==========oOo========== NEVERWINTER NEWS Issue # 99 Week Ending 9-17-95 ==========oOo========== *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* FRONT PAGE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Lord Nasher has announced that there will be two winners for last week's news!!! As it seems the mail did not reach the publishing shanty in time. He apologizes for the inconvenience to all! Along the winding and hilly roads some rogues jumped out and ambushed the mail wagon. It took awhile for Nasher to receive the urgent message for help. Nasher immediately called together his guards to help the almost defeated mail wagon crew. The battles were long and hard with injuries;/ Nashers guard arrived in time to defeat the rouges and recollect the mail for delivery!! The men and horses after being fed, injuries bandaged continued on.. Nasher is sending extra guards along with the mail wagon to forestall any other attacks. Congratulations to Kyla Taerl and Lafel for winning last week's News of the Realm contest. Kyla Taerl and Lafel have earned choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes) WTG! <><><><><> <><><><><> The night was young when Lenox went to work. The time didnt mean anything to Lenox for he loved his job working for Lord Nasher. This night was going to be different, Lenox had been giving the Lord Nasher Parchment Letter sealed with the royal seal. For thoses of you who don't know what this means, simply put Lord Nasher had asked Lenox to Call on the Good Citizens of NW for another mission. Lenox reported to his post early due to the excitement and wonder for what Lord Nasher would call on him to preform after his shift. Lenox's shift went by faster then ever this evening. Lenox headed to the Palace, Lord Nasher spoke to him quickly and give him the needed tools to complete this mission. . The Luskan Outpost had been working it way south and needed to be pushed back to there hole in the ground. Lenox Posted the Parchment on the High pole in NW Square for thoses interested to meet at the north gate of NW City at 11 pm. Lenox's arrived and a crowd was already waiting to join him. Lenox needed to be sure of the group that was going on this quest. They had to be a strong group and quick to get in and out fast. Also a group that Loved to have Fun on the way. Soon Lenox had a group traveling up the hidden path in Windy Cliffs and onto Port Llast. Stopping at the INN for a quick Ale and so some of the group could Train and pick up more supplies before they headed farther north. :::::Lenox thinks each person in his party will always be remember:::: . Lorenzo0 , Brave man always leading the charge!!! Blundar for the funny things he did during battle :D. Dave20001 for always being the curious one asking questions and stopping the group in its paths to smell the flowers and fresh air on the way. PSI Borg always with the remarks about how he was the one that was going to save all of us. Qualesia, daring, cute and beauitful. Daring becauase she choose to adventure to Luskan with all of us. Even the PUNT Monster didn't stop this lovely lady from getting back in the thick of things. When we needed her most she was there, Sharp arrows and true aim. JJ ILLYV was hard to understand at first but in the end I think the party knew he was there to help and do his deed he had set out to do that evening. COR!!, Charge!!! and Hiya to many people he shouted on the path. True fighter and charmer, at one time I had to chuckle for he seemed to be thinking that this party he was in was a group he had once adventured with. Razreth, sort of reminded me of a boy trapped inside a mans body. Always looking for the way out and always using words that our group didn't like. Prehaps he had to much ALE before the adventure, near the end he seemed to quiet some. Akeboner was the final person in our group, Quiet, Shy, but always was standing when the dust had cleared. After many battles they all stood at the entrance to what looked to be the final mission for the evening. Preping, we entered the battle!!! Soon into the battle we lost JJ Illyv, but by the look on his face he seemed rested and his mission complete. Lorenzo0 throwing spell after spell at the evil in our way. Soon met death from a beholder blow. Qualesia entered and took poisition and let her arrows fly. One Beholder down and soon the group had another down. Once the Beholders where gone, the rest of the evil seems to be alot easier for the group. After the battle ended, the group stood and prayed for the lost members. Preparing to leave the group coulnt find a way out only a riddle looked like the way out. Pick a candle and you will be rewarded. Some guess correctly and others didnt, but just the smiles and the gleem in everyones eyes let Lenox know they had all had a great night and would be there for another.......... Thanks to all that came on my tour. -NW Lenox Tour Guide: <><><><><> <><><><><> September 12, 1995 Trivia Results!! _________________ *** First Place - Gherkin II 33 points! *** ** Second Place - Raithe 25 points! ** * Third Place - Llewdoc 24 points! * Random Drawing Winner - Sagx ____________________________________________________ The winners will have the time credited to their account and pearls credited to their screen name. * First Place - 4 FREE hours and 25 Pearls * Second Place - 3 FREE hours and 20 Pearls * Third Place - 2 FREE hours and 15 Pearls * Random Drawing - 5 Pearls Congrats and thanks from NW Baldor and NW Strahd : ) <><><><><> <><><><><> "So many places to train in the realm, but I wanted to go to the best! So I set out to find the Red Larch Trainer and Deolvyn Bloodaxe. Alas, I needed a guide to take me there, so I sent out a call to the land for one to lead me there, and Ldy Spawn stepped forward to do so! Congrats to Spawn, who shall recieve 4 pearls and 1 free hour! -Strahd" <><><><><> <><><><><> The winner of the Location Hunt on Sunday was Llewdoc. He found the Triboar stables in record time. NW Kel <><><><><> <><><><><> September GoH Booth #1 Congratulations to Mansho0n who toasted me for a whopping 66 points of fire damage in this past week's GoH booth! Mansho0n will receive 5 pearls for his efforts. -Strahd;) <><><><><> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* NEVERWINTER CALENDAR *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Be on the look out for those Mini Booths that seem to pop up out of nowhere! 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! New Player Tour: September 19th Tuesdat 10:00 PM ET - Join NW Ember for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to meet!;D New Player Tour September 22nd Friday 12:00 AM ET - Join NW Elspeth for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to meet!;D <><><><><> <><><><><> Lines of Fate - Conclusion (Submitted by Morngrym) The two warriors were both in place...Kerik hidden on one side of the thieves camp and Erin on the other. They wanted to pull this off with as little bloodshed as possible and had formulated a plan with this in mind. The less conflict they had with the thieves, the better everyone would be. Kerik scanned the camp carefully...taking note of every detail. He spotted what he believed to the ceremonial sword he was seeking, wrapped in a cloth, near other items of value. Kerik gave the sign and he and Erin both let arrows fly, taking out the two thieves on watch. An instant later, before anyone could react, Erin let the magical arrow fly. It streaked into the center of the camp, where it struck the ground and exploded into a large cloud of darkness. There was chaos. A jumble of sounds filled the air...thieves shouted in alarm, others moaned in pain, there were sounds of struggling and falling down, along with more than a few curses. Jackal's voice carried about the wave, shouting orders, trying to get the men organized...and out of the darkness. Erin held her breath and waited. She knew that Kerik had burst into the camp just after the darkness engulfed it. She griped her bow with tense strength, and readied another arrow. Anyone, other that Kerik, who emerged from her side of the cloud would have a surprise indeed. An eternity passed and a figure stumbled from the darkness towards her. It wasn't Kerik. 'Thwip!'...the arrow streaked through the air, striking the thief squarely in the chest. He erupted in a slight gurgling sound before falling, face first, to the ground. Erin readied another arrow and waited. A moment later, another figure emerged from the inky blackness. She rose and drew back on her bow, nervously biting her lip. "Erin? ::cough:: ::cough::" a weak voice asked...She breathed a sigh of relief and ran to Kerik, who had breathed in too much of the magical cloud. In his hands he held the sword they had come for, its cover in tatters...soaked with blood. A smile crossed his lips as his eyes met hers. "Ye could still put an arrow in me ye know.." he joked with a grin. She gave him a playful shove as they dashed off through the woods together, the shouts of the thieves trailing off behind them. They passed through Nightsedge and Floodblest as quickly as possible that day...and arrived in Neverwinter City by dusk. They wasted little time as they cleaned themselves, the sword, and changed into fresh clothing. A short time later the weapon was delivered to the noble who had hired Kerik and the reward was paid. They left the house with heavy purses...enough to be comfortable for quite some time. They walked in the gardens of Neverwinter that evening, under the light of a full moon. "Thank-you", Kerik said once again..."There is no need", Erin replied..."I knew the risks, and I received half the reward". Kerik's face darkened a bit at the comment. It seemed like only a business deal they had just completed...maybe there was no connection. "Well, he said, I shall part ways with ye then",...though his heart was not in it. There was a moment of silence as Erin looked at him and he looked towards the star-filled sky, avoiding her gaze. "Is that what you want?" she asked, surprise and concern in her voice...She quickly caught herself. "I'm sorry...goodbye and be well" she quickly added, as she turned to leave...tears filled her eyes. A moment passed, then Kerik ran after her. "Erin, wait.." he said, as he gently took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. Several tears had made the journey down her face now, leaving a glistening trail. "I don't want to part", he stammered, unsure of himself. This was very unlike him. "I want to know you better...If it is your feeling as well", he continued. There was a pause. "Aye, that would be very nice", Erin replied with a smile, her voice cracking a bit. Hand in hand they walked through the cobbled streets of Neverwinter until they grew tired. As they entered the inn to sleep that night they knew there would be many more days...and many more adventures ahead! ---End---------- ;> ORIGINS OF A WITCH (Submitted by Zapan) Thorian woke with a sudden jolt. Sitting upright and covered with sweat he frantically searched the room with his dark green eyes that were wide from fright. Breathing rapidly as his heart beat out of control, Thorian realized it was only a dream. His heart beat slowed and his breathing calmed as he felt the warm sun shining in from the open window above his feathered bed. Closing his eyes, Thorian lay back and listened to several blue birds chirping in a tall evergreen tree just outside the small cottage. As he calmed, thoughts of the dream came into the fore front of his mind. "Had it been more real than dream like the first one?" he thought. No, this had been just an ordinary nightmare, as it was very different from the first "dream". This one formed from the stories of evil witches and Abyss spawned creatures, his superstitious friends Lorance and Anna had been telling him the last few days. His trusted friend Zapan, who had taught him so much in the first dream, could not have been the demon that appeared in his nightmare. Zapan had never asked anything in return for the wondrous teachings. What if Lorance and Anna were right? What if Zapan really was a fiend from hell? These thoughts frightened him more than a little. If it was true, then what did he mean when he said that he would "take what I owe him?" Immediately Thorian leaped from the bed over to his wooden writing table by the window. His recently completed spellbook lay in the exact position he had left it the night before. His most prized possession was still his. Truly, it had only been a dream. It was then that he noticed the sun high in the eastern sky. It was late in the morning, why had his mother not awakened him at the usual time? Perhaps she was finally giving him the independence he had only recently demanded. He could remember her preaching,"Personal responsibility comes with independence." Of course, she was implying that he was not as mature as he imagined. The sun being so high meant that he was very late, and his pupils were most likely unsupervised. If anything adverse happened to the children because of his tardiness the villagers would hold him responsible and demand a new instructor be chosen. The citizens had expressed uneasiness with having such a young person serve as teacher, but Thorian had learned so much, so fast in his short 21 years. No one in the village could beat him in games of quick thinking and logic. By his 16th birthday he had mastered the languages of the orcs, ogres and goblins, as taught by Sean Casey the town mayor and retired bard. The villagers knew Thorian was extremely intelligent. "Knowledge without wisdom can be more dangerous than a starving giant,"they had warned him. Thorian rushed as he threw on his clothes, grabbed his backpack and cloak. Sliding down the latter that took him from his loft bedroom to the main room of the cottage he noted the odd silence. Heading straight for the door, he noticed it was still bolted. Thorian bid farewell to his mother who must be still in her room. Perhaps he would escape without receiving another sermon. When no answer returned to his ears, he said, a little louder this time,"I'll see you at the tavern for lunch." Still no answer. Maybe she was not feeling well, he thought. She had been having bad dreams lately. Sometimes heard her screaming in her sleep, but she never complained about her nightmares. Thorian's mother never complained about anything. Deciding to check on her he tossed his backpack on the table and walked around the fireplace to the cloth that served as the door to her bedroom. "Mother? Are you all right?" Again no answer, so he pulled back the cloth and peered inside. The horror of what lay before him was unbearable. Crimson liquid dripped from the ceiling. Blood covered every plank of the once brown wooden walls. Thorian did not even try to avoid stepping on the entrails that littered the dirt floor as he ran to his mother's corpse. Collapsing next to her bed, he prayed that this was all a horrible nightmare. Her body was soaked in her own life blood as huge claw marks proved the method of her violent death. A blaring silent scream of pain showed bright on her clean and untouched face. It was as if the killer wanted to extend the macabre horror of her last moments to everyone who lay eyes on the body. "Then I shall take what you owe me," the fiend had stated. Suddenly Thorian realized his foolishness. It was true. Last night's vision was as real as the first dream. Zapan is evil incarnate. He had taught Thorian all he wished to learn but demanded a magnificently foul price. Thorian ran with all his strength, as if to elude his desperate situation. He ran to the safest place he could think of, the only temple in the small village. Sunoft, the compassionate priest, sensed the distress in Thorian's face. He stopped in front of the priest falling to his hands and knees crying. "My mother has been murdered," Thorian managed to gasp. Sunoft called for his temple assistant Stefan to care for Thorian. The priest then exited the temple to investigate the boy's claims. Half an hour later, and after losing breakfast, the priest returned with Thorian's belongings only to find the young man's emotions had changed completely to sober depression. His pin pointed jade eyes stared blankly at some far off object. Sunoft believed Thorian to be innocent but knew the young man was still in great danger. He had felt an extremely evil presence in the house and with Thorian's new abilities well known in the village he would soon be declared a witch. The uneducated self- righteous citizens of the village would blame the murder on the devil worshiping practices of Thorian. Sunoft slapped Thorian across the face to wake him from his thoughts. It was a crude technique, but it worked. Thorian stared straight up into Sunoft's face. "Listen very carefully and hear me Thorian," the priest began. "The town's people will soon discover the atrocity committed here and they will lay all the blame on you. However, I know you are innocent and I will help you." Pointing to Thorian's spellbook and cloak Sunoft continued,"I have brought your things. For I know inanimate objects are not evil, only self-aware creatures, capable of making decisions have the potential to be good or evil. Go now, and use your powers to fight the entity that has plagued your life with evil. The gods of justice will watch over you." Like a magnificent candle bearing light on a dark path Thorian now could see the direction he must take. Zapan had murdered Lenore as payment for his dark education. In a way Thorian knew himself to be at fault. To protect himself, Thorian had to change his name, and Zapan seemed very appropriate. So began, with great tragedy, Zapan's secret adventures. Duncan (Submitted by Dirk Dirty) Picture a lonly little shack in a small yet noticable opening on the green forested mountanside. Here, the greatest man to pick up a sword lives, forgotten in the passing of time and devolepment. Skilled in the art of swordplay and fighting with a sly yet elegant style the old hermit lives out his days. He lies miles away from any civilination and meets his needs through the engulfing woodlands. Once every few years he gets a lone visitor who has become lost with no sense of direction. This a rare thing yet he is always expectent, aware of his sourrondings. On one particular eve when the night sky looked like the softest and darkest velvet imaginable he was awakened by a light almost whispering thump at the door. Quickly grabbing his metallic silver sword with a gold hilt brighter than the sun and slipping it smoothly into the gem encrusted scabbard, he tiptoed over to the door. Putting his right ear to the door he listened to the commotion outside. Hearing only a soft gentle voice that sounded very welcoming he opened the door. The most beautiful woman he ever saw stared him in the face with a warming smile. The woman was clothed in a light tunic made of leather and wore tight leggins of a dark blue. Her hair reached her shoulders where it then curled off to the side. But what he saw in her hair was a brilliant blonde, brighter than the sun, or his sword. Her eyes were crystal clear with an unusaul tint of blue that made the sky look gray even on the clearest of days. He then reliezed that he was staring at this wonderful beauty with a sense of awe as she stood there smiling. Snapping out of this trance the old man motioned for her to enter. As she walked by him he noticed through the beauty she had dirt on her face. Her hair was in tangles in some spot and her clothes were ripped in varios spots. He was most certain that she had been through something rough, for she looked tired. Thinking of this he retreived a chair and she sat with a welcoming rest she had not had in a long time. Seeing the weariness in those eyes he made tea on the black shinning stove that heated his hut. He poored them both a cup and then he sat down at the table with her. She quickly finished the brew sliding it easily down that long slended neck in one huge gulp. Exausted she calapsed onto the floor with thump. Thinking to himself that the floor would not be a comfortable spot to sleep, he carried her to his bed where he snuggly tucked her in. Feeling his own weariness he made a bed and fell into a dreamless sleep. He awoke with sun in his eyes that made them feel like they had split in half. Walking over to his bed, he noticed that women was still asleep. Studying her features once again, she seemed almost twice as beautiful as he first saw her. Thinking back to when he was a handsome lad and young girls walked up to him and flirted freely, it dawned upon him that never had he encountered such magnifisence the she bore. She was in a sound sleep and the old man did nothing to disturb her. Letting her sleep, he walked away to start his morning duties. At about midday the young woman awoke. Rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes, she stumbled over to the table and sat down. She stared wonderly yet ackworderly at the old man as if she was lost beyond all hope. The old man brought over a bowl of blueberries he had picked that morning in the forested mountanside. She accepted the bowl and ate greedily. When she was done she licked her fingers for the fresh juiced on her fingertips and thanked him. She introduced herself as Laurana, and told how she came to these mountains. He learned that her husand was kidnapped by a tribe of goblins on their way through the lower elevations of the foothills. She fled the scene and ran for many hours, a day perhaps. He also learned that her only skills were in the art of being a house wife. The old man was suddenly filled with an angry rage he had not felt in years. Knowing that goblins did in fact live in parts of these mountains, he vowed to find the tribe with her husband and retake him. Yet he knew he could not do this alone. Knowing what must next happen, he told women who was prepared to try his suggestion. It was again another morning and she was asleep. With his brilliant sword around his waist he went outside to meditate. It was good for a warriars soul and mind before a battle he was taught in the his training so long ago. He was awoken from his trance as Laurana walked out of the hut to greet him, with a sword around her waist, too. For the last month he had taught the ability of swordsmanship and the elegance to use it. At first she was confused but then quickly learned techniques in parrying and attacking with great stealth. Although she could not hande a mighty broad sword with good control, he forced to give her a short sword most commonly used by elves. Over the training period he had grown to love her as a daughter and made an oath to himself to watch and protect her at all costs during the battle. There was a difference of at least forty years between the two and he wondered if he had been yonger if the love would have been different. He banned the thought from his mind and concentrated on todays agenda. Today was the day, they would leave and start the search for the goblin camp. He and she both felt that she was prepared and ready. They filled their waterskins and brought many rations for they did not know how long their rescue would take. They set out at noon. In a few days the camp was found by the smoke in the sky from their fires. The old man approached the camp by himself cautiosly to study the lay out and bring back the information. He made up a strategy. They would attack tommorrow at dawn. He awoke early the next day with dew on his head, or was in his own sweat? Over the past days he felt his health diminishing and figured this would be his last battle. Waiting for her wake, he set to polishing his razor-sharp sword blade and oil his sheath. She awoke, and they ate. They prayed and finally set out. Approaching the camp stealthily, they had no contact with any sentries. Peering out through the bushes they saw but for goblins around a fire roasting breakfast. The rest were asleep. Counting ten goblins again the plan started to unfold in his mind. Signaling to Laurana the attack had begun. Quickly, before the goblins knew it two were slain. The other to jumped up, grabbing their weapons while yelping an alarm also. Those two were taken out a bit slower giving there friends time to arm themsleves. That left six and they were already cirlceling the old man and Laurana. That brought on a defensive strategy and the two stood back to back. A goblin lept at the old man but it was a foolish move and the goblin payed with its life. The others had moved in during that distraction and were upon them. Laurana gave a goblin a nasty wound to the side and it fell to bleed itself to death. The man killed another but took a terrible wound in the leg. He fell to his side and cried in agony, but he refused defeat. Laurana was there in an instant ready to defend a blow that goblin was ready to throw. Seeing its mistake to late it was killed. The old man noticed a small form coming from behind the beauty. Without thinking he threw his sword where it embedded itself in the creatures throat. With one remaining the woman quickly disposed of it. It was then she noticed her husband coming out of the woods with two goblins leading him on. He was a wreck beyond belief. His eyes were red and puffy, while his hair was oily and filled him dirt. His clothes were in tatters. His feet were in blisters and in no shape to walk. The goblins quicky realized the unfortunate defeat of there comrades and charged the lone woman. Her husband thought quickly tripping one the goblins as it took off. He then jumped on it and choked it to death. The other goblin took that chance and swung its axe at him. The husband barely was caught in the side with a somewhat deep wound but far from fatal. Laurana's rage was over whelming then and slew the last goblin by taking its head from its body. The battle was over and victorous. Laurana ran over to her husband and huged him tightly. He returned the jesture with a tender and passionate kiss. The old man smiled with great joy and rolled over, letting his fever and loss of blood overwhelm him. He then passed out. The next morning he awoke to find his wound bandged. He tried to walk but found it difficult and fell over. Laurana nursed him back to health and her husband hunted for food and herbs. The next month the old man grew stronger and the husband and wife were ready to leave, for they were most eager to resume their trip. But she did not want to leave. She had also grown to love this wise sage. Her husband asked her what was wrong but she couldn't say. She was confused on what to do, stay with her husband or the old man. That night she wept outside while looking at the moon and praying to her gods The Eternity Blade Part Seven (Submitted by Lian Storm) I remembered a brilliant blue, then peaceful, warm, quiet darkness. Then the voices came. I couldn't understand, and I didn't want to listen. I curled up into a ball, trying to wrap the darkness around me like a blanket. The voices were talking about me, I knew it. I tried to shut it all out, and return to my quiet black sleep, but the voices kept talking. The darkness lessened, and the voices became Elvish. I pulled my dark blanket over my head, but I could still hear. "...And I won't allow her to stay!" The voice was angry and harsh. I flinched and there was a pause. A voice confirmed that I was still asleep and the arguing began again, more quietly. "You must consider..." began a gentle voice. I liked that voice; it reminded me of my mother's songs. "She's not one of us! That half-breed should never have been allowed to set foot on this island!" The angry voice was speaking again. "No one knew..." another voice began. "He knew!" the first voice said loudly. I opened one eye to see the angry speaker, a short gold elf in blue robes, pointing an angry finger at Divon. The moon elf blanched and opened his mouth to speak. "No he didn't!" I said, cutting him off. All eyes turned to me and I stuck my head back under the covers. "I am right here, and I can hear what you're saying," I added quietly, "Please try to make it less apparent what you think I am." I could almost hear him snarl as Saraphina whispered something and the elves left me alone with Divon. I sat up to glance at him, uncomfortable in the elvish gown. He looked incredulously at me, and I gave him a sheepish grin. "It just sort of jumped out." I explained. "I mean, I don't think they'd look too highly on brining me to Evermeet." He sat up in his own bed and smiled. "Thank you," he said warmly, "You've been a wonderful friend when I needed you the most...." his words dissolved into silence and a shadow crossed his pale face as his thoughts returned to his dead love. I was about to say something when the door opened and a familiar figure entered. "Elbereth!" I exclaimed, jumping out of bed, something I immediately regretted. Dizziness threatened to overwhelm me and I fell back onto the bed. "Saraphina did it! You're free!" The handsome gold elf nodded, soberly. He should have been rejoicing, but something was wrong. "Lianne, I must speak to you." He spoke quietly, as if the words caused him pain. "You are being sent away. I'm so sorry. I couldn't hold the illusion. " He paused for a moment. My hands shook and an angry lump welled in my throat. He might as well have hit me. Elbereth's illusion had won acceptance for me among the elves, but they would throw me away as soon as they saw beyond it. I fell into my familiar facade of laughter. "Fine by me," I smiled. "Ha. I was getting tired of not getting called a half breed anyway. Send me a few letters." I stood up, planning to leave, but my legs had other plans and I was sitting on the bed again before I realized it. I groaned and hit the pillow, trying to envision the angry face of the gold elf who had woken me up. "Sorry," I mumbled, "I wasn't supposed to come here anyway." "Lianne," he said his voice full of compassion," they want to send you out as a prisoner in Eternity." I mumbled a response that is best left unsaid here and rolled on the bed so that I was no longer facing him. "I tried to talk to them, but the best I could do was convince them to wait until you're better..." his voice faded out to a guilty silence. "It's not your fault. I was going to leave anyway. I chose the road a long time ago, and I don't think I could leave it." I glanced down at the silky elven night gown which fit tightly over my more rounded body. "Could you give me back my clothes now?" A faint smile tugged at the corners of the elf's mouth. He tossed me a new white shirt, a violet tunic, black leggings, and a bag, which he told me contained my old clothes. The plain bag looked empty to me, but when I looked inside, I found it was stocked with clothes, supplies, and gold enough for a months time. "The bag of holding is from Saraphina, and the clothes are from Divon, the rest is my gift." He bowed elegantly, but as he rose his smile had disappeared completely. "I'll miss you," he said tearfully. Divon crossed the room gracefully to sit next to me. The three of us embraced as dark clouds gathered on the horizon. ~Next week~ The Eternity Blade's conclusion GREAT PVP WAR! (Submitted by Malhavok) The Gods and Goddesses of KAAOS defeated the Brotherhood Of Pathfinders soundly in the -Great PVP War- last Friday evening. KAAOS won 10 of the 11 fights in the 2+hour period. Congrats to both of the respective guilds for their time and effort. ;) Helpful Hint To all of you mages getting caught by the timer as you try to select JUST the right spell to cast apon the soon-to-be-dead monsters...... RELAX.... take the time to position that fireball or whatever... when the timer starts to beep select DELAY and you get another chance to set-up your spell... this is especially helpfull for the newly maxxed Cleric/Mages .. I know I got lost in my spellbook for awile till i got the hang of having three pages of spells.... <|:) ... give it a try.. it will reduce the time pressure and boost your enjoyment of the game. Lrd Zebedi Lord Sage The Order of the Crimson Cross Masks and COR face off! (Submitted by SILK SABLE) The Night Masks and Crusaders of the Realms met on neutral territory this past Tuesday eve in the Trboar areana. Before the night was done, there would be seven seperate fights that would have transpired, each long and tiresome. The COR had luck with them that eve, as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. With the third battle going their way, it looked like the Masks where in dire need of a miracle. Perhaps that it exactly what happned as the Masks overcame the COR in the third battle and went on to win the next 2 as well. The Masks had jumped out to a 3-2 lead and the night was coming to a close. Yet there was one more fight in progress as the 11 pm deadline came around, and the COR was not about to quit. The battle was long and difficult for both sides, but in the end COR was victorious, setting the tally at a 3-3 deadlock. There would be one deciding battle to break the tie and determine a winner. Both GM's of the respective guilds were present at the final battle, along with 3 of their finest fighters. The battle bagan uncertain enough with no one able to gain ground. But then it happened......The Masks scored 3 holds in one round crippling the COR's position. Within the next round there would be but two COR left as half the team fell to the monster onslaught. The last COR tried desperately to place a dispel on his held compatriot, but to no avail. His comrade fell to the monster's wraith. Desperation had set in, and within several rounds the COR fell to the slew of spells that had been casted his way. The last COR hit the stone floor with a thud, having fought bravely. Yet the Night belonged to the Masks <><><><><> <><><><><> Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm contest by submitting text for publishing. If your Announcement, Article, Helpful Hint, NW Abby Question, Poem, Fiction, or Tidbit wins, you'll have won your choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes) ! Submit all text to screenname: NW NEWS. Sanctioned Guilds who send the most "news worthy" articles in each month will earn 3 Pearls to be credited to their Guild Account! <><><><><> <><><><><>