1997-02-02
Recovered original text · preserved verbatim
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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 171
Week Ending 2-2-97
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FRONT PAGE
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Well, it was very difficult picking a winner from last week's record of 38
entries to the News. However, one had to be chosen. ;D
Congratulations to Xenobea for winning last week's News of the Realm contest
for her story entitled "The Journey".
Xenobea has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes). Keep up the good work! ;D
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Congratulations to the Brotherhood of the Pathfinders for compiling the most
"Newsworthy" entries to the News of the Realms for January!! They win the
monthly reward of 4 pearls which goes directly into their guild fund!! ;D
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Greets all!
I'm sure many of you have noticed the problems Neverwinter is presently
experiencing with players being punted from the game. To clarify, it seems
that AOL has made an "improvement" which sends a message every 45 minutes
asking if you'd like to remain logged onto the system. If you do not reply
immediately it logs you off. Further information about this feature can be
found in the AOL Insider (Keyword:AOL Insider).
In some parts of the service and while doing various tasks (uploading a file,
browsing the web, and I'm sure others), you never see that message, are
unable to respond, and lose your connection. Games are affected, Neverwinter
of course is affected by this improvement.
Unfortunately, until AOL does make a change and either backs that new usage
timer out of the system, or make some other remedy, you're advised to QTS
(Quit to System) every half hour or so. You might even want to log off and
back on again to be certain that you won't be punted. It's my understanding
that these punts are causing a variety of problems, the least of which are
massive ghosting in the game, the greatest of which are the loss of
experience and items.
I'm sure we all realize how impossible it is to conduct any sort of event in
the game while these punt conditions are in effect. <FONT COLOR="#000000"
SIZE=3>As a result of these technical problems and until further notice, ALL
in-game events are cancelled. These include Tours, Mini Booths, Mini
Festivals, and Location Hunts. Additionally all Guild Sponsored In Game
Events will be cancelled. Unfortunately, this situation has also resulted in
the postponement/cancellation of the "not quite announced yet" Winter
Celebration. As soon as we have some remedy for the situation, I'll get
those events rolling again.
Note that all events OUTSIDE the game will continue as normal. WWAI, Trivia,
the Great Hall Tavern and the News of the Realms contests will occur as
scheduled.
Neverwinter is NOT the only area affected and we have strongly expressed our
concerns to AOL. As soon as we have any futher updates, we'll advise you
all.
Regards,
NW Events
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Pearl Plan Transaction Form!!
Greets all!
I'm happy to announce that a new Pearl Plan Transaction Form has been linked
into our main Neverwinter Nights screen (Keyword: AD&D). This form was
specifically designed to deal with the most frequently requested
transactions. It automatically generates a mail message and sends it
directly to NW Oyster and NW Events. It is our hope that the use of this
form will assist you in providing all of the necessary information for each
type of transaction, thereby expediting the entire process and allowing us to
respond more quickly to your requests.
Please note that the use of this form REQUIRES that you be logged onto the
system and using the screen name whose account you wish to be effected by the
transaction request. Be sure to confirm which screen name you're signed on
with before using the form! Please do NOT use this form if you have no ideas
what pearls are and how they might relate to Neverwinter Nights or you do not
have a pearl account. You can find information about the Pearl Plan at
Keyword: AD&D in the Neverwinter Nights Events area.
Full details and instructions for the form are located in the Neverwinter
Nights Events area in the article "Pearl Plan Transaction Form Instructions".
(Keyword:AD&D >> Neverwinter Nights Events >> Pearl Plan Transaction Form
Instructions)
Thanks to the folks that suggested that this kind of a form would be helpful!
;D Happily we were able to get it setup though not QUITE in time to coincide
with the Pearl Database e-mails. Ah well... still, it's there now! It's
pretty basic, without the bells and whistles, but.. it works and we have
great hopes that it will help us toward our goal of improving the pearl plan.
Regards,
NW Events
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New Player's Tour - 1/25
The Crypt!
I was standing in line to try to get my taxes paid early in the Warehouse
district, when I got a note from Lord Nasher.
"Satin -- Somehow the crypts in Port Llast have become animated. I've heard
at least three reports of numerous undead there, and they were not Camarilla.
Gather a group of adventurers and take care of it. - Nasher"
I immediately told Elwind the news and we put forth a call for new
adventurers to join me on my quest. The adventurers rushed forth and we were
soon overwhelmed by monsters attempting to thwart our commencement. Finally
we got started and entered Windy Cliffs, where our group was split due to a
fight right at the entrance! This was going to be no easy task.
Deciding to try to go with the few I had left and hope that we would be able
to work together and rid the crypts of the ghouls and zombies, we took a
secret passage to Port Llast in hopes we would not again be separated.
Along the way, we found a few adventurers interested in joining us, and lost
a few as well, though the trip was unnervingly easy going. I started to get
nervous that we would find too many undead for us to handle, as the path
seemed devoid of monsters and adventurers.
Finally arriving at the crypts, we began at the northernmost one. It was
infested and we quickly dispatched the assorted undead creatures. We
attempted to check the others but accidentally moved through a one way door.
Realizing our quest was nearly complete and being exhausted, some decided to
stay at the inn in Port Llast, but Raiko Date and I traveled back to report
to Nasher.
Nasher was short and to the point. "Theives in Southwall!" So, once again I
went forth to patrol another area. Bringing a few adventurers with me, we
stumbled along the path, finally arriving at the thieves hide out, where we
admonished, and then destroyed them, leaving one stupid, but alive to spread
the word.
Thanks to all the adventurers who began the quests, traveled along, or
finished the deeds with me.
Raiko Date, Spcetd, Obl1vion, EssenceXX, BigKahn, Ja Mosha, AC Blak,
DarkTunde, UDL Horus, Adaraalgar, Confsa, Cgnito.
And a special thanks to V Insanity for finding lost adventurers and
delivering them to be unbitten.
-- NWA Satin
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Fireball Booth Winners - 1/26
Feeling particularly fiery today, I sent a call out through the realms for 15
volunteers to test their saves against my fireballs. Heeding my call were:
Doughbless, Jhaelena, CW Jade, Drac0l0k, Tesslara X, Lrd Vinman, Lok Bomber,
O Xinjinn, Sun Feroz, Mfrazi, Sir Razdor, Bloodghoul, Gon Hexon, Warr Agony,
and UDL Savage.
The Warehouse District was really heated up today with all the fireballs I
threw. Tesslara X was able to dodge them the best, taking only 34 points of
damage from two throws, and wins 4 pearls! Warr Agony got caught by my
strongest single cast of the day, and took a total of 68 points of damage,
claiming the 2 pearl prize.
Thank you to everyone who participated. :D
--NW Sparkle
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NEVERWINTER CALENDAR
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Greets all!
I'm sure many of you have noticed the problems Neverwinter is presently
experiencing with players being punted from the game. To clarify, it seems
that AOL has made an "improvement" which sends a message every 45 minutes
asking if you'd like to remain logged onto the system. If you do not reply
immediately it logs you off. Further information about this feature can be
found in the AOL Insider (Keyword:AOL Insider).
In some parts of the service and while doing various tasks (uploading a file,
browsing the web, and I'm sure others), you never see that message, are
unable to respond, and lose your connection. Games are affected, Neverwinter
of course is affected by this improvement.
Unfortunately, until AOL does make a change and either backs that new usage
timer out of the system, or make some other remedy, you're advised to QTS
(Quit to System) every half hour or so. You might even want to log off and
back on again to be certain that you won't be punted. It's my understanding
that these punts are causing a variety of problems, the least of which are
massive ghosting in the game, the greatest of which are the loss of
experience and items.
I'm sure we all realize how impossible it is to conduct any sort of event in
the game while these punt conditions are in effect. <FONT COLOR="#000000"
SIZE=3>As a result of these technical problems and until further notice, ALL
in-game events are cancelled. These include Tours, Mini Booths, Mini
Festivals, and Location Hunts. Additionally all Guild Sponsored In Game
Events will be cancelled. Unfortunately, this situation has also resulted in
the postponement/cancellation of the "not quite announced yet" Winter
Celebration. As soon as we have some remedy for the situation, I'll get
those events rolling again.
Note that all events OUTSIDE the game will continue as normal. WWAI, Trivia,
the Great Hall Tavern and the News of the Realms contests will occur as
scheduled.
Neverwinter is NOT the only area affected and we have strongly expressed our
concerns to AOL. As soon as we have any futher updates, we'll advise you
all.
Regards,
NW Events
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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, February 4th
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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Beggar King of Neverwinter
(submitted by: LuvBytes)
Purple streaked the evening sky as the mighty chariot of Apollo was close
to landing for the day. Something tugged at the back of his mind, like a
mindflayer licking his lips before the feast. What, pray tell, could he have
forgotten? Or was it more a pang of danger lurking near? He sat up right
sniffing the air like a wolf, tasting the salty twang of death hovering in
shadows. Yes, no longer was he alone, this he knew, but what manner of
creature from Hades had tracked him down this time? Slowly he stands up,
acting as if nothing is wrong, he readies himself. Laughing to himself he
chuckles "death comes to all men at least once, why then does it visit me
daily?"
All at once he pulls out the magic sword he was given readies the shield
and plate mail both magical and both given as gifts. 'Tis nice to have
freinds he thinks...wish they were here now... ha!The Lost Passage - Part 1
From the Mountain
(submitted by: Lake Mist)
The trip from the destroyed altar took longer than expected. Cerdith
was still very weak and Primrose was not getting any better. The poison had
been stopped, or at least slowed, but she needed to be taken to a temple as
soon as possible. The closest temple any of them knew of was in Triboar.
That meant making Longsaddle and then traveling south through Berrun. A trip
to not look forward to.
Two days into the trip down the mountain, all the vials of healing
potion were used up. Cerdith was sitting up at night around the fire and
taking little bits of food and RiverSwift's wounds were better. Primrose was
moving around better, but still pallid from the poison. It wasn't advancing,
but she was still very weak. Lake Mist's wounds had healed over, but he was
still moving with sudden jerks of pain. It was all TroutRasta could do to
keep some from turning around and heading back up the mountain. Everyone
wanted to go back, but they knew they had to get their injured off the
mountain.
It took nine days to down the side of the mountain and another two days
to get to Longsaddle. Once everyone was settled into the inn for their first
nights rest in weeks, Lake Mist headed to the arms dealer just across the
lane. "I have need of a sword, my good fellow." Lake Mist remarked as he
entered the shop. The shop keeper eyed him with a weathered and well trained
sense that instinctively guessed a travelers true nature. "Wait here a
moment, I think I have just the sword you are looking for," he said as he
disappeared behind a curtain in the rear of the shop.
When he returned, he carried an ordinarily brown leather broad sword
sheath with a common looking hilt and guard showing from the top. The
leather of the grip well worn, but still ready to be used again. "I think my
good ranger, that this is just the weapon you need. Do not be deceived by
you see on the outside." as he stepped forward and pulled the sword about
half way out of the sheath. Lake Mist's eyes grew wide when he saw the Elven
runes on the side of the blade. He couldn't read them all, but he recognized
the word "Harbinger" and the sign of the god Tyr.
As he strapped the sheath to his back where his longsword had once hung,
he reached into bag hanging from his shoulder and retrieved a small bag. "I
hope this payment enough for such a weapon," he said as he tossed the bag of
gems and jewels to the shop keeper. As his hand touched the bag in the air,
the shop keeper smiled and nodded, "There be more than enough here, I only
wish I could give you more. I fear you are about to travel a lonely and
dangerous path." Lake Mist smiled and bowed, "Friendship and faith such as
yours shall have to be enough." He turned and stepped out quickly.
Back at the inn, he went to check on Primrose. She was sleeping soundly
as he kissed her on the forehead. He touched her right hand gently and hoped
that she would understand when she woke up. He then headed to TroutRasta's
room. Knocking on the door, he noticed it was ajar. Pushing it gently open
and stepping into the room, his hand on the hilt of his sword, Trout looked
up and smiled, "What took you so long? I have traveling rations ready for
the two of us. We are going back up the mountain, aren't we?"
Lake Mist smiled at his friend and brother, "Aye. I should have known
that I would not have to ask you, that you would be ready." Trout handed him
a bag of rations and the two of them silently slipped out of the inn and
headed north, back to the mountain. They both knew that after a couple of
days rest, RiverSwift and the others would be able to reach Triboar and then
gather other rangers and clerics to aid them on the mountain.
As they walked, Lake Mist thought of the runes on the broad sword and
decided that he and Trout would most definitely be harbingers of
justice.Love's Blossoming
(submitted by: Auber0n)
Auberon woke in his bed, his dreams had been filled with his teacher,
Memoria, as they had more and more often of late. In fact, he dreamt of her
now more often than he did of his past, which had troubled him so greatly
ever since he arrived in Neverwinter. He looked outside, and knew by the
moon's position on the horizon, that the sisters had long since left the
Tavern, but he hoped that he could find his teacher there, and present her
with the gifts he had carried in his pack since the solstice. He stood up,
getting out of bed gracefully, and sang a short verse, a soft blue shirt
appeared on his torso, and supple deerskin breeches on his legs. His hair
began to braid itself with colored ribbons that floated from the nearby
table, and feathers as he commonly wore in his hair appeared by the grace of
his magic. His knapsack floated to his hand, and by the time he had reached
the door, he was entirely prepared for his trip to the Tavern.
Auberon entered the Tavern, and looked around, searching eagerly for the
stunning Kindred he had come to know as a friend and teacher. He saw her
sitting at a table across the room, and his breath caught in his throat. Her
red dress brought out the color in her lips, her radiant beauty lighting the
room, just as her melancholy expression, that she was trying to conceal with
a tokenly pleasant expression, brought the room down. He strolled across the
room, his long, graceful strides carrying him to her table. He bowed, a
smile turning the corners of his lips upward, and he pressed his lips to the
back of her hand. The taste was exquisite, and that, combined with her blush
made him want never to remove his lips from her creamy skin. She motioned
for him to sit down as soon as he took his lips from her hand, and with the
grace granted him by his elven heritage, he complied.
He gazed at her for what seemed like an eternity, her silver eyes drawing him
inexorably into their depths, threatening to drown him in the angry sea of
emotions that roiled within. His smile was one borne of adoration for the
most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes upon, and it was sheer luck
that a thought of his purpose for coming to the Tavern had entered his mind,
otherwise, he could easily have remained staring at her forever and never
noticed.
"I have a present for you, fair one..." Auberon said, the warm tones of his
baritone voice carried a sense of anxiety and happiness. He reached down
into his pack, and withdrew to packages, one wrapped in brilliant violet
paper, the other deep blue silks. He slid them across the table to her,
consciously restraining himself from biting his lip, or showing one of his
other nervous habits.
"I know that they are late in the giving, but 'tis my opinion that the
thought is far more important than punctuality."
He could not help himself about apologizing, his mind was telling him that if
he wouldn't express his nervousness, then at least he was going to apologize
profusely. He watched her carefully, the expression of curiosity that played
upon her face at first confused him, and then gave him a glimmer of hope. He
leaned closer as she examined the violet package, mentioning how it reminded
her of the ribbons that he always wore braided with his hair. She gently
pulled the paper from the package, and looked inside. There was a golden
necklace, from which hung a amethyst pendant that glowed with its own, soft
light.
"Oh, Auberon, I am not worthy of a gift this beautiful..." Her voice trailed
off as she continued to stare at the pendant.
"In that, fairest Memoria, you are wrong. It is the gift's beauty that does
not compare to yours, certainly not the other way around. The enchantment on
the necklace is minor -- it allows you to speak with any living creature."
He continued to study her features, and noticed the excitement that lit up in
her eyes at his words. He continued to watch Memoria, and tuned out the harp
that had begun to play in the background, keeping his eyes and mind focused
on the Toreador that sat in front of him.
Memoria glanced down at her dress, a faint frown crossing her full, crimson
lips, and a soft sigh escaped through those very miracles of creation. She
hummed a soft phrase, even without volume, her voice was better than any he
had ever heard. As she finished the phrase, which was remarkably similar to
the same one he had used to get dressed not a half hour before, her red gown
was replaced by another. The new gown was a pale lilac, of delicate elven
lace. The gown fit her perfectly, both in measurements, and features. Her
creamy alabaster skin was the perfect complement to the soft colors of the
gown, and her silver tresses only helped to highlight her angelic features.
She asked softly if he would help her put on the necklace, and his response
was both immediate and definitive -- of course he would.
He leaned over close to her, brushing silver locks of hair aside in order to
better reach around her neck and clasp the necklace. His long, delicate
fingers brushed against her neck as he placed the enchanted jewelry about her
neck. He fought back a grin as the shiver passed through her body.
"Are you trying to see how often you can raise the color to my cheeks?" She
asked, still looking forward.
"Nay, Memoria, simply stating something that was on my mind." He flashed a
smile he knew to be his most winning without realizing it until after he had
done it, and she tilted her head back, presumably to discover whether he was
truthful or not. The neckline of her gown slid lower, and it took all of
Auberon's willpower not to glance down. Her sultry whisper did not help to
strengthen his resolve.
"Is there... anything else on your mind tonight?"
Auberon felt his willpower begin to falter, and closed his eyes so as to
prevent his eyes from wandering where they were unwelcome. He sighed softly,
unhappy with himself for not having stronger resolve, though as he opened his
eyes and glanced down at the glorious creature, he knew that he could not
hold himself entirely at fault.
Auberon motioned towards the remaining package, hoping to take his mind off
of Memoria's incomparable beauty. She gently unwrapped the layers of blue
silk from the gift, and exposed a lute made of rosewood. Vines and roses
twined about the face of the instrument in a never-ending cycle, no matter
how you followed the plants, you would always end up returning to the same
place. The soft scent of roses wafted up from the gorgeous lute, part of the
small enchantment that also prevented the lute from going out of tune. The
look on her face was one of awe, reverence, and sheer, unadulterated delight.
"Oh sweetest Hanali... it's... how... how did you know?"
Auberon smiled faintly, and replied simply :
"I make it my business to know, Memoria."
Auberon watched her for a moment longer, before leaning close to her ear and
with a whisper, asked her if she liked it. She nodded, saying she loved it,
and her hand rose to his lips, brushing against them softly. Auberon's own
hand followed hers, keeping her fingers pressed to his lips as he kissed her
fingertips.
"It's like a dream..." she muttered, the two of them staring deeply into each
other's eyes.
She turned her eyes down, sighing softly.
"I... I don't want it to ever end. I'm... afraid to wake." These last words
were whispered, almost inaudibly.
He stroked her hair softly, his gentle touch seeking to drive away all her
worries and her fears. She glanced up at the elf who had just entered, a man
he knew as Hawke and no more, and then quickly looked back down, something
unknown evident on her face.
"How did you know about this lute, love?" She asked him, gazing up into his
eyes.
"It came from a dream, but I had not known that it was in yours, too."
The two elves discussed the lute further, Mem's eyes flickering now and again
to Hawke. The frequency of her glances grew, her attention span obviously
lessening with every passing moment the two men were in the same room with
her. Auberon continued to rest his hands upon her shoulders, reveling in the
feel of her cool, creamy alabaster skin beneath his fingertips.
With the same senses that Memoria had been teaching him to use as a
performer, he read Memoria's emotions. He sensed turmoil, emotions building
into an eruption waiting to happen, akin to a volcano. Hawke, without
Auberon's noticing had come over to stand with the two of him, only causing
Memoria to slip further into her roiling sea of emotions.
Memoria stood quickly, kissed the two men, and ran from the inn, leaving
Auberon utterly bewildered.Cadet Destroys Holders
(submitted by: Zindio)
The sun had set many hours ago in the Realms, the Half-elf known as
Zindio woke up,streached, yawned and blinked sleepedly around his room at
Windycliffs.
"Guess I had better do some Ranger stuff", he thought. Reaching under
the bed he drew a pile of parchment maps into the light. Studying the maps
he took two of them and put them into his pocket. Gathering his Trident and
wineskin he looked over the room again then strode out into the night.
A mere 10 minutes later he was at the Drac fights in Windy. The long
line of fighters was discouraging, turning away he headed north into Port
Llast. Fighting his way ther he entered the caves where dracs were screaming
thier pain and hate. " Long lines at all the drac holes it looks like", he
thought.
Sensing a Protectorate cadet not too far away he ESP'd the indivdual.
"Runewarior, ye be close by?" " Yes, at the vaults at the moment." came the
reply. "Hail cadet, ye want to go north wit meself and kill 'holders?" "Yes,
be right with you. Uh, Where are you?" Chuckling Zindio relayed where he was.
Several minutes later Runewarior was there. Turning North Zindio and the
cadet headed for Luskan, that cold forbidden country to the far north of the
palace. "When we get to Luskan's entrance give meself a couple seconds to
look at me map son, don't want to get us lost,OK?" "Sure OK with me." the
cadet said grinning. Several fights later the party of two arrived at the
inn. "Nice to travel with a good natured human with so much power." thought
Zindio. Aloud he said" Mem and prep, we be going down into dark caves me
friend." Both prepared themselves.
The trip into the caves wasn't too bad, Zindio had some wounds that he
quickly healed. Looking at his maps again, and using the infrared spectrum
in his multi colred eyes, he led the cadet west,south, and west, down to the
Beholder's caves. Whispering to Runewarior Zindio gave him instructions,"
Mem,rest, and when the room be clear ye go first, I'll follow. The answer to
the riddle be in yer timepiece." The room cleared, the cadet charged through
the door, secons later Zindio followed. Surprize! The room was full of
zentil fighters, two Beholders, giants, but no Runewarior. Casting a spell
of prtection and getting a fireball ready, Zindio was disintergrated and was
gated. Runewarior was at the gate also. "Lets go back me friend and Gurth
goth Tel'Quessir!( Death to the foes of The People!)" Encourged by the
Ranger-scout's tenacity, Rune followed Zindio below again.
This time one Beholder was sliced neatly in half by Rune's Scrimitar,
Giants and zenthil fighters were fried by Zindio's fireballs, The last Holder
was leaking fluids from a hole in it's side made by the Ranger-scout's
Trident when Runewarior sliced it in half, the last zehentil fighter
surrendered to Zindio.
Back at the inn, drinking ale and wine Zindio shook the cadet's hand, " Ye
will be a good addition to The Protectorates me friend, I'll be sure to tell
The Guild about ye when it's asked. Good day and good luck to ye."
Zindio left the inn and headed for the nice, quite woods.The Stalking
(submitted by: Spryte)
Invisible, hasted, enlarged and half-berserk, the tiny Spryte edged
closer to his unsuspecting prey. Long minutes had already passed in
stealthful manuevers around Nasher's Castle, and the moment of truth was upon
him.
With the speed of a lighting bolt, he flew around the bole of the
ancient elm, dove for the open window and pounced! It was a gracefully
performed "Butterfly Stings Snake!" In truth, the defenseless apple pie
never had a chance. Nevertheless, Spryte did his little victory dance around
the plate and ate up like a frog swallowing a newbie. :)
Executing the obligatory belch, (sound of a cricket mis-firing) he
flittered away in search of even tastier prey wondering, "How could RG Tyger
have left such a wonderful treat sitting on that window sill? Just lucky I
'found' it before it fell and was wasted." :)
Tastefully submitted by
Spryte :)Dark Findings
(submitted by: Rounlin)
My name is Rounlin Starwolf the Pure. I come from the land of Thyraie
across the Moon Sea beyond the snow capped mountains of Render. I have
traveled for many countless days and nights looking for some freindly faces,
but alas I have found none.
I wish sometimes that I could end it all. For the quest of Good vs Evil is a
tedious one indeed. Every day I am hunted by the forces of darkness that
seek my soul. But I overcome their black powers and press on. I was given
this "gift" I call it from my Father. He branded a pentacle on my right
upper arm when I was just a wee little lad in my castle in Thyraie.
That's when the evil started to plague my dreams. That was 22 years ago. It
gradually increased to the point that I was plagued not only in my dreams but
also in my awaking hours. I ask myself time and time again why I must be
continually tested day in and day out. I grow weary from the tests. In my
journeys I have come across many a strange and wonderous findings.
From the shoguns of the Isle of Honshu, the "Black Sisters" of Hether, to the
Parthenon of Athens. Along my journey I rest where I can and eat off the
land wherever I may roam. My roof is the trees, my bed is the ground on
which I sleep, and my pillow is my cloak. Once I was married to a beautiful
young lass in Fort Linere. Trying to forget where I'm from and who I am.
But alas the dark forces arose once more. They killed my wife and my two
sons. From that day forward I vowed that I would vanguish all evil and its
dominions. Even in death I shall overcome the powers of the darkness. My
Father once taught me that we should turn the other cheek. But that day has
long since past. Today is the time for revenge on those who cheated me out
of happiness. And they all shall perish in the Gates of Hates.
This is my journal entry number one. This is the first time I have actually
sat down and wrote part of my story in a long while. To whomever reads this
I hope you find rejoice in what I have written down here in my lore. And I
hope that you never have to go through what I am today. For these are my
"Dark Findings" and let the Evil know that I Rounlin Starwolf the Pure will
hunt you all down and vanquish you all.The Shadow's Caress
(submitted by: BryanSatyr)
Bryan sat leaning against the old oak tree that he had loved ever since he
had come to Neverwinter. The Glade that it was a part of was rife with
Glamour, and since there was no one else that had laid claim to that
particular Freehold, he liked to call it his own. He placed his hand on the
Stone that provided all the Glamour for this Freehold, and pulled some into
himself, relishing in the feel of once again being full of the stuff of
dreams.
Drawing upon some of the Glamour that now filled him, fallen wood from the
area surrounding the Glade floated to the center of the dreamy clearing, and
piled itself, stacking in preparation for a fire. Bryan hummed a few bars of
the madrigal 'Fire, Fire' and in a flash of angry blue light, a fire was lit.
He pulled his cloak about his shoulders, huddling nearer to the fire for
warmth. His recent encounter with Kyrasha had left him feeling cold,
betrayed.
He was so intent on remembering what had happened that night in the Tavern,
his first visit to the Realms in a long time, that he didn't notice when that
the shadows were gathering around the fire, and forming into a humanoid.
Bryan closed his eyes, sighing softly. The shadows continued to lengthen and
gather, a man emerging from the cover of the shadows. His eye sockets glowed
with a brilliant violet light. The shadowy man stepped forward into the
fire's light, and patiently waited for Bryan to open his eyes, making no
sound whatsoever. When Bryan opened his eyes slowly, they got wide with
surprise.
"Why, Shaldren... It is... uhm... so... nice to see you... again."
The usually eloquent satyr was tripping over his own tongue as he struggled
to fight back the surprise and fear that was rising in his throat. He woes
were forgotten as he gazed upon the shadow-man.
"Oh... But Bryan, surely you are ecstatic knowing that I am alive, sort of.
You would be amazed at the kind of things that can happen to people that are
left for dead on the Demiplane of Shadow. The things I learned from the
natives would surprise you."
Bryan glanced around, and frowned, seeing hundreds of beady, crimson eyes
glowing in the darkness that surrounded the Glen. Shaldren raised his hands
above his head, shadows gathering around him in a palpable mass. The beady
eyes were emerging from the darkness and Bryan could no see that the eyes
belonged to bodies of pure shadow, small, rat-like bodies. He frowned, his
eyes filled with worry, and fear.
"Come now, Bryan... There is no reason to be afraid. Not if you do me a
favor, anyhow. I want something, something you can get for me. I am certain
that you can. Because if you can't..." Shaldren's voice trailed off
ominously.
"Wh... what would you like me to get for you, Shaldren?"
"Hmmm... Well, since you asked, I will tell you. I want you to bring me one
of those things - Ah, I do think they are called... hmm... Cream Puffs?
No... no... ah yes, Eclairs. Yes, do bring me some Eclairs, Bryan."
Bryan sat up, a bead of sweat falling off his forehead to land on the bed
that he had not slept in for quite along time. Perhaps it was the bed that
had brought him such strange dreams, because he had not had dreams so full of
incredible strangeness since he had left the Freehold the last time, when his
dreams had been plagued with images of...
Bryan turned his head, glancing at the small digital clock that he powered
with Glamour, not having access to direct electricity here on the Realms.
3:01, presumably in the morning, as it was still dark outside. He stood, and
walked over to the cabinet that was nothing more than an illusion. He passed
his hand over it, and it disappeared, revealing the crystal mirror framed by
the sapphire serpent. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to get it under
control, and then whispered a phrase to the mirror.
Sapphire mists gathered in the surface of the mirror, giving off a faint
light, revealing the Glen that he had just dreamt of. The light from the
mirror Illuminated the room, but it was moonlight that illuminated the glen,
falling through the cover of the trees overhead to leave dots of silvery
light pooled in the clearing. A deer was busy grazing near the Stone that
gave off the Glamour, and there were sprites dancing gleefully in the center
of the Glen.
Bryan smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief. There was no shadow-man after
all. He passed his hand over the mirror, and the image faded, the cabinet
returning to the place that it had occupied previously. He opened the
cabinet and pulled out a small plastic bottle marked 'Ibuprofen' and poured
three small brown pills into his hand. He conjured a glass of water, and
quickly swallowed the pills.
As Bryan laid down in his bed, he failed to notice the shadows that were
gathering in the corner of his chambers, a dull lavender light illuminating
the shadows. The light was being given off by two small, glowing pinpoints
of light in what appeared to be the head of the humanoid made of living
shadow. Bryan shut his eyes, drifting quickly back into sleep. But Shaldren
grinned, he found he could control Bryan's dreams. If he could control the
dreams of that powerful a Seer, who was to say that he couldn't go on and
control the dreams of other Kithain? He rubbed his shadowy hands together,
and floated towards the cabinet that Bryan had shown him to be illusionary.
Shaldren passed his hand over the cabinet, and couldn't suppress a pleased
smile when the illusionary piece of wood disappeared in a flash of angry blue
Glamour. He looked at the crystal mirror, and then passed his hand over it,
envisioning the Demiplane of Shadows, the place he had come to know as home
in the last few years. He was rewarded with the sapphire mists, that
clearedto reveal a shadowy landscape, plagued with strange creatures
comprised entirely of shadow-stuff. He grinned, and passed his hand over the
mirror in the opposite direction, and the cabinet reappeared.
The shadowy being floated over to where Bryan was, his long, silver claws
gleaming in the moonlight that poured into the room. He watched Bryan sleep,
and couldn't help but grin. He leaned over, his hot breath falling directly
upon Bryan's eyes. Bryan moaned softly, and rolled over, obviously caught in
the throes of another nightmare. Shaldren leaned back, and looked down at
the Satyr, grinning. His shadowy body began to disperse, the shadows
returning to the corners of the room where they belonged. Even when
Shaldren's entire body had unraveled, his lavender eyes remained for a moment
more, illuminating the room in their cold, purple glow.A Blessed Gift
(submitted by: Mutt C130)
I waited there for day's looking up at the stars in the night sky, and
lounging in the shade of the tree's during the daylight hours. There was no
reason for the waiting it just felt as if I needed to see something important
here in this glin and it had not come to pass as of yet. The first day I ate
the last of my rations and not wanting to desturb the path of what ever was
to come I daired not kill the stags I had seen passing by. So I fasted and
meditated while I was waiting and watching. Three days after that first I
waited not knowing why I was here but sure all the same that something
important was to happen.
Then as the last day started to fall into night the reason for my vigile
was made apparent. It happend close to the twilight of the day. I heard a
stiring in the brush across the glin. Thinking it to be another stag coming
to pass I did not move but sat and watched only. As I looked on a most
wonderous sight befell my eyes, for across from where I sat there came a
mighty beast from the forest way. It was the equine symbol of the blessed
Lady of the Forest come to this glin that I had sat and guarded for days.
My breath was taken aback and tears filled my eyes as the beast stopped in
the glin to bow to the setting sun. I could neither move nor look away from
the creature so enchanted was I by the beauty of it. I held my breath not
wanting to break the spell of the moment, fearing I would cause a fright and
the beast would be gone.
Before I knew it the last rays of the sun had vanished and the stars had
come out. They shined upon the creature so that it seemed he was part of the
night sky itself come down to this world in the flesh. The creature then
turned from it's homage to the setting sun and looked at me where I sat
gazing on dazed by its apearance. It snorted once and then pawed the ground.
Sparks flew from the spot where its hoof struck the forest floor. The
creature then nodded it's head and spun towards the forest contenuing on its
way.
I stayed there where I sat throughout the night not wanting to move for
fear I had but witnessed a dream. But as the day began to break and the
songbirds called thier welcome to the sun I stirred from my spot of waiting
and walked to where the beast had stood. And as I aproached a glint of
reflected light from the sun caught my eye from where the creatures hoof had
struck the ground. I bent to see the spot more clearly and there in the
hoofprint I found a small gem. It wased shaped as a leafe, clear in color and
its edges reflected the forest colors in the morning light. I took a leather
thong out of my pack and tied it to the gem, then placed it around my neck to
wear as a most prised gift from the goddes Meiliki. Warmth it did give me
when it touched my breast and a feeling of well being. The hunger from my
fasting had also been vanquished and I felt neither hunger or thirst for the
first time in a few days.
I collected my belongings after erecting a smile shrine to Meiliki in the
glin and placed offerings and layed prayers upon it. Then I left that glin
counting my self the most blessed of rangers to have receaved such a gift
from the Lady of the Forest and for having it delivered by one of her most
beautiful servants. I held my head up higher and bounced my step a bit more
as I started down the path that led away from the glin. And as I left the
glin I thought to myself what a great wait it had been for the outcome of it.
Mutt--and the dogs--
Servant of Meiliki
Brotherhood of PathfindersProtectorate Poem
(submitted by: SHAUGHNESY)
When all seems lost and nothing can save you;
From the monster that seems to bleed out goo;
Call the protectorate, they pave the way;
In making tomrrow a bright new day:
We are here to serve and protect:
and to help others understand a concept:
If you are evil, as many are
Don't try anything, or we'll send you afar.
So all good will rule and all evil perish
Within the neverwinter that we all Cherish.
Foreverness
(submitted by: Zyntaeri)
By the light of 13 moons they danced
To the jangling rhythms of guitars.
Entwining melodies that chanced
To mingle with spangling sprinkled stars.
And they drank beneath the forest eaves,
Let trickling liquor effervesence,
On tongues: a throng of minute Bees,
Intoned in song, "Foreverness".
The honeyed glow of paper lamps,
Which dangled from the budding boughs,
Scintillated on the damp
Leaves of grass and troll skin gowns.
Clothed in mystic cloaks spun by Lloth,
In boots of speed and beeds they dressed,
Cut from mystic and enchanted cloths,
They waited for Foreverness.
The leading edge of sky collapsed,
Where nature's laws began to cheat,
As though the power of their eyes had lapsed,
Occluded by a velvet sheet.
But as their prophets did command,
No one amongst them had to guess,
These signs which cursed the antique land,
Foretold of old, Foreverness.
Still, cellared age-dark timbered manses,
Yet yielded ancestral vintage store,
They fueled their final flights of fancies,
With tinctures pressed in days of yore.
And so they reveled on the sward
Never daring to confess,
What their world was drifting toward;
Drifting to towards Foreverness
The moons no more were to be seen,
The last star extinguished with a wink,
Heaven's blackboard erased clean,
The realm poised upon the brink.
The utter cupful on their lips,
The farewell bittersweet caress,
Embracing the apocalypse,
They plunged into Foreverness.
-To NWN 2.2 and the promise of 3.0
Zyntaeri
DARK COVENANT
Picture This in your Mind
(submitted by: OOR Babble)
She went downstairs after a good night's sleep, she opted to stay at Daglow's
this night. Surprisingly it was not as crowded as she had expected and the
innkeeper had a room available; though knowing OOR Babble, he would have
found a place for her even if he had a full house. OOR Babble was good for
his business, her tales intrigued the patrons resulting in more drinks and
more profit for him and his wife.
At breakfast the next day, she sat with some new travelers that she had not
met before; HarmonyJW, Tahkeeyah and God1va, who had made Neverwinter their
home. Babble could tell that HarmonyJW was the newest to the realms for he
had not picked up the slang that was so prominent in these parts. Tahkeeyah
and God1va were well versed in the slang as well as locations of where the
creatures and fights that Babble spun tales about were located. That did not
stop Babble from telling her tales of her family, the OOR's, the fights she
had encountered and the friends she had made along the way.
She offered to show HarmonyJW around the realms, a personal guided tour, and
to teach him of the ways that Lord Nasher would want him to conduct himself.
He accepted and like a small child in a toy store - his wanted to see and
touch everything. Babble smiled at his eagerness for it took her back to the
time that she first arrived at the gates of Neverwinter and all the
excitement that she felt. She could relate to all the emotions that he was
experiencing.
HarmonyJW and Babble said their good-byes to Tahkeeyah and God1va and wished
them well on their journeys. Babble thought since he was so new to the area
that she would take him to the Warehouse District just north of Neverwinter -
the frogs there were becoming a nuisance for the residents and getting into
the food supplies. She knew Lord Nasher would appreciate any help in ridding
the storehouses of the vermin that were nesting there, plus it would give
HarmonyJW a feel for his new weapon that she had given him. She did not
carry much on her and usually gave away anything that she did not readily
need. There were vaults in Neverwinter that Lord Nasher had supplied to the
residence but with the rash of thieving and robbing that had taken place, her
faith in the vaults had diminished. She had lost items in her vault three
times in one week. She knew Lord Nasher did not accept responsibility for
such robberies and all he and his guards would say is, "Sorry, you read the
disclosure before entering the realms." So she simply decided no more vaults
for her and what she can not carry, she would give to the less fortunate.
Besides, this made her happy anyway, seeing the look on a new arrival's face
when presenting them with a magical weapon that she had acquired from her
journeys.
At every turn, HarmonyJW would disappear into the night, into another
building, or she would catch a glimpse of him as he darted from here to there
down the street looking and peering into the windows. He was heading nowhere
in particular, just exploring as fast as his feet would carry him. She
stopped to talk to another and when she looked around HarmonyJW was no where
to be found in this area. She laughed at his impulsiveness not to sit still
and talk to anyone but rather going around absorbing as much as he could of
the realms this first day. She found him in Windy Cliffs by the gates, hurt.
She tried to reassure him that there would be other tomorrow's to explore and
that the more experienced he got, the more outward from Neverwinter he could
venture alone but for now he should travel close to Neverwinter or with
another - if he wanted to extend his boundaries. He seem to slow down some
with this bit of advice and decided that he already had too much fun for one
day. He knew where the inn was and he would make his way there and rest for
the night. He thanked her for the tour and hoped to see her again in the
future. She told him that he would no doubt see her for she was becoming a
permanent fixture to the realms. With this they both laughed and departed
their separate ways.
She decided that she had not been to Windy Cliffs in a while and she would
stop by the inn to see Sabretta, the owner, or part owner anyway, if she was
in. She knew of a secret passage to the south that went around to the back
door of the Sheriff's Office. She thought she'd go to the inn this way and
stop by to say hello to the sheriff. Making her way up the hallway, she
heard a commotion coming from a building on her right. She knew the voice
that was egging someone or something on into a fight, but could not place it.
Being the way she was, OOR Babble stepped inside the room to see Tahkeeyah
standing there facing a determined Cloud Giant that wished to make
WindyCliffs home.
Tahkeeyah looked up, saw Babble and welcomed her into his fight. OOR Babble
drew her flail and entered this already blood-soaked room. Tahkeeyah, while
he was still fighting and without any breathlessness, told her the Sheriff
and the Mayor of WindyCliffs had posted that this here Cloud Giant was trying
to set up residence here as well as a purple worm in the lower left quadrant
of Windy Cliffs. He continued to say that the sheriff and mayor had said as
long as they were in control of this town, these creatures will not run out
their good people. Any who wish to stop these creatures will be rewarded by
any treasure they find upon their carcasses.
OOR Babbled was really a little late for this fight. Tahkeeyah had pretty
much defeated the Cloud Giant, but he permitted OOR Babble the final death
blow which brought this fight to an end.
After sheathing his sword and rummaging through the dead for any treasure,
Tahkeeyah asked, "Where you off to? Weren't you giving a tour to some new
guy?" OOR Babble giggled, "Yes, I was, but that tour is now over. Gave him
the blue light special express tour. What about you, where you off to?"
He shrugged, "Nowhere special. Was thinking about going to the inn for a
bit." OOR Babble smiled and asked if he wanted company, that she was also
heading there via the Sheriff's office. He asked, "By way of Sheriff's
Office, where's that?"
"Ahhh, then let me show you a short cut," Babble replied grinning.
They headed north up the hallway and right before the door on their left,
they stopped short. Listening and whispering to Tahkeeyah, "It's way too
quiet for the offices of the sheriff. Something is not right. Let's pull
our weapons." Weapons pulled, she slowly opened the door and peered inside,
her ears did not deceive her -- Owlbears were standing over the dead bodies
of deputies and guards. She could not see the sheriff so did not know if he
was also dead but no matter, they caught the Owlbears by surprise and got
first strike. The Owlbears were startled and this gave OOR Babble enough
time to ready a fireball spell. This was a good spell for it burned the
feather-like fur quickly on these creatures. While she stood back and cast,
Tahkeeyah went in and did hand to hand. This proved to be a good combination
for the Owlbears went down pretty quickly. After the fight, Tahkeeyah and
Babble looked for survivors, there were none. On the desk were notes and
maps making references to the Purple Worm. Tahkeeyah and Babble discussed
that the sheriff may be there and may need their help. They decided they
should go there next rather than the inn. It was agreed upon and off they
backtracked to the location of the Purple Worm lair.
Upon arriving, the stench of the cave made them realize they were not alone.
No sheriff was here nor it looked like he had been there at all. They
debated whether to go it alone or to wait. Tahkeeyah had said he had come
earlier but the Purple Worm was not home. They both agreed they were
pretty sure it was home now because of the odor that was seeping out of the
opening of the cave. Prepared for battle, they entered the cave and defeated
the worm with ease. Surprised and relieved at the swiftness they destroyed
the worm, they both agreed that it must have been the offspring of some older
worms. The ones they had experienced elsewhere gave up much more of a fight.
Not wanting to hang around until the more experienced worms came home,
Tahkeeyah said he would go to the inn now and rest up. Then he would drop
back by the sheriff's office to assist the town of Windy Cliffs in anyway he
could. OOR Babble told him that she would be heading back toward
Neverwinter. He asked her, "What about seeing your friend, Sabretta?" OOR
Babble shrugged, "Maybe, another time..but if you see her there, please tell
her I said Hello." With that, they went their separate ways knowing they
would see each other again.
OOR Babble made it to Neverwinter with no encounters. She rested, debating
on where to go....What did she want to do now.....What gave her pleasure..
she knew.. a good story!!!! While sitting at the inn, she overheard some
talk of Camelot in South Wall. Ahhh, Camelot, home of K.O.R.T. (Knights of
the Round Table). She wondered if she went there if she would be accepted
and welcomed or was it by invitation only that one could enter the gates of
Camelot. She downed the last of her mead and off she scuttled toward
Camelot. She'd find out for herself.
Outside the gates, she took a deep breath, ran her hands over her outfit and
her fingers through her hair. She thought to herself, "You look fine. Maybe
someone I know will be there. Surely the storyteller is for all to hear not
just KORT." With that she entered the lavishly decorated halls and made her
way to the large room where an audience was gathering. She made her way,
slipping around the outer walls trying to hide in the shadows, in fear
someone would see she was not KORT and ask her to leave. People did not seem
to notice her which made her feel comfortable. Then the blunder of all
blunders, she eased into a closet of some sort and before she knew what had
happened, she was facing several skeletons. She tried to dispatch them
quietly and silently but it did not work. OOR Babble heard a feminine voice
ask if she needed help. Babble knew she could take the skeletons out by
herself but she had drawn attention to herself so she figured help would only
end this embarrassment quicker for her. Babble accepted this woman's help
and had come to the conclusion that she'd be asked to leave now. Not only
did this lady join but also two others - one dressed in full battle plate -
every inch cold steel death and the other that was there to save the pretty
damsels in distress. The skeletons vanished as soon as they came near - the
sheer power that radiated from these individuals - could no doubt be that of
the Paladins that belonged to KORT.
Babble thought to herself, "Oh great, I'll have escorts to deliver me back on
the streets." She shook her head and was inwardly scolding herself when the
last skeleton fell. After it was all over with, she stood there waiting for
one of these paladins to pick her up by the scruff of the neck and deposit
her onto the streets; but it never came. She heard the feminine voice again
introducing herself as DeathWynde of the Wynde family and when OOR Babble
regained focus saw that she was curtsying. OOR Babble, taken aback, also
curtsied and introduced herself, amazed to the fact that no one had ousted
her. She looked around and before her were the two that she had just
fought alongside. Both were bowing and extending their welcome to her. Lrd
Helios was the one that wore that massive full battle plate and Sir Str was
there making sure that Death and Babble were all right and if they required
anything; drink, chair, hand, shoulder. He was floating back and forth
between the two ladies to make sure he did not miss a need that might escape
his eye.
Death and Babble assured Sir Str that they were fine. OOR Babble gathered
the courage to ask the question, "Excuse me, but is it all right for me to be
here? I am not of KORT." Death looked at Babble and said smiling, "I hope
it's okay for I am not KORT either." It was Lrd Helios who spoke, "We
welcome all to Camelot, especially such pretty ladies as yourselves. You
only enhance the beauty of this place. Please come in and be seated." He
offered his arm and Death accepted it while Sir Str followed suit and
extended his arm to Babble, which she in turn accepted. This was going to be
a fun night out for Babble and her heart started to beat faster.
They made their way right into the center of the room. There sat the one
that Babble knew to be the storyteller and one that the world of Camelot
evolved around, Sir Dagron, one of KORT's main cornerstones and one who all
looked upon with respect and admiration. Approaching him, Babble felt
flushed and was thinking to herself, "Don't make a fool of yourself.
Remember your proper etiquette. Talk slowly. Make sense." Lrd Helios and
Death approached first and did their formal introduction. Babble watched and
held onto Sir Str a wee bit harder than she anticipated. Sir Str leaned and
whispered in her ear, "No need to be scared, M'lady. He does not bite that
hard." With this, Babble then realized how tightly she had gripped Sir Str's
arm. She sheepishly smiled and released her grip while apologizing to Sir
Str, who was bowing. She heard a voice of power say, "Why do you
apologize?" Babble jerked up and then saw she was standing in front of Sir
Dagron -- flustered and turning every shade of red imaginable - she attempted
to curtsy but instead fainted at his feet and her head hit the floor.
When she awoke, with stars in her head spinning around, Sir Str was once
again there to assure her that she was fine. He had gotten some ice for her
head and a glass of mead for her. She sipped the mead while holding the ice
on her bruised head. She looked around and saw that it was quiet in the
room, the story had begun and she missed the opening sequence. She sat up to
hear and Sir Str told her, "Not to worry, he repeats this one almost every
week so you did not miss much. Are you sure you are all right, M'lady?
Would you like to go lay down? There is an inn right across the way." "No,
no, M'lord," she anxiously replied, "I am truly fine. Really.. What hurts
worst is my bruised ego.. I can't believe I made such an fool of myself...."
OOR Babble rolled her eyes, "Fainting like that at his feet, he must think me
an absolute fool."
"On the contrary", he smirked with amusement in his voice, "he found it
amusing that he has such ways with the ladies or that the sight of one as he
would make them faint away, a reaction he had not expected. Made him feel
good, that the old boy had not lost his touch with the ladies." OOR Babble
giggled at this and said she was now ready to join the others in the outer
room and she would try to refrain from fainting at his feet again.
Lrd Helios and DeathWynde were sitting there with two empty seats at their
table. Seats Babble knew was for her and Sir Str. They made their way to
the table and sat down quietly as they could. Sir Dagron was at the point of
his story, "Now picture this in your mind....if you will...the banners, the
music, the rise, the Cavalry, the crescendo is building with power of
drums....."
DeathWynde leaned over and asked Babble, "How are you feeling? That was one
nasty tumble you took." Babble nodded, "Fine, more embarrassed than
anything? Did I miss much of the story?"
Sir Dagron must have Elven ears for in the middle of his story, he stopped
and looked at their table. Put his finger to his lips and said, "Sheesh, we
ain't even a third of the way there."
Sir Str asked, "Are you at the part yet with the Purple Shields?"
OOR Babble let out a breath and leaned back into the chair.. she asked,
"Purple shields -- the Purple Worm Lovers..??"
Sir Str looks at his purple shield and looked at Babble, "Worm lover?!!!"
DeathWynde made a sound of gasping and whispered, "Nothing like open mouth
and insert foot -- DOH!!!"
Lrd Helios glanced over at Babble and raised his eyebrows.
"OOPS, say something wrong, did I?" feeling all eyes upon her. This was not
turning out to be a good night after all.
Sir Dagron turned back to the audience and continued without further comment
to Babble, "Picture this in your mind....The Banners become more visible over
the rise..."
She tried to become one with the chair as she sat there, closing her eyes and
trying to get into the story that Sir Dagron was painting for everyone. But
all she got was a headache from squinting her eyes so tightly that she began
to see spots, plus the bump on her head was starting to throb again. She was
not going to say a word.. not a single word until Sir Dagron had finished
with his story. She was going to sit there and be a statue...listening only
to Sir Dagron voice. She was immediately pulled into his world and totally
forgot about her aches and pains. She was picturing in her mind the rise,
the marching of the cavalry cresting the rise with the sequential foot step
of each drum beat. When the drum beat, the foot came down. It was a
perfectly orchestrated dance becoming louder and louder until you could sense
the whole horizon was filled with banners of the KORT. Ahhh, the Purple
Shield, now she understood. The men, the horses, all proudly marching over
the rise until they were in full view. The excitement of the story was
mounting, she felt her pulse quicken as the visions became clearer and
clearer in her mind. The sounds of the drums in her head became almost
deafening, as if she was standing next to the drummers. The massive army of
KORT coming into clear view, she could see the stern proud faces of the
knights, the eyes of their steeds showing no fear. Then the drumming stoped
and so did the army of KORT as well as this story.
Sir Dagron ended the tale by turning to OOR Babble and saying, La Mere
L'oies.
The EndStorm Clouds
(submitted by: Thorn Hawk)
East of the great city of Neverwinter, the dark woods known as Neverwinter
woods lay in a quiet slumber. A few inches of snow blanketed the ground
throwing the woods into a stark and barren world. A chill wind had picked up
earlier in the day while dark clouds moved in from the west bringing with
them the promise of more snow. Cloaked and hooded, a figure ran through this
world with the ease of a ghost his soft boots barely making a sound. An
onlooker, seeing him from a distance, might have imagined it had there not
been a trail.
Thorn Hawk had been traveling toward Neverwinter for the past two days ever
since meeting a merchant in Longsaddle telling him of a gathering being held
in the sister's tavern. It had been long since he shared an ale with some of
his own telling stores and testing his skills against theirs. He pressed on
moving even faster determined to make it there within the next few days when
he was jerked out of his thoughts, his senses assaulted, by the ground before
him. Everywhere he looked, the clearing had been trampled by booted feet.
Peering closely at a set of tracks, one thought came to mind, a thought that
brought fear and anticipation.
A warband of orcs had moved through that morning . . .
Moving through the clearing with practiced ease, he gathered what information
he could on this band. They were heading west toward Nightsedge and the few
remaining settlers there. By the still warm coals of a fire, he knew they
were only hours ahead. Taking from its oilskin case, he withdrew an ebony
bow, a gift from his wife on their first meeting so many months ago. Running
his hands down its smooth surface, his mind felt the care and love that went
into the shaping of the wood and knew the elf that made it prized his work
greatly. From another pack, he withdrew a quiver of arrows, their point's
small and sharp designed for accuracy and distance. The fletchings on each a
combination of white and black to blend perfectly with the wintery backdrop
of these woods. He rarely used a bow preferring the closeness of sword work
and the intimacy he felt with his opponent during their fight, but as a smile
crossed his features he thought that the elf who crafted his bow would be
happy with his choice of weapons for this task. Thorn Hawk strung the bow
and set off after his prey hoping to catch them before they found a farm.
His pace was steady and each time he crossed the trail of orcs he knew he was
gaining on them. Cresting a ridge and dropping down into a long valley,
Thorn Hawk heard the unmistakable voices of orcs further down the slope.
Coming to rest behind a tree, he scanned the valley below and soon found his
prey marching in a lazy group along the valley floor. They were not wary of
attack by their manner and the ranger knew he still held surprise in his
hand. Slipping back over the ridge line, he ran ahead heedless of the noise
knowing the band of orcs would never hear him over their own stomping as a
plan formed in his mind.
Not long after spotting the orcs, he crested the ridge again and dipped down
among the trees that dotted the valley. His hearing picked up the orcs
further up the valley still unaware of their danger. Resting behind a fallen
tree, he loosened his sword and readied an arrow while his eyes scanned the
warband. He counted near thirty of the troublesome humanoids and knew what
damage they could reck if they reached a settlement. He knelt and watched
when for no apparent reason one of the orcs took an axe and started hacking
at an ancient oak. Soon, a single limb fell from the tree and the orc was
quick to pounce on a ball of twigs attached to the limb. Hoarse laughter
greeted the ears of the ranger as he surveyed the group below. The orc held
the still form of a squirrel in his hand before casually tossing it aside to
resume his march at the barked orders of a brutish looking orc. The storm
clouds that gathered above were meek compared to the fire that bloomed in the
flat grey eyes of the ranger above.
"Now you shall fear the woods before you die," breathed the ranger as a spell
formed on his lips.
Below him screams of surprise and rage reached his ears as his first spell
took effect. The trees below and the many bushes had lent the ranger use of
their roots and with grim purpose they had entangled the band of orcs. As
the orcs mastered their fear to the snarling commands of their leader, the
ranger's eyes blazed with passion as he watched the leader and those around
him blossom in violet faerie fire. Amidst the renewed screams of terrified
orcs, a soft twang could be heard. First one then another fell to a yard of
quivering death while those nearby tried to free themselves from the
entangling roots heedless of the death around them.
Thorn Hawk moved along the ridge finding glowing targets in the gloom of the
deep woods of the valley floor. His bow sang a song of its own one of death
and revenge and renewal one crafted by its maker. The few remaining orcs
scattered into the woods running in all directions fleeing an enemy they
could not see one that killed at will.
Gorthog laid quietly until the arrows quite flying then moved from the trail
as quickly as he could. He had been behind Snag when the trees had come
alive to attack them. He watched as Snag was encased in fire and fell over
backwards as an arrow pierced his armor. Armor he was very proud of, thought
Gorthog, but too bad it didn't keep him alive. He moved rapidly through the
brush not wishing to meet the same fate as his companions. I was a fool to
follow Snag here, he thought, even with the promise of treasure and fighting.
A grouse suddenly took wing from under a bush at the feet of Gorthog sending
the orc flying to the side his heart beating faster than the wings of the
fleeing bird.
"Stupid wird," sighed Gorthog happily getting to his feet.
Taking deep breaths to ease the strain on his heart, he suddenly stepped back
feeling a pang in his chest. Looking down, Gorthog noticed three small
feathers protruding from his chest. Puzzled, he reached up to touch one.
Darkness claimed him before he could.
Thorn Hawk gently lifted the dead squirrel from the ground. Its body
crushed, the ranger set it back on the ground knowing some animal would find
it and be grateful. Replacing the bow in its case, he moved off into the
deep woods again making his way to Neverwinter while off in the distance
smoke rose from the chimney of a farmstead on the outskirts of Nightsedge.
Thorn Hawk,
Brotherhood of PathfindersZelghinnia's Story
(submitted by: Zelghinnia)
Thunder clashed in a mighty roar, that deafened the senses. It was a
night of strife, where gods of darkness battled those of light for supremacy
of the sky. More than one battle was being fought though.
Far below the storm wracked surface, in a chamber deep inside a mighty
granite stalagmite, a different war raged. Not a war of weapons, but a war
between two drow. A private war. A battle between mother and soon to be
daughter.
Through the agonizing pain of being forced to leave a place known only as
'here' for the past months, a shrill cry split the air that did not go
unnoticed by drow or gods alike. The scream that sounded a mother's
happiness also heralded a call to arms, and as the angry father slit the
throats of the guards at the gates, the invading army was ready.
Ever so silently and efficiently, the invading army had the outside of the
compound secured. Not many put up a resistance, feeling secure and
comfortable with their place. It was also a night of slaughter, where the
only defense made was the defense in the house proper, where the Ilharess,
slowly recovered.
Upon hearing the sounds of battle beyond the safe confines of the private
chapel, a voice whispered in her mind to send the newborn to safety. Ordering
a Yathrin to take the child and flee the compound, the Ilharess turned to
enter the battle but the cause was already lost.
As the Yathrin fled through an underground passage reserved expressly for
this purpose, she moved into the silent tunnels of the underground realm
knowing that all now considered her an outcast and rogue. As she thought
this over she came to a crystalline river which flowed through the silent
world. Looking at the small bundle in her hands and cursing the fate that
brought her to this pass, she walked over to the side of the chasm and held
out her arms. Looking one last time at the child she opened her hands with a
simple, "aluve'" and the child plunged into darkness.
The Yathrin quite content with herself did not notice the figure step out of
the shadows behind her. She didn't notice the cruel smile on the his face as
he plunged the dagger deep into her back. But at least she was happy. As
the drow turned his back to the carnage a small smile caressed his lips.....
It was done the house was eradicated.
As Lolth showed favor on one house she also showed favor on a child she
intended for a greater purpose than an icy grave in the deep recesses of an
underground realm. Lolth had looked into the future and in her infinate
wisdom saw and recognized something in the child, that was unlike others.
Something that was worth saving.
Before the drowess hit the icy stream, a large eight legged form spun a quick
web. Not a web of lies, but a soft silky web, a web of protection. This was
it's purpose in life, this was the reason it existed, Lolth had given it this
task, had imbued it with a special knowledge. The spider was first confused
by this knowledge, this feeling of adoration towards the child. It had never
been a mother to a drow and though it knew drow were special, motherhood was
a bit much for it. But slowly time passed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I grew older in the silent darkness of the underground I called home, I
had longings and feelings I couldn't explain. I was possessed with a temper
and a quiet contemplation. I couldn't grasp why monthly I would bleed and be
"possessed" even more. I felt there was more to life than this but I
couldn't tell you what.
Day after day I would toil at my life, I would hunt, sleep, move, and hunt
more, all the while being followed by my eight legged silent friend. I felt
lonliness and despair, anger and hatred at the fates that left me in this
savage world.
Through my hunting I would come across camps or compounds of various
creatures that also lived here in the eternal darkness. Occasionally I
would hide and watch their puzzling actions for hours. Soon I learned the
strange noises, and the quick movements of hands and fingers meant they
somehow communicated as I did with my companion. Deciding that I too should
learn, I stalked and captured one of the small ones that seemed to obey those
that looked like me. A goblin I learned later.
The small ugly looking creature did not know much. What it did know it
taught me in a grudging way. I found I enjoyed beating it for information.
The sullen attitude would turn to pleading whimpers of agreement. Growing
tired of this game, I told it to go. Then I stalked the pathetic being and
killed it with ease.
Learning from my spying, now knowing some of the strange sounds and hand
movements as words, I was able to make things for myself. From the silk of
the spider I fashioned clothes, and common sense taught me to make and arm
myself with rough weapons. Although crude in nature they seemed to fit me.
There came a day though where I became the hunted and the world as I knew it
slowly collapsed about me. Again I found myself spying upon ones like
myself. Ebony skin and stark white hair so like my own. From behind I heard
movement. Spinning around quickly I saw two moving stealthily towards me. I
was fascinated and yet somehow repulsed by them. Then they spotted me. For
a brief moment in time all three of us just stared at each other in surprise.
When they began to circle me, one to each side, I knew the hunt was on.
I led them on a chase that lasted many hours until, at last, I reached a
bridge that stretched over a chasm. Looking down I saw an icy stream. My
eight legged companion joined me then and turned to block the pursuers from
me. I wanted to run to her but could only watch in horrid fascination as the
two descended on her in a dance of death. I moved away from them as their
shiny long weapons hacked her apart. Slipping back into the shadows, away
from them, I felt arms wrap around me. A third! A hand clamped over my
mouth clasping me tight and a breath of sound whispered into my ear, "sleep".
I do not wish to remember all the things that occured in that rogue's camp.
Just that from other females like myself, I learned the language of the drow
properly, and of Lolth. Our hatred and anger at the males who defied her
burned deep inside us. Years passed and we waited much as my spider
companion would within her web. Eventually our patience paid off and the
blood ran deep in sacrifice to the Spider Goddess.
Only I survived to reach the outskirts of this great city called Rilauven.
Something drew me towards a compound that scurried with activity. Looking
upon the majestic spire that towered over it, it seemed I saw myself riding
upon the back of my companion. Here is "home" whatever that word means. I
felt a strong yearning to join with the others that moved about there.
Standing before the gates, I simply glared at the males who guarded them.
One quickly ran within where I could not see. Soon a female arrived. Her
beauty and stature, the power that emanated from her, awed me at her
presence. I quickly fell to my knees not knowing what to say.
"Vendui' Zelghinna and welcome to Elythanar. I have been awaiting your
arrival," her low husky voice sent a shiver down my spine. Many questions
tumbled in my mind. How did she know my name? How had she known I would
come? These thoughts and more buzzed inside me, but I gave no voice to them.
Instead I lowered my eyes and spoke, "Vendui' Malla Ilharess."
"Do rise dear and follow me, it has been a long journey for dos."
-the end-The Timer Beastie
(submitted by: ABK Mellow)
The evil "punt" has got a friend.
Their mission is to make us end
the game before we want to go
forceing us off if we say no.
If you attampt to reach the dracs
On your super-speedy little Macs
You shall go before you're through
Even the computer can't save you.
This beastie's name is yet unknown
But it's sure to make you moan
Because no one can reach Triboar anymore
Or try to find the Red Larch store.
I make my plea, and my case
To end this timer from our place
Get RID of this idea, for infinity
Away from Neverwinter and this vicinity.
ABK Mellow
Keeper of the Cellers
Brewer of all ABK drinks
And a bloomin' poet
All in a Night's Work
(submitted by: V Randym)
As the claw whistled through the air at his head, Randym wondered once
again how he had gotten himself into this mess. He slipped quickly under it
and stopped short as a maw full of sharp teeth descended on him. Dodging
back, he figured he'd be alright so long as the dragon didnt breathe fire.
That was when the other claw slammed into him, throwing him against the wall
with a bone-jarring impact. Through the stars he saw, he reflected back on
the events of the night, trying once again to find where he had gone wrong...
Crying. It came to him in his slumber. As he awoke to a new night, the
unmistakable sound of soft crying. Sleepily, he got out of bed and shuffled
to the window. Pulling aside the heavy, black drapes, he leaned out and
scanned the shadows below him.
Sitting huddled belowwas a little kine child. Female from the looks of
her. He paused to consider what to do. Scratching his chin, he turned and
made his way to his dressing room. He washed quickly and dressed. Slipping
into his boots, he made his way past the still sleeping form of his wife. He
gave her a brief kiss on the cheek and made his way out of the room.
He nimbly trotted down the steps to the first floor and lifted his cloak
from it's resting place by the door. Sweeping it on with a flourish, he
opened the door and stepped out into the cool evening air.
The child was still sitting there as he approached. She was still
crying, too, but not with as much enthusiasm. He crouched next to her and
smiled warmly. "Child, what is wrong? Where are your parents that they
allow you out at this hour, and in such distress?"
The little girl looked at him and a fresh round of tears came to her at
the mention of her parents. "Are you lost, little one? Is that it?"
"Y-y-y-yes," she managed through little hiccups.
He favored her with a brave smile. "That is nothing to cry over. We
shall find your parents. Do you live here in Neverwinter?"
The little girl shook her head no, and wiped at her eyes. She explained
that her father worked in a warehouse, and that she had fallen asleep on one
of the pallets. Someone must have loaded the pallet on a barge without
seeing her and when she awoke...she was on the docks of Neverwinter.
"Where do you come from?" he asked, fishing out a hanky and wiping at
her eyes with it.
"T-Trisk."
"The Isles, eh?" he asked. When she nodded, he sighed softly and said,
"Then I guess we shall have to take a boat ride."
"I would like that," she said softly, "but Momma says never to travel
with strangers."
He rose and bowed. "My name is Randym. Whom do I have the pleasure of
addressing?"
She smiled for a moment and answered, "My name is Beth."
He grinned at her and whispered conspiritorally, "Now that we know each
others names, we are not strangers anymore. Let's get you home...your folks
must be worried sick."
Less than an hour later, they were riding the ferry to the Isle of
Trisk. He had purchased some food and milk for Beth. She wolfed it down in
record time and giggled after bellowing an enormous belch.
The boat docked, and Randym followed Beth down the plank to the docks.
He had to walk quickly to keep up with her, because she was practically
running to the end of the dock. He followed her down the path to a small
cottage and was delighted to hear a cry of joy come from the doorway. A
young woman rushed out and swept the child into her arms, hugging her
tightly...then hugging him tightly, too.
"M'lady...twas the least I could do...no trouble at all...was my
pleasure..." he stammered amid a wild flurry of thank you's. She told him
that her husband would want to thank him as well...as soon as he returned
from searching for Beth.
"Where did he go to look?"
He felt a twinge of concern as worry flooded the young mother's
features. "He went to search the caves north of here. They aren't very
safe..."
Nodding, Randym rested a hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'll go see if
I can find him."
It didn't take long to find the caves. His eyes glowed a deep crimson
as he scanned the darkness. His heightened hearing picked up no sounds in
the first cave. It was the second that the sounds of far off movement came
to him from. Entering it, he made his way swiftly through it, his footing
sure as his eyes pierced the darkness.
A cry for mercy made him break out into a run. He turned a corner and
found himself in an open cavern. Phosphorescent moss grew along the walls
and ceiling, casting a pale green light on the area.
A man in tattered and bloody rags knelt in the center of the room,
facing away from Randym. Something large shifted in the gloom.
He stepped forward, and found himself facing a red dragon. Quickly
rushing ahead of the man, he placed himself between the two. He hissed for
the man to run and was mildly relieved when he heard his footsteps scrabbling
off into the distance. Needless to say, things went downhill quickly from
there.
He rose quickly to his feet and shook off his reverie. He snarled in
rage and six inch barbed claws grew from his fingertips. He summoned Potence
the strength, and Celerity the Speed to his bidding. Time seemed to slow for
him as he advanced on the beast. His glowing red eyes flickered from side to
side, judging the beast's next attack.
As the claws rose to strike at him, he moved in an inhuman blur under
them. He leapt and dug his claws into the neck of the beast with such force
that it's immense weight was driven a step back. He visciously ripped his
arms down and was rewarded with a loud gurgle of pain and a wash of dark red
blood.
The dragon's wings beat the air as it back peddled from an easy supper
turned life threatening attacker. The smell of so much blood flooded his
nostrils, flaring them. His fangs grew and he gave in to the frenzy, leaping
after the dragon without hesitation. It's attack again seemed slow and
clumsy to his heightened reflexes, and again he struck at it's neck, his
claws biting deeply through the heavy scales. Blood gushed from the new
wounds and the dragon bellowed in agony.
He sensed, rather than saw the form begin to drop. Leaping and rolling
as quickly as he could, he dodged the collapsing form of the beast. The
crash echoed through the caverns. Slowly, he regained control of himself.
His claws and fangs retracted and he was left looking at his ruined outfit.
The smears of blood seemed black in the pale green light.
He focused and his features began to melt and waver. They compacted in
on themselves until a large black bat flapped it's wings in the place he had
stood a moment before.
He soared out of the cavern and circled briefly over the cottage. The
father had made it home and the whole family was hugging and crying in the
yard. With a screech he set off in the direction of Neverwinter....and home.
V Randym
Prince of Neverwinter
Camarilla GMNight of Fire, Day of Tears
Chapter One
(submitted by: Milanthor)
Wednesday night. Near midnight. As he sat in the Tavern, Argo
reflected on a couple of hard days and nights in which he had struggled to
acquire wealth. Not the old fashioned way being a thief, that was easy
but rather by dint of hard work, hard fighting, and worst of all, hard
trading. It was not something that the elf did with a great deal of joy, nor
for that matter, a great deal of skill. For Argo, it was a quick glamor, a
quicker mind and still quicker fingers that permitted him his usual life
style.
Still, he did have to smile. The look on the guard's face as he brought
those precious items in to a vault he had ordered was worth all 74 pieces of
jewelry. Argo putting things into a vault instead of trying to take them
out, perhaps with that old "letter of permission" trick! The guard was sure
that Argo was casing the joint, and did not like it at all. Argo's long
pointed ears curled in pleasure at remembering the guard's discomfort.
As he glanced out the window, at the weirdly flashing lightening that
seemed to bring the world to a halt for moments at a time until one could
recover one's senses, he pondered on a few problems that he faced. He had,
in a moment of weakness, made a vow to his cousin Argus that he would have
the bag and the gauntlets, the jewels, and especially the elfin chain mail
(plus 2 at that) and that these items would be "clean". No hue and cry, no
questions about who had owned them, or whether Argo had good title. Argo
suspected that having these items "clean" might be connected with a certain
job Argus had mentioned, which Argo did not want to get involved in. After
all, Argus certainly would not have the Guild's sanction and did not
especially want to pay the Guild's tithe. Well, whatever, Argus' motives and
plans, the work was done and the equip- ment collected.
Argo was planning to be out of town on vacation when Argus came in.
This raised a more serious question. If the guards no longer accepted the
"letter of permission" and since none of the items were important enough to
be registered in Nasher's Pearl Book, Argus could not simply claim title or
possession from Argo's vault. How in the name of Nine Fingered Klepto could
he get these things to Argus? One thing was for sure: he could and would not
go to the Guild and have Josa, the Guildmaster, act as an escrow agent. If
so, Argo would have to pay the tithe, and far worse, he would be exposed as
having done a couple of days of honest labor. That would not stand him in
good stead during the next Guild elections.
With the hordes of strangers in town these days and especially with
these strange electrical storms, it also was not especially safe to trust a
simple transfer to a friend or acquaintance. Argo reflected on the
magnificent +3 bow that he had spent a number of days trading up to last
year. Yes, he had thought that the deal for the bow and the 20 +2 arrows
might well be worth giving up the gauntlet. After all, Argo's goal in life
was directed against the beholders, where strength really did not count. It
had been a rainy evening, just back when the lightening storms had started.
He had, with some misgivings, traded the guants, had gotten the bow and
arrows, had stowed the bow securely, wrapped the arrows in the chamois pouch
and readied them. Then he had been overwhelmed by a nearby flash of
lightening, in fact may have lost consciousness for a moment, and when he
woke up, they were gone. Vanished. He confirmed that Agarra did not have
them, and in fact, she had helped him out of his misery quite nicely.
Still, even if you could trust someone, a quick flash of lightning, and
weeks of work could vanish. "They" said that the gods themselves were
experiencing problems, and while marketplace rumors were usually worth what
one paid for them, this one sounded like it might be true. Argo also thought
about the rumor that a large army of glue-fingered accountants had even found
problems with Lord Case's expansionist plans, and had managed to hold him up
for much of the gold in the Royal Treasury. Now, that would have been a
caper to have been in on! Official, sanctimonious, sanctioned a grand
heist without the slightest fear of official retribution. Lord Case was
probably still quivering.
A small chuckle here, since Argo was not in agreement with much of the
expansionist theory. Argo was not at all sure that the hordes of folks
coming in looking for work being generated by Case's plans was to the benefit
of his own smaller, tidy world. Sure, they were easy pickings, but it also
made it so much more difficult to gain the experience, the fingertip feeling
that Argo needed for his work.
A bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder brought his thoughts back to
the problem at hand. For once in his life, Argo considered the possible
benefits of an official police force, of lawyers and judges. You lose
something or someone takes it, you go to the police who can enforce the law.
You go to an attorney, maybe for a cut of the action, and he can persuade a
judge to throw a thief already in jail to cough up money to cover the loss.
As quickly as the idea came, Argo forced it away with a shudder. He could
imagine having to work in a world like that. Guild fees would be nothing
compared to the grease you would have to lay out to get your work done! You
probably would never accumulate enough to get those precious Pearl items that
Argo and every one of his acquaintances lusted after.
Wait a minute, thought Argo, with a thought as defining as one of those
lightning bolts. He ran out into the night, leaving the convivial company of
the Tavern, even not saying goodbye to Ramona, with whom he had an
understanding about who would be washing breakfast dishes in the morning. He
was truly all afire with an idea, something he had seen announced in the
NWNews. It was a subscription form to become a founding member of a bank.
Sure, the bankers would never accept a thief of his stature in their midst,
even though it was perhaps only the clothes that made the difference. Still,
the idea of a bank was there, and that certainly made the difference to Argo.
Added to that was that announcement that the old mining company head-
quarters was up for lease. That was one secure place, he knew from personal
experience, and it was not in the commercial center of town around Nasher's,
but out near the taverns, where the miners used to come as they hit town.
It was so simple, and it would be a greater goldmine than the bosses of
the mining com- pany ever dreamed of. If Argo could get that lease, he knew
enough about the value of goods and equipment, he knew enough about storage
and safekeeping albiet from the other side of the fence, as it were. He knew
who was honest, or at least trustworthy. The idea was so simple, just a
small switch on the letter of permission deal. It would solve the vault
idea, which of course was never more than just a single person's storage
house. It could, if handled right, solve the prob- lems the vault company
was always having with losing gems and equipment, even granting that some of
those problems were not the result of their negligence. It could also make a
fortune for the Thieves' Guild, which could in turn put him in a strong
position to take over as Guildmaster.
Akra Rasham was the trustee for the old mining company's liquidation,
and Akra was a man he knew well. Family ties like Akra's son's marriage to
Argo's niece helped, but Akra had also been a school mate in their early
years and understood the ins and outs of making a deal go well even then.
Akra was the key, the problem with his cousin Argus the lock. Could he put
them together?
Even as he stood on Akra's doorstep, knowing Akra was awake from the
soft glow from the study window, he thought about the laws that would have to
be made to permit this venture. In fact, some of the commercial structure
already in place with the banks and the vault company might have to be
rewritten, and if so, it was clear that the burden would be on him to make
sure that everyone got an appropriate compensation. Still, as he though
about it more, he knew it was possible.
Rapping at the door, though, Argo began to have some worries. It was
not like Akra not to have someone open the door immediately, day or night.
As his senses and suspicion sharpened with equal force, he noted a trace of
sulphur in the air. Not like the smell that one of those cursed fire
elementals left, not even the horrendous smell of a burning drac more like
fabric, perhaps treated wool, burning. My God, thought Argo, as he realized
that a fire might be starting inside, as he tested the door and found it
unlocked.
Racing inside, his worst fears were confirmed. There lay Akra, or what
was left of him. One of those lightning bolts had obviously struck directly
into Akra's study, incinerating that wealth of talent and experience. Even
if Akra could somehow be brought back to life, it was clear that he would
never have been the same. It had destroyed his private treasure, his notes,
all that Akra kept as sacred. It also destroyed Argo's hopes. After all was
said and done, the loss of a good man was the worst loss of all, and he
dreaded having to face his niece with the news.
It was only Argo's lifetime habit of quickly inventorying in his mind
all the possible hiding spots in a given room that let him see the gleam of
metal beneath one of the charred floorboards. It was not something that
everyone might have done, but searching for treasure in the face of injury
and death was something to which Argo had become accustomed long ago.
Carefully, without any obvious tinkering with the position of the body or the
items in the room, Argo pried up the three boards that were covering some
sort of a metal container.
Chapter Two will be forthcoming.Macabre Stalker
The Ballad of Talisman
(submitted by: RayDogg 79)
<Continued from Macabre Stalker>
On a day immerged in death, in a realm immerged from sea,
I sought my prey in ruined lighthouse, for 'twas here I knew he'd be.
At the door of mine fate, I peeped at the lock,
Rapped on its metal and pulled back with a shock.
A wry smiled didst cross my red gnomish lips,
I unfurled a scroll which I'd tucked by my hip.
I mumbled the words inscribed on the page,
And sparkled away didst the field lain by mage.
I stood in a chamber,.... blank, cold, and bare...
All that existed was a ladder... hung in air...
And I climbed it.......
Into nothingness.....
What tabula rasa was this that stretched before me now?
Blackness dark as space, space black as darkness.., but how?
By an absent ocean an Ettin rised,
On a fathomless road it roared its call;
Heart-pure evil, its clubs didst fall,
Yet fearless despite my self outsized,
I leapt, thrust, shoved....the beast capsized.
Then light returned to the chamber of my wake,
The Ettins body was consumed by purple snake.
In a blinding light, flashed my foe into sight.
My pearl hilt grasped....I was ready to fight.
Yet before I could act my mind didst burn with flame,
My senses didst abandon me...I knew not my own name.
Approcheth me did Ultrecht with evil grin.
His palms didst burn...like the fire of his sin.
A moment of clarity: Why? Tyr only knows.
But was moment enough to let loose my fatal blow.
And in that instant, the wizard didst turn to dust.
All that remained was a Talisman, licked with rust.
I picked up the artifact in wonder and cried out.
A venom coursed through my blood
my palm scalded with my shout.
I dropped the mage's instrument...convinced that i would die.
But my quest I had completed...so in peace would come my lie.
So surprised I was indeed, when I woke up on a cot.
Healers stood above me, my fever cured of hot.
I hastened to speak, yet they hushed me so abruptly,
That I could do naught but raise my burnt hand triumphantly.
"To the victors go the spoils....To the victor goes the toils."
Jester's Lament
(submitted by: OGS Jester)
The bulk of this poem is directed at my guild
But I thought it was cute and that you might be thrilled
So I added these lines and submit this to you
In order to cause just a brief smile or two
Tis grand my friends, to see so much life
Between warnings and stories so rich and so ripe
Since chance preempted our own private posts
Tis nice to see new life with our growing guild hosts
I thank ye Mershu for your warning indeed
The punting of the players has left many in need
And Super and Bannor your advice rings anew
'Tis wisdom and experience emanating from you
And the stories and tales they do pass any others
From the goods and the neutrals and our evil dark brothers
I am honored and privileged and yes very pleased
To help with my laughter to bring the realms to it's knees
But now I will point out a brief tip or two
That will hopefully get through to ol' Steve you-know-who
Please clone this great realm and then offer a rate
That's both fair and quite just and so your face we won't hate
There are many that play that would gladly pay out
A fair sum of shillings that won't make us pout
Leave this land open to all who do not have the cash
And offer another, and sir PLEASE DO IT FAST!!!
OGS Jester
Mess with the Jest, Cry like the rest
The Fame of the Name
(submitted by: OGS Jester)
I petitioned ITB to join their dark guild
Between you and me I was scared and was thrilled
The legends of bravery by them are quite bold
As they chase down the players that are not very old
I like to pull wings off of cute little flies
And when it comes to the truth, heck I'd rather tell lies
When I mentioned these things, yes they said "come on in"
Just keep up our low standards and commit every sin
So I rolled and I rolled and I got some great numbers
As to strike fear into newbies and wake goods from their slumbers
The icon I chose was both dark and quite fell
It was "ready or not" to go give the realms hell
Now when it came to a name, I kept picking them wrong
And submit now to you this next list and it's long
Brainless and Butthead were good ones indeed
Along with Klutzy and BO and ITB Milkweed
Flasher, and Whiner and WetArmor I tried
But the names were refused, "you can't have them they cried"
There was Pisser and Moaner and ITB Snot
But these names as well were submitted for naught
I finally got one that I thought was just great
But it was ITB Putz that in truth got them irate
So I said, "now come on guys, why do your refuse
To accept these fine names that I desire to use?"
These names represent all the traits of your group
And I can't find any lower than these that I will stoop
They then bowed their heads and said "yes, these are fine"
Because with what we do stand for they are really in line
But won't other guilds then quite clearly see
The way that we are, "just between you and me"
I scratched and I pondered and really got thinking
That it's more than BO that from this guild is stinking
So I said nevermind, I will go try elsewhere
Where Brainless and Butthead are not names they should wear
As you guessed, I did give up on joining ITB's guild
And now for publishing this poem I will likely be killed
OGS Jester
Mess wit' th' Jest, Cry like the Rest
Silence of the Shams
(submitted by: OGS Jester)
Nary a word is being said in reply to
The obvious humor one cannot deny
That is found in my poem, The Fame of the Name
So I guess I'll conclude House ITB is in shame
I'm sorry my darks friends for bruising you so
And now ye've been bantered just where will you go
With your tail's twixt your legs and your heads hung in sorrow
You'd make great toilet guards, so why not start on the morrow.
Imagine ITB's fresh from their latest fell caper
Standing post in a stall holding a roll of t-paper
Or mayhaps when it's time to clean off a seat
You could use ITB banners to wipe it off neat
Since it's clear you have no further use for your flags
Then to use them in conjunction as your cleaning rags
'Tis a shame that when once I would have posted this blast
There would have been some reply, I guess your prides in the past..
OGS Jester
Mess with the Jest, Cry like the Rest
A Winter Too Long
(submitted by: Augustus 5)
Many a fortnight have I travelled
To sit upon this rocky precipice...
I kick the ice from my boots
Watch it cascade over the edge...
The sound echoing through the canyon below
Sparkling moonlight into the abyss.
And the sparrow-hawk circles hungrily overhead...
I sit by dying embers
My thoughts drift out to thee...
Loving eyes gaze into my soul
Arms reach out my heart to hold...
Tender lips trace this weather-worn cheek
Taking away the tears.
And the sparrow-hawk circles hungrily overhead...
Why this call to traverse
So harsh a land.. so far from home...
I know not why I travail here
But forge ahead I must...
And keep in my heart a hope to be
Realized in the newborne spring.
And the sparrow-hawk cries out hungrily overhead...
As I pull my bedroll tightly
To guard against the chill...
Thy warm embrace is with me
'Tis but a longing, no more...
In truth my arms are empty... and the morn'
Shall be Herald' only by the Frost.
And the sparrow-hawk returns hungry to it's nest....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to my dear Bride Dragonflyr...
------===<<<@>>>===------
NEW IMPROVED TRIVIA!!
------===<<<@>>>===------
Join NW Raven and NW Omar for a night of fun and prizes, while we test your
knowledge of Neverwinter Nights trivia!
Date: Tuesday, February 4th
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
(submitted by: Spryte)
Hey! Looking for a great, tough fight for
maxing your character? Then look no further! It's right here at 8,10 in the
North West Woods. 70,000 per fight! It's tough, though, with golems, so
bring your brass knuckles. :)
Spryte
(hehe)
(submitted by: SSC JAS)
Any Newb at any time, may politely ask SSC JAS for help.
I will do all that I can to assist.
In service to the realm,
SSC JAS
Cleric of The Four Winds(submitted by: Vyllano)
Dear Miss Manners:
I went to the Dracs the other night, but it took like ten minutes :( before
I could get in and fight. The people in there wouldn't leave when I asked
them, and they kept re-trigging the fight over and over. Once I finally got
in, I had to hide cause those Dracs were really tough, but after 15 or 20
fights I got a cool +1 halberd! :) One guy kept telling me I should leave
and they even said they hoped something called a Puntmonster would get me.
My question is, what is a Puntmonster, and does it have better treasure than
the Dracs?
Signed,
Reviled in Vilnask
Gentle Reader:
One of the most popular destinations in all of the realms seems to have
become the Dracolich encounter in Vilnask. As with any crowded tourist spot,
this locale has become the scene of constant verbal sparring and general
nastiness as hearty combatants vie for one of the eight spots in the battle
and form unruly queues in the adjacent squares. In an effort to impart a
degree of civility to this mayhem, I have composed these guidelines for
proper behavior in this area:
1) When one is waiting to enter the Dracolich encounter, one should not
repeatedly ask "Is anyone leaving soon?" more frequently than every ten or
fifteen minutes, if at all. Most adventurers have the courtesy to inform
those in the adjacent squares of their imminent departure, and your repeated
question smacks of the impatience of a child asking "Are we there yet?" over
and over during a long journey.
2) Likewise, asking "Is anyone paralyzed?" or "Is anyone almost dead?"
during the fight is considered bad form. These contemptible queries put one
in the same category as those who watch NASCAR (Neverwinter Associated
Sporting Chariots And Racing) chariot races solely for the perverse pleasure
of seeing the crashes.
3) Do not attempt to enter the Dracolich fight when no space is available.
This will simply trigger an annoying fight in your square, causing the wrath
of all fellow combatants to envelope you like a fireball around a kobold. You
run the further risk of causing a loop, often requiring the intervention of
NW staff who would be well within their rights if they teleported you to
Triboar.
4) Once you successfully enter the fight, do not kill the last adversary
before all eight adventurers have joined the fray. You may see the question
"AI?", meaning "All In?", and you should make every effort to restrain
yourself until no one replies "NI" ("Not In") before making the final kill.
Anyone who has not entered the fight will receive no treasure or experience,
making you as popular as a mirror at a medusa convention.
5) When someone (even yourself, poor thing) is killed by a Dracolich, the
polite adventurer will announce "TF1" or "T41", meaning "Table for 1",
indicating that a space has become available in the melee. While this is not
mandatory, imagine how pleased you would be to be given this notice while
waiting outside the fight and biting your tongue to avoid asking the
questions in item 2 above.
If one keeps these simple guidelines in mind while champing at the bit
outside the Dracolich encounter, one will certainly convey a more positive
image of oneself to one's fellow adventurers. That is certainly an honorable
goal, dear Reviled, is it not?
Best Regards,
Miss Manners
P.S. - The Puntmonster is a legendary creature known (and named) for its
fierce kicking attacks, invisibility, and ability to surprise even the most
hardened warrior. It lives in the southwest corner of the Southwest Woods;
its treasure frequently includes +4 mirrored shields and +5 swords, but it
must be found and defeated without assistance of any kind from your fellow
adventurers. Best of luck!Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm
contest by submitting text for publishing. If your Announcement, Article,
Helpful Hint, NW Abby Question, Poem, Fiction, or Tidbit wins, you'll have
won your choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes)! Submit
all text to screenname: NW NEWS.
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MONTHLY CONTEST!!
Win Pearls for your Guild!
Participate in the monthly News of the Realms "Newsworthy" contest. Each
month, 4 pearls will be awarded to the account of the Guild with the most
"newsworthy" articles for that month! We're looking for works of art,
articles of fine literature, helpful hints of extraordinary brilliance,
poetic works which stir the soul, etc. The key word here is "newsworthy"...
only articles with substance will be counted in the contest!
To participate you need to:
- Indicate with your submission the name of your SANCTIONED guild. Only
sanctioned Guilds are presently eligible to receive pearls for a Guild pearl
account.
- Write something!
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