1996-10-06

Recovered original text · preserved verbatim

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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 154
Week Ending 10-6-96
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to Luthyen for winning last week's News of the Realm contest
for her two-part story entitled "Destiny".

Luthyen 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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Congratulations to the Brotherhood of the Pathfinders for compiling the most
"Newsworthy" entries to the News of the Realms!!  They win the monthly reward
of 4 pearls which goes directly into their guild fund!!  ;D

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Lightning Bolt Booth Winner - 9/27

This is the lighting booth results ;> 

The winner is Paladin197 and his prize garnered is 5 pearls.

Congratulations!!

-- NW Dain

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New Player's Tour - 9/29

    Tonights tour of the realms took us to find the secrets of the lost
temple of Bane in Crossergate..It was a long and arduous journey with many
dangers constantly befalling us.. Of our starting group (Elne Clare,
Srick719, Szerix, Panther188, Marixx, Vline, and Tatt1anna) only Elne Clare
and Strick719 survived the entire journey.. Congratulations and many thanx to
all those who participated and joined in the roleplay along the way..

NW Hobbes

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Fumble Booth Results - 9/30

**Star Struck**

The invitation went out for the first 15 people at 15,14 in the Wharves to
meet a star.  A few of those who arrived at the appointed spot - Bachaas,
CarnalPa1n, JNar4u, CPanddf, Mech Moses, TPA Rayne, Lrd Kedryn, Hawkke 95,
BringsLite and SirVain - were star struck, finding themselves clumsy in the
presence of NWA Nova but 5 were not. 

Congratulations to V Eight, Lynxsom, Lord Aar0n, Ldy Spawn and Drk Legacy for
grace at a moment when others had faltered.  They each receive 2 pearls
autographed by yours truly. ;-)

Thanks to all!
NWA Nova

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New Player's Tour - 9/29

Journal Entry NWA Domino:

Seven valiant adventurers and myself undertook the task of rescuing a well
known Blacksmith from Vilnask.  Willow had disappeared under mysterious
circumstances and our party was determined to find out what happened to him.
We prepared in Neverwinter city and then set out on our trek.  Things were
quiet down through Southwall and we rested up in the Inn for our last night
of quiet repose.  

The party consisted of:  Towjam26, F34TFGYTGH, Eamonvelda,  Shark1969,
Mimbar, JohnT58141, DLee349567 and myself.

We made our way along the road to Vilnask and lost one of our party after
encountering some wolves and Great Vilstrak he was not killed but wounded
enough that he wandered off and we never saw him again.  We had our first
blood and the hunt was on.

We finally made it to Willow's workshop and everything looked normal so we
headed for his residence.  There we met his wife and she explained how he had
disappeared mysteriously.  We searched the house for clues and found a secret
door.  It lead to an rough hewn passage and we decided to investigate.  After
a short distance it opened up into a very well made passage, definitely
man-made.  This must be the right path.

Our party seemed to have a dark cloud following us and it seemed our quest
was cursed.  One by one the party succumed to different fates and by the time
we reached the lair of the Dracolich only Eamonvelda and myself remained.
She fell, leaving only myself to continue.  I decided that fate had dealt us
a bad hand and broke off the quest for another day.  Willow's rescue would
have to wait for another 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:

October 7th Monday  8:00 PM EDT - with NW Dain.
October 10th Thursday  5:00 PM EDT - with NW Vic.

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

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Congratulations to Luthyen for winning last week's News of the Realm contest
for her two-part story entitled "Destiny".


Luthyen has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes).  Keep up the good work!  ;D
Homecoming - Part 2
(submitted by: ABK Sonja)


Chapter 4

   An hour into the journey home Storm's nerves subsided and he was at ease
now.  Garath lay in the boat fast asleep and finally safe.  Storm lay on the
bow of the boat, the sun beating down on him now as it was almost midday.  He
thought of Sonja.  He had not seen much of Sonja in a week...She was having
her own problems and they weren't in communication much..It was just a bad
time for them and things would improve some day soon.  There was no time for
thoughts like this as this should and will be a day of celebration.

   HellzFury docked the boat and they were quickly off passing NeverWinter
square.  Many looked on as they knew who garath was.  The amazement was more
of who was carrying Garath's bruised and battered body...Hellzfury walked
behind Storm as Storm was walking as fast as he could towards BloodKeep.
Thoughts of fulfilling what TJaden had told him to do had come true through
Zeus's powers.  TJaden and Storm never really saw eye-to-eye until just
before TJaden's departure.  Maybe this would now seal them in friendship, is
TJaden were to ever return to BloodKeep someday...

   Storm pressed on through the front gates of BloodKeep a short time later
and into the Main Hall where many sat in the open air of the open front
gates.  The noise of the Main Hall quickly turned to silence when it was seen
what was going on.  Storm crashed to his knees dropping Garath to the floor.
Storm's breath was heavy and couldn't be caught as the onlookers were
stunned.  Garath lay not responding.  Storm saw Indica in the corner of his
eye...

   "Indica!!  Call the clerics!!"  Storm shouted and raised his hand and
Indica was on it.

   Lilawyn stepped forward..."Well done brother of mine..."

   ABK STORM
   GM--BloodKeepThe Rules
(submitted by: V Asmodi)

This is poem I wrote after hearing of Nightengale's death, a woman who I
knew, though not for the better.  At any rate:
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                                      RULES

  I want to scream, but I can't.
  I want to hide, but I can't.
  I want to run away, but I can't.
  It's against the rules.

  I want to die, but I can't.
  I want to go to heaven, but I can't.
  I want to rest, but I can't.
  It's against the rules.

  I want to go home, but I can't.
  I want to go to a room of mine, but I can't.
  I want to remember my life, but I can't
  It's against the rules.

  There is no place I can be, except where I am.
  There's no place I can stay, except someplace else. 
  There's no place to go for help except the future.

  Because it's against the rules.

 I would like the winnings I might get to be given to the Camirilla. 
 For they know what immortality means.
____________________________________________________________
Bad Dream
(submitted by: Centruo)

"...Please, Centruo, just stay with me. I don't want to be alone tonight."
Ilysianna said as Centruo laid her down on her bed.

"Of course I will, Ilysianna," he said as he laid down next to her, holding
her warmly. The rest of the night wasn't as pleasent...

Centruo looked out into a black void. Nothing upon nothing everywhere he
could see. He got a slight sensation of slowly spinning, so slowly in fact,
that he could hardly tell. He turned his head to find that he was holding a
large planet on his back. Of course he was, he's been doing it forever. 'No
reason today should be any different from any other day,' he thought. 

Slowly a curve of light and warmeth spread across the planets surface,
warming it and him both. As he looked he saw the Sun. Her name was Ilysianna,
and he longed every day to be closer to Her.  He knew, however, that if he
got closer, then his planet could get hurt, and he couldn't have that.  She
reached out for him longing for him to hold Her. Once he reached out himself,
and the whole planet almost fell off of his shoulders. He wouldn't, couldn't
let that happen. He owed it to his planet to hold it as best he could, though
everyday it seemed heavier.

As he basked in Her warmth, (as it was the only thing he could get from Her)
smaller planets appeared around him. No, they were moons. They were his moons
and they were orbiting him.  Each one had it's own name and it's own face.
There was 'Kyrasha' a Bringer of Woe to the inhabitants of the planet.
'Luchsaugig', usually a large blue moon that orbited with Kyrasha, to equal
her out, but something knocked his orbit off course. 'Most likely that large
whole in the center of it.' Centruo thought.  There was 'Apokilyps', a moon
that was very large, and was trying to eclipse the light of Ilysianna.
'Bryan', a moon that usually denoted free spirit. Here was 'Dwar Amaav', the
oldest of the moons to Centruo's knowledge, but something happened to cause
the the Moon to no longer talk with him. There were others, but these were
the ones to stick out.

'So many moons', Centruo thought. 'What to do with them?'  The moons all took
on personifications of the people in real life. Only they were twisted and
dangerous looking. Kyrasha sprout great, leather wings. She had completely
black eyes, and a look of evil on her face.

Luchsaugig looked as though he were rotting, and bloated, as well as an odd
shade of blue.  Apokilyps paid no mind to Centruo, but turned his attention
on the Sun.  Bryan had a sneer of contempt on his face, and he also looked
toward Her.  Dwar, as usual, ignored them all.

Soon, Luchsaugig and a man who looked just like Centruo walked up to him.
Suddenly Centruo realized that he was dreaming, and that he hadn't done this
for eternity.

A pair of scales appeared, with minature people on the trays. On one side
stood Kyrasha, as she was, holding a dagger to her chest. On the other was
Ilysianna, about to embrace Apokilyps. As Luchsaugig shambled toward Centruo
as zombies do, Centruo looked down to see that the clothes he was wearing
were entirely too big for him, and hung loosely around his body. He also
noted that they were in shades of grey and black.

Luch and the Evil Centruo he killed after he tried to kiss Ilysianna finally
got to him. Each smiled evilly at whatever they had in mind for The Master of
the Seelie Court. 

"Well, well, well. Thought you could get rid of me, did you?" the Evil
Centruo said. "Hah, no such luck."

"Let's see, where does it hurt, Cent?" Luchsaugig said in a gravily voice.

"Leave me alone, both of you." Centruo said, almost pleading.

The evil Centruo cocked a thumb toward the scales behind them, both presently
equaled out. "We're not here to hurt you, old Pal. We're here to help. We're
going to see where your heart stands on this matter of who to lose. Whichever
side reaches the top is the side that you would chose."

"What? How are you going to do that?" Centruo asked him.

"Simple," Luchsaugig said, "we'll lay your heart on each side." Both the
creatures began to laugh.  Luchsaugig produced a large knife and reached out
to Centruo. Since he was holding the planet, he couldn't very well stop them.
Slowly, and painfully, they cut out his heart, leaving a great gaping hole in
his chest, yet he remained alive. Luchsaugig shambled over to the scales,
laying his heart on the plate with Kyrasha on it. The scales didn't seem to
budge. Luchsaugig and the Evil Centruo grinned at each other, then Luch layed
the heart on the tray with Ilysianna and Apokilyps on it. The scales tipped
over as he released the heart. They both looked at him and the evil Centruo
chuckled and said, "Well, looks like you'd chose losing Kyrasha to Ilysianna
any day, Cent. How wonderfully greedy of you." 

"NO! I love Her! Don't you understand?! I can't choose, it's not even my
choice! Kyrasha's, she's..." Centruo began to say.

"...Expendable, Cent?" Luchsaugig asked.

"No! No, it's not that, you don't understand."

"Ah, don't worry, Cent, ol', buddy. I can take care of everything. I'll just
take the memory away from you, then you won't have to worry about anything."
Bryan said, as he and Kyrasha walked up.

"No, please I asked you not to." Centruo said.

"I know, but I also said I wouldn't seduce your queen, but guess what? I
don't care about what I said." Bryan said, with his usual sly smile and a
wink.

"Expendable, am I, Centruo?", Kyrasha asked, her wings folded behind her.

"Kyrasha, please understand. I love Her. She's all I have. Without Her I'd
die. I know it."

"Wouldn't it be more Paladin-like to sacrifice yourself than another?"
Kyrasha asked, an evil grin on her face.

"Yes, I know, but..." Centruo began.

"But you're a failure?" a smaller form of Ilysianna asked.

"Ilysianna, not you too." Centruo said, noticing that the planet was getting
heavier all the time.  Bryan put his arms around Ilysianna from behind and
began kissing her neck as she continued. "Look at you, you can't even support
your own load. Even those you are supporting are turning against you." She
said, and when Centruo looked, he could see the inhabitants hitting his arms
with pick-axes and hoes. Looking back, Centruo's knees began to buckle under
the weight, and he saw that Apokilyps had joined them and was now embracing
Ilysianna.

"NO! Stop it!" Centruo shouted, and almost released his planet.

"This is between us, mind your own business, Centruo." Apokilyps said with a
chuckle.

"I, unlike you, Centruo, can handle this. You don't have to watch, if you
don't want to." Ilysianna said, turning back to look up at Apokilyps and kiss
him fully.

"Well, this isn't too nice, is it, brother?" Amon asked as he joined them,
twirling a red mask in his hand.

"Amon! Please help me." Centruo pleaded.

"Help you? Hah! I call this poetic justice brother." Amon said, then jumped
on Centruo's planet. Centruo went down to one knee, every muscle straining to
keep his planet supported. The others joined Amon, except for Dwar, who
remained dormant.

Centruo, now on both knees, looked at the back of Dwar, his one time friend.
"Dwar, please, I can't do this anymore. I'm not good enough."Centruo pleaded.

Dwar slowly turned around, and looked at Centruo's pathetic stance. "You were
good enough to steal her from me, weren't you?"

"I'm sorry, what was I supposed to do?" Centruo asked.

"You could have left, instead of forcing me to. Because of you, I couldn't be
with Ilsyianna. Because of you, I could never feel returned love. Because of
you, I left, Centruo." Dwar told him.

"No!!!!!" Centruo cried, but suddenly noticed the load was lighter. He was
now holding only the planet, and nothing else, and no moons orbited him. A
great white light slammed into the Sun, and when it did, it made Her eyes
change to different colors. She looked toward the light, turning her warmth
from Centruo and to the source of the light. In a flash, She disappeared to
embrace the light.  Centruo's eyes widened as first he froze in place and
then began moving quickly toward the void that She once filled.

As he came crashing into that void, he saw, heading straight for him, through
a light blue sheet of ice, another man, holding another planet. The man
holding this planet he knew well. This one was called Krelestro. As would be
expected, the two collided into each other, as well as many other planets,
destroying themselves now that their Sun was gone from them forever.

Upon making contact with the rest of the planets, Centruo woke with a start.
He was cold, and was covered with sweat. He moved closer to Ilysianna,
ironically enough, for her warmth. He was pleased to see that she didn't seem
to be awakened by his start, but as he began to shiver, he stared up at the
ceiling rubbing his head. 'What was happening?' 'Why all this now?' 'How do I
stop it?' These and more questions took his mind over. He turned to look at
the peaceful of Ilysianna, and kissed her eyelids before laying back to go to
sleep. What seemed like only a half hour later, Ilysianna jumped out of the
bed, apparently in the grip of her own nightmare. As he moved to comfort her,
she drew her sword and placed it precariously close to his neck...

Centruoicles Sculpturatus
Master of the Seelie Court
Seelie Sidhe Baron
Kithain AGMCandice
(submitted by: V Randym)

     His boot scraped softly across the stone ledge on the roof of the Temple
of Tyr.  He crouched down and laid a pale hand on the cool granite, steadying
himself in the buffeting winds that whipped his cloak around him.  The faint
crimson glow of his eyes cast horrifying shadows across his features as he
scanned the darkness.

     A lone figure moved briskly across Neverwinter Square below him.
Squinting, he was able to pick out the young girl's features.  She was no
more than fifteen.  She wore a dark green shawl pulled around her to ward off
the night's chill.  The shawl seemed to be quite effective at keeping the
chill away, unfortunately it did so at the cost of the girl's peripheral
vision.  This kept her from seeing the others.

     Candice hurried along.  She knew father would be upset with her for
being out so late, but the singer at the inn had entranced her.   Someday,
she would be old enough to get a job singing like that.  Mrs. Longtooth, her
voice instructor kept saying that she was her best student.

     As she crossed the square, she angled towards the narrow street that led
towards her home.  She felt a strange chill, as though someone was watching
her but looking around quickly, she saw no one.

     She was partway down the narrow lane when the hand grasped her shoulder
and dragged her roughly into the alley.  She let out a startled squeak and
felt herself held back against the wall of the alley.  Five large figures
surrounded her.  Evil laughter and soft voices discussing horrible things
they wanted to do to her came to her ears.

     He glided across the rooftops.  He watched as the five men moved into
position.  Furtive looks around themselves to make sure no one was watching
indicated they were getting close.  Suddenly, they charged forward and
dragged the girl into an alley.  

     "She's a pretty one."

     "Gonna have us a good time tonight."

     "Lucky us, thought the night was gonna be dull."

     This would not do.  He was aware of the girl's talent.  To have such a
lovely voice snuffed out before the world could hear it just would not do.
His form flickered on the ledge.  His outline grew insubstantial and mist
began to form from him.  Soon, a cloud of mist began to drift down the wall
into the alley.

     Her fear held her frozen.  She watched in terror as the man holding her
took out a huge knife.  Her head smarted from where it had connected with the
wall, and she felt sick to her stomach.  Her eyes drifted from the ugly man
with the foul breath in front of her.

     Absently, she felt the blade of the knife tugging at her tunic.  The
cool night air caused her shiver as the blade began to cut away her top.  She
knew she should be struggling, but her attention fixed on a spot behind the
men.

     A cloud of mist descended into the alley behind the men.  Her eyes
widened in surprised as it coalesced into the form of a man.  He was tall,
over six feet.  Almost everything about him was dark.  He wore black
breeches, black boots, and a black tunic.  He had a swirling black cloak that
billowed about him in a breeze she could not feel.  His hair was as black as
night and it fell down around his shoulders.  

     There were only two features about the man that were not dark.  He had
pale white skin that seemed almost luminescent in contrast to the dark
clothes he wore.  That was enough to cause her to stare...but it was his
other feature that caused her to feel a fear that made her forget for a
moment about the men who were surrounding her.  The man's eyes glowed an
eerie crimson as he surveyed the area before him.

     When he moved, it was with a speed and grace that caused her to gasp.
Then came a sickening crunch that caused the others to turn in surprise.

     As he reformed, he saw that the girl had noticed him, but her
antagonists had not.  He strode silently forward and grasped the man who was
furthest back by the scruff of his neck.  Before the man could react, he spun
with speed and strength that belied his mortal appearance and slammed the man
into the far wall.  He hit the unforgiving brick with a crunch of breaking
bones.

     He completed the spin and found that the other mortals had turned at the
sound to face him.  The girl momentarily forgotten, she slid slowly down the
wall to sit on the cold ground.  The four men advanced on him with blades
drawn.

     He summoned the celerity from within himself and hightened his speed and
relexes to the point where he moved as a blur.  He allowed them to see the
barest hint of a smile, and then he was among them, breaking, twisting and
throwing the four men in a dance of death they could not hope to match.

     She slid slowly down the wall and sat there numbly as the men forgot
about her.  They drew blades and advanced on the dark man.  For some reason
she could not fathom, she found herself thinking that they were the ones in
trouble and not this new stranger.  She thought for a moment about fleeing,
but fear held her in place.

     The dark man actually smiled as the other four men fanned out around
him.  When he moved, it was so fast she could barely follow him with her
eyes!  Howls of pain erupted from the men, and blood painted the walls as the
dark man moved among the men, killing them each with force and strength she
could not imagine.  

     Then it was over.  He stood among the five bodies untouched by the blood
he had shed.  She gasped in terror as he turned slowly to look at her. 

     "Fear not, little one."  His voice was so soft and deep.  He extended
his hand to her and she found herself almost calmly reaching out to take it.
He guided her slowly to her feet.  She looked into those glowing eyes and
felt herself slipping away into darkness.

     After the last body hit the ground, he turned to the girl.  She seemed
terrified, so in as calm a voice as he could muster, he told her not to be
afraid.  He reached out and took her by the hand and guided her to her feet.

     Gazing into her eyes, he clouded her mind and entranced her.  

     "You will remember nothing of your time in this alley."  He smiled to
himself as she repeated his command in a monotone.  

     "You tore your tunic earlier in a tumble." Again she repeated his words.
He led her out of the alley and bid her to go home.  As she turned to leave,
he ended the domination.

     She paused on the sidewalk.  She was confused for a moment and turned,
almost expecting to see someone standing there.  She was, of course, alone.
Shrugging off the strange feeling she walked to the door of her home.
Slipping inside, she said a quick prayer that father would not be too upset
that she was getting home so late.

     "Father?  I'm home!"

     He watched her from the darkness as he entered the house.  He smiled to
himself as he heard the concern in her father's voice.  She would be
grounded, but at least she was safe.

     Behind him, in the alley, came a moan from the man he had left alive.
His smile widened as he turned and glided back into the alley.  All this work
had made him hungry.

V Randym
Prince of Neverwinter
Camarilla GMThe Interrogation of the Warden
(submitted by: UDL Charon)

The following is taken from the UDL/Jedi Praxium skirmishes:

  The darkness outside was offset by the flickering of the fires that burned
in the various homes and hubbles throughout the town.  Daramas was a medium
sized town but a day and a half ride from the Jedi's keep, and renown for
it's production of excellent cattle and livestock.  Bayomon and his men had
rode in during the waning hours of the morning and had begun killing it's
inhabitants much the same as they had Taxia a few weeks earlier.  This time
they were slow and methodical however.  They did not kill everyone in sight
as they had before.  They were hunting for information first and foremost,
and they needed the right people alive to get it.  One of those sat in front
of Bayomon right now.

  Artan Haase, Warden of the town of Daramas, was what the sign outside the
shack read.  Bayomon found that idea amusing, the Warden sitting in his own
office watching the village he was sworn to protect burning to the ground in
front of his eyes.  Artan was maybe 30, good build and strong features,
though those features were bruised and smeared with blood from the fighting
and the early parts of this interrogation.  However, though Artan may have
been wonderful at breaking up a drunken brawl here and there or rallying the
town against a band of mercenaries looking for a good time, he was definitely
not prepared to handle the UDL or Myrkul's horde.  Few were.

  Bay paced slowly and deliberately back and forth across the room, letting
Artan's gaze continually fall to his wife and two children who were seated in
the corner.  The children, about eight and ten years of age, had red eyes
from crying, though they were silent now, all cried out.  Bay turned to the
Warden and his eyes glowed deep red.  Bay liked the affect that had on
mortals, it always seemed to remind them who they were dealing with.

  "All right Artan, once again.  How many entrances are there into the
Catacombs beneath the Jedi's Keep?" Bayomon asked slowly and methodically.

  "Lord, as I have said many times, I do not know.  I have never..." but his
answer was cut short by the backside of Bay's hand.

  "Do you think me a fool Warden Haase?!?"  The anger that was in Bay's voice
was evident.  "You are Warden of the town that produces the finest livestock
in the Jedi's lands...and you dare to protest that you know nothing of their
hidden entrances? You have never escorted a shipment to their keep? Never
accompanied a Jedi there?  Never consulted with them as to how to get your
supplies to their people?"

  Bay made a few signs in the air and mumbled a few arcane words.  Artan was
lifted into the air, suspended maybe a foot and a half high.  Bay's spread
his hands apart and Artan's arms were lifted outwards too.  Bayomon made a
fist and crushing movement with his right hand and the sound of crackling and
breaking bones filled the air as Artan's right hand folded in on itself.  The
cries of agony and pain were enough to find what few tears still remained in
Art's wife and children.

  "For the love of God and the force!" Artan cried out.  Bayomon mumbled a
few more words and Artan dropped from midair to land on his knees.

  "Myrkul is the only God you shall know from here on Warden!"  Bay's eyes
flared again, but then the glow subsided as he gained control of his temper.
"I grow weary of this Artan,  I will ask yet again.  How many entrances do
the Jedi have into the Catacombs?"

  Artan began to sob uncontrollably then.  He was nearly broken, and Bay had
to be very careful now so as to continue to push, but not push him past the
brink of sanity.  Bay walked to the Warden and pulled him up, the chair came
sliding back underneath Artan.  Bay kneeled beneath him and draped his arms
over Art's shoulders, almost as if hugging him from behind.  Bay leaned in
close and almost whispered in Artan's ear.

  "Artie, Artie, Artie, Artie.  Art, listen, I don't want it to be like this.
And I know you don't.  Please just tell me what I need and I can let you and
your beautiful family go.  You could head towards Red Larch....build a new
life there Art, far from all this war.  Imagine that Art.  But if you don't
tell me, well, we have a problem see."  Bay stood and motioned for a nearby
ghoul guard to come over, they both moved and stood in front of the Warden.

  "See Art, this a lower ranking undead.  A ghoul.  Not very pretty is he
Art?"  The ghoul smiled at the statement, but its teeth and breath were too
much for Bay.  "Close your mouth!  Anyway Art, this used to be a Sol.  But
now he serves Myrkul and the UDL.  Now I don't like the idea of doing
this...but my boss Shurg, he'll want it done, and I really can't go against
the Arch-Liches wishes.  See the Arch-Lich isn't as kind or generous or
understanding as I am, and he really doesn't like it when people don't
cooperate, which you aren't right now.  So if you don't help me...."

  "You'll turn me into one of your undead?"  Art stuttered in.

  "No Art.  I'll turn your son Jared into an undead.  And your daughter.  And
your wife.  And I'll throw you in a cell and make them visit you every
night."  Art's eyes got big with that thought.  "Imagine Art, your son as an
undead ghoul.  Imagine.  Maybe Shurg will even want him for a footstool.
Shurg likes those ghoulish footstools.  Or your daughter.  I'm sure my sister
Veridienne, Mistress of the Orb, I'm sure she would love to take your
daughter on.  Learn her in the ways of our kind.  And your wife of course..."
Bay's eyes fell to his shivering wife, "I am sure she would make a wonderful
banshee.  She could stay in my tower.   A banshee wench  would be just the
amusement I need on those cold and lonely nights in the Castle of Bones.
Yes.  I'm sure I could find room for her."

  Art's look changed from one of misery and pain, to one of defeat and
resignation.  The thought of his family in the hands of Myrkul was too much
for him to bear.  "I do not know them all.  But there are at least twelve
entrances surrounding the keep.  Maybe a few more than that, I don't know for
sure."

  "Good Art.  Good."  Bay moved a small table in front of the Warden and
placed a map and pen in front of him.  "Show me Art....where are the ones you
know of?"  Bay's evil grin nearly filled the room as the Warden of  Daramas,
Artan Haase, revealed the various entrances to the catacombs he was aware of.

***

  Bay swung his leg over his Nightmare and brought his mount around.  He
turned to Esh, his ghoul spy that UDL Terr0r himself had told Bayemon to
recruit into service for Bayomon to use.  "Esh...take this map to Veridienne.
She will know what is to be done with it.  If she has no other tasks for you,
return to me quickly.  I have a special plan for you in mind, and the sooner
I get you started on it the better.  While you are at the camp, see if the
Arch-Lich has any instructions for me, and brief him of what we have
accomplished."

  Esh's whisperish voice barely reached Bay before being carried off by the
wind.  "As you command Lord."

  His detachment mounted and ready to ride Bay directed his steed up to the
shattered window of the Warden's office and called inside to Artan and his
family.  "You have done a great deed Warden Haase, and for it you shall
receive a great reward.  Be well my friends."

  Bay turned his mount and trotted away a bit.  He motioned to one of the
five ghouls left and spoke to him when he approached.  "Bind each of them,
facing away from each other so they cannot look at each others faces.  Then
set the building ablaze with them alive in it.  Once you see their bodies are
burned to ashes and the house lays in smoldering ruins as the others do,
rejoin us at Guyton's Pass."

  The ghoul nodded, and Bay turned and rode off with his force.

***

  With his detachment camped for the evening Bay waited for the five ghouls
to return.  They rode into camp early in the morning and made their report.

  Bay left the camp for a bit to be alone with his thoughts.  As he sat
meditating he heard the ghouls words in his mind.  "...terrible screams of
agony...cries for help and the force...nothing but charred ashes and
bones...".  Myrkul's glory filled the realms, and Bay felt sure his cold hand
was with Bay right then.The Hills and Triboar
(submitted by: Jeymian)

           Well I have never had so much fun fumbling around in the woods as
I did today.  The one thing that came to mind to me was "HOW IN THE WORLD CAN
A RANGER GET LOST IN THE WOODS????"  Well if you can answer that one, you got
one on me.

           Anyways, as it goes, I came across a little voice in my head that
seemed to be telling me  which way to go.  Well, it seemed to be telling me a
good way to go, but the voice slowly seemed to get all mixed up with
everything else that was going on, mainly some various monsters that for some
reason just had to bother a poor little TP cadet with only 2 hp.  Fortunately
I was invis'd most of the time and was able to sneak away.

         Do you know how long I was in those woods????   THREE HOURS????  Man
o man, I couldn't wait to get out of there.  I'd had enough of sneaking for
one day.  Luckily that little voice that I had heard earlier decided that I
still hadn't found my way out and proceded to tell me which way to go.  This
time I thought that it might be a good idea to jot down some notes and then
go and try to find my way.

          Eventually, like about half an hour later I pulled tired old body
into Triboar.  Strangely enough I didn't even have to ask where the Inn was.
For some unknown reason everyone just pointed.  And I didn't even have to
ask.  I knew what I looked like.  Those stupid pigeons had had a field day
earlier and I hadn't had time to jump in the river.  

And by the way, Luthyen, your voice was music to my ears, Thanks.

        Once I had rested and gotten ready to explore this new town I decided
to see if Wranglir and company were still around.  Well I didn't really know
any of the crew but was determined to at least drop in and say hello.  After
looking around for a bit I found everyone hiding out in a room.  Well I
walked in and said hello and just kinda stood there for a few moments.  Of
course that wasn't going to last long.  I just couldn't stand it . . . I had
to join in and see what all the fun was about.  As far as I could tell
everyone was practicing their PVP.  Something I think I might like to try one
day.  I at least want to wait until I get a Dis spell.  Right Wrang???  Well
anyway within no time at all most everyone had to leave.

           That left me and Garulfo, someone who I had heard about one night
while I was trying to sleep at the hall, after passing out from too much ale.
Well I must say that he is a real cool guy!!!  He knew that I could only
stick around a little longer but said that he would show me how to dance, now
this was one of the most useful dances that I have ever seen.  All those
years spent at the Inns had paid off.  He showed me the dance of the
beholders.  And from that I was able to obtain the letter with the sigil of
the purple squid on it.  And for this I say "Thank you Garulfo."  

         Soon after that I fell asleep on the streets and that is where I
have woken up.  I have learned that it is a good idea to write these things
down before I forget them, right Luth?

          Well I hope to see and meet some more of you later on.

Your Bro,
Jeymian
The Traveler (how does this sound, I'll explain another time)Stormy Nights
(submitted by: Lifgoddes)

Cold rain ran down her already soaked body.  Shivering she leaned down closer
to her white steed, Magic.  Magic carried her towards Neverwinter, although
it seemed so far away.  Drained of all energy she slowly closed her eyes.
Lightning crashed overhead waking her of the light sleep she was in.  She
glanced around through the rain to see where she was.  All she saw where
bodies that were dismembered,  crows eating rotting flesh, and skeletons that
would long tell the story of their death.  My god what is this place, she
thought to herself.  So much death and destruction in one place could only
mean one thing.  Everything was moving to fast for her, and she couldn't take
her eyes off of a little child's skeleton with it's arms outstreched for
anyone.  The infants arms reached towards heaven begging someone to save it
and take it away.  She slid down off of her horse, and let her feet sink into
the muddy ground beneath her.  Brushing a strand of wet auburn hair behind
her ear she leaned over the skeleton of this infant.  Poor thing, she
thought, how could anyone or anything be this cruel.  Slowly, she removed her
cloak and lay it over the dead infant, giving it some peace.   She walked
back over to her tired steed and decided to look for an inn for the night.

Hours later, she saw a light in an inn titled Mansuco's Inn.  After she payed
the 1 platinum for a room she decided to sit at the bar for a while.  Men and
women of all guilds crowded into this tiny inn.  NOR'S, WARR'S, COR'S, LOK'S,
and even some KORT'S gathered here.  So many alignments to be in one bar.
Herself being of lawful good alignment she decided to sit closer to the
NOR'S.  She had heard they were good people.  As she quaffed the house ale
she watched the going ons of the bar.  Thunder crashed outside as she took
the last drink.  Throwing down some gold pieces she headed towards her room.

Sunlight broke through her window early in the morning, and she sat up and
yawned.  Blinking her eyes against the brightness she got dressed.  Outside
she paid the stablehand for taking care of Magic and mounted up.  Edging
Magic towards the darker part of town, she enjoyed the last feel of sunlight
in her red mane.

As she approached the Warehouse District she was stopped by a dark figure on
the side of the road.  "M'Lady can you spare a ride for a poor fool?"

She looked at the fine black robe he was wearing and withdrew her sword.
"What if I say no, " she asked the dark man.

He slowly pulled the hood of his robe back revealing a scarred face.  She
knew this man was a magician of the finest quality.  "Then I will be forced
to kill you, " he spat out at her.

She watched in awe as flickers of electricity sparked from his fingers.  Out
of the darkness came a voice, "Now what man would hurt a lady as beautiful as
this?"

Whirling around this demon of a man lit up with anger, "Who is there, reveal
yourself, come out you coward."

Out of the darkness walked a man more handsome than an creature on this
earth.  "Coward," he said, "I think thee are the coward."

The magician raised his arms and began to chant..."Oer putyr frenier dratre".

This man that was destined to save her pulled out his sword and said, "Demon
prepare to die."  With those words he cut the magician's head off.  She
turned away as the blood sprayed in the air.  

"M'Lady, I am sorry for the gruesome display that happened in front of so
gentle eyes."

She turned to him and jumped down off of Magic saying, "Stranger, why did you
risk your life for me?"  

He bowed deeply as he stated, "I am Blackmagk, I fight to help those in need.
You needed me and therefore I helped."

She was taken aback by this man.  She said, "Thank thee stranger, but I must
be on my way."  With those words she turned and mounted her horse.

Kicking Magic in the jaunts she rode away into the darkness.  Later, she
stopped and peered back at Neverwinter.  The sun shone over the town as if an
angel watched over it.  Looking ahead of her the storm clouds were already
beginning to develop.  As the thunder roared overhead, she edged her horse
and her heart onward to bear another storm.Power Play
(submitted by: ITB Skorp)

It was in the air. Skorp sat on the balcony of his tower. It was thick and
heavy in the air. The latest reports from the vastest network of spies, rats
and informants Neverwinter had ever known confirmed it. The looks between
members of rival factions with petty differences ensured it. 

The Soldiers of Light and their skirmishes with the mechanized force.  Talks
of their wars amounted to nothing. The self believing gods of Kaaos had begun
to systematically destroy a young band of brigands named WARR that would not
fall. The small group of soldiers that headquartered in The Blood Keep were
taunting the ever elusive Shadow Alliance. Young guilds were trying to form,
only to find themselves obliterated either by the massive forces of
mechanical beings or by the sheer power of House ITB. The Grey Knights of the
Balance were almost gone, and many were fighting for their position among the
powers of Neverwinter.

Among these younger guilds, there was no peace. They squabbled attempting to
destroy each other as the young sharks kill each other in their mothers womb.
Skorp watched it all, and he smiled. The conflict that had bound strange
alliances, that referred to as Stormbringer's, had instead only made the
differences stronger.

It was time.

Once again.

Evil would rule once again impose it's rule on Neverwinter, lead by House
ITB. Four years ago (IE one year's time in OOC), House ITB had watched as all
of the guilds proclaiming themselves as "good" had fallen under the forces of
darkness. In the end, only House ITB and The Night Masks had remained
standing, and House ITB turned and asserted their power over The Masks,
becoming the ruling guild of Neverwinter.

Again...more blood....the welps needed to be shown.

And, the time....perfect. The band of devils known simply as Satan were
poised to attack The Aes Sedai, a small, yet dedicated cult that had sprung
up  fairly recently, their leader falling to a Satanic plot. Those who
proclaimed themselves Jedi knights  were attacking the Blood Keep, and a band
of adventurer's from a land known as Cormyr were advancing.

Yes. 

Skorp quickly penned letters to be dispatched to the leaders of the loose
alliance of evil that had toppled Neverwinter before. Kaaos, The Undead
Lords, The Night Masks, The drow of The Temple of Lloth, and Bregan D'arth
would all attack various guilds of "good" at once. There were neutrals to
consider, The Shadow Alliance, The Pirates of Neverwinter, and those damn
Mechs. They would play a part, as yet unknown, but, those who supported
Nasher and his minions, The Knights of The Eternal Flame, The Soldiers of
Light, The White Mages, The NOR's, The Grey Company, and The Protectorate,
would all be shut down again.

It was time.Origin of Thorn
(submitted by: WGW Thorn)

        The story of how I came to Neverwinter starts in a far away land
where a different kind of magic is used. Mages, wizards and such drew thier
power from the lands, different lands invoked a different distinct color of
magic.Master wizards were often called planeswalkers, demi-gods who had
mastered all the colors of this magic ( black, blue, green, red, and white).
I was a planeswalker, known to all as Chaosmage Titokhan. Despite the quite
ominous title, I was a wise, kind, and benevloent ruler. My enemies knew to
fear me, as any hostlie action taken on my people would result in swift and
hard retaliation. One day, a portal opened in my chambers. Intrigued, as the
wards of my castle were nearly impossible to circumvent, I stepped through
the portal, to see where the portal lead to.

       The other side of the portal, as you would expect, lead to the
courtyard in front of Lord Nashers castle. My title had been shortened to CM
TTKN, and none of my powers seemed to work here. So, seeing that evil lurked
here as well as home, I became a paladin, and offered my services to Lord
Nasher. Adventuring the realms, I came upon Aggar, who was my first contact
with all of those whom I now call brothers and sisters. But, there was one
more transformation left for me to undertake before I would join them.

       In my belongings was a book telling of the adventures of a traveller,
whom bore similarities to myself. He was called Thorn Drumheller, and after
repeated readings, I came to the conclusion that this was why I was brought
here, to bring to life this hero from another place, and continue his quest,
to defeat evil in all its forms. But a paladin would be no match for the evil
lurking in Neverwinter... so I learned the ways of a cleric/mage. This would
prove ironic, as the Thorn in the book was a powerful mage, as well as a
healer. Reborn as WGW Thorn, I now hope to prove ready to defend my new home
in the Woods( by extension all of Neverwinter ), and my new extended family
of brothers and sisters form any and all who would seek our destruction.

The End...... for now. for who knows what lies in the futureLeyora
(submitted by: Bamek)

  Above the small town of Vilnask, a full moon lit a lone figure as it walked
the now empty streets.  Most people had fled to the safety of their homes by
this time but not Leyora.  Dressed in only a small gown, which did little to
keep any secrets from the wary eye, Leyora strode up to the only building
left with light still glowing from it's recesses.  Pulling her arm up she
quickly knocked on the door.

  "Who's there?"  The voice of an elderly man came forth, acknowledging the
knocks.

  "My name is Leyora.  Please let me in."  Leyora said, grasping her gown
closer to her body in an attempt to ward of the night's chill.

  "What you doing out this late?"  The voice seemed closer to the door this
time.

  "I just escaped from my father.  He is a very abusive man and he loves his
drink too much.  I just wish for some place to rest for the night, so that
the ale has time to wear off."  Leyora replied as she started to weep.

  Pulling open the door, Roger Gwendle laid eyes on the beautiful Leyora
who's tears seemed to disappear.  The old man started to pick up a whistling
noise.  The noise started to grow as Roger Gwendle lost sense of his
surroundings and fell to the ground.  Looking up, the elderly man watched as
Leyora kept her now roaring melody.  Blood started to flow from Roger
Gwendle's ears as death flooded over him.Garulfo and the Lifegiver
(submitted by: Garulfo)

   A solitary Paladin, dressed in a Green and carrying a Too-Heavy-For-Him
Two-Handed Sword... Garulfo, the Paladin of Frog's Lands, decided, by a
beautiful summer day, to end his solitary life by entering a guild.

   Guilds... He knew many, he has encountered plenty of, with miscellaneous
goals and purposes, but none of his members seems coolest than the Brothers
and Sisters of The Protectorate. So he has decided that he'll be a TP Paladin
!

   Garulfo asked for the advices of the wise Lady Luthyen, in order to know
how things must go...

   "To complete your admission as a Full Member of The Protectorate, one of
the requests is to prove your valor by doing a tremendous Quest. Have you
already complete some ?" Asked Luthyen.

   "Yes, I achieved several quests, sister !", I replied proudly. "Malevolent
creatures that can be found in the undergrounds of Triboar, Berun's Hill, and
LongSaddle, had tasted the cold steel of my fierce 2-Handed Sword !".

   "Nasher was so pleased that he granted me a Studded Leather Armor +2, a Bo
Stick +2, and 10 Darts +2", I added.

   "Also, I have completed the 101 hugs Quest, too", I admitted, blushing
slightly.

   "Well then" said Luthyen "We must find something else for you. You will
have to solve the mystery of the lost Lifegiver".

   Suddenly I felt like I lost a good opportunity of keeping my mouth shut.
"The Lifegiver?", I asked, in surprise "I thought I was only a Myth, sister
!",

   "No brother, it is not...", She explained. "In order to complete that
Quest, you must explore the areas that lay deep South of Triboar, named
WestBridge and Red Larch. There you will meet some townsmen who will explain
you how to help them. Just tell that The Protectorate have send you, and they
might give you some clues to solve that mystery"...

   And with that, Lady Luthyen gave me a small pack of SuperSaves Brownies,
then wished me "Bonne Chance" and left, letting me lost in my thought...

   After a couple of ales at Striders', I decided that I'll find the
Lifegiver or die ! I knew that this was to be the most tremendous adventure
of my brieve existence, so I prepared myself carefully, placing the
SuperSaves Brownies within reach of hand in my Bag of Holding, and then took
the direction of the Sewers, in order to use once more the services of Arak
Airlines.

   Soon I landed to Triboar, and from there I entered the WestBridge area,
which, I noticed, is South and has no Bridge. Unfortunately, the main gate
was closed and none answered to my request of allowing me in. "These poor
folks must be in great danger !", I thought to myself. "Let's find another
entrance, elsewhere...". As I was proceeding, I was soon jumped by numerous
Dragons and Wyverns, and I even had to deal with some wandering Beholders,
which quickly understood that open air and daylight aren't good for their
complexion, neither is The Protectorate's blade actually.

   Exhausted by all these fights, I finally reached the WestBridge Inn, where
I decided to take the best room for the night. Then, the morning after, I
managed to have an appointment with the town mayor, Cyratt Plus. After I
promised that I'll to vote for him at next election, he finally told me that
the Lifegiver had been stolen, that the land was cursed.

   Searching for some more clues, I met a man which appearance and manners
strongly displeased me, so I decided to investigate the place he was suppose
to guard, and to my surprise, I found secret passage in one of the rooms ! As
the passage sealed shut and the only way was forward, I began to follow a
sinuous path, and, after miscellaneous encounters, I finally discovered a
rotted trap door leading down deep under WestBridge...

   It took me time to make a map of that area, and many times I felt like
lost in that hostile maze, loaded with One Way Doors and Secret Passages, but
fortunately I noticed a spot where water was dripping from walls, and that
allowed me to have a good starting basis. Many times, I felt like being close
to my goal, finding areas in which magic radiates strongly, but each time it
was either a trap or a false clue. Passing by a door, I even felt a tingle of
Magic, but despite my greatest efforts, I couldn't open it...

   Not losing my faith, I kept on wandering around, as suddenly I met a weak
cleric, which beg for a few water. "Sorry my brave", I replied, "I only have
a couple of bottles of Beaujolais left". But he seemed to appreciate wine
even more than water, so I decided to let the bottles to the poor man.

   Then I found a altar with blood and a strange inscription, written in a
language that I couldn't understand (Swedish, probably). Anyway I erased it,
and, checking that nobody was looking at me, I wrote instead : "GCaligula is
a coward".

   With that done, I managed to find a secret door nearby, and, after having
encountered some unlucky Purple Worms and Fire Creatures, I finally stood
before what, according to my map, might be the door of final room of that
deadly maze. Not wondering whether it was safe or not to venture beyond this
point, I promptly prepared for fight. Chewing a SuperSave Brownie, I bashed
the door, to be assaulted by an evil sorceress and her stone companions ! She
quickly became a dead evil sorceress, and, among the lifeless bodies and the
blocks of severed stones, I found a strange item with a small inscription on
it : "Staff of Health, handle with care". I knew that half of the job was
done, and I decided to leave, not without the will of rescuing the weak
cleric, but he only asked for some more liquid, so I finally decided to leave
him here...

   Next, I entered the area of Red Larch, where I first met Ogloth Tarnstuff,
who gave me some precious information about the mystery of the Lost
Lifegiver, then I managed to meet all the citizens and that nice town. I was
even about to be seduced by a cute young woman, who, probably noticing the
mighty symbol of The Protectorate on my chest, insinuated that her husband
has left for long, and was about to ask if I didn't want to stay for the
night, and so on... But I politely refused and left, as the fulfilling of my
Quest was the absolute priority ! (Later, maybe...)

   I finally found the right Secret Passage, and, after a couple of fights
and some hits on my head, I managed to find the entrance of the Red Larch
underground, and I decided to proceed the same way as I did in WestBridge.

   Alas ! While I was checking what seemed to me just a dead end, I was
suddenly assaulted by a group of evil spell-casters, lead by a huge Beholder
! Cornered in that dead end and unprepared for fight, I had the surviving
reflex to teleport myself over that screaming horde, promptly moving a little
further to conceal behind surrounding walls... Then, spotting a wrecked table
nearby, I quickly checked if it was able to support my weight, and decided
that it would be wise to toast these evils beings from over the walls. Soon
only the Beholder left standing among ashes and burned bodies, and after some
rude gestures and a little preparation, I did send back that evil being to
the lower planes of Abyss, from which he should have never come from.
Ignoring the horrible smell of roasted skin, I decided to search that place,
and I found the Orb Of life !

   The heart filled with the feeling of having succeeded, I left these
undergrounds, and, after a brief trip into Triboar Underground (In order to
check if ever I couldn't find some Letter with Squid Emblem), I soon find
myself at Lord Nasher's. But to my surprise, he didn't care that much of
neither of the Staff of Health nor of the Orb Of life !

    "Ah, I almost forgot", said Lord Nasher,  "Please accept this Fauchard +
2 as a reward for bringing back that Letter with Squid Emblem."

    "Thank you my Lord", I replied, "It will be of great help, I had to cut
the grass home".

    "You are welcome, my son." ended Nasher, and with that I left, totally
confused...

   At this point, I decided to ESP Tyst, the Boss, in order to have a
beginning of clue, what he refused to give to me on till I mentioned some PVP
Scrolls that I could waste... So, he finished to whisper to my ear "Only
Alminster Crostrum knows the secret of the Lifegiver, you must find him in
order to complete your Quest. Hey, don't tell anybody that I helped you, OK
?"

   Well, where could I find that man ? I decided to fly again to Westbridge,
thinking that Arak Airlines are expensive, and as far as I'm a good customer
I could manage some price cut, one of these days...

   My idea was that when joining the maps of the two Undergrounds, in
WestBridge and Red Larch, there were just two blank squares left, at the
junction of the two maps. So I would probably find a secret passage in either
of the dungeons...

   But I couldn't find any ! I was about to leave the WestBridge dungeon,
when suddenly the waning power of the Orb Of Life forced the formerly
impenetrable door to open. Entering in a small room, I found myself rudely
teleported into another place, where I surprised an old man doing some
strange alchemy. I was afraid that he ask me some French wine, as I gave
everything to the cleric, but he seemed rather interested in the Staff of
Health and in the Orb Of life ! So, I introduced myself as a Paladin of The
Protectorate, and, with a deep sigh, he mumbled "Another TP Cadet, hum ?
Can't they leave me alone...".

   Then, suddenly, he said "Oh Well, give me the items !".

   Before he changes his mind, I promptly gave him the precious items, and,
after some quick gestures, he created the Lifegiver !

   "Well, you have what you want, please leave now", Concluded the old man
"And tell the TP Lords to find another quest for graduation, I have more
important to do !". With that, he kicked me out of his lair.

   On the way back, I decided that is wasn't worth getting another Letter
with Squid Emblem, as Nasher would give me no more than a Spoon +2...

   When I showed the Lifegiver to Lord Nasher, he was so pleased that he
almost started to cry, and finally, he decided to reward me with a Amulet of
Health, the one that I'm just wearing today...

   "Ah, also," Finished Nasher, "Don't you have a Letter for me ? I just have
pair of Gauntlets of Ogre Power to spare..."

    Aaaaargh...

Garulfo,
TP's "Froggie" Cadet.One Man's Best Friend
(submitted by: SOM Snake)

     Jakhana was just on the last, sweet edge of sleep when loud scratching
noises at the door penetrated his nascent dreams and roused him.  Jaki wanted
to go out.  Sighing, the old ranger rose from his bed, slipped on his
trousers and tunic, belted on his broadsword, and shuffled over to the front
door of the cottage.

     "Ready to go outside?" Jakhana asked.  Jaki wriggled in happiness as the
old man unbolted the door.  The moment the door began to open, Jaki nosed
through and rushed down the front path, barking.  Jakhana sent a sharp mental
command, and Jaki immediately stopped barking and sat down on the path.  The
ranger knew that his mental control of the animal was not as strong now as it
had been when he first found it, huddled in the wet hay at the back of his
barn after a fierce cyclone had ripped through the area some fifteen years
before.  Fortunately, Jaki was well conditioned now and obeyed readily.
Pleased by Jaki's instant response, Jakhana decided it was all right for the
beast to run free a bit.

     "Go on, run!" he said, and Jaki took off at top speed in a circle around
the yard.  He went all the way around twice, then made a head-down pass at
Jakhana, growling.  They had played this game many times before.  Jakhana
made a feint at him, and Jaki abruptly reversed course and ran off behind the
house.  The sound of claws furiously digging the earth could soon be heard.

    "Must have found another rabbit hole," Jakhana mused. 

     "Hey, old man!" a voice behind him shouted.   Jakhana grabbed the hilt
of his broadsword and whirled toward the gate.  Three hard-eyed men stood
there, each wielding a curiously shaped and worked metal device.  These could
only be smoke powder weapons, which were now derisively referred to as
"gonds" in most of the Realms.  Jakhana knew he would not have a chance alone
against three men armed with such weapons, which could propel a deadly metal
ball at such high speeds that even plate armor was little protection.

    "Put the sword down, or I'll shoot!" shouted the apparent ringleader, a
youngish fellow of about twenty-five winters.  That would give him about five
years on his two companions, who flanked their older cohort, gonds leveled at
Jakhana.

     Jakhana was smiling inside when he said,  "Oh, no!", and took his hand
from the hilt.  As he unbuckled his swordbelt and let it drop, he sent a
mental command to Jaki.  The sharp ears of the old ranger heard when the
digging sounds stopped.

    "That's the smart thing to do, Grandpa," the chief thug said, smirking.
"We don't want to hurt you.  Besides, you're so skinny, I don't think you
could stop a bullet!"

     "Not if you make it mad," Jakhana replied, smiling. The thieves looked
at each other, confused.

     "What is that supposed to mean, old fool!" one of the other rogues
shouted, brandishing his weapon in Jakhana's face.

     At that instant, there was a loud thrashing sound from the brush behind
the highwaymen.  The three thieves turned and pointed their gonds toward the
gate.  The ringleader saw Jaki rushing at him, jaws agape, and screamed!  He
dropped his weapon, and turned to flee, blundering into the other two, who
stood paralyzed with fear!  The gond fell grip-first on the pathstones and
discharged, sending a steel ball caroming off Jaki's tough, leathery hide!  A
few crushed denticles marked the spot where the projectile had struck the
creature.   Jaki growled, a harsh rumbling sound, gnashed its many
knife-sharp teeth, and leapt at the horrified thieves!

     "Now you've done it," said Jakhana, mournfully.  "You've made it mad."

     Jaki hit the trio in a frenzy, slashing and biting until a cloud of red
mist filled the air.  Jakhana quickly and prudently retired to the relative
safety of his cottage while his enraged pet spent its fury in a storm of
bloody destruction.  When it was finally over, there was no sign of the three
hapless robbers but a damp circle of blood-soaked earth.

         Later, despite the ferocious attack his pet had launched on the
three departed scoundrels, Jakhana couldn't keep himself from chuckling as he
watched Jaki circle the yard, dorsal fin jutting from the soil as it dug in
search of burrowing animals.

     "Stop a bullette!" he laughed.The Kender Affair - Chapter Two
(submitted by: Exegete)

Slen Star, Knight of KORT stood near the small alcove where most of the
Knights were congregated partaking of some the delights of Lord Nasher's
kitchens on a gold rimmed plate filled with delectable morsels of delicacies
he, apparently relished with great gusto from the number of trips to the
buffet table he had taken already.  He was currently sampling some of Mrs.
Nasher's Lime Jell-O, Marshmallow, Cottage Cheese surprise, a dish that he
thought, with some surprise, was going unappreciated by the other guests.
"No accounting for taste" he thought as he shoveled down his second helping
of the concoction.  He stopped in mid-chomp and stared with evident interest
as Exegete, another of the Knights, approached the buffet table and, with a
surreptitious look around, knelt and raised the elaborate skirt around the
table and quickly ducked underneath.  Berrun swallowed his mouthful with a
gulp and continued to watch as if he was watching a dream.  He walked slowly
toward the table , looking around to see if anyone else had noticed and
caught the eye of the beautiful Lady Allsfaire and motioned her toward the
table.

Allsfaire raised a sculpted eyebrow and finished the helping of Pineapple
upside-down beans she was eating, and putting her plate down on a side table,
she picked up her glass of wine and moved toward Slen Star.  As she
approached she glanced approvingly at the buffet table and was startled to
see the bowl containing the ever-popular Spam Soup begin to rock gently.  She
watched as the entire table began to tremble slightly at intermittent
intervals.  Amazed, she looked as Slen Star who shrugged as if to declare his
innocence.  Allsfaire stepped carefully to Slen Star's side.  "I think I'll
pass on the Spam Soup" she said dryly with a smile.  "What's going on?" she
asked with a raised eyebrow.  "Exegete" was Slen Star's one-word reply, given
with a knowing and amused look.

Allsfaire looked around in a puzzled fashion and failing to notice Exegete's
presence, looked questioningly at Slen Star who indicated the buffet table.
Allsfaire looked at the table for a long moment and then with a look that
mingled horror and amusement, accompanied by a sharp intake of breath she
looked back at Slen Star.  "You don't mean. . . "  Slen Star pursed his lips
and a neutral line and nodded.  "'Fraid so" he said quietly.  "And don't even
ask me why." he went one.

"Dag's gonna kill him" was Allsfaire's only commentary.

Sir Corwin moved along the incredible length of the buffet table with looked
the food over with a practiced and hungry eye.  He had been detained on KORT
business after the parade and presentations and was only just now able to get
in and get something to eat.  Sir Vinman and the Lady Sylphee moved through
the line with him.  "If this buffet was any larger," Corwin commented as he
looked at the various branches and sections the huge buffet spread across two
different rooms and hallways, "It'd need its own zip code".  "They must've
know that Dag was coming" Lady Sylphee contributed, taking a portion of squid
and macaroon pie.

Vinman laughed as he spooned a healthy portion of sardines and mayonnaise
over the Peanut Butter covered pumpernickel he was holding in his hand.  "I
guess we ought to be thankful that he hasn't worked his way down here yet."
he added, adding cucumbers to his sandwich.

"How can you eat that stuff" Corwin said with evident disgust.  "I never
could stomach Pumpernickel bread" he went on, turning back to the buffet
table and continuing his own selection.

"Now Now Corwin, to each his or her own" Sylphee said as she selected a
particularly nice section of pickled squid and lemons.  She looked hard at
the pickled eggs and brine.  "And how long have you been in this sauce" she
said absently to the eggs, turning them over with a fork to examine their
undersides.

"Mmmmhhhhhmgggmfffff" the eggs seemed to reply.

Vinman stepped up beside Sylphee, piccalilli dripping off his sandwich.  He
raised an eyebrow and looked at Sylphee.  "Its just a guess now, but I'd say
not nearly long enough"

"I hate it when my food answers me back" Corwin said from the other side of
the table.

"Quick" Vinman said with a grin; "Ask it which really DID come first, the
chicken or the egg?"

Sylphee smiled in spite of herself.  "Jolly jokers" she said.  "There's
obviously someone under the table" she went on.  She raised her voice a bit,
careful to pitch it low enough to not be heard far from their position.  "all
right" she said "Who's under there?" and she rapped the table twice for
emphasis.

"MmMmm hghghff eeeemmxxeftt" came the reply, this time from further down the
table, to their left, from the direction of the Artichoke hearts and wine
vinegar sauce.

With a dubious look at the pickled eggs, Sylphee moved casually down the
table toward the sounds.  She rapped the table once again, this time hard
enough to cause the sour cream and rutabaga dip to jump into the air.
"That's enough now" she commanded, come out of there"

"Is there a problem Madame" came a solemn voice from behind her.

Sylphee jumped in surprise.  She turned quickly to see a footman, in full
royal livery, standing before her eyeing her with a haughty stare.

"Is the dip not to Madame's liking?" he said, the tone of voice suggesting
that Sylphee had all the class of a small soap dish.

"No, No it's fine" she managed, embarrassed to have been caught apparently
talking to a serving table.  "We're fine my good man.  Please, go on about
your business" she said, regaining her composure and dismissing him with a
wave of her hand.

"Veddy Good, Madame" the footman said, his tone clearly one that said that he
viewed Sylphee with aristocratic disdain.  As he turned to leave, Sylphee
went over the words of the Transformation spell in her mind,, trying to
decide whether a toad or a flea would better suite the retreating servant.
"Not worth it" she decided, regretfully.

Vinman touched her arm and turned her attention back to the table.  As she
turned, the table began to shake and the various trays and bowls on the table
began to jump and clatter.  A Bowl of Beef Jerky Stew fell and crashed at
Sylphee's feet, splattering her legs and feet, as well and Vinman' with muck.
The commotion stopped as quickly as it began, but the damage was done.  All
eyes nearby were on the trio and worse, the footman's receding back halted
and turned, a disapproving frown on face.  

"Damn" Corwin muttered.

"Shoot" Vinman whispered.

"Don't tempt me" Sylphee said in resignation.

The footman approached the trio with stately dignity.  Several other servants
appeared at his side, anxious looks on their faces.  "If Madame wished some
stew, Madame had but to ask." he said icily, surveying the mess.  "What did
Madame wish to do with entire bowl?" he asked, disdain evident in his voice.

"You don't want to know" Sylphee thought briefly.  "MADAME" she began in a
nasty tone, "had nothing to do with this"  She fixed him with an equally icy
stare.  "You would do well to clean it up and keep our comments to yourself"
she continued, he irritation showing clearly.  "Where is the Ladies lounge"
she asked loftily.

The footman indicated a door on the far wall.  "Will Madame need assistance"
he intoned, clearly implying that Madame needed all the assistance she could
get."

"Thank you - no" she said wearily. and turned to leave the table. 

Corwin stepped beside her and whispered in her ear; "You're gonna need a hose
for all that" he said, amusement in his voice.

Sylphee looked at him harshly, then softened a bit.  She drew a deep breath
and then patted Corwin on the arm.  "A Knight maintains his or her dignity at
all times and in all situations" she quoted from the manual.  Slen Star
approached from another portion of the buffet table.  He surveyed the mess on
the floor and the servants moving quickly to clean it up.  He looked at
Sylphee's legs and shoes, as well and Vinman' and cleared his voice.  "I have
a bit of information that you might find interesting" he began.  All three of
the other Knights turned toward him.  "Allsie and I were over there" he said,
indicating Allsfaire over in far west side of the room.  "And we happened to
notice Brother Exegete, ummmm, slipping under the buffet." he concluded.  He
smiled grimly and looked over the rapidly disappearing mess once again.
"I'll bet this is his fault" he said.  "Man, Dag's gonna kill him!"

"Not if I get hold of him first" Sylphee said in a dangerous voice.  "Not if
I get hold of him first!"

Continued in chapter 3. . .Bags and Bugs
Pirates of Neverwinter
(submitted by Loraque, PoN Fence and Purveyor of Fine and Rare Artifacts)

Loraque had spent the last three days on the road east of Luskan that goes to
Mirabar.  After he had crossed the Black Raven River, he took a trail that
led north toward the Spine.  

It was a fall day, and the wind was blowing down from the snow covered
mountains in front of him.  Clouds had moved in and he braced himself as a
misty rain started to fall.  It was about the middle of the afternoon, and he
hoped that he remembered right about the shelter that Pockett had told him
about.  

The trail had been steadily increasing in altitude over the last twenty miles
as he passed through the foothills and got closer to the first reaches of the
mountains.  The woods were thinning greatly, and what trees there were, were
stunted from the short summer season.  

As he walked he thought over the 'arrangements' he had made with Spedlestor
and Skorp.  As a part of the deal he would act as a courier, and deliver two
items to an old Dwarven miner.  He didn't even know what the items were, as
they were in a locked bag in his pack.  He had given them his word that he
wouldn't open the bag, even though he knew those two often weren't worthy of
it.  Still, his word was important to him, and he would keep it.  Those two
items would pay off an old debt they owed to the Dwarf, and in exchange
Loraque would pick up a couple of bags which he had promised to Blackm00re. 

As he thought about the bags, Loraque's mind drifted.  Soon he was
remembering the first bag of holding he had ever seen.......

He was just a youngster, maybe nine or ten, and his father had just came back
from a trip south.  Trading business with the humans there had always been
fruitful for the elves.  In particular, his father's knowledge of woodland
magic often gave him a distinct advantage in bartering.  This time, though,
he came back with something rare and totally unexpected.  

They all sat around the table in their home.  There was Loraque, his father,
his mother, and his older sister, Jarre'sl.  First, his father described what
a bag of holding was and what it could do.  Loraque remembered how he tried
listen, but the words didn't make much sense to him.  At that age, he had
never seen an enchanted or magical item.  So this was new to him.  

So, he just nodded and let his father talk.  Finally, his father pulled a
brown leather bag from a sack, and laid it on the table.  The bag was quite
plain and had a leather strap that tied it shut.  Loraque reached out and
tried to grab the bag, but his father slapped his hand.  

"Not yet, Lor!  Mind your manners.  Your mother and sister are before you." 

Ugh.  He always hated being last.  He really wished there was someone younger
than him, but that was never to be.  So his shoulders slumped slightly, and
he waited his turn.  

First his mother picked up the bag.  She cupped it in her hand and felt its
weight.  Her thin fingers ran over the stitching and the seams.  She touched
the knot in the leather draw string, but didn't try to untie the knot.  All
the time, everyone just sight quietly and watched her.  Finally, she passed
the bag to Lor's sister.

She took the bag, and repeated her mother's actions.  Not as smooth, but
still with a sense of fluidity that would soon be coming to her.  It seemed
like an eternity, but at last she passed the bag to Loraque.

He took the bag in his hand.  It seemed very light to his heft.  To his touch
the leather was incredibly smooth.  It didn't look that way, but it was the
finest grade of fine leather he had ever felt.  He was fascinated by it, and
his fingers kept running over its surface.  

At last, his father interrupted him, "Untie it, Lor, and see what's inside."

"Me?   You want me to untie it?"

"Yes.  You do it."

Loraque's eyes opened wide.  This was a surprise.  He was getting to be the
first.  He looked at his mother, and she returned a small smile at him.  His
sister, however, narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.  She wasn't pleased with
this turn of events. 

Loraque quickly untied the knot at the top of the bag and unwound the leather
strap.  He spread the opening of the bag and peered inside.  It was too dark
to see much, and he started to reach inside.   

"Just pour it out into Jarr's hand," his father said.

Immediately, his sister's hand shot out to the middle of the table, a big
grin on her face.  Loraque didn't think much of this, but maybe it was fair.
After all, he had gotten to open the bag.  

With that he tipped the bag and let its contents spill into Jarre'sl's hand.
They both gasped as the bag spilled forth the biggest pile of coins they had
ever seen.  

"How's this possible?" they both said at the same time.  

His father just smiled, and said, "Weren't you listening?"  He knew the
answer, but children always need to hear lessons again and again.   And with
that he explained it all once more, just what a bag of holding was, and why
they were so valuable.......

Loraque's attention came back to the present.   He could now see a small
wooden shelter, about half a mile up the trail.  This must be the one Pockett
had told him about.   This was fortunate.  It was getting dark, and this
shelter would be good protection from the cold rain that was starting to
fall.  

He figured he was getting wet enough, so he ran the last bit of trail up the
hill to the shelter.  In a few minutes he was there.  The shelter had an
abandoned look to it.  The building was old and worn, but the walls seemed to
be sturdy, and the roof looked good.  

"I wondered if it's empty," were his thoughts as he opened the door.  

He should've been a little more cautious, though.  As he pushed open the
door, he saw movement in the corner of his eye, and at the same time he heard
the tell-tale breath.  He jerked his head and chest backward and the
lightning bolt struck the door, smashing it.  The blast knocked him back
outside, but the lightning bolt had missed him.    

He scrambled to his feet.  His reflexes had saved him, but he knew that the
electric spider would be coming to the door way of the shelter, looking for
him.  He drew his cloak around his shoulders, pulled up the hood, and tied
the draw string.  He then crouched and inched closer to the door.  

It was now dusk, and the spider wouldn't be able to see him, especially if he
moved slowly.  After only a few moments, the spider appeared in the doorway.
It was especially large and must have lived quite a number of years.  

Loraque watched as the spider looked from side to side, searching for him.
He was about to move closer to skewer it with his sword, when a second spider
appeared in the doorway.  This one was the same size as the first, but looked
different.  It seemed to be shimmering, and it was like he could see through
it.  

A phase spider?   Loraque had seen them before, but never like this.  This
was unusual, and was a problem.  Magic could kill spiders, but he didn't want
to destroy the old wooden shelter.  He wanted to spend the night in it. 

So, he had to kill the spiders by hand, one at a time.  The electric spider
would be the first.   

He cautiously moved closer to the pair of spiders.  They were both on the
wooden stoop of the shelter.   Loraque knew he had to strike quickly.  Once
he raised his sword to strike, it would be outside his cloak and the spiders
would be able to see it.  

He was only four feet from the electric spider.  The phase spider was on the
other side, and wouldn't be a problem until he made his strike.  He adjusted
his grip on the sword and held it like a dagger, all the while keeping it
under his cloak.   

Loraque then slowly raised his hand up to chest level, keeping his cloak
closed all the time.  At the last instant, he pushed open the cloak and
lunged at the pair of spiders.  At that instant, they both saw the elf and
turned toward him.  The electric spider was just starting to exhale when the
sword pierced its abdomen and pinned it to the wooden stoop.  

The spider's partial gasp sent an electric shock up the sword and knocked
Loraque backwards.  This was lucky as the phase spider had leaped at him.
But now it missed him as the elf was no longer in the same spot.  

Loraque rolled backward as the electric jolt stunned him.  These spiders had
faster reflexes than any others he had fought.   

He looked and saw the second spider phase out.  This was going to be even
harder than he thought it would be.   The electric spider was still riving in
pain, but it was almost dead now.    He pulled his cloak about his head, and
moved off to the side, away from where the phase spider had landed.   

If he was patient, he knew the phase spider would reappear.  He just had to
bide his time and be ready.   
He was scarcely breathing.  He sensed the spider was using every means it
could to find him.  He couldn't retrieve his sword, surely the phase spider
was watching it.  

In about a minute, but what seemed an hour, the Loraque could once again
partially see the phase spider.  It had moved away and was trying to find
him.  

He watched cautiously.  Finally, it's back was toward him.  This was the
opportunity he had been waiting for.  He carefully pulled his dagger from its
sheath, and moved toward the spider, keeping behind it all the time.  

In another minute, he was behind it.  He slid the dagger out close to the
ground and shoved the blade into the spider's gut.  The spider howled, and
its innards spilled out on Loraque's hand, but the spider was dead.  

Loraque pulled his dagger out of the spider's gut.  His hand and the dagger
were a sticky mess of blood and entrails.   He held them out in the rain and
soon they were rinsed clean.  He then turned and went to the dead body of the
electric spider.  He gripped his sword firmly, and pulled it out of the
wooden boards.   He held it up, and let the rain wash it clean, too.  

Finally, the battle was over and he could spend the night in the shelter.  He
knelt down and took a small lantern out of his pack.  He knew that the other
animals might see this light, but the bodies of the dead spiders would be
warning enough for them to stay out of the building.  

With that he went into the shelter.  

....to be continued....Happily Never After
Part One - Questing for Morgana
(submitted by Kikuriel)

     The Prince gasped, wheezed, and slashed again at the scaly
green-speckled belly of the froglike monster he faced. The monster jumped
aside agilely and waggled its moustaches at the furiously sweating, red-faced
Prince. 

     "Die, foul beast!" he screamed, swinging his sword in a mighty
two-handed blow that would have been deadly if it had landed anywhere near
the hideous, warty beast.

     "I'm not foul. I have excellent hygienic habits, thank you very much,"
the monster retorted in a snide British accent. It hopped onto a steep rock
pile, temporarily out of reach, and glared down with bulbous yellow eyes. "I
really do wish you'd stop waving that piece of tin around, too. You might
hurt someone."

     "That's the whole point!" the Prince yelled, flinging his sword down and
stomping on the elegant silvery blade. "I've got to slay the Wicked Monster
that guards the lair of the Horrible Witch so I can beseige her tower!" He
pouted ferociously. "It's how all stories go!"

      "Oh, is that it?" The monster seemed vaguely relieved. "I was afraid
you'd been hired by a wizard trying to make a magic wand. Awful, sick-minded
people, those wizards. Claiming they need blood of this and eye of that for
their magic. I always tell them they can find what they need at K-Mart, but
they never listen." It sighed; then its attention returned to the impatient
Prince.

     "Oh, yes, about Morgana," it resumed hastily.

     "Well?" the Prince demanded. He picked up his sword. "What have you to
say, O Creature of Nightmares?"

     "Stop calling me names!" the monster snapped. "Didn't your mother ever
teach you any manners?"

     "Sorry. It's just that it's ... well ... you know, it's expected."

     "Bother expectations. Now, what did you want with Morgana? I should
probably warn you that she doesn't take well to people barging in on her at
all hours of the day and night."

     "I ... uh ... it's about my wife." The Prince appeared sheepish for the
first time. He shuffled his feet, gaze fixed on the tips of his brightly
embroidered blue velvet slippers. 

     "Oh." The monster's voice was full of sympathy. "I see."

     "Yeah. Anyway, I really need to see her."

     "Fine. You go up the hill, past the third willow on your left, turn
around forty-five times on the tips of your toes or until you're dizzy,
whichever takes longer, hop forward three paces on your right foot while
yelling 'Mobbly Wobbly Wing-Ding-Ho!' at the top of your lungs, and ask the
first purple-spotted, singing tree you come to for directions. You can't
miss."

     "Uh, thanks," said the bewildered Prince. "Could you repeat that,
please?"

     The monster laughed hysterically. It rolled over on its spiky back,
pounding the ground with one hand and wiping tears from its froggy eyes with
the other.

     "Go toward the castle," it wheezed, pointing to a huge white tower
shining on a grassy hill less than half a mile away.

     "Thank you." The Prince sheathed his blade and took off for the castle.
Behind him, the monster waved a tentacle cheerily.

     "If you ever come back, do tell me. We could have tea and crumpets!"

     The Prince pretended not to heat the monster, quickening his step to
reach the magnificent, gold-gilded gates outside the castle. Perched on the
delicate, spiraling metal was a multicolored crystal globe; its insides
seemed to whirl and vibrate with glorious rainbows of splintered light as he
stared at it, bewildered.

     "I seek entrance into the Tower of the Sorceress Morgana," he proclaimed
finally, thrusting his chest out proudly. His surcoat swept in the wind
behind him, billowing out in waves of bright scarlet, and his gold coronet
glinted in the sunlight. Altogether, he was a very Princely sight. "I am the
Prince Darien of Lienesse, and I wish to consult the lady within over weighty
matters of state." The Prince stepped back, hoping he'd impressed what he
assumed was a magical gate guardian.

     After standing there nobly for half an hour, the Prince began to wonder
whether he hadn't better knock. He lifted the heavy, solid gold knocker and
slammed it against the golden gate. The sound was like a distraught cow
mooing.

     Inside the gate, a tall, liveried man appeared in a puff of smoke. He
sported a neatly trimmed black beard and seemed to be of about middle age.
Beneath a frilly red velvet coat, he wore a food-stained, yellow "World's
Greatest Cook" T-shirt.

     "May I help you?" he asked, sounding bored. He popped a stick of gum
into his mouth and smacked it loudly, ignoring the Prince with a vacant look
on his bearded face.

     "I am the Prince Darien of Lienesse. I seek the Sorceress Morgana--" the
Prince began haughtily, but the man cut him off rudely.

     "OK, then you gotta sing 'I'm a Little Teapot,' " the man told him
gleefully. "I love this job." He spit the gum into a piece of paper and
wadded it up.

     "WHAT?!?" Prince Darien exclaimed. He yanked out his sword. "I would
sooner die at the hands of filthy goblins! I would sooner be hung and flayed
before my own city gates! I would sooner--"

     "OK, OK," the man said, sighing despondently. "Don't get all mad."

     "I don't have to sing?" the Prince asked hopefully, brightening.

      "Nope. You just can't get in." The bearded man grinned.

     The Prince spluttered, and cursed, and turned red in the face, but all
to no avail. Hoarse and disheartened, he gave up and sang, including the hand
motions and an inane grin.

     "Great!" the bearded cook cheered.

     "Can I see Morgana now?" the Prince groaned.

     "Sure! But she doesn't live here. Her tower is next door," the man
informed him with a wicked wink. "This is Kikuriel Copper-Talon's tower.
Infamous Witching and Seduction. Ever hear of her?"

     "How come you waited so long to tell me?!" the Prince exploded, pulling
his hair and stamping his feet like a two-year-old child. "What kind of sick
joke is that?!"

     The World's Greatest Cook stuck his long, pointed nose in the air,
highly offended. "You never asked," he retorted, stabbing his finger at the
Prince. "You just barged in here, demanding to see Morgana like a howling
snow demon from the Plains of Dayalminstiri, which is way up north in case
you hadn't figured it out. Really, all you Adventuring Princes are the same."

     "All brawn and no brains?" the Prince suggested hopefully.

     "Precious little of either, I'd say," the Cook snapped, eyeing the
Prince's scrawny frame disparagingly. "What are you loitering around here
for? Off with you! Be gone to Morgana's tower, miserable wretch, and let HER
take your rudeness!"

     "Farewell, then, kind sir," the Prince said, whirling around so that his
long surcoat caught the wind, flashed out dramatically behind him, and
snagged on a broken tree stump. Muttering sourly beneath his breath, the
Prince slunk back and ripped the costly, ruined velvet free.

     "Hmmmph," the Cook snorted. He vanished in a puff of pearly blue smoke,
taking the barbecue tongs with him.

     The Prince shuddered and made the sign against evil (which is also the
sign some of us use when someone cuts us off...)

     He walked grandly to the sun-blazed top of a grass-crested ridge and
whistled for his noble steed. 

     From the sunset horizon, a noble pure white stallion galloped toward the
Prince, its noble head encircled by a noble woven garland of noble red roses.

     "Greetings, O Noble Princely Steed of Starlit Palaces," the Prince
crowed romantically in his horse's ear.

     O Noble Princely Steed of Starlit Palaces snorted, whinnied, and stepped
on his foot with an extremely large and grass-crusted hoof.  The Prince's
shriek could be heard for miles around.

     O Noble Princely Steed of Starlit Palaces flipped its tail at him like
soapy moonlight and bolted for the woods.

     "Well, poopy pants," the Prince muttered. "I guess I'll have to walk."
Resolutely but reluctantly, he pulled his belt tighter, took the first long,
graceful stride toward his destination--

     And stopped cold when his forehead thunked into the cold marble of the
Tower wall.

TO BE CONTINUED (maybe....) :-D

Kikuriel Copper-Talon
The Cheerful Drow(submitted by:  JakAbyte)

  Yes my friend there is a need for a better system, for multiply reasons.
Now lets get it understood right up front that I like this game.  A great
deal in fact, but we are lacking in a number of ways to completing the realms
as they should be.

  For one PVP combat is really off the mark from what it should be.  It is
limited to magic-users only when combat is usually reserved for warriors.  I
would not think that this is such a problem to solve but I guess it is.

  Another problem they seems to be very obvious, is the Pearl Plan.  Now
correct me if I am wrong but I know that magic items are suppose to be rare,
but this is absurd.  I want to meet the person that has a pair of Boots of
Speed.  And if I do I want to know for one how long he has been playing and
how many years it took him to earn enough pearls to buy them.  Heck, a
lottery would be more fair than the system that is in place now.  And I'm
here to tell you as a gamer of about 20 years that after a hundred combats
with dragons someone is going to come up with some of those items.  I'm not
talking just plus items but items like a Flame Tongue of Frost Brand, or even
a girdle.

  Last but not least the need for higher levels.  I want to know the reason
for level limitations here.  Is it because of the creatures in the realms.
If that is the reason then it is not a good one because a group of
cleric/mages of about 6 can take out anything a 15th or 20th level character
can.  Plus unlimited levels will keep a person active for a longer time.

[The above editorial viewpoint is that of the author and does not necessarily
reflect those of America Online nor the Neverwinter Nights Staff.  --  NW
News](submitted by:  KEF Rathar)

A page walks up to the Guildmaster and hands a finely decorated letter over,
and walks out.

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

Here ye, here ye

You are invited to a double wedding of member in the Knights of Eternal
Flame.

KEF Rathar, Knight Guardian, and Ambassador  is to wed KEF Lyric, Knight of
the Shield.

Thorn W0od, Knight Commander, and Master-at-Arms, is to wed Mishikal, Knight
of the Sword.

The date will be on Sunday, October 13th at 9:00 pm est in the Neverwinter
Gardens.

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

KEF Rathar
Ambassador
Knight Guardian
AK
Beloved of Lyric(submitted by:  Warderick)

An excerpt from Book II of the Holocron...

     "Shadowing" - When traveling with a friend or two through PvP regions
and someone doesn't know their way, it is best to shadow rather than hooking
up and following.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  First, the invis
and flee trick doesn't work well with more than one person.  So, most of the
time you have to fight your way through every encounter.  This leaves the
party ripe for a jumping by PvPers.

     When you shadow someone, you are unhooked.  You stay one step behind
them at all times.  (It's key not to step on the same square.)  When they
move off a square, you move onto it.  This way you can follow them without
hooking to them.  If a fight is trigged by either you or the person you are
shadowing, encamp and wait for them to invis and flee.  Remember you are one
square behind them, so you aren't in their fight.  The key to shadowing is to
never step on the other persons square because you don't want to trig a fight
for the both of you.  And when your waiting for them to flee from a fight,
encamp so no one can jump you.

Warderick(submitted by:  AKS3)

   Greetings, and well met!
     I, AKS3 have a little something for the newbys!  This is not the first
SSI AD&D game I've played, in fact I can add most of the Realms series as
well as the Dragonlance series to my list of accomplishments.  One tends to
be creative once in a while.....So, Ladies & Gentlemen, my tip is this:

     Tired of paying 200gp everytime you want to ID a weapon? What about that
plate you just found? Is it magical? Don't have anyone with detect magic?

                        ***********NOT A PROBLEM!!!!!***********

Listen, all you have to do is simply EQUIP the item!! Here's how it works.
Say you've got a +1 longsword, and a 17 str. your damage would be 1d8+2,
right? Ok, you equip that sword you just found, and-WALLAH!!! You notice your
damage is now 1d8+4!!!  What does that tell you? You just got yourself a +3
longsword!! The same works with armor. Look at your AC before you try on new
armor. If it goes down once you put it on, it's magical! (Make sure the armor
you are using is the same type-ie. plate, chain, etc.-that you had on
previously.)

Once you know what the item is, you can determine if it's worth identifying
(for trade or sell) or if you want to just keep it!

              Hope this hint helps all the new fighter-type's in the Realms!!

                                 Sincerely,
                                     AKS3
                                Lord Of Time
                               Insane Disciple<><><><><>
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