1996-05-26
Recovered original text · preserved verbatim
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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 135
Week Ending 5-26-96
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to Dunvagenn for winning last week's News of the Realm
contest for his story entitled "Farewell Highland Daughter".
Dunvagenn has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes). Keep up the good work! ;D
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Rigors Booth - 5/20
Again and again the monster struck, ripping the guardswoman from the Realms
until her head spun and her vision blurred with agony. Lord Nasher had
ordered that a group of adventurer's be sought and try though she might, NW
Ember couldn't keep her footing as the world tilted and twisted around her.
Praying frantically to Tyr, knowing that an entire party of brave souls
awaited her return, she steeled her mind and forced her way back through the
shifting planes.
Weak, dizzy and disoriented her mind mistook the adventurers gathered in
Southwall for yet more of the monsters and stuck out fiercely with
electricity, fire and cold! She could almost make out their faces, almost
clear her mind of the fog... and then the battle would began anew. At last,
surrounded by the smell of charred and seared flesh, slipping on the slippery
ice that remained after her spells were done, NW Ember glanced around at the
wounded. Their cries of "ouch", "owie", "ugg" and "ack" echoed in her ears.
The least damaged among them, stood tall if badly wounded. Mordeth had
survived the Challenge of the Rigors and earned himself 5 pearls!
Thanks to all who participated and had the patience to stick with me through
the punts: Lost Kin, Primedev1l, Mad Drunk, Aurela, Mordeth, Earl Graye,
Sagx, Redd Iz, Naraticon, and N0r Storm!
NW Ember ;D
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May WWAI Winners!! 5/16/96
Well, was a hard fought battle this time, with the debut of "Uncle Ulfy's
awesome Fiend Folio questions". There were only 2 or 3 asked, but the
participants were in awe!!:)
Finishing atop the heap this evening were TWO worthy winners. Both Sylphee
and Llewdoc each finished with 25 points, with Sylphee taking the honors in a
roll off hosted by none other than NW Snowie!! Sylphee takes home 25 pearls
and 4 free hours, while Llewdoc takes with him 20 pearls and 3 free hours!!
And, lest I forget, Opslin took third with 22 points. Opslin takes 15 pearls
and 2 free hours!!!
One of the definate highlights of the evening was LordNasher himself
presiding over the random roll off for 5 free pearls!!! The lucky winner of
the roll off was Aurela!!!!
Cya next month folks!!!!
-Ulfy and Ember!!! :)
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5/21/96 Location Hunt Winner
Greets,
The winner of 4 pearls and 1 free hour tonight for knowing the CLUED Location
Spot and being the 1st one to ESP me with it
was..............................
DB UNDEAD!!!
Congrats again DB UNDEAD
-NW Lenox
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NEVERWINTER CALENDAR
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Keep an eye peeled for those Mini-Booths because they will appear when you
least expect in different areas of the Realms!
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!
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New Player Tours:
Join the following staff members for a tour of the Realm:
May 26th Sunday 6:00 PM EST - with NW Baldor.
May 27th Monday 9:00 PM EST - with NWT Cyane.
May 28th Tuesday 10:00 PM EST - with NWA Omar.
May 30th Thursday 11:00 PM EST - with NW Daneel.
Those interested in any of these tours should keep an eye out for the banner
telling where to meet! ;D
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Meditations
(submitted by: Thorn Hawk)
I sat next to the fire watching the others relax. We had traveled far today
and hopefully with Mielikki's blessing we shall overtake our enemy. We had
tracked him to this solitary mountain. His identity, strengths and
weaknesses were unknown to us, but we were able to pursue him because we
followed our sister, whom he held captive somewhere above us. He attacked
our minds continually with a song born on the wind. It robbed us of thought
and the desire to live. Reaching up to feel the wax in my ear, I smiled
slightly remembering the looks the others had given Primrose when she
mentioned the idea of bees wax. Everyone appeared to be holding up well and
their spirits were still high which was a good sign. Reaching into my pack,
I pulled out a small whetstone and took hold of my sword.
Sliding the stone along the length of the blade, I was greeted by a sound
that brought back memories of my life. There was something about the sound a
whetstone made when stroked along the edge of a fine steel blade that soothed
the mind and relaxed the body. I remember the first time I heard the sound.
I was sneaking in the shadows listening to the warriors talk around the fire
about fights they had won and battles they had fought while a soft undertone
could be heard. The sound of a whetstone being scrapped across a blade. I
remember other times not so happy. The night I sat with Kalean before she
died. Again, I am the one sitting next to the fire, sharpening my sword,
thinking of battles to come. I am not sure why I do this thing. My sword
has never had a nick or a burr, but still I drag the stone across it. I
spend hours doing this thing and all I accomplish is to slowly wear the stone
away. Glancing up, I see Primrose fall into a meditative trance as she prays
to Mielikki for spells. Maybe, this is why I do this thing. It is my
meditation, my way of focusing, cleansing my spirit of all but the task at
hand.
Something on this mountain is holding Cerdith captive. I know a battle will
come and I will be ready. In the still silence of the night, I put my
whetstone away.
Thorn Hawk,
BOPThe Homestead
(submitted by: Sir Auggie)
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Dragonflyr and Augustus of KORT
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The sounds of stoneworking and construction had rung across the expanse of
the east woods for several days now... The most skilled dwarven craftsmen
were seen entering the fenced area each daybreak in their usual raucous
manner - awakening the native wildlife as they tromp heavily down the path.
Alongside them a team of stout ponies pulls huge loads of stone blocks.
When asked, they say nothing about what they build - and they guard the
entrances to the fenced worksight around the clock.
On the seventh morning a spire is raised to visibility above the treeline
around the area. A flagpole extends from its peak. At a quarter past
midday, the hammers fall silent. One by one, lively sparrows neturn to their
nearby perches and twitter musically as they chat curiously among themselves.
A horn blows in the distance and the sound of wagon wheels and horses hooves
approaches. The gates open silently as the wagons roll in. Through the
afternoon and into the night voices of young women and men float across the
wooded hills as they prepare for the arrival of their Lady and Sire.
At dawn of the next morn, a fanfare of horns awakens the forests.. A flag is
seen rising atop the spire raised the day before. As it unfurls in the
breeze it is seen to be the purple and gold banner of KORT...and who should
come riding up the path but Dragonflyr and Augustus... Their horses and
armor adorned in full pagentry colors.
They pause before the gate. Augustus sits back in his saddle and surveys the
surrounding countryside. He takes a deep breath of the fresh morning air and
turns to Dragonflyr...
"My Love.. this new home outside the city will give us just the privacy we
need. It's what I'd always hoped for.." She smiles back, "Oh yes ! It'll
be nice to settle down a bit as you get older milove... :::she giggles:::"
"Hrumpf.." Augustus feigns annoyance.. "If I remember milady, the clock
ticks for the both of us ;> 'Tis one thing we'll do together, like it or
not... "
He leans to kiss her.. and at the same time give her a good tickle.. ;> She
nearly topples from her steed before he pulls her close...
"Oh milady.. you bring such joy to my life.. and you have my loyal heart..
((( )))
They turn and enter the gate to their new homestead smiling happily.
5-1-96
Augustus and Dragonflyr
Sir AuggieThe Warr Encounter
(submitted by: Dos Dragon)
Dos awoke one from a dream in a cold sweat. All his meditating had paid
off. He had seen a vision of the jeweled broach. It was being guarded by
three boars. This could only mean one thing, the item he sought was close to
Triboar. It was no later than three in the morning, but dos needed to get
moving. If someone else got the broach before he did, he would probably
never get into the Protectorate.
Dos paid the innkeeper, left the cozy little inn, and was immediately
swallowed by the dark night. He was not alone, however. Soon after leaving
the inn he was jumped by a band of rouges. A flick of the wrist and a few
magic words later, nothing but char remained of his enemies.
After a few days Dos reached the Lost hills. There he met up with Polrom
and Shirak.
They joined him on his quest and the small group continued. 'Hail', came a
voice. Dos heard it clearly in his head but could not place it. Looking
around he noticed that the others had not heard it. Then he understood.
Someone was sending him a message through the use of magic. It was none
other than the Highlord himself, (lean, green fightn machine) Tyst. Dos was
pleased that such a person would take time to talk to him, so he asked Tyst
to join him. Tyst agreed and the group stopped to wait for his arrival.
After a few minutes a man came walking up towards them. Dos had meet Tyst
only once, but he was sure that this was not him. This 'man' was short by
human standards. He was dirty and gave off a strong odor. Most of his teeth
were gone and the ones that were still there looked like they would much
rather be somewhere else than in this brute's mouth.
The man eyed dos strongly'Warr owns these hills, you will have to pay to get
through!'
'How much', Dos replied.
'10 pieces of jewelry' the brute threw back. He then paused to scratch
himself.
Dos tried fast-talk his way out of this. He had stupidly memorized spells
that were of ust only to monsters. His companions were not up to this guy
either. Maybe Tyst would show up.....
'I am sure your leader did not want the fee to apply to the escort of the
Highlord of the Protectorate', dos said. This was a half-lie, Tyst could
have easily taken all three of Dos's Party. However, on the other hand we
would be alternate targets for a Magic Missile or such.
The man thought for a second, 'Escort's Pay double!'
'Then I must refuse', Dos said as he pulled out his flail.
Magic flared and sword's clashed, Polrom went down to the brute's spells. It
seemed that all was lost. But wait, on a distant hill a flash blinded his
eyes. It was the sun reflecting off of shiny plate mail. Sitting on top of
a war horse was Tyst. He paused for a second, pushed the visor on his helmet
down, pulled out his flail, and charged down the hill. The brute, now
knowing that defeat was inevitable, turned his spells on the mage apprentice,
shirak. The boy was felled quickly, but was just as swiftly avenged. Between
the two of them, they made quick work of the evil man.
After the battle, Dos and Tyst buried Polrom and Shirak. The evil man was
left on the ground where he fell.
Kneeling at the graves Dos said a quick vow, 'Good-bye my friends, I promise
never again to let my pride cause the death of any good people.'
Dos mounted his horse and rode into the setting sun.....Descent
(submitted by: SOM Neranek)
While travelling with Lynx near WindyCliffs, we were ambushed by an Umber
Hulk and a half dozen goblins. As Lynx and I readied for battle, I thought I
heard someone whisper my name. Suddenly there was a great tug on my essence.
Before I could act, I was torn from Faerun, into one of the nameless
demi-planes.
Such pain! Pain as I have never experienced crashed over me in waves. My
fingernails bit deeply into my palms as I cried out a prayer to Mystra for
aid. The flame of Mystra that we all carry within us rose up through my
skin, eating away at my pain. The blood in my palms, highlighted in blue
flame, burned away.
As the pain eased, I began to take stock of my surroundings. I appeared to
be floating through the Grey. Nothing of substance was within sight. I then
realized that whatever had attempted to seize me had only been partially
successful. While I had been taken from Faerun, I had not been transported
into another plane. Instead, I had been left in an area between the planes.
An area of rolling grey mists.
As the weight of my predicament settled over me, I realized that I only had
one chance to return safely, and it was a dim one at that. Reaching into an
inner pocket in my robes, I produced a book no larger than the palm of one
hand. The book was elegantly bound with ornate metals. I spoke the words to
an Enlarge spell and cast it upon my book. Instantly, the book grew until it
was a large tome. Cracking open my spellbook, I paged to the middle. Like
nearly all spellbooks, this one was written as I grew in power. Hence, lower
level and easier spells were in the front and the most difficult and most
recently learned were in the back.
I found the passage describing the Dimension Door spell and shook my head.
The spell wasn't designed for what I was forced to attempt. If the spell
misfired, I likely would be spread into infinity across the Grey. The spell
normally would open two portals in space. One portal at the caster's
location and the other at a place of the caster's choosing. The spell caster
could then step between the portals and travel a great distance instantly.
The spell had, however, been designed for both portals to be opened on the
same plane of existence. I would need to open the exit portal on Faerun. A
daunting task for even an experienced mage.
I sat cross-legged and began to memorize the spell. Although floated
cross-legged might have been a more accurate description. Time seemed to
flow more quickly here, and in moments it seemed that I was fully rested and
prepared.
Several options came to mind for the location of the exit portal. The Tower
of Mystery, the gardens in Neverwinter square, a quiet room in the Red Dragon
Inn. While these were all locations that I knew well, I instead chose to
return to the very location that I had been taken from. Not because I knew
that rocky terrain any better, but because I had been in telepathic contact
with my fellow Lynx when I was taken. His telepathic cry of surprise as I
disappeared would act as a beacon in my mind I surmised. Besides, Lynx is
one of Mystra's faithful and through that, he and I share a bond.
Offering up a prayer to Mystra, I cast my incantation. A blue-green portal
began to shimmer into existence. Gold lightning flared along it's edges as
it took shape. I took it as a sign of the instability of the spell and
focused my will on strengthening the portal. As the lightning faded, the
portal snapped open.
Wasting no time, I willed myself through the portal. Steeling myself for the
pain I anticipated, I was surprised to feel to feel nothing put the wind
whipping around me as I rematerialized on the Prime plane. While I was in
roughly the right location in Windy Cliffs, I had materialized ten feet off
of the ground. As I crashed upon the ground, a smile split my face. I
offered a prayer of thanks to Mystra. She had been generous in guiding me
back to Faerun.
Noting night had fallen, I realized then that I must have been gone several
hours. Casting through the ether, I sent a psionic query in search of Lynx.
My heart raced with joy when I heard his relieved voice in my head. He had
survived the ambush by the Umber Hulk and was safe. He had gone to seek the
council of our guild brothers on the mystery of my disappearance and was
currently some distance away. Homing in on his thoughts, I found him in
Floodblest. I sent to him that I was ok and that I would seek him out to
share with him as much as I knew about my abduction.
I gathered my thoughts on the return road to NeverWinter Square. While I had
not encountered whomever had attempted to abduct me, I was sure that it had
not been just some freak accident. Whomever it was, they were likely to try
again. Arriving in NeverWinter, I found a quiet room at the Inn and
rememorized from my spellbook and cast healing spells upon my self.
Refreshed, I set out to FloodBlest in search of Lynx.
Heading east into the morning sun, I followed the road through the wharves
that skirted along the deep NeverWinter River. Shortly after passing one of
Lord Nasher's Guards standing watch over the road to Floodblest, I
encountered several small parties each being attacked by a host of giant
lizards and pyro snakes. After aiding each in Mystra's name, I found myself
alone on the path and beset with a Cloud Giant in my path.
Strangely, the Giant did not move immediately to attack. He cast a scornful
eye upon me and intoned "So this is one of the Master's foes. One of these
Servants of whom he speaks with such hatred. Hear me, my name is Gurranegar
and I bear a message. Know this Servant of Mystery, you and all of your ilk
are marked for removal. You seek to maintain the magical balance for the
Goddess Mystra and that can not be permitted. By the time you discover who
moves against you, it will be too late for you and your Brothers. Now it is
time to see if you are worthy to carry the message back to your brethren."
With these words, the Cloud Giant launched his first attack. As he brought
his weapon to bear, I held up my shield emblazoned with the Symbol of Mystra
and braced myself.
As the Giant struck against my shield, he roared in disbelief and pain as he
discovered that I travelled FireShielded. While I suffered minor damage from
the impact of the Giants fist, the Giant was destroyed in a sweep of magical
fire. Straightening my shield, I replied to the air, "Too bad you didn't
survive the testing."
Swearing a vow to discover the nature of the threat moving against the
Servants of Mystery, I pressed on towards the Inn in FloodBlest. Arriving at
the Inn, I reserved a room just as my Brother Lynx came in. Clasping my hand
firmly upon his shoulder, I greeted him happily. Lynx gave me a hearty
shake.
"Good to have you back Neranek"
"Thanks much in part to you Lynx." I smiled enigmatically as I told him of
his role in my escape. Lynx's smile became overcast when I told him of
Gurranegar's message, but his natural enthusiasm quickly brought it back.
"With Mystra willing, we will overcome!" came his response with a grin.
Finding his grin impossible not to return, I found my spirits lightened a
bit. "Aye, that we shall Lynx, that we shall."
Lynx stood and slapped his hand against my back. "Come, there is adventure
to be found"
Leaving the inn, we set out from the inn, with Lynx setting a jaunty pace for
me follow. A short distance away from FloodBlest, a sense of dread began to
come over me. The wind began to pick up a bit, carrying loose leaves down
the path. Suddenly, I was jerked to a complete stop. Someone had spoken my
name along the wind. My true name. Whereas before, I had heard my surname
Neranek spoken before I was pulled from the realms, this time my one true
name had been intoned. There was a flash of red light and then everything
went black.
Some time later, I began to feel again. What began as a dull ache as
consciousness returned, became a burning in my bones. As my wits returned, I
attempted to open my eyes and found I could only open one. My blurred vision
came into focus and I found myself in a small room carved from what appeared
to be obsidian. I flexed my arms and found that they were bound in chains to
the wall behind me. Pain flashed from my right arm and I was sickened as I
turned my gaze there. Protruding through the skin was the broken bone from
my forearm and my arm seemed to be turned at an unnatural angle. Summoning
up my courage, I continued my survey of my situation.
I was sitting with my back against one of the walls, with my arms chained
above me. The right side of my face was encrusted with blood that apparently
had flowed from the cut I could feel above my right eye. My body was racked
with hunger so I guessed that I had been held for several days. The room
contained no windows so I had no natural light to gauge the time with. Then
only other feature aside from myself in the room was the steel door set into
the far wall. The air was heavy with the stench of sulfur.
The air came alive with the sound of thunder. A low voice growled "I have
had enough fun with you for now. Know what has befallen you is just the
beginning." With that, the chains binding my arms clicked open, and I
tumbled onto my side striking my head against the smooth obsidian. The
disembodied voice chuckled and continued "Go now, I return you to Faerun with
a taste of my power"
A golden bolt of light slammed into my battered body and again, all went
dark.
When I awoke, I found myself in a small field. The earth was scorched black
around me and I was embedded in the ground about an inch. Struggling to sit,
I winced in pain as my right arm didn't move the way it was designed to. I
was blackened and naked. The only remnants of my belongings were my shield
and my spell book. Probably because each carried the marking of Mystra.
I pushed to my feet with my good arm and picked up my shield and spellbook.
Walking to the edge of the field, I recognized the town of Longsaddle in the
distance. Knowing that I would find aid there, I set out moving as quickly
as I could. My only thought, The Servants must be warned.ElneArchet
(submitted by: Lake Mist)
Her last soft words before leaving
Spoke of a sadness fathomed deep;
She had to leave the realms grieving,
Of what she would not speak, only weep.
She gave to me her morning star,
Not wanting to leave the ones she knew;
Her inner turmoil driving and pushing far,
A near panic rising like the dew.
She gave to me her low soft voice,
A sadness at having to leave;
Turned, and started away, without choice,
For her pain I know I will grieve.
She gave to me the sight of her luvly face,
The warm eyes the pain could not hide;
Thrown into a dark tunnel, herself to brace,
For her return I know I must abide.
I ponder this morning star,
And notice it appears;
Tho dry and smooth to the touch,
To be covered with her tears.
From this day forth, until her return,
I shall weild this weapon in her name;
It's sharp teeth to rent and burn,
Our enemies flesh, for her tears to tame.
I give to you my two strong arms,
And a wish for your safe return;
I wish to you no ills or harms,
And a wish for your quick return.
She started down the long dark tunnel,
I stared, trying to figure out what to do;
Darkness crept around her in a funnel,
I watched as she turned a corner, I knew.
She is gone, and I feel an emptiness,
As if an old friend has journeyed last;
I hope one day she finds her happiness,
And remembers all of us, her past.
Farewell my new and old friend,
May your travels be smooth and bright;
May Mielikki watch over and defend
You against evil and it's might.
The next morning I felt so alone,
Elnearchet asked for nothing, and is gone.
A New Beginning - Part 1
(submitted by: Swordshere)
Swordshere opens the door to the TP guild house, expecting the raucous
laughter and smiling faces of his Brothers and SIsters..."Hmmm...nobody home,
I guess..." He crosses the floor to the ale tap, pours himself a mug, and
wearily sits down at a corner table....Propping his feet up, he takes a long
pull on the ale, rubs his eyes, and fingers the shiny new Amulet of Health
which he has just received from Nasher..."I can't believe its finally over,"
he muses, "all my initiation quests done.." As he thinks back on the
completion of his quests, he can't help but remember the time before he swung
his sword for TP.....
The wind whipped throught the rough cracks of the tiny, poorly-built cabin
which was Cail Swordshere's home...It was the dead of winter, a time when the
promise of spring seemed as far away as Neverwinter and the stories of the
realm which had captured his imagination for as long as he could remember....
"Get your head out of the clouds and back on the farm," Thomin Swordshere
used to tell his only son; "there's nothing for you in Neverwinter except
false dreams and death, and not necessarily in that order. Now's the time to
mend the plows and prepare for the Spring planting." But to Swordshear, an
entire life spent on the farm was the worst thing imaginable. So, the winter
days were spent secretly playing warrior in the small barn. Using a hoe
handle for a pretend sword, Swordshere killed hideous monsters, dispatched
countless evil foes, and saved hundreds of ladies in distress. "One day, I'm
leaving this place and never coming back," Swordshere would repeatedly say to
himself, "I'll become a famous hero, and then I'll show them." He didn't
know that "one day" would come sooner than he thought....
He had just gone into town for seed corn when he heard the news. "There are
bandits in the countryside," a young boy excitedly told him, "Outlaws from
Neverwinter." "Bandits?" Swordshere exclaimed breathlessly, "here?" He ran
to the town hall where a small band of determind farmers had gathered. The
men were dressed in a hodgpodge of rusty old armor; they carried weapons
better suited for tilling the earth than for killing men. Near the front,
looking dour and sad, was Thomin Swordshere. "Father, what are you doing
here?" the younger Swordshere asked. "This is men's business, run home and
protect your mother and sisters. Bolt the door, and don't open it for anyone
but me." "Can't I go with you and kill the bandits?" Cail begged his
father, "I'm nearly as old as some of the men here." "Go now, Son, I'm
counting on you," his father replied. The men left in a ragged column with
Swordshere standing in the middle of the street, watching them go. "Hmmphh,
mother will be fine," Swordshere uttered to himself,"I'm going along." In a
split second, he had made a decision which would alter his life forever....
Following the men at a distance, Swordshere snuck through the woods and
farmland. Suddenly, a few mile outside of town, the column halted and
deployed in a thin line. The bandit camp was just across the river. The
bandits, seeing the men before them, almost lazily formed a battle line and
marched across the shallow ford. "Oh, boy," Swordshere thought,"I'm finally
going to see a real battle." Unfortunately, it was over in brief flash of
flailing arms, glinting armor, and falling weapons....
Sowrshere half-ran, half-stumbled to what was left of the townsmen. men whom
he had known all his life lie as twisted forms, brutally hacked to pieces.
Finally, he found Thomin Swordshere. His father was dead, cold as stone.
Tears ran down Swordshere's face, he vomited into the grass. Shaking and
weak, he mindlessly stumbled through the woods towards home. Tearing his
clothes on the thorns and biars, he had only one thought in mind. How could
he tell his mother?....
When he topped the rise of the pasture near his home, the smell of smoke
became overpowering. He wandered, trance-like, across the fields which had
fed his family....
(To be Continued)Vilnask Encounter
(submitted by: Zindio)
I sit by me fire tonight with me plume in me hand, not to add to
me diary, but to add to the news in this land.
Perhaps ye be aquainted with excerps from me diary when I first
arrived here in the realms. If not, I be Zindio, son of Placid, a sylvankind
elf from the world of Weinimers. Me Mother was a human mage, and me foster
father,Soja, a Fighting Centaur.
My friend and ally,Xvandor, a great Cleric requested my presence in
Neverwinter. It was Xvandor that presented me to Tyst, Lord of The
Protectorate, and thats where I be now, a cadet for the guild.
Xvandor has guided my training in the realms and given me a purpose
to fight for as a member of The Protectorate.
It be of this that I wish to impart this eve.
<>
A night of fighting in Vilnast the forces of evil and hungry beasts
that be preying on innocent citizens found me tired and battered in the house
of Willo. His spouse has informed me that her husband has vanished without a
trace. I rest in the room that he was last seen in. I carefully examine the
room after waking and find a locked door. Bashing the door open I find
meself in a corridor smooth as the hands of a wood sprite and with colours as
varied as the God's ribbons of light that show through the clouds after a
rain.
Magic, methinks, made this. As I contemplate, a voice sounds behind
me. "Do ye wish company?" Startled I whirls around like the black twisting
storm clouds that ye sometimes see in the country. " Aye," I sez, " It might
be ifin ye be headed west and north." Treyvan, a young cleric of Chaotic
neutral upbringing, starts to reply when into the corridor springs a banshee
and six Kraken spies. " Opps!" me sez, " Ifin company ye wanted, we got it."
Quickly I strikes the nearest Kraken and down he goes, Treyvan also hits one
and he bleeds. All the spies are then put to sleep by Treyvan and I kill
them as fast as a stirge will suck out your life's blood.
The Banshee is sucking out Treyvan's spirit and it seems as he canna
hit her.
Me magic trident sends her to a place of rest.
Now I ask me new friend if he has any magic weapons. "Nay." he sez.
" Can ye use a cleric scroll?" I ask. "Aye." he sez, his face lighting
up like a summer's morn.
Now I have a cleric scroll with me that I took in a fight with three
minataurs and I was going to present them to Tyst, Lord of The Protectorate.
Reflecting on this took less time than a Faery's flight betwixt worlds.
Treyvan needed to be protected and I had the means to do so. I give him the
scroll and he informs me it is magic to cause serious wounds.. Great
methinks, better than a dagger. I ask only that Tyst be informed of where he
obtained the scroll. We converse a little more and I tells him of the plight
of Willo. He informs me that an evil mage has Willo somewhere East of the
Dracs.
"Let's go!" I sez, and start in the direction of the Dracs of Vilnast.
About three kilometers north we are surronded by Giant red scorpians and a
hugh cloud giant. "Use the scroll!" I yell, as I kill the nearest scorpian
beast. Quick I see him cast and a scorpian is down to its knees, The cloud
giant swings a hammer at me head, I ducks and strike the next scorpian , Down
it goes but not before acid is splaterred all over me body.
I looks over at Treyvan and see him fall, a trip to the gate he is going
to take, two more citizens enter the fight and as I take another lick at a
scorpian acid washes over me, my vision fades and I will be at the gate soon.
As I sit here reflecting on matters, I know ive done the right thing, the
scroll I gave Treyvan will be used in other fights and help protect Treyvan,
and I hope, other citizens.
I sit here sipping spiced elfin wine and a resolve to find Willo, for I be
Zindio, TP Cadet..
<>After Death Called for Her
(submitted by: Madd Cynic)
Painful Love
Passionate death
Grip me
In your immortal kiss
Take me
As I am
Before time
Steals the moment
Breathe my last breath with me
Who will know?
Who will see?
A generation mix
Hopeful chance at bliss
Stolen away with a kiss
Tell me now
Of our ways
Kill me now?
It's all the same
My heart calls for you
Shot down without a doubt
Frozen heart, too hurt to tell
Ask me now
What you will
I'll answer you
With your promise to kill
Dance with me
A chance at death
Solemn dependence
Forever still
Close at heart
Forever more
Mother's breast
Sister's breath
One last chance
To mingle with death
Dreams held high
A chance to die
Embrace me now
I plead with you
Eternity in hell
All for you
Painful stare
Eyes so glazed
Take me with you
Lift the veil
Angel's cries
A demon's song
I'll endure it all
Anything for you
You leave me now?
At a time like this?
This heart knows no bliss
Tears are wasted on time
Memories of when you were alive
Taste my life as I feel your death
Cold hands, feverish sweat
Looking back with remembrance
Your face so white
Your lips so red
Is there anything left to be said?
Rest now my love
I am here
Sleep well and be patient
I will soon be there!
The Beginnings of a Hero - Part 2
(submitted by: True Shield)
Once, in a realm far far away from the mainlands of Faerun, there was a group
of islands. They were unknown to all except for the few peoples that lived
there. This is the story of one Darrian Trueshield, and his quest to find
his place in the world, and long forgotten Isles of Windermere.
Last time we left Darrian, he was on a caravan with his father, and a friend
with most of the residents of his town, Yertok, to Neverwinter. On the trip
they were besieged by a group of raiders, and Darrian's father and friend,
Gryfor, were slain in the battle. Darrian met two new friends: Valik, a
cleric of Torm, and Griffin, a mage. They and a group of other survivors
decided to surrender to the cleric Kanusy. Now for the story of their
escape, and their plan to warn Neverwinter of the impending danger.
Chapter Seven
Darrian was nervous like many of the others. They were being held in a
holding car awaiting the cleric Kanusy to decide what to do with them. The
car was totally made of steel bars that were totally magic resistant
according to Griffin. The floor, walls, and ceiling were steel as well. It
had giant restraints that were far too large for a human secured to the
walls.
"I wonder if this was meant to hold prisoners. It doesn't seem conventional.
It is too secure." Valik said strike up conversation.
"It isn't." Griffin commented grimly.
"Then what is it for?" Darrian replied delighted to have some sort of
conversation.
"It is for the summoning rituals of monsters. By the looks of it,
elementals, golems, and maybe the raising of undead creatures." Griffin
replied.
"That means if we had attacked, we would have been slaughtered like herd
animals." one person said.
"Well, there is still one main question. What is Kanusy going to do with us?
With creatures like the one's Griffin mentioned, he could have just killed us
all in the first place. Why leave survivors?" Valik commented.
"I dont know. But, I do have good news. None of the creatures that this car
is used to summon need sacrifices." Griffin inserted quickly.
"Here he comes!" yelled one person.
Everyone cleared the way so Darrian could speak to Kanusy. Griffin made sure
that he was close to Kanusy in case he would try any magical trickery.
Kanusy had changed robes from a cleric to a mage, and Griffin told Darrian
that he had some powerful warding spells about him.
"I hope your stay hasn't been too uncomfortable. I have a propasition for
you. I want to know if you would consider joining my army. Your pay will be
good, and you will be lead by the most capable generals in the realms."
Kanusy said in an charismatic voice.
"What do you mean by joining your army? What are you planning to do?"
Darrian asked.
"I will not tell you everything until you join me, but I will tell you this.
My army is planning to attack a major capital city that is within one month
travel of here. We have very powerful forces, and if all is successful, we
will have minimal causalties. However, I need more man power. That's why I
didn't kill all of you instantly. I hope you see things my way. If you
don't join me, I will put you all out of your misery." Kanusy said
uninterrupted.
"We need some time to think. I cannot decide for the whole group." Darrian
said unsure of what to say.
"Kanusy, You know that with all the supernatural monsters you are using, they
will evenually break away from your control. You know that they will kill
you first. It's not a matter of if, but when." Griffin said in order to get
some advantage over Kanusy.
"You have a keen mind mage, but it will do you no good if you don't join me.
I will have my way, and as for the monsters, they will die after I am through
with them." Kanusy said with great effort to keep from striking out at
Griffin.
Kanusy then left through the door to leave them with their thoughts. Darrian
thought to himself as he paced the room. He knew he couldn't say no because
they would all die. He couldn't say yes because they killed his friends, and
family. He knew he had to find a way to escape, but how?
Chapter Eight
It was night time. Darrian decided that for the first time that he would use
his gift to read dreams, and act with them to harm someone. He waited till
everyone was asleep, which was easy considering the curcumstances. After
three hours, everyone was asleep. Even Griffin who never seemed to tire. He
layed himself on the floor, and concentrated his thoughts on Kanusy. His
vision became to fade, and at last, his eyes closed.
He was all alone. The ground was a wet mist. He searched Kanusy's mind for
something he wouldn't suspect. He found it. It was a man named Rettind. He
was the general for Kanusy's army. Darrian walked forward in Kanusy's mind.
He let himself drift with Kanusy's, looking for anything that would tell him
something useful about his plans, and a way to escape.
He saw a boneyard. It had a thin man in the middle of the field. He saw the
bones rising. They were floating, no, they were forming skeletons. They
were dragons. Huge dragons. They breathed fire, and had a terrifiing gaze.
Then, he walked down some stairs, they went on for an eternity. Finally, it
came to a dark pool. It was pitch black, not from absence of light, but from
a darkness raidating from within. He saw a flaw in Kanusy's plan, but it was
strange. Their execution would be public. They would have a window of
opportunity. Darrian would make a distraction by killing the wizard Rettind.
He saw something else in the pool. It was a skull, but not any skull. It
was sick with decay, and disease. He saw a figure behind it, and then a
thrid. He saw the third figure's hand open up. It had a world in it. He
took his hand, and crushed it. Darrian herd millions of screams. He felt
their pain, and then, he too screamed in agony.
"Wake up! Wake up!" Valik screamed at Darrian's face, shaking him.
"What? What?" Darrian said groggily.
"Are you ok? You were screaming about skeletons, and a dark pool." Valik
said with concern.
"I'm ok. I know how we can escape. Follow just my lead when they try to
execute us." Darrian said to them.
"I'll tell the others to go along." Griffin said.
Chapter Nine
It was a cloudy day. The wind blew with an eerie howl as it swept its way
past the army. It was cold, and was a grim reminder of the coming winter.
The car was filled with an intense sense of nervousness amoung the group.
Darrian was preparing himself for the upcoming battle. Valik was having his
morning prayers of devotion, while Griffin was preping spells for the
upcoming battle. All the others were setting their equipment up for a battle
they all knew only a few would survive if any.
Darrian's head hurt from searching Kanusy's dreams. He felt drained, and out
of touch. They had eggs, and bacon for breakfast, but that didn't help. He
was too worried. He felt responsable for everyone in the group. He thought
if any died it was on his hands. "But," he said to himself,"It's not my
fault. It is there choice to do this, and they want me to lead them. I will
just have to try my best."
"That's the spirit!" Valik exclaimed while laughing.
"Oh. I didn't know I was thinking out loud." Darrian replied.
"Don't worry about it. Everyone does at sometime, or another." Valik
replied.
Griffin walked up to them, and told them everything was set up according to
Darrian's plan. Griffin then sat down, and set some minor protective spells
on them, and then went on to protect others. Valik did the same.
Finally, it was the moment of truth. Kanusy had approched the door of the
holding car. Kanusy address the gaurds, and told them to open the car, and
let them out. Everyone walked out with a sigh of relief from getting out of
the tight space.
"I have come to ask you about your decision. Will you join my army?" Kanusy
proclaimed in front of the company of warriors.
"We have chosen... Not to join your army." Darrian proclaimed in the proudest
voice he could make.
"Then you will be executed. Rettind, Slay them!" Kanusy exclaimed.
That moment, out of no where, a huge dragon appeared with a wizard on its
back. It was a dracoliche Griffin noticed. Darrian recognized it from the
dream searching. Valik's spell of bravery worked. No one froze from its
gaze.
Darrian pulled out a magic dagger he asked Valik to bless. He threw it at
the mage with an accuracy that a champion would envy. At the same time,
Rettind cast a lightning bolt at Darrian, just before the blessed dagger
found his forehead. The lightning bolt streaked toward Darrian at breakneck
speed. To him it was all in slow motion. He saw the bolt coming toward his
chest, but he was not afraid. He was amazingly calm. He could almost see
his father, and he heard him say "It is not your time." The bolt hit
Darrian. He screamed a terrifiing yelled that was unmistakably a death
scream as it hit him. He flew backwards fifty feet before he hit the ground.
Darrian closed his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
Valik saw Darrian die before his eyes. He could see sparks of energy still
running across his armor. Now was the time to strike. He gave Griffin the
signal. Griffin whipped out a wand. He aimed it at the dracoliche, and used
the wand's last charge. A huge firball struck the ground underneath the
Dracoliche. It sent it flying on to its back, and fortunatly knocked it
unconsious temporarily.
Griffin cast a spell that took them directly to the old cave where they had
escaped to after the original assualt. They quickly set up the trap. Valik
hurried up the mountain to his post. Griffin found himself a hding spot,
until it was time for him to strike. Eight warriors were at the entrance to
the cave, and more were inside. The drac came flying toward them at what
seemed to be an impossible rate. It came at the warriors at the entrance of
the cave. It first used its breath that incenerated six of them, and crushed
one other. As the last one ran into the cave, the Drac reached its head into
the cave. The man never knew what hit him.
The trap worked. The trap spring closed on the drac's neck. As the drac
tried to use its wing to get out, Griffin cast a lightning blot at the drac's
wings, and it worked. Its wings were blown off completely.
Now it was Valik's turn. He took his mace and swung at a boulder that was on
the verge of falling. The boulder fell on the drac, and destroyed it beyond
any chance of regeneration, or resurrection.
Chapter Ten
"Blast those accursed jackels! They killed my best mage, and one of my
dracoliches!" Kanusy screamed in rage.
"Sir, what should we do with the body of the dead one?" one soldier asked.
"Throw his body in the river. Send the firehounds out. I want those caravan
scalawags dead, and now!" Kanusy ordered.
The gaurd walked slowly over to Darrian's body, and carried it to the river
where he dumped it. Paused for a moment to watch the body drift away, and
then went back to his duties.
Kanusy held a meeting among his generals about how they would attack the
cities nearbye. He had two more generals left since Rettind died. They were
Horusk, and Freewind. They were both old, but they were cunning, and knew
what they were doing.
"We should follow this path along the foothills until we get to Yinred Pass.
We should then spread out into five groups, and travel all five paths. We
will exterminate anyone who sees us." Horusk said as he spread the map out
on the table.
"Do you agree Freewind?" Kanusy asked.
"I do. Its is the soundest plan I can think of to get through to Neverwinter
without raising a lot of commotion. We can easily exterminate the fisherman
villages that are on the foothills."
* * * * * *
"I still can't believe it." That was all Valik could say about the death of
his new friend Darrian. Griffin came over beside him, and gave him some tea
in an attempt to comfort his friend.
"I can't either. He had so much potential, and he was still so young. He
was only twenty two years old. He was a good friend while he was alive. It
is time for us to go to sleep. I have first watch. You need the rest."
Griffin said.
"Alright. Good night." Valik said. Two minutes later, he was already
snoring.
They were camped beside the river, downstream for the army's camp. Griffin
thought to himself as he went through his spellbook, and kept watch at the
same time. He really did miss Darrian much more than he cared to, but then
Darrian was a likable guy.
He sat down on the flattest rock he could find, and ate some of his iron
rations while studying. He thought about what they should do. Darrian had
told him a fisherman village was near the foothills of the Yinred mountains.
He quickly decided what to do. They would go to the halflings, and buy some
horses and supplies.
Then, he took out his map. There was too many cities in one month's travel
to warn them all. In fact, he had only time to warn one. Then he knew he
would have to get into the army's camp again, and find out. But how?
* * * * * * *
Jotnat was a halfling. He was on his weekly trip to fish in the Yinred
River. He wass reeling in a fish net as the net caught its self on
something. He could see a large, dark figure in the water. As he got closer
he could make out the shape, a hand. "By an elf's beard!" he thought. It
was a human.
He jumped into the water as fast as he could, and raced for the man in the
water. He took his knife, and shredded the net to keep from breaking the
man's neck. He pulled the man head out of the water.The man, as far as he
could tell, was twenty five years old, and had stunningly blue eyes, and a
full head of dark hair.
He put his finger to the man's neck. Their was no life in him. Another
thing he noticed. He was wearing plate mail, but he didn't weight like he
did.
"Well, I'd better get him to the cleric before he rots." the halfling said
with a grunt as he hauled the body into his boat.
Chapter Eleven
Valik, and Griffin were one day's travel from Rammorock Point. They were
camped at the edge of a patch of secluded woods. They had spend the last two
days dodging Kanusy's patrols.
"It is only a matter of time before they catch us. We need horses, and now."
Valik said as he cooked dinner over a fire.
"I know that, but we have only one more day's travel before we get to
Rammorock Point. There we will get both Darrian, and some horses. Then we
can form a plan to keep Kanusy's army from trashing the city he was talking
about." Grffin said back.
"But which city is he going to attack? They are five cities within a three
week travel of Yinred Pass. There is no way to get to them all." Valik
asked.
"We will just have to..."
That moment, a firehound lept into the light from the fire. Griffin cast a
spell, and a great icy wind blew by them. Valik knew he cast an ice storm
spell. The beast's body was frozen into a statue, and another hound lept
toward Griffin. He teleported to an area behind the hounds. All but one
turned toward Griffin, the last going for Valik.
Valik took out his mace, and swung just as the beast lept at him. It
connected with the beast's head, but the mace merely bouced off. The impact
knocked Valik on the ground, and he struggled to keep the thing off his
throat as the hound's firey breath seared his arm. Suddenly, he heard a
wizzing sound before a crossbow bolt hit the creature in the neck. It got
off of Valik, and turned toward the stranger. Valik had his chance. He put
his hand on the creature's back, and cast a poison spell. The firehound
dropped to the ground in a heap.
The stranger now ran to help Griffin. He was approching the back of one of
the hounds when one lept on to him, knocking him to the ground. Its claws
ripped at the armor, but to no effect. The stranger repeatedly stabbed it in
the stomach, hoping it would find an organ vital to the creature. It hit,
and the creature fell into a heap.
By then, Griffin had already killed the other three hounds.
"Thanks for the help stranger." Valik said.
"You're welcome." a bold voice rang out.
"So, who are you, what were you doing, trying to save our lives?" Griffin
proclaimed in relief.
"Sarwin, and yes I was saving your lives." Sarwin answered.
Sarwin was a light hiared, fair skinned fellow, with an average height, and a
grey beard. He wore a chain mail, helm, and shield. He was definately a
paladin.
"Well, now that we know that they've found us, let's get moving to that
halfling village, and get ourselves some transportation." Valik said.
"Let's go. You can fill me in on the situation on the way. Including why
you have firehounds chasing you." Sarwin replied.
They all began picking up the camp, and headed toward the fisherman's village
not knowing who else was headed that way.
* * * * * * *
Jotnat had left the stranger''s body with the village cleric, Hunin. He was
helping Hunin put the body in place so he could bless him on the alter so he
wouldn't rot.
"You found him in the river you say," the Hunin said to strike up
conversation. "I doubt that he was from the army. His body is to fresh. If
I didn't know better, I would swear he was alive."
"I would to Hunin. He almost looks like he could pop up at any moment,"
Jotnat replied. "Well, I need to go. I'll see you soon"
"Bye." Hunin said as he prepared the man's body to be purified.
He placed his hands over the man's chest, and cast a spell of blessing. He
put his amulet of prayer over his face, and noticed something. The man's
armor was glowing slightly. He cast a spell of magical detection. The armor
gave off the telltale glow, and all the sudden, the man's features were no
longer of someone who had died recently.
His skin was returning to its normal color. The man was breathing now, and
his fingers twitched.
"By an elf's beard!" Hunin thought in an attempt to decipher what was
happening. Then it came to him. He was never dead. The armor cast an
illusion to protect him until he was safe. Hunin then ran to his cabinent to
get some healing potions, and then waited for the man to regain conciousness.
"Maybe he can tell us what that army is doing in our hills." the halfling
thought to him self.
___________________________________________________________________
This is Part 2 of the Beginnings of a Hero Series. Next time, Sarwin, Valik,
and Griffin journey to the halfling village, and have a conflict with Kanusy
that they will never forget. You will also learn more about kanusy's dark
plan for the realms as well as Darrian's quest to find his friends, and save
them from Kanusy's forces in Yinred Pass.Writings from Laerges
(submitted by: Laerges)
Greetings
I call 'Hail' to all who know the path path is there to be seen if only one
looks. I am Laerges Avenil, the Freewalker, last of the Aran'con. I find as I
look back upon my life, that my past is shadowy to me. I know I have lived
through and experienced much. I can feel this within, giving me what I would
call a kind of wisdom, but for the most, it is hidden from me. Hear this, as
I would say it was no foul magic, but myself who has denied me knowledge of
most of my past. The things I can recall are few, but for you, and the offer
of your companionship I will do so.
The first I remember of my life are the two who would call themselves my
parents. I owe part of who I am to them, though I give even that to them
grudgeingly. You see, I do not have the luxury of saying my parents were
killed by orcs, or giants, or even killed at all. I never had ease of mind of
knowing they gave there life in the aid of good. 'Ease of mind,' 'luxuruy,'
you say? Yes I tell you though I grieve, and with genuine sorrow, for those
of you who's parents have lost their lives to evil, I say it is worse to know
that your parents have lost their souls to such.
My father, and I say that only in so much as he sired me, was a fighter. I
have rarely seen his equal in battle, and only recently come to believe I
could defeat him myself. He was the leader of a band of brigands known as the
Raurin Gau'rin, perhaps he still is, what is left of them.
He taught me to fight well, but with a brutality, I will never forget. Often
times he would slay his own men in a practice match just to show me a new
strike. He never hesitated with his strikes against me, one time running me
through, and leaving me for dead. This was the first time I saw another path
to life.
As I lay there dying, hating my father with all that I was, more so the evil
that drove him, a man came from the forest, and knelt down beside me. I felt
peace come over me first as he took my bloodied hand in his, then the cold
fire ran through me, and I could feel my broken body mending itself. While
the young priest was working his magic, I strained through the pain to listen
to his words. Only one word came clear, a name he spoke with reverance.
Mielikki.
When he had finished, he gave what I assumed must have been thanks and I
would have sworn I could hear the very land around him, the animals
themselves, respond to this. This, I would have passed off as a hallucination
had the man not looked at me then as if searching for something. I thought by
his gaze he had realized who's son I was, and had decided to undo his
healing. He did not. He simply looked at me for a while, and said,'You can
hear it, can't you?' I expected more, but he only chuckled and turned from me
to walk away into the woodlands.
Most of the rest of that night, is very hazy. I know I went back to the band.
What else did I know to do? When I got there, some were amazed, most were
indifferent. I had been brought away from the point of death, but not
completely healed. Those who cared assumed the strike had been less
grieveous, than it had seemed. When my father saw me I could see the fire of
rage in his eyes, but in front of everyone else he simply toughted the
incredible constitution of his blood running through me. Later in the night,
things were much different.
After the men had passed out from their drink my father asked me into his
tent. I went in and saw my mother was there. Some glimmer in me wanted him to
continue his praise of before, with her joining. They did not. Instead, he
waited no more than a second after I entered the large tent, and hit me
square across the jaw. I said he was one of the best, and he was. He knew to
pull his punch just enough to keep me from going out like a wind blown
candle. I don't remember much after that, I just know that he screamed and
struck, blaming me for making him look bad. I had lived when I should not
have, and now he believed the men would respect his prowess less, that I had
survived what he had meant a death blow.
All the while my mother, a thief by nature, sat there sneering at my pain.
Occasionly she would offer me a hand to get up, only to let me fall at the
last. She had never treated me well, but had also not been near as brutal in
her 'training' of me, and was my father. It was her that did the most damage
that night, though she never struck a single blow to my body.
After having their fill and falling to slumber, I got up, and made my way out
of the camp, using the skills taught to me by my mother. She was easily as
good at her chosen life as my father was at his, and it was childs play to
make my way through the sleeping camp.
For the next three weeks I followed the band as they made their way through
the woodlands striking caravans on the roads. I used the time to heal the my
wounds as best I could. My mother had some knowledge of herbs, and had passed
it on to me. I tracked the band, not knowing the half of what I thought I
would need to keep to their trail.
Sometimes I found myself lost, or not knowing which way the band had gone. At
these times something would stick out, something I would not even conciously
recognize. It was these little things that somehow kept me on track after the
band.
During my time alone in the woodlands, I began to find peace within myself. I
could not want to embrace it though, not yet. I wanted revenge on the band.
On my Parents. Even though I saw the evil they did to others, it was my
revenge that drove me. I know now, it should not have been.
A few times when I caught up to the band, they were stalking a caravan. I
wanted to help the guards defend the caravan, but my revenge got in the way.
I would fear losing my life in the fight, and not being able exact my
revenge. I stayed back, cringing, a coward. Each time I would grieve for the
lost, and myself. The only help I could give was to bury the dead. One day
something changed.
It was three weeks to the day that I had left, and I came upon the band as
they were bearing down upon another caravan. The guards were ready, and for
that I was thankful. I hoped that perhaps they would win this time, but I did
not believe they would. I adopted my usual mindset of apathy as the battle
began. It never worked completely, I always felt the pain inside.
Though I did not know it at first, something would be different this time.
The guards did something I had not seen before. Instead of gathering around
the wagons, they made a defensive circle around two young women. I could see
my father at the front, of the band, he was setting Jorl and Kerrin, the
bands finest crossbowmen, to take the two women down. I did not know what was
important about the women yet, I had not had enough time to study them, but I
figured it did not matter, since they would soon be dead. Jorl and Kerrin did
not miss.
They let fly the bolts as the band came in for the attack, and I followed
their path. At first it did not register as the bolts flew slightly off the
mark just before they hit. Some sort of barrier I imagined, now it made sense
why they were being guarded. They must have magic at their command, and my
father knew it. No matter, I thought, though the killing aim had been changed
the bolts still hit.
I watched as the two women went down, one hit in the arm, the other in the
lower midsection. They were not dead, but would be soon enough. Something
caught my eye then, as I watched them fall, something I had missed before.
One of the women wore a symbol, one I had seen only once before. One that had
been worn by a man who had saved my life.
Something changed in me that day. My desire for revenge all but disappeared,
and no longer was I afraid to die and leave my own petty goals unfinished. I
knew there was something bigger in the world. It all made sense then, my life
was not my own. It belonged to someone else, but not the man who saved me,
but rather to the one who really saved.
I knew then that someone was calling me. I did not have to answer, it was my
choice. I saw then, for the first time, the path of my life, and knew that
did I answer, it would not be an all together easy one. I knew, though, that
it would be a better one, a journey on which I would find peace from the
things that burned inside of me.
The strength at arms taught me by my father, the skills and agility taught me
by my mother, and the peace of soul given me by the woodlands once seperate,
and warring components of myself, now fit together. I did not know what I was
then by name. I did, however, know who was responsible for giving me the gift
of being able to be who I was. I called upon that one as I descended the hill
to the aid of the caravan.
'Aid me Mielikki.'Was all I said as I stood, and began my charge.
Everything that is the woodland opened up to me then, as I ran at my full
stride toward the battle. Things that I would never have noticed before were
mine to see as easily as I might a boulder in front of me. Smells, sounds,
all things seemed to touched my sense now.
I let out my most blood curdiling scream, hehe, it has improved over the
years, but at least it did serve to distract the band, and the guardsmen for
a moment. Running as I was, clad in worn clothing still covered with
bloodstains, and bedragled, holding only my massive twohanded sword above my
head, I must have been a sight. I do not think anyone knew who I was coming
to aid, and most probably thought I was an insane hermit that may as well
have been running after another fight. Their mistake.
The fighting resumed as I got to the first bandsmen, and I still do not think
anyone recognized me. With one swift clean stroke I took the man in two. The
sides were known now, and the momentary distraction of my scream was gone,
and I knew the rest of the fight would not be easy.
I never would have thought it, but I turned the tide of the battle, just
enough so that the band was repelled. Besides my father, and a few choice
warriors with him, the rest of the band was composed of cowards who had
little taste for a fight when it was not a sure thing. Between the caravan
guards, and myself, an end was put to enough of the band that they became
disheartened by the possibility of defeat.
I believe at the end of the fight my father recognized me, not so much by my
appearance, but by how I fought. I also believe he wanted to come after me
right then, but of all the things he lacks, inteligence is not one. With
most of the band retreating he knew he must go, or be caught or killed.
With the band in retreat, roughly half of the caravan guards went after them,
more to see that they kept running, rather than to hunt them down. I made my
way through the men, some of which were thanking me for the aid, most of
which watched me somewhat suspiciously. As I got closer to the two women, I
saw that besides the one I knew to be a priestess, the other seemed to be a
mage. Both were hurt, but the priest had healed the worst part of the damage
to the mage, and was tending to herself now.
That day was the most important of my life. I had learned who I was before
the fight. Now I met the priestess face to face, saw in her eyes a wisdom I
had never seen before, a peace I longed to know. She then told me what I was.
'Well met. My name is Ghlyal, priest of Mielikki, and I thank you good ranger
for your aid.'With this she smiled as much as the pain would let her.
Though I became a ranger without knowing it, I gladly, then as now accept
what that is.
Ghlyal, the priest, and her sister Jenna, the mage, taught me much over the
years, saving my life a few times as well. In those years, I gained many
stories to tell, but mostly I came to understand what it means to be a
ranger, and also to know, thanks to Jenna, what it means to be a mage as
well.
This is part of the history that has brought me to where I am today. I hope I
have not bothered any of you, or bored you. I am after all a ranger, and not
bard, but perhaps having stories to tell makes one able to tell them with
some sense of how to go about the telling.
Well, I thank you for your listening, and the shared warmth of your fire this
night. I must be off to the outlands again, but perhaps I will return and
tell again what stories I might know, if you find them to your liking. Be
well on your path good company.
Laerges AvenilThe Coppery-Haired Beauty - Part
1
(submitted by: V Itaina)
I saw her there as I entered the inn she looked lost and bewildered and very
alone. I stepped up to the bar and ordered two bottles of wine and a meal. I
went to sit at a table and asked the coppery haired woman to join me. She sat
not quite knowing what to make of me but I reassured her in that special tone
of voice those of us can use that I was quite friendly and only wished to
share my time with another so called kindred spirit. She accepted and I asked
her what had brought her here to the town of Never Winter. Slowly as she
drank more wine and ate the meal before her she told me of her life and how
she had come to be here.
Having grown up in a small outpost called Luskan on a farm she told me that
one day she had been out gathering herbs and berries for her mother to use.
When she returned she discovered her family brutally murdered and the house
in shambles. She knew her father had kept his weapons in a safe place along
with a few pieces of platinum so she gathered all that she could find and
left without another glance. She had always dreamed of a life of adventure
and such. She had just never figured to get it. Certainly not in this manner.
So slowly she made her way down to the inn in Port Llast. There coming upon a
group of seasoned adventurers who offered her passage to the town of
NeverWinter. She traveled with them for many a day and night until finally
coming to the Red Mage Inn. There she parted company with them as they took
yet another assignment. She had learned a bit about the ways of war and saw
wonderful magic being made by those adventures. She wanted to train in these
arts also but when she went to apply they told her she needed more training
than what she new.
So she came back here to the Red Mage Inn looking for one who would train
her. I smiled at her and looked into her eyes seeing the desire for power war
within her very being. I introduced myself as Itaina. I offered her a place
in my household and told her that if she did well and obeyed without question
I would see to her training. She agreed to this and I took her home with me
that eve. I informed my servant Shelia to prepare the guest chamber for her.
Taking her into my study I began to outline the rules of our relationship:
1) She will obey any and all orders given her by either myself, Shelia, or
her trainers.
2) I will not see much of her for the next few months but I will be
monitoring your progress.
3) You will not leave this compound without my direct permission. Do you
accept?
She looked at me and said in a soft whisper... "yes". I rang for Shelia and
had her show our new resident her quarters. I then retired for the evening
leaving detailed written instructions for my newest guest. When she awoke the
next afternoon she found much to her suprise a bath was waiting for her along
with a tray of food. Wandering about her new room she opened the wardrobe to
discover some beautiful clothing in her size. Glancing over at the dresser
she found a note addressed to her from Itaina. She opened it to read the
following:
Please feel free to use any and all items your new chambers. When you have
bathed and dressed Shelia will take you shopping and properly outfit you as
you need to be. Do not worry about the bills as I have made arrangements to
cover it all.
~Itaina~
So she took her bath and ate her tray of food and called silently for Shelia
who came immediately to her. They left then after she had dressed and Shelia
took her to the modiste her mistress used knowing what her mistress wanted in
the way of clothing. After about two hours of looking over fabrics, colors,
and laces she made her purchases and had it arranged for them to be delivered
to the house when finished. They next went to an armory to purchase weapons
and armor. She chose a flail, chain mail, and a shield figuring this would be
a good learning combination. They then went home to see all they had bought
this day. she was quite happy with all of it. A Neverwinter Nights Tale
(submitted by: Sister Jen)
Dawn lightened the early morning sky, the first golden rays of the sun
appearing over the eastern horizon. The crow of several cocks in the village
signalled the beginning of a new day. A stocky brown stallion bore its rider
to his estate on the outskirts of the village. The rider stabled his horse,
fed it, and entered his house. There he found his young wife in labor, tended
to by the local midwife.
The midwife looked up. "Milord Tarr, your arrival is timely," she said. "Pray
fetch me some cool water for the lady."
Tarr brought the water to the midwife, who soaked a clean rag in it and used
it to cool the head and neck of the young woman. "Bear down, Rachel. The
child is almost here."
Rachel sighed with the effort of her labor. This was to be her first child.
She knew nothing of bearing children and so she was nervous. But the midwife
had helped deliver a score of children in her forty-two years and Rachel
trusted her.
Tarr held Rachel's left hand, trying to reassure her. He whispered a brief
prayer for the safe birth of his first child. Being able to do little more
for his wife made him feel almost powerless. It was an unwelcome feeling.
Rachel cried out in pain suddenly. "The child is coming," said the midwife.
"Push, milady. Push hard! Put your heart into it!"
"You can do it, Rachel," said Tarr anxiously. "Be strong!"
Rachel took a deep breath and pushed. She winced, grunted, then screamed.
Tarr trembled and wished he could take her pain upon himself. "I see the
head," said the midwife. "One more push!"
Rachel pushed again; screamed again. Knowing her pain would not stop now
until the baby came out completely, she put all her strength into her
efforts. "The shoulders are out," said the midwife. "You're almost there,
lamb!" The midwife gently took hold of the baby's shoulders and gave a slight
pull. Rachel's pain ebbed gradually, then subsided. "Splendid, Rachel!" cried
the midwife. She turned the baby over. "You have a girl!"
Tarr squeezed Rachel's hand and kissed her on the forehead as the baby gave
its first cry. The midwife cut the umbilical cord, washed the baby, and
placed her in Rachel's arms. Rachel took the baby gingerly and held her
against her breast.
"A fine child, Rachel," said Tarr. "What shall we call her?"
Rachel thought. "How about Jen, after your mother?"
Tarr nodded. "Jen," he said.
**********
The young elf brandished his toy sword. "Halt, wench!" he said, pretending to
be a robber. "Hand over your purse!"
The young girl pretending to be his intended victim drew a toy flail from her
belt. "I'll hand you three lumps on your pointy-eared head!" she retorted.
The two children circled, brandished their weapons, fenced. Sand-filled
pouches bounced off soft wood as the elf struck aside a blow from the girl's
flail. The girl jumped over a thrust from the elf's sword. Toy weapons
clashed again. The cords of the girl's flail wrapped around the elf's sword.
The girl gave a yank and the elf's sword was pulled from his grasp. Pulling
the sword free, the girl swung her flail again and the pouches struck the elf
flush over the mouth.
"Spit teeth, Meferrin!" laughed the girl. "I beat you again!"
"Don't brag, Jen," said Meferrin. "If my father knew as much about fighting
as yours does, I'd have learned more than enough to beat you ten times over
by now!"
Jen stuck out her tongue. "Nanner, nanner. You can't catch me either!" She
turned and ran; Meferrin gave chase. As they neared the woods, Jen tripped
over something and fell down. "Hey, are you all right?" Meferrin asked.
Jen pulled herself to her feet. "Dumb rock," she grumbled. Then she saw it
was shinier than a rock. She pulled it out of the dirt. "That's no rock,"
said Meferrin. "That's a bottle of some kind. Wonder who left it here?"
Jen examined the bottle, then pulled the stopper out of it. A thick red smoke
began to pour out of it. Jen dropped the bottle and both children stepped
back. The mist began to take shape.
The creature stood six and a half feet tall, and had broad shoulders. Its
skin was bright red. It had yellow eyes, and black nails on its fingers and
toes. "I am Sa-Lews, mightiest of efreet," it said in a booming voice. It
peered down at Jen and smiled wickedly. "Ahh, a little girl. How old are you,
child?"
"E-Eight," said Jen. "You're not going to hurt us, are you?"
The efreet laughed. "Of course not. You set me free. For that, in return for
a small sacrifice, I shall grant you a wish."
Jen knit her brows in confusion. "A sacrifice? What do you want from me?"
"That depends on what you wish for," said Sa-Lews. "Use your wish wisely.
What is your heart's desire?"
Jen looked at Meferrin, then back at the efreet. "My friend here can see in
the dark," she said. "The sage says it's because he has something called
'ultravision.' I want to be able to have that."
The efreet passed its hand over Jen's head. The girl's eyes glowed for a
minute. Suddenly everything began to grow darker. Jen looked around,
suddenly frightened. Within a minute she could not see a thing. Jen screamed.
"My eyes," she cried out. "What have you done to me?"
A wicked laugh boomed from in front of her. "Your wish has been granted,"
said the voice of Sa-Lews. "You can now see Ultraviolet light, which humans
cannot normally see. The price you must pay is to relinquish your normal
sight. Ultravision only works at night, since ultraviolet light from the sun
is all around you during the day. When your Ultravision is dormant, you are
BLIND! AAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!"
Jen fell to her knees and screamed horribly. Her screams and the efreet's
booming laughter brought Jen's father running. "Fiend of fiends!" shouted
Tarr as he saw the efreet. He drew his sword and rushed at Sa-Lews, but the
efreet pointed and a wall of fire sprung up between itself and Tarr. "The
child has set me free," it said. "Now I shall wreak vengeance on the wizard
who imprisoned me! Farewell, mortals!" The efreet turned into red smoke again
and drifted away quickly. The wall of fire died down. Tarr dropped his sword
and picked Jen up. The crying girl threw her small arms around Tarr's neck.
"Daddy, I'm so scared!" she cried. "It's so dark! Why did that bad monster
hurt me?"
Tarr held his terrified daughter and thanked the gods that the efreet had not
done further harm to her. He looked down at the trembling Meferrin. "Are you
all right?" he asked.
Meferrin looked pale. "Th-that monster hurt Jen!" he stammered. "Why
couldn't I protect her?"
"There was nothing you could have done, child," said Tarr, drawing Meferrin
against him. "But I swear by the gods, if ever I meet that monster again, I
shall destroy it!"
**********
A knock sounded on the door of Tarr's house. Rachel opened it to see a holy
man standing before her.
The man bowed to Rachel. "I am Aquon of the Temple of the Golden Light," he
said. "We have received your letter. You wished to speak with me?"
Rachel let the man in and asked him to sit. Tarr came in from the adjacent
room. "You must be priest Aquon," he said. "Welcome. I'm sure you read our
letter. We seek your help."
Aquon looked around. "Why are your windows sealed up?"
"So that the sun does not shine through during the daytime," said Tarr.
"Several years ago, a powerful efreet robbed our daughter Jen of her normal
vision. She can only see in places where the sun is not shining. Thus we use
only candlelight in our house."
"Please bring me to her," said Aquon.
Tarr led Aquon to Jen's room. Jen was inside, playing a lute. "This is
priest Aquon from the Temple of the Golden Light," Tarr said to Jen. "We have
brought him here to help you."
"Please lie down on your bed, child," said Aquon.
Jen lay down and Aquon rested his hand on her forehead, speaking a prayer in
low tones. Suddenly his eyes snapped open and his hand shot back. He looked
startled. "This efreet," he said. "Did it tell you its name?"
Jen thought a minute. "Sa-Lews," she said. "It told me its name was Sa-Lews."
Aquon trembled. "What is wrong?" asked Tarr.
Aquon looked at Tarr. "Sa-Lews is a direct descendant of the first efreet
king. Its powers are comparable to a demigod. Its curses are especially
powerful. No mortal can nullify their effects."
"So what are we to do?" asked Tarr.
"There is one thing we can do," said Aquon, "if young Jen is willing."
Jen sat up. "Anything," she said.
"If you have attained to the age of sixteen years," said Aquon, "and are pure
of heart, we can induct you as an Acolyte of our temple. If you complete your
training, and take your vows as a priestess, our High Priest can petition the
gods to remove the efreet's curse. Only a full priest or priestess of our
order may receive such a favor. Are you willing to forsake this life, and
devote yourself to service to the gods?"
"I am seventeen," said Jen. "If the gods consider me pure enough, I will
gladly join you. There is nothing for me here in this village. I cannot learn
a respectable trade. I cannot tend to my family's fields. Many people fear me
because of my curse. This is truly an opportunity for me."
"So be it," said Aquon. "I will come for you in the evening."
The family was just finishing supper when Aquon came to pick up Jen. Jen had
her belongings gathered in a sack. Her parents and brother hugged and kissed
her and bid her good luck. Jen took up her sack, and after a final look
around her home, left with the priest.
**********
Morning came to the Temple of the Golden Light. The priests and acolytes rose
and gathered in the chapel for morning prayer.
"This is a special occassion," said the High Priest when the prayer was
completed. "Acolyte Jen has completed her training, and today at noon, may
take her vows and become a Sister of our Temple. When her vows are complete,
we may petition the gods to remove the curse placed on her by an efreet and
restore her normal eyesight."
The acolytes gathered around Jen to congratulate her. Jen smiled modestly and
thanked them for believing in her. The priests and priestesses filed into the
dining hall for breakfast, and the acolytes formed a double line to follow
them.
Noon came presently. The priests and priestesses gathered in the chapel. Jen
knelt before the altar. The High Priest spoke the blessing and sprinkled Jen
with holy water. Jen recited the vows of the order. Suddenly a great light
filled the chapel and shone down on Jen. The priests and priestesses looked
around nervously.
"I am Konjuro, steward of the god Tyr," said a resonant voice. "The chosen
one has been brought here at last, as was foretold 100 years before her
birth."
The High Priest looked confused. "A prophecy?" he asked. "We have never known
about a prophecy or a chosen one, nor have any who have served in this temple
over the past 100 years."
"You are priests, not sages," said the voice of Konjuro. "It was not your
place to know; only to do. Had you known, and attempted to seek out the
chosen one, her purity would have been violated. She had to come of her own
desire, not to fulfill the prophecy." Konjuro paused, then went on. "You are
Jen, the chosen one. It was the will of my master that you did set free the
efreet and receive its curse. You have endured the ordeal with courage,
strength, and perserverance. Now you shall be rewarded. Prepare to receive
the Eye of the Mind."
"What is the Eye of the Mind, reverent Konjuro?" asked Jen.
"The Eye of the Mind is a perfect vision that allows you to see all around
you without using your eyes," said Konjuro. "It allows you to look into
someone's heart and discern whether they are of good character. It will help
you decide who is trustworthy, and who seeks to do you harm." The light
shining down on Jen changed color to gold, and her forehead began to glow.
"Now you must venture forth into the world. Nasher, Lord of the town of
Neverwinter to the north, seeks to restore peace and safety to his lands and
the lands of Waterdeep. Crusade for his cause in the name of my master. 'Tis
there your destiny lies."
Jen closed her eyes and concentrated. Her mouth opened slowly. "It's
working," she said, turning her head from side to side. "Even with my eyes
closed, all around me is clear as crystal. I can see again! Praise be to
Tyr!" She lowered her head. "I shall do his bidding, reverent Konjuro. All
who meet me will know his glory."
The light grew softer. "High Priest," said Konjuro, "See that she is trained
in combat with a weapon that does not cut the flesh, and in the art of using
priestly magic. On Midsummer, she will be ready to journey to Neverwinter and
aid Lord Nasher's cause. The Temple of the Golden Light has prepared the
chosen one, who shall do great deeds in the name of my master. For this, you
will be remembered and looked on with favor."
The light slowly faded away. The High Priest helped Jen to her feet. "You are
now Sister Jen, priestess of the Temple of the Golden Light and servant of
Tyr," he said. "You have much ahead of you. It is sad that you must depart
us, but we know you will always be looked after."
**********
The High Priest and six priests stood with Jen at the doorway of the Temple
of the Golden Light. The treasurer gave her 150 gold pieces to buy some
equipment with. The High Priest placed a holy symbol of Tyr around her neck.
They all bowed to her and bid her farewell. Jen returned their bows and
pledged to uphold the honor of the temple. The goodbyes said, Jen turned and
strode resolutely off to Neverwinter.
Once in town, Jen found her way to an Arms & Armor shop. She purchased a
strong flail and a shield, and had herself fitted with a suit of banded mail.
Once outfitted, she walked up to Lord Nasher's palace.
The palace guards nodded respectfully to Jen at her approach. "Good
afternoon, young lady," said one of them. "You desire an audience with Lord
Nasher?"
Jen nodded. "I come to aid him in his crusade to restore peace and safety to
the country. I offer him my power, that he may use it towards these ends."
The guard smiled. "Ah, an adventurer. Good. We are in need of such people in
these times. Come, I will bring you to Lord Nasher."
Jen stood before Lord Nasher. "Thank you for joining my cause," said Lord
Nasher. "Each new adventurer who comes to work for me brings peace closer to
the country. What is your trade?"
"I am a priestess," said Jen, "and a servant of Tyr."
"And what shall I call you?"
A look of pride came to Jen's face. "Sister Jen," she said. "I am called
Sister Jen."
********** (submitted by: Loraque)
Whether you've just started Neverwinter, or have been playing for a some
time, you may have just realized that your demi-human character (dwarf, elf,
gnome, half-elf, or halfling) can't get the maximum level limits they're
entitled to for as a Fighter, Ranger, or Magic-User. (To quote the
Adventurer's Journal, "except for thieves, most non-human characters may not
advance to as high as level as the game provides for humans.")
What this says is that to get to the maximum Fighter or Ranger levels for
these races, your character has to have the highest natural strength for that
race (17 for halflings, and18+ for all other races). For example, you can be
a level 9 Dwarf Fighter, but only if your strength is 18+. If your strength
is 17, then the maximum Fighter level will be 8.
The same is true for elven and half-elf Magic-Users. To reach the highest
level as an elven or half-elf Magic-User, your character has to have 18
intelligence.
So, what do you do? You could always re-roll the character and start over,
but there's another way that can be easier and faster. To get the highest
levels, you just have to have 18 strength or 18 intelligence when you TRAIN.
After that, your character can go back to his normal strength or
intelligence, and he'll still be at the higher level.
For strength, just have a friendly (or not so friendly, for that matter, ;-p)
Magic-User cast "Enlarge" on you. Or drink a "Potion of Giant Strength."
And just like that, your strength is 18+. So now, when the trainer sees that
you have your maximum strength, he'll let you train for the next Fighter or
Ranger level. (By the way, if you've recently found a set of Gauntlets of
Ogre Power, just put them on. They'll make your strength 18(00) and will do
just nicely for training, too.)
For intelligence the technique is similar. But this time, you'll need to use
an "Ioun Stone of Scarlet & Blue." This special stone will raise your
intelligence one point whenever you 'ready' the stone in your item list (from
17 to 18, or from 16 to 17, and so on). These stones are fairly scarce and
you may need to use two or three of them to raise your intelligence to 18.
But the good news is that you only need to use these stones to TRAIN to
become the next level Magic-User. Once you've trained, you don't need to use
them any more.
So, where's the best place to find an 'intelligence' Ioun Stone? Quite
often, other adventurers will have one just laying around in their vaults.
Ask if you can use it to train. Chances are, with a little bit of talking
(and maybe a bit of bartering) you'll be able to use it for the couple of
minutes it takes to train. Then you can return it so another character can
train with it.
Just in case you're wondering if these 'tricks' work on humans who want to
change classes and become 'dual-class' characters. The answer is a simple
NO. To 'dual' a human class character, you have to meet the requirements
using the character's natural stats. Just check out the Adventurer's Journal
for more information about dual-class humans.
Loraque
Pirates of Neverwinter(submitted by: OMM Leader)
For all you PvPers out there this is an effective combo to knock your enemy
out early. All you have to do is make sure that your not in before your
opponent and just follow these dancing steps...
1. Find your enemy and cast a nice Fumble on 'em if you don't fumble the
person you still automatically have them slowed which gives you more time
then they do! 8^)
2. After you should get another turn before theirs so cast a Stinking Cloud
so they will be unable to cast when they get their turn...
3. After they have a fun time getting out of your stinker cast a nice Hold
Monsters...This is the only risky part because their is no 100% chance you'll
nail 'em but if this hits you have them drooling for mercy....but your not
done!
4. All right an OPTION you could either -Feeblemind (Just to be a jerk) -Slay
Living (Kill them off fast) -Cloud Kill (Make them suffer! =>) - Last but not
least, let the monsters kill 'em.
IF STEP 4 DOES NOT KILL THEM KEEP REPEATING TILL THEY DIE! 8^)
~~OMM Leader~~
GM of Order of Might and Magic
Leader of the Blue Team
"I got some business to do" :)<><><><><>
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