Lorica Revision

6th Edition Revisions
Page 4, P-T

Pandolingua - Twilight van der Rohe: "Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium, / Sanguinisque pretiosi, Quem in mundi pretium / Fructus ventris generosi, Rex effudit gentium!"

Pegasus Cavalry (or Corp) - elite military unit on Vorn. Many seem to come from Pandoland. Known or suspected members: Twilight van de Rohe.

Persand -

Persand... the word won't leave my mind. It sits on my cerebrum with its dreadful stinking cave. Enemy activity has *GREATLY* subsided here. We should capitalise on the diminished presence to take another look.

Persand -

Nov 10039 - Accepted a job from the Ilico Trading Co., headed by Katie Thrax. She wished to destroy two portals, one on the southeastern side of Vyrica and the other on Persand. Of course we chose Persand, and set sail. We were joined by Katie, Folger, and a couple of people from past Pike adventures who are buddies of Folger. We got to the Island and could not decide on the best way to approach the island. Blew up the entrance with the boom dust meant to destroy the portal, watched Katie fight Mowcrot, etc. See Persand Island. (Used black box to portal out?) [Team: AC, ] Persand Expeditionary Force - group made up of members of the Order of the Ring, Omnico and the erswhile Pike Group who set out to destroy the Persand Portal in November 10039. Katie Thrax had wanted to destroy two portals, one on the southeastern side of Vyrica and the other on Persand.

Known or suspected members: G. Armstrong, I. Cardinoff, J. Cerano, A. Coatline, A. Correllion, C. Cromwell, Richard Folder, G. Ghiberti, D. Idaho, C. Lloyd, J.P. Marat, C. Meleshka, Thom Merrilin, T. Noolya, R. Stat, Katie Thrax, Thumbilina, R. Wildgrass, A. Wiles.

November 10 Expedition finished preparatory training and makes final arranges for trip. Thom's plan of attack is perused and critiqued.

November 11 Sets sail in The Nightwanderer. Spirits are generally high. Plans to try to get on the island: Plan 1: Send Chad in with Kendra, Idaho, and one other from the O.R. We leave and hope they can get out though the portal. Plan 2: Sneak everyone off the boat, maybe blowing up the boat in the process and hope we can get through the portal. Plan 3: Leave 10 or so people to die as "acceptable losses" so the rest can sneak off the boat. Plan 4: Sneak one person off boat to cause diversions and then try to get plan 2 to work. Plan 5: Leave now. Plan 6: "Hey Egg-dude, guess who we found on the boat...."

November 13 Ship is met by guardships south of Ilum Alpha and, following Merrilin's plan, allows itself to be escorted in. Our fearless (read stupid) adventurers mangaged to get them selfs docked at the Persand Docks by telling the Eggs that we would hunt down Kendra (who was sitting in the room cleverly disguised as herself.) After talking under a blanket writing notes to each other trying to plan how to hit the wall and caves. So here is what happened at the "2 hour game" tonight...

November 14 The PEF negotiates with the controllers of Persand to capture Kendra Thrax in exchange for travel to a world full of adventure. They return to their boat and debate the merits of attempting another landing later or sneaking ashore now. The party in favor of sneaking ashore wins. They rig the boat to explode upon tampering or the release of one of the homing pigeons, and slips into the water to swim to the southern shore of Pike's Bay. (Its canons were set to go off with grapeshot right into the docks.) C. Lloyd, Thumbilina and A. Coatline never reappear from the swim. We get to the wall, wait a little while, kill an egg and go over the wall. At this point we are missing about 5 people. The rest of the party scales the wall and regroups on the other side before heading north. We meet up with Thom and Gray an hour after crossing the wall. After 2 hours, we hear a loud explosion. We assume it is the boat. A little after that we get to the cave entrance at the bottom of the 500' unclimbable cliff. Everyone curses as we find that the entrance has been closed by a rockslide to a depth of about 10 ft. After several minutes of thought, we chose to clear by using the magical bomb brought to destroy the portal. (We used walls of stone and shape stone to shore it up a bit, then blasted all the excess out.) After we went in, the rock caved in after us. They explore the southeastern area (across the landbridge) but cannot penetrate the bronze scorpion doors (12th level magic) to get to the portal. In returning across the landbridge from the portal complex, they are attacked by minotaurs and egyebrech. (5 minatours, 3 fighter and 2 mages, backed up by 8 egg from below and a bunch from across the bridge.) Cromwell, Wildgrass and Rheo Stat are slain and Grey loses the silvery, bejeweled ring believed to be telemantic. We regroup at the top of the bridge.

The party then explores near the chasm room and is attacked by egyebrech and uxors. Kendra engages the balrog in a firefight in the chasm room during which she disappears; the rest of the party fights egyebrech in the halls until the explosion stops. They proceed north out of the chasm room attempting to reach the top of the island, but are stopped by a trapdoor. They return, map some new areas in the old spider area but are prevented from continuing by the stifling, napalmy remains of a gelatinous cube they incinerate. They then decide to return to the scorpion area. In the scorpion statue room they are attacked by a scorpionman and several egyebrech. Catherine Meleshka, Duncan Idaho and Tri Noolya are slain but the enemies are overcome and a pair of bracers recovered. Thom is regenerating from a severed left arm and fractured right arm. The grappling hook is destroyed when it is brought into contact with one of the bronze scorpion doors. One day of food remains. "

In any case, massing with that thing was one of the major things we had in mind as we came; but since we couldn't get to it, and since we knew our retreat was blocked, we figured we might as well make our way to the plateau and look for some trouble up there. So, we elected to make our way up to the top. We had several butt-kicking battles where we just rocked on against flocks of eckyebrech. Finally, we got to the Big Split-Level Room. The first major problem here was that there was yet another mindflayer hanging around downstairs, who would mindblast us as we climbed up and cause people ot let go of the rope, etc... One of the more amazing party members went off and killed it, but by the time he got back most of us were already up except for one or two who had fallen to their death or as-good-as-death (i. e. any broken bone).

The second major problem is that before all of us had gotten up the cliff, some nasties came pouring in after us; how annoying.

The third major problem was the eck that met us on the upper level. Fight Fight Fight. I don't recall anyone dying here, but one or two people got smashed into that Needs-A-Regen-OK,-we-regenned-him-Good-He-Can-Walk-Around-Again-In-Two-Weeks kind of shape. The fourth major problem greeted us as we were fighting those Eck; it was Big, it was Black, it was Leathery, it was a Balrog. Not just any balrog, K. or Folger. confided to us; this was the big one, Mowcrot himself. Mowcrot called out in an incomprehensibly huge voice, "Greetings, RingBearer". This was clearly between Kendra and the Balrog. She drew her cool invisible-sheath sword, and annoyed the beast with a lucky hit. Mowcrot had a mace and a bullwhip, both of which were fairly effective. One of us had a lucky thrust with the phase dagger, which definitely caused it pain. But M. was [obviously] just toying with us; eventually we ran out of lucky shots. When it became clear that ordinary measures could not pull us through, Kendra pulled out her Ring.

At the moment, she and the Beast are locked in a truly awesome firefight; it isn't clear to us who is ahead, although the effects on Kendra of channeling that kind of power have already made themselves visible. She looks to have aged twenty years in a couple of minutes of combat, and that's bad because she is already something like 60. Nonetheless it's pretty amazing to think that an old woman with a ring can take on Mowcrot and it's not clear who's winning.

"Persand Expeditionary Force, 15 (?) November 10039, Richard Folger, Diary Page" I am seizing the time to write this in between guard shifts as we recuperate from a terrible fiasco. Following my last entry on the fiery disappearnce of K., we decided to explore some of the area near the chasm instead of descending it. The chasm room, naturally, was damaged considerably during the battle and is dangerous to occupy for reasons of both magical radiation and falling rocks.

We headed east into the old spider area (though nobody's seen spiders there for two years, I think) and found some minor changes: a few new rooms had gone but the topology remained roughly the same. We did try to explore the drop shaft south of room 90 but found it to be unstable and near a dripping ceiling. Given our poor experiences with the Persand water supply, we decided to stay away. Northeast of room 90 was another drop (25') which is the site of these current scribings. G.G. was good enough to drop down but was attacked from above by a gelatinous cube in the room just beyond the narrow passage below the drop. He miraculously was missed by the mass of the creature (?), but was splattered. We managed to clean him off quickly though. Then, recklessly, he descended again in order to incinerate the cube with a fireball. For whatever reason he lost control of the pyromancy and burned himself severely without hurting the cube. Thom immediately tried to climb down to blow up the slime with his football bomb, but slipped and fractured his arm (marginal note: don't feel sorry yet) and dropped the bomb into the fire. Tri Noolya climbed down and fell, also, but had the presence of mind to arm the bomb and throw it down the hall. The explosion flung sticky, burning fireballs over the three of them. Julie had to climb down and administer to G.G. who was near death and set Thom's arm (as she is doing now). We had to use nearly the last of our healing supplies on G.G. and Thom (each needed a regeneration and several heals). Tri, apparently, is nearly okay despite protecting G.G.'s body from the blast with her own. It has proved impossible to explore any further down the corridor due to the oily fires and suffocating smell. Hope it smokes out a rog or two. Hope Thom stops whining. Everyone gets regenerated eventually. Time to move, I guess. I was wrong. We talked some more and decided that our best bet was to return to the area of the scorpion doors and try the grappling hook trick on the doors. I wish I knew enough magic to predict whether or not this would be successful; for all her mastery of swordcraft, it's times like these when Kendra showed her true genius and, sadly, indispensability. Things have gotten bleaker...three more of my friends--three of the most valiant men and women I've been blessed to meet--are lying dead on the floor of this accursed system. In addition, Grey is missing and Thom is mangled. We were only saved from annihilation by Angellene's acute hearing and Armstrong's heroics. While in the room with the scorpion statue, we were surprised by six egyebrech in red robes, tricorner hats and scimitars from the west and an scorpionman to the north. Catherine Meleshka, our pilot, was killed defending I.C.'s flank, Tri Noolya died at my side fighting the hideous half-human monstrosity which godlessly trampled her to death, and Idaho, my great and private Idaho, died in a combat he should never have entered, having returned to realm of the conscious not an hour before. If possible, I shall have him ressurected. The scorpionman retreated under the onslaught of G.G.'s bow and the swords of Grey and myself. It disengaged and rushed backwards into the room to the north; Grey slipped in as the door closed. Even after twenty minutes of attending to the wounded, he has not reappeared and there is no sound. Perhaps he cannot hear our knocking. No physical attempts to open the door have succeeded. At the start of the combat, four of the egyrebrech made it into the room; Julie, Grey, Isabella and Catherine engaged them. Angellene lost a lightning bolt that felled her (she got up and some point and then did lost another one so we let her lie) and damaged Catherine. Tri and I engaged the scorpionman. Idaho hung back. G.G. hit the creature in the head, disturbing it and allowing us to take an early advantage. Unfortunately, Tri was not prepared for its tail attack and was downed by it. She returned after a quick healing, but wasn't quite the same...the creature dropped her after a lightning quick parry and then trod her down. By this time, three of the egyebrech had been slain, but they had a healer who was doing his duty. Catherine and J.C. were down and G.G. was forced to fight as well. After Isabella went down, Grey had to fight two, but emerged the victor. It was now that Duncan took JPM's flaming scimitar and killed an eg but was struck down from behind by the beast. I was also temporarily knocked out by his weapon, though I regained my composure quickly. In the meantime, I guess, the creature hew down Andrew and Thom, but Grey and JPM had finished off the egyebrech. Grey, I forgot to mention, felled their healer with his trademark hand axe-to-the-chest on the riposte from his thrust. An admirable, if sneaky, tactic, I must say. God, would that I had better things with which to be impressed. The creature ran, as I said before, and Grey followed him into the other room. Thom was in terrible shape, having landed across the statue when thrown and then losing his arm completely after a wild swing at Grey by the creature. Only by using G.G.'s last regeneration potion were we able to prevent his death, though we knew we couldn't awaken him given the circumstances. He also appears to have a minor skull fracture, though perhaps the sunkenness is natural.

There are seven of us left, not counting Thom: myself, Andrew, JP, Julie, GG, Angellene, Isabella. We have two days of food remaining and no healing magics. I am beginning to believe that it has become impossible to locate and destroy the portal and that using the black portal which G.G. has bravely carried this whole way may be the best solution. If we could only get these doors open, though, we could investigate the portal that lies beyond them, unlikely as it is to be useful for transporting ships. Using the box, though, would make it impossible for Thom to come and would strand Grey here if alive. What would K. do?

JP just tried a dispel magic on the door; nothing happened. Might as well try the grappling hook...we paid in blood for the chance.

The Sacrifice, combat, death, and mutilation of Jean-Paul Marat as portrayed by the inmates of the Omnico Asylum under the Direction of Miss Kendra Thrax Conclusion: [[[ There is, to my sorrow, yet another gap in the record. Briefly, the party was busy fighting other eckybattles. We heard explosions and things from the battle between Kendra and Mowcrot. By the time we had our hands free to go check on them, there was silence in the Split-level Room; apart from manifold and obvious signs of damage to the cave, there was no trace of either Kendra or the Balrog. We made our way down to the lower part of the room ]]]

Our attempt to make an intelligent decision as to what to do failed miserably; the general sentiment among the party (particularly the little Gnome) was "No Talk. Fight. Talk Bad. Think waste time."

We set out on a half-hearted attempt to explore some new parts of the cave, and this indeed led us to some adventure. Our little Gnomish friend scouted ahead in a passage with a dropoff and found himself a Gelatinous Cube. He prepared a fireball for it, which in fact should have done nicely, but his spell was disturbed and he ended up incinerating himself instead. Several party members (including the valiant minstrel Thom with the football we had recovered from the Ecks earlier) went to his aid, but nobody seemed to be able to make the trip down. Eventually, we succeeded in blasting the cube with the football (I wish we had saved it for later!) which was effective in destroying the cube but left the passage too choked with fumes to pursue for the moment. The one good thing to come of this horrifying debacle was that we learned that our little Gnomish friend was in fact none other than the legendary Guanerius Guanerii, and he intimated that he had with him a black box which we could use to portal out of there when the time came. Hope! We may yet survive this place.

At this point we decided to make our way down to the portal room and blow it up real good. It is not clear to us that that is the real portal, but it remains possible that the mechanism of this portal (or some part of it) functions as part of the portal they are using. I maintain that for that reason the sabotage of this portal is eminently worthwhile, especially as we are in a good position to do so, whereas we have no idea as to where another portal would be or how to get there. Not much seemed to be happening in the cave as we made our way towards the religious complex.

There was a battle, wherein we "kicked some eckyebutt" (what a formulation! I saw this on a poster in KDPE), with some heavy casualties. Thom Merrilin was not only downed but fairly badly mutilated. Catherine Melushka, Tri Noolya, and Duncan Idaho were killed. In addition to a whole bunch of Eckyebastards, we also had to contend with a particularly hideous and particularly large half-human, half-scorpion monster. We drove the monster into retreat in its little private room, and Grey managed to follow it inside, destroy it, and retrieve its arm-bracelets, which we knew to be highly powerful and useful for opening doors. Retrieving Grey from the room unfortunately obliterated our fancy magical grappling hook.

Recovering the bracelets from the scorpion-monster was an exceptionally gruesome process. We proceeded into the large room to do our work. There was an invisible personage watching is from the bridge, but we frightened it off. In addition, the other party members preferred to stand around stupidly rather than take action. Thus, we wasted our chance to destroy even the small portal; long before anyone was ready to snap out of their stupor we were attacked.

Spearheading the attack was a wraithlike figure with a football, whom I recognized to be Marie. My little sister, reanimated and forced to destroy herself and us! Fortunately, the explosion did relatively little damage to our party, but soon more Eckyebrech were on us, and our fate was sealed. Hopefully, some of us will be able to escape via Guanerius' box; it seems unlikely that anyone will bother to take any productive action against the portal. One Dispell sent up into that shaft may well have succeeded in shutting down the whole portal, but no-one could bother.

[[[ In the combat following, Jean-Paul was killed, and it was necessary to make sure that his remains were unresurrectable. Several party members did escape via Guanerius' portal. However, Jean-Paul's despairing prediction was realised; nothing was done whatsoever about the portal. ]]]

From the notes of G. Guanerius Guaneri-- I had that day dream again. The one where Uncle Gary scolded me for not practicing my archery enough, saying, "It's hopeless Guanerius, you are a lost cause." I always remember that at the bleakest of times, usually not consiously, but in that subconsious state of shock or dismay. Shortly after that day some fifty years ago, Gary left us to go adventuring and never returned. I never got a chance to prove Uncle Gary wrong and have spent the rest of my life trying to prove to myself that he wasn't correct in his criticism.

I let him down but I won't let that happen to these poor souls that I've dragged to Persand.

The blood and death slowly came into focus as I saw the wreckage caused by the battle with the scorpionman and the echebrech priests of doom. What was the toll? Thom, severely hurt, and Duncan and Tri dead. Well, I can save the rest.

"Julie, come here." I called across the room as the woman tendingthe injured finished wrapping Wile's arm. "I need the restore mentality potion you have in order to heal those people still alive." I said in a firm voice. I didn't feel at all easy about our situation. She came without a word and produced the potion shortly. After assessment, I healed as many of my comrads as I could, however, no one looked as good as they did before the battle.

The next order of business was opening the doors. the grappeling hook did the job on hte first door to free Gray Armstrong from the filthy scorpion tomb. The answer had to be those magical bracers. After grotesquely removing the foul hide of the beast from the bracers, I used a scroll to identify the magic involved.

"So, what do they do?" Jean Paul inquired.

"These bracers are sixteenth level sorcery bound with absorb magic, heal, and telekensis magics. I don't want them, bracers chaffe my arms." I said, knowing that by taking them I may never get them off and with magic-antimagic reactions,.... Julie was the most willing of the crew to take the responsibility of the magic, however, I don't think she fully understood the possible repercussions of her actions. May the gnomish gods bless her in her ignorance. We proceeded into the antechamber before the suspected solar portal room with the help of the bracers. It was empty. An empty room always makes me edgy.

I readied an arrow as julie opened the door to the portal room. We walked into the seemingly empty room. I sensed trouble, but couldn't see it. It was quiet, too quiet. Everyone entered the room and I approached the pool. It was still, the opening to the sky was dark and the portal lights were not there. Solar energy must be the key - quite a powerful battery. Wait...

I pulled out a detect magic scroll. If we're going to attempt to destroy this portal, we need to know where the magic is. I looked at the pool and saw that the rim around the edge of the water was magical. Then I looked up past the bridge and saw...oh,no. I slowly backed away from the bridge and motioned everyone to do the same.

"It's either a phase creature or an invisible one," I whispered to Folger as we backed away.

"Who is it that watches us." I called in an unyielding echebrech tongue. The creature did not answer, but disappeared behind the railing.

"Watch out everone, he's probably getting away, but a visitor has been watching us from above." I slowly headed toward the door and suddenly heard a *FWAP*. Looking toward the arched portion of the chamber I saw a zombie carrying a football bomb. Troll Trilk. BOOM! We were all fried. Luckily, I wasn't hurt badly. I readied my bow for a second wave and when I heard the FWAP I turned and fired, hitting the football, causing the zombie to spin and turn, finally exploding in a ball of flame. My friends ran toward the door as a third zombie with a football appeared by dimension door. FWAP. I shot. Another direct hit and another burning zombie. I turned to leave. FWAP FWAP FWAP FWAP FWAP FWAP. Almost simultaneously, six dimension doors opened with six red cloaked echebrech entering ready to fight.

We all were in the antechamber now and julie shut the door. Folger, Isabella, and Gray readied for combat as Julie battled to keep the door closed. It seemed that there was another pair of bracers on the other side of the door! I readied my bow again to kill the first thing that moved through the door.

Folger commanded,"We're ready Julie. Let 'em in."

"Yeah, they're wooses." Grey piped in.

The door fully opened. I shot the first echebrech through the throat. Five more flooded into the room and combat began. A mass of confusion proceeded with Gary, Folger and Isabella fighting bravely against the echebrech priests. After a couple were taken down, one of the echebrech got a lucky hit in and Gray went down.

The head echebrech priest, with the scorpion bracers miraculeously rose from the neck wound and prepared to engage me. Another pair of ecks went down to the swords of Folger and Isabella. Folger came to my aid as I began to fight.

My mind fails me now as to the horror of the next few moments, however, it was a mere instant til we were standing alone in the antechamber with the doors closed - Folger, Julie, Isabella, and me. The head of the echebrech had escaped.

** More to come ** G G

From the notes of one G. Guanerius Guaneri-- (A continuation of a previously summary.) "Well, I think it's time to leave," Isabella stated. "One escaped and other echebrech priests may be coming very soon." Folger and I agreed.

"What are we going to do about our friends?" Julie asked looking at the slain members of our party that fell during the expedition. "We can't just leave them here for the ecks to zombify. Can we take them with us?"

I thought about it. I hadn't tried it before, but it might just work. "If they're dead then they should just act like equipment. I won't be able to carry anyone if I am going to be able to take the box with me. We'll have to take all of the people that we can and, well, destroy the rest."

It was a silent consensous as I prepared the box on the portable table I had brought so that I could take the box with me. Folger decided to take Jean-Paul and Duncan. Isabella took Gray and Andrew Wiles, while Julie picked up Angeliene. I got Julie ready to port to the Sprines as Folger made our companions who would not go home indistinguishable. A sadness filled me for a moment, but I had seen so much death, so many friends pass, I needed to be sure that the ones still living would survive to avenge the deaths of the others. Julie slowly faded into the box and Isabella followed.

Folger had just completed his task as his turn came to port through. I vaguely remember a tear coming to my eye as he placed his head into the box. (I think it was dust, of course.) A moment later I was all alone - in Persand. I took one last look over the room and seeing nothing unusual I prepared to port while carrying the box.

I found myself on a high ledge of the Sprines holding the box in my hands. I saw Julie and Folger together about ten feet below on a ledge and decided to join them. I looked for Isabella, but she was no where to be seen. I began thinking about how we were going to get out of enemy territory with the dead bodies when I noticed Julie and Folger stareing at me. I looked around and then down and almost fell off the cliff from the shock. A death head amulet was around my neck. It hadn't been there before we left Persand.

"What the hell is this?" I blurted out in Gnomish as I often did when I was surprised. Julie and Folger just looked at me. The moment passed as Isabella ported through with her two bodies. At least we were all together. (that was odd she left before me and appeared after. The weight she held was not as much as that of Folger, who seemed to not have any trouble being first through.)

We headed down the Sprines toward Trade City, where we expected we could find a way to Kissing Dragon Pass West. During the third day, while I was hunting, a number of tribal echebrech attacked the camp, but were easily dispatched by Folger and Isabella. After bringing in the largest buck I'd ever seen, we continued on our way. A little wary of our vulnerability.

The next night, during the second watch, I caught a few more tribal echebrech on top of the ridge watching us. I shot an arrow, trying to scare them off, but accidently killed one. A sudden explosion on the cliff showed a little luck on our part. We made it back to Trade City without any other disturbances. Folger got a room and passage for us to Forsythia with a SETCO caravan. (The man is amazing.) Astro and the Order of the Ring group met us there. We left shortly after reaching Forsythia on the Order of the Ring boat "The Tempest".

Astro performed three of the most amazing resurrection spells that I've ever seen. Gray, Andrew, and Duncan were brought back to life after being dead for about two weeks. Knowing that it was something that I was not expected to help with, but feeling a need to help those who were my comrads, I joined in the resurrection, giving some of my life blood for Duncan.

I rubbed my stubbily goatee, as we left on a dark, cloudy morning from the KDPW port. It had been a few weeks since the resurrection and we all had taken a rest, to recover from our most recent Persand experience. Our boat was in prime condition for this voyage, however, I could only think it was too good of timing for the blockade to break just as we were planning a mission to get more saren bark from Uchebnik.

** more to continue **

Persand Island

Persand Island Portal

Jean-Paul Marat - "There seem to be two relevant components to the 'portal' in the temple room, as Marie described it in her last letter before she... well, in her last letter.

* THE SHAFT-- a cylindrical shaft extending up into the ceiling for an indeterminate distance. Its walls are far from smooth, and coated with reflective substances. Light enters the shaft from above (perhaps a very tiny opening; it is extremely difficult to determine the nature of it. It's unclimbable.

* THE POOL-- the little pool there bears some kind of enchantment; it's only a foot or two across and a foot or two deep, but it was clearly not just mundane water. I propose that we set about (somehow; with whatever tools we have at hand) to damage both as much as possible.

First of all, we should empty out that pool. The portal was kept inoperative for centuries just by having those birds pecking at the surface of the water. There's not much water there; it shouldn't be an insuperable task. In fact, members of the other group even drank this water and found no ill effects; I suggest we ladle it out into vinskins and consume it ourselves; that will make it pretty well unrecoverable. It is also possible that there is some enchantment in the structure of the pool itself. We should examine the basin once emptied and consider dismantling that in some way as well.

Alternatively to emptying out that pool, we could try befouling it in some way-- a few obvious possibilities spring to mind. If it's anything like potion water, it wouldn't take a drastic change in the chemistry of the water to break its magickal utility-- if it is a part of the portal mechanism.

More difficult is the shaft above. It is described as being coated with shiny reflective material, (like glass) which, alolng with its irregular surface, results in the coloured lights reflected in the pool.

The best thing would be to damage the physical structure of the shaft such that the reflections are no longer coherent. If any part of this assembly were an Ancient Orcish Technique which cannot now be reconstructed, I believe the physical shape of the shaft-reflectors is it. It is greatly regrettable that we no longer have the football for this. An explosion up there would be just plain ideal. Perhaps a very high level fireball would generate sufficient heat to melt some of the reflective stuff. (I do not believe the reflective surfaces are glass; glass, as you'll recall, is actually a liquid; in a century or two the reflective structure would be sufficiently different that I think it would be useless.) A good high-level dispel might also be a thing to throw up there.

One final possibility exists, which we must consider. The Enemy forces may have constructed additional magickal equipment around the existing structure. If so, I recommend we *ignore* it and concentrate on messing up the existing structure. Anything they've build around it, they can rebuild. What was part of the cave to begin with, that may be harder. Blowing up magick batteries is fun, but the belryg and/or the nazgul have been known to act as magick batteries THEMSELVES; wrecking their lab would not be a severe setback to them, and in my opinion would not turn the tide of the war in any important way." -- Jean-Paul Marat, physomancer and sorcerer.

We are unable to get to the little pool of lights which Pike's group (which included my dear little sister, Marie) described, as (unlike them) we have no way to get through the scorpion doors. We suspect that that may not be The Portal, since we know the Enemy are bringing ships across, and it would just be ridiculous to bring materials in down there and carry them all the way out through the cave system. However, it is possible that the network of mirrors in the shaft above (which they believed to be an important part of the control of the portal, if not the actual engine) might serve both the portal down there in the temple room and a portal up on the plateau directly, or that the portal could be operated from this room below such that the payload came through above on the plateau-- which (as I think of it) seems even more likely. Then again, there's belryg and ringwraiths and sh!t hanging out here; perhaps they have multiple means of portaling things. Perhaps the nazgul can make the jump themselves.

Then again, it's imaginable that the pecking birds (which the Pike group stilled in a fit of incompetence) that kept that water disturbed actually disrupted the setup and made the portal inoperable; perhaps they were even installed there by the Scorpion Dude to keep everyone else out, so that he could rule his little clan of tribal eck in secure solitude.

First, the time-warp thing. Isn't this the same portal that is apparently pulling in Ecks from 2000 yrs ago? Perhaps Pike and crew _did_ manage to accomplish something after all... (from questions from Rob)

First: Why the dippy birds? One common answer (and one that kinda satisfies me) is that the water in the pool needed to be kept in motion to prevent the points of light from coming into focus. This would prevent the portal from being used by doorknobs like us (unless we are clever/brutal enough defile the birds). But wouldn't it be more realistic just to cover the pool, or disconnect whatever magical battery drives the little lights?

Second: The pool would need to be regularly refreshed with new liquid, since the birds will actually increase its rate of evaporation. How long has this portal been there? I always assumed thousands of years. Have there been attendants the whole time to refresh the water supply? (Possible) But then why the need for the elaborate "perpetual motion machines" to keep the surface rippled?

Pirates, The - 10038. Members: John Kluski.

Poisons in the South Adventure - for EO. Where Uresei Yatsura died.

Poppy-Tor - Met up with the Tim and Werner Group (with Shroud?) in late 3202 at some point after they had originally clashed with Shroud.

Portals Everyone knows about the Arboreal Portal, but everyone makes the mistake that this is the first portal we found. Where was the first one? Answer: When we went on the Roanoke adventure way way back when (back when some of us had rolled up and lost more characters then any of you young wimpersnaper players will ever get even a chance to do...) we found the first Orcish Temple. Coming back from grendel's cave if you go somewhat northeast, it is about 1/3 of the way back to Roanoke. Anyway, in this temple there was a large round dark room. The walls of this room had some kind of stars on it that looked projected but had no real light source. Standing in this room had an effect much like standing in the middle of space. It gave an almost 3d effect to the stars. At the time we thought it was just a planetarium and since we had a bunch of Orcish liches to get killed by, no one paid any attention to it. Well, shoot -- this is pretty important. Was there ever a Roanoke summary? Who played in that? I know it was before my time. How many portals is this in EOW so far? Correct me if I'm wrong, please:

-- Arboreal Portal; no stars or other weirdness effects?

-- cubical portable portal; stars all over the inside

-- tetrahedral portable portal; ditto

-- dipping duck water portal on Persand; stars in the water

-- Sprinal Portal; just a black area?

-- apparent Roanoke portal; stars on walls as you stand in it?

Puente, Tico (Ben) Surface dwarvish male. Jazz drummer, elvish-raised, flower lover, Santa Claus worshipper. Died with a peaceful soul under the orcish temple near Roanoake.

Puzzles: Desiderata - ancient orcish text puzzle from the Friendship Temple.

Pyatnitzan temple in the Sprinal Tap - place where Amanda Rose died (presumably) in 10043 on a mission for SOAK.

Queeg, Captain Jonathon (Ben) Human male. Sailor. Obsessive. Died in El- Ouhd's Labyrinthe, c. 10014.

Races:

Dwarves         Av Ht.  Hair    Eyes            Skin
Deep            4'3"    black   black           dark    
Fire            4'4"    red     blu./hzl        bronze
*Grey           4'5"    gr/blck blue            pale
*Ice            4'3"    white   blu/haz         pale
Surface         4'6"    brown   blue/brn        tan

Elves           AvHt.   Hair    Eyes            Skin
*Bedoun         6'1"            black           dark
Drow (dark)     6'0"    black   black           black
Gypsy           6'1"    black   blue/brn        tan
High            5'10"   blond   blue            white
Sea             5'11"   blond   grn/hzl         white
Sudifin         6' 0"   black   black           black

Gnomes          Av Ht.  Hair    Eyes            Skin
Deep            4'2"    black   blue            brown
Goblins         4'6"    brown   green           brown
Kobolds         4'6"    brown   gr/brwn         brown
Lava            4'2"    red     black           drk/blk
Mystic          4'4"    br/wht  blu/brn         green
Surface         4'5"                            caucasian

Hobbits         Av Ht.  Hair    Eyes            Skin
Agricola        4'0"    brown   blue/brn        caucasian
High            4'2"    blond   blu/violt       white
Nomadic         4'1"    black   brn/hzel        brown
Urban           3'11"   black   brn/blue        white

Humans          5'9"    caucasian

Orcs            Av Ht.  Hair    Eyes            Skin                    
*Dark           5'4"    dark    dark            dark
Lycee           5'2"    bld/wht blue/grn        white
Mining          4'11"   black   brn/blck        dark
Tribal          5'2"    black   brn/blck        white
Viking          5'3"    blond   blue            white

* indicates races that are only found in Vorn

Rakshasa's Castle - has Troglodyte Sewers underneath where Sir James of Forsythia died c. 10013.

Ring -

Ben ponders: "The existence of the One Ring. I only recall one of "the rings" that we have seen overwhelming characters into desiring its posession. That was on Island IV, in the dragon's lair. We took it, and lost it very soon after that in a magic shop. (Not in Jackets) But even this seems not to match the "One Ring" very accurately. Has the One been destroyed yet by [Frodo]?" Compare with Dragon Lair Ring above.

Ring of Spell Storing - gold ring with capacity to store eleven spells, refillable and randomly accessible. Each cell can be used eleven times. From the Friendship Temple.

Ripley, Aaron (Ben) Human male. Card shark, thief, fraud and tailor.

Riverine coastline - area on Vorn visited by the Tim and Werner Group ostensibly on their way to find Diomachus Maximus, where they stopped to train in the tribal orc town of Salami. See the Fire Dwarven Necromantic Research Facility.

Roanoke - Former inhabitants: Drachma, the Highwayman.

Robin Hood's fortress - Tigris Arr had a magical mace of lightning bolts stolen from this fortress.

Rohan - "I am Eomel, a stranger tall and broad, brought mysteriously from the hoof-cloven fields of my race to the smelt cities of yours, given body of whom a marshall should be ashamed to have as a shadow.

My honor cries out against this bodily theft and abasement of my mind and this sniveling incarceration; if I am to recover I must have a steed and fields as far as elvish eyes can see, both to be tamed.

I am a warrior and leader; my blood runs clean. By no right of war am I kept here. Release me as proof of your good intentions; give me reign of my limbs as granted at birth, give me a sword, a lance and a horse. Should your hearts prove true, I must return as an equal, not as a fragile artwork which is guarded between examinations.

I shall tell you as much as any man might about me; no more kinship shall you have. I hail from Rohan, the land of staunchest hearts and swiftness horses, the beautiful sea of grass locked in place by the waters and the mountains. My clan descends from Theored through Theobert through Eobert and Wyglaf; none but masters of the horse and lance have come from my family and none but the most beautiful of women have they married. My wife Eolith awaits my return with my twin sons. I was fifth marshall in the muster of the north and have twice called it to feed the grass darksome blood; never have I fled the field, though my beloved Hawkeye be cut down beneath me.

I was in the bespectacled mountains when I was stolen away; atop my second-born my eyes closed though absent of fatigue and only opened in this prison of yours. Some spell of your folk took me and must have slain my vanguard as well for they would never desert me. Such murderers will rue the day I hold reins and a spear in my hands and their names within my mind.

Rose, Amanda (Ben) Human female. Physician. Specialist in setting broken bones. Died (presumably) in 10043 in Pyatnitzan temple in the Sprinal Tap. Her first and last mission for SOAK.

Ruby Desert - desert on Vorn crossed by the Sword Group just after they ported into the Niello Monastery. Location of sucking hump, etc.

Rupin Dolasia Group - who?

Salami - a "Tribal Orc" town on the coast of the Riverine area visited by the Tim and Werner Group where they were sidetracked from the search for Diomachus Maximus in order to go to the Fire Dwarven Necromantic Research Facility. Despite being inhabited by "tribal orcs" the town had a notary public, and it seemed to be the last outpost of civilization on the journey northeastward before the Arnsata mountains.

Samson, Thomas (Ben) (10017-10035) Human, male. Political thinker. Aspiring Universalist Knight. Supported 11% tithing. advertised this belief by writing it up on origami swan's and distributing them where ever he went. Died on Uchebnik soon after the triangle maze.

Santa Claus - deity worshipped by Tico Puente.

Scimitar of Evil Cleavage -- improves attack score of user. From the Friendship Temple.

Shang Island Big ass gnomish thing. What we need is to take a party of gnomes in there. *IMPORTANT* Protection from pyromancy has been tried already-- it doesn't exist at levels high enough to protect us from that thing. What we need is a party that the thing won't be so inclined to incinerate.

Shangri-Laists

Members: Theresa Troost.

Shangri-Theory -

The Theory that the Shangies are the split of the druids. The druids seem to have an extreme amount of knowledge (remember knowledge *is* power), but refuse to use it. Instead, they supposedly just "sit back and watch". The Shangies, as the theory goes, are the split faction of druids. This is frightening. Didn't The Shangies, at one time, have a prophecy that the destruction of the world as we know it would happen in 10020 or so? I believe that their faith has been ridiculed for the false calculated prediction. Maybe they are pissed off by this ridiculing. Maybe they have decided to use the knowledge they have to gain the upper hand.

What did we find at the end of the two person maze under castle Vahoraun? Maybe the druids don't directly act on anything, but I bet that they do exert a certain directional flow to many different events. Honestly, how "powerful" are all of these different groups?

Shroud, Errington � (Kaz) El Ouhdian Involved with the Tim and Werner Group in a failed hostile take-over that lead to his being thrown off a cliff by Guanerius.

Simba (Ben) Gypsy Elvish male. Karate artist and juggler. 100 speed. First character ever made. Died from sea water poisoning in 10000.

SOAK. Seeking Out Advanced Knowledge, Searchers of Arcane Knowlegde,. or Seekers of Advanced Knowledge. Motto: Knowledge is Power, and Power is money. An adventuring group founded in 10039 by Gaul Galapagos, Juliette Naturas, and Albert Tachmal (?). Its charter is to seek out knowledge that might somehow better the chances against the invaders.

As of June 10042 SOAK had expanded to approximately three teams: (1) Basically the original group, which had undertaken a mission for the Telemancy College to check out that teleporting cave in the Sprinal Tap and to look for spell components to sell. (2) Western Wind, plus an original SOAKer (G'barkley Garnish) in joint command with Genevieve L'arnot (?). (3) A third group to do military work (blowing up bridges, roughing up the scumbags at Ayer's Rock, whatever). Other changes included: offically incorporating with the city of KDPW, solidifying an official budget, hiring a crew of 3 guards to watch the house 24 hours/day, and establishing a long term contract with a professional debugging service.

Known or suspected members: Hawkeye Adams, James Agee, Arno Akallabath, Marigold Bramblethorn, Julie Cerano, Daedalus Danson, Estar Day, Paul Erdos, Archibald Excelsior, Red Falcon, Gerontius Flistersinger, Arthur Franz, Gaul Galapagos, G'barkley Garnish, Bryn Ghardlier, Johnathon "Shadow" Gilette, Molly Globule, Gonathon Gore, Strego Hastens, Felissa Hayes-Hunter, Florence Henderson, Jason Hobard, Navel Hunter, William Inge, Icarus Jansen, Bames Jond, Isabella Jond, Bobbi Kekkonen, Genevieve L'arnot, Allison Lyons, Alana Manes, Gabrielle Monterre, Nool Pyat, Amanda Rose, Richard Stallman, Rupert Strelsau, Abner Strumpet, Albert Tachmal, Twill Topknot, Thomas Underwood, Rand Widowmaker.

The organization may be reached at: Box 1729, First Mail Bank, KDP West, Re or their house in KDPW.

Missions:

Blendon Island for Emmanuel Brown - July 29 to Aug. 15 10039. The team traveled with Captain Robin Obelisk on The Albatross.to Martinar on the south end of Blendon Island to help recover the stashed valuables of some associates of Brown. They were accompanied by: Serge Nickoliovitch, Brown, and Brown's wife and son. (Team: PE, AF, GM...)

Brid Island - Sept. 20 to Oct. 28, 10039. The group traveled by snake to explore the unknown island discovered by Abner Strumpet, where they encountered the Brids after whom they named the island. They also acquired several interesting magic items. (Team: MB (?))

Brid Island II (?) - (Team: FHH (?))

Sprinal Tap for SETCo - Dec. 20, 10039. The group traveled with Captain Silas Lapham on the Artaxerxes to the eastern coast of the Sprinal Tap in the region of Deep Bay and investigated the mountainous regions from both the east and the west sides, collecting samples of flora and fauna and mapping. (Team: AA?)

Castle Vaharan - some Friday the 13th in 10040. Bob the Great's body was found there and the ceiling walking boots were lost there.

Brid Island III and IV (?) for El Ouhd (?) - Jan. 4, 10040. The group traveled by snake to explore the Brid Island. Felissa Hayes-Hunter was lost, literally, in a battle with the Brids near the "druidic" dome shrine. (Team: FHH)

Trangle Sewers for Trangle government - May 26 to June 5, 10040. The team went to Trangle to clear the town's sewers of a mysterious infestation of large lizards. In the process, the sewers were almost completely mapped and strangely equiped skeletons were encountered including one fearsome fellow with four arms and a ring of lightning bolts. All magic items found were given to the local authorities. (Team: HA, MB, DD, ED, AE, AF, BG, JG, SH, BJ, GM, NP, AS)

Distown for Meyer family - c July 18-28, 10040. A team of six spent three days in Distown attempting to assist Mrs. Meyer and her daughter solve the "Meyer Puzzle" that would lead to their inheritance. After three days of consideration (July 22-24), the team departed Distown with the matter unresolved. (Team: MB, GaGa, I or BJ, NP, AS...)

Ilum Alpha with OMNICO - August 12-19, 10040. See OMNICO. (Team: JC?, GaGa, SH, )

Culebra Island for NETCO - Oct 6, 10040 to Jan 24, 10041. SOAK performed a detailed survey of some 60% of Culebra Island accompanied by two NETCO agents (111 and 52). All information and maps were for the exclusive use of NETCO and all items of value found were turned over to NETCO. Distance from glacier and proximity to whale pods was not determined due to team casualties from cold and wyvern. Were actually on the island from 20 Oct to ?. (Team: MB, RF, GaGa, JH?, NH, BJ, AL, NP, RiS, RuS, AS...)

Shangri-land for Brids - . SOAK booked passage with Robin Obelisk to deliver building materials, tools, crossbows and other equipment to be picked up by the Brids on an un-named spit of land left exposed by the southern glacier which SOAK dubbed Shangri-land. There SOAK met the Brids who included King Astyanax and, apparently, his mate, and watched them run off a small bunch of purple/ maroon clad horsemen - Shangri-la-ists (?). The Brids gave SOAK some interesting artifacts found on the Brid Island, among them were non-magickal fertility idols, and a tiny ruby child-figure magic item. After that, the snake took SOAK to Slater after it was given the blue rose powder.

Gypsy Elf Mission for the Gypsy Elven Nation - received April (?) 10041. The gypsy elven nation has been involved in a great flight to the north of the Uchebnik peninsula. However, according to Anselm Falcon, enemy raids have now killed many people and captured animals and burned fields there. Reportedly only one hundred egyenbeck there to be captured or otherwise removed. Offer: 16,000 sc and the hospitality of the village. Mission intended for former members of the Western Wind, and the Falcon twins.

Inver Brass for Meyers - ?10041?. SOAK went to Inver Brass on Pavimentum to investigate the Meyer puzzle. Useful information was found but the puzzle was not solved. (Team: NP... ) [Bradley Meyer died in 10040. Patville Meyer Mission was 10041.] Brid Island V (?)- . Juliette Naturas, Felissa Hayes-Hunter, Abner Strumpet and Gonathan Gore tried to take the serpent to the Brid Island, but had the wrong directions and ended up two other places. Eckyebrick El Oud operatives rescued the group from behind enemy lines on Vyrica but Felissa got lost in the confusion. (Team: JN, GoGo, FHH, AS.) Omniventure V - 15 February 10042. A team of nine went to the southern Sprines to compete in the advanced division. Finished tied for sixth with 99 points. Won 2,000 for getting the second highest score in Taboo. Got another 2,500 from "Red" in gratitude for doing well enough that she won her bets. (Team: DD, GF, JG, GaGa, BK, NP, RuS, AS, RW) Telemancy I for Telemancy College - July (?) 10042. The purpose was to find out if the Sprinal Tap contains a number of interlocking telemantic portals. The team was to take a prepared box to be sent through the portal both with and without being carried. Objectives: 1.) find portals. 2.) investigate portals with the box. 3.) return the information and box. Job offer received 1 Jun 42. Many raw spell components harvested and a swamp creature was captured. (Sold to UDC.) (Team: EH, NH?, JN, NP...)

Bridge Mission for allied military forces of the Confederacy, the Republic, Gailinia, Allotrope, Pieschland, Iceland, Mickelgarth and Port Darthur - received 01 Apr 42. Deep inside enemy territory (due east of Parapanisades) is a bridge in the mountains constructed to transport the gnomish army from their strongholds in the hills to the battlefields of northern Ilico. This bridge must be destroyed before 01 Aug 10042 so the war can be successfully closed. The area is heavily guarded and the bridge must be felled with heavy explosives. Mission intended for newbie demolitions crew. POC = Colonel Abraham Theta. (Team: FH, AM )

Mapping Mission with/for Cesar's Cartography - ?. Job offer received 03 May 10042. Anonymous client of Cesar's Cartography recovered large tracts of family land and found several complexes built by the enemy. He required maps to utilize these buildings in an industrial/commercial sense. Cesar's Cartography refused the job unless a team equipped to deal with traps went along. SOAK would be that team. The mission will take about two weeks and begin on or about [15 August 10042].

Shang Island - ?10042? (I, Aleph, need to find out what the group of mercenaries from KDPW discovered on Shang, when they went there on Sept. 30th.) Went to check on a mission archeology team.

Telemancy III for Telemancy College - ? to Jan. 6, 10043

Culebra II (Team: NP )

Black Tower (Team: AA, GF, NH, NP)

Gateway Island - summer 10043 - Mickelgarth Commerce contracted SOAK to investigate a sunken ship and possible basilisk on Gateway Island.

Spells with their components:

Charm Person - Purple Algae

Chill - Ventrooms

Confusion - Bigleroot

Control Person - Yellow Algae

Cure Blindness - Tragoliddy Moss

Cure Disease - Whispering Ferns

Cure Insanity - Kridsadan Gourd

Death - Mercury

Detect Anti-Magic - Terebinthium Crystals

Detect Magic - Quartz

Dexterity - Hassimer's Lichen

Dispel Anti-Light - Terebinthium Crystals

Dispel Anti-Magic - Terebinthium Crystals

Dispel Magic - Slather Beast Scales

Endurance - Humigus Bushes

Feeble Mind - Umbel Thistles

Fireball - Violet Phosphorus

Heal - Sphagnum Moss

Heal Soul*- Chinquin or Sarin Bark

Hold Person - Knotweed

Ignite - White Phosphorus

Increase Charisma% - Forsythia Flowers

Light - Moonflower

Lightning Bolt - Mica

Longevity - Bloodshade

Olfactory Illusion - Auric Moss

Paralysis - Aganu Cactus

Protection From Mental Attack - Blue Rose

Protection From Physical - Damage Alnickoli Mushrooms

Pyrotechnics - Red Phosphorus

Reaction - Rosipes Shrubs

Regeneration - Venosa Roots

Repel Birds - Chinquin Sap

Repel Fish - Chinquin Sap

Resurrection - Wyvern Horn

Sleep - Bulbous Mushrooms

Slow Metabolism - Calicyna Buds

Strength - Bjornmar Toadstools

Teleport - Unicorn Horn

Thunderclap - Gabbyroom

Wall Of Fire - Black Phosphorus

Will Power - Enkorian Grass

* (not confirmed--just player observation)
% (got out of old encyclopedia--may be obsolete)

Rand: "We've only been sent to find [canalgam sap, dedekind bulbs and guilemot birds] by HZE; no one else has ever mentioned them... What do they use these things for? How could HZE have magic that the colleges didn't when they are such putzes? Suppose they just want to raise Guillemots? Aren't they endangered or something? Guanerius: "[Troll blood, Ultima Thule mist and wyvern blood] are almost certainly biomancy."

* (not confirmed--just player observation)
% (got out of old encyclopedia--may be obsolete)
Sprinal Tap
The Sprinal Tap's treasures are probably protected for very good reason- to keep them out of silly, foolish, evil hands. Location of a Pyatnitsan Temple explored by SOAK.
Stat, Rheo (?) - Member of Persand Expeditionary Force.
Stewart, James (Ben) Human male. Actor and petty thief. Died in Vorn from magic-antimagic explosion in Moria.
Stone, Herbert (?) - person with some knowledge of the events related to the search for the King and the politics of the Alliance Council at the time (late 3202).
Svorak, Lantelle - Merlin Maze - name for the 3x3 grid of rooms.
Sword Group - an adventuring party made up of members of OMNICO, the Order of the Ring and various Vorn natives. It was created after the recovery of The Captain with the goal of taking it to Vorn and finding The King.
Known or suspected members: Absinthe, Vagirious Aranathes, Grey Armstrong, Astro, McNally Atlas, Bosk, Feral Burrows, Isabella Cardinoff, Char, Seneca Doane, Dela Doolittle, Gorp, Han-gar, Ciral K'Vorkian, Lal, Lam, Corel de Lesseps, Richard Folger, Gail Gladiolus, Istvan Harka, Duncan Idaho, Karl Krinkbane, Mirabella LeFevre-DuJours, Asmodeus Mamnon, Melia, Methuselah, Milius, Gabrielle Monterre, Quentin, Sato, Sara Serengeti, Shele, Shiv, Jubal "Bob" Silverweight, Dextro Stunkfellow, Thug, Tok, Mileus Trafalgar, Zonzi.
Adventures: 10040
Escape from KDPW: An agent of El Ouhd (EO) came with an offer to help us reach Vorn in return for possession of one of the Swords when the other was found. We left immediately for the docks, now knowing others knew of the existence of the weapon. On the way to the boat a large fight broke out on the docks. The bulk of the forces fought on the docks were not in the employ of El Ouhd but rather a mercenary team frequently used by 3M and the Consortium. 3M had been following the remnants of the party of Aragorn Pike (who worked for 3M briefly) as a result of an enigmatic final report submitted by that group before it disappeared. The inclusion of Pike group members into the Order led suspicions to them and then to OMNICO and beyond. Apparently only the jongleur, the woman, the two agents with earrings and the old man were testitudine (El Ouhd) agents. So they didn't kill any of his people, but got at least three mummies or Consortium dupes and left pursued by a black-flagged vessel.
Flight across Ilico: Sneaking about, crossing the mountains, battle with a dragon. They met up with a group of enemy gnomes that had a few prisoners with them. We released those prisoners and continued on to the portal. Midway there the party was set upon by a gigantic blue dragon intent on getting the Captain. At least one of the groups members was killed by its fire (Gabrielle Monterre), but it flew off maimed by the power of the sword. Abraxian Shrine: The resident drow asshole was dispatched along with several of the shades, but the fearsome fiery tarred balrog-like demon-thing was not as the party made it's way through the portal. Richard Folger was lost here.
Vorn Temple: The monastery-like ruin in the Red Hills that the group ported into was mapped and a monster [hydra?] living in a lower level was battled. [Or did we find it and decide to leave it alone?] Nearby to the west, the group made the acquaintace of three local elvish refugees (Methuselah, Asmodeus Mamnon, Ciral K'Vorkian) with whom we communicated using Duncan Idaho's level 3 Eckyebrech.
Skeleton Battle: While trying to find a village (@24 Aug 3206), the Group met a huge line of hunched-over figures marching in the Ruby Desert, whom they thought might be countrymen of their new companions, and so attempted to parley. They were skeletons, and it was these, not Eckyebrech, who had been roaming around destroying villages. As soon as they saw us, they closed in to attack (all 40 or 50 of them), and we had a problem.
Sucking Hump - 25th Sept 3206: Grey, Duncan, Gail, Vagirious Aranathes, Dela Doolittle, Mileus Trafalgor - 45 pd food, 70 pd water. 2 days pass. They find some nomads but can't communicate well. The nomads want to trade for The Captain and Gail. They finally leave. Duncan has been given the phase dagger. 4 days pass. 110 miles. They have to kill the camels and drink their blood. October 9th - They finally leave the desert. Mountains! Water. Life! They find gnomes, tribal gnomes. They can't talk to them either. The gnomes didn't want to let them cross the mountains.
Shudar Sorak's - 28 October 3206. The party has crossed the mountains and camped in a grassy valley on the western slopes. The "sea camels" will arrive on or about 05 January 3207. Train and work for three months. Leave in February (?) with tribal gnomes, Tok, Sara, Lam and Lal, but Dela was left behind at the village to guarantee good faith. Down the Shudarates - From north to south: Tolum, Sorak, Granak, Zol, Bangon, Toluf, Kul, Gert, Goth, Kurgon, Vanup, Karvo, Barg. On the trip down the coast, the demands of the various Shudarite ranged from wanting to send their own representatives to get trade, gifts for the Shudar we were originally working for, and demands of tribute for passage through their territory. A sea camel, the Ababa, was met on the way south (offered passage after the local Shudar [Bangon?] was kicked off the beach.).
Shudar Barg's - The greatest Shudar we'd encountered by far with contacts far beyond the coastal mountains - his court included Scarg the gnomish lieutenant from the south, an elf (Krekotzki), a troll (Cock) and a dark orc. We could not afford the tribute he demanded and instead offered a contest of champions. Our 7 best against his 7 best. The party, after winning the battle of the seven champions, was invited to a banquet in their honor and found out from the bedouin champion about spirits that walk east of the mountains. After 9 days of healing, the party got ready to set out to the desert ruins, hoping they were ancient orcish, then discovered they couldn't ride camels, so another week was expended training everyone in camelmanship. Melia, a healer, asked to come with us as did Thug, a very confused gnome.
Desert Ruins - There were three buildings, but only one was more than a few walls in the sand. It had a hole in the floor. Exploration of the basement uncovered lots of bright red scorpions, two rooms about 20x20 ft. in size, and two dead end hallways. In the corner of the second room was a stone slab that could be removed to reveal a 10x10 ft. subbasement that didn't look like much more than storage space. Thug got stung by a scorpion. Lam tourniqueted his leg before the poison could spread too far, and it looked as if he would survive. The party decided to rest a day to allow Thug to heal before returning to Shuddar Barg's.
Black Rider, et al - Next afternoon, a black rider holding a black standard with a white circle and skull approached. One of the gnomes (Zonzi?) from Barg's village fled (either betrayed us or got whacked.) The party decided to stay in the building for a better defensive position, but as the rider got closer, it became evident that he was accompanied by about 20 of the black-robed undead that the party had met so disastrously months before. Since it would be impossible to fight them off, the party tried to ride their camels between the gap of the north and east phalanxes. During the escape Gail's camel went down, Bosk threw a dagger into Grey's throat and fled, Lam took up the Sword, Duncan retrieved Gail, a gnome fell off his camel (Han-gar?), and Thug's camel went down with Thug's unconscious body. Someone got a good first aid roll and was able to save Grey. Once they were out of immediate danger, Lam returned the Sword to the unconscious Grey in hopes that it would help him. Grey's hand tightened around the hilt.
Desert - After riding out of sight of pursuers, the party began arcing to the south through the Lernean Desert. The next few days were spent riding as much as possible, walking as necessary to preserve the camels, resting when they could. When the party was within 50 miles of the mountains to the south, they rested for a whole day, at the end of which the skeletons could be seen on the northern horizon. The party began heading towards the mountains in a southeastern direction, until they saw a sandstorm on the western horizon. The party then headed directly south for the mountains. The sandstorm struck to the north of the party, approximately where the party decided to turn south, so hopefully the direction change was erased and the skeletons erroneously continue southeast. Grey regained consciousness, and was generally displeased that Lam had wielded the Sword.
Statement to the Alliance Council of Vorn - October 2, 3207 - Most Esteemed Wizard Generals of the Alliance, We are extremely pleased to be finally be standing before you. Our trip has been perilous, and it relieves our hearts to know that we once again stand amongst friends and compatriots... As you already know, a good number of us have traveled from another world to be here. We wish to impart our tale to you, fine Generals, in hopes that our story can give you more insight to how we got here and what our intentions were in doing so. That said, I will start at the beginning of the journey... In Arboria a group of explorers traveling on a boat came in contact with an elf named Keiko... (Speech given by Milius.)
Future Plans as of Dec 1997: Assuming that the party survives its nighttime encounter [what encounter?] now in progress: Hieronymous is planning on staying in Pandoland over the winter to improve his pegasusmanship. Hetaczy (and Ulwiye) are going to return to the Temple. Sara (and Tock) are considering returning to their home with the mountain gnomes to work on the reconstruction. Ariel, Peter, and Erich are planning to stay in Pando City to help Peter track down the strange seaweed medicine he needs and then head to the Temple. Grey is planning on heading to the Temple to do more research. Others are undecided, but by early Spring, the party will regroup for another mission in the south of Pandoland.
Swords, The From Monty: "As everyone knows, the "deadline" for the end of the world has long passed. Supposedly, the Ecks should have overrun EOW, or the world should have exploded or something, because we did not find the Captain and the King (the swords, if you don't already know), bring them together, and kick butt, etc. etc. Obviously the world has not ended, but it may be that the Ecks can never be run out of EOW now, that they will be around forever -- even with the might of the swords. My point is -- WE NEED TO FIND THE SWORDS!!!
We have been given enough info to find them -- we just don't know how to use all of it. I don't think that Rob would give us the mission to find both swords and then never give us the ability to do so. Maybe we just need to sail around EOW continuously asking the sword we have to locate the one we're looking for. Can anyone talk to the swords? The last time we asked the Captain about the whereabouts of the King, we were told "somewhere dark, with fish swimming by" We were in Vorn at the time, not EOW (does distance matter? probably) Question: Where can you hide such an obviously powerful sword so that no one can find it? How about location by magical means? If no one has detected magic and located it (big, bright beacon -- like the rings) then it must be in lead, or buried deep underground. Any Ideas?
Anyone remember where the sword came from originally? Perhaps both swords are there. If not, can we ask Kendra where it might be? Does she know of the existance of both swords?"
Chad responds to the above: The sword is currently in Vorn, with the remainder of Omnico and Order of the Ring. Folger and Kendra have both fallen. (Kendra in Persand battling the Balrog, and Folger at the Abraxian temple fighting the balrog like demon. Grey Armstrong and Duncan Idaho are the main "big guns" in that group, with Grey in command. Grey and the sword have developed a definite....um ....bond to one another. I believe this to be a product of Grey's personality and the swords bloodlust. "Can anyone talk to the swords?" - Not in the current party. It seems as though anyone with a fair amount of psionic ability can speak with the sword, if it is willing. I will attempt to find and repost the Falcon Brothers (Homer bless their souls) talk with Kendra about the swords and the rings, along with Maroczy's talk with the Captain.
"The last time we asked the Captain about the whereabouts of the King, we were told "somewhere dark, with fish swimming by" - We were in Vorn at the time, not EOW (does distance matter? probably)
One thought on this: Once upon a time we came across a cave in the southern sprines, with an underground pool in it. This pool happened to have fish in it. We also discovered a tunnel just under the surface of the water that lead to another cavern. We never found anything, but it is a possiblity. Although, honestly, there are probably hundreds of such caverns in the sprines alone.
Another thought: Is there a lake, river, or some other body of water really close to gravesend? Maybe the theory of a ring being there was wrong. Maybe it is a sword. The other possibility is that it is the power that will be released when the druidic circle inscription comes to pass...
"Anyone remember where the sword came from originally? Perhaps both swords are there. If not, can we ask Kendra where it might be? Does she know of the existance of both swords?" She knows that they both exist, but was not willing to really share info on where the other sword was, or possibly had never bothered to ask. If she doesn't return "from the dead", we will never find that info out from her.
I am assuming that [the Swords] were not together, as their power is only fully shown when brought together. I would assume the ancients would have seperated them by a large distance, so not just any power hungry idiot could walk by and get them both. The most probable source of info will be the new GG group, that is forming in Crimson Tide. The plan is to visit the ancient orc dudes, and get some info and/or the black box. The problem is that the group is having trouble even getting to Crimson Tide let alone meeting up. I guess we will see what happens.

Tagore, Ranbindranth (Ben) Lycee Orcish male. Scribe, scholar, sorceror, and educator. Stuck in "Merlin Maze" with Lantelle.
Telemancy College -
Can be reached at Public Interaction Department, College of Telemantic Magic/ Dun Cess / Confederacy of Dun Cess
From a June 1, 10042 job offer to SOAK: There is a possibility that the Sprinal Tap contains a number of interlocking telemantic portals... We are very interested in studying these creations... We have prepared a box which we would like to send through the portal both with and without it being carried by a human. We are willing to pay 25,000 sc for the successful completion of this mission with: 1.) location of portals. 2.) investigation of portals with the box. 3.) return of information and box.
Sprinal Tap (I?) Pick-up - 24th and 25th at midnight. The Cave portal took away the gnomes, necromantic mushroom and some of the stuff in the telemancy school's box, while the other magic mushrooms were just "cancelled". Pick-up Date - July 15. Two maps with notes.
Missions: Telemancy I, II, III and IV employing SOAK.
Temple near Roanoke - orcish temple where Tico Puente died "with a peaceful soul." [Same as the yellow powder ring temple?]
Temple of Friendship - see the Friendship Temple.
Temple of Pyatnitsa - in Sprinal Tap. Explored by SOAK in 10043.
Thatcher, Joe (?) Beermaking & cricket-playing human, born in 1024?
Thorn, Kiphelm (?) - impeached Wizard General formerly representing Pandoland. "Don't know too much about him. Seemingly cool for a military type."
Thrax, Kendra - A woman who is strong and fierce of soul.- head of the Ilico Trading Co. which is a front for the Order of the Ring. Believed to be rather old - around 60. Has a twin sister. Ring Bearer and wielder of The Captain at one time. Member of the Order of the Ring. Known alias: Katie Resnick. Missions: Persand Portal. As Katie Resnick, she recruited the Delmarintha Dig group to go to Persand with her. There she faced down a wraith (possibly a ringwraith) who wanted her ring, and engaged in a semantic argument with it. She tricked it by pretending to throw the ring down the bottomless hole it called "The Abyss." (It dived in after it.)
She disappeared with the Persand Expeditionary Force in November 10039 while fighting Mowcrot (?) in Persand using the ring and a phase sword.
It seemed that some of the predicted effects of ring use were visible in her, although it's not clear that she was being "corrupted" or controlled by The Enemy. She may well be a ringwraith now, just from using the ring so much.
Thumbelina (Nick) - Member of OMNICo. Disappeared with the Persand Expeditionary Force while swimming to shore to complete a mission on Persand. Presumed captured. Missions: Sprinal Tap, Illum Gamma, Persand Portal (?).
Tim and Werner Group - adventuring group on Vorn and another (?) world. Known or suspected members: Tim Da Reaper, Guanerius Guaneri, Werner Gunthor, Twilight van der Rohe, .
Started out when Tim da Reaper joined Wizard General Werner Gunthor to set up an expedition to the Friendship Temple to get the black box from Magos. (See the Friendship Temple.) Events that followed: Argue Argue Argue Argue Argue. Absconded with the box, saw a Virtual Magos. Argue Argue Argue Fly to Pandoland against Twilight's advice. Find out Pandoland was a non-optimal place to be. Argue. Guanerius joins us. Fly off across the world headed for the Grey Dwarves, who (I think) live in that big bunch of mountains we're supposed to cross. Argue some more.
At some point in their adventures: "As I remember it, we were at the same kind of point at which we have found ourselves again and again in Vorn-- we have more people than the Pegasi... could carry, so we needed to decide who would be left behind... Shroud and the two burly EO ops with black earrings with him were basically trying to take over the group... The two EO ops argued more calmly and rationally than Shroud (no surprise) but basically it was because they were [El Ouhd and] eighth-level fighters in several weapons AND linguists AND proctologists AND could fold paper-clips into shapes representing ancient Orcish Virtues AND knew how to tie knots and sail ships... which is to say, they were NPCs. The rest of the party was trying to vote... but Shroud and his companions argued that voting was stupid because rationally they were the people to take on the mission because they were so much better than us... after the EO operatives had succeeded in offending everybody present enough to provoke harsh words that Guanerius swung into action, beat the crap out of the two ops (I think in fact that he killed them) and left Shroud hanging by his fingers off a cliff after *ripping* the black earrings off with one yank and throwing them over the cliff...
What about our meeting with Poppy-Torr? (And Shroud) In this instance, the EO agents were slightly less domineering in their approach because the rest of us were not as weak, although they may have learned from the fatal error of the earlier band of EO ops, and they were in the command of Poppy, who is about five orders of magnitude saner and smarter than Errington.
The box seems an ideal tool for collecting people for the virtue puzzle at the other Ziqqurat; if GG can use it with sufficient accuracy to scoop up the personnel we need and bring them to the front door of the Ziqqurat (which would make an excellent base of operations, since it is so defensible; in the worst case we can hole up in there and be totally inaccessible, or spring all sorts of fascinating traps... ) Last I heard, the territory beyond those mountains was full of all sorts of horrid monsters and hostile races of which we had only heard rumours previously.
The current (as of August 1994) brain-damaged mission is to go flying (on pegasus) over 400 miles of nasty mountains. Beyond the mountains is uncivilized land with all kinds of nasties- Trolls, Wyverns, etc. Think of the Sprines on EOW. A mountain climbing/ orienteering god could be very useful. The above mission was delayed for the assault on the Fire Dwarven Necromantic Research Facility when the team got sidetracked in Salami, the last outpost of civilization before the Arnsata Mountains.
Time-Warp - term for poorly understood time altering phenomena. See Bermuda Parallelipiped, The Captain, Persand Island/Portal, Time-Warp Group.
Time-Warp Group -
Members: Desmond Bailey Lientious III.
Also, what is known about the history of the war from the Time Warp group? I'm working under the assumption the future is immutable (hopefully not). How long did the war last? What parts of the world do the Eck control? All of it? How is the eck government's treatment of humans, elfs, etc? Are they slaves?
Trangle Island sewer system (SOAK) Point of interest: Part of Bermuda Parallelipiped. Liches and things living in that shack way off the normal sewer area. Problem: Local Gov't had turned the over to the military, ending our access. We may be able to find the shack above ground by deduction from our sewer map.
Triangle maze - Thomas Samson died on Uchebnick in 10035 soon after the triangle maze. (?)
Troglodyte Sewers - under Rakshasa's castle. Location of Sir James of Forsythia's death. c. 10013.
Troost, Theresa (Ben) Human female. Healer and Universalist turned Shangri- laist. Scars on face from mind-flayer tentacles. Died in Beigebeard's ice maze, 10036.
Turpin, Abelard (Ben) Gypsy elven male.Engineer and warrior. Died 10016.

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