1997-03-30
Recovered original text · preserved verbatim
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NEVERWINTER NEWS
Issue # 179
Week Ending 3-30-97
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FRONT PAGE
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Congratulations to WyrmSilver for winning last week's News of the Realm
contest for his story entitled "Rownee Baker of my Dreams".
Kudos to Goblinale for 2nd place with his poem entitled "By My Neck!?" and to
SOMNeranek for 3rd place with his 3-part story entitled "House Cleaning or
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?".
WyrmSilver has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of
Heroes). Goblinale has earned 2 Pearls for his effort while SOMNeranek has
earned 1 Pearl.
Keep up the good work everybody! ;D
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<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>Greets all!
I'm pleased to announce that the March in-game testing appears to have been a
qualified success and I will now resume full scale staff sponsored in-game
events beginning April 1st. I'll be running a full schedule including,
Tours, Mini Booths, Location Hunts and Mini Festivals.Additionally, I'm going
to allow guild-sponsored events to resume on a limited basis. I will be
contacting guild GM's to advise them of the restrictions I will be imposing
upon guild sponsored events and banners during April.
Unfortunately, while it appears that character corruptions are declining,
they still do occur occasionally. Spreading the word about the download
"fix" has appeared to help, but at the present time, that is all I'm aware of
that has made any difference and we cannot be certain that it was the "fix"
that helped the situation. Regarding items on characters that have been
corrupted, we've made some efforts to investigate the possibility of an item
reset without the need of a software change on the player's end. This would
allow the registered Pearl Plan only items lost to be returned to the
original purchasers as stated in the Pearl Plan Guidelines (Keyword:AD&D >>
Neverwinter Nights Events). However, it appears as if this will not be
possible. We are waiting for more information but it just doesn't look
promising. Therefore, I'm afraid that means I'm going to need to ask you all
to continue to be patient while we wait together. As I stated before, I
still am unable to make any guarantees regarding lost items.
Regards,
NW Events
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New Players Tour - 3/25
NW Lenox called out to all the people (within the air shot of his voice that
is). :D People gather to see what NW Lenox was shouting about. Once the
crowd had settled down Lenox pulled out a scroll from his bag and undid the
Lace that held it together.
Lenox stood on top of the stairs and read to the crowd.
"Friends, ladies and men, lend NW Lenox some help for I have heard
from scouts in the Northen parts of the Realms that Dracs have taken
over. Please join NW Lenox to remove theses beast from the lands
North of Neverwinter City."
Signed Lord Nasher
Lenox folded the letter up and looked over the crowd many where willing to
join Lenox but Lenox knew he would need storng people to complete his
mission.
Rffoster, Six Joxer, Starcon5, Drow Odeth, Sithelance, and I Gratch join
Lenox to complete Lord Nasher's Mission. Onto the Armor Shop, to the
WareHouse and into Windy Cliffs. Battles raged and some where lost to the
Gods. Lenox and the company he left with soon met up with others to help
complete the mission.
Aes Ms and Calmar145 join the party in LLast and soon they all stood outside
the door that Lord Nasher had told them he had learned of the Dracs home.
Preping before the battle they met a couple of others to help.
At first they where not hom, so Lenox and his party looked for clues. When
they had started to leave the Dracs returned home!!! Battle raged on and 2
where lost, when the battle and dust had cleared the members that where left
sat down to heal their wounds.
NW Lenox thanked them all and bid farewell to return to NW City to tell Lord
Nasher that the Dracs where no more and that he could tell the Mayor of Llast
that the town was safe again!!!
Thanks to everyone that came on my NW Tour and see ya next time!!!
-NW Lenox
NeverWinter Nights Staff
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NEVERWINTER CALENDAR
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Keep an eye peeled for those Mini-Booths because they will appear when you
least expect in different areas of the Realms!
Can you be at the right place at the right time when the NW calls for a
location?
Keep your eyes and ears open for these events! Watch for the banners!
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Greets all!
I'm pleased to announce that the March in-game testing appears to have been a
qualified success and I will now resume full scale staff sponsored in-game
events beginning April 1st. I'll be running a full schedule including,
Tours, Mini Booths, Location Hunts and Mini Festivals.Additionally, I'm going
to allow guild-sponsored events to resume on a limited basis. I will be
contacting guild GM's to advise them of the restrictions I will be imposing
upon guild sponsored events and banners during April.
Unfortunately, while it appears that character corruptions are declining,
they still do occur occasionally. Spreading the word about the download
"fix" has appeared to help, but at the present time, that is all I'm aware of
that has made any difference and we cannot be certain that it was the "fix"
that helped the situation. Regarding items on characters that have been
corrupted, we've made some efforts to investigate the possibility of an item
reset without the need of a software change on the player's end. This would
allow the registered Pearl Plan only items lost to be returned to the
original purchasers as stated in the Pearl Plan Guidelines (Keyword:AD&D >>
Neverwinter Nights Events). However, it appears as if this will not be
possible. We are waiting for more information but it just doesn't look
promising. Therefore, I'm afraid that means I'm going to need to ask you all
to continue to be patient while we wait together. As I stated before, I
still am unable to make any guarantees regarding lost items.
Regards,
NW Events
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New Player Tours:
Join the following staff members for a tour of the Realm:
March 31st Monday 4:00 PM EST - with NW Thorn.
April 1st *Tuesday 12:00 AM EST - with NW Mortis.
April 5th Saturday 9:00 AM EST - with NW Dain.
* Technically, this is Wednesday but it's easier to remember that it's
Tuesday night at the stroke of midnight. ;>
Those interested in any of these tours should keep an eye out for the banner
telling where to meet! ;D
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TRIVIA NIGHT!!
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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, April 1st
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!!
Among the rules for Trivia are:
1. ONLY first 10 correct answers are scored!
2. TWO random rolls instead of one!
Please review the rules before coming in to play by reading them in the
Trivia folder (Keyword:AD&D >> Neverwinter Nights Events).
Hope to see ya there... ;D
-- NW Omar and NW Raven
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The merchant pushed open the door and peered in. He was carrying a large,
well-wrapped parcel. Looking around, he saw a dark-haired bar maid with
knowing eyes, chatting with the patrons. She looked up and smiled at him.
"Hello there, stranger..come in and take a seat. Just make sure to leave it
when you go again. I'm Mystri, what can I do for you?"
"Eh, Miss, tis more what I can do for you, I'm thinkin.' See, I came from
Nesme, and I was given this pack and asked to give it to ye by.."
"SPRYTE!" shouted Mystri, dancing out from behind the bar. "Gimme gimme! I
mean..milord, I am Mystri, and I would be most pleased to provide ye with the
beverage of your desire...might I have that parcel, then?"
With a smile, the merchant bowed and presented the packet to Mystri. Leaving
DragnSlicer to tend bar, she went into the back room and carefully unwrapped
the package. Inside were pages covered with Spryte's neat hand. Mystri's eyes
filled as she thought of her green-eyed sister, so far away now. Sighing, she
picked up the first page and began to read:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My dearest sister,
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write, but things have been quite
busy in our homeland. I think that they are settling down, but still...
My journey home was fairly uneventful. My Lady Meilikki kindly watched over
me, and I was able to elude the unfriendly denizens of the forest. Once or
twice I could have sworn that I was being watched, and an image of JJ came to
mind if you would believe it...but that of course was impossible, must be my
passing thought no doubt. I would travel quickly, covering a fair bit of
distance. Then in the evening, I would practice my sword forms. I even made a
few new ones...one called "Picking Up Empties" and the other "Mixing Lady's
Eyes". I thought of you when I danced them, Sis, and it made me happy...
There did seem to be an unnatural amount of orcs and trolls seeking through
the forest, and it required all my skills and magic to escape their notice.
I reached home to find the town in an uproar. You remember King Jimi the Old,
of Nesme-next-door? Well, that town across the River from ours had been
completely changed when Jimi died. Seems that his son Jimi the Youth had been
killed by a troll, and Jimi the Old never did recover from it. On Old Jimi's
death, the town was left without a clear heir, and that town, sis, was used
to someone to tell them what to do. Not like OUR Nesme, ruled by Peer Council
with Papa at its head. Well, Nesme-next-door sought some relation of Jimi's
and turned up a cousin studying for a Mage. Had gotten pretty far advanced,
indeed, and the townsfolk thought a Mage King would really give them some
class and standing. So with much fuss, they brought Rithka the Mage to be
their King.
Sis, you won't believe it..it seems Rithka decided the Nesmes should be
joined together under one rule~his! I don't have to tell you that Papa did
NOT approve of this plan..things were quite lively in the Tavern common room
when this was discussed. King Rithka had perfect rationale, you see...those
roving troll and Orc bands, and he could provide some "protection" from them.
If you'd credit it, some of the puddin' heads actually agreed to it! Myself,
I thought the arrival of the Orcs and trolls and Rithka all at about the same
time was a bit too coincidental...
I raised a band of fighters to deal with the Trolls and Orcs, and we had some
fine times in the Woods. We managed to clear out many of them. There were
some close ones, though, and one very strange thing...I was facing an Orc
leader, and a fine dance he gave me..my Sword was singing, and I'd just
finished him, when I was struck with a weight from behind. It smashed me
flat, Sis..and I thought for a moment that I was through. I breathed a prayer
to my Lady, and flashed over, but the weight that held me was dead weight~ a
HUGE Troll, with a club in his hand that was as big as me. When I was able to
finally get out from under and view the body, I found a Drow blow dart in its
neck...with a "K" rune on it. I never saw any trace of any but my band...and
no other Drow weapons were found.
Well, to make a long story shorter, weapons were found on the Orcs that had
been bought with money from the Nesme-next-door treasury. Rithka decided that
perhaps he had been mistaken and didn't want to be King, and subsequently
left.....and now Papa is working with Fernwood Featherfoot in Nesme-next-door
to help them develop their own Peer Council. I'm working with the group I
assembled to develop a Town Guard, and we train with the Nesme-next-door
group as well. I showed Papa how to mix your "Whatever It Is" and "The Lady's
Eyes", and they are very popular indeed. I think that there'd be a good
market for some of Thorn's ales over this way, and also for the MacSatan (The
Lady forgive me for thinking of such things) if you'd like to pass the word
along.
Tell Petal hello for me..and also JJ. I miss him, he used to make me
smile...I hope that things are well with Tal as well. What are Amra and Song
up to? How is Tali working out? I miss you all more than I can say..Skritch
Wyrm for me...
I love you, Sis..I'll write more when I can..
Spryte
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~The Roving ReporterThe Lost Passage - Part 13
Still Climbing
(submitted by: Lake Mist)
At noon on the third day since leaving Longsaddle, the three rangers
came across a small meadow with an abundance of berries. Having made good
time thus far, they decided to take time to relax and enjoy the bounty the
meadow had to offer. It was not easy work, gathering the berries for their
afternoon meal. But the meal they shared an hour later, was well worth the
effort. After eating, the three rangers lay back in the meadow and took in
the beauty around them.
The sky was clear and beautiful, and the land around them a virtual
paradise. The meadow gently spread out and up the side of the mountain, a
testament to the work of Mielikki. Strange furrows twisted through the rich
earth of the meadow, and the ground showed odd-shaped bulges. Barthonis
observed that the bulges were to small to be graves, which brought smiles the
faces of TroutRasta and Lake Mist.
The chaotic pattern of the land reflected the worn and ragged past of
the realms, and as their eyes followed the pattern up the mountain, they
spotted three caves in a cliff wall. "About a days march, I guess," said
Trout, "and they may make a good place to rest for a day or two." Lake
rubbed the wound on his left leg at that, and realized that he probably
should have stayed and rested in Longsaddle a little longer, if he had rested
at all. "Aye," replied Lake, "we could all probably use a little rest.
Besides, we can complete our maps and leave a copy for Thorn Hawk and the
others."
After a few more moments with the meadow, they continued on their way.
Bart had a smile on his face and contented himself with humming as he lead
the party back up the trail. Lake left a marker behind for those that
followed and observed that the path had long since turned to a trail.
Probably a deer trail from the abundance of forage they were seeing.
Just before dusk, Bart found a good camp site for the night. As they
settled down and got their bed rolls out, Trout said, "The trail really
started getting steep about an hour ago." "And we are closer to those caves
than we thought," said Bart. Looking up the side of the mountain in the
waning light, Lake said, "We should be there by noon tomorrow, I guess."
"Aye," said Trout and Bart in unison. As they lay down for the night, their
fire stoked to ward off wolves and other night creatures, a shadow passed
near the camp and moonlight sparked off the horn of the unicorn as it
observed the sleeping rangers. As it's head bobbed up and down for moment,
all three rangers began the same dream.
"A dark cavern.....a long passage, with tunnels branching off in several
directions.....bones of many dead creatures, some human, some not.....white
pillars, as pure as clouds, rising up, supporting arches carved with relief
showing the splendors of the world.....gold plated streets.....a great
temple, supported by a single pillar of emerald-inlaid marble.....fountains
that poured water filled with tiny stars.....a small tunnel opening into a
vast cavern.....piles of boulders and stones cluttering the
floor.....something lying among the rubble.....large.....very large.....and
dead.....the cloud giant shaman."
As the sky started to turn from indigo to pale pink and yellow in
greeting to the coming day, the rangers started to stir. Lake stoked the
embers of the fire to prepare the morning meal. Trout and Bart looked at
each other and then at Lake. "I had the strangest dream" started Trout. "A
cavern," continued Bart, "and a dead cloud giant shaman." Lake just nodded
in agreement, he to had dreamed the same thing. All three looked up at the
caves in the side of the mountain.
While eating their breakfast, the three were deep in thought. Trout was
wondering about Zeb Canon, why he wasn't in the dream, and if he was still
alive? Bart was doubting himself again, could he face the dangers that might
lie deep inside those caves, would let his brothers down again? Lake was
remembering Primrose's smile and the warm feeling he always had when near
her, the smell of her auburn hair after a spring rain, and how much he missed
her right now.The Lost Passage - Part 14
Ba'al Brun
(submitted by: Lake Mist)
As the three rangers continued up the trail, the caves seemed to grow so
as to hold giants. The sight of the huge openings was almost overwhelming.
They had only traveled a few miles when the trail suddenly opened into
another meadow. This one was much larger and the far edge rested against the
mountain just under the cave openings. As their eyes scanned the meadow,
they noticed what appeared to be an old house in a stand of trees on the west
end of the meadow.
Approaching the ruins, they could see that roof had long since given way
and fallen inward. The walls had started to decay and fall apart, leaving
gaps here and there. Wary of danger, they noticed that the birds were still
chirping and the meadow was at total peace with itself. TroutRasta peered
into the opening of the door while Barthonis and Lake Mist stood guard
outside.
A quick glance around revealed that a lot of the was still intact. It
had fallen into the house, but still offered areas of protection and shelter.
Trout started moving toward the rear of the ruins where there appeared to be
the best shelter to make sure it was sturdy enough for their camp. Rounding
some debris, he nearly knocked the skeleton and table over. Startled, he
reached for his sword and then noticed that the skeleton appeared to be that
of a child. Looking closer at what was left of the robes and cloak, he
realized that his dead companion was actually a dwarf. There was a parchment
lying under the skeletal fingers on the table. After he had finished
scouting the ruins, the three of them would search more. Taking the
parchment, he placed it in his bag of holding and continued on.
After Trout was sure that the ruins were safe, he whistled the all
clear. Bart and Lake started in through the doorway and were met by Trout.
"We have yet another grave to prepare. The past dweller of this house still
sits at his table." Trout began. As he pulled out the parchment he
continued, "This was clutched in his fingers. We'll bury this fellow and
examine what we have found over lunch. Agreed?" Bart and Lake nodded their
agreement and Lake said, "I'll start digging a grave if you two want to start
gathering stones to cover it with." Trout and Bart agreed and the three
started their task.
By noon the grave was ready and the three gathered the dwarf and wrapped
him in his cloak. Carefully carrying the bones outside to the grave the
prepared under a tall ash tree, they placed the dwarf in his resting place.
Trout pulled out the parchment and read over it quickly. "Ba'al Brun. I
believe his name was Ba'al Brun," he said. Bart looked at Lake and Lake just
nodded his head and began, "Mielikki, Goddess of the Forest and she who
guides our hands and hearts, accept Ba'al Brun into your council and guide
him along the rest of his journey. May his path be more peaceful as you show
him the way." The rangers then finished the grave and left the dwarf in
peace.
They gathered in the rear of the old house to start their camp. Lake
said, "We can search the ruins a little better with something in our
stomachs. And this may be a good a spot to wait for the others. If they
headed to Nightsedge as Bart told us, they can't be to far behind us now."
Since they had no fresh game meat, they decided on a cold camp for lunch.
Lake was breaking out the owlbear jerky and frenzy when Trout pulled out the
parchment. Bart was getting out some of the berries they carried from the
last meadow when Trout started reading.
"I am beset by monsters from dusk to dawn. They won't enter the
cabin, but stay near and howl all night. I commit these few words to
parchment so that others may judge my fate. My wounds from the
fight with three trolls two days ago, grow worse. If the heart of my
destroyer has a name, I know it not. Only that his shaman and legions
plague my waking moments and dreams relentlessly.
"As I die, let me write what I know for you who find me. With my last
breath, I Ba'al Brun, curse them and their god, and the air that bears their
foul stench."
As Lake and Bart started passing the food around, Trout laid the
parchment down and took a deep breath. As the three ate lunch, they decided
that Trout would hunt for fresh game, as there was a lot of fresh deer track
all around, and Bart would gather nuts and berries to round off the evening
meal. Lake was to stay near the ruins in case of trouble with the others and
gather fire wood and look for fresh water.
As the others departed, Lake made a quick look around outside the ruins
and found several dead falls which would supply ample fire wood for many
days. As he gathered fire wood, his attention was caught by a flock of
birds, no more than dots, cutting across the blue summer sky. He thought
that he could hear their contented cries as they moved together in perfect
flight. He thought that cities dwellers live by intricate, arcane rules of
established life and that they are trapped by their pasts as they create
elaborate preparations for the future. We, the followers of Mielikki, do
not. We find the life and beauty right where it is, at that moment, and let
ourselves go into that moment, and float upon it's bounty.
Life is all around us, but most don't know how to let themselves respond
to what's happening to them, right then, at that moment. Most city dwellers
will flap their lips about life to anyone who will listen. He walked on in
silence for a few minutes as he took in the wonder and beauty that surrounded
him, and nearly fell into the well that was at the rear of the old cabin. As
he sat up and looked at the well, laughing, he noticed that it had completely
fallen apart. Possibly destroyed when the monsters were on their nightly
raids. He crawled over to the edge and stopped laughing as he realized that
what was left of the was very deep. Listening, he could hear water running.
Picking up a stone, he dropped it over the edge. One, pause, two, pause,
"splash", not to deep, but deep enough.
Going back into the old cabin, Lake retrieved a rope from his pack and
looked for a bucket or something. He found an old wooden bucket near what
was left of the hearth and hoped it would last long enough to fill their
water skins. Grabbing all the water skins in the camp, he headed back to the
well.
After he had tied the rope to the handle of the bucket, he lowered in
into the well until he heard it hit the water. The rope pulled to the south
as the water in the well dragged the bucket under. Hoping he hadn't lost the
bucket, he started pulling the rope back up quickly. He let a sigh of relief
when he saw the bucket, leaking, but full of water. Cold water. Icy cold,
and spring fresh. The well must be fed by a underground spring from the
mountain. It took five more buckets of water to fill all the water skins he
had, the bucket held less and less water every trip, and the almost didn't
make the last trip down and up. He would have to work on it this evening.
Gathering the bucket, rope and water skins, Lake headed back into the
old cabin to the camp site. Looking around, he thought it odd that there
were no weapons or armor anywhere in sight. Other than the parchment that
Trout had found, there didn't seem to be anything else here. In the other
corner of the rear of the cabin, he found what he was looking for. The
dwarf's armor and weapons were buried under a part of the roof that must have
fallen in first. There was a broken bed frame and chair, and what was left
of a wardrobe. And there, under one corner of the bed frame, a trap door.
He couldn't move the debris enough to clear it. He would have to wait till
the others returned.
Lake moved back to the camp to wait for the others, and worked on
mending the bucket while he waited. A light breeze blew through the camp,
and the smell of pine and mountain flowers traveled with it. How wonderful
to be alive, he thought. Primrose would love this meadow. He smiled as he
continued his work.The Quest
(submitted by: Xerdek)
The drow warrior was passing through the Triboar Square on his way to
the arena when he noticed an elderly man admiring a statue. So he made his
way over to the man to see what was so unique about the statue.
"Beautiful, isn't she" the elder commneted.
"Yes she is, but where did this come from, I have never noticed it before."
Xerdek asked.
The elder looked at Xerdek and answered, " She has always been here but
your eyes could never see her until now. This is Lady Caroline, she was born
some thousand years ago. It is a riddle of where the statue was created or
even who was the sculptor."
"Old man what are these words here, they are from a language I do not know"
Xerdek asked
"It is an ancient language, without a name, but it reads ' She will return
when she is returned' a riddle that has never been understood." the elder
replied.
The old man grabbed his stick and walked away, while Xerdek remain to
admire the statue. The statue was unique, not possessing the usual signs of
creation. Every edge was smooth, no signs of chipping. The lady had a
terrified look with her arms extended outward. Her facial expression was as
if she was screaming.
Xerdek was always one of a curious nature and this puzzle intrigues him
extremely. So he went to the supply stores and prepared for a long journey.
On his way out of Triboar he ran into his abbil Glaeros and explained to him
he would be gone for sometime and would return when his quest was over. So
he headed for Longsaddle in seek of some information. Xerdek hoped he could
acquire some knowledge from the Harpell's even though being a drow might
cause some problems. Hopefull their own curiousity would play to his
advantage.
Upon arriving in Longsaddle Xerdek went straight for the Harpell's
house. There a scholar was so fascinated by the drow he played right into
Xerdek's hand. The scholar had heard of the statue but could not produce any
written documents. This puzzled Xerdek because the Harpell's had gained fame
for their resources. However the scholar gave Xerdek a tip, high in the
skies was a Hall of Knowledge, if there was a place for answers this would be
it.
Xerdek was confused for awhile, how could he reach the edges of
existence. Then he realized that dragons could fly at speeds and distances
that could reach any place desired. The problem being finding a dragon that
would agree to such a task. In his lifetime every dragon he came upon was
aggressive and a conversation was highly unlikely. So Xerdek stopped in a
supply room of the Harpell's and conviently acquired some scrolls that might
help.
Longsaddle was along the Neverwinter Woods, a place that housed many
dragons. So Xerdek headed for the woods in search for a dragon. Soon into
the woods Xerdek encountered bandits hiding near a bridge. This annoyed
Xerdek, he had no time for such pranks so he grabbed his blades and walked
up. When one bandit approached and started to talk Xerdek quickly put his
dagger to his throat, displaying the fact that he was not to be messed with.
The bandits jumped off the bridge and into the river, taking their chances
with mother nature instead of the drow. Xerdek's abbil Abzzcesse had
commented on a White Dragon living close to the river so he carefully
approached a secluded area near the river.
As he turned a corner around a huge tree he spotted the white dragon,
but not before she spotted him. His quick reflexes allowed him to dodge her
tail, but he was left with his back against the river. Quickly he casted a
globe a darkness around her head and he rolled away from the river. Coming
up only to feel her claw catch him in the chest as she threw her arms wildly.
He figured he had one chance and grabbed a scroll he got from the Harpell's,
desperately reading the words he watch the dragon calm down. It had worked,
Xerdek had charmed him a dragon.
Xerdek now was able to explain his quest to the dragon, telling her he
did not wish to ahrm her only to use her great skills. She had mentioned she
had heard of the statue but all she knew was it involved dark magic. So she
agreed to take Xerdek to the Hall of Knowledge, but this is all she could
assit in the quest. Xerdek mounted her back and admired the strength of her
mighty wings. In a matter of seconds they were a flying at speeds Xerdek
only dreamed of. In less than an hour they reached the hall, and Xerdek
asked how far they had travelled, the dragon laughed and answered that he
couldwalk for the rest of his life and not equal the distance.
Xerdek entered the hall and admired the enormous shelves of books, this
could take forever he imagined. Suddenly a voice asked Xerdek, "What is it
that you seek?" Xerdek answered," I seek the riddle of the statue, 'She will
return when she is returned'" It seemed like forever when a book appeared on
the desk before Xerdek with a bookmark. Then the voice returned " The quest
you seek is one that can not be finished, there a dark powers at work here
that you cannot imagine."
That's all Xerdek needed, to be told he failed on fired him up more so
he turned to the bookmark and began reading.
"Lady Caroline was the daughter of a nobleman, at the age of sixteen she
married Sir Angus, son of a weaponsmaster. In two years she was with child,
but Angus was forced off to war. During battle Angus was stuck with a deep
fear of death and thought he would trade anything as long as he would not die
here. An imp overheard his thought and tricked Angus into giving up his
unborn child. Upon falling for the trick Angus killed himself, he could not
live with himsefl. Unaware of this plot Lady Caroline sat with her daughter
when the imp arrived and stole the child from her arms. Seeing this through
his magical sight a mighty wizard enchanted Lady Caroline turning her into a
statue, relieving her from any anguish. Upon the return of the child Lady
Caroline would be released.
The imp had taken the child to a matron mother of mighty house that now
does not exist. The matron mother captured the childs spirit in a cystal,
banishing her to the abyss. From this the matron mother could draw the life
force of the child. Where the crystal lies now his unknown, most logical
place would be in the ruins of the house."
Xerdek noticed a symbol which he figured was the house symbol. He
exited the hall and return to the woods with the dragon. Xerdek hoped one
of his abbilen would know of the symbol and give him insight. Now his
curiousity had turned into a inspiration. Among the ruins he might find some
other objects of use and he was curious to see if the legend was true. The
Lady's Gift
(submitted by: Thorn Hawk)
Spring had come to the woods bringing a gentle breeze from the east warming
the land while the soft rays of the morning sun filtered down among the
branches above drenching the shadowed floor below in gold. A robin flew into
a tall tree its branches covered in new growth to greet the morning with a
song as a squirrel scampered down a limb to forage along a trail. It was a
perfect morning as the woods were peaceful. One of those rare moments that
happen seldom in life when everything is in harmony.
Into this peaceful setting walked a tall figure, cloaked and carrying a bow,
his eyes taking in the beauty around him and a slow smile crossed his face.
He was old and grizzled. His hair more white than blonde but his frame still
showed the strength to pull the great elven bow he carried in his hand. He
blue eyes twinkled with delight as he watched the squirrel scamper among the
undergrowth. He carried little besides the bow and the clothes he wore, but
the gleam of an axe peaked from underneath the cloak, an axe forged long ago
by dwarves now gone and given to him by a ranger when he was but a lad
learning to be a man.
His hand slipped down to caress the haft of the weapon almost a lover's touch
and any onlooker knew which weapon he cherished. Just an axe it was to many,
but to him it was more . ., a priceless gift, a symbol of his lost youth, and
an honor to those that came before. Taking a deep breath, he moved on.
He traveled down the shadowed trail his soft boots never making a sound as
his eyes scanned the woods around for danger, but found none. These woods
were his home. He had walked down their paths for more years than many of
his brethren had lived. He knew their secrets and their ways. Touching the
small medallion that he wore around his neck, he smiled as a ripple passed
through his body, a feeling he knew well, one he had felt many times in his
life. His goddess was calling.
The clearing was deep within the woods, lost to all but those familiar to its
secrets. Nothing set it apart from the many glens that dotted the large
expanse of woods yet as he entered the clearing, he felt a serenity wash over
him taking away the many miles he had walked and horrors he had faced and he
felt at peace. He had been here many times in his life and each one was like
the first. It took his breath away.
"I have come milady," said KB softly.
Stepping from behind a nearby tree, a slim woman approached with hair of
golden moss and leaves, dressed in a sheer robe of green and yellow. She
held the wisdom of untold ages in her beautiful face. "I've been waiting for
you to arrive KB," she replied smiling as a small sparrow alighted on her
hand, "it is nice to see you again."
"The pleasure is always mine, milady," as he bowed always amazed that her
feet never seemed to touch the ground.
"Why have you called me?"
Smiling, "I would like you to deliver something for me," she answered
reaching to touch KB's cheek lifting his face.
"I have a gift I would like you to give to a child of mine in Neverwinter."
"I will deliver your gift milady," he whispered gazing into eyes so much like
those of a unicorn's.
"You wonder why not deliver this gift myself. Let me say it is a gift for
you as well my friend. You have walked these realms in my service doing as
I've asked or wished."
She reached out to touch the axe at his side tracing the runes along its
broad blade, "this axe was a gift to you many years ago, one you treasure,
and I'm giving you a chance to repay that favor, to honor that tradition."
"Tis rare that one is given the chance in life to repay such a favor,"
breathed KB.
Taking his hands in hers, she turned them over so the sun lit his palms and
before his eyes a cloak shimmered into existence one of fine weave and dove
gray in color. "Tis a lovely gift milady and priceless but . . ."
"His name KB," smiled Mielikki, "is Thorn Hawk."
A smile spread across his aged face as he thought of the young ranger and
knew the giving of the gift was right. "I shall leave at once," exclaimed KB
pride showing on his face at the thought of giving this gift.
"KB," whispered the lady, "let me help you as he is in Neverwinter as we
speak." She spoke a soft word and KB felt the world melt away from under
him.
Mielikki stood a moment within the glade, her thoughts with her child and as
she mused, her friend, "tis a gift for duty and a pledge he made my child." A
moment longer she stood before a ripple passed through her and a sparkling
mote of greenish gold light floated off into the trees and was gone.
Bro KB shook his head to clear the images of the shrine and his goddess
before stepping away from the ancient oak that dominated a part of the square
in Neverwinter. The sun was as he remembered in the woods just over the
horizon burning the last of the trailing wisps of fog from the city. Looking
around warily, he quickly placed the gift within the folds of a similar cloak
he wore over his shoulders. Just then, he saw Thorn Hawk and his wife,
Luthyen approaching. Trying to guess how she knew, he stepped forward to
greet his brother and pupil but he had already been seen.
"Brother," yelled Thorn Hawk, "it's been a long time. How have you been and
what are you doing out of the woods?"
"Thorn," replied KB happily, "I'm doing well and I've come looking for you."
"What's wrong?" concern evident in Thorn's voice.
"Nothing, I was sent me to find you. I'm to give you a gift from the lady
herself."
"A gift?" asked Thorn as images of Mielikki filled his mind and soothed his
spirit.
"Open thy heart, my brother and receive her gift," intoned KB taking from
within his cloak Mielikki's gift and placing it in Thorn's outstretched
hands.
Thorn's mind drifted with his goddess and he stood unaware of those around
him. A small crowd had gathered around them by chance or something else only
Mielikki could say, but as Luthyen put her hand on Thorn's shoulder drawing
his thoughts back, Petalflow, a bard and friend appeared along with Loon, a
fellow ranger and one of Luthyen's pupils, Azhie. They all stood silently
puzzled by the ceremony as Thorn looked down and shook out the cloak to catch
the morning light its folds seeming to flicker making it hard to watch for
long.
"KB . . ." whispered Thorn Hawk his mind awash with questions and searching
for something to say as silent tears spilled from his eyes.
"Love," exclaimed Luthyen breathless, "it's . . ."
Thorn gathered the cloak to his breast over the silver unicorn he wore
holding it reverently while he stood in shocked silence.
"An elven cloak," nodded KB, "the lady said it was for duty and a pledge . .
. and for me, a tradition," he replied to the unasked question touching the
axe at his belt.
Those gathered around watched as Luthyen helped Thorn Hawk whose hands shook
with wonder place the cloak around his neck.
"I've no words brother that can express . .," whispered Thorn Hawk, a single
tear flowing down his cheek as he thought of Mielikki, "but thank you."
"That is enough Thorn."
Feeling a need to suddenly be alone with his thoughts and to thank his
goddess in his own way, Thorn Hawk said his good byes and with a single
motion turned, placed the hood over his head, flickered and vanished from
sight.
Thorn Hawk
Brotherhood of PathfindersShort but Sweet
(submitted by: ERS Boyo)
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>Tho a rose may be most beautiful
To you it can't compare
To try and make it so
Is to the rose, oh so unfair
ERS Boyo<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>
Morning of the 'Morrow
(submitted by: ERS Boyo)
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>I arose on the morning of the 'morrow to the
Sun breaking thru my window forcing me from my slumber. I stood upon my feet
and cursed the daylight and the day. I wished not to see this morning, I had
dreamed of eternal night but alas my prayers they were not answered. I gazed
across the room with a blank expression on my face as I gazed upon my armor
and my sword. Alas I must don them once again, to defend my home, my honor
and my name.
There is a man within these woods that wishes to do me harm, to burn my home
and rape my lands but he is sadly mistaken if he expect to do it wothout a
fight. I was not born a warrior nor do I wish to die one but he shall rue the
day he did trespass aginst me.
My heart begins to pound faster and faster as I grow closer to the door. As I
slowly opened the large oak door, I see my destiny as it is laid out in front
of me. The path that leads to the Northern woods is unbeaten for only I have
tread these lands and only I shall still continue. The trees are twisted from
the fierce northern wind that can rip thru the air like a knife, the leaves
are all long gone, I haven't seen them for many years.
The road now begins to bend and turn as the farther north I travel. I now can
see the snow upon the horizon, the warning of a long winter. I can go no
further, I must stop to rest. I lie down beneath an oak tree to ease my
weariness. I know I must be careful, for there are many demons that reside
within these parts of the woods. I can sense their presence, I feel their
eyes staring at me from behind the thick brush, I can feel their hot breath
upon my neck for they are so close.
I rise from upon my resting place for I must press on, I still have farther
yet to journey. I see now the sun as it begins to slowly fade behind the
clouds, darkness now envelopes me. The dark hours of the evening are the most
dangerous in these woods, most of the demons here fear the light and will not
attack if it is present but now I am at their mercy, behind every tree and
shrub danger lurks, I must remain on guard as I continue on.
Up ahead in the shadows I can hear them as they wait for me to enter the
clearing, they think I am the lamb and they are the slaughter. I deftly move
in silence thru the woods, I flank them from behind. The only sound they hear
as I unsheath my sword is their last heartbeat as I send them back to the
depths of hell from whence they were spawned. The killing is quick and
painless, as their bodies fall limply to the ground, their blood begins to
stain the grass.
I raise my hand to Heaven and bow my head, I curse that which I have become.
I wish not to kill and I do not do so freely. The hand that wields my sword
is forced into action but still I can not forgive myself. I pause for a
moment to collect my emotions and gather my thoughts for this is not why I
have ventured here, a greater danger still awaits me.
I begin down the path once again, the air grows colder with every step I
take. Guided by only the faint light of the stars and the moon, I forge
forth.
Up ahead in the distance I see the glimmering light of a camp fire, I smell
the old wood burning as the smoke slowly wafts up into the clouds. It was
there I decided to make camp behind the cover of a fallen tree, it is there I
would wait for the first light of dawn to make my approach towards my would
be foe.
The evening air was chilled by a frosty breeze wrapping me in it's cold
blanket as I lay myself down to sleep. I had hoped the night wouldst pass
quickly but it seemed to drag out longer then any I had endured before.
The hours passed by slowly but then I saw it. The first few rays of dawn as
they broke thru the twisted, battered limbs of the forest. They shined dimly
upon my face as I wiped the tired from my eyes.
I rose unto my feet and took a deep breath as I readided myself for the
battle that lie ahead of me. I stepped back upon the path, a new found
strength pulsating thru my veins, my eyes desperately searching for my enemy
but he was not to be found. I reached the middle of the clearing, the embers
of his camp fire still smoldering. I cried out "SHOW YOURSELF" dare not hide
in the cover of the trees for my rage and my wrath will seek you out and when
they find you, may whatever god you hold holy have mercy on your soul.
There was no answer, no sound or noise from anywhere. Then from out of
nowhere, like a ghost in the wind a man appeared before me. This man I did
not know, nor had I ever seen before. He raised his sword to me in jest. He
beckoned me to come forth and so I did. Our swords clashed with the fury of
thunder, sparks flew like lightning. Blow after blow, strike upon strike we
parried and dodged each other with the deftness of skilled warriors. As the
battle drew on, both beaten and weary, we continued in combat for this was
not a contest of skill but a fight to the death. His fight for riches and
wealth, mine for honor and pride. I struck a blow upon his chest, splitting
his armor like rotten wood, tearing the flesh from his shoulder, the blood
began to flow down his arm into a puddle upon the ground. Still he battled
on. His courage in the face of death did both inspire and frighten me. I knew
it wouldst come to this but didst I really wish to kill this man because of
unkind words he spoke upon me? My answer did not matter for his sword did not
stay still for long, the momentary silence was broken when we clashed again.
He fought with the fury of 10 men his strength astounded me. I now began to
fear that I could not be victorious in this fight and that I would be the one
to be forgotten in these woods. My fear was my inspiration, for I didst not
wish to die here today.
I fought back with the might of Giants, my fury and ire outgrew my
attacker's, I landed blow upon blow to his body but he would not sucumb to
the pain and injuries I did inflict. He would not, he could not surrender nor
could I afford him the chance. Then he stopped, looked me within my eyes and
lowered his sword for he knew he had been beaten. I looked back upon him and
raised my sword for one last blow to finally end it all. I struck with power
and speed, his body fell upon the ground quivering and shaking as the last
few breaths of his life passed from his lips.
I buried this man that I had killed but did not know as the last few rays of
sunlight fell upon the Earth. Who was this man, what was his name and why did
he assail me? I fear the answers to my query, I shall never know. As I
ventured home, I cried tears of sorrow for this man that I had killed but did
not know.
ERS Boyo<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>Game Login Poem
(submitted by: Tripwire)
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>The gate to the realm
of dreams is blocked
The gatte to the realm of screams is locked,
Oh how can this folly of all mankind be?,
Please open the gates ,and set us all free !
Too many users are in the great game,
Too many "ghosts" are what I do claim!!
Can you please tell ol' "user one" if you please;
Log Off more often , to save you must first leave !
With right hand doubleclick, and left hand one stroke do I take,
On keyboard and mouse its a fine rythym I make !
The rythym be broken once in a great while,
As the big square icon I see makes me smile !
But as two more strokes with lefthand are made,
"The Gates to Neverwinter are Blocked " OH HADE !!!!
Tripwire * The Lost Mage *
OGS<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>
The Hunt Begins - Part 1
(submitted by: Exed0ranth)
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>Clutching the bolt that protruded from his
shoulder, Darrien knew he would soon feel the effects of the dreaded sleeping
poison, and he knew that if his eyes were to close now, he may never again
open them. The sky pounded its fury, saturating the earth will heavy
rainfall, causing mass puddles and blinding rain. Flashes of lightning lit
up the area, giving Darrien his only glimpses of his surroundings. "Where am
I now?", he whispered to himself as he began to get lightheaded, the poison
slowly coursing through his veins.
Glancing around wearily, he pushed on, not quite sure what direction he was
even going, his mind trying to stay clear of the poison. Creeping slowly, he
followed the muddy path the best he could, given that the lightning was his
only light source, he wasn't sure how far he was away from his pursuer, but
was thankful for the Dimension door scroll he purchased from the thief in
Striders, it had saved his life. He stopped for a second to catch his
breath, leaning heavily against a tree, gasping for air. "Just a bit
farther", he said slowly, trying to focus around him, fighting to stay awake.
Stepping forward his legs gave out and he was sent to the ground, his eyes
giving out not soon afterward.
********************************************************
He puffed heavily on his pipe, trying to keep it from getting soaked from the
downpour, glancing around the area, cursing under his breath for dragging the
hunt out longer, when the kill was right there, and now it was gone.
Exed0ranth sighed heavily, and sat on a broken rock, tucking his pipe away.
The drow went to the folds in his Piwafre, removing the large diamond, one of
the biggest he had ever seen. He smiled greedily as he examined it again,
marveling at its beauty, his payment for the delivery of the rivvil, the
rivvil that had just up and vanished in the rain. Taking the handbow, he
loaded another bolt and attached it to his belt. Stretching, the drow rose
to his feet, drenched from the rain, he walked along the path, humming a
strange melody as he followed the path.
********************************************************
"What do you want from me?", he screamed, letting a missile of magic erupt
from the wand towards the pursuer. Darrien watched the missile streak
towards the horde of figures approaching him, he took satisfaction in the
missile that soared towards its target, striking it squarely in the chest.
"Yes!", he bellowed triumphantly, as the missile found its mark. A huge
burst of light filled the pathway, and the form of the drow vanished, and
Darrien then knew, that it wasn't a horde he was fighting, but 1 drow, who
had duplicated to look like several, and his missile had only hit an image,
Darrien scowled at his luck.
Exed0ranth aimed the handbow, not seemingly bothered by the rain, his eyes
locked on the rivvil who was working frantically to remove the false drows,
it only took a second for the trigger to click, and the bolt to embed itself
in the soft flesh of the rivvils shoulder.
The drow smiled, and took his pipe out, lighting it under the cover of a
large tree, his eyes never leaving the now poisoned human. Darrien's body
jerked as the bolt hit home, sinking into his shoulder. He reached around
and snapped off the end of the bolt, throwing it to the ground, he knew about
drows, and knew that most bolts were adorned with a strong sleeping poison
and that he didn't have much time. He ran down the trail as fast as his
weakening legs would let him, glancing behind him, only to find the shadowy
figure of the drow not far behind him, the burning tobacco from his pipe
announcing his arrival.
Darrien ran on, another bolt sailing by his ear and ending up in a tree,
quickly followed by another that grazed his arm. Running as fast as he
could, he slipped and fell into a large puddle, injuring his ankle slightly,
and he turned around to see the drow fast approaching. He quickly took off
his pack and untied the knots, and removed an old parchment, he only prayed
it was worth all the money it costed him.
Exe came closer, putting the handbow away, and took out his black flail. The
flail glowed with a light all its own, "Do you kill him now it asked him
mentally, or shall you continue to play around as you always do" Exe
chuckled as he came closer, knowing that his flail had a bloodlust more
dangerous than his own, and still wondered if it was wise to keep a hold of
such an intelligent weapon, but its destructiveness couldn't be equaled, and
Exe had caved in many skulls with the flail, and the flail reveled in every
kill.
Darrien held the scroll close, straining his eyes to see the words, and
chanted aloud, the feeling of magic in the air. Exe came closer and began to
swing the flail, the end of the flail glowing a faint red, glowing brighter
as Exe ran towards the rivvil, an eerie moan could be heard as he swung the
flail, intent on crushing the humans skull into pieces.
As Exe brought the flail down, the human vanished in a flash of bright light,
the flail sinking deep into the earth. As the flail embedded itself in the
ground, the earth began to smoke, as the flail excreted its acid everywhere,
the flail cursed to itself, its hopes of human blood prolonged.
<TBC><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>Sojourn-Argon
The Dark Shadow of Argon
(submitted by: MECH Argos)
It had been long since the de-activation of Sassy, and given the time to
reflect upon it Argon still felt unsettled about what he had done. Killing
was a part of life indeed, yet when it came to ones own family it became a
detriment to ones inner self to say the very least. Over the last few weeks
the time spent with Pearl were beautifully extravagant episodes of
pure...love. Often were the times the two would be seen walking down the
darkened corridors of the complex arm in arm. A casual smile or nod of
approval would greet them as they walked by. It was as if Gond himself
intervened and dissipated the former inhuman feeling that was commonplace for
Argon. In all honesty, the new attitude and emotions actually aided in his
work and developments. Whereas, he used to be rather one-sided and set in his
ways, Argon found he was now patient, and almost doting to his brethren..
It was not until one morning over training sessions that he decided his next
course of action...
***
Seated against a nearby tree, Argon watched Pearl as she practiced her
swordplay. While not commonly used among the ranks of MECH, swordplay gave
off its own elegant passions..of a much earlier time.
"You're getting good I must say dear, but keep your chin up. Lowering your
chin limits your range of vision and can cause you to lean forward a bit".
Sighing, Pearl settles down next to Argon and leans against his chest...
"I dont care about my chin, I'll keep it where I want to", Pearl smiles. You
know as well as I that I'll never fight with a sword anyways".
Placing an arm around her as she rests against him, Argon observes the
scenery around them. Nature in its granduer was always a pleasureable sight
to behold, and was so enhanced by the mixed company. Reflecting, Argon was
amazed that he ever locked himself in his Antechambers every hour on the hour
and hardly ever saw daylight. It was at this moment that he came to a
decison..One that would change his life forever..
***
"I dont believe I embody what my callsign was meant for me any longer my
sweet".
Sitting up, and knowing Argon well enough not to speak when he was
reflecting, Pearl watched him quietly.
"I will change my callsign, and make it so that I cannot be reminded of my
former dark thoughts and ideas. I can no longer be as inept and one-sided as
once was found. I want to join my brethren in all ways and manners. My love
for you has sparked that I believe, and it is my hope that I can continue to
be with you as you desire. You could not specifically link with Argon, he was
pure destruction, whereas I am destruction yet feeling upon my own kind. Gone
will be my blank stares as I disassemble and re-assemble. Yes, I will go
through with it. And I will do so not only for you my love, but for MECH as
well..We are the masters in all, and we shall continue to be..
Now walking through the green pastures of the woods, Argon and Pearl talk
amongst themselves and grin and laugh in their revelries. When the complex
was finally reached, Argon turned to look out at nature as if to say goodbye
in part. For there would be a part of him that would not emerge from the
complex, yet there would be a part that would soar amongst the clouds in
search of the eternal wisdom of Gond...
***
His goodbyes complete, Argon opened the door for Pearl never taking his eyes
off of her. A sacrifice such as this he would make again if he could,
anything for the eternal beauty that was MECH Pearl. Recognizing it at all
made the inner Argon shudder..But it was a decision now that he would stand
by, to eradicate those feelings of ineptitude. Feelings were not a weakness
as he commonly thought long ago. They were an inspiration, and in proven
tests had multiplied greatly his battle prowess. Few of the servants of Gond
could face Argon in single combat, and now it would become even more so a
challenge for them.
Entering his private antechambers, Argon placed down his travel gear and sat
on his table. Many changes were made to his own rooms since the last
deactivation. This time the process would be swift and quick, removal of a
few banks here and there would be all that was required in this instance.
Smiling at Pearl who watched from nearby...Argon tapped his communications
array and spoke.
******************
Argon 1-F
Phasecycle scramble- 2-D4
The folowing MECHs are to report to the Chamber of Horrors.
MECH Cisco
MECH Wolff
MECH Judas
****************
Now awaiting the others to arrive, Argon sat back on his table and glanced up
at the ceiling. Concentrating on the small red dot Argon eventually fell into
a trance. All was in ready..
To be continued..Jewel and Aztek - Part One
(submitted by: MECH Jewel)
Striding into her chamber, Jewel slams the door behing her, removing her
plazma rifle and tossing it carelessly onto the table. Pacing the room in
barely suppressed frustration, her sensors working at optimal speed, she
reviews the events since her purification. Sitting down at her control
panel, she loads her memory logs and closes her eyes. Vivid images of the
past months flash in her mind and before her optical sensors.
She smiles slightly as she views her meeting with Aztek just prior to
her purification, how she was so eager to serve both Him and the Empire, so
idealistic about MECH, Gond, and her own abilities. The log continues, and
Jewel gasps in surprise as she sees herself outfitted in her uniform for the
very first time, her ebony hair pulled back loosely, her saphire eyes shining
with pride, eagerness, and determination.
Her early days of training come next. The grueling work with Argon to
heighten her battle skills... The practice sessions with Mourg and Fiend...
But the most happy, and perhaps the most painful as well, were the hours
spent with Menac.
As young and inexperienced as she was, Jewel had begged Aztek to not
install the emotional dampeners during the purification process. He finally
succumbed to her pleas, and allowed her to keep this one very human part of
herself; but not before counseling her extensively on the perils of retaining
her emotional responses. Now that decision had come back to haunt her, to
disrupt her every waking moment.
The logs continue, causing tears of pain to slide slowly down her ivory
cheeks... Too many images of Menac and the love and plans that they had
shared...
Jewel frowns slightly as the newer logs begin to run. Her tears are
soon replaced by a sense of failure and frustration so great that she is
nearly doubled over with shame. All of her grand aspirations, her dreams of
serving the Empire flood her memory banks as she realizes that because of her
selfishness, she has not accomplished her mission.
She cannot honestly remember, nor find in her personal logs, the last
time she served the Empire in battle. While it is true that her recent
promotion to Vice Admiral has kept her busy, she knows that even THAT has not
received her undivided attention. Her emotions have kept her from her
duties, and she promised the Emperor that she would never allow that to
happen.
Viewing the last of her logs, her ruby lips tremble slightly. She
forces herself to watch again as she and Menac talk quietly over wine at the
Triboar Inn. The scene replays in her mind, as they talk about their
neglected duties and how their new responsiblities have been suffering
because of their relationship. She smiles sadly when they reach their
decision to end their involvement and concentrate on serving the Empire.
Slowly opening her eyes, Jewel picks up her Communication Device.
Sighing heavily, she contacts Aztek. "Emperor? Vice Admiral Jewel here sir.
I must speak to you immediately, it's about my emotional dampeners."
Jewel
===============================================================
His tour with Quelan complete, he left the human in the capable hands of
the Purification Techs. The man was still hessitant to become one of the
MECH, but when the Emperor informed him that no human that enters, leaves the
Complex in one living piece, he quickly decided that Purification would be in
his best interests if he wanted to continue living. A little coercion never
hurts to sway a decision in your direction. Besides, he was already
succombing to the glories and marvels of the MECH and their operations.
Though he disapproved of the methods, he loved the feeling of power.
So, Aztek left the man in capable hands and continued on with his
Imperial Business. Which was about the time he received a Comm Call from
Jewel...
Emotional Dampeners....Jewel wants to speak with him about her
Dampeners. Something wasn't right and Aztek couldn't place the problem just
yet.
He asked her to meet her in his Quarters. He strode off towards his
Quarters and Offices deep in thought. What was wrong with Jewel? She
sounded troubled...And he'd do anything to have her troubles taken away.....
Aztek
===============================================================
Breaking the connection with Aztek, Jewel quickly dries her eyes and
runs her fingers through her hair. It wouldn't be good to have him see her
in this condition... Collecting herself somewhat, she strides from the room
and heads for his private chambers.
Upon arriving, she knocks quietly on his door. "Emperor?, It's me,
Jewel... May I enter?"
She hears his footsteps, and within seconds the door is opened and he is
looking at her with concern in his eyes. "Jewel, come in from the hall and
talk with me. I can tell something is troubling you Sister."
At his kind expression and softly spoken words, tears immediately spring
to her saphire eyes. Crying softly, she enters and begins to tell him her
troubles.
Jewel
===============================================================
Unsure of how to proceed with this Conversation that Jewel obviously
needed to have, Aztek led her into his Lounge and sat her down on the couch.
He then crossed the small room and sat in a chair nearby.
"Sister, You are obviously distrought at something. I'm not sure what
it is that is wrong, but I am more then glad to take time out of my busy
schedule and listen to you, and perhaps give you a word of advice."
He took a close look at her then. The rudy streaks her tears had made
down her cheeks. The red pained eyes looking back at him. Her lips normally
wrapped in a smile...pursed into a grimace.
"I hate to see any of my brethren like this Jewel. What is wrong? I
will do what I can to help."
With that, he sat back and listened to her tale unfold...
Aztek
===============================================================
Her voice barely above a whisper, Jewel sat and talked to Aztek for what
seemed like hours. There were times when tears threatened again, but for
some reason she couldn't quite explain she couldn't bear for the Emperor to
see her weakness and she managed to keep some control over her emotions.
Her voice quavered as she told him of her feelings of inadaquacy, and
the decisions that she and Menac had made about their future. Of how she
wanted so badly to serve the Empire in the best way that she could, and to
devote her time to the Monks and their goals of purifying the realms. Seeing
the kindness and understanding in his soft purple eyes, she felt better
somehow, able to share more of her thoughts with him.
She then spoke of her greatest fear... the fear that the lack of
emotional dampeners had caused all of this... how she was afraid to be
without emotion, to be cold and unfeeling...
"I realize now that I was wrong, Aztek", she whispered softly. "I
believe that the only way for me to serve MECH and to accomplish my goals,
OUR goals, is to install the dampeners."
Looking at him sadly, she finally lets the tears rise to her eyes.
Feeling them spill down her cheeks, she looks into his eyes and says the
words she has been dreading...
"Perhaps it's time you sent me to Argon for reprogramming"
Jewel
===============================================================
He listened to her without saying a word...letting only his eyes
communicate to Jewel that he was paying attention and that he understood the
problems she was now facing. At times, he could tell she was on the verge of
a breakdown, but somehow, through some hidden strength within her, Jewel
managed to regain her composure and continue on with her speech.
At those times, Aztek wanted so much to stand from his chair, walk over
to her and sit beside her. He wanted to put his arm around her and let her
know everything would be all right, that the problems she faced were common
to many of the Brethren. She wasn't the only one to decline the Emotional
Dampeners, though they meant sanity when the new cybernetics meshed fully
with what remained of the organic lifeform within. Aztek wanted her to know
this and to know that he, as well as the Monks, would help her get through
the tough times ahead.
But then he thought better of it. His eyes glittered momentarily, and
the harsh, sometimes cold side of his Imperial self regained command. She
must make it through this of her own accord. As much as he wanted to help,
she would learn nothing and gain no knowledge if Aztek coddled her and did
everything for her. Jewel must work thru this and find the truth of what lay
in her heart. He hoped she hadn't caught that momentary lapse that flitted
through his eyes. Sometimes the coldness he found there scared even himself,
but he learned the necessity of 'tough love' very quickly after taking on the
Imperial Robes after Deuce's disappearance and upsetting demise.
Jewel continued to speak...the tears in her eyes glistening, but
refusing to break from their prison.
"I realize now that I was wrong, Aztek", she whispered softly. "I
believe that the only way for me to serve MECH and to accomplish my goals,
OUR goals, is to install the dampeners."
Looking at him sadly, the tears finally break. Seeing them spill down
her cheeks, Jewel looked into his eyes...
"Perhaps it's time you sent me to Argon for reprogramming"
He pondered momentarily as Jewel stewed in her turmoil. Steepling his
hands, he stood from his chair and walked across the room, his back to her.
Now, his eyes, too began to glisten.
His back still to her, he spoke..."Reprogamming? No, that is not an
acceptable solution Sister Jewel. I can not have every MECH asking to be
reprogrammed when they encounter a minor set back in their operation. If I
allowed that, no one would be the same from day to day. NO, Jewel, You will
not be reprogrammed."
Pausing, his attuned hearing picked up nothing from her. Silence
followed. No Sigh? No reaction whatsoever? A single tear broke and ran down
his cheek.
"You will, However, face these problems you have now encountered. If
you find that the Dampeners is the only solution to this problem. So be it.
I will order them installed. But YOU WILL NOT take the easy way out here
Sister. You can overcome this. I will NOT accept failure. MECHs have
surrvived without the Dampeners, and they have gained much power and wisdom
from their personal trials. Some have failed and were sent for
reprogramming. You will not...Dampeners or No...YOU WILL NOT FAIL!
Dismissed."
Aztek continued to stand there, facing away from her. He felt her
stand. Felt her take a step towards him, as if hoping for some comfort. "I
SAID DISMISSED!" He heard her steps quicken and the door open...the last
thing he heard was a soft sobbing coming from Jewel and then the door closed,
blocking off all sound.
Aztek fell to his knees with his face buried in his hands. He hoped he
had made the proper decision. Only time would tell...
Aztek
===============================================================
As she stumbled from Aztek's chamber, a small sob escaping her lips,
Jewel's thoughts began to race...
How could she possibly overcome her problems without the aid of the
dampeners? His refusal to allow her reprogramming confused her... Didn't he
want her to be successful in her service to the Empire? Didn't he understand
how her heart ached each time she caught a glimpse of Menac? How she longed
to make her Emperor proud. To offer her service and loyalty without having
all of these confusing emotions clouding her judgement...
She had glimpsed the tear in his eye at one point... surely he must
understand how she was feeling... how alone and afraid she was right now...
how unsure of her abilities and her usefulness...
Dammit, there had to be a way to fix this! To have those eyes look at
her with pride and admiration instead of sympathy and regret...
Wiping her tears, she realizes that tonight there is a gathering. One
which she, as Vice Admiral of Events, had arranged. There was much to
discuss and much to prepare.
Making her way quickly to her chambers, she tries to block the image of
that single tear from her mind... to focus on the job at hand and her
preparations for the evening...
Jewel
===============================================================
The Emperor remained in his office and apartments for the remainder of
the cycle. He took no COMMs nor did he deliver any orders for the Staff
Officers to take care of.
Aztek sat in his lounge, wrapped in his favorite chair....pondering the
decision he'd made.
Eventually he went into his office and retrieved Jewels Personnel files
and read over the data of her before Purifcation and after...She'd been
brought to the Empire for a reason...Her strength of character and strength
of mind and soul were ideal for the Purification Process...she should have
been among the top MECHs...strong in all things she was trained in..
What had gone wrong then? He double checked her Purification
stats...nothing had gone wrong in the process...so what had happened? She'd
lost something vital to her being and he had no clue how to retrieve it.
Now, was he damning her by forcing her to see this thru alone....
Doubt...a very bad feeling that an Emperor should never have...now he
was questioning his own decisions.
No...he thought...I'll stand by this decision...Jewel needs to be
tested and she will pull thru.
He prayed to Gond that she would.
AztekOde to
the Paladins of TP
(submitted by: Lady JNar)
Herein lies the tale of a toss gone sour,
Some rangers have claimed it could be blamed on the hour.
Twas early in the morn at the Arena in Tri,
A few evils were about but they soon passed on by.
Rangers and Paladins from the guild of TP
Were determined to find who the best tossers be.
For the Pallies were tired of being tossed in the moat,
And seeing the Rangers make a post just to gloat.
As the day of the toss grew increasingly near,
The Paladins went to train while the Rangers drank beer.
The teams were assembled and battle cries rang out,
The Paladins began to toss Rangers about!
The Rangers were flying at an alarming rate,
And soon ranger-shaped dents appeared on the gate!
The Rangers shaped up and battled with skill,
But those darn Pallies were too hard to kill.
The Paladins ruled the day and very few got tossed,
While Rangers could but claim "At least we didn't get lost"
A grand time was had by all who showed up,
And the Pallies did earn the Victors Cup.
The parties that followed, the Rangers did host,
For when push came to shove, they got tossed the most!
Lady JNar
A humble TP Ranger
: )
Message from a Fallen Brother
(submitted by: HR LAN)
Thunder crashed overhead as Lan made his way through the lost hills,
causing the ranger to momentarily stop to gaze at the sky. Far above,
billowing masses of black gurgled and churned, threatening to explode at any
moment.
Grest, Lan thought wryly, rain is just what I need right now.
It had been a hard day already; WOH had reared it's ugly head, gating
several of Lan's friends. They had escaped--barely--as had Lan...but what
now? He was seperated from his guild brethren, bleeding still from the wound
that he'd taken to his left shoulder, and was beginning to feel lightheaded.
The trail through the Lost Hills was not easy to follow, even for a ranger,
and this buzzing in his head wasn't making it any easier.
Crouching, Lan examined the ground. There were signs of recent use, which
was an encouraging sign, and he stood, continuing on the faint trail, praying
that he'd find the gate to Triobar soon. The wound was hot, and the pain was
beginning to spread. It already hurt to breathe. Perhaps he'd broken a rib or
two, as well.
Presently, it started to rain. Large, cold drops of water started pelting
the world with much more force than was absolutely necessary, and Lan with
it. He plodded along, closing his cloak tighter against the chill.
"Having problems?"
The voice--a male one--caused Lan to spin around abruptly, hand going to
the hilt of his sword in alarm. He relaxed when he recognized who the voice
came from. It was Mayhem, the same fellow who had recruited him to the Order
of the Heroes of the Realms. Lan smiled, "Mayhem, I'm glad to see yo--"
Lan never saw it coming. Something hit him on the head, there was a flash
of light, and suddenly he found himself sprawled out on the cold, wet ground.
An abstract thought, totally inappropriate, flashed through his mind: My
cloak's going to get all muddy.
And Mayhem was upon him, sword drawn and a wicked gleam in his eye. Lan
tried to speak, tried to ask him what in the name of the gods he was doing,
but reflexes took hold, and he found himself facing a charge from his old
friend.
Quickly, unconsciously, he chanted the words of power, sending a magic
missile streaking for his assailant. The missiles dissapated before they ever
touched the man.
Idiot, Lan chided himself, should have known he'd be globed.
There was enough time for his brain to tell his body that he shoud dodge his
attacker. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for his body to recieve
the information, process it, and carry out the good advice.
Mayhem hit Lan--hard-- throwing him back to the earth and driving the
breath from his lungs. Thunder crashed overhead, and as it died down, he
could hear mayhem laughing. Suddenly, Lan realized there was a sword to his
throat.
"Lan...poor, disillusioned Lan," Mayhem purred, his voice a mixture of
hatred and mirth, "Some great warrior you are. I thought rangers were
supposed to be perceptive."
Lan opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. he was dizzy...too
dizzy...and darkness was beginning to encroach upon his vision.
Mayhem continued, "I'm going to let you live, Lan...and you're going to do
something for me. You're going to deliver a message to your master. My former
master. Tell him, and all of the order, that they have crossed the line. They
have taken their oaths to me, and violated them! Violated me!!" Mayhem's
voice was filled with a rage now that was frightening in it's intensity. The
man stopped, then, and it took an obvious effort to compose himself.
Lan managed to speak, his voice coming out as a hoarse whisper, "but
mayhem...I..." mayhem cut him off with a gesture. "Just do it, Lan." Lan
thought he detected a note of sympathy in the man's voice, but before he had
the chance to wonder aloud, the blackness finally found perch in his mind,
closing the world around him and sending him into unconsciousness...
"Is he going to be alright?" it was a female voice, and it took Lan a few
seconds to place it as Bash, his old friend. He opened his eyes to see Bolt
standing there. The cleric was bent over Lan, hand to his forhead, and smiled
when he saw his eyes open. Bash was behind him. "Lan, you had us scared there
for awhile. What the heck happened to you?" Bolt was relieved, obviously.
That fact would normally have made lan smile, but he had more on his mind at
the moment. he sat up, despite protests from Bolt, which he rebuffed, shaking
his head and moving Bolt back with a hand.
"Listen up, guys," he began weakly, "I've got a message to deliver..."
And thunder crashed once more, an ominous undertone to the beginning of an
ominous time...The Lass Kissed me Cheek
(submitted by: Gumples)
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>Me was 'avin' a gud day,
Me was 'avin' a gud week.
Bu' things got e'en better,
When tha lass kissed me cheek.
Me wuz sweatin' so much
Me was afeared me wou' reek.
Methinks she nae minded
Cuz tha lass kissed me cheek.
Me was skairt ta look,
Me was skairt ta peek.
Me kept me eyes closed,
As tha lass kissed me cheek.
Tha sky 'ad been cloudy,
The weather looked bleak.
Bu' tha sun did come out,
After tha lass kissed me cheek.
Tha most meanest dwarf
Wou' suddenly turn meek
If'n he'd e'er 'ad
Dis lass kiss 'is cheek.
After it 'appened
Me cou' nae speak.
Me wuz so 'appy
Miss Nalynn kissed me cheek!<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>
Reeks of Rotten Meat - Part 3
(Luck, Luck and More Luck)
(submitted by: WG Wage)
Lorse jumped as hard as he could! Into the air, with his eyes cramped shut
not daring to look at the long way down. The bird flew past him and Lorse
began to soar wildly downward. He didn't scream becuase he was afraid to do
anything other than wave his arms wildly trying to catch something.
Lorse bounced off a branch and forced his eyes open, suddenly finding himself
heading straight toward another tree instead of the ground. Dishmail was
yelling something, asking what was going on. Lorse flew toward the tree and
figured,"Welp, this is the end. I'm gonna die. My heads going to crack open
as soon as it hits that tree. Goodbye creul world. Lorse could swear the
wind had gotten stronger, pushing in the direction he was going. That wind
WAS getting really rough. Amazingly rough!
(SNAP!)
The tree he was heading for couldn't handle the wind and snapped! What was
going on? Lorse suddenly found himself being carried by the wind. Heading
straight for a huge pile of leaves. With a huge grunt Lorse fell headfirst
into it and pulled leaves out of his mouth that was hanging open from
surprise. Dishmail happened to be nearby and helped Lorse up,"Y'all right
Reeks?"
"I'm fine, thanks. And please don't call me Reeks anymore."
"Ah jus' be a-callin' ya what yer folks went 'n' named ya fellah."
"What happened?"Lorse wheezed,"Why did the wind blow down that tree, why did
I happen to soar into this safe pile of leaves?"
"Them Gods, they work in mis-ter-yous ways, dey do. Tymora musta done taken
a likin' to ya. Yas were awfly lucky up dere! When i realized you was
fallin' I thought you were a gonner fer sure!"
"Really? Tymora likes me?"Lorse was smiling,"I hardly know anything about
Tymora."
"Well Tymora knows bou' you!"
"I see... where are we anyway?"
Dishmail looked around,"Ah dunno whether it's Tymora's Good Fortune or not
but y'all landed right down near a road!"
"A road?"Lorse stood up, there WAS a road there, a clear one that undoubtably
led straight to a town! Three amazingly unlikely strokes of luck in less
than a minute!"
"Ya know wut fellah?"Dishmail stated, mistaking an oak tree for Lorse,"Ah
betcha that since Tymora lahkes ya so dern much, she'd be more den a-willin'
ta make ya a cleruc o' her order!"He patted the Oaktree's back,"Say, you
gettin' mighty stiff fellah!"
"Really?"Lorse looked at Dishmail with wonder, he'd never imagined himself
clerical material,"How would I get to become a cleric of Tymora?"
"Ah'll teach ya a soon as we follow dis hea road ta wherever it goes, Ah
will. Ah'll teach ya dem ins and dem outs aaaaall abou' bein' a cleruc o'
Tymora! It won't be easy though! Nuh-uh! Y'all'll go through mighty tough
trainin' day afta day afta day afta day. And afta that day too, Ah think so.
But is it a deal fellah?"
"It's a deal!"
"Great! Lets shake on it!"And Dishmail shook the oaktree's branch.A Prelude
to Anarchy
(submitted by: Kyle Bain)
I wake up in my room in the BDA cavers, my body twitching. My bed is
soaked, dripping in sweat. I feel so dehydrated, as if every last drop of
liquid from my body was now slowly soaking into the sheets and the bed.
I sit on the edge of the bed, and take the sponge from the bucket of fresh
water by the side. I wring it off over my head, letting the clean water
rinse off the sticky sweat. I wipe my body off with the sponge, and lay down
on the hard, cold floor, thinking.
This is the third night in a row. The third time I've had that
nightmare... No, not a nightmare. Just a dream. There was nothing
fightening about it. But what does it mean?
I try to remember what it was about, but it's useless now. The dream has
slipped from my memory. But as I think about it, I begin to feel scared. I
haven't dreamed in so long. Not since I arrived here in Neverwinter. The
last dream I had, so many years ago, was what brought me here. Here to
NeverWinter, and to the EverNight Citadel.
I'm almost afraid to go back to sleep, afraid of what this dream might
mean, where it might take me. But I guess the last one wasn't so bad, was
it? Sure, the Citadel faded after a while, and the other inhabitants had
left, but I'm happy aren't I? Here in Neverwinter?
My thoughts comfort me, calm me, and I allow myself to doze off on the hard
floor. The cold doesn't bother me.
A student. A teacher. The teacher is beating the child. Why? I don't
know. A classroom fades in around them. The other students are laughing.
Except two, who sit at the back. They don't look happy. It looks as though
they feel every blot the child takes, cringing, whimpering, at evey strike.
Why is he, are we, being beaten so? No reason. The is practicly a daily
ritual. The teacher picks a different one of us every few days. Just to
entertain the class.
I can't take it anymore, but what can we do? The others will know. The
one's who no longer have parents to force them to go to school. They're
stronger then us three. They would do something. And they did, we did.
And suddenly they're all gone. The classroom ins gone. The teacher is
gone. My friends. Our enemies.
And their faces appear before me. I recognize them all, but all names are
just beyond my grasp.
My eyes shoot open, I sit straight up. I remember now. I could never
remember before my father died. Before he left me in that huge castle, all
alone. Now I remember it all.
How they segregated us. How they threw stones at us when we passed them on
the street, called us names, pushed us around. The whole town hated us. But
we got sick of the hatred. And we fought back.
At first, we only did small things, annoyences. But soon, it got worse,
and it was their own fault. They created us, and created their own fate.
They even named us, after only a few days, with their "newspapers," and their
"headlines."
"The Bane Children Strike Again!"
I could never, and still can't, image how anyone, much less an entire town,
could be so cruel. They blamed us for everything. The dying cows, the
church that burt down, the deaths.
What made it worse, was that they didn't even know it was us who were
causing the "accidents," they just needed someone to blame. Of course, they
didn't name any names, but everyone knew who they were implying. They
thought it would be okay to blame some nameless kids. They thought that no
one would get hurt that way.
But they couldn't have been more wrong. Because the funniest part was,
that is was us. The dregs of society. "The Bane Children." They cluelessly
blamed the guilty. And we found that humorous.
And with every incident, there was another article. And each article
caused us to do more. Until it got so bad, people started moving away. My
father was one of them, one that moved away. But he didn't do it soon
enough.
We got together on night, after people had started to leave. And we made a
pact. A pact to drop our last names, and use the name "Bain" instead. And
to forever be known as "Bain." And we spelled it wrong just to mock them.
Some even changed their first names, not wanting and rememberence of the
town, and their families. I can't even remember if I had changed mine. It's
been so long.
We also decided that someday, we would return. Return to the town that had
made us who, what, we were. No specific date was set. Just, someday.
The dream is a sign. It is my time to return. I pick myself up off of the
floor, and look into the mirror next to my bed. I look at the crude "tattoo"
of a dagger that had been carved there. More of a scar now. It barly
resembles a dagger. I never remembered what it was supposed to mean before,
but now, I remember everything.
I scribble out a note, and leave it on my bed. It states that I have to
leave for personal reasons, but I will return. I don't take much with me.
Just some dried rations for a week. And I head out to find my past.
After three days of travel, I come upon the dead town I once called home.
Brought back here by only a dream, and memories, I'm not sure what to expect.
Will the others be waiting? Are the even still alive? All would be found
out in time.
But for now, I rest. I would rather sleep the day, and enter the town at
night. I'm safe in the night, the darkness is my protection.
I lay against a tree, loking at the town. There doesn't seem to be any
movement. It looks as though no one has lived here since it died so many
years ago. Perhaps non of the others have returned yet. I'll have to stay
until they do. I allow myself to fall asleep, for the first time in three
days.
Father? Where? Why? The town is in chaos, people are dying. You don't
trust me? Your own son? I don't want to leave my friends. They're the only
ones that care about me. You don't.
To Grandfather's castle? But that's in the middle of no where. He'd dead.
We'll be there alone. How will we survive? Father. I don't what to go. I
want to stay here... please. Please? Please!
I slightly cry out in my sleep, waking myself up. Another dream. Not
quite a dream though. It was more like remembering te past, while sleeping.
I hear something, a distance away, in the forest. Footsteps. Now
whispering. I think it was more than my dream that woke me up.
I quickly stand, without making a sound. I don't see anyone, but it sounds
like they're coming my way. Or heading toward the town, and I happen to be
in their path. I quickly jump into the tree, and swiftly and silently climb
to a safe height.
Could it be them? Or is it just travelers, happening to pass by? I wait,
and they come closer. It sounds like three, maybe four. A few seconds
later, three come into view. I know, even after all these years, I would
recognize the other Bain's, but I recognize non of these three. I let out a
slight sigh, afraid that I may have to wait around for a while. That I may
not be returning to NeverWinter, for months, even years.
But then a fourth appears from behind the trees, dragging the corpse of a
deer. And even from this distance, I know the face.
"Damen..." I whisper to myself, and smile.
I'm flooded with relief. Damen was one of my closest friends, and this
means at least four have returned. I'm still not sure who the other three
are, but I'll find out. I may not be waiting around very long after all.
I wait for them to pass, and silently decend from the tree. I stalk them
noislessly to the edge of the forest. I don't want to startle them. They
may act before they think, and someone could die before any of us know what's
happened.
I crouch behind a tree, and wait for the four of them to gain a fair
distance from me. Then I step out.
"Damen," I say, and they all turn, ready to attack. Instant recognition
floods Damen's face.
"Kyle," he smiles. "I knwe you'd return."
But the other's aren't sure, so I roll up my sleeve, and show them my crude
dagger tattoo. They smile recognition, and welcome me back.
They take me back to the abandoned inn where they are all staying, and I
find that there are three others waiting.
Damen cooks the deer, and we all talk while eating. We all tell our
stories. It's obivous who's been here the logest, and the shortest, by how
they tell thier stories. I figure out that Damen was one of the first to
return, from his short recap. He's getting sick of telling it for everyone
that returns. And Blood had probbly returned shortly before me, because he
was still interested in telling his.
I find that Damen is sick of waiting around for the other's. He's probably
been here at least a year. He wants to leave, get out, and the other's
agree. And from my tale, they decide that NeverWinter is the place to go.
It's profitable, dangerous, and most of all, chaotic.
After a week, no one else has shown up, and we are ready to go. I approach
Damen before we head out.
"What about the other's?" I ask him. "There have to be more coming. How
will they know where we have gone?"
"Kyle... We are linked by more than our names now, more than the daggers
engraved in our arms. They'll find us."A Blessed Knight
(submitted by: Augustus 5)
Augustus had travelled for two days southward now, leading a small party of
Nasher's guardsmen in the delivery of crucial supplies to the forces guarding
the far approach ..
And then he remembered Iser's words spoken in private confidence a few days
before his departure.. There was to be an astouding sight in the skies this
night, and she had encouraged him to find a secluded spot to witness this
display of heavenly oddity.. If he missed this astronomical event, he might
never have such occasion again.
And so, Augustus called the entourage to an early stop to set camp for the
night, and as the guardsmen began to unpack the tents and prepare their
evening victuals he quietly guided his steed away from the campsight to watch
in solitude...
As his compatriots voices faded into the night behind him, Augustus ascended
through the forested hillside.. Finding a clearing at it's peak, he
thought.. "Ahh, this should do nicely for the observation of the heavens.."
He knew that Iser's knowledge of the movement of heavenly bodies was
extensive, and her predictive powers were mysterious.. further, her subtle
words of advice in the past had been suprisingly insightful and accurate...
Yet still, Augustus was not prepared for the sight he was about to witness...
The full moon directly above shone with greater clarity than ever he had
witnessed.. And the canopy of stars bore not only the familiar
constellations which had guided many of his travels, but also seemed
sprinkled with a multitude of tiny sparkles which had never before revealed
themselves..
Slowly.. one edge of the bright, full moon became shrouded in darkness..
Augustus frowned worriedly as the shadow gradually began to swallow the
beauty of this silvery sphere.. He wondered what meaning this might have
and if such a progress of darkness might bode poorly for the good of the
realms...
Then, as the moon was nearly fully darkened, a flaming star from the
southwest came streaking into view... like a chariot it soared, and as
suddenly as it appeared, the darkened moon began to glow in warm golden hue..
and a swath of white light, naye in fact a crescent halo formed at it's edge,
and the smiling expression of the moon beamed down.. seeming to gaze
directly at Augustus...
A feeling of peace and well-being flowed through him as he was bathed in this
near-holy light.. and Augustus stood in awe as he gazed into this beauteous
night sky.. then,
With hardly a rustle, from the surrounding forest came a fawn... followed by
another.. and then a stag of emmense proportion... and then three doe.. one
after another he was joined by the deer of the forest until there was more
than a score in the clearing with him...
Not grazing.. not wary of his presence... they seemed to have no other
purpose than to be present.. They would occasionally glance his way and seem
to give an approving nod.. Then as quietly as they came, they singularly
wandered back into the forest..
As he stood there alone in the clearing, Augustus watched as the darkness
receeded from the silvery moon until it shone again in full brightness.. His
mind drank in the moment, and his heart tried to fathom it's meaning...
He drew his sword and placed its tip in the soil before him, kneeling and
with head bowed... "By all that I know to be good.. this night has indeed
been blessed.. Our path is true and sure. By this sign am I reassured.."
With a deep breath, Augustus stands and steps to his steed, mounting.. With
one last look around this blessed grove, he rides down the hillside back to
camp.. renewed in his resolve to continue his campaign for Unity.. and
somehow he felt safer in this pursuit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
My Brothers and Sisters...
As many of you know, I have been travelling the last few days in a move to a
new city.. This tale is in fact based in fact.. The main differences are
my steed and entourage were in fact a Hertz-Penske Truck towing my car
behind, and rather than the south of Neverwinter, I was in Alabama.. Hehe..
But those are minor differences ;) Right..?
There really were 20-something deer that came out of the woods..!!!
Anyway.. I felt this trip was blessed ;)
Augustus
Knight-Baron of the Table Round
Guild Elder
Ambassador to the Dryad Grove
P.S. And *who* can say that I live in a "dream world"..? Hehe..
Mysteries abound in our midst every day.. ;)For Whom the Bell Tolls
(submitted by: Exegete)
Sir Corwin Americus' defense of the northern frontier was a complete victory
if not an inexpensive one. The routed troops broke their ranks and fled for
the hovels and dank caves they called home in the cold far reaches beyond
Luskan. What was unexpected, and particularly brutal was the toll they
exacted from the citizenry and humble farm-folk along the way. The hastily
assembled Militia gleefully chased the retreating Ice People as far as the
southern border of Luskan before their sergeants and lieutenants could reign
them in sufficiently to restore order and make the area north of Windycliffs
secure. Corwin met with his officers to assess the victory and to be sure
that all that needed doing had been done.
"Augustus, old friend, it is good, tho surprising to see thee here" Corwin
said in surprise as he entered the tent where the meeting was to be held.
"Aye Milord Corwin" Augustus replied. "I dinna expect to be here meself, tho
it certainly seemed to be the right place to be."
"Aye, and he was needed, so I hear" Windgrey piped up. "He solidified our
flank when we needed it badly." he went on. "His magicks made the difference
and turned back two charges so my Company Commanders report."
Corwin only smiled. He remember many a time when the might of Lord Augustus
5, one of the senior Knights at the Table had a made just that kind of
difference in the past.
"Well, I was here..." was Auggie's humble comment; given to the general
amusement of all present.
Corwin looked around at those who had helped him train and lead the force
that had just won such a stunning victory. Windgrey, the fighter whose sword
and fighting rage was feared throughout the realms. Ganzelle, who
soft-spokeness and quiet demeanor belied his prowess as one of the foremost
Mages in the Realms. The page Aldrous, the Dark Paladin who demonstrated such
fierce skill with the blade as to take one's breath away. He looked for
Exegete, the quiet scholar who had done such a good job with the Cavalry, and
did not find him. "Where is brother Exegete?" Corwin asked, looking
inquiringly at the others.
The others all started, as if this was the first they had noticed him
missing. They looked at each other in amused confusion, as Exe was known for
disappearing at odd times.
Only Corwin was not amused. "I wanted all commander here for this briefing"
he pouted. He scratched his chin a bit and looked around. "Augustus, would
you be so kind as to seek to find our wayward friend?" he asked.
"But of course" Auggie replied. "Be glad to Bro" he said and headed out the
door of the tent.
"I swear, if this has anything to do with rabbits..." was Corwin parting
comment as Augustus stepped out into the late afternoon sun.
Augustus' search took the best part of an hour. Various parts of the Militia
pointed him this way and that way as he went about the broken countryside in
search of the wayward Scribe. As he rode, he looked about and his old heart
broke to see the ruins of huts and buildings that the retreating evils had
left in their wake. Past increasingly devastated country he rode. Burned huts
and farm buildings. Dead animals, obviously slaughter for the sheer
wickedness of the deed. Burnt fields and weeping wives and mothers were sadly
the norm as her rode slowly along. The children saddened him most of all.
Desperate mothers clutching mutilated children to their breast, weeping
hysterically; or frightened children kneeling over the bodies of what must
have been loving parents, now taken from them by senseless evil. As he rode,
he wept openly and unashamedly for the loss of the people, and of the land.
That this was the nature of evil and of chaos was once again brought home,
with bitter emotion.
His life had been lived as best he was able, being a scourge to those who
perpetrated such things. And he had seen no little success over the years.
But seeing all of this, he was nearly overwhelmed with the sense of
immenseness of the task that confronted KORT, and the other Good guild of
Neverwinter. One could argue the need for tolerance and balance in the warmth
of a philosophical discussion in a comfortable Inn. One could make a solid
logical case for the inherent goodness of all people, from a dry classroom or
in the endless intellectual discussions that sometimes flew around the table
on cold nights as Camelot. Somehow, those argument seemed patently false in
the context through which he now rode. Not only false, but ridiculous!
His thoughts turned inward as he rode along. How grateful he was that Tyr had
spared him such heartache over his life. He had surely had his hurts and his
difficulties, that was certain. But he had been blessed with abilities far
beyond those of other men. He always been able to hold his own and fight his
own way. He had never been the victim of such ruthlessness. While saddened
for those whose misery he was witnessing, his heart was also tinged with a
bit of gladness and great gratitude that he had been spared such heartache.
As he rode, he grew certain that Exegete, as sensitive or more to these same
ideas as he was, was doing as he; riding and weeping over the loss he was
unable to prevent.
Thus, he was not surprised to find Exe's horse, Jester, standing at a gate
leading to a house with no roof, it having been burned away, leaving only
smouldering embers and walls looking as if they should fall any moment. He
found Exegete in the back of the house, standing motionless in the wind,
cloak billowing about his body in the heavy breeze, his noble personage
framed in setting sun. As Augustus neared, he saw that there was a long
handled shovel in Exe's hand, which he leaned on heavily, as if he had
suddenly grown very old. Before him were 5 graves, newly filled and carefully
arranged, a tidy row of stones surrounding each. Three of the graves were
obviously children's graves, the other two for adults, probably the parents
of the children Augsutus thought as he took in the scene. It had a solemness
and an intense sadness about it and Augustus was loathe to break it, and so
approached silently, respectfully.
He was startled to hear Exegete sobbing softly, but with strong emotion. He
saw the slight shaking to his shoulders and ragged intakes of breath that
punctuated his crying. Augustus was taken aback by what he heard, more than
he could describe. He stood and watched for a moment, unable to decide what
his actions should be. He wanted to rush and be of some comfort to his dear
friend, but he knew that Exe was an intensely private man and this was most
definitely a private moment, so he hung back, and watched.
Moments passed as Exe struggled to regain control of himself and finally,
winning the battle, drew a deep sigh, as if his very soul had been torn in
pieces. He stooped beside the closest grave, one of the adults and laid his
hand on it gently. Sobs racked his body again, silent this time and he bowed
his head and gave vent to them for long moments. Dark had nearly descended
when he finally stood and turned, and was startled to see Augustus standing
near the corner of the house, awkwardly waiting for him.
Exe snuffled a bit and wiped both eyes. He gave Augustus a small, sad smile
and grasped his forearm as he walked by and into the house. Augustus followed
him in, where he found Exe taking a drink from a mug of water, and cleared
his throat. "Bro...I..." he started uncertainly.
Exe turned and raised a hand as if to stop Auggie in his attempt to comfort
him. Another small smile creased his face, this one not quite as ghastly as
the first. "I didn't expect to see you here my friend" he said with a sigh.
"I'm glad you're here tho. It's gonna be a long ride back to Neverwinter and
I wasn't looking forward to taking it alone." He moved around the small hut
gathering a few things into a small pack. He paused over several of the items
and looked at them. Augustus saw real love and sorrow cloud his face once
again each time. It took but a few moments to finish the gathering and soon,
he and Exe were mounted and standing in front of the house once again.
Augustus knew something terribly wrong had happened, but was at a loss as to
how to be of comfort and use to his friend.
"All my life, I have been blessed and spared from the hardness that many have
suffered around me" Exe said after a few moments, as they turned an began to
move toward home. I stuck at evil, and it had little power to strike back at
me." he went on, echoing Auggie's own earlier thoughts. He lapsed into
silence and they rode on together for a bit longer.
"They moved up here to be in the country." He said finally, emotion choking
his voice. "I told them it was safe here, and they believed me..." he went
on. Silence reigned for more long minutes. A final ragged and deep sigh
escaped Exegete's lips.
"One cannot know the future Bro" Augustus offered in a tender voice. "Evil is
everywhere and wickedness abounds. It is the way of things." he said quietly.
Exe nodded sadly. "I thought I knew the ways of evil Aug," he said brokenly.
I've fought evil most of my life and done well!" he said. He began to sob
quietly once again. "To have my own powerlessness and foolishness thrown in
my face is a bitter, bitter thing Bro." He finally went on. "I always thought
there would be another day, another time" he continued, as if he expected
Augustus to know of what he spoke.
Augustus, with a flash of insight and a sharp dart of dread suddenly realized
what scene he had stumbled on. "Oh Bro..." He said tenderly. "Oh my dear
Brother..." he said, realizing that the graves he had seen must have been
from Exe's family. He thought for a moment and realized that It could not
have been his immediate family, as they lived close by to Camelot. That only
left ...
"Thanks Bro" Exe said, as he looked at the night sky. "I appreciate Tyr's
leading bringing you to me. I wouldn't have wanted to take this ride
alone."
They crested a hill and looked back at the ravaged countryside, now all but
hidden by encroaching darkness. "Good-bye my dear, dear sister" Exe murmured
as he looked to where the destroyed cottage must be. "Good-bye my flesh and
blood. I wish we had had more time to make right the wrongs of the past." he
went on, as if making a confession. "Rest peacefully and know that I shall
make this wrong right. Forgive me dear Lynda and know that thy brother loved
thee and that thee will always have a place in my heart and mind."
The silence that followed was long and profound by any standard. Exegete and
Augustus, Knights of KORT and fast friends rode quickly onward as if trying
to leave this new sadness and hurt behind.
***********************************************************************************************
Written in loving memory of my dear sister, Lynda and her family, killed by a
drunken driver five years ago. I look forward to seeing thee again dear
sister, and finally enjoying the peace and fellowship together that eluded us
in life.Mellow's Dilemma
(submitted by: ABK Mellow)
After entering through the gates of Neverwinter, Mellow heads first to his
dear wineceller. As he approaches he spies the door slightly ajar. Fearing
the worst, Mellow draws his axe. Then, with a roar he charges the room.
After smashing through the door he gets into a defensive crouch. Then he lets
out a sigh. "Must have been the wind that opened the door. Am I glad about
that." Then hanging his axe on the wall, he turns to wear his ale and wine
barrels are kept. Mellow lets out a pinched, high pitched, squeal of horror.
There, right where his wine should be, there is..... A small note written in
a drunken scrawl. It read
"Wedin' now, barroed sum ov yer wine for da par-tee. Sorre, Shadow"
With a roar of rage Mellow ripped up the parchment. Fixing a scowl on his
face, he heads straight for Lord Storm's quarters. After reaching the door he
pounds on it heavily. A muffled voice shouts "Come in!!!" Mellow opens the
door, enters and slams it shut. Seeing Storm sitting down at his desk,
writing something, Mellow charges over. "That snake-in-the-grass Shadow used
all my wine, what am I to do for the rest of the celebrations for the next
few months?! The graps have just started growing!!!!" Storm, pondering this
for awhile, responds "Well, maybe you should talk to Shadow himself about
that?" With a snarl, Mellow shouts "It shall be done!!!" and he heads out the
door, to look for Shadow. As he passed the gate, he glanced out. Out there
were the fields where among other things, grapes were grown. Squinting to see
if anyone was out harvesting ripened graped yet, Shadow ran straight into
him. With closed eyes Mellow shouts "You idiot!! Watch where you're going!!"
Then as he clears the dust from his eyes, he spies Shadow looking quite
frightened. "Shadow!" hissed Mellow. "Mellow!" squeaked Shadow. Then Shadow
was up and running with Mellow close behind. Mellow strained to reach him,
but his years of drinking had made him slow so he stopped after 500 yrds. and
sat on the ground, panting, as Shadow ran away. Uncorking his wine flask, he
drank the last of the Bloodred wine that there was. "There must be a way to
get some grapes, or wine. With nothing in my cellers, I won't get my delivery
to the pubs." Mellow sat on the ground, head in hands and did some serious
thinking. "EURIKA!! I got it!!! All I need is a time portal and I can go back
to before the wedding and save some of my drinks!!" With that Mellow heaved
himself off the ground and decided that he needed to learn some magic.
***
Mellow trotted off, looking for someone who looked like they knew what to do.
Then he spotted someone sitting on an overturned barrel. "Hey Ray! What are
ya doing?" He glumly responded "Sitting on a barrel, watching the ants eat a
dead fish." Mellow quickly responded "Well sounds like your having load of
fun willyouteachmemagicIneedmoreale'causeShadowdrankitall have a nice day."
Ray, looking puzzled, said "Magic? Oh right. What do you need?" after a pause
(for dramatic effect) Mellow says "How to create a time portal." Ray asked.
"Past or future?" Thinking about this, Mellow answered "The Past.". Muttering
something and waving his pinky Ray opened a small door in time. "Enjoy, wipe
your feet on the mat before you go in." Mellow quickly stepped through--- and
was back in the Keep only it was night and a few people were headed towards
some celebration. Peering at the square Mellow saw little of the Keep there.
He decided that now would be the time to find Shadow and stop him. "But if
there was a wedding, where is everybody?" Shrugging, he headed back towards
him room in the wine celler. As he got there he peered through the door. Then
he opened it fully, the room was full. Mellow breathed a sigh of relief. Then
decided to take watch in the darkness of the corners. As time dragged on,
Mellow started growing tired. "That run really gave me too much exercise." he
thought. Just as he was about to fall asleep, the door creaked open slowly.
Then in the partial light of the lamps outside, a shadow fell across the
floor. Mellow got into a crouch. Then the darkened figure camt into full
view. WHAMMO!!!! Mellow flew headlong into the stranger. After he had knocked
the figure to the floor, he walked over and sat on it. "That is for trying to
steal my ale and wine without my permission!" The figure replied "GET OF ME
YOU FAT LUMMOX!!!" Hmmm. Funny, Shadow must be disgusing his voice. Just
then, someone with a light walked into the room. The person with the lamp
gasped and said "Bo!! What happened???" The figure on the floor now known as
Bo responded "I have been attacked by a raving, crazed cow, Zombie." Mellow
quickly leaped off of Bo and stood at attention "Sorry Bo, my apologies,
sorry Zombie." The two left Mellows room, glancing back and talking with each
other. Mellow decided that he would have to settle for bringing the barrels
back now through a portal, rather than wait for Shadow and give him the
beating of his life. So he attempted the same thing that Ray had done. He
waves his forefinger in the air and yelled out what he had heard. A Drac, the
size of a gopher, appeared in front of him. "No,no that's not right. Awww.
Look how cute it is. Come here little drac." The tiny critter took a step
forward and bit Mellow's foot. Screaming with pain Mellow yelled "I can't
remember those darn words!!!!"
***
Hopping around with a small drac on your foot wasn't much fun at all, decided
Mellow. He ripped the creature off his foot and threw it outside,
unfortunatly for ABKHilandr it grabbed his face and held on tight in fear.
Mellow paid no heed to the muffled shouts outside his door. "What were those
stupid words, what did he do with that one finger. Oh well, trial and error I
suppose. Mellow began waving his thumb in the air and chanting an Irish
ditty. In a poof of smoke, his long dead Grandmother appeared before him.
Alive and well. "Grandma!" Mellow exclaimed "You're alive!!" As Mellow's
grandmother squinted at him she asked "No, not you. Didn't your mother feed
you to the wolves like I told her to do? Bah. I enjoyed being dead. Put me
back." Mellow said "Um I don't know how to Gram." His grandmother responded
"Then I'll do it myself you lazy bum." And she waved her thumb and sang the
song and dissappeared into thin air. "Whew, that was scary." Mellow tried
many combinations that night, he ended up with a two-headed Beholder (That
one he had to kill), A box of cookies curiously wrapped in a box entitled
"Thin Mints" and severl unidentifiable globs of colored goop. Mellow,
exasperated, sat down on his bed. Then, his axe fell of his stand and the
handle fell on his pinky. He shouted in pain and began muttering explatives
under his breath as he waved his pinky about. Then a small door appeared in
front of him. Yelling with joy, he opened the door which led to a replica of
the room he was in except that one had no Drink in it. Mellow began rolling
barrels through the door and left only a barrel of ale and a barrel of wine
for Shadow. Then he slipped through the portal himself. Little did Mellow
know that the tiny drac had followed him into his room of the present. After
Mellow closed the door behind him, he began to restack his barrels. A knock
came at his door. "Mellow are you there?" Mellow turned around, there was
Lord Storm. "I just heard that the last two barrels of drink that you had
were finished at the wedding and......Oh. Well I guess I heard wrong then.
Continue your work. With that he left. Mellow finished his stacking. He laid
down on his bead. Then the small Drac crawled up and laid down on his chest.
"What? Oh no. You went through the door too? Well I guess I'll talk to Blood
or Storm about keeping you." Then the little creature blew a small fireball
and roasted Mellows nose. He grabbed his nose and started screaming again. A
giant sized chicked landed on his floor. Mellow stopped his raving to say "I
wonder how many of those eggs it would take to feed an army." The sun set on
another eventful day at the Keep.
The EndInspiration
(submitted by: ERS Boyo)
As I grow weak,
From lack of strength,
I now know,
What the wise man meant.
For the wise man said,
There shall come a day,
Though the night grows dark,
We all must be brave.
For though we are one,
We are never alone,
When someone is waiting,
For our return home.
Weeks may turn to months,
Months may turn to years,
Have faith in ourselves,
Never your fears.
For though we are apart,
Across deserts and seas,
For your love my dear,
I would cross them, upon my knees.
For life without you,
Is a slow dying death,
That is why I exclaim,
Our love with every breath.
For your love for me,
Is a joyous celebration,
Yes your love for me,
Is my inspiration.
ERS Boyo
Interrogation
(submitted by: MECH Tiger)
Entering Aztek's office with Jewel, Tiger picks up via his emotional sensors
what little emotion Aztek still possesses despite his emotional dampeners and
frowns inwardly. Aztek's emotions are a mix of anger, desperation, and a
hint of jealousy and Tiger knows he is in for a rough time.
Aztek begins the interogation:
"Tiger, I've been very lenient with you since your return to the Empire.
The questions of your whereabouts and your exploits forgotten and left alone.
I've known all along that you were holding back, that much was obvious...but
the information that you are with holding from me is of such importance that
I'm going to have to ask you once again. Your loyalty to Rasta is exemplary,
but he is gone...I am the Emperor now and it should be to me that you show
your loyalty. MECHs that have long been MIAs are now resurfacing...I know
you are aware of that. But what I must ask is what you know of the time
frame? Who else is scheduled for reappearance? Rasta Himself? I need
details Tiger...I know you've sworn some kind of oath to Rasta, but here I
am...pleading with you for answers. There is a vital link missing and I am
lost without it. If I must Beg for it Tiger, I will...If I must tear it from
you I will..BUT I MUST HAVE IT."
Tiger looks at Aztek and allows some of his sorrow show on his face at his
unability to help his Emperor and says, "Emperor Aztek, you have my loyalty,
if I could tell you I would. My duty was merely to create the series of MECH
androids of which the body I have inhabited is the first. You must realize
all my programming is hardwired it is not merely an oath. Rasta has placed
programming blocks, I cannot tell you what you wish to know and if you
attempt to take the information from my memory banks without Rasta's
authorization, it will result in my destruction, leaving you with nothing. I
can tell you this much, there are more MIA in suspended animation and they
will return as they are able. I do not know who or where they are or when
they will return. As for Rasta himself, only he knows where he is and if or
when he will return. Be proud, my Emperor, Rasta himself would approve of
where you have taken the MECH. Be patient and lead my Emperor and Rasta's
plan for the MECH will take care of itself.
<tbc>Harper's Life
(submitted by: HG Divine)
What is a harper? Or more exactly, What exists within the heatr of a harper
that makes him (or her) act the way we do? Here's my brief explanation:
A harper is Truth with lipstick on his collar,
He is wisdom with a mug of ale in his hand,
Industry durring a nap, and gennerosity in a time of greed.
She is beauty unadulterated by a frock and leggings,
A scholar, a solider, a bard, a fool in a fool's paradise.
No one can out talk, out drink, out eat, out boast,or out live us.
We are the freedom of the winds, the honestness of nature,
To the Strong, we're annoying scoundrels, who train,
And arm the weak of neverwinter, so that they may stand on equal footing.
To the weak, we are a guide through hostile lands, a bearer advice to the
inepts.
To the Noble Evil's of Neverwinter, an honorable challenge, to the younger
Miscreants, a feeb for a feeb, and gawsh, here's a few jewels to recover at
the temple, and one more invis to get ye there.
To other heroes, we are steadfast allies, and old friends.
Always willing to join a Sewer cleaning, or take a new "goodie" guild member
out for a few levels.
We find strength in others weaknesses, and exploit them in the cause of Good.
We run among the ancient trees of Myth Drannor, where the elves call us
friend,
And Drink in the bustleing taverns the cities in equal spendor.
The good things in life, freedom, love, happiness, ale, fresh air, clean
water,
We fight for, and whence the good things in life are no more, so shall we
be...
Taken from HG Divine's "Tresties on The Reality of My Surroundings"
Tanthalas
(submitted by: Retrah13)
Upon the wings of death,
Above the Valley of Light
The hero Tanthalas surpassed,
The fear of evil and found a new fight
This time it would not end,
without a staff of might
To forever follow the crooked paths;
of the undead and the blight
Upon the dawning of a new day
Another hero set out in dismay
He discovered that only with this staff;
could his brother become a man
and he dealt with it carelessly
He tried to lend a helping han'
Shrine
(submitted by: ZalabarT)
Shrine to the Gods of Thievery:
I had spent a great deal of coin and many hours of toil building the shrine
to the gods of thievery. I had scoured Neverwinter and the surrounding area
for the furnishings and building supplies needed, gathering "contributions"
from a number of adventurers, guildhouses and temples. My only
disappointment being that someone had beaten me to the Black Hand's throne.
All that was left to do was to collapse the construction tunnel and to
conjure the gates and wards to allow/deny access. After hour upon hours, the
spells had all been cast and the tunnel was brought down.
I entered the tavern at Lurker Hall, looking haggard and bedraggled. I
proceeded to the back corner taking out a small item and holding it in my
hand, and disappeared....
I reappeared in the Shrine...
"It worked... it all worked... the gates are the only ways in or out of
here..." I leaned heavily against the altar. "Mask, I have done all this
for you. I have never asked for anything that I could not take myself, but
now I ask for a boon. If I could purge the human taint from my half elven
blood, I would. I ask you, my Patron, to grant me this. I wish to be elven
and to purge any remnants of my father from me, or to pass into oblivion." I
laid a small scroll on the alter. "This was my first steal, a scroll of my
father's. I offer this and... <I cut my wrist and blood poured onto the
scroll and the altar> .... leave my fate in your hands." I collapsed and was
wracked by convulsions.
I regained consciousness much later. My wrist had healed leaving a nasty
scar, but I could cover that with another tattoo. I tried to stand but was
still too weak. My throat was parched and dry. "Musta been out for a day or
more", I thought to myself. As I came to my senses my weakness faded away. I
stood a bit awkwardly at first. "Did it work?" My hands touched my face.
"No stubble..." I began to get excited, and searched frantically for a
mirror, but I hadn't hung one in the Shrine. "The gate key, where is it?" I
searched my pouches, finally finding the item that would trigger the return
gate. As my hand enclosed about the small item, I stepped behind the altar,
and suddenly materialized in the back corner of the Lurker tavern, startling
a few of those still about. I walked to the bar and started to ask for a
drink in a hoarse croak, but Edmund handed me a drink before I could finish
the first sylable. "I could tell ye needed it Zal," states the barkeep. "Ye
look........ I dunno...... different Zal." Edmund replied as I finished my
drink. "I do.. really! Thank you Edmund!" I said as I rushed from the room
to my chambers to look at myself in a mirror. I burst into the room, and
caught sight of my reflection. "I'm of full elvish blood now..........." I
collaspsed in tears of joy. "Thank you Mask. The shrine is built, and I am
no longer tainted by that pretender of a father. Thank you Mask........"
I am Zalabar Tonka, Spirit Lurker, Faithful Servant of Mask, and Custodian of
the Shrine.
*Mask is one of the numerous gods of thievery in the realms. If any wish to
worship or to learn more of these gods feel free to visit the Shrine.
* ((http://members.aol.com/zalabart))
Rites of War
(submitted by: VonWildcat)
The brass brazier smoldered. Pungent, acrid plumes of sulphurous smoke
wafted from it, filling the meditation room with their odor. Sitting
cross-legged with eyes closed in the lotus position, the outside world did
not exist for Strongbow Firehand. His voyage, was a sojourn of the mind. A
cleansing of the body. And, a strengthening of the soul.
The three days of meditation had cleared his mind, and now the dojo
resounded as Strongbow performed kata after kata. Sweat drenched the heavy
practice tunic, and the wooden bokken was slippery in his grasp, but still he
did not quit. Twelve uninterrupted hours later, some water, a quick nap, and
he was at it again. The air crackled with the arcane energies being expended,
and the walls bore the scars of his fury as he battled unseen foes.
The strenuous workouts continued for three more days. Exhausted,
Strongbow finally took a well-deserved rest. When he awoke on the seventh
day, the final preparations began. He opened the secret door known only to
him and one other, and descended the stairs to his lab. There, the
warrior-mage began sifting through various alchemical ingredients until he
had gathered what he needed. Mixing, measuring, checking and rechecking, in a
few hours he was done. In his hand he held a small vial containing a special
ink to be used to write runes of power and protection for the upcoming
battle. He took one last look. Satisfied, Strongbow returned with the vial to
his lair above.
He went outside to find the elf-maiden Rayella. He needed her help for
the application of the runes, for her skill in runic magic was considerable.
At first, he could not find her.. then, he heard a screech from overhead.
Looking up he saw a strange but familiar pair, and Strongbow smiled. Ray, in
albino-silver dragon form, and Elwing, his silver-winged griffon, were
playing a game of tag in the clouds. Amused, he hated to break it up, but
there were matters of import to attend to and little time in which to
accomplish them. He contacted Ray's mind gently, "A'mael, it is time." He
then whistled for Elwing, and abruptly the pair dove to the earth. He walked
up to the large griffon, and whispered, "Were you having fun my friend?"
"Skerak ss krra kooorskraa!", cried the griff plaintively. Grinning,
Strongbow replied, "Ahhh.. not playing fair was she? Well, I suppose that's a
matter of opinion, but I'll speak to her," he winked at Ray, " Go now, and
find yourself some lunch!" Casting a scathing glance at his now Elven
tormentor, he took wing, then Strongbow and Rayella returned arm in arm to
the lair.
The pair entered the meditation/altar room. Strongbow, with an armful
of items, and Rayella with several quills and a small vial of magical ink.
They began placing the items on the altar, a cloak, a golden ring, a pair of
finely wrought bracers, a blue crystal wand, the vial of ink, and lastly, a
ruby-red glassteel longsword. The two knelt before the item-laden altar,
bowed their heads, and Strongbow started intoning the words of prayer.
"Corellon, father of all Elvenkind, I beseech thee! Bless these items
I have lain before thee, that they may serve me better to smite thine enemies
and emerge victorious in our upcoming battle! I would ask also, heavenly
Father, that your son, Tethrin, god of the Bladesingers, might bestow his
special blessings upon my blade, so that it will strike unerringly, and cause
fear in the hearts of our foes. This I would ask my Lord, not for myself, but
for my toror, Errandir, who has suffered greatly at the hands of the Drow,
and must be avenged! Father, hear my prayer, Amen."
As Strongbow spoke the last words, a low hum began to resound in the
small room.. and a pale blue glow began to form around the items resting on
the altar. As they watched in awe, each item in turn, levitated of its own
accord off the altar and sparkled internally with a divine light.
When the last of them had ceased to shine, Strongbow knew it was time
to begin the final preparations. He stood and removed his tunic and breeches.
Dressed in only a loincloth, Strongbow whispered to Rayella, "You may begin,
melamin, I am ready." The beautiful Elven maiden went to the altar and
retrieved the now glowing vial of specially prepared ink, and taking up one
of the quills, began etching runes of power and protection onto her ashke's
body. Starting at his neck, his chest and back, and both legs were covered
with the graceful magical script that Ray knew so well. When she was
finished, she left the room, then returned moments later with clothing made
especially for this occasion, and began to dress Strongbow. Then the items
were donned in order: Bracers, ring, cloak, the wand tucked into an azure
blue sash, and the sword. Finally, Strongbow nodded to his beloved, and she
finished by applying the war paint that would strike the dischord of fear
into any who beheld him. Rayella stepped back and gasped, "There Ashke'! Now
you could strike terror into the heart of any creature who dares stand
against you. You shall fight unerringly."
Strongbow did not speak, but only smiled grimly. The Bladesinger was
ready for war.
Gurth gothrim Tel'Mithrim!
Strongbow Firehand
The Shadow Stalker
Bladesinger, Ohtar, Istar
Tel'Mithrim
>>>=====>First Days - Part 3
(submitted by: MECH Aztek)
****Personal Data Files****
Archive Record 237.652i
Personal Journal Entries
Aztec...Private of the Napalm Monks
The thought of never knowing who I had once been has been haunting me
since the day I confronted Rasta about it. Everywhere I go it is as if I can
sense someone or something right behind me, just clear of my line of sight,
but when I turn to confront the shadow there is nothing there. Paranoia
seems to rule my days now.
Last night I came to a decision...one that could see my new life destroyed
even before it begins, but I must know the truth of who and what I was. I've
made plans to steal a copy of the cerebral files that are taken of all
initiates during the purification process. There I will find what came
before Aztec. What brought me to the life I now lead.
I figure it should be fairly simple. The Guards...security..are very laxed
around here at the moment. Since essentially there are only a dozen or so of
us in the complex at the moment, everyone knows where everyone is at any
given time.
The tapes are kept in a secure pressure sealed room off of the Purification
Chamber. I'll complete the theft during everyone's off cycle. I dream of
success and learning the origins of who I have become.
<End Log>First Days - Part 4
(submitted by: MECH Aztek)
****Personal Data Files****
Archive Record 240.337e
Personal Journal Entries
Aztec...Private of the Napalm Monks
It took several days of planning, but I believe that I finally have found a
working plan to get to my cerebral files. The guilt of doing this act, which
by all rights has been drummed into my enhanced mind that it is wrong and
punishable by deletion or reprogramming, has not stopped me from wanting to
carry it out.
At the beginning of my training as Private Aztec of the Napalm Monks, I was
informed that Purification enhances the essence of what you are. Your skills
and talents, emotions and intellect are all compounded into the 'Pure' form.
The flesh that held your soul captive, keeping it from achieving its
perfection is shed in a figurative way as well as in reality. Of course, for
some, the necessary removal of their flesh comes in varying degrees.
It was thru that lesson that I realized that most of these feelings and
insights were what I was..sure, I'd forgotten my name and any of my life
experiences, but the essence of me was still there. My identity had been
stolen from me and replaced with a new one, but what I was was still in
existance, merely in a new form. So, as I pondered those ideas, maybe
stealing the cerebral tapes wasn't necessary after all.
The logic failed. My curiosity and need to know overrode any such thoughts
of giving up on this act. The key to my existance was there somewhere. I
had to have it.
So, with plans in my mind, I went on with my days routine. More training.
But today was special. Today the new initiates finally got to meet one
another. We'd all been kept in seclusion in private training, but now, we'd
train and live as one.
I was excited. I'd been told there were several other Napalm Monks that
had been purified several days after mine was complete. I was their senior,
though not by much.
I belonged here...despite the mysteries of my past. And once I finally met
my brothers, I knew that sense of belonging would grab hold of me and never
let go. One part of my destiny had been fullfilled.
<End Log>Ivory Towers Crumble - Part One
(submitted by: BKATREENA)
Standing just inside the gates to Never Winter, Katrina watches as the Magic
ship disappears. With the death of her husband, Prince Erich Von Wolfstein,
and the destruction of her homeland only months behind her she must now find
her husband's trusted friend....Mage Hcamllets.
She has never met Hcamllets, but knows that he and her prince were very
close. She has heard wonderful stories about him, and her mission here in
this strange new land called Never Winter is to find the great man and learn
from him as her dying husband requested. She has already decided she will
study with him and become a great wizard one day, but first she must find
him.....
WilderBill
She wanders into Never Winter and passes many adventurers who pay her no
mind. She tries to ask questions and she pleads for their help but they
scoff at her and call her "Newbie." She puts on her brightest smile and with
hope in her heart continues to ask, "Anyone willing to help a lady?" Her eyes
sting with tears as she hears one fellow respond with an evil laugh, "We'd
hafta' find one first!" She continues walking on to another group and calls
out again, with much less spirit, "Anyone willing to help a lady?" After
several failed attempts a very handsome man approaches her. Her heart pounds
as she looks into his eyes and studies him. She can sense his sincerity as
he approaches, she immediately decides he must be a hero. He introduces
himself as WilderBill, bows ever so slightly and lightly brushes her hand
with a kiss. She melts.
With careful, gentle, instruction he helps her prepare for battle. He will
protect her and she will learn how to fight. He gives her some magic scrolls
and tells her she will learn to use them. She is giddy with excitement.
They go to battle and she valiantly tries to at least wound one monster! In
her one effort to help a hero not needing her help, she is seriously wounded.
Even in a ferocious battle the hero WilderBill sees her, calls out to her and
uses his magical power to heal her. Standing away from his fight near a stone
wall she watches him and cries out, "How did you get so strong and so
powerful! As he battles he speaks kind words to her. As the last swipe of
his weapon ends the battle she cheers him on, "My hero!" She watches in awe
as WilderBill with one sweep takes them all down and they lie dying. The
first battle is over in minutes.
As Katrina and WilderBill travel they become acquainted She thinks she is in
love. He teaches her how to stay alive and out of the way. By the days end
she learns that he is very happily married to another. She learns his
flowery words and kind actions are just his way, and he has not even noticed
how beautiful she is and it doesn't seem to matter at all that she is a
princess.
Through their travels he vanishes several times, always returning within
minutes mumbling something about a punt monster. So happy to see him again
she does not question why he has left or where he has been.
WilderBill has helped her and assures her if she needs him again all she need
do is call out his name and he will come to her aid. She has made her first
friend, but he does not see her in any other light as she had hoped. And
then again he vanishes, taken away by the thing he called a punt monster.
Feeling more embarrassed then rejected Katrina travels on alone.
Gambit
Wandering in circles trying to learn where to go, what to see, what to do,
she quickly becomes discouraged. All alone in a strange land she does not
know what to do. Trying to remember all WilderBill taught her, she stops to
rest and tries to understand the magic scrolls he gave her, but she rests too
long in the wrong place and is attacked by monsters. She must fight alone,
but she cannot and she flees.
She travels on alone and is attacked. A friendly dark elf named Gambit
appears and helps her win a battle. Just as they begin to introduce
themselves to each other Katrina is attacked by something that whirls her
around. She is spinning helpless, in a tunnel of gushing winds, that toss
her round and round teleporting her to Lord Nasher's Lounge.
Regaining control of her senses, shaken, but unharmed she enters the lounge.
Standing quietly taking in all the sights and the sounds, she hears only bits
and pieces of conversation. This place she has found is full of all types of
adventurers. She sees lots of Knights, and thinks of how mean they were to
her. Still studying the Knights and seething, she catches a glimpse of the
dark elf who helped her. He smiles and greets her as he approaches.
They get acquainted. She tells him how she came here and about the death of
her husband. Gambit, the dark elf, befriends her. She studies him and asks
him of his adventures. He too has become discouraged adventuring in this
place called Never Winter. With questioning eyes she politely asks what
manner of being he is. He explains he is a Dark Elf but half human and he
too has been called a "Newbie."
Katrina squints her eyes at the Knights remembering their cruel jokes and the
names they called her. She becomes angry. She has never been cruel to
anyone. She did nothing to cause the other adventurers to treat her so
cruelly! In tears she turns back to Gambit and devises a plan. She will get
them to help her! She will let them see how beautiful she is. She will
charm them and when they take her to battle she will "steal from them" if she
has to. She will steal their hearts and then their treasures and weapons and
magic!! How can she become a thief, she asks Gambit. She will find what she
needs and she will let them fight for her. Let them fall in love with her
then she can take what they have and run. She will share with her new friend
Gambit! She will show them! Gambit cheers her on and laughing he says, Ah,
but M'Lady that is why I travel alone. You do not need to give me anything
Princess. We shall be friends!"
Gambit prepares to leave. Katrina thanks him and they agree they shall meet
again. She wishes him well and he trudges out the door of the lounge ready
to once again fight the monsters without anyone to help him.
John
She watches as Gambit goes through the door hoping she will meet him again.
As she turns around a Knight is standing beside her and politely asks if he
may sit down. He asks if she is new here commenting he has not noticed her
before. And he would have noticed such a beautiful creature he thinks to
himself. Frail, yet strong, with fire in her beautiful green eyes that
sparkle like emeralds. He must find out more about her! Katrina, lonely and
discouraged turns to him, searching his eyes, "I would be happy to share with
you my Never Winter experience thus far and a little of how I came to be
here," she says meekly.
"Please go on M'Lady" he says sitting down and ordering the bar maid to bring
two ales.
Lonely, discouraged and in desperate need of a friend, Katrina tells him of
her mission.
"I am here in search of a great Mage named Hcamllets. He is also a very
powerful fighter.." Her eyes brigthen and she smiles as she speaks of the
Mage.
"At the death of my dear departed husband, the Prince of Platycoden, I came
here by way of a magic ship."
John sips his ale watching her as she tells more...
"My husband's familiar, Chang, brought word to us that our homeland has been
destroyed and that I am to go to Never Winter. Twas my husband's dying
wish."
John studies her beauty with one eyebrow raised in interest to hear more of
her story. How beautiful she is!
Petting the Siamese cat on her lap, Katrina continues, "I am to find Mage
Hcamllets and learn from him," bowing her head as she speaks. Feeling a
trust for this man she has just met, she only hopes he will but listen to
her. How her heart aches that she has made only a few friends and she may
never even see them again. Most of her encounters with adventurers so far
have been most disappointing. Hoping he will be kind, not like the others,
perhaps even advise her, she continues, "But thus far I have offended those
who could possibly help me." Thinking what a burden she must have been to the
hero WilderBill, and how most everyone else either ignored her or scoffed at
her, she sighs. "Experienced adventurers do not welcome..." shyly bowing her
head again she whispers "pampered princesses."
John, intrigued with her story as much as her beauty, drinks his ale and
studies her. How could anyone want to harm this delicate flower, he wonders.
"You have yet to offend me," he says sliding a mug of ale in her direction.
Was that a gesture of friendship? Her hopes rise as she looks up.
Encouraged by the gesture Katrina continues, "I cannot help it sir that I was
raised by a King! That my love was the Prince Erich Von Wolfstein of
Platycoden and that I lived in ivory towers all my life!" she sighs,
shoulders slumped, pouting lips, and tears welling up in her eyes.
"There, there, M'Lady, all is well now." Tears stream down her exquisite
cheeks as she looks at him hoping he will really be her friend. With an
encouraging smile John assures her, "I am at your service, Princess."
"Thank you kind Sir." Feeling a bond of trust between them, she continues
her story. "When I first arrived I went to a camp and learned but one magic
spell. This I was able to do from the instructions of Hcamllets on old
scrolls I brought with me. I will need help to find Hcamllets. I was
assisted by a very handsome young fellow named WilderBill who allowed me to
follow him, but he was whisked away by some evil power!"
Looking proud John turns to her "I don't trust magic myself, too
unpredictable....but my sword and wits are at your disposal!"
Not really hearing his offer to help her, Katrina just wants to tell of her
heartache and sort her thoughts out by speaking them aloud. In her
excitement to tell all she does not even notice the proud look on John's
face.
"I was hurt and when I awoke all of my possessions were taken! Later I met
a very nice dark elf who also tried to help me and he too was taken away by
the evil! The adventurers I have come upon other than these two scoff at me
M'Lord! I joined their battles by mistake and could not fight!"
Studying her he asks, "Was there a dense fog preceding this great evil?"
"No Sir." Katrina's eyes lock onto John's wondering what he knows of this
evil. "There was no warning what so ever." He does know something she
thinks!
With a knowing look he confirms her suspicions, "Ahhhh a truly terrible
creature is this."
Wanting to know more, her statement a question , "Those with me disappeared
and I was whisked away only to awaken here at this lounge."
Nodding his head in understanding, "I have heard tales of this
creature....some call it a punt monster."
Her eyes brighten and she leans toward John almost whispering... "This same
creature now blocks the gates to Never Winter, but I am determined to get
back in. I must! Tis my destiny!"
John and Katrina stay in the lounge sipping ale as he tells her of his
adventures, but he does not go into detail. She is curious about him. As
she grieves telling more of her late husband and of her broken heart he
reaches out to her with gentle hands, but she is afraid. She knows nothing
of him. She addresses him formally as "Sir," and he encourages her to call
him just "John." He sees her fear and tries to assure her they will be
friends. She wants to believe him for she is so lonely. Katrina tells him
of how she plans to not be so good, but will find a way to get the Knights to
help her.
Being honest and good got her no where fast and she must get to Hcamllets.
She is weak and will need lots of help. John gently convinces her that she
will be able to complete her quest without evil or deceit.
Katrina sees that he is honest and good, and she believes him. He suggests
they will even travel together soon. John tells Katrina he will meet with
her in a private place called Vistani the next day at dusk and they will make
plans. With the flick of his cape he stands, bids her farewell and
disappears.........
Morbidez:
Encouraged by John, Katrina dries her tears and sets out for Never Winter.
Determined to sneak past the punt monster she uses all her magic to slip
through the gates. She goes to an inn and rests. Once again looking for
someone to help her, she calls out to the adventurers. No response. She
walks on and coming upon another large crowd of adventurers Katrina smiles
and greets them. She again timidly asks if anyone would be willing to travel
with her. Quite unlike her previous experience many Knights are now willing
to help her.
Katrina does not notice the Knights turning in awe at her beauty nor does she
understand she is no longer considered a "newbie." She barely sees them, for
her gaze is on one they call Morbidez. Something in her tummy flutters, and
as her blood races she cannot take her eyes off of him.
Morbidez sees her enter their camp. He is spellbound at her beauty and
grace. She must be a goddess. Her hair shimmers in the light of the sun
like gold and her eyes are as green as emeralds. The grog of ale in his hand
falls to the ground when he sees her smile and ask, "Would anyone be willing
to travel with me?"
Rushing to her he pushes several other Knights out of his way. This has got
to be the most beautiful woman he has ever seen! Where has she come from?
He decides at that moment he will indeed "travel" with this beauty. He would
give his life to save her. And she is looking at him!!!! Those eyes, those
incredible eyes!
He rushes toward her, but before he can reach her the rest of his band are
already offering her gifts, crowding around her like starving dogs going for
meat. She is thanking them profusely and this little flower is so polite and
enchanting they are stumbling over each other to get to her. They will crush
her! As he reaches her, Morbidez gives a strong arm motion for the others to
step back. They eye him with envy and move away. This is their leader. They
watch as Katrina and Morbidez gaze at each other as though no one else was
there. The last sound Katrina hears from the others is someone mumbling as
the crowd moves away-- "Hmph, alone again! When will I ever have anyone to
travel with!"
She sees only Morbidez as he comes to her side. The others in this large
group of adventurers are hazy in her mind as though in a cloud and far in the
distance. He bows and greets her, she curtsies and with eyes locked on each
other it is love at first sight. She has found someone to trust. She sees
past his muscular form and gentle eyes straight into his heart.
"Where have you come from, my flower?" as he lifts her hand to his face and
gently brushes his lips on her delicate skin.
Aglow with the emotions surging through her, she smiles brightly at him and
introduces herself. "I am Princess Katrina Von Wolfstein and I have come here
to find Mage Hcamllets."
For the first time since the destruction of her homeland and the loss of her
husband, Katrina feels joyful as she explains to Morbidez that she does not
know this land, how to survive or how to find Hcamllets. All fear leaves her
as he tells her she will be safe by his side and he will teach her and help
her find Hcamllets.
Morbidez lovingly instructs her and teaches her to fight. They travel
together with his band for days. They fight and win many battles. As they
start out in a large group having eyes only for each other and the monsters
they defeat, they barely notice that one by one the other adventurers have
gone off and left them. They travel alone.
Stopping to rest Morbidez teaches her all he knows of how to use the scrolls
WilderBill and the others gave her. Not being a magic user himself, he
explains he has seen a great Mage and watched him. Digging in his bag,
Morbidez pulls out a tome and hands it to Katrina. Grateful for his efforts
she smiles at him and holds his gift to her chest wishing she knew how to use
it. Standing on tiptoes she reaches up to him and kisses his cheek.
As they journey on to fight orges, giant crocodiles, kobolds and stirge,
Morbidez tries to teach her how to fight. Katrina clings to him fully
trusting in his every word, eager to learn and eager to please she fights
with all of her might when they are attacked by a band of thieves. She has
been stabbed and falls. In fear and anger Morbidez slashes the last thief to
death with one swipe of his sword and runs to Katrina. Scooping her into his
arms, he carries her to an inn, his adrenaline rising with every step.
Limp in his arms, Katrina is dying. Morbidez pays the innkeeper and carries
his love to a room in the inn. Placing her gently on a bed , tears sting his
eyes. He cannot help her....
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
He must find a cleric! Morbidez races through the inn, his tears clouding his
vision. He finds a cleric. Together they rush to her side. The cleric
begins casting a spell and within moments Katrina, still dazed turns to
Morbidez and smiles then drifts off to sleep.
Morbidez does not leave her side. After days of pacing the floor by her
bedside, reciting poetry to her, bringing her food and drink, and willing her
to live, Katrina heals. As she recovers she has grown even stronger.
Together again they travel and fight. He takes her to train in Never Winter
then on to battle again. Katrina and Morbidez both become stronger. They
deposit jewels and gems in the Never Winter vaults. These treasures they
have gathered from the dead monsters they have battled. They laugh and they
sing and they gaze upon each other with love in their eyes.
Without warning the lovers are attacked by the evil punt monster. They are
thrown apart time after time each recovering without the other in front of
Lord Nasher's Lounge. Several times they find each other in Never Winter
only to be tossed apart again and again. Each time Katrina finds herself in
front of Lord Nasher's Lounge she leaves messages for Morbidez.
She travels to Vistani to find John, but he is not there. Alone again she is
sad that he has not come. Determined to go on alone without friends and
without love she decides she must continue her journey. No matter how lonely
she feels, or how poorly she fights she must learn to be alone, for it seems
to be her fate.
Grieving for Morbidez, Katrina loses her wits during training. She becomes
weaker and even forgets what he has taught her. Weary and ill from the many
fights she has fought alone, safe at the inn now, she writes...
My Dearest Morbidez,
How I long to be in your arms. I fear I have taken ill. Do not weep for me,
my darling. Continue your quest without me. Build your skills, my love.
For when we are together we will journey farther and fight much more
dangerous evil than we have seen thus far. Fight with the Knights. Do not
go alone. For when we are together you will need to be very strong. I am
getting weaker. I have not trained properly. I must take time to study my
magic, my darling, so I can fight by your side. I have much to learn.
Did I ever tell you that once in battle all alone I cured the monster and set
fire on myself? I have learned how to find the right spell, but I fear I
still have terrible aim. As soon as I have gained my strength I must also
find a way to concentrate on the battle and not on how much I love you, my
gem. If only we could go to a hideout...so you could hold me in your arms.
Then we could plan our battle and be better prepared.
When the sun sets and I am weary
I lie down to rest knowing you will come to me
If only in my dreams, we shall always be together
Katrina
With love in her heart Katrina rests. When she awakens a weary traveler
comes to her with a message from Morbidez. With shaking hands she opens it
and reads:
My Dear Princess,
Would that you were here so I could return the gesture. I wish I were as
eloquent as you...for then should truly be able to express my affection.
Perhaps I will be able to gaze in awe at ye this evening.
Time after time they miss each other as the great punt monster whirls them
around with an evil determined to break them apart. On each journey back to
Never Winter they must fight their own battles without each other. Knowing
they will be together soon, they fight harder and become stronger. They each
continue to train. She writes him letters, but he seldom responds.
Finally at the mercy of the punt monster they are able to telepathically
communicate again and decide to go to a hideout where they can be alone.
Katrina runs to a hideout she alone knows of and uses her magic to bring
Morbidez to her special hiding place and as he arrives she greets him,
"Welcome!"
"Hail Princess Katrina."
Glad to see him she exclaims, "I was not sure I had enough magic to get you
here!" Eager to tell all and too excited to know where to start she quickly
rushes her words, "I have had a wild adventure alone!" Proudly she tells
him, "I have risen to the third level of training as a Cleric!"
Smiling his lips form a whistle, "You have been busy!"
Returning his smile with glowing cheeks, sparkling eyes and a thought that
can't wait to come out, "Yes! I have and I want to tell you all about it!"
Happy for her and eager to know, "Can you memorize and cast wizard spells
yet?"
"Yes, and as soon as we get back to Never Winter I need your help with that.
I have learned that the reason I was having such a lot of trouble with my
magic was that I did not get enough rest! I was so excited to go on that I
did not think. It is amazing I have survived! I can now kill packs of
wolves and those nasty red monster Syrges that remind me of giant
mosquitoes."
"Wooo. I have trouble with wolves, the trees that crush are a problem."
"I have had the very life sucked out of me, but I used my magic and went
back. I took on a pack of six wolves and killed them all alone!!! After
three tries", she shrugs, "but I did it alone"!!!
"You are lucky." Impressed with her tale... "I have tried seven times with
wolf packs and have not succeeded."
Laughing out loud at herself remembering she tells him, "I screamed for help,
but very inexperienced adventurers came and just stood there, like I used to
do"!
Pleased with her story almost as much as the sight of her Morbidez laughs out
loud. Then turning to her and taking her hand, "We shall conquer the puppies
tonight, eh?"
Excited at the prospect but wanting to make sure he knows her skill or lack
of it, "I am getting much better!!! Let us try to go there again! But first
I want to tell you all I need to do"...
"Speak on fair one."
"I need to really understand what to do to make sure I have my spells right.
For that, I need to learn to use the tome you gave me."
They devise a plan and decide to meet on the morrow to begin a journey back
to Vilnask where they discovered the wolves, but they are again separated by
the evil punt monster, and Katrina is truly alone again. Depression sweeps
over her, but she fights back. She must go on! She must learn to fight
alone. She must train!
Katrina hurriedly trains. But, she has done this too quickly and has not
gained all she needs. Weary from her travels, she stops at an inn to rest.
Blackcoral:
Katrina's heart is broken. Morbidez does not respond. She has even sent her
husband's familiar, Chang to him. The cat found him and used it's powers to
give him her message, but still he does not respond. She has asked other
adventurers to help her find him and they just shake their heads no, and pass
her by. She has even asked for help from the great BLACKCORAL, but he is no
where to be found. She uses her magic scribe and all the power she can
muster....but, he is gone......The Evils have overcome him. She
grieves.....Even the many adventurers she has now made friends with cannot
help her find him. She has missed her rendezvous with her friend John in her
desperate search for Morbidez.
She must apologize to John and desires to tell him of her latest adventures.
Later she will find him somehow, but now she must fight! She must continue
her quest. She has tried to fight, tried to learn her magic, but she is weak
and now she is angry! She will not be weak! She will learn her magic and
she will fight alone!!! Always alone....
She has learned she must rest to be able to study her magic, but she gets
terribly lost. This strange place of Never Winter is full of crooks and
turns. Every time she comes to a dead end she must decide which way to go.
She continues to turn only to end up back where she started. She becomes
desperate and discouraged. She finds herself in the midst of battles with
horrible creatures. She can fight the Crocodiles now and even the Syrge and
the Kraken Spies. She fights Kobolds, and Orcs and survives so her hopes
rise, until she is caught in a battle with many giant lizards and a fiery
snake. She is all alone and cannot survive, but will not run. She will
fight till her death! In the midst of battle someone calls out to her and
asks if she needs help. Yes! she screams, full of relief that she may not
have to die after all. She is saved by Blackcoral, a creature who calls
herself "Coral." Blackcoral heals her, blesses her and kills every monster.
Katrina, in awe of the great Blackcoral shyly asks if she may follow her.
She must find an Inn and rest and she must find the Vaults and she does not
know how to return to the Trainer! Blackcoral graciously helps her, taking
her on a wonderful journey. Katrina follows Blackcoral. Through some
powerful magic she cannot perceive she is floating along and can see the
whole land as though looking down like a bird from the sky. She expresses
her joy, her awe and her gratitude to the great Blackcoral. Eager to learn
the great mystery of this awesome creature, Katrina asks who she is and where
she has come from. Blackcoral but smiles, brushing her skirts, even blushes
and says she fights with the Knights. Katrina wants to know more. How long
have you been adventuring, she asks. "M'Lady longer than you have lived" she
replies with a smile. Blackcoral instructs Katrina on how to use a magic map
and shows her all the places she had not bee able find. As they part,
Blackcoral gives Katrina a powerful gift of magic called a hammer and
explains this will help save her from the evils of the Punt Monster. Still
in awe of her greatness, Katrina thanks her profusely and they part.
Traveling on, fighting many battles, Katrina continues her search for
Hcamllets. She tries to be polite and asks for help from other adventurers
when she finds them in large groups. She calls out a greeting and politely
asks if anyone would be willing to help her, smiling brightly and hoping they
will even notice her. Some speak to her, some even call her by name and call
out their greeting, but still they scoff at her and are so busy with their
own plans of attack, trading, and adventuring that they don't even look at
her. They do not wish to travel with the weak little princess. She
continues her journey alone, getting lost and wandering in circles. She
comes to a well and turns. She knows she has seen a well like this before.
Her spirits begin to rise and she laughs out loud when she realizes it is the
same well she has passed time and time again.
Ivory Towers Crumble - Part One (Cont)
(submitted by: BKATREENA)
John
As she is resting she sees JOHN! She calls out to him, but he does not
respond. She calls again, and again and again. She sends him ESP messages
in spurts telling him of her location, she is in battle, she continues to
fight and call his name...Then the answer comes. He yells at her and says It
is JOHN!!!! She shudders. She believes he does not know her, as his
telepathic answer was a shout of his name leading her to believe he was angry
that she had tried to use her mental powers to reach him. For a brief moment
she is afraid thinking she by accident sent her message to the wrong
traveler. She sees his name on her magic scribe, but he does not answer.
She looks again at her scribe and sees his name twice. What does this mean?
She has heard other travelers speak of evil ghosts who come into the land
taking on the names of adventurers.
She hurries back to the inn and continues to send messages to John. She
tries every way she knows using all her magic to reach him asking him why he
is angry with her. Time passes and she does not give up. In tears she
concentrates on sending him messages. She sneaks past the gates to NW and
calls out his name over and over until the failure of her search brings her
to tears. Her shoulders droop and she sobs. Then a messenger finds her and
gives her his letter. Drying her tears she reads:....."Dearest Katrina, I
saw you in NW we brushed shoulders and yet you walked on. Summoning all my
mental powers I sent a message from my mind to yours via ESP. You did not
respond. I looked all over NW for you. Looking through tear blinded eyes I
searched. I got the aid of a Paladin named Ocoeefun. Together we searched
for you and battled many orcs and goblins. Just as I thought the tides of
battle were swinging in my favor the awful punt monster opened its tooth
filled maw and swallowed me whole. It chewed me up and spit me out. Guess I
tasted bad...good thing too. I cannot believe you did not see me in NW. I
am NOT angry with you. I hope we can hook up tonite. I miss you immensely.
My heart is empty when not in your presence. Till our paths cross....John.
She hears John's voice in her head. Finally the magic is working! He tells
her he is not angry and wishes for her to come to him in a nearby hideout.
She runs as fast as her weary legs will move, finds him and rushes to him
with open arms. She is so weary from her efforts to contact him and her
battles with monsters that she does not stop to think what could happen next.
Remembering their previous meetings, John guards his emotions. The last time
they met she blushed, hid her face and declined his gentlest approach. This
delicate flower would be crushed if he should act upon the emotion surging
through him. He decides he must wait and allow her to make the next move.
As she runs to him he does not embrace her, but waits.
Realizing what she has done Katrina pulls away. Their eyes meet. She sees
such powerful love in his eyes...A great turmoil stirs in her very soul.
Still gazing into his eyes she reaches for his hand and places it on her
cheek. Thoughts of Morbidez and her Prince and WilderBill rush through her
mind. She closes her eyes and lets the tears flow down her cheeks. She
cannot bear the anguish of love. Every time she does the pain is deeper and
deeper. John watches her sadly, determined to let her make all the moves,
but his heart wrenches with the pain of not being able to show his love. His
body stiffens as his restraint takes every fiber of his being to control his
desire. He watches intently as Katrina lifts her head and gazes into his
eyes. What is in her eyes?? Could it be??? She moves her hand from his
cheek to the back of his head. His blood rushes, his heart pounds. He
lowers his head and their lips touch, slowly ever so gently, hesitantly their
lips meet. She responds with passion and returns his kiss. He wraps her in
his arms and kisses her deeply. She is floating , her body goes limp in the
strength of his arms and she responds greedily to his kiss. Trembling as the
kiss ends and their eyes meet, Katrina again buries her head in his chest
with her arms limp around his waist and lower back she begins to weep softly.
He lowers his head and brushes soft whispers of kisses on her ivory neck.
Slowly they pull apart. He does not want to chance frightening her away
again. He must give her time to grieve her lost husband and not think of
himself. She opens her eyes and lifts her face from his chest to gaze into
his eyes. Softly she speaks his name, John? He looks back at her, Yes my
dear? Her heart pounds, her blood rushes, her body tingles as she snuggles
to him with her face on his chest. John, she again says softly, "My John".
He plays with her hair brushing her hair back softly, over and over, still
not too sure he should be doing this. I do not want to lose you, she
whispers. She again begins to cry. He holds her, "You will not lose me, I
am here for you." Softly sobbing, she looks up at him releasing her hold on
his back. He takes a step back. She gazes into his eyes, seeking, trying to
be certain what is there. He looks into her eyes and he lets her look into
his very soul. She reaches for him and takes his hand, still gazing into his
eyes she lifts his hand to her cheek. She wants to tell him, tears come
again, how will she find the words. She does not want him to leave her. He
brushes away the tears with his hand and he sees turmoil in her eyes and
wishes she would speak her mind. Still holding his hand to her cheek it all
flashes through her mind. The pain, the suffering, she knows she cannot bare
it again, she wants to love him, but she is afraid. Desperately she searches
for the words. He lets her think things through. Wanting to go slow. For
her sake. Slowly she forms the words. .John, I care for you deeply. He looks
into her eyes without speaking. She hesitates. Questioning her with his
eyes, "But?" He waits in agony for her to respond. Again she sobs, "I lost
my husband"....She struggles to find the right words. Straightening up she is
determined to explain. Do you remember the first time we met, John? Yes I do
he responds. Do you remember me telling you about WilderBill, she asks,
hoping he will remember. No, just Hcamllets. Frustrated because he does not
remember, "I was afraid not." Fear surges through him, Is WilderBill your
lover?...."No." He breathes more easily. "What of WilderBill" he asks, not
certain he wants to know. She continues to speak the words slowly more
easily now, seeing fear in his eyes, "I traveled with him when I first came
to NW. I am afraid my heart was stirred by his protecting me and fighting to
save me and"... she hesitates. "I felt", her mind reels, her heart filled
with pain, "feelings for him." "I see", he says, but she can see in his eyes
that he does not understand. She continues, wanting to bare her soul, "I
think I had some kind of hope that we would be together, but he did not feel
the same. He was just being kind. I have seen him again and learned that he
is married. Listening for the moment, he thinks she is ripping his heart out.
Oh, John!, she cries this is coming out all wrong. I am only trying to say
that I thought I was falling in love and it was awful. I think this happened
because I just lost my prince. I need time to grieve. "I feel nothing for
WilderBill!" she states emphatically. Turning her eyes directly to his,
Please do not look at me that way. "What way", trying to disguise the fear
shown on his face, I only look upon you with kind and caring eyes, he says
with a smile. Seeing right through him... "I saw in your eyes you fear I
love another and that is not what I am trying to say. John I am afraid of
myself, not of you. I fall too easily for every kind word. My heart has been
ripped from me many times in just a few short weeks". Not wanting to hear
more he sits up straighter and with a huskier voice replies, "Well then," he
takes her hand in his, "Perhaps you need time to think." Desperate to let
the hurt out, hoping by speaking the words, the wounds will heal, she
continues... "No John. I need to tell you what it is I feel. Will you let
me?" Yes, of course, relaxing a little he leans back. Will you not fear of
how I feel toward you, she asks eager to explain. "Yes", he waits for her to
continue. I am trying to tell you that my soul is in torment. She becomes
animated as she speaks, determined to try to tell how she hurts. I was
determined not to let any man get close to my heart. I have a mission, a
destiny. My heart has been broken so many times I cannot bear it! But,
John, I feel your love, her voice softer now she looks up to pleading with
her eyes. She hesitates as the tears come again and she sobs. It all happens
so fast. I have been wrong before, as she speaks thoughts of Morbidez race
through her mind. I tried to just flirt with the men to get them to help me,
but they... He sits up and interrupts her, "Know this Katrina,we have been
brought together by powers more powerful than I..." Still sobbing, and not
hearing his words, "It all turns around and I am the one who is hurt and
unloved. It has never been what I imagined it was. I vowed to not care,
raising her voice, upset not with him, but herself, she proclaims, I need
protection from myself! I tried so hard not to love you, not to be hurt. I
have lost everyone I ever loved!!! The pain is too great! Oh John, she
cries searching his eyes once more with her own, pleading with him, "Please
love me."
"Look into my eyes and see that I do. Hear it in my voice and know that I
do," she must believe him! Tears still rolling down her cheeks she looks
into his eyes. She wants to believe him, "But tonight in Never Winter that
horrible pain came to me, John. I thought you were yelling at me. I thought
you were angry. I never seem to know what people really think of me. I
think they love me when they do not"...He grasps her shoulders with both
hands holding her out in front of him and stops her words with his, "I say
that I do love you", how can she not believe him! As though his words had no
effect she continues, "And when I know they love me they are ripped from me
as was my Prince" and Morbidez she thinks to herself. Please be patient with
me John.
Determined to prove his love, "I will take that chance," he must convince
her, "and true love will overcome" he will not give up, he will win her
love, he will prove himself to her..."believe in that." She dries her tears
hearing his words this time. "Trust me" he employs, "I deserve at least
that."
Looking at him with dry eyes now she replies, I need a true friend, John.
When we first met I thought we would be good friends. What I most fear is
that if I fail you I will have nothing! For once you have loved and lost that
love, you have no friend.
Katrina, If I do not expect anything from you, but to be you, than you cannot
fail!
She smiles, Thank you John. I do believe you.
He returns a smile, Thank you for that.
John, each time we have not been able to meet, have you felt as I...
Katrina, Yes! But, I must take my leave
She knows he must go now, "John, My John," she whispers and she is no longer
afraid
Will I see you tomorrow? He asks.
Knowing she can trust him and eager to see him again, she replies, "Please
tell me when we will meet and I will be there."
"Till then..... my love to you". He turns and disappears
Here or Vistani? she asks, but he is gone
She hears him say, "Here my love."
Full of hope, Katrina decides to continue her adventure. At peace with his
love in her heart she journeys on to Floodbless once more determined to find
the way alone and discover the depths of the realms. She sends John a
message vowing her love and begins her journey.
Morbidez
Katrina battles her way to Floodbless, stops at the inn for rest and in the
middle of a battle she hears him call out to her. MORBIDEZ!!!! He is
alive!!! In the middle of a battle she calls out to him. Jubilant that he
is alive and looking for her. She cries his name out loud and the knights
fighting this battle with her continue to struggle with the monsters but are
distracted and question this name she has screamed and so loudly even the
monsters turn eyes toward her. The Knights with her fight harder and ignore
her as she does them. The battle is difficult, she cannot concentrate on the
fight, when it takes all of her concentration to send messages to Morbidez
telling him where she is and how to find her. She must not die in this
battle, but even more she must not lose her love, Morbidez!!!
They continue their telepathic communication. He asks about how to get to
Floodbless. She cannot explain. She is always lost in this strange new land.
She is still in battle as she tries to keep in contact with him. She fights
her way back to NW not even stopping to pick up the treasures of the slain
beasts. She tells him she will meet him at the castle. Being a princess she
can always find a castle she thinks and a smile crosses her lips. She gets to
the castle and he finds her. She runs to his arms. They embrace. They kiss.
He calls her his flower. She calls him her gem. The adventurers around them
scoff at their romance. She blows kisses at him, tells him she loves him and
makes this proclamation in the midst of many Knights and warriors who scoff
at her. They are here to fight and they are with her Morbidez. They encamp,
excited to be with him it is hard for her to concentrate on her magic. He
waits patiently while she memorizes her spells and rests. They hook. He talks
about fighting a Minataur. She cares not where they go so long as it is
together. As they fight she sees she is stronger than he is, but not as
quick with her skill. She tries to stay back and let him fight. Many
Knights and warriors have joined them. She watches as half a dozen or more
fighters fight the same battles she has fought alone. Smiling to herself,
she does not care. She knows that Morbidez will gain strength and hone
skills through the battles he faces. He dies and she uses her magic to
restore him. Not having good aim she blesses others in the group not even
knowing who she has hit with her magic. She smiles to herself remembering
the battle where she hit the monster with her cure spell and hit herself with
fire!!! Remembering this she knows that many a skill can be developed with
the three P's - practice and patience and persistence. She smiles at her
own humor, perhaps good things do come in threes. After the battles they
meet in her private hideout and talk about their battles and their love.
They go into battle again and being weary she leaves him there and goes to
rest and build her strength. She sends him messages of love and promise.
Then she sleeps. Before she sleeps it crosses her mind that she may have
sent John and Morbidez the same message. She cannot meet them both at the
same time!! First no love, and now TWO. She sleeps soundly.
She awakens and returns to her quest. Frustrated with her training. She is
weak. She has trained as a Fighter by mistake. She has lost her magic. Her
vault is full of the things she has collected, but most of it is not useful
to her. Her skills are not good. She is still the weak little ivory tower
Princess and she is angry at herself for not being able to learn. She
wanders through the streets of Never Winter. Determined to learn her way
around. She fights alone and looses. She rests and continues to fight.
Weary from battle her shoulders slump and she trudges on. His voice.... She
hears him calling to her! Morbidez tells her he is coming to her. The punt
monster attacks over and over and over throwing them apart. Each time she
returns to NW he is there, but they cannot find each other. She panics. The
thought crosses her mind that he does not care to find her, he cares only of
himself, but she pushes the thought aside. Why does he not answer her? She
wastes precious training and battle hours looking for him. He says he is
coming, but does not appear. For weeks she wanders through NW looking for
him.
Finally he arrives at her side. He romances her and she gushes at him.
Wanting so badly to not be alone, looking for someone to lead her, and help
her learn the right skills she thinks she cannot bare to not be by his side.
She pleads with Morbidez to take her into battle to regain her skills. He
takes her to one battle. The other Knights scoff at him for she has not
thought to speak to his mind and speaks of their love where the Knights can
hear her. She tells him she thinks they should be alone.
"I know of a place," he says as he scoops her into his arms and carries her
to the docks where they are alone. Thinking only of loving him she melts in
his arms. Wanting so badly to not be alone, she allows him to take all that
she has. He takes her heart and asks for her magic. She thinks to herself
she needs her magic for she is weak and has so little, but his flowery words
convince her and she gives all that she has. She gives him her magic ring of
protection. She tells him she wants him to again hold her in his arms. But
she speaks to the wind, for Morbidez has vanished.
Katrina is in shock. She does not believe he left her at that tender moment.
She panics. She cries, and he does not return. Terrified she calls out to
Hcamllets. Hcamllets sends an immediate response that he will come to her if
she but gives him the word. He will hunt down Morbidez if need be. Katrina
hesitates. She does not know that he has left her. The evil one has taken
him away before. But how could this happen with such incredible timing that
he would be whisked away the moment she gave all she could give?? Still
shaken, she hears him and as she does she tells Hcamllets all is well.
Morbidez calls out to her and comes to her. She smiles at him hiding her
fear and waits for him to explain. He tells her the evil one has taken the
ring and he appears upset. She thinks this is a likely story. She wore the
ring through many punts and never lost it. But to Morbidez she says they
will just find another one and assures him not to worry. She says it, but
does not believe it and fears she has been duped. Is it possible that
Morbidez only used her because she told him her vault was full of treasures?
As she wonders, he disappears and does not return.
Gambit, Wildoldwiz and John
Determined to fight her pain, Katrina continues to battle. She puts all of
her energy into fighting and learning and honing her skills. She goes back
to the trainer and tries to learn. But it does not look good. She must have
her magic back so she again trains as a Cleric with the ability to become a
Magic User. Determined to work with what she has she continues her journey.
She has had enough now. The pampered little princess has got to fight! She
is at turmoil. She knows she is not to jump into battles she is not invited
into. She graciously apologizes to the adventurers whose battles she enters,
fights, takes the treasures left by the dead monsters and leaves quietly.
She continues to deliberately enter battles only to learn that she does have
some skill and the others in battle with her would surely have died without
her. They want to follow her! She has been accepted. She tells them they
may join her. They try to follow her, but they are too young, and too slow.
She rests at the inn, goes to the vaults to withdraw magic scrolls she now
can use, and trains to a higher level. She fights alone in battles she has
seen half a dozen young adventurers fight with all their might and she is
victorious, gathering treasures the whole while sending telepathic messages
to the young travelers telling them of her whereabouts. She is eager to help
them and pleased that she can. She has learned the way to Floodblest and
will take them there. Gambit, her dark elf friend is among them. Eager to
get to them she hurries along in her quest. She has made friends, but she
cannot even remember their names. Intent on her mission she devises a plan.
Wildoldwiz, one of the adventurers she fought with earlier, is waiting with
Gambit and others for her to come back and help them. She tells them to meet
by the Castle, and smiles to herself how befitting it is. When she arrives
they all greet her and exclaim delight as she tells them all she has done as
they wandered lost trying to find her. She teases them gently and says,
"Now will you follow the Princess?" An eager response and cheers bring a
smile to her lips and she laughs. Being a poor navigator herself, she
understands the time that is wasted trying to find your friends to join them
in battle when you do not know this strange land. She carefully instructs
them of her plan. They will travel from the back of the castle and straight
through the gates until they reach the hedges. Not knowing the land or
remembering the names of the places she has been she is determined to show
them the way. She is not ready to lead, for she has not enough skill. She
cannot keep track of her little band without getting lost herself. She
cannot even remember their names, except Gambit and Wildolwiz. The young
travelers, even her friend, Gambit lose her. Only the one called Wildoldwiz
remains by her side. She tells Wildolwiz to follow her, to listen and learn,
hoping he can later help the others. Weary but determined she shows him the
way, stopping ever so often to point out landmarks. She stops often and
travels slowly determined to take him to battle. She instructs him to follow
his map and pay attention because they are going to go to a battle where he
will have to know how to return to Never Winter on his own. For after the
battle she plans to go on to rest alone. She teaches him well. They battle,
they win, she bids Wildoldwiz farewell. She returns to the inn and she
rests. She sleeps and she dreams of John.
A Place Of Heroes
Refreshed, Katrina begins to journey again. She is determined to find the
big blue monster who defeated her! She journeys alone and discovers a brand
new place. She has never been here before! Her eyes devour the new land.
She sees other travelers and they are powerful! And they have magic! That
which she seeks is here. She tries to talk to them. She politely asks if
someone can heal her. She meets Paladins, Magic Users and Wizards. They
bless her. They heal her. She is in awe. This is the place! This is where
she has tried to come and time and time again she was defeated and had to
flee. The evil one has whisked her away from this place, but she is back!
What is this place?? More than one hero offers to help her and it looks
almost as though she gets to pick which one. But not being sure, she asks
several times for assurance to hook to one of the heroes. They don't seem to
be listening to her. What she does not know is that they are discussing her
among themselves using their telepathic powers. Still timid she asks again
if she may hook. Not being sure if the hero she chooses really wants her to
follow him. She hears others scoff and joke about her being a "Newbie."
She is afraid, but tries her best to charm them. They ignore her. She sends
mental messages to the names appearing on her scribe one at a time until some
of the great heroes respond directly to her. So excited she is, that she
cannot remember who is taking her where. She is whisked away by the Punt
Monster. She returns and several of the heroes are calling out to her but
she cannot remember who she was with. She follows them, but forgets how to
sneak around, loses her way, gets caught in other battles, flees to safety
and ends up in front of big red pillars where she sees a pretty well.
Someone named Woljethawk calls to her using powers of mental telepathy.
Katrina answers Woljethawk and tells what she has found. Curious and
excited she wants to explore this new place. "NO!" he says to her in her
mind. She backs up and waits..." "Well not pretty---- ------well kill you."
Delighted with his humor Katrina responds telepathically "Curiosity kill
Kat"???...She hears his raucous laughter and grins. He comes to her and she
is delighted. She tells him of the big blue monster who defeated her. She
wants to find the monster and have her revenge but she is always so lost.
She has wandered for days to find that monster. Confused and disoriented by
the punt monster she wonders if this was the place that Blackcoral rescued
her from. Woljethawk takes her to the monsters hideout, but the cloud monster
is not there. He explains that they need to be patient for this monster only
comes out at night. Katrina, impatient asks if they may travel on and come
back. With her hooked to him, Woljethawk takes her to battle. She enters
his battle and soon sees she will be a burden to him. This new hero she has
met has great strength and power. He can kill every beast with a single
blow. She dies getting too close to his battle, he blesses her, restores her
to life, revives her and she is transported again to an unfamiliar place.
With all these hero names appearing on her scribe, Katrina becomes confused.
She cannot even remember who said what to her and who took her where, but she
is too delighted to care. She can remember Woljethawk but she knows there
were others. Someone called out to her and told her of a great secret to
help fight the punt monster, someone blessed her, someone told someone else
to show her how to get to the inn, but she cannot remember. She will just be
very polite, stay out of the way and pray they will come back for her when
she is teleported away from their battles. But for now, she decides she must
find an inn where she can rest and memorize her magic.
Being possibly the worst navigator in all of Never Winter and the lands
surrounding it, Katrina gets lost in the hedges. Determined to find her way
back to Never Winter she wanders until she comes upon the gate she remembers,
enters and travels quickly to the inn where she rests and heals. Excited to
find this hero again she summons her most powerful magic. As she tries to
memorize her spells she is interrupted. John is calling to her. "How fare
thee, my love"? She answers him..."John! I have found the most wonderful
place!" Excited to tell him where she has been and hoping he can come there
"Where is this place, my fair one?" With her poor sense of direction she
knows she cannot tell, so she tells him of Woljethawk a Hero name she
remembers and someone called Jayhey whom she knows can better tell him and
she sends quick mental messages to this one who claims he loves her. John.
So excited about the heroes and the way they helped her she can't even
remember which one was when and where! But immediately she senses John is
not thrilled with the mention of other "heroes." Through her telepathic
contact with John she feels he may feel threatened by her excited explanation
of how she has met these new heroes. She asks John to meet her in their
special place. With a flourish she teleports to Vistani.
Katrina runs to John, eyes bright with excitement and asks "Have you heard of
this one they call Woljethawk??" He gazes at her with love in his eyes, "My
dear, I have missed you. I am sorry I have not heard of Woljethawk." She
searches his eyes thinking for a moment she sees into his very soul, and
responds "And I too, have missed you." Excited to tell all, Katrina's eyes
sparkle with delight.
Rememberances
(submitted by: Cerebus)
A young man walked into the main room of an overcrowded inn. He made his
way into an empty back corner and found himself a seat.
Unlike the other travelers he kept his cloak pulled tight around him. All
that could be seen of him was that he appeared to be a tall, thin human. He
kept to himself in the back of the inn, watching as the patrons came and
went.
Once a waitress came over to him and asked what he was having, but he gave
her a handful of gold and she left him alone.
He continued his scan of the inn. This was the type of inn that was kept
open every night because the innkeeper liked to cater to the adventurers that
happened by. It was situated on the Trade Way, south and east of Longsaddle.
Because of this it always saw a great deal of business.
The mysterious man in the corner kept a watchful eye on everyone, and his
gaze finally rested on a boisterous young women. She was dressed all in red,
trimmed in black. Over her right breast was the symbol of Loviatar, goddess
of pain.
He waited patiently as she finished her meal, and when she rose so did he.
As he left his chair he placed another small pile of gold on the table.
He followed the lady out the door and out into the dark night that lay
beyond. He kept following her until they were in a somewhat untraveled
section of the small town.
"It's dangerous for anyone to be out on a night such as this." He said
with a calm, relaxing quality to his voice.
The priestess looked back. She had intense blue eyes, and hair that was a
shimmering red. Her features were pale and angular. "I am no novice to
danger." She said in a whiskey soaked voice. "It is my goddess' desire for
her subjects to seek out pain so that they can rise to power within her
hierarchy."
"Well, dear lady." The cloaked man said. "In that respect you're about to
become a full bishop..." He lept at her suddenly, and as he did so the cowl
on his cloak fell back revealing a pale man with long, raven black hair. He
opened his mouth as he flew at her to reveal two pointing incisors.
She gasped in horror, trying to scream, but no sound came forth.
The vampire flew at her, and picked her up. That act seem to have broken
the shock that the young priestess was experiencing. She screamed as she felt
the vampire bite her neck and draw out her life blood.
He still had her in his grasp, high up in the air. When he finished
gorging himself on his meal he let her lifeless body fall hundreds of feet to
the ground. He let out a laugh of delighted pleasure, and melted into the
form of a bat. He flew a quick circle, then went flying off to the west.
Towards Longsaddle.
* * *
It was close to an hour before dawn when the bat finally got to the next
town along it's course. There was a cave near it where he could rest during
the daylight hours.
The bat fluttered to the entrance, and flew into the back of the cave.
Time passed, and before long night fell. With the onset of the night the
vampire walked outside of his refuge. He looked around and breathed in the
wonderful night air. It wasn't long before his everlasting hunger urged him
onward to another inn.
He had chosen the location of his cave well, there was an inn not too far
away. He walked through the dense woods that surrounded this particular inn,
and stopped on the outskirts of the forest. He gazed upon the wood structure,
trying to decided whether or not to enter.
He decided to play things safe this time. The closer he got to Longsaddle
the more likely it would be that someone could destroy him. Therefore he
would have to take extra precautions. He silently willed himself upward into
the boughs of the trees above him and waited.
It wasn't a long wait. A young woman left the comfort of the inn to walk
around. She was dressed in a plain green and brown robe. Her long chestnut
hair was tied back behind her with a small strip of leather.
She started to walk toward the trees edge, muttering to herself. The
vampire slowly drifted down behind her, making not a whisper of sound. He
walked up behind her, and felt his hunger push him on compulsively.
He rushed forward suddenly, one hand going around her mouth to keep her
from yelling out. With blinding speed he bit into her throat. He relished in
the sensation of her blood rushing into his body. Buying his life with her
own.
"Just what do ye think yer doin' there?" A voice asked behind him.
He abruptly tore his teeth out of his meal, spraying blood onto the nearby
trees. The young girl fell to the forest floor, not quite dead, but dying
with her life blood draining out of her.
The vampire turned to face who had spoken, fresh blood dripping from his
mouth. He found himself facing a member of the smaller races. Upon closer
inspection he found that he faced a dwarf. The dwarf had a cloak pulled tight
about him, but nothing else really stood out about him.
When the dwarf noticed the blood dripping from the humans fangs, he
nodded. "So yerself's a vampire then?"
The vampire just leapt at the dwarf with his mouth open, fangs bared. The
sturdy dwarf merely reached up when he got close enough and flipped the human
over in mid air, slamming him to the hard earth.
The human sat where he lay, amazed that a mortal had managed to take him
out of his flight.
"By the way," the dwarf said. "Me names Elgar." He then looked at the
nearly dead young woman. "I can't believe ye ruined that perfect meal."
The vampire looked at him strangely, but then gasped in shock as the dwarf
turned to face him.
Elgar's features had sharpened, and when he opened his mouth to speak a
pair of fangs showed in prominence. "Ye bloody fool!" He rumbled. "I don't
like competition fer me meals." His form blurred into that of a dark colored
wolf, and he sprang at the amazed human.
Still a vampire, the human dissipated into mist, and reformed several feet
away. "My name is Gavin, I'm just passing through these lands, and I mean you
no harm."
But the wolf lunged at him again, and this time just before he reached the
human he dissipated into mist.
Gavin started looking around, trying to find his nemesis. The dwarven
vampire appeared behind him and kicked the legs out from under the human.
Gavin tried to twist around, but the dwarf turned into a berserker and
started punching and biting the human underneath him.
The human managed to get one leg underneath him and used his unholy
strength to hurl the dwarf away from him. As soon as he could, Gavin stood up
and broke off the branch from a nearby tree.
As soon as Elgar hit the ground he leapt into the fight again. He didn't
see the make-shift stake until it was too late. He tried to turn around in
mid-air, but Gavin flew up to meet him, ramming the stake deep into the
dwarf's chest.
He then grabbed hold of the dying vampire and turned him around, impaling
him on the jagged end of the tree where he had gotten the branch from.
Gavin reached up to the dying dwarf, and tore his throat out.
With that finished, he looked over to where his dinner lay. She was
obviously dead by now, but he could see from the fright on her face that she
had witnessed at least some of the fight before her life fled.
He shrugged, turned into a bat, and flew into the night.
* * *
Several weeks later, an elf walked through the wide streets of
Neverwinter. He wore dark clothes, with his cloak and dark black hair blowing
out behind him.
He was simply out, walking around, and enjoying life in general. Wanting
to spread his good will he headed toward Mataga Inn.
It was early night time, and the streets of Neverwinter were filled with
adventurers of various types. Some were newly come to Neverwinter, others had
been here for years.
He turned a corner and walked near the Temple of Oghma. He watched
curiously as a young man escorted a woman out of the inn. He smiled upon
seeing them, content to see young ones in love. But then he noticed the young
man, and the tickle of memory crept up on him.
The elf hurriedly hid in the shadows of the temple, praying silently that
the young man hadn't seen him. His good mood evaporated, to be replaced by a
healthy dose of fear.
He knew that human.
* * *
"So you recognized a human, big deal." Simian was telling his elven cousin
the next morning.
"You don't understand," Cer said. "I met him nearly forty years ago, that
he still looks the same as when I met him is unfathomable."
Simian sighed and peeled a banana. "You're blowing this out of proportion,
it is possible for a human to become as long lived as an elf, ya know."
"Not when that human is a fighter that has always disdained the use of
magic!"
Simian shrugged and bit into his banana. "Then he used a potion to regain
his youth or something, I don't know. But I fail to see the reason you're so
upset."
"For one thing, that young woman I saw him with has disappeared. I tried
to scry her, and saw her corpse, torn and mangled on the outskirts of
Nightsedge woods. There have also been reports this past week or two of
bodies being found, completely drained of blood."
Simian put his banana down. "So what you're trying to say is that your old
friend is..."
"A vampire!!" Cer exclaimed.
"Well, assuming that he is, what do you intend to do about it?" Sim asked.
But his elven cousin had no answers.
Later that night Cer went once again to the Mataga Inn in Neverwinter. He
waited by the door, patient.
It wasn't long before he saw his first human friend walk up to the inn.
"It's been a long time, Gavin." Cer greeted him.
Gavin looked surprised. "Cer! What are you doing here?"
Cer just looked at him, conveying his thoughts with a glance. "We need to
talk Gavin." The human nodded, and followed Cer into the inn. They found an
out of the way table, and ordered some wine.
"I saw you last night." Cer began. "It surprised me to see you still
alive, mind telling me how you accomplished that?"
"You always were rather blunt." Gavin laughed softly. "Since you probably
already know what I am, I have no reason not to tell you." He sat back and
looked into nothingness, recalling old memories. "When I saw you that last
time in Waterdeep I had been hired along with a handful of others to raid
this small keep and get some of the treasure out that this wealthy noble had
wanted. What he hadn't told us was that the keep was controlled by a
vampire."
"We fought it, and everyone died except me. Since I had been the last to
survive, the vampire offered me a choice. 'Join me', he had said 'and live
eternal life, or die where you stand.' I had no illusions that he could
easily kill me if he wanted, so I agreed. Anything to escape death."
"So I've been wandering the realms for nearly 35 years, trying to find a
way to end my curse." He looked at Ceribus, who had taken in his story. "So
what are you going to do now?"
Cer sat back and thought. Finally, "I don't think I could bring myself to
destroy you, and I won't tell anyone what you are, but in return I ask that
you leave the town of Neverwinter. I like this area now, and I don't want to
see everyone scared of attacks from a vampire."
"You will have what you ask," Gavin said with a small bow. Then he excused
himself, and walked out of the inn.
* * *
"So you just let him go?" Simian asked incredulously.
"He was the first human that I ever befriended, I can't bring myself to
harm him." Cer said.
"I don't believe this! You had the chance to destroy him, and you opted to
let him loose to feed off of anyone he chooses?!"
Cer got defensive, "I made him promise to leave Neverwinter!"
"Oh yeah, lot of good that'll do! There's still a lot of places around
here that he could prey on!" Simian paced as he spoke.
"Would you really object to him feeding on the people in the sewers?" Cer
asked.
Simian stopped his pacing, and thought about it long and hard.
"Tempting...but no."
He turned to the elf. "Cer, you have to destroy him, rid the world of some
evil, man!"
"It's just not that easy Sim."
* * *
The next night Cer walked the realms looking for his former friend. He had
decided to look in the region of Nightsedge since he knew there were cave's
nearby, and that was also where some of the bodies had turned up at.
It was nearing daylight, and Cer was beginning to be thankful that he
hadn't found any sign of the vampire, when a cry rang out from the woods
ahead of him. He ran towards the sound, but before he got there, his friend
stepped out of the shadows. "Well met Cer, I had not expected to see you
again."
"You have to leave, Gavin, as soon as possible."
But the vampire just smiled. "And what if I say no? I kind of like it
here. And besides," he said with a crafty grin, "I know you won't harm me, so
I can take whomever I please!"
Ceribus bowed his head as the vampire's laughter rang out around him. When
the elf finally looked up, he spoke, "You're right, I can't do anything
directly to harm you." He said the last words of a waiting spell, and great
black bands of energy suddenly sprang into being around Gavin.
"What? What is this?" Gavin tried to break the bonds, but found that not
even his great strength could break them. "What will this gain you? All you
have made it possible for me to do is not move or shift shape, what good is
that?"
Just then the sun decided to crest the horizon, and one finger of light
broke through the gloom.
"No!" Gavin whispered in horror. He turned to Cer. "I thought you said you
couldn't harm me!"
Ceribus drew himself up. "In the end it wasn't my magic that killed you,
it was the sun. That's not breaking my vow."
The vampire started yelling about the injustice of it all, but then the
sun crested the horizon fully.
Ceribus sat and watched in quiet vigil as his former friend caught aflame.
He seemed to age, to grow older. His clothes caught flame, and torched the
body. As the body died, Ceribus just barely heard it utter some words. He had
to listen carefully, but they sounded like, "Thank you."
When there was nothing left but ash, Cer took out some holy water and
washed them away. With that done, he turned and headed back to his house in
Floodblest, a heavy weight upon his soul.
-Ceribus the Wonder Monkey,
Current jester of the SOM,
and Assistant Scribe
To Meet the King
(submitted by: Thorn Hawk)
The two rangers entered the coach while Luthyen climbed into the driver's
seat and took hold of the reins. Thorn Hawk looked at Elne Clare and both of
them smiled wondering if Luthy was bound to get them lost. Thorn moved to
sit next to his wife if she needed some help reading the TP map.
They set out at a fast pace hoping to arrive before the others reached the
manor of the king knowing that Fireforged, known for his skill at leading a
team of horses, was most likely driving the other carriage. The roads were
clear but for brief patches of snow and ice that had fell earlier in the day
and they made good time only having to read the map once along their journey,
a map that Thorn Hawk had to turn over to read correctly before Luthy took a
short cut over a nearby bridge. Soon, they arrived at the home of the king
and all thoughts of their journey was lost in the promise of a cold frenzy
and a rowdy song.
They found themselves being ushered inside by Squiggy, the court jester and
led to another room where they met wench Tesse their serving wench for the
evening. Surrounding the king's manor was a town called Canterbury where
Thorn and Elne were served cold frenzies and Luthyen opted for a chilled
wine. It was in this small town that they awaited their companions and the
arrival of the king. Short was their wait as in bounced Skribbles with hugs
for all followed by Fireforged and Jedi Chris. As they stood and talked and
laughed and drank, the small town filled with others wishing to meet the
king. He soon arrived and they were escorted into the manor by the lovely
Tesse.
They took their seats around the throne as Bill the minstrel played a song to
ease their travel weary bodies while Tesse was quick to point out certain
rules of conduct that were sure ways to invoke the king's wrath if not
followed, but then the pitchers of frenzy and carafes of wine soon followed
and Thorn Hawk forgot all as he began filling his mug with the dark, heady
brew.
The king appeared and the crowd came to its feet in thunderous applause
hoping to win the kings favor and be granted a pass back to Canterbury or be
trapped in the manor where certain luxuries were not in existence. The king
was wise to their ploy and told them to sit and be quiet while he talked. It
seems the king likes to hear himself talk, Thorn Hawk thought as he refilled
his mug of frenzy.
What soon followed was a whirlwind of songs and dances by the court to the
cheering of the occupants and the playing of the minstrel Bill. Food was
brought out, Fireforged and Thorn Hawk were quick to consume more than their
share of the meal even taking some from the travelers from the far off island
of Ireland. During this feasting, the serving wench Tesse came by and gave
Fire a pair of socks that he had left the last time he visited the king or
more aptly Tesse. As we drank, we noticed the red glow that came over the
face of our ranger friend as he held his socks, but then even that was
drowned out as the king reappeared to tell us another tale along with the
help of his jester, squiggy.
More pitchers of frenzy were brought out as more food arrived on platters for
the revelers to consume, while the court continued with their stories and
songs. The king had something up his sleeve though as he called out to
guests to join in the songs and stories. There was a catch to this fun. If
you did a poor job, you or your table didn't get to travel to Canterbury. The
travelers from TP and BOP laughed as others were called on to perform some
task and either succeed or fail. There was poor Willie who just wasn't quite
up to the task, and Franny who had tooted a horn in her time and kept pace
with the court during their song and the joust where the men outlasted the
women. It was no surprise that the king soon arrived at the table of the
TP'ers and pointed out some volunteers.
Thorn Hawk and Luthyen took the stage along with two others, one from a local
town another from Ireland. They all stood awaiting when Tesse and the king
told them the song them must sing in order to leave for Canterbury, "I'm a
little teapot." So as they stood there in a line on the stage with all eyes
turned to them they began to sing.
I'm a little teapot, short and stout. <Squat and look plump>
Here is my handle, here is my spout. <Form a handle and spout with your
arms>
When I get all steamed up, here me shout <wiggles a little>
Just tip me over and pour me out! <Lean over pouring out of your spout>
When it was over, Thorn noticed that Luthy had been drinking a fair share of
the frenzy as she staggered off the stage, but the king was most excited with
their performance of the ancient song and gave them all leave to travel the
trail. I'm the best little teapot ever, thought Thorn Hawk as he set off
down the trail to Canterbury and the little ranger room that awaited him
there.
Arriving back at the manor, Thorn refilled his mug of frenzy and offered some
to his wife Luthyen as platters of squabs were brought in. It was about then
that a short plumb man walked in from the kitchen and sat near the throne.
Eating on their squabs, they watched as he began to tell a tale in a slurred
speech. It seems the poor fellow had more frenzy than the TPers, and they
listened closely to make out his words as he told the tale of Prindarella.
Thorn sat confused for a time as he didn't know who this Prindarella person
was or what the little man was talking about but Thorn laughed at times and
this seemed to make the man happy. At one point he paused and gazed out at
the crowd and said, "wipper."
Then he seemed to grow serious and exclaimed, "fiddn't dit."
Not knowing what else to do, the crowd laughed to the joy of the storyteller
who repeated himself again, "fiddn't dit," before continuing with his tale.
At the end, he changed slightly and looked out at the crowd and said happily,
"that wipper fid dit," before standing to the roar of the crowd.
About then the queen arrived back at the manor to the chagrin of the court.
It seems she forgot her key during her travel and soon the story of her key
was told to all before the hour grew late and they had to depart for the town
of Canterbury and their carriages.
Before they left, Elne produced a small black case from within her bag of
holding and had everyone gather around. They looked at their sister
skeptically thinking she had too much frenzy as she told them of its power to
produce a painting at a simple command word. Gathering around the king and
the jester they awaited as Tesse said the simple command word, "cheese," and
a brief flash erupted from the box to the delight of Elne.
"There," she said, "we now have a painting of us all."
Skribbles was quick to give the court hugs before they departed the manor
while Fire, to his delight, sat in the throne with Tesse on his lap. Jedi
Chris led one carriage out of Canterbury as Luthy, Thorn and Elne had enough
frenzy in them to keep them from reading a TP map. Soon they were on their
way back to Skribb's house and then to the inn to meet up with their wayward
brother, MB who had a story to tell them of his trip up north.
Thorn Hawk
Brotherhood of PathfindersThe Elements of Love
(submitted by: HC Fazz)
I wish to be the Earth beneath your feet,
Supporting you; The place your roots call home.
A rock, forever solid for you to lean upon
when you tire from your journey.
I wish to be the Air you breath;
The life drawn into your body.
The wind that caresses you softly
And hugs you in its embrace
I wish to be the Fire in your veins,
Burning fierce, igniting your passion.
The flickering flame that lights your eyes;
Dancing for the world to see.
I wish to be the Water that gives you life;
That washes away your fears,
And drowns me deep within you
In crashing waves of rapture.
------===<<<@>>>===------
TRIVIA NIGHT!!
------===<<<@>>>===------
Join NW Raven and NW Omar for a night of fun and prizes, while we test your
knowledge of Neverwinter Nights trivia!
Date: Tuesday, April 1st
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!!
Among the rules for Trivia are:
1. ONLY first 10 correct answers are scored!
2. TWO random rolls instead of one!
Please review the rules before coming in to play by reading them in the
Trivia folder (Keyword:AD&D >> Neverwinter Nights Events).
Hope to see ya there... ;D
-- NW Omar and NW Raven
(submitted by: Power swd)
<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3> Around a month ago, I made my first post to
the news, stating that for beginning players, there are lots of eaiser ways
than dracs to get xp. Now, I post my article for some of the more advanced
players. (Maxxed people with 42 mil xp, I give you full permission to
disregard this.) At the higher levels, it is often required to obtain 250K or
more to level up. Also, equipment becomes an important factor, as for all you
clam's know, PvP becomes rather intricate, and those +2 weapons just won't
hit that iron golem. Neither will that battle axe+1. So, what do you do?
About Getting Equipment
Rule # 1: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, GO TO THE VAULTS AND BEG FOR
SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT GET ANYWAY.
I was around looking for an rop today, when someone was standing
in-between the two vault enterences, begging for a "+3 flail, mace, plate
mail,. or some Gaunts or a Bag." He acknowloged that he was a "newb" and
needed good equipment. When you are level 1, you do not need a +3LS to hit
that sneaky kobold. These Items are very valuable, and the only thing begging
like this will get you is a feeb and an "accidently misfired fireball."
Rule # 2: Always make sensible offers.
Please, do not offer that rare and valuable dart+1 for a COD. This just
annoys players, and wastes their time.
Rule # 3: Be careful with whom you trade.
Check a player's background before you go making sweet deals. If that
QS+2 for a TRI+3 looks too good to be true, it probably is. (Saw this
happen.)
Rule # 4: Go adventuring.
Where do you think these players get their stuff? If someone is trading
something, they obviously did not buy it with pearls, and they somehow
acquired it. IF you can save your AC3's, do so. But a word of advice on this:
Orcs are not the treasue trove of NWN. Do not go to them hoping to find a
shield+3 buried in that TAKE list.
A Note on Experience Points (xp)
If you are tired of the 2K those owlbears give, try the kraken spies or
banshees. They're not much harder, and give 3K. If you're looking for the big
stuff, CG's give 6K and a soloed buelette fight in Llast will let you walk
away with 11K. In Windycliffs, the basilisks yield 4K, while the rock
reptiles give another 3K. Umber hulks leave 2K, and Iron Golems leave 4 or 5
K, even with a full battle. However, there is a place in the Neverwinter
Sewers, where, if done right, can max you easily. How does 40K sound?
Beautiful? Then listen. In the sewers, a way past the Golems, there is a
secret door. Go through it, then navigate a bit until you get to a room where
the wall colors change. In the center of this 3 square hallway there is a
CG-giant rat-Great Vilstrak fight. Soloing this could put you well on your
way to leveling. Need 500K? No problem. 13 battles and you're there.
They're many places besides dracs, which I DID NOT mention here, to
level. Be inventive and you could find yourself starting a whole chain of
events. :)
Till Next Time,
Power Swd
P.S.- My thanks are extended to Bloodglade for his very nice, comforting
response to my apology letter. ;)<FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3>(submitted by:
Loraque)
SYLVAN PROCUREMENTS
<<<<>>>>
Specializing in Rare and Fine Artifacts
<<<<>>>>
Recent Acquisitions allow us to offer our
discriminating customers some truly fine items.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From Mirabar: ioun stones
Deep Red
From Silverymoon: mystical swords
Flame Tongue
&
Dragon Slayer
<<<<>>>>
Two Locations
Neverwinter - across from Kroegel's Arms and Armor
Orlumber - near the docks
<<<<>>>>
Open now and then, and by appointment
Contact: Loraque
Pirates of Neverwinter
Proprietor and Fence
**********************
(submitted by: JDstar1)
HEALER FOR HIRE!!
Experienced 8th lvl cleric for hire as side-kick/healer....
Great at parties and loves to stand in the way of monsters during pvp....
Works cheap and just needs exp....
Esp today to set up an appointment!!!!!!!!!
jdStar1(submitted by: Bloodglade)
Greetings adventurers! Are you ready for more newbie advice? Well today's
article is dedicated to Beholders (or Holders as most people refer to them).
I have heard numerous questions in my travels about the powerful Holder:
"What is the Holder dance?" "Can I cast spells on a Holder?" "Do Holder's
have any good treasure?" Well let's answer a few of these questions, shall
we?
The Holder dance itself is the act of running right next to a Holder, then
stepping away allowing it to attack you, and then stepping next to it again,
and stepping away, and so on. The Holder dance dates back to long, long ago
in Neverwinter. Believe it or not my friends, a Holder was affected by a hot
shield! Yes, it's true. You could cast a hot shield, and every time the
Holder attacked you, it would receive double the damage. Of course, in some
battles this would affect treasure availability, but hey, you knocked off
holders easily enough.
Well then it happened little newbies! The NW Staff Gods got together, and
decided to remedy this little hot shield quirk in the game. No longer would
your hot shield affect the deadly Holder. Can you imagine? You would
actually have to attack the Holder! And discovering this after you let the
Holder belt you around first, trying to get your hot shield to work! But was
this to be the end of the Holder Dance? NO!
The Holder dance continues to this very day. You see, a Holder won't cast on
you, if it has already attacked (tentacle to hand) you in the same round. So
if you run up and dance to draw a couple of attacks, you won't face the
terrible death, stone, fear, slow and disintegration rays that round. Of
course, if you lose initiative on the following round, you can still kiss
your newbie butt goodbye.
It may interest you to know that the Holder Dance is still performed for one
other reason, albeit superstitious. There is a niche of warriors who believe
that the more injuries you incur during a Holder fight, the better your
treasure will be after the fight. Now I have personally spoken to several NW
Staffers about this and they have all assured me that the amount and type of
treasure is completely random. Injury has nothing to do with it. However, I
know many a warrior who swears by their injuries.
So is magic completely ineffective against a Holder now? So you would think.
And this is what I thought until I met a friendly CLAM in Westbridge. Much
to my astonishment, my aggressive little friend went charging right up to the
Holder, and cast a Slay Living spell. Sure enough... the Holder was killed!
He explained to me that it isn't successful very often, but on occasion the
Slay Living would work.
So that leaves treasure. Are the stories you hear about Holder treasure
true? Yes, they are! A Holder can randomly leave any non-pearl (and
excluding some quest items) item in the game! Gauntlets, bracers, cloaks,
rings... the list goes on and on!
Does this mean that I have successfully completed an article without any
playful insults to newbies? No, relax... let's look at a couple of common
predicaments and solutions:
Glade, when I do the dance... the Holders hit me every time and after I gate,
I notice my armor is gone? -- You forgot to ready your armor! Glade, I'm a
CLAM and every time I cast Slay Living, I die? -- You have to target the
Holder, not yourself! Glade, I've completed hundreds of Holder battles, and
have never seen a magic item? -- You have to cast Detect Magic after the
battle!
Any other questions? Don't be afraid to ask : D
No, no, no. No need to thank me. Helping newbies is thanks enough.
Bloodglade
(TGC)Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm contest by submitting
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