==========oOo========== NEVERWINTER NEWS Issue # 171 Week Ending 2-2-97 ==========oOo========== *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* FRONT PAGE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Well, it was very difficult picking a winner from last week's record of 38 entries to the News. However, one had to be chosen. ;D Congratulations to Xenobea for winning last week's News of the Realm contest for her story entitled "The Journey". Xenobea has earned the choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes). Keep up the good work! ;D <><><><><> <><><><><> Congratulations to the Brotherhood of the Pathfinders for compiling the most "Newsworthy" entries to the News of the Realms for January!! They win the monthly reward of 4 pearls which goes directly into their guild fund!! ;D <><><><><> <><><><><> Greets all! I'm sure many of you have noticed the problems Neverwinter is presently experiencing with players being punted from the game. To clarify, it seems that AOL has made an "improvement" which sends a message every 45 minutes asking if you'd like to remain logged onto the system. If you do not reply immediately it logs you off. Further information about this feature can be found in the AOL Insider (Keyword:AOL Insider). In some parts of the service and while doing various tasks (uploading a file, browsing the web, and I'm sure others), you never see that message, are unable to respond, and lose your connection. Games are affected, Neverwinter of course is affected by this improvement. Unfortunately, until AOL does make a change and either backs that new usage timer out of the system, or make some other remedy, you're advised to QTS (Quit to System) every half hour or so. You might even want to log off and back on again to be certain that you won't be punted. It's my understanding that these punts are causing a variety of problems, the least of which are massive ghosting in the game, the greatest of which are the loss of experience and items. I'm sure we all realize how impossible it is to conduct any sort of event in the game while these punt conditions are in effect. As a result of these technical problems and until further notice, ALL in-game events are cancelled. These include Tours, Mini Booths, Mini Festivals, and Location Hunts. Additionally all Guild Sponsored In Game Events will be cancelled. Unfortunately, this situation has also resulted in the postponement/cancellation of the "not quite announced yet" Winter Celebration. As soon as we have some remedy for the situation, I'll get those events rolling again. Note that all events OUTSIDE the game will continue as normal. WWAI, Trivia, the Great Hall Tavern and the News of the Realms contests will occur as scheduled. Neverwinter is NOT the only area affected and we have strongly expressed our concerns to AOL. As soon as we have any futher updates, we'll advise you all. Regards, NW Events <><><><><> <><><><><> Pearl Plan Transaction Form!! Greets all! I'm happy to announce that a new Pearl Plan Transaction Form has been linked into our main Neverwinter Nights screen (Keyword: AD&D). This form was specifically designed to deal with the most frequently requested transactions. It automatically generates a mail message and sends it directly to NW Oyster and NW Events. It is our hope that the use of this form will assist you in providing all of the necessary information for each type of transaction, thereby expediting the entire process and allowing us to respond more quickly to your requests. Please note that the use of this form REQUIRES that you be logged onto the system and using the screen name whose account you wish to be effected by the transaction request. Be sure to confirm which screen name you're signed on with before using the form! Please do NOT use this form if you have no ideas what pearls are and how they might relate to Neverwinter Nights or you do not have a pearl account. You can find information about the Pearl Plan at Keyword: AD&D in the Neverwinter Nights Events area. Full details and instructions for the form are located in the Neverwinter Nights Events area in the article "Pearl Plan Transaction Form Instructions". (Keyword:AD&D >> Neverwinter Nights Events >> Pearl Plan Transaction Form Instructions) Thanks to the folks that suggested that this kind of a form would be helpful! ;D Happily we were able to get it setup though not QUITE in time to coincide with the Pearl Database e-mails. Ah well... still, it's there now! It's pretty basic, without the bells and whistles, but.. it works and we have great hopes that it will help us toward our goal of improving the pearl plan. Regards, NW Events <><><><><> <><><><><> New Player's Tour - 1/25 The Crypt! I was standing in line to try to get my taxes paid early in the Warehouse district, when I got a note from Lord Nasher. "Satin -- Somehow the crypts in Port Llast have become animated. I've heard at least three reports of numerous undead there, and they were not Camarilla. Gather a group of adventurers and take care of it. - Nasher" I immediately told Elwind the news and we put forth a call for new adventurers to join me on my quest. The adventurers rushed forth and we were soon overwhelmed by monsters attempting to thwart our commencement. Finally we got started and entered Windy Cliffs, where our group was split due to a fight right at the entrance! This was going to be no easy task. Deciding to try to go with the few I had left and hope that we would be able to work together and rid the crypts of the ghouls and zombies, we took a secret passage to Port Llast in hopes we would not again be separated. Along the way, we found a few adventurers interested in joining us, and lost a few as well, though the trip was unnervingly easy going. I started to get nervous that we would find too many undead for us to handle, as the path seemed devoid of monsters and adventurers. Finally arriving at the crypts, we began at the northernmost one. It was infested and we quickly dispatched the assorted undead creatures. We attempted to check the others but accidentally moved through a one way door. Realizing our quest was nearly complete and being exhausted, some decided to stay at the inn in Port Llast, but Raiko Date and I traveled back to report to Nasher. Nasher was short and to the point. "Theives in Southwall!" So, once again I went forth to patrol another area. Bringing a few adventurers with me, we stumbled along the path, finally arriving at the thieves hide out, where we admonished, and then destroyed them, leaving one stupid, but alive to spread the word. Thanks to all the adventurers who began the quests, traveled along, or finished the deeds with me. Raiko Date, Spcetd, Obl1vion, EssenceXX, BigKahn, Ja Mosha, AC Blak, DarkTunde, UDL Horus, Adaraalgar, Confsa, Cgnito. And a special thanks to V Insanity for finding lost adventurers and delivering them to be unbitten. -- NWA Satin <><><><><> <><><><><> Fireball Booth Winners - 1/26 Feeling particularly fiery today, I sent a call out through the realms for 15 volunteers to test their saves against my fireballs. Heeding my call were: Doughbless, Jhaelena, CW Jade, Drac0l0k, Tesslara X, Lrd Vinman, Lok Bomber, O Xinjinn, Sun Feroz, Mfrazi, Sir Razdor, Bloodghoul, Gon Hexon, Warr Agony, and UDL Savage. The Warehouse District was really heated up today with all the fireballs I threw. Tesslara X was able to dodge them the best, taking only 34 points of damage from two throws, and wins 4 pearls! Warr Agony got caught by my strongest single cast of the day, and took a total of 68 points of damage, claiming the 2 pearl prize. Thank you to everyone who participated. :D --NW Sparkle <><><><><> <><><><><> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* NEVERWINTER CALENDAR *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Greets all! I'm sure many of you have noticed the problems Neverwinter is presently experiencing with players being punted from the game. To clarify, it seems that AOL has made an "improvement" which sends a message every 45 minutes asking if you'd like to remain logged onto the system. If you do not reply immediately it logs you off. Further information about this feature can be found in the AOL Insider (Keyword:AOL Insider). In some parts of the service and while doing various tasks (uploading a file, browsing the web, and I'm sure others), you never see that message, are unable to respond, and lose your connection. Games are affected, Neverwinter of course is affected by this improvement. Unfortunately, until AOL does make a change and either backs that new usage timer out of the system, or make some other remedy, you're advised to QTS (Quit to System) every half hour or so. You might even want to log off and back on again to be certain that you won't be punted. It's my understanding that these punts are causing a variety of problems, the least of which are massive ghosting in the game, the greatest of which are the loss of experience and items. I'm sure we all realize how impossible it is to conduct any sort of event in the game while these punt conditions are in effect. As a result of these technical problems and until further notice, ALL in-game events are cancelled. These include Tours, Mini Booths, Mini Festivals, and Location Hunts. Additionally all Guild Sponsored In Game Events will be cancelled. Unfortunately, this situation has also resulted in the postponement/cancellation of the "not quite announced yet" Winter Celebration. As soon as we have some remedy for the situation, I'll get those events rolling again. Note that all events OUTSIDE the game will continue as normal. WWAI, Trivia, the Great Hall Tavern and the News of the Realms contests will occur as scheduled. Neverwinter is NOT the only area affected and we have strongly expressed our concerns to AOL. As soon as we have any futher updates, we'll advise you all. Regards, NW Events <><><><><> <><><><><> ------===<<<@>>>===------ NEW IMPROVED TRIVIA!! ------===<<<@>>>===------ Join NW Raven and NW Omar for a night of fun and prizes, while we test your knowledge of Neverwinter Nights trivia! Date: Tuesday, February 4th Time: 10:00 to 11:30 pm EST Place: The Great Hall of Neverwinter (outside the Realms) Prizes to be awarded to winners: First Place - 15 Pearls Second Place - 12 Pearls Third Place - 9 Pearls Fourth Place - 7 Pearls Fifth Place - 5 Pearls AND access to the Guild of Heroes!! There are NEW rules for a new year of Trivia! Major changes are: 1. FIVE winners instead of three! 2. PRIZES include only pearls! 3. ONLY first 10 correct answers are scored! 4. TWO random rolls instead of one! Please review the new rules before coming in to play. Hope to see ya there... ;D -- NW Omar and NW Raven <><><><><> <><><><><> Beggar King of Neverwinter (submitted by: LuvBytes) Purple streaked the evening sky as the mighty chariot of Apollo was close to landing for the day. Something tugged at the back of his mind, like a mindflayer licking his lips before the feast. What, pray tell, could he have forgotten? Or was it more a pang of danger lurking near? He sat up right sniffing the air like a wolf, tasting the salty twang of death hovering in shadows. Yes, no longer was he alone, this he knew, but what manner of creature from Hades had tracked him down this time? Slowly he stands up, acting as if nothing is wrong, he readies himself. Laughing to himself he chuckles "death comes to all men at least once, why then does it visit me daily?" All at once he pulls out the magic sword he was given readies the shield and plate mail both magical and both given as gifts. 'Tis nice to have freinds he thinks...wish they were here now... ha!The Lost Passage - Part 1 From the Mountain (submitted by: Lake Mist) The trip from the destroyed altar took longer than expected. Cerdith was still very weak and Primrose was not getting any better. The poison had been stopped, or at least slowed, but she needed to be taken to a temple as soon as possible. The closest temple any of them knew of was in Triboar. That meant making Longsaddle and then traveling south through Berrun. A trip to not look forward to. Two days into the trip down the mountain, all the vials of healing potion were used up. Cerdith was sitting up at night around the fire and taking little bits of food and RiverSwift's wounds were better. Primrose was moving around better, but still pallid from the poison. It wasn't advancing, but she was still very weak. Lake Mist's wounds had healed over, but he was still moving with sudden jerks of pain. It was all TroutRasta could do to keep some from turning around and heading back up the mountain. Everyone wanted to go back, but they knew they had to get their injured off the mountain. It took nine days to down the side of the mountain and another two days to get to Longsaddle. Once everyone was settled into the inn for their first nights rest in weeks, Lake Mist headed to the arms dealer just across the lane. "I have need of a sword, my good fellow." Lake Mist remarked as he entered the shop. The shop keeper eyed him with a weathered and well trained sense that instinctively guessed a travelers true nature. "Wait here a moment, I think I have just the sword you are looking for," he said as he disappeared behind a curtain in the rear of the shop. When he returned, he carried an ordinarily brown leather broad sword sheath with a common looking hilt and guard showing from the top. The leather of the grip well worn, but still ready to be used again. "I think my good ranger, that this is just the weapon you need. Do not be deceived by you see on the outside." as he stepped forward and pulled the sword about half way out of the sheath. Lake Mist's eyes grew wide when he saw the Elven runes on the side of the blade. He couldn't read them all, but he recognized the word "Harbinger" and the sign of the god Tyr. As he strapped the sheath to his back where his longsword had once hung, he reached into bag hanging from his shoulder and retrieved a small bag. "I hope this payment enough for such a weapon," he said as he tossed the bag of gems and jewels to the shop keeper. As his hand touched the bag in the air, the shop keeper smiled and nodded, "There be more than enough here, I only wish I could give you more. I fear you are about to travel a lonely and dangerous path." Lake Mist smiled and bowed, "Friendship and faith such as yours shall have to be enough." He turned and stepped out quickly. Back at the inn, he went to check on Primrose. She was sleeping soundly as he kissed her on the forehead. He touched her right hand gently and hoped that she would understand when she woke up. He then headed to TroutRasta's room. Knocking on the door, he noticed it was ajar. Pushing it gently open and stepping into the room, his hand on the hilt of his sword, Trout looked up and smiled, "What took you so long? I have traveling rations ready for the two of us. We are going back up the mountain, aren't we?" Lake Mist smiled at his friend and brother, "Aye. I should have known that I would not have to ask you, that you would be ready." Trout handed him a bag of rations and the two of them silently slipped out of the inn and headed north, back to the mountain. They both knew that after a couple of days rest, RiverSwift and the others would be able to reach Triboar and then gather other rangers and clerics to aid them on the mountain. As they walked, Lake Mist thought of the runes on the broad sword and decided that he and Trout would most definitely be harbingers of justice.Love's Blossoming (submitted by: Auber0n) Auberon woke in his bed, his dreams had been filled with his teacher, Memoria, as they had more and more often of late. In fact, he dreamt of her now more often than he did of his past, which had troubled him so greatly ever since he arrived in Neverwinter. He looked outside, and knew by the moon's position on the horizon, that the sisters had long since left the Tavern, but he hoped that he could find his teacher there, and present her with the gifts he had carried in his pack since the solstice. He stood up, getting out of bed gracefully, and sang a short verse, a soft blue shirt appeared on his torso, and supple deerskin breeches on his legs. His hair began to braid itself with colored ribbons that floated from the nearby table, and feathers as he commonly wore in his hair appeared by the grace of his magic. His knapsack floated to his hand, and by the time he had reached the door, he was entirely prepared for his trip to the Tavern. Auberon entered the Tavern, and looked around, searching eagerly for the stunning Kindred he had come to know as a friend and teacher. He saw her sitting at a table across the room, and his breath caught in his throat. Her red dress brought out the color in her lips, her radiant beauty lighting the room, just as her melancholy expression, that she was trying to conceal with a tokenly pleasant expression, brought the room down. He strolled across the room, his long, graceful strides carrying him to her table. He bowed, a smile turning the corners of his lips upward, and he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. The taste was exquisite, and that, combined with her blush made him want never to remove his lips from her creamy skin. She motioned for him to sit down as soon as he took his lips from her hand, and with the grace granted him by his elven heritage, he complied. He gazed at her for what seemed like an eternity, her silver eyes drawing him inexorably into their depths, threatening to drown him in the angry sea of emotions that roiled within. His smile was one borne of adoration for the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes upon, and it was sheer luck that a thought of his purpose for coming to the Tavern had entered his mind, otherwise, he could easily have remained staring at her forever and never noticed. "I have a present for you, fair one..." Auberon said, the warm tones of his baritone voice carried a sense of anxiety and happiness. He reached down into his pack, and withdrew to packages, one wrapped in brilliant violet paper, the other deep blue silks. He slid them across the table to her, consciously restraining himself from biting his lip, or showing one of his other nervous habits. "I know that they are late in the giving, but 'tis my opinion that the thought is far more important than punctuality." He could not help himself about apologizing, his mind was telling him that if he wouldn't express his nervousness, then at least he was going to apologize profusely. He watched her carefully, the expression of curiosity that played upon her face at first confused him, and then gave him a glimmer of hope. He leaned closer as she examined the violet package, mentioning how it reminded her of the ribbons that he always wore braided with his hair. She gently pulled the paper from the package, and looked inside. There was a golden necklace, from which hung a amethyst pendant that glowed with its own, soft light. "Oh, Auberon, I am not worthy of a gift this beautiful..." Her voice trailed off as she continued to stare at the pendant. "In that, fairest Memoria, you are wrong. It is the gift's beauty that does not compare to yours, certainly not the other way around. The enchantment on the necklace is minor -- it allows you to speak with any living creature." He continued to study her features, and noticed the excitement that lit up in her eyes at his words. He continued to watch Memoria, and tuned out the harp that had begun to play in the background, keeping his eyes and mind focused on the Toreador that sat in front of him. Memoria glanced down at her dress, a faint frown crossing her full, crimson lips, and a soft sigh escaped through those very miracles of creation. She hummed a soft phrase, even without volume, her voice was better than any he had ever heard. As she finished the phrase, which was remarkably similar to the same one he had used to get dressed not a half hour before, her red gown was replaced by another. The new gown was a pale lilac, of delicate elven lace. The gown fit her perfectly, both in measurements, and features. Her creamy alabaster skin was the perfect complement to the soft colors of the gown, and her silver tresses only helped to highlight her angelic features. She asked softly if he would help her put on the necklace, and his response was both immediate and definitive -- of course he would. He leaned over close to her, brushing silver locks of hair aside in order to better reach around her neck and clasp the necklace. His long, delicate fingers brushed against her neck as he placed the enchanted jewelry about her neck. He fought back a grin as the shiver passed through her body. "Are you trying to see how often you can raise the color to my cheeks?" She asked, still looking forward. "Nay, Memoria, simply stating something that was on my mind." He flashed a smile he knew to be his most winning without realizing it until after he had done it, and she tilted her head back, presumably to discover whether he was truthful or not. The neckline of her gown slid lower, and it took all of Auberon's willpower not to glance down. Her sultry whisper did not help to strengthen his resolve. "Is there... anything else on your mind tonight?" Auberon felt his willpower begin to falter, and closed his eyes so as to prevent his eyes from wandering where they were unwelcome. He sighed softly, unhappy with himself for not having stronger resolve, though as he opened his eyes and glanced down at the glorious creature, he knew that he could not hold himself entirely at fault. Auberon motioned towards the remaining package, hoping to take his mind off of Memoria's incomparable beauty. She gently unwrapped the layers of blue silk from the gift, and exposed a lute made of rosewood. Vines and roses twined about the face of the instrument in a never-ending cycle, no matter how you followed the plants, you would always end up returning to the same place. The soft scent of roses wafted up from the gorgeous lute, part of the small enchantment that also prevented the lute from going out of tune. The look on her face was one of awe, reverence, and sheer, unadulterated delight. "Oh sweetest Hanali... it's... how... how did you know?" Auberon smiled faintly, and replied simply : "I make it my business to know, Memoria." Auberon watched her for a moment longer, before leaning close to her ear and with a whisper, asked her if she liked it. She nodded, saying she loved it, and her hand rose to his lips, brushing against them softly. Auberon's own hand followed hers, keeping her fingers pressed to his lips as he kissed her fingertips. "It's like a dream..." she muttered, the two of them staring deeply into each other's eyes. She turned her eyes down, sighing softly. "I... I don't want it to ever end. I'm... afraid to wake." These last words were whispered, almost inaudibly. He stroked her hair softly, his gentle touch seeking to drive away all her worries and her fears. She glanced up at the elf who had just entered, a man he knew as Hawke and no more, and then quickly looked back down, something unknown evident on her face. "How did you know about this lute, love?" She asked him, gazing up into his eyes. "It came from a dream, but I had not known that it was in yours, too." The two elves discussed the lute further, Mem's eyes flickering now and again to Hawke. The frequency of her glances grew, her attention span obviously lessening with every passing moment the two men were in the same room with her. Auberon continued to rest his hands upon her shoulders, reveling in the feel of her cool, creamy alabaster skin beneath his fingertips. With the same senses that Memoria had been teaching him to use as a performer, he read Memoria's emotions. He sensed turmoil, emotions building into an eruption waiting to happen, akin to a volcano. Hawke, without Auberon's noticing had come over to stand with the two of him, only causing Memoria to slip further into her roiling sea of emotions. Memoria stood quickly, kissed the two men, and ran from the inn, leaving Auberon utterly bewildered.Cadet Destroys Holders (submitted by: Zindio) The sun had set many hours ago in the Realms, the Half-elf known as Zindio woke up,streached, yawned and blinked sleepedly around his room at Windycliffs. "Guess I had better do some Ranger stuff", he thought. Reaching under the bed he drew a pile of parchment maps into the light. Studying the maps he took two of them and put them into his pocket. Gathering his Trident and wineskin he looked over the room again then strode out into the night. A mere 10 minutes later he was at the Drac fights in Windy. The long line of fighters was discouraging, turning away he headed north into Port Llast. Fighting his way ther he entered the caves where dracs were screaming thier pain and hate. " Long lines at all the drac holes it looks like", he thought. Sensing a Protectorate cadet not too far away he ESP'd the indivdual. "Runewarior, ye be close by?" " Yes, at the vaults at the moment." came the reply. "Hail cadet, ye want to go north wit meself and kill 'holders?" "Yes, be right with you. Uh, Where are you?" Chuckling Zindio relayed where he was. Several minutes later Runewarior was there. Turning North Zindio and the cadet headed for Luskan, that cold forbidden country to the far north of the palace. "When we get to Luskan's entrance give meself a couple seconds to look at me map son, don't want to get us lost,OK?" "Sure OK with me." the cadet said grinning. Several fights later the party of two arrived at the inn. "Nice to travel with a good natured human with so much power." thought Zindio. Aloud he said" Mem and prep, we be going down into dark caves me friend." Both prepared themselves. The trip into the caves wasn't too bad, Zindio had some wounds that he quickly healed. Looking at his maps again, and using the infrared spectrum in his multi colred eyes, he led the cadet west,south, and west, down to the Beholder's caves. Whispering to Runewarior Zindio gave him instructions," Mem,rest, and when the room be clear ye go first, I'll follow. The answer to the riddle be in yer timepiece." The room cleared, the cadet charged through the door, secons later Zindio followed. Surprize! The room was full of zentil fighters, two Beholders, giants, but no Runewarior. Casting a spell of prtection and getting a fireball ready, Zindio was disintergrated and was gated. Runewarior was at the gate also. "Lets go back me friend and Gurth goth Tel'Quessir!( Death to the foes of The People!)" Encourged by the Ranger-scout's tenacity, Rune followed Zindio below again. This time one Beholder was sliced neatly in half by Rune's Scrimitar, Giants and zenthil fighters were fried by Zindio's fireballs, The last Holder was leaking fluids from a hole in it's side made by the Ranger-scout's Trident when Runewarior sliced it in half, the last zehentil fighter surrendered to Zindio. Back at the inn, drinking ale and wine Zindio shook the cadet's hand, " Ye will be a good addition to The Protectorates me friend, I'll be sure to tell The Guild about ye when it's asked. Good day and good luck to ye." Zindio left the inn and headed for the nice, quite woods.The Stalking (submitted by: Spryte) Invisible, hasted, enlarged and half-berserk, the tiny Spryte edged closer to his unsuspecting prey. Long minutes had already passed in stealthful manuevers around Nasher's Castle, and the moment of truth was upon him. With the speed of a lighting bolt, he flew around the bole of the ancient elm, dove for the open window and pounced! It was a gracefully performed "Butterfly Stings Snake!" In truth, the defenseless apple pie never had a chance. Nevertheless, Spryte did his little victory dance around the plate and ate up like a frog swallowing a newbie. :) Executing the obligatory belch, (sound of a cricket mis-firing) he flittered away in search of even tastier prey wondering, "How could RG Tyger have left such a wonderful treat sitting on that window sill? Just lucky I 'found' it before it fell and was wasted." :) Tastefully submitted by Spryte :)Dark Findings (submitted by: Rounlin) My name is Rounlin Starwolf the Pure. I come from the land of Thyraie across the Moon Sea beyond the snow capped mountains of Render. I have traveled for many countless days and nights looking for some freindly faces, but alas I have found none. I wish sometimes that I could end it all. For the quest of Good vs Evil is a tedious one indeed. Every day I am hunted by the forces of darkness that seek my soul. But I overcome their black powers and press on. I was given this "gift" I call it from my Father. He branded a pentacle on my right upper arm when I was just a wee little lad in my castle in Thyraie. That's when the evil started to plague my dreams. That was 22 years ago. It gradually increased to the point that I was plagued not only in my dreams but also in my awaking hours. I ask myself time and time again why I must be continually tested day in and day out. I grow weary from the tests. In my journeys I have come across many a strange and wonderous findings. From the shoguns of the Isle of Honshu, the "Black Sisters" of Hether, to the Parthenon of Athens. Along my journey I rest where I can and eat off the land wherever I may roam. My roof is the trees, my bed is the ground on which I sleep, and my pillow is my cloak. Once I was married to a beautiful young lass in Fort Linere. Trying to forget where I'm from and who I am. But alas the dark forces arose once more. They killed my wife and my two sons. From that day forward I vowed that I would vanguish all evil and its dominions. Even in death I shall overcome the powers of the darkness. My Father once taught me that we should turn the other cheek. But that day has long since past. Today is the time for revenge on those who cheated me out of happiness. And they all shall perish in the Gates of Hates. This is my journal entry number one. This is the first time I have actually sat down and wrote part of my story in a long while. To whomever reads this I hope you find rejoice in what I have written down here in my lore. And I hope that you never have to go through what I am today. For these are my "Dark Findings" and let the Evil know that I Rounlin Starwolf the Pure will hunt you all down and vanquish you all.The Shadow's Caress (submitted by: BryanSatyr) Bryan sat leaning against the old oak tree that he had loved ever since he had come to Neverwinter. The Glade that it was a part of was rife with Glamour, and since there was no one else that had laid claim to that particular Freehold, he liked to call it his own. He placed his hand on the Stone that provided all the Glamour for this Freehold, and pulled some into himself, relishing in the feel of once again being full of the stuff of dreams. Drawing upon some of the Glamour that now filled him, fallen wood from the area surrounding the Glade floated to the center of the dreamy clearing, and piled itself, stacking in preparation for a fire. Bryan hummed a few bars of the madrigal 'Fire, Fire' and in a flash of angry blue light, a fire was lit. He pulled his cloak about his shoulders, huddling nearer to the fire for warmth. His recent encounter with Kyrasha had left him feeling cold, betrayed. He was so intent on remembering what had happened that night in the Tavern, his first visit to the Realms in a long time, that he didn't notice when that the shadows were gathering around the fire, and forming into a humanoid. Bryan closed his eyes, sighing softly. The shadows continued to lengthen and gather, a man emerging from the cover of the shadows. His eye sockets glowed with a brilliant violet light. The shadowy man stepped forward into the fire's light, and patiently waited for Bryan to open his eyes, making no sound whatsoever. When Bryan opened his eyes slowly, they got wide with surprise. "Why, Shaldren... It is... uhm... so... nice to see you... again." The usually eloquent satyr was tripping over his own tongue as he struggled to fight back the surprise and fear that was rising in his throat. He woes were forgotten as he gazed upon the shadow-man. "Oh... But Bryan, surely you are ecstatic knowing that I am alive, sort of. You would be amazed at the kind of things that can happen to people that are left for dead on the Demiplane of Shadow. The things I learned from the natives would surprise you." Bryan glanced around, and frowned, seeing hundreds of beady, crimson eyes glowing in the darkness that surrounded the Glen. Shaldren raised his hands above his head, shadows gathering around him in a palpable mass. The beady eyes were emerging from the darkness and Bryan could no see that the eyes belonged to bodies of pure shadow, small, rat-like bodies. He frowned, his eyes filled with worry, and fear. "Come now, Bryan... There is no reason to be afraid. Not if you do me a favor, anyhow. I want something, something you can get for me. I am certain that you can. Because if you can't..." Shaldren's voice trailed off ominously. "Wh... what would you like me to get for you, Shaldren?" "Hmmm... Well, since you asked, I will tell you. I want you to bring me one of those things - Ah, I do think they are called... hmm... Cream Puffs? No... no... ah yes, Eclairs. Yes, do bring me some Eclairs, Bryan." Bryan sat up, a bead of sweat falling off his forehead to land on the bed that he had not slept in for quite along time. Perhaps it was the bed that had brought him such strange dreams, because he had not had dreams so full of incredible strangeness since he had left the Freehold the last time, when his dreams had been plagued with images of... Bryan turned his head, glancing at the small digital clock that he powered with Glamour, not having access to direct electricity here on the Realms. 3:01, presumably in the morning, as it was still dark outside. He stood, and walked over to the cabinet that was nothing more than an illusion. He passed his hand over it, and it disappeared, revealing the crystal mirror framed by the sapphire serpent. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to get it under control, and then whispered a phrase to the mirror. Sapphire mists gathered in the surface of the mirror, giving off a faint light, revealing the Glen that he had just dreamt of. The light from the mirror Illuminated the room, but it was moonlight that illuminated the glen, falling through the cover of the trees overhead to leave dots of silvery light pooled in the clearing. A deer was busy grazing near the Stone that gave off the Glamour, and there were sprites dancing gleefully in the center of the Glen. Bryan smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief. There was no shadow-man after all. He passed his hand over the mirror, and the image faded, the cabinet returning to the place that it had occupied previously. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a small plastic bottle marked 'Ibuprofen' and poured three small brown pills into his hand. He conjured a glass of water, and quickly swallowed the pills. As Bryan laid down in his bed, he failed to notice the shadows that were gathering in the corner of his chambers, a dull lavender light illuminating the shadows. The light was being given off by two small, glowing pinpoints of light in what appeared to be the head of the humanoid made of living shadow. Bryan shut his eyes, drifting quickly back into sleep. But Shaldren grinned, he found he could control Bryan's dreams. If he could control the dreams of that powerful a Seer, who was to say that he couldn't go on and control the dreams of other Kithain? He rubbed his shadowy hands together, and floated towards the cabinet that Bryan had shown him to be illusionary. Shaldren passed his hand over the cabinet, and couldn't suppress a pleased smile when the illusionary piece of wood disappeared in a flash of angry blue Glamour. He looked at the crystal mirror, and then passed his hand over it, envisioning the Demiplane of Shadows, the place he had come to know as home in the last few years. He was rewarded with the sapphire mists, that clearedto reveal a shadowy landscape, plagued with strange creatures comprised entirely of shadow-stuff. He grinned, and passed his hand over the mirror in the opposite direction, and the cabinet reappeared. The shadowy being floated over to where Bryan was, his long, silver claws gleaming in the moonlight that poured into the room. He watched Bryan sleep, and couldn't help but grin. He leaned over, his hot breath falling directly upon Bryan's eyes. Bryan moaned softly, and rolled over, obviously caught in the throes of another nightmare. Shaldren leaned back, and looked down at the Satyr, grinning. His shadowy body began to disperse, the shadows returning to the corners of the room where they belonged. Even when Shaldren's entire body had unraveled, his lavender eyes remained for a moment more, illuminating the room in their cold, purple glow.A Blessed Gift (submitted by: Mutt C130) I waited there for day's looking up at the stars in the night sky, and lounging in the shade of the tree's during the daylight hours. There was no reason for the waiting it just felt as if I needed to see something important here in this glin and it had not come to pass as of yet. The first day I ate the last of my rations and not wanting to desturb the path of what ever was to come I daired not kill the stags I had seen passing by. So I fasted and meditated while I was waiting and watching. Three days after that first I waited not knowing why I was here but sure all the same that something important was to happen. Then as the last day started to fall into night the reason for my vigile was made apparent. It happend close to the twilight of the day. I heard a stiring in the brush across the glin. Thinking it to be another stag coming to pass I did not move but sat and watched only. As I looked on a most wonderous sight befell my eyes, for across from where I sat there came a mighty beast from the forest way. It was the equine symbol of the blessed Lady of the Forest come to this glin that I had sat and guarded for days. My breath was taken aback and tears filled my eyes as the beast stopped in the glin to bow to the setting sun. I could neither move nor look away from the creature so enchanted was I by the beauty of it. I held my breath not wanting to break the spell of the moment, fearing I would cause a fright and the beast would be gone. Before I knew it the last rays of the sun had vanished and the stars had come out. They shined upon the creature so that it seemed he was part of the night sky itself come down to this world in the flesh. The creature then turned from it's homage to the setting sun and looked at me where I sat gazing on dazed by its apearance. It snorted once and then pawed the ground. Sparks flew from the spot where its hoof struck the forest floor. The creature then nodded it's head and spun towards the forest contenuing on its way. I stayed there where I sat throughout the night not wanting to move for fear I had but witnessed a dream. But as the day began to break and the songbirds called thier welcome to the sun I stirred from my spot of waiting and walked to where the beast had stood. And as I aproached a glint of reflected light from the sun caught my eye from where the creatures hoof had struck the ground. I bent to see the spot more clearly and there in the hoofprint I found a small gem. It wased shaped as a leafe, clear in color and its edges reflected the forest colors in the morning light. I took a leather thong out of my pack and tied it to the gem, then placed it around my neck to wear as a most prised gift from the goddes Meiliki. Warmth it did give me when it touched my breast and a feeling of well being. The hunger from my fasting had also been vanquished and I felt neither hunger or thirst for the first time in a few days. I collected my belongings after erecting a smile shrine to Meiliki in the glin and placed offerings and layed prayers upon it. Then I left that glin counting my self the most blessed of rangers to have receaved such a gift from the Lady of the Forest and for having it delivered by one of her most beautiful servants. I held my head up higher and bounced my step a bit more as I started down the path that led away from the glin. And as I left the glin I thought to myself what a great wait it had been for the outcome of it. Mutt--and the dogs-- Servant of Meiliki Brotherhood of PathfindersProtectorate Poem (submitted by: SHAUGHNESY) When all seems lost and nothing can save you; From the monster that seems to bleed out goo; Call the protectorate, they pave the way; In making tomrrow a bright new day: We are here to serve and protect: and to help others understand a concept: If you are evil, as many are Don't try anything, or we'll send you afar. So all good will rule and all evil perish Within the neverwinter that we all Cherish. Foreverness (submitted by: Zyntaeri) By the light of 13 moons they danced To the jangling rhythms of guitars. Entwining melodies that chanced To mingle with spangling sprinkled stars. And they drank beneath the forest eaves, Let trickling liquor effervesence, On tongues: a throng of minute Bees, Intoned in song, "Foreverness". The honeyed glow of paper lamps, Which dangled from the budding boughs, Scintillated on the damp Leaves of grass and troll skin gowns. Clothed in mystic cloaks spun by Lloth, In boots of speed and beeds they dressed, Cut from mystic and enchanted cloths, They waited for Foreverness. The leading edge of sky collapsed, Where nature's laws began to cheat, As though the power of their eyes had lapsed, Occluded by a velvet sheet. But as their prophets did command, No one amongst them had to guess, These signs which cursed the antique land, Foretold of old, Foreverness. Still, cellared age-dark timbered manses, Yet yielded ancestral vintage store, They fueled their final flights of fancies, With tinctures pressed in days of yore. And so they reveled on the sward Never daring to confess, What their world was drifting toward; Drifting to towards Foreverness The moons no more were to be seen, The last star extinguished with a wink, Heaven's blackboard erased clean, The realm poised upon the brink. The utter cupful on their lips, The farewell bittersweet caress, Embracing the apocalypse, They plunged into Foreverness. -To NWN 2.2 and the promise of 3.0 Zyntaeri DARK COVENANT Picture This in your Mind (submitted by: OOR Babble) She went downstairs after a good night's sleep, she opted to stay at Daglow's this night. Surprisingly it was not as crowded as she had expected and the innkeeper had a room available; though knowing OOR Babble, he would have found a place for her even if he had a full house. OOR Babble was good for his business, her tales intrigued the patrons resulting in more drinks and more profit for him and his wife. At breakfast the next day, she sat with some new travelers that she had not met before; HarmonyJW, Tahkeeyah and God1va, who had made Neverwinter their home. Babble could tell that HarmonyJW was the newest to the realms for he had not picked up the slang that was so prominent in these parts. Tahkeeyah and God1va were well versed in the slang as well as locations of where the creatures and fights that Babble spun tales about were located. That did not stop Babble from telling her tales of her family, the OOR's, the fights she had encountered and the friends she had made along the way. She offered to show HarmonyJW around the realms, a personal guided tour, and to teach him of the ways that Lord Nasher would want him to conduct himself. He accepted and like a small child in a toy store - his wanted to see and touch everything. Babble smiled at his eagerness for it took her back to the time that she first arrived at the gates of Neverwinter and all the excitement that she felt. She could relate to all the emotions that he was experiencing. HarmonyJW and Babble said their good-byes to Tahkeeyah and God1va and wished them well on their journeys. Babble thought since he was so new to the area that she would take him to the Warehouse District just north of Neverwinter - the frogs there were becoming a nuisance for the residents and getting into the food supplies. She knew Lord Nasher would appreciate any help in ridding the storehouses of the vermin that were nesting there, plus it would give HarmonyJW a feel for his new weapon that she had given him. She did not carry much on her and usually gave away anything that she did not readily need. There were vaults in Neverwinter that Lord Nasher had supplied to the residence but with the rash of thieving and robbing that had taken place, her faith in the vaults had diminished. She had lost items in her vault three times in one week. She knew Lord Nasher did not accept responsibility for such robberies and all he and his guards would say is, "Sorry, you read the disclosure before entering the realms." So she simply decided no more vaults for her and what she can not carry, she would give to the less fortunate. Besides, this made her happy anyway, seeing the look on a new arrival's face when presenting them with a magical weapon that she had acquired from her journeys. At every turn, HarmonyJW would disappear into the night, into another building, or she would catch a glimpse of him as he darted from here to there down the street looking and peering into the windows. He was heading nowhere in particular, just exploring as fast as his feet would carry him. She stopped to talk to another and when she looked around HarmonyJW was no where to be found in this area. She laughed at his impulsiveness not to sit still and talk to anyone but rather going around absorbing as much as he could of the realms this first day. She found him in Windy Cliffs by the gates, hurt. She tried to reassure him that there would be other tomorrow's to explore and that the more experienced he got, the more outward from Neverwinter he could venture alone but for now he should travel close to Neverwinter or with another - if he wanted to extend his boundaries. He seem to slow down some with this bit of advice and decided that he already had too much fun for one day. He knew where the inn was and he would make his way there and rest for the night. He thanked her for the tour and hoped to see her again in the future. She told him that he would no doubt see her for she was becoming a permanent fixture to the realms. With this they both laughed and departed their separate ways. She decided that she had not been to Windy Cliffs in a while and she would stop by the inn to see Sabretta, the owner, or part owner anyway, if she was in. She knew of a secret passage to the south that went around to the back door of the Sheriff's Office. She thought she'd go to the inn this way and stop by to say hello to the sheriff. Making her way up the hallway, she heard a commotion coming from a building on her right. She knew the voice that was egging someone or something on into a fight, but could not place it. Being the way she was, OOR Babble stepped inside the room to see Tahkeeyah standing there facing a determined Cloud Giant that wished to make WindyCliffs home. Tahkeeyah looked up, saw Babble and welcomed her into his fight. OOR Babble drew her flail and entered this already blood-soaked room. Tahkeeyah, while he was still fighting and without any breathlessness, told her the Sheriff and the Mayor of WindyCliffs had posted that this here Cloud Giant was trying to set up residence here as well as a purple worm in the lower left quadrant of Windy Cliffs. He continued to say that the sheriff and mayor had said as long as they were in control of this town, these creatures will not run out their good people. Any who wish to stop these creatures will be rewarded by any treasure they find upon their carcasses. OOR Babbled was really a little late for this fight. Tahkeeyah had pretty much defeated the Cloud Giant, but he permitted OOR Babble the final death blow which brought this fight to an end. After sheathing his sword and rummaging through the dead for any treasure, Tahkeeyah asked, "Where you off to? Weren't you giving a tour to some new guy?" OOR Babble giggled, "Yes, I was, but that tour is now over. Gave him the blue light special express tour. What about you, where you off to?" He shrugged, "Nowhere special. Was thinking about going to the inn for a bit." OOR Babble smiled and asked if he wanted company, that she was also heading there via the Sheriff's office. He asked, "By way of Sheriff's Office, where's that?" "Ahhh, then let me show you a short cut," Babble replied grinning. They headed north up the hallway and right before the door on their left, they stopped short. Listening and whispering to Tahkeeyah, "It's way too quiet for the offices of the sheriff. Something is not right. Let's pull our weapons." Weapons pulled, she slowly opened the door and peered inside, her ears did not deceive her -- Owlbears were standing over the dead bodies of deputies and guards. She could not see the sheriff so did not know if he was also dead but no matter, they caught the Owlbears by surprise and got first strike. The Owlbears were startled and this gave OOR Babble enough time to ready a fireball spell. This was a good spell for it burned the feather-like fur quickly on these creatures. While she stood back and cast, Tahkeeyah went in and did hand to hand. This proved to be a good combination for the Owlbears went down pretty quickly. After the fight, Tahkeeyah and Babble looked for survivors, there were none. On the desk were notes and maps making references to the Purple Worm. Tahkeeyah and Babble discussed that the sheriff may be there and may need their help. They decided they should go there next rather than the inn. It was agreed upon and off they backtracked to the location of the Purple Worm lair. Upon arriving, the stench of the cave made them realize they were not alone. No sheriff was here nor it looked like he had been there at all. They debated whether to go it alone or to wait. Tahkeeyah had said he had come earlier but the Purple Worm was not home. They both agreed they were pretty sure it was home now because of the odor that was seeping out of the opening of the cave. Prepared for battle, they entered the cave and defeated the worm with ease. Surprised and relieved at the swiftness they destroyed the worm, they both agreed that it must have been the offspring of some older worms. The ones they had experienced elsewhere gave up much more of a fight. Not wanting to hang around until the more experienced worms came home, Tahkeeyah said he would go to the inn now and rest up. Then he would drop back by the sheriff's office to assist the town of Windy Cliffs in anyway he could. OOR Babble told him that she would be heading back toward Neverwinter. He asked her, "What about seeing your friend, Sabretta?" OOR Babble shrugged, "Maybe, another time..but if you see her there, please tell her I said Hello." With that, they went their separate ways knowing they would see each other again. OOR Babble made it to Neverwinter with no encounters. She rested, debating on where to go....What did she want to do now.....What gave her pleasure.. she knew.. a good story!!!! While sitting at the inn, she overheard some talk of Camelot in South Wall. Ahhh, Camelot, home of K.O.R.T. (Knights of the Round Table). She wondered if she went there if she would be accepted and welcomed or was it by invitation only that one could enter the gates of Camelot. She downed the last of her mead and off she scuttled toward Camelot. She'd find out for herself. Outside the gates, she took a deep breath, ran her hands over her outfit and her fingers through her hair. She thought to herself, "You look fine. Maybe someone I know will be there. Surely the storyteller is for all to hear not just KORT." With that she entered the lavishly decorated halls and made her way to the large room where an audience was gathering. She made her way, slipping around the outer walls trying to hide in the shadows, in fear someone would see she was not KORT and ask her to leave. People did not seem to notice her which made her feel comfortable. Then the blunder of all blunders, she eased into a closet of some sort and before she knew what had happened, she was facing several skeletons. She tried to dispatch them quietly and silently but it did not work. OOR Babble heard a feminine voice ask if she needed help. Babble knew she could take the skeletons out by herself but she had drawn attention to herself so she figured help would only end this embarrassment quicker for her. Babble accepted this woman's help and had come to the conclusion that she'd be asked to leave now. Not only did this lady join but also two others - one dressed in full battle plate - every inch cold steel death and the other that was there to save the pretty damsels in distress. The skeletons vanished as soon as they came near - the sheer power that radiated from these individuals - could no doubt be that of the Paladins that belonged to KORT. Babble thought to herself, "Oh great, I'll have escorts to deliver me back on the streets." She shook her head and was inwardly scolding herself when the last skeleton fell. After it was all over with, she stood there waiting for one of these paladins to pick her up by the scruff of the neck and deposit her onto the streets; but it never came. She heard the feminine voice again introducing herself as DeathWynde of the Wynde family and when OOR Babble regained focus saw that she was curtsying. OOR Babble, taken aback, also curtsied and introduced herself, amazed to the fact that no one had ousted her. She looked around and before her were the two that she had just fought alongside. Both were bowing and extending their welcome to her. Lrd Helios was the one that wore that massive full battle plate and Sir Str was there making sure that Death and Babble were all right and if they required anything; drink, chair, hand, shoulder. He was floating back and forth between the two ladies to make sure he did not miss a need that might escape his eye. Death and Babble assured Sir Str that they were fine. OOR Babble gathered the courage to ask the question, "Excuse me, but is it all right for me to be here? I am not of KORT." Death looked at Babble and said smiling, "I hope it's okay for I am not KORT either." It was Lrd Helios who spoke, "We welcome all to Camelot, especially such pretty ladies as yourselves. You only enhance the beauty of this place. Please come in and be seated." He offered his arm and Death accepted it while Sir Str followed suit and extended his arm to Babble, which she in turn accepted. This was going to be a fun night out for Babble and her heart started to beat faster. They made their way right into the center of the room. There sat the one that Babble knew to be the storyteller and one that the world of Camelot evolved around, Sir Dagron, one of KORT's main cornerstones and one who all looked upon with respect and admiration. Approaching him, Babble felt flushed and was thinking to herself, "Don't make a fool of yourself. Remember your proper etiquette. Talk slowly. Make sense." Lrd Helios and Death approached first and did their formal introduction. Babble watched and held onto Sir Str a wee bit harder than she anticipated. Sir Str leaned and whispered in her ear, "No need to be scared, M'lady. He does not bite that hard." With this, Babble then realized how tightly she had gripped Sir Str's arm. She sheepishly smiled and released her grip while apologizing to Sir Str, who was bowing. She heard a voice of power say, "Why do you apologize?" Babble jerked up and then saw she was standing in front of Sir Dagron -- flustered and turning every shade of red imaginable - she attempted to curtsy but instead fainted at his feet and her head hit the floor. When she awoke, with stars in her head spinning around, Sir Str was once again there to assure her that she was fine. He had gotten some ice for her head and a glass of mead for her. She sipped the mead while holding the ice on her bruised head. She looked around and saw that it was quiet in the room, the story had begun and she missed the opening sequence. She sat up to hear and Sir Str told her, "Not to worry, he repeats this one almost every week so you did not miss much. Are you sure you are all right, M'lady? Would you like to go lay down? There is an inn right across the way." "No, no, M'lord," she anxiously replied, "I am truly fine. Really.. What hurts worst is my bruised ego.. I can't believe I made such an fool of myself...." OOR Babble rolled her eyes, "Fainting like that at his feet, he must think me an absolute fool." "On the contrary", he smirked with amusement in his voice, "he found it amusing that he has such ways with the ladies or that the sight of one as he would make them faint away, a reaction he had not expected. Made him feel good, that the old boy had not lost his touch with the ladies." OOR Babble giggled at this and said she was now ready to join the others in the outer room and she would try to refrain from fainting at his feet again. Lrd Helios and DeathWynde were sitting there with two empty seats at their table. Seats Babble knew was for her and Sir Str. They made their way to the table and sat down quietly as they could. Sir Dagron was at the point of his story, "Now picture this in your mind....if you will...the banners, the music, the rise, the Cavalry, the crescendo is building with power of drums....." DeathWynde leaned over and asked Babble, "How are you feeling? That was one nasty tumble you took." Babble nodded, "Fine, more embarrassed than anything? Did I miss much of the story?" Sir Dagron must have Elven ears for in the middle of his story, he stopped and looked at their table. Put his finger to his lips and said, "Sheesh, we ain't even a third of the way there." Sir Str asked, "Are you at the part yet with the Purple Shields?" OOR Babble let out a breath and leaned back into the chair.. she asked, "Purple shields -- the Purple Worm Lovers..??" Sir Str looks at his purple shield and looked at Babble, "Worm lover?!!!" DeathWynde made a sound of gasping and whispered, "Nothing like open mouth and insert foot -- DOH!!!" Lrd Helios glanced over at Babble and raised his eyebrows. "OOPS, say something wrong, did I?" feeling all eyes upon her. This was not turning out to be a good night after all. Sir Dagron turned back to the audience and continued without further comment to Babble, "Picture this in your mind....The Banners become more visible over the rise..." She tried to become one with the chair as she sat there, closing her eyes and trying to get into the story that Sir Dagron was painting for everyone. But all she got was a headache from squinting her eyes so tightly that she began to see spots, plus the bump on her head was starting to throb again. She was not going to say a word.. not a single word until Sir Dagron had finished with his story. She was going to sit there and be a statue...listening only to Sir Dagron voice. She was immediately pulled into his world and totally forgot about her aches and pains. She was picturing in her mind the rise, the marching of the cavalry cresting the rise with the sequential foot step of each drum beat. When the drum beat, the foot came down. It was a perfectly orchestrated dance becoming louder and louder until you could sense the whole horizon was filled with banners of the KORT. Ahhh, the Purple Shield, now she understood. The men, the horses, all proudly marching over the rise until they were in full view. The excitement of the story was mounting, she felt her pulse quicken as the visions became clearer and clearer in her mind. The sounds of the drums in her head became almost deafening, as if she was standing next to the drummers. The massive army of KORT coming into clear view, she could see the stern proud faces of the knights, the eyes of their steeds showing no fear. Then the drumming stoped and so did the army of KORT as well as this story. Sir Dagron ended the tale by turning to OOR Babble and saying, La Mere L'oies. The EndStorm Clouds (submitted by: Thorn Hawk) East of the great city of Neverwinter, the dark woods known as Neverwinter woods lay in a quiet slumber. A few inches of snow blanketed the ground throwing the woods into a stark and barren world. A chill wind had picked up earlier in the day while dark clouds moved in from the west bringing with them the promise of more snow. Cloaked and hooded, a figure ran through this world with the ease of a ghost his soft boots barely making a sound. An onlooker, seeing him from a distance, might have imagined it had there not been a trail. Thorn Hawk had been traveling toward Neverwinter for the past two days ever since meeting a merchant in Longsaddle telling him of a gathering being held in the sister's tavern. It had been long since he shared an ale with some of his own telling stores and testing his skills against theirs. He pressed on moving even faster determined to make it there within the next few days when he was jerked out of his thoughts, his senses assaulted, by the ground before him. Everywhere he looked, the clearing had been trampled by booted feet. Peering closely at a set of tracks, one thought came to mind, a thought that brought fear and anticipation. A warband of orcs had moved through that morning . . . Moving through the clearing with practiced ease, he gathered what information he could on this band. They were heading west toward Nightsedge and the few remaining settlers there. By the still warm coals of a fire, he knew they were only hours ahead. Taking from its oilskin case, he withdrew an ebony bow, a gift from his wife on their first meeting so many months ago. Running his hands down its smooth surface, his mind felt the care and love that went into the shaping of the wood and knew the elf that made it prized his work greatly. From another pack, he withdrew a quiver of arrows, their point's small and sharp designed for accuracy and distance. The fletchings on each a combination of white and black to blend perfectly with the wintery backdrop of these woods. He rarely used a bow preferring the closeness of sword work and the intimacy he felt with his opponent during their fight, but as a smile crossed his features he thought that the elf who crafted his bow would be happy with his choice of weapons for this task. Thorn Hawk strung the bow and set off after his prey hoping to catch them before they found a farm. His pace was steady and each time he crossed the trail of orcs he knew he was gaining on them. Cresting a ridge and dropping down into a long valley, Thorn Hawk heard the unmistakable voices of orcs further down the slope. Coming to rest behind a tree, he scanned the valley below and soon found his prey marching in a lazy group along the valley floor. They were not wary of attack by their manner and the ranger knew he still held surprise in his hand. Slipping back over the ridge line, he ran ahead heedless of the noise knowing the band of orcs would never hear him over their own stomping as a plan formed in his mind. Not long after spotting the orcs, he crested the ridge again and dipped down among the trees that dotted the valley. His hearing picked up the orcs further up the valley still unaware of their danger. Resting behind a fallen tree, he loosened his sword and readied an arrow while his eyes scanned the warband. He counted near thirty of the troublesome humanoids and knew what damage they could reck if they reached a settlement. He knelt and watched when for no apparent reason one of the orcs took an axe and started hacking at an ancient oak. Soon, a single limb fell from the tree and the orc was quick to pounce on a ball of twigs attached to the limb. Hoarse laughter greeted the ears of the ranger as he surveyed the group below. The orc held the still form of a squirrel in his hand before casually tossing it aside to resume his march at the barked orders of a brutish looking orc. The storm clouds that gathered above were meek compared to the fire that bloomed in the flat grey eyes of the ranger above. "Now you shall fear the woods before you die," breathed the ranger as a spell formed on his lips. Below him screams of surprise and rage reached his ears as his first spell took effect. The trees below and the many bushes had lent the ranger use of their roots and with grim purpose they had entangled the band of orcs. As the orcs mastered their fear to the snarling commands of their leader, the ranger's eyes blazed with passion as he watched the leader and those around him blossom in violet faerie fire. Amidst the renewed screams of terrified orcs, a soft twang could be heard. First one then another fell to a yard of quivering death while those nearby tried to free themselves from the entangling roots heedless of the death around them. Thorn Hawk moved along the ridge finding glowing targets in the gloom of the deep woods of the valley floor. His bow sang a song of its own one of death and revenge and renewal one crafted by its maker. The few remaining orcs scattered into the woods running in all directions fleeing an enemy they could not see one that killed at will. Gorthog laid quietly until the arrows quite flying then moved from the trail as quickly as he could. He had been behind Snag when the trees had come alive to attack them. He watched as Snag was encased in fire and fell over backwards as an arrow pierced his armor. Armor he was very proud of, thought Gorthog, but too bad it didn't keep him alive. He moved rapidly through the brush not wishing to meet the same fate as his companions. I was a fool to follow Snag here, he thought, even with the promise of treasure and fighting. A grouse suddenly took wing from under a bush at the feet of Gorthog sending the orc flying to the side his heart beating faster than the wings of the fleeing bird. "Stupid wird," sighed Gorthog happily getting to his feet. Taking deep breaths to ease the strain on his heart, he suddenly stepped back feeling a pang in his chest. Looking down, Gorthog noticed three small feathers protruding from his chest. Puzzled, he reached up to touch one. Darkness claimed him before he could. Thorn Hawk gently lifted the dead squirrel from the ground. Its body crushed, the ranger set it back on the ground knowing some animal would find it and be grateful. Replacing the bow in its case, he moved off into the deep woods again making his way to Neverwinter while off in the distance smoke rose from the chimney of a farmstead on the outskirts of Nightsedge. Thorn Hawk, Brotherhood of PathfindersZelghinnia's Story (submitted by: Zelghinnia) Thunder clashed in a mighty roar, that deafened the senses. It was a night of strife, where gods of darkness battled those of light for supremacy of the sky. More than one battle was being fought though. Far below the storm wracked surface, in a chamber deep inside a mighty granite stalagmite, a different war raged. Not a war of weapons, but a war between two drow. A private war. A battle between mother and soon to be daughter. Through the agonizing pain of being forced to leave a place known only as 'here' for the past months, a shrill cry split the air that did not go unnoticed by drow or gods alike. The scream that sounded a mother's happiness also heralded a call to arms, and as the angry father slit the throats of the guards at the gates, the invading army was ready. Ever so silently and efficiently, the invading army had the outside of the compound secured. Not many put up a resistance, feeling secure and comfortable with their place. It was also a night of slaughter, where the only defense made was the defense in the house proper, where the Ilharess, slowly recovered. Upon hearing the sounds of battle beyond the safe confines of the private chapel, a voice whispered in her mind to send the newborn to safety. Ordering a Yathrin to take the child and flee the compound, the Ilharess turned to enter the battle but the cause was already lost. As the Yathrin fled through an underground passage reserved expressly for this purpose, she moved into the silent tunnels of the underground realm knowing that all now considered her an outcast and rogue. As she thought this over she came to a crystalline river which flowed through the silent world. Looking at the small bundle in her hands and cursing the fate that brought her to this pass, she walked over to the side of the chasm and held out her arms. Looking one last time at the child she opened her hands with a simple, "aluve'" and the child plunged into darkness. The Yathrin quite content with herself did not notice the figure step out of the shadows behind her. She didn't notice the cruel smile on the his face as he plunged the dagger deep into her back. But at least she was happy. As the drow turned his back to the carnage a small smile caressed his lips..... It was done the house was eradicated. As Lolth showed favor on one house she also showed favor on a child she intended for a greater purpose than an icy grave in the deep recesses of an underground realm. Lolth had looked into the future and in her infinate wisdom saw and recognized something in the child, that was unlike others. Something that was worth saving. Before the drowess hit the icy stream, a large eight legged form spun a quick web. Not a web of lies, but a soft silky web, a web of protection. This was it's purpose in life, this was the reason it existed, Lolth had given it this task, had imbued it with a special knowledge. The spider was first confused by this knowledge, this feeling of adoration towards the child. It had never been a mother to a drow and though it knew drow were special, motherhood was a bit much for it. But slowly time passed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As I grew older in the silent darkness of the underground I called home, I had longings and feelings I couldn't explain. I was possessed with a temper and a quiet contemplation. I couldn't grasp why monthly I would bleed and be "possessed" even more. I felt there was more to life than this but I couldn't tell you what. Day after day I would toil at my life, I would hunt, sleep, move, and hunt more, all the while being followed by my eight legged silent friend. I felt lonliness and despair, anger and hatred at the fates that left me in this savage world. Through my hunting I would come across camps or compounds of various creatures that also lived here in the eternal darkness. Occasionally I would hide and watch their puzzling actions for hours. Soon I learned the strange noises, and the quick movements of hands and fingers meant they somehow communicated as I did with my companion. Deciding that I too should learn, I stalked and captured one of the small ones that seemed to obey those that looked like me. A goblin I learned later. The small ugly looking creature did not know much. What it did know it taught me in a grudging way. I found I enjoyed beating it for information. The sullen attitude would turn to pleading whimpers of agreement. Growing tired of this game, I told it to go. Then I stalked the pathetic being and killed it with ease. Learning from my spying, now knowing some of the strange sounds and hand movements as words, I was able to make things for myself. From the silk of the spider I fashioned clothes, and common sense taught me to make and arm myself with rough weapons. Although crude in nature they seemed to fit me. There came a day though where I became the hunted and the world as I knew it slowly collapsed about me. Again I found myself spying upon ones like myself. Ebony skin and stark white hair so like my own. From behind I heard movement. Spinning around quickly I saw two moving stealthily towards me. I was fascinated and yet somehow repulsed by them. Then they spotted me. For a brief moment in time all three of us just stared at each other in surprise. When they began to circle me, one to each side, I knew the hunt was on. I led them on a chase that lasted many hours until, at last, I reached a bridge that stretched over a chasm. Looking down I saw an icy stream. My eight legged companion joined me then and turned to block the pursuers from me. I wanted to run to her but could only watch in horrid fascination as the two descended on her in a dance of death. I moved away from them as their shiny long weapons hacked her apart. Slipping back into the shadows, away from them, I felt arms wrap around me. A third! A hand clamped over my mouth clasping me tight and a breath of sound whispered into my ear, "sleep". I do not wish to remember all the things that occured in that rogue's camp. Just that from other females like myself, I learned the language of the drow properly, and of Lolth. Our hatred and anger at the males who defied her burned deep inside us. Years passed and we waited much as my spider companion would within her web. Eventually our patience paid off and the blood ran deep in sacrifice to the Spider Goddess. Only I survived to reach the outskirts of this great city called Rilauven. Something drew me towards a compound that scurried with activity. Looking upon the majestic spire that towered over it, it seemed I saw myself riding upon the back of my companion. Here is "home" whatever that word means. I felt a strong yearning to join with the others that moved about there. Standing before the gates, I simply glared at the males who guarded them. One quickly ran within where I could not see. Soon a female arrived. Her beauty and stature, the power that emanated from her, awed me at her presence. I quickly fell to my knees not knowing what to say. "Vendui' Zelghinna and welcome to Elythanar. I have been awaiting your arrival," her low husky voice sent a shiver down my spine. Many questions tumbled in my mind. How did she know my name? How had she known I would come? These thoughts and more buzzed inside me, but I gave no voice to them. Instead I lowered my eyes and spoke, "Vendui' Malla Ilharess." "Do rise dear and follow me, it has been a long journey for dos." -the end-The Timer Beastie (submitted by: ABK Mellow) The evil "punt" has got a friend. Their mission is to make us end the game before we want to go forceing us off if we say no. If you attampt to reach the dracs On your super-speedy little Macs You shall go before you're through Even the computer can't save you. This beastie's name is yet unknown But it's sure to make you moan Because no one can reach Triboar anymore Or try to find the Red Larch store. I make my plea, and my case To end this timer from our place Get RID of this idea, for infinity Away from Neverwinter and this vicinity. ABK Mellow Keeper of the Cellers Brewer of all ABK drinks And a bloomin' poet All in a Night's Work (submitted by: V Randym) As the claw whistled through the air at his head, Randym wondered once again how he had gotten himself into this mess. He slipped quickly under it and stopped short as a maw full of sharp teeth descended on him. Dodging back, he figured he'd be alright so long as the dragon didnt breathe fire. That was when the other claw slammed into him, throwing him against the wall with a bone-jarring impact. Through the stars he saw, he reflected back on the events of the night, trying once again to find where he had gone wrong... Crying. It came to him in his slumber. As he awoke to a new night, the unmistakable sound of soft crying. Sleepily, he got out of bed and shuffled to the window. Pulling aside the heavy, black drapes, he leaned out and scanned the shadows below him. Sitting huddled belowwas a little kine child. Female from the looks of her. He paused to consider what to do. Scratching his chin, he turned and made his way to his dressing room. He washed quickly and dressed. Slipping into his boots, he made his way past the still sleeping form of his wife. He gave her a brief kiss on the cheek and made his way out of the room. He nimbly trotted down the steps to the first floor and lifted his cloak from it's resting place by the door. Sweeping it on with a flourish, he opened the door and stepped out into the cool evening air. The child was still sitting there as he approached. She was still crying, too, but not with as much enthusiasm. He crouched next to her and smiled warmly. "Child, what is wrong? Where are your parents that they allow you out at this hour, and in such distress?" The little girl looked at him and a fresh round of tears came to her at the mention of her parents. "Are you lost, little one? Is that it?" "Y-y-y-yes," she managed through little hiccups. He favored her with a brave smile. "That is nothing to cry over. We shall find your parents. Do you live here in Neverwinter?" The little girl shook her head no, and wiped at her eyes. She explained that her father worked in a warehouse, and that she had fallen asleep on one of the pallets. Someone must have loaded the pallet on a barge without seeing her and when she awoke...she was on the docks of Neverwinter. "Where do you come from?" he asked, fishing out a hanky and wiping at her eyes with it. "T-Trisk." "The Isles, eh?" he asked. When she nodded, he sighed softly and said, "Then I guess we shall have to take a boat ride." "I would like that," she said softly, "but Momma says never to travel with strangers." He rose and bowed. "My name is Randym. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" She smiled for a moment and answered, "My name is Beth." He grinned at her and whispered conspiritorally, "Now that we know each others names, we are not strangers anymore. Let's get you home...your folks must be worried sick." Less than an hour later, they were riding the ferry to the Isle of Trisk. He had purchased some food and milk for Beth. She wolfed it down in record time and giggled after bellowing an enormous belch. The boat docked, and Randym followed Beth down the plank to the docks. He had to walk quickly to keep up with her, because she was practically running to the end of the dock. He followed her down the path to a small cottage and was delighted to hear a cry of joy come from the doorway. A young woman rushed out and swept the child into her arms, hugging her tightly...then hugging him tightly, too. "M'lady...twas the least I could do...no trouble at all...was my pleasure..." he stammered amid a wild flurry of thank you's. She told him that her husband would want to thank him as well...as soon as he returned from searching for Beth. "Where did he go to look?" He felt a twinge of concern as worry flooded the young mother's features. "He went to search the caves north of here. They aren't very safe..." Nodding, Randym rested a hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'll go see if I can find him." It didn't take long to find the caves. His eyes glowed a deep crimson as he scanned the darkness. His heightened hearing picked up no sounds in the first cave. It was the second that the sounds of far off movement came to him from. Entering it, he made his way swiftly through it, his footing sure as his eyes pierced the darkness. A cry for mercy made him break out into a run. He turned a corner and found himself in an open cavern. Phosphorescent moss grew along the walls and ceiling, casting a pale green light on the area. A man in tattered and bloody rags knelt in the center of the room, facing away from Randym. Something large shifted in the gloom. He stepped forward, and found himself facing a red dragon. Quickly rushing ahead of the man, he placed himself between the two. He hissed for the man to run and was mildly relieved when he heard his footsteps scrabbling off into the distance. Needless to say, things went downhill quickly from there. He rose quickly to his feet and shook off his reverie. He snarled in rage and six inch barbed claws grew from his fingertips. He summoned Potence the strength, and Celerity the Speed to his bidding. Time seemed to slow for him as he advanced on the beast. His glowing red eyes flickered from side to side, judging the beast's next attack. As the claws rose to strike at him, he moved in an inhuman blur under them. He leapt and dug his claws into the neck of the beast with such force that it's immense weight was driven a step back. He visciously ripped his arms down and was rewarded with a loud gurgle of pain and a wash of dark red blood. The dragon's wings beat the air as it back peddled from an easy supper turned life threatening attacker. The smell of so much blood flooded his nostrils, flaring them. His fangs grew and he gave in to the frenzy, leaping after the dragon without hesitation. It's attack again seemed slow and clumsy to his heightened reflexes, and again he struck at it's neck, his claws biting deeply through the heavy scales. Blood gushed from the new wounds and the dragon bellowed in agony. He sensed, rather than saw the form begin to drop. Leaping and rolling as quickly as he could, he dodged the collapsing form of the beast. The crash echoed through the caverns. Slowly, he regained control of himself. His claws and fangs retracted and he was left looking at his ruined outfit. The smears of blood seemed black in the pale green light. He focused and his features began to melt and waver. They compacted in on themselves until a large black bat flapped it's wings in the place he had stood a moment before. He soared out of the cavern and circled briefly over the cottage. The father had made it home and the whole family was hugging and crying in the yard. With a screech he set off in the direction of Neverwinter....and home. V Randym Prince of Neverwinter Camarilla GMNight of Fire, Day of Tears Chapter One (submitted by: Milanthor) Wednesday night. Near midnight. As he sat in the Tavern, Argo reflected on a couple of hard days and nights in which he had struggled to acquire wealth. Not the old fashioned way being a thief, that was easy but rather by dint of hard work, hard fighting, and worst of all, hard trading. It was not something that the elf did with a great deal of joy, nor for that matter, a great deal of skill. For Argo, it was a quick glamor, a quicker mind and still quicker fingers that permitted him his usual life style. Still, he did have to smile. The look on the guard's face as he brought those precious items in to a vault he had ordered was worth all 74 pieces of jewelry. Argo putting things into a vault instead of trying to take them out, perhaps with that old "letter of permission" trick! The guard was sure that Argo was casing the joint, and did not like it at all. Argo's long pointed ears curled in pleasure at remembering the guard's discomfort. As he glanced out the window, at the weirdly flashing lightening that seemed to bring the world to a halt for moments at a time until one could recover one's senses, he pondered on a few problems that he faced. He had, in a moment of weakness, made a vow to his cousin Argus that he would have the bag and the gauntlets, the jewels, and especially the elfin chain mail (plus 2 at that) and that these items would be "clean". No hue and cry, no questions about who had owned them, or whether Argo had good title. Argo suspected that having these items "clean" might be connected with a certain job Argus had mentioned, which Argo did not want to get involved in. After all, Argus certainly would not have the Guild's sanction and did not especially want to pay the Guild's tithe. Well, whatever, Argus' motives and plans, the work was done and the equip- ment collected. Argo was planning to be out of town on vacation when Argus came in. This raised a more serious question. If the guards no longer accepted the "letter of permission" and since none of the items were important enough to be registered in Nasher's Pearl Book, Argus could not simply claim title or possession from Argo's vault. How in the name of Nine Fingered Klepto could he get these things to Argus? One thing was for sure: he could and would not go to the Guild and have Josa, the Guildmaster, act as an escrow agent. If so, Argo would have to pay the tithe, and far worse, he would be exposed as having done a couple of days of honest labor. That would not stand him in good stead during the next Guild elections. With the hordes of strangers in town these days and especially with these strange electrical storms, it also was not especially safe to trust a simple transfer to a friend or acquaintance. Argo reflected on the magnificent +3 bow that he had spent a number of days trading up to last year. Yes, he had thought that the deal for the bow and the 20 +2 arrows might well be worth giving up the gauntlet. After all, Argo's goal in life was directed against the beholders, where strength really did not count. It had been a rainy evening, just back when the lightening storms had started. He had, with some misgivings, traded the guants, had gotten the bow and arrows, had stowed the bow securely, wrapped the arrows in the chamois pouch and readied them. Then he had been overwhelmed by a nearby flash of lightening, in fact may have lost consciousness for a moment, and when he woke up, they were gone. Vanished. He confirmed that Agarra did not have them, and in fact, she had helped him out of his misery quite nicely. Still, even if you could trust someone, a quick flash of lightning, and weeks of work could vanish. "They" said that the gods themselves were experiencing problems, and while marketplace rumors were usually worth what one paid for them, this one sounded like it might be true. Argo also thought about the rumor that a large army of glue-fingered accountants had even found problems with Lord Case's expansionist plans, and had managed to hold him up for much of the gold in the Royal Treasury. Now, that would have been a caper to have been in on! Official, sanctimonious, sanctioned a grand heist without the slightest fear of official retribution. Lord Case was probably still quivering. A small chuckle here, since Argo was not in agreement with much of the expansionist theory. Argo was not at all sure that the hordes of folks coming in looking for work being generated by Case's plans was to the benefit of his own smaller, tidy world. Sure, they were easy pickings, but it also made it so much more difficult to gain the experience, the fingertip feeling that Argo needed for his work. A bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder brought his thoughts back to the problem at hand. For once in his life, Argo considered the possible benefits of an official police force, of lawyers and judges. You lose something or someone takes it, you go to the police who can enforce the law. You go to an attorney, maybe for a cut of the action, and he can persuade a judge to throw a thief already in jail to cough up money to cover the loss. As quickly as the idea came, Argo forced it away with a shudder. He could imagine having to work in a world like that. Guild fees would be nothing compared to the grease you would have to lay out to get your work done! You probably would never accumulate enough to get those precious Pearl items that Argo and every one of his acquaintances lusted after. Wait a minute, thought Argo, with a thought as defining as one of those lightning bolts. He ran out into the night, leaving the convivial company of the Tavern, even not saying goodbye to Ramona, with whom he had an understanding about who would be washing breakfast dishes in the morning. He was truly all afire with an idea, something he had seen announced in the NWNews. It was a subscription form to become a founding member of a bank. Sure, the bankers would never accept a thief of his stature in their midst, even though it was perhaps only the clothes that made the difference. Still, the idea of a bank was there, and that certainly made the difference to Argo. Added to that was that announcement that the old mining company head- quarters was up for lease. That was one secure place, he knew from personal experience, and it was not in the commercial center of town around Nasher's, but out near the taverns, where the miners used to come as they hit town. It was so simple, and it would be a greater goldmine than the bosses of the mining com- pany ever dreamed of. If Argo could get that lease, he knew enough about the value of goods and equipment, he knew enough about storage and safekeeping albiet from the other side of the fence, as it were. He knew who was honest, or at least trustworthy. The idea was so simple, just a small switch on the letter of permission deal. It would solve the vault idea, which of course was never more than just a single person's storage house. It could, if handled right, solve the prob- lems the vault company was always having with losing gems and equipment, even granting that some of those problems were not the result of their negligence. It could also make a fortune for the Thieves' Guild, which could in turn put him in a strong position to take over as Guildmaster. Akra Rasham was the trustee for the old mining company's liquidation, and Akra was a man he knew well. Family ties like Akra's son's marriage to Argo's niece helped, but Akra had also been a school mate in their early years and understood the ins and outs of making a deal go well even then. Akra was the key, the problem with his cousin Argus the lock. Could he put them together? Even as he stood on Akra's doorstep, knowing Akra was awake from the soft glow from the study window, he thought about the laws that would have to be made to permit this venture. In fact, some of the commercial structure already in place with the banks and the vault company might have to be rewritten, and if so, it was clear that the burden would be on him to make sure that everyone got an appropriate compensation. Still, as he though about it more, he knew it was possible. Rapping at the door, though, Argo began to have some worries. It was not like Akra not to have someone open the door immediately, day or night. As his senses and suspicion sharpened with equal force, he noted a trace of sulphur in the air. Not like the smell that one of those cursed fire elementals left, not even the horrendous smell of a burning drac more like fabric, perhaps treated wool, burning. My God, thought Argo, as he realized that a fire might be starting inside, as he tested the door and found it unlocked. Racing inside, his worst fears were confirmed. There lay Akra, or what was left of him. One of those lightning bolts had obviously struck directly into Akra's study, incinerating that wealth of talent and experience. Even if Akra could somehow be brought back to life, it was clear that he would never have been the same. It had destroyed his private treasure, his notes, all that Akra kept as sacred. It also destroyed Argo's hopes. After all was said and done, the loss of a good man was the worst loss of all, and he dreaded having to face his niece with the news. It was only Argo's lifetime habit of quickly inventorying in his mind all the possible hiding spots in a given room that let him see the gleam of metal beneath one of the charred floorboards. It was not something that everyone might have done, but searching for treasure in the face of injury and death was something to which Argo had become accustomed long ago. Carefully, without any obvious tinkering with the position of the body or the items in the room, Argo pried up the three boards that were covering some sort of a metal container. Chapter Two will be forthcoming.Macabre Stalker The Ballad of Talisman (submitted by: RayDogg 79) On a day immerged in death, in a realm immerged from sea, I sought my prey in ruined lighthouse, for 'twas here I knew he'd be. At the door of mine fate, I peeped at the lock, Rapped on its metal and pulled back with a shock. A wry smiled didst cross my red gnomish lips, I unfurled a scroll which I'd tucked by my hip. I mumbled the words inscribed on the page, And sparkled away didst the field lain by mage. I stood in a chamber,.... blank, cold, and bare... All that existed was a ladder... hung in air... And I climbed it....... Into nothingness..... What tabula rasa was this that stretched before me now? Blackness dark as space, space black as darkness.., but how? By an absent ocean an Ettin rised, On a fathomless road it roared its call; Heart-pure evil, its clubs didst fall, Yet fearless despite my self outsized, I leapt, thrust, shoved....the beast capsized. Then light returned to the chamber of my wake, The Ettins body was consumed by purple snake. In a blinding light, flashed my foe into sight. My pearl hilt grasped....I was ready to fight. Yet before I could act my mind didst burn with flame, My senses didst abandon me...I knew not my own name. Approcheth me did Ultrecht with evil grin. His palms didst burn...like the fire of his sin. A moment of clarity: Why? Tyr only knows. But was moment enough to let loose my fatal blow. And in that instant, the wizard didst turn to dust. All that remained was a Talisman, licked with rust. I picked up the artifact in wonder and cried out. A venom coursed through my blood my palm scalded with my shout. I dropped the mage's instrument...convinced that i would die. But my quest I had completed...so in peace would come my lie. So surprised I was indeed, when I woke up on a cot. Healers stood above me, my fever cured of hot. I hastened to speak, yet they hushed me so abruptly, That I could do naught but raise my burnt hand triumphantly. "To the victors go the spoils....To the victor goes the toils." Jester's Lament (submitted by: OGS Jester) The bulk of this poem is directed at my guild But I thought it was cute and that you might be thrilled So I added these lines and submit this to you In order to cause just a brief smile or two Tis grand my friends, to see so much life Between warnings and stories so rich and so ripe Since chance preempted our own private posts Tis nice to see new life with our growing guild hosts I thank ye Mershu for your warning indeed The punting of the players has left many in need And Super and Bannor your advice rings anew 'Tis wisdom and experience emanating from you And the stories and tales they do pass any others From the goods and the neutrals and our evil dark brothers I am honored and privileged and yes very pleased To help with my laughter to bring the realms to it's knees But now I will point out a brief tip or two That will hopefully get through to ol' Steve you-know-who Please clone this great realm and then offer a rate That's both fair and quite just and so your face we won't hate There are many that play that would gladly pay out A fair sum of shillings that won't make us pout Leave this land open to all who do not have the cash And offer another, and sir PLEASE DO IT FAST!!! OGS Jester Mess with the Jest, Cry like the rest The Fame of the Name (submitted by: OGS Jester) I petitioned ITB to join their dark guild Between you and me I was scared and was thrilled The legends of bravery by them are quite bold As they chase down the players that are not very old I like to pull wings off of cute little flies And when it comes to the truth, heck I'd rather tell lies When I mentioned these things, yes they said "come on in" Just keep up our low standards and commit every sin So I rolled and I rolled and I got some great numbers As to strike fear into newbies and wake goods from their slumbers The icon I chose was both dark and quite fell It was "ready or not" to go give the realms hell Now when it came to a name, I kept picking them wrong And submit now to you this next list and it's long Brainless and Butthead were good ones indeed Along with Klutzy and BO and ITB Milkweed Flasher, and Whiner and WetArmor I tried But the names were refused, "you can't have them they cried" There was Pisser and Moaner and ITB Snot But these names as well were submitted for naught I finally got one that I thought was just great But it was ITB Putz that in truth got them irate So I said, "now come on guys, why do your refuse To accept these fine names that I desire to use?" These names represent all the traits of your group And I can't find any lower than these that I will stoop They then bowed their heads and said "yes, these are fine" Because with what we do stand for they are really in line But won't other guilds then quite clearly see The way that we are, "just between you and me" I scratched and I pondered and really got thinking That it's more than BO that from this guild is stinking So I said nevermind, I will go try elsewhere Where Brainless and Butthead are not names they should wear As you guessed, I did give up on joining ITB's guild And now for publishing this poem I will likely be killed OGS Jester Mess wit' th' Jest, Cry like the Rest Silence of the Shams (submitted by: OGS Jester) Nary a word is being said in reply to The obvious humor one cannot deny That is found in my poem, The Fame of the Name So I guess I'll conclude House ITB is in shame I'm sorry my darks friends for bruising you so And now ye've been bantered just where will you go With your tail's twixt your legs and your heads hung in sorrow You'd make great toilet guards, so why not start on the morrow. Imagine ITB's fresh from their latest fell caper Standing post in a stall holding a roll of t-paper Or mayhaps when it's time to clean off a seat You could use ITB banners to wipe it off neat Since it's clear you have no further use for your flags Then to use them in conjunction as your cleaning rags 'Tis a shame that when once I would have posted this blast There would have been some reply, I guess your prides in the past.. OGS Jester Mess with the Jest, Cry like the Rest A Winter Too Long (submitted by: Augustus 5) Many a fortnight have I travelled To sit upon this rocky precipice... I kick the ice from my boots Watch it cascade over the edge... The sound echoing through the canyon below Sparkling moonlight into the abyss. And the sparrow-hawk circles hungrily overhead... I sit by dying embers My thoughts drift out to thee... Loving eyes gaze into my soul Arms reach out my heart to hold... Tender lips trace this weather-worn cheek Taking away the tears. And the sparrow-hawk circles hungrily overhead... Why this call to traverse So harsh a land.. so far from home... I know not why I travail here But forge ahead I must... And keep in my heart a hope to be Realized in the newborne spring. And the sparrow-hawk cries out hungrily overhead... As I pull my bedroll tightly To guard against the chill... Thy warm embrace is with me 'Tis but a longing, no more... In truth my arms are empty... and the morn' Shall be Herald' only by the Frost. And the sparrow-hawk returns hungry to it's nest.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dedicated to my dear Bride Dragonflyr... ------===<<<@>>>===------ NEW IMPROVED TRIVIA!! ------===<<<@>>>===------ Join NW Raven and NW Omar for a night of fun and prizes, while we test your knowledge of Neverwinter Nights trivia! Date: Tuesday, February 4th Time: 10:00 to 11:30 pm EST Place: The Great Hall of Neverwinter (outside the Realms) Prizes to be awarded to winners: First Place - 15 Pearls Second Place - 12 Pearls Third Place - 9 Pearls Fourth Place - 7 Pearls Fifth Place - 5 Pearls AND access to the Guild of Heroes!! There are NEW rules for a new year of Trivia! Major changes are: 1. FIVE winners instead of three! 2. PRIZES include only pearls! 3. ONLY first 10 correct answers are scored! 4. TWO random rolls instead of one! Please review the new rules before coming in to play. Hope to see ya there... ;D -- NW Omar and NW Raven (submitted by: Spryte) Hey! Looking for a great, tough fight for maxing your character? Then look no further! It's right here at 8,10 in the North West Woods. 70,000 per fight! It's tough, though, with golems, so bring your brass knuckles. :) Spryte (hehe) (submitted by: SSC JAS) Any Newb at any time, may politely ask SSC JAS for help. I will do all that I can to assist. In service to the realm, SSC JAS Cleric of The Four Winds(submitted by: Vyllano) Dear Miss Manners: I went to the Dracs the other night, but it took like ten minutes :( before I could get in and fight. The people in there wouldn't leave when I asked them, and they kept re-trigging the fight over and over. Once I finally got in, I had to hide cause those Dracs were really tough, but after 15 or 20 fights I got a cool +1 halberd! :) One guy kept telling me I should leave and they even said they hoped something called a Puntmonster would get me. My question is, what is a Puntmonster, and does it have better treasure than the Dracs? Signed, Reviled in Vilnask Gentle Reader: One of the most popular destinations in all of the realms seems to have become the Dracolich encounter in Vilnask. As with any crowded tourist spot, this locale has become the scene of constant verbal sparring and general nastiness as hearty combatants vie for one of the eight spots in the battle and form unruly queues in the adjacent squares. In an effort to impart a degree of civility to this mayhem, I have composed these guidelines for proper behavior in this area: 1) When one is waiting to enter the Dracolich encounter, one should not repeatedly ask "Is anyone leaving soon?" more frequently than every ten or fifteen minutes, if at all. Most adventurers have the courtesy to inform those in the adjacent squares of their imminent departure, and your repeated question smacks of the impatience of a child asking "Are we there yet?" over and over during a long journey. 2) Likewise, asking "Is anyone paralyzed?" or "Is anyone almost dead?" during the fight is considered bad form. These contemptible queries put one in the same category as those who watch NASCAR (Neverwinter Associated Sporting Chariots And Racing) chariot races solely for the perverse pleasure of seeing the crashes. 3) Do not attempt to enter the Dracolich fight when no space is available. This will simply trigger an annoying fight in your square, causing the wrath of all fellow combatants to envelope you like a fireball around a kobold. You run the further risk of causing a loop, often requiring the intervention of NW staff who would be well within their rights if they teleported you to Triboar. 4) Once you successfully enter the fight, do not kill the last adversary before all eight adventurers have joined the fray. You may see the question "AI?", meaning "All In?", and you should make every effort to restrain yourself until no one replies "NI" ("Not In") before making the final kill. Anyone who has not entered the fight will receive no treasure or experience, making you as popular as a mirror at a medusa convention. 5) When someone (even yourself, poor thing) is killed by a Dracolich, the polite adventurer will announce "TF1" or "T41", meaning "Table for 1", indicating that a space has become available in the melee. While this is not mandatory, imagine how pleased you would be to be given this notice while waiting outside the fight and biting your tongue to avoid asking the questions in item 2 above. If one keeps these simple guidelines in mind while champing at the bit outside the Dracolich encounter, one will certainly convey a more positive image of oneself to one's fellow adventurers. That is certainly an honorable goal, dear Reviled, is it not? Best Regards, Miss Manners P.S. - The Puntmonster is a legendary creature known (and named) for its fierce kicking attacks, invisibility, and ability to surprise even the most hardened warrior. It lives in the southwest corner of the Southwest Woods; its treasure frequently includes +4 mirrored shields and +5 swords, but it must be found and defeated without assistance of any kind from your fellow adventurers. Best of luck!Gimme a Scoop! Enter the weekly News of the Realm contest by submitting text for publishing. If your Announcement, Article, Helpful Hint, NW Abby Question, Poem, Fiction, or Tidbit wins, you'll have won your choice of 4 Pearls or Access to the GOH (Guild of Heroes)! Submit all text to screenname: NW NEWS. <><><><><> <><><><><> MONTHLY CONTEST!! Win Pearls for your Guild! Participate in the monthly News of the Realms "Newsworthy" contest. Each month, 4 pearls will be awarded to the account of the Guild with the most "newsworthy" articles for that month! We're looking for works of art, articles of fine literature, helpful hints of extraordinary brilliance, poetic works which stir the soul, etc. The key word here is "newsworthy"... only articles with substance will be counted in the contest! To participate you need to: - Indicate with your submission the name of your SANCTIONED guild. Only sanctioned Guilds are presently eligible to receive pearls for a Guild pearl account. - Write something! <><><><><> <><><><><>