==========oOo========== NEVERWINTER NEWS Issue # 107 Week Ending 11-12-95 ==========oOo========== *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* FRONT PAGE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Congratulations to Loraque for winning last week's News of the Realm contest with "The Duergar". Loraque has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes) WTG! <><><><><> <><><><><> Location Hunt Jeopardy was played on Thursday, November 9. The answer was: Bluts Arms & Armor - Good Weapons, Good Armor, No Credit The correct question: What was at Luskan (8,13)? ;) The winner was V Exodus who hoofed it all the way there first and receives the prize of 2 pearls and one free hour online!! ;D Congrats!! NW Mystek <><><><><> <><><><><> Nov Trivia Results *** First Place - Dwyvyrn 29 points! *** ** Second Place - LCData1701 27 points! ** * Third Place - Dam1on 25 points! * Random Drawing Winner - Wolf Jedi 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 : ) <><><><><> <><><><><> I have no idea why i decided on this late fall day to take a swim in the Neverwinter River, but this I did, upon exiting the water i was struck by the harsh autumn wind and someone had stolen my clothes, so I put out a call for anyone in the area who could possibly help me warm myself. Quite a few generous souls showed up, and a few who it seemed would rather push me back into the river, among these fine folks were Gmanfandan, Evl Spawn, LordShad0w, Raithe, GreyShrike, Wolf Jedi, Torath and KF Jazmn.... Each of these adventurers tried their best to relieve my condition, but it was finally LordShad0w who was of the greatest help (57 hp's in FB's). Many thanks to all who were present, whether mentioned here or not, and congratuulation to LordShad0w for winning the 4 pearls and 1 hour online. NWA Shaman <><><><><> <><><><><> Great Hall Tavern This weeks winner of Guild of Heroes access from the Great Hall Tavern is.... Torath ;D NWT Cyane <><><><><> <><><><><> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* 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 Tours: November 12th Sunday 8:00 PM EST - Join NWA Vic for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to meet!;D November 16th Thursday 11:00 PM EST - Join NWA Royale for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to meet!;D November 17th Friday 10:00 PM EST - Join NW Daneel for a tour of the Realm. Those interested should keep an eye out for the banner telling where to meet!;D <><><><><> <><><><><> November WWAI! When: Thursday, November 16th Time: 10 PM Eastern time Where:The Great Hall Tavern Come join NW Ember and NW Ulfius for the November edition of: <<>><<>> Who/What/Am/I <<>><<>> Thurs. November 16th at 10 pm ET in the Great Hall Tavern. Cya There! NW Ember and NW Ulfius <><><><><> <><><><><> The Spellbook - Part 1 (Submitted: Dismal 12) Kate stood there, a solitary figure suspended between heaven and earth. She looked out towards the open green-blue sea feeling the cold sea breeze penetrate her long blue dress. The sun was hanging very low in the west slowly being engulf by the blue monster. The sky was alive in brilliant colors of red and orange. She heard nothing but the steady sounds of the waves as the crashed upon the rocks 50 feet below her. She turned slowly taking one last look at the setting sun. Kate walked swiftly back to the palace for it was not wise for a noble woman to be walking alone in the dark. She arrived at the main gate just to see the sky go from a blue to black in a matter of seconds. She yelled at the guardsman to open the gate and that they did. There was a groan as the giant gate swung wide open. She was swept inside the keep and was on her way to the palace when she got a hunger pain for spicy potatoes. Heading down the maze of alleys she was comforted by a large door to the inn. She opened it and stepped inside. The familiar odor of stale ale and sweet caught her full in the face. She wrinkled he nose in disgust. "God I hate the smell of this place", She thought. She walked to a back table and ordered a meal and sat there gazing out at the faces seeing if she could find any familiar, but there were none. She sat and pulled out a large spellbook covered in what appeared to be human flesh. Oh what a marvel this was a rare find indeed. This was the spellbook of a wizard named Tremor killed in the magus wars a thousand years ago. He was a renegade using all spell from the three order white, red, and black. He made his own spells which challenged the very gods themselves. It had taken months of hard study to understand half the spells in here but with help from he farther she had mastered all of them except one. This spell was called the "gate of oblivion". A very powerful spell. The hours dragged on as she studied the spell intently. Finally after hours of trying to read the spell she gave up. Kate paid with a couple of coins and walked home. To be continued.................... The Tale of Nutbags - Part II or.. a Surprise for the Kender Cleric (submitted by: Nutbags) "I did not steal it! I just found it here on the counter with no particular place for it, so I figured I'd do you a favor and find one for you!"I protested in the face of the inkeeper of the inn at WindyCliffs who had just happened to notice his inkwell in my hand as I walked out of the inn. "It supposed tiobe on the counter you little theif! That is where I always leave it! Put it back now or I'll have you arrested!" "Theif!? I am no theif! I'll give you your inkwell but you cannot expect me to take being called that lightly!!" The inkeep snarled as I put the inkwell back on the counter, and stomped my way out into the streets of WindyCliffs. The town was busy today, and many bold people, of both warrior and mage, young and old, and of many races had come there this day for the small carnivel that was being planned inside the borders of Windycliffs. There were many peddlers, Magicians doing illusionary tricks, jugglers and acrobats, musicians, and all sorts of wonderfull stuff. I was already learning much of the ways of Tyr, and had learned to use his mighty gift of power with a certain style and finesse of my own. Eventually I came upon an arms merchant, with a row of sturdy sheilds along a rack behind his stand. I turned and looked at my own sheild that was strapped to my back at the moment, it was worn and broken from age and much battle with evil creatures. I needed a new one, no doubt. "Good sir!" The merchant turned and glanced at me, then his eyes grew intensely wider,"What it the gods' name are you." I was used to being asked this very often by anyone who'd never met a kender beofre, which was almost everyone around NeverWinter. I answered,"I am a kender, and I'd like to ask if I could purchase the nicely decorated sheild to the far left over there, the one that is gleaming very brightly. I would gladly pay five-hundred gold for it." I smiled. Apparently the mention of money broke any racial barriers,a nd the merchant, who had a huge red beard, and very muscular arms rushed over and grabbed the sheild holding it up,"Indeed this is a marvelous sheild, but I cannot expect less then eight-hundred gold. "Well, I do suppose I could spare six-hundred." "You must be joking! seven hundred!" "650?" "680!" "It's a deal!"I cheered and grabbed the sheild slaping 136 platinum peices onto the counter. I reached for the brand new sheild, then was surprised to see the merchant pull the sheild away. "Hold it! Exactly what is that in your wrist?" I glanced down to see my red wristband, the one I aquired from the evil mage with the exploding head on my wrist where it always had been,"That? It's a wristband. Now can I have my sheild like I paid for?" "That looks allot like my wristband!" "Are you insisting that I stole it from you like a common theif? That is OUTRAGOUS! I've had this wristband since. . . two weeks ago! You can't say it's yours!"I had kept the wristband, and left it on my wrist as my good luck charm, I still had th other band too. Only I left it in my pocket, since that is waht brought me to NeverWinter in the first place, I was afraid that if I put it on again, it might take me back, and I wanted dearly to stay. "That is my wristband you little theif!"He grabbed me by the color before I could do anything and my pocket tore open against a splinter in the wood of the counter he had begun dragging me against. All my precious contents, a few war game peices, one or two shiny stones, three tiny wax candles, and my blue wristband toppled out all at once. I began to struggle in haste to recover as much of my valueables as I could manage, the first I grabbed was one of the wax candles, and I took liberty of leaping up and shoving it up the merchant's nose. Naturally he didn't seem to like that and he threw me against the counter. I took oppertunity of this moment(I tend to take oppertunity of moments allot)and snatched the blue wristband my fingers however lost control of it and it slipped onto my wrist. . . There was a huge noise, and then a sizzling noise, and I suddenly felt an feeling inside me as if Tyr's power had been striped from me. Colors began to flash around me, and I managed to glance at myslef by the use of the mirrored sheild. Instead of my normal chain armor I was clothed in amazingly magical looking blue and red robes that had sleeves that hung down to my waist. My topknotted hair was still in it's same form, how ever a distubingly stange violet color instead of the normal light brown. My old sheild and flail had vanished into nothing so it seemed, and even the talisman of Tyr that used to be around my neck was gone. "I'll get you yet you little theif!"Shouted the merchant. I leaped to my feet and immediately began praying alour the words to a hold spell. Only a hold spell is NOT what flew from my finger tips! instead sand whirled around the merchant, and he slowly began to decrease in speed. Soon enough he slumped to the ground. . . snoring. I had thrown ,"Hold Person,"enough times to know that held people didn't fall over, and it would be impossible for them to snore. He was clearly asleep on the ground. I searched in my mind for other clerical spells of Tyr, but they simply couldnot be remembered! Even the spell I used to put the big merchant to sleep was apparently erased from my memory. I then noticed everyone around was staring at me, so I did the only thing I couild think of, and ran like crazy back to NeverWinter Square, in search of the temple and Firulatorno. ****************************************************************** "How very strange,"Stated Firulatorno as he examened my wristbands, neither of which would get off my wrists. He squinted his eyes, and grinded his teeth,"Sir Nutshell-" "Nutbags,"I corrected. "Whatever. Sir Nutbags, it seems that these wrist bands contain their own magical powers. Within them is a great evil magical force, that can only be used when linked to one another properly, it appears you are that link. I've heard of such things, but not many, even the most powerful of clerics and mages in the realms has seen something like this. It appears that inside each wristband, is half of the soul of a young dark mage. That mage is learning within the wristband what you learn as a person. Once you can become experianced enough, you should gain soemwhat magical abilities." "So I get to use magic!?"I said surprised. There was only one kender I'd ever known who could use magic, who lived in these very realms, who went by the name of ,"Herald SharpTounge."And even his powers were limited. "No."Firulatorno said,"You are not the mage, the wristbands combined make the mage, yo just tell the wristbands what to do, technically speaking." "Oh. . . but about Tyr, how come I can't remember anything." "Well, you see Sir Nutcake-" "Nutbags." "Sir Nutbags. The wristbands are magical, but also evil. you must overcome the evil in them to gain yiour clerical abilities again. You should work hard, and undo many evils in the world, then the Bands will be renewed into a good force, and becuase evil will no longer block your calls to Tyr, you shall be able to use your clerical skills, and use the wristbands, as if you were a poweful mage yourself." "Really!?"I gasped in amazment, I'd heard of many powerful people with both strong clerical and magic strengths in the Realms that were extremely powerful,"WOW!!!!!!!!! But Firulatorno. . ." "Yes?" "Tyr wouldn't happen to be mad at me for wearing these things, would he?" Firulatorno smiled,"Prove your soul is stronger then the will of the wristbands, and he should be most proud of you." I smiled back,"Oh and Firulatorno?" "Yes Sir Nutsack-" "Nutbags." "Sir Nutbags?" "How do you know all this?" Firulatorno smiled again, wider this time,"I have my ways."Then he picked himself up, and left. Me sitting there with my Blue and red glowing robes, and rediculasly Purple topknot. ************************************************************ Welp, Here I am again, now learning the art of the magic-users, until I can gain my cleric abilities back. I hope to finish up soon! More stories will come in the future! Nutbags Widepockets Kender Temporary ex-cleric of Tyr. Drow Nursery Rhyme (Submitted by: Zarra Yorn) ~~Dreaded skin-flesh alter consume all bone blood ~~Smile deception treachery's sweetest jeweled tongue ~~Faceted snake strike inflict dried rose petal wounds ~~Beware unseen-heard skulking bloated venomous fang ~~Snarl-snare supremacy chiseled ebon lips instill fear ~~Bitter wine flows washing revered climbing feet ~~Strip cancer laced heart bloody hand seeks ~~Illuminated fire-eyes cast watchful shadows ~~Sun-bane mantled sickness slow poison courses ~~Stirring womb passion rebirth cycles life Malla Yathrin Zarra Yorn Faen Tlabbar Malla Yathrin d'lil Arach-Tinilith Quarthen a lil Ultrin Ilharess Shyntlara Valsharen Dalharil d'lil Valsharess Nedylene Jabbress d'Slakromstraken Wevrelltearcell Ust Dalharil d'Faen Tlabbar Ust Qu'ellar d'Rilauven Lost - Part 1 (Submitted by: Shanista) Shanista had been wandering the caverns deepest areas for approximately a week...or so she thought.......avoiding contact with all other drows that would have tried to pursuade her back to the upper caves...not that getting lost was her intention.....she just wanted no contact with anyone until she had time to unclutter her mind.The words Jantyr had said to her were etched into her memory like stone....they had devastated her...made her wonder where her alliances truly were...made her doubt herself....she was only merely curious about Eilistraee... and ever since she had left Menzoberanzan. she was never quite sure where she had been receiving her clerical blessings..they were nontheless there..coming to her when needed...so divulging in the study of deities had become a pasttime....perhaps too much of one...and had cost her dearly in the long run....had cost her the only thing she truly wanted. She had settled down next to one of the lower caverns many underwater streams...said silent prayers to whoever might be listening and began to study her spells. Her eyes were beginning to droop when a voice came from the darkness...."Shanista?" it called to her in a voice that was quiet and yet powerful at the same time....Looking up...seeing nothing at first...then a dark figure approached her from across the stream...It was another drow..but unlike any drow male she had ever seen before. He was extremely handsome with eyes that switched from green to blue even in the spectrum of the drows eyes. A pitch black robe surrounded him...and her eyes transfixed on it as she thought she could see the moon and stars faintly in it....She shook her head as if to dismiss the probable illusion then looked up into his face again.. There was something she should know about this drow...but was at a loss for words at the moment. "Do you know why I have sought you out Shanista?" he stated. A quiet "no" came from her lips. Feeling vunerable was something she was not used to...and this one made her nervous. "Have you not wondered where your clerical abilities have came from?" he said with a smirk on his lips. "I have enabled you to keep them." Shanista was about to ask him why when she noticed that he had somehow taken her bracers off without her even noticing and was handing them out in front of him offering them back to her. Her hands shook slightly as she took them and asked with a startled voice, "How did you do that without me even noticing?" "Come with me and I shall teach you a great many things...things you did not even know you were capable of yet....things I shall help you improve.". Shanista knew that if she was to find any peace in her life again that she should follow him. She gathered up her belongings and turned to follow...noticing that his eyes had turned to an odd color of gold....She continued to follow him and was only mildly suprised when a very strange thick fog began to surround them as they disapeared from the caverns...................................... Worship the Rat! (Submitted by: Gwenchkin) This is a poem about P1RATE from KAAOS. ::sigh:: My Lil Rat;> ******** WORSHIP THE RAT !!!! P1RATE ********* His feebs seldom miss .... He shrugs off direct dis ..... His kills are as countless as stars, His holds stick on tight .... His LB's bounce just right .... and all die in the path where they are. His slays rarely fail .... His saves always prevail .... His E-cloak is envied by all , His Cause Crit is true pain .... He has every right to be vain .... you know the enemies WILL fall. So BOW TO YOUR GOD !!! you miserable sod .... and worship the greatest being , there's only one P1RATE .... let the wusses be silent !!!! and the weak had better start fleeing !!!! RAT'S WORSHIPPING PET GWENCH The Wake of Sir Hacknslash (Submitted by: Marshall Q) Here Lies Sir Hacknslash, Down in the dirt. I saw him Die, that Rock must of Hurt. He killed many things in his day and age, He did what he could on a seemstress's wage. He was a descent man, He worshiped the lord. Before he went fighting, He should have remembered his sword. His children now lay all snug in there bed, knowing there maniac father is dead. Well here now he lays His corpse in this pit, We hope he forgives us, His coffin didnt fit. But before he died, he left me this map I think it leads to all his Treasure and stuff. I Wrote out this sermon as long as I could , but I say forget it Lets go find his Goods!!! No Angel (Submitted by: Mershu) One day an Angel did alight and bade me join her in her flight "Come fly with me, just spread your wings" "We'll kiss the clouds, our hearts will sing". Oh wondrous angel I replied I must confess your eyes have lied. I'm just a mortal to earth bound With no wings to escape this mound. No you're an Angel just like me You've but to spread your wings to see. She shook her mane of chestnut hair And swore I could if I would dare. Dear green eyed angel you must know my burdens to heavy - I cannot go. And though I'm sure she'd never tell As she turned to leave a tear drop fell. And then one day at last I found Through love of this angel my wings were unbound. With happy heart I flew to meet My angel with her smile so sweet. I chanced to find her that same day and bade her join me in my play. "Come fly with me, just spread your wings" "We'll kiss the clouds, our hearts will sing". Oh, silly man she just replied I must admit my eyes had lied. We're just two mortals to earth bound With no wings to escape this mound. With heavy heart I turned to go From saddened eyes my tears did flow But for now your Angel I've decided to be Even if you don't believe in me. I pledge to hover close to ground Until the day your wings are found For this my darling will always be true. You are my Angel, I believe in you. Top Ten Rejected Spell Ideas (Submitted by: Wgbt) An elf from the Winterguard named Wagebolt, suddenly enters Lord Nasher's Palace with a blue index card in his hand,"Brought straight to you from the home office in LongSaddle, we have tonights TOP TEN LIST!!!!!!!!" ::Magical special effects fly by, of the numbers 1-10:: For Tonights Top Ten List!, We have (Here we go) Top Ten Rejected New Spell Ideas: 10:Burning Throat 9:Shocking Gasp 8:Lemon Fresh Scented Cloud 7:Invisibility to Blind People 6:Paste 5:Lice Storm 4:Teeny Tiny Weeny Neeny Globe of Invulnerability 3:Hold Kobolds 2:Cone of Mold "And finally... the Number 1 rejected new spell idea..." 1:Richard Simmon's Resistable Dance!!!!! ::Music in the background, Wagebolt turns and throws the index card out the window:: Child of the Wind (Submitted by: P Rhianna) She was the smallest of the pups born to white-star-guides-her, in the snows of Icewind Dale far to the North where the warmth of summer is seldom felt. And since she was small, it was hard for her to get her share of the limited food that the mother wolf could provide. It was an odd birthing, at an odd time of year and within weeks, four of the seven pups were gone. White-star-guides-her herself was weak and starving, for this winter was incredibly harsh even by the standards of Icewind Dale. But the smallest of the pups clung to life with a tenacity that defied the specter of death. By winters end, she had grown, but not much. Only one of her birthmates survived the winter with her and the mother took her two pups to the pack she ran with and the alpha scented them and accepted them among them. For the first time, food was plentiful and the smallest pup was free to look to other things. Many were the times when she would range far from the protective circle of the pack, always seeking something else and never knowing what it was she sought. And always, she went in the direction of the blowing wind. In time, the pack named her child-of-the-wind and, despite her strange nature, they still cared for and protected her. For three years, child-of-the-wind ran with the pack, but, though the alpha tried to mate with her when the heat came upon her, she bore no pups of her own. One morning, she felt the wind blow in a new direction. Though she knew it meant leaving pack behind, she followed the wind as her nature commanded. It took her south below the rim of the world and to the outskirts of Luskan Outpost. From a distance, she watched the two legged hunter things enter and leave the city and a strange yearning she could not place came upon her. She approached the gates of the city and the guards looked down on her and barked in their strange guttural way. She did not understand the words, but she had seen enough hunter things to know what it meant when they reached for the sharp steel claws at their sides. She ran back into the woods. She heard the hunter things growl and bark behind her, but she did not listen. The wind blew again, and she followed it south to a great expanse of water and she gazed down at it in awe, for she had never seen a lake so huge. Here she settled and hunted and was happy for a time. But it was not to last, though, for the two legged hunter things pushed further and further into the forest. And they began to try to hunt her again. She went deeper and deeper into the woods to the places where only the hardiest of the two-legs could go. One day, she came across a two-legs who was different from the rest. A white maned two-legs who seemed to understand the ways of the forest and the creatures who dwelled there. Cautiously, child-of-the- wind approached the female two-legs and watched her. The female two-legs turned and sniffed the air and gazed at child-of-the-wind in surprise. The wolf, too, was surprised, for in the two-legs scent, there was something that was familiar, a sudden understanding of what it was she sought. She wlked forward and the female two legs smiled at her approach. Before her eyes, the two legs changed and she became like child-of-the-wind. That does not look so hard, she though to herself. I could do that. The white furred wolf grinned at her and child-of-the-wind followed her as she ranged into the depths of the forest. Before long, it seemed as the two ran as fast as the wind, itself and child-of-the-wind knew that this one, like no other before, was truly her family. And then the pain of the first change came and, though child-of-the-wind was frightened, she knew that this must be. She changed and on the forest floor stood the great two legged wolf and she howled a great howl for she knew that she was among the chosen of the Earthmother. The white furred one changed with her and beneath the moon, they sang to Gaia and danced to the music of the wind and to the world. Finally, the white furred one changed again, back to the two legs and child-of-the-wind changed with her. On the forest floor stood a pretty girl with long wild tresses and a feral expression. The white maned two- legs barked at her and, for the first time, child-of-the-wind knew what this was. The two legs was trying to tell her something. She looked at herself. Laughed because there was no fur, no fangs, no claws. She wondered how the two legs hunted, then remembered the sharp things. She looked up at the two legs who extended her hand. Child-of-the-wind clumsily extended her own and grasped the other. They went home. She lived with Arrowwolf and Wildwolves for a year. They taught her the ways of the homids and Child- of-the-wind delighted in laughing at the humans' odd ways. She learned to bark and growl as they did and soon she could talk to the homids. She was surprised when the first homid male attempted to breed with her, for the heat was not upon her. She laughed at him and he grew angry, his barks hoarse and guttural and his hands more insistent. She tried to leave the 'tavern', but he followed her. She didn't mind. And when he attacked her, it was the most natural thing in the world to change to the great beast. The story got around and 'Rhianna' as they called her was left alone by most of the homids after that. After a few months, the old male told her that she must be introduced into The Pack, for it was her destiny to run with them. The child of the wind laughed. Destiny was a homid thing. She only needed the wind at her back and the ground beneath her feet. But she loved Arrowwolf and Wildwolves, so she humored them. She met the Alpha of the Pack, a great grey garou called Lupus Zarek. She did not like his smell nor the way he gazed at Arrowwolf when he presented her. When he rose to greet her, the smell of sickness filled her nostrils and she knew that Lupus Zarek was dying the slow death of the weak. And she looked around and saw that the pack was small. When they returned to the den of Arowwolf, Rhianna asked, "The Pack is dying with the Alpha, isn't it?" Arrowwolf did not respond for a long time, "Times have changed from when the Pack was strong and in its glory." Rhianna smiled, "That is why you do not run with them, isn't it?" "No!" snapped the old wolf. "I do not run with them because... I hae been asked by the Alpha not to run with them." Rhianna gazed at him curiously, "It is because you can still run with the wind and he cannot." "We are of the same litter. When he was a pup, Lupus Zarek was one of the mightiest of Ahrouns. But too many battles and too many winters have caught up with him, " Arrow replied. "I fear the Pack will never recover, but he will not step down and none have the heart to kill the Alpha, so many of the Pack have drifted away, seeking other fortunes and other lives." She cocked her head, "Why did you wish me to see this?" "Because you are of lupus stock. There are so few of you left. I wished him to look upon you, so he might remember..." Rhianna stood and looked out the door. A chill wind was blowing to the south. To the homid city called Neverwinter. She knew that she must follow. She turned to Arrowwolf and Wildwolves. "I will run with you and I will howl with you, but I will not join a pack that is weak and dying. I will follow the wind for I am 'child-of-the-wind'. If the Pack ever grows strong again, send for me. Perhaps then." And she loped out of the open doorway and followed the wind... Long into the night, they could hear her song as she danced beneath the moon to the music of the wind that only she could hear. Physical Poetry (Submitted by: Zarra Yorn) Physical Poetry Sitting, undiscovered like poison in a goblet of sweet wine Zarra watched the two Masters of their art. As if in slow motion the they locked entranced like two intimate lovers. Mirrored movements flowed defying grace as they danced. Glints of steel accented their canvas emanating form the steel instruments they wielded. Nothing from the outside world entered there's, only the other existed in this ballet. They exhibited hundreds of years of practiced mastery to hold such unbreakable focus as they whirled. The discipline, the devotion.... the prize of such efforts were well worth it Zarra thought. Suddenly she gasped, holding her breath the Imperial Daughter's attention snapped back to the duel. Something had gone terribly awry. A break in rhythm, imperfection flowing the joint canvas. There was no room for such things in this facet of art. The thunderous ringing of steel against steel increased to a frenzied pace. Advantage had been won, no longer did the continuity hold. Angry blades struck out keeping the others uncontrollable as the dancer poured inside. The priestess stood rigid. Her eyes locked and adrenaline coursed. Sensing the kill, blood lust and savagery called in urgent tones. The mood of canvas careened out of control as she watched the tale unfold. Tendons unraveled like taunt rope as steel slid gratingly against and through bone. Again Zarra gasped, perspiration glistened on her ebony skin as her body heat rose like wild fire. Arteries were systematically opened like zippers. A passionate trust skewered though tissue and organs. Blackened twin blades fell unceremoniously to the ground in a clatter. Limply the other swayed and fell as the flurry of wounds appeared. Her eyes glowed a blood-red as she watched the victor clean and sheath his blades before the other hit the floor. The one standing froze sensing her presence then tuned swiftly to her direction. To his confusion there was none to be seen, only shadows now watched him. Malla Yathrin Zarra Yorn Faen Tlabbar Malla Yathrin d'lil Arach-Tinilith Quarthen a lil Ultrin Ilharess Shyntlara Valsharen Dalharil d'lil Valsharess Nedylene Jabbress d'Slakromstraken Wevrelltearcell Ust Dalharil d'Faen Tlabbar Ust Qu'ellar d'Rilauven Quel re ar' mae govannen:* The Grey Company is pleased to announce the completion the first edition of a grammar and translation guide for NWN elvish. Though far from comprehensive, I should allow expanded RP possibilities for those interested in using it. It is our great pleasure to offer it to anyone in NW who wishes to use it. Please E-mail to the screen name Lywnis or post a request in our public folder and I shall send you a copy. The zip files are available in Write or Excel 5.0 (highly reccomended) format and will require PKUNZIP 2.04 or better. We would also solicit any input, be it gramatical or especially new words. As these are assembled, new revisions shall be made available to all. Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva** Lywnis Autumnleaf Othar, Istar, Wethril Tel'Mithrim * Good day and well met ** Sweet water and light laughter until next we meet. *** The Grey Company <><><><><> <><><><><> 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. <><><><><> <><><><><>