==========oOo========== NEVERWINTER NEWS Issue #69 Week Ending 2-5-95 ==========oOo========== *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* FRONT PAGE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Congratulations to Mikrael for winning last week's News of the Realm contest! Mikrael has earned choice of 4 Pearls or 2 Free Hours of On-line time to be credited to their account. WTG! Congratulations to The Order of the Golden Staff for winning the month-long News of the Realm Guild Contest! OGS will receive 3 Pearls in their Guild Pearl Account! <><><><><> <><><><><> Congrats! Punt Pass and Kick Competition.... Players had to cast MM, FB and Ice to see who could do the most damage.... The winner was the representative of the Chicago Bears... PIOUS PUP Who did a combined 75 points and won 5 pearls. NW Elladan <><><><><> <><><><><> Badly needing a fresh hairstyle, I invited the first 15 players to attempt to curl my hair with Fireballs in the Warehouse District . These would-be hairstylists rushed to my aid: RHYTHAMUN MEN0SIS SOL SHADO SOL MOXA HARDHILD HELLI0N ITB PIRATE MURRIAN TALIR DREE SIR TANIS BEVERLY DD KR0ANGEL SIR JERITH SW FRIGID The tightest and hottest curl goes to HARDHILD, who cast a total score of 81 points of damage in 2 Fireballs. HARDHILD wins 4 pearls and 1 hour of online time. Congrats HARDHILD. :D NWA Sirus <><><><><> <><><><><> I had a winner early in the event as Xu Xiang hurled 3 massive magic missles at me doing a whopping 67 points of damage. Because of his great feat, he has earned 4 pearls and 1 hour of online time. Congrats Xu!! ;D NWA Lije <><><><><> <><><><><> HINT! Well, I have a very little hint, and I just thought I would try, well anyway, the hint is for all you paladins out there who can't catch a break, what ya do is find out if your in a place where you can rest, just one day without getting attacked, if this works then rest that one day, and heal yourself, reapeat until your hp are full, I find this works s'pecialy good in the well. Well there you go, a very poor hint, but a hint nontheless.... --Mage99 <><><><><> <><><><><> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* NEVERWINTER CALENDAR *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* New Player Tour: February 5 th, 1:00 PM ET - Join NW Triel for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should meet 2 steps east of NW Square. New Player Tour: February 7th, 6:00PM ET - Join NW Aziza for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should meet 2 steps east of NW Square. New Player Tour: February 8th, 10:30PM ET - Join NW Jareth for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should meet 2 steps east of NW Square. New Player Tour: February 11th, 11:00PM ET - Join NWA Kishpa for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should meet 2 steps east of NW Square. <><><><><> <><><><><> Neverwinter Nights proudly presents... ------====ooooo000ooooo====------ NWN TRIVIA NIGHTS! ------====ooooo000ooooo====------ Please join NW Baldor and NW Elladan for a night of fun, while we test your knowledge of Neverwinter Nights Trivia! : ) Date: Tuesday, February 7, 1995 Time: From 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM EDT Place: The Great Hall Prizes to be awarded to the Winners: * First Place - 4 FREE hours and 25 Pearls * Second Place - 3 FREE hours and 20 Pearls * Third Place - 2 FREE hours and 15 Pearls Good luck! : ) NW Baldor and NW Elladan <><><><><> <><><><><> The Battle Fury The dawn broke on that faithful day Filling every soul with eager nervousness A haunting loneliness hung in the air Strange peace before the storm They met on the field of sorrow Ready to seize everything they may Those of light, those of shadows Crashed together in the wood Chaos erupted, it was all a blur Stinging spells and razor sharp blades Filled the air, fell to the ground In a whirl of fury, brave warriors battled Standing in an electrical maelstrom Crumbling low to the cold earth Even those who courted chaos... Felt small, fear crept in Ragged, weary animals slashed and parried Sensibility was vanquished long before the foes The ranks thinned...soon there were only two Stumbling across the heap...to meet. Golden as the sun, black as the night, the armor was Swords and shields and courage of giants Somehow it came to them...the strength to finish it They circled as the carrion birds followed An hour long instant passed and he fell Ebony armor covered with crimson life Drained away like all the others The golden knight bent low...shaken, tired. It was over and so much with it Hard to comprehend, impossible to explain What deities hardly notice, humans cannot ignore That which is given, what is taken He held tight to the magical sword And thanked his god for the strength The toughness of stone, and dwarven will Helping to escape the fate of so many this day Hanging on the iron gate in tatters. by Morngrym Verigost Knight of the Round Table <><><><><> <><><><><> The Story of the Bracelet Chapter 4: Time Out of Joint (By: Vallus) Leoster and Crystal seemed to each other to be floating in air as a kaleidoscope of colors streaked by them but they were the ones moving at incredible speed. Far behind, mere specks in the distance, were a Neogi and three Umber Hulks, the Neogi wearing an emerald amulet. The Neogi, like all of it's kind, was evil incarnate, it intended to take The Bracelet of Power and Disc of Guardianship for itself, let Zirrith Nero Master promise them to a worthless piece of slave meat, Soka would take them for himself and destroy Zirrith Nero Master, who would be master no longer. No, Soaka corrected himself, I will make him a yrthni-ma'adi to give me my first true quasoth. Ahead of Leoster and Crystal, a crimson portal appeared and they went through. When they appeared, Crystal immediately saw something that did not fit with her memories. "Leoster! Look at the tower!" she exclaimed "Yes, it's a fine tower" said Leoster "No," said Crystal "That's where the Fallen Tower was a moment ago, we're either back in time or outside of time" "Well," said Leoster "If the tome is there, we might as well try the direct approach." Leoster and Crystal went to the front door of the tower and Leoster knocked, the door opened as if by magic, as it was indeed, and a voice said "You are expected, proceed along the hall and take the stairs at the end up 1 flight and then take the first door on the right, deviation will result in death by excruciating means." "Well," said Crystal "I guess we do as it says." Leoster and Crystal followed the voice's directions and came to a lounge occupied by a man in wizardly robes, on the table beside him was a large tome of deep crimson. "Hello, Chosen One, Guardian, I have been expecting you. I fear there is great danger for you here, the Emerald Evil is upon us....." <><><><><> <><><><><> Vengeance pt 3. Dawn "I can't believe I'm sweating this much, it's another cool night in Neverwinter and I'm being drenched in my own sweat". I continued to curse and swear as I nervously wipe my brow and check my equipment for what seems the hundreth time. "What is keeping him" I mutter under my breath "he should have passed by here by now....unless....". My speculation is cut short by the sound of approaching feet. I couch in the darkness of the alley, eyes focused on the grime covered street of Southwall. Within a few minutes four cloaked figures pass by, one of them wearing the amulet that identified him as my prey. Soon after they had moved on two more figures passed by the entrance to the alley, "now or never" I thought. I quickly cast a mirror image spell, and as I watch three other me's appear I take the potion Nasti gave me and remove the stopper. With the potion in hand and bec de corbain at the ready I step out onto the street. The moon had bathed the street in a pale glow, ahead of me I could clearly see the six false Krakens ahead of me. "OTHA", I bellowed at the top of my lungs, "I have returned for my revenge, turn and face your death!". With that I swallowed the entire potion and threw it in his direction. Otha screamed something unintelligible to his two rear guards and they rushed forward to the attack. The first rushed straight at me while the second attack one of the images. I sidestep the knife stroke easily and follow up by jabbing him in the gut with blunt end of the bec. He stumbled back leaving me ample time to slash his throat with the bec's blade. The second thug had attacked another image and was now heading towards me. A simple parry was all that was needed before I gutted him like a fish. Now Otha was ranting mad, screaming at the other guards to attack. As the other three advanced I recited the sleep spell, aimed it, and released. Immediately all three dropped to the ground, "perhaps Tyr really is with me tonight" I thought. All Otha could do was watch in disbelief as I dispatched the sleeping goons. Finally it was just the two of us, our only company the moon and the moans of the dying. Otha regained some semblance of composure and sneered "So whelp, you yet live". "Yes I survived your cowardly attack" I replied "and I've come to settle things between the two of us". I felt full of energy, like I could take on an entire army, I knew that the potion was at it's full strength and I had to act fast. Otha laughed "It is foolish to challenge the divine boy, you shall see why". Otha pulled out two short swords from his cloak and stood at the ready, I could tell by his stance that while his sanity may have fled, his skills as an assassin had not. Only a few more oaths and threats where exhanged, and then the battle was joined. Otha lunged in with his swords, I sidestepped and struck with the bec, only to slash at air. Otha spun around and slashed my shoulder with one sword and my forearm with the other. I backed off and parried more of his blows, cracking his left hand with the staff of the bec, and following with a slash to his chest. He backed off, only to rush forward with spinning sword strokes of dizzying speed. I countered each blow, as he did mine. The street was filled with the sound of metal on metal and the light of sparks. Now and then a blow was landed, but no serious wounds were inflicted. After several minutes I started to feel winded and my wounds began to hurt more and more. I kicked Otha away in an attempt to regain my breath, only to see that he wasn't even breathing hard! In horror I glanced at his wounds, only to see that they were healing right before my eyes! His amulet gave him the upper hand and if I didn't end the fight now I wouldn't stand a chance. With a grin of pure evil Otha spat at me "Well boy, now do you see the futility in challenging the divine?" Right then I saw my chance to goad Otha into the position I wanted. "Oh you're not divine Otha", I replied bitterly, "you're just some worthless refuse whose slut of a mother gave some pitiful amulet to, in order to make him actually seem like a man, instead of the nothing that he really is." Otha's eyes became filled with hate as he let out an almost inhuman howl of rage. He rushed towards me once again, his twin swords twirling in the moonlight. He slashed with the left and I parried with the bec, a stab from his right and I dropped beneath the blow. I slid the staff of the bec between his legs, twisted the staff and knocked him off his feet. With a resounding THUD Otha fell on his back, I jumped to my feet and swung the bec with all my might right at his exposed chest. KLANG! as the blade struck the amulet's chain the night was brightened by the explosion of sparks. Blinded, I stumbled away desperately rubbing my eyes trying to get some sight back. When I could see again I turned to find Otha again on his feet, yet he had trouble breathing and when he spoke it was labored and heavy, "So...insect....you see my power....you are nothing against it, you.....cannot defeat me." What I saw was that Otha not only had several broken ribs, more importantly there was a flaw in his amulet, for one link in the chain had almost been completely severed, and therein layed my last chance to beat Otha. I threw my bec straight at Otha's head, he dodged it easily but the effort knocked him off balance for a second. Immediately I leaped forward, pulled out my silver dagger from it's sheath, and attempted to cut through the weak link. With a scream of outrage he kicked me away, and once again the night lit up with blinding light. I can only imagine what Otha's first thought was when he opened his eyes to see me holding the dagger in my right hand, and his amulet in my left. Whatever he thought it must not have been anything coherent, because what eminated from his eyes was absolute madness. Letting loose a cry that pierced the night Otha charged towards me for the final time, his swords just missing their target as I slid the dagger into his heart. Otha's scream changed into a sickening gurgle as he slid off my dagger and onto the ground. My most persistant foe looked up at me with a look of incomprehension, a voiceless question etched on his lips, "how?" he tried to ask. My answer was to retrieve the bec, stand over Otha, and chop his head off. I removed a sack from my belt and placed the head in, meaning to keep my vow of having Otha's head staked outside Neverwinter's gate. While I wiped the blood off my weapons with Otha's cloak, I glanced at the amulet which had fallen on the ground, only to see a pool of vile ooze. "All the better", I said aloud, "saves me the trouble of getting rid of it". I gathered all my things and suddenly felt totally drained, the potion had finally worn out, thankfully after it's use had passed. Wearied and beaten I headed back for Neverwinter, I intended to grab a drink at the Great Hall Tavern before setting Otha in his new position. All that remained was payment of my debt to Nasti (something that would prove to be almost as deadly as my crusade against Otha, but that tale is not for me to tell). Before I took my leave of the remains of my enemies I allowed myself one last look back. The setting moon lighted the bodies in an eerie way, I quickly thanked Tyr and all the gods I could think of that it was not me lying there in the ruins of Southwall. I would live to see the dawn of a new day in Neverwinter, a day that would doubtlessly bring more danger than the one before, but I wouldn't have it any other way. <><><><><> <><><><><> Tiger, Tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skys Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What hand dare sieze the fire? And what shoulder, and what art, Could twist the sinew of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand on what dread feet? What the hammer? What the chain? In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? What dread grasp Dare its deadly terrors clasp? When the stars threw down their spears, And wasted heaven with their tears, Did He smile His work to see? Did He who made the lamb make thee? Tiger, Tiger, butning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? By: Iriantuu <><><><><> <><><><><> Preface: You might know, depending on where you live, that Hercules is also a new series on TV. Well, actually this is what caused HerculesNW to come about in NWN. HerculesNW is/was created to somewhat portray the Hercules in the new series. In conclusion, I plan to add an adventure series "Hercules the Legendary Journeys" which I hope to eventually have in the NW News each week. :) Series Premiere: Adventure to Learn As I entered the town square, recently after training for 4th level, everyone quieted down. Knowing not that I was the legendary Hercules they appeared to look down at me. "May we help you?" one said. I told them I was heading to a town the people call Crossergate. They heard this and agreed to come along with my acknowledgement and understanding that if anything happened to me they would not be responsible. When we arrived at the South Gate of town, I told them I was the "Legendary" Hercules . Hearing this one adventurer's eyes seemed to brighten. :) DRAX a lv2 F/MU then said "Hercules, Hmmm.... We could use the help of the gods in the realm" Beginning to like the fellows I was travelling with, I took thier advice and headed to the inn next to the S gate of Neverwinter. We arrived, and rested up. By this time I appeared to have a gained a few followers, so I took role call. "Name, Class, & LV please" <{;/\ / > Here's what I came up with. DRAX F2/MU2 MEKTAR RNG4 MACKLYN CLRC8 KAI AURA PAL10/MU11 (the most experienced and who seemed to benifit us the most) CALOMAN RNG8 We were off :) , not even reaching the Southwall Inn we picked up another one <{;/\ /> RAPHI1 RNG8 While "breaking" in Southwall, I told the adventurers of our destination. We were headed for the Drac hole located in CG, I awaited the information of the location from my good friend Third Bro, the Paladin of COR. I thanked him for his help and then we were off. Although we did not have much trouble travelling thoguh Vilnask, we did manage to get in one little quarrel with some homeless dogs and a mutated tree or two. We were practically home free reaching the inn, then we heard a faint cry for help. Being Hercules I rushed in and naturally since all were following did the same. "Never Fear Herc is Here <{;/\ /> " I said It appeared to me that he was not in much danger and was suprised to see such an army :( Anyway, we got the job done and then headed into the woods, bound for CG. We had another little runn-in with some banshees and evil spys of Hera. Somehow, Hera (aka. Punt Monster) grabbed Mektar while we were fighting, and his whereabouts were never revealed until much later. We made it, to the Vil/CG gate, but we knew the danger that lerked on the other side <};\/ \ > Managing to survive the 1st encounter, it went straight downhill from that point. What we though was the 2nd Battle was actually THREE different battles. ;( "HERA!!!!!!!!!!" I yelled, and Zeus gave us no help! (HE NEVER HELPS :D) By the time I figured out there was more than one battle, I was already dead :( I myself was knocked unconscious by the last of an Ice Hound's fight. (almost made it, but....) Raphi1 was caught in a solo fight also, he followed my fate soon enough. Then again we had Hera (aka Punt Mon.) grab KAI AURA form the main fight, resulting in the death of all the others. I would like to thank all that came along, Nice Try. This adventure just proves the point that not all adventures are good ones, even those of Hercules. My father, ZEUS, sometimes says the older the wiser, I guess that is why I am hasted upon almost every battle :D NOTE: Although the others did not come along, MEKTAR<><><><> <><><><><> Lord Nashers Palace: Silvir Fox, Lighstedge, Jakwar and two newcomers to the realms JJ ILLYV, K CAR 7054 prepare to depart to Luskan. Jakwar takes the rear to help any straglers. Somewhere past the Windycliffs gate Jakwar gets seperated fighting a battle. After his battle he presses onward to the inn to find a message from Lightsedge. We are going to clear out the rooms beyond the secret passage, then head to Port LLast. Jakwar hurriedly downs an ale and grabs a piece of bread. He then rushes down the road to find the group. Invisible, he slips past several groups of monsters and catches the group halfway to Port LLast. He joins their breif battle with rats and boar. Pressing onward to Luskan they come across Kyrala who joins their group. The group lays waste to many a hippogriff and hulk on their trek. Lightsedge charges forward cleaving a mighty path with his Frost Brand. One of the newcomers stands back nocking and loosing arrows. While the rest form a wall of destruction to all that come near. As the group reaches Luskan Volant is added to the ranks. His addition makes them a most formidable force. Almost to the inn at Luskan, Yeti's and spiders leap upon the group. Spells and stell rend the evil. A lone spider slips in and bites Silvir Fox. He quickly begins to fall to the poison. Lightsedge leads JJ ILLYV and K CAR 7054 to saftey. Volant begins to pray to his god to remove the poison from the valiant Silvir Fox. Kyrala and Jakwar stand guard over there brothers. "This is the first time I've been poisoned. I don't like it!" Soon Silvir is standing and his brothers help him to the inn. After a few days rest for all, the journey contiues. Lightsedge once again in the lead. Through a door, down a corridor to a dead end. "I know this is the place"says LE as he leans against the wall. A portal slides open and the world tips spilling all on the floor in the next chamber. Quickly weapons are drawn before an onslaught of troll, ogre, goblin and hobgoblin. Fireballs scar the walls and magical weapons cleave wide wounds. Volant casts a spell and blinds a troll. Strange spell component had something to do with a picture. "I think we would like to join your guild if you would have us." "When we return to Neverwinter we will begin the application process. Now we fight." "Any single women in your guild? I need a date." "Women and fighting, must be a Ranger." A door opens following the fight. All pass through but Silvir Fox who is trapped in another fight. Volant rushes off to help his brother, the rest travel on. Fire giant mages, orcs, ogres and a white dragon are all slain during the travel through the caverns. Volant and Silvir Fox rejoin the group after a short while. Another, Vernun, travels along for some time then goes his own way. "Two doors to Beholders." "One door, PREP. "Prayers are offered to Mielikki, Tyr, Tempus, Helm and Tymora. A few minutes are spent casting spells. Then LE throws the door wide. COR and allies rush in to confront the beholders. The fearsome beholder gazes sweep the group. Each attack is repulsed by armor, ring and cloak. Hastened, enlarged and blessed the warriors overwhelm the eyes and their allies. An inspection after the battle reveals no loses. A piece of paper is retrieved from the floor. Wrong guesses turn the maps to ashes. The group finds itself back at the cavern entrance. "We are finished here, back to Port Llast to celebrate." Jakwar COR EXPLORER <><><><><> <><><><><> ITB Drunk has changed his name to ITB Faust. Faust will be taking over all event coordination for House ITB and should be contacted regarding all activities involving House ITB. Thank You, ITB Faust AGM External Affairs In The Bond <><><><><> <><><><><> The time was right, Elbir had been away from NW for sometime learning some new spells and living off the land. Elbir, had just return home when Lord Nasher called on him. Elbir hurried to meet to Lord Nasher as quickly as he could. Mlord, I have return to NW, what does thou need? Lord Nasher explained to Elbir, that all the other NW/NWAs had been away for some other business and that he wanted Elbir to round up some people to help clean the areas North of NW. Elbir left Lord Nasher and headed out into the streets of NW. Elbir roam from one place to the next until he had a Well formed party. Elbir announced to the group that Lord Nasher needs there help to CLEAN the North areas of NW. All the party members where eager to get started and this made Elbir smile. Off they went, Warehouse Dist., Windy , into the HIDDEN PATH that Elbir played in as a yound boy and onto LLast. The people who join Elbirs group where STRONG<22>, ;x Modalex,Sal, Fr Phredd, Taoist MNK, Magicstorm and Brian. Cutting Slicing there way through anything that stood in there way. Only thinking of all the helpless people that theses NASTY things have done ./ Elbir and his group where successful till they reached the insides of the under path in there journeys. One Boom and then there was 5 nothing could be done to save Elbirs new friend./ Saying a prayer for there friend, the group headed out with only 5 left, Onward thru LLAST Elbir, upset at this pushed on and on, deeper and deeper till all the Evil creatures where gone for this night. Back in the INN in LLAST Elbir wished his new friends Sal and Modalex GOOD Jounreys, for they felt there job was not done and would rest and travel North for more house cleaning. Heading back to NW, Taoist Mnk, Fr Phredd and Magicstorm Laughed and joked how success they had been and the time for FUN had come:D They saw many battles this night and even the loss of some friends, What tales they will have for yet another adventure........ Thanks to all that came on my adventure tonight!!! -NWA Elbir :> <><><><><> <><><><><> Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm contest by submitting text for publishing. If your Announcement, Article, Helpful Hint, NW Abby Question, Poem, Fiction, or Tidbit wins, you'll have won your choice of 4 Pearls or 2 Free Hours of Online time to be credited to your account! Submit all text to screenname: NW NEWS. Sanctioned Guilds who send the most "news worthy" articles in each month will earn 3 Pearls to be credited to their Guild Account! <><><><><> <><><><><>