1997-01-05
Recovered original text · preserved verbatim
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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 167
Week Ending 1-5-97
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to GreySavant for winning last week's News of the Realm
contest for his story entitled "A Single Kiss".
GreySavant has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes). Keep up the good work! ;D
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Congratulations to the Knights of Eternal Flame (KEF) for compiling the most
"Newsworthy" entries to the News of the Realms!! They win the monthly reward
of 4 pearls which goes directly into their guild fund!! ;D
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As I'm sure many of you realize, the Pearl Plan data conversion has been
completed and the hold on pearl transactions has ended. You are welcome to
submit purchase and transfer requests! I'd ask however, that you please hold
off on requesting pearl account balances as we will be sending a transaction
summary and balance to each and every screen name that holds an active pearl
account or registered pearl only items. When you receive that mail, please
report any discrepancies you find by January 15th at midnight ET. We'd like
to make sure everything has transferred properly into the new database! If
we don't hear from you by that date then the account stands as we have it.
Please do not send mail UNLESS you find a discrepancy.
NW Oyster and I have been working to get all the mail out and deal with
reported discrepancies. If you haven't received your mail yet, please do not
worry, it's going to be in your box very soon. With over 2600 accounts to
process, we're working from both ends of the alphabet and hoping to meet
somewhere in the middle! Please be patient and understand that we're working
as fast as we can to get this information out and adjusted!
Thank you all for your understanding and patience! ;D
Regards,
NW Events
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Lord Nasher's Dreaded Fruitcake Winners!!
Lord Nasher groaned and felt another headache coming on. Here it was, late
in the holiday season, and his order had just arrived, a full week late,
sitting in two huge wagons right outside his office. Muttering something
about suppliers not being able to fulfill their delivery dates, he summoned
the guards on duty to help him inspect the goods.
What with more citizens in the Realms than usual this year, Lord Nasher had
ordered more than the usual amount of cookies, fruitcakes, puddings and other
goodies, and, true to Clovyr's Law, he thought, the bigger the order, the
bigger the problems.
He watched as NW Strahd and NWA Shaggy unloaded the first few boxes, and
swiftly pried open the carefully packed crates. The puddings were ruined of
course, and were quickly discarded. Strahd's eyes watered a bit as he bit
into a cookie, and he tenderly felt his front teeth to make sure nothing was
broken. Shaggy crumbled off a piece of fruitcake and popped it into his
mouth and began to chew.
"Uhmm... boss?" Strahd said, "these cookies aren't too bad... if you're
careful not to bite down too hard."
"Thish phhhrootcake ish okhay," Shaggy mumbled, his mouth full of dry, hard
cake. "but be shure to haff phlenty of wahter on hand." He swallowed
bravely and immediately went off in search of a cup of something to wash down
his mouthful of holiday grub.
"Very well then!" Lord Nasher beamed. "We do have something to give to the
good citizens of Neverwinter this holiday season after all!" And with that
he dispatched a message to his Captain to organize the troops. The
distribution of holiday goodies was about to begin!
All in all, nearly 200 citizens in every corner of Neverwinter lined up
eagerly as the guards distributed the pieces of fruitcake (in the form of two
poison casts and one slay living). In some cases, the cake was so dry, it
took an axe to chop away a decent portion. Of course, in some cases the
fruitcake was so dry, the citizens just couldn't swallow it, and to others,
well, they just didn't find it agreeable at all. But for all those who were
able to swallow and digest Lord Nasher's Dreaded Fruitcake, 4 pearls were
their reward!
Congratulations to all the citizens who managed to swallow the (almost)
fossilized Fruitcakes and survive!
~ NW Events
Winners
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abk palm
abk slice
acedeq
alisbyre
alstonlb2
ap0kilyps
aragon ark
aryanna
blacckie
black dye
brandx2
c0ldblood
cerunnos
chung kwei
cog exi1e
cog zebex
cryostorm
dem0nica
dirk dirty
evayne
gammit
gary orl2
gernzman
geya sedai
gg tanan
goodrobins
gusties
hc fazz
jw110
kal mirage
kederic1
keira2
king nashr
krm merlin
kto guy
kyle bain
lady fair
ldy xymox
ldyeilissa
lok bomber
lok patryn
lok sengir
lokvaliant
lord valium
lrd puma
magiblood
malev0lent
mavralyn
mellenar
n0r durbin
never2high
nor ashtar
o unknown
ogs xendu
omm breeze
omm x
phaenon
pyuna
rd nathan
red sonnya
rg alexis
rg garionn
rg laura
rg murk
shade sun
shyntlara
sky gaidin
sky vinas
sol jarell
songshine
ssc magias
sun tzou
synace iii
tpa kondor
tpa rayne
tyo ark
v imm0rtal
v lazerus
v urikai
var gaidin
velkynsarn
velric
warrzander
wgw spite
wol dragon
ww tesser
xylot
zandrakkas
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New Player Tour 12/29
Discoveries to the North!
Ember accepted the sealed message carefully, noting that the wax bearing Lord
Nasher's crest was still warm. Urgent then, she supposed. With a smile she
thanked the messenger then turned toward the window to read the scroll.
Snapping the still cooling seal with her thumb, she unrolled the parchment
and read swiftly.
Mere moments later she was striding out of the barracks, her cloak rustling
about her shoulders in the light wind of the winter's day. Northward she was
ordered, to patrol and try to solve two mysteries. Knowing she would need
help, she paused on her travels in the Warehouses and sought assistance.
Many brave adventurers answered her call, too many eager hands in fact!
Gladdened that so many were willing to help, she smiled and started her
patrol northward.
Battling a variety of fell creatures, flaming snakes, harpies, basilisks,
umber hulks... lizardmen, wolves, vilstraks, even wild boars, eventually the
patrol made their way to the famed Inn at Llast. Resting for a moment over
their ales, they eventually strode confidently to the mysterious ship that
had come ashore so suddenly, distressing people in the harbor.
Searching the vessel, they found all sorts of nasty things inhabiting it, and
finally deep within the holds found amazingly life-like statues. Wondering
if the ship had been smuggling objects of art, Ember paused to examine one of
the fine carvings carefully and then realized with a chill that the
expression on the face was one of terror. Stepping back, she turned in time
to see hissing snakes and then hideous medsaue sisters. Leaping into the
fight, the patrol slammed the sisters against the walls of the ship, averting
their eyes and pummeling the creatures to death. In the corner, they found
what looked to be a uniform of some sort and a button with a very familiar
crest.
Taking the button carefully, Ember knew they must return and report what they
had discovered to Lord Nasher. On their way back through Windycliffs, they
began hearing rumors of terrible problems with the crops outside the town.
The path was full of travellers, both young and old alike and while waiting
for the road to clear, Ember leaned against a tree and then suddenly found
herself tumblin through the brush into a hidden area. The rest of the patrol
followed as they crept through the darkness and then burst into a clearing.
Ogres, a troll and a huge purple snakelike creature were there.
Certain these monsters were the cause of the trouble, Ember called upon Tyr
to strke down the huge worm! The party's praises to the great god rang
through the clearing as all the creatures fell before awl pike, axe and
spells!
Lord Nasher was most thankful of the news and the efforts of the patrol and
thanked each giving them a token of his appreciation! Ember smiled as she
said her goodbye's to her new found comrades! Thanks again to Gruften,
Valdorak, Dizmar, Solsins, Grocmund, Z Drizzt Z, Grissella and Sir Tuch!
~ Ember
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New Years Eve Gauntlet Winners!!
Bantam had the New Years Eve bash out in a deserted part of Berun's Hill,
(which describes most of it). He had rented out an old warehouse and had it
all made up for the party with one added extra. To get in you had to Run the
Gauntlet of charm person, poison, and hold monster.
Their New Year's luck was running high tonight with 11 out of 15 making it
through the line to the most extravagant party in the Realm, in addition they
each win 2 pearls.
The party-goers that got in were:
Abzzsta1n
Lrd Fade
Dwar Amaav
Tyo Ark
ITB Arcane
Dephr0ge
Thorvalson
Genocidist
Aladabra
Evayne
O Unknown
Congratulations to all the party-goers!!
-- NW Bantam
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New Player's Tour - 1/2
Drake's Errand to Nightsedge
Having received yet another request from Mayor Adobe for assistance,
Lord Nasher grumblingly dispatched his favorite duck to gather to him a party
of brave adventurers, and ascertain what it was exactly that had the good
mayor so concerned. While a bit concerned that it may be a fool's errand,
Drake didn't hesitate a moment in following Nasher's orders, and had a group
of brave adventurers somewhat assembled quickly.
A strange spell seemed to be affecting both Drake and those that
traveled with him, however. Calling it a "lag" for lack of a better term,
Drake watched with horror as those following him moved slowly, as if through
some strangely invisible thick molasses, and shook his head sadly as the
crowds and this "lag" quickly decimated his forces before he even reached the
Floodblest gate. Pushing onward, through the treacherous fighting in
Floodblest, Drake found himself sometimes surrounded by valiant warriors,
sometimes accompanied by no more than two. He was not to be dissuaded,
however, and gathered his forces time and again for the continued battle.
Beasts of every description abounded. And died. And sometimes killed.
But the bloody mayhem was nothing new to those partaking in it, and it did
not stop them. Well, it didn't stop ALL of them, at least.
Needless to say, it was a somewhat haggard and exhausted group that
finally won its way through to the Mayor's offices. Only to learn that this
"urgent" request was nothing new -- the Mayor was convinced that some "new"
variety of orcs was troubling him yet again. After a curt response that
there seemed nothing new about these orcs to him, Drake departed for
Neverwinter with his loyal and brave adventuters in tow, determined to advise
Lord Nasher to seek out better leadership for the timid and oppressed people
of Nightsedge.
While Lord Nasher seemed unwilling to interfere in the internal politics
of a fellow village, he still offers his thanks to those that participated:
Galannor
KnitStlkr
LuveBytes
FrankW4
Non Evil
Avarian
Alexolite
Artexx
Katishya
SallyHarp
Siltrin
KrasOfBorg
SOMDwingjr
Xav6524ble
Lilbrat144
Laleenda
V Stuckey
RHunterman
Gefion II
Eetim
-NWA Drake
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NEVERWINTER CALENDAR
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Keep an eye peeled for those Mini-Booths because they will appear when you
least expect in different areas of the Realms!
Can you be at the right place at the right time when the NW calls for a
location?
Keep your eyes and ears open for these events! Watch for the banners!
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NEW IMPROVED TRIVIA!!
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Join NW Raven and NW Omar for a night of fun and prizes, while we test your
knowledge of Neverwinter Nights trivia!
Date: Tuesday, January 7th
Time: 10:00 to 11:30 pm EST
Place: The Great Hall of Neverwinter (outside the Realms)
Prizes to be awarded to winners:
First Place - 15 Pearls
Second Place - 12 Pearls
Third Place - 9 Pearls
Fourth Place - 7 Pearls
Fifth Place - 5 Pearls
AND access to the Guild of Heroes!!
There are NEW rules for a new year of Trivia! Major changes are:
1. FIVE winners instead of three!
2. PRIZES include only pearls!
3. ONLY first 10 correct answers are scored!
4. TWO random rolls instead of one!
Please review the new rules before coming in to play.
Hope to see ya there... ;D
-- NW Omar and NW Raven
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New Player Tours:
Join the following staff members for a tour of the Realm:
January 8th *Wednesday 12:00 AM EST - with NWA Arctic.
January 10th *Friday 1:00 AM EST - with NW Nitro.
*This is considered the evening in question even though the hour is past
midnight and is technically the following day. ;D
Those interested in any of these tours should keep an eye out for the banner
telling where to meet! ;D
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The Old Year finished with fests in the Sisters' Tavern with the Soal Cakes
all around on Monday. Though the Punt Beast was fierce, Spryte delivered the
cakes to the tavern for Mystri to distribute. At the end of the eve, WGW
Thorn won the prize with a lucky roll (as well as a kiss from Mystri!)
Wednesday opened with an off-hours wedding..the gala joining of the
Camarilla Prince Randym and the beautiful Chyanna. When the Tavern proper
opened, the evening was filled with New Years' Resolves, as the patrons told
of their hopes and quests for the coming year. The telling of KitheBard won
the Pearls of the evening.
Paladins were honored in the first of the Class nights. The Knights of
the Realm were invited to join in the Tavern in recognition of their efforts
to serve good in Neverwinter.
Next week is Thieves week..as theft in the Tavern Monday has Mystri and
Spryte searching for a way to thief-proof the inn. Pickpockets invade on
Wednesday, with Mystri rolling to see how much she loses from her waist pouch
with each attempt, and the one matching her roll winning the prize. The week
finishes with a conclave of thieves in the Tavern. Secure your belongings,
guard your jewels, for the tavern will be jammed with them on Friday. Can you
escape unscathed? Visit the Sisters' Tavern in the Great Hall and see...best
RP of the evening wins GOH access.
The Sisters' Tavern in the Great Hall is openned Monday, Wednesday and Friday
from 11pm - 1am. Join NWT sisters Mystri and Spryte for evenings of fun,
frolic, and RP in the Sisters' Tavern!
~The Roving ReporterThoughts of Spawny
(submitted by: UDL Charon)
She was a friend in the inns
A comrade in battle
A mentor and teacher
Her zest for living
Her love of feebing
These were gifts she gave us all
On the ladders
In the quads
On a team
Or in a war
She was a fighter & leader
These were gifts she gave us all
Be it instruction in the arts of Pvp
Or perhaps a well timed hold
To save you from the gate
An Esp hello that would bring a smile to your face
Or the pleasure of her company on an adventure
These were gifts Ldy Spawn gave us all
Those who call Neverwinter
"Just a game"
Belittle how much it brings our lives
These people are our acquaintances
Our friends, and sometimes even our lovers
These are gifts this "game" gives us all
The loss of such a dear companion
To have her stolen from us
Is a reminder to cherish the time we have
To value each friend, each foe and each comrade
To enjoy each battle, each moment and each second
This is Spawny's final gift and legacy to us all
To Ldy Spawn, my friend and comrade,
I hope the afterlife brings you joy and happiness
Rest well dear sister.
Tale Four
Brief Encounters
(submitted by: Mesingw)
OOR Babble looked forward to each waking day, for she knew it meant that she
would be meeting and talking with more OOR's that she had not met yet or
other friendly races that roamed the realms (dwarfs, halflings, humans,
halfelves and the like). She learned of many guilds that were well
established and as well as ones that were just forming due to the influx of
races getting ready for the Great War. She could go to the Great Reading
Hall just outside the gates to Neverwinter to read all the postings from the
different guilds and individuals. Reading these she sometimes would get so
absorbed and caught up that she would never enter the gates to Neverwinter.
She realized this was an excellent place to come for information about each
guild. From these readings she found the ITBs were a constant menace to most
all guilds of good alignment and that the Aes Sedai were the protectors of
the Tower and are very helpful with travelers that get lost or turned around
in the woods. She learned of the "V"s that come out mostly at night and
enjoy draining the life force through sucking the blood from an individual --
they call themselves vampires. There were also postings of recent
engagements, marriages and reunions.
Reading these postings made her smile and reminiscence of an evening that she
and OOR Oracle spent in Triboar with Shade Sun and ValkrySun. By the time
Bab (affectionately called) and Oracle had arrived at the inn in Triboar from
a long day of training in Long Saddle, Val was well on her way to
being....., how to say this nicely without her taking offense, hmmmm, well
let's say she was feeling no pain. She was in high spirits because she and
Shade had just re-united. Bab and Oracle did not get all the details or
events in their lives that led up to this moment and it was none of their
business but they were graciously invited to help celebrate their reunion.
Bab and Oracle looked at one another and both agreed without saying anything
that this was a good place to stop for the evening and enjoy the festivities
and the company of these two love birds. Val was drinking and toasting with
three drinks at a time while the rest of us watched with our one. Oracle,
when Val was not looking, would replace an empty glass of his with a full one
of hers. He figured she would never notice and just assume that she drank
all three. Shade smiled and did not reveal this secret to Val.
At one point in the evening, we called for the barmaid but she did not
reply.. either her time was up for the day and she went home or she was below
in cellar getting more ale and supplies for this party. But no matter, when
she was in need, she was nowhere to be found, so Val went behind the bar and
helped herself to the drinks. She poured her usual three for herself and the
rest of the inn had one.
Val wanted to dance, so she and Shade danced while the inn began to fill up.
Val invited all to join in the celebration but apparently some did not want
to join in and made some lewd comments to her, for out of nowhere she turned
to Siltrin and suggested that he take a walk anywhere. Then she began to
giggle and grabbing a drink in each hand was off again dancing and laughing
with her love Shade. Nothing and no one was going to ruin her evening.
While on the dance floor, Oracle had finished his drink and was in need of
another, so Bab got up and played barmaid this round. She asked the room who
all wanted drinks and hands went up everywhere. She took count and filled
the order. She bent under the bar and found a large tray. She placed the
drinks on the tray and while balancing the drinks, she walked and delivered
the drinks to the various tables with a little dance in her step. She
delivered the last round of drinks to their table and when handing Oracle's
drink to him, Bab noticed a look of inquisitiveness. Bab smiled and said,
"Well, guess you learned something about me tonight, huh? I used to work the
inn in Waterdeep sometimes."
All of a sudden, Val said very loudly, "Is it hot in here or is it jes me?"
Shade whispered in her ear but we all heard, "I'm hot too, dear." She looked
up into his eyes and sweetly said, "Fergot how well ya dance hon." He said
with a smile in his voice, "Tis been awhile since we danced, dear". They
made their way back to the table and sat down. Val took a sip as she eyed
Oracle and realized that she could drink Oracle under the table. She voiced
this discovery for all to hear and the contest was on. OOR Oracle was
sipping from one mug and then the other, "Making sure they come outta the
same tap ya know...new barmaid might messed up and gimme the cheap stuff..."
Bab heard "Hail Babble" over her left shoulder, she turned to see TPA
Jackel. "Hail Jackel and how are you this evening?", she asked. He was
doing fine, his fellow TPA's were out in strong force this evening. This she
had known because earlier that day, while departing Long Saddle, she and
Oracle had gotten separated, they were in a fight where she had gotten
poisoned. When she awoke, she was alone.. Oracle was no where to be seen..
She had figured that he had continued on without her to find help for her.
She made her way back to Long Saddles' Horseshoe Inn with the help of the
incantation 'Invisibility' and fled the encounters that followed. When she
did reach the inn, there were no clerics available and she dared not rest..
for she knew the poison would take over her body and when she awoke next it
would be at a temple. So she sat near the fire shivering from the fever that
had taken a deep hold on her. TPA Jackel was there and came to assist the
best he could but not being of a clerical background, floundered on what to
do. He fed her water and wiped her brow and was there to comfort the best he
could. He kept talking to her so she would not drift into a coma. Babble
kept asking about her friend Oracle, if any had seen him. None had seen him
and thought the fever was causing her to hallucinate, since she had no friend
with her when she entered the inn very weak. Oracle made the mental contact
and said that he too was poisoned and could not make his way to the inn for
he had no incantation of 'Invisibility' and to weak to make it to the inn on
his own. This saddened Babble who was trying to explain to TPA Jackel and
the others in the Inn that her friend needed help as well. They all were
very appeasing and shaking their heads but Babble, thru her fever, saw no
one taking any action to go search for her friend. She decided that she
would, as weak as she was, attempt to find Oracle, but as soon as she tried
to stand her knees gave out from underneath her and she slumped back into the
corner.
Somebody, Babble forgot their name, made a grim remark,"Oh, Babble is hurt
for she is mumbling and babbling away things we can't make out. The poison
must be taking root deeper. Look she tries to stands, can anyone understand
what she's trying to say?"
Apparently, Babble was speaking with a mixture of Elven and Common and thus
making no sense to the onlookers. She realized she was too weak to go find
Oracle on her own and relayed this to Oracle. She looked into TPA Jackel's
eyes and focused her attention and in a weak voice said, "Cleric?". TPA
Jackel kept reassuring her that one was on the way, to just hang in there.
She felt herself getting tired and all her body wanted to do was to sleep.
She could not understand why TPA Jackel would not let her sleep. The more
her body was taking over to sleep, the more he would shake her to keep her
wake. She saw his lips move but she heard no voice emitting from them.
Her body took control and sleep came to her. She closed her eyes and drifted
off into darkness.
She awoke with a new face over her, chanting and pouring a nasty tasting
liquid down her throat. She gagged and wanted to spit this vile substance
from her throat but he would not let her. She was allowed to sit up after
she was forced to swallow and saw TPA Jackels' anxious face peering at her
over the shoulder of the one who must have been the cleric of the TPA's.
Zeus, she thought that was his name but could not be certain.
The first thought and question that came to her was the where abouts of her
friend and comrade, OOR Oracle. The cleric, TPA Zeus, said, "Do not worry,
he is fine. He is here, we found him in the woods and brought him with us.
He too is recovering from the poison that was inflicted by the Cloud Giant
Shamans." Relieved, Babble slid back under the covers and closed her eyes,
still feeling drained from the near death experience and elated that OOR
Oracle was found and with her once again. She opened her eyes, reached out
and took hold of the cleric's arm, "Thank you very much for your intervention
in saving our lives. We have not much but are willing to pay you for your
services." TPA Zeus grinned at her, took her hand, slowly tenderly squeezed
it and said, "No payment is required, M'lady. Just be more careful next time
when dealing with the Cloud Giant Shamans and a bit of advice -- purchase a
neutralized poison potion before facing them again, if you do not have a
cleric in your party. You need to rest now. Sleep well and peaceful", he
placed her hand on her chest. She once again closed her eyes and drifted
into a peaceful sleep.
While she slept, she dreamt of another that she had met while exploring
Longsaddle Under by herself and uncovering the dangerous creatures that
dwelled there. WW Warpath, a follower of the White Warlocks of the White
Mage Guild had come upon her nearly dead body after an extraordinary battle
with two Beholders while trying to recover the Incandescent Jewel for Lord
Nasher. Her first thought on seeing him near her was that of doom and
imposing death, for she knew that this area of Longsaddle Under was an
approved place for any person to attack or jump another. With her being
so weak, anyone could take advantage of her situation, for she knew she could
not put forth a fight to withstand even the slightest attack. The figure
approaching her from the shadows with its healthy looking body and clear set
eyes, stopped just short of her and studied her. He drew his sword and she
had resigned to the fact that her life was over. He came nearer cautiously,
looking both ways. She smiled at this for she guessed that he thought she
had friends waiting to ambush him. She hailed him, "No need friend to worry
of others, I am alone. If you are to kill me, I only ask that you do it
swiftly." He stopped again and stared at her, weighing in his mind, if she
was telling the truth. He surveyed the area once more, made the decision
and then sheathed his sword and approached her.
He knelt next to her and examined her wounds while introducing himself. He
could not believe that one of such delicate features would venture into this
hellhole unescorted. He offered his arm and would not take NO for an answer
to assist her topside to the inn where she could get proper medical care and
a safe place to recuperate. She accepted his arm and help.
Once safe inside the comforts of the inn, she passed WW Warpath a bag of gems
and jewels for payment but he was quite offended at this, "M'lady, I will not
accept this", handing her the bag back, "it was my pleasure in making your
acquaintance and being of assistance. I only wished I had known you before
so I could have offered an escort to you before you ventured into that
horrible place."
Babble told him that she usually does quite well on her own but shrugging
admited that she gets overconfident in her abilities and tended to forget to
prep before entering unknown territories.
They said their good-byes and she was made to promise him that if she was to
enter that place again and he was in the area, that she was to call him. She
agreed and WW Warpath left her to rest at the inn to regain her strength.
She came back to present reality with the laughter of children around her.
She had once again drifted off, with a far away look in her eyes, into her
own little world and when she became aware of her surroundings, she was still
standing at the reading boards outside of Neverwinters' gates.
OOR Babble shrugged this off and headed toward the Inn, smiling at the
memories of the brief encounters she had thought about as well as welcoming
the new ones that will take place in the future..
The End....Bane Fyr
(submitted by: Bane Fyr)
I recalled leaving Nashers palace two days hence, on a mission both secret
and possibly deadly. My liege had commissioned me to Berun, to investigate
the rumors of a growing slave ring that was being established there. As I
had heard said rumors myself, I felt the mission a worthy one, deserving of
my talents, and more than likely an endeavor that would prove both valorous
and rewarding, for Nasher was ever generous to those who pleased him. So, I
prepared myself for travel, cleaning my magical blade, sorting through
assorted scrolls that I might need, and took myself to the temple, to pray
for a safe and successful journey, and to be blessed by the cleric there. I
readied my magical bag, and set my feet on the path to Berun.
Now, let it not be said that I, Bane Fyr, am a craven man. But after
several encounters with thieves, the occasional alligator, and a few stupid
lil' kobolds, (all dispatched with ease), I deemed it wise to cast a glamour
upon myself, so that I would be invisible to the annoying and time consuming
beasts and brigands along the way. For, although I love a good battle as
much as any living, (and a few undead), my Lord Nasher had dispatched me in
all haste, that the troubles in Berun should be solved as soon as may be.
After this, I had very little trouble making my way to Floodblest. Soon
after entering this realm, however, I heard distant cries for help. I
quickly quaffed a potion of speed, and hurried to find the soul in need of my
help. I came upon a lad, new to manhood, fiercely doing battle with a
dreaded Pyrosnake, and several of the local lizards. The lad had given a
fair accounting of himself, as several of the green behemoths lay dead or
dying around the battlefield, but he was suffering from not a few wounds
himself, and one arm was fiercely burned. I quickly threw a holdspell at the
beasts, and all but one froze in their tracks. After that, it was quick work
to finish the task, and send the creatures back to the abyss from which they
had spawned...
Unfortunately, I had neglected to bring any healing potions,(a foolish
mistake),so I bound the lads wounds as well as I could,and helped him along
to the Inn at Floodblest.There, he quickly healed, thanked me, and was off,
desperate to find more adventure, as though he had not come within a
manticore's hair of being destroyed in his last encounter. Oh, foolish
youth...
I rested at the Inn a small while,sipping ale and listening to the tales
of those around me,hoping to catch a tidbit of information about my
mission,but to no avail.Sighing,I gathered up my belongings and resumed my
journey....
As I approached the village of Nightsedge,the forest around me suddenly
came alive with the sound of huge,running feet.Out of the bushes sprang a
large pack of great,green Ogres,with several of their mages guiding their
movements.NO!! I had forgotten to make my form invisible after the battle in
Floodblest!!I cast an enlarge spell upon myself,and frantically drew my
sword.I quickly sent a fireball at the mages,and began hacking my way towards
them,as I knew from experiance that they were the deadliest of the group.One
of them began casting,and ,afraid for my life,I sent a lightning bolt down
from the heavens to destroy him.Luckily,the bolt also destroyed the other two
mages as well,so i was left to contend with only the mundane type of ogre to
deal with.
Weary and bloodsplattered,I pulled my sword from the stomach of the last
ogre,and left him to die.Tired I was,and in need of food and healing.I made
my way to the Inn at Nightsedge,only to find it looking abandoned,I searched
through the place,and finally found the keeper hiding in a small
storeroom,upstairs.I was in no mood to hear his sad tales,so I quickly paid
his fee(larcenous!!),and made my way to my room.With barely the strength to
remove my boots,I collapsed upon the bed,and faded into oblivion...
I awoke the next morn feeling groggy,but rested and fit.After eating and
giving myself a perfunctory bath,(and casting an invis spell!!),I resumed my
journey east.As I entered the Westwoods,a feeling of forboding came over
me,as though hope and life had been ripped from the world around me.There
were no birds singing,nor any of sounds one usually hears in the forest.I
detected no menace,however,so i shook the feeling away,and resumed my march
east.
As I approached the bridge over the stream,however,a voice cried out a
challenge to me;"nay,thee may not cross,lest thee pay our toll!"On the other
side of the bridge stood three men,wearing clothing all alike,Guildsmen by
their look. I replied,"You do not wear the livery of Nasher,Lord of these
realms,so I'll give you nothing but a thrashing,if you bar my way." "We scorn
those who obey Nasher",one said," or those who obey any but the Ark
guild!!"They all drew their various weapons,and leapt to the attack.I cast a
Globe of Invulnerability,and betook to defend myself...
We cast many a spell back and forth,and for a while I gave as good as I
got,when suddenly,my mind went dim,and my thoughts misty...I fell to the
ground,and lie there,clutching my skull and wondering where i was.The three
footpads stood over me,laughing and jeering at me.They went through my
bag,taking all that they desired,and left me to die....
But I was made of stronger stuff than they reckoned,and slowly made my way
back to Nightsedge,where I collapsed ay the door of the temple there.I
awakened the next morning with an acolyte standing over me,washing my
forehead with warm towel."there",he said,"good as new." What happened to me
",I asked,"I but dimly recall anything." "Some miscreant cast a feeblemind
spell upon you...you're lucky to have survived it" he replied.
After paying the fee due them,I thanked the priests who had helped me,and
returned to the Inn,to gather my thoughts and form a plan of action.Should I
revenge myself upon th e Ark's,or resume my mission? Maybe a day at ease
will clear my mind...
To be continuedPoetic Interlude
(submitted by: Lady JNar)
T'was the night before New Years and throughout the hall,
The OOC monster was hounding us all.
Being blocked at the gate for hours on end,
Had some of us ready to cast "punt" on a friend!
Growing pains were being felt all through the guild,
But from sharing Luthy's brownies much anger was stilled.
A peace had invaded where noise usually reigned,
The birth of a Savior had chaos contained.
The tree left by Tarma was lovely to see,
With the baubles and bangles hung there by TP.
Wondrous smells from the kitchen drifted throughout,
And soon brothers and sisters gathered about.
Munching on brownies, rumballs, and more,
Left us to wonder would we fit thru the door?
A camraderie was felt by all who were there,
And everyone brought a small gift to share.
The mages had fireworks to dazzle the eyes,
The rangers shared ale, to all our surprise!
The clerics told tales of battles well fought,
The paladins shared treasures from Nasher they'd got.
The elders told stories of days long gone,
And made us all proud to think we'd carry on.
The cadets filed out and came back in a bit slow,
Dragging behind a huge bowl of green jello!
Then what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But our beloved Tyst in the guise of a reindeer!
The hugs were aplenty and joyous laughter rang out,
And at the stroke of midnight all of Neverwinter heard us shout:
TO ALL ADVENTURERS IN THE REALM WHERE'ERE THEY BE:
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE GUILD OF TP!!!!!!!!!
Lady JNar
The Arrow's Flight
(submitted by: Strick719)
The infant finally slept. As though he could not see enough of this
strange new world, he had fought slumber like a true warrior, 'til at last he
succumbed as all warriors must in the end. The young elf maided cradled her
son in her arms and moved with a stealth known only to mothers, and carefully
(so as not to begin the battle anew ) placed the young lad in his bed. The
father, not nearly as adept at this brand of warfare, crept lightly behind
the mother and lingered by the child's bed as his wife prepared to retire for
the evening.
The elf lord peered at his son with a love he had not known existed
within him, and just as he was about to turn to his own bed the babe, as if
to conspire with the father, opened his eyes and smiled. Without uttering a
sound the young elfling made it clear that the smile would be fleeting if the
father did not somehow entertain the new "master of the house". The baby's
head turned and the father followed his eyes to the ancient elven harp
propped in the corner of the room.
"Ahh, a song is it?", thought the father. "Then a song you shall have, my
son."
The father retrieved the harp and quietly knelt by his son to play. The
elflord's fingers danced over the strings and, once set in motion, the harp
seemed to awake and play of it's own accord. In a soft alto voice the father
sang:
The archer's bow let loose upon the world
an arrow straight and true.
Of finest wood and fletching rare, crafted with the greatest care
'Twas no simple arrow that now traverssed the air.
'Twas the quiver of the archers heart, from whence this arrow flew.
The archer's eye did shed a tear, his lips let loose a sigh
as the arrow took it's course.
For his hand now held no sway, to guide the arrow on it's way.
The forces of the world would now greatly weigh
Upon the arrow's lonely flight and show it no remorse.
The arrow flies what seems so straight a path
to those with untrained eye.
But through this archers life, he's lived it's pleasures and it's strife.
He's learned the arrow flies the arc of life.
The arrow in it's flight doth rise, then fall, and seem to die.
But as the archer drew his mighty bow he knew
From deep within his heart,
Through wind, through light, through darkest night,
Beauty is found in the arrow's flight.
And this one he knew, would find it's mark
The last note still quietly reverberated on the strings of the harp as
the father placed it back in it's corner. He returned once more to the
bedside of his now sleeping son. As he gently tucked the blanket around the
baby he wondered how much of the song his son had heard. He kissed the
sleeping baby on the forehead and before turning toward his own bed
whispered, "Goodnight, my precious arrow."
Strick719 Lightheart ;->One for Another
(submitted by: Ulhendl)
The last drops of ale ran down my eager mouth even as I slammed the mug
down. I closed my eyes and savored the taste. The thought that each mug
tasted sweeter than the last had run through my mind more than once. My hand
wiped my wet beard while the other signaled the innkeeper for another couple
ales.
While I waited, I crossed my arms on top of the table and rested my chin
on them. Forcing my vision to clear from the effects of too much alcohol, I
tried to survey the inn's surroundings this night. Only a few people were
seated, scattered around. Not unusual. The inn would be full if this had been
a night that the local bard would perform.
"All the better..." I mumbled with a slurred voice. At least no one
would bother me with mindless chatter.
I looked over to see the innkeeper ambling over with two glasses of ale.
As he set those down and took up the empty ones, he gave me the same look he
had been giving me ever since I came here...
<< The innkeeper barely noticed when I walked in early that morning.
That is, he didn't notice until I set that bag of gems in front of him.
"Uhh, what can I do for you, sir?" he said, his gaze switching back and
forth from my face to the bag.
"Is this enough for a room for a month?"
His eyes widened at my proposition. "Why sir, this is enough for all the
rooms I have for a year."
"Good," I replied, "then I shall make this deal with you and make no
mention of this henceforth. All these gems in exchange for a month of
boarding and all the ale I can drink. I do not want you telling me otherwise
and no watchguard to seize me. I, on the hand, will not cause any trouble
other than the service of your ale. Is it a deal?"
"Of course," he said giving me a look of... shock? sympathy? curiosity?
>>
That had been two weeks ago and I still could not decipher that look. It
didn't matter anyway. I felt sure that he would keep up his end of the
bargain as long as he had those gems. After all, they were worth a fortune...
for anyone but me. I sold too many memories to obtain those gems, too many
things I once valued higher than anything else. And now, now nothing meant
anything to me anymore.
I momentarily looked up from my drunken stupor. A woman whom I hadn't
noticed before, was staring at me from across the other side of the room. Was
she staring at me? I couldn't tell with my blurry vision. Perhaps it was only
my imagination.
I occupied myself by looking down at my hands. I noticed how red they
were... as if covered in blood...
<< the claws... the drooling fangs... the terrified faces... the tearing
flesh... the bloody walls... the torn bodies... >>
I absent-mindedly wiped my hands across my tunic before rubbing my eyes.
The mug soon found its way back to my mouth soon after. As I set the glass
down, a glint caught my attention. I glanced down to where it came from. It
was the fourth finger on my left hand... my wedding band. I thought of my
wife... my beautiful wife. She was the kindest, gentlest, most caring person
I knew. And my son and daughter... the two most perfect children any man
could ask for. No one would even think of harming them. But now they were
gone... dead... How I wanted to die, too.
I finished the second mug in almost a single gulp and signaled the
innkeeper for another round. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a pair of
eyes. I turned quickly to see the same woman staring at me, but this time
from a table in the center of the inn. At least I thought she was staring at
me. She was definitely looking my way. What was she looking at? And wasn't
she sitting at the other end of the inn a moment ago?
"Ruff, ruff!"
A trio of gruff men were sitting down at a table across the way. One was
boasting of a wolf he had slain on a recent outing.
"That should have been me..." I whispered, looking down at my hands
again.
<< the moonlit sky... the red eyes... the growls... the bite... the
howling... >>
The wolf!
It had attacked me that night I was out chopping firewood. I managed to
kill it yet I didn't escape unharmed.
My wife gasped in horror as I stumbled through the door with a mangled,
bloody hand. She was always so protective of her family. She wrapped up my
hand in some herbs and an old tunic and cared for me that night.
For the next coupe of days, she stayed by my side. I had become feverish
by the next morning and she begged me to have the local cleric come to the
house to loom at me. But I refused to unless my condition worsened. I had my
pride and didn't want anyone to worry about so simple a bite. Such pride...
such foolish pride...
On the eve of the full moon, I finally gave in and told my wife that she
could summon the healer in the morning. She was so relieved...
I awoke from a horrific nightmare the next morning. My naked body was
covered in blood and I was laying by the bank of a stream. Flashes of my
nightmares assaulted my mind... my wife's screams of terror as I slashed her
flesh off. My children , screaming for their "papa" not knowing I was already
upon them. The crunching of their bones as I gnawed upon their remains...
Such pain... such horror it had been. The screams of agony... the fearful
eyes... but it was all a dream, right? My being outside in my condition had a
logical explanation, right? I could never cause more pain than a passing
breath, right? There had to be some excuse for why I was living this
nightmare, right? But as I returned home, I found out I was terribly wrong.
"Care for some company?"
I turned quickly to come face to face with the same woman who had been
staring at me all night. And for the first time, I took a good look at this
woman. Long black hair draped a small figure wrapped tightly in a purple
bodice. Even longer smooth legs daringly peeked out of a revealingly slit
skirt. She a beautiful face, albeit painted some, but something of those
eyes. I couldn't help but feel as if I was drowning in them.
"I have no use for a pleasure wench." I replied coldly, turning away
from her as I propped up my elbow on top of the table and rested my head on
it. She giggled but didn't go away. Why does everyone have to be so damned
friendly? Can't they see that I wanted to be left alone? All alone so I could
die?
"Are you wed?"
I can still remember the first time I laid eyes upon her. Across the
way, she was giggling with friends as I introduced myself during the harvest
festival. My wedding nearly sent me to tears of joy. The first time I heard
my baby son gurgling sent my heart aflutter. My daughter's first words still
burned in my mind. The family picnics by the lake... The cold nights huddled
together by a fire... How can I, a simple woodcutter, have achieved so much
happiness and then destroy it. My punishment didn't seem enough.
"Is she beautiful?"
I did not deserve the quick death of running myself with a blade. Had I
given myself up to the law-givers, I would be, at most, hung or beheaded. No,
I deserved a more painful, a more slower death. To drown myself in ale, to
slowly poison myself by consuming nothing but the alcohol. My strength had
waned, my mind dulled, my body deteriorated. To have the ale make me remember
my crime even as I paid for it. Memories flashing across like poisoned
daggers. Is it a fitting punishment for a werewolf?
"Do you have children?"
Upon my death, the innkeeper would find the note in my room. It would
tell him the whereabouts of my family's graves, of my crimes against them,
and to deliver this same message to the town guard. To treat my body like the
body of one who has committed the most heinous crimes. I pray the gods no
mercy upon my soul.
"Where are they now?"
"ENOUGH!" I shouted, raising my hand to drive this miserable creature
from my sight. But my hand stayed. I could not muster the force to move as I
gazed into her eyes. Her eyes... I fell deep into them...
I heard a thousand words said but none spoken. I saw her lips moving but
no sound came out. No, there was sound. Like a thousand whispering voices
saying a thousand different things at once that I didn't understand. But I
did understand. So many swirled thoughts and emotions. Too much to recollect
but understood just the same. And yet, I could not escape the feeling that I
was drowning.
When she rose, I rose. Where she walked, I followed. We walked out into
the night air, not knowing where we were going... until we stopped. I looked
up at the moon. Another week and it would be full again. I would be dead in
another few days, falling... falling... I was already falling. So many
questions... What if I had never gone out that night? What if I had attacked
the wolf straight out instead of waiting for its first move? What if it had
just killed me? What if I had taken in the healer when my wife first asked
me? What if I had discovered the bite for what it was and ran away before
harm could be done? So many questions... and no answers... I didn't even
notice the slight pain to my neck.
Black...
Heavy... everything so heavy. Must lift... lift your eyelids, man.
Breathing so rapid, so ragged. I'm lying down... still outside. So cold...
but not shivering. Get up, man, get up. Oww! my head... such pain... but not
drunk anymore. But thirsty... not for ale...not for water... unnatural
thirst. Everything a blur... gather your thoughts. What happened? Woman...
where is she? Where am I? So thirsty... My tongue... something sharp. Two
teeth... on either side... long and sharp. So damn thirsty...
And then it hit me like a slap across my face...
"NO!!!"
Had I succumbed to the seduction of a vampire?!? It couldn't be! It
can't! I looked to the moon... Had I traded one curse for another? Or would
it be something so sinister a pairing... I only wanted death!
A presence... I whirled around to find the same woman behind me. She
smiled to reveal two curving fangs overlapping her lips. She started to laugh
as she saw my shocked expression.
I lowered my head. Visions of my wife and children, before and after the
brutal slayings, floated through my mind... ... and then they faded...
I could not help but start to laugh...
End
In Memory of Ldy Spawn
A Treasure Lost to all of NeverWinter
Ulhendl D'SovrenRedemption
(submitted by: ABK Eldin)
"Libera me Domine de morte aeterna," the priest intoned softly. A procession
of black and purple clad figures carried an ash coffin from the Temple of
Tyr. The funeral hymns sung by the followers of Lathander mixed bitterly with
the mournful wailing of a mother.
"Judex ergo cum sedebit," the priest continued. Eldin leaned against a gray
stone pillar of the temple. Two women were comforting a small, plump woman
who was sobbing deeply. "My daughter...my daughter..." she kept repeating.
"Nil inultum remanebit," the priest began as the procession crawled toward
the small cemetery beyond the city walls. With a whirl of his black cloak,
Eldin entered the temple, the sounds of the funeral fading away. He
approached the altar of white and gold, a war hammer imprinted on the front.
He felt far from at ease here, yet at least he could find peace from the
everyday life of Neverwinter.
"Quem patronum rogaturus?" Eldin asked in the old tongue: "To what protector
shall I appeal?"
"The Gods will know when you are in danger, Eldin." Eldin stood up abruptly
and turned to see an old bent man in plain white robes staring at him through
sad, pale eyes.
Eldin could have asked how he knew his name, but he decided against it. The
man was wise beyond his years, though it looked as if the sun would soon set
upon that brow. The old man's breath rattled in his lungs, and his limbs
creaked with every movement. What good is the strongest soul in a body that
is falling apart? Eldin thought silently.
"Yes, I am old," said the priest, echoing Eldin's thoughts, "but not a fool.
There's a darkness deep within you that puzzles me. How can such emptiness
lie within the heart of a noble man? Do you really know yourself Eldin?" The
old man wasn't expecting a reply. He turned and walked slowly towards the
inner chambers of the temple.
Eldin shuddered. The Priest of Tyr saw the emptiness within. He shook the
cold from his shoulders, but he couldn't shake the chill from his soul. The
emptiness was filling. A fire was being kindled. Eldin thought of the funeral
of the young woman. So young, so unjust. His thoughts turned to his wife and
son. His greatest efforts failed to find his son or avenge his wife's murder.
The emptiness within began to fill, searing and burning, poisoning and
darkening. Eldin knew what he had to do to banish the darkness around him. He
had to vanquish it using his inner darkness, a darkness he had felt since
losing his parents, so long ago. A hatred that burned when he watched his
wife die. A grief that had stricken him when he had lost his son.
Eldin picked up a ceremonial chalice and threw it against the altar. Fear and
rage burned within him. Chanting powerful words of darkness, flames smote the
tapestries of the temple, cleansed the wooden benches, seared the altar, and
melted the delicate stained glass. Fury, unrestrained and evil, poured forth
from Eldin's soul. He stood in the middle of a godly firestorm, created from
pain, grief, and hatred. If the gods would be unfair, he would punish them.
Eldin coughed, harsh smoke flinging him into reality. He looked around, the
flaming storm raged everywhere. He heard a shout. The old priest rushed into
the temple. "Get out!" Eldin shouted. The man's age bore heavily upon him as
he tried to run. Too many summers weighed him down. The vaulted ceiling, once
covered with paintings of battle and justice, cracked and fell. Eldin turned
his head as the fiery ruin claimed the old priest.
"What have I done?" Eldin cried. A falling tile glittered as it fell from the
ceiling. Or was it the heavens? Eldin thought as it struck him
down...........
***
Two dark figures dragged a body into the forest beyond Neverwinter. The young
man's face was pale, almost waxen, and glistened with sweat. His breathing
was shallow and ragged. Blood ran down his temple, dripping onto the earth
beneath. "Will he live?" a whispering female voice asked.
"Yes, although I doubt he will awaken soon," the bold, dark voice of a man
returned.
"Shall we turn him in to Lord Nasher?" The woman in crimson robes turned to
her companion, arching an eyebrow, waiting for the answer.
"No," the man said smiling. "Lord Nasher would never believe a member of
Bloodkeep did this to the temple, especially if we handed him over."
"But people saw him enter," the woman pressed. "I'm sure that a citizen or
two could testify that he was in there when it happened."
"Yes Jasala, you are right. But, remember this, he never came back out. The
only person that could really point a finger is nothing more than a pile of
ashes now. To the people of Neverwinter, he is dead."
Jasala's brown eyes lit up in understanding. "We can do whatever we want with
him, and no one will come looking for him! Seregainen, you really have
outdone yourself." She smiled.
Seregainen returned that smile. "I know. Now we have a vital tool to use
against Bloodkeep. Also, he have Jarod's father in our hands. This will bring
the wayward boy in line."
Jasala thought of Jarod. A handsome youth at sixteen, Jarod had his father's
piercing green eyes and his mother's fiery red hair. But more importantly, he
had his mother's indomitable spirit and his father's annoying sense of
justice. He knew that Seregainen and Jasala were evil.He fought with them as
much as he could. He had been a thorn in their sides.
Jasala wanted him dead. She remembered that day fifteen years ago when she
had stolen the babe from his crib, slaughtered the family, and set the home
ablaze to cover the crime. A bargaining chip, Seregainen called him. Only
when the Tome of the Unicorn was in their hands, would Jasala kill Jarod.
"Shall we bring him back to the Tower?" Jasala sighed.
Seregainen thought of the newly constructed tower, built upon the ruins of
the old. "Yes put him on the fifth floor in the "guest" chamber. Remove his
holy symbol, weapons, and components."
"He has lost his freedom," Jasala smiled.
"No, my dear" Seregainen began darkly, "He has lost much more. He has lost
his faith in the Gods. But, most importantly, he has lost his soul........"
***
"My love....my love..." a faint voice called, as if far away. "It is not time
yet..." Eldin stood in a small glade near his home. Moonlight filtered
through the boughs of the swaying aspen trees, a summer breeze dancing
through the leaves. Lynia stood close to him, her red hair flowing down her
back, flowers entwined in the auburn tresses. "It is not time, my love," she
spoke to him gently. "Our son needs you."
Eldin stepped closer to his wife, joy filling him as he saw her beauty once
more. "I want to stay with you, Lynia. The world is too much with me. I need
to leave it." He gently stroked her silky hair as he had done when they were
together.
"Selune understands your pain, Eldin. You are forgiven. Grief, pain, and fear
are never crimes in the eyes of the Gods. You must go back. You must free our
son from Seregainen's evil. He calls to you."
Sadness gripped Eldin as he thought of Jarod. "Surely he must be within the
grasp of evil. Seregainen has raised him."
"No," his wife said soothingly. "Our son has you strength, and my
stubbornness."
Eldin laughed. The first time he had done so in a long while. He remembered
when Lynia refused to hide in the trees when orcs had ambushed them in the
Stonelands. He grinned at the memory. "You are right, I should return, but
let me stay here awhile with you. I miss you."
Husband and wife embraced one last time. The light of Selune shined on them
as they stood apart from the world, giving voice to their love.....
***
Pain, bright and flaring, brought Eldin to consciousness. His head throbbed
with every beat of his heart. He sat up, swaying as his new found awareness
threatened to leave him. His eyes adjusted to the soft light illuminating the
room. It was cold and cheerless, giving no warmth. He lay in a soft bed,
covered with a heavy quilt. Taking measure of his surroundings, he realized
he was in a small room, a stout wooden door the only entrance to the chamber.
"Where am I?" was his first thought. The horror of what he had done was
second. The temple, the priest. Eldin groaned. He reached down to grasp at
his spell components. He grabbed at a plain rope tied around his waist. Gone,
were the spell components. He reached for the silver disk around his neck.
Nothing. Without magic and his goddess, Eldin felt truly alone.
His wounds had been healed, yet the pain in his head remained, and would
remain for some time. Eldin focused his thoughts on a spell. Luckily only a
string of magical words were required for it. Placing his hand on the door,
he spoke. "Terenumcontis arebum," a blue light surrounded the door. A faint
click was heard as the door slid silently open.
He slowly crept into the corridor beyond. Dim torches in new iron sconces
stood sentinel along the walls of the hall. Eldin heard voices further along
the hall. Taking a torch from its holder, Eldin walked carefully toward the
voices. He reached a large door at the end of the hall. Yellow light poured
out from the slightly opened door. Whoever held this place was confident that
no intruders would ever get in. A man's voice spoke.
"He won't awaken for some time. It is best that we be ready. He'll try to
bring this tower down about our ears."
"Again," a female voice spoke wryly.
"Once I have that book, we can destroy Bloodkeep. With Bloodkeep gone,
Neverwinter will soon follow."
Eldin recognized the voice of Seregainen, the man responsible for his wife's
death, and his son's kidnapping. Anger furrowed his brow. Deciding to take
matters in his own hands, he gripped the torch tightly and stepped forward,
when a third voice spoke.
"I hope he kills the both of you," a youthful voice snarled.
"You would," the female voice returned. "But that won't be happening. We hold
your father prisoner now. Pray that he gives us that tome, lest you die for
his folly."
Father? Eldin felt joy, hatred, hope and anger. A feeling that unsettled him.
Finally he realized why these people had shattered his life: They were
searching for the Tome of the Unicorn, a mighty grimoire that Eldin had
acquired from his days as a thief. The youth yelled once more.
"Death would be better than this existence!"
That sealed it. Eldin flung the door open, rushing into the room. Jasala
whirled around and gasped. "Eldin!" The black robed woman began chanting.
Eldin threw his torch at the woman. Her spell lost as the flaming missile
struck her in the face. Her long dark hair ignited. Jasala ran past Eldin,
down the hall, her head a living torch.
Seregainen grasped Jarod fiercely by the arm and pulled him between Eldin and
himself. "At last the destroyer of temples has come to confront me."
Seregainen smiled.
Eldin looked to his son. Fear danced in those green eyes, eyes that matched
his own.
"Tell your son Eldin, how you killed an innocent priest in cold blood."
Eldin went white. His son's eyes grew wide with shock. "No," Eldin cried, "It
was an accident. I didn't intend that."
"Yes, well, it has happened, and now you are damned by the gods to suffer the
fate that you have earned."
"No," Eldin said confidently, as he edged toward a table. The table held his
belongings, if only he could reach his components..... "the gods have
forgiven me. I have been redeemed. You, Seregainen, are beyond redemption."
Seregainen frowned, and prepared to speak. His words were caught in his
throat as he discovered his peril. Eldin grasped his components and chanted.
Seregainen threw Jarod to the floor, and reached for a slim silver wand.
Eldin's red bolt met with Seregainen's arching black one. Both mages were
flung backwards, as the concussive force of their magic exploded. "Run,
Jarod, run!" Eldin cried. Jarod disappeared out the door, as the two foes
met. "You will pay for all that you have done.
"Will I?" Seregainen asked happily. A little too happily. Eldin turned and
saw a platinum mirror on the wall begin to glow. A picture appeared in that
mirror. A painting of fire and brimstone, death and despair. Dark shapes
twisted in the mirror. A gate! Eldin realized with horror. Seregainen was
bringing evil demons from the Nine Hells into the world. He saw Seregainen's
plan, first destroy Bloodkeep, then move on to Neverwinter. He knew it was a
hopeless battle and ran.
Catching up to Jarod, father and son ran down flights of stairs towards the
entrance to the tower. No guards barred their path. Leaping onto the black
horses of Seregainen and Jasala, the pair galloped off into the forest.
A hideous screech filled the night. Eldin looked up to see the light of the
moon blocked out by a hideous, winged creature. A black dragon. His black
steed stumbled a bit. Skeletal hands were clawing their way to the surface of
the earth, handfuls of sod flying on all directions. Eldin whispered a prayer
and a spell. The horses galloped with lightning speed towards Bloodkeep,
death not far behind...........
***
"Open the gates!" Eldin cried as he reached the fortified walls of Bloodkeep.
The bridge opened, and Eldin and Jarod rushed into the courtyard. Leaping off
his horse, Eldin ran towards Storm's chamber, Jarod not far behind.
Storm was writing, as Eldin burst in tattered and sweating, a strange young
man standing behind him. Curiously, the young man resembled Eldin greatly,
Storm thought.
"M'lord," Eldin gasped heavily. "The dark legions of Seregainen are upon us.
Terrible black dragons, devilspawn, and undead race towards the keep as we
speak. We must prepare to defend."
"What!" Storm cried, standing and donning his armor. "Tell the others. Pray
the Gods favor us this day, the most terrible day of the keep's history. The
Dies Irae: The Day of Wrath......"
***
The Dark Legion reached Bloodkeep not far behind Eldin. The first onslaught
came in the form of undead. Ancient warriors, defeated in battles now
forgotten, trod heavily toward the gates of the keep. Rusted armor scraped
against bleached bone. Thirty red and black armored warriors poured from the
gates to meet the enemy. Led by their captains, Dailorn and Feyr, the
Protectors engaged the dead warriors in hand to hand combat.
Storm stood upon the battlements of the keep, surveying the troops and
forming plans of attack and retreat in his mind. The noble leader of
Bloodkeep wore his red and black armor regally, a drawn black sword in his
hand. Squinting through the whirling, gray smoke of the vats of boiling
grease, he spying small black flecks against the horizon. Black Dragons, he
thought grimly.
"The Crimson guard is ready my liege, as is the Honor Guard." The General of
the Keep, Bo, looked down at the battle below. Giving a deep, mournful sigh,
he left to lead the army into battle.
Eldin was kneeling in his chamber, pulling out the items he had stuffed under
his bed. An ancient, cracked scroll, a glowing cube, a Kraken badge, and a
jewel. Lastly, he pulled out a tome bound in white leather, its pages leafed
in gold. Eldin felt something sharp against his neck.
"Turn around," a familiar voice commanded.
Eldin turned to see that his son, Jarod, had a sword pointed at his throat.
He looked at the long sword, held by an awkward hand. Eldin's gaze strayed to
that hand. A plain gold ring adorned the fourth finger.
"Give me the book," the youth demanded.
Eldin handed the tome over to Jarod with a shaking hand. With his other, he
dragged a sword from under his bed and plunged it between his son's ribs. A
gush of warm fluid spilled over him.
Jarod fell to his knees, green eyes level with Eldin's own. Trying to gasp
for air, the boy coughed up blood. Giving the sword a swift jerk, Eldin
killed his son.
Kneeling over the body, Eldin picked up the cold, clammy hand of his son, and
slipped the ring off. The body rippled like water before his eyes, as it
shifted to take the form of a red robed wizardress, still bald from flame.
Jasala, Red Wizardress of Thay, was dead.
The real Jarod rushed into the room, nearly tripping over the body. "What
happened?" he asked Eldin confusedly.
"She tried to get this," he answered, gesturing to the tome now soaked with
blood.
"It's ruined," he despaired.
"That book is," Eldin said smiling. "But," he slashed at his bed. White
feathers swirled about the room. Reaching his hand into the flayed bed, he
pulled out another white tome, identical to the ruined one. "This one seems
to have weathered well."
A fit of laughing took over Jarod. "You mean to tell me that this whole time,
you kept the legendary Tome of the Unicorn in your bed?"
Eldin chuckled. "Well, no one looked there," he snapped feigning anger. Jarod
just laughed harder. The sounds of battle rose in the halls. Eldin gripped
his weapon and joined the fray, the book out of danger for now.
***
The next day, the dead littered the battlements and the fields around
Bloodkeep. They had won of course, but at what a high price, Eldin thought.
Lord Nasher's cavalry reached Bloodkeep in time to bring complete victory to
Neverwinter. Seregainen's plans of Bringing the Army of Bloodkeep and
Neverwinter were in ashes.
Of Seregainen, there was not a trace. It seems the evil priest mage of Bane
had fled, his power broken. Perhaps he would think twice next time he decided
to Attack Neverwinter and Bloodkeep.
Eldin entered his chamber, the body of Jasala removed, and shut the door. "My
love, I have found our son. What a fine lad he is. He will grow up to be as
great as you." He shook his head sadly. He still missed his wife.
"You have been redeemed Eldin," a faint voice spoke from nowhere. "The memory
of the temple will be no longer yours. By keeping the such power from such
evil, you are redeemed......."
The voice of his wife lulled Eldin into a deep, restful sleep.A Narn en'
Melars
A Tale of Lovers
(submitted by: GreySavant)
- Great Hall Tavern / Sister's Tavern -
- December 30 -
Talanithus walked through the Tavern doors with no small amount of
anticipation. His dreams had been haunting him for some three nights now,
constantly awakening him as lay down to sleep. He had no doubts that they
were a vision from Corellon, but the meaning alluded his quick mind. All he
could remember was singing within the Sister's Tavern, the words a confusing
jumble to his Tel'Quessirian ears, to a figure cloaked in shadows. No feature
could Tal distinguish, no mark to guess their name, no matter how he strove
to pierce the dark veil. Then a force, like a giant hand, would grasp him
from his perch and pull him through the Tavern doors into the cold winter
snow.
Shaking his head to clear the disturbing memory from his mind, Tal pushed
through the door, sweeping his shimmering black cloak back across his
shoulder as he unstrung his exquisite Elven bow and placed it in the quiver
along his back. Then he pushed the pommel of his glittering longsword back
from his waist, so as to be more comfortable within these Neutral halls of
peace. As he strode forward, his icy blue eyes pierced through the crowd as
he searched for friends and allies, Tal's blue crystal armor began to
shimmering in the fire's warm light, it's millions of facets replicating the
images about within their glassy homes.
Tal noticed Tizer and Jared Syn sitting at the Tel'Mithrim table, Tiz's bow
at his side as he raised a hand in salute. With a nod and Vedui' to a few
other friends, Grey quickly made his way back to Tiz's side.
"Vedui' GreySavant!" said Tizer as Tal walked alongside, "come and sit
with me." Jared nodded and motioned to a seat, his grim demeanor a constant
reminder of his affliction.
"Vedui' Herueamin," was Talanithus' reply as he let loose his ever ready
grin, "I would love to!"
Just as Tal was making himself comfortable, BloodGlade and VonWildcat,
fellow members of the Tel'Mithrim, appeared at the Tavern's door. Tizer
pointed them out, and the two Tel'Quessir raised their voices in a hearty
"Vedui' melloneamin! Come and sit with us, drink of our Fey and let us talk
the night away...." Cat and Glade pushed their way though the crowd to grab a
few more seats about the table, their jovial grins adding to the light mood
of the evening.
Then a flapping sound coursed through the Hall as Tal turned to see a large
Falcon approaching him. With barely a second for thought, Tal threw his hand
up to protect his face. The Falcon did not attack, though, but merely landed
on Tal's outstretched arm. With wondrous amazement in his eyes, Tal watched
as a strangely dressed man approached him, his long white hair woven and
braided with feathers very similar to the one now perched on his arm.
"I am sorry, sir. It appears that GreyWing here likes you." said the man,
his strange accent turning the words a tad bit more musical then most Edan
could ever hope for. "I am Toem. It is a pleasure to meet someone that Grey
trust so implicitly."
Tal stood, noticing the leather Falconer's gauntlet about the man's arm and
his beautiful clothing, so matched to the camouflage of the woods and yet so
pleasing to the aesthetic eye. This was no ordinary Edan, only one sect of
man had reached such a union with Nature and Heart to work such beauty. He
was Tayledras, without a doubt, and a Scout from the looks of the bond-bird
before him.
"Nay, the pleasure is mine, Toem. I am Talanithus Tarant, also known as the
GreySavant or Grey to my friends and allies, just as your magnificent friend
here. With a soft hand, Tal reached up to stroke the feather's of Grey's
magnificent plumage. A look to Toem told him that it was fine, and soon Tal
had fed Grey a bit of Spryte's delicious stew, it's claws and beak quickly
gobbling the morsel. Then Grey flew off to the bar to greet another patron,
with Toem swiftly following behind his friend, as Tal watched the two.
A strange sensation coursed through Tal's mind, and turning in his seat he
saw the fair form of Cheldrya in the Hot Tub, her eyes peering out from her
sodden tresses to view the Tavern patron's in the sensual touch only a
beautiful woman can master. Turning back to his table, he noticed quite a
few of his Tel'Mithrim Torors watching Chel as well. Tal hid a chuckle behind
his hand and stood, asking his friends to excuse him for a short time.
With the steady sliding walk that only Tel'Quessir can truly master,
Talanithus walked up to Chel's side, bowing as he spoke, "Vedui' beautiful
one. Your beauty this eve is quite astonishing. Are we attempting to rival
the moon's pale glow?"
Cheldrya's turned, her long lashes fluttering as she slowly took in Grey's
presence at her side. Talanithus had the eiree feeling that he was completely
naked before this woman's sensuous gaze as she lifted her full lips from the
water and spoke, "Greets Cherie', how are you this eve?"
Talanithus grinned at her as he bowed again and kissed the dripping hand she
offered from the tub's depths, only then noticing that she was completely
naked within the Hot Tub. "Well, Chel love, I was just thinking about the
little conversation we had a few days back..."
Cheldrya's eyes slowly drifted from Tal to the Tel'Mithrim table, "Yes, I
have honored your wishes, Grey one. None of your tempted flock have....
fallen sway to my charms as of yet." Her lips curled into a faint smile as
she eyed the handsome elves at the Tel'Mithrim table with an almost predatory
look.
Tal begin to form a witty rebuttal when he saw Spryte walk into the Tavern,
her long red hair flowing in a brilliant cascade down her green clinging
dress. Quickly turning back to Chel, he said, "Excuse me love, sorry to leave
so quickly but my heart calls...." then Tal quickly sped his way across the
tavern floor to wrap Spryte in a loving hug.
"Oh, Spryte love... I missed you so," said Tal as he softly kissed his loves
tender lips, tasting again the strawberry fields that had stolen his heart,
"How are you this eve? Missing me, I hope..."
Spryte stood there as Talanithus held her close, feeling the comforting beat
of his heart as she soaked in the warmth of his love. She felt so good, here
in Tal's strong arms, as if all the cares and worries of the world were
insignificant to his small moment of peace. She turned, looking into his sky
blue eyes and whispered, "Aye Heruamin, I missed you much. But all is better
now."
Tal grinned as he saw the love shining through in Spryte's eyes, his heart
telling him that she had finally given up her reservations in their pact of
love. With misty eyes he bent down to kiss her again, their lips meeting in
the incredible bliss that only Lovers feel when they are close.
But the world would not wait as the two love-birds lost each other in their
star crossed eyes. Patrons called for drinks, and poor Mystri was doing her
best to keep up with the heavy crowd. Tal began to speak just as Spryte did,
their words echoing one another as they noticed the patrons awaiting service.
Tal smiled, for he knew their minds were growing together as their hearts
did, and soon they would know each other's thoughts as if they were their
own. With a playful push and wry wink, Tal let Spryte jump into her work.
Spryte leapt to her work, retrieving empties and gathering orders with a
flashing exuberance in her gait. Tal couldn't help admiring how perfectly
Thorn's Yule gift of Spryte's dress clung to her lovely hips as his own gift
of the Spring Amulet nestled between her perfect breasts. The large ruby
twinkled in the fire's light as she moved about, drawing Tal's gaze for
almost a minute before he walked back to the Tel'Mithrim table and sat with
his friends.
"Ahh.... melloneamin. Is not Love wonderful?" Tal asked as he sat, a wistful
smile playing across his features.
"I'd like to know how the heck you do that!" said BloodGlade as he watched
Spryte whirl away from a nearby table, and then turned to see Cheldrya
emerging from the Hot Tub, her wet body glistening in the fire's pale light.
A number of other Tavern patrons turned to watch as the beautiful human
slowly pressed the water out of her tresses and slipped into her gown, her
wet skin pulling it in tight curves about her. Tal purposely turned his back
on Chel's little display, but laughed as he saw his Toror's staring at her
nubile form. With a nod and a grin, he mumbled to himself, "Quite the
Temptress, she...."
Tal turned to look for Spryte, scrying through the Tavern's many tables to no
avail. He stood, looking to see if Spryte was picking something off of the
floor, but she was not there either. Tal walked up to Mystri, but she too had
not seen Spryte in the past few moments. After checking behind the bar, he
noticed Cheldrya walking up and ordering a bottle of Fire Brandy. Grabbing it
from behind the bar, he passed it over and asked, "Chel love, have you seen
Spryte anywhere?"
Just as Chel answered with a slight shake of her head, sending tiny droplets
of water from her sodden tresses, Tal saw Spryte come bursting out of the
back room, A bottle of Fey in one hand and a basket of her delightful bread
in the other. Tal stealthily crept up behind Spryte and tickled her as she
looked about the Tavern for her Melar <Elven for Lover>. Spryte jumped into
the air as Tal caught her in a quick hug and jumped into his chair, a wide
smile growing across his dusky features. Spryte turned and advanced on her
mischievous lover, a glittering light burning within her eyes that matched
that of her ruby and emerald pendant.
Then Spryte was at Tal's side, a few loaves of her delicious Herb bread and a
bottle of sparkling Fey in hand. Tal reached out and grabbed her waist in a
hug, pulling her closer to him before she could dance to another Table.
"Ahh, now lass. You weren't going to leave without giving me a kiss, eh?"
said Tal as he pulled her to his side.
Spryte jumped up and landed in Tal's lap, her beautiful red hair flying
about as she grabbed his head and pulled it to her for a sudden kiss. "Nope!"
she replied, after tasting of his surprised grin, "I wasn't."
Talanithus returned Spryte's toothy grin and laid his head atop Spryte's for
a moment, feeling the closeness of her scent and warmth like a palpable aura
about him. Then Spryte wiggled free, rewarding Tal with another kiss as she
ran into the back room for a few more orders.
Tal stretched and glanced about the Tavern, seeing his good friend Thorn as
he walked through the doors and gave Mystri a sound kiss. With a grin on his
dusky features, Grey stood and called out to Thorn, "Vedui Toror! Come and
drink some fey with us while we laugh and play!!"
Thorn looked about the room, spotting Tal standing by the Tel'Mithrim table
with arm upraised, and he called out his own salute, "Vedui' melloneamin" his
Edan tongue almost catching the correct pronunciation of the Elven greeting,
as he turned back to greeting Mystri.
Tal grinned as he watched Thorn's eyes dance about Mystri's fair form, his
hands reaching down to pull out his enchanted harp. With deft hands he set
the beautiful blue crystal harp before him, his hands caressing the silver
runes about its frame as he softly hummed a quiet melody. Then Tal's fingers
leapt across the silver stings, a chord of beautiful tranquility bursting
forth throughout the Tavern's walls. With a wry smile and a look to the
attentive patrons, he asked, "Would anyone like a little music?"
A scattering of patrons looked up at Tal's words and raised their voices in
favor of a little music. Tal nodded appreciably and began to stroke a few
tender chords as he spotted the fair form of Spryte weaving through the
tables. He began to play one of the songs he had written for her, this one
praising her beauty and charm, and felt as his heart began pulling at the
strings for him. The magic within began to build as Spryte's eyes closed and
she began to hum along with the tune, her body swaying in tune with the
music.
Tal lifted the harp and slowly walked forward, loosing himself in the beauty
of Spryte's form. As they closed together, the two began to dance, their
steps weaving about one another as Tal continued to play. Spryte began to
turn, her soft red tresses flying free behind her as she twirled about Tal,
each step whirling her dress in a tight arc about her fair form. Then Tal
lifted his voice up in the glory of the SpellSong, his heart pushing forward
to strive his fingers in a flurry of beautiful movement. Spryte's dancing
increased, her form a blur about the floor as the two danced in the harmony
only Lover's could find.
Then Spryte fell, her ankle slipped upon a small dice as she moved in trance
to the SpellSong. With a cry, she fell to the floor, her face a twisted mask
of pain as she grasped her ankle with tears in her emerald eyes.
Tal's harp stilled with the break in the flow, his eyes opening to see
Spryte sprawled on the floor before him.
"Spryte!" yelled Talanithus as he dropped the harp and fell beside her, his
call chorused by the patrons about as all stood and gaped at Spryte's fallen
form.
"Ohhh...." replied Spryte as she shook free the Song's traces, "I hurt my
ankle."
With tender hands, Talanithus slowly picked up Spryte's leg, her smooth
white skin blemished by the mark of what would soon be a nasty bruise. "It is
all right, love" said Tal as he softly caressed Spryte's leg, "I can handle
this." Then Tal bent his head and lifted his voice in a prayer to his Lord
and god, Corellon. "Oh Corellon, please hear my plea. Bring healing to this
injury, so my beloved Melar may dance freely within your servant's heart and
soul."
As Tal spoke, blue flames coursed about Spryte's ankle, the swelling
quickling ceasing and bruises fading away. The flames did not stop, however,
for as Spryte stepped back and tested her ankle the flames began to course up
Tal's arms, soon engulfing him completely as he stood and staggered back
against a chair.
"NOOooo!" he cried as a look of horror crossed over his features, his eyes
staring straight into the Tavern's roof as the flames wrapped him in a blue
fiery embrace. Patrons stood and gawked, a number of them drawing blades and
preparing spells as the flames suddenly died down, leaving Tal slumped
against a chair with a look of anguish on his dusky face.
"Tal!!" cried Spryte as she jumped to her feet, her eyes wide with alarm as
she saw her love in such obvious pain, "what's wrong!"
"I only wanted to love you," came Tal's quiet reply, his face sweeping
across to lock on her emerald gaze, "to cherish you, to make our hearts
one..." Tal's gaze swept up to the tavern roof, his hand clenched into a fist
as he screamed, "WHY!!! WHY do YOU ask this of me! Have I not served you
faithfully these long years? Why do you steal my happiness... before it has
even... even truly blossomed..."
Spryte ran over to Tal, her arms wrapped about his shoulders as tears began
to form in her eyes. She scarcely knew what was happening, but Tal was
worried, and that scared her. The calm, charming man who had won her heart
was gone, leaving a shattered husk with tears pouring down from his eyes as
he rallied against some force. With shaking hands she drew Talanithus close
to her, her eyes searching out his as he clutched her close to him. "What is
it, Tal, what's doing this?" she cried as her tears dripped down onto his
dusky skin.
Tal's pale blue eyes, watery from his tears, looked up into Spryte's. "It is
my Lord, Corellon. He has... has forbidden me... us from being," whispered
Tal, his hands reaching up to touch her beautiful face and catching her
tears, "I am so sorry, my love. He has commanded me to spurn the love I feel
for you..." Tal's eyes begin to water as he raises on to his knees, "He will
not even tell me why..." Spryte's hands cupped Tal's face, catching his own
tears as he stood and gathered himself.
"Oh love... Why?" mumbled Spryte as she stood at his side, arms still
clutched about him.
"I do not know," whispered Talanithus as he began to regain a semblance of
his past composure, "but I must obey him... he is my Lord... please
understand dear Love...."
Spryte cut off Tal's words with a passionate kiss, her arms pulling him
tight to her bosom. "I understand, Love." She softly replied, "you would not
be the man I fell for if you did not heed his call. But I will miss you
sorely."
Talanithus lost himself in Spryte's tender embrace, tears falling anew as
he marveled at what an understanding and loving woman he was being forced
from. His sobs grew quiet as he felt once again the warm wonder of her arms,
her scent so rich in his head that Tal could almost choke on it. His arms
pushed her back, eyes caressing her body in ways he would never be allowed to
touch, and a faint smile coursed through his tear stained features.
"I will always love you, my sweet Spryte. Do not forget that, my heart will
always hold a place for you, regardless of where duty takes me." said Tal as
he softly kissed Spryte's forehead, his lips lingering as he felt the warmth
of her skin.
"I will never forget you either, my Melar." was Spryte's tenderreply as she
stood on her toes and kissed Talanithus once more.
Tal broke from her embrace, gathering his bow and sword while he watched
Spryte's shaking form. Then with a long look, he made his way to the Tavern
door. Tizer called out for Tal, asking him to come and join them at their
table, but such solace would not heal the wound opened this eve, and Tal
shook his head as closed the Tavern door behind him.
Fresh sobs overtook his body again as he felt the Winter's cold air steal
the warmth from his body, just as this eve had stolen the warmth from his
heart. Pulling his cloak tight about him, he prepared to make his way home
when he heard a familiar melody.
Inside the Tavern, Spryte was playing the small dancing figurine that held
the first song he wrote for her. He thought of her whispering the word which
brought the magic to life and sent the figure dancing across it's base, and
tears poured through his heart again. "Melar...." he whispered, his words
sending a cloud of smoke in the cold air, "Lovers.... I will love you
forever, sweet one."
Then he began to pick his way through the lonely forest, the cold nights
winter pulling him into it's dull embrace as he lost himself in the forest's
depths. Alone. Again.
<end>
======================================================
Talanithus Tarant
The GreySavant of the Tel'Mithrim
Priest of CorellonReflections
(submitted by: Loraque)
It was night in the woods and Loraque sat in a small clearing, looking up at
the stars, remembering and thinking. The moon was rising in the eastern sky.
It was almost full, and it was starting to fill the clearing with its light.
Six times the wood elf had come to this place, to pause, to remember, and to
....... to think about what had passed over the last half year. For all of
the previous year, he had known it was inevitable, but still his heart ached
when he thought about it. There was nothing he could do, but the pain was
still there.
He thought about his sister, Jarre'sl. She would always be there for him, or
so it seemed. He thought about his father. He now seemed much older than
his years.
And then, memories of his mother came into his mind. He closed his eyes and
swallowed back the tears forming in his eyes.
He thought of her memory, and recalled the words he had first heard many
years before....
The path through the forest is before me,
and I have walked many miles.
I have smelled fresh air in the spring,
and I have seen blooms after the rain.
I have drunk cool water in the summer,
and I have tasted ripened fruit.
I have heard the wind in the fall,
and I have felt the warm sun.
I have walked in the snow,
and I have known the silence.
The path through the forest is before me,
and I have traveled many years.
Wherever I looked, there was light,
and I always knew the way to go.
A light that guided and protected me,
and showed me hidden dangers.
A light that comforted me,
and showed me the forest's beauty.
Whenever I looked, there was light,
but now she is gone, and my heart aches.
The path through the forest lies before me,
and I will keep walking.
I will smell fresh air in spring,
and I will see bright flowers.
I will drink clear water in summer,
and I will rest in cool glades.
I will feel the wind in fall,
and I will hear the rustling leaves.
I will watch the snow fall in winter,
and I will know life is renewed.
The path through the forest goes on and on,
and I will be the light for the ones with me.
Loraque
PoN Fence
Purveyor of Fine and Rare Artifacts
Elwynn's Poem
(submitted by: LadyElwynn)
Across the room, the foe stands tall,
The being you must fight.
The diamond blade hangs at the side,
Of the mighty golden knight.
With proud salute, he draws the blade,
And towards you slowly walks.
Clenching your will, you draw your bow,
Bright arrow tightly nocked.
With whispered prayer, the arrow flies,
But blade knocks it away.
And now the blade whistles fast at you,
To be blocked by a flaming ray.
The bow is dropped, your black blade drawn,
And now the fight begins.
For many minutes, naught is heard,
But the two blades' mighty rings.
Then suddenly, a flash, a gasp,
And a blade flies through the air.
Your eyes are drawn to your useless hilt,
As your defense is laid bare.
You bow your head in shamed defeat,
Preparing for the final blow.
But all you hear is a fading voice,
"We will meet again, you know."
Aluve' Rilauven - Conclusion
(submitted by: Mavralyn)
Mavralyn pulled her piwafwi close about her as she slipped away from the
council chambers. Returning slowly as her thoughts churned within, she made
her way past the gates of Rilynt'tar. Pausing a moment in silent farewell to
her old house, she bowed her head in respect to Jasra's teachings so long
ago. Continuing on, the lone figure soon stopped briefly near the majestic
compound of Faen Tlabbar.
Letting her eyes travel over the beauty and grandeur of the first house, she
bid aluve' to the previous Ilharess that reigned for so long within Rilauven.
*Aluve' ussta zhuanth malla ogglin. Change has indeed come, though perhaps
naut as either of us expected.* With a slight bow to the unseen guards,
Mavralyn moved on. They could not know the dark form had just honored the
passing of an era.
The deep silence of the city seemed to be peaceful rather than oppressive as
Mavralyn passed the many compounds and structures that lit the darkness with
faerie fire that danced about the variety of slim spires.
Soon the drowess found herself near the towering might of Fey Branche. Again
she paused in her silent journey. There was a time she had sought an
alliance with the Ilharess Phyrra. Perhaps her overtures were too subtle,
perhaps fate decreed it should not be. Shrugging at the thought, Mavralyn
briefly regretted that the beauty of such a coup de gras against her ilhar
had never happened. "Lolth kyorl dos well Laele Fey Branche. Treachery can
be found anywhere," the husky voice whispered softly into the silence.
Finally the cloaked form turned her steps towards Elythanar and a new path in
Lolth's twisted destiny. Arriving without ceremony at the tall gates to the
house she created from nothing, Mavralyn returned to the large suite of rooms
she had called her own for several years. Settling before the small desk,
she quickly penned a note and sent the waiting slave away to deliver it to
Katishya.
Moving swiftly after the slave departed, Mavralyn murmured softly and opened
a secret compartment within the ornate vanity. Smiling as she pulled the
deep black velvety pouch out, she rose from the chair and opened it.
Unfolding the object revealed its true nature as the portable hole settled
upon the bed.
Gathering the various clothes and necessities for travel, she began filling
the magical carryall. Next came the crystal mace just given to her for
Desinari's purchase. Mavralyn moved gracefully about her chambers adding to
the growing pile. The small obsidian figurines of spiders, the clear
crystal orb, the hand carved rosewood box with a small blue marble contained
inside, all of these precious objects as well as many others, soon found a
place within the portable hole.
The drowess soon found herself in the small private library where many tomes,
scrolls, and historical records filled the tiny chamber. Gathering only the
few she would need, these too followed the other items in the confines of the
dimensional space. As Mav looked around the familiar rooms one last time,
she nodded, satisfied with her choices.
Refolding the portable hole into its pouch like semblance, she returned to
the outer alcove for one last item. Gently lifting a simple amulet from
about a lovely statuette, she removed her own qu'ilinsar and placed it around
the large figurine. Then without another glance back, Mavralyn left her
chambers and set the wards to allow only the new matron access.
Again the soft mutter of arcane words broke the silence as an elegant gesture
completed the spell and the slim form of Mavralyn shimmered briefly then
disappeared. Those that would follow, knew where to find her.
Mavralyn Elythanar d'Xol'Niaren
Yathtallar d'Lolth
Ilharess d'Xol'Niaren
Ust Qu'ellar d'Velkyn-TirithThe End
(submitted by: HR Diety)
The Dark warrior slowly emerges form the dread darkness of the caves.. one
hand grasping a bloody wound in his gut.. the other searching for another
handhold... the ragged figure finally collapses on the ground outside the
entrance to the caves.... A shriek of pain would have been heard had there
been anyone around.. but he is left to hear himself scream in agony for ther
is no one else around.. With his last bit of strength he manages to prop
himself up.. He opens his mouth to utter a prayer to his god but only blood
spurts out.. The warrior had fough valiantly against the beasts.. but he knew
he had suffered wounds no healer could mend.... A sly smile etches itself on
the face of the ragged man... He thinks now of the battle that brought him to
where he is now and smiles... The evil that haunted him for his whole life
was finally destroyed....As a child his parents were slaughtered and he
kidnapped and made a slave to the dreaded Drow... when he finally escaped he
took the name HR Darkone.. and vowed to see and end to the evil known as
drow.....This day he met that goal....... The smile on his face beamed.. he
sat there thinking.. as the last bits of his life ebbed away..........The
Gift
(submitted by: HR Diety)
"Galen..." a soft voice speakes.." Galen dear... wake up.. you are safe now
my son....."
Galen?? Darkone had not been called that name by any but his parents and
brother.. and they were all dead.. hence he knew instantly where he was
now.... Slowly he opend his eyes and rose to his feet.. His mother and Father
helped him to rise.. Instantly he threw his arms around them in an embrace
that he never wanted to end... He was finally reunited... Eventually the
embrace did end and his mother spoke again....
"Dear.. our lord Tyr needs to speak with you......" Suddenly a blinding flash
of light drowned out the entire area and galen found himself staring at a
being that seemed to be illuminated by millions of candles... He sat in awe
and stared..
He stared for what seemed like an eternity and finally he was spoken to..
although it was not words as any human knows them.. he seemed to FEEL the
words in his very being.......
"Galen... you have been a loyal follower and valiant warrior for the cause of
Tyr... However I'm afraid we are not ready for you here yet.. you are needed
to fight the remaining evil in Neverwinter... The Drow was a huge Scar on my
precious world.. however they are but a tiny part... You are needed my
son.... I am sending you back to the Realms of Neverwinter...you are not
going back as a dark skinned being driven by hatred..... Welcome my child to
omnipotence... " Suddenly Galen was enveloped within the Luminescent being"
he felt what seemed like a rush of pure phjysical joy and goodness wash over
him.. and just as abruptly as it behgan.... it was gone.. he found himself
standing next to the neverwinter River... But he knew what had happened... He
realized the abilities and perfection this new form possesed and knew now
that he was an agent of Tyr himself.......
He slowly walked into the Guild hall that he called home for so long.....
Knowing with supreme knowledge that this was the best place to help in the
fight against evil... he decided to band again with the brave fighters of the
Heoes of the Realms............
Hence was born....
-=HR Deity=-
God to the OHRA Winter Journey
(submitted by: Luthyen)
Luthyen glanced from the flet down to the path leading northward from
Meilikki's Glade, as their home had come to be known. Her hands smoothed the
woven white shirt with the sigel of a unicorn embroidered on it. It had been
too lightweight for Thorn to take with him on his journey North to IceWind
Dale, so she had kept it here. Beside it lay a box, containing a Yule gift
for her husband.
She sighed, restlessly. She had expected him back these several days. She
knew that the storms in the Northern regions might delay him, and so was not
very concerned.. yet. But bad things happened on Northern roads ..her mind
strayed to the last one she had loved and seen leave on a Northern Road.
That leave-taking had been different, though. When Gambit left, she knew
he was going on a Quest that would likely kill him. The news of his death,
though painful, had not really been a surprise. Thorn had been leaving on his
Ranger rounds, which at times drew him far from Neverwinter. She had her
Academy duties which kept her close by, and could not accompany him for this
journey. They had stood long at the foot of the Mallorn tree, arms wrapped
around each other, Elfstones glowing brightly, needing no words. His hands
had traced her features, as if to memorize them..and she had gazed long into
his deep-set eyes, wordlessly conveying her love for him.
She wished he would get home..he'd had no time to spend with Feld, since
his return. She had journeys to make for the academy...and lately there had
been rumors of an evil presence in the NeverWinter Woods. It was near their
special places, and she felt that she must soon go and help root it out. Tyst
had called for volunteers to aid in the investigation of the matter, and
appointed her to go.
Rising, Luthyen took the new tunic to Thorn's clothes press and folded
it in, on top. Taking up her pen, she wrote a note explaining her absence,
and sealed the parchment. She placed the gift, wrapped in white paper with a
gay green bow, on the very top, with the letter beside it. Smiling, she
closed the top, knowing that the first thing after a journey for Thorn would
be clean clothes and a bath. He would find the note and gift there. The
Elfstone pulsed softly, and she saw the special mote of green that was the
link to Thorn Hawk burn brightly. His thoughts were on her, wherever he
was...
Descending the tree, Luthyen took up her staff and began the trip to
Neverwinter City. Tyst had called for a meeting, and she would go, to learn
of the latest one of many evils that TP must fight.
~Luthyen
Thorn Hawk's Lady
Feldspar's MOM
TP Invokeress of Mages
TP Academy Rep
TP BrownieBakerA Winter's Gift
(submitted by: Thorn Hawk)
The sun broke through the heavy grey clouds above as Thorn Hawk made his way
south. His expedition north to Icewind Dale was halted as the pass north
closed only days before he arrived and then the blizzard hit. He spent near
a week in a small shelter as the wind howled through the trees and more snow
was piled on the already huge drifts. He should have been back in
Neverwinter by the time the storm broke and he was able to head home.
Stopping to let the sun warm his face, he adjusted the straps of his pack as
a fox poked its nose out of a snowdrift to wonder at the strange creature
before it. Smiling, Thorn Hawk continued south toward Mielikki's glade and
his wife. He missed her dearly though he often had to leave the glade in the
service of his goddess. They had been married only a short time and being
away from her still caused an ache in his heart each time he left. He hoped
it would always remain so. Reaching up to touch the spot where the elfstone
hung from its fine chain and feeling its warmth, he quickened his pace
knowing Luthyen was thinking of him. He suddenly laughed as the thought of
her making brownies and drinking Sir Roger's fire giant frenzy flashed
through his mind.
The road south improved as Thorn Hawk neared the glade and soon he found
himself entering the dryad's grove. Quietness hung over the grove which was
unusual as the flirtatious dryads normally kept the grove infested with men.
With a shrug, he headed for the small shrine and waterfall near the mallorn
tree and his home on the grove's eastern edge. Luthyen was not in the grove
he knew from the stone around his neck, but she was still in the woods
somewhere and the thought of surprising her upon her return hastened his
steps.
Glimpsing the tall tree in the distance, Thorn Hawk headed first to the
shrine and the diminutive statue of a woman that graced its center. He spent
much of his time here reflecting and communing with Mielikki. It was here
that he got a feeling of what happened in the woods nearby and the many
creatures that lived within its confines.
Something was wrong he knew upon entering the shrine, a feeling, a presence
that didn't belong. Fear suddenly blossomed as Luthy's face flickered
across Thorn Hawk's awareness and with blinding speed, he raced toward the
tall mallorn tree nearby. Climbing the ladder, he emerged on the flet sword
drawn only to find it empty. Glancing at the neatly arranged furnishings,
nothing struck him as odd until his storm grey eyes fell upon clothing that
didn't belong to him but was definitely a man's. Picking up the woolen
tunic, the smell of wood smoke drifted to his sensitive nose. Frowning, he
set the tunic down and went to wash and change. This could wait until he
felt refreshed from his long journey.
"In the name of . . . ," Thorn Hawk gasped as a grey ball of fluff came
hurling itself at him from behind a screen.
"Glad, what are you doing?" he asked to the quickly growing Tressym kitten.
"Mmmrrrrr," replied the kitten as he touched Thorn Hawk's mind relaying
contentment and a desire to eat.
"Let me get you something to eat while I get dressed," Thorn Hawk laughed
setting some food out for the ever hungry Tressym.
Soft purring was his only response as he opened his clothes' chest to reveal
a package in white paper along with a note. Smiling, he picked up the note
and package to uncover a white shirt beneath. Donning the shirt, he lightly
ran his finger over the unicorn woven over his heart as the elfstone flared
brightly picking up his mood. Quickly, he opened the package before reading
the note. He was still a child at heart however old he became and the
thought of gifts was at the forefront of his mind. His eyes grew misty as he
gazed at the finely linked snowflakes that made up the necklace inside.
Suspended from each was a small crystal that reflected the light of a nearby
candle as he closed the clasp around his neck. Sitting, he began reading the
note his wife had left as Glad climbed into his lap and promptly fell asleep.
A frown slowly worked its way onto his face as he finished reading the note.
Sighing, he reached for his sword and pack as Glad, momentarily disturbed by
Thorn's rising, went back to sleep.
"It must be the God's own blessing that keeps the young away from worry,"
thought Thorn sparing a glance at the kitten as he climbed from the flet and
headed in search of his wife. She was bound to find trouble and he wished to
be by her side when she did. He was sure he would think of a way to thank
her for the gifts along the way as well.
Thorn Hawk
Brotherhood of PathfindersSuddenly
(submitted by: ABK RASTIN)
We live in changing times.....where the good at heart are in decline
We are the victims of a evil plan
They want to destroy our people and enslave our land
ONE DAY IF SUDDENLY IM FORCED TO TAKE MY LEAVE...
WILL YOU STILL CARRY ON FOR THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE?
ONE DAY IF SUDDENLY THEY TAKE MY LIFE AWAY
WILL YOU STILL CARRY ON THE WAR WE FIGHT TODAY?
We need the brave at heart to now make a stand..we need the people to free
our land
We need the strength to fight and carry on we need a land united and strong
ONE DAY IF SUDDNLEY I AM FORCED TO TAKE MY LEAVE
WILL YOU STILL CARRY ON THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE?
ONE DAY IF SUDDNLEY THEY TAKE MY LIFE AWAY...
WILL YOU STILL CARRY ON THIS WAR WE FIGHT TODAY?
So now when the war is over...we you be at my side?
Will you have fought the fight or did you run and hide?
will you be there on the judgement day?
or will you let them take our freedom away?
ONE DAY IF SUDDNLEY IM FORCED TO TAKE MY LEAVE
WILL YOU STILL CARRY ON FOR THE THINGS THATW E BELIEVE?
ONE DAY IF SUDDENLY THEY TAKE MY LIFE AWAY
WILL YOU STILL FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AS I DO TODAY?
The Jewel
(submitted by: SOL Falcon)
The first sun was already sinking into the deep green of the hills to
the west bringing on the early shadows, when Garet began his ascent of White
Skull mounain. The trail reached ever upward into the peak becoming
untracable as it entered the surrounding pines home of a notoriously blood
thirsty pack of goblins known as the Black Hand. This as he had been told by
the shaman would be his first of three tests to reach the portal to the realm
of air. He still wasn't sure of exactly what it was he had to do to stop the
warlord but had agreed to go on the jouney if it meant his world would be
spared from the brutal forces of warlord Draith. Being a ranger of some
renown he had little doubt he could pass the first test.
He came to the edge of the woods within an hour of the second sun
setting and decided to make camp prior to entry. Many an unwary traveler had
been massacred by the Black Hand. Setting his wards out for the night he had
just nodded off when he was awakened by a scream. Quickly on his feet he
tried to determine where the call came from when once again he heard the
scream coming distinctly from deeper in the woods. Pausing to gather his
items, he than ran towards the part of the woods where he thought the screams
had originated. After covering what he estimated to be half a league he came
into sight of a small clearing where he observed a most unusual sight. A
bonfire was burning bright in the center and atop an altar was a small gnome
which appeared to be female in form and was tied down spread eagle. An
over-sized goblin was bent over the captive carving runes into the flesh and
chanting in its guttaral language. As he looked closer he noticed fourteen
goblins forming a circle around the altar.
Thinking to himself that that was more than even a ranger lord could
handle he debated on how best to handle the situation. Wasn't his mission of
primary importance, why risk it for a dirty, ignorant little gnome. At this
moment the head goblin was starting to inscribe a third rune into the gnomes
chest. This elicited another high pitched scream which snapped him from his
reverie into acttion. Pulling his ashwood long bow he quickly fired four
arrows the last in the air before the first had hit its inended target. The
first arrow took the head goblin in the eye killing him instantly. The next
three arrows each dropping one of the fourteen goblins in the circle.
The rest of the group proceeded to look in the direction from whence the
shafts of death had come but alas no killer could be found. What happened
next is the stuff of bard's tales but alas this tale has never made it till
now.
Garet upon seeing his intial success quickly moved around the clearing
to reposition himself to once again try the same idea but by this time the
goblins had wised up and only two were struck down the other two arrows
missing vital areas on two other goblins but taking them down none the less.
At this point the remaining goblins scatered and fled while Garet snuck
around to untie the gnome who was bleeding quite badly at this time. As he
began untying her she mouthed the words "ware" and dropped a crystal into
his hands that she had somehow hidden from the goblins while being tortured.
He proceeded to untie her other hand and at that moment realized his mistake
as heard the clinking of armored warriors entering the grove.
From everywhere at once the gnarled green bodies of goblins emerged in
armor with swords drawn. "We have been trying to get that eagle jewel from
that wretched priestess for days now and you have proven to be the key we
needed to fool her. Hand it over and thy life shall be spared human."
Pondering on his options Garet came to realize that here was one of
those points in life where an individuals spirit either rises to face the
situation or begins to bend until finally broken. Once again the leader
demanded his decision giving him but sparse seconds to decide. True to his
inner self Garet's spirit soared and what proceeded is the stuff of legends.
Quickly diving to the left and jamming the jewel into his pouch he
was immediately set upon by the nearest goblin warriors. They seem to come
from everywhere at once their gnarled green bodies sliding from concealment
of the bushes. Garet met the rush with his long sword in one hand and hunting
knife in the other. Dispatching the first two with a slice of the sword to
open the left ones abdomen and spilling his entrails before him then
reversing the stroke to bring the blade down and split helm and head in two
for tthe one on the right. With sweeping cuts he kept them at bay while
putting a large oak at his back. The bolts from the goblin crossbows were
whizzing past him some sticking in the oak behind him some barely missing.
The goblins quickly assembled for a charge, on they came, once again swinging
his sword he opened up a nasty cut on the lead one's face who stumbled and
slowed tthe charge. Driving his knife through the eye of the next nearest he
suddenly felt a rage come upon him unlike any before. Swinging his sword
became an effortless deed and in the building rage no longer saw individual
enemies. The goblins had never in their lives encountered a man such as this,
Garet's gleaming long sword cutting a path through the shorter swords with
such ferocity that the goblins fell over each other trying to escape. Panting
with the strain and covered with slashes and blood of the attackers he
finally came back to reality with a jarring lurch.
The clearing was deserted except for the the body of the gnome.
Walking over to her to see if he could bandage her wounds he saw that her
throat had been slit. In the middle of the clearing a shimmering haze began
to coalesce in to the form of a human woman. Garet looked upon her and she
took his breath away for he thought to himself that she must be a greater
beauty than any he had seen in his lifetime. Beckoning toward him to come
closer his legs moved him before he knew what was happening. The next he
realized he was kneeling before her and staring up into eyes that swallow'd
him whole, body and soul. Putting her hands upon either side of his head he
felt warmth move through his body washing away the pain of the recent battle.
In his mind he heard the echo of her voice, `You have passed your
first test my love. You have proven to hold true and look beyond the outer
shell while having courage where most would falter. Keep the jewel and
proceed up the mountain to face your second trial and remember that at the
darkest of times keep true to thy self and you will prevail.'(submitted by:
Bloodglade)
Fellow Neverwinterians. We have all witnessed the numerous newbies that have
flooded the realms due to the new AOL pricing plan. I have sat in shock and
great disappointment as I have seen countless adventurers ignore or even pick
on the poor fledgling adventurers.
Well no more! I have taken it upon myself to help these misguided masses.
For instance, a newbie approached me and asked what a guild was. This is a
very good question. All newbies should pay attention.
A guild is an association of adventurers based on profession, alignment or
race. They are typically formed for adventuring, advice and role-playing.
I recommend you find adventurers with the letters "ITB" at the beginning of
their names. This is a guild that dedicates themselves to helping newbies.
You see, ITB stands for "Introductory Teaching Brotherhood". Their goal is
to help others. Go up to an ITB member and tell them that you want a tour of
the Sewers. They will fall over themselves racing to the Sewers with you.
Not only will you make new friends, but you will also learn NWN terms like
"gating" and "feebing"!
No, no, no. No need to thank me. Helping newbies is thanks
enough.(submitted by: J0HN J0HN)
Well I'm still a newbie (been playing about 3 weeks now) and even I can
understand why some people are bashing newbies. There seems to be two
different categories of newbies and the distinction between the two are
great.
There's the first type, which seem to be mature people who want to learn
about and play the game and add to everyone elses enjoyment of it. They ask
for and give help to and from others and they dont make demands on others and
thank those that aid them. These players don't want a lot of help because
they want to figure things out and learn things on their own and get
enjoyment from doing so.
There's another type that seem best to be described in the old AD&D
term of monty haulers. They want power and magic goodies and high levels and
everything else and they dont want to work for em. They sit around the vaults
begging for magic items (1st and 2nd lvl characters just dont need magic
stuff if your fighting things in the wharves and warehouse district). These
players pester people to take them out and get them xp and they demand that
you max them when doing so. They dont care to play an intermediate level
character and see what they can do they want to be 10th or 11th lvl without
going on a solo adventure just have someone take them out get the xp and max
them with no effort on the players part. The maturity level of this second
group is low. They are constantly whining and complaining and when you do
help them out a little they ask for more and you cant give it they run to
someone else without so much as a thank you. These same players have a
tendancy to curse in the game frequently over stupid trivial stuff and even
sometimes engage in pvp in non pvp areas because somebody did something that
irritated them. Also, this second group never seems to learn. they constantly
are asking the same questions over and over again and I'm constantly telling
people stuff that can easily be found in the Journal or the other two files
in the download section. There's a lot of newbies that wont take the time to
download these things and make the effort to read them. Theres a lot of info
in the journal (not everything you need to knows in there but its a start)
and by reading it newbies will save themselves the pain and embarasment of
asking some of the stupid questions I've heard some ask.
Sorry, I dont mean to make this post threatening or dont want anyone to
think I'm singling them out but I wanted to point out that there was a
difference between all us newbies and that we shouldn't all be lumped into
one big category :-)(submitted by: Loraque)
************************************************************
Sylvan Procurements
Fine & Rare Artifacts
from the farthest reaches of the Sword Coast
***open now and then, and by appointment***
See: Loraque
*************************************************************
Looking for an unusual or rare item you can't find in Neverwinter or the
surrounding areas??
Our carefully screened and selected suppliers and agents scour the enchanted
and mystical locales of Mirabar, Silverymoon, Elturel, & the Moonshae Isles
to secure these treasures for our discriminating clients.
Visit our shop in Neverwinter City. It's located across the street from
Kroegel's Arms and Armor.
Open now and then and by special appointment.
***************************************************************
Loraque
Fence
Pirates of Neverwinter
Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm contest by submitting text
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