View source for Kelfour Edition volume II number IX

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 / \                                                                     \
|   |               Find the Topaz in Kulthea and win a REAL one!  Page 1 |
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 |                                                                     |
 |    GemStone III's                                   February 1992   |
 |                                                       Vol.2, No.9   |
 |               _   _           _    ___                              |
 |              / ) / )         / )  / __)                             |
 |             / /_/ /  ____   / / _/ (   ____   __  __  ____          |
 |            /   __/  / __ ) / / (  __) / _  ) / / / / / ___)         |
 |           / /\ \   / ___/ / /  / /   / (/ / / (_/ / / /             |
 |          (_/  \_) (____) (_(  (_(   (____/ (_____( (_(              |
 |                    _____      _    _    _    _                      |
 |                   / ____)    / )  (/  _/ )  (/                      |
 |                  / (__   ___/ /  _   (  _) _   ____   ____          |
 |    \  ____  /   / ____) / _  /  / )  / /  / ) / _  ) /    )         |
 |      /\/\/\    / (__   / (/ /  / /  / /  / / / (/ / / /) /          |
 |      \/  \/   (_____) (____(  (_(  (_(  (_( (____/ (_((_(           |
 |       \  / \                                                        |
 |     /  \/             The Kronicles of Kulthea                      |
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 |  Local News ............... 1    Hall of Fame ................. 17  |
 |                                                                     |
 |  A Winter's Tale, Conclusion ...... The Scribes of Quellbourne   2  |
 |  The Great Gladitorial Games ................... Vlad Drakulya   6  |
 |  40 Tips for Players .......................... Thantis Azzurn   8  |
 |  The Soda Fountain of Youth ............... Gallenod Varynesti  11  |
 |  Stat Rolls for Real Role Players ......... Charms D'Wharfling  13  |
 |  Authentic Kobold Trading Card ................. Szandor LaVey  13  |
 |  The (not so) Great Marmot Hunt ............ Celestin Drowstar  15  |
 |  Farewell to a Friend ......................... Inyigo Montoya  18  |
 |  To First Blood .............................. Kalagay Halatil  19  |
 |  Lost and Found ........................ Talamasca D'Lioncourt  21  |
 |  A Secret from the Keep, Conclusion ... Lord Whilder Planrathe  24  |
 |  Dandy Dalliances ..................... Miss Louvella Parsnips  29  |
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 |_____________________________________________________________________|
 |                                                                     |
 | Kelfour Edition of the Kronicles of Kulthea is devoted to the multi-|
 | player roleplaying game GemStone III on  GEnie information network. |
 | Submissions  may  be edited  for space, accuracy  and  readability. |
 | Contact  Editor  Lady Wiswraith Winterwind,  Assistant Editor  Rune |
 | Arundel, or Publisher Phaedra Bleu by  GE Mail  to P.HERRINGTON for |
 | details.                                    Banner letters by Yonah |
 |   __________________________________________________________________|___
 |  /                                                                     /
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      _     Kelfour Edition       _     __      _
      / )   _____   ___   _____   / )   /  \    / )___ __      __ ____
     / /   / __  ) / __) / __  ) / /   / /\ \  / // __)\ \_/\_/ /(  __)
    / /_  / (_/ / / /_  / (_/ / / /   / /  \ \/ //  _)  \      / _) \
   (____)(_____/ (____)(______)(_/   (_/    \__/(____)   \_/\_/ (____)
  
      Kelfour's Museum Robbed!               Mallenon the Unknown
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In  a  surprising  expansion  of the   Tensions  in town have been high re-
crime  wave  gripping  Kulthea, even   cently,  following  a  series of ap-
art  wasn't safe.  The Vlad Drakulya   pearances  by  one  called Mallenon.
wing  of  the  Kelfour's  Museum was   Apparently here to secure the loyal-
robbed  last month, and at least one   ty  of  members of a certain society
valuable   painting  was  stolen  by   and  coerce  others  to  join,  this
three  previously unknown rogues who   entity  (debate  still rages whether
sped  for cover after the art heist.   he  is a man or the manifestation of
However, within  a  few  days, their   the Unlife) demonstrated great power
whereabouts  were  determined and an   by  teleporting  select  citizens to
angry  host  of vengeful art enthus-   known  locations around Kulthea, and
iasts   sought  and  confronted  the   is  reported  to have great skill in
thieves  at their ship anchored just   combat, as well.
outside of town.  Two of the thieves
were  killed  as  they  taunted  the   Mallenon  is  thought  to  have been
avengers  and  the  third escaped by   directly   involved  in  attacks  on
diving  off the side of the ship and   several   citizens   (both   society
disappearing under water.  Unfortun-   members and non-members) by the long
ately  for  the museum, the painting   feared   Dark  Assassins,  as  their
was  thrown  overboard by the bandit   appearance  coincided  with a public
leader just before his death.          denouncement  of  Mallenon  by  non-
                                       members  who had snuck into a closed
Carefully searching the ship, numer-   meeting at society headquarters.  At
ous  hidden  chests were discovered.   least three Dark Assassins were seen
Curiously,  each  was  enchanted  so   and slain.  Victims of their attacks
that  only  adventurers  of  certain   were  healed and resurrected, as ne-
levels  of experience could touch or   cessary. Citizens are warned to take
open  them.  They contained numerous   great  care  for  Dark Assassins are
treasures,  proving  that  these had   reputed to grow in power until their
been no ordinary thieves.  Kelfour's   intended victims are slain.
Landing appears to have its share of     ________________________________
rougues,  however; one of the chests    /                                \
was  robbed  by  an  invisible mage.   |          YOU could WIN a         |
Sources  report that at least one of   |      Magnificent Blue Topaz!     |
valuable  items  was returned though   |              ____                |
the rest remain unaccounted for.       |             /\/\/\               |
                                       |             \/  \/               |
    House of the Rising Phoenix        |              \  /                |
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~        |               \/                 |
After  a  long  wait by its members,   |  Quick!  Read the conclusion of  |
construction  of  the  House  of the   |  A  Winter's  Tale on Page 2 in  |
Rising   Phoenix  has  finally  con-   |  this  issue!   It contains the  |
cluded.   This House is unique among   |  rest  of  the  clues  from the  |
the  rest in its stricture that mem-   |  story  which began in our last  |
bers  may  not  belong  to any group   |  issue  about  Irya   hiding  a  |
linked to the Unlife.  It is rumored   |  Magnificent  Blue  Topaz some-  |
that this political stance increased   |  where  in Kulthea!  You'll win  |
the  difficulty  of  construction of   |  a REAL one if you're the FIRST  |
the  House due to corruption of city   |  to find it in the game!         |
officials at high levels.               \________________________________/
                                    -1-
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                         A Winter's Tale, Conclusion
                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 _____________          by the Scribes of Quellbourne
/ \ _________ \
\@| ||=|=|=|| | he four stepped sin-   of yours," Cail laughed, pointing at
  | ~~ |_| ~~ | gle file  across the   the kettle.
 _|    |_|    | old plank that brid-
/@|   _|_|_   | ged  the moat  surr-   "What?"  the  ranger  asked, peering
\_/__________/  ounding the  castle.   into  the  kettle herself.  Her face
They were armed  and  armored,  even   paled.   "There  are elvish bones in
the stooped form of the  spellcaster   there,"  she  said quietly.  "Let us
wore heavy hide  armor  beneath  his   be away at once!"
flowing gray robes.
                                       "Now,  now,"  Cail put an arm around
"What  is  this  place?" Deryia, the   her.   "My  apologies  for  making a
ranger  and only female of the group   mockery of this thing, but this stew
asked.                                 is  ancient, I feel whatever made it
                                       is long gone from here now."
"Looks like it's been  abandoned for
years," said Cail,the dwarf fighter.   The  ranger  nodded and wiped a tear
                                       from her eye.  "Aye, perhaps you are
"Aye, it does at that," Ard, the big   right, my friend.  Let us make haste
human, scowled at the ruined castle.   though.  The sooner we are gone from
"Keep  your weapons handy, mates. We   here, the better we shall be."
do not know what lies within."
                                       The  others  nodded  in  unison  and
A  dreadful  howling  echoed through   hurried out of the kitchen.
the  ruins of the castle.  The group
shuddered.   This  place  is full of   It did not take the adventurers long
the  souls  that  have  no rest, the   to find the dungeon.  The cell doors
ranger  thought  as  she  hefted her   hung  from  their hinges and cobwebs
scratched broadsword, taking comfort   and dirt filled the place.
from its weight.
                                       "I do not like this at all," Twingle
"I  do not like this," the mage said   said,   brushing  cobwebs  from  his
softly.  "Let us be away from here."   tangled  silver  hair.   "Blood  has
                                       been spilled here."
"Tis our job to record ruins for the
scribes,  Twingle,"  Cail said.  "If   "It's  a dungeon, you scrawny mage,"
you  did  not  want  to  do  it, you   Ard  bellowed.   "What  do you think
should   not   have   accepted   the   goes on in a dungeon?"
silvers."
                                       They passed many devices used in the
"I  will  do it," the mage grumbled.   art of torture and stepped over bri-
"But I do not have to like it."        ttle bones which lay strewn upon the
                                       stone floor.  At last they came to a
"Follow  me,"  Ard  said, clearing a   long  hallway,  lined  with  rusted,
path through the rubble with his big   sagging  doors on both sides.  There
boots.                                 is  much  history  here, thought the
                                       mage.   Much  we can learn.  He pre-
The  four stumbled across the broken   pared  a  ward spell.  It is best to
stones that led up to the great hall   be ready, he thought.
and  into what was left of the cast-
le's  kitchen.   The dwarf banged on   "A  skeleton!"  Deryia  called  from
an  old  iron  kettle, then stood on   within one of the cells.  The others
tip-toe to look inside.                jumped at her shrill cry.
  
"Deryia,  I think I found a relative   "Where?"  Cail  asked  as  the other
                                    -2-                             More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
three  crowded  into  the cell where   topaz  from  the  sorcerer  Mordred.
Deryia  crouched  at  the  side of a   About twenty years ago, I reckon."
gleaming white skeleton.
                                       "Aye,  I  remember,  but was the gem
"Who was it?" Deryia asked, touching   ever  found?"  Ard frowned.  "Do you
the arm bone which was still held to   suppose  this  is  the  great  thief
the wall by a rusty metal shackle.     himself?" He pointed at the bones.
  
Deryia  peered  at the skeleton, her   "More than likely," the ranger said.
eyes  clouding  with  tears.  It was   "Imagine!  We  are the first to find
obviously  an  elf, judging from the   one who is but a great legend."
fineness  of  the slender bones, the
delicate   fingers.    She   touched   "Perhaps  these  runes are a clue to
pieces of cloth scattered around the   the  gem's  whereabouts,"  Ard said.
skeleton.  It crumbled into dust.      "Remember  the  whole  point  of the
                                       tale  was  that  the sorcerer needed
"What's  this?" Twingle said, kneel-   the gem to complete the fire gate."
ing beside the skeleton and pressing
his face almost to the stone floor.    "Aye,"  the ranger said.  "I believe
                                       the  fire  gate  opened  the  way to
"What?" the others asked, staring at   Kulthea, and that the sorcerer would
the mage.                              bring  forth  more unlife to destroy
                                       this land."
"Something  is scratched here.  I am
trying  to  make it out now, but the   "His  plan was thwarted for he never
language  is  almost obscure and the   recovered  the  gem,"  Ard picked up
runes are not clear."                  the tale.  "But none know if someone
                                       else  has found it since.  Many have
"Let  me  see,"  said Ard, kneeling.   sought it."
"I  studied runes at the University.
Perhaps I can assist you."             "Do you think they would tell?"  the
                                       ranger snapped. "If you had found it
They  spent  the  better part of the   would you not keep it secret also?"
day  studying the strange message on
the  dungeon floor.  Deryia recorded   "Perhaps," Ard said slowly.  "But on
their  observations  on  a parchment   the  other hand, I would like all to
she took from her backpack.            know that I found the treasure."
  
Although  they  remained  wary,  and   "Your  ego  is as big as your boots,
jumped  at  the blood chilling howls   my friend," Deryia smiled.
that   echoed   through   the   dank
dungeon,  they  were  excited at the   The  two  stopped arguing at a harsh
prospect of discovery.                 cry  from  the mage, still bent over
                                       the etchings on the floor.
"Lighthand? Are you  sure  that says
Lighthand?"   Deryia  asked,  making   "This  is  elvish,"  the  mage said,
notes on the parchment.                frowning.   "Look  here,  Annthanna,
                                       thats the rune that has something to
"As  far  as  we  can tell," Twingle   do with words."
said.  "Iy Lighthand or something."
                                       "Nay,  nay!"  Ard cried.  "Annthanna
Deryia  nodded.   "You remember that   is a tower."
tale," she said in a hushed voice.
                                       "This  one is val, I think," Twingle
"What tale?"                           said.  "It means person or guard."
  
"The  one of the thief Lighthand and   "Guard tower!" Ard said gleefully.
how  he  successfully stole the fire

                                    -3-                             More...
 
  
  
    
  
  
"Mayhaps," the ranger nodded slowly.   "The blue topaz."
"I  remember something about a guard
tower."                                "Blue chute," said Ard.
  
"Telco," Twingle said.  "These runes   "A moment," the mage said.  "Perhaps
here spell telco."                     this  is not Lhun at all, perhaps it
                                       is  stone  -  see this other rune is
"What's telco?" the dwarf asked.       not gem at all, tis etching."
  
"Root or shoot!"  Ard  said, jumping   "Etching?   That makes no sense, old
around. "The root tower!  The gem is   mage,"  Ard  bellowed.   "Unless  it
in the root tower!"                    refers  to  what  is  written  here.
                                       Lighthand  etched  his marks in this
"What root tower?" Cail asked.         stone?"
  
"It  could  be  stem,"  Twingle said   "Why   would  he  do  that?"  Deryia
slowly, "brush, painting.  Something   asked,  peering  at the runes.  "And
like that.  Perhaps a tapestry?"       besides,  if  I  recall that rune is
                                       crypt, not blue."
"Chute?" Ard asked.
                                       "That's  an  's'  before  it,  not a
"This  makes  no  sense at all," the   'c',"  Ard  said,  scowling  at  the
ranger  sighed.  "Why this Lighthand   ranger.   "Stay out of this, Deryia,
wrote  in  old  elvish  is beyond my   you are not educated enough and your
understanding."                        interpretations are confusing us."
  
"Perhaps  so only a select few could   "I  know  of  a  crypt,"  Cail said,
read  it.   Perhaps  the other words   running  stubby  fingers through his
are  a  blind  and  only one word is   thick beard.
needed for the location." Cail said.
                                       "That's  it!   A  crypt  is  a  good
"Let  us  search  the  guard tower,"   hiding  place,"  Ard cried.  "Let us
Deryia  said.   "I  would  not  mind   go at once to this crypt of yours."
finding such a wonderous treasure."
                                       "Wait,  wait.   This  one says olog,
"Chute, I'm telling you." Ard said.    and  this  is  hai,"  Twingle  said,
                                       stroking  a  finger across the faded
"It  isn't  chute, tis with an 's',"   runes.
Twingle said.
                                       "Troll?" Ard frowned.
"You  are  wrong, old mage.  That is
the only possible solution, chute."    "Aye,  mayhaps.  But in the times of
                                       this language they were known as the
"Do you know of a chute?" Cail asked   black  speech,  I  believe.  Mayhaps
the ranger.                            dark speech?"
  
"Nay." She shook her head.  "I think   "Blue   troll   chute,"   said  Ard.
guard tower is more likely."           "That's it!"
  
"What is this here?" Twingle pointed   "What  does  that  have  to  do with
at two runes etched side by side.  "   anything?"  Deryia shouted, "This is
                                       all   wrong,   it  makes  no  sense!
"Lhun is blue," said Ard.              Mayhaps this is not a clue at all."
  
"Aye," the mage said, "so this other   "Hush  Deryia,  let  us see what the
must be jewel or gem."                 few  remaining runes say," the dwarf
                                       said, patting Deryia's shoulder.
"We know that part," Deryia scowled.
                                    -4-                             More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
"Edor.  What's edor?" Twingle  said.   tree in a crypt in a chute somewhere
                                       we may find the gem."
"Caught?" Ard asked.
                                       "I   still  say  the  guard  tower,"
"Impossible. Perhaps court?"           Deryia spoke up.
  
"Nay, nay, caught  as  in trap." Ard   "And I say the tree near the old hut
paced the small room.                  in the wilds," Ard said.
  
"This one is orn."                     "I say the crypt in the old  fishing
                                       village," Cail said.
"Orn?" Ard stared at  the mage. "Orn
is a tree isn't it?"                   "And I," Twingle said. "I say we  go
                                       to the tavern for a few  drinks  and
"I think it  is.  And this rune here   forget  this   madness. These  marks
is up or clamber,  I think. I cannot   were likely made by rats." He sighed
see it  very   well,   it might mean   heavily. "We cannot  search  all  of
something else."                       Kulthea."
  
"It isn't clamber, tis  by or from,"   The  others  sighed  also.  Now  the
Deryia whispered to Cail.              stunning blue topaz would  never  be
                                       found. The greatest treasure of Kul-
"From?"  Ard  bellowed,   his  sharp   thea  would   forever be lost to the
elven ears picking  up  the whisper.   darkness.  "Fare  well,  Lighthand,"
"You know not what  you say, ranger.   Deryia whispered as she followed the
Tis  climb!"  Climb  a  tree,  which   others   out   of the cell. "May you
makes more sense than that which you   rest  in   Eissa's   peace with your
whispered."                            secret."
  
"Tengwar is the  last  one," Twingle   |==================================|
said.                                  |                                  |
                                       |       So endeth the tale of      |
"Tengwar?  Are  you  sure  it  isn't   |           Irya Lighthand         |
certhas?" Ard said.                    |  and the Magnificent Blue Topaz. |
                                       |                                  |
"Certhas is runes, aye?"               |    The hunt begins!  Will YOU    |
                                       |    find this coveted treasure?   |
Ard nodded. "Aye, runes.  Tengwar is   |                                  |
the same  thing.  Letters, alphabet,   |==================================|
something of that sort."               |                                  |
                                       |    This contest is geared to     |
"Mayhaps he meant ruins?"              |    adventurers of ALL levels.    |
                                       |                                  |
"There  are  hundreds  of  ruins  in   |    Simutronics, GEnie and KE     |
Quellbourne!" Cail  spoke  up. "Must   |      staff are ineligible.       |
we search them all for this gem?"      |                                  |
                                       |==================================|
"We can climb  a   tree. That is the   |                                  |
only  sense I  can  make from all of   |  A  magnificent  blue topaz gem  |
this," Ard said.                       |  sparkless  somewhere   in  the  |
                                       |  lands in silence.  Find it and  |
"There  are  hundreds  of  trees  in   |  show  a  GameMaster,  and  you  |
Quellbourne!" Cail shouted. "Must we   |  will  receive  the real gem by  |
climb them all? Impossible!"           |  surface mail!  Don't delay!     |
                                       |                                  |
"This  makes  no  sense,"  the  mage   |            Good Luck!            |
sighed. "These words have  naught in   |                                  |
common. Perhaps if we looked  for  a   |==================================|
                                    -5-
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                         The Great Gladitorial Games
                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ___________               Report by Vlad Drakulya
/ \  _______\
\@|  ~~~|~|~|
  |__   |~| |anuary  saw the  return   maintaining   consciousness,  as  he
 _|||   |~| | of   the   Gladitorial   annihilated    Metabaculous'    gray
/@| \\_/~/  | Games  in  full  swing   matter.   The  common  consensus was
\_/  ~~~~   / again.  More  than  50   that that must have hurt!
  ~~~~~~~~~~competitors stabbed with      Next in line were Gallenod, Rory,
with  swords, mashed with maces, and   and   Mirit  for  the  12-16  batch.
slung   spells  to  beat  out  their   Wielding a dark steel rapier, Galle-
opponents  and win fame, experience,   nod  showed  what  he  had  by first
and  silver!  In what were the long-   poking  down  Mirit while Rory had a
est games yet held, many upsets were   buy,  and  then  taking care of Rory
seen,  long  held  thoughts of class   with  a  jab  to the kidneys.  Meta-
and  racial  superiority  were  dis-   baculous   was   seen   leaving  the
proved,   an  incredible  number  of   betting  wicket  with a large bag of
awful  songs were sung (along with a   silver after that fight.
few  very  good  ones)  and, in all,      In the final one on one, no magic
over 1 Million silvers were bet!       event,  Beolost,  Laeg,  Talon, Ise,
   The Games started out with the no   Gilthor,    Moonpie,   and   Artuero
magic  events,  where  no  spells or   decided  to  see who was the best in
enhanced  equipment  of any sort are   the  17  plus  category.   After the
allowed.  The first batch in the 1-3   first round of fights, Artuero, Ise,
category   were   Artreus,  Rakrist,   Gilthor,   and   Laeg   were   left.
Shardin, Ringo, Diana, and Sirilian.   Gilthor's  fight against Moonpie was
The  end  of the first set of fights   one of the biggest rounds of betting
saw  Artreus,  Rakrist, and Sirilian   with  over  51000  silver being bet,
in   the   running.    Unfortunately   and  Beolost  walking away with over
Artreus' ties with reality were dis-   21000  in  winnings  from  that  one
connected   and   left  Rakrist  and   fight!   In  the  end though, it was
Sirilian  to  duke  it out.  After a   Laeg  versus  Gilthor in another big
short  fight,  a  sorely out-skilled   round  of betting.  Showing that the
Diana   fell   to  Rakrist's  nimble   favorites  don't  always  win,  Laeg
blade,  and Rakrist became the day's   helped  Artuero walk away with 27000
first winner.                          silver   in   winnings,  by  beating
   Next up were Eron, Kenner, Konan,   Gilthor  with  a  final  blow to the
Bleys,  Lydrynn,  Bip,  Camorra, and   side.
again,  Rakrist  and  Artreus trying      The  ever  popular  free  for all
there  hands  in  the  4-7 category.   fights,  with  no  magic,  were held
These  combatants went through a few   next.   Surprisingly, not one of the
rounds  of fights before Lydrynn and   winners  from  the one on one fights
Eron  emerged  on  top for the final   managed to win in the free for alls.
fight.   While sushi and spiked lem-   Artreus   managed   to   beat   back
onade  was  drunk  by the onlookers,   Sparrowhawk,  Ringo,  and Althorn in
Lydrynn  managed to knock down Eron,   the  1-3  batch.   Next Bleys showed
and  finish  him  with  a cut to the   that  4:1 betting odds couldn't stop
chest.    Lydrynn's   only   comment   him   from  destroying  Eol,  Vaash,
afterwards was, 'Shew'!                Artreus, Eron, Kenner, and Yashantre
   The  Games  carried on with Meta-   in  the  4-7  category.  In the 8-11
baculous, Bobuss, Mohrgan, Zoweeejr,   batch,   Zoweeejr  took  down  Meta-
and   Bleys  fighting  in  the  8-11   baculous,  but  then  had  his  ribs
batch.   A few fights later Zoweeejr   driven  into  his  lungs  by a swing
and   Metabaculous   faced  off  one   from   Yonah's  broadsword,  leaving
another.   In  an incredible display   Yonah  the victor.  Greater than 5:1
of  how  to use a falchion, Zoweeejr   odds  paid off for Gilthor when Rory
showed  that  a  brain is useful for   managed  to  beat Gallenod, Mikhail,
                                    -6-                             More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
Kalagay,  Mirit, and Zinderin in the   quickly dispatched Airioch and work-
12-16 batch.  Rumors of Rory jumping   ed  his way up to a final fight with
around  like a twelve year old after   Dagmar. His good fortune ended there
the fight were grossly overstated...   though  as  Dagmar's  final  bolt of
it  was  more  like  a thirteen year   fire spun Beolost into the ground.
old!  In the final no magic free for      The last events to be held (after
all,  only  Baram managed to predict   a  good 11 hours of fights) were the
that  Ise  would  be  able  to  beat   team events.  Due to a lack of teams
Moonpie,   Gilthor,  Laeg,  Beolost,   to  participate, only the 4-7 and 17
Talon,  and  Artuero  in the 17 plus   plus   batches  were  held  for  the
group.                                 teams.   In the 4-7 batch were Konan
   With  the no magic events over, a   and  Phelan,  Artreus  and  Eol, and
few  of  our resident mages came out   Kenner and Rhea.  After having a buy
of   the   woodworks   to   compete.   for the first fight, Artreus and Eol
Unfortunately for them though, there   managed  to  beat  Kenner  and Rhea,
magic  didn't  seem  to help much at   giving Artreus his third win for the
all,  as  no  mages  won  any of the   day.   Well done, Artreus.  The next
magical  one on one events until the   batch of 17 plus combatants had Fxg,
17 plus batch.  In the 1-3 category,   Wisraith,   and   Beolost   fighting
Artreus  claimed  his second victory   against  Gilthor,  Lose and Strom to
by  beating  Gwen,  Niall,  and Sir-   start.   As  Lose and Strom weakened
ilian.   One  important  note  about   them, Gilthor took out his opponents
this  fight  which may affect future   one   by   one,  annihilating  their
Games  held was the first ever draw,   brains  and  hearts  in the process.
between Gwen and Niall, who were not   Next,  Dagmar,  Moonpie,  and Enigma
able  to  hit one another, even when   managed to beat Gallenod, Rhone, and
at full out offense.  Camorra claim-   Isei  in  order  to  advance  to the
ed her first win in the Games in the   final fight. It was here that the up
4-7  batch by beating back a  strong   set of the day happened  as Gilthor,
set of contenders... Vaash, Bleys  ____    Lose  and Strom beat 5:1 betting
Eron, Phelan, Kenner, and again   /  -//
Artreus <smile>.  Zoweeejr        | -//\             _
showed magic was no big dea      / //   \           //               Art by
when he took his second win       |//   |          //               Avarice
of the day in the 8-11       ___/@\_/__|__/@\____///__________
group, preventing Phelan    /@/::\@\:::::/@/:::///   ____ ,---
Bobuss, Warmajere, Meme,   /@|:::::::::::::;-///-----    \\
Luke and Mohrgan from    /@@/\\:/:::::::::////
similar claims. Having /@@@/  \\::::::||:///|  odds, and won the day! Their
missed the earlier    /@@@@|   '--___-\\//@|   strategy,   you   may   ask?
no magic event,      /@@@@@@@--______   \\_@|  Strom  used a cold steel rod
Mikhail lept into   /@@@@@@@@@|#:#:#//--'`-=|  that  cast  word  of stun to
the fray and show- |@@@@@@@@@/::::0/:::|@@@|   keep   his   opponents  from
ed  he  was  no    |@@@@@@@@|===========\@|    doing  much  right  from the
slouch by winning /@@@@@@@@@/|    |    |@@|    start,   while  Gilthor  and
the 12-16 group. /@@@@@@@@@/ |    |    |@|     Lose  took  them down one by
Isei, Zinderin, |@@@@@@@@@/ /|   |@|   |@|     one.   All  in  all,  a fan-
Rhone, Gallenod,|@@@@@@@@/ /|   |@@|   |@|     tastic    ending    to    an
Mithil and Rory |@@@@@@@/ /{=\  |@@|   |@@|    incredible day.
were   seen     |@@@@@@/_/@| \=}@@@{====}@|       Elminester  and  I  thank
waving clenched  \@@@@@@@@|  :|@@@@@| :|@@|    each of you who competed and
fists, and vowing \@@@@   | :|      | :|@/     watched   for   your  parti-
to do better in the next  | :|       |:|       cipation    and    patience.
games. In the final one  /  |        | |       Also,  thanks  to all of you
on one magic event,     /   |        /  --__   gamblers,  who enabled us to
sorcerour spells were   |__/         |______\  rake  in  a goodly amount of
shown  to be no match                          silver  <smile>.   We'll see
for a  fighter's  brawn  as  Beolost           you at the next Games!
                                    -7-
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
                           40 Tips for Players
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ____________               by Thantis Azzurn
/ \   ____   \
\@| /~/~~\\  |reetings,   Kultheans.   wood),  and  arm  and  leg  greaves.
  ||~|    ~~ | These    tips    will   These  items  will  reduce  critical
 _||~|  |==| | help    the    newest   hits.  Remember to WEAR them.
/@| \~\__//  | players   start   out
\_/  ~~~~~   / but some of  the  ad-   8)   NEVER wear  (or train in) metal
  ~~~~~~~~~~~ vice  applies to  more   armors (chain  & plate.)   They make
experienced players, too.              you very,  very easy to hit and into
                                       a lighting  rod.    I  don't  advise
1) Learn  the system.  This  can  be   soft leather,  either.  This rule of
accomplished  by   using  the   game   thumb   will    apply   until    the
commands   ADVICE  and   HELP,   and   engagement    system     has    been
especially    by     reading    (and   implemented.
capturing if  you  can)   the  GSIII
instruction  manual  on  GEnie  page   9) Rigid  leather can  prove  useful
931.  Other players can help you out   against certain  creatures.   If you
some, too.                             have extra  development points use 1
                                       or 2  in Rigid Leather.  Although it
2) Spend your silver wisely.  During   gives  weapon   using  creatures   a
training, you  should have developed   better  chance  of  hitting  you,  a
at least  one level  of TRADING.  On   leather breastplate  is better  than
average,   you  can  bargain  prices   heavy hide against magic and natural
down about  10 silver.   Don't start   attacks such  as claw and bite.  You
your first  bid too  low however, or   will need  9 to  10 levels to offset
the merchant will just laugh in your   the penalties, though.
face.
                                       10) When first hunting in a new area
3) Remember  the 20  item limit.  At   - any  area -  try   to  get someone
any one time, you  can  only have 20   who  has   been  there   before   to
items on your person.  Buy a visored   accompany you.   This will help keep
helm instead  of a  leather  helm  &   you from  getting lost, and give you
aventail.   Forget the  sheath  when   help  if   you  run  into  something
starting out.                          dangerous.   This tip  goes for more
                                       experienced adventurers, too!
4) When   starting  out, buy  a sack
instead of  a backpack because it is   11) Remember  to have your weapon in
cheaper.  Price  is  the  only  sig-   your right hand  and  your shield in
nificant difference between the two.   your  left  hand.    You  can  check
                                       yourself by  typing INV.  If you get
5) Know your character and what s/he   it backwards, type SWAP.
can do.   Don't  buy a  sword if you
trained in  only one handed crushing   12) First  level  characters  should
or a  lock pick if you have no skill   ALWAYS    run    from    Wolverines,
in lock picking.                       Karnelins,  Lesser Orcs, and Trolls!
                                       They will  kill you!     There is no
6) Put your money in the bank!  I've   dishonor  in   running   away   from
seen  many  a  starting    character   something  you  have  little  to  no
carry a  few hundred  silver on them   chance of besting.
when hunting,  die, and then have no
money to re-outfit.                    13) Know your limits!
  
7)  When   selecting  armor  at  low   14) Get  a crystal amulet as soon as
levels, always  wear  Heavy    Hide.   you can!  By typing WEAR  AMULET and
Also, buy  a reinforced  shield  (it   RUB AMULET,  you gain  access  to  a
doesn't break  as  easily  as  plain   "telepathy net."   You  can call for
                                    -8-                             More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
help if  you  get  lost  or  need  a   21) To  contact a  GameMaster,  type
helping hand  in combat.  Try not to   either  REPORT  or  ASSIST.    These
tie up the net with idle chatter, as   commands should  only be used in the
it can  distract people in battle or   case of  technical  difficulties  or
keep  someone   from   noticing   an   questions; this  is not something to
important message.                     be used  for help  in combat and the
                                       like!
15) At first level, death only costs
you your  hard earned   possessions.   22) Always  ask first!   Players who
After first  level, death  may  cost   steal  another's   kill  or     take
you stats.                             someone's treasure or belongings are
                                       not well  liked,   and will  have  a
16)   Pawn, Pawn,  Pawn!   Silver is   hard  time   getting   help.      Be
scarce in  Kulthea, and you  can use   considerate of other players!
all you  can get.    When  gathering
items  from   your    kills  though,   23)   Experienced    players    are,
greaves,  wooden   shields,   helms,   potentially,  your   most   valuable
commoner's        staves,   cudgels,   resources.   They are  a  wealth  of
daggers, Holy kukris, quarterstaves,   information and help!
and  ritual   daggers   are   either
worthless or  not  worth  enough  to   24) If  someone doesn't talk back to
waste space  and time  ferrying them   you, don't   worry   or   get upset.
to the pawnshop.                       S/he may  be away  from the keyboard
                                       (AFK), receiving  many whispers  and
17) Pay  off your  debts as  soon as   miss your  message, or s/he may be a
possible.   When you type  WEALTH to   slow typist.
check your  coins, a  debt  (if  you
have one)  will be shown.  Until you   25) Know  your  weaknesses!    Learn
pay off  your debt, you can not give   from your mistakes!
coins   to another  character.  This
means you  can't buy  special  items   26) DOWNLOAD  THE MAPS!!!   Maps  of
from your  fellow adventurers.   You   the lands  of Kulthea  are available
can pay off your debt in Moot Hall.    in the  MPGRT (GEnie  page 1045)  in
                                       Library 7.   GIF,  TIFF,   MAC,  and
18) Check  your EXP constantly while   ASCII   formats    are    available,
fighting.   This shows           you   although some may be slightly out of
the states  of your  mind, which are   date.   Some maps are also available
as follows: CLEAR AS A BELL, FRESH &   in  back   issues  of   the  Kelfour
CLEAR,  CLEAR,   MUDDLED,   BECOMING   Edition.
NUMBED, NUMBED,  and YOU  MUST REST!
When you  reach the "YOU MUST REST!"   27) Some  useful (if slightly dated)
stage, you  can not  earn  any  more   information  is   available     from
experience  until   you  do.    Your   Natasha's   Survival   Guide,   also
ELoquence stat  determines how  long   available for download.
you can fight before resting.
                                       28) Back  issues  of  our  wonderful
19) The  best  places  to  rest  for   Kelfour  Editions  also   contain  a
experience   absorption    are   the   supply of  detailed information  for
Temple, the Wayside Inn, and Helga's   the old  and new  player,  excellent
Tavern.   I recommend    the  Temple   player-written  fiction,  and  much,
because it  is  where  most  of  the   much more!  These are also available
healers and  the   majority of other   in the MPGRT Library.
adventures "hang  out."  Your REason
stat   determines    the   rate   of   29)   One  of  the  most  under-used
experience absorption.                 GSIII resources  is our  section  of
                                       the  MPGRT  BB  (Categories  17-20.)
20) The STATUS command will show you   Check them out!  Remember, the MPGRT
all  the   players  and  GameMasters   BB is a free GEnie*Basic service.
currently on-line.                  -9-                             More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
30)  The  Tomes  of  Kulthea  &  the   kill a  GM should  know better!  The
Version notes on GEnie page 931 also   same thing  goes for the cocky first
contain useful  information  at  the   level character  who   thinks s/he's
$6/hour fee.                           too good  for hobgoblins and kobolds
                                       and is  promptly disemboweled  by  a
31) Develop  a personality  for your   greater orc.
character.      Characters      with
personality are  a lot  more fun  to   37)   Some    classes   get    extra
play and are generally well liked.     experience   for    doing    special
                                       things, like  healers for  healing &
32) Remember,  although GSIII  is  a   clerics        for        performing
game, it  costs money - $6/hour - to   resurrections.   While these provide
play.  If the system is running slow   ways to  advance at  higher  levels,
or there  isn't  anything  to  hunt,   hunting is  always the  best  method
log-off  and  save  your  money  for   for advancing at low levels.
another   day.      Also,   although
socializing is fun, you may not want   38) Always  keep close track of your
to spend hours and a lot of money on   HEALTH if  you've  been  wounded  in
it.    The  faster  you  get  up  in   battle.   Although you  may not have
levels, the  better off  you'll  be.   been killed,  you may bleed to death
Leave the  excessive socializing  to   just as  easily.  My first character
your rest  time or  a special  event   died in  this  manner.    First  Aid
when starting out.                     skills  will   allow  you   to  TEND
                                       <location>   and   help   slow   the
33)  If   you   made   a   Quick-Gen   bleeding until  you  can  get  to  a
character, re-roll!  Get KE articles   healer.   Ask a healer about getting
and advice from other players before   some herbs for you that can help you
you do.   A  lot  of your success in   if you're  away from town.  They get
Gemstone is based on what you can do   a big discount.
and how  well you  can do it.  Don't
spend too  much time  on a Quick-Gen   39) Learn  the  art  of  combat  and
character, just  use it to learn the   Parry Tag.   (See  back KEs  for in-
system.                                depth articles.)   Remeber to always
                                       PARRY 100  when not  in combat.  You
34) When  rolling a  character of  a   don't want to be eaten by a creature
magical profession  (cleric, healer,   on your way back to town.
mage, or sorcerer) always go for the
100 in  the stat    that  determines   40) The  best tip  I  can  give  any
power  points.      This   is   very   person who  playing Gemstone  III is
important.   Also, spend the full 10   LIKE YOUR  CHARACTER!  If you really
development   points    needed    to   like  your   character,  so   called
guarantee a  spell each level.  Many   "advantages"    that  other  classes
a caster has lost a spell by a small   have   won't matter,  you'll  go  up
margin because  s/he only spent 8 or   just as  fast, and you'll develop  a
9 pts  and has regretted the mistake   richer    personality    for    your
for the life of the character.         character.     Look  at   Bards  for
                                       example.   They    have   no   major
35)   Don't   be   afraid   to   ask   "advantage"  and  their  spell  list
questions.   There is  no such thing   isn't fully  implemented.    It's  a
as a  stupid question (well, almost)   noble but  difficult profession, yet
and your  fellow adventurers will be   Bards can  ulitimately  do  just  as
more than happy to answer.             well as  anyone else.   Ask a person
                                       playing a  Bard why they chose their
36) Don't  attempt things you aren't   class,  and   you'll   likely   hear
ready for  or know you shouldn't do.   something like   "I have a character
Use common  sense.   A character who   I like to play."
comes up to  me and asks how you can                                    End
  
                                    -10-
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                        The Soda Fountain of Youth
                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ______________            by Gallenod Varynesti
/ \ ____  ____ \
\@| ~| |  | |~ |ave you ever  wanted   tion."   Before I  even had a chance
  |  |~|--|~|  | to start  your life   to protest, he had me on my feet and
 _|  |~|--|~|  | over again  from  a   out the door.
/@| _|~|  |~|_ | certain      point,
\_/ ~~~~  ~~~~ / knowing  what   you   "Dec, wait!"    He  stopped  by  the
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ know now?   I'm sure   cleric's shop.
we all have that dream occasionally.
Well, here  in Kelfour's Landing, we   "What  is  it,  Gall?"    He  looked
can make  that dream  a reality.  We   impatient.
really  can   live  our  lives  over
again.   A friend  of mine showed me   "Dec," I  explained, "I'm not really
how.                                   sure I  can start  over.  I'm a 13th
                                       level ranger  and I'm  42 years old.
I was  sitting there  in the Temple,   I don't  think this  is a  very good
one day,  feeling a  bit  depressed.   idea."
I'd just  advanced another  level in
the Ranger's  Guild, but I'd flunked   Dec looked at me with those gleaming
yet another magic test and I was the   eyes again.   "No sweat, Gall!  This
least magical  ranger in  my  class.   guy I  know, he can take care of all
I'd  also  scrimped  on  my  weapons   that.   Trust me!"  As he dragged me
training when  younger,  and  I  was   off down the street, I couldn't help
starting to  really miss  those  two   thinking how  natural he'd look in a
extra levels  of training.   I  des-   plaid tunic selling used horses.
paired of  earning enough experience
to  advance  any  more.    Then  Dec   He took  me around  the back  of the
wandered in.                           Raging Threk,  and opened up a small
                                       wooden trap  door.   With a wink, he
Dec was  politely referred to in the   disappeared into  the dark  opening.
Landing as  "Mr Everything"  because   His voice  drifted back  out to  me.
at one  point or another, he'd tried   "C'mon, Gall!"
every  profession  in  Kulthea  with
varying degrees  of success.  Though   Unsure of  the wisdom  of  following
he's never  distinguished himself to   Dec, I descended into the gloom.  As
the point  of nobility in any of his   my eyes  adjusted  to  the  dark,  I
professions, he  had  earned  recog-   noticed a  small  lit  area  on  the
nition in other ways.  (The Lifetime   other side  of the room.  As I moved
Achievement  Award   that  all   the   closer, I  saw what  looked  like  a
healers and clerics in Kelfour's had   bar, with  some steel  nozzles and a
given him  for all his contributions   glass  full   of  straws   and  long
to their advancement, for instance.)   spoons.   I took  a seat  on a  disk
                                       mounted on  a pole,  and almost fell
"Hi, Gall!"  he said,  waving in  my   off when the disk started rotating.
direction.   "Why the long face?"  I
explained my  frustrations  to  him.   Dec steadied  me.    "Gallenod,  I'd
As I did, I noticed he got a certain   like you  to meet  Charman, the only
gleam in his eye.                      bartender in the known world who can
                                       give  you  your  life  over."    Dec
"Ah,  I   know  what   you  need  my   beamed at  me,  and  turned  to  the
friend," he  said.    "You  need  to   bartender. "Charman, do your stuff."
start over  again from the beginning   The bartender  was an  ancient gnome
and correct all those mistakes!"  He   dressed  in   pants,  tunic,  and  a
put  a   friendly  arm   around   my   leather apron.  He looked me over.
shoulder and  drew me  to  my  feet.
"C'mon!   Let's go  see  my  connec-   "You sure  he's OK,  Dec?" the gnome
                                    -12-                            More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
asked.   "He looks like a cop to me.   Have an  errand to  run."  The gnome
I don't do no cops."                   nodded, and  Dec led  me on  another
                                       whirlwind trip  around town,  during
Dec chuckled. "No, he's OK. A little   which he  persuaded me  to give  him
more straitlaced  than the  rest  of   all my  money and  valuable  posses-
us, but not a cop."                    sions.   "I'll just  hold these  for
                                       you, OK  Gall?" he  grinned.  Like I
The gnome  looked at  me  and  said,   said, plaid tunic and used horses...
"Alright elf, what do you want?"
                                       A few minutes later, we were back in
"I don't  understand, sir,"  I  rep-   the basement  below the  Inn.    The
lied.  "What are you offering me?"     gnome looked  up from behind the bar
                                       and  pushed   a  brown  fizzy  drink
Dec grinned  while the  gnome looked   towards me.  The moment of truth had
at me  in surprise.  "Why, life, the   arrived.   Was this  the right thing
universe, and  everything,  ranger,"   to do?  I was throwing away 13 years
the bartender  replied, "but  speci-   of my  life.   Something inside  me,
fically,  a  chance  to  start  over   though, made me reach for the glass.
again.  My concoctions here will let   It was  cool.   I sat considering it
you live  your life  over  from  the   for a moment.
beginning.   Didn't Dec  explain  to
you? He  ought to know; he's my best   Dec grinned.  "Just think, Gall, now
customer."                             you can go back an fight kobolds and
                                       hobs and know what they are ahead of
Dec grinned  and said,  "Here  Gall,   time.   Now you  can  train  in  all
watch.   It's easy.   Gimmie  one of   those areas  you ever  wanted to try
those cherry  sodas, Charman."   The   or forgot  to the  first time.  And,
gnome handed  Dec a red fizzy drink.   thanks to me, you can start with all
Dec drank  about half  of it.    His   your weapons  and money.    Minus  a
form  became   indistinct,  and   it   small commission for me, of course."
seemed that  he was  two people: one
his  normal   self,  and   one  much   Dec was  right, you  know.    You're
younger.   "See,  Gall?"  he  asked.   never  too  old  to  start  over.  I
"This is  great.   If you don't like   downed the  soda and left the Inn to
the body  you get, just don't finish   face  my  future... and  re-live  my
the soda.  If you do, just leave the   past.
Inn and  you're in  your  new  body.      ____________________________
Great, eh?"   A  few seconds  later,     / \                          \
the double-image  went  away.    The     \@|       GemStone III       |
bartender picked  up the  half-empty       | ________________________ |
glass and put it behind the bar.           ||        __     \ \      ||
                                           ||        \.\     \ \     ||
"How much?" I asked the gnome.             ||         |'|__  _\ \    ||
                                           ||        /     \/._\ \   ||
"What have  you got in your pockets,       ||__    /  o\ __ ./  \ \  ||
ranger?" he  asked.   I took out the       ||'_\_/  / ... o |    \ \ ||
few silvers I had with me and handed       ||/      |  ,O: /      \ \||
them to the gnome.                         ||         \_'/         \ ||
                                           ||           \_          \||
Dec whispered  to me,  "Hey, we need       ||             \_      \_/||
to go to the bank and get your money       ||               \_____--/||
out.   If you  get a  new body, they       ||________________________||
won't recognized you and you'll lose       |                          |
all your  money.   May as well clean       | Kobold : Lvl 1  CP - 30  |
out your locker, too."                     |          OB 18           |
                                         /@| [  1 ]   DB 10           |
Dec stood  up and grabbed me, again.     \ /                          /
"Er, Charman,  we'll be  right back.      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                    -13-
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                     Stat Rolls for Real Role Players
                     """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
 ____________            by Charms D'Wharfling
/ \      __  \
\@|     / "| |dvice. If you are con-   covered in the  graveyard  crypts or
  |    //|"| | sidering it, you have   under mine cavern; maybe a priceless
 _|   //=|"| | probably died a  num-   tome  or an interesting twist in the
/@|  //  |"| | ber of  times,  might   fabric of space and time.
\_/ ~~   ~~~ / even have  made it to
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~ second or third level   Constitution (CO)
but if you're like I am/was, you are     Concussion points are nice, and at
looking  at  your  first  bill since     low  levels they  can make all the
starting to play and are staring  in     difference, but why would you want
the face of a nagging question:  "Am     to get hit!  No matter your class,
I having fun yet?" The answer's pro-     unless  you plan  to play  a  real
bably  yes,  but  it  would  be more     strapping  young  fellow,  try  to
rewarding  if  the levels came a bit     skimp  along with an average value
faster, and maybe with a little less     in this one. Something in the 70's
risk.   Becoming  a healer or cleric     should be fine. Who knows, you may
may   give  you  more  options,  but     roll  a 100  for  your  potential;
addressing  class peccadillos is not     everyone  will think it was prodi-
my intention here.  There are enough     gious foresight. My favorite char-
monographs  on the making of a Mage,     acter in a  paper and  pencil game
or the perfect Warrior Lord, or soon     is  a  mage  with  low CPs for his
will   be,   written  by  much  more     level. But Mr. Paranoid, Hermite's
experienced practitioners than I.        nom de travail, is a true stimulus
                                         to party interactions,  especially
As  the  title  may  not  have fully     when   he  blasts  a  friendly NPC
informed you,  this article is about     party because they  surprised him!
stats in the abstract. Let's discuss     Not over-loading your constitution
your  prize possessions  in light of     stat  affords  more  latitude   in
what they  add to your role playing,     stats like agility.
independent of the skills you choose
to develop,  your  class (or lack of   Agility (AG)
it), or race selection.                  Now, this  is  a stat  that  I can
                                         really  get into.  Does your char-
Yes,  we all  know  that there  is a     acter juggle?  Maybe he  dances on
correspondence between certain stats     ceilings  or flies  or just  likes
and   useful  game  skills,  certain     those  absurd  adrenal  maneuvers.
stats and  professional skills,  and     Here's a prime  place  for that 98
racial  bonuses   in   given  stats,     or 99 you  rolled,  especially  if
adding to both skill sets.  The only     you  are a spell slinger or thief.
mystery  is in  how the  bonuses for
stat  values were  interpolated from     I remember  an  illusionist I once
the original ICE step tables for use     had,  Phanstern, whose really out-
in Gemstone.  (The originals, if you     standing trait was  that  with his
look  the  subject  up in  Character     excellent  agility,  his  favorite
Law) had  larger  ranges  and  steps     hobby was surfing!  Made for great
than   the   computerized  version.)     fun when  he  tried to cast spells
Kasia, Lythe and others have already     while  sliding  across  a  greased
written a  great  deal  about  these     causeway.
attributes  and  I personally  tried
for a long time to roll eight 100's.   Self Discipline (SD)
I came  close;  eight potentials  in     So  you're  fifth level and you've
the 90's and a constitution of 99.       never died! All of your stats must
                                         have  reached their  potentials by
Let's  go down  the list and  see if     now. (Well, maybe  not. I was for-
there's  something  new  to  be dis-     ced to  depart  once  after  first
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  level and  I'm still a  few points     mour  of  the  moment).  All  this
  short in three stats.)  It's clear     really means is that if your char-
  that you  have  great self discip-     acter is glib of lib or just hates
  line  or are  the luckiest advent-     the thought of hanging around town
  urer  who  ever hit  the frontier.     and  the  temple for extended per-
  Or maybe you're a healer who never     iods,  this is  a great  place  to
  left the Temple. No, no one's that     dump one of those big numbers.
  much of a boring stay-at-home.  If
  none  of  the  above  is true then   Strength (ST)
  of  course   your  SD  average  or     Okay, this is the one stat that  I
  below and so  is  the bonus, what-     can't do without loading up.  Yes,
  ever that might be good for.           I know that if you gain hiding and
                                         ambush skills you can still get an
  Despite falchions and other super-     occasional critical back stab, but
  ior weapons  (of mithril, eog  and     if you  don't hit you  don't get a
  laen) lost in  the  throes  of one     lot of  experience.  When I get my
  death or  another, and  even after     next account I'm  tempted to try a
  learning  the trick of accessing a     character  with only weapon train-
  cleric  before  the  soul departs,     ing to contribute to his offensive
  there have  still been  some deeds     bonus,  but I'm  pretty sure he'll
  cashed in by  the sinister Fecund.     be  the  pits  to  try to advance.
  He is truly an undisciplined crea-     Even if he's  always  partying and
  ture;  not a  kamikaze,  but prone     never goes  solo,  his  reasoning,
  to the  occasional  imprudent act.     eloquence  and   prime  profession
  Correspondingly, he has a low 40's     stats had better be outrageous!
  SD  with   negative  bonus.  Seems
  right, somehow.  How much control/   Quickness (QU)
  restraint does your alter ego have     Unless you're a "What, me become a
  and do his stats reflect it?           tin can!?" type, this will compli-
                                         ment your constitution  stat quite
Reasoning (RE)                           nicely.  Don't  be  greedy; if you
  Now here's a stat that cries for a     can take the damage, why avoid the
  seriously  high roll if ever there     hits?   When you  grow up and wear
  was one.  Not only  does it affect     that  chain or  plate  armor,  any
  your development points (as do all     bonus for  quickness  will rapidly
  of  these  first  five),   but  it     be  driven to  zero  anyway.   But
  relates  directly to  how much you     those of  us  who  parry  0 to get
  have to do to get that level rais-     directed spell  crits need all the
  ing experience  we all lust after!     DB we can get.
  Unless  you  really  enjoy playing
  that perennial first leveler,  the   Presence (PR)
  one  who  only  advances once in a     I  have to admit, I inspire confi-
  blue moon  and has  to go  back to     dence in  real life,  as   well as
  the temple  to  absorb  experience     back  on  planet  Earth.  To  have
  after   every   encounter,   don't     people (and  halflings)  take note
  slight your reasoning stat.            of you, respect  your thoughts  on
                                         geopolitics  and  the   care   and
Eloquence (EQ)                           feeding of ghouls,  these  are the
  Now, I don't really want to play a     imp-pompous,  I   mean   important
  Temple toady.  Even though healers     things in life.  How  can a cleric
  can profit from sitting around and     be a good cleric  without it?  How
  waiting  for the  wounded, walking     can  the  evil  mage  or  sorcerer
  or not, to show  up for  care, you     strike unspeakable  fear  into the
  can  roll play without the concom-     hearts  of  monsters   and  fellow
  itant chatter  out in the  wild or     adventurers alike without it?  And
  holed  up  in  some out-of-the-way     how can those  scurvy pocket pick-
  town structure  with your favorite     ing, back stabbing  thieves make a
  squeeze  (or maybe  just the para-     success  of their  unclean careers
                                    -14-                    More on Page 17
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                      The (not so) Great Marmot Hunt
                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 _________                 by Celestin Drowstar
/ \ _____ \
\@| ~|_|~ | awoke with  a start  and      The  inn, from what I recall, was
  |  |~|  | almost  jumped right out   up  the  trail  west of the 'Danjir'
 _|  |~|  | of  bed!   Just  another   sign, but I'd never been up there so
/@| _|~|_ | nightmare, I realized. I   had to keep my eyes open to find the
\_/ ~~~~~ / made my  way across  the   entrance.  I also wanted to be alert
  ~~~~~~~~ small  room  and  found a   for  hill  trolls  which I had heard
wash basin with some water to splash   roamed this area. Naturally, I found
on my face. The cold water felt good   a  hill  troll  before  I  found the
and helped to clear my mind a little   entrance to inn.  I had never fought
of  the  hellish  visions  that  had   one  before,  and  wasn't sure I was
intruded upon my sleep.                ready  to  take  one on, so I rushed
   I   had  been  having  nightmares   past  him  up  the  trail.   I could
after hearing Flint's theories about   hear  him pursuing me when I reached
an alternate world called Earth.  In   the  end of the trail, so I hid in a
this  one,  I  was involved in some-   large clump of bushes.  As I made my
thing called a budget meeting (what-   way  into  the bushes I found an old
ever  that  is), and it was horrify-   battered  door,  and since the troll
ing.   With  a shudder I made my way   was  getting  closer I took a chance
back  to my blanket, and snuggled up   and went through it.
in  its  reassuring warmth.  Not all      As my eyes slowly adjusted to the
my  dreams  of  that alternate world   low light, I made out what had to be
were so bad.  One involved a magical   a  large  entry  hall.   A tarnished
device  called a thermonuclear some-   plaque  confirmed  that I was at the
thing-or-other.   Now, if ever there   inn.   I  made  my way across an old
was  a  device that a sorcerer could   rug  that  seemed  to  crumble  as I
use, that would be it!                 walked  on  it.   I stopped and lis-
   Early  morning  sunlight  started   tened,   but  heard  only  the  wind
streaming through holes in the ratty   coming  through  a window someplace.
curtains   that   covered  the  only   I wandered up the hall to the north,
window into my room, and I knew that   and  into the kitchen.  It was empty
it  was  time  to  stop  dreaming of   of  anything  valuable, and as I was
wonderfully  destructive  alien  de-   getting  ready  to  leave  I saw the
vices  and  begin  a new day here in   trapdoor  that led to the cellar.  I
the real world.  It didn't take long   could  hear movement down below, but
to  get  dressed,  and  after double   decided  to  explore  more  of  this
checking  my  gear,  I  headed  out.   level  before  venturing  lower.   I
With a small yawn I drew my axe from   found  a  dining  room, common room,
my  sack,  readied  my  shield,  and   and  an  office,  but  little  else.
headed out into the wilds.             Back  in  the  entry  hall I found a
   I  wanted to learn another spell,   staircase hidden in the shadows that
but  I  still needed more experience   led upsatirs.  As quietly as I could
using my axe, wands and the spells I   I ascended the steps.
already  knew.   I  had heard that I      The  stairs led to a hallway past
could  gain lots of experience at an   several  guest  rooms.   I  explored
old inn that someone had found a few   these  and  an  alcove, but found no
months  ago, and that was my destin-   marmots.   One of the doors led to a
ation.   I  had been told there were   suite.  Examining the bookcase there
creatures there called marmots which   I  found  what  looked  like  a hole
I  figured  I  could take on without   formed to allow entrance (or egress)
much trouble.  The inn was also rum-   from  a  passage  or room behind the
ored to be inhabited by dark orcs in   wall.    Dread   overcame  me  as  I
the cellar and wraiths in the attic.   thought  of  going  through  to find
I figured I'd play it safe and avoid   what  was  on  the  other side.  So,
those areas if I could.                trusting  to my inner voice, I moved
                                    -15-                            More...
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
on to explore elsewhere.                * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
   I wandered through the ground and    *                                 *
upper  floors  for  a  time  without    * Earn a FREE WEEKEND in Kulthea! *
encountering   anything.   After  an    *         ^^^^^^^^^^^^            *
hour  or  so, I heard a noise coming    *                                 *
from   the  stairs  leading  to  the    * Contributors to Kelfour Edition *
attic.   Thinking  it  might be that    * are paid  handsomely  with free *
marmot  for which I had searched all    * time in  GemStone III.  Contact *
this  time,  I slowly made my way up    * P.HERRINGTON  by  GE  Mail  for *
the  stairs,  and  took  a peek.  It    *     detailed information.       *
wasn't  a  marmot,  but a wraith!  I    *                                 *
made   it  safely  down  the  stairs    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
before  releasing  a long sigh.  All
this time, and I still hadn't seen a   low  on power.  He had tried to claw
marmot.   Only  one  more  place  to   me  but missed each time, and he had
look, and that was the cellar.         only  resisted  my  spells once.  He
  It  was  dark as I entered, but my   had  cuts  and  bruises  on both his
eyes adjusted quickly.  The cool air   legs,  his right arm, his chest, and
made  me  shudder  as I slowly moved   his  right  hand.  I switched to the
about.   Turning  the  corner into a   limb pain spell, and he resisted the
store  room  I ran right into a dark   first  attack.  The next two attacks
orc!  He took a swing at me with his   drained  me  of  my final power, but
scimitar   and  missed.   Quickly  I   now  he  was  bleeding from left leg
threw  my  shield  over my shoulder,   and his right arm.
pulled  a  golden wand from my sack,      I  wanted  rest  a bit to recover
and  got  ready  to blast him with a   some power but the dark orc advanced
firebolt.  He was quicker than I had   and  tried to claw me.  I could tell
anticipated  and  cut  a nasty slash   that  the  bleeding  was starting to
across  my  chest on his next swing.   take  effect  since his attacks were
I  hurled  a  firebolt  at  him, but   slower  and  weaker.  I swung at him
missed.  Seeing that his defense was   again  and  again, unable to score a
good  against  elemental  magic, and   hit  until he, exahausted and bleed-
that  I  was  wounded, I ran for the   ing,  collapsed  to the floor.  Fin-
stairs.   He took another swing as I   ally,  I thought, I can hit him with
retreated, and I heard howls of rage   my  axe!   I  could hit him alright,
when  his  scimitar broke against my   but  I wasn't doing much damage when
shield.                                I  did  score  a  hit.   After  what
   My   wounds   were  not  bleeding   seemed an eternity I finally finish-
seriously,  but  I  was  hurt pretty   ed  him  off.   My arms were aching,
bad.  I decided to rest there in the   and  I  thought  I heard another orc
kitchen  and,  listening to the dark   off to the west so I quickly search-
orc searching for me below, tried to   ed  the  corpse and took his studded
think  of  a  way  to defeat him.  I   leather armor.
knew  of  only one way to attack him      I  made  it  out  of  the  cellar
without  lowering my defenses in the   without  trouble,  so  I stashed the
face  of  his  speed,  so when I was   orc's  armor  in  my sack and headed
sure the bleeding had slowed enough,   back  town  to  recover my power and
I  made  my  way  back  down  to the   get  my  wounds healed.  When I left
cellar.                                the abandoned inn I came upon Bensai
   I  could hear the dark orc off to   battling a hill troll.  I stopped to
the  west  as  I prepared a spell as   watch  and after a short time he was
quietly  as  I  could.   When it was   victorious.  We exchanged farewells,
ready  I  ran down the hall past the   and  I  resumed  my  journey back to
unprepared  orc, touching him with a   town, but all the way I was thinking
spell  of  disruption  as I went by.   about  how he had killed that troll.
His shout of anger quickly turned to   As  the  familiar  gates  came  into
that  of  pain.  I continued to cast   view, I thought, "What the heck, I'm
at  him  in this fashion until I was   going after hill trolls next!"
                                    -16-
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
   40 Tips: Continued from page 14       ceptible  to  sleep  spells   than
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~       most.  Personally, I walked around
  with it? Your choice of value  for     calmed  for many rounds one night,
  this  stat   reflects  your   true     wondering  why  I  couldn't   cast
  intent to  roll  the character you     spells or use my wand.  Didn't get
  plan to roleplay.                      me killed that time. There's truth
                                         to the story that  being intuitive
Intuition (IN)                           can help  you  figure  out  how to
  Welcome back to the world of spell     disarm a trap or pick a lock.
  casting.  It's  time  to drag  out
  those tomes  on the mystic arts to   Empathy (EM)
  decide  what to do with this stat.     See above.  It's a matter of  pro-
  There are  mixed opinions  on what     fession and personal  detail goals
  to do  if you  are a  spell caster     as to whether or how  you discrim-
  and you depend on this  particular     inate between EM  and IN.  A  mage
  stat  for  power  points.  By your     depends on EM for power points. Of
  very choice of profession,  you've     course you could be a sorcerer and
  shown yourself to be in the market     there  would be no  difference be-
  for unlimited,  unreasoning power!     cause you will need both.
  Follow  the  advice  of  those who
  have written  more and  better  on     These  choices  are just   exactly
  this  subject  than I  plan to and     that: choices.  Have some fun with
  put a high number here if you  are     them.  Unless you are the  one who
  a cleric  or  healer;  your  spell     finally figured out how to get the
  casting ability depends on it.         character generator to roll up ten
                                         100's, you will  have to put those
  For the  other two or three adven-     low  numbers some place; you might
  turers out there who  happen to be     as  well have  some fun rationali-
  non-spell  casters,  what possible     zing  the  allocation  instead  of
  difference  could it make what you     agonizing  over   the   decisions.
  put here?  Oh,  you heard that the     Remember,  the stats may influence
  bonuses  for  these  stats  factor     roll playing but YOU control role-
  into your resistance rolls?  Maybe     playing; to really round out  your
  your character was born more  sus-     character, take advantage of both.
  
   ________________________________________________________________________
  / \                           HALL OF FAME                               \
  |@/______________________________________________________________________/
  |                                                                      |
  |  Congratulations to:  Lord Artemis Al~Anhir, Lord Bashir Mskshadhvar,|
  |  Lord  Certain  Justice,  Lord Elminester  Silvanisti,  Lord Gilthor |
  |  Longblade, Lord Griffin Skywave,  Lord Griffun Skyborne, Lord Kodos |
  |  Corallias,  Lord  Laeg Cearnach,  Lord Landreth deLorde,  Lord Lose |
  |  Soulblaster,  Lord  Odds Bodkins,  Lady Phaedra Bleu,  Lord  Waldo2 |
  |  Ptolomy and Lord Whilder Planrathe for achieving Noble Rank!        |
  |----------------------------------------------------------------------|
  |  Bard     Enegue LionHeart    20 | High Man   Corwin D'Amber      10 |
  |  Ranger   Fxg Lyon            26 | Common Man Beolost Lamontt     19 |
  |  Mage     Odds Bodkins        26 | Dwarf      Vshaal hiJneksha'a  16 |
  |  Fighter  Ise Ikiryo          22 | Halfling   Odds Bodkins        26 |
  |  Thief    Moonpie Legend      17 | Wood Elf   Zhuge Liang         18 |
  |  Cleric   Taarna Wayfinder    25 | High Elf   Strom O'Berin       30 |
  |  Sorceror Xura Viikort        21 | Half Elf   Fxg Lyon            26 |
  |  Healer   Strom O'Berin       30 | Fair Elf   Valeria Deering     22 |
  |----------------------------------------------------------------------|
/@|  Current GSIII Fame Rankings by Profession and Race - Jan. 5, 1992   |
\_/______________________________________________________________________/
  
                                    -17-
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                           Farewell to a Friend
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 _____________              by Inyigo Montoya
/ \____   ____\
\@|+|~|   |~|+|nlike  some  of   you   By this  time, Elandred  was as well
  | |~|   |~| | reading this, I hail   accustomed to  saving lives as was I
  | |~|   |~| | from Kelfour's Land-   in the ways of the world.  We hunted
 _| |~|   |~| | ing.   No,  I  don't   together as  a team,  travelling for
/@|  \~\-/~/  | pretend to come from   days on  end without any need of the
\_/   ~~~~~  /  some  glorious  land   home we once knew.  With my rangerly
  ~~~~~~~~~~~   over yonder;  I  was   knowledge, I  kept us at subsistance
born  and raised within these ringed   level, barbecueing  cockatrice  legs
roads   we   now   call   home.   My   and torkaan  chops, while he kept us
beginnings  were  meager,  raised on   alive despite  all the  wounds  gar-
the  streets, fending for myself and   nered from  clash after  clash  with
befriending  the  locals.  Seduction   hoards  of  pestilential  creatures.
by  Helga and duelling with that old   Whenever we  returned  to  town  our
mystic  have taught me all I need to   entrance was  greeted  with  uproar;
go through life.                       Elandred's for  his notariety  as  a
                                       healer,  and  mine  for  the  stench
When I was but a teen I inadvertant-   which could  practically be  noticed
ly  came across a boy named Elandred   from half a mile away!
Evergreane.  His friend, apparently,
was  Surtey  the quack.  Carefree as   Then we entered into a new aspect of
youths  are,  we  tavelled the wilds   our education....the  women  of  the
and enjoyed our small world. With no   landing.   Granted, Helga  taught me
real  paternal  figure  to  teach us   what she  could, but coming from the
right from wrong  or the ways of the   gutter herself,  she could not teach
world,   we  were  forced  to  learn   me the  finer points of dealing with
on our own. With Surtey slowly leav-   ladies as  fine as  these. I  had my
ing   a  bad  taste  in  his  mouth,   own share  of broken  hearts, as did
Elandred swore to improve the condi-   she.   Sitting here, remembering the
tion of the the residents by seeking   days of  our youth, and the smell of
the healing profession. Granted, the   oil from this burning lamp, brings a
experimentation I  did by  ingesting   tear to my eye (albeit I need a bath
the herbs we found in the wilds  was   too).  But I digress.
an experience of it's own.  In turn,
I took  to  the  outdoors  as I  was   It  was  a  solemn  morning  when  I
seemingly hyperactive enough to look   passed Elandred's humble abode, when
under  rock  and  bush for that mar-   I saw  him fully  packed.   He had a
velous healing vegatation.             silly grin  on his face as he met me
                                       at the  door.   I was  surprised  at
Elandred furthered  his  studies  by   this sight,  for we  had arranged  a
travelling  to   distant  lands  and   short expedition  into our  favorite
learning spells  in order to enhance   hunting ground, Dangirland.
his healing  talent without  the use
of these  herbs.  I,  on  the  other   "I have  to  bid  you  farewell,  my
hand, had  enjoyed the wilds so much   friend", he said.
that the search for mosses turned me
into  an  outdoors-half-elf,  so  to   I asked  with a shudder in my voice,
speak.   I grew fonder and fonder of   "What's the  matter, some old geezer
my  new  habitat  outside  of  these   bearing a  crossbow demanding you to
surrounding  walls.  I  turned  this   marry his daughter, again?"
habitat  into   my  new  home....the
untamed lands of Upper Kaldsfang.      "No,  it   seems  that   information
                                       brought to  me by the town's council
Boys  grew  to  adulthood  and  once   has led  me to  seek out  my  family
again valued  friends were reunited.   back on the mainland."
                                    -18-                    More on Page 23
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                               To First Blood
                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ____________                by Kalagay Halatil
/ \   ____   \
\@| /~/~~\\  |il leaned back  at the   hacking and slashing at one pathetic
  ||~|    ~~ | dinner table and reg-   creature after  another, no theater,
 _||~|  |==| | arded  his older sis-   no music..."
/@| \~\__//  | ter  with  a  certain
\_/  ~~~~~   / certain   amount   of   "Now there  is where  you err, Gil,"
  ~~~~~~~~~~~ jaundice. She was just   Kalagay broke  in. "There  are bards
finishing  up a story  which  was as   of some  quality in  town, one  most
thrilling  to  hear  as  any  of the   particularly  fine.    Her  name  is
famous  epics,  always  assuming  of   Amelda Heronheart and she can create
course that  it  was  true.  Britto-   verses to  make your  hair stand  on
mart's  green  eyes  shone  and  far   end."
adventures   walked   behind   them,
needing only  some  imagination  for   "I daresay they do..."
her  to   put   herself   into   the
heroine's golden place in the story.   Alais chided  gently, "You  seem aw-
Alais smiled softly at her children,   fully grumpy this evening.  No doubt
perhaps remembering  days  when  the   some exercise  would  do  you  good.
three of  them played  at "Soldiers"   What about  a walk  before  it  gets
or "Mages Against the Unlife."         dark?"
  
Gil  was  fond  of  his  sister.  Of   Gil smiled  a wicked smile. He whis-
course  he  was.  No  one  could  be   pered to Kalagay, "What I would like
prouder than  he of  Kalagay, and no   to do  is  see  just  how  tough  my
one could  enjoy her stories of life   ladylike sister has really become."
in The Wild Lands more. But even the
most tolerant  of brothers got tired   Kalagay's eyes  lit up.   She  whis-
of hearing about adventures of which   pered back,  "A fight?  Like we used
he was not the hero and which he had   to? To knockdown?"
no part  in.  Even the most admiring
of brothers got heartily sick of the   Gil shook his head.  "Broadswords to
admiration  which   Kalagay  excited   first blood."
among their  friends and  neighbors.
If he  had to hear one more time the   "Now, Gil,  you know our father will
virtues of  the broadsword  she  had   have a  heart attack  if he sees his
wielded for the past year...  He sat   heir in  such a fight.  How will you
at the dinner table looking more and   explain getting  yourself bloodied?"
more  disenchanted  as  yet  another   Her teasing tone made him grin.
tale, this  time of  Black Stalkers,
unfolded.   By Arianna, he had never   "_I_ am not the one who has to worry
heard of  Black Stalkers  in all his   about getting bloody. I could always
life, and  he was  mortally  certain   beat you  and I  don't think  things
that  none   of  their  friends  had   have changed much."
either.   In fact,  he would  not be
surprised to  discover that his fun-   Kalagay began to feel that there was
loving sis  embroidered many  of her   more to  this proposal than a chance
stories.                               of  exercise.    Though  he  laughed
                                       lightly,   her   brother   obviously
Staying just  barely  on  the  civil   looked forward  to the  match with a
side of  a sneer,  he leaned over to   great deal of relish.
drawl, "Well,  we have heard a great
deal indeed  of how  tough Kelfour's   Upstairs, she  pulled out  the back-
Landing is.   And  how  uncivilized.   pack she had brought with her. In it
Not a  horse to  be  found  anywhere   were her  broadsword and  the  heavy
north  of   Smatoth.    Nothing  but   hide she  wore as  armor, along with
                                    -19-
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
greaves, helm,  and aventail,  which   readied  her  own  stroke,  set  her
she did  not expect  to need.    She   feet, and  slipped her  blade inside
stroked each  piece with an oily rag   his guard,  aiming for a nick on the
while Gwailin left noseprints on the   chin  which  would  bleed  like  six
metal pieces.                          pairs of  dinner piglets  but  would
                                       not otherwise be harmful.
"I wonder if you'll ever grow into a
companion like  Elvanion's war  pan-   At Kalagay's  cry, a  cream colored,
ther is.   You're awfully young yet,   spring loaded fury flattened ears to
but it would be nice to mean more to   head, snarled  gutturally, and  sank
you than  the  source  of  karnellin   20 needle  claws and  all her  teeth
scraps."   She gave the kit a vigor-   into Gil's right calf and ankle. Gil
ous rub  under the  chin,  eliciting   bellowed as  much in  surprise as in
the chesty rumble which passed for a   pain and  waved his  leg vigorously,
purr.                                  trying to  shake the  kit  off.  The
                                       main result  of  this  maneuver  was
To Kalagay's  surprise, the  kit put   that Kalagay's  careful  stroke  cut
both front  paws  on  her  knee  and   only air,  and her  brother lost his
stretched up  to her  face, reaching   balance and toppled over.
delicately  with  long  whiskers  to
touch her  about the  eyelids and to   To do  him credit, he tried his best
breathe with  eyes  half  closed  at   not to  land on  Gwailin and  did no
each one.  It was  an odd moment, so   more than swear mightily at her.
full  of   something  unspoken   and
tenuous that  Kalagay kissed the kit   As Gwailin  sprang, Kalagay received
lightly on  her pink nose to end it.   the full  mental force  of anger  at
Gwailin looked  offended  and  stood   Gil.  He   was  'Enemy',  daring  to
down.                                  assault her...what? Her responsibil-
                                       ity, her very own person.  "Gwaelin!
A hedge of flaeshorn berry bushes at   Stop!"   Kalagay did not know if she
the bottom  of the garden shielded a   called aloud  or not.  She abandoned
sunny  and   level  glade  from  the   sword  and  shield  and  grabbed  at
house.  In   short  order   the  two   Gwailin, losing some skin of her own
combatants, regarded  by  Brittomart   in the  process. The  kit let go and
with  the   first-aid  kit   and  by   sprang back at the same time, and in
Gwailin, squared  off.    The  first   the next  moment all three were in a
clang of  steel clashing rang out in   tangle  on   the  ground,   Gil  and
the  still  late  summer  afternoon.   Kalagay  laughing  helplessly,  good
Gil pressed  the  attack  hard,  and   humor restored.
Kalagay dodged as she had learned to
do in  the Gladiator  Games in  Kel-   "Well," he gasped.  "I think Gwailin
four's Landing.    She  circled  and   wins that  one.  She got first blood
waited for a stroke to go wide.  She   from both |\ of us!"   /|
was  a   little  afraid  to  strike,             |\\         //|
fearing that  her year's  trials  in             |/\\       //\|
the Wild  Lands would  cause her  to              \ /~~~~~~~\ /
hit  too   hard,  that  her  muscles               | (o) (o) |
trained for  killing would  not  let               |    @    |            a
her  seek   only  to  disarm.    Her               | <-=-=-> |            r
clumsiness gave Gil an opening which             _--\_______/--_          t
he did  not hesitate to make use of.           /~               ~\
His blade whistled past her ear, the          |   |     o     |   |       b
point tangling  in long  hair  which         /    |     o     |    \      y
had come out of its braid.                  /    / |    o    | \    \
                                           |    |  |         |  |    |    Y
With a yelp, Kalagay pulled her head       `uuuu' |     |     | `uuuu'    o
back regardless of the sizeable lock              |     |     |           n
of silver  which  came  away.    She             /     / \     \          a
                                    -20-        |_____/   \_____|         h
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                               Lost and Found
                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ____________             by Talamasca D'Lioncourt
/ \   ____   \
\@| /~/~~\\  |liding    effortlessly   mean thee no real harm," it  said in
  ||~|    ~~ | down  a chilly corri-   a low voice.
 _||~|  |==| | dor, it came upon the
/@| \~\__//  | figure of a  sorcerer   "No REAL  harm? What kind of harm DO
\_/  ~~~~~   / huddled  in  shadows.   you mean  me?"  The youngster peered
  ~~~~~~~~~~~  "How   curious, "  it   around for  his new companion, which
thought  as  it  edged  closer.  The   he was  starting to  suspect  was  a
sorcerer  shuddered as it drew near,   figment of his imagination.
so  it eased back and began to exam-
ine  its unusual find.  His skin was   It chuckled  again, and thought that
pale,  and  his  hair  was  long and   this was  indeed a  clever creature.
white.  His equipment, although bat-   It  looked  at  the  broadsword  and
tered,  was new.  The air around the   slowly moved  out of  striking  dis-
youngster was filled with the stench   tance.   It was  immortal but  could
of  fear and despair.  The reek made   still be  hurt or  even banished  by
it feel a twinge of hunger.            some  weapons   and  some  forms  of
                                       magic. Better safe than sorry.
Normally it  would attack  and  kill
this  man  thing as it did all crea-   "No  harm,   although...thou  mayest
tures  it  encountered in its terri-   think me  rude for  asking, but  why
tory. Mortals  especially were  most   art thou  here?" it  asked in  a low
dangerous.   All  creatures here at-   whisper.
tacked man before attacking anything
else.   However,  it  had  been long   "I was  trying to  find a friend and
since  it  had  encountered a mortal   got lost down here...," he started.
who could not perceive its presence.
                                       "This is not really the safest place
It  stayed still and to see how much   to meet new people," it interjected.
it  could  learn  from his thoughts.
Slowly at first, the thoughts of the   "That's  not   what  I   meant,"  he
sorcerer   drifted  into  its  mind.   sighed. "I  meant that I was looking
Then  bits  and  pieces  of  visions   for someone,  and  I  couldn't  find
started  to  come more rapidly until   her, and  now I  am lost.  I've been
it saw pictures of a short life, and   going around  in circles  for hours,
it  could  make out scenes of child-   and I  don't have  a ring  to get me
hood  in a forest and aspirations of   back to town."
great magic which seemed dashed, all
because  he  was...  lost?  Why yes!   "I could help," the voice whispered,
The  lad  had  no idea how dangerous   "but I would ask something from thee
this  place was.  After studying the   in return."
uneasy  young  sorcerer, it chuckled
just loudly enough to be heard.        "I don't  know what I could possibly
                                       give  you,"   the   sorcerer   said,
"Who's there?"  gasped the young man   looking through empty pockets.
leaping to his feet at the sound.
                                       "Thou  couldst   give  me   what   I
"Thou  must  indeed  be  a  powerful   lack...some of thy life..."
sorcerer to  be in  such a  haunt as
this," it whispered.                   "Yeah, right.  Like I'd  just..." It
                                       suddenly dawned  on the  young  sor-
"Who   is    that?"   the   sorcerer   cerer that  whatever he  was talking
insisted, drawing his broadsword.      to was  not alive!  He thought about
                                       running, but  his legs  were shaking
"Stay your blade, my young friend. I   so badly  that  he  could  not  move
                                    -21-                            More...
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
them. In  fact, there  was not  that   "Aye, long  ago. I  do not  remember
much of  him that  was not  shaking.   much of  my life,  but I do remember
His  mind  raced,  but  he could not   being tricked  by a  holy man (or so
think  of  no way out of his present   he  called  himself)  into  becoming
situation.   Not  even the name of a   what I  am  now.  Those  who  preach
god  or  a  goddess  to  pray to for   their ideas the most are usually the
help.   He  was  only  vaguely aware   ones who   are  most likely  to dis-
that his broadsword had slipped from   believe or  work against them. I was
his hand and fallen to the ground.     young then  and did  not know  this.
                                       This so-called  holy man  filled  my
No reason to be shaking so," it said   head with  visions and  promises  of
soothingly. "I  could have taken all   goodness and  an end  to evil in the
of thy  life had  I wanted,  but I'm   world. I  did not  even see  that he
not as  greedy and mindless as some.   was turning  me against friends whom
I ask  thee only  for a  little." It   I  had  known  since  childhood.  My
retrieved the  fallen broadsword and   younger brother  chose to follow his
handed it back to the shaking figure   own path  in life  and not  take the
which stood before it.                 path that the holy man was trying to
                                       lead everyone  down.  The  holy  man
The young  sorcerer looked  down  at   called him  evil because he chose to
his broadsword  which seemed to have   do what  he wanted  to do, and I did
come from  nowhere. Then  feeling as   not even  argue when  it was decided
though  he  had  just  come  to  his   that he  should be  killed...in  the
senses, he  blurted out, "But you're   name of good."
some vile, dead...".
                                       The  young   man,   who   had   been
"Undead," it corrected.                listening to  the story  and  hoping
                                       that he  would soon  get a chance to
"...evil...," he continued.            escape,  put   his  sword  away  and
                                       leaned against a wall.
"Evil?" it asked.
                                       "I do not bore thee, do I?" it said.
"...ugh...well, maybe I was a little
out a  line there  with that  'vile'   "Oh no!  Please continue."  said the
crack," he  said  in  a  low  voice,   young sorcerer.
realizing that  it  might  not  have
been such a wise thing to have said.   "Very well.  Soon after  my  brother
"But you do feed off the living!"      was destroyed  I was changed. I went
                                       quite  mad  and  killed  any  living
"And dost  thou not? What didst thou   thing that  I  could.  After  a  few
feed on today?"                        decades the  madness in me died down
                                       and so did my hunger. I now see that
The young sorcerer thought about the   my hunger  had controlled me just as
dried meat  that he had finished off   the holy  man did earlier. Sometimes
a few hours earlier and had to agree   some of  my kind  come to me and try
that it had been alive once.           to convince me to join them in a war
                                       against the  living, but  they sound
"I know  I  probably  shouldn't  ask   too much  like the holy man in their
this, but why...."                     arguments. It  is their hunger which
                                       controls them,  and  their  lack  of
"Why I  haven't killed you?" it fin-   vision. I  am sure they were weak of
ished. "Thou  posest no  real threat   mind and heart when they were alive.
to me,  and I was a mortal man once.
I remember  the fear  I felt  when I   "Someday  when   thou  art  powerful
thought that I was going to die."      enough to  do the  magic  thy  heart
                                       longs for, others will approach thee
"You were  a man  once?"  asked  the   and try  to convince  thee to choose
young sorcerer.                        paths that  may not  be  thine  own.
                                    -22-                            More...
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
Beware of  these mortals,  and trust     Farewell to a Friend from Page 18
thy inner self to show the way."         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                       "How long  will  you  be  gone?",  I
"Well, yeah...I guess so," the young   asked, my smile vanishing.
sorcerer muttered  while  trying  to
figure out what had just been said.    "I  shan't  be  returning,  my  fine
                                       friend.   I've had my fill of gashes
Both  were  quiet  for  a  time, one   and dismemberments.  My true calling
thinking  about  what had been said,   is out  there where the game is much
the  other letting its mind roam the   bigger than you or I have seen here.
corridors  until  it  found  what it   I shall  sorely  miss  you  and  the
sought.   It  glided  away  from the   friends I  have met  here, but don't
young  sorcerer  quietly towards its   mourn my  loss for  I am  going to a
destination, a wandering cave troll.   place where  all is  so much better.
                                       I have  questions that  need answer-
As  it approached, the troll started   ing,  and   the  vagueness   of   my
to  sniff  around sensing that some-   ancestry has  been one that has been
thing was nearby.  Unfortunately for   nagging at  me worse  than your flea
the  troll,  he  found  it  quickly,   condition, Inyigo."
along  with  the falchion that ended
his  life.   It searched through the   "Where will  you go,  what will  you
troll's  rapidly  decaying  remains,   do?   Need someone  to accompany you
and found what it was looking for.     to see  this grand  world you  speak
                                       of?"  I asked this childishly before
It was  night in  Kelfour's Landing,   a friend  who had transformed into a
so it  was not  spotted by anyone as   man I barely knew.
it glided  quickly up into the town.
After fidgeting  with the  object it   "No, this  is a quest I must make on
got from  the cave  troll,  it  then   my own,  there are  things  in  life
returned quickly  to  its  territory   which are necessary to do alone, and
and to the lost sorcerer.              this is but one of them."
  
"I have  found a  way  for  thee  to   I hugged  him tightly and bade him a
return home," it whispered. Reaching   fond farewell  as he whispered in my
out, it  grabbed the sorcerer's arm.   in  my   ear,  "Take   care,  Inyigo
The  young  man shuddered as he felt   Montoya.   You have become more than
the life drain from him.  It let out   a  friend.  Dare  I  say,  you  have
a  blood curdling moan as it drew in   become the closest thing I have to a
his  life,  and the sorcerer thought   brother."
for sure he was doomed.  It released
him and, drained almost to the point   That was  the last  I saw of him.  I
of  death,  he collapsed into a heap   never thanked  him for  being such a
on the floor.                          good friend,  which is  why I  write
                                       this now.    He  never  really  said
"I thank thee," it said.               goodbye  to   anyone  else,  so  I'm
                                       saying it for him.  Hopefully, some-
Looking up  blearily,  the  sorcerer   where out  there he  will  perchance
saw a gold ring appear and move into   come across  this note  and see  how
his  palm.   With  shaky   hands  he   the years  since have turned me into
slipped the  ring on  his finger and   someone  a  bit  older,  and  a  bit
vanished!                              wiser.   Good luck  out there, Elan-
                                       dred, dear brother. I know it's hard
"Ahhh..."  thought the shadow asass-   to say  goodbye, but  I'll take with
in  as it continued its journey down   me the  memories to  be my  sunshine
the corridor.  "Ain't life grand!"     after the rain.
  
     ============//===========             ============\\============
  
                                    -23-
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
                     A Secret from the Keep, Conclusion
                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ___________            by Lord Whilder Planrathe
/ \      __ \
\@|     / "| | quick  visit  to  the   railing  where  he can watch without
  |    //|"| | bank for funds, a few   getting  in  the way of the sailors.
 _|   //=|"| | few hours of sleep at   Time  passes  and  the  ship finally
/@|  //  |"| | Threks, and I'm  back   moves away from the dock.
\_/ ~~   ~~~/  at Helga's. And He is      "Take  care!"  I yell as the ship
  ~~~~~~~~~~   there,  as  I knew he   draws  away.   "Remember, things are
would be.                              not always as they seem."
   I  sit down next to Him and order      "Aye,"  he hollers back.  "Choose
a  round.   I quickly tell him of my   your companions wisely."
find   and  the  incident.   When  I      I turn away and chuckle.  He must
mention the glass breaking, a pained   think I was referring to Green Eyes.
expression crosses his face.           I  wonder how long it will be before
   "Was  the  glass  completely  de-   he  discovers  the  address  on  the
stroyed?"  He looks like someone who   letter does not exist.  I wonder how
just  lost  the  town  treasury in a   long  it will be before he opens the
dice game.  I open my sack and care-   letter and reads it.
fully  begin searching it.  I remove      I  make my way back to Threks Inn
statues  and wands and place them on   and rent a room.  Carefully, I latch
the bar.  I remove something wrapped   the  door.   I  remove all the items
in old parchment. "I thought I threw   from my sack and dump the fine glass
away  this  old  birthday  cake last   bits  in a small pile in the corner.
year," I mumble, tossing it into the   I  toss in the old birthday cake for
pile  on the bar.  Carefully search-   good  measure.  It fit, the cake and
ing  the bottom of my sack, I remove   remains  of  the champagne glass to-
glass  fragments.   None larger than   gether.   Hated  to lose that glass,
the tip of a blade of grass.           though.   A  fine,  delicate crystal
   "That's  the  largest  of them" I   made  by a very dedicated craftsman.
say.   "The  rest  is  almost like a   I  then  remove  my  doeskin  boots.
fine sand."                            Nice  boots.   They  cover  my  legs
   Helga  comes  over  and chides me   completely and are great for fording
for  littering  her bar.  I scoop my   streams and mucking through swamps.
equipment into my sack.  The tinker-      And  the  pockets sewn inside the
er  and  I  make  small  talk  for a   top are great for keeping things.
while,  drink  a  few more ales.  He      Things  like four flexible, thin,
finally announces that he must catch   glass-like sheets.
a  ship  leaving in an hour.  I walk
with  him  to the docks.  I discover      Time   is  a  strange  phenomena.
he  is bound for Jaiman, and ask him   Days can pass without your realizing
for a favor.  He agrees, and I go to   that they have. You can study a pro-
prepare some items for him to take.    blem, work it from different angles,
   I  return  just  before  the ship   strive  to  puzzle out the solution,
sets sail. I hand him a small pouch.   become  so  deeply  involved in what
"There  is  a sealed letter and some   you  are  working on that you forget
coins within this pouch.  Take it to   to  eat,  you avoid sleep.  And that
the  address  on the letter and give   glorious  moment  that  you trap the
it  to the shop owner.  He will take   elusive  answer,  the  solution to a
care of the rest.  The coins are for   problem  that  confounded and evaded
your trouble."                         you, can be a moment to treasure.
   "You  are  indeed generous, Young      Or  a  moment  you wish had never
Master  of Essence," He replies.  We   happened...
shake  hands and he turns and boards
the  ship.   And  I know I was right      The   runes  were  carefully  in-
about him.  No callouses.              scribed within the strange material.
   He  moves  to  a  spot  along the   24 rows of 24 characters filled each
                                    -24-                            More...
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
page.   Strange  symbols  and shapes   I  glanced  down  at  it.   And time
that  seemed to be made by magic, so   stopped.
precisely  spaced  and  cleanly  in-      Words!   Readable words!  The se-
scribed.   I  had  first studied the   cond  sheet  had  fallen just right!
runes  and  attempted  to  determine   It  covered  only  the  lower  right
their  power.   I quickly determined   quarter  of the first sheet with its
that  they  contained  no  power  of   upper  left quarter.  It had aligned
their own, for the essence contained   perfectly!   Carefully,  I moved the
by  these strange sheets was no more   sheets  in  front  of  me  and began
than  that of any ordinary material.   again with the various combinations.
I then studied each sheet carefully,      It  took  much time, even knowing
trying  to  determine  the  language   that  I  had  to align each quarter.
they  were  written in.  The symbols   The  various  combinations, plus the
were  of  no  written language I had   fact  that  each  sheet  had  to  be
ever  seen.   I  wasted  many  hours   turned when moved, made it even more
trying to make sense of the symbols,   difficult.  And each sheet had to be
trying to convert them into words or   used several times.
letters I could understand.               And  I could not stop myself from
   I  tried  putting various combin-   reading.   I tried, for as the words
ations  of  the sheets together, for   formed  I grew fearful.  Yet a power
the  sheets were clear.  The strange   I  could  not  ignore  was  building
symbols became new symbols, yet they   within  me.   Could not stop it.  My
were  still  nothing  I could under-   hands  aligned  the  sheets in their
stand.  The combinations grew worse,   final  form.  I silently screamed to
for  not  only  could  I put a sheet   the  Gods to stop, to take away this
over  a  second sheet, but turning a   terror I was bringing onto myself.
sheet  over would change the symbols      And  the  Gods, as usual, ignored
again.  And spinning a sheet so that   me.
what  was  once  the  top became the
bottom  would change them yet again.      I  read  the final word.  And the
So many possibilities to study.  And   spell,  if  it could be called such,
here  and there, among the jumble of   immediately enveloped me.
runes,  a  symbol,  a letter, that I
knew.   This  occasional recognition      There  are many traps placed upon
kept  my hopes alive.  Kept me work-   treasures  found.   Ask any of those
ing long past exhaustion.  Long past   who  study  these  things.  Some are
the  protests  of my too tired eyes.   mechanical, releasing poison needles
Yet the solution evaded me.            or  breaking  vials  of  poison gas.
                                       Some   release   magical  spells  of
   Fate  can be kind.  It left me at   power.  All can be deadly to the un-
the  gate  where  Rhys could find me   wary.  They are designed to stop one
and heal me...                         from breaking into a chest or trunk.
  Fate  can  be cruel.  It showed me   Designed  to  discourage  those  who
the solution to the puzzle just when   seek  these  fortunes from obtaining
I was ready to surrender...            them.   Designed  to  kill those who
                                       desire  what  is  not theirs or deny
   I dropped a sheet to the side and   them,   by   destruction   of   that
picked  up  a second one.  I admired   treasure, that which they seek.  But
again  the  workmanship, the strange   these  are not as deadly as the trap
material,  the  precision with which   I  had sprung.  For these bring mere
it  had  been created.  I cursed the   death for failure.
creator  silently,  for  its secrets      Imagine,  if  you  can,  all your
were  beyond  me.  I dropped the se-   memories  suddenly  springing forth.
cond  sheet  and  it  slid partially   All  your  desires,  all your disap-
over the first.  I picked up a third   pointments,  all your victories, all
sheet  and  again  admired  it,  and   your  defeats.   And experience them
again cursed its creator.  I reached   totally,  individually.   And all of
for the sheet I had dropped earlier.   them  in  the  space of a heartbeat.
                                    -25-                            More...
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
And  then,  while  still  stunned by   tell our parents.  I must not let my
this,  imagine  seeing  all  of your   brother  destroy  himself.   We must
fears,  your  terrors,  your darkest   drive  these strangers from our vil-
secrets   buried  deep  within  your   lage.  I must not be too late again.
subconcious   coming   forth.    And
experience those again...                 Memories  buried.   Terror remem-
   And again...                        bered.
   And again...                           The house is empty.  I wander out
                                       the  rear  door.  And in the gloom I
   Memories cruel.  Words cruel.       see  them.  My mother, staked out on
   "Why  can't you be more like your   the ground.  Blood.  Her skin beside
twin  brother.   You  were born only   her,  like  a  balloon waiting to be
two minutes after him."                inflated.   A figure, kneeling.  His
   "You came in second again, Whild-   forehead  touching  the ground, arms
er.  You always come in second."       outstretched.   The  skinning  knife
   "Anyone  else  would  know better   beside  him.   A strange chanting in
than  to  fall for a feint like that   my father's voice.  Impossible move-
one, son." "Yes, Father."              ment from my mother, still alive.  I
   "You   should  be  working  on  a   leap forward my sword coming down on
second  spell by this time, Whilder.   the prostrate figure.  A scream from
Yet  you have not even mastered your   all three of us.  The figure rolling
first." "I'm sorry, Mother."           over,  its face becoming the face of
   The chants in others.               my father.  His eyes change to their
   "Second born, Second place.         normal color.  He sees my mother and
   You should be of a second race."    what  he  has  done.   He  begs  her
   The   many   fights,  and  always   forgiveness,  his  blood mixing with
coming  second.   Always saved by my   hers  upon  the ground.  And despite
brother.                               her  pain,  her shock, she tells him
                                       she  loves  him.  And she dies.  And
   Memories cruel.  Events cruel.      my father looks at me.  And he dies.
   The  strangers  who  came  to our      And his voice follows me forever.
village,  asking  only to be allowed   "Too late."
to  build  homes.  Acting fearful of      I  scream  out  an alarm.  I must
us.  Explaining that they had powers   alert  the  village.   But  they are
granted  by the Gods that others did   among  us  and  ready.   We are dis-
not  understand.  Powers that others   organized,  confused,  and they have
feared.   They  offered  to teach in   grown too strong.  And the slaughter
return  for  a  place  to live.  The   that  followed, the fleeing of those
village welcomed them.                 few  remaining  free, the hunting by
   The occasional disappearances.      those  who  followed  the strangers,
   The  night  my  brother  woke me.   all  jumble together.  I make my way
hissing,  "Get  dressed!" I did.  He   to  a  nearby town, and board a ship
gave   me  a  small,  light  bundle.   for a faraway port. Safety. A haven.
"Follow  me."  I  did.   We  stopped      And  the  cruelty of fate, or the
outside  the  home  of the strangers   Gods,   made  that  haven  Kelfour's
and  I  hesitated.   He  revealed  a   Landing.
bundle like the one he had given me.
"You'll  no  longer be second best,"      Time is a strange phenomena.  You
he  said.   I  open  my  bundle.   I   can relive your life again and again
unfold  what  is  inside.  I drop it   and  again  in but a second.  Yet it
and  I run in terror.  Behind me, my   takes   many   thousands   of  those
brother  gathers  up the skin of the   seconds  to  make  that  life, those
fair elf child I had dropped.          things  called memories, before they
   And his voice follows me forever.   can  be  remembered.   And many more
"Second best."                         before  we  can  bury them again, to
   Home  again.   I  grab the broad-   put  up  the  facade we wish to show
word  from  my  room.   Its  weight   others...
gives  me  little  comfort.   I must                                More...
                                    -26-
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
   I am in bed. Weak. Alive. But not   too-long-dead flesh.
alone.   I force my vision to focus.      Slowly,  gracefully  she moves to
I see Him again.  He smiles at me.     the writing stand and the small sack
   "You had us worried, Young Master   upon  it.   She  never  glances away
of Essence."                           from  the  Loremaster, a small smile
   "Greetings,"  I  manage to croak,   upon  her lips.  Carefully she opens
"Loremaster."                          the  sack  and I notice a shimmer of
   He  quickly  glances  around  the   power  as she touches it.  The Lore-
room.   "I  know  not what you mean,   master looks surprised.
Young  Master.  I am but a traveler.      "Impossible!    You   should   be
A tinkerer." I nod slightly and fall   reduced to dust!"
into  a  deep, soul restoring sleep.      She  removes  a sheet, placing it
A dreamless sleep.                     in   her  backpack.   And  a  second
   I  awaken  late the next morning.   sheet,  and a third.  As she reaches
The  Loremaster  soon brings me food   for  the  last sheet, the Loremaster
and I eat without a word to him.  He   recovers his composure and invokes a
appears  calm,  perhaps  believing I   spell  I  did  not  recognize.   She
had forgotten what I had said to him   reached  for her rapier, but stopped
yesterday.   Or  perhaps  it is just   when  her  fingers brushed the hilt.
training,  his belief in his ability   And then she simply laughed.
to deceive others.                        The  Loremaster hurled his spell.
   "Who  do  you  report  to  on the   I  braced  myself  as  best I could,
council, Loremaster?" I ask, setting   thinking that it must be a powerfull
aside the empty cup.                   spell indeed.
   "Young Master, I..."                   Nothing happened.
   "Enough!   I  will  play  no more      She   removes  the  final  sheet,
games!"  My  voice is strong, driven   carefully  placing  it  in her back-
by  my  rage.   But I am too weak to   pack.
defend myself.  I do not think I can      The  Loremaster  invoked  another
even  cast  a  simple  spell, for my   spell, and cast it at her.
mind   is  still  reeling  from  the      And still, nothing happened.
effects of the trap I released.  Yet      The  Loremaster stood, stunned as
I am angry.  Angry at the deception.   though  he  had been struck himself.
Angry  at  being used to test an age   Slowly,   quietly,   she   drew  her
old  trap, to determine if the trea-   rapier.   "Tell  him." Her voice was
sure  is still out of reach of those   so soft I almost did not hear it.
desiring  it.   I  see  the conflict      "There is nothing to..."
within  his eyes.  I see him finally      "Tell  him!"  Her voice commands,
reach his decision.                    still soft and low, like the distant
   "You  are correct,"  He whispers.   sound  of  an  far  away storm.  "Or
"I  am a field agent for the Council   meet Eissa yourself."
of  the Loremasters." Again, nervous      The  Loremaster  looked  at  her,
glances  around  the  room.  "But we   then  at  me.   He seemed almost too
are in a city which is controlled by   shaken   to   think.   Long  moments
those I need to avoid.  Please, keep   passed before he spoke.
your  voice  down."  His  eyes  look      "We,   that   is,   the  Council,
deeply  into  mine, pleading with me   believes there is much hidden within
to do as he asks.                      The   Keep  that  would  be  usefull
   And  a  soft,  low voice answered   against  the Unlife and its minions.
for  me.  "You fear the wrong enemy,   That  day  of the final attack, many
Loremaster."                           spells  were  cast.  Much power was,
   The   Loremaster  jumped  to  his   well  changed,  for lack of a better
feet,  turning to face her.  I climb   word.   Something  blinds those that
out  of bed weakly.  She is standing   enter to what is really there.  Per-
beside  the  door, yet neither of us   haps  it  is even the ancient spells
had  heard it open or close.  And it   used  to protect The Keep.  It seems
was latched.  She glances at me with   that the more powerful the intruder,
those  green  eyes.   The  green  of   the  less  he  or  she  can find.  I
                                    -27-                            More...
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
myself  have  gone  there  and  seen   grabs  me,  helps  me  back into the
nothing,  though I should have found   bed.   And as she stands up again, I
those   sheets  easily  enough."  He   see  her  green  eyes.  The green of
looks back over at Her.  "And if the   the morning sun kissing the dew on a
intruder  is a minion of the Unlife,   spring leaf.
they  can  find nothing of the works      I  try  to  speak.  It takes much
of Anrelus." He turns and faces me.    effort  on my part to be heard.  "Do
   "You  were chosen because we knew   not take those runes to your Master.
of  your  hatred of the Unlife.  And   They must not fall into the hands of
there is something about you that we   the Unlife."
cannot  determine, cannot name.  But      Slowly  she  shakes  her head, an
we  believe  it  is  a gift from the   amused  look  upon  her face.  "Fear
Gods themselves."                      not.   I  take  them  to  where they
   Or  a  curse, I think.  A wave of   shall be no threat to you or others.
dizziness passes over me.              I  only  wish  I had known you still
   She  moves  quietly  back  to the   had  them.   I could have spared you
door  and unlatches it.  "Go back to   this pain."
where  ever  it  is  you  came from,      "Spared...?"  The weakness sweeps
Loremaster.   You  mission  is  over   over  me,  and I can no longer focus
here."                                 my vision on her.
   "A  battle lost," He mumbles.  He      She  quickly bent down and kissed
turns  to me and removes the pouch I   me,  then went to the door.  "I must
had  given  him.   "I  never did get   return  from  where I came.  But the
this taken care of.  Seems I did not   Loremaster is right.  There is some-
reach  my destination." I do not ask   thing   about  you  that  cannot  be
him  how  he left a ship at sea.  He   determined  and perhaps it is a gift
is a Loremaster agent, after all.      from the Gods."
   I   smile   weakly.    "Open  the      If only she knew how many times I
letter.  It is for you."               had  been wrong.  She would know why
   A  puzzled  look from him.  Care-   I  feel  cursed, not blessed, by the
fully,  he  breaks  the seal and un-   Gods themselves.
folds  the  sheet  of  parchment.  A      I   can  fight  the  weakness  no
quick  glance  at  it  and  a  small   longer, and fall to sleep.  In time,
smile.  "So you knew all along.  The   I  will  repair  the damage.  Return
Council  was  right  about  you." He   among  others  as a mere adventuring
drops  the  sheet  and  pouch on the   mage.  A seeker of treasures.  Yet I
edge  of  the  bed  and walks to the   will  always  remember  the  terror.
table,  carefully removing the small   And  in  my own way, become stronger
sack  as though it would turn into a   for it.
viper  at  his  touch.   "Take care,      In  the  room  a  soft, low voice
Young   Master   of   the   Essence.   speaks one last time.
Perhaps    we   shall   meet   again      "Goodnight, Whilder.  I thank you
someday."  He walks out of the room,   for freeing my soul from my duty."
never looking back.                       And  in  the  Garden  of Eissa, a
   She  quietly  closes the door and   green eyed guardswoman steps through
walks  over to the bed.  She glances   the gate and into the next life.
down  at  the  parchment.  She reads
the one word written upon it.                       -The End-
   Loremaster.                           _________________________________
   She  looks  back  up  at  me.   I    /                                 \
answer  her  unspoken  question.  "I   |  An Index  by types  of articles  |
had  to  make  sure he came back.  I   |  and authors for  the first year  |
guess he had something else to check   |  of Kelfour Edition is available  |
on   here."   She   simply  nods  in   |  in the  MPGRT Library  on GEnie  |
understanding.                         |  Page 1045. SET to Library 7 and  |
   My strength leaves me.  I was too   |  search  on  the  term  INDEX to  |
weak  from  my  ordeal  and  my body   |  find  the file name and number.  |
finally  surrenders.   As I fall she    \_________________________________/
                                    -28-
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
                             Dandy Dalliances
                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ____________           by Miss Louvella Parsnips
/ \  ______  \
\@| /~/~~\~\ |
  ||~|    |~||ur  mailbox  literally   and  cannot  help  but misdoubt that
 _||~|    |~|| overflowed this month   these peeping practitioners of magic
/@| \~\__/~/ | with  missives,  each   can  find nothing more noble to ease
\_/  ~~~~~~  / sped by  the  wronged   their boredom than tacky voyeurism.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~ and  the  misinformed,
all  filled  with  details that were   Speaking  of  which, those strapping
deliciously  scurrilous  and sordid,   big  brawny bodies paraded before us
devious and demented.  It was a very   again during the latest rehashing of
good month!                            the  Vladitorial  Games.  We have to
                                       wonder  exactly  what  price the new
A particularly long-winded -- though   assistant  was compelled  to pay for
he  claims  longbladed,  of  course,   his   position  in  this  disgusting
(which  might be so, considering the   display  of  blood and guts.  We, of
STUNning upset his team accomplished   course, suspect blood money.
during the recent Games) -- fighter,
always  quick  to  defend his sweet-   It  is  ever  intriguing to view new
heart  against the slings and arrows   alliances  between combatants.  Most
of  invisible critics, was overheard   notable,  if  least surprising, were
lately  flinging  insults hither and   the   team-mates   chosen   by   our
yon at the mere suggestion of wrong-   supposedly  chaste  wraith-like lady
doing  on  her  part.   We  have  to   mage.   Rangers  both,  we  can only
wonder  why  he  bothers, of course,   speculate  what  she  traded  to the
for we know the truth -- oh yes, the   lion-breathed one _this_ time and we
truth  about  both of them.  We know   wonder  how  she  persuaded the lost
that  blubbery, blustery mein merely   one  back into her stable after such
disguises  inadequacies  underneath.   a long absence.  Why  are the betro-
And soon enough the world shall know   thed always the last to know?
as  well  --  not  to  mention them.
Rumors  of dandy dailliances on both   Most  terrifying  of the missives in
of their  parts are  well known, and   our  box was written by a distraught
it's  only  a matter of time until a   and  thoroughly  innocent  sorceress
certain  would-be  kingly  kisser of   who  barely  escaped  with her honor
the   klasses  who  recently  got  a   from  a  rabid band of thugs who, at
promotion  (if you can call it that)   the  behest  of  a  recently arrived
and still hides behind false shyness   Evil  Master  of the fearful Unlife,
as  he  swings  his  weapons  (among   supposedly  sought  one  of our last
other  things) both ways are exposed   remaining   virgins  for  sacrifice.
to the watchful. Yes, gentle reader,   (As  if  there were beings with such
this duo  may be  VERY  surprised to   qualifications  left  in the lands.)
learn the  extent of what (and  who)   One  particularly "lich"erous craven
they have in common.                   was  overheard  lamenting  over just
                                       how  difficult the search was.  What
We  always  knew mages to be morally   decadence  and dearth of decency and
corrupt, and real proof has surfaced   decorum  dominates  our demesne when
recently,  concurrent  with  the in-   we must walk in deadly dread through
creased number of mangy, flea-bitten   the darkened  avenues,  eyed  by the
cats about town.  No  normal kitties   doggerel of the Unlife merely due to
these,  but  stalkers through locked   our  pure  and innocent nature?  We,
doors  who  are  purrfect  spies for   of  course,  were  tending  to  more

Those   intimate  moments  when  the   important  matters  safe  within our
intrusion of a full-sized mage would   shelter at the time of the search.
definately  spoil  the mood.  We are
shocked  at  such  perverse pastimes   Tra la, for now!
                                    -29-                              KE2N9
                                                                      [end]
  
  
    
</pre>

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