1996-11-17
Recovered original text · preserved verbatim
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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 160
Week Ending 11-17-96
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to SOMNeranek for winning last week's News of the Realm
contest for his story entitled "A Day in the Life".
SOMNeranek has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes). Keep up the good work! ;D
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NIGHT OF THE POSSESSED ZOMBIE GUARDS!
(Halloween Eve)
The evening air was crisp and unusually cold as the guardsmen clustered in
the Barrack's common hall around the roaring fire. The radiating warmth just
wasn't enough to ease the unearthly chill which had filled them as the news
of the evening's terrible events had unfolded. It was expected, even
anticipated that on that one night of the year when the veil seperating the
dead from the living were the thinnest, that there would be problems. Yet no
one, had expected this!
Murmuring amongst themselves quietly, Lord Nasher's elite tried to make some
sense of the strange compulsion which had struck several of their brothers,
causing them to go upon a hideous rampage throughout the city. Lord Nasher
had made reperations to the survivors that could be found, but many fled or
fell before the wrath of the possessed zombie guards! (3 pearls to those who
saved a fear, fumble, and slay without running in terror, becoming clumsy in
their haste to escape, or dying of fright). In all, it seemed over 135
citizens were involved in this freakish occurrence.
The clerics had come at once and with spells and chants removed the taint
from the guardsmen that had been possessed, but still the horror of the
memory lived on. Who could guess when another such rampage might occur? And
so, the guard sat somberly, reflecting.
Thanks to all who participated and ran booths, congratulations to those who
won!
NW Events
Winners
~~~~~~
abk stang
abk storm
ap0kilyps
areleth2
bannwyn
bry jam
centruo
charla ann
co avalon
crzdpict
cyrw1nmail
danietcat
dark lugon
derisdan
det kovatt
drk legacy
faytona
ingenjeger
lmaoferu
lok cyric
makk0n
malev0lent
mech 8ball
mech raids
mech ryman
mooneshyne
mugsjrsi
n0r dravn
niterage
ob1knohbe
polarorbit
pyuna
rd nathan
redd iz
rotscheck
s0ngsh1ne
sir vinman
sk ngtlfe
sk ocon
skdeerejon
sod pmurt
sol elrond
sol nidon
som snake
suvantar
teenwolf
tyo ark
warrshredr
wgw crabb
woh beast
wolf mkii
zandrakkas
zipzo
zoriax kyr
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Poison Booth Winners - 11/11
Congratulations to the winners of my Poison Booth I held on Monday night,
11/11/96 in the Wharves!
Drk Legacy, Mech Deity, Kylanna and Greatazuth each win 2 pearls for their
efforts! Well done, all. ;)
NW Garion
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Fumble Booth Results - 11/12
It was indeed a fun time. Lord Nasher had decided it was once again time to
test the skills of the warriors of the realm.
He asked me to test them for their balance and concentration. "Use whatever
tools you need and award those who prove themselves worthy", he ordered.
Seeing as Lord Nasher told me to use whatever I needed, I decided to use his
fine glassware from the palace dining hall for this little contest.
I took the glassware out to Crossergate, and called for volunteers to test
their skill. Sir Vayza, Dirk Dirty, SOD Gecko, O Bodak, Tarkkin, Acristoles,
Sildrehel, Drago Fang, Aiddian, Askyron, Sir Attolo, Drizzt1973, Arakian, Sir
Paxus and MECH Cisco all stepped forward to try their hand at this contest.
One by one, I had them hold and balance a tall stack of lord Nashers plates
while I attempted to fumble them and make them drop the glassware.
All of them had exceptional skills but alas, some were well balanced while
others caused shattered glass.
When the evening ended, I had the pleasure of rewarding Sir Vayza, O Bodak,
Sildrehel, Askyron, Drizzt1973 and Mech Cisco each with 2 pearls.
Definitely an event I wouldn't ever wanna miss. As for Lord Nashers
glassware............... < POOF. Icarus disappears in a puff of purple smoke
>
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Location Hunt Winner - 11-14
Winner: Warr Lady
Clue: "As you walk through the pasture, a centaur timidly peeks at you..."
The answer was to be found somewhere in Triboar.
Warr Lady wins 4 pearls.
-Ulfy
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November GoH Booth #1 Results
"Brrr...winter is coming up, and snow has begun falling. Wanting to
celebrate the coming of a new season, GoHers were asked to participate in a
giant snowball fight to see who could be smacked around the hardest, and who
could take the least pain from these gigantic frosty missiles ;)
Congratulations to Lok Shirak, who was hit the hardest, and to Aragon Ark,
who managed to feel the least pain. Lok Shirak wins 6 pearls, while Aragon
Ark gains 3."
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Location Hunt Winner - 11/16
The word came down from above that there should be a search made for this
location...
"The heavy locks on this door are easily opened with the keys from the slave
masters."
It took a while for someone to find this and eventually Gumples made the long
and hardy trek to the Nightsedge Caverns.
Congrats to Gumples who takes home 4 pearls as the fruits of his efforts. ;)
Mystek
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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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Come join NW Ember and NW Ulfius for the November edition of:
<<>><<>> Who/What/Am/I <<>><<>>
Thurs. November 21st at 10 pm ET in the Great Hall Tavern.
Prizes:
First Place: 25 Pearls + 4 hours
Second Place: 20 Pearls + 3 hours
Third Place: 15 Pearls + 2 hours
Winners of First through Third place will also receive GOH access!
See You There!
NW Ember and NW Ulfius
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New Player Tours:
Join the following staff members for a tour of the Realm:
November 18th Monday 9:00 PM EST - with NWA Domino.
November 20th Wednesday 11:00 PM EST - NW Shaman.
November 23rd *Saturday 12:00 AM EST - with NWA Simba.
* Technically, this is Sunday, but it's easier to remember that it is
Saturday evening at midnight. ;)
Those interested in any of these tours should keep an eye out for the banner
telling where to meet! ;D
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This week saw the Great Hall Tavern under the operation of two lovely new
ladies in town, NWTs Mystri and Spryte. This reporter interviewed the sisters
about their new business opening in the Great Hall.
"Well, we came in from Nesme, " said blonde, blue-eyed NWT Mystri, the more
experienced in tavern management, " and found that the GHT was in need of a
couple of Tavernkeeps. Being as I'd done that once or twice, I thought it
sounded like fun."
"You were right," grinned NWT Spryte, "It is fun!"
"My sister," continued Mystri, "is a Paladin with some magical talent..but
she'd never waited tables before." The new Tavernkeep winked at this
reporter. "She did real well her first night, though..." Spryte, the
red-haired sister, blushed at her elder sister's comment. "So did Tsarnoc,
who won our first contest and GOH access for his great tips! We also had Hot
Tub Diving..Urgrue and Dhauane were outstanding there.."
"Last night we had Tales and Stories night," offered Spryte, her clear green
eyes sparkling. "What a turn out! There are some really great story-tellers
in Neverwinter: Auberon, V Memoria, Sir Xanth....I think we'll hafta have
another Bard's night soon."
The sisters showed this reporter the pushcart portable bar that has brought
the Great Hall Tavern to the NW square on occasions. In addition to this
franchise effort, they will be opening the Tavern an additional night a week,
being open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings from 11pm-1am Eastern time,
starting the 22 of November. They promised lots of interesting contests and
events, with grand prizes of pearls and GOH access as have been awarded in
the past. Mystri and Spryte welcome all comers to join them at the Great Hall
Tavern for fun and frivolity.
-- The Roving Reporter ;)A Hauntingly Good Time - Part 2
(submitted by: Exegete)
Chapter Four
Sir Dagron Americus, Knight Count, Former GM, and Elder of KORT lighted his
head and opened his mouth and let out a long stream of Fire that streaked far
into the dark coolness of the early evening. He was particularly pleased with
the transformation he had chosen for the evening, a startlingly realistic Red
Dragon, complete with scales, wings, horns and breath weapon. He gave a very
un-dragon-like giggle as stalked further across the main square in
Neverwinter, his long tail accidently bashing in a few barrels and the
occasional shop window as he went. The ground trembled with each step and his
toe claws clacked noisily on the pavement as he proceeded rapidly towards the
KORT Compound at Camelot. He had tried flying when he had first left his
quarters, but that had resulted in a rather unfortunate incident with a now
flattened cart and a very, very frightened farmer and his family resulting in
Dagron's decision to walk the rest of the way. Fortunately the first of
Nasher's guards he had encountered had been realistic enough to know that
there had to be something more afoot and spread the word that the wasn't a
"real" dragon stalking through Neverwinter. That had spared Dag the
embarrassment of killing and possibly eating a significant portion of the
evening shift, something he felt confident would not sit well either with
Snowie, the guard commander, or with Nasher himself.
He made rapid progress, thanks to long dragon hind legs and was nearly
through the gate to Southwall when a ruckus in an alleyway to his left caught
his attention. He focused his gaze in that direction, fishing his spectacles
from the small pouch around his neck (no pockets) and perched them on his
nose. He ducked his long dragon neck to a lower, better vantage point and
peered in the dimly lit alley behind the Inn. What he saw surprised him. A
Lizard, large and menacing was in the process of trying to hold the back door
to the inn closed, leaning on it with all of his strength while various
thumpings and muted shoutings floated through the door itself.. The giant
lizard stood some 6 and 1/2 feet tall and was fairly massive. Dagron took a
couple steps forward and ducked his head even lower, cleared his throat and
spoke to the Lizard. "Ahem!" He said "What's going on here?" he continued in
a deep basso profundo that reverberated through the alleyway.
To say the lizard was startled was an understatement. Dag was startled
himself when, at the sound of the voice the Lizard turned his head and,
seeing Dag, screamed in fear and stumbled backwards. He left leg caught on a
nail and the Lizard literally jumped out of its skin leaving a human figure,
in red long underwear (complete with trap door) to stumble on and fall into
the trash at the rear of the alleyway. Dagron blinked twice in surprise and
looked closely at the figure, recognizing it as Ganzelle, Court Mage of KORT.
Dag, forgetting he was a dragon, took another step forward just as the Inn
door crashed open and several slightly tipsy figures rushed out into the
alley brandishing weapons and looked him straight in the face. The first one
tried to stop, but the crush of the rest of the ones following forced him
forward virtually throwing him under Dag's feet. It took a second or two, but
they all remarkably rapidly perceived, even in the midst of their drunken
state, that they were confronted with more than a mere lizard. There was
moment of awkward silence which Dagron, after a moment's thought, filled with
a mighty dragon roar! The sound filled the alleyway and then refilled it,
reverberating about the walls and shaking the windows and shutters on both
sides. Three of the men fainted dead away, and the others began to climb over
each other trying get back into the Inn. Several windows opened, and then
quickly shut on the alley as the denizens of the various rooms and apartments
looked out to see what was going on and then wisely decided it was none of
their business. Moments later, the alley was clear, the door shut, and the
only noise was Ganzelle's ragged breathing as he strove to remain invisible
in the far corner of the alley.
Dagron took another Step towards Ganzelle and picked up the flaccid Lizard
suit with one of his front claws, holding it out where he could examine it
more closely. Ganzelle's breathing quieted noticeably as he noticed the
reading glasses perched on the Dragon's nose. His eyes narrowed as he
considered the sight before him. One of the unconscious forms heaped before
the now closed Inn back door groaned and struggled to sit up. The Dragon cast
a glance in his direction and thwapped him in the head with his tail,
consigning him to unconsciousness once more. "Shaddap" was his only comment
in the man's direction. Ganzelle's mind began to sort through the
possibilities. He had the distinct impression that he had heard that voice
before. He scratched his head as he struggled to his feet and took a
tentative step towards the great, red beast. Dagron looked up from his
examination of the lizard skin and addressed him.
"Nice job" he said. "You must have used up most of your potions and lotions
getting this skin this supple". He went on. He rubbed the skin between two of
his "fingers". "Really nice work" he murmured. He looked up at Ganzelle.
"Lemme guess" he said, "Yer goin' as Ganzilla, Right?" He threw back his head
and laughed uproariously. "I like it!" he finished and tossed the suit at
Ganzelle, who was knocked to the ground under its impact.
"Oooh" Dag said "Sorry about that he concluded, bending low and helping to
remove the suit form on top of Ganzelle. "Jeez, Gan, you OK?"
"Dagron?" Ganzelle said in an incredulous voice as he emerged from under the
costume. "Dagron?" he said again, an unbelieving tone in his voice. Ganz
shook his head in disbelief and then laughed. "You're incredible" he went on
as he looked at the place of the left leg of the costume where it had caught
on the nail. He clucked his tongue and grimaced at the minor tear he found
there. "I thought those goons were gonna end my evening" he said as he pulled
a needle and thread from an inner pocket in the costume and began to sew the
tear. "One of them stumbled into my room just as I was getting into costume.
I hadn't buttoned up yet. The drunken fool thought I was a real Giant Lizard
and called his equally drunken friends and the chase was on!" he finished.
Dagron chuckled. "Looks like they was kinda zealous" he said in an amused
voice.
Ganzelle only nodded. "I tossed the first guy into the far corner of the
room, and hid behind the door. His friends came and rushed over to his side,
I ducked out the door and down the back stairs and out the back door. I was
trying to get up a Wiz lock when you showed up." he finished as he snapped
off the thread and finished the sewing job. He quickly donned the costume and
buttoned up the back of the suit. "There!" he said, "Whaddya think?"
"I think these bozos endorsed ya already Bro!" Dag replied.
"Shall we go?" Together, the Red Dragon and Ganzilla left the alleyway and
made their way through the gate and onwards toward the party at Camelot.
Chapter Five
The Ninja was amusing yet another group of guests (Mostly female) at the
party with an extremely complicated kata. His black-clad figure was a blur of
graceful motion as he wove a intricate design with his whirling hands and
feet. His eyes, the only part of him not covered by his deep black,
form-fitting, outfit where indicative of the fierce concentration he had
mustered as he moved into the last, and most difficult, part of his routine.
Two sets of nunchuks appeared from no where and began speedy, whistling arcs
and ovals, many coming alarmingly close to those who were watching. The
waiting servant (looking a bit bored) tossed bits of fruit and vegetables in
seeming random patterns more and more quickly. Impossibly, the Ninja
successfully shattered each of them before they hit the ground. As quickly as
they appeared, the nunchuks disappeared and the Ninja caught the ornate
ceremonial spear the servant threw his way (none to gently either). The
wonderfully detailed spear's carvings and castings disappeared as he spun it
and performed a series of lunges and circles, the vicious point of the spear
glinting in the lights as it flung itself in the weave of the Ninja's kata.
The Kata finished with spear being cast high in the air and the Ninja
performing a series of spin kicks and leaps before finishing, head bowed, on
his knees, crouched over the floor, arms spread, palms downward. The was a
collective holding of breath as the onlookers watched the spears descent,
almost all breathing a sigh when the spear thudded heavily into the floor not
two inches from his head. The applause was genuine and enthusiastic. The
Ninja stood and acknowledged the applause with a silent and formal half-bow,
each hand clapping once against its respective leg. After a moment he
relaxed and his eyes conveyed the smile that was on his invisible lips to
each onlooker. With his right hand, he grasped the ceremonial spear and wrest
it from the floor, pausing to look at the hole it left in the antique Oaken
floor of the banquet hall.
"That's not gonna make you a hero with the maintenance folks" Ganzilla said,
having sidled into the on looking group and witnessed the end of the
demonstration. "I'm pretty sure Nalika was hoping to keep the floors intact
during the party" he finished.
"Occupational hazard" was Vinman's reply as he handed the spear to the
waiting servant who rapidly disappeared. "Can't make an omelet without
breaking a few eggs" he continued happily. "Not a bad job, don't you think?"
he asked hopefully, surveying Ganzelle's costume.
"Breaking a few eggs like this might result in Nal breaking a few legs" Tuvor
offered as he joined the other two Knights. "Nice costume Ganz" he said.
"You're Dag's mother-in-law - Right?" he finished with a grin.
Ganzelle just smiled in reply, looking Tuvie over, recognizing who he was
portraying. "I thought you was gonna dress up too?" he asked in an innocent
tone, raising an inquiring eyebrow. Instead of the craftily designed and
delivered riposte that Tuvor had been saving for the right moment, all that
would come out was what sounded like a strangled giggle.
"What was that, didn't catch it" Ganzelle said in an amused voice.
"Suck what?" Vinman asked innocently.
Tuvor's only reply, in the midst of what was now obviously appreciative
laughter, was to point to the doorway to Camelot's Main Banquet Hall at the
largest, most sinister-looking Beholder anyone could ever remember seeing, at
least that's what almost all said afterwards.
Of course, on closer inspection, the "sinister" factor of the Beholder was
somewhat subdued by the multiple pairs of beer goggles that covered each and
every pair of eye stalks. The beholder floated serenely through the doorway
to the Hall and toward the buffet tables. The now crowded room parted in awe
as the beast cruised toward the magnificent display of food. Once at the
table, it rose above it and settled over some the more delectable offerings.
There were some suspicious scuffling noises and one by one, a number of
plates and other scraps flung themselves from the beast's gaping mouth. The
onlookers watched with evident interest as the beast made it's way down the
table, leaving a series of decimated plates and such in its wake. It took
only a few moments for it to complete it's feasting and descend from the
table. The mouth opened wide and all expected to hear some pronouncement of
satisfaction, which was, at least in type, fulfilled by the booming burp that
echoed through the hall, rattling empty dishes and glasses all over the
nearby area. The Eye moved like a stately ship of the line amidst various
disgusted looks and cries of "gross" and "disgusting" and the like toward the
Ninja, Ganzilla, and Bassanova. The trio of Knights watched the approach of
the Beholder with grand amusement. It came to within a few paces of them an
hovered, floating serenely in front of them, each eye stalk moving
independently, appraising them in a fond kind of way.
"This is way closer than I ever really wanted to be to one of these things"
Vinman observed casually.
"I take it back Ganz" Tuv said jokingly, "That's a much better representation
of Dag's mother-in-law" he finished, pointing to the Beholder.
"There is a definite resemblance" Ganzelle observed dryly.
"Hey!" Corwin's voice said from the depths of the Beholder,
"Let's not get personal now!" he went on in a voice surprisingly high
pitched, seeing that it emanated from a creature that one would expect to
speak in very, very low voice if it spoke at all.
"Hey Cor!" the Dagron/Dragon said amicably as he thumped up to the quartet.
"Need a little Visine there bud" he observed.
"Eye's looking a little swollen" he continued, munching on a side of pork he
had snatched from a nearby roasting spit. He raised his head high and
swallowed most of the Pork in a single swallow and then looked the remaining
bone with evident disappointment.
"Anyone up for a little countryside ravaging?" he asked, half seriously. The
clatter of hooves and baying of hounds prevented any of the others from
answering.
Nalika, Iser, JeQuelle, Corel, and AllsFaire were enjoying some thoroughly
marvelous conversation with several of the younger Squires and Pages. The
adult beverages had been flowing freely, though not excessively and all
present had begun to enjoy that pleasant, "all's well" glow. The
conversation was witty and erudite and none of the four could remember when
they had had such a marvelous time together at a party. The Windgray-Vampire,
Woodsman-Werewolf, and Akumu-Golem had joined them and a good time was being
had by all. That was what made the sudden intrusion so much of an annoyance
when it occurred. It started innocently enough. Just some baying of hounds
from somewhere outside of the Hall, but the baying came closer and closer
until most of the hall had stopped what they were doing and were looking in
the direction of the Grand Entrance of the Hall, and looking at each other
questioningly. Accompanying the mournful and threatening baying came an
increasingly audible drumming of horses hooves growing louder and closer each
second. An inexplicable sense of foreboding and even a bit of fear began to
creep into the hearts of those in the hall, all of which were now looking
about them and at the main doors, standing closed and appearing almost
sinister in what appeared, to many, to be a darkening of the area around the
doors. The lights in the hall dimmed slightly and suddenly the doors burst
open and a foul smelling, extremely cold wind whistled throughout the hall.,
causing what light remained to flicker and great shadows to dance on the
walls and ceiling and floor. The baying of the Hounds grew to crescendo
proportions as six huge hounds of indiscriminate but unmistakably vicious
demeanor burst through the doors and into the Hall. The spread out and
stopped inside the door stood, snarling and snapping their jaws, lips lifted
revealing hideous teeth, drool dripping liberally to the floor. Their heads
ducked a bit as they regard the people in the room, clearly thinking of them
in terms of prey and the hair on their great, muscular backs bristled with
evil intention. The two groups, hounds and party guests, regarded each other
for just a moment before the party goers minds were snapped back to the
growing din of pounding horses hooves.
A moment later a great, coal-black stallion burst into the room and paused to
rear upon its hind legs just behind the line of hounds. Its iron-shod hooves
casting sparks when they came into contact with the marble floor. It's eyes
were wide with hate and its breath came as a great bellows, emitting belches
of steam through its nose in clouds that rolled about in front of him.
Sitting astride the awesome beast was a headless man. Clad all in black with
a long, flowing black cape, he seemed the embodiment of all that is dreadful
and frightening. Many in the room involuntarily drew breaths as memories of
childhood fears and nightmares rose like unwelcome specters in each mind. A
shiver shook its way down many spines as they beheld the spectacle and
redoubled as they heard the purely unearthly laugh that echoed through the
hall. Flashes of lightning illuminated the room through the windows and
accompanying claps of thunder boomed their way into the hall. The moment
would stand etched into the minds of each of the witnesses for many, many
years to come.
After a long moment, the inherent cynicism in many of the older Knights minds
began to assert itself.
"Yer ride's here Tuvie" Ganzilla quipped after taking a deep breath.
"Izat one of yer bill collectors, Tuv?" Vinman the Ninja asked.
"Oooooo!" The Red Dragon said hungrily, "Seconds!"
On the other side of the room, the gathered Knights watched the Horse and
rider with interest. Their minds began to whirl with thought. They'd been
through moments like this before, at other parties at other times. A name
rose to many minds, almost simultaneously expressed by numerous sets of lips.
Exegete! At that moment, the hounds, plunged into the crowd, baying in
faces, and nipping and snapping at the heels and legs of the party goers who
virtually fell over each other scrambling out of the way. The horse reared
once again and then bolted into the crowd, dashing toward the middle of the
hall, hooves clattering and showering all nearby with sparks. The horse and
rider darted about the hall, hither and thither, causing chaos where ever
they went. The hounds were indiscriminate with their attentions, furthering
the chaos dramatically.
The group of Knights with Nalika watched all of this with growing annoyance.
They were convinced of the riders identity and while they willing to allow
some leeway for his somewhat eccentric sense of humor, they all grew more
impatient and upset as the moments passed.
"Really now" AllsFaire said, breaking the silence first.
"Enough is enough!" she went on stamping her foot.
"I agree entirely" Coral said, picking herself up from the latest passage of
the hounds. "He's going entirely too far!"
"The hound's teeth are very realistic" Iser said, examining a tiny cut on her
leg where a hound had nipped her. "He is being rather incautious this time"
she went on, waving a hand over the cut, which promptly closed and then
disappeared.
"Well, I can take care of the hounds" the Huntress/Jequelle said meaningfully
drawing her bow and fitting an arrow, which she promptly let fly at the
retreating hindquarters of the last of the hounds. The arrow caught up with
hound and disappeared through it, continuing on and imbedding itself into the
wall beyond.
Jequelle blinked in disbelief. "They got real teeth" she said, "they should
have real hynnies" she commented.
"Awright!" Nalika said in her GM voice. "Let's put a stop to this, he's had
enough fun for one night. Spread out and snag him before he ruins the party!"
she exclaimed.
The Akumu-Golem motioned to his tow brother Knights, the Werewolf and the
Vampire and the three started out in the direction of the horse and rider,
now causing pandemonium at the far end of the hall. "We'll head him off" he
shouted back at Nalika over the growing din of voices in the hall.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the Great Hall, the Horseman was making life
interesting for the other, smaller, group of Knights. Tuvor/Bassanova was
trying to extricate himself from a pile of Page and Squires that had been
trying to escape from the hounds and had run he and Ganzilla down in the
process. Ganzilla, for his part, had taken to biting at various body parts of
those on top of him in a vain attempt to get them off of him. Vinman the
Ninja yelped in surprise and pain as Ganzilla's costume teeth found his leg
and leaped to his feet, directly in the path of several of the onrushing
hounds. He smiled and took a couple quick steps toward them and launched a
vicious jump kick from an angle at the leading hound. His eyes widened in
unbelief as he sailed through the hound and, unfortunately, into the
Beholder/Corwin who, in turn, sailed rapidly, albeit gracefully directly into
the Dagron/Dragon.
Dagron, surprised as any to see the Ninja sail right though a seemingly solid
hound, was extra startled to see the giant Beholder sailing toward him at
alarming speed. Forgetting his early try at flight in his haste, he attempted
to leap into the air, unfurling his great wings in the process. He succeeded
in rising several feet towards the ceiling, but, being inexperienced at such
matters was not able to keep all of his appendages under control. He
understandably concentrated on his wings, but only at the expense of his very
long tail. He managed to hover some dozen feet above the spectacle below him
and was giving serious consideration to letting loose a fireball at the rider
whom he was now convinced was none other than KORT's own Lord Scribe and
Jester, Exegete. He thoughts never grew to fruition, however, because while
concentrating on hovering and trying to remember how to get a fireball to
come out of his mouth instead of his fingers, he lost track of that long,
long tail which, seemingly independent of any direction flicked far to close
to the nearby chandelier and promptly caught fire. A Moment later, as the
pain of the event caught up with his brain, Dagron screamed out an epithet,
grabbed at his tail, forgot about flying or fireballs and promptly plunged
into the midst of the buffet table below. He crashed into the table with
mighty roar, spreading food and drink over the already chaotic scene,
splattering all nearby liberally with various condiments and foodstuffs.
"Oh my god!" AllsFaire shrieked as she watched the great Dragon plunge to the
floor. She, Iser, Jequelle and Coral began to rush towards the fallen Dagron
who by now had his sore tail immersed in a huge bowl of Punch. Nalika tried
to follow, but, upon turning around, was confronted by two hounds, eyes
glowing as the stalked her. She was confused for a moment, but then realized
that the cause for such "special" attention was her costume, painstakingly
patterned after beloved cat. "Aw Jeez" she muttered and quickly called up the
words to a hold spell only to see it fizzle, dampened by some anti-magic
force. The hounds growled menacingly and advanced. Nal looked about her, but
all of those who had been a part of the group who had only moments before
been happily trading whoppers and laughing together had, by now, been
scattered to the various corners of the Great Hall. The approach of the
hounds was now making her situation desperate and, as she had no weapon, she
did the only thing she could think, she sprinted the nearest wall and began
to climb the wall hanging (the one that depicts one of KORT's great victory
in the wars several years before. She managed, with some difficulty, to get
far enough up the hanging to be out of range of the hounds jumps and snapping
jaws. Hanging in a decidedly undignified position, she resolved then and
there to find some exquisite torture to subject her Lord Scribe to pay him
back for all of this. She thought about the matter further as she began to
yell for help.
The horse and rider had so far eluded all attempts to corner and capture him,
but it was only a matter of time as groups of Knights, Squires and Pages were
converging on him from all points of the Hall. The great stallion rose to its
hind legs once again and the headless horseman once more laughed his defiance
at all who were present. He whistled (though having not head, not mention any
lips, with what was not clear) a shrill and piercing whistle and the hounds
turned from their prey and rushed to his side. Once they were near, from a
secret pocket he took smallish device that looked like a jack-o-lantern and
cast down some three meters in front of he and the hounds. It exploded into a
cloud of dense smoke and a thunderous boom that rolled around the room. The
onrushing Knights and others skidded to a stop in the smoke and coughing,
waited several moments until the smoke cleared, revealing nothing but a blank
wall where the horseman, horse and hounds had been. Several Knights stepped
forward and touched the wall, which was as solid as it appeared. Detect
Invis was cast (the "anti-magic" field now, apparently, having dissipated)
but revealed nothing. The group murmured and talked amongst themselves the
babble growing until the Lady Nalika, released from her perch, arrived in a
huff.
She surveyed the now all but completely destroyed room. He faced clouded with
anger and she spoke with a terrible, dread to her voice. "He should be
horsewhipped, thoroughly horsewhipped!" she exclaimed.
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the assembled group, though there was
some sentiment for a more severe punishment form the Akumu/Corwin/Tuvor
quarter.
Nalika sighed and looked around her once again. "Well" she said, "Let's clean
up a bit and see if we can't salvage some of the party" she finished
resignedly.
The clean up went fairly rapidly and the Hall was beginning to look
respectable once again when growing hum from above the working Knights,
Squires and Pages grew and took their attention. A fluffy, white cloud
formed and from it emerged several Herald's trumpets which promptly blew a
grand, intricate and glorious fanfare in virtuoso fashion. They receded into
the cloud and the cloud umbrellas appeared next to every person in the room.
The cloud looked more and more rain-like and a voice echoed throughout the
room, advising them to use them wisely and immediately. The assembled group
looked at one another, and then as one hastened to put the umbrellas up! The
last umbrella wasn't up a moment when the cloud opened and began to pour -
Oreo cookies! The cookies fell until the floor was littered , in some places
two inches deep. A fanfare similar to the first sounded once again, this time
from the direction of the main door to the hall. With a flash of light and
flourish of the trumpets, Sir Exegete de la Forge, Knight Errant and Lord
Scribe of the Knights of the Round Table stepped into the hall. He dressed as
a huge Oreo Cookie, and very delicious looking I might add. His smiling face
poked out through a whole about halfway up the 12 foot tall cookie and he
beamed with pleasure and evident affection at his assembled fellows.
"Sorry I'm late guys!" he piped cheerfully. "I had a hard time with the
illusion and only just got it straight." he finished, faltering at the end of
his sentence as he noticed the hostile looks that surrounded him. He looked
at the Hall, much better in shape now, but still giving evidence of the chaos
that had prevailed just a short time earlier. The crowd advanced upon him
menacingly, the umbrellas now in mind for more than shelter from the weather.
Exe took a step backward in self defense.
"Jeez, guys, If I'da known it was this important to be on time, I'da made
sure I was earlier!" he said in a wounded tone. The crowd advance slowly
toward, their intentions becoming increasingly clear.
"Get 'Im" a voice shouted form the rear of the group and the group broke into
a rush and charged Exe, now moving out of the hall fairly quickly himself.
The crowd ran after the retreating Oreo brandishing their weapons and hurling
various epithets after the now sprinting Exegete, who was running as fast as
any Oreo cookie you've ever seen.
Unseen by any, but there none the less, the headless horseman "looked" down
from his high vantage point, looking in one of the skylight windows as the
now hysterical mob chased Exe from the hall into the darkness beyond. His
haunting laughter rolled once again over the quiet of the Neverwinter Square
as he enjoyed the moment.Memories of the Past - Part 2
(submitted by: Ringleron)
Lady Kephara and I stopped at the inn of Port Llast to replenish some
spent spells. Afterwards, we left for Windycliffs. The journey to
Windycliffs was somewhat uneventful. A few hoards of rats and wild boars
barred our way, but, a few well placed fireballs made short work of the
critters.
We were a few miles away from Neverwinter when a group of lizardmen
interrupted our peaceful trek. We were outnumbered two to one. Lady Kephara
and I looked at each other, nodded, drew our weapons and charged. From the
corner of my eye, I saw Kephara take a powerful swing at one of lizardmen
only to miss. She looked at her sword. Her face filled with confusion while
instinctively sidestepping the attack of her opponent. I turned attention
back to the two lizardmen in front of me and swung my military pick. I too
missed my opponent, but, I was able to block the lizardman's attack. Tempus
was probably informing me that I was out of practice in hand to hand combat.
I resisted the urge to take out some magic components, small metal rods, for
I felt the need to appease the God of War. There might be a time where I
would rely on my weapon than my magic. After a few more rounds, Lady Kephara
and I were the only ones standing. Quickly, we put away our weapons, and
continued our journey to Neverwinter and to the woods.
Neverwinter was busy as always. We stopped at a few shops to buy some
supplies and exchange heavy coins for less cumbersome gems. Afterwards, we
headed out to the Wharves, to Floodblest, and then to Nightsedge. Travel was
somewhat uneventful. We offered our help to the ones who asked for it.
Nightsedge was not as busy as Neverwinter. Lady Kephara and I took
moment to rest at the inn after a long journey. I don't usually travel the
woods often, so I took the time to ask Kephara on some tips, more
importantly, what spells to carry while traveling through Neverwinter Woods.
After memorizing the appropriate spells, we departed for the woods.
As soon as we exited Nightsedge, Kephara told me that the path was
unsafe to rest and adviced that we cast invisibility and avoid as much combat
as possible. I nodded my agreement and spells were cast. A few yards later
a group of manticores attacked.
Quickly, I proceeded to duck behind trees or bushes. As seconds ticked
away, I couldn't sense Kephara's presence. I immediately thought that she
might have been flanked by another group of creatures and might be in
trouble. With my left hand, I took out some sulfur from my bag of
components; and with the right hand, I took out a tiny ball of bat guano. I
searched for a group of manticores. I saw two manticores relatively close to
each other. They became the targets of my spell. I mumbled the incantations
of the spell. Instinctively, I threw the sulfur forward, each speck turning
red. Upon completion of the incantation, I pitched the tiny ball towards my
targets. My invisibility spell ended instantly. The cloud of sulfur flared
as the ball passed through it. The flaming ball rushed towards the two
manticores. Both meeting a fiery death.
With the invisibility gone, the other manticores quickly attacked,
sending sharp spikes towards me. All I could do was raise my hands to
protect my face and brace for the inevitable. Some of the spikes harmlessly
bounced off my cloak, but, most planted themselves all over my body. As soon
as the pain subsided, I tried casting another fireball, but, the manticores
attacked again. Sharp spikes pierced my skin. Pain exploded in my mind and
I lost my concentration, wasting the spell. "Tempus... help me...", I
thought as I reached for my weapon. I swung twice at the nearest creature.
Both attacks stuck home, killing the manticore. I grinned. Lady Kephara's
voice echoed my head, "Rin, are you alright?" "I feel like a pin cushion",
I answered. I attacked another manticore. My weapon dug deep into the
creatures side, wounding it severely. It retaliated, but, I managed to avoid
it. However, another manticore clawed at me, tearing a deep gash on my leg.
I was beginning to loose hope as more blood left my body, when five missiles
made of magical energy slammed against the wounded manticore. The manticore
dropped to the ground, lifeless. I looked up towards the source of the
missiles.
There was Lady Kephara, in her white flowing robes. "Thanks." I said.
She nodded and drew her sword. With renewed vigor, I attacked the other
manticore. With Lady Kephara's help, I got through the encounter.
With the battle over, I began to take out the spikes off my body. "I
must look like a porcupine, huh?" I told Kephara. She laughed. After taking
out the spikes, Lady Kephara held my hand. I felt healing energy pass from
her to me. My wounds stopped bleeding, some closed "Thank you, I feel much
better now", I said.
"You're welcome", she replied. I then used some healing salves that I have
in my backpack. "Do you still have an invisibility spell?", Kephara asked.
"Yes.", I nodded. We casted invisibility on ourselves and resumed our travel
to the woods.
We were able to able to reach the outskirts of Neverwinter Woods without
any more encounters...Wrath in Dur'Eben - Part 2
(submitted by: Zacnefear2)
As the Ilharess returned to the tunnel leading to the compound, the troop of
guards followed swiftly behind, several passing the Ilharess to assure her
safe passage. Arielana paid them no heed as her mind worked its own devious
plot to entrap the one who brought dishonor to her house. The Yochlol had
shown her an image of Zacnefear seated behind a desk, walking through rooms,
selecting components in a place yet unknown to her, a place outside the
Temple, outside the city. This time he would not escape her wrath, she
thought, not knowing that he already suffered yet again at the hand of the
ministers of Lloth's disfavor.
The qu'el'faeruk wandered the dark streets, making his way to the palace,
there he found out the Valsharess was not residing within at the moment.
Knowing still he would have to face her, he decided to continue some studies
for now. He summoned the gate and returned to his tower.
Zac was walking through the hallway leading to one of the component rooms
when the fiery grip of his dark goddess brought him to an abrupt halt.
Immense pain seized his chest, the scars bursting open, blood spraying. He
tried to speak, or even think, but all he knew was lights flashing before his
eyes as his head cracked against the tiles.
"VENORISH!! dos have nau right think or speak male!" the voice thundered
through him like a nightmare come true.
"Dos were warned to remain on the path male!. That the path would take many
twists and turns that could lead astray. DOES DOS THINK THEE KNOW MY WILL?"
Though the male could not have had a conscious thought had he tried, he knew
and felt all that was happening. The glowing tiles of faerezz were beginning
to glow red as the pool of blood flowing from his chest and head spread over
them. His chest expanded as if his heart was about to explode from within it.
"I have given thee images of things to be male, but not of when this was to
come about. Yet thee took it upon thyself to begin something I yet desire"
The males chest expanded yet further outward.
"Dos may have ONE LAST chance to return to thy true path male. FOR I SHALL
CLAIM WHAT IS MINE NEXT TIME"
The faeruks chest returned to normal suddenly, as if had nothing drew it
outwards from within.
Dark flames that smelled of the abyss licked about the scars encircling his
heart, searing the flesh, sealing the ruptured tissue. Then they flickered
out as if had never been, yet the pool of blood remained as testimony that it
had not been a mere nightmare. His body jerked suddenly, then the slow rise
and fall of his breathing returned.
Several hours later the faeruk awakened, his eyes blinking several times to
clear his blurred vision. His head throbbed painfully, yet it was not his
main concern as he saw the red glowing tiles he was lying near. Reaching up
he gently probed his scalp, the hair tangled and now matted with dried or
drying blood. Then he slowly sat up, but again a wave of dizziness washed
over him and again he blacked out.
When again he returned to consciousness, he rolled on his side, weakness and
pain causing him to be dizzy. As he lay still on the cold tiles, he
remembered all that was said to him. "He had strayed, and must return to the
true path, or spend an eternity with Lloths cruel anger" It was not a hard
decision to make. While knowing he wished to return to the true path was
easy. Figuring out which of the many paths he had traveled was the correct
one, was not. "Was it the journey to Evermeet that had been put off by other
business? Or did it have to do with Ched Nessad?" looking down at the Symbols
glowing on the tiles he continued these thoughts. "Perhaps it dealt with his
lost heritage" For once the faeruk was at a loss, for he was nau cleric to
interpret cryptic meanings. He was faern, trained in the deadly, yet
beautiful arts of faer.
While these thoughts raced through his mind, a mental summons wove it's
seductive path into his head. It seemed that Ilharess Arielana had recovered
and was now seeking a little playful entertainment. Picking himself he made
his way to his bedchamber , cleaning up and changing his clothing to some not
full of blood. Then summoning a gate, he stepped through into Arielana's
chambers and kneeled in respect.Wrath in Dur'Eben - Part 3
(submitted by: Zacnefear2)
Walking the dark corridor of her private quarters now taking up the entire
top floor of the house, Arielana's anger toward the qu'elfaern turned to
rage. Yet, keeping her wits about her, she set her inth del waerr'ess ulu
elgg (plan of deceit to destroy) Zacnefear into motion.
As she approached the room d' faern, she thought of how appropriate it would
be for the qu'elfaern to meet his destiny in the room he created when first
he hid his actions from her. Entering, her gaze fell immediately to the
qu'ilinsar so recklessly discarded by the male. None had entered this room
in the months that passed, or at least they had not moved the qu'ilinsar from
where he dropped it. She would use this item to ensure her victory over him.
Her hand moved in a blur as she uttered a few words to enchant the item.
She went next to her chambers where she changed into her fighting garb, then
concealed the garments beneath her cleric robes. Drawing the dagger from
its sheath. She knew that with the dagger her thoughts would reach him no
matter where he walked, be it the surface or some warded cavern far from the
city. Though she only need hold it, she grasped the blade tightly. The pain
searing through her hand only served to intensify her anger as she sent her
thoughts to Zacnefear, "Come join me, Mrann. I am well rested."
In moments, Zacnefear kneeled before her. Taking control of her anger, lest
he see her trap before she wished, she walked toward him gracefully. Lifting
his eyes to meet hers she said softly, "Do rise, Mrann."
Glad to see her, he embraced her. As his lips neared hers, she turned from
him and said with a wry grin curving her lips, "There is time for that later.
Now, I wish another lesson in magic."
A smile crossed the face of the qu'elfaern appreciating his Ilharess's
interest in his craft. She learns quickly, he thought, as he followed her
out, yet her thirst for knowledge yet remained unsated. Still he did not see
beneath the calm demeanor.
Upon entering the room of faer, Arielana nodded toward the qu'ilinsar. "It
is time dos placed the medallion back where it belongs."
As Zacnefear lifted the qu'ilinsar around his neck, the energy of the magic
she embedded in it took affect and rendered the male unable to speak, unable
to cast his magic. Zac grinned as he thought, "A spar without magic instead
of a lesson, shrewd Mrinn." In one swift motion Arielana tossed aside the
cumbersome robes and drew her snake weapon.
Knowing she never wished him to hold back when they sparred, he drew his
swords. He spun on his heels and faced her and took an offensive stance.
His features glazed at the sight of his ssins'urne Arielana, her features
hardened. The rage beneath the calm demeanor revealed in the blazing crimson
eyes he so adored. The long slender hand he held only days before to take her
pain unto himself, wielded the insidious whip of fangs. His instincts told
him she meant to kill him. Zacnefear would never strike out at Arielana, and
his swords flashed in the faerie fire as they fell to the floor.
Driven by the rage Lloth used to control her followers, the snakes lunged at
him time and time again. One of the vipers struck his hand and three more of
the deadly creatures implanted their fangs into his shoulder and back. Zac
fell back from the intensity of the pain as the burning venom coursed his
veins. Still Arielana did not relent as she wielded the weapon more quickly
striking the helpless male again and again. When he lost consciousness, she
returned the hideous weapon to her belt. She watched Zacnefear warily over
the hours, allowing him to regain his strength.
Rising slowly to his knees he lowered his eyes to the floor. Arielana
chortled as she unsheathed the dagger he had crafted and hissed, "My dagger
no longer rests at my side, faeruk!"
Her words cut more deeply than her blade ever could. In a last attempt to
stay her hands, the male rose and moved slowly toward her. As he grasped her
arms he felt the tip of the dagger pierce his chest. He stared into her eyes
as life slipped from him. The rage driving her vanished in an instant and
her arms reached to support Zacnefear as both bodies slowly slipped to the
floor.
Zacnefear tried to speak to her and she wanted to hear his words. Quickly
she dispelled the magic she had cast and his sigh broke the silence that
enshrouded him. The diamond embedded in the pommel of the dagger grew dark
as the life of the qu'elfaern ebbed. His eyes still riveted upon his
Ilharess, the image blurred then dimmed as darkness engulfed him.
A flickering image of the tower crumbling to the ground passed before
Arielana's eyes. She knew then that Zacnefear must live at least long enough
to destroy the abomination he created. Slowly she drew the dagger from him.
Placing her hand upon the wound, she chanted softly knowing if it were
Lloth's will that he destroy the tower, he would still live.
Arielana's body suddenly cast an eerie shadowy glow and black flames erupted
around her. The smell of the abyss filled her senses as she continued the
prayers to honor her goddess. The dark energy flowed through her hand to the
stricken mage. A pinpoint of energy drew Zacnefear into it, expanding slowly
as his whole world seemed consumed in the dark fire. As the burning
sensation of the flames centered in his chest, his body shook in convulsion.
Arielana noticed the wound heal and the slow rising and falling of the
qu'elfaern's chest as his life resumed. Once again the glow of the faerie
fire filled the room and the powers of the abyss receded.
Arielana rose slowly, her garments imbued in the blood of her mrann d' ssins
clinging to her. Calling to the guards she commanded, "Take Zacnefear to the
barracks of the sargtlin on lowest floor of this house. Do not bring him
before me until he is recovered. There is more I require of this male."
Draping the cleric robes about her shoulders, Arielana headed to the chapel
once again. There she found the Yahtrinen entranced in the aura of the
powers of their deity as they sacrificed one after another of those whose
hearts Lloth favored. When the Ilharess entered, Yvyll turned to her and
made way for her to approach the altar. Yvyll eyed her Ilhar warily taking
notice of the blood stained garments beneath the robes draping her shoulders.
Letting her eyes continue to assess her Ilhar, she quickly realized that no
wound afflicted the Ilharess.
Arielana spoke calmly, addressing the questioning look of each of her
dalharen, "I have taken care of the qu'elfaeruk, something I needed to do
myself. Now we must move on."
When the sacrificing ended, and the bloodlust of their chaotic goddess
satisfied, the Yathrinen and Ilharess returned to the island compound, each
to their own chambers, each to contemplate the events of the day.Wrath in
Dur'Eben - Part 4
(submitted by: Zacnefear2)
Several hours later, the male opened his eyes, his vision blurred, his body
weak. He attempted to move, darkness claimed him once more. Twas the
following day before his eyes opened, this time clear enough to realize where
he was, and what had happened. His skin was very pale, his throat was
parched. Moving a unsteady hand to inside his sleeve, he removed a small vial
of pale liquid. . Zac opened the vial and forced himself to swallow its
entire content. The potion tasted extremely vile as it flowed down his
gullet, but it also sent a warm flood of energy through him as it refreshed
him somewhat. He paled as he for once saw the extent of the flow of his
blood. His clothing was encrusted to his skin, literally saturated in blood.
Tossing aside the empty vial, he looked down at his chest, a ninth scar now
was centered among the other eight.
Rising from the bed, he moved stiffly to a mirror, the image reflected back
was almost a stranger to him. Eyes dark and hollow peered back at him,
features sharpened by his ordeal, hair matted and crusted with blood. Many
other eyes followed his movements, voices whispering through the room to one
another. The faern ignored them, enstead setting about to cleaning himself up
some. The few sargtlin that did meet his cold eyes, shivered at the cruel
emptiness they saw reflected in their depths. Pouring water from a pitcher
into a basin, the faeruk began to wash away some of the blood. His thoughts
now known only to himself. The daggers strike had severed the cord that bound
two minds, and for now his thoughts would remain shielded carefully.
He cleaned up as best he could, for he did naut have fresh clothing available
at this time. Then moved off slowly to the pantry area, for he needed more
than vials to replenish the lost blood and strength. The sargtlins pantry
offered only a meager fare, but it mattered naut, for he did naut taste it
anyway. An emptiness filled his soul, along with a cruelty that many would
naut find pleasant in the future.
For several weeks the faeruk merely sat alone near the lakes edge, water
lapping along the shore gently. He never spoke to those that watched, or even
acknowledged their presence. Which only made the sargtlin even more uneasy
about him. What he thought or saw, only he knew, buried within multiple
layers of falsehoods. Slowly his color and strength returned, but his spirit
remained diminished or departed. His clothing reeked of stale blood, and
finally he dove into the lake to wash it as best he could. The icy water he
never felt as his mind was already somewhat numb, but he scrubbed away as
much of the blood as he could. Then returned to the shore to dry off slowly,
water Puddling about him as it dripped to the ground.
When dry, he turned to the sargtlin still watching gesturing, then followed
them into the house, his strength returned sufficiently, he was ready to face
his Ilharess once again. The two sargtlin glanced at him warily as they made
their way to the throneroom, their hands never far from their weapons. But
the faeruk seemed to still not even notice their presence as he followed
them. They paused at the door to the throneroom, then entered when permission
was granted to do so. Now the faeruk strode between them towards the figure
seated on the onyx throne. Stopping two feet short of the steps he kneeled,
his dull eyes cast towards the floor. He could still sense the cold gaze of
her eyes, looking down at him. Though not acknowledging he was aware of it,
his body remained rigid. He tensed even more as she arose from the throne and
moved down the steps towards him. Circling the kneeling male, watching him
with a cold cruel gaze she contemplated for a few moments, her feelings
towards him ambivalent. Her hand reached towards him, then was pulled back
quickly.
"Dos will take me to this tower now!! I shall see it destroyed!!"
Nodding he drew a intricate pattern on the floor, a shimmering portal opened
beside him. The dark room beyond was clearly a bedchamber, he awaited her
next instructions. The Ilharess stepped past him through the portal,
commanding him to follow. Rising slowly, he too stepped though the portal,
which closed behind them. Looking about the room, Arielana commanded him to
change, gliding past her to a closet, he stripped slowly and changed. When
that was done, they moved down through the floor to the library below.
Nodding he drew a intricate pattern on the floor, a shimmering portal opened
beside him. The dark room beyond was clearly a bedchamber, he awaited her
next instructions. The Ilharess stepped past him through the portal,
commanding him to follow. Rising slowly, he too stepped though the portal,
which closed behind them. Looking about the room, Arielana commanded him to
change, gliding past her to a closet, he stripped slowly and changed. When
that was done, they moved down through the floor to the library below.
Noting the numerous tomes, and the vast wealth of knowledge within them, she
commanded he call forth the servants. Golems, elementals of various types,
appeared at his mental summons. Waving her hand about the room, she commanded
all be taken to the lower storeroom within the house. She also commanded all
furnishings, components, and other magical assets be removed to there as well
from all the floors.
Already golems, elementals gathered up his belongings, and awaited knowledge
of what to do with them. He weaved the spell to open the portal once more,
this time to a lower room within the house of Dur'Eben.. A mental command
again started his servants to carrying his belongings to the room as his
Ilharess had commanded. A small water elemental appeared at his side with a
glass of wine while the others moved books and furniture. Taking the glass
the male tasted it then held the glass out to his Ilharess. The elemental
bowed, then scurried off to fetch other items as bid. They watched as the
stream of servants gathered the desk and chair, and other items before
stepping through the portal.
After the last of the items from the tower had been moved, he commanded the
servants to remain with them, then closed the portal. Speaking his word of
power, Another gate shimmered before them, clearly being of the cavern
outside. He followed Arielana through the portal once again, leaving the gate
open behind them. Several drow noticed their sudden, appearance, they backed
away cautiously when the faeruk began chanting. Standing well away from the
stalagmite that was his magnificent tower, the faeruk cast his spell of
destruction. As the tower began to crystallize, he again backed away
further, Arielana moving away as well. His fingers opened a second doorway
next to them, while he began yet another chant. Thrusting his hands towards
the first portal, a growing fireball flew through it. Then the male waved his
hand, motioning his Ilharess should step through the second portal. After she
stepped through, he darted behind her closing the gate quickly. Moving past
her to a mirror, in the throneroom, he chanted quickly, an image of the tower
and surrounding cavern appearing within it. Stepping back away he kneeled
while she watched the image.
The fireball expanded greatly, then exploded within the now crystal tower.
Fragments sprayed across the cavern like a lethal rain that ripped and
shredded those caught within it. Blood flowed from drow and rothe alike, here
a dwarves head lay near a drow leg. There a minataurs arm lay next to a
dwarven one. Everywhere the screams or moans of the wounded or dying echoed
in the emptiness that remained.
Satisfied the male had now fulfilled the task she set forth, she stepped away
from the mirror and turned her gaze upon him. She noticed though somewhat
underweight, his features had returned to normal, all except for the
emptiness within his eyes. Again she thought to reach out to him, but knowing
he had more yet to accomplish before regaining her favor, she restrained
herself. One again she motioned him to follow her, rising slowly he did so.
Entering the room d'faer she motioned to his weapons lying upon the floor.
His gaze lingered for a few moments upon the large dark stain on the floor,
reminding him once again of what had recurred there. Stepping around the
stain, he collected his blades and sheathed them. She merely commanded him to
have his belongings taken to an empty storeroom many levels below. Turning
around, he found she had already departed from the room, his words left
unspoken. Looking at the stain once more, his eyes glimmered with life
briefly, then was extinguished like a candle in the wind.
...................END........................
This submission is by Arielana and Zacnefear2 written jointly and being
submitted jointly for the weekly contest. Thank you for your consideration
Ari and ZacPoem of Ares
(submitted by: Calvryn)
The battle sounds are here.
We know of the presence of blood.
I can hear the crying of the roses as they are splattered with
mortal juice
But I do nothing in return
I let them die and,
I hear the rose petal's agonizing scream
I see the sun weep over the battle field as it sets....
yet I do nothing.........
for I am Ares and this is my music.........
(from the memoirs of Ares, god of war)
Skirmish in Triboar Under
PvP MECH Style
(submitted by: MECH Aztek)
*****************************************************************************
The Following RP Story is based on November 9ths Quad PVP Battle facing
MECH Team 2 against MASK team 1. Participants were MECHs Aztek, Mourg,
8Ball, Tasha and MASKS Tatyana ii, Rove, Men0sis, and The Bonze.
*****************************************************************************
A thin mist hugged the ground of the caverns. The heavy darkness closed
in and confined punctuated by small twinkles of light at uneven intervals
along the cave wall.
"As much as these Humans use the tunnels, you'd expect them to light it
better." Admiral 8Ball commented as the party of 4 headed downwards to the
very center of the system.
Commander Mourg chuckled loudly, the sound echoing and carooming off the
walls. "8Ball, I'm sure they bring torches with them. Besides, it's night
above ground, I doubt anyone ventures these halls in the evening. Especially
as superstitious as these Humans are. Monsters that sneak up from behind and
devour you. Trolls and Worms..even tales of Beholders."
8Ball looked around sharply, peering into the darkness with his infrared
sensors. Tasha, one of the first Battle Angels, laughed at 8Balls caution.
"Don't Worry 8Ball, I'll protect you."
"Settle down you three. We're coming to the nexus of these caverns."
Emperor Aztek ordered his friends. "If the information 8Ball received from
our spy network is correct. The Masks are building a new outpost down here.
They probably hoped it would escape attention." He stopped and turned to
face his comrades. "Let's go in prepped and ready. If there is an outpost
down here, I want it destroyed. Understood?"
Acknowledgements came from the three of them and Aztek felt the slight
change in atmospheric vibration that told him their systems were up to full.
Quickly initiating his Weapons, Target, and defensive systems, Aztek motioned
for Commander Mourg to take the lead. 8Ball followed quickly behind. Aztek
started to move on, until Tasha touched his shoulder. "Emperor, your life is
more important then ours. Let us take the point."
His smile was lost in the darkness. "Very Well, Battle Angel. Get up
there and make me proud." Keying his COMM system, he locked onto the three
MECHs frequencies. "Comm Units only from here on out."
"Emperor, this is Mourg, my sensors are picking up a lot of light up
ahead. I think we've hit the jackpot. Orders?"
"You've got the point Mourg...I want ID's on those Masks before
proceeding. 8Ball, Tasha, hold momentarily until Mourg gives the signal."
Mourg moved ahead and around the corner, activating his stealth
systems. If any of the Masks were to look in his direction, they'd merely
see a blurr as if their eyes were watering. He entered the lighted area and
targeted the Humans in the encampment. Once target lock was achieved, his ID
unit searched the MECH databanks for a match. "Sir, I've got 4 Humans in
target lock. They're definately Masks. ID is confirming now. Rove, Bonze,
Menosis, and Tatyana. Orders?"
Aztek took only a moment to comply. "Take them out Commander. 8Ball,
Tasha and myself will Teleport behind them when we turn the corner."
Proceeding carefully, 8Ball, Tasha, and Aztek ran through the tunnels
towards the encampment. They'd just turned the corner as a nest of
Salamanders exploded forth disturbed by Mourg's passage.
"Shoot, Aztek, them things came out of nowhere. Shouldn't cause too
much of a problem except the element of surprise is gone." Mourg dropped his
Stealth and charged the 4 Masks.
Aztek figured Mourg had probably set off a hidden trap that would alarm
the Masks in case of intrusion. 8Ball ran ahead, not bothering to teleport
behind the Masks. Tasha followed his lead.
Already in the process of activating his teleport device, Aztek didn't
want to shut it down and waste precious seconds. He teleported across the
battlefield and landed beside Menosis, catching him by surprise. Menosis
regained control quickly and set off a gaseous cloud on top of Aztek.
Unprepared for that type of attack, his filters tried to clamp down, but
failed. His HUD blinked rapidly describing the danger...FILTRATION SYSTEM
INNOPERABLE...ATTEMPTING TO COMPENSATE.
"This is Aztek, I've got to reset my filtration system...I'll be immoble
while I attempt to reset."
"Emperor, this is Tasha, I'm coming to protect you. Be there
momentarily."
Aztek stood motionless as he watched the ensuing melee. The Salamanders
where ranging the entire length of the field, several getting severely close
to him. 8Ball and Mourg called out in whoops of triumph as Rove and Bonze
were hit with stasis fields. Aztek called out to Tasha to focus her
attentions on Tatyana and leave him be. Under protest she obeyed as ordered.
Menosis desperately tried in vain to deactivate the stasis field around
Rove with his spells, but a salivating Salamander dived on the incapacitated
Rove. Menosis destroyed the Sallie, but too late for Rove, he was out for
the count.
His systems lit up once again and the Emperor roared out of the cloud
just as Tatyana attempted to free Bonze. Tasha aimed her Plasma Rifle and
fired at Bonze, scoring across his side. Aztek, still waiting for his
targeting system to reboot, tossed a Napalm incindiery device. It exploded,
knocking Bonze to the ground. Tasha hit him with another stasis field, but
Tatyana ready for that action immediately freed him. Bonze ran across the
field and a soft glow surrounded him, notifying the MECHs that he'd spelled a
Protection field.
Aztek charged him, extending the razor claws on his right hand and
sliced Bonze twice in succession and sent him reeling to the ground in his
own blood. He turned right as Tasha joined him and yelled warning to Mourg
and 8Ball as Menosis and Tatyana sent glowing balls flying towards the duo.
They hit the two MECHs in a blast of light freezing them in place. Aztek's
HUD displayed their status....GYRO SYSTEMS INOPERATIVE....taking precious
moments to check his and Tasha's status as well, he failed to see the
fireball come rolling through the air at the two of them. Landing square in
his chest, Aztek flew backwards about 10 feet as his shielding system went
down. Turning his head, he saw the backlash had knocked Tasha to the ground
as well. "Tasha, activate your backup systems, I'll free 8Ball and Mourg."
A Green light lit up on his HUD recognizing her acknowledgement.
Making an attempt and fooling the remaining two Masks, Aztek activated
his Holographic Projector. Immediately, 4 duplicates of himself popped into
being. He lifted himself up off the ground and charged 8Ball, readying a
Dissembler device. His duplicates ranged the field as Tatyana and Menosis
tried to attack them all. He tossed the device at 8Ball and it landed with a
clink against his Chestplate. The small device exploded, sending currents of
plasma through 8Ball's Gyro systems, recharging them. Menosis, noticing the
small explosion against 8Ball, pulled a wand from his belt and Two Lightning
Bolts shot towards 8Ball.
"DIVE 8BALL!!!" He cried out, but the Admiral's systems hadn't fully
rebooted yet and the lightning bolts struck his chest. The massive surge of
electrical current threw 8Ball's body practically the full range of the
field. He landed some distance away unmoving. A small tendril of black
smoke climbed into the air from his burnt chestplate.
Hoping his Holo's would keep the enemy busy, Aztek ran towards Mourg as
he once again checked his HUD. 8Ball was still active, but severely damaged.
"Aztek, this is 8Ball, I'll be all right. Keep those Masks off me for a few
moments and I'll be up and ready to fight again."
"Acknowledged Brother...Good to know you still ticking over there. Stay
back and let us handle it while you recoup."
"Affirmative."
His second Dissembler device chunked against Mourg as the last of his
Holo's disappeared. Tatyana launched another Fireball, but not soon enough
to hit Mourg squarely. He dove out of the way, but the blast singed both
him, Aztek and Tasha.
Tasha was in heated combat with Tatyana as Mourg and Aztek activated
their backup shielding systems. Menosis hit Aztek with a spell. The effect
made Aztek's gyros falter briefly, but not overload completely. He did
notice they were down to 75% however.
4 Holo's of 8Ball popped into existence as the Admiral got to his feet.
Menosis, seezing an opportunity, launched another spell at 8Ball. The Holo's
all winked out as Aztek's HUD Displayed that 8Ball's Gyros had overloaded
again.
Mourg and Aztek charged Menosis as Tatyana hit Aztek with another spell.
His Gyros went down to 50%.
Slipping on the ground, Aztek pulled out a grenade filled with liquid
nitrogen. He threw it at Tatyana, but not on target. The main blast
exploded behind her and she only caught the outer edge. A light film of
frost covered her body. The Emperor jumped to his feet and threw another
grenade, but at Menosis this time. He missed again, but Menosis caught more
of the blast then Tatyana. A film of frost thickened around Menosis' body.
Aztek motioned for Mourg to take care of him as he turned towards 8Ball and
tend to him.
A large salamander was moving up on 8Ball and Aztek dove to fend it off.
His razor knives dug deep, gouging the feral beast.
Tasha, as a last desperate attempt, tried to wrap a stasis field around
Tatyana. The blessed Battle Angel whooped in Triumph as Tatyana fell,
wrapped in the field.
The Salamander fell in a great cry of pain and Aztek went to 8Ball's
aid. "You all right Brother?" He asked 8Ball.
"Fine, Emperor....I just wish I would have been more use to this
assault." The Admiral sat on the ground, trying to cinch up a few of his
damaged systems.
Aztek laughed. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You did fine."
Mourg approached the two. "Aztek, Tasha and I have demolished the
outpost. Shall we take these Masks into custody? Or leave them as a warning
to their brethren?"
Aztek considered the options. "Take the three that are most seriously
wounded back to the infirmary. When they are patched up, put them in the
modified stasis fields and interogate them. Get all the information out of
them you can Mourg."
He grinned broadly. "With Pleasure, Sir." He strode off to survey the
bodies.
Aztek reached down and pulled 8Ball to his feet. Putting an arm around
his shoulder, they started walking towards the cavern's exit. "Let's get you
to the bio lab as well. We'll have you in fighting condition in no time."
Another battle won...but the War far from over.
Aztek
Emperor MECH
Albino Monk-Napalm MonksCrystal Petal - Part 1
(submitted by: Petalflow)
Another bloody sunset.
A dusty road.
Dying light pushed through the dense cloud, painting them with an eerie
mixture of color, adding an extra touch to the already ghostly air. Swirling
sand carried the fallen leaves on the ground, twisting in an unnatural dance,
signaling the impending winter. Surely no one would travel at such a time,
in such a season.
No one but a lone envoy of six.
A man in his thirties led the group. Short golden hair, deep blue eyes, thin
lips yielded an air of competence. A cerulean tunic with bleached breeches,
he chose simplicity and movements over looks and warmth. His hands seemed to
sway casually by his sides, yet somehow, his right hand remained close to the
scimitar stuck in his belt. Judging from a distance, one would suspect that
the weapon had a night blue sheath, but if close enough, it would be obvious
that nothing covered the sharp blade - the scimitar had the color of the dark
sky itself and it was simply stuck there, unconcealed.
An elf in faint green leather armors walked beside him. Long copper-yellow
hair casually tied into a ponytail, slant eyes strangely shinning in the
dimming light. While the eyes appeared mainly the color of emerald, golden
flecks could be seen in his pupil, defining him as a moon elf. An elegant
long bow fastened to his back, together with a quiver full of sheaf arrows.
A short sword in plain leather sheath was secured in his waist. He appeared
the most alert in the group, constantly searching around with such a scrutiny
that nothing seemed to escape from his sight.
A couple of steps behind them came a woman and a young boy, no more than
eight years old. The woman was enfolded in a heavy crimson fur cloak, none
of her features could be seen, save for her left hand, which was holding the
boy's right. And what a delicate hand! Milky white, it appeared to be made
of ivory. Slender fingers were soft and silky, the nails shone a natural,
yet exotic jade light, making a man's heart leap. A tiny ruby ring adorned
her fourth finger, radiating a faint rosy glow. Even the casual grasp she
had on the boy's hand appeared to be an alluring gesture.
The boy's attention was straying from here to there. Apparently a trip that
had unnerved adults filled him with excitements. He had darker skin, almost
a tan. Straight black hair waltzed in the wind. His frame was rather
fragile, yet well proportioned. His eyes had the strangest quality,
prismatic colors shone against a violet background, further augmented the
wonder for the world that lived in his look.
Walking at last was a pair of twins. Both in their early forties, same gray
cloaks, same gray hair, same gray eyes. Even their expressions were the
same, solid and deadly serious, not a hint of emotions was shown. Compared
with the boy, one could not possibly find a sharper contrast in the realm.
They walked with their hands in the sleeves, at an identical pace, it seemed
that one was walking along with his own mirror.
An odd group, an odd time and an odd place.
Looking up at the sky, the leading man swore softly, "we may have to camp in
Berun tonight." He talked to the elf.
"I wouldn't recommend it, you know.." the elf replied without taking his eyes
off the bushes by the road.
"Me neither, Polanth'esti... but I doubt the two behind us can reach Triboar
in this state, a storm seemed to be on the way." The man frowned, "We should
have stayed in Longsaddle..."
Polanth'esti turned a bit, gave the couple a quick glance. He didn't need
his outstanding eyesight to see the two were near the point of exhaustion.
Despite the heavy cloak the woman was wearing, she was shivering in the
chilling wind. Her posture still proud, yet her feet appeared heavy,
occasionally staggering, her intense coughing clearly showed her frailty.
The boy kept his back straight, yet his face was unusually pale, and his lips
appeared bluish.
Sighing, the elf answered quietly, "I wouldn't say you made a wrong decision,
though. It was still early when we left, and the sooner we reach
Neverwinter, the safer we are..." sensing no respond, he continued, "and
without those trolls on the road, we would have been a lot closer to Triboar
already."
A gust of wind blew the golden locks over the man's forehead, his blue eyes
narrowed, "Lord Nasher was suppose to send somebody to meet us on the way, we
should have met them before we left Longsaddle, something is wrong...and I
don't like it."
For a while, the group fell into utter silence, each one in deep thoughts,
only the boy's spirit remained high despite his weariness.
The sun had completely sunk under the horizen, only a fragment of orange left
over the top of the conical hill that rose to the west. Gradually, a town
started to loom over the base of the hill. The boy was evidently encouraged
by the sight. Unconsciously, he tried to drag the woman forward, "Mom, a
town! You can rest there, your coughing will get better when we light a
fire." To his surprise, nobody seemed to be as enthusiastic. Even the
twins' gray eyes seemed to unfocuse for a slight moment, betraying their
edginess.
The woman seemed to smile under the hood, "Don't rush, honey, let uncle
Dalinar lead..." she spoke with the sound of a silver chime in the autumn
wind, lovely and calming, yet a deep sadness floated in her voice, seemed to
remind people of countless sorrows in life, "so, we are going to spend the
night in Berun?" She asked the two ahead of her.
Dalinar and Polanth'esti casted a look at each other, both bowed slightly,
Dalinar spoke with respect, "I'm afraid so, lady Amethystia. It seems
impossible to reach Triboar before the storm, and Berun is the last shelter
we can find... I'm sorry for my miscalculation on the time."
The woman waved her right hand with a grace beyond description, a flash of
gold and green came with the motion, "no need to apologize, Dalinar..." a fit
of cough seized her before she could say more, the boy stood helplessly
aside, concerns clouded his face.
Silently, the twin at the left side extended his right palm out, placed it
upon the woman's back, his lips moved rapidly, yet none could hear what he
spoke. The woman calmed down a bit, gasped for cool air and the coughing
ceased. As quietly as he started, the man withdrew, once again standing in a
stance identical to his brother. If the woman didn't show signs of recovery,
one would doubt his own eyes for thinking either of the twins moved.
The woman half turned, said rather wryly, "no wonder we can't reach Triboar
in time ... thank you again, Velan."
The bothers bowed together.
Obviously did not expect a voiced response, Amethystia returned her attention
to Dalinar, " like I said, if there's anyone to blame, it would be me. Let's
just hurry along, if we have to camp in that.. in Berun, at least we can camp
inside.. and maybe we'll meet Lord Nasher's delegates before we leave this
town. They should meet us on the way, I wonder what happened..."
Before she could finish, a shrill whinny pierced through the cool dusk, a
bright spot appeared right ahead and approached with an unearthly speed. The
deafening sound of hoofs seem to reach barely before the snowy charger
itself. A male rider in chain mail bended over the horse's back, his face
lying against its neck, brown hair contrasted sharply with the fluttering
white mane. The rider either did not see them or ignored them completely,
the horse approached without slowing, its red eyes glowed with madness.
Dalinar whisked out his simitar in a speed nearly magical. It seemed the
dark blade had always been in his right hand, instead of in his belt.
"Don't kill it..." The woman's voice weak, yet clear.
Dalinar's eyes went wide, he and Polanth'esti could roll out of the horse's
way, that's for sure, but with the woman and the boy behind them, that was
not an option. For a split second, his mind went through a series of
options, none of them could stop the horse without killing it. Too late, the
beast rushed close like lightening, nostril flaring, hooves raised, he heard
the boy gasp and Dalina closed his eyes, not even have time to send a prayer
to Tymora, the goddess of luck...
The silence came suddenly. For a moment the only thing Dalinar felt was the
sweat flowing down his chins. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes.
The horse froze, literally. Its hinder legs arched, front legs raised, just
inches away from Dalinar's face. He could even smelled its odor. Only then
Dalinar heard the soft murmurs from the twins. He backed a couple paces and
turned.
The brothers were still expressionless, despite the fact that Dalinar just
had a near death experience. To them, nothing inordinary happened. The
boy's jaws were still open, it would take him a while to close them.
Polanth'esti bore an amused expression, yet his bow was already in his hands
with a arrow ready on the string. His still tense muscle showed that he was
not as relaxed as he tried to show. The woman's right hand clutched her
chest, even under the hood, he sensed her obvious concern. Dalinar shrugged.
"I didn't mean to cause danger for you," Amethystia said apologetically,
"next time you don't have to obey my words to the letters like that..."
"I'll remember that, milady.." Dalinar grinned, "Velan and Valen have just
been so quiet that I forgot they walked behind us."
Amethystia chuckled softly. Everyone seemed to relax a bit, the boy even
laughed out loud. With a gesture, the twin loosened their restricts on the
horse a bit, lowering it front legs, so both the beast and the rider would
settle a bit.
The horse collasped.
The thump sound chopped off the laughters like a butcher. Dalinar and the
elf turned at once, weapons drawn, prepared to face any dangers coming.
Only dust spreaded in front of them.
The once proud steed laid on the ground. The light of the rising moon
squeezed through the black clouds, sprayed quietly upon its body. It's fur
was pure white, not a single other color could be found on the body. Well
muscled, apparently trained and chosen specifically for warriors. The red
radiance that was burning in its sockets just a moment ago was missing now,
open, the eyes stared on fixed points. The horse's face was an unbearable
sight, contorted, it showed a deformed grimac, bubbles of blood trailed from
its mouth. Shivering, Amethystia turned her head, looked questioningly at
the twins. The twins shook their heads.
Polanth'esti kneeled down, hands touching the beast's neck, shuddered, "the
heart bursted... it was running totally on a madness, it would have collapsed
within one mile even if the magic didn't hold it..." slant eyes trailed to
the rider," I think he's dead as well.."
The rider was a dark skinned male human. Not too tall, yet the solid muscle
showed him as a seasoned warrior. His hands grasped the rein with such a
force that Polanth'esti could not loosen them without breaking his fingers.
His legs were equally rigid, pressed against the horse's side with
unbelievable strength. His face hidden in the mane, could not be seen by the
companions. Setting his jaws, the elf dragged the rider off the horse with a
jerk, flipped him over.
Polanth'esti recoiled.
"In the name of Torm," Dalinar's face paled at the gruesome picture. The
man's facial skin was completely ripped off, blood-smeared muscle twitched in
a horrid expression. One of the eyeballs had exploded, leaving only veins
hanging; the other was on the verge of leaping out, staring straight ahead.
Fear, fear was the last thing this man felt, not a fear for death, but a fear
for total damnation.
Blocking the sight from the woman and the boy, the two flipped the corpse
over again. Dalinar reported in a shaky voice, "His gauntlets had the
insignia of Neverwinter. I think he may be one of the delegates Lord Nasher
sent to greet us..."
The woman stumbled a bit. The ashen faces of Dalinar and Polanth'esti told
her enough. The boy snuggled closer to her, clearly shaken by the event.
For a while, the group stood motionlessly together, without a sound.
Somebody's singing.
Faint music floated in the air, seemed to ride upon the icy wind, rising and
falling with the current. The town of Berun seemed to glow with an unholy
light even when the clouds have covered the moon completely. The music came
from there.
The wind grew stronger by the minute. Already, grumbling thunder could be
heard coming from the East. Amethystia coughed again. The music remained
the same volume, unsteady, yet strangely clear in the noise of the coming
storm.
Dalinar sighed, his golden hair ruffled in the wind, "I guess we'll see what
kind of ghosts live in Berun tonight..." Hand on the scimitar, he lead ahead.
A stormy night, a strange encounter, six weary travelers, a town of doom.
What twist shall the fate have tonight?My Return to the Realms - Part 1
(submitted by: Rylek)
It has been a year, far too long, since my feet last tread upon the solid
grounds of Neverwinter. The evening breeze carried the many scents of the
town, scents that were so familiar to me yet seemed so distant. Troubles in
distant lands had kept me from the place I had called home for so long. I
knew I was home now, among my own.
As I walked the streets of Neverwinter I realized very little had actually
changed. The smells, the sounds, the whole atmosphere was just as I
remembered it, yet strangely different. It wasn't until I walked by a busy
tavern that I realized what was missing. Inside a group of adventurers
laughed and talked, recalling battles long past while singing to the melodic
songs being played by a skillful minstrel. This group brought back memories
of my past and of my companions whom shared with me many adventures and good
times. I realized then that I recognized nobody. The town was inhabited by
strangers, I recognized not a single person. A feeling of loneliness and
isolation overcame me... my friends, companions, brothers, sisters, were
nowhere to be seen.
I knew not what happened to most of those whom I called friend. After asking
many adventurers on the streets I learned little about recent event and even
less about those I once knew. I visited taverns where I had once sat for
hours into the night talking to my brothers of KEF. I went to the very spot
in which I was knighted over a year ago, reliving ever moment of that night
long past. I knew not the fate of my friends and companions, so I set out on
a personal quest, I needed to find someone who would have the knowledge I
required. I will not rest until I know... whether or not the answers were
those I hope to hear...Lord Daryth
(submitted by: Kasanna)
Why do I love him .......
There is only one reason. No matter how irrational or destructive --
I love him more than breath, more then life.
I love him heart, mind, body, soul.
Thoughts of him tremble inside of me and
He devours my days and consumes my nights.
I die at the thought of spending my life without him,
I whither when he is does not love me.
I live for one purpose, to deserve his love and
I would die over and over to prove my love to him.
My life is meaningless without him.
He is inside of me and he consumes me ...................
Kasanna
Kisses
(submitted by: Veridienne)
Veridienne held a small box in her hands. It was a cube, fashioned from
children's finger bones which had been blackened in fire, and was covered in
a decorative pattern of human and elf flesh. It held the scarlet letter that
Wraith had made her wear. As she looked at it, her mind went back to the
incident for which he had punished her.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Victor suddenly came in as she was teasing a mortal. She gave him a brief
smile and hello, and he was soon joining her as she did her best to make the
mortal uncomfortable. Then they were both laughing as he found a feeble
reason to excuse himself quickly.
Suddenly they were alone together. As she looked at him, the hilarity still
brimming within her, she remembered what had happened when they had been
introduced.
"My apologies, my lady. Forgive me."
"For what? You have done nothing to be forgiven for."
There was a sudden mischievous gleam in his eye, as he said, "would you like
me to do something to be forgiven for?"
"Oh yes!"
He gently took her hand in his and kissed it. She watched, wondering where
the harm was. Suddenly he turned her hand over, and nipped her lightly on
the wrist, drawing a small amount of essence from her, and then healing the
wound. Her eyes widened in shock that he would do such a thing, it was
certainly the last thing she had expected.
As she remembered this meeting, she also remembered the assurances he had
given later. He said he wanted to be friends with both of them, and not
betray their trust. So she decided it would be safe to stay.
He wanted to feed from her, and she was sure it would be nothing next to the
kind of thing Wraith did to her when he was playing with her. So she agreed,
and he came and knelt before her. He brought a hand to her waist, gently
caressing her there, and brushed the hair back from her neck. Slowly he
brushed his lips against her earlobe.
She said his name suddenly, and he raised his eyes to hers. "I do not wish
to break my vows... why do you touch me like that?"
"My apologies, my lady. Like what?"
"No one has ever touched me in quite that way..."
"Surely your husband..."
She could not speak to him then of her innocence and tore her eyes from his.
"May I proceed?"
"Yes," she whispered.
His tongue went out to moisten the spot, and then he bit into her. He
remembered the taste of her blood, dark and cold. But this time, there was
something more...almost as if the emotions within her spiced the taste. He
drank deeply, feeling the same ecstasy that he knew he caused...stirring
passions that cried to be fulfilled.
All too soon, he broke contact, and slowly licked the wound...closing the
opening and savoring the last of the blood. She gazed back at him, an odd
look crossing her features. Still recovering from the feeding, he was only
vaguely aware that she was speaking. He answered almost automatically, not
giving his own words much thought.
The next thing he was aware of, was a sharp pain as she sliced a small wound
into his neck. He recalled giving her leave to do it, but only barely. She
began to lap at the blood that welled up, and he gave the knife no more
thought. Though not a vampire's kiss, what she did was easily as sensual.
He closed his eyes, feeling her lips and tongue work at the wound in his
neck. The little pains she caused only succeeded in arousing him even more.
Again, it was over far too quickly. Somewhere in the back of his head, he
reminded himself that she was married. Then her tongue was at his neck
again, closing the wound as he did hers earlier. He looked down and gazed
into her eyes.
She was suddenly aware of the brush of his lips against hers. She pushed him
away and burst into tears
When she saw Wraith, he was so angry with her. He said he needed to see if
she could be obedient, and set a list of punishments before her. And she did
what he asked, even as she cried with humiliation at having to wear the
scarlet letter and put an apology out for anyone to see. Even now, months
later, people she did not know would speak to her about the letter she had
worn, and laugh.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Lazerus said he was going to sleep. To her surprise, he changed his clothing
in front of her, but then he climbed into his coffin and pulled the lid shut.
She looked at her husband with a gleam of amusement in her eyes, and he gave
his assent, so she threw the lid open and sat on the edge of the coffin. He
was hugging a stuffed animal! She gently took the bear from his grasp and
began ripping its limbs off, watching the stuffing fly about her in delight.
"Teddy!" he cried.
She laughed and handed him the remains of the toy, watching him to see how
upset he was. He tossed it aside, then suddenly grabbed her by the wrists
and pulled her into the coffin with him, shutting the lid, holding her in his
arms.
For a few moments she waited to see how angry Wraith would be, if he would
open the lid again, but to her surprise, he said nothing. So she slowly
pulled a razor blade from her sleeve and made a slice in Lazerus's neck,
watching the blood flow, but the wound stopped bleeding very quickly.
She whimpered in frustration. "I wanted a taste," she said.
"You have to ask nicely."
In the darkness her eyes glowed slightly, a deep green. "Please," she said
softly.
"Since you asked so nicely," he said, and cut his wrist open, holding it to
her mouth.
She drank for a few moments, and then he pulled her to him, and kissed her
deeply, licking the blood from her lips.
She pulled away, terror in her voice as she whispered, "please stop that, or
I shall have to wear a scarlet letter again!"
He chuckled. "Again?"
"Yes..." she said, but she could not speak of it to him, not then.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
She was looking at Quanntuum. She did not realize she was staring until he
cried, "Quit it!"
"Quit what?"
"Quit staring!" The anguish plain on his face.
She could only laugh, because far from being distressing to her, his anguish
provided her with delight. "No," she said, "I won't stop!" Then she moved
closer to him so that her nose was only inches from his, and continued to
stare.
"Please!"
She laughed again. "No!"
He turned his head away to avoid her eyes, looking at the ground. She
laughed again, took his head in her hands, holding it in front of her, and
continued to stare at him with cold hard eyes.
Suddenly he grabbed her, pulled her closer, and gave her a long, deep kiss.
After she was released, she stared at him in shock for a moment. "You should
not have done that." Then she drew him back to her and returned the kiss.
Her spirit entered his body, drawing the life from him, feeding on it,
sapping the vitality. She felt herself growing stronger as she felt him
weakening. She felt a moment of triumph when she could tell she had
succeeded. He would die for what he had done.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Somehow killing Quanntuum was not enough for her, and neither was the
knowledge that his death would be as slow and painful as hers was. So she
set about torturing him, knowing that this is what her husband would expect
as retribution for the insult to her honor.
Arawn came upon her as she was causing Quanntuum pain, and speaking to him of
how he had insulted her. He raised his eyebrow and sat to watch.
She became aware that he was expecting attention from her. She remembered
when she was being punished, and he invited her into a private room,
insisting that she sit next to him, taking her hand, telling her he wished to
help. She had glared at him and informed him icily that she did not need his
kind of help.
Gradually, as she continued her discussion with Quanntuum, Arawn became aware
that the insult consisted of a kiss. She had hoped he would understand why
she kept refusing to give him the kisses he asked of her. Instead, he
whispered, "I can't believe he kissed you," as he stepped closer and licked
her cheek.
She stared at him in horror. The two of them began to argue about who had
given her the greater insult, and which would suffer more as a result of his
actions. She assured them that her husband would be very angry, not just
with them, but with her as well. She suddenly became terrified of how he
would punish her when next she saw him, and burst into tears.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
She opened the box and pulled the letter out, crumpling it in her hands. She
went to the window and leaned out, looking down into the darkness at the moat
she knew lay below, and released it.
~Veridienne~
~Kiss of Death~
Mistress of the OrbThe Story of Esh
(submitted by: UDL Charon)
Esh wandered into his masters quarters, only to find the Boatsman gone.
He must be meeting with Shurg again, Esh thought as he set about
straightening his masters quarters. The Undead Lord Charon was the man Esh
served dutifully, and never a day passed that he did not thank Myrkul that he
had come into his Lord's good graces.
Esh Ramm had been the son of a beautiful but poor peasant woman who served
in the church of the quiet town of Taxia. The priest of that church had a
torrid affair with his mother, a woman named Alsheea. When she told him she
was with child, this man of god threw her out on the streets and branded her
a whore. She was stoned by the 'good' people of Taxia and barely lived. She
raised Esh in poverty, only to die when the Black Plague stormed the lands.
Esh survived as a pickpocket and a thief, killing when necessary.
Having been alone since the age of eleven, when his mother died, Esh knew
nothing but hatred and poverty. What little contact he had with people was
to see how heavy their bag of gold was. He would sit on the roofs of the
houses in the town and picked up plenty listening to the various families
over dinner. Their mindless talk of family and endless discussions of
meaningless topics as politics, crops and spirituality made him want to slit
each of their throats one by one. He thought he would die at the hands of
the law one day soon, as his encounters with them seemed more and more common
of late. At least, he thought that until the day Bayemon entered his life.
***
He had trailed the two small boys after they had left their farmhouse. He
had watched their mother give them each a bag of silver to purchase some
items for her at the market. They died quickly, both being around thirteen.
As he cleaned his knife, whistling an old song his mother had sung to him as
a boy, a dark figure appeared nearby and spoke to him.
"So young, so very young, a shame they had to die so quickly."
Esh immediately assumed a guarded stance.
"Put it away boy, before you hurt yourself boy. My name is Bayemon, and I
have been watching you awhile."
The figure was very impressive. Well armored, grey skin and a dark grey
beard. He seemed to be a powerful man, and Esh had second thoughts about
crossing him.
"What do you want with me?"
The darkman smiled and walked forward, placing his arm around Esh, leading
him into the night.
"My meditations a few nights ago led me to a conversation with my Lord
Myrkul, God of the Undead. He spoke to me of you. He told me where you
could be found, and what he wanted you and I to do. Come let us talk."
***
Esh was amazed at the stories and prophecies Bayemon spoke of. All Esh
could think of now was serving Myrkul. The Old Lord Skull was master of all
in the end, whether people realized it or not, wanted it or not, as ll came
into the realm of the dead in the end, and Esh wanted nothing more than to be
counted amongst those that served the Dark Master.
"But what can I do, Lord Bayemon?" asked Esh. "I am nothing. I have not
your power, not even the smallest fraction. I know nothing, less than
nothing."
Bayemon smiled and looked upon Esh, "You can serve our Lord. I told you,
he sent me for you. You will serve him through me, if you wish."
"I would give anything my Lord."
"Anything?"
"Yes Lord Bayemon, anything."
Bayemon struck swiftly at Esh's neck. The last thing Esh saw with human
eyes was Bayemon's mouth filled with Esh's own flesh and blood.
***
Esh stared upon his corporeal body, or what was left of it at least. Bay
had eaten most of it. Esh was now a spirit, a ghost. He felt glorious in
his rebirth, and knew the Old Lord Skull was with him.
***
UDL Charon entered, placing his staff in the corner and drawing several
tomes and scrolls from his bookcase on the wall.
"My Lord." Esh drifted slowly over to his desk and pulled out the chair
for Charon to sit in. "How is the Arch-Lich this evening?"
"Dead, as usual. He asked if you would make him some more Drowwine. He
seems to enjoy it as a change of place from the fairer skinned Elven
bloodwine.
"I shall attend to it immediately."
Esh glided out the door, smiling at the thought of Taxia burning to the
ground during their skirmishes wih the weak Jedi Praxium. Charon had allowed
Esh himself to burn the old church, and his 'father' the 'priest' perished in
those flames inside. It was one of Esh's most gratifying moments to hear the
old cleric scream in pain from within the flaming walls of that rundown old
temple. With these thoughts, Esh left the Ferryman of Souls to his work,
serving the Old Lord Skull.
UDL Charon
~Ferryman of Souls
~Myrkuls BoatsmanSkorp, The Autobiography - Part 1
(submitted by: ITB Skorp)
Back in the days when Neverwinter was in its first stages of becomining a
town, My father came to this land, a traveling vagabond, cad and cut throat.
He came as he went anywhere, looking for easy money and easier women.
Father however found that the wilds of Neverwinter were dangerous, even for
one without scrouples like himself, for Neverwinter had newly formed bands of
roving thugs and assasins, out to kill for money, fame, or sometimes just the
fun of it.
Father waited and watched, and learned, until, one day, he approached the
one known as Silent, a ITB leader and asked to join the band whose power
seemed to be increasing the fastest. Silent looked at my father, and, even
though father was hardly a threat to these ITB's at that time, the ITB
Grandmaster saw that little bit of extra guts and determination it takes to
be a ITB. Father was signed on, and brought into The House, and, under the
wing of ITB Mynx, he began to thrive, as he perfected his own skills with the
techniqes the ITB's showed him.
Father began to join in the raids, The ITB's had conquered and claimed the
woods in those days, and only the foolish dared enter that region. One day, a
foolish and lost maiden was trying to find a shorter path home from her
employment as a serving wench in an inn in Nightsedge, when, father appeared
from behind a tree on the path only 3 feet in front of her.....AD&D Typo of
the Week
(submitted by: Iadris)
Reading a product description of the new AD&D CRPG Descent to Undermountain
in a catalog, I noticed that they've dropped the 'n' in Undermountain, making
it Udermountain. LOL! Shouldn't that read Uddermountain?
I wonder what this game would be like? <EG>
A) You play as Ms. Holstein, wearing a white costume with big black splotches
as accents.
B) Your quest is to reclaim the Bovine Slayer, a magical sword that can be
touched by the ultimate bovine warrior.
C) You vanquish Evil Milkmaids and Greedy Farmers by squirting milk in their
eyes.
D) You must prevent the prophecy from coming true which says your hometown
will be destroyed by the Grand Stampede triggered by an innocent cow accused
of arson.
E) None of the above
F) All of the above
Whatever it is, it must be udderly fascinating. A new twist to the usual
fantasy/medieval/Tokienesque world and characters.
IadrisCome join NW Ember and NW Ulfius for the November edition of:
<<>><<>> Who/What/Am/I <<>><<>>
Thurs. November 21st at 10 pm ET in the Great Hall Tavern.
Prizes:
First Place: 25 Pearls + 4 hours
Second Place: 20 Pearls + 3 hours
Third Place: 15 Pearls + 2 hours
Winners of First through Third place will also receive GOH access!
See You There!
NW Ember and NW Ulfius
<><><><><>
<><><><><>
Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm contest by submitting text
for publishing. If your Announcement, Article, Helpful Hint, NW Abby
Question, Poem, Fiction, or Tidbit wins, you'll have won your choice of 4
Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes)! Submit all text to
screenname: NW NEWS.
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Participate in the monthly News of the Realms "Newsworthy" contest. Each
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