tiles surrounding the characters space. This region is often
called a "control zone". Entering a foe's control zone allows them to attack
you if they are in "guard" mode. Leaving a foe's control zone allows them to
attack with a "parting swing", usually with a strike-from-behind bonus. You
can use your own control zone to protect fellow adventurers, while still
allowing them pathways around you. The following diagram shows an ideal
positioning to protect another party member:
* * * (Foes ->) U = You
* U * * = Your Control Zone
M * * M = Protected Party Member
=======(wall)=
With this position, most foes will be stopped by your control zone before
they can attack the other party member. However, the other character has
routes around your sides, should they wish to approach the foes. Remember
that since your control zone extends around you, the fighters in a party need
only occupy every other tile to form an effective "wall".
* Ask Party Spell Casters For Help:
The following spells can aid you in fighting. Ask for them before entering a
battle, as your companions will probably be too busy during a fight. Many of
these spells will last through more than one encounter. From Clerics: Bless,
Cure (Light, Serious), Protection From Good/Evil, Prayer, Resist Heat/Cold
From Mages: Enlarge, Strength, Haste, Invisibility
These strategies and tactics are certainly not the be-all or end-all of
fighting. Watch other fighters within the
realm. Ask yourself the following questions: Regardless of level, how and
when are they most effective? When are they least effective or in trouble?
How could they change the situation? I hope these words encourage all
fighters to achieve their best throughout the realm, NeverWinter needs you!
:: Observations Of Fighting, as recorded by Spurius of NeverWinter
Brothers Part II
(Submitted by: DarkWolfMM)
The mist of early morning clung to my chin. My breath created a warm
smoke as I breathed from underneath my hood. All around the woods were
silent.
My thoughts were of todays future. The outcome of the battle to come.
Next to me stood my companion, viligent in his watch, arrow noched in bow.
Today my brothers and I would fulfill a promise we made long ago. This day
my father's honor, along with all those who died with him, would be revenged.
It had been seven years since my oldest brother had slaughtered the
greater part of my family. With his group of evil mages he had turned upon
us. That day I saw my father, mother, and I had believed, four brothers
killed. First Saber, then Sepp and Jacob. Then my mother Sofia, Wedge then
fell, and dissappeared. Lastly my father was mortally wounded. Only the
second youngest brother Chris, and I remained.
We spent our days in the Woods. Hunting with wolves, constantly in
search. Upon my maturity we parted ways, each seeking his destiny. I as a
Paladin, him as a Cleric. I was not yet my full potential, but I was still
stong. Chris I had not seen in two years.
One week earlier I had recieved word. Wedge was alive. Scared beyond
recognition by Mercanter's attack. All this time he had hunted Mercanter,
like a madman. Here, at this rock next to a peasants house, I was to meet
them. Mercanter had been found, and it was time to finish things.
My companion's head jerked up from the downward nod it had been in. He
yawned slightly. Giving off a large mass of air, and taking an equal one in.
I did not know his real name. He simply had me call him Arrow. I saw myself
in his face. We'd been mistaken as brothers many times. At 6 2 I stood
about two inches higher then him. I was still filling out my height, while
he was built enough to pull his bowstring easily. His hair a little lighter,
not as dense as mine, yet not balding by any means. Lips a bit thinner, nose
not as broad.
Yet his eyes were mine. Grayish blue. In the morning they were bright
and clearly blue, yet as the day wore on there was nearly no pigment in them.
In this we were alike, for I had observed the same in me. In all he was a
bit handsomer than I, and more ladies glanced at him. He was my first
friend. Never since our meeting had we separated for more than a week. No
arguements, except over an occasional woman.
I had found him in Longsaddle. It was early in my adventuring. I was
in Triboar where the great Sir Flame had been teaching me to harnes my powers
the day before. This day I had decided to go back into the woods for a day
or so. Longsaddle was on the way. As I neared it I could hear the din of
battle. The Orcs had made their biggest raid ever upon the town. Defeated
at last they'd left, pursued by the village militia. I followed the wreckage
to a large house, burnt and gutted. Leading up to the house was a line of
six or so Orcs with arrows in them. Then at the house there were at least
thirty hacked to death.
There he was. Bleeding under a lagre peice of timber. A cruel slash
across his neck's left side to his shoulder. He'd been left for dead. I
treated him and days later he told the story off the attack. Early
in the morning they came. His entire family of 26 lived with him. Another
larger group was in Floodblest. He was awake with his bow, making arrows. He
had recieved his superb bow the day before from his father. A +3 longbow
which needed his entire being to pull it back. The Orcs came in quietly, in
large numbers. He'd killed four before they spotted him in the
doorway. As the attacked he shot two more. His uncles and aunts, brothers
sisters and cousins, mother and father came out with swords, axes, flails,
and shields. In their haste they were without armor. The Orcs had had their
hands full for almost twenty minuetes trying to silence them. By the time
all inside were believed dead the alarm had been responded to.
I had listened with enthusiasm to the tale. When I prepared to leave
he asked transport to Neverwinter. I took him there and by the time we got
there we endured so much together we were inseparable. His was no younget
than I, but he had requested to serve me. I had always tried to treat him as
a friend and not a servant. That was how it was. Still he had brought the
message from Chris and Wedge, almost as an erand boy.
Two figures came toward us from up ahead. I brushed the morning dew
from my green and black clad attire, and straightened up. The two men came
forward quickly now, soon I could see them. I only had a brief glance at
Wedge, his face covered partially by a mask, before I was in his arms. Chris
hugged me as well.
Once the emotional flow decreased to stop our crying we finally spoke.
For awhile we exchanged warm greetings and comments about each other's
growing. The conversation kept its friendly side untill Wedge asked a
question of me.
"It's good to see ya kid," Wedge's voice was cracked and strained.
"How are ya Mikey."
"Just fine Wedge." I could say no more. I just smiled and wiped a
tear from my eye. "H-How are,..."
"Not the best," his toned was subdued, instantly saddened. "Let us
say no more."
I was stuned. "What do ya mean?" It came out, and I was suddenly the
center of attention. "I'm sorry, it's just that, what do you mean, say no
more?"
A moment passed with no answer, "Come brothers, Wedge is right." Chris
put in. "We know what we feel, but there's another reason why we're here."
"Yes!" Wedge's furry was spat out at a much higher volume than he had
ment it to be. "Mercanter is near, " he hissed.
"It's been seven years, Mercanter can wait! Whats happened to you?"
"I've been scared damn you!" He tore off his mask, revieling a gastly
mess of a face, mixed with hair. But in that face there were tears.
I put my hand on his shoulder. Then took it away. I didn't know what
I would say when this happened. "Thats not what I ment. I just tought
that,..." I decided to say nothing else. Except, "I've missed you Wedge,
you too Chris." I eyed each of them in turn, then turned businesslike. "When
this is over I think we all have some stories to tell, but right now, I don't
feel much like it."
"Alright, " Chris said, as he always did when he was unhappy. I
noticed him for the first time. Clothed in colors much the same as my own.
Armed with a sack of scrolls, and a flail. Chris' soft young features had
been unchanged. Everything was soft. Except the eyes. Green, piercing.
"You all know, Arrow."
"Yes, yes, " Wedge reached inside his black cloak. Taking out a
scroll. He grinned wickedly. "Ready?"
"For what?" I asked.
"Mercanter."
"Untill my heart beats no more and my blood ceases to flow, I will be
ready for Mercanter."
"Alright, " Chris stepped to the right a ways. I went left, Arrow
stood behind Wedge. "Ready."
Wedge put his mask on and centered his hood. Then he stretched the
scroll toward the house. Inside I heard a thud, then coughing. The door
burst open and out poured five cloaked figures, gasping for air. I saw the
cloudkill raised inside the building. A six man appeared, and a blaze of red
caught him in the chest. He was blown back inside, then the fireball blew
the walls out and the building collapsed in flames.
A man in black fell to the ground with a piece of wood embedded in
his back. I saw Mercanter.
In among the remaining four he was a dark vilolet, cloaked figure with
hood down. His head darted about to each of us. For a timeless second we
looked at oneanother. He recognized Wedge in that second somehow. Then a
silver object flew through the air. One of the men around Mercanter grasped
his throat and fell backward, into the burning house.
I readied a lightning bolt. Wedge was strange, Chris was distracted,
and I was a little hurt. The revenge had taken over Wedge. I would kill
Mercanter if I saw him, but I would not live to hunt him. Wedge was lost in
his pain. And I didn't care much at this point if it helped us kill
Mercanter and his Mages
Tales of Whiiplash, Fighter and Mage of the Realms...
Part 2 - NECROMANCER
(Submitted by: Whiiplash)
Mist hung thick in the air, and the deepening gloom added to the creepy
feeling growing in Whiiplash's stomach. Feet crunching along the beaten
forest path, he made his way between the ominous trees and under branches
alive with life. Snapping his fingers, a small ball of golden light floated
out before him and lit the path as he went.
Following the golden sphere's comforting light, Whiiplash lightened his
heart and his step. His thoughts drifted back to his encounter with the
assassins and the mysterious paladin. Who were these people? Why were the
assassins sent? Who sent them? Unanswered questions haunted his thoughts, he
tried to force the lurking demons from his mind.
To the shadow lurking beyond the golden light, this target would be
simple to defeat. Slowly the shadow melted back into the shadows, two narrow
slits of light the only warning the shadow would give.
Whiiplash came to the perimeter of the small but gloomy forest and
breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He dispelled the magic sphere and sat down
by a tree, bathed in the silvery light of the full moon. Unsheathing his
truest friend, he laid his blade down across his lap and lay back, letting
the demons free to haunt his dreams.
The shadow grinned and moved toward the foolish target who had let down
his guard too easily. Eyes narrowed further as a silent cackle echoed in the
mind of the dark assassin. The shadow moved from the protective trees and
toward the sleeping fighter. With the ease of experience, it moved in for the
kill.
Whiiplash woke abruptly as warnings exploded into his mind. Reflexively,
Whiiplash snatched up his sword and dropped into a defensive crouch, eyes
alert for the slightest movement. There was none.
Suddenly the shadow dropped down from the tree, its dark for outlined in
the silver glow of the moon. Whiiplash dove forward, rolled onto his back,
and swung wildly to keep the darting form at bay. The shadow jumped and
dashed left and right, spinning the fighter in circles as he tried to keep
the shadow in front of him. Slowly Whiiplash tired, going into a more
defensive posture, his back against a tree. The shadow saw the time for the
kill was near, and leaped up into the protective trees branches.
Whiiplash swung his head back and forth, beads of sweat rolling down his
forhead as he searched for the mysterious attacker. Was this somehow linked
to what happened earlier today? Is this another assassin, sent to destroy
him?
Whiiplash's thoughts were interupted as darkness swept over him, the
shadow dropping onto the fighter and disabling him, so that he could not
thrash while the dark form fed.
"No, my pet. This one I would prefer alive." Came a deep voice,
emanateing from some unseen man hidden nearby. Chuckling, the man mumbled,
"The only thing better than his head is his whole body...."
Whiiplash awoke to the stale odor of death, his head throbbing and
muscles weak. Smells like I'm dead, Whiiplash thought. He propped himself up
on one elbow and grunted in pain. His muscles burned with pain, but Whiiplash
had caught the glimpse he had wanted before falling. He was in a dungeon.
"Greetings..." Came a voice. Whiplash struggled to see that side, but
his muscles wouldn't respond. His mind screamed in terror and rage at being
held like this, and he wanted to strike out more than anything at the owner
of the unseen voice. Whiiplash could almost smell the evil on the voice's
mocking words. "And welcome to my humble home."
To be continued.....
The Flame
(Submitted by LJackson1)
As the knight rode in, he set the house aflame. The flames burned and
burned in the night air. They could be seen in every which way, but there
was no one there to see it. And as the dark knight rode off, his laugh echoed
throh the stillness.
Then I awoke. I heard something that sounded like a flame. I turned
around to see a flame shoot up into the sky and then back down again. I ran
to the door quick as lightening to escape the terrible flame. As I came out
I saw an even bigger flame, and it seemed to be forming into a body. "Ha,"
said the flame as it turned into its final form. I ran before I could see
what it looked like. I ran into my father's room and saw him lying on the
ground. "My son, get the key in my room on the table." Then he was dead. I
ran into his room, grabbed the key and ran out the door. I flew out of the
house to escape the terrible flames. As I left I thought,
"Where am I going to go? Where am I going to live? Who was that awful
flame?"
Then I passed out.
As I awoke, I decided to set forth into town. I found a sword and
shield on the ground and got myself equipped. Then I saw a huge goblin. It
looked like a big piece of jelly with hands. I was horrified to death, but I
stood my ground and faced it head to head. The goblin threw a spear at me
from out of nowhere. I knocked it aside with my sword and slashed at it
fiercely. It charged at me with another spear. I stuck my sword through its
throat and cut it in half as I slashed upward. I could smell his awful
stench as he died. I moved on toward town, and walked for half a day. I
finally reached the town. I paid ten gold pieces that I had in my pocket to
the owner of the inn. I slept for the rest of the night.
When I awoke in the morning, I saw the innkeeper staring down at me as
if to say,"Well its about time!" I got up, put my armor on, got my sword and
shield and went to a weapon shop. I decided to get a battle axe. As I
selected it, a wolf crashed through the window. The shop owner screamed in
shock. The wolf jumped at me fiercely. I fell to the ground with the wolf
on top of me. Tossing and turning I finally got on it and punched it in the
face. I got up, took out my sword, and sliced its head off. In thanks, the
owner gave me fifty gold pieces to do whatever I wanted with. Also he gave
me a special axe that could cut through anything.
Now I went into the woods and walked. I heard some barking behind me.
It was some wolves following me. I ran up a tree to escape the wolves. The
wolves scratched up the trees in vain. I spent the night there alone except
for the wolves. The wolves were lying, waiting for me to get down. They
sat on the road waiting for me to get down. Then I got mad. Mad at the
flame, mad at the wolves, mad at me, mad at my dad for his death! A flame
came through me through the sword, down to the wolves killing them. I got
down to find a message posted to a sign.
WANTED
one Jonathan Lungham
50,000 steel, 1,000 Gold
That was what was posted on the sign. "That was I!" I screamed. "ME! Oh
no!" Then I fainted.
The Flame Man stood over me in a haze. He laughed as he told me, "You
may be the royal knight, but I am the dark knight. You are a fool if you
think you're going to survive. I am going to kill you like I killed your
parents. You can run, but you cannot hide."
"Nooo!" I screamed.
I awoke in the middle of the road going north.
A big brawny man awoke me. He said: "About time you awoke." "What
happened here?" "Did you kill those wolves?"
I responded: "Yes, I killed the wolves." "You know just talking to me
could get you in trouble."
"I'm a gambler," he said. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know," I said. "My name is Jonathan Lungham, who are you?"
"My name is Cedric Forester. I am a woodcutter and I am after the dark
knight."
"You too?" I asked. "I'm after him for he killed my father and mother."
"Indeed, he stole my horse, has been taxing our land and has cut down
all the trees to burn them." "May I travel with you?"
As we were walking, we saw many wolves, bears and other animals. We saw
strange creatures. But the strangest was a giant ant with spider like arms
standing in our way. Cedric pulled out his axe, slashed at one of its legs
and missed. But he set me up for a hit. I dashed forward, jumping over
Cedric who was bent down picking up his axe, and cut off four of the
creature's legs. Cedric picked up his axe and cut the rest off. We decided
to leave the spider there to be eaten by another animal. As we walked off,
we heard growls and snarls from all sorts of animals.
"-ello, -ow are ye doin?" said the tall man with a long chin who walked
up to us. "Ye be goin north ere ye? I be goin that way too," he said. "I
always say there be safety in numbers, shall I join ye? Me name is Henry
Fletcher."
I noticed his bright green strap with a red feather on his head. He had
red cloth around him. He had a long bow around hi neck while his short bow
was in his hands, arrow cocked.
"Sure, for I agree with ye," I said half snickering.
He uncocked his bow and we kept going.
Finally we reached a rocky mountain in the midst of the forest we
started climbing the rough mountain. Ledge after ledge we passed till we
reached a path in the mountain. We walk for a while till we reached a hole.
On the other side was a dark grey wolf. Henry set up an arrow to shoot at
the beast. The angry wolf jumped at Henry. Henry shot the arrow right in
the wolf's heart. The wolf fell into the abyss. We jumped the hole. We all
made it except Cedric. Henry and me had a hard time pulling him up. Finally
we made it and took a breath. Then we went on.
Now we reached a fork in the road.
"Hail," said the tall man in a blue cloak. I be WH Lancer, the Wizard.
What is thou looking for?"
"The Flame Man! Will you help me find him?"
"Aye, He killed my brother and I am seeking revenge. Take the right road
it leads back to the town."
So off they went. We took the right road.
We arrived at Never Winter. We decided to buy some silver arrows for
Henry. I bought some rope for the trip. Lancer bought a spell or two.
"We be ready I think," claimed Henry.
We set off over the Never Winter River. It took all my gold to get
across the river, but we finally made it. Halfway across, I felt a little
groan in my stomach which usually happens when I am seasick. I felt like I
was going to throw up, but I never did. The strangest thing is that I don't
throw up. Finally we made it across the river. We reached a place called
Shadow Castle.
"This is where the dark knight lives," said Lancer.
The castle looked like a keep with a wall surrounding it and it had a
tower in the middle. I threw out my rope to climb the castle wall. Everyone
else followed me. Suddenly, the rope started breaking in two. Everyone
started climbing up really fast because the rope got even thinner. Lancer
and I were the only ones to make it across before the rope broke. Now we had
to sneak past the guards. We walked on the side of the wall with my sword
drawn, and Lancer with his staff up and ready to cast a spell. Soon a guard
came up to inspect the other side of the wall. I saw him when I peered over
the corner of the wall. When I saw him, I slashed his head off.
"One for me," I whispered.
Suddenly, a group of Orcs walked into the fray. They saw me
standing over the guard and started running at me. Lancer cast a type of
lightening spell on the Orcs, but two were left.
"Eight for me," he said.
I killed the other two in an instant.
"Darn, I only got three," I said.
We walked across the hall and up the stairs. We climbed the stairs
for what seemed like hours. Finally we reached the top. When we reached the
door at the top, suddenly a huge flame crashed through the door.
"You dare attack me?" it said.
I slashed at it, enraged, but it was only in vain, for nothing
happened. The flame passed right through. Lancer cast every spell in the
book, only hurting it minorly.
"What was that? A fly?" said the Flame.
Then Cedric and Henry jumped in. Cedric slashed at it with his axe,
hurting the Flame severely. Then Henry shot an arrow straight at the Flame's
heart, killing it. The Flame disappeared into a black hole.
"Nooooooooooooooo," screamed the Flame as it was being sucked into
the dark vacuum.
The hole disappeared, then a massive quake occurred.
"The room's falling apart," I screamed.
We all rushed down the stairs. A giant stone fell from the roof
and rolled down the stairs. We barely outran it as we escaped the terrible
castle.
As soon as we got out, I asked Cedric and Henry, "How did you get
in?"
"We simply went through the main gate," said Cedric laughing.
We went back home to live for awhile in peace. But later we would
reunite to fight another battle against other common foes.
Superbash Winners!
(Submitted byKef yunman)
Some are born to carry a rod. Some aspire to carry a rod. And some have
rods thrust upon them. On this Sunday, 14 guilds vied for the glory of
capturing as many wooden daggers as they could. Countless battles raged
within Neverwinter Woods as powerful mages and clerics fought over the wooden
trophies. Lady luck smiled upon guilds, each in turn as they won the prizes,
until fickle fate turned its back. The Knights of the Eternal Flame strove
mightily that day. At the height of their endeavors, 6 daggers were held by
Knights and Squires. At the end of the day, only 2 remained with them. With
2 minutes remaining, Kef Sunny and Kef Yunman desperately tried to pry a
dagger from the evil clutches of the GOCer, Timokrean. A slay spell hurled
from a weathered scroll took Timokrean as Kef Yunman grabbed the wooden
dagger from Timokrean's spasming hand. At the end of this day, the Knights
of the Eternal Flame stood battered but triumphant. As the golden ring of
victory was presented to the KEF GM, Kef Fendar, the gathered Knights
cheered. For once again, Kef had proven to be a cut above the rest.
Whooo Whooo! Take that u baddies!
::capers about::
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