Kelfour Edition volume I number IX
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__________________________________________________________________________ / \ \ | | Special Magic Section, Page 4 | @/________________________________________________________________________/ | | | XXXX XXX XX XXXXX | |xXX XX XXX XX XX XX | | XX XXX XX XX X | | XX XXX XXXXXXX XX XX XXXXXXXXX XXX XX XX XXXX | | XX XXX XXX XX XX xXXXXXX XX XX XXX XX XXX XX | | XXXXX XXX X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XXX | | XXXX XXXXXxxx XX XX X XX XX XX XX XX | | XXXXX XXX XX XX XX XX XX XXX x XX | | XXXXXX XXXx XX x XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XXX | | XX XXX XXXXXxx XXxXX XX XXXX XXX XXXX XX | | XX XX XXXX XX | | xXX XX xX XX The Kronicles | | XXX XXX xXX of Kulthea: Vol.1, No. 9 | | XXX X February 1991 | | XXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXX XX XXX """"""""""""" | |XX XX XX XX XXX XXXX XXX | |X XX X XX XXXXXXXX | | XX XXXXXXXXX XX XX XX XXXXXXXX XX XXXX | | XXXXXXXX XX XX XXX XX XXX XX XX XXX XX XX | | XX X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XXX XX | | XX XX XXX x XX x XX x XX x XX XX XX XX | | XX XX XX X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX x| | XXX XXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXX XX XXX | | XXXXXXXXXXX | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | Local News ......... 1 Dare To Fly ..... Raven Brightwing 1 | | Editorial .......... 3 First Annual Hall of Fame ........ 2 | | Magic Section: Playing the Mage .............. Lythe L'Green 4 | | Spells and Armors ................. Yashantre Spleenbender 8 | | The Delicate Art of Waving ............. Twie MonteCristo' 10 | | What? No Scars?! ............................... Dec Lanthar 11 | | Killing a Stranger ......................... Miriel Evenstar 13 | | The Gladitorial Battles ....................... Vlad Drakula 14 | | The Art of Macros, Part III ................. Nastorm Trevin 17 | | Melgorehn's Tower .............................. Eron Kulsen 18 | | You are HERE! .................................Landmark Quiz 19 | | Life After Death ............................... Jamel Kaili 20 | | Kalagay in the Wilds ....................... Kalagay Halatil 21 | | Synyster's Story .................... Synyster DIAMOND-NINJA 24 | | T is for Troll ............................. Valeria Deering 25 | | Uncovering the Silence, Part I ................. Chad Eberle 26 | | Arsenic and Old Louvella ............ Miss Louvella Parsnips 29 | | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | The Kelfour Edition of the Kronicles of Kulthea is devoted to the game | | GemStone III on the GEnie Information Network. Submissions are welcome | | and may be edited for space, accuracy and readability. Contact Usul | | Lu'Nak, Editor-In-Chief, Landreth deLorde, Technical Editor, Phaedra | | Bleu, Publisher, or send GEnie Email to P.HERRINGTON. Banner by Dagger | | ______________________________________________________________________|__ \_/________________________________________________________________________/
(_ __) [\______ \/ __
( __ __) \/ [.~ ~ ~ \______ ( __ _) __)
[.Kelfou\~ ~ ~ \ (____ _ ___)
Quest of the Navigator \/ [. Local\dition \ (__ \/ __ _ __)
"""""""""""""""""""""" \______\ News / ( __ __ )
Scores for participants in last ||~ ~ \______/
month's Quest of the Navigator || ~ ~ ~
can be found in Historical /\ Jousting Tournament Announced
Achievements on GEnie at page / \ """""""""""""""""""""""""""""
932. KE congratulates Wisraith / / \ Don't miss the Jousting Tourna-
Winterwind, Rasputin Santare, / \ ment coming to Kelfour's Land-
and Taarna Wayfinder for their /________\ ing VERY soon. Sure to be
marvelous personalities. During | | great fun for participants and
the Quest, too. :) | ___ | spectators alike! Follow the
|[___]| signs to the Arena just outside
Local Houses | | the town gates.
"""""""""""" | |
Last month, KE reported erron- | | Creepy Plot Revealed
iously on our Houses, for which | | """"""""""""""""""""
we apologize to the concerned | | In a shocking, surprise inter-
parties. Three are now under | | view deep in the ruins of
construction, managed at least | | Castle Cladesbrim just before
in part (rather than owned) by: _ | _ | _ press time, a Major Spider
Jamel Kaili for the [ ]--[ ]--[ ](speaking through an inter-
House of Argent Aspis, \_________/ pretor, of course) revealed
Silent Mydnyghte for the | | that their long awaited Spider
House of Paupers, and | | Temple will soon creep to the
Wisraith Winterwind for | | surface of Kulthea. Residents
House of the Rising Phoenix | | are urged to use extreme care
| _ | while traversing the wilds as,
Floating Disks Available | [_]| just before its timely demise,
"""""""""""""""""""""""" | | the interviewee was preparing
Kelfourian mage and frequent | | to take and ransom the inter-
contributor to KE, Lythe | | viewor as their first hostage.
L'Green offers lifetime family | |
memberships in his Floating | | Save Your Silvers
Disk Club for 5000 silvers | | """""""""""""""""
down. Due to his skill at | | The Traveling Auction Co. has
managing the Essence, once | | again been sited heading toward
conjured, his 8-item capacity | | Kelfour's Landing. Anticipated
disk follows until you retire | \/ | to arrive some time this month,
to contemplate your adventures.\/ | | their wares are much in demand
Contact Lythe for details. | _ | by local citizens. Save up!
\/ ||_| | /\
Dare to Fly \/ | | /\ / \
""""""""""" | | / \ /\ / \
by Raven Brightwing | /\| / \ /\ / \ / \
/\ / \/ /\ \/ \/ \/ /\ \
Gazing into the never-ending sky/ \/ \/\/ \/ \ /\/ / \ \
The mighty eagle I see soaring high \ / \ / /\ \/ \/\ / \ \
Why is it that I cannot fly? \/ /\ \/\/ \/ / \/ / \/ /\ \
"Only if I had wings!" I cry. \ / \/ \ \/\/ \ / /\/ / \ \
The cruel gods know how hard I try / /--------------\ / \/\ / \ \
They would rather see me die \ ____/ .'`',.'`',.`,.' \ / \/ \ \
The lone wolf I see watching the sky ( `',.`,..'`',.`',. ) / \ \
He knows his place and questions not why `.',,..',`.',`, /_/______\_______\
Does he dream as I? __ \_______________/ -- art by Yonah
Does he dare to fly? ---------- ---------------
-1-
________________________First Annual_HALL_OF_FAME_________________________ / \ \ |@/________________________________________________________________________/ | Congratulations to Lord Riverwind Entreri & Lord Corwin D'Amber! | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | BARD Lvl CLERIC Lvl |============HIGH MAN===| |-------------------------------------------------|Benar StormArm 16| | Mendle Seldagrave 16 Erebor Bordeaux 23 |Angeleyes DuLac 15| | Enegue Lionheart 12 Taarna Wayfinder 17 |Salvius Cygns-Aureus 13| | Vshaal hiJneksha'a 10 Sindar d'Clairique 15 |Kimball Kinnison 12| | Damiano Faustas 9 Kidd Chameleon 13 |Thorleif Vordaarkal 11| | Dec Lanthar 9 Salvius Cygnus-Aureus 13 |=============HALFLING==| | Farakon BuTru 8 Bashir Mskshadhvar 12 |Whittle Boysenberry 11| | Flynn Specter 8 Lohann McCloud 11 |Doppel Ganger 11| | Thundarii Kregen 7 Aleric d'Goth 10 |Lairaerrykthrok Tyk..10| | Benden Beeblebrox 6 LairaerryThrok Tyk 10 |Wacha McCollett 8| |_Lute Darkthorne 6 Maxwell VonGriffinburg 9 |Bitsy Bellows 2| /------------------------------------------------|==============WOOD ELF=| | FIGHTER THIEF |Celeborn Greyswndir 10| |-------------------------------------------------|Mauk Mey 5| | Benar Stormarm 16 Riverwind Entreri 20 |Zhuge Liang 5| | Kirc Bloodguard 16 Moonpie Legend 19 |Lirilin Dustdevil 3| | Angeleyes DuLac 15 Valeria Deering 18 |Lirilon Stormcloud 3| | Kraus Flouride 14 Dextor Malthorn 14 |===========Common Man==| | Waldo2 Ptolomy 13 Sly Thayer 13 |Beolost Lamontt 16| | Siegfried diMstrtn 13 Kyrenis Windrider 12 |Silent Mydnyghte 8| | Jamel Kaili 13 Shadowind Darklight 12 |Hannibal Tulark 7| | Gilthor In'Glorion 12 Anton Stiletto 12 |Sauren Tessar 7| | Neander Ofolde 11 Doppel Ganger 11 |Slaughn Wellborne 4| |_Khazad Atridawn 11 Taluk Ravenwood 11 |=================Dwarf=| /------------------------------------------------|Vesitsa Talchild 15| | SORCEROR HEALER |Siegfried Diemstrttn 13| |-------------------------------------------------|Caretaker D'BoldHome 13| | Airioch Ramthano 13 Kayla Kyndhart 23 |Neander Ofolde 11| | Ishmael Dellamar 12 Strom O'Berin 16 |Vshaal hiJneksha'a 10| | Kodos Corallias 9 Vesitsa Talchild 15 |=============High Elf==| | Knisha Wispwood 8 Caretaker D'BoldHome 13 |Strom O'Berin 16| | Cynewulf Vaarken 5 Krang Krashen 12 |Thorn Winter hawk 5| | Markus Eldren 5 Rhys Corwinson 7 |Darwynn Ellessur 5| | Arkaan Aalanon 4 Eowynn Earrame 7 |Caelin Shadowname 4| | Qarmat al-Khardi 4 Khertak HuntingWolf 7 |Titus Minsteel 2| | Solanar TolPalantir 3 Natasha Cheridin 7 |==============Fair Elf=| |_Malificent Drgnshrt 2 Hawk Valentine 7 |Erebor Bordeaux 23| /------------------------------------------------|Valeria Deering 18| | MAGE RANGER |Wisraith Winterwind 18| |-------------------------------------------------|Landreth DeLorde 17| | Dagmar Istarii 23 Fxg Lyon 21 |Lythe L'Green 16| | Wisraith Winterwind 18 Yuri Hanbidt 21 |==============Half-Elf=| | Ilstar Darkedge 17 Corwin d'Amber 20 |Dagmar Istarii 23| | Karel Tasavalta 16 Talon Elessidil 19 |Kayla KyndHart 23| | Lythe L'Green 16 Landreth deLorde 17 |Yuri Hanbidt 21| | Phaedra Bleu 15 Beolost Lamontt 16 |Fxg Lyon 21| | Cyann Dreamcaster 14 Maruko Ashimine 14 |Corwin D'Amber 20| | Twie MonteCristo' 14 Rune Arundel 13 |=======================| | Rhone Yarrl 12 Nastorm Trevin 13 | ------------------- | | Valdrick Shadowmstr 12 Whittle Boysenberry 11 | ------------------- | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------| /@\ 1st Year GSIII Fame Rankings by Profession and Race: January 28, 1991 | \_/________________________________-2-____________________________________/
In The Beginning
""""""""""""""""
____________ by Usul Lu'Nak
/ \ ______ \
\@| /~/~~\~\ | The longest journey begins with a brief
||~| |~|| encounter with the Character Mangler - GSIII proverb
||~| |~||
_||~| |~||n February 1, 1990, The completion of the Graveyard
/@| \~\__/~/ | GemStone III went was one of the early highlites as
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / live after a short curiously we traversed its bogs and
--------- betatest period. I underground tunnels marvelling at
had participated in the betatest, Kadaena's foul legacy. Soon followed
and along with many others, we were the completion of the Mage lists and
ready and eager to bring to life our True Magic in players hands began to
permanent personas! That first night appear, and many adventuring parties
gave birth to many of the characters began to form. Mages to edge & sleep,
which still breathe life into this Arms types characters for combat, the
Shadow World. Pickers to help with the treasure &
Healers to provide battle relief. It
Thus I thought to interrupt my was not until 6 months later that
regularly scheduled Pulpit Prose and Clerics became part of the equation
present a brief summary along with with their much needed bless, hold,
some highlights of the year past. It resurrect, and undead-turning skills.
seems fitting as well as informative
for those that did not journey with The establishment of Kelfour Edition
us in the early days of our world, was one of the highlites for me of
and I dare hope prove pleasantly and course, coinciding with the cryptic
affectionately nostalgic for those mystical pronouncements of the local
who have been along for the ride mystic, whose whisperings led some
since day one. down a path to destinations most evil
in search of light and power. The
It was hectic, that first nite and Society of Light brought on some of
the nites immediately following it! I most lively discussions and roleplay
recall Gemstone III at full capacity during the year.
while ev'ryone was conjuring up what
would hopefully be their characters During the summer lull, we were
in their final form. There was a new treated to a wondrous Auction in the
feeling of excitement and for some of town square, and those wealthy and
the beta testers, the lessons we had poor alike were given the opportunity
learned served us well! to add unique and sometimes powerful
items to their inventory. A big Tower
In the first few months, as the Quest was implemented and repeated a
Explored Lands grew, there was much few times. Summer also brought us a
opportunity for exploration and ad- week-long Festival of Fun and Games;
venturing, which for me is truly the grease pole climbing, skinning, chest
most satisfying part of RPG's. But picking, GM dunking, a bard contest,
we also found that the appeal of GS and a Jousting Tournament. Those were
was manyfold. Players may roleplay, great days of fun and mayhem.
hack-n-slash, solve puzzles, (and in
many different ways), but for me the Other hilites of Year One were the
common denominator was the sense of Danjirland, Castle Claedesbrim, and
adventure and community that only an Blototh new areas, numerous weddings,
online multiplayer game can provide. a treasure hunt, a roleplaying quest,
This fundamental truth provided an and of course GenCon, the Gemstone
emotional investment and commitment convention. Year Two promises to be
to my character and his friends. similarly eventful.
-3-
_____________ Playing the Mage
/ \ _______ \ """"""""""""""""
\@| ~| _ ~\ | by Lythe L'Green
| |~|_|~ | |
| |~ _ ~/ |
_| |~| \~\ |olling up your mage: Finally, you can probably put your
/@| |~| \~\ | second lowest score into PResence
\_/ ~ ~ ~ ~/ When you create a without your character being
----------- mage, the first thing affected adversely. You want at
you must get right are your ability least an average score in INtuition.
scores. In order of importance, the
primary statistics for a mage are Don't get discouraged while you roll
EMpathy, QUickness, AGility and up a character. It will probably
STrength. take many tries before you have
satisfactory ability score rolls.
EMpathy determines how many power Also, be sure to pay attention to
points you have and will provide what you get in the "Potentials"
bonuses to your attempts at waving column of your various ability
wands. Do not settle for the 90 you scores. If you get the high scores
can obtain by placing your lowest you need there but not in the
roll here; you want an extremely "Current" column, stick with it.
high number (98+). EMpathy will You will usually increase toward
seriously affect how powerful you your potentials as you increase in
are, especially at higher levels. level.
Further, you will want to have a The next big decision is to choose
high QUickness. Since mages are not your race. Elves are naturally
able to learn weapon skills nearly adept at magic. Fair Elves are the
as well as those classes in the quickest, Wood Elves the most agile.
realm of Arms, a high QUickness Half-Elves are quicker than wood
bonus will help you avoid being hit. elves, as agile as fair elves and
stronger than both. Half-elves also
Your AGility bonus is factored into have the highest hit point maximum
how powerful your elemental attack of the elfin races. The "pure"
spells are. (See below.) A high elfin races recover lost hit points
bonus here will help out a lot. faster and have large bonuses
Finally, a high STrength bonus will against poison and disease. No one
help you parry attacks better and do race will grant you a huge advantage
more damaging physical attacks. At over another; choose which ability
low level, when you will be using score you want to augment the most
non-magical attacks more often than and pick an appropriate race.
offensive spells, high STrength will
aid your advancement. Training
""""""""
With these ability scores filled in, Next, you arrive at the most
you should put your lowest score important facet of your character's
into REasoning. This will development, your training. There
automatically be increased to 90. are a variety of skills that must be
Follow by filling in the remaining developed to play a successful mage.
development stats (COnstitution,
EloQuence, and Self-Discipline) with First, you must learn to use a
your higher scores first. The weapon. Since everything except
higher your development statistics, single handed edged skill is grossly
the more skills you will be able to expensive, develop only that, and
learn. develop it every single level.
More...
-4-
Next, you will want to train in body lists are discussed below.
development every level. This skill
will add to your total concussion If you have any development points
points, allowing you to survive left after all this, there are a
damage better. Keep learning this variety of other skills you should
skill every level until you have at probably invest in. Runes skill is
least 100 concussion points. unimplemented now but will probably
be useful some day. Since it is
Next, learn two skills of directed fairly inexpensive to learn, you
spells each level. This skill will should do so. First aid, trading,
enable you to target your elemental climbing and perception are other
attack spells better, so as to hit useful skills to know.
more often and deliver more damage.
Also, learn two skills of staff/wand You should also refer to GemStone's
every level until you don't fail documentation and "The Essentials of
wave wand rolls anymore (see below). Learning" in Kelfour's Edition Vol.1
No.5, p. 18) for information on the
Lastly, what's a mage without some affects of learning various skills.
spells? Each research point you
invest in a spell list gives you a Spells
10% chance of learning one spell """"""
from that list. To insure you will Mages have three spells lists
learn a spell every level, invest available: Open Essence, Closed
ten research points in the spell Essence and the Mage base list. Of
list of your choice every level. these, only the last two are fully
The merits of the different spell implemented; the open essence list
is incomplete at this time.
______________________________________________________________________
/ \ \
|@/ Spells available to the Mage profession by list /
|---------------------------------------------------------------------'
| Level| Mage | Closed Essence | Open Essence |
|------+------------------+---------------------+--------------------|
| 1 | Shock Bolt | Sleep I | Protection I |
| 2 | Magic Edge | Spell Store | Presence |
| 3 | Water Bolt | Blur | Lock Lore |
| 4 | Stun Cloud | Slow I | Open I (*) |
| 5 | Displacement | Sleep II | Trap Lore (*) |
| 6 | Fire Bolt | Haste I | ? |
| 7 | Cold Ball | Deflection | ? |
| 8 | Fire Ball | Spell Bending | ? |
| 9 | Tremors | Strength | ? |
| 10 | Lightning Bolt | Unpain | ? |
| 11 | Mass Blur | Floating Disk | ? |
| 12 | Call Wind | Slow II | ? |
| 13 | Death Cloud | Sleep III | ? |
| 14 | Fire Storm | Haste II | ?Spell unknown = ? |
| 15 | Weapon Fire | Rapid Fire | ? |
| 16 | Invisibility | Charge Wand | ?Unimplemented = * |
| 17 | Boil Earth | Charge Staff | ? |
| 18 | Duplicate | Bravery True | ? |
| 19 | Wizard's Shield | Sleep True | ? |
| 20 | Call Familiar | Calm Dragon | ? |
| 25 | Enchantment True | Mist Form | ? |
| 30 | ? | Word of Calling | ? |
| 50 | ? | Dragon Control | ? |
| _________________________________________________________________|__
\_/___________________________________________________________________/
-5-
The majority of the spells in the Elemental Attacks
Mage list are directly offensive; """""""""""""""""
that is, they cause damage to your As you increase in level, you will
enemies when cast successfully. begin relying more on elemental
There are also several non-offensive attacks as your weapon skills become
miscellaneous spells there. Spells less effective against the higher
with the word "bolt" or "ball" in level creatures you must face to
them are known as elemental attacks. gain experience.
These are discussed in greater
detail below. You will be able to use elemental
attacks two ways: either by casting
None of the spells in the Closed the appropriate spell from the Mage
Essence list can be considered base list or by waving a wand.
directly offensive. Instead, it Illustration A shows an elemental
features spells that augment offen- attack, in this case, a Shock Bolt
sive spells and physical attacks spell is being cast on a torkaan.
such as those found on the Mage
list, inside a wand or by using a Your offensive bonus (OB) when
weapon. It also has a variety of casting an elemental attack spell is
defensive and useful miscellaneous determined by adding your AGility
spells. bonus to your directed spell skill
bonus. The higher it is, the better
The Open Essence list is unfinished your chance of striking an enemy and
at this time and subject to change. delivering large damage.
When complete, it will probably have
mostly defensive and miscellaneous An advantage of elemental attacks
spells. over conventional physical attacks
is that most creatures have little
When rolling up a mage character, I defense against magic. Further, a
advise that you learn the first creature wearing heavy armor is a
spell from Open Essence (Sleep I), sitting duck for an elemental
the first spell from Mage (Shock attack: plate mail attracts
Bolt) and then train in the Mage electricity. In addition, casting a
list for level two so that you'll spell does not force a "round time"
learn Magic Edge. as does swinging a weapon. As a
result, you can parry down, cast an
While you are level one, you should elemental attack spell, and parry
think about what spells higher up in back up quickly. On the other hand,
the lists you'd like to have. You the number of spells you can cast is
should review the detailed spell limited to the number of power
descriptions in the Tomes of Kulthea points you have. Don't accidentally
by querying SPELLS. Try to stick to overcast.
one list rather than spreading your
knowledge of spells too thinly. In my experience, shock bolts tend
to stun targets the most often.
+------------------Illustration A------------------+
| |
| Lythe hurls a searing bolt of light at a torkaan!|
| OB: 152 vs DB: 0 = +152 |
| THT 75, d100 roll: 50, modified: 202 |
| Hit for 21 points of damage. |
| Electrifying chest strike! Heart skips a beat. |
| It is stunned! |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------+
More...
-6-
Fire bolts deliver the most damage. It will take several levels before
Cold balls hit the most often and you are able to wave wands
cause the largest number of successfully all the time. Once you
"instant-kill" criticals. are able to do so, you can stop
training twice although you may wish
Currently, four wands cast elemental to continue developing staff/wand
attack spells. Iron and silver skill once per level since the cost
wands both cast shock bolt, gold is minimal.
wands cast fire bolt, and metal
wands cast cold ball. Most wands Hunting
have about fifteen charges in them. """""""
Note that unlike casting a spell, Finally, you may wonder what the
waving a wand DOES force a round best creatures are hunt. Kobolds
time of three seconds. and torkaans are easy to kill, even
with a young mage's limited weapons
You must attune yourself to a wand skills. Hobgoblins aren't too
before you can wave it. This difficult using weaponry, and many
requires that a random roll on a wear metal breastplate making them
hundred sided die plus a variety of excellent targets for Shock Bolt,
bonuses exceeds 100. Bonuses are which every low level mage should
calculated by adding your staff/wand have. Also, all these low level
skill bonus and your EMpathy bonus, creatures are susceptible to the
subtracting the level of the spell Sleep I spell; casting a successful
contained in the wand and adding sleep spell on a creature makes it
further bonuses from this table: wide open to attack.
+-----------------------------------------------+
| Staff/Wand Modifications Table |
| ------------------------------ |
| -20 If you do NOT know the realm of the spell |
| +10 If you do know the realm of the spell |
| +20 If you can cast the spell intrinsically |
| -30 If you belong to a realm different |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------+
Here is a sample "wave wands" roll: After graduating from hobgoblins,
there are several good choices.
-----------------------------------+ Mummies in the graveyard can be
Lythe waves a metal wand at a torkaan hunted with little trouble by using
[d100 = 50 + skill bonus 86 + mod 10 spells and wands. Unfortunately,
- spell lvl 7 = 169] bone golems live in the same area
+-----------------------------------+ and should be avoided. Forest
trolls and greater orcs are also
Metal wands contain Cold Ball spell. good choices, and don't have
My initial roll is 50. To this is overpowered creatures in the same
added my staff/wand skill bonus locale. In addition, many greater
(86). Further, a +10 modifier is orcs wear a chain hauberk; once
added because Cold Ball is of the again, this makes them open to
essence realm and Mages are essence elemental attacks.
spellcasters. The level of Cold
Ball (7) is subtracted. My EMpathy Next, you might try the hill trolls
bonus (+30 due to an EMpathy of 100) near the entrance to Danjirland.
is also added in although it is not They can hit hard, so take care, but
displayed. This results in a roll they always wear augmented breast-
of 169, which means success. (I plate. This causes them to act like
would also have another +20 if I lightning rods when it comes to
knew the cold ball spell.) hurting them with elemental attacks.
-7- (Continued on page 12)
_______________ Spells and Armors
/ \ ____ ____\ """""""""""""""""
\@| +|~| |~|+| by Yashantre Spleenbender
| |~|/~~\|~| |
_| |~/~/\~\~| |
/@| |__/ \__| |elcome to yet ano- on the most severe table (the "E"
\_/ ~ ~ ~ ~/ ther fascinating level table).
------------- combat evaluation.
Last month we revealed everything The numbers in [] are the amount of
you wanted to know about weapons damage (excluding criticals) caused
verses armor. (Not to mention by a roll of 120. Note that natural
making that worthless stick, the war monster attacks by small creatures
mattock, into a coveted 4K weapon!) (about hobbit-size) are unable to
Now its time to give spellcasters attain the damage listed. Monsters
and critters their fair share. whose size is medium and larger will
do the stated damage on a 120 roll.
What the numbers mean
""""""""""""""""""""" Not being fond of fighting critters
The numbers to the left of each four times my level, I was unable to
column are the THT numbers. A "-" verify whether a few of the monster
after them denotes a negative value. attacks actually exist in GemStone
The numbers in () are the critical (although the numbers should still
thresholds. Add the first number to be correct). If you see an attack
the THT to find the minimum roll form on the table and don't know
needed for a critical. Add the what monster could possibly use it,
second number to the THT to find the just ignore it. I'm sure it will
minimum roll needed for a critical eventually come to haunt us.
Armor Type
+------------------+---+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| | |(10/50)|(10/50)|(10/50)|(20/74)|(20/74)|(49/93)|
| Spell |Fum|None |L.Hide |H.Hide |L.Brea |R.Mail |C.Mail |
+------------------+---+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Shock Bolt | 2 |65 [08]|70 [07]|77 [06]|75 [04]|81 [04]|18 [12]|
| Water Bolt | 2 |57 [17]|67 [14]|71 [13]|67 [07]|79 [05]|23 [13]|
| Ice Bolt | 2 |53 [26]|58 [24]|65 [21]|56 [11]|62 [10]|12 [18]|
| Fire Bolt | 2 |25 [29]|35 [26]|39 [25]|49 [11]|61 [10]|03 [20]|
| Lightning Bolt | 2 |44 [25]|49 [24]|56 [21]|56 [12]|62 [11]|04-[26]|
| Cold Ball | 4 |01 [17]|11 [16]|15 [15]|16 [11]|28 [09]|25-[16]|
| Fire Ball | 4 |05-[22]|05 [21]|09 [20]|03 [16]|15 [14]|33-[19]|
+------------------+---+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Armor Averages |34 [21]|42 [19]|47 [17]|46 [10]|55 [09]|01-[18]|
+----------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Monster Attack |
+------------------+---+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Beak/Pincher | 2 |58 [18]|74 [14]|83 [11]|81 [09]|96 [06]|40 [18]|
| Bite | 2 |44 [30]|60 [24]|69 [20]|74 [17]|89 [11]|34 [29]|
| Claw | 2 |41 [17]|57 [13]|66 [11]|77 [08]|92 [05]|38 [15]|
| Grabbing/Grapling| 2 |105[03]|100[04]|96 [05]|62 [06]|53 [07]|13 [13]|
| Horn/Tusk | 2 |42 [27]|58 [21]|67 [18]|71 [15]|86 [11]|36 [25]|
| Bash/Ram | 2 |103[03]|98 [04]|94 [05]|66 [09]|57 [10]|18 [17]|
| Stinger | 2 |40 [09]|56 [07]|65 [06]|76 [05]|91 [03]|30 [08]|
| Trample/Stomp | 2 |24 [31]|40 [26]|49 [23]|65 [13]|74 [11]|21 [21]|
| Fall/Crush | 2 |16 [43]|32 [37]|41 [33]|51 [22]|66 [17]|04 [39]|
+------------------+---+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Armor Averages |53 [20]|64 [17]|70 [15]|69 [12]|78 [09]|26 [21]|
+----------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
More...
-8-
+------------------+-----+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| | |(49/93) |(70/104) |(70/104) |(70/104) | |
| Spell | Fum |C.Haub |M.Brea |H.Plate |F.Plate | Average |
+------------------+-----+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Shock Bolt | 2 |05 [13] |24- [14] |36- [15] |41- [16] |29 [11] |
| Water Bolt | 2 |34 [11] |11- [12] |00 [12] |05 [11] |39 [12] |
| Ice Bolt | 2 |01- [20] |31- [18] |43- [19] |48- [20] |18 [19] |
| Fire Bolt | 2 |02 [20] |34- [20] |23- [19] |18- [18] |14 [20] |
| Lightning Bolt | 2 |17- [29] |44- [30] |56- [31] |61- [32] |09 [24] |
| Cold Ball | 4 |14- [19] |59- [16] |48- [15] |43- [15] |13- [15] |
| Fire Ball | 4 |22- [17] |67- [20] |56- [19] |51- [18] |20- [19] |
+------------------+-----+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Armor Averages |02- [18] |39- [19] |37- [19] |38- [19] | |
+------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Monster Attack |
+------------------+-----+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Beak/Pincher | 2 |55 [15] |04 [25] |16 [23] |23 [21] |53 [16] |
| Bite | 2 |49 [24] |11 [34] |23 [30] |30 [28] |48 [25] |
| Claw | 2 |53 [12] |12 [18] |24 [16] |31 [15] |49 [13] |
| Grabbing/Grapling| 2 |00 [15] |29- [12] |36- [13] |40- [13] |32 [09] |
| Horn/Tusk | 2 |51 [20] |12 [31] |24 [27] |31 [25] |48 [22] |
| Bash/Ram | 2 |05 [19] |27- [22] |34- [23] |38- [23] |34 [14] |
| Stinger | 2 |53 [06] |13 [09] |25 [08] |32 [08] |48 [07] |
| Trample/Stomp | 2 |36 [18] |00 [26] |12 [23] |19 [22] |34 [21] |
| Fall/Crush | 2 |19 [34] |09- [36] |03 [33] |10 [31] |23 [33] |
+------------------+-----+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
Armor Averages |36 [16] |01- [21] |06 [20] |11 [19] |
+------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
About Spells vs Armor:
""""""""""""""""""""""
1) Leather armors (AT 9-12) are the best defense against spells. It is a
good idea for fighters and semi-fighters to spend some skill ranks in
ridged leather if they plan to fight spell-using creatures. Be careful
with AT 9! Although it is an excellent protector against spells, it is
worse than no armor against most weapons.
2) Heavy hide (AT 4) is fairly effective. It ranks just below leather.
3) Metal armors, although better than none, offer little spell protection.
Ring mail (AT 11) is not considered metal armor; it is ridged leather.
4) Against metal, lightning bolt is the finest in obliteration. You'll
reduce most targets to smoking boots with a decent critical roll.
5) Although cold ball and fire ball don't pack the concussion point whallop
of other lower level spells, they score criticals the easiest.
About Monsters vs Armor: """""""""""""""""""""""" 1) Leather armors (AT 9-12) are the best protectors; Heavy is right behind. 2) Don't get caught defending against natural monster attacks with no armor. THT and criticals will usually be about 25 lower than heavy hide. 3) Grabbing and bashing attacks do a lots more damage against leather and metal armors than hides. In fact, the best defense is no armor at all. 4) Strangely enough, metal armors are lousy against natural monster attacks. Stay with the heavy hide if you can't use leather armor.
My educated guess on best overall When you meet that beast of dread,
armor is Ring Mail (AT 11)! Remember what Yashantre said,
Nevertheless, heavy hide easily "Keep a helm upon your head."
earns second place and is still the Then when you parry with your face,
best for the untrained wearer. All your teeth will stay in place!
-9-
_______________ The Delicate Art of Waving
/ \ ____ ____\ """"""""""""""""""""""""""
\@| +|~| |~|+| by Twie MonteCristo'
| |~|/~~\|~| |
_| |~/~/\~\~| |
/@| |__/ \__| |ands are the most Gold is a good wand if you want to
\_/ ~ ~ ~ ~/ effective weapons a knock a creature's CPs down fast.
------------- mage can have. A
normal weapon attack has a 5 second Metal wands - Cast the seventh level
round time, where a wand only has 3 mage spell Cold Ball. This is a one
seconds. With this edge in combat a foot diameter ball of cold that
mage can parry 0, wave the wand at explodes on impact. This exploding
the monster and parry back to 100 makes a creature easier hit. Cold
with relative safely. Wands have ball criticals are common and
another big advantage: They let you deadly. Because of the low THT
cast spells without depleting your needed to connect with the target,
power points. this is the weapon of choice to kill
a "turtled" monster.
Being a mage, I put great store in
my ability to wave competently, but There are other wands that cast
I started out just like any other various spells. These items are one
wand-waver. I remember the first of a kind and are extremely
time I used a wand; it was quite an valuable. They cast things like
experience. I found it on a dead Stun, Unstun, Death Cloud, and Call
kobold and immediately wanted to Lightning.
test my +20 training in art. I
hadn't had an opportunity to use one In order to use a wand, you should
previously, but that never stopped hold it in your left hand with your
me before. So I waved it. Low and sword in your right. The sword is
behold, my first shock bolt shot out much more effective way to defend
of it. Unfortunately, it never yourself than the shield. (A shield
occurred to me that I should wave it only has a +20 db bonus but the
AT something, like a torkaan maybe. average 4th level mage has a +40 db
Thus, having no specified target, it bonus with a sword at parry 100.) A
shot the first thing it found, which wand cannot be used to parry.
was me! Once I recovered from three
rounds of being stunned, I ran for Wands use directed spell bonus plus
Surtey's tent, after which I hunted the agility bonus of the OB. Train
down my old friend Isildur. A few twice per level in directed spells,
instructions later, I killed a and think of it as weapon training
torkaan without blowing my arm off. for a mage.
There are four common wands found It is best to set a macro key for
in Quellbourne: waving your wand at a monster. One
mistyped or forgotten word could be
Iron and Silver wands - Cast the your last. Here is a sample macro I
first level mage spell shock bolt. use: Parr 0^m wave wand at troll^m.
This is an elemental attack. It is I use the ^m for an automatic return
inversely affected by different or enter stroke. This allows me to
types of armor but you have a good put both commands in one macro.
chance of doing great damage if the
creature is in metal armor. Although I referred to mages
throughout this article, other
Gold wands - Cast the sixth level classes may use wands. It just
mage spell Fire Bolt. It is an costs more and may not be worth the
elemental attack but is not expense in development points to
inversely affected by armor type. train in them.
-10-
_________ What... No Scars!?
/ \ _____ \ """"""""""""""""""
\@| ~|_|~ | by Dec Lanthar
_| |~| |
/@| _|~|_ |t simply amazes me when I No no no! All wrong! We take the
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / see a person who has ob- pain, we bear the brunt of the
--------tained noble rank, but who attack, and we let these healers
has no scars! Over forty years old, steal our reward?
having trained more than 20 times
and seen hundreds of battles, yet In defense of those who like their
they have not one scar throughout scars (like me), if you have a scar
their entire career. What happens and a wound in the same area, then
when they have grandchildren to ask when the healer heals your wound
about their adventures? (brutally steals your scar), you
lose both the scar and the wound. A
"I remember that day when a greater very hefty price if you ask me!
orc hit me full in the chest with
his mace. Boy did that hurt!" Whenever I examine someone, I am
grandpa would say. impressed if they have a scar or two
to show off. It even adds to the
"Wow! Can I see the scar, grandpa?" person's character. Something to
Says his wide-eyed grandson. build stories around, and to talk
about in Helga's with friends. And
"Uhh... well... a healer took it, we let these valuable things be
and I don't have it anymore." stolen!
Argh! Let a healer take your wound? If you examine a famous healer,
To no longer have the scar to show their scars will fill up the screen.
off? Whats the point? We earn Do they remember each one? Of
those scars, and then healers go and course not. Yet, if you ask a
take them from us! Common fighter who has a scar or two, he
thievery!!! will instantly be able to tell you
where he got each one from.
"Ahh yes, in my day, I was the
greatest healer, grandson." Next time you take a nasty wound
and rush to the temple, don't yell
"Really?' The child points. "What's "Heal me, Heal me!" Instead yell,
that scar from?" "Don't steal my scar!!!" Let them
take your concussion points but go
"Oo well, you see this fighter went to the tent to get healed! I even
into combat, and he took a nasty have a list here so you can
wound to the shoulder. Good thing I personalize your character, and get
was there to heal him." just the scar you want...
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Damage Area Scar |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Minor cuts and bruises Anywhere An old battle scar |
|Broken and Bleeding Arms & Legs A mangled Arm/leg |
|Deeps cuts and serious bleeding Chest/Abdomen Deep painful- |
| looking scars |
|An instant critical Chest/Abdomen Terrible permanent |
| mutilation |
|A shattering blow Arms & Legs Mangled beyond |
| recognition |
|Sliced right off Arms & Legs Completely missing limb|
|Severe Overextension Nervous System Slurred speech |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-11-
My favorite (which was, of course, into the temple remember the service
stolen from me) were some deep, they are doing for you! If you must
painful looking scars on my chest. get healed, and (not very manly, if
Wow! What a seasoned warrior I I might add) don't want your scar.
thought I was! I could prove I had Then ASK, kindly. Several times I
seen battle with some horrible have heard annoyed healers who are
nasty, and had come out victorious!! sick of people coming in, yelling
(At least I could say I was 'Heal me, Heal me now!' when they
victorious.;) And how impressive it aren't even bleeding. Next time a
is if you have "terrible, permanent healer does a service for you, then
mutilation of the chest muscles"!! do something for them. Kayla will
"Yes, Yes, I took that hit and lived probably be getting pudgy soon (not
to tell about it!" Now there is an yet, of course) thanks to number of
impressive warrior! donuts and cookies I have given her.
Once, I saw a dumb fighter. Great On the other side of the coin, next
with a weapon, but had the intellect time you rush into the temple
of a rock. I was rolling on the yelling "Don't steal my scar!" and a
floor when I saw his description -- healer takes it from you, give them
'Developed slurred speech' it said. a scar they'll be able to tell their
Hilarious! I thought. What a great grandchildren about. Give it to
roll player that character was! them with your axe!
So, what happens when you have a
nice scar, and you get wounded Playing The Mage (Continued)
again? Say, you have an old battle """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
scar on your chest. And you take a Cave trolls are a good choice next.
hit or two there. If you go to the Although they hit hard with weapons
tent (and you only had minor cuts and claws, they can be damaged with
and bruises), then it will not both weaponry and spells.
upgrade the scar, and you will have
the same one. Remember, healers can After this point, there is wide
take only wounds. If you have a selection of enemies to choose from.
wound and a scar, then the healer Fire guardians at Mt. Blototh,
can take both. So if you get healed steel golems in the ruins, major
in the tent, then you are left with spiders in the dungeon; all have
the same scar, and the Healer can't their good and bad points.
steal it.
When using wands, hold it in your
As far as I know, there are few left hand with a weapon in your
scars that will actually hamper you. right. This will let you wave the
If you have a scar on your hand, you wand at your target and still parry
may not be able to pick locks. against physical attacks. In rare
Other than that, I am sure there are cases, you might hold a wand in your
one or two specific scars (which you right hand and a shield in your
may want to get healed) that could left, but do this only when your DB
limit your character, but a scar to is large enough that your enemy
the chest? Keep it!! cannot penetrate under any
conditions. You can cast spells
I remember the day when Yashantre while holding objects in both hands.
Spleenbender and some another
fighter stood outside the healers It's always good to go with someone
tent and beat each other up. "We'll who has been to an area before. The
get some real scars!" they were best way to learn to fight is to
saying after each hit. watch others and see firsthand what
x the creature is able to do in
Throughout this, I've been beating return. Good luck and happy
up on healers, but next time you go hunting!
-12-
_________ Killing A Stranger
/ \ _____ \ """"""""""""""""""
\@| ~|_|~ | by Miriel Evenstar
| |~| |
_| |~| |
/@| _|~|_ | sit in a quiet spot, sight. Even before Yuri's image had
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / my favorite place for completely disappeared, Nirrad
-------- thinking. It is high sprang into action. He leapt up and
above town and I look down at people grabbed the sack, heading for the
moving through the streets. I can exit. I started to say, "Nirrad,
look up and see an endless field of wait... that's not yours..." But he
stars. I wrap my arms around was gone!
myself, shivering. Not from the
cool night breeze but from the Okay, I thought, calm down. This is
troubled thoughts that have filled simply a misunderstanding! Poor
my mind since the past weekend. You Nirrad obviously thought it was his
see, I was involved in the slaying sack, and was rushing out to take
of a stranger in our town.... vengeance on the hob that killed
him. [So maybe I am a bit naive. I
It was a bright afternoon. I came come from a sheltered background: I
to town, happily looking forward to grew up on a small farm in southern
hunting with Yuri. But when I Mulira, and I have had little
arrived, I received a message from exposure to the wickedness that
him telling me that there had been a exists in the world.] I dashed out
death in hobland, and he was trying into the street, but could find no
to help retrieve the fellow's trace of him. I tried to keep
belongings. (For those who don't myself from panicking although I
know him, Lord Yuri Hanbidt is a knew that Yuri owned some valuable
kind and generous man. He is never weapons which he usually carried in
too busy to give aid to those in his sack. I frantically rubbed my
need, and is loved and respected by crystal amulet and told him what
many.) I met Yuri at the gate. His happened. He, too, hoped that it
sack was full and he couldn't carry was a mistake. He called out to the
the unfortunate man's possessions, minds of everyone in town, asking
so he had set his ring at the death anyone who encountered Nirrad to
site leaving Dirac there to guard tell him that he had the wrong sack.
the things. I accompanied him to
the temple. I ran through town, looking up and
down the side streets. Finally I
In it sat a young man about my age. spotted him ahead of me, heading for
He was tanned with long, wavy brown the gates. "Nirrad, wait!" I cried.
hair. His name was Nirrad Morgen, "There's been a mistake!" But to my
and he was a sullen, holding a dismay, he only frowned and ducked
flagon of Dragonsdraught ale, which into the shadows, slipping again
I thought a little inappropriate for from my sight. Yuri arrived at that
a holy place. But I rubbed his back moment. He, too, had seen Nirrad
gently, hoping to comfort him, since hiding, and we realized then that we
he had just suffered the terrible were not dealing with an innocent.
experience of a death. Yuri We called out over ESP and the alert
informed him of his plan to ring went out! People all through town
back to hobland to retrieve his started looking for him.
belongings, and then turned to me,
asking me to hold onto his sack I glimpsed the culprit several times
until he returned. The sack was too as I searched, skulking in the
heavy. I couldn't lift it. So, shadows. I tried to grab onto him,
Yuri placed it on the floor beside but each time he slipped from my
me and asked me to watch it. He put grasp. I shouted to him, "Nirrad!
on his ring and began to fade from This is pointless. You can't
-13- (Continued on page 16)
An On-the-Scene Report \_ _/
from the organizer of \_/
_/ \_
_/ \_
_/ \_
____/ \____
\_ | ___ __ | _/
/^\| | (__) (_ |/^\
| ( ) (__
__ _ _ _ ___ ___ _ __ ___ _ _
| __ | /_| | \ | | / \ |__) | /_| |
|__) |__ ( | |__) _|_ | (___) | \ _|_ ( | |__
__ _ ______ _ __ __
| _) /_| | | | (_ (__
|__) ( | | | |__ (__ __)
by Vlad Drakula
January 12 marked the first Shanook, in a 3-way fight, managed
Gladitorial Games in Kelfour's to knock out first Lerek, then
Landing. The games took place in a Eiseek, in order to advance to the
newly constructed arena, located final fight with Deela. In the end
northwest of town along merchants' though, Deela triumphed and won
road. The arena consisted of a main Batch #1.
foyer, an infirmary, and the main
fighting arena itself. Through much Batch #2 began with Kalagay knocking
prayer, the Gods themselves helped out both Verotrall and Lerek in
in the construction of the arena and order to advance. Rupert was
bestowed a special property within flailed into unconsciousness by
it: Anyone who dies within the Thorn, who was then taken down by
arena is simply rendered unconscious Torgas wielding a falchion. Torgas
and moved to the infirmary where then managed to slip by Kalagay's
healers tend their wounds. Thus, no defences in the final fight, and won
deaths resulted from competing. Batch #2.
Combatants fought in different Torgas chose to fight in Batch #3,
Batches organized by level. Batch too, but was defeated quickly by
#1 was for levels 1-3, #2 was for Mikhail. Meanwhile, Thorn saw stars
4-6, #3 for 7-9, #4 for 10-14, and after being introduced to Silent's
#5 for 15+. Contestants could fight morning star in a 3-way fight
in higher level Batches if they between those two and Dralanth.
chose, but not in lower levels. Dralanth put up a valiant fight with
Silent until she was distracted by
The first Games were one-on-one, no Silent rushing in and giving her a
magic allowed (some of the fights big juicy kiss! All's fair in love
involved more than two combatants in and war, I guess! Mikhail swore to
order to end up with two for the revenge Dralanth's loss, but in the
final fight of each Batch). The final fight of Batch #3, his
first official combatants in the falchion couldn't stop Silent's
arena were Deela and Agla. Deela morning star!
quickly dispatched Agla, who failed
to stand up. I ignored cries for a Batch #4 saw 8 contestants of much
rematch as each combatant had been higher skill face off against one
asked if they were ready to begin another. First off, Raven managed
prior to my starting the fight. to dispatch Swifthawk, and advanced
Subsequent combatants seemed to be to the semi-finals for Batch #4.
more careful about making sure they Airioch the Sorcerer managed to
stood up first for their fights. defeat a much more skilled Neander,
-14- More...
Rune fell to Waldo2's broadsword, couple more magic users in it, but
and Shadowind beat off Dextor. In they fell one by one to Dextor's red
the semi-finals, Waldo2 had at shaalk broadsword, first Neander,
Raven, sending Raven flying! then Raven, followed by Twie and
Airioch was not able to repeat his finally Airioch.
performance, and fell to Shadowind's
mace. In the final fight, Shadowind The next fight was possibly the most
slipped his rapier tip past Waldo2's awaited and surely one of the most
shield, and won Batch #4. exciting everyone witnessed.
Beolost, Erebor, Lythe, Riverwind,
The final Batch to fight under the Wisraith and Neander all entered the
no magic at all rules saw quite the arena against one another. The
upset! In the first fight of Batch first to fall was Neander, who
#5, Shadowind and Dextor both picked couldn't stand up to a strong blast
on Moonpie, managing to injure from Lythe's gold wand.
Moonpie just enough such that he Unfortunately, Lythe was then unable
fell unconscious due to bleeding. to defend himself from Wisraith's
Shadowind, riding high on having won ice ball, which promptly freeze
Batch #4, poked Dextor into dried his head. Blows continued to
submission with his rapier. Next, be exchanged until Riverwind's
Kirc, Yuri, Beolost and Neander morning star put Beolost into orbit.
fought together for the right to While that was going on, Wisraith
fight against Shadowind. Both Yuri must have failed to see Erebor's
and Kirc seemed more intent on one transparent laen axe, which took her
another, and somewhat ignored out of the fight. The two remaining
Beolost and Neander. Yuri was the combatants, Erebor and Riverwind,
first to fall, but not until he had were not able to hit one another at
had his spine severed and his left all now, mainly due to an airwall
hand cut off, twice! Kirc was not that Beolost had managed to cast
able to stand against the onslaught upon both of them at earlier stages
of both Beolost and Neander, and of the battle. Rather than wait 16
eventually fell to a blow from minutes for the airwall to subside,
Neander's two-handed sword. Having both combatants agreed to have the
finished off Kirc, Neander turned battle stopped, all spells on them
his sharpened steel against Beolost, cancelled, and then continue the
winning him the right to fight battle. Before Erebor could get up
Shadowind. The final fight of Batch a defensive spell at all, though,
#5 was relatively quick, with Riverwind's mithril morning star
Shadowind's rapier quickly poking ended the battle. What a fight!
holes into Neander. Shadowind had
now won two different Batches! The last set of fights were the team
combats. The first three Batches
The next set of fights to take place didn't have sufficient numbers to
were the Free For Alls. Combatants make up two complete teams, so we
were allowed to use anything at proceeded to Batch #4. Batch #4 had
their disposal to win, except most three teams of two each. They were:
of the area effect spells. Batch #1 Raven and Quiz, Synyster and Rune,
saw Lerek quickly fall to Bannor's and Twie with Neander. Rune's
mithril sword, who then fell to partner fell quickly to Neander's
Deela's eog broadsword. Shanook was deadly sword, which then took out
the last to fall against Deela, who Quiz. Neander's partner, Twie,
had now won her second Batch! Batch pushed their advantage by taking out
#2 was slightly smaller. Verotrall Raven with a blast of fire from a
first took out Synyster, then Bard, wand. While he was doing this
in order to win that Batch. Batch though, Rune had been hacking away
#3 saw Verotrall win his second at him, and finally put Twie out of
Batch, as he first took out Quiz, action. This left Rune and Neander,
and then Bard. Batch #4 had a who both fought valiantly, until
-15- More...
Rune's silvery shaalk broadsword Killing a Stranger
found its mark, and left her to """"""""""""""""""
claim victory for her team! Only Continued from Page 13)
moments later, after having been
declared the winner, Rune dropped escape! You will die if you don't
due to blood loss and had to be stop this." But I discovered I was
rushed to the infirmary. This was shouting to an empty street. He had
definitely the most dramatic win vanished again.
seen by all present!
Unfortunately for Nirrad, he turned
The final battle of the Games was the wrong corner and ran into
next with the winning team members Moonpie, who was waiting silently
receiving 20000 silver each! It was for him. With one swing of his
Kirc and Wisraith squared off mace, Moonpie killed this wicked
against Lythe and Erebor. The man. After seeing Nirrad's death
amount of magic which flew in the message and hearing Moonpie's
first few seconds of the battle was summons, we met in a small street
astounding! Ruby amulets, statues, outside the armory. Moonpie and
calming spells, spells of blinding, Lythe were there, standing over a
red orbs of haste, magic wands and bloody body. And there was Yuri's
magic weapons! All were used within sack! When he dropped to the
about the first 25 seconds of the ground, Nirrad had released his hold
battle alone. The battle continued, on it. As we stood over him, we
each combatant slowly being nicked could hear his disembodied voice
by his or her opponents until Erebor taunting us. Then he vanished.
dropped from a hit by Kirc's dark
shaalk broadsword. Quickly after This incident has preyed on my mind.
that, Lythe evened up the odds by I was raised to worship Iloura, and
taking out Wisraith with a blast I value the nurturing and growth of
from a metal wand. Unfortunately all things, not their death. But
for Lythe though, he didn't have after seeing the pain in Yuri's eyes
much time to notice that his wand when he realized he had been
was out of charges before Kirc's betrayed, I am glad that this man is
unrelenting attacks claimed victory dead. I was much afraid that this
for he and Wisraith. betrayal would prevent Yuri from
being so openly helpful to those in
Based on the apparent success of need. So, it warmed my heart when I
these first Games, it looks like saw him the other night, staying
we'll have them again, possibly in much later than he had planned,
February or early March. The next helping a newly arrived cleric who
set of Games will be cut down in had just died. Stealing is wrong!
size though, probably just the Free I am not referring to the profession
For All, and one other set of of thieves, for I know some noble
fights. Also, betting wickets will thieves. My late twin sister was
be built into the arena in order to one of them, and I loved her dearly.
automate the wagering, so that I But stealing the hard-earned
don't have to handle that in belongings of another is wicked.
addition to organizing who fights And for those of you who may
who. All in all, everyone seemed to considering trying it -- Beware!
have a good time and I look forward This town does not approve, and we
to hosting future games. Thanks to are quite willing to act against
all who helped make our first thieves, ruthlessly.
Gladitorial Games possible!
_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_
\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
-16-
_____________ The Art of Macros, Part III
/ \ _________ \ """""""""""""""""""""""""""
\@| ||-|-|-|| | by Nastorm Trevin
_| ~~ |~| ~~ |
/@| |~| |his article is about you can attack the second one. This
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / combat macros, and macro takes care of that, since it
------------macro key placement on will automatically attack the other
your keyboard. It is the last in a monster if the first monster dies.
series covering macro designs. The You can let someone else search the
articles aren't meant to be panacea, first monster while you attack the
nor do they cover all possible second.
situations. Instead I hope those of
you new to macros have gained some ATTACK MONSTER<CR>SKIN MONSTER <CR>
insight into their development. <D>SEARCH MONSTER<CR>GET COINS<CR>
In the pitched fever of battle, Some monsters do not carry treasure.
macros can make the difference Their only value is their fur.
between success and failure. Many The macro will allow you to attack,
times you will need to lower your skin, search, and get the coins.
parry to hit a monster, then raise You macro key. The disadvantage
it quickly to keep from being hit. arises when you hunt in a group.
This is known as parry tag. Unless
you're a ten-fingered typist with You can parry tag your monsters
blazing speed, you need macros in using three macros. They are:
combat. Although you can design
different strategies into combat PARRY 0<CR>
macros, here are some design ATTACK MONSTER<CR>
suggestions with a brief explanation PARRY 100<CR>
of what each macro does. The
simplest design for a combat macro The idea is to lower your parry
is: ATTACK MONSTER<CR> or ATTACK right after the monster attacks,
OTHER MONSTER<CR> (Where: <CR> = swing at your maximum Offensive
enter and <D> = half second delay in Bonus, raise your parry back to 100,
macro execution.) and wait for the monster to attack
again. Some monsters have round
Use the second macro when two times in excess of 11 seconds, so if
monsters are in the room. This is you time it right you can get in two
extremely useful for Hobgoblins and swings before raising your parry.
Orcs. As you damage the monster it Others have round times of 6 seconds
will increase its parry. You will which means you have to get in a
need to decrease your parry to hit swing at parry 0 and quickly raise
it. If another monster is in the your parry to 100. Macros are ideal
room you need to keep your parry up for parry tag.
to keep from being hit. This macro
allows you to work on the second When you hunt monsters with 6 second
monster, till it lowers its parry. round times, you should combine the
first two macros: PARRY 0<CR>ATTACK
ATTACK MONSTER<CR>ATTACK OTHER MONSTER<CR>. This sends both
MONSTER<CR> or commands at once and you only have
ATTACK OTHER MONSTER<CR>ATTACK to press one key. The disadvantage
MONSTER<CR> is that you're always at Parry 0,
not always what you want if another
I use this macro often. When you monster is around.
hunt in a group and two monsters are
in the room and the first monster PARRY 0<CR> ATTACK MONSTER<CR><D><D>
dies, you get an error message <D><D><D><D><D><D><D><D>PARRY 100<CR>
saying the monster is already dead.
That monster must be searched before This macro drops your parry to 0,
-17-
attacks the monster, waits 5 seconds For picking chests, I have a group
and raises your parry to 100. It of keys (O,P,[, and ]) which are
has many disadvantages: You can't defined as follows:
see the attack for 5 seconds, and
you are stuck in the macro for at Alt-O = PUT LOCKPICK IN MY BACK<CR>
least that time. I don't use this Ctrl-O = GET GOOD LOCKPICK<CR>PICK
style of macro, but I include it for CHEST WITH LOCKPICK<CR>
those that might find it useful. Alt-P = GET PRO LOCKPICK<CR>PICK
Try it on low level monsters first. CHEST WITH LOCKPICK<CR>
Ctrl-P = GET LAEN LOCKPICK<CR>PICK
Where to place your macros on your CHEST WITH LOCKPICK<CR>
keyboard is almost as important as [ = GET CHEST FROM MY BACK<CR>
the macros themselves. My com- DROP CHEST<CR>
munications program is Telix. This ] = DISARM CHEST
program allows IBM compatible users
to redefine just about any key on The keys are bunched together on the
the keyboard. The idea is to group keyboard which makes them easier to
macros in logical patterns. For remember and operate.
instance my function keys are ATTACK
MONSTER macros, Ctrl-Function keys Telix allows the redefining of the
are SKIN, AND SEARCH MONSTER macros, key pad. I these key pad to parry.
the same monster that you attacked. This frees my right hand to attack
or use other macro keys. It's fast
Ctrl-F3 = GET BREASTPLATE<CR>SELL and easy to remember, and the zero
BREASTPLATE<CR><D>PUT BRE IN MY key is larger which makes it easy to
BACK<CR> parry 100.
Note how they all go together. I 0 = PARRY 100, 1 = PARRY 10,
attack the hobgoblin with the F3 2 = PARRY 20, 3 = PARRY 30,
key, skin it with the Ctrl-F3 key, 4 = PARRY 40, 5 = PARRY 50,
and get the most common treasure on 6 = PARRY 60, 7 = PARRY 70,
a hobgoblin with the Alt-F3 key. 8 = PARRY 80, 9 = PARRY 90
. = PARRY 0, + = PARRY 5
________________________________________________
Melgorehn's Tower
""""""""""""""""""
by Eron Kulsen
/\_/\_/\_/\_/\ "I saw its magnificence once,
|____________| through the dark haze.
\__________/ Upon its gleaming lands;
| | Torkaans dared not graze.
| | A lingering mist
| | Around it's base;
| | Kept me from from treading
| | Where gems were a-blaze.
| |.. I reached to the mist;
| | \. Fearful of a dark fate,
| | \. Whence my hand did only penetrate.
| | \.. A great incantation was heard,
| | I Reflexes again would react, my hand did I save.
...| |=====I. Yet Melgorehn made a serious mistake.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO Though only a ring of silver was left,
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO It was my life he did not take."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
-18-
____________ You are HERE!
/ \ ______ \ """""""""""""
\@| /~/~~\~\ |
| |~| ~~ |eparated from your pals, you suddenly realize you're lost in
| \~\____ | the wilds, or maybe inside the city walls. You wander
| ~ ~ \~\ | anxiously, seeking a landmark, and then there it is! Know
_| |~| |~|| where you are? A REAL adventurer would. Match the LANDMARKS
/@| \~\__/~/ | below with their lettered LOCATIONS, then go to page 23 for
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / the answers and your *Official* Adventurer's Rating.
-----------
LANDMARKS
"""""""""
1. A magnificent stained-glass +---------- LOCATIONS ---------+
window and a gold-trimmed altar fill | A. Ocean View |
you with awe as you enter this | B. Upper Kaldsfang, Thicket |
simple temple to the gods of | C. Blototh Mountain |
Kulthea. | D. Castle Cladesbrim |
| E. Kelfour's Tunnel |
2. The long, twisting stairway | F. Brewery |
seems to go on without end. After | G. Temple |
every few steps you come to another | H. Graveyard |
stone landing where the way | I. Frith's Inn |
continues at a sharp angle. | J. Kelfour's Exterior |
| K. Beldreck's Game Hall |
3. Shards of shattered glass | L. Upper Kaldsfang, GOrcland |
crackle as you make your way across +------------------------------+
this loft, which appears to have
been plundered and left unrepaired. 8. The Phantom Gatekeeper moans
A rope ladder dangles from the loudly as he shakes a set of keys at
skylight above. you. He slams the gate closed,
checks the lock, then disappears in
4. This is the main gambling den of another chilly swirl of air.
the hall. The air is rife with the
perspiration of nervous intensity. 9. Pulling aside some of the vines,
The lack of distractions indicates you see that it's an open wagon of
this is the domain of serious the type used by merchants. It's
gamblers. old, broken down, and rotting.
5. It's a tight fit, but you manage 10. Here, within a thousand feet of
to squeeze through the fireplace and the summit, you see a tunnel leading
find a stone door. It's unlocked, into the mountain. The tunnel mouth
and you walk through. You smile as is perfectly rectangular, as though
you enter this cool and pleasant it were deliberately carved out.
secret room.
11. A small cottage stands in this
6. The dinghy is neglected but small and very secluded glen. Smoke
seaworthy. Its gray planks are is curling lazily from the high
weathered and crusty with sea salt. chimney and drifts gently into the
A frayed flimelar rope tied around a surrounding wood.
large rock serves as an anchor.
12. A large candle burns with a
7. The ocean and all of its majesty steady flame in each corner of this
dance far below this man made perch. room. Various forms of artwork
A bench of solid stone, carved from adorn the walls, each representing
the cliff, overlooks a simple stone one of the Gods of Kulthea. One
table. Under the stone bench you particular object, a long black
see a dark hole. tapestry, attracts your attention.
-19-
____________ Life After Death
/ \ ___ ___\ """""""""""""""
\@| \~\ /~/ | by Jamel Kaili
| \ ~ / | Freelance Gentleman
_| |~| |
/@| |~| |ou're out hunting, and On to the second case. One of your
\_/ ~ ~ / the worst happens: hunting partners just had the
----------- You die! Or, almost misfortune to get killed. First,
as bad, one of your hunting partners get your partner's E-Mail, and tell
bites the dust. You think about a them to log off, and wait in the
cleric, but get no response. What RTC. That done, finish off the
do to, what to do? nasty monster, and collect your
friend's weapon and shield. These
Read on, for this article explores will have been dropped when your
procedures and courtesy necessary friend died. That done, send out a
for resurrection. A few quick facts ESP call for a cleric. You can
about resurrection: check the STATUS as well. At this
time, only Lord Erebor, Taarna,
1.It takes a cleric about 10 minutes Sindar, Salvius, and Bashir can
to recover from casting the spell. raise the dead. Ask them if they
So, if you've died and other people are available for a resurrection.
have died before you, you might have If they are, tell them where you
a bit of a wait. are, or go to the temple to lead
them there. If they are not, find
2. A cleric who has just brought out when they will be ready. Then,
someone back to life is left log off, move to the RTC, and let
vulnerable. It costs the cleric both your friend know what is going on.
life levels and power points to The cleric might request your help
return someone to life. It also in clearing monsters, etc.
leaves the cleric stunned, and in
round time. Keep this in mind when Some general points of courtesy.
you are hunting around an area where Raising the dead is dangerous. It
a resurrection attempt is being leaves the cleric vulnerable. So,
made. most time, the cleric will go
through the area calming the
Let's look at the first case. You monsters. This prevents them from
were out hunting, and a nasty attacking the cleric, and also
monster got lucky and killed you. prevents more monsters from
If you were hunting alone, you are generating. Please, do not kill the
in big trouble. Your weapon and calmed monsters. This will only
shield will be gone, unless you are upset the cleric. Likewise, if the
extremely lucky. And there is no cleric requests that you leave the
one around to tell the kind clerics area temporarily to prevent further
where your body lies. You should do monsters from generating, please do
two things. First, go and post a so. The cleric is only worried
notice on the 911 Board (CAT 20, TOP about safety.
29), stating where you are, and your
E-MAIL address. If you know you are One final note. All too often, the
going to be checking back at a most important part of a successful
certain date and time, list those. resurrection is overlooked. That is
Second, go and move to SCORPIA's RTC a Thank You to the cleric, and a
(805;2) Room 1, and wait for a Thank You to the cleric's helpers.
while. The odds are good that a Our clerics do not charge anything
cleric, or one of your friends will to raise the dead. They see it as
show up there, looking for you. Do part of their duty. But a simple
not keep logging on and off in word of thanks helps make their
GemStone as it will only lead to efforts more worthwhile.
accidental body decay.
-20-
_____________ Kalagay In The Wilds
/ \ ____ _____\ """"""""""""""""""""
\@| ~|_| /~/~ | by Kalagay Halatil
| |~|_/~/ |
| |~|~\~\ |
_| |~| \~\ |alagay realized she snuffled through its snubbed and
/@| _|~| \~\_| was lost when the pointed nose which looked like a
\_/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~/last of the sunlight snapping turtle's. It waved its ax
------------- revealed grassland and kicked and screeched in an
had given way to stony footing and uncalled-for display of spiteful
scrub. Loose rocks turned under her impertinence and bad sportsmanship.
feet. She shivered. It would soon Kalagay could not even scream her
be dark and she was a long walk from outrage; a ghost cannot scream. She
Kelfour's Landing. could only curse the hobgoblin and
wait.
She had to rest, even though the
light was going. With her back As color seeped back into the world
against a boulder, she carefully and gave way to a bath of blinding
laid her broadsword in the middle of light, a wisp of a voice grew in her
the trail, pointing back the way she awareness. It had a grave quality,
had come. Then, even if it got too and it made cryptic statements about
dark to see, she could feel along responsibility and choices. Before
the blade for its point and get she could even say 'yes' to more
oriented. She eased her shield off life, all her senses rushed back in
her shoulders and welcomed the cool- a scorching wave of pain.
ing air deep into her lungs.
Slowly it vanished and became memory
That's why she first smelled, rather of pain and then even that slipped
than saw, the intruder. It smelled away. Kalagay lay on an altar in a
of rotten toadstools. Cackling quiet chapel, gazing at a network of
maniacally, it swung its battle ax fretted arches. The spice of
in a brutal downward sweep. Kalagay incense suggested a place of
remembered Kraus' words: "Stay away healing. Her spirit quailed no
from hobgoblins," and grabbed her longer. One purpose now drove her.
shield. She felt the ax's edge slam Kalagay Halatil meant to find her
into it, jarring her arm to the sword and vaporize that dratted hob.
shoulder. She was not afraid;
excitement hit her stomach like warm The shadow of a movement made her
berry brandy. She grabbed her jump almost out of her brand new
broadsword and swung wildly. Down skin. She stood up and looked
the ax came again; she jumped to her around for its source. A man of
feet, stumbling, and it grazed her more than her small years lay
head. Dizzily she saw the gleam- leaning on one elbow, writing in a
ing blade come sweeping around once little book. Long white hair hung
more. Her brain ordered all her straight, bound at his temples by a
resources to defense, but her body strap of cunningly woven karnelin
would not obey. hide. As he noticed her attention,
his dark eyes looked out from the
Kalagay fell in a sprawl of limbs, shadow between marble brow and
all but beheaded by the creature's cheekbones lit with votive-flicker.
great ax. His features had the candescence of
those who spend little time indoors.
It took a moment for her to catalog He was half-elven, Kalagay saw, with
such facts as she had. On the trail the perfect leaf-shaped ears of the
lay the body of a half-elven Ky'taari of Mur Fostisyr. An aura
adventurer, a teasing breeze drag- like foxfire spoke to her of
ging strands of silver hair through intimacy with The Wild, of the
a pool of congealing blood, across fatalism of one who had looked for
sightless eyes. The hobgoblin long on its deadly beauty.
-21- More...
"Hi," he said, putting his writing through town and through the temple
things away. "I'm Magnetron. Looks door again. Magnetron smiled and
like you lost that fight." said, "Look over there, Kal.
Rakrist Wolfcleaver found your
From the ragbag of Kalagay's things."
emotions the only coherent fragment
to emerge was, "Well, there was this With a gasp, Kalagay hurled herself
hobgoblin..." upon her sack and tore it open.
There were her skins, and her own
Magnetron chuckled. "I bet there light, balanced, well-sharpened
was." broadsword, fitting itself into her
hand as though it lived there. With
"And...and...," she stammered, "I a happy little snort, she hugged
want my sword back! And anyway, Magnetron around the neck. Rakrist
well, I just have to start over." made a courtly bow and her hug
almost knocked him over. "My lady,"
"Ahh, I see." In one fluid motion he he said, laughing and helping them
got to his feet, hoisted his keep their balance. He unhooked a
backpack, took her hand and led her wicked looking mace and continued,
out of the temple. "Take this. You "Need anything else, Mag?"
need to get re-equipped."
"I'll catch up with you," Magnetron
Willy-nilly she found the clinking replied.
purse attached to her belt. Then
her breath was sucked away by a He rummaged in his sack and came up
bewildering series of starts, stops, holding a crystal charm on a silver
and turns as they seemed to flee The chain. "Here, wear this," he said.
Goddess only knew what hideous
danger. They dashed past Moot Hall, "Oh, how pretty..."
barrelled around a corner, and
abruptly entered the armory. "You rub it. It gives you ESP."
It wasn't until then that he spoke "Of course it does..."
again. "Heavy hide is best. Get
protection for your arms and legs "Now," he said, "let's have a look
and an aventail. Don't get fancy. at you." Kalagay was beginning to
You'll just slow yourself down." get used to these frankly
dispassionate appraisals visited on
Kalagay sidled over to the counter, newcomers. "Hmm, I wonder how that
looking back over her shoulder to hob managed to nail you..."
see if he would disappear in a Magnetron shrugged. "Probably you
sorcerous flash. He was communing sat down to rest somewhere and it
intently with the middle distances. sneaked up on you."
Aznell recognized her at once. He "You couldn't have known that!" she
gave her his characteristic throaty exclaimed.
chuckle. "Well, if it isn't that
crafty little bargainer, Kalagay. "Happens to new people all the time.
What are you going to talk me out of Happens to people who should know
this evening?" better. Got to be on the watch all
the time in The Wild, even if you
Kalagay grinned and stated her get tired. Keep hold of your weapon
requirements. By the time she had and shield all the time. Not
collected her purchases, she had a watching out gets you dead."
lot of her confidence back. She
sauntered out of the armory patting It was the longest speech Kalagay
her aventail into place and began to had heard from him yet. She waited
inquire about weapons when they sped to see if he would elaborate, but he
-22- More...
seemed to have used up all his words "Airioch Ramthanodox, at your
and gazed off at nothing again. service." He bowed. "Unfortunately,
Mag is gone. He is no longer in The
"How kind you are, and strange," she Land."
thought to herself. "How generous
and knowing just what to do. I "Gone? Gone? Whatever happened?"
won't forget." That promise to
herself went deep to her heart and "He went exploring with other
snugged in. "I won't forget," she adventurers to catalog the monsters
said aloud. which have recently invaded The
Wilds."
Once in a while after that they
would cross trails in The Wild. She "Such dangerous work..." Kalagay's
always smiled, waving and he would heart sank. She feared what was
smile and wave in return. coming.
Without warning, late of an autumn Airioch nodded. "Yes. Ghoul Kings
evening, there was a major shift in were his downfall."
the Essence Flows. At least that is
what the half-crazy elf in the "Gone," she murmured. "Now he will
temple was saying. For days in the never know...oh, how I will miss
wake of the tremors and upheavals, him!"
the acid stink of new Undead
creatures penetrated even into town. "Mag left his book. Here, have a
Kalagay heard of Magnetron's look." He handed her a small volume
exploits among them often, though bound in creamy doeskin, its cover
she never saw him. painted with the likeness of a
basilisk. Its title, "The Better
One day she came in to the temple to Part of Valor," made her swallow
rest from hunting and looked around hard. She gave Airioch a swift hug
for friends, as usual. She saw the and said, "Thank you for letting me
familiar profile, the perfect leaf- know."
shaped ears, and cried out,
"Magnetron!" Airioch said quietly, "He now walks
Forest and Mountain in a place where
But the fair elf who turned around mere physical might makes no
was not Magnetron. difference."
"Excuse me," she stammered. "You It was too much to bear. Kalagay
look so much like...do you know sat down and covered her face.
Magnetron? I'm Kalagay...I haven't Airioch squeezed her shoulder, then
seen him in a long time now, and you left her to herself.
look a lot like him."
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| You are HERE Answers: (from Page 19) |
| """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" |
| 1D, 2E, 3I, 4K, 5F, 6J, 7A, 8H, 9B, 10C, 11L, 12G. |
| |
| *Official* Adventurer's Rating: |
| """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" |
| 1 to 3 right: Weenie, you're lunch for a torkaan. Get deeds. |
| 4 to 6 right: Stoopid Fiter-type, you're marginally adventuresome. |
| 7 to 9 right: Slugger, in the midst of the long haul. Hang in there. |
|10 to 12 right: Fancy Lord or Lady: Think you're smart, eh? You are. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
-23-
____________ Synyster's Story
/ \ __ \ """"""""""""""""
\@| / ~| | by Synyster DIAMOND-NINJA
| //|~| |
_| //=|~| |
/@| // |~| |s far back as I can Papa explained that, years past,
\_/ ~~ ~ ~ / bethink, I have lived while hunting in the forest, he had
----------- deep in the forest come upon a lesser orc who was
with a profound old Half-Elf preparing to devour a small baby
Sorcerer named Leodegrance Rolf. I High Man. Killing the animal
recall watching with awe as he would quickly, Leodegrance Rolf picked up
perform what he would call "petty the tiny child and carried it to his
trickery" on ravenous beasts, home and raised it for his own.
putting them sound asleep by a Leodegrance had never married but
simple gesture and some words that I had always wanted a son. He named
could not comprehend. He was my the boy Ebeneezer and gave the boy
father, or so thinkest I, for the 20 his last name, Rolf.
or so years that we lived together
secluded from all the goings on of Papa was almost gone when he told me
the world. I had met few other to go east. There, I would find the
people at that time, and thought town of Kelfour's Landing where I
myself a Half-Elf also. But, as I would likely meet more of my kind
began to mature, I began to realize and possibly find my kindred. Papa
that I was not as Papa and this died that day and left a scared and
perplexed me. I would query Papa bewildered young man to fend for his
about it, but he always managed to own. I did as Papa wished and began
change the subject. to trek east toward the rising sun.
Killing what I could and evading
One fateful day in the Forest we what I couldn't, for several days I
wandered upon several wolverines made my way toward Kelfour.
feasting upon a dead kobold. Winter
was drawing nigh so Papa prepared to Just outside the main gates, I met
stun the animals for me to finish an elderly man and we began talking.
them off for their pelts. Papa had One thing led to another, then,
taught me the ways of fighting with behold! He had, many years past,
an ancient mace we found in the heard of a family that had lost a
Forest one day, but I was still small child to an Orc. The old man
young and inexperienced, so the stun pondered and pondered to try and
he would conjure would ensure our remember the family name. Then, at
success. Just as Papa had gone into once, as if by magic, the man's
a trance, one of the animals leaped expression began to change.
at his throat biting him severely.
After a grim and bloody battle, I "I remember!" he exclaimed. "It was
managed to kill one of the beasts, a Lord's family. Lord Diamond!
sending the others fleeing. Papa (SECRETLY Overlord DIAMOND-NINJA) I
was still alive but, alas, he was was so excited I nearly swooned.
fatally wounded.
"There are one or two of the
I carried him back to the small children still in these parts," he
shanty that was our home and tended went on. "Let me see... Raven...
him the best I knowest. It turned no... Ravage... Ravage!! Yes
out that the wolverine had been that's him. A powerful and noble
diseased and Papa was slipping fast. fighter. He is with a woman, Opal.
Before he left me though, he began Find them and you will find your
telling me all the things I had family."
pondered over the years. I began to
weep when Papa, in his dying I thanked him and went into town,
minutes, began to tell the story. soon locating my brother. Upon hear-
-24- More...
_________ T is for Troll The teapot was empty
/ \ _____ \ """""""""""""" And the candles burned low.
\@| ~|_|~ | by Valeria Deering So finally I stood up
| |~| | And said I must go.
_| |~| |
/@| _|~|_ |n the woodlands I walked The troll said goodbye, and
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / One fine summer day "Sometime again."
-------- When a war troll I met I smiled and said,
Who came out to play. "Just tell me when."
My sword I drew then, Tea with trolls
For I had never been meek. And trolls with tea.
Imagine my surprise Why do these things
When the troll began to speak: Happen to me?
"Strike me not, small one.
I am friendly, you see. Synyster's Story (Continued)
I only was wondering """""""""""""""""""""""""""
If I might ask you to tea?" ing my story he wept with joy. He
said, "Eb, your true name is
Tea with trolls Synyster, join us and we will teach
And trolls with tea. you the ways of your family."
How very strange!
This I had to see. Since that time I have adventured
with my brother and sister-in-law,
So I sheathed my blade the radiant Opal, and learned many
And followed the troll things. I have been told I have a
To a rocky cliffside sister whom I am anticipating
And into his hole. meeting soon. Though I still hold a
special place in my heart for the
A cozy little hole it was, old man named Rolf who, though he
All clean and dry and warm. never taught me many of the ways of
Even skulls for drinking cups his craft due to my immaturity,
Had their peculiar charm. taught me a greater lesson, the
lesson of humility intermixed with a
He filled up our cups, strong sense of courage. This, now
Swirling hot tea and spice. meshed with my true family's code of
All I could say then was, friendship, faithfulness, and honor,
"Some tea would be nice." has made me complete.
So I sipped from my cup. The one question that plagues me
Troll tea tastes like fire. still is this, are the Ninja good or
But I've said I fear nothing, evil? They hold Honor above all but
And no tea would make me liar. they are also the Masters of the
Forbidden Darkness, Black Majick,
We sat there awhiles, and assassination. Either way, this
And chatted like old friends is my destiny...
Of people (and trolls) we liked
And of recent fashion trends. +========================+
| /^\ |
Trolls aren't all that bad | \ | | / |
Some are even nice. | \ | | / |
They just think of us | \ | | / |
Like cats think of mice. | | | |
| *=====* |
More... | / i=i \ |
| / i=i \ |
| xxx |
-25- +========================+
_____________ Uncovering The Silence
/ \___________\ """"""""""""""""""""""
\@|||--|-|--||| Part I
|~~ |~| ~~| by Chad Eberle
_| |~| |
/@| |~| |he day I met Mauk We are from a universe far from
\_/ ~ ~ ~ / Mey stands out in my here, the same as this device came.
------------memory more than any There has been a disaster of which
other. Imagine! The gods contacted we can only turn to you."
me! Never have I been one to
believe myths and legends of gods "ME?" I said incredulously. Perhaps
and other superior beings, but they I could have said something more
contacted me just the same. intelligent but considering the cir-
cumstances, I'm happy I stayed dry.
"Mortal," they rumbled. "We turn to
you for help." A female chorus: "One of the more
powerful worlds in our universe is
But I must back up. I had been Mithia. It is there that Essence is
working on an ancient device found most powerful, and most chaotic."
in some ruins. It wasn't my job to
know where from, all I had to do was She explained that Essence held the
pick sand particles from the universe together but was teetering.
orifices of this device. Not an The inhabitants of Mithia were no
easy job, for the sand worked more help as they were misusing the
like cement, and had to be removed Essence in such a way that upset the
without damaging its delicate parts, balance, causing total destruction
most of which were made of silicon. of the universe. Essence, being
whatever it is, created a new
I was in the final stages of res- universe on the rebound.
toration, using a magnifying lens
and small electronic pick on a The gods asked me to pull people
particularly stubborn formation of from the old, destroyed universe
cemented sand, when my eyes began to into a place called Kulthea in the
get buggy. I sat the pick on the new one. The how of this was more
device and rubbed my eyes. Soon I confusing than the why but using the
was seeing those bright neon colors device I could pull people out of
of cutting circulation to my eyes. time to my universe, then reinject
Combined with the buzzing overhead them back into the right universe.
lights, it formed a hypnotic, Or something like that.
day-dreaming fuzz in my head.
"We will show the inhabitants of our
Something pulled me out of my daze. universe. Look at them; decide upon
I blinked my eyes and saw a glow those you will bring through. Keep
coming from the machine. There were in mind that the new universe needs
popping noises like someone was only people who will benefit it."
using the pick. I shook my head and
realized that the pick had slid The long process began. Many faces,
inside and touched the device's names, races, professions, and
power source, activating it. skills showed themselves to me.
Myriads, endless myriads, of half-
I sat in increasing wonder as the elf fighters went by, each one
thing slowly gained power. A flat, different but similar enough to
clear appendage atop it glowed and cause me concern. Eventually I saw
soon became six sombre faces, each rangers, healers, clerics, mages,
with piercing eyes. They spoke in a and thieves, then other races,
low chorus rumble. though none were noteworthy.
"Mortal, we turn to you for help. More...
-26-
Then came Mauk. I had to ask them The white light receded, leaving me
to back up for I was numb from staring into open space. Several
repetition, and I suppose it was his thousand dots of light of various
eyes that made me look twice. There sizes speckled the view in every
was a certain fragile tragedy that direction. Apparently I was still
emminated from these pale blue orbs, moving, as one of the dots began to
which were lowered. His face was grow rapidly, turning bluish. I
pure innocence, fair but well closed my eyes momentarily and when
sunned. Wavy golden hair fell I reopened them, I had moved con-
halfway down his forehead then swept siderably closer to the orb. I
back, flowing down his neck just could make out land masses and cloud
below his ears, where it was cropped formations, and a secondary orb
neatly. loomed in front of me, most likely a
moon, then flew past.
I read his description. "Wood Elf.
Twenty-six years of age. Skilled in "What planet is this?" I asked.
stalking and hiding, excellent
archer. Peculiarities: Tatoo on "Nira," came the answer.
right palm; speechless due to child-
hood trauma." As I fell faster and faster toward
the planet, I could make out more
I wondered outloud what had happened detail. We seemed to be heading
to render him speechless -- was it toward a patch of dense green. Soon
something to do with his voice-box? I saw mountains and lakes, and then
The gods replied. "We can show you. a tropical green valley. I noted
Place your hands thusly." various forms of folliage in a
clearing among the trees, and then I
Their faces were soon replaced by a there were people on a path.
bright white light. Two shapes
formed on the screen, becoming more Two wood elf men, one with gray hair
distinct as I watched, slowly and the other black. A few feet
shaping into two hand prints. You behind them were three younger wood
either risk it or you don't, I elves, behind whom (where the path
thought, so I placed my hands over curved around some bushes) stood a
the prints, and for a time nothing wood elf woman struggling with a
happened. Then a force grabbed at young elven boy who was on the
me, yanking me off of my seat. I ground, apparently throwing a fit.
shot forward into the glass, Further up the path I saw a figure
stopping at my shoulders. My head with a large garish, wooden mask who
had not made it under the glass, but stepped before the two men in front.
as the force increased something Then I began to plummet, falling
snapped in my neck, and then I'm not directly toward the fitting child.
sure what happened, as I passed out.
When I opened my eyes again, I was Fearing a collision, I tried to
blinded by a searing white light. protect my head from damage. A
My neck throbbed painfully and any black curtain rushed by, giving me a
movement was futile. tingling sensation from head to toe.
The curtain rose and I saw a blurry
"Do not panic," I heard the chorus view of my surroundings. Someone
rumble. "You are in no danger." was yelling, very close -- it seemed
as though it was coming from my own
A warm sensation blanketed me, mouth. A small hand flew at my
collecting in intensity around my eyes, and rubbed them clear. I was
neck. It lingered for a moment, looking at a bush. My head turned
then faded. I began to regain up and I saw the elf-woman looking
feeling, my pain dissipating, until down at me with a scowl. She
it seemed I was well again. scolded me in a foreign language,
Amazing, simply amazing! and tugged on my arm. I tried to
-27-
get up but was frozen to the spot. Finishing his brutal work, he stood
Confused, I tried to talk, to back to gloat over his victims.
convince the elf-woman that she Then something seemed to occur to
mistook me for someone else. him and he began to search around in
the bushes and tall grasses in in
"You are here only to observe," the the area. My/Mauk's stomach muscles
gods commanded. tightened, and we let out a fearful
sob. The man turned toward our
Then I understood. My mouth moved bushes, poking and prodding them
for me, saying some gibberish to the with the tip of his spear. His
elf-woman. She suddenly crouched to thrashing came closer to the bush we
my level, grappled my mouth, while were in, causing leaves to fall over
she put her finger to her lips. A us. I saw the spear jab the ground
desperate, pleading look was in her about six inches to our left, then
eye. She looked toward the others again to our right. Mauk sobbed and
on the path, then shoved me into the then screamed as the spear found its
bushes, whispering a command. mark in our right shoulder. My head
swirled as we were dragged out of
Mauk crawled on his belly, dragging the bushes by our hair.
me on helplessly with him toward the
commotion in the front of the line. And then... Well, then the black
Looking through the bushes, I could curtain came again. As it rose, I
see the man with the mask more was once again in my chair in front
clearly. He was arguing violently of the strange time-device, staring
with the two elf-men. In the his into the six faces of the gods. Two
left hand was a weapon -- a spear, I faces to the left, and two faces to
suppose -- which he used to the right closed their eyes and
emphasize his words. slowly faded out, leaving a she-god
and a he-god in the center.
Screaming an accusation, the younger
wood elf charged the man in the "What happened to Mauk?" I demanded.
mask, hitting him in the mid-
section, and collapsing him back- "You will see." the gods chorused.
wards. Again, the young elf threw "Now we must instruct you on what
himself at the man, but missed as you will do. We shall send you back
the man rolled and sprang to his as Tii, Mauk's cousin, and you will
feet. With lithe grace the masked lead him to our temple, where you
man snatched up his spear, turned, will train him in the ways he needs
and thrust it through the young to survive in the new land."
elf's neck.
"But where will I find Mauk? I
He went into a bloody rampage. The assume he's not dead." I interrupted.
other wood elves seemed under some
spell, as none of them were able to "You will see," they chorused again.
move. I watched with Mauk as the "Place your hands on the glass again
masked man circled each of his prey, and we will go."
yelling taunts at them, cutting and
gouging each with the tip of his "Can I say goodbye here first?"
spear. Shouting a final curse, the
man thrust the spear into his victim "You will not notice the passage of
several times. Never before have I time, and neither will those here.
seen a more gruesome death. Saying Place your hands on the glass...."
these victims were immobile is not
entirely correct: They had ----------------//----------------
sufficient mobility writhe and Read the exciting conclusion in
scream pitiously. your March Kelfour Edition!
-28-
_______________ Arsenic and Old Louvella
/ \ ____ ____\ """"""""""""""""""""""""
\@| +|~| |~|+| by Miss Parsnips
| |~|/~~\|~| |
_| |~/~/\~\~| |
/@| |__/ \__| |e were outraged to Our well-attuned ears have picked up
\_/ ~ ~ ~ ~/ learn of a depraved minstrel songs coming from behind
-------------tryst between a mother the locked door of Threk's best
of three (with another on the way) suite, and our eager eyes have
and the best friend of her faithful noticed a chaste young bard and a
and devoted husband. This pregnant rather lewd clerical fellow spending
harlot and her paramour were caught much time there. This same lady
in an uncompromising position in the bard has been spotted rolling around
street, no less, and we wonder on the wharf with another ignorant
exactly whose child this shameless fighter type. This bard must have
hussy is carrying. taken tutelage from our lady cleric
of the olde speeche on how to
Speaking of hussies, we would be attract vigorous, if not very
remiss did we not report the sordid bright, fellows -- although it
encounter that took place in the remains to be seen if either of them
abandoned woodsman's cottage in will be able to hang onto their
Upper Kaldsfang. It appears that swains for long. Kelfourites do not
once again our red-haired, nympho- hang onto used goods indefinitely.
maniac of a ranger has participated
in a shocking display of depravity Speaking of used goods, it seems our
with a previously exemplary common wraithlike lady mage is at it again.
man ranger. This not being suffi- We most certainly would like to know
ciently lascivious, the brazen pair the spells she weaves to attract so
included a young, innocent lady many empty-headed suitors. Regard-
thief in their rendezvous. We less, we are pleased to report that
understand this is not the first she has thrown over a long-winded
assignation between the scurrilous lordly thief in favor of a bloody
trio as they have been reported and most rude fighter type. We
entering the Raging Threk Inn. heard about the action between them
behind the bleachers at the recent
It seems that the good Threk is Gladitorial Games where they took
replacing all the mattresses in his "teamwork" a little too far. The
guest rooms and will be raising his audacious pair have their names
rates any time now. We are not inscribed on a plaque in Moot Hall
surprised to learn this, considering as the winners, but we wonder
the amount of time that a lordly exactly to which game this refers.
ranger spends in almost unheard of
positions there with a dark haired No longer will those who have faith-
fighter young enough to be his fully aided my pursuit of exposing
daughter. We understand that prior the faithless of Kulthea have to
to her involvement with this leave notes in that niche in the
infamous ranger, our fighter was wall just outside the gates. For be
quite pure and now it appears she advised, dear reader, that idle talk
will join the other lusty harlots and good old-fashioned hearsay may
wearing out Threk's mattresses. Not now be directed directly to
to mention the previously referred MISS.SNOOP (via GEnie email) where
to silver-haired thief who has been it will immediately reach our eager
doing equal damage to Threk's eyes. No tidbit is too small, of
mattresses with a caring healer and course, as we will surely spread it
a once sinless cleric. At the same all over next month's column. Happy
time, we have no doubt. rumor-hunting and tra-la for now.
KE V1N9
-29- [end]
See Also: