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_______________________________________________________________________
/ \ \
| | Find the Topaz in Kulthea and win a REAL one! Page 1 |
@_/_____________________________________________________________________/
| |
| |
| GemStone III's February 1992 |
| Vol.2, No.9 |
| _ _ _ ___ |
| / ) / ) / ) / __) |
| / /_/ / ____ / / _/ ( ____ __ __ ____ |
| / __/ / __ ) / / ( __) / _ ) / / / / / ___) |
| / /\ \ / ___/ / / / / / (/ / / (_/ / / / |
| (_/ \_) (____) (_( (_( (____/ (_____( (_( |
| _____ _ _ _ _ |
| / ____) / ) (/ _/ ) (/ |
| / (__ ___/ / _ ( _) _ ____ ____ |
| \ ____ / / ____) / _ / / ) / / / ) / _ ) / ) |
| /\/\/\ / (__ / (/ / / / / / / / / (/ / / /) / |
| \/ \/ (_____) (____( (_( (_( (_( (____/ (_((_( |
| \ / \ |
| / \/ The Kronicles of Kulthea |
| |
|_____________________________________________________________________|
|_____________________________________________________________________|
| |
| |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| |
|_____________________________________________________________________|
| |
| 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 |
| __________________________________________________________________|___
| / /
\_/_____________________________________________________________________/
_ 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]
See Also: