1996-07-21

Recovered original text · preserved verbatim

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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 143
Week Ending 7-21-96
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to SOMNeranek for winning last week's News of the Realm
contest for her story entitled "The Power of Words".

SOMNeranek 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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JULY SLAY FEST RESULTS!!

In the weeks following the Summer Festival, Neverwinter city returned to its
normal business routine.  Farmers and merchants travelled the Long Road
bringing their goods and produce into the city.  Merchant ships arrived
weekly carrying precious and exotic cargos from the Islands and the great
city of Waterdeep.  All and all, the city had settled once more into its
normal pace.

The lazy evenings after a hard days work induced many citizens of the city to
stroll about on the fine summer evenings or perhaps visit the local tavern
and quench their thirst with a cool beverage.  The days were long and hot,
the evenings only slightly cooler.  In no time a kind of creeping lethargy
had settled over the citizens of the city once more.  

Lord Nasher and his advisors, as always, closely monitored the well being of
the people of Neverwinter.  They knew that should folks become too bored,
they would "discover" new ways to entertain themselves!  Indeed already
several guilds had sponsored special events and activities for the benefit of
their neighbors and while these efforts had been helpful, the advisors knew
that others would perhaps be less so.  Lord Nasher felt that more needed to
be done, and so, he decreed that another evening of revelry and gaming would
be held the night of July 13th!

As always, the mini-festival was kept very quiet in hopes of pleasantly
surprising those who happened to be in the city on that evening.  At 10:00pm
ET, guards moved to their assigned positions and banners were posted which
invited all to come and participate in a test of courage and luck!  Those
that could survive the best attempts of Lord Nasher's finest to knock them
unconscious would be rewarded!  (survive 2 slays, win 4 pearls!)  When all
was done, over 130 people had participated and the boredom of the long
summer's nights had been relieved once more, for a time! ;D

Thanks to all who participated and ran booths, congratulations to those who
won!

-- NW Events


Winners
------------
ABK Blood
ABK Storm
ArticDoll
Bal Sedai
Burnin Sun
Centuri0n
Conqur
Cordsdarmz
D1amondd
Deth Mask
Dirt Darb
Drk Legacy
Drk Shade
Emerld Ldy
ERS Reaper
ERS Ufer
Gary Orl2
Gavanaxes
Gem Fien
G0nesha
Gorblumb
Grayvemark
Haldor
Hendrik
HG Quill
Ingenjeger
Jayz486
Jnar4u
J0eHungry
JP Mujawa
KTO Aron
Lafel
Lazzeraith
LdyAmbrlin
Ldy Icy
Ldy Spawn
Lethal One
Llewdoc
Malfesto
Mech Aigis
Mech Ember
Mech Lotus
Mech Pulse
Mech Riots
Mech Steem
Men0sis
Morgynlfey
Murtano
Opslin
Poe IV
PolarOrbit
Pug B0y
Qualasia
Sagx
Shenazia
Sineritrii
Sir Mayne
Sir Roger
Sir Trapp
SKDeereJon
Skinort
SOL Ent1ty
SOL Lethal
SOL Mioke
S0L Shugar
Starbeard2
Supersaben
Supwifdat
Tatyana II
Thorn Hawk
Thorn W0od
Tigguhr
TK Cgarner
TK Jeremr
TP Crator
Turrttle
Varenlord
Warr Rakun
WGW Crabb
WGW Talius
X02 Zeus
Xylina
Xym0x
Zonestar2

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Location Hunt Winner!!

Kef Irish was the winner of today's location hunt. Irish found Triboar's
Wainwright Wagons in record time!

-- NW Kel

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Lightning Bolt Booth Results - 7/16  8pm ET

The anticipation began to sizzle as 15 contestants gathered to have their
purity tested by the Priest. One by one, each stepped forward: Drk Legacy,
Dirk Dirty, MECH Pulse, V Antonius, Sagx, Vilanne, KTO Aron, Thorn W0od, BD
Leif, MECH 8ball, Modalex, Ldy Spawn, Venial 0ne, DemiViking, and Hapio KOM.

When all had stood before the Priest's electrifying touch, two had shown
themselves to be more pure. Thorn W0od and Modalex were equal before the
Priest. However, only one could gain the prize for purity.

Again, Thorn W0od and Modalex revealed themselves to the Priest's charges of
purity, and for a second time they stood on equal ground. The Priest put them
to a third and final test. His gaze zapping into them, searching their
purity. When it was finished, Thorn W0od was found to be the most pure.

Congratulations to Thorn W0od, winner of 5 pearls!!

NWA Priest

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Magic Missle Booth Winner - 7/18

Congrats to Loveunholy for inflicting a nasty 74 hit points of magic missle
damage to me this eve in the Wharves!  Of the 15 participants, hers was the
highest score.  Congrats!  

And thanks to all who participated!

(Prize 5 pearls)

--Gari ;)

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Scheduled Tour - 7/19

I had caught word of a hidden temple in the region of Crosser Gate when I was
on patrol one eve.  I asked around and no one seemed to have any information
on it.  The people in Neverwinter that I asked seemed to think it was a myth,
a story to scare the little children from entering into the dangerous
underground of Crosser Gate.  

I took it upon myself to venture to Crosser Gate.  I knew there was something
a foot in this area because people were moving to different regions in the
realms.   The moving citizens reported strange happenings.  The likes of
which none have seen, it terrified them so much so that they had to leave. 

I reported back to Lord Nasher on my findings, and explained that I would
like to hire some adventurers to find out the truth.  After some debate, Lord
Nasher finally agreed to allowing me an expidition into the underground of
Crosser Gate.  He told me that the adventurers who returned to him any
information would be rewarded generously.  I bowed to him and left to prepare
for my journey.

The day came.  Word went out that I needed assistance on this quest.
Immediately I was surrounded by adventurers wanting to get into Lord Nashers
favor.  The adventurers that arrived were mostly beginning their career in
questing.  For most, this would be their first quest into the outer reaches
of the realms.  I looked them over one by one, and thought of the dangers
that lay wait.  "How many of these young men and women would die?  How many
would survive?" I thought.  I explained that this journey was very dangerous,
but none seemed scared.  They wanted to continue.  Brave warriors were they
that came to my aide.

Lord Nasher had asked me to collect their names so he could broadcast across
the realms about these mighty warriors.  Accompanying me were DrZeus,
BlackMajik, NOR Talon SnoWolff, and Hal Dawl, the finest bunch of warriors I
had ever seen.  

We left Neverwinter in the early eve.  The warriors said goodbye to their
loved ones, not knowing whether they would return or not.  We packed up and
headed out.

We traveled for several hours finally ending up in a small village named
Vilnask.  It was an uneventful trip to this village, but we decided to rest
anyway.  While we rested, we heard shouts and yells coming from the South.
NOR Talon jumped to his feet and left the inn.  I quickly followed.  Young
and eager to fight, Talon would need my help in this area.  The rest of the
group followed me closely.  We ended up in a small hubble, confronted by a
darkly clad man.  He said he wanted us to leave...but I refused, I wanted to
have a look around.  He disappeared when all of a sudden we were jumped by a
large band of thieves and their guard dog.  One by one the thieves went down,
the dog was hurt and ran away.  In the corner we found a cowering man.  It
was the one that confronted us at the door.  He wanted to exchange
information for his freedom.  I had to think about it for a bit, but I soon
agreed.

He told us of a thieves entering and exitting a wall.  It wasn't a normal
wall, but a magical wall which led deep into the bouls of Crosser Gate. "Very
interesting," I thought.  "Perhaps the temple and this thieves den were
connected." I continued.  "Lets get a move on!" yelled DrZeus "We are wasting
valuable time."  The others mumbled among themselves.  We went back to the
inn, tended our wounds, and those adept in the ways of the mage memorized
their spells.  As we were leaving, a citizen warned us of wild dogs in the
outskirts of Crosser Gate.  He said that they breathed as cold as the mid of
winter.  "Not a problem!" BlackMajik said eagerly.  We were quickly on our
way.  

We made it to the outskirts of Crosser.  A beautiful area.  Trees of magestic
proportion blanketed the hill sides.  Flowers of every color were sheets on
the earthern floor.  It was calming.  We traveled the hill side when we were
attacked by the wild dogs that we were warned about.  Thousands of them came
out from trees.  Small wolves and a giant white version sprang out at us.  We
attacked them immediatley.  SnoWolff redied his longbow and began hitting the
wolves as they sprang.  Hal Dawl parried their attacks, slicing many of the
wolves between the ribs.  I recited my mantra's and released a giant ball of
flame.  Hitting a large group of the wolves squarely.  The grass was
darkened, the trees a little singed, but there were no wolves.  I had
destroyed them.  BlackMajik and the others quickly disposed of the remaining
few. 

We picked up our goods, NOR Talon repacked his dried steak.  There was some
debate that his steak was drawing the dogs to us, but he disagreed whole
heartedly so we let him be.  There were a few more fights with these wolves,
but we made it safely to the Crosser Gate Inn.  There we rested and ate NOR
Talon's steak.  Satiated, we headed out, scouring the walls.  Looking for
anything that wasn't normal.  "I found it!" summoned Hal Dawl.  "It is over
here!"  he continued.  

We walked over to the wall, and sure enough it was there.  Holding our
breaths, we stepped in.  "Ha!" laughed DrZeus. "These fools dodn't have this
thing trapped!"   The other chuckled at the ease for which we entered, but I
had a strange feeling it was not going to be that easy.

We headed down a corridor, then through several doors when we met a hidious
banshee being guarded by three enormous skeletons.  For some reason I was
petrified.  I couldn't concentrate enough to chant my mantra's.  Then when
the other's came around the corner, I did it.  I pulled out my ankh and
chanted a small prayer.  Immediately the skeletons turned to dust.  The
banshee was enraged by this and attacked instantly.  With a dodge and a
parry, Hal Dawl took her down.

The torches flickered, then blackness, then light again.  We we were standing
somewhere else.  No one knew where we were.  There was a door to the north
that we quickly made exit through, just to be swollowed by a very long
corridor.  Coming to the end of the corridor was another door NOR Talon
placed his ear to the door.  Waving his hand to us, he whispered "I here
something behind the door."  BlackMajik quickly kicked the door in.  We were
surrounded by hordes of displacer beasts.

DrZues made use of his bow, catching a displacer between the eyes, dropping
it instantly.  Hal Dawl ran into the middle of them dispencing terrible blows
with his sword.  BlackMajik followed in the same suit.  NOR Talon chanted in
a foreign tongue, the released a powerful spell catching a diplacer in the
gut.  They had the beasts at bay by the time I even pulled my weapon.

Again the lights flickered and darkness came, just to find ourselves having
to make a choice.  We stood infront of three ornate doors.  Which one do we
choose, I thought.  Everyone decided to go through the forward door.  We
advanced just to find that we were being blocked by unknown forces.  So the
choice came down to two doors.  We selected the left door.

We walked into a large room that had another ornate door at the far end.  We
walked to it.  Materializing from the floor was a band of Cloud Giants,
large, beautiful giants of wonder.  We stood there wide eyed at their forms
until one of them attacked, hitting NOR Talon across the head.  NOR Talon
fell to the floor injured from the blow.  We fought for hours and hours.
Blood layed thick on the walls, until finally, I got off a spell, paralyzing
the cloud giants.  The prey became the victor in this battle.  DrZeus quickly
stuck the cloud giants with his dagger killing them and clearing our path.
We finally got out the door.

We followed another passage through to a large open area.  To the right we
could here people talking.  We followed the voices.  As we neared a door the
talking stopped.  We sat and listened, just to have the door smashed in our
faces.  A large cleric stood infront of us.  He was praying loudly to his
god.  Hal Dawl did the same.  The cleric began to raise his glowing hands
when suddenly Hal Dawl threw a large ball of fire hitting the cleric, burning
him to a crisp.  Just as he fell, his hired henchmen came walking out a
passage, catching the heat as well.

The floor lay cluttered with debris, a scrawled note could be seen.  It was
taken by us.  It talked about a caravan and some other important news.  "We
better get this to Lord Nasher quick."  SnoWolff exclaimed.  "Aye" said
BlackMajik.  We hurried through another door to find ourselves on the path to
Neverwinter.  We made our way into Neverwinter unscathed and immediately went
to Lord Nasher.  He was very pleased with the information.  he reached into
his magic pouch and gave each of us a tremendous gift.  "Thank you, M'Lord"
we said bowing out the door.

-- NWA Shaggy

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Charm Person Booth - 7/19 10pm ET

Putting on my best uniform, I headed to Southwall, calling out to the realms
as I went so 10 players could help me practice my charms.  ;>   The following
hardy souls escorted me to my chosen place:

Mech Aztek
Lady Fair
BabyDrag0n
Thorn W0od
SOM Thalia
UDL Th0rn
Biship Tyr
Kmalj
Napalm 106
Climb 0n

My practice lasted several rounds and finally came down to a three way tie
between Lady Fair, Thorn W0od, and Climb 0n.  Seeing the lateness of the
hour, I re-doubled my efforts, but I only barely caught Lady Fair and Climb
0n.  Thorn W0od resisted me completely, and remained true to his own special
someone.  Congrats Thorn W0od!  You win 4 pearls and 1 hour online time.

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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:

July 21st Sunday  2:00 PM EDT - with NWA Mortis.
July 25th Thursday  10:00 PM EDT - with NWA Donagh.
July 27th Saturday  5:00 PM EDT - with NW Dain.

Those interested in any of these tours should keep an eye out for the banner
telling where to meet!  ;D

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Songs of the Wind - Part 2
(submitted by: Cerdith)

The swelling chorus, the rising voices blending in a harmony so perfect and
natural that portions could be heard in the caress of the wind or the crash
of the waves against a rocky beach.  Small parts of a greater whole, the
little pieces heard individually giving substance and shape, and more
importantly.... order.  Each miniscule piece a wonder in and of itself, each
nearly understandable when that single voice alone rang out.  A duet of
voices, the parts woven together twisting and spinning together, moving apart
and soaring seperately then intertwining again... still within comprehension,
still bearable for the listener.  More voices still, more parts and
pieces....

She had heard some of the voices before she came to this place.  The beauty
and the perfection had, at times, soothed and calmed.  Renewing strength,
healing and guiding, the melody had lingered in her mind.  Being who she was,
there had been no need to strive to hear the words themselves or strain to
understand the message.  A small portion of the song, a filtered piece of the
story was enough for any mortal woman... and yet, here and now, she had found
more.  Too many voices all at once, too many parts, too much perfection.....

All the Singers whispering their messages, heard upon the winter's wind as
clearly here as any spoken phrase.  Too many... too many at once!  The
entirety of the composition, with all its sudden transitions, all the changes
in tempo... the long keening silences.... her mind, her heart, her soul could
scarcely bear it, and yet, she could not bear to be without the voices now
either.

(continued)Price of Victory
(submitted by: Sol Arthur)

Arthur sat and listened to the recounting of Varion's tale many times that
evening as they both enjoyed the endless supply of ale the waitress seemed to
provide.  Varion could not contain himself most of the evening, telling the
story many times and in many different ways.  Arthur drank the ale and
pondered his own thoughts as Varion's words filled the inn.

The evening had begun with the gathering of the Soldiers of Light at the inn
on the island.  Arthur was impressed with those who gathered.  Many of the
older soldiers made it to the island for the purpose of freeing Shugar from
the grips of the Night Masks.  As they gathered Arthur knew that tonight they
would reestablish themselves as one of the best guilds in Neverwinter.  "How
could they not," he thought to himself as he watched names such as Mioke,
Legend and Saga walk through the door of the inn.

As they gathered Arthur had a few concerns also.  There had been little or no
discussion on what tactics the Mask's might employ in defending Menosis.  It
seemed an overwhelming air of confidence floated through the inn, that no
matter what the Mask's tried, the Soldiers of Light would not be denied from
regaining Shugar.  He kept quiet though, as he was one of the newer members
of this Order to Tempus, and though he had some concerns, he kept them to
himself as the time of battle neared.

Mioke spoke up that he would scout ahead and had asked for someone to join
him as the event began.  Arthur quickly spoke up, as he wanted to get things
going, as he knew there were many Mask's to be killed that evening.  Moving
down the path with Mioke, Arthur noted a couple Mask's there to give word to
Menosis on Sol's departure from the inn.  One quick melee broke out with
Corrosive, of the Night Masks, fleeing to safety from Arthur and two other
Sol.

Then Sol's began to flood past Arthur on the path, moving quickly ahead.  The
young Soldier of Light stood there a bit surprised, as he had heard no other
information since he and Mioke were to scout.  He moved on down the path
towards the building where he could catch a boat over to the west bank of the
island.  As he approached he noted a few of his brothers in combat in the
entrance to the building.  Arthur quickly prepped and entered the fray.  Two
Night Masks had jumped brothers Valor and Saybr.  Arthur quickly moved to
their side and cast a globe about himself.

Another Night Mask, Turtle something, entered as well as Sol Kitty.  Arthur
was please to see Kitty arrive as with two of them prepped, they should be
able to handle this melee with ease and send these three Night Mask's packing
back to Neverwinter.  Then the first esp from Saybr that he was fleeing since
he was not prepped.  Arthur was caught a bit unawares by this as he was
moving to a better position away from the garbage creatures that were closing
in.  He cast a hold and managed to catch the green Turtle with it.  He called
out that one Mask was held and move on the others.  He then heard from
Brother Valor that he too was fleeing.  Arthur watched as Kitty moved by and
pressured the attack and breathed a sigh of relief for that.  A battle that
should have been quickly handled, no starting turning ugly as the Turtle was
dissed and free once again.

Kitty moved down the hall, as Saybr fled the fight, casting spells at the
Night Masks.  Arthur followed, moving behind one of the Mask's and casting a
slay.  Tempus gave Arthur his only moment of joy the night would bring as the
slay worked and sent one of the Night Mask's to a early exit from the war.
The Mask called Turtle moved down and the battle started to sway in favor of
the Masks.

Valor then made his exit from the melee as a fireball engulfed Kitty doing
quite a bit of damage.  Arthur quickly esp'ed her to get the heck out of
there, that he would follow.  Sweat rolled down Arthur's forehead as Sol
Kitty made her exit from the fight, leaving him alone with three Night Masks.

Tempus smiled on Arthur once again, allowing his saves to hold off the
barrage of spells that hit him before he also fled the battle and moved back
away from the building down the path.  He met Kitty out there and they
conversed a bit.  She asked how they were doing to which Arthur could give no
information. Arthur looked up at the moon and thought they could not be more
than thirty minutes into this thing, why were we moving so fast.

Kitty then relayed that Sol had engaged Menosis at the holder fight in the
complex and that Entity was dead.  Arthur shook his head at the news and
quickly informed Kitty that he would trigger the fight in the building so she
could sneak past and take the boat to the other side.  Arthur moved quickly
and was surprised as he entered that the fight did not trigger.  Probably as
surprised as the two Night Masks who waited on the other side.  Kitty moved
quickly past and then Arthur also made his way to the boat.

Reaching the western bank, Arthur made his way to the entrance that led to
the complex below.  Stepping through the gate he noticed the bodies of his
Sol brethren.  They were piled up there as he heard their spirits call for
him to move quickly to the holder fight, he was needed there.  Arthur noted
some of Sol's finest were among the fallen and let out a soft sigh as he
moved quickly now to try and help what he perceived as a disaster happening.

Yes, Arthur was moving too quickly through the halls after seeing his fallen
brothers and sisters, so quick that he moved through one door without the
proper caution.  As he stepped through and saw the large eye looking at him,
he knew he was dead.  Behind the eye, two large earth elementals waited.
Arthur had not memorized a dimension door, and here he would pay for it.

He waited for a bit, to see if any news came to him about the fight, as he
was invisible and the creatures waited.  But it would have been a
never-ending wait, so Arthur cast the first fireball at the elementals.  The
rest of the battle was but a quick blur as the eye closed in on the young
Soldier of Light and sending him back to the island above.

Arthur brought himself out of his thoughts of the night before, hearing
Varion still recalling the glorious battle with Menosis.  Arthur noted the
time and informed Varion he was catching the last boat to Neverwinter before
dawn, stood and walked from the inn.  The cool morning air felt good on his
face and helped shake off some of the effects of the ale and hobbitweed him
and Varion had consumed.  He made his way to the boat and took a seat,
wondering what was going to be said of this fight between Sol and Mask.

"Yes," he thought.  "The Soldiers of Light had won, but what a careless
victory it was.  Some of our finest names dead, and way too many Mask's still
walking about the island.  The war was to be four hours in length and had
been finished in little over an hour.  No, the Soldiers of Light could have
destroyed Mask in this war, finished them for good.  Instead they came away
with a hollow victory, nothing more, for the bloodlust of Tempus had consumed
them all and without rhyme or reason they had exploded into battle paying way
to high a price for victory."Songs of the Wind - Part 3
Missing Sister
(submitted by: Ender Bay)

Ender sat on the bank of the Neverwinter river, deep in the woods,  and
stared out at his friend's home.  It had taken them months to finish it.  Or
rather it had taken months to build it up to this point.  They were inside
sleeping now.  In fact, Ender figured they would stay inside sleeping for
most of the rest of the winter.  But right up until the weather turned cold
they were a busy couple.  Constantly making little adjustments here and there
to their rather enormous house.  At least it seemed enormous to Ender for
just the two of them.  Yet he knew these two were starting their family
here... Ender expected to see their children running around the banks of the
river by the end of spring.  

Many travelers had passed near here recently and Ender had heard the
complaints.  His friend's new house had irreversibly altered the course of
the great river.  But this is what beavers do, explained  Ender.  It doesn't
really hurt anything... the river simply finds its way around the dam and
continues on its path through the woods.  In fact, the beavers had done the
travelers a favor by clearing dead branches from the paths.  Of course, they
had cleared out several healthy trees while they were at it.  Ender felt a
slight pang of guilt at this thought.  He was reminded of the trees they
felled for him in order for him to make a river boat.  

He had meditated and prayed for days before he asked the beavers to help him.
Was it wrong to take one of the healthy trees from the forest?  He didn't
like to do it, but he remembered the lessons his old druid mentor had taught
him.  The Goddess only frowns upon the abuse of the forests... in effect, the
trees exist to serve many purposes.  The woodpecker uses the tree to find
bugs.  The owl makes his home in the tree.  The doe may nibble berries or
leaves from the tree.  The tiger may use the tree to mark her territory.  The
beaver uses the tree to build a home for its family.  And Ender can use the
tree to build a river boat.  
Of course, Ender made sure the beavers only used uninhabited trees for his
boat.  In the end, he had a fine vessel.  It was large enough to accomodate
several several passengers.  Perhaps not comfortably, but it was cozy enough
for Ender.  He knew the boat was being used for to aid him in protecting
Mielikki's woods and to perform some of his duties as the Brotherhood's Recon
Scout.  With the recent retirement of RiverSwift, he and DragonKlaw had their
hands full.  Though Ender felt confidant that Klaw would fill River's shoes
quite well.

Ender's gaze turned toward his boat.  He was really quite proud of it, yet
the sight of it now saddened him.  His mind wandered back to a quiet autumn
night under a clear, star filled sky.  He had been sitting outside the
bunkhouse with his guild sister, Cerdith, and they had been discussing his
boat.  Ender could sense something was wrong with Cerdith... there was
something disturbing her.  He wanted to help her in some way and so he had
offered to take her on a picnic on his boat.  He had hoped that a relaxing
day, along with some fine food and frenzy, would help his sister unwind and
open up to him.  Maybe a good long talk while floating down the river would
let her get whatever was bothering her off her chest.  Unfortunately, she was
too busy to take a day off.  They went over their schedules and between her
Scribe duties and his Recon Scout duties they decided they'd have to put the
picnic off for a while.  Soon autumn turned into winter and Ender realized a
picnic was out of the question.  Still, he felt the river was pretty this
time of year and he convinced Cerdith to take a little tour with him.
Besides, winter was the safest time to travel on the river when many of the
area's foulest beasts are hybernating.

That had been quite a while back and now Cerdith was two days late in meeting
him.  It wasn't like her to stand him up or to be late like this. On the
first day Ender had his sea gull, out of its element as it is, search the
area for her.  Normally the gull is superbly reliable and Ender relies on it
to scout ahead for him and track his enemy's  movements when they're too far
for him to track them himself.  Yet the gull could find no trace of Cerdith
and Ender was worried sick.  He knew from the last time he had spoke with her
that she was still troubled, yet he had no idea to what extent.  This morning
Ender had sent the gull off to the Pathfinder's Bunkhouse with a note asking
about Cerdith and he was now waiting for a reply.  

Later that afternoon Ender's faithful sea gull returned to him carrying a
sealed note.  It was as he suspected...  noone had heard from Cerdith since
around the last time he had spoken with her.  Basically, she was missing and
nobody really had any clue as to where she might be. 

At first he didn't know where to begin to search.  But eventually he came up
with an idea. He picked up his gear and carried it fifty feet or so from the
river bank and set it down out of sight from the river.  He pulled out a
healthy portion of food for the gull and commanded it to stay and guard his
pack.  He returned to the river bank and pulled out his amulet of health.
The amulet was very valuable to Ender and he could barely make out the
details of it in the setting sun's light.  In fact, it was the only way he
could heal himself in hostile territory.  But it was about to prove even more
valuable than ever.  Immediately after sunset Ender began what is known to
sea rangers as a Parliament of Fishes.

In the light of the full moon Ender could see his reflection in the river
water.  Briefly he thought to himself that his hair needed trimming.  He
liked to keep his wavy brown hair short and out of his eyes whenever
possible... and his beard had grown a bit out of control in the past few days
as well.  He made frequent journeys to the city of Neverwinter and he didn't
like to look like a wild man with twigs and berries stuck in an overgrown
beard.  His appearance would have to wait until later.  Kneeling down on the
slippery bank he concentrates for a minute or two.  After a short time a
group of fish, perhaps 20 of assorted species, surface and stare expectantly
at him.  Ender hand feeds each fish from his rations and then hands the
largest fish the amulet of health.  At first it looks as if the fish will
swallow the precious trinket, but Ender sees that it is merely holding it in
its mouth.  He knows that the fish will be more likely to grant his boon if
he gives them something valuable.  It doesn't have to be valuable to them,
but they can sense that it is valuable to him.  He also figured feeding each
one wouldn't hurt either.  

After Ender described Cerdith and told the fish he wanted them to help him
find her, the fish responded.  They began to dive and splash excitedly for a
few moments and then they all submerged out of sight.  Ender knew this to be
the sign that the fish had accepted his offer and would grant him this
service.  The fish could search up and down the river and all through the
woods in every little tributary and stream.  They could cover more ground in
one day than Ender could cover all month.  If Cerdith was near a stream, or
stopped for a drink or to fill her canteen, the fish would find her and bring
Ender to her.

Now all he had to do was wait.  It could still take days for them to find her
and there was no gaurantee that they would.  Suddenly he was aware that his
gull was back by his side. "Didn't I tell you to wait and guard my pack?"  It
was a clever ruse, but the gull knew he was just hiding his activities while
it ate.  "Well, I couldn't well have you trying to eat the fish while I was
communing with them, could I?  We have to have patience for the next few days
while the fish search out Cerdith.  Think you can manage it?"  With this the
gull let out a loud squawk and then tucked its beak under Ender's ear.  The
gull did this whenever it thought it was time to sleep.  I agree, thought
Ender... and he carried the gull on his shoulder to his camouflaged tent
where he slept and dreamt of his lost sister.Songs of the Wind - Part 4
Still Looking
(submitted by: Ender Bay)

Ender sits by the river bank surveying the landscape around him.  The sun is
on its way down and the reflection off the water is always magnificent.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring and in honor of Mielikki he will change
his seasonal outfits.  All of his Pathfinder brothers and sisters will.  It's
time to shed the white and green for the green and yellow.

Normally spring is a happy time for Ender.  He has been waiting all winter
for his friends, the beavers, to come out of their dam and say hello.  But he
is also waiting, much less patiently, for some news of his guild sister,
Cerdith.  He held his parliament of fishes weeks ago and he still hasn't
heard any news from the multitude of fish that had so eagerly swam off to
search for her.

Ender desperately wants to hear news from the bunkhouse, yet he doesn't want
to leave the banks of the river for fear that the fish will bring him some
news and he'll miss it.  He wonders aloud to his sea gull if anyone else is
worried about Cerdith, or if he's the only one.  

"Are we paranoid?  Is Cerdith simply off on her own... perhaps on a quest?
Or are our brothers and sisters also worried and searching for her?"

The gull turns its head to face Ender and stares into his eyes.  After a
moment or two Ender realizes the gull is waiting for instructions.

"Yes... good idea... would you fly back to the bunkhouse?  Hopefully someone
will give us some news!"

Hastily Ender scribbles out a note and secures it to the gull's leg.  The
gull squawks proudly and takes off for its night time voyage to the
bunkhouse.  The note Ender wrote reads:

~Brothers and Sisters... Mielikki Bless the coming of Spring!!!  I am looking
for Cerdith and believe that she is missing.  Has anyone seen her or heard
from her recently?~

Ender Bay
Sea Ranger
Wayfarer/Chronicler
BoP Recon ScoutThe Severing
(submitted by: MrBill888)

A light now does fall upon my cool wizened face
Life's touch is devoid in this otherworld place
Wafting through the air are the voices of friends
With whom I now hope I had made some amends

Ethereal and ghostly I try to speak out
But there is little use, they can't hear as I shout
I wish I could reach out and touch one and all
Yet I pass through their bodies as I move through the hall

How did I arrive here, 'tis time this puzzle piece fell
Answering questions I could not formerly tell
Of a battle not fought with a sword or a hand
Yet recurring too often in the realms of this land

Images oft  come to those whose senses are keen
Who walk on the edge and do keep their minds lean
From the corner of my eye, I could see hellish things
And the dancing of demons in uneven rings

Tomes I did read to confirm what I saw
These daemons had come from an opening maw
A gate had been opened, a wide abysmal sieve
And in sealing this gate, I knew I could not continue to live

I chose sacrifice for a change had to come
Though more than a few did think that Bill was struck dumb
A spirit had come that had been all too subtle
That none would acknowledge or offer rebuttal

This cancer was astral whose purge became my prime mission
Awake and aware I could hear Daemons hissing
Conversely, they also became aware of my presence
Surrounding my corpus they invaded my essence

Twisting and prodding they assaulted my mind
Lest I share with my brothers the things I did find
Attacking without mercy, they did bind me in pain
And most of my friends had thought I'd gone insane

I steeled my reserve retreating deep far inside
So I acted quite mad going along for the ride
Without rhyme or reason from my guild I became estranged
Daemonic thought was I'd been beaten and was now quite deranged

Conquered and lost, that is what they all thought
Yet buried within I still quietly fought
Ignoring the jests of this Tartarian bunch
My single last hope was to play out my hunch

My songs, words, and prose now came out oddly jumbled
For my words now were warped as I unevenly mumbled
The guild I'd embraced I now assaulted with word
Seeing anger AND loyalty now suddenly stirred.

Whilst the ethereal legion did giggle and dance
My own fortitude I did quickly enhance
The phrainty in charge, I'd discovered its name
And it was riding the back of the warrior known as Kayn

Kayn was our leader and his deeds were renown
And yet of most recent time he did wear a deep frown
The strongest of daemons was bent on possessing his soul
Whose goal was to divide our band so we'd no longer be whole

It moved oh-so-slowly, insinuating itself inch by inch
Though sometimes the pain would cause our leader to flinch
I bided my time waiting until I was strong
And would then make my move and would right this foul wrong

More and more dissent did flow through our guild members
The daemons did laugh, I thought it would split the halls timbers
Leaping and jerking they were lost in their glee
It was at that brief moment I did fight to be free

Tearing myself loose from their hooks and their claws
I leapt away free and did give them all pause
Kayn had just told all I must leave the OGS guild
Not knowing the daemon for which he presently shilled

With a grimace and laugh I now my chance
And I knew I was right, for I saw fear in its glance
I latched onto this devil and my grip was not slack
Thrice repeating its name afore things all went black

It was shrieking and spitting Shhyzzt's time was now nigh
But in securing it's death I had known I must die
Twas worthy enough for as it burst from Tyr's light
The rest of my friends now did see their dark plight

With the exposure of Shhyzzt the daemons knew they must flee
Knowing they had not succeeded with OGS or with me
And now that the truth has become clearly known
The OGS guild has not shrunk but has grown

Now I cannot return for that was part of the deal
That I'd struck up with Tyr in front of whom I now kneel
He did send me back, but I must roam alone
And can no longer claim any guild as my home

So my friends from the Order of the Golden Staff
Please do not feel morose, but go dance and do laugh
Things will be better now that the evil's exorcised
And will not re-invade as you've opened your eyes

Mr.Bill888
Warrior Poet
Top Ten Neverwinter Olympic Events
(submitted by: Wgbt)

Hello!  And welcome to the LateShow with Wagebolt!
Yes, I am Wagebolt, and proud Winterguardian.
Ah, the Summer Olympics, are almost here. 
Well, what better way to celebrate this festive and marvelous occasion with a
you-know-what!

That's right!  Straight from the Home office in the Lost Hills, is TONIGHTS
TOP TEN LIST!

<here we go!> 
TOP TEN NEW NEVERWINTERIAN SUMMER OLYMPIC EVENTS!

10)The Newb Toss

9)Gym-castics

8)Hill-Giant Head Bowling

7)Booze Relay at Strider's

6)Monster-Weight Lifting. (Lightest weight = Kobold, Heaviest weight = Umber
Hulk)

5)Speed Macros

4)Sewage Swimming Race

3)Orc Detinating (Don't ask how it's done)

2)LordNasher Look-alike Contest

<Drumroll> "And now!  The #1 Neverwinterian Summer olympic event!"

1)Syncronized Feebing!!!

::Wagebolt turns and throws the Top Ten card out the window::

<CRASH!>

(WorldWide Plate)
"To Plate or not to Plate"
The Bunkhouse
(submitted by: Lake Mist)

     I had traveled this path many times before.  The smooth stones that had
so carefully been placed by rangers long since gone, but not forgotten,
seemed to smile up at me this bright spring morning.  The stones blended in
with all the other stones of all the paths around this area.  The pattern in
which they had been placed was the only sign needed to follow them.

     There were wild roses and lilac growing everywhere, and this fine
morning was filled with all the wonderous aromas of the Goddess Mielikki's
works.  The dog woods were in bloom in their beckoning call to the woods to
awaken and great the new season.

     As I walked along, enjoying the wonders set before, I quickly turned
right down a path that could be seen only for an instant when you were beside
it.  A few steps down this path, and I neared the bunkhouse.  The smell of
cooking filled the air, and the birds and squirels were gathering, in the
knowledge that those who cooked would share their meal with them.

     As I passed the juniper, there it was, a two story earthen structure
with a thatch roof.  Lights  were shining through all the windows visible to
me, and from the noise coming from within, I knew most all must be awake by
now.  It had been several weeks, maybe months, since I had been to the
bunkhouse.  Turning up the walk, I stopped momemtarily to blow out the oil
lamp that dispelled the darkness when all were sleeping within those walls.

     Just as I neared the front door of the bunkhouse, a figure came darting
out, running down the path toward the meadow stream that flowed nearby.  It
was Lady Ellyn with a tear and smile on her face, and Grue Devil's collar
bouncing as she ran.  She appeared to be deep in thought.

     As I entered the main hall, I noticed several rangers and clerics
starting the day with frenzy and griffon eggs.  The smell of wild boar bacon
coming from down the hall.  Neerdowell, Calinor, Thralos, and several other
brothers were all gathered around one I could not see yet.  But from the
conversation, it was someone who had not been around for awhile.

     Nearing the group, Thralos turned and let out a cry "AAAAAIIIIIEEEEE !
Hail and well met, Lake Mist."  All turned in welcome and I saw the face of
Urgrue sitting at a table.  As he rose, I moved forward and gave greating
"Urgrue, tis good to see your face among the living, if these be the living."
As our hands clasp in greating he returned "Aye, tis good to see thee also."
Conversation began again.

     As we gathered to finish the morning meal, Slick Sly appeared from the
kitchen "Now you all know that the morning meal is not complete without the
bacon."  Laughter erupted from all, as he came into the hall wearing a fern
green apron over his leathers.

     It is always good to come home once in awhile.  While the others ate, I
moved over to the bulletin board to see the names of all the new brothers and
sisters.  Many names were new to me, such as Kurultaii; and some were not so
knew to me, yet new to the Pathfinders, such as Primrose.  A smile appeared
as the smell of lilac drifted in on the breeze.  I noticed that Zeb Canon had
made War Captain and a warm smile appeared.  Things were good at home.

     I moved back to the tables to finish my morning meal, placing a white
rose in a crystal vase upon the table.  It was good to be home.The Gathering
of the Light
(submitted by: Elgiem)

Greetings all!

Following is a story about a role play scenario sponsored by the Order of the
Golden Staff.  They have asked anyone interested to join in this scenario.
The role play will culminate with a PVP War and a Quest thru the realms.
Anybody interested in this scenario is asked to post to the OGS public
folder.  Good characters should post about gathering in front of the OGS
Guild Hall; Evil characters should post about marching on to storm the OGS
Guild Hall.  Posts should not contain battles between different guilds yet.
Only a gathering of the forces should be happening at this time.  For more
information please contact PolarOrbit.

Elgiem / KEF Elgiem
of the Silver Glade
Knight Defender

KEF Applications Master
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The call went out from the very heart of the Chapterhouse of the Knights of
the Eternal Flame.  Like a stone cast in a quiet pool, the spell set a tremor
in the ineffable essence of being that ties all things together;  A ripple in
the pliant fabric of the ether, expanding outwards to reach every corner of
The Enchanted Realms.  As the message traveled outwards the Knights of the
Eternal Flame would receive the summons and respond to the Gathering of the
Light.  Not since the Pirates of NeverWinter threatened to overthrow Lord
Nasher's rule had such a summons been issued.  

Elgiem of the Silver Glade is cleaning his sword in his rooms at the Triboar
Inn when the summons reaches him.  He had just finished a ladder fight
against the lovely Fair Star.  The lady is fierce and experienced.  She had
bested him in the first two rounds earning the victory for the day.  "Not for
nothing is she our leader," he thought proudly "she is as deadly as she is
fair."

The Knight put his sword back in his scabbard and prepared to perform the
ritual that would allow him to communicate with the Chapterhouse.  For a
moment he thought of the lad KEF Cirion whom he had seen knighted that very
morning.  He thought of the waste of war and prayed to Tyr to spare this
newest member of the Order.  "He deserves to be happy." He thought, "He is so
young and has waited so long to become a Knight."  All he said out loud was
"You know well my heart and soul, let thy Sacred Will be done."  He then cast
the spell that opened his mind to the words of his brothers and sisters.  The
thoughts of his brothers and sisters start pouring thru Elgiem's head as he
leans what has triggered the summons.

It seems that Kain, head of the Order of the Golden Staff has turned to evil.
Members of the Order are gathering their forces, and their allies to take
back the Guild Hall from the mass of death shadows that has taken control.
This is very grave news.  This mage guild is one of the strongest bastions of
good in The Realms.  It is they who provide magical instruction to the
Knights of the Eternal Flame, as well as to many other of the good people of
NeverWinter. The wards that protect the city of NeverWinter and Lord Nasher's
Castle are in their keeping.  

The mages had called for all peoples of good to help in their hour of need.
The Knights of the Eternal Flame would of course answer.  OGS had requested
that all comers assemble in a particular clearing in the forest.  Their
fortress, being guarded by powerful spells, can only be found with the
guidance of one of their own.  Elgiem made his way to the clearing took a
spot near his brother Meane and prepared to wait.  Soon the guide came and
the host made his way to the Guild Hall of the Golden Staff.

The aura of evil was oppressive and unmistakable as they approached the
haunted Guild Hall.  Even the sun's radiance seemed lessened in this place.
There was great evil at work.  The mages had requested that no one should
enter the Guild Hall.  Some of their own would go into Kain's quarters and
find out what was really going on.  The rest of us prepared for a possible
battle.

Soon it became apparent to all of us that a great magical struggle was taking
place inside the ancient OGS stronghold.  Magical energies swept by us in
waves, some good, some evil and some just alive with formidable power.  After
some time a bright flash of the purest white light illuminated the glade and
all within it.  This I recognized at once as the gift of Tyr himself.  I fell
to my knees as the sense of evil and dread left us.  Good had prevailed for
now.

And Lo! There is Kain coming out of the stronghold helped by PolarOrbit and
some other of the OGS great.  He is wounded almost to death but the spell has
been lifted from him.  He had been possessed by a demon lord but no more.
Kain gives control of the OGS to PolarOrbit while he heals his wounds and
then departs in the company of the best healers in the realms.  

The rest of us await the task that still lies ahead.  OGS have reclaimed
their stronghold from the evil usurpers.  Now we must keep it secure from the
armies of chaos that are massing to destroy it.Guild War
(submitted by: Zindio)

           " Darkness desending upon the land", that's what Thorn Hawk of The
Protectorates said.  Upon his mind, were these words, of the NW News staff
member as a shadow blocked out the sun.  Apprehensively he glanced out over
the courtyard and up.  Soundlessly a hugh griffin glided down, raised his
wings, and landed facing the staff member.  The citizen reached behind him
for his weapon, the sharp snapping of the griffin's beak caused him to
freeze.

         Glaring contemptously around him, the griffin deposited what looked
like a rolled up manuscript on the ground before him.  Wings started beating,
a sound like thunder reverbrated between the castle walls, and like a missle
from a crossbow, the griffin was out of sight.

       Hesitantly the citizen moved toward the item on the ground.  With a
quick glance upward he grabbed the item and dashed back inside to the news
office.  The carefully rolled manuscript was opened. The ink was a faded
purple and smelled faintly of spiced wine.  The NW news staff crowded around
and read what turned out to be news of War in the Realms, sent to them by
Zindio, the Protectorate Cadet via Thunder wing, his griffin.

      Me dear friends, I take me plume in hand to write ye of an upcoming
war.  Twill start sometime this week of the 15th of July.  The House of ITB
and The Protectorates will meet on a battlefield somewhere in the area of Tri
Boar.

     Last week there was a skirmish in the lost hills between the two guilds.
There had been talk from The House of ITB that the Lost hills were thiers and
no one would pass unless they wanted it so.  The path through the Woods were
cleared that night by The Protectorates.  The battles would have raged on
longer except A NW Elite Guard entered and Requested all fighting to cease
immediatly.  Lord Tyst, The Protectorates at that battle, and House of ITB ,
complied without argument.

     There have been several training manourvers on both sides since.  Now me
friends I not be of a political mind and know not all the details, but to the
best of me knowledge this is what has happened.   Through normal fighting and
streeful situations within the realms, someone said to someone else, "Yer
Mother was a Troll!"  The reply went something like this, " And yer Mother
wears Zentil boots."  Now that be simplifing the matter to the max, but
esentially that has brought on a war.  Whatever Guild wins this battle is not
really important, bothe of us will do our best to win.  The Protectorates
will continue to help citizens in need no matter what thier alignment, and
House of ITB will continue thier affairs.  Meself believes it is part of what
me friend Thorn Hawk has brought out about an evil decending upon us, and it
will probably take all the guilds to band together and crush this evil before
the realms are overtaken.

     I will let ye know how the War goes as soon as I can. Didnt have any dye
so had to write this with some of me elfin wine.    

                                                                      Yours,
                                                                      Zindio,
TP Cadet.ElvinPride's Quest - Part 5
(submitted by: ElvinPride)


The  Half-Elf  Maiden

      ElvinPride exited the Guild Hall shortly after the TCS Council began to
meet.  Still he thought of the look thrown at him by the Guild Master Xzaver.
No words said, just ....THAT....look.  Elvin trekked slowly towards
NeverWinter, head down, watching his boots kick up dust as he walked.  So
intent was he, thinking about the return of the Guild Master, that the
wood-elf did not see the maiden step in front of him.

     THUD!!  Both ElvinPride and the maiden crashed to the ground in a heap.
Snapping out of his daydreaming, Elvin quickly jumps to his feet.  "OHH!! I
am sooo sorry, M'lady!!", he squeaks, helping her up from the ground, while
feeling incredibly stupid for not paying mind to where he was going.
Expecting to get a verbal lashing; surprise overcomes him as she silently
rises, with his help, and smiles.  "I am sorry, mister Elf!", she coos, "I
should have been looking where I was going!!".  ElvinPride returns her smile.
"Hehe..I think we both had our minds elsewhere!  My name is ElvinPride of
Brass Crown, Kingdom of Gammon!".  He puffs his chest out as he boasts to
her, being proud of his homeland and its people.

     Silken hair cascades onto her shoulders as she pulls back the hood of
her cloak.  Elvin gasps. "A Half-Elf!!! And...a very beautiful one at that!",
he thought.  The wood-elf is speechless as he peers into her blue-grey eyes.

     "Very nice to make your acquaintance, mister ElvinPride!", she sings.
"Although, I must admit, you have a funny way of meeting people!".  Elvin
blushes.  "Again; I am truly sorry, umm...excuse me, what was your name?", he
inquires apologetically.  "KateGary, new to NeverWinter! hehe", she beams.

     ElvinPride instantly felt entranced by this half-elf.  Something inside
of him accepted this maiden, although he was not quite sure why he would feel
this way about a half-elf.  "Would..would you join me for a drink at
Strider's, KateGary?  My treat!", he stutters, still mesmerized by her
beauty.  She curtseys, eyes never leaving Elvin's, as she accepts.  "I would
be honored, mister Pride!"  ElvinPride grins as she slips her arm through
his, giving him another quick smile as they depart for Strider's.  "You are
my first friend here, mister Pride!", she giggles.  Elvin acknowledges her
friendship.  "Please...call me Elvin.  Mister is for the humans".  Again she
smiles, as the two make their way towards the tavern.


Strider's  Tavern

     ElvinPride and KateGary sat drinking, exchanging stories for most of the
day.  She told of her parents; her mother, an Elven-mage, falling in love
with a human paladin.  Her abduction as a child; becoming a slave in the
underdark, still not knowing what became of her parents.  ElvinPride sensed
the richness of her elven blood, and longed to help her find the truth.  He
told of his life in Brass Crown and the loss of Krysthiial.  Elvin was
shocked afterwards when she spoke out to him.

    "Elvin, my deepest sympathies concerning your loss.  Elves are not so
easily killed, though.  Bones and a gold ring do not conclude that the fair
Krysthiial is gone!  However, the fact that she is not in the clutches of the
dreaded Musre' Loki, means a quest is necessary to find her."  She pauses
now, sensing the uneasiness of the wood-elf.  Elvin stares meaninglessly at
his mug of ale, his finger tracing the lip of the mug.  "ElvinPride... as
your beloved friend; I here and now, swear an oath on all that I hold dear;
to assist you to the far ends of your world.  To find the fate of Krysthiial
and pay the dragon Musre' Loki his just reward!".

     ElvinPride looked up from his drink, seeing the sincerity in the eyes of
the half-elf.  Reaching out for her hand, and grasping it tightly, he
replies.  "KateGary, you are truly blessed at heart.  Not many would offer
such a gallant service to a stranger they had just met.  A quest such as
that, I am afraid, would be more dangerous and life-threatening than any
would imagine."

     "Elvin.  I feel a special comraderie with you.  I want us to help each
other.", she pleads with the wood-elf, her eyes sparkling with adventure.

     ElvinPride shifts uncomfortably in his chair, fully aware of the
dangers; not wanting to agree with her.  "Let me sleep on it, half-elf.  It
is getting late.  This town is not all safe at night".

     "Very well, please think it over", she says, with a slight sadness in
her voice.  "Would you be so kind as to escort me to Daglow's?  That is where
I board".

     The two walk out of Strider's, hand in hand; moments before a drunken
brawl starts.  "Let's get out of here, KateGary!", whispers Elvin into her
ear.  They hurry towards Daglow's quickly; passing by the NeverWinter Guard,
which has hastened thier forces to Strider's.

     Arriving at Daglow's Inn, ElvinPride wishes the half-elf a sincere "Good
night".  "Aluve', dear elf!", she replies, reaching up and placing a tender
kiss on his cheek.  She turns and enters the inn.  ElvinPride watches as the
maiden enters safely, then makes his way to the Red Mage Inn.

     Miles away......a transparent form, that of an elf; huddles in the
underbrush of the NeverWinter Woods.  Hiding.....watching.....learning....

<to be continued>Ode to me Taerin
(submitted by: Baldar Hmr)

Me Emmy is a feisty lass
Her eyes they sparkle with a flash
Of green, as precious stones they be
Her smile be like a jewel to me.

Me Emmy is a winsome lass
Her beauty, like the stone we mine
Tis purity and so divine,
And we we kiss, our souls entwined
I give me love for all of time.

Me Emmy is a cunning lass
Her battle talents, unsurpassed
Tha trials of combat she has passed
Of foes to vanquish, none shall last
And woe to those who draw her wrath
Of  giants, orcs or darkest Drow
What pain they reap, so shall she sow.
Till facing 'fore their Gods they go.

Baldar Hammersmith
Dun Gor
Clan Axepeak
luvin' husband of Emmrald
The Hunter - Part 2

(submitted by: Thorn Hawk)


        The figure stopped running to look at the ground in front of him
noting the depth and clarity of the tracks he was following.  Shaking his
head to clear them of images of the past, he continued East.  His prey, only
two days ahead, had stopped to rest.  There were injured among their group
causing them to move slowly and he could overtake them within three days if
he kept at this pace.


        Slowing, he entered an older part of the woods.  The trees towered
above his head with a canopy that nearly blocked out the sun's warming rays.
Small animals scampered under the brush, while squirrels, just awakened from
winter's sleep, dashed among the overhead branches.  Birds of all sizes and
colors were preparing nests amidst the foliage above.  Their chirps sang a
song of renewal and rebirth that warmed his heart. Humbled by the power
around him and taking a small medallion from under his tunic, he said a
prayer to his goddess, Mielikki.  Putting the medallion away, the cloaked
figure started moving again only to stop and stare at a doe, swollen with a
fawn, enter the glen . . .


~~~


        A tiny wail filled the room with sound as the infant was born.  His
mother lay on a bed covered in perspiration from her exertion.  Next to her
stood Kabina, a stern woman with long black hair.  Holding the babe was
Lianna, this clan's wise one.  "Are you sure you want to do this?" asked
Lianna.


        "Yes"


        Handing the infant to Kabina, Lianna said, "You know what to do
Kabina."


        "Yes, sister," replied Kabina, taking the baby.  Wrapping the infant
in a blanket, she quickly left the room heading for her own lodgings.


        The next morning Kabina left the village with the baby and headed
into the desert.  She was charged with finding another home for the infant.
As the morning heat rose, she thought about the need to take a babe from his
rightful mother.  The Alaie' lived a life of constant battles, either the
bedine to the South or the hordes of monsters off the plateau to the North
raided the clans on a constant basis.  Every member of the Alaie' knew how to
use a weapon before they learned to run.  The young, old, men, or women
learned so they could defend the villages against attack.  Some of these,
chose to follow the life of a warrior.  Looking at the child, she smiled
sadly.  The woman in the village back there was one of these.  Kabina didn't
ask her for her name.  It made taking her child easier, she thought.  She was
a warrior of that clan, and chose to remain such when she found herself
pregnant.  Giving her child up to be raised by another, she was able to
remain focused on her duty to her clan.  Having a family, a warrior was not
able to fulfill that duty.  Their focus had shifted from the clan to a
family.  It was harder to risk your life if a child was waiting for you at
home.  Many believed this to be the main reason, but the wise one knew
differently.  It was too hard on the clan when a child found himself or
herself without a parent.  It was easier and better for all if the child was
taken at birth and given to another to raise as their own.  There were many
women and some men, when confronted with this choice, who chose to leave
their past lives behind and become a parent.  Still, many did not.


        Almost a week had passed when Kabina saw the crack on the rock face,
her destination.  Entering the fissure, she headed directly to the house of
the potter, Sharii' and his wife, Alasharra.  Knocking on their door, she
waited. Opening the door, "Kabina, what brings you . . . ," asked Sharii'.
Gravely, he stepped aside letting the wise one in.  "You know why I am here,
Sharii'," replied Kabina, handing the bundle to Alasharra as she entered the
room. "His name is Callus," Kabina said bowing. . .


Thorn Hawk,

Brotherhood of Pathfinders.
Elven Saga - Chapter 4
(submitted by: Nilgeit)

   The gnoll slid off Nilgeit's longsword with a harsh screech as the blade
scraped bone.  Six of its kind littered the clearing.  In the pocket of the
third searched, the elf found this note:

   "I have taken several human children hostage in a farming village two days
east of this ambush.  Throw a rope down the town's well, and you will find a
small underground complex.  Arrive soon, or they will starve."  It was signed
simply "Cyric's Own".  Nilgeit seethed.  Using hostages was nasty, but using
children was downright loathsome.  He crumpled the paper and threw it back at
the corpse.

   A day and a half of hard running, and the elf found the well.  In the
darnkess of a summer's late evening, he checked the crank and post for
tampering, then tied a rope off, and slipped over the edge.

   Forty feet down the shaft, the elf felt a faint change in the air.  He
reached out, and felt around the 4' diameter, finally discovering a large
hole cut into the wall.  Scanning with infravision and feeling carefully for
traps, he edged his slight weight into the opening, and began crawling.  Once
stable, he pulled a small sphere from his tunic pocket, and whispered,
"light", and the tunnel was immediatly lit by a soft, magical glow.  The
light revealed a man-made tunnel, roughly hewn from the bedrock, about three
feet wide and four feet tall, vaguely oval.  Before him was the twisted
remains of an iron grate, apparently forged to fit the hole into the well. He
began crawling again.

   After twenty feet or so, the tunnel widened and became taller, allowing
the elf to stand.  After a small curve, he passed a small room on his right,
doorless and lined with racks holding crossbows and quarrels.  A hard turn
cut to the right, and the passage ended at the top of a ladder, with a square
hole cut into the floor.  What is this structure here for? the elf wondered
silently.

   He descended the ladder, and found himself in a hewn cavern, with long
wooden tables and plain benches placed in neat lines running the length of
the cavern towards an archway at the far end.  Some kind of meeting and
dining hall, he surmised, and spotted a door of stout wood with metal
banding, off to his left.  It led into a small but well-designed kitchen,
unused but not abandoned.  The elf returned to the hall, noting that the
kitchen door could be barred from the inside.  Back in the hall, he moved
around the room, noting board games and decks of cards placed regularly
around the room.  Finally he moved through the arch, and found himself in a
hallway, regularly sectioned with doors and more archways every ten feet.  He
opened the first door on his right, and found it empty but for a simple
double bed and chest of drawers.  The door to the left was identical.

   When he opened the second door on the right, a flicker of motion behind
the bed caught his attention.  Quietly he moved around the bed, until he saw
a small, glass globe sitting on the floor.  Inside there appeared to be a
floating mote of light, not unlike a will-o-the-wisp.  When Nilgeit stepped
forward to inspect it, he bumped something invisible.  With only a light tap,
the unseen object fell forward, smashing the globe as he looked on in
confusion.  In a blur, the liberated mote flashed towards the elf's sword,
dancing around and down the blade.  Where it passed, the bright steel dimmed
and marred.  In sudden realization, he cursed as the thing--far from a
harmless wisp--darted towards the fine bracers he wore around his wrists.
Quickly he tore the bracers off, flung them into the back corner, and bolted
for the door.

    He slammed the door home, and backed away from it quickly.  The little
beastie (he couldn't recall the name) might not be contained so easily.  If
he was near, he was sure it would find him.  The magical creature--bane to
mages, clerics, and all magic in general -- actually consumed magic, both
spell and enchantment.  His sword was nothing more than normal steel rather
than an enchanted masterpiece.  By now, his bracers were plain cloth.  He did
not want to lose his shield, cloak, ring, and bag the same way.Labors of Love
(submitted by: Metr0n)

Chapter 1 - Pains of Love (~Seabrina D'Vileson)

Seabrina moves through the woods, her body moving lithly, belying the fact
that shes ready to deliver the child at anytime.  Being pregnant hasn't
hindered Sea in the slightest. The need to kill only increased during her
pregnancy. As always, after a kill, she hurried back to the cottage Metron
created for them. The outside so unimposing. The inside opening wide, showing
the opulence they both enjoyed.

She pulls her cloak off, shaking her long dark hair from the hood.  She drops
it to the floor, heading for their bedroom, her face still flushed from her
recent kill.  She pulls the flask from her waist <Yea so its large ;x>
sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes sparkle as she feeds the blood rose
and watches the vibrancy return to it.  As she looks at the bloodrose, she
feels a pain run along her abdomen.  She doubles over momentarily, waiting
for the pain to subside.  She stands and immediately heads out the door,
forgetting her cloak. Leaving the cottage she goes in search of her husband,
knowing she must reach him as the birth of their child is at hand.

She heads to the taverns near their home, she doesn't notice the looks she
gets as she enters then quickly leave the taverns....her cloak had hid her
body well all these months.  Now, however, she wasn't wearing it. She
ventures further from the cabin, wondering where Metron is.

She finally arrives at the inn in Triboar, the pains coming more often now.
Sea isn't sure how much longer she will be able to go on, but she's
determined to find him.  She sits in the inn, resting, and her mind wanders
back ten years. It seems like a lifetime ago when she had given birth to her
son, never even having seen the child before it was taken from her.  Her
husband then had been Trimentius.  Sea shudders at the remembrance.
Remembering how Trimentius had re-entered her life, almost taking her from
the man she loves.  Metron had challenged Trimentius to a duel, a duel to the
death.  Metron killing him and to hear his dying words that the son Sea had
born had been destroyed as not being fit to be his son.  Sea sits back in the
chair, tears come to her eyes.

She stands, intent once more on finding Metron.  She heads towards
Longsaddle, and halfway there, in Berun the pains become to intense for her
to continue.  She enters a deserted <ok so they're all deserted out there>
room and sits on the floor, her back agains the wall, her mind concentrating
on Metron to find her.

"Metawe, Luv... where da hell are ya?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2 - Treasure Hunt (~Metron Vileson)

The masters of Hells Keep had not been in a good mood when I had snuck into
their fortress in the middle of the night to relieve them of a sizable
portion of treasure.  In point of fact, they were quite enraged.  I had
slipped into the fortress in the shape of a raven, my preferred form for
flying and scouting.  I had scouted out the interior of the fortress in
various forms over the past few months to get a good idea where the main
treasure room was, and to scout out the best and quickest exits.  When I
finally decided it was time to strike, I did, bypassing all the mundane
guards and traps, and using my talents at magic to circumvent the magical
traps.  In a word, the treasury was mine to loot....and loot I did.

Laying open my Portable Hole, I scooped all the treasure I could into three
large chests I had brought special for this.  Now one may wonder why I didn't
just scoop all of the treasure into the magical space, but I've always been
very strict in keeping my Portable Hole as neat and tidy as possible.  Three
chests were the limit for what I would take, aside from the other 5 chests
already in there, filled with various nicknacks from my travels and my life
(including an ornate coffin with a plaque reading "Metron Vileson" which I
won't go into further detail at this point of time .>).  When the chests were
filled, I closed it up and began to make my escape.

In and out in less than an hour.  Not my personal best for this kind of work,
but not bad overall.  Of course, I hadn't counted on a tricky little trap
that sprang an alarm throughout the entire fortress.  Bloody thing was a
passive spell that I had overlooked previously, and didn't activate until
'after' I had passed once more through the corridor leading away from the
treasury.  Once more, a small detail almost proved my undoing, but hell, not
everyones perfect.  I swiftly transformed myself into a sleek black
panther..a form that was both agile and deathly.  I had hoped that I would be
able to slip back out without hurting a fly, but that soon proved to be
wishful thinking.  Letting out a roar of bestial rage, I charged through the
fortress, not heading for the main gates below, but further up the tower.  Up
and up I went, leaving a trail of bodies of both armed resistance and
servants that had wandered in my path.  I had paused long enough in one
chamber on my way up to rip apart a group of huddled, screaming servants,
tossing limbs every which way.  Now that secrecy and stealth was gone, I
might as well enjoy myself a little bit.

As I approached the upper reaches of the fortress, I came upon a group of 3
cowled figures waiting for me.  I knew that this was trouble from the get go,
especially when I saw the glowing blue sparkling globe of energy launching
from their outstreched fingertips to strike at me.  I don't think I've felt
anything quite like that little ball of fun for quite a number of years.  I
could smell the hairs all over my panther body sizzle, and the muscles of my
entire body spasm uncontrollably.  My body slamed back into the corridor from
which I had come, and I lay still, panting ever so quickly from the pain. The
three cowled mages were advancing on my quivering form when I sprung my next
little trick.  I changed once again, a quick little change, not much
different from the form of the panther, but enough of a difference in
structure and type that the deadly wounds I had sustained as a panther were
nearly healed by the switch to the displacer beast.

It took hardly any concentration to enable this form for speech, and I
muttered the command to my post potent defensive spell that I had spent many
months researching and perfecting, called simply Blinking Images. In a matter
of seconds 4 other displacer beasts came into being in the corridor.  The
three cowled mages shrank back from this new threat and retreated into the
larger chamber behind them, a serious error in judgement in my opinion.
Together, they started casting the mother of lightning bolts in conjunction
with each other and let fly into the corridor.  By that time, however, the
second aspect of my spell came into effect.  Suddenly, I and my four buddy
images blinked out of existance from the corridor and reformed in the chamber
behind the mages.  Ever wonder how hard it was to combat a displacer beast
with images, blinking ability (for both the original and the images), and
human intelligence?  Well, in less than 2 minutes, the three cowled mages
found out.

I left the chamber practically unscathed, spitting out pieces of magemeat
from my mouth as I found a window and lept through.  I transformed in midleap
back into a raven and soared off into the night, setting my sights on the
long flight back home to Neverwinter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 3 - Endings and Beginnings (~Metron Vileson)

I lost any sign of pursuit from Hell's Keep on the first day of my flight in
the form of a raven.  There was no way, short of magical means, that they
could hope to track me...and even with magic, they'd have a hard time getting
past the other magical defenses I carried around that led astray any such
attempts.  No, things were looking quite good for ole Met.  On the second
night I stopped at an old campsite to rest my weary wings.  I transformed
back into my normal (to all outward appearances) self, got my travelling gear
from my portable hole, and settled in for the night.  The stars up above
twinkled brightly through the trees.  The wind was making the branches above
me sway gently back and forth, and the few high clouds in the sky glowed with
the moon.  In all, it was an almost perfect night, and I found myself wishing
I could share this moment with Sea.  I drifted off with my eye gazing up
towards the heavens.

A think layer of mist knee high lay over the area, and although the moon had
already sunk below the horizon, the campsite shone dimly.  How I ended up
standing I couldn't for the life of me recall.  The whole world had taken on
a fuzzy, almost dreamlike state.  Was I in the middle of a dream, I wondered?
Or is this real.  Something was coming out of the trees that I was facing,
something that brought it's own light with it.  I felt no fear, and no sense
of threat.  A peaceful aura hung about the glow as it removed itself from the
trees and floated into the campsite.  I could see a dark form, shadowed in
the midst of the glow.  The form slowly became more substantial, taking on
the nude figure of a woman with ebony skin and raven black hair floating
about her shoulders as if she floated under water.  I tried to look upon her
face, but there was just a shadow there, a blankness of form, but I knew that
body.  I had been with that body a great many times in what seemed a lifetime
before.  A choke caught itself in my throat.  The glowing form then seemed to
collapse on itself, and at the very center a small dark form burst out and
soared upwards into the night.  It circled once, then twice.  My eye, misty
for some reason I could not comprehend, picked out the form above me...that
of a raven.  I felt a sudden heat from the precious silver dagger I always
carried around with me, and I lept into the air, transforming myself into a
twin of the raven that circled above me.  Up I flew, until I was even with
her.  She flew a circle around me, then dove into the trees.  I locked my eye
on her and dove in pursuit.

Throughout the night we raced through the trees.  Almost would I catch her
and then my some trick she would seem to fly directly into a tree, only to
come out the other side intact.  I lost more than a few feathers during those
narrow misses of my own.  There was something tickling the back of my mind,
something about what was happening at this time and this place, and more
importantly, who this was, but I could not bring it to the fore, and as the
chase progressed, only one thing stood out in my mind.  I must follow.

For over two nights I did.  During the day I would set camp and try to find
rest in my exhaustion, but during the night, she would return as before and
the chase would continue.  The whole time my mind was in a fog.  Memories of
the long past would haunt me in my sleep during the daylight, and memories of
the recent past during the chase.  It was as if something was brousing my
mind for my memories.  Emotions I had long thought dead painfully creeped
back into my dark soul during those hours, as painful or as pleasurable as
when the emotion was first felt.

On the third night of my hectic flight, I began recognizing the woods where
we raced.  We were nearly through the great Neverwinter forest, on the
outskirts of the ruins of the town of Berun.  During the entire flight, I had
never come closer than a yard to the raven I chased, dispite some of the
highly dangerous maneuvers I had managed to do.  The fog began to lift ever
so gently from my mind as we cleared the trees and raced through the edges of
Berun.

Finally, the raven swooped over a rooftop and landed on the front steps of a
deserted <ok so they're all deserted out there> building.  I dove in and
landed before her.  I took a few unsteady paces towards her until I was beak
to beak.  The raven at last began to grow in size, transforming back into her
ebody human body.  I released the form of the raven, transformed back into my
own self and reached out a hand to touch the shadows that even at this close
distance obscured her face.  As my fingers were but a hairsbreath away, I
heard a cry of familiar voice cry out in pain within the deserted building.
I turned to look towards the noise, then quickly looked back at the woman as
her form began to waver with the comming of dawn.  I then heard in the air
around me a voice I had not heard in a great long age, the first voice I had
heard since this chase began. "Go to her.  My time here is over.  Do not
forget me my love."  As the last of her voice echoed within me, her form
vanished, but not before the veil of shadow obsuring her face dissapated.
"Sharee!" I cryed out in anguish, for I knew that she whom I had once loved,
was dead. I crumbled to my knees and tears fell from my eye as the voice
whispered once more, "...do not forget..."

I knelt there for how long I do not know, but I was brought to my feet by the
cries of pain that still echoed within the building. "Goodbye." I whispered
as I regained my feet.  A life had passed.  A new life was coming into being,
and into the building I walked toward that new life waiting to burst forth
from my wife...my love, Seabrina.

Metron Vileson
Guild of Chaos

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC Note - Yes I cried when I wrote this.   This, by far, was the hardest
post I've ever written.  I've said goodbye to her as I said hello, in a
story.  Saying goodbye is never easy when you lose someone you cared a great
deal about.  Someone who touches your life, who shares with you a glimpse
into their own world, and who gave you some of your most cherished memories
here in this magical realm we call Neverwinter.

To you Lisa, who once played my wife, Sharee Ravenlock Vileson, I say for all
to hear, "I SHALL NOT FORGET."Nuzzot's Quest
(submitted by: FntsyRuler)

Chapter 1

For the first time in his life Nuzzot arose to the surface of the earth.  The
mission that he was about to embark on was a trechorous and fatal one.  His
father had been sent on this journey but has not returned since.  He was with
a group of his own clan setting up for a full force battle to eliminate all
of the surface elves.  Nuzzot's purpose in the clan was to take the mystical
mask, a mask created centuries ago by the drow to let their kind blend in
with the surface elves, and become one of the kings royal guards.  Once one
of the king's royal guards Nuzzot would use the sword of enchantment to turn
the king into a spider, leaving him to a doom of suffering and pain of being
stepped on by all creatures.  But it wouldn' end that quickly, Nuzzot had a
card up his sleve and he wasn't ready to reveal it.

"Nuzzot," his younger brothe Franzor called from the caves of the underground
temple of lloth,"you forgot the mytical mask that will allow you to
infultrarte the surface elves homes." Mother made you some dried deer meat
for your journey." 

"Thank you brother, I will miss you, now that father has died you will be man
of the house!!" 

The rest of his clan was swiftly moving through the forest, "Brother I must
go, I will bring the shirt of the king for you to see, I love you."  The
tears rolled down his eyes because he knew that he would most likely never
see him again.  He pulled away in agony for the pain was too wretched.  He
too started to go into the night fading... fading... fading away farther from
his brothers sobs.  

Once he was out of sight Nuzzot started to cry more.  " I will miss you my
brother" :-(


Chapter 2

"All elves report to your superior elf, CODE RED, CODE RED!!" 

"The drow are attacking sire, what shall we do?"

The king of all the elves is wearing a golden silk tunic with a glowing red
Medallion of the god of wine.  Pacing back and forth, pondering on the reason
of the attack.  

"Sire, Sire, what shall we do?? Sire??"

"One moment," still pacing and thinking.  " Maybe they want the other drow
that we captured here last week??"  "Retrieve the drow from the dungeon, I'll
bet my life that he knows something about this.


***************************************************************************************

"Talk drow, the executioner" screamed as he chopped one of Nuzzot's father's
ear off.

"About what???" he replied sarcastically.  "The full force attack??  Oh,
well, you see all of the drow are coming to kill all of the surface.  That
way we could study the environment, and take it for everything it has.  After
all of the natural resources are gone here we will move on to another race,
maybe the kender this time?!! HaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!  And what is your
measly little king going to do about it?  Take all of you archers and place
them in the trees, We have LLOTHS blessing, we will infultrate this are so
easily it won't be funny."

The executioner brought the drow to the king with an agahast face,"We have a
problem."


Chapter 3

"Nuzzot, Nuzzot, wake up!"

Waking up grogily from a short sleep he realized he was in the woods.  He
thought about his brother and his father that was presumed dead.  Todays the
day.

He got washed and dressed, all the time preparing for the final moments of
revenge.  How sweet revenge can be even to one that is evil.

Nuzzot picked up his sack and put in all the items that he would need, The
mystical mask, and his dagger and short sword just in case he ran into any
trouble, as well as a bow and a quiver worth of arrows.

The lone drow said his final goodbye as he left the camp and headed towards
the forest of QEUALENEISINVI.


***************************************************************************************

Shadows were reported that night, lurking in the darkest parts of the forest.
The king knew what was happening because of his information from the prisoner
drow.  He as well as all that knew, knew that he could do nothing.


***************************************************************************************

He entered the castle in the heart of the forest.  Throught the door the elf
walked, not being stopped because he looked exactly like all of the other
elves.  In the kings chambers the shadow cursed the king to a life as a
spider.  He put the spider(king) in his pocket and left the chambers.  

Nuzzot thought that he was home free until he felt something drop.  All of
the elves were screaming intruder.  He questioned them?  No the mask!!! 

He was captured and forced to go to the dungeon.


Chapter 4(final)

"Father", Nuzzot called as his bloody body was thrown into the dank dark
dungeon.

"Do not tread our clan will save us."

"No father, they will realize the mistake that they have made and call of the
attack.  It is not right.

"TRAITOR!!!!!, you dare to oppose LLoth, you shall die," and with that
Nuzzot's own father killed his son.  He was left in the dungeon, waiting,
watching, hoping that his clan would come to save him. Waiting, Waiting......


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Fntsyruler(submitted by:  GARY ORL2)

Battles, battles everywhere and not a single "friendly" monster to be found.
Well, it may seem that way, but its not entirely true.  If you would like to
see a computer controlled dragon fight with you instead of against you, then
make a little side trip the next time you're in Longsaddle.

Okay, heres how to find him.  Make your way to Longsaddle Under.  As you
gather your bearings underground, make your way through a large temple then
turn South at the far end.  Soon you will be where you need to be.  From
here, heed this warning... DRACS do await you!!  Behind the door the tough
test does will present itself.  Survive and the Dragon soon will be met,
perish and back to square one you'll be sent!  After regaining your strength
and replenishing your spells, move farther east til a locked door stands
before you.. A bash or a knock will gain you quick entry.. Talk to and free
the grand beast, be sure not to attack him.  He quickly will leave you but
reappear when he is needed.

A secret door will open, and you'll be back near where you entered the
underground.. Head back through the Temple, but this time turn North. Your
path will be a mirror image of the one you just traveled. Through the last
door, evil does await you. Here, two Beholders with a human guard, have
possession of the Incandescant Jewel. Prep for the 'Holders and enter when
ready, your new Dragon friend will be there when battle cries echo.  Even
with your ally, this fight is a tough one, do the "dance" if you can after
clearing the fighters with a Fireball. Victory here will depend on you, not
the dragon.  His magic does little to slay the foul 'Holders, however on
occasion he will close in with both bite and claw attacks. With those some
damage he can do!!  Alas, often times the grand beast will fall to a 'Holders
eye attack, but then again, thats one that was directed at him and not you ;>

If both skillful and lucky, you will emerge as the victor. Lord Nasher is
sometimes quite generous to those who return the Jewel.  A well deserved
bonus for a deed well done.  And experience has taught me, those who witness
the dragon will always bring back a friend or a brother to introduce them to
the "friendly" dragon.. Remember, when in Longsaddle, You've got a friend!!

Gary Orl2
Royal Knight of COR<><><><><>
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