garadan

Re: Turakian Age: The Raven Company Check out the books by James Barclay as they fit well into your rational http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dawnthief-Chronicles-Raven-James-Barclay/dp/0575082755/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322605754&sr=1-1 Regards Garadan

Re: Need help building up skill list/set for horseback riding archer Hi Would take the following Acroabtics or is this is just with horses, PS trick or Nomad rider and agree what can be done with this with the GM or if GM allows acrobatics only while riding a horse (at least a -1/2 ) Yep definitely need breakfall Yep definitely want OCV for mounted bow combat (we use the rule allowing complimentary skill roll, ie PS Nomad Horseman, example PS Nomad Horseman is on 15- I roll an 11 making the roll by 4 divide this by 2 for +2 OCV vs penalties mounted archery) Nice way to reflect how skills can help in and out of combat. Basically we took the dive for cover rules from 4th ed and used this as a standard in a number of scenarios as above. The riding skill allows you to control a horse in combat, animal handling and maybe PS skill in warhorse training to get your horse to respond to commands when hanging off the side of the horse. Any thing else is just gravy in my view Garadan

Re: Changes at Hero Absolutely gutted, I have been doing some Gaming with the Mongoose staff in the UK and trying (very busy work life and family) to get a herogames session started there, as I believe it is one of the best RPG's on the market. Trouble is we need to inject a lot more people into the hobby to create a vaible market All the best for the future guys and thank you for many many hours of truly enjoyable gaming (fan & customer, since Champions 2nd edition). Every edition has just made the game better and I know this has been more of a vocation than a career for you both. Regards James Lothian

Here is some of the background for him, let me know what you think A Travellers Tale Part1. A large man looks towards the sea, the mountains behind him, framing him like a force of nature, below he can see the smoking ruins of his village, the crows settling on the ground, enjoying their sombre feast. It has been many years since his last visit, too many. After all that has happened, after all he has been through to see this. He felt the ever present anger seethe within him, he wont give in to it yet, he can’t till he finds out who did this. It doesn’t take long to reach the village, moving with a long loping stride through the bracken and tree. A rattling cough emerges from one of the bodies. The warrior crouches down and gently turns the wounded man over. “Drayden, its Garadan.” “I, I thought you were dead” rasped from the injured man. “Here, drink”, “Who did this”. Drayden’s voice steadied as recalled the carnage around him. “I have never seen there like, two came an unholy looking woman and a knight fully armoured, they talked with your father, about the stave of Crom, they wanted it, he wouldn’t release our tribes most valued treasure. It was then she struck him down, fire erupted all around him.” “I heard her name as she laughed, Odo” “Then the creatures appeared I know not how to describe them all different all misshapen. Then we died, even me my brother.” Drayden last breath sighed out of him; gently lowering him to the ground Garadan stood up and felt the need to release his anger and sorrow. He moved towards the shrine in the village square. The next few hours were spent constructing a pyre, using roof beams and doors, straw and oil, I dragged the bodies of my family and as many others as I could and placed them on the amongst the wood. I lit it, with a mighty whoosh the fire caught and the wind from the fjord raised the flames higher and higher in to the darkening sky. Then I strode to the alter of my god Crom. “CROM” “Crom hear my call, blood calls for blood” With that the last of the Kitarn cut a large gash into the back of his forearm and watched the blood drip on the stone. With that the sky started to darken, thunder and lightning split the sky. “WHO CALLS ME” “Garadan last of the Kitarn, sworn to you since birth” “WHY HAVE YOU CALLED ME FROM THE MOUND” “I seek the right of vengeance, blood calls for blood” “IF I HELP YOU, YOU WILL NEVER SEE JAMAIN AGAIN” “I still wish to seek the ones who did this” “IF YOU GO YOU RISK YOUR SOUL” “Without honour my soul is worth nothing” “GO THEN INTO CHAOS AND SEEK THE 5 THAT ARE NOW 4” On the Altar a plain ring with a rune appeared. “TAKE THIS AND LEARN TO USE IT WELL” The ground then erupted and a dark tunnel stretching into the depths of the earth. With a resigned look the last of the Kitarn stepped forward and started on his journey, to who knows where. The tunnel seemed to stretch on into the distance a strange soft glow emitting from the wall. After what seemed like an eternity a mist started to fill the tunnel, lit with the glow all sense of time and movement drifted away… Part 2 A stranger in a strange land After what seemed like an eternity the mists began to thin, I looked around, trees, a wood, no a swamp. My nostrils flared as I smelled the, death, no undeath, after all I had been through that is a smell I will never forget. Reaching over my back to loosen the straps holding my axe, the smooth grain of the wood feels good. I feel a growl rise in my throat until it becomes a roar, challenging my surroundings. Stumbling out of the swamp come 3 things that once were men but no longer, hungering for the life within me, a life them WILL NOT HAVE. I leap forward drawing my axe as I move. The first creature, its face a rotting, bloated mask of a corpse, what seems like a smile on his face reaches for me increasing the stench of death. I swing high severing his outstretched arm; my return stroke put an end to his bitter, soulless existence. Before I can move the next zombie is upon me, a soft moan warns me just as he swings a rusty sword at my head. I hear the hiss of the metal as it cut the air where I was. Determined not to be caught out once more I ensure my next strike would count, I bring my axe down upon his shoulder, the wet sound of breaking bones in my ears as he fall to the ground, the foul magic no longer able to keep the semblance of life within him. I waste no time and dispatch the last ensuring my safety for the moment I take in my surroundings. Looking and listening carefully, I see the direction the swamp flows in. Many people think that the water just sits there and stagnates, but the water must go somewhere and that has to be than here, it was then I looked at my reflection, maybe it was a trick of the light, but I looked younger no grey showed in my hair, my face had lost the line gained by age, it looks like Crom was preparing me for a long fight. Prelude Part 1 Saralis, how I love this country, the wild spaces, the forests and the flowing rivers always striving to reach the rolling seas, it is here I made my home. Not a single place but the whole country travelling always seeking new sights and sounds. This place seems to calm me, take away my need to fight, control the rage that has always burned in my blood. Once I was only happy when I fought, watching my foes fall before me, legion are there number for I have lost count, sometimes I see there faces in my dreams. I also remember the friends I had; most of them are either dead or moved on, I still sometime see Keth a humanoid feline, very fast and deadly, but with a peaceful heart. The worst part is now I have to leave, the council is calling me home after all these years, now they need me. It’s hard to feel brotherhood with a people who treat you like an outsider. Whilst I revelled in the fight, I liked to win and believe that Man was given a brain to allow him to compete, to ensure a competitive edge. I have spent years with the Elves, they know how to fight and think a good combination. At last I was at peace; the rage that haunted most of my life is now under my control I can live with people without the fear of my rage destroying them. It was a bright spring morning when the messenger arrived, his message was simple come home we need you, something terrible was about to happen the Druidess has foreseen it. Something dark connected to the dark side of life, something that could destroy the tribe. The old loyalties die hard, as they should, so I thanked my hosts for all they had done and started to run. A Traveller in a New Land I like this new land, good forests and lakes, not too far from the sea, all in all not bad. Once I got out of that stinking city they call Mirros, I was getting my first taste of freedom in 4 cycles of their moon. I had spent some of my time in Mirros discussing with merchants and travellers to get an idea of the lay of the land. Now that I had completed some theory now it was time to put the knowledge to some use. I had heard Ghost and Natalia talk about a forest called Dimrak, I have decided to see if it is as beautiful as they described. Packing my gear I made my way out of the City towards my goal. It was a good night the moon shining in the sky, wind blowing in my face and the ground beneath my feet. The only thing spoiling my mood was the bandits chasing me, twice I had almost given them the slip, but they have a good tracker with them now was not the right time to face them, so on I run. In the distance loomed a forest, Dimrak, dark and brooding under the night sky. I run faster, who or what chases me I am not sure, except they aren’t human, I have been running since the sun was high and now a hunter’s moon is clear in the sky. I have some respect for my pursuers for their persistence, not that this will help them if I get my way, especially now I have reached the trees. I dodge through the woods till I find what I am looking for a natural glade; I run through and then carefully retrace my steps to a big Oak at the edge of the glade. I climb quickly to a large branch and wait. Concentrating on slowing my breathing and keeping in the shadow of the tree I listen. Just as I am thinking that I have lost them I hear a rustle at the edge of the clearing. Into the moonlight step six figures, five small and one very large. Goblins and an Orc, there is not much I hate more than these fell creatures, but at least it explains how they kept up. Silently I draw my skar, a unique throwing knife of my people, an S shaped blade of fear in my world and one of the symbols of the Junn. I wait till the tracker is in position; don’t want to give my position away yet. The tracker steps up to place I want him to be, bends to sniff at my tracks and as he lefts his head up to smell for my scent I let fly, the skar hit the oak to his left and removes the top half of his skull, blood flies and covers the goblin next to him. My Skar then embeds itself in a tree beyond. I jump from the branch and land without a sound. It has been too long since I hunted these creatures. The second Goblin goes down with my second throw, one of my dirks, I draw a second dirk and ready my battle axe and wait for the last 3 Goblins and the Orc to come to me They see me and start running towards their deaths, they charge wildly I parry, a sword and an axe and strike at the goblin to my left, my dirk catches him in the thigh and he goes down clutching his leg. The big Orc then swings a rusty looking broadsword with a serrated blade; I sway to the right and feel the breeze as the sword passes my face. I roll round to the right and slash at the closest goblin. Catching him square across the midsection, blood and entrails fly as the goblin is thrown back with the force of my blow. He hits the ground and struggles to rise, falls back as his last breath leaves him. The last goblin aims a blow at me with his hatchet, the head of his hatchet flies off and strikes the Orc in its arm glancing from his armour (can’t believe the goblin fumbled). I smile at the goblin and strike with my axe. The Goblin sways as my blade swings for him. The Orc seeing his chance swings a heavy blow at me, I block with my Axe, the sword striking sparks from my blade. Stepping to the side I spin and swing once more for the goblin. He tries to sway aside again, but not quickly enough. Catching him in the chest the goblin falls back from the blow and lies still. The Orc was looking worried, before he entered this forest there were five in his band, now there is one. This he decided was not good, turns and runs. I look as he runs, flip the dirk in my left hand and throw, it takes years to be able to throw a Skar or a dagger well, but to be able to throw left or right handed is rarer still. It hits home striking the Orc in the base of his skull. I look up and catch site of the moon, different to home yet somehow similar. I walk over and pull my dirk from the dead Orc, Crom it is so easy to hate these creatures, and they somehow don’t seem to follow the natural laws. Don’t take more than you give, nature stays in balance that way. It’s why I hate the Cities, too many people giving to little and taking as much as they can. I look at the Dirk in my hand and remember Darrig, the man who made it for me, my cousin. When I first returned home, Darrig was one of the few people who were happy to see me. In his early fifties and a bull of a man, topping my height by an inch, would have been a mighty warrior apart from his leg, crippled while out hunting, attacked by the biggest, meanest boar ever seen, if his stories be believed. As Darrig couldn’t fight he decided to learn the next best trade, as a weapon smith, and because Darrig is one of the most stubborn men ever to walk on Kulthea he became a dammed good one. He spent two year teaching me all I know about the art, how to make fine Daggers, deadly swords, mighty Axes and how to make a Skar. He taught me that life is more than just looking for the next battle or the next adventure. He taught me to see the beauty in the craft, how to take metals, from the rock and meld them to form strong and supple steel. He taught me to take joy from this work and I, tried to be the best student I could be and learned all he would teach me. It occurs to me that I am the last of my people. The last holder of history and stories, songs and religion, I do not want my people to have come to nothing. There is war coming, I smelt it almost as soon as my feet touched this land. War will bring change; maybe the time will come when this land needs people like mine, not for this war, but maybe for the next. I am like the idea of starting my own tribe here. I may have a lot to learn of this world and its people, but maybe they have a little to learn from us. With that I collect my other dirks and my Skar. Cleaning each dirk carefully, I return them back to their proper sheathes. The Skar I hold for a second, not the first I owned that was made by Darrig for me at my coming of age. No the second, no this is my third, the one I made for myself. It’s a good weapon, well made, but I think I can do better and I felt the need to give something back for the blood spilt today. Time to head back to the city of Mirros, time to find some work and it is time to practice what Darrig taught me and remember happier times. I climb back up the Oak and retrieve my pack, returning back to the ground, I look for a place to camp away from the corpses. This close to the forest, something will investigate the new food and I wouldn’t want to fight them for it. Scouting round to the south I find a small glade, and signs that someone had set camp here before. Who ever they were, they camped here carefully. The fire had been placed in a pit, but the turf had been carefully cut away and then return when they left I wake just before dawn, in time to see the forest begin stir, the birds calling a greeting out to the sun. I blow life back into my fire and add more fuel, and prepare to cook some breakfast. Some porridge and dried meat think I will catch some lunch before I leave and return back to Mirros. (1536) ** Note to Bob I intend to return to Mirros and seek work as a journeyman weapon smith. A Traveller in a New Land Part 2 The Journey to Mirros After finishing a much needed lunch that didn’t consist of Oats and dried meat, not sure what the creature is called looks like a goose, tastes like a goose, so I guess till I find out what it’s called a goose will do. I start to pack up camp. After putting out the fire I return the turf, restoring what I had taken. I smile at the symmetry, Crom I have spent too long with the Elves. I finish packing up the camp and start heading towards to road. I jogged for the first couple of miles allowing my muscles to warm up, and then stretched out in to a loping run. Running like this a Junn army can travel 40 miles a day. My clan may have preferred the sea and ships as their means of transport, but we never lost the ability to travel quickly over land. When raiding an enemy it gave us one hell of an advantage. Off to my left in the distance a small cloud of smoke was rising, billowing out staining the horizon. As I had no pressing engagements I decided to investigate. The source was a set of small farm buildings, now mostly ruins after having fallen victim to the fires insatiable appetite. What ever has happened didn’t happen too long ago, certainly within the last 24 hours. The bodies of 4 people lie casually strewn on the ground, accompanying them were the tracks of several Goblins and an Orc. I sighed deeply; looks like the foul scum that were tracking me did this. I started looking round for wood and straw, so I could at least give these poor people some sort of fitting send off. I found most of what I needed and started towards the barn, about the only structure still intact from the raid. Again the smell of blood hung heavily in the air, once in the barn I saw that the cattle and pigs had been butchered, not for food, which would have been understandable, but just for the pleasure of causing death and pain. I think this is one of the reasons I hate these foul creatures. All of nature takes from the world and gives back, not the orcish and similar folk. They corrupt and they destroy and provide nothing in return. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy the challenge war brings, I enjoy testing myself against those who stand against me and I have helped sack towns, capture ships, but I have never caused whole sale slaughter of simple farmers or towns people. It was while I was having these thoughts that something attacked me, the pitch fork missed me by a hairs breath and the only thing that saved me was the noise my attacker made just before he struck. I spun grabbing the pitchfork as it passed through the place where I was just standing. Ripping it from my attacker’s hands I shoved hard with the butt of the pitchfork knocking him to the floor. Spinning the pitchfork round ready to use the business end, I look down to see a young man, no more than 14 or 15. I hold my blow. Keeping the tone of my voice low and gentle I ask “Why did you attack me boy?” Fear was very present in his eyes, “Are you going to kill me?” “No, boy I haven’t come here to kill; I saw the smoke in the distance and came to see what had happened. What makes you think I would kill you?” “They killed everyone, Mum, Dad even Eric my brother. I hid in the barn, I couldn’t save them!” With that he broke into tears. “I will find them and kill them all!” I watched as his anger blazed. “What is your name?” “Evan, Evan Ivanov” “Well Evan, what happened here?” “I was out in the far pasture, looking after the sheep, when I saw the fire burning at the house. I ran back, when I got closer I heard screams, so I ran into the barn and climbed into the hay loft. Then, I saw them laughing, foul creatures Orcs or Goblins I think, as they killed my Dad. I would have fought them but they were too many.” “How many were there?” I asked. “Six, six and I couldn’t stop them from killing my family!” With that he started to cry, sobs racked his body. I grabbed Evan’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Evan I am sorry for your loss, but now your family is safe, they will suffer no more pain, they will feel no more fear. They have gone to join with your Gods. Now you must help me build their pyre and send their souls onward.” With that he straightened his shoulders wiped away his tears. “You are right, first I must see to my family then I must find and kill the monsters that took their lives.” We watched the pyre till the sun started to set, Evan’s family had a proper rights performed. “I understand how you feel, I lost my whole family all of them and there was nothing I could do. I to arrived too late to stop what happened, and if I had arrived in time I probably would have died with them. The Orc and goblins that killed your family are already dead, I killed them.” “You killed them, all of them?” “Yes, they were hunting me, not a good choice for them.” He looked older now the pain and loss shone clearly in his eyes. “Then I am in debt to you. I must serve till my debt is repaid.” I was confused by this, now Junn would willingly set himself in service to another, yet to refuse would crush what little spirit he had left. I needed to choose my words carefully. “Evan among my people it is an anathema to serve others, but there is something I might be willing to accept. Do not choose this likely, think before you answer for it is a life choice. My people were called the Kitarn, part of the Junn horde. We are strong warriors and we value freedom and friendship above all things, do you have any other family?” He replied simply “No.” “Then the only choice I can offer is to join my people and become a part of the Clan Kitarn. It will be a hard life and in all likely hood a short one.” “I accept!” I sighed “You must accept Crom as your God, he is our God and he helps those that help themselves.” “Garadan, I will accept your god.” “Will you join the Kitarn and accept you tribal name as your own.” “I will accept this.” He looked solemn; a force seemed to be contained within him. “Then today Evan dies, be reborn you are now,” then a sudden inspiration hit me I knew his name and I felt it to be right. “You are now Colbey, that will be you common name, you also will have a soul name, mine is ‘Hawk in the Willow’, yours will be ‘Burning Heart’ we are Kitarn and we are Junn never forget this. I will teach you the history and language of my people. Where there was one now there are two. My axe will fight by your side while I breathe; your enemies are mine, as mine are now yours.” Will that I cut my hand and then his; I felt pride as he didn’t flinch or make a noise as my blade cut. Then we grasped hands “the bond is complete. You are Kitarn, now we travel.” Colbey gathered a few meagre possessions and started to follow. I kept the pace easy, not wanting to tax the youth too much. I felt pride as he fought to keep up, this lad is a fighter. We jogged and walked for most of the day till evening when I set up camp, showing Colbey why this place was picked and how to lay out a good camp. I made some simple food and we sat down to enjoy the first and last hot meal of the day. During the evening I started to teach Colbey the language of the Junn, once again he pleased me he was a willing and eager student after a while started to press me for stories and after a while I gave in. It still causes me pain that I hold all that’s left of my clan’s memories and legends. So I told him a story, a story of his name sake. “Within the Kitarn it is tradition to name our children after warriors that came before and died bravely. You name is Colbey; I did not choose it lightly. Your name sake was like you, short for one of our people, a little over 5’10. Small he may have been, but he was skilled beyond any before him. He always fought with a sword, sometimes two, which is difficult to say the least. Colbey’s love was for the sword and he sought perfect the art as he saw it. Don’t get me wrong I am a good, by most standards exceptional, but Colbey was in a class of his own, perfect, ever move flowed with a subtle strength and skill I could never match. I was 18 when last saw Colbey, he was my teacher and I was lucky to have him train me. Most of the Junn favour large axes or swords, Colbey taught me to fight with these but also with dagger, short sword and dirk. Using one to attack and one to defend, a lot of warriors depend on shields in Colbey mind not a good thing. A shield can block an attack, but if the attacker understands enough he can use this to obscure the sight of the attacked allowing for a stab to the stomach or the abdomen. This was one of the reasons I never wanted to use sword and shield. Colbey was a proud man, but humble also, he understood that all men have strengths and weaknesses. Colbey’s weakness was he had never fought anyone better than him, always he would return, generally without a scratch. Most saw this as a blessing but Colbey saw this as a curse. I saw Colbey’s last duel, it was to defend the honour of my father, who was chief of the Kitarn, against the chief of another clan. This was how we stopped war between the clans; the best of each would fight to first blood or death. This fight was to the death. I forget the exact reason what caused this disagreement but I will never forget the duel. Colbey’s challenger was a huge man, at least 7’ tall wielding a huge bastard sword. Colbey stood there dwarfed by this man holding a short sword in each hand. The fight would be short which ever way it went, one solid hit by that huge sword and not even our natural toughness would save Colbey, but I felt that he had a certain victory over this man. Nashgak, that was his name, he had killed on 40 men in single combat and he had yet to reach the age of 30. Colbey now at least 50 years of age had lost none of his speed and skill had fought over a hundred single combats. Nashgak was keen to fight as he saw this as a way to make his name within the clans. The fight started and Nashgak tried to end it quickly with a surprisingly fast thrust to Colbey’s chest. Colbey’s feet didn’t move he just twisted his torso and slapped the flat of his blade against Nashgak’s hand, causing him to drop his blade. Colbey stepped back and allowed the huge warrior to retrieve his blade. Personally I have always felt this to have been his biggest mistake. Nashgak went to retrieve his sword and as he picked it up, he let fly with his Skar. It was a good throw, Colbey reacted almost fast enough using his left hand sword to turn the blade away, instead of hitting his chest, I cut a narrow line across his shoulder a minor wound to say the least. After that the fight ended quickly, and Nashgak laid at Colbey’s feet the life blood flowing from him. That however was not the end of the story, Nashgak’s Skar had been poisoned and the healers seem powerless to stop the death rot from spreading through Colbey’s body. It was then he asked to me to take his life in combat so that he die with honour and find a place along side Crom. His last advice I will always remember, ‘remember when you fight to the death, fight to win. Between warriors honour plays no place in War’” Colbey looked up, “did you kill him?” I sighed, “Yes, but he didn’t make it easy, he should not have been able to stand let alone fight like he did. I like to think of him looking out from Crom’s hall and hope he would be proud of what I have become.” Colbey looked thoughtful “I will think on what you have said, where do, we travel now?” I smiled “now we head for Mirros, I need to make some new blades and continue to train in the art of the blade smith and I need to start your training as a Junn. We need to build up your strength and your stamina.” “Will you teach me how to kill Orcs and Goblins?” Colbey looked harshly back toward his old home now miles in the distance. “That I will, if you have the heart and believe you do, you will develop the skill and much more beside.” With that I, in one fluid motion drew my Skar and threw it, it hissed through the air bending in a graceful arc until it returned back to me and I sheathed it. Colbey gasped, “Magic!” I laughed “no Colbey not magic, skill.” I then drew a knife and threw it at a dead log 20 metres away the knife hit and sunk in. “the Kitarn use skill not heavy armour or shields to defeat there foes.” “Are you not afraid?” I Smiled “No, Crom has mapped out the skein of lives before we were born, fear profits a man nothing and wastes the time we have, now its time we get some sleep tomorrow will be a long day.” With that I turned and started to get some sleep. The morning came and I felt refreshed, I watched the morning sun climb out of her bed and started to prepare breakfast. With any luck within a few days we would be back at Mirros and I can start Colbey’s training with a bit more focus. The first thing he would need is a weapon, but these were all problems that could wait…. Traveller in a new land part 3 Mirros The sun was low in the sky when we reached the sprawling mass called Mirros. Colbey was growing tired, but I was proud of the way he been pushing himself for the last seven days. A strong lad for his age, able to do nearly 40 pull ups, something hew was proud of. Whilst this had put good muscle on his upper body it had not helped his flexibility or his stamina. The run to Mirros had started to rectify this, but he still had a lot of training to do. He had spirit I will give him that and the sorrow he felt for his family was being resolved by action and exercise. He still had a lot of anger, and that was as it should be, it will help drive him in the years to come. At the end of each day as we sat by our camp fire, I would teach the history and language of his new people. He took to it well, already able to hold a basic conversation, it would be a useful weapon in the days to come, allowing for private conversation and allowing us to act without our enemies understanding what we were about to do. Colbey looked shocked as he gazed towards Mirros. Having only visited small towns and hamlets, Mirros was on another scale, the walls 60ft high and gleaming in the evening sunlight. As we reached the gate the guards looked at us with suspicion, the influx of immigrants to Karameikos had put a heavy strain on resources and the locals were not happy to see more added. “Who are you and what is your business?” the guard scowled as he looked at us. “I am Garadan of the Kitarn, Member of the 5 elements.” At the mention of the 5 elements the guard’s demeanour softened. I paid the entry toll for Colbey and I and entered the city. The hustle and bustle of city life surrounded us. Merchants and hawkers tried to sell us ware and show us valuable items and charms and once again I used my height and stare to put them back in their place. I made my way through the city to the Inn of the 5 Elements, Mitza as always, was there keeping shop in the bustling tavern. Though still relatively early a crowd was already drinking good ale and eating good food. “Ah, Garadan is it not and who is this fine fellow accompanying you?” “Mitza, this is Colbey, say hello lad.” “Hello sir.” “Oh I am no sir, all who know me call me Mitza and you shall do the same.” Mitza smiled broadly at Colbey and seemed to put the lad at ease. “Mitza, do you have a room for us?” “Certainly, up the stairs second on the left.” “Colbey stow our bags and come down for supper.” Colbey collected our few possessions and made his way up to the room. “Fine lad, how comes he is travelling with you?” “His family died in a goblin raid, and I have adopted him as kin.” I saw the confusion in Mitza’s eyes; he is a good man but still finds my actions confusing. All my life I have seen cruelty and the harsh life that living in city puts its people through, yet they always have referred to me as a barbarian, sometimes I think I will never understand the logic of city folk. Colbey and sat down and enjoyed a fine meal of roasted lamb and vegetables, washed down with some good ale. The lad unused to alcohol swayed a bit as we sat and listened to the bard tell stories and news of the local area. My understanding of the local language still a bit rough and several times I got Colbey to explain to me, the meaning of some of the words. After a while Colbey, showing some of the strain of a week’s hard travel started to sag and he went to bed. I stayed for a while soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the sounds around me. I enjoy a good tavern and the Five Elements was one of the best. The food was good, the ale excellent and the rooms were clean. Eventually I retired and left the hustle of the tavern floor. A new day in a new city The next I awoke with the dawn as is my habit, leaving Colbey sleeping I went downstairs washed and had a good breakfast of porridge and bread. Mitza already up for sometime was preparing for the breakfast rush due in an hour or so. “Morning Mitza looks to be a fine day.” “Aye that it is, have you heard from any of your comrades?” “Nay not yet, it is still another six or seven months before we are due to get back together. It has given me time to explore some of this land.” “So how do you like Karameikos?” “It is a fine land, good forests, and fine rivers. I would like to see the mountains; I hear the Altan Tepes Mountains are something to be seen.” “Aye so I hear but they are dangerous.” I laugh “they always are, but I was born to walk the mountains and sail the sea, both teach you humility.” “Mitza, who would be the best weaponsmith in town?” “Well there is the Dwarf he runs a smithy down in the merchants’ quarter, looking to buy?” “No looking to learn a little, maybe to teach a little and earn a little. I was a reasonable weapon and steel smith; need to see if I can practise my skills.” “Well Braxus is not the friendliest of individuals, but he is honest.” I question Mitza some more and once I had a good idea of where to go I left him to his work. Mitza is one of those rare individual. A kind man loving to his family and yet a strong man with deep reserves of character, I like him for this and his honesty. I have always felt it is easy to be a warrior, our choices are simple. Yet when the bards sing is it of our exploits, real strength resides in the farmer and builders of this world. To destroy is easy, it is harder to build after the destruction, sow your crops after the last failed, to endure the day to day toil that comes from these roles. I returned upstairs with a jug of water, time to talk to Colbey. Still sleeping, I pour half the water over him and save the rest for Colbey to drink. After last night I suspect he will have some sort of hangover. “Morning lad, time to be up” I smile as he is roughly torn from the pleasant sleep he was having. I set Colbey to his training regime. “Garadan, when will I learn to use a sword or an axe?” “When you are ready, now get to it and I will be back later.” I wandered through Mirros following Mitza’s instructions and within a short time located Braxus’s forge. I entered into a clean but smoky area, weapons of all descriptions hung from the wall at the end of the workshop. A dwarf stood behind an anvil, pounding the steel with a regular rhythm, he looked up and beckoned me forward. Braxus looked old but still radiated strength and purpose. A little over 5’ tall and nearly as wide, with a barrel chest and surprisingly long arms. He looked at me and said with a harsh voice “Buying or selling?” “Neither, I am looking to work at your forge.” I said. “Well you are a direct individual, why should I give you work.” “Two reasons, one I only looking to be paid a minimal wage, so I can learn some of the techniques of this land and gain use of the forge for some of my own work and two I understand working in Iron, bronze and steel.” With that I drew my dirk and passed him an example of my work. “I smiled there is also another reason.” I said Braxus grew grim and his hand reached toward his hammer “what be that?” I smiled and replied “no nothing like that, I am just not looking to set up a Smithy of my own, I am a traveller in a distant land from my own, an adventurer is the term is the you use here, I just prefer using my own weapons where I can and if I can learn then I want to learn from the best.” It was Braxus’ turn to smile, “well lad your workmanship looks good, surprisingly good for a human, let get to discussing terms.” Braxus and I sat and discussed the ins and outs of our agreement till late in the afternoon, he is a canny trader as well as a skilled smith. With that I left and started back to the Inn. A short celebration I returned back to the Five Elements two log fires had been recently lit, one at each end of the wide dining area inside, and two serving girls were cleaning the wicks on the wall lanterns. There was a raised dais to the right of the long bar, upon which a blond young man, dressed in a shirt of green silk and leggings of brown wool, was tuning the strings of a hand harp. Colbey waved to me from across the bar, he looked exhausted. Good means he stuck to his schedule. Suddenly a series of shimmering notes filled the room and Colbey jerked as if stung. “Lad what is the matter?” “I don’t think I have ever heard anything as pretty as that, never heard a bard play like that!” Mitza Smiled “Do you want to book a table for tonight? It'll be busy and if you don't book you'll miss the music.” Said Mitza “Have some food brought to the room,” said Garadan. “I am not in the mood for music.” “I am,” said Colbey. “May I stay down here?” “Well I guess in that case we will both eat down here.” I started up the stairs to the room with Colbey in tow. As we moved along an upper corridor, a beautiful, dark-haired girl stepped out of a room and walked towards them. “My daughter, Shira,” said Mitza, pride in his voice. “She will be cooking tonight.” Colbey stood, mouth open, as Shira smiled at him. He looked like he had justbeen hit with a pole axe. “Hello,” she said, holding out her hand. Colbey looked at it, and then realised with a jerk that he was supposed to shake it. He glanced down at his own grubby palm, and wiped it quickly down the side of his leggings. Then he took her hand and gently squeezed it. “And you are?” she prompted. “Yes,” he said. “I am.” “He is Colbey,” I said, with a wide smile. Looks like Colbey was learning to appreciate some of finer points of city living “Yes . . .” he said. “I am Colbey. Pleased to meet you.” “And I am Garadan,” I said. With another dazzling smile Shira eased past us and made her way down the corridor. Later that evening we sat at our table waiting for the Bard to make an appearance, having finished his first set, we had finished our meal and Colbey went to fetch more ale. The atmosphere in the Five Elements was casual the hustle and bustle of a busy evening, all that however was about to change. Colbey was on his way back to the table when a tall man, one of a group of what looked like nobles or merchants, turned suddenly, colliding with him. Ale swished from the two jugs Colbey was carrying, splashing the man's black silk shirt. “You clumsy dolt!” he shouted. “Sorry,” said Colbey amiably, trying to move past the man. “But you did bump me.” As Colbey walked on the tall man's fist struck him behind the ear, punching him from his feet, Colbey fell against a table, striking his head on the back of a chair before pitching unconscious to the floor. I vaulted the table and reached the scene just as the tall man was unleashing a kick against Colbey's body. My foot lashed out to hook under the man's leg; then with a flick he sent the tall man crashing to the floor. The man rolled to his knees and drew a dagger. I grinned and reached for my own; I stopped remembering Mitza and his hospitality. The tall man rose, eyes narrowed. “I'll gut you for that, you whoreson!” “Don't tell me, show me,” I said contemptuously. The man lunged. I side-stepped, grabbing the knife wrist with my left hand, his right arm moving under the man's elbow. I slammed down with my left and up with my right. A sickening crack echoed around the room as the tall man's arm snapped at the elbow; the victim's scream was awful. The tall man fell back as I released him, the knife falling from his fingers. White bone was jutting through the sleeve of his black shirt, which was now stained with blood. He screamed again. “Oh, shut up!” I snapped, ramming the heel of my palm into the man's head and following up with a right that lifted him to his toes. Stepping back, Garadan let the man fall and then walked to Colbey, who was groaning and trying to rise. A movement from behind caused me to turn around. Three men were approaching, knives in their hands. I laughed at them happily as now my blood was up, and then I walked towards them. “Happily for you, I promised myself I'd kill no-one tonight. However, that does not mean I won’t cripple you - like your friend on the floor, who will be lucky to use that arm again. So who is first? I think I'll smash a knee-cap next, or maybe ensure you will never have children!” I advanced again and the men fell back, confused. “What is the problem? Am I not defenceless enough? Can't make up your minds about who will be the first? What about you?” I asked, stepping in close to a lean, bearded man. The knife-man jumped back so suddenly he fell over a chair. The other two sheathed their knives and backed away. I smiled at them. “Wise choice,” I said. “Pick up your friend and get him to a cleric.” Turning towards the bar, I called out, “Two more jugs of ale, if you please.” The men carried the unconscious attacker from the tavern and Garadan helped Colbey to his feet. “How are you feeling?” I asked. “My head hurts,” said Colbey. “Don’t worry it will be fine,” I said. Mitza brought the jugs, and leaned in to Garadan. “I think you had better be careful, my friend. The man you . . . injured ... is highly connected.” “His arm isn't,” I said, with a smile. “I mean it, Garadan. He is a cousin of the Duke Iappus and a close friend of Vicor, the Duke's Champion.” “Champion, you say? Is he any good?” “It is said he has killed thirty men. That makes him good, to my reckoning, anyway.” I lifted my jug and half drained it. “It makes him interesting,” I agreed. Mitza shook his head and moved away. The door opened and the Bard stepped in. The crowd saw him, and began to cheer. “Where is the man who hit me?” asked Colbey. “He's gone,” replied Garadan. “Did you hurt him?” asked Colbey. “I think I did,” said Garadan. A Traveller in a new land part 4 1. The challenge The next few days drifted in to one another as I focused on the work at Braxus's forge and Colbey's training. The Work at the forge satisfied a deep seated need to practice what I had been taught and Colbey's progress was nothing short of amazing. He was developing strength, but also posed innate reflexes and balance that were phenomenal. A naturally gifted swordsman, he started well above par and had the definite potential to be a great swordsman. The best talent he possessed was a calm approach, many times I tried to rouse his anger, to make him lose control and yet he wouldn't fall for it. It still remains to be seen if he can maintain this steady state in real combat and not just in sparring. Colbey also seemed to be naturally adept with a Skar; surely Crom had guided me to this lad. I offered up a prayer to Crom and hope to find the next member soon. I returned to my room and started my daily ritual of examining and cleaning my weapons, my Skar was loving cleaned and sharpened and then the same with my dirk. Ensuring both were well oiled I replaced them back into their respective sheathes. I removed my knives and repeated the process. Lastly I came to my axe, it was a beautiful weapon, balanced to perfection, the black metal haft was as long as a man's arm, the double head shaped like the wings of a butterfly preventing them catching in ribs and armour. The edges shone from the darkened steel, I tested the edges with my thumb; the weapon was as always as sharp as a shaving knife. Silver elven runes were inscribed on the haft and the blades, shining out against the dark metal and though I could not read them I knew the words etched there, 'REAVER'. I have never needed to sharpen Reaver; always the blades held there edge, never showing a nick in the edge from combat. It was a happy day when this blade was gifted to me and I will always hold the Elves of any land a feeling of deep respect. I returned back to the bar and saw Colbey talking to a tall man in Cavalry dress, with a sabre at his side. I walk over and Colbey looks toward me, I look at the man, obviously a man with some wealth or working for someone who was rich. He looks up at me and introduces himself. "Good evening sir, my name is Captain Marrin, do I have the pleasure of addressing Garadan of the 5 elements?" He stood straight, shoulders back the epitome of a military man, and even so I could see the look of concern register on his face. "You do, what can I do for you?" I rumbled. "I am here to issue a challenge concerning a matter of honour, from Captain Vicor. You have heard of him I assume?" Captain Marrin smiled as if the name should have some effect on me. "Why does he wish to challenge me?" "You attacked a patron of his and have seriously injured him, a few nights ago in this bar I believe." "If you mean the idiot that attacked the lad here for being in his way and spilling beer on him, then yes I would say you are right." I sighed, this man Vicor was going to fight over that stupid popinjay. "So then Captain Marrin what are the rules for this challenge." "Well as Captain Vicor has challenged you, you have choice of weapons, and he will decide the place and you the time." "Well it all seems very civilized. Does he want this to the death?" "That was the request his patron made." "If I win is that an end to the matter?" "Well yes, according to the rules of honour." "Now then let me select a weapon, my choice is steel gauntlets, as most of my weapons of choice would be unfamiliar to your good Captain." "An unusual choice, but under the circumstances acceptable. The place will be the barracks training ground" The captain replied. "The time then sunset tomorrow. Captain is your comrade, your friend?" "Well yes, he is." "Then ask him to be sure of why he fighting me." "I will. Can I ask you a question are all the people of your land as tall as you?" The look of concern was still there, “are you from the Heldanic Empire?” I smiled “No, I am considered a little on the short side in my land and I am Junn not Heldanic.” “Thank you,” and with that he left. 2. New friend or a new foe The next day passed without event, Braxus was more than happy with the work I have produced, Colbey was enjoying the smithy atmosphere and I felt relaxed about my up coming fight with Vicor, Colbey though felt tense. Somehow he blames himself for the whole thing. I am hoping I don't have to kill Vicor as it seems a shame to kill a man because he follows an idiot, but then I have faced a lot of warriors whose only crime is following idiots, few have survived. During the late afternoon I finish the sabre I was working on, a finer piece I have not made, the blade strong and the hilt curved to protect the hand of the wielder. It is a good piece of work; Braxus was delighted as the customer was an important one. "Garadan, can you deliver this for me?" "Where to?" "It's for a young captain at the barracks." "Certainly I will be heading that way later, who should I ask for." "A Captain of the Guard called Vicor. Once again excellent work, soon you will be beyond the ability for me to train you." With that I finished clearing up and stowing away Braxus's tools and made ready to go and meet with Vicor. I marvelled at the irony of the world and how it worked, but it was time and I need to see this finished or it would continue to hang over the head of Colbey and me. The walk to the barracks was refreshing, the evening air was crisp and my blood was starting to burn. Even after all these years the berserker rage still wants to surface, some of my clan saw it as a gift, not I. It took away my humanity and turned me in to a mindless killer. I still feel great thanks towards the elves. They helped me control my battle madness through mental discipline and channel my rage away. The Barracks stood proudly on a hill over looking the merchant district, the white washed walls glowing golden in the setting sun. The compound looked older than the buildings that surrounded it, built with strong walls and an impressive keep towering up towards the sky. A couple of sentries stood guard at the gates and came to attention as I approached. "Can you direct me to captain Vicor?" I asked. "Please follow me." The sentry led me through the gates into the barracks and then in to a central courtyard. A circle had been marked out and in the centre was a tall man for a Karamiekan, standing maybe six foot one inch, with black hair tied at the nape of his neck. "Captain Vicor, I presume." "Ah you must be Garadan; my second said you were very tall, I see he did not exaggerate." "I have something for you from Braxus's forge." I tossed the sabre to him. He caught it expertly and drew the blade, testing the balance. The blade hissed through the air as he swept it from side to side. "Excellent, a magnificent blade, the balance is perfect; this will be a fine replacement for my old sword." "Thank you I feel its one of the better pieces I have made." A look of surprise crossed his face, "you work for Braxus?" "Yes for the moment, I like to use the arts I have been taught." "You are a fine smith." I could see him re-evaluating me. "True, but I am a far better warrior. Should we get to the matter at hand?" A look of concern crossed his face; I removed my gauntlet from my pack the steel glinting in the evening light. Vicor sighed "I guess we should" he in turn put on a pair of iron gauntlets. A small crowd a come to watch the coming event, whispered conversation started around us. We circled each other slowly examine each other for weaknesses, I had the reach and the strength on Vicor, yet he was the quicker man. Vicor moved with the balance of a panther seeking an opening, I decided to start defensively, blocking the first few punches, though smaller Vicor was a strong man and confident of his abilities. I snapped a vicious right into his chest and felt a rib go, Vicor staggered back a pace, I quickly followed up with a left, putting my full strength behind the blow, and catching him square on the forehead he flew back and dropped like a stone. I walked over to him and grabbed his head; blood was flowing, trickling down his face. "Vicor said this was a fight to the death! For him it was, for me, it wasn't." I took a deep breath and continued. "I have only been in your country a short time, but one thing I have learnt is that these are time when all good warriors are needed, we cannot indulge in our own frivolous actions. It is even a time to put aside personal honour in favour of the greater need of the people of Karameikos and the rest of Mystara. Vicor is an honourable man, he fought bravely and I will not take his life, instead I give that life to Karameikos and I know he will use his skills and abilities to help the people of this land. Look after him and tell him what I said." With that I turned and started to stride back to Braxus's forge. All in all a good day, I was glad I did not have to kill him; under different circumstances I could see us being comrades in arms rather than adversaries. New friends My work at the forge was coming to an end; I would miss Braxus and the work. I found an inner peace while working at the forge, the whole process of creating gave me a kind of fulfilment, I normally only found whilst travelling remote places. The feeling you have when you stand at the top of the mountain looking at all the world below you, almost as if you have left your troubles and concerns at the tree line. It is then I have time to think and consider the world around me. I think if I had met Vicor at another time, I would have just killed him and hang the consequences. I also think if I had encountered Colbey back in Sarralis, I would have helped him, but I would not have adopted him. Strange how the world turns, strange the changes I see in myself since coming to this land. It was when I was working on my new Skar, applying the final touches, engraving a prayer to Crom, dedicating the souls it took to him. I had been enjoying the fact that this would be one of my best works to date and without a doubt, the most beautiful weapon I had ever made when I noticed Vicor entering the forge. His bruises and cut were mostly healed and looked well. "Greeting Vicor, I am pleased to see you have recovered well." "Thank you." He looked troubled sighed and then continued. “I have come to say that, there will be no further challenges from myself or any of the Royal Guard over this incident. In fact word has spread of the little speech you made and I have lost no honour or face from the duel. If anything my standing has increased, but I wanted to warn you that there may be others who do not see things the same way as me or my men." "Your patron I would assume." "Actually my former patron, I have ceased to be one his retainers since the duel, it seems he also views my survival as a stain on his honour." "Well in that case I wish you luck and as is the custom of my people, if you need my help you jus have to request it. How is the sabre by the way?" "A fine piece and worth every steel coin I paid for it." I looked in to Vicor's eyes, "We part as friends then?" "Yes, I believe we do." With that he shook my hand, bid me luck and left the forge. Vicor ex patron worried me, but it was a problem for another day. In the last few months Colbey skill, strength and stamina had come on in leaps and bounds. Braxus had agreed to take Colbey on as an apprentice and I had found him a weapons master to continue his instruction. He also had absorbed the Junn language, history and religion. We now only spoke to each other in Junn which aided the bond between us; he was growing into a fine man. The last few days before I due to meet up with the rest of the group, Colbey and I took to the forest to the west of Mirros to enjoy a little hunting and mainly so I could continue to teach him how to use the Skar, my old Skar which I gave to him. It was a good trip and I found that I was going to miss him while I travelled with the group. Soon I hoped, he would be good enough to join us and travel together. Here ends part 4 Part 5 An Elven Interlude 1. Rage and Anger I look back at where I have come from and what I have become, so much of my life has been spent raging at the world, trying to control my destiny and my temper. I used to channel a lot of energy and ability through my rage it made me able to stand up to nearly any foe, but it also has made me take many poor choices. It was a hard beast to control and threatened to break loose at the slightest provocation, slowly through the years; after we had found the Wyvern Crown I had more and more trouble maintaining control, it was one of the reason I did not feel worthy of becoming Crom’s avatar. It cost the lives of a number of people whose only crime was pissing me off or being in the way of someone who had pissed me off. Slowly I began to realise that I had to change, to protect my friends and comrades, because sooner or later I would kill one of them or they would be forced to try and kill me. This was not something I wanted to suffer, so I stated to travel, I always found that the beast in side me was quieter when I was away from the cities and towns of Sarralis. I headed toward the great woods, the ancient forest, and a place where I felt at home, where I was free to run and to hunt. It is within these green environments that I feel most at peace, the burning in my soul seems to leave me and I am free to be at one with myself. 2. Rescue at the Falls I had been travelling for a couple of months and for the first time in years I felt close to being at peace, the shadows under the canopy gave me time to reflect and the lack of noise made by man was a grateful release when compared to the cacophony of the cities. I had had few problems the odd band of Orcs and a few Night Hounds, fierce creatures will coal black hides and red eyes, weighing up to 200 pounds and with a taste for the flesh of man, it was nothing I couldn’t handle, my rage carrying me through these combats, when strength and skill were not enough. It was after an encounter with 3 Orcs that I came across Kita, caught in a pool below a waterfall, by a tentacled creature trying to drag her under, obviously it saw the young elf as a tasty meal, and she was battling hard, but losing to the creatures’ strength. Without much thought I dropped my pack drew my dirk and dived from the cliff. I hit the water and curled my dive towards where I had last seen her. The monster had already drawn her below the surface and was moving downwards toward his home. I grabbed a deep breath of air and dived after it, plunging towards the depths of the pool. I quickly caught up and using my dirk started to saw at one of it tentacles, with that I got its attentions and felt more of its arm encircle me dragging me towards it hideous beak like maw. Next to its mouth were two eyes the size of large plates and it looked at me with a surprising amount of intelligence, quickly replaced by a look of pain as I sank my dirk up to its hilt into the nearest eye. The creature lurched backwards releasing me and its intended victim; it swam downwards towards the depths of the pool squirting black ink and blood in its trail. I swam over to the girl, my lungs starting to burn with the lack of oxygen, grabbed her by her hair and started to make my way to the surface. It seemed to take an age, the girls’ dead wait slowing my assent to the surface. With a final effort I pushed my head clear of the surface and my lung grasped a grateful gulp of air, quickly as I could I made my way back to the edge of the pool and lifted the girl clear, removing the water from her lungs, she coughed and started to breathe, thank Crom. Then as quickly as I could I made my way back to my pack, with her and wrapped her in my cloak to keep her warm and comfortable. Checking once again to make sure her breathing was steady I turned to prepare a fire and brew some tea. I had just finished dressing when I turn to see her pale eyes looking at me a mixture of curiosity and fear shone from her face. “Are you all right?” I asked She looked confused and said in the most beautiful voice I had ever heard “I don’t understand you?” I smiled and replied in my bad Elven “not many understand me. Sorry I not speak your tongue well.” This drew a smile from her, it was as if storm clouds had parted and the sun once again shone on the land, I almost staggered. “Thank you for saving me, the Krakoth would have been my end.” “I am glad, I was here to help.” “You must be very brave to attack such a monster as that.” She replied. The truth is maybe darker, I have always put myself in harms way, I always want to be the best, I have always tried to challenge the limits of what and who I am and maybe a part of me wants to find something that can kill me. Help me lose the fire that always burns inside me. The fire that’s kills, I have always prided myself on the fact that I have fought to protect something, that was until the events at Tal Mir in the heart of Saralis. Not a big town, but it was a town with problems; the local bandits had killed the militia and taken over the town. There were only six of them; I had known that, and over 200 towns’ people. Yet they were too afraid to do anything about them, so I killed them, the first three, one at a time and the last three I killed together. As the last one was falling I heard a noise behind me, without a thought I turned and threw my dirk and with horror saw it plunge in to the chest of a young boy, no more than six or seven. He died, I left, but the guilt stayed, it was then I started to hate the rage inside me. The girl looked puzzled at my expression, with a shake of my head I came back to the present. “I am Garadan of the Kitarn.” I said formally introducing myself. With a smile she replied “I am Kita of the Oak leaf clan.” 4. Truth and Understanding I spent nearly a year with the Oak Leaf Clan, I learnt to speak elven well, learnt to understand their culture and beliefs. I learnt how to hunt with a bow and to how to make one. Most importantly of all I learnt how to enjoy peace, the elves live a long time and I think they find it hard to understand our short lives which they tend to treat with polite sympathy. Within the first few days one of the elders of the village saw the rage burning inside of me, like a fire. “Ah Garadan, my name is Calothad and I am wondering if you will let me help you?” He looked at me with a sad but sincere set of eyes. “Help me? Help me with what?” I felt confused and little worried. “When I look at you I see a fire burning away inside of you, charring your soul. This is what I can help you with, you seek peace from what is within you by hiding in the wild places of the world.” He still regarded me with those sad but sincere eyes. “If this is so, how can you help?” I replied. He smiled, “by teaching you how to act without thought or anger, by teaching you how to empty all your emotions and thought. It is the way we meditate on the world and allow you to control your actions and instincts.” I looked confused, “I don’t understand!” Calothad smiled and said “A perfect beginning.” “Imagine nothing in your minds eye except the burning of a flame, and into that flame pour all your fear, anger, hate, love and peace. Be at one with the purpose of existing and being at peace with what us around you.” I still felt confused, “but I am a warrior, how can I do this and use what you teach!” The old elf replied with a sardonic smile, “this is the way, not a judgement. It bothers not with good or evil, Law or Chaos they are all part of the balance. All are needed, none must rule. Be what you are, nothing more.” I spent the next year learning all Calothad could teach me of this practise, that the elves called Eli-Maas or the emptying. I tried in turn to become useful to the Oak Leaf Clan. Rather than sit idle by I helped by hunting and collecting food, also by helping track down and destroy the Orcs and trespassers in the area. The skill of the Elves when hunting is amazing, like nothing I had encountered before. Putting even Keth’s abilities are not even this good. They almost seemed to fade from view, without a whisper, flicker, or even a broken blade grass to mark their passage. While I spent time learning all I could of the clan’s wilderness law and hunting skills. They were days of true contentment in the forests and hills of the clans domain. Calothad was a tough teacher and persisted where most would have given up trying to get through to a stubborn clansman like myself, but persisted he did and the more I practised his methods the easier it became, I could control my anger in most cases and the claustrophobia I feel in cities is more manageable, rather than unbearable. During this time Kita and I became lovers for a while and then, knowing that all dreams must end however pleasant fell back into an easy friendship. The more I studied the Eli-Maas with Calothad the more I changed; even the way I fight, it certainly is not the wild abandonment of my youth. I was becoming more cautious, maybe even subtle and dare I say patient, for me anyway, in the way I fought and dealt with the world. .Here ends part 5 Part 6 Back in the present Crom’s Dream ‘the unpredictability of the spheres’ The event of the past few days in what was a fair elven city have weighed heavy on my mind, I find myself using the meditation techniques that Calothad taught me, just to keep sane. Never had I been surrounded by so much un-life as now. Whilst I cannot fault the honour of my host can still feel his evil all around me. Even though the rest of the 5 elements cannot quite understand my feeling (maybe with the exception of Natalia), I find this whole episode deeply disturbing. But the Eli-Maas sees me through the worst of this and allows myself to control my urge to smash all that is around me. I have too much to do; to simply throw my life away would be an insult to the memory of my tribe. It all started to happen when I was deep in the Eli-Maas, I could feel the void surround me and my emotions were being fed to the flame in my minds eye when I felt my name being called. The feeling was familiar and gave me a sense of deep peace and fulfilment. I recognised that voice, it was Crom. My God whom I had left in Saralis, who had told me that to go to this world was to be alone. All of this I had accepted and now once again I can feel his presence around me. Faint, but there, it reminded me of all that I had left behind, all those that had died and it reinforced the resolve to see my people avenged and Chaos put back in its place. “Garadan.” the voice said faintly, as if it was coming from far, far away. “Crom, I am here and I listen.” “Garadan something unforeseen has happened; because chaos is affecting all that is around it some of rules are changing.” “I am pleased you have found a new member of the Clan, this is as it should be and it pleases me that you have taught him of me. His faith and yours allow me to see this world. The more that give there faith to me the stronger I will become.” “Garadan now listen well for my time here is short, you are walking into great danger and you must learn how to overcome your nemesis. She is powerful and her magic is combined with the strength of faith in the Queen of Chaos. You must learn how to fight the chaos spawn and look for those who can aid you. Colbey may be one of them.” “Are you waiting for me to ask for you help? I would not ask, don’t help me, but help this world and the war it faces.” It was then I realised I was talking to my god in such a way; maybe I should consider my word before I speak. Crom, made a sound like thunder in the mountains, it almost made me want to dive to the ground to avoid the lightning I half expected to see, then I realised that the sound was laughter. “Most gods want their people to be servile and follows them like sheep, give me spirit and honesty at anytime! Have faith, what little I can do to help my followers here I will do” “Garadan now it is time for you to be about your journey and me to be about mine.” With a start I awoke my dreams still fresh in my mind, I never thought I would hear the voice of my God again and that my journey here had severed all connections with my old life. While I know I will never return to Saralis at least some part of my world has come with me. I must strive to learn all that I can of this world and bring as many people as I can to join Clan Kitarn. At least now I have a mission to live for rather than looking for a glorious end and I will use my life to bring Kitarn back to life and establish Crom on this world. Maybe by strengthening the forces of balance we can keep the extremes in check. Here ends part 6 A Traveller in a new land part 7 Eyes of Crom We had just fought the minions of chaos; all in all it had been an educational day, first attacked by bowmen, which were quickly followed up with some type of lizard men wielding pikes. Lizard men who had sore that burst and spewed forth some kind of poison. Natalya thinks it is some type of fungal infection, not one I have ever seen before but the effects on us were not good of all those caught in the cloud only Wraith seems unaffected, but then that’s mages for you. Speaking of mages the next thing to turn up was some sort of short chaotic looking magic user carrying a sword staff. He was dam dangerous, more accurate than I had expected, wont make that mistake again. Natalya though made short work of him, seems she can turn into one hell of a dangerous bear, and then proceeded to drive his body on to a rocky out crop, punching it completely through his body. Good war form, the way she fought made much more dangerous than any natural bear. That was not the only surprise on the whole being able to assume another form, seems like Kaelin has a similar trick up his sleeve, his form seems to be somewhat demonic in nature. Not sure what to make of that, but I have talked to him about this and have said I will hold my tongue till he is ready to speak to the rest of the group. Kaelin for me has done the two most important things he can, one he has stood by when danger threatens and secondly he has shed blood for us, not something the rest of the group should forget. Natalya has given him till morning to talk about this and reveal this aspect of his nature. I wish him luck whilst I like the lad I do need to understand more about this and how it happened and whether it poses a danger to us, but from what I have seen he seems to be in control when in this other form and doesn’t appear to change his nature. Hopefully the rest of the group will be as understanding. All of us were tense after the battle with Chaos, the Queen’s creatures and men, if the men can still be called that. I stood my watch with Natalya and then Kaelin it passed without incident and then I sank down, wrapped my cloak around me and sought a healing sleep. The effects of the lizard men’s spore attack still troubled me and I felt weaker than I should. Even so sleep came quickly, a good habit I have learned through many campaigns, get rest when you can as you may not know when rest will come again. Something all warriors and adventurers need to learn, I have faith in my comrades and years spent travelling alone have meant I sleep lightly at the best of times and it doesn’t take much to wake me. A talent I very much appreciate and it has saved my life on more than a few occasions. Even in though this cold climate doesn’t bother me much I was still snug and warm with my cloak wrapped around me. I still remember the bear it came from, 14 ft high when standing it was a monster. If it had let me be I would have done the same for it but it gave me no choice in the matter and even though I won that fight the injuries it gave me came close to killing me, if it wasn’t for a lot of luck and a friend who was handy with a needle I probably wouldn’t be here today, but that is life I guess. You need to have the right people in the right place and the man with needle was someone I disliked till he saved my life and after that we became good friends and I returned the favour a number of times after that. It was not long before I was asleep and the dreams started, I stood on the mountains near my village or what was my village. Time had moved on as the wilderness had already started to reclaim it back to its own. Vines and ivy had started to cover the walls of the huts and workshops, the roof of the great hall had collapsed, making the longhouse look like a beached ship, filled with thatch. Weeds and bushes had started to take over the fields where crops should have been planted; I felt sadness and anger at what had happened to my people. I needed to settle a debt of blood, my clan called out to me to seek this, but I would not die trying, I must succeed and give them peace. Even if that success brings about my death it is a small price to pay for saving my people, I would happily enjoy eternity in the abyss to achieve this. I would however prefer to live through the whole thing and enjoy the fruits of my labour. The clouds overhead raced by as if pursued by some violent storm, yet only the gentlest of breezes touched my face. This in it self is not that unusual but somehow felt wrong, as if I was here but not really present. The scene before me made me sad, this village once a place of work and laughter, was now silent, the only noises left now are the wind rushing through the trees and the water of the fjord lapping against the wharf. My sadness and anger seemed to be reflected in the storms over head. Above me I noticed a falcon hovering, it gave a cry almost challenging me. It was the most beautiful bird I had ever seen and at least twice the size of any falcon I had ever heard of. Its wings were steel blue on the upper side whilst the lower side were a light fawn colour. Its eyes were bright yellow and seemed to regard me with an unnatural intelligence. It was then I felt myself lifted up into the air, my eyesight seemed to change become sharper more focussed, I was flying I could feel my wings beating the air moving forward faster and faster. I cry ripped from my throat and told me I was a falcon, faster and faster I flew. Gaining height all the time clearing the mountains and I started to glide down toward the northern plains of Saralis. Below me were the villages and encampments of the Junn, all were smoking or in ruins. Columns of an army moved across the land laying waste to all in there path. How could this happen, no army in Jamain could match the Junn at war. With a flash of light I was standing on the hill above my old home, the falcon hovered near me as before, instinctively I stretched out my hand and the bird flew down and grabbed hold and looked me in the eye. “Do you like him Garadan?” boomed a voice in my head. It was like having the sound of the earth shaking in my mind. “I do Crom. why have you shown me all this, why is this happening?” The shock of what I had seen was starting to sink in, never in my worst nightmares had I imagined that the clans of the Junn could be beaten. “The Falcon is a gift from me to you. He will be your eyes and he will help me watch over you. You will still have to stand on your own as my ability to help you is still limited, but I am getting stronger in your world, but not yet strong enough to reveal myself in full. Every sacrifice you dedicate to me makes me stronger, whilst the Queen of Chaos owns their souls; I can still drink their life and there blood. Also young Colbey has done well already he has converted 16 people to me, I feel their prayers reaching out, calling to me, strengthening me.” “He has done what!” I gasped. “Worry not Garadan, he has this by my bidding. I have given him the gift to help people see the truth, his voice now has some power to it and all who hear it will consider what he say. More I am not aloud to do” for a moment it almost felt like Crom smiled, “it would be unfair.” “Do you intend Colbey to be your Shaman here?” “No Garadan, he will follow the calling of his heart and he will become a master of war, like you will become, if either of you survive. Before this war is over it was what you must become, what you must strive for, being a good warrior is one thing, being able to inspire men and understand how to win battles and then the war this is what is needed, so don’t let the enemy goad you to act before you are ready, or they may destroy you.” Crom continued his voice growing dark and serious “As to what you saw, you needed to see it; you need to understand what is at stake. I know your temperament and you must stay focused to the task at hand. The peoples of the south have become jealous, they have always been afraid of us; they were just waiting for a chance to defeat us, see us humbled and then destroy us forever. Where we would use our numbers, our strength and our skill at arms to crush them, they used guile, getting one tribe to attack another until we were weak enough to be attacked by the armies you have seen. It is the end for us in this land, few escaped, and fewer still will survive. We need a new home, I also, for without my people I cannot survive, for you are my purpose and without that I am dust in the wind, but know this I am proud of all of you, I have never wanted servants but a people that speak freely and act freely.” I heard something akin to bitterness in his voice and I felt I understood why, most of the Gods in Kulthea require a slavish loyalty from there servants, Crom didn’t want servants he wanted followers who chose to view him as their patron, who chose to dedicate their actions to him, he did not require it, he asked for nothing from his followers save that they followed the calling that was in their heart, which is why Crom has been the chosen god of many good and many evil. This was a worse horror than I could have imagined, it is one thing to lose my clan yet another to lose all of my people and there history “Can you bring them to me?” “Not yet, not until the Chaos has been pushed back and the balance restored, during this time of flux I can move some of our people through, maybe one or two hundred. I will have to make choices; even I find hard who to save and who to leave as I love all of my people. The southern kingdoms want rid of us and through the use of cunning they are succeeding. Behind this however I sense a greater forces at work, maybe even the servants of unlife or more likely the servants of Chaos. The southern kingdoms have accused us of being in league with Iron Wind and Kaedeena herself. This is just the political justification to attack us. They used the destruction of the Kitarn to start a between the clans, subtly pushing Kitarn’s allies to attack other clans they blamed for this tragedy.” “So few, but is it enough to start again. Is it enough to rebuild our people? What of our other Gods can they help?” I rarely felt fear, but now I did not fear for myself, but fear for my people, my race, my culture. The Junn are meant to survive it is our reason for being, as much as our art, our farming and our joy in war. Crom spoke again, the low rumble of his voice echoing in my head. “The others have passed on, they were the elder Gods of the clans, existing even before the clans existed, now only Crom remains, the other decided long ago to travel the void and see other worlds and people, yet I remain as I was born of the Junn so I will die when the Junn die. As the Junn held their faith so I held mine for as long as you exist, so my fate is now your fate. All the Junn now rely on you to do what needs to be done and until it is done you must survive and complete your task. Find the pieces of the rod and find allies push back chaos, restore the balance.” I considered Crom’s words and replied “I will hold the faith, I will survive!” I thought a little and then spoke. “There is one goddess here that may be an ally to us, she is called Rhea and the Druids of my new world follow her. She is the goddess of nature and the cycle of life and her teaching are close enough to what we believe to not make us enemies. It is she that I would start with.” “Yes that might be so; I see images of her in your mind and the druid that travels with you. Maybe, we shall see.” “One thing Garadan you are not destined to leads the Junn, that role is fated for another, even if you survive what is to come another will lead. You have an even more important task, two actually one to save the Junn and another to inspire them to survive in this world.” “Crom I have little desire to lead or follow for that matter, I seek merely to be free to follow the calling of my heart.” It was almost as if I felt Crom smile “Good, remember the Falcon, she will come to you, she will be a great help as her eyes are better than any of her kind, she will be my watchman. Listen to her advice for that is the help she provides, her advice it comes from me, she will be linked to you and you will know where she is at all times, she will be able to talk to you, after a fashion and maybe she will talk to your druid also. Remember she is a free spirit and respect her as such. She will be my first link in your new world that will become our new world; the link must remain small and unnoticed. It is why I speak through your dreams and through the Falcon, the knowledge I give is hidden from her in a subtle way. I had not expected these events it has become a new hope for all of us, an unexpected one at that.” “I will do as you ask and I thank you for your gift.” “Keep dedicating the death of your enemies to me as this will feed my power in your world, the more creatures of chaos or law for that matter that die by your hand the stronger I will become and the more help I will be able to give. All of your enemies slain by your Axe will feed me, my mark is upon it. Remember though, the balance is tilted towards chaos so the death of the servants of law strengthen her hand not ours. Go my son return to what you must do.” I am starting to see vengeance is only part of what I must do; I must help restore the balance and give my people a chance, a chance to survive and thrive in a new world. We may have to make changes to begin with but soon we will be a people again. I have a simple philosophy, a strange subject for one of my people to study, in fact most of the so called civilised people of Jamain always find it strange that the Junn have a written language and we have been using it for hundreds if not thousands of years. We mainly use it to engrave on stone to mark a sacred place or to record a deed of note on a dolmen or other standing stone. The way I follow is to be at one with the world around me, take no more from than I need, to heal more than I harm, to survive where others would perish and to be the best warrior to set his feet upon the earth. The last point is the one I now strive for, not just to be the best warrior in a one on one fight, but to understand war and how to win it. What Crom has revealed to me convinces me that this is the right path to follow. I must strive to become a lord of war, whether fighting on my own or with other I must use all around me to their best potential, so when the fight is over and I sit upon a rock looking at the last fallen enemy, my axe still embedded in his head I know that the least number of my people have been killed or hurt to destroy his. I felt inspired like never before, my path was becoming clear, and I was determined to put my feet firmly on that road. The whole process of where I came from, why I was here and what I needed to do was becoming clear. I would continue to fight as I always had, but now I would watch and assess all around me and how we can come together as a unit. With that the scene around me faded, that last sound I heard was the scream of a falcon, a scream of victory. The next encounter with Chaos The next encounter with chaos was worse and harder fought; they seem to have a definite strategy and superb organisation. The festering sores and rashes on my face and arms were healed by Natalya and her goddess. Natalya’s goddess appeared, saving the life of the elven bard, Larellaen. Where Rhea’s feet touch the ground grass and growth appeared and what was tainted was made whole. It seems that Larellaen’s luck was bad as in the next fight she was hurt again. What a fight this was, I can think of few if any occasions that I have fought so hard. Once again the servants of chaos approached a squad of archers behind a front line of fighters. Only this time there was only one thing to fight initially. A huge creature over four metres long, with the body of a huge scorpion and the torso of a man, the speed of it was hard to believe, moving faster than the swiftest horse it closed with us quickly and engaged. Natalya’s bravery amazes me, I know of few fighters that would what she did, standing away from the barricades, she challenged the creature and it accepted. I waited till it had struck and then launched my self across the intervening space and struck at its back. I delivered a powerful blow that would have split a man in two. It hit squarely on one of the pauldrons it was wearing and cut into it shoulder, it grunted and turned to face me. Not expecting such speed it nearly caught me off guard as it swung its massive two handed sword at me. I threw myself out of the way just in time even so I could feel it passing whisper as it missed my head by a whisker. It continued to swing at and I continued to hack at its body, its speed was amazing but its body was huge and did not make for a difficult target. The battle with the scorpion man was made more difficult by the arrival of a Cleric of the Queen of Chaos who started to heal the scorpion man, it was the best fight I had had in years. My blood surged through me, I felt totally alive, the presence of death and war has always had this effect on me, I know that tomorrow, food will taste better, the sun will shine brighter all because death had been faced an defeated for another day. Rarely if ever have I felt fear, I get the knot in my stomach when danger is close, but it is a distant feeling not what people have described to me. Except through magic and the odd dragon have I come close to feeling what fear must truly be like. Eventually we defeated our foes and great bravery had been shown all round. We also managed to get through the massive door an in to the dwarven kingdom of Rockhome. Well that success was short lived as in front of us was a new obstacle another door this one made of flowing lava. Got to admire dwarves when they build something they always do it well and this got the level of my admiration for there work to rise to new heights. Wraith in the mean time had been studying an Orb he had found on the dead body of the scorpion man, within the glass a strange mist swirled in to psychedelic patterns and colours, definitely a tool of chaos. I said as much when he picked it up and said it should be left behind, but it was the decision of the group to bring it with us. One inside the Dwarven Gate, with the huge metals doors safely closed he sat down to study it. All of a sudden a strange patterned light started shining around the globe, it seemed to have no effect, at first then we noticed Larellaen. She was screaming fit to burst, at first I couldn’t understand why, then I saw her hands, or rather what used to be her hands. Instead of fingers she now had tentacles waving back and forth as she screamed. With that Wraith dropped the orb, as quickly as I could I ran over, grabbed the orb and threw it into the lava, the strange light moved away with the orb and I breathed a sigh of relief. Just when Larellaen started to calm down, her new appendages sprouted little mouths at the tip of each tentacle. It was the Queen of Chaos herself. We must be more of a danger to her than I realised, no other reason to pay us a personal visit. She spoke about how all our souls were hers and that Larellaen was hers body and souls and about how hopeless our quest was. Fairly normal intimidation methods and of course trying to divide us as a group, using Larellaen’s disfigurement as a reason to slay her on the spot. Not being a complete fool I refrained from arguing with her, it seems she is looking to turn Mystara into a utopian society ruled by her wishes of course, where no one would have to struggle and all would be perfect. If she gets her with it sounds like a pretty boring place to be if you ask me. Well she left, but not before summoning Mikhail an old member of the five elements until his untimely death, seem the whole ‘I have got your souls’ story seems to be true. He spent a little time trying to convince Larellaen to come with him, which she refused and then left. If it wasn’t for the fact that the Queen of Chaos would have bought him back or tormented his soul, I would have put him out of his misery, rarely have I met such a sad person or tried for he has the movements of a warrior born and by the look of him the training to back that up. If I do have to face Mikhail, I will use my intelligence as well as my brawn. I have always enjoyed the fact that peoples under estimate me; all they see is a hulking barbarian or warrior. Good with an axe but not a real thinker, I can think and plan and be careful, this was the result of no longer being a berserker, true it removed some of the simplicity of my life but it has opened my eyes to a world of subtle and planning. Even now I find myself fostering that belief in others; it is probably what most of my comrades think of me, I look forward to surprising them. With that the Lava door opened and we stood facing a large number of annoyed looking dwarves holding crossbows. Ghost used her silver tongue to smooth things out a little and it was agreed that we would be taken to see the King. It was like a magical tour, never had I seen such working of stone as I saw here, we were then led through one amazing hall after another until we reached Dwarvish transport, which consisted of a kind of carriage suspended from wires. It went fast, maybe not as fast as the magic carpet but still it moved at an impressive rate. Pretty soon we had an audience with the King of these dwarves, King I think is the correct title, not that I speak any Dwarven, as a people they are very closed mouthed, happy to learn your methods and techniques, but rarely, if ever share theirs. The audience went pretty much as expected, Ghost had the right idea and with a bit of nudging from me, seemed to do enough to get his interest, and the king has also granted us a safe passage through his domain, which will bring us out on the other side of the dwarf gate mountains. We are given rooms within the King’s palace and with a bit of adjusting, basically putting the mattress on the floor I manage to get comfortable and started to think about getting a good nights sleep, Crom knows after the last few days I need it. I have been thinking about the fight with the Scorpion man and how I could have done better. For a creature its size it was way too fast, must be a part of the chaos magic involved in creating such a monster, but from I have seen of Larellaen it could have started out as human or elf. Better not mention that thought to her, we also need to find someone who can tell if Larellaen’s alignment has changed to being a servant of chaos and if there is anything we or she can to revert back to her old self. There is of course the other question of ‘is Larellaen under the Queen of Chaos’s spell and do we need to watch our backs. Even if she is probably the weakest member of the group from a raw power point of view, never under estimate what a bard can do. With that I fell asleep, it seemed once more I was being summoned to my old world, maybe Crom had need to impart more knowledge and sorrow to me, but with each piece of sorrow a glimmer of hope was imbedded. I stood on the mountains near my village or what was my village. Time had moved on as the wilderness had already started to reclaim it back to its own. Vines and ivy had started to cover the walls of the huts and workshops, the roof of the great hall had collapsed, making the longhouse look like a beached ship, filled with thatch. Weeds and bushes had started to take over the fields where crops should have been planted, similar from before but now smoke drifted from some of the least dilapidated round houses, in the paddock were four horses and a few small figures were dotted amongst the settlement. I felt Crom’s presence like the first fall of snow in winter, cold but exhilarating. Then I heard his voice in my head. “Garadan, you are doing well, very well. I am now aloud to impart some information to you about your ring. Saying too much too early can be dangerous, saying too little too late can be fatal, it is a hard line to walk being a God.” “What about the ring, it is just a band of metal, is it not?” I replied I felt Crom smile, “No it is not just a ring, it is a ring of power, some thing that has existed since before I came to being, some thing that has fought chaos before, a thing that transcends the metal it is made from. The ring grants several powers to you, the ones I can tell you are these; the first is a wall of fog that will obscure you from normal and infra red eye sight, it will last up to 30 seconds, be warned this can be dispersed by strong winds. The second is the ability to walk on water, this only last a few minutes or so, this is worth experimenting with before you use it in earnest. The third is a cloud of fog similar to the wall of fog but will cover a larger area and last for a few minutes. The last power I can reveal is ice storm, dropping spears of ice onto you enemy, it has a large area and is the hardest power so far to activate within the ring. You must learn to control the ring and use it when the time is right.” I felt stunned so much power in such an ordinary looking ring “how can I gain control over this artefact?” “practice and will are all you need, be warned these powers will drain you of energy, the more powerful the spell the more energy it will take from you.” “Like a mage who cast too many spells.” I replied “Exactly, whilst these are not spell and will not turn you into a mage or wizard, the method used to power the spell is similar.” Again I felt a fond smile from my God, a God who asks for so little and has always been prepared to give so much when asked, it is just we as a people have always thought it weak to ask so we didn’t. “I will learn all I can of the ring and I will master it, I will also look forward to the coming of you gift, does the falcon fly yet?” I asked, for the Hawk was beautiful beyond words and in it I felt a kindred spirit. “Not yet my impatient boy, when the time is right she will arrive, not before.” “Now it is time for you to go and I have to be about what I must be about.” With that the spirit dream faded I fell back into deep sleep, the knowledge of what I had learned however was now fixed and when I awoke would remain. And so it begins. Part 1 Reflections After rest and healing I feel whole again, the wound and fatigue of the last week have been washed from me. The Dwarves have been most hospitable, courteous but distant, they are what they are. As a race they seem, like the elves, humanoids and dark races, oddly similar to the people of my own world. Yes there are a lot of differences from Kulthea, but also a lot of similarity. When I first came into contact with the Five Elements I was astounded that they could even understand me and the Saralian Elven I speak is so similar to the Wood Elven here. Almost as if there is an underlying force beyond what we understand, something that holds the balance of the Universe, something that overshadows even the Gods. I pray to Crom there is. Maybe even Gods need something to pray to, I am starting to feel as if I am getting into the realms of generic heresy. The Queen of Chaos seems consumed by mortal passions, I would have thought that a Goddess would be beyond such things, but who knows the ways of the immortals. I pray that there is a balance to all of this. My greatest fear is that Law wins and gains supremacy over chaos within my worlds of Mystara and Kulthea and who knows how many more. It seems that every person here on this planet, who has any real power, wants to use us to further their aims with such a blinkered view they will destroy everything that they value. The horrors I have seen done by ‘good people’ astounds me, as well as the capability for evil people to do great good, the more I see, the firmer I believe that to follow the balance is the only true way to live. Humans have always been the worst race at living with their surroundings; we destroy rather than live with the world around us. The traditions of my clan are bound in tales, sometimes their meaning obscured to make you consider the moral issue more. The teaching of the best people I have met all talk of maintaining a balance with the world, not to give in to petty desires, to reflect before you act. I have always been a bad student when it came to reflection, or as I like to think, sometimes you need to reflect quickly. The older I get, the easy it becomes, not to fly into a rage, not to give to the anger that fights to get out. Do not get me wrong, I enjoy a good fight; I just don’t go looking for them any more. I will fight to survive or to protect myself, my kin or my friends. I try to consider what I am fighting for a bit more. I have had way to much time to think recently, far too much time and not enough space. Part 2 Dinner With the King plus some unexpected guests I spent my time studying the ring, trying to understand its power, the more time I spent the more I seemed to feel the power in the golden band I bear. It was like feeling the sound of the waves hitting the shore while, drifting in a thick fog. Waves generally mean two things to a mariner, safe harbour to moor or beach at, or the hard fight to survive after hitting a reef or a rocky shore line. I had a feeling that the powers in this ring are more akin to a safe harbour, at least I hope so. During this time of reflection, the king’s seneschal came and informed us we are summoned to dine with the king. It never ceases to amaze me how much royalty I have met in the last year. I have to say I don’t enjoy it; I much prefer to keep a low profile and not have to deal with such people, as there is always a price to pay. I did my best to look respectable but with my limited wardrobe and truth be told I have no desire to extend it. I like to travel light and fast and I have little desire for personal possessions that do not fulfil a purpose. It amazes me how many things the others carry with them, Larellaen in particular, the way she struggles with that pack and instruments. I like the fact that if I need something I can make it. The time came and we made I way to an impressive dinning hall, the king and his entourage say on a raised dais, whilst we sat at a horse shoe shaped table facing him. It was then he introduced his other guests, an attractive women and a tall man, well tall for this world anyway. Then the king introduced his other guests. I barely restrained myself; all I wanted to do was leap over the table and rip the bitch’s throat out. I knew now was not the time, apart from breaking the law of hospitality, I realised that this is exactly what she hope for. I do not want to tackle this witch when she has obviously prepared for this meeting. She sat there and told us that she had been sent by the Queen of Chaos to form an alliance with the Dwarves. She brought a huge chest filled with gold and gems to help sway his decision and backed that with threats that if he joined with the forces of law chaos would destroy them. I had to laugh, but I did not. Then the Dark Odo told us to make our case, so we did, with a passion. The King of the Dwarves of Rockhome is no fool, I doubt many kings that keep their throne are and informed all that he would remain neutral during this struggle. Ghost made a good point that at some time his kingdom would be on the list of those that would be destroyed. I can not fault his reasoning to join now would be very risky and present his kingdom as an immediate target this way he gets to bide his time and hopefully join with us when the time was right. I can feel my heart racing; I can hear my kin call out to me, crying for vengeance. I calmed myself by thinking how sweet it would be to cut that foul head from her shoulders. The was not right yet, but maybe soon it will be, her and that foul creature that sits beside her, I pray that I live long enough to cut both there heads from there shoulders and put them on the holiest alter of Crom high in his sacred mountain. So for now I must be patient and reflect on what I have learnt from my enemy. Dark Odo and Vivloc left, we discussed the matter further with the King but did not change his position. The others retired to their chambers and I spent a restless night in a the forge of Gamla, a very surprised smith who had been informed that I was given permission by the King to use his work place. Gamla started off by giving me dark looks, obviously he had decided to stay and watch the impertinent human who can come to use his blessed forge. I cleared my mind and looked at the half pound of iron ore I would turn into steel. From that I would fashion a dagger. Plain but serviceable, the binding I would have to do later. I started to work the forge and slowly Gamla’s looks of disapproval turned to looks of interest. I by no means claim to have the same understanding of metal as a skilled Dwarven smith, but I know that for a human I am good, I am very good. I am not good at making pretty fancy weapons, such as the ones I had seen worn by nobles, but the weapons designed to withstand battle without breaking, designed to hold an edge sharp enough to shave with, that I do well. “You have a good eye for steel human.” Gamla said after nearly an hour of watching me work. I understood the basic requirement of using some one else’s tools, put them back where you found them and in good condition. “I have had some practice.” I replied, still not over the anger I felt in the dinning hall. “I can see, where did you study, Thyatis?” He asked “No northern Saralis, in my home village.” It was strange he almost seemed intrigued. “It is not a land I have heard of must be far off.” He replied, he still was acting as if what I was doing surprised him. “It is a long way off.” “Is it not unusual to have a master sword smith in a village?” “Not if you have a lot of enemies it isn’t.” With that I grinned and got a smile in return. The conversation continued and I told him a little of my country and my people. We discussed various methods and techniques for working metal. He was interested in my Skar, I told him the technique for making them was a closely guarded secret and required many types of metal to make a steel alloy that was light enough for the weapon, but strong enough to be useful as a weapon. I told him I have always wanted to know how the Dwarves made there steel so light and strong, but told him I knew it was less likely he would tell me that, than I becoming ruler of Mystara. With that we both laughed. I left the forge in the early hours of the morning, the dagger I left as a gift for Gimla, he in return presented me with a steel cloak pin, bearing the deign of 2 battle axes crossing each other. I went back to my room and got a few hours sleep. I woke refreshed and went to find my comrades, I also wanted to visit the shop where Natalya bought her ring of sustenance. Just maybe I could find something that will give me a chance against the Dark Odo. The shop displayed nothing magical and odf course you needed to know what to ask for, sigh, what is it about wizards, magicians and all those that deal in such trade to shroud every thing in mystery. After some haggling and some scraping together of funds I managed to buy a useful ring that would give me some measure of protection against magical attacks. Wish I had more money. I returned to my comrades and we discussed whether Odo would attack us once we had left. I didn’t think she would, boy was I going to be proved wrong. We discussed the problem at length and realised that whatever we discussed wasn’t going to change anything. I decided to go back to my room and study the elemental ring and get some rest… Part Nine Everything changes I awoke with a start. Something was wrong, yes sunlight shining through a window, the smell of the sea carried by the wind. I grab my axe and move towards the door. This cannot be, THIS CAANOT BE. I know where I am, I am home back in my village, set between the mountains and a beautiful natural harbour. No boats are moored on the wharf, no one left, no laughter only silence where once nearly 1200 men women and children dwelt. The village seemed even more desolate than before, I can see the remains of the huge pyre I built, to burn the last of our dead. I remembered the songs I had sang whilst watching my farther, brothers and clansmen burn. The bitch would pay for this. Then shadows started t move drifting through the village, ghosts of the dead replaying there daily life. Then they screamed and tried to run, then they faded and then I heard her voice. Needless to say the fight was long and it was hard and we lost, yet everyone lived, I have taken the measure of Vivloc and Dark Odo and yes they are mighty, and no they are not invincible. If it wasn’t for Odo, Natalya and I could have destroyed Vivloc. The young Thyatian caused Dark Odo pain; I like the lad more and more. For a while we held three pieces of the Rod between us. NO SHE IS NOT INVINCIBLE. Once more we survived, but now we are on Saralis, my home territory. Now we shall see what is happening to my world. Now I needed rest, I had prayed much to Crom this day and I hoped he would talk to through my dreams. So I slept and would see what sleep bought for me. It didn’t take long, “Garadan, I felt your return, I saw your battle with our enemies, you fought well I am proud.” “Can you help us return?” I asked “No, and maybe, but not yet” he rumbled. “First there is something you must do, travel to my mountain, Crom Crech, within a cave you will find my sarcophagus you will find my Skar. Next time you meet Odo use this against it will help, maybe give you a chance.” I saw a vision of Crom’s mountain and a cave high on it’s western side, I know how to get there. “Garadan, you must become my champion, think as well as fight. Learn and understand the enemy, then defeat them.” I knew now what I am destined to do, I will survive and I will help find pieces of the Rod, bring them together so that we can help turn back Chaos and return the balance to its proper state. I will help my people as best I can and make sure we survive. I felt the burning on my left arm as I saw the old designs of my tattoos change into a giant worm, a great dragon, wrapped around my arm, it tails stretching to my shoulderblade. “Now you carry my mark, it will mark to out and it will bring you great help. Now go, seek my mountain and follow your path.” With that his voice faded, it is at times like this I wonder what am I getting myself into, I could easily be a black smith or a metal smith, I could be a fisherman. Settle down, then I realised I never would, I don’t have that kind of patience or courage to do that. I am called to the mountains and to the wilderness. To hunt and to fight, to survive are the only way I get solace. Now I drifted into deep sleep, feeling the world drift away. I was looking forward for what was to come, it will be good to see Saralis again, to feel Saralian soil beneath my feet once again. Let us see what tomorrow brings. Traveller in a new land part 9 Revelation and renewal It was strange to think I had met my God, after all the dream visions he had given me this was different. Meeting Crom face to face was a new experience for me. Probably for the first time I wa awed by his presence. I may have met more powerful gods, but I have never met one better than Crom. He was all I expected and more, he is also dying. I think it was that that impressed me most. He needed Natalya, he needed Natalya to carry his child, Crom’s Skar, not a weapon but a child, I am just too naive at times, I pictured myself carrying Crom’s Skar a weapon like my own, something to help kill Dark Odo, something to kill her with my own hand. I had to laugh and I did. It was the way Crom dealt with Natalya, he could have forced to bear his child, but he didn’t even though his existence depends on it. He gave her the choice and she accepted, for that I owe her and I owe big. Natalya has my axe to serve her at any time she needs and in the same sense I am indebted to Rhea also and owe her a favour. Of all the gods I have heard of or met in Mystara, Rhea is the one I feel closest to. Now we have a chance, I must discover whether the child must be born here or in Mystara. Now though Natalya carries the hopes of all Junn, she is our only chance to survive as a people. We may be able to beat the Saralian armies, but even if we did the clans would be weakened beyond repair, left only to be preyed upon by the metaphorical jackals of my world. Let’s face it over the centuries we have earned our enemies, through blood, through slavery and through the way we have treated the other peoples of Jamain. The years way heavy on me, I am as strong as I ever was, my stamina is still awesome even compared to my brother Junn, but I ache in the mornings and it take time to stretch and move through my svelgase. The svelgase is part exercise, part weapons training and part worship it is what brings me closer to Crom. I know for a Junn my views are strange, they have been shaped through my family, my friends and my enemies. We need a better way, a way that serves nature and the delicate balance that serves to harmonise the world. Some gods speak of peace, some speak of war, some speak of life and other death, Crom encompasses all of this. It is not natural to just be one thing, by doing this we ignore much that the world contains and is a slight to nature. Man needs to hunt and to kill, he needs to love and produce children to carry on his line. He needs anger to protect his family, but all emotions need to be controlled. Now my tasks seems clear for the present keep Natalya alive and learn all that I can. Another task to achieve with Natalya is to collect useful herbs from my world to take to Mystara. Now though now I will sleep and see what sleep brings. With that I lay my cloak on the floor and settle down, quickly falling into the depths of sleep. A message from Crom, instructions for a new way Once more I felt myself falling not to my village where we have always talked before, but to Crom’s mound. Now that I have seen it with my own eyes I find it hard to think of as a mound. Crom’s Creitch is not the tallest of mountains in the north of Jamain; it is certainly large for a mound and way too big to be described as a hill. I had been there, I had walked the mountain met my god and felt better for it. Now once more I stood before the 2 rows of braziers and now Crom stood there, I can see his form rather than hear his voice echoing in my head. “Ah Garadan, how did you like my surprise, was it all you expected.” A rye grin crossed his face. “What I expected was a long way from what we got. I certainly didn’t expect the druid to have your child!” “Garadan, why not she is a fine woman, a strong representative of her Goddess and her gender, who could be more worthy to bear the child of a god, but this not why I have called you here. There is much to do and time is short, you are here to learn Garadan. I need you to become more than you are at the moment. Yes you are a fine warrior, you are on the road to being a fine thinker and it is most unusual to see both in a warrior like yourself. Now it is the time to pass on some special skills and knowledge from you ancestors, which will aid you in the wars to come, wars that will decide the fate of our people.” “I am the best to take this role?” I asked? “In a word yes, If you had asked me whether there are better warrior, there are, if had asked me if there are better thinkers there are. The fact is there are no living Junn, who have travelled as far as you have and none that have adapted as you have, to survive in foreign lands and cultures, more importantly I am your God and I know you are best for this task and all I ask is that you undertake it.” I replied with one simple word “Yes.” “Garadan, we are now entering the time of renewal, a time change. A time where either the Junn will survive or the Junn will fall. If we survive we must have a new way, a new code to live by. The Junn I choose will be able to adapt to this new way. Too long we have lived with a simple code a code of survival, a code of war. In the past this was right to address the balance and to maintain it.” “What do you mean a new code?” I replied. Things are starting to change. “We have a chance to move the Junn before the redress, before chaos is put back in its place. I see a potential role for the Junn in the wars t come and by doing so we will find a new home and people who would wish to join our ranks, but to do this we must also change and adapt. To become more than we are, the old ways were right for this world at that time, but now that time has passed as we must now pass from this world to a new home” As Crom spoke his voice gained in power like a chant. “This is the code for my people, listen and learn to follow it well.” “Here is the Code of the Junn.” His voice boomed like surf against the rocks, Crom seemed to grow taller and a nimbus of black and white fire surrounded him. It felt like the words were being burned into my very body, mind and soul. To seek perfection within the balance To seek perfection in peace Prepare for War as it is a part of the cycle Defend you Clan and defend your people as Junn do not Kill Junn No Junn shall make slaves of another, for that way leads to evil Most of all defend the balance and all who support it “I hear the truth of these words and they echo in my heart and my mind, I will follow the code.” “Good, for now it is time to continue the creation of my new champion, over the next three nights, three champions from the past of the Junn will help you and train you. Your nights are going to last a long time now, but you must reflect upon what you have learnt and use it wisely.” With that Crom turned toward the mouth of the cave, a mist flowed out of the cave and from out of the mist walked a man, tall, strong with black hair greying at the temples. He had what the Junn would call the look of eagles in his eyes, a man to walk the mountain with, and a man to fight great battles with. His tattoos, startlingly similar to my own, a great worm, a fearsome dragon, wrapped around his left arm up on to his shoulder and across the left side of his chest, with the head of the dragon resting above his heart, again also like my tattoo, the only difference was the colour, mine is blue and his is red. Crom looked at me and said “this is Karn greatest war master of the Junn horde.” This was, no this is Karn, Karn who fought in the Wars of Dominion, who help our people survive and win battles where the other peoples of Jamain were swept aside like so many sheep in the face of wolves. Karn who through his use of his cunning and skill helped the Junn kill demons and constructs that flowed out of Lu’Nak threatening to destroy all life in Saralis. Karn, one of my heroes from boyhood who was said to be ten feet tall with fire blazing from his eyes, that was the fable here is the truth and the truth was better than the stories. “So, you are Garadan, stories of your travels have reached even the halls of the dead, so it was you who gave the Wyvern crown back to Haalkitaine, not the best thing you could have done.” I was a bit taken a back by this “Yes I helped take the crown and return it to Haalkitaine, it was for the good of Saralis and to battle against the Iron wind and at the time seemed like the best thing to do. Now I think differently!” “Good so you accomplish goals and recognise mistakes when you make them, that is one lesson I will not have to teach you. Question what win a war?” I thought for a moment as the answer seemed obvious “The strongest army with the bravest men.” “Good answered like a true Junn, totally wrong of course but given your training this is understandable. Now forget everything you think you know of winning battles!” I felt confused “So what is the correct answer?” For the first time I saw him smile “very good, willing to chase for knowledge, Crom you are right this time this one shows potential, when I first saw him I thought here is another hulking warrior who cant think further than his next beer, his next fight and his next woman.” Crom looked less than amused “Karn I am your God and can make the afterlife difficult for a time.” Karn looked at Crom and smiled “At the moment we need to help each other more than punish each other, you need me to survive and I need you to survive to have an afterlife, more than that we do not have the time to play polite politics, lets leave that for the southern sheep.” Karn looked at me “The answer to the question young Junn is, the commander that makes the least mistakes. Oh do not get me wrong, one brave act or one cowardly can swing a battle, chance can always play a factor, but the most important thing is to make fewer mistakes than your opponent.” This is how I came to know Karn. Within Crom’s dream world time didn’t seem to have any meaning, Karn discussed tactics and strategies. How footmen can counter cavalry, the best use of archers, when to advance and when to retreat. The most important thing he taught me was how to anticipate what an enemy commander may do and to be prepared for it. This was especially important when you get to choose your field of battle. This is how smaller or less well equipped forces beat superior ones. Then he gave me three rules to live by when commanding troops, one inspire your men before battle, two lead by example, never ask a man to do a task you yourself are not prepared to do and three whenever possible lead from the front. If your men see you following the first to rules then they will stay with you. Karn looked at me and said “this is all I can teach you with the time we have, you have been a good student maybe Crom is right, maybe you are the right person in the right place at the right time. Use what I have taught you well and we will meet again in the halls of the dead, fair thee well my brother.” With that Karn walked back to the cave and the mist rolled in as he entered the cave. I felt like my head was going to explode so many new things to take in, it felt like I had been away for a month, my face now carried a full beard and it was time to sleep. I felt the now familiar feeling of me drifting back to true sleep and the beckoning of a new day. I awoke and sitting next to me is a Hawk the most beautiful hawk I have ever seen and by far the largest, almost the size of an osprey yet with all the perfection of a true hunter in the wild, it looks at me and leans his head to one side almost considering my thoughts. She lets out a quiet cry, rather than hear a screech of a hawk I hear a voice. I also realised that it was if I hadn’t shaven for a month “Hello Garadan, or should I call you Hawk in the willow” my surprise must have obvious as he flew to the end of the bed and lent his head the other way. The Hawk screech again and I heard “I am Lookfar and Crom has sent me here to watch over you.” “And you can talk.” I replied still stunned by the Hawks beauty and her speech. “I can at the moment but not always, I will help where permitted, but do not expect help or ask for it, I will provide help when I can and maybe when you hunt.” It was then I realised that the Lookfar spoke in my mind not with his voice. “Crom said you were smart, of course I can’t talk out loud but Crom grace allows me to speak to you and maybe the Druid.” It was almost as if she was jealous of Natalya. “hmmph, jealous hardly, after all she is only human, like you self.” There was palpable air of sarcasm in Lookfar’s mind voice. “Anyway at least your true name has some sense to it, I was told to give you this message, think upon what you have learnt and prepare for tomorrow you shall meet Cord the Wanderer.” Cord the Wanderer another name from the legends of the Junn, Cord had many names, Cord the Thief, Cord the Silent, Cord Orc Bane, Cord Elf Friend. His deeds were legend, his skills as a scout and a ranger are surpassed by none after him and none before. Here ends Part 9 of a Traveller in a new land

Re: Does wearing armor need a skill ? I would say yes in my campaign we run an armour fam skill similar to weapon fam. so 1pt for a single type soft leather for example, 2pt would allow you to wear leather armour eg, cuirboli, soft leather, studded leather etc. The three armour groups we have are leather/hide, flexible metal (Chain, splint etc) and rigid (plate, field plate, chitin, laminated) These really equate to light, medium and heavy armour. so to be skilled in wearing all armour types would cost 6 points, but I havent as yet heard a good enough reason for me to allow people to buy this. As a general rule we allow one group (ie soft leather), then the rest are bought a point at a time.

Re: Higher-point-level Fantasy I think is all to do with how you play the game, I am currently running a character in a fantasy hero campaign based in the D&D mystara world. We have been playing regularly for over 8 years and have charactors in excess of 360 points. We have converted the D&D magic system into the game and have a driud and mage of 7th level. We maintain a good balance of skill vs power in the game because we roleplay for one and ensure that a good training structure is in place for all percieved classes. So if I want to raise OCV with a weapon, or increase a stat it costs time and/or money. We are running a game were dex ranges from 14-21 an speed from 2-5 (only one character at 5 speed and has a good rational why). Point dont make power, how you spend them does.

Re: Playing 3.5 after Fantasy Hero We use D&D and D20 for background especially the magic system and the background from many other rpg's (Dragonlance, Mystara, shadow World to name a few), but when you compare D&D to the hero system there is no comparison. It allows us to truly bring a character to life while keeping the game in balance. Ok you may not have a shrink wrapped magic system that is very good (Cosmic Power pools ever time), but you can convert from other systems. I personally I hate level based systems, very few Gm's do the level transition with any degree of finess and I find that Character creation leaves a lot to be desired. I also think that the hero system encourages good backgrounds from the players and a far more rounded experience. If you want to go down the nostaglia road how about ROlemaster, or pendragon. Two great systems with a lot of great background material to offer the hero system.

Re: question about normal damage For normal damage, the Location X is applied before defence. Currently playing a Monk, with the added disadvantage of not being able to use weapons with Martial Arts big factor for me. G

Re: Anyone here from London? Yep. Another Lodoner, have been playing Champs and Hero system since the first edition. Live in West London and am happy to chat. G

Re: Character Sheet This is my one nice and simple, does some calcs for you and allows for lots of skills.

Re: Magic Missile My Way Keep it simple, we used a 1d6 ERKA attack (normal armour provides only Rpd in our game), allowed Autofire, number of missiles based on level. Still have to hit DCV. Not hard with a guy in full plate.