3. Samson Swarthout: Chronicles of a Gentle Giant

Samson Swarthout: Chronicles of a Gentle Giant


  • Sam, as well as many others, fought in the great war against the defiler.

    To fight a war requires many, many participants. An opposing army and a friendly army. Armies are vast constructs and within them, many individuals prepared to lay down their lives for their beliefs.

    The Heroes of the great war against the defiler were many. Acts of courage were displayed on both sides. From the platoons of goblin archers that picked off the defenders in the tower, to the clerics who waded through the goblin menace to reach one of the fallen before he expired.

    As Sam looked back on his participation, he found his own contribution lost among the great acts of courage and skill.

    He tried in vain to ambush the Malarite field marshals that commanded the armies sent against Norwick.

    He left the battle to acquire supplies to aid him in his task, yet when he returned, he found that only one Malarite remained. The others had been slain on the field of battle.

    Still. One remained. And although it was not Gagor, or KUZU, the small malarite still controlled the goblins and the beetles and Sam swore to take the last head of the Hydra for Helm.

    Under the suppressing fire from the whole of Norwick, Sam snuck through the trees and did find Rore Wall in the forest. The general of the Defiler fled, but in vain. Sam used the haste potion he bought in Peltarch for this very reason… overtook his foe and brought him to his knees.

    In the orcish tradition, he took his foe's champion's belongings as trophies, and carried the bound, wounded beast back to Norwick.

    In the latter days of Sam's life, he would look back on that day and smile weakly, saying to himself, "Well, at least I got the little one for Helm."

    With the field marshalls out of the fight, the attacks ceased- no longer driven towards the walls of Norwick, heavily scarred by battle.

    The druids made their journey to the old druid grove and through ritual cleansed the forest.

    Once again, Sam's contribution to the war was only a small part of a large victory. He helped clear the way for a simple singer from Peltarch to collapse a portal the Defiler was rumored to be able to escape through.

    While the defiler did escape in the end, Sam was glad that he did not get by the Watcher's Blade- Sam.

    In truth... victory had not been seized and Sam knew it. The war was still on, and victory for either side not acheived. Norwick stood, the Defiler still alive. A detante existed out of circumstance.

    In the time of peace which followed, Sam planned to see this war come to a decisive end.

    SAMSON SWARTHOUT AND THE HIN RESCUE
    (this was really funny in game, I doubt I can do it justice)

    The grizzled old hunter sat outside of the north gate of Norwick as his grandsons spent their meager earnings with Praeth. His companion, also a nars hunter, listened to his story...

    "I tell you, laddie, Ive never been so afraid in me life! It got dark. Not like night.. but like the moon set and all the torches were but a spark of light! I could nae even see me feet!

    "Well of course I hid under the archer tower, oy! If I cant see the tooth and claw comin for me neck then I aint havin a part of that fight!

    "Well there werent no fight that day, but this fellow appeared out of the dark yellin something about Lolth and Norwick. By tell, laddie it gave me the creeps. Well some large fellow in shiny armor made to take him down, but this dark skinny fellow just vanished right before me eyes!

    "The big one said it was a drow.. whatever that is. Well... THAT news got everybody in town lookin' over their shoulder. Rumors were a-flying like arrows in a seige, boy.

    "I dont know what a drow can -really- do, but if even HALF of those rumors were true... well... I reckon I'd not have been the one to try to take that one I saw down.

    "Well... the militia shows up, right? They start gettin everyone inside, tellin em ta travel in pairs, right? So... the big guy says he's going to patroll the town and see if any more had just... 'popped in.'

    "Better him than me I tell ya!" chuckles

    "Well... he goes off and some stuffy looking preist goes off too... with a bunch of those little people... Now they're all talking about killing these drow and blah blah blah... and the preist is takin' em along like its nobody's business!

    "Well... about this time I start thinking maybe its time to sell me pelts and git on up north. I'd rather be robbed of me coin in the Nars than stumble in the dark into one of those 'drow' things.

    "So after a bit o dealin with that stingy praeth, I'm hightailin it up north again and I run into the big fellow again, comin in the gate. By the gods if he wasnt carrying FIVE little folk. Not kids mind you, but the short people that always are blaberin' like children and running all underfoot and what not.

    "He got one hangin onta each leg like ticks... one on each arm, and one jumpin on and fallin off his back. By hells I woulda thrown the lot against the wall, but there he was.. carryin' FIVE HINS!

    "And then... see, he was grumblin ta himself as he walked... he says HE was rescuin' THEM!

    has a hearty laugh

    "By the gods... it looked like HE was the fellow in need o' rescuin!"

    Suddenly two teenage boys come out the north gate with the pockets full of candy and other things, which begets them a harsh tongue lashing from the old timer. The group goes up north to hunt some more and avoid the maurauder patrols.

    ((This was the Tealeaf pack and Raryldor (I think). It was great fun!))


  • Very little had occurred on the hill of late, so Sam took this reprieve to pick up the hammer once again and test his skill. He was surprised at how much he had forgotten, but it came back quickly.

    In truth, he realized he had made a mistake in leaving the forges… every day as he left, bathed in sweat wearing only a pair of shorts over his muscled form, he felt good! Actually good.

    The frustrations of Rolands near assassination, the missing dragon eggs, the blackguard that plagued the land we set at ease, clearing his mind to think a little more clearly.

    This was good. Helm desired that Sam be clear in thought and planning.

    Little did he know... this day, a plan made 12 years ago would come to fruition.

    Twelve years ago, Sam faced Rass, and knew he could not win. He tried then to evacuate his hill and lure her away from those who where escaping. Tigrelily had come up to beg him to leave with them, but even as they fell back before the might of the beast, she breathed a great fire upon them, slaying them.

    Twas upon his return he swore to rid Narfell of the great evil beast. He knew he could not face her in her own lair.... but upon the hill he swore to defend, he knew he could defeat her.

    Not because Sam was such a great warrior he could face a dragon alone. He had fought them before and barely made it out with his tail intact, never having slain one. he would need a trap, or some way to bring a swift, crushing defeat to such a beast.

    Twelve years ago, in the night, he worked to bury nine kegs of powder. Under the tutelage of Bruno, the master kegger, and the dwarves of the crafters guild, he knew everything he had to know. Fire would not kill this beast... but the fire was merely propellant for the many sharp rocks he covered the kegs with, and buried under the roadway.

    In all, 500 pounds of explosive with an equal amount of projectiles had been walked across for twelve years. It was perhaps one of Sam's best kept secrets. He shared it only with his most trusted. Grivel, rest his soul, could have set the hill alight should Rass ever threaten the wolves.

    And as Sam considered passing the hill on, he revealed the secret to Rick. They swore to complete the plan, whatever the cost, by crushing the fuse which Sam had carefully sewn into the young reed on the hill, into the fire.

    After a quick bath in his house, he donned his armor and head out to 'work.' The nars today was restless. Claims of bandit attacks up and down the pass reached his ears by the passers by as they hurried along the roads hoping their haste would protect them.

    It would turn out to be a VERY busy day.

    A stealthy assassin nearly killied Sam in the process, forcing his personal retreat to see Friar Fred. By this time however the hill had a dozen defenders and Sam was not overly missed.

    No sooner did the bandit officer raids cease, but fire erupted from the earth in the valley below and demon spawn burst forth. Again, faced by over a dozen defenders, the battle was largely one sided in favor of the defenders.

    Rick mentioned that these spawn were the work of Thyrm Cardia, one who had lost his head to Ricks axe in execution after trial.

    Somehow the murderer had returned.

    Perhaps Thyrm watched what happened next, or perhaps the arrival of the great red dragon Rass interruped his summonings. In either case... the demons stopped their assault as the bodies of their kind lay spread across the fields.

    Immediately Sam and Rick began shouting for everyone to get off the hill. They had rehearsed many times over a plan for this day.

    The day for Rass's demise was at hand!

    The dragon seemed amused at the scurrying of the bipeds across the hill. And only mildy intrigued at the presense of the fat one and the broad shouldered one with an axe.

    She strode forward across the western part of the ridge towards the road. Rick stood next to the fire, as they had rehearsed, Sam many feet behind in case Rick should fall or fail.

    Next to Ricks foot was the reed that Sam had watered and babied for the many years he stood on the hill. The fire was always built in a certain spot, carefully placed next to the reed in anticipation of Rass's return.

    As Rass crossed the road, with his foot, Rick crushed the reed towards the fire. Rass continued to walk down into the valley to feed on the bodies of the demon spawn, largely ignoring the two defenders, shaking with fear. They both knew this plan could easily cost them their lives, and in fact, they were pledged to willingly give their lives should this moment ever come.

    As Rass passed over the hill and down into the valley, Rick looked down in surprise.... he had stepped on the reed as planned.. but it fell across the stones of the fire and not into the coals. He cursed.

    Now out of position, Sam had to find a way to bring Rass back to the crest, and on the road.

    He charged the beast and taunted it with every bit of his skill, yet she resisted, seeming content to rip the bodies of the demons apart and flip them into her gaping maw. When she was done, she tore into the air, mocking them.

    Sam and Rick again crested the hill and shouted into the night, trying anything to bring her onto the ground again.

    Their backs were turned to the west when she landed behind them to the east. Her position effectively routed them from the fire and across the planned kill zone. But Sam gave rick a meaningful nod to stay put.

    With every bit of his might he flailed his arms and taunted the beast again, daring it to come for him.

    Rass obliged. She walked past Rick towards Sam, forcing him across the road away from the fire. Sam stopped just past the road, looking up into the smoking nostrils of his nemesis, and raised his sword.

    He attacked her as soon as she stood in the center of the road. His hopes were that her bloodlust would rise and she would focus on tearing him apart, giving Rick enough time to press the reed into the fire yet again.

    He nodded to Rick just as he attacked, and the fuze sputtered alive this time as Sam's blade attacked her ankles. But Rass, perhaps hearing the fuze ignite, took into the air, her winks blasted them with a rush of air...

    The fuze was stilled.

    Rick and Sam were devastated. She had escaped.

    They quickly inspected the fuze, it had been desiged for only three seconds. BARELY enough time for it to be lit, and the lighter to escape the blast, which would largely be focused straight up by the careful tamping.

    Less than a second remained on the fuze, and it was too short to plunge into the fire.

    Sam begged Rick to leave... he who lit the fuze now had no chance of escape, and it was his plan. RIck was married.

    But RIck would have no part of it. He claimed they had both sworn to complete this. Sam would have to taunt the beast and lure it back onto the road. RIck would light the last of the fuze with a torch and kill them both... perhaps all three.

    Accepting this, Sam stood atop the massive claymore mine, and dared the beast to return.

    She would not come to earth however, instead, she sprayed them with fire from the air several times, taunting them back.

    On her third pass, the spray of fire that caught Rick also lit the last of the fuze, it sputted under the earth and raced, now unstoppable, to the inevitable end.

    "THE FUZE!" he screamed and dove away from the blast.

    Sam dove immediately from the road, rolling as far as he could. Rass was not on the ground!

    The gout of fire and stone that erupted was spotted by the Peltarch watchtower and the archer towers of Norwick. The concussion alone might have brought Rass from the sky, but she had since flown past.

    Debris fell for several minutes, and a smoky haze filled the hill. It was surreal, as Sam realized he was alive, in pain, and in an unfamiliar environment. The ground was shattered, loose rock everywhere.

    Rass had flown on, perhaps thinking them dead from the explosion.

    Stumbling through the rocky debris and across the crater, Sam sought out Rick, who was in terrible shape but alive.

    They sat for a time, glad to be alive, angered at their failure.

    As the wind blew the dust away... the hole in the earth revealed fresh ores and an impassable roadway.

    The dwarves were fast upon this boon, calling their kin from miles around. In only a couple days, they had repaired the road, their payment they gladly hauled off in the form of iron and silver ores.

    As Sam looked over his hill, the scar remaining, but the wounds closed....

    ... he planned again...


  • (note.. TWO new posts today)

    Sam strode up to his hill, and began to make a new fire. He hadn’t even stood up, when Kira and Rhianna Bare ran up to him and asked, “have you seen the fire on the other hill?”

    Sam was quite put out. Who would light a fire on the mountain across the valley? What fool? The mountain across the valley was certainly higher, and gave greater visibility…. But Sam had deliberately not chosen that mountain for one reason- there was only one way up, and one way down. If ever he were flanked on that mountain, he would be trapped.

    Sam’s hill was much better suited tactically. He could control the crossroads from the eastern side, and there was only one approach onto the hill from the north where most of the bandits came from.

    The southern side had three approaches, one along the road, a gap in the middle, and the westernmost pass would bring an attacker under fire from three sides of higher elevation- a veritable death trap for any assaulting force.

    These thoughts did not enter Sam’s mind at first. He was only concerned with who might camp on that hill, be spotted and swarmed by bandits, and have no where to run. He ran with Rhianna and Kira to investigate.

    This was no ordinary campfire…. The entire top of the mountain was ablaze with molten rock and fire spouting constantly. The earth shook violently with every spitting of fire. It looked exactly like a volcano, a fire mountain, that Sam had read about in his youth.

    They began to climb the mountain. All life had been scorched away, and as they neared the top, they could feel the heat pressing against them. At first they thought little Rhianna might climb near the fire to see what was happening in the crater, but as Sam lifted her up, she cried out that it was too hot.

    Just as he set her down, the whole mountain shook violently and fiery rock splattered everywhere. Sam twisted himself violently to shake this molten material off his armor and the others picked themselves up from the ground where they quake had thrown them.

    It was time to leave this fire beast to itself.

    Climbing down, they crossed the valley and resumed a post in the middle of Sam’s hill. From there they had an excellent view of the mountain as great gouts of lava spilled across it and ran down the sides. It was a beautiful sight to behold such power the smoke and fire lighting the night sky!

    From the side of the mountain, there was an eruption, and a fire elemental raced forth. Immediately the party brought it down before it could leave the mountain, with long-range attacks.

    This was no act of nature. Sam dispatched Rhianna and Kira to fetch a mage. Perhaps one could determine what manner of activity this was, and even more hopefully, stop it.

    Scutum arrived just after the two women left, and helped Sam. Several passers by joined them. As the fire on the mountain grew, so too did the size and frequency of the fire spawn that gushed forth and charged down towards the valley. Each time, the ranged attacks from the secure defensive positions on Sam’s hill brought them down. But… with each wave, they seemed to get further and further into the valley.

    It did not take a tactical genius to figure out the creatures would have enough strength to push around the western flank and race up the back of the hill.

    Sam shifted his forces left, to provide enfilading fire into the flankers throughout the whole path to the side of the hill. Once done, he realized Kira and Rhianna had returned… their reinforcement was a mousy, squeaky voiced hin, who also claimed to be a mage of some skill. Oddly enough, he demanded a reward for helping, and to appease the little runt’s demands, Sam acquiesced.

    “Sam’ll giff yuh sumptin.” He promised the hin very, very sincerely.

    They escorted him to the mountain so he could get a peek and tell them what was going on. His explanation was muttered and Sam was certain he had no idea what he was talking about. Must be a first year Spellweaver student, he thought.

    Sam pulled the party back under constant attack by much larger fire elementals.

    Once back on the hill, he put Scutum in charge of the defenses and raced for Norwick to find a suitable wave of reinforcements. At the south fire, breathless, he strained his voice, shouting of fire, mountains and creatures. He was almost shocked into silence by a man with wings, but decided he was unimportant. He needed archers, and a damned good mage and he needed them right now!

    With an additional platoon of reinforcement, Sam charged back to his hill. Scutum was leading the fight admirably. The center was weakening the creatures badly, and the western flank would drop them as they passed. But they kept getting closer and closer to the back of the hill where they would be able to get to the crest and run rampant on the ridge. There were many young adventurers who would be slain if they reached the ridge in force.

    Many, many that Sam knew were now on the hill, and even more that Sam did not know. Nevertheless he kept directing the fight, and constantly reminding the younger adventurers in the valley to defend from the hill. Those that did not, nearly lost their lives many times over were it not for the courage of Khaya, who raced into the valley to save not less than six unwise warriors. For some reason they thought they would be able to defeat a creature of fire standing some ten feet tall.

    The valley defenders were being crushed, the archers on the hill trying their best to cover them. Sam was losing control of the fight. No longer was he directing the combined efforts of the archers to drop targets as they came, but he was barely keeping the elementals from slaying the valley defenders.

    Several times, they would be routed, running back to the southwestern pass, to get onto the hill and be protected. Once at the southwest pass, the elementals came under withering fire from all three sides. But… this meant that the center of the defense had to be turned to the rear. More elementals escaped from the hill and into the valley.

    Sam held the southwest pass directing all the warriors to form a line and protect the ridge, and his precious archers from attack from the rear. Time and time again, a fire elemental crashed into his line. He was no longer in command, he was fighting with the troops, bring his massive sword to bear to keep them all alive.

    Helm must have been watching the Nars Watchers efforts this day. Just as a massive gout of flame produced half a dozen huge fire elementals, it began to rain. But this time the enemy force had MORE than enough power to race through a hundred arrows and hit the rear of the hill.

    The Valley defenders were routed in no time, scattering like flies before a stiff wind. Several elementals chased after them, angered, but three came crashing into the southwest pass. No amount of arrows could stop them, and most of the warrior line was being chased around the valley.

    Sam raised his shield and charged into them. Perhaps he alone could give his archers enough time.

    With his head held high, Sam summoned the strength and endurance of Helm for this most challenging battle. His magical protections had long been burned away, yet there was nothing he could do. He could not stand aside and let these three huge beasts run rampant along the ridge!

    With a battle cry he slammed his shield into the center beast, slashing at the one to his right. The third came around his left and he knew he could not hold. Back pedaling he regained his footing and finally put one down, shifting his attacks. His shield arm was so burned he could not move it well enough to defend from both of them, though he still managed to weaken the center elemental.

    Suddenly, Sam felt a searing pain, everything went white, and then blackness overtook him.

    Whether it was two seconds or two hours, Sam did not know.

    (ie: I had to collect my shit after making my Divine Intervention roll and actually spent the rest of the fight running around the hill naked being chased by a huge fire elemental!!!)

    He sat up, his armor charred and black. The grass everywhere bore trails of the elemental’s passing. Yet Sam was whole. Several pale, brave young faces that he did not recognize helped him up.

    “Whut happ’nd?” He gasped.

    “You died! We saw you consumed in the fire! And then.. they were among us, but we slew them!”

    Sam blinked.

    “You must have pleased your god today, Sir! For you were as dead as that burning tree over there, and it shall not return to life as you did, I assure you!”

    Sam counted his blessings for a moment.

    “Ena mur o’ ‘em comin’?” he asked.

    “Nay… “ they breathed relaxing. “The rain quelled the fires on the mountain! We have won!”

    They collected themselves slowly. Sam was the only casualty, and he had been spared by Helm.

    In the aftermath of the battle, they found the little hin mage who was professing his greatness by summoning the rains that saved the day.

    And if that were not enough… the little bastard was begging for his reward.

    Hmm… Sam had promised him ‘something’ hadn’t he?

    “Okee.. Sam’ll giff yuh sumptin fer whutcha dun t’day, eh?”

    “Oh goodie goodie!” the hyper little guy exclaimed.

    “Here yuh go… Sam’s gunna giff yuh sum a’vice!”

    With that, Sam kicked the hin hard in the shin and yelled at the top of his lungs, “NEX’ TIME FOLKS IS DYIN’ DUN WURRY YER BUTT ‘BOUT SUM FARKIN R’WARD AN’ JUST HELP FOLK OUT, YUH BLAST’D GREEDY HIN!!!”

    With that the hin turned to hop away on his good leg and Sam gave him another toe in the ass to punctuate his reward of good advice!

    Several other hins took the little guy aside and counseled him at length on the virtues of generosity.

    Sam spent that all night on the hill giving thanks.

    But he kept one eye open, watching the mountain of fire.


  • Deeds not words.

    The wound was infected now. As Sam struggled to maintain his duties on the hill and watching over the temple, he found it increasingly harder each day to rise. He nearly choked to death each morning as he awoke, trying to clear his throat of the nightly accumulations of blood, puss and mucus.

    One day just south of Norwick, an altercation broke out again between Uthger and Rando. The entire Norwick milita faced the lone barbarian and words were traded back and forth. Uthger sat calmly, as if the entire milita online before him were nothing more than a swarm of insects a few feet away.

    Sam watched and listened to each side, trying to catch the facts in between the insults. His head was fuzzy, and it was difficult to concentrate. Each comment seemed more distant than the last. His face felt hot for a time, then cold, and stars began floating before his eyes.

    He blinked once. He blinked again, but did not finish. The warrior toppled over face first.

    Unknown to him at the time, his body in shock and low on blood. But the wicked, magical poison and finally overcome the last of Sam’s defenses. It had achieved dominance and now began to feed. The life of the paladin began to slip away.

    Cyrus tended to his comrade, dragging him into the healers, trying to treat the wound symptomatically. What he found shocked him. The wound had come completely open, as if just inflicted. Apparently Sam had been standing, bleeding, and the blood had run between his armor and chest, leaving no outward sign of trouble. He left Sam in the Boarshead to rest after doin what he could.

    When Sam awoke, his awareness was so dim, he operated on near total instinct. His body cried out for his bed at home, so he stumbled through the Nars, dressed only in his robe, to Jiyyd.

    If not for a small hin,Rhianna Bare, he would have bled to death on his bed. The young girl followed him as he meandered, zombie-like, to his bed and tended to him as best she could. Even her impressive healing skills would not close the wound. She stabilized him and ran for help.

    While she was gone, Sam awoke once more. He knew he needed help. Vroka would know what to do, he hoped. Perhaps Finnius’ powerful healing would restore him enough to head north to Daisy. These thoughts in Sam’s mind were merely impulses. The remains of logical plans that had been reduced to mere instict. He only understood, “seek help, go north.”

    Coming down the hill proved to be quite easy. He stumbled and fell, letting gravity help him the rest of the way. He lay there for several minutes before the call of instinct brought him to his feet again and he progressed slowly behind the Regal Whore Inn.

    He was on the west side, hanging onto the railing, when the loss of blood overtook him and he fell face down.

    It began to rain. Sam lay in the rain for nearly two hours before a passerby, the little hin Rhianna Bare found him.

    Seeing his critical condition she healed him with her magic, watching the wound close, and just seconds later it would open again. It was like a gaping second smile, evil in nature, grinning at her as it emptied the paladin’s blood into the rain.

    She stitched his neck closed in the rain in a contest of healing skill versus poison, but she could not move the giant man from his place in the mud.

    Dania came soon after, yet the two women still were unable to move him. Fortunately, Kanen had come to town and between the three of them, were able to drag Sam into Vroka’s.

    Vroka became distraught quickly. Although she and Finius had treated Sam many times before, they were shocked at how his condition had progressed. All divine attempts to heal him were thwarted. As soon as the wound was closed, it would open again. After a few moments, the stitches popped loose as well, apparently burned away from the inside by something that smelled of acid.

    The three left him in Vroka’s care to seek the aid of one with arcane skill. It was apparent the divine could do nothing more.

    Hours went by, and no less than a dozen entered and left the healers shop as they worked frantically to keep Sam alive with a constant flow of divine healing, which accomplished little more than replacing the blood that the poison seemed to feed upon.

    Merin Wyerspell was found, and once he arrived, he began an exhaustive magical search. He would detect magic upon the wound, and each time he would sense… something. Each time, like a pencil pushing a ball of mercury across a table, he would detect something, and it would escape his senses before he could understand it.

    Finally, he devised a plan where he could cast two detects, force the energy of one from top to bottom, and another from bottom to top, hoping to catch this fleeting magic as it avoided detection.

    This worked. He felt the stir of the arcane, and the origins of shadow magic that it was based in. He knew then that any further work must be accomplished in his lab. Not less than four people drug Sam to the Emerald Circle Keep, where behind closed magical doors, the final push to save Sam began.

    The herbalists ground a special root provided by Adam Bromley, which he claimed could cure shadow poison. What they did not reckon on however, was that the poison was also protected from divine or herbal remedies by a shield of arcane energy designed to prevent such cures. In time, Adam’s mystery root was nearly consumed, much to the frustration of the team assembled, and no progress made.

    Cera Amalith, being a reknowned arcanist summoned from the Gypsy Camp arrived in the Keep to provide her aid. She was mostly silent, whether numbed the voices in her head or paying close attention and deep in thought, none could tell.

    It was only after Merin and Circini decided to give Sam a blood transfusion that the closeness of Sam’s expiration was made known. As Merin and Ciricini held their blood to the wound, it was as if they were being sucked dry by a vampire, their life force being drawn into Sam’s body.

    His color improved for a time, new blood in his system, but within moments, the strength of their hin blood was consumed, and the poison began to feed on the strength of the last remaining orc blood within Sam.

    Finally, they understood. In order to heal Sam, they must first remove the magic, and treat him with the last of Adam’s shadow root.

    Cera and Merin created a plan- Merin would trap the magic for a short time, before it could escape again, and Cera would summon all her energies into a tremendous dispell. They coordinated for a time and then the two mages unleashed their plan, Merin, having been weakened by his own blood loss, collapsed. Cera too, fell to the floor, completely spent in her ability to work the weave.

    When the mages came to, they sensed as they could for magic, and found none. The arcane shield had been destroyed. The herbalists once again reached for the shadow root.

    Due to the fatigue and stress of the many hours they had spent working, the salve they created was not strong enough.

    But they had bought time.

    The wound now responded in part to divine healing. The wound closed. The poison remained.
    A day passed, Merin stubbornly researching his books for some clue. In time he found it. They would need a fresh tooth from a demon wolf, the blood still fresh, the nerves still alive. This too would be enough to cure Sam, if placed into the hands of a skilled healer.

    Sam had been taken to the Gypsy Camp, to see specialists there. Merin and Cera then led a small party of young, aspiring heroes to a lair where it was rumored one of these creatures was spotted.

    Encountering terrible odds and nearly losing several of the party, they managed to defeat the creature and its companions and returned to find Sam, once again close to death.

    This time, they worked patiently to create the balm necessary to counteract the poison. Satisfied with their product, they applied it. Ever so slowly, the poison lost its battle against this special concoction, though it was not a swift or decisive victory, eventually the poison was routed.

    Several powerful healing spells later, Sam was pronounced stable and recovering. Sam was returned to his home to rest, where he spent much time. Several local citizens, and members of his rescue party dropped in to keep him company, bring him food and ensure he was recovering.

    The status of his voice would not be known for several days.


  • hear hear!…


  • Well told Sam. A very nice read.

    Thanks to Shane as well for an epic adventure with an epic conclusion.


  • RESCUE OF SHANE ANDRYL
    The day had arrived. The mission of the Order of the Divine Shield was to retrieve a body.

    The body of a fallen Paladin.

    It had only recently come to Sam's attention that her body had been left behind in the hell of Mintas Rhelgor. It seems he had missed so many very important matters of the Order when he traveled to the Dalelands to follow Helm's will and settle an old score with a Banite there.

    Sam experienced a great Shame as he pondered the failings of the Order that had come about because of the damage done by Garnendar.

    Garnendar had broken the Holy Seal of the temple, allowing evil's passage in and out of the Holy Ground. He had claimed the life of their leader and sown the seeds of discontent, dividing the Order.

    The Helmites of the Order had fallen apart, no longer united, as was Kanen's vision of the Order.

    The leaders of the Order struggled miserably to unite it again… in order to restore the honor of the Order.

    Sam called to his comrades to join him, but his answer was... the Order is not ready.

    In his heart, he knew this was true.

    Therefore, Sam attempted to venture into Mintas alone to accomplish the deed himself and perhaps find Kanen if he was also imprisoned there. He knew it was a foolhardy venture, but his heart called to him to try. He was repulsed at the gate.

    He did not know what shamed him worse, his failure or that of his Order.

    Only Ishar, strong of heart, but ill of skill with blade seemed to feel the constant pain of this.

    With Kanen's return, it seemed as though the strength of the Order returned. The power of the Chosen of Helm was indeed great. Not in what his sword could do, but the power of his leadership.

    Though he had been imprisoned five years and had known a great sacrifice, he readily without question readied himself to go to Mintas.

    Sam wished to tell him to remain behind, that he had given enough, but alas, at this point, he could not speak. Deeds not words compelled him to ensure he accompanied his mentor when he was ready.

    The recent visits by the Revenant became the catalyst, which drove the Order to action. No longer could they bear the embarrassment, the shame of their failure. They had to act.

    The day was at hand. Sam prepared in the temple. In years past he chose to spend little time in the temple, but since he had repaired the benches, the altar and chiseled anew the face of Helm, he felt himself to be the new Watcher of the Temple. His house was but a stones throw from it and when the eyes of Helm awoke with the last cut of his chisel, he knew that the grace of Helm had returned.

    By life or death, Sam meant to see that it stayed.

    In Sam's heart, he did not believe 'his' temple truly purged of the Betrayal until the Betrayer had seen justice. Though Sam prayed in his own home more often than the temple, it was not that the temple was not valuable to him. Indeed it was sacred. It was a monument to the commitment of Helmites in Jiyyd. For any Helmite to know that the sower of the taint still went unpunished was a smear upon their honor.

    Though the mission was to return Shane Andryl to peace, Sam had little doubt they would accomplish that. It was the least they could do for their fallen comrade. The honor of those that were with her when she fell rode upon that success.

    Sam joined yes, to save his comrade, whom he had rescued from Mintas once before. He knew the Order, as a whole would lay to rest their comrade and the shame of their failure

    Instead, he chose to come as a Helmite. He had a duty... to lay to rest the last of the damage done to the temple, which signified the duty, sanctity and honor of Helm.

    Garnendar would die this day.

    As he prayed, the others arrived one at a time, each in turn preparing in their own way. Some in loud, spoken prayers, waving of arms, and summoning of the divine.

    For Sam, his size drew enough attention. His voiceless lips moved quickly, sometimes reciting his learned prayers, other times in heartfelt pleas.

    Soon they were ready. They ventured outside to move south when a guard mentioned a disturbance near the east gate.

    The ODS moved to investigate. The Devonwood home had suffered a tragedy in the night. An evil being had stolen the life of the wife of the house, and turned her undead, possessed at the least.

    Kanen pledged to the man to lay his wife to rest, if nothing else could be done.

    As they left the house, a somber mood fell over them. They too felt the mans loss, and the taking of the woman was a sobering reminder of how Shane too, had been taken from them.

    Shadows infiltrated Jiyyd, and though it was a quick battle, it was a stoic reminder that whatever evil bubbled out of Mintas was reaching a point where it had to be dealt with and soon.

    The group moved south. Its members were, Kanen, Sam, Tigrelily, Khaya, Roland, Rick, Aaimie, Anakore, Thierulf, and Ishar, Anna Sigerlson and Arielle d’Arnis.

    They skirted the orc lands and entered Mintas. Only one slaad greeted them. It spoke something to them, only to be slaughtered. Perhaps it was best. While perhaps it meant to surrender, it certainly could sound no alarm.

    They pressed on to the temple, only the lightest of resistance by a few Banites and fleshlings to impede them. However, the defenses of the temple proved resilient. Assault by divine magic accomplished nothing. A solid bash against the heavy stone doors only provoked a burst of negative energy which damaged whoever beat on the stoneworks.

    As the group pondered ways to enter, Sam pondered with them. They talked of manipulating the weave, of hidden gadgets or contraptions, of tricks and concealed levers.

    Sam wrote a word on the ground and studied it. The word was... KEG.

    Deeds, not words. In truth, he would never be so clever as the others, never see the hidden path of success. Sam's life, experience and abilities made him into what seemed like one thing, an assault paladin. To be Helm's Might when naught else would accomplish his Will.

    Unfortunately... Sam had forgotten to pack any heavy explosives.

    He pondered his word, KEG, and wondered if he had time to return to Jiyyd, risking the trip across orclands alone, and hoping he could enter Mintas alone without the group. Alas, he ruled that out. The might of Helm was not invincible.

    Suddenly, he got an idea. Perhaps he had no heavy explosives, but he had PLENTY of little ones!

    Studying the door, he applied his years in the mines with the dwarves, and the training he received from Covah, Krig and Bruno on the use of kegs.

    Using the small grenades he picked up from the goblins, numbering twenty, he set to work to fashion a larger charge from the small ones. He sacrificed one to act as a fuse and within a few minutes had employed his swiftly devised plan. He tamped the charge with a broken pillar, to increase the force of the blast against the door.

    The ODS took cover and Sam readied to light it.

    The explosion threw several off their feet, and when the dust cleared... the door remained. Sam grit his teeth in frustration. He should have brought larger charges, and now he was out of explosives all together.

    But alas... whatever magic wards had been placed on the door HAD been overwhelmed by the blast, the door slowly slid down in its grooves.

    They entered the enemy’s lair.

    Inside they encountered a Banite portal which summoned but one fire elemental. It was removed quickly.

    Apparently the explosion had loosened debris from the ceiling, creating an obstacle before the next door. Kanen wriggled and squirmed around it to break down the next door.

    "Enemies!" he cried out and attacked. The group followed him, wriggling past the narrow space left by the debris one at a time.

    "Sam, Come on!" Lily yelled at him, but he worried that his girth would get stuck, thus cutting Kanen off from reinforcements. He let everyone go first and then attempted to squeeze through. By the time he managed, many Banites lay slain, Garnendar on his knees and wheezing from Kanen's pommel strike to his chest.

    Just as Sam had imagined, Garnendar was hovering over a body, a body Sam expected to be Shane’s. But it wasn’t. And because of his great size, he had been unable to bring his sword to bear on Garnendar. Now he had surrendered.

    A quandary.

    Ishar, Thierulf, and Rick wanted him dead. Kanen and Roland did not. Khaya, always using her astute wisdom, called Kanen over for a conference. Ishar paused, his greatsword at the ready, but he waited for Kanen’s permission, which was never given as he spoke to Khaya, his back to Ishar.

    Sam sized up his foe. He was but a man. A Banite worshipping devil, but a man non-the less. He was a sly and devious foe, and had won a great battle against the forces of Helm. As a foe, he was worthy. He commanded a form of respect from Sam, yet, they were enemies nonetheless.

    As Sam pondered, the others questioned, all looking to Kanen for guidance it seemed. It took, as always, great effort on the part of Sam, he remembered his teachings, and all the things he’d memorized.

    Sam coughed a word out.

    “Repent.”

    Garnendar scoffed. How could he- one who had done so much for Bane, and won so much against the Helmites, repent for his deeds now!? He was ready for what came. He was proud of his accomplishments.

    In the end, Sam chose to do what he had come to do. It was time to end Garnendar’s existence.

    He bade Garnendar to make peace with his god, and pressed him to kneel. Garnendar oddly enough seemed to be at peace with this decision. Perhaps he really was willing to die for Bane. It took only a gentle pressure to Garn’s head for him to bow it, giving Sam a clean shot at his neck. It would be quick, and merciful. This Betrayer of Helm would never again commit deeds against Sam’s people or his faith, and yet his foe would retain his honor as a warrior.

    Around him, much debate continued. What to do with Garnendar? So intense was the passion, the focus on the others and their ideas… the quiet Sam, went unnoticed as Garnendar knelt and Sam raised his silver sword up with two hands.

    With sword raised, eyes on the nape of the neck, Garnendar finally plead for his life before them. He plead to aid the ODS recover Shane.

    Sam winced, his muscles already tightened for the swing.

    Kanen spoke.

    “No deals.”

    With a nod to lower his head again, Garnendar did so. Suddenly, with all eyes on Garnendar and his plea, they realized Sam was but a second from executing his foe.

    “No Sam.” Roland spoke. It was not a suggestion. It was an order. His arms trembled as suddenly duty and desire conflicted within him, the sword hovered in the air, shaking as half of him let loose the fury within, and the other half followed his duty as a member of the Order.

    It was difficult, but Sam lowered his blade.

    And as if to add insult, Sam was given the task of keeping Garnendar alive as they took him further into the depths of the temple.

    As they continued on, at least Garnendar was gagged, but he was resilient in his resistance. Whenever Sam tugged on the rope that bound him, Garnendar meant to take his time, to delay them in the hostile environment of Mintas. The concern of the others grew deeper as did their progression into the depths.

    The others battled onward, Sam towing the Betrayer all the while. His patience wore thinner and thinner and eventually, he could take it no more. Garnendar would die if he had to walk another ten paces with him. He quickly lashed the rope to Garnendar to take his frustration out on the opposing minions.

    A day passed as they pushed deeper. Eventually coming to a large room of shadows, and no exit. Though Garnendar had led them this way, there was no where to else to go.

    Kanen was forced to use a charm to bring the truth out of the lying Banite. He told of a hidden doorway, protected by magic, which only an undead or Banite could pass. All those who entered the portal would become undead unless Garnendar himself granted them passage.

    At an impasse, they could see no further way to proceed without his help. Sam grudgingly returned the Banites holy symbol at his request, so that they could press on.

    His armor long since removed, Garnendar was a powerful priest. And now armed with his holy symbol, ungagged, he was not to be underestimated. Sam made sure the tip of his blade was pressed against the nape of his neck ready for any treachery.

    It seemed the False Watcher would comply. He recited a Banite prayer and seemed to be working on letting them through the barrier.

    Suddenly however, he turned and spoke a final prayer- that with his blood, they should fail. He directed the brunt of his power right at Sam. A flash of light filled the room, and most everyone stumbled back, blinded. Whether Sam blinked exactly right or Helm’s grace protected him, he knew not. Only that Garnendar was incarnating again and meant to destroy them or die trying.

    Kanen’s blade flashed to his right, someone else to his left, but he was unaware of it.

    He only saw Garnendar. The Betrayer, the False Watcher, the cause of Shane’s death, the captor of her spirit, the divider of his order, the ENEMY OF HELM.

    As if in slow motion, with perfect clarity of purpose, he felt his god within him, felt Helm’s guidance along his arm, and in that moment his blade flashed with a soft glow…. And buried itself into Garnendar’s heart.

    Though those moments seemed in perfect clarity to him, the speed at which Garnendar fell was surprising. His body fell backward as if struck by a battering ram, crumpling to the ground, instantly lifeless.

    And now, Sam knew what it meant to slay evil in the name of Helm.

    In his heart… he felt… nothing. It was simply an act of duty.

    This moment caused much ponderance on the part of Sam, though the others excitedly discussed how to defeat the barrier which supposedly only Garnendar could have opened.

    Khaya struck upon the idea of dispelling the necromantic threads she detected within the ward, and though they agreed to let her dispel it once to observe its effect, somehow the plan fell through. The dispel seemed to work, and they looked at it, and waited… and waited… though only for a few seconds, the urge to press on consumed them. Before the ward renewed itself, they plunged headlong through the portal.

    They found themselves in a cave. Spiders everywhere. Though they fell easily, a queen orb spider blocked their passage, overwatched by a Banite spellsword. Both foes fell quickly. Then massive earthen beast erupted from the walls, and the terribly strong beasts were repelled.

    They pressed on, knowing the end was nigh. Whatever lay behind the mysterious necromantic ward would not be far ahead.

    The showdown occurred deep in the pits of the earth, in a hidden chamber where a thousand Banites could have once worshipped with room to spare. They had to cross a long narrow bridge where finally they found their true foe.

    Known only as The Black Knight, it was he who Garnendar served. Kanen knew him well from previous fights and had never triumphed over him. What had seemed like nearly the end looked like just the beginning.

    The Revenant was once again ahead of them, the darker side of Shane imprisoned within, separating her soul from true rest.

    The Knight had words with them, but, confident in his control over the Revenant, allowed them to talk to it. Anna in her boldness commanded the Knight be silent as they spoke with it. The curl of his lips was cold as he watched the combined efforts of the Order to try to bring sense to the Revenant.

    They begged, they plead for her to see them not as foes. While Ishar did most of the talking, trying to show how he had tried to honor his pledge to retrieve her, Kanen, Sam and Thierulf slowly but surely edged their way closer and closer to the Black Knight.

    In a dramatic turn of events, to show his conviction, his desire to overcome his shame for failing to rescue Shane from Mintas, he grabbed the revenants sword and thrust his body onto it. There he began to die, but this singular act put doubt in the spirit occupying the Revenant.

    As all eyes turned to the dying Ishar, Sam, Kanen and Thierulf finally closed onto the flanks of the Black Knight. Realizing his control over the Revenant was not as absolute as he first thought, his words grew bold. If his minion could not complete its task, he would do it himself.

    As the Banite rambled on, Anna again commanded him to be silent. He refused, instead continuing his faithful drivel of victory and past achievements. Certainly he had to know it was over.

    Sam laid his blade across the top of the knight’s and gently tried to cause him to lower it, to surrender to them and let it be done, to release the revenant so they could take their comrade home. But he would have none of it. Instead of acknowledging defeat, for the second time that night, the Banite chose to fight.

    His first blow came at Sam, but it was weak and ill prepared with the half orc’s own bastard sword laying across it. Kanen swept in from behind, laying a terrible strike across his back. As soon as the Dark Knight turned to face his old nemesis, Kanen, Sam threw a shot in behind his knees, driving him down before Kanen.

    Now it was Kanen’s turn. Sam watched and saw the flash of Kanen’s sword, alive with the fire of Helm upon it. Whatever the Dark Knight’s name, it was forever lost as his soul was vanquished from his body by the righteous power of Helm wielded by his Chosen Knight.

    Now suddenly free of the control of the Banite, the Revenant was quickly turned from hostile to neutral. It agreed to rest, if Ishar completed his quest and restored his honor.

    Carrying the bodies of the Dark Knight, Garnendar, the Devonwood man’s wife, and Shane Andryl’s belongings, they began the long climb out of Mintas Rhelgor…..

    Once back in Jiyyd, each of the Order separated. It seemed as though, this night, each and every one of them had a matter to attend to. Kanen left to burn the Dark Knight and erase his memory forever. Ishar and several of the others left to attend to Shane’s monument.

    Sam, Roland and Lily stood around another pyre. The pyre of Garnendar. The epitaph of the False Watcher was a trail of smoke into the night. The epitaph was a symbol to all of Narfell. "This is the fate of evil"

    It burned until morning.

    That night, the Honor of the Order of the Divine Shield was reclaimed. It burned bright in the night as the pyres leapt towards the heavens. Not even the ashes of evil would remain before the wrath of the now unified and restored Order.


  • "Deeds not words."

    An expression Sam, involuntarily, was now forced to live by.

    The wicked Thayan blade that pierced his throat had left a bright red, thick scar across his neck. Khaya's ressurection had brought him back allright, but he was not whole.

    It took less than a week. At first he thought it was just the trauma of the wound, but each day he awoke, his voice became more and more hoarse, until finally, the pain of even the smallest of words, even introducing himself was too much to bear.

    On the rare moments when he was compelled to speak, when he could not contain himself any longer, he had to choose his words carfully, uttering perhaps only two or three… and the penalty for doing so was a wave of pain and coughs that left him breathless, coughing up blood from his throat.

    Fred was at a loss and even Daisy had begun to reduce the cost of her powerful healing as the paladin came in more and more often for relief from his affliction.

    "Deeds not words." Kept echoing in his mind. Perhaps this was a test. If his weakness was his speech, then perhaps Helm allowed this for a reason. Perhaps he must find a way to accomplish his duties without words.

    It was a difficult challenge.

    Kanen was rescued. Though Sam and Nico Black's mercenary scouts had turned up nothing, it was no surprise when Robyn's scouts turned up a critical clue.

    Everything seen in visions and foretold had come to pass. Kanen was indeed held by a woman, though no one Sam suspected. Kanen's sister, out of jealousy or hate for her brothers success had captured and tortured him for nearly 5 years.

    The task of dealing with the woman came to Robyn- her intelligent blade of justice, empowered by Tyr, would allow no other to deal with this woman. In a duel in the depths of a hidden cave, Robyn slew Kanen's captor.

    The years of captivity had been hard on Kanen, and he distrusted his senses. It took a good old friendly Sam slug to the shoulder to cause him to realize he was indeed rescued.

    It took a Deed and not a Word to break him from his distrust of his senses.

    Though Robyn certainly carried the day in the dark recesses of that cave, he still felt immense pride at having been able to be present for his friend and mentor at the time of his rescue.

    Thyrm Cardea once again had raised his ugly head. This time he was found holed up in the Gypsy camp, once again ratted out by the Romni. Though his Shadowcar loyalists traded their lives willingly, once his supporters had been slain, Thyrm surrendered peaceably to Kanen and Ishar.

    Sam was dissapointed Ishar did not carry out the sentence of his holy order and execute the vile cretin on the spot. But once Uthger laid claim to him for his crimes, the battle passion of the faithful seemed to wane, allowing Uthger to imprison Thyrm in Peltarch.

    Sam left once Thyrm was safely imprisoned. Rick remained behind and, barbarian that he was demanded to execute him anyway. Uthger released Thyrm into Ricks custody, and as Sam stood outside conversing with Cyrus and Ishar, watched as Rick locked Thyrm up into the stockade.

    Sam blanched. How could Rick, a citizen of Jiyyd, execute someone in Peltarch, even as Uthger watched on!

    Suddenly it dawned on him. Uthger was about to kill two birds with one swing of the axe. He would be rid of Thyrm easily enough, and then, he could summon his Koreth loyalists to seize Rick for murder! Thus would end the never ending feud between the two barbarians who had bickered for years and years.

    Sam could not beleive himself. But to save Rick, he would have to save Thyrm from his executioner.

    Through a few grunts, hand motions and placing himself between Thyrm and Rick's axe... he saved Thyrm from public execution. Uthger took Thyrm back inside, looking dissapointed.

    Sam wondered what kind of rift this would create between Rick and Sam.

    Callendal had been spotted in the southern Rawlins. Though his appearance was aged and diseased, his magical power was nontheless superb. He seemed to command the corrupted dire beasts as well as the fear inspiring Renders. Though wounded. He managed to flee.

    The nearby elves stated that a mysterious, powerful mage and his beasts had attacked them several tiems. No doubt, Callendal. Whatever he wanted was unknown, but Sam pledged to bring the Order of the Divine Shield back to find out.

    He fought the blackguard Asmodeous with lily, Cyrus, Roland and Khaya in tow. When he awoke, he found that the wicked paladin had escaped, and bloodied virtually everyone. They would need more than strength of numbers to bring down this abomination of divine power.

    Talgrath presented a plan which seemed plausible. He began to look forward to his next meeting with the dark paladin.

    Of all the adventures of late, they seemed to all pale against his anticipation of his next task.

    To save Shane Andryl's body from the depths of the evil city of Mintas Rhelgor.

    Amazingly enough, it took a troublemaking hin to spurn the Order to action. Merin Wyerspell and Sam had never gotten along. The mischevious hin was always up to his ears in trouble well above what he could handle. He meddled in the work of paladins and even hoarded a holy sword, claiming he could 'keep it safe.'

    And now, for his lack of wisdom, that sword had fallen into the hands of those in Mintas, and somehow Shane's spirit had been compelled to wield that blade in the form of a Revenant.

    Though the Revenant was felled and the sword returned to the Order from which it came, Merin's account of how this came to be was finally the last measure of justification to risk a venture into Mintas. Sam was greatly releived. He had been there once on his own and been repulsed ith ease.

    He could not contain his anxiousness as he thought of facing Garnendar for the first time. The man who had corrupted 'his' temple. The False Watcher who lured the Order into complacency while Sam was away fighting Banites and Thayans in the Dalelands, had left the Order in shambles and the temple unprotected from evils penetration into the holy ground.

    He wondered very much what it would feel like to thrust his blade into Garnendar's chest, calling upon the strength of Helm to send this man's soul straight to hell.

    This was a power, granted him by Helm which he had never used. Since acheiving the honor of Helm's grace, he had not fought a foe he felt such malice towards as to call upon the power of Helm to wield his blade for him.

    Perhaps he should have practiced on Thyrm when he had the chance. Now he would just have to have faith he could do it when faced with one who had defiled all Sam held dear.

    He truly hoped to find Garnendar looming protectively over Shane's body that this man might finally 'know' the power of Helm for what it truly was.

  • ?

    Great story sam, did anyone get any screen shots of the event?


  • 👏 👏 👏

    Amazing job to every DM, espicially morgan, and everyone involved. I only wish i could've been there right along side you all for the finish 🙂

    Wonderfully told sam


  • Beautifully told, Sam, thank you.

    The plot was created by all the Euro DM Team: Y_Frick, Emer, Linah, Bas, Attentus, Shadevar and myself.

    It began in January this year and has involved literaly hundreds of hours of event time taking place in every part of Narfell as well as Damara, Hoarsgate and Thay itself. We've spun tales from the southern gate at Norwick to the Palace of Szass Tam.

    My thanks to all those players that took part in any of these events, each one was a pleasure.

    The final event was assisted by Kanen, Pink Sharkey, Linah, Basman, Emer and Shadevar.

    With the talent and creativity of the current DM team, I can assure you, you ain't seen nothing yet.


  • ASSAULT OF THE THAYAN STRONGHOLD (plot finale)

    OOC Note: This is written in thanks to many. Seven (7) DM’s. I saw Guardian, Morgan, and Grobber personally. Theres 4 more that worked behind the scenes though. It spanned Nine (9) months, and arguably touched every PC on the server in that time. Few PC’s in Narfell don’t know what a Thayan or Red Wizard is in game now.

    PC’s: Adam Bromley, Meril (the lead bards), Khaya, Skyla, Ka’ell, Ashen, Tagnar, Kharbeh (let us all honor the 11th Level she lost in this event) Mingal, and myself were all in the Final Assault.
    A lot more PC’s were involved however, and a quest spanning 9 months.. I missed a lot of it, and a lot of the contributions of others. This is just an effort to show how these things finish for those that wonder.

    Blind people walk slow, Sam thought. But he didn’t mind. Walking with Rith Pheonixfeather again was an honor. It was a greater honor the reason she chose to walk with him. This woman, who had sacrificed herself, her eyes, for others against the Drow was a hero to Sam.

    It was easier to give ones life for a cause, Sam thought, than to survive, always remembering things best left unremembered.

    She was light-hearted it seemed. Perhaps glad that someone still remembered her, and that she still could be called upon to help others. Today, it was Sam who had asked for her help. The Order of the Divine Shield would bestow the title of knight upon Sam today, and it was she Sam chose to do so.

    Though they arrived late, the journey was uneventful, the conversation quiet and relaxed. The temple was packed surprisingly with many familiar faces, and some Sam didn’t know. Though he’d known there would be people, the nervousness he usually felt hadnt hit him. That is… until he was faced with them. Suddenly he felt very naked and exposed. His hands shook.

    He remembered little of what was said, he just concentrated on his knees, making sure they stayed straight. Eventually he was called forward, made to kneel and given the oath. He’d been practicing it, over and over as he worked in the temple, repairing the damage Juno had done.

    He’d wanted the temple to be ready, and indeed it was. Only a handful of Narfellians had ever seen the visage of Helm. Only one Touched.

    With Cyrus’ help, his earth elemental had helped reforge the statue of Helm, and given it a blank mask from which Sam recarved the face of Helm from his memory. It had taken weeks, one small cut of the chisel at a time. With the dedication and patience practiced by the fifty years it had taken him to become a paladin, he chiseled ever so carefully to remove the excess stone and reveal the face of Helm he knew lay below.

    Late one night, one last cut on the cheekbone… and suddenly the eyes of the statue glowed. It surprised Sam, and he dropped his tools, but the warmth he suddenly felt told him that he his efforts were successful. Sweeping the altar clean of his tools, and kneeling, he prayed for Helm’s swift return to Jiyyd, to the temple, to restore the holiness of the ground.

    His answer came as a vision. He saw himself standing by his house, watching over Jiyyd, He saw shadows all around closing in. Suddenly dawn broke over the hill, scattering the shadows of evil. The vision faded.

    Only a day later, he kneeled in this same place, now returned to some part of its former order, and tried to recite the oath given by Rith, tried to pronounce the words. Like many things Sam attempted, effort and desire were never enough. There was always something lacking in the half-orc that prevented him from accomplishing things as thoroughly as he liked. The temple was clean, yet not protected, still vulnerable to attack. The words he recited after Rith, though sincere, were slurred and ill-spoken.

    Nevertheless, he arose, “Sir Samson Swarthout.” Finally… this time, he was a knight in an Order. A full fledged knight. Not one who was appreciated for his efforts and given an honorary status due soley to his dedication, but one who had earned his place as a Paladin in a Holy Order.

    It was the accomplishment of his lifetime.

    There was catering in the Regal Whore and the members of the Order of the Divine Shield encouraged everyone to attend. Even Sam was anxious to see everyone out the door, but not to be social. To escape. While the thought of food and drink was always appealing to the well-fed paladin, today there wasn’t time.

    Sam appealed to Attentus for one of his powerful invisibility spells, which, though the mage lofted an eyebrow, he agreed.

    Minutes later, Sam slipped quietly out of Jiyyd, away from the raging party, two powder kegs burdening his pack. He closed swifly on the Gypsy Camp.

    The group was already assembled, and for the second time that day, Sam was late.

    With Adam and Meril leading the pack, they set out into Gnoll land. The battle was quick as the assualting force had overwhelming odds. The cave entrance was quickly found and Sam tied off the first rope and descended into the cave.

    Reaching the depths below, the first gnoll didn’t have a chance. As it peered up the rope into the darkness, Sam’s keen nightvision picked it out immediately. He dropped ten feet onto it; the massive half-orc and all his equipment crushed it instantly. There was a moment of indecision on the part of the other gnolls as they observed their squashed brother and Sam, bastard sword held high, defending the rope. Suddenly Tagnar slipped in and the moment his feet touched down, the game was on. Then the game was over. Half a dozen gnolls smeared across the floor.

    The party advanced, Ashen in the lead, scouting, reporting and giving the group lead time to plan attacks as they pressed onward quickly. The gnoll mages proved to be well prepared. Several times Skyla and Ayanie rained both fire and ice on the enemies prepared defenses, crushing them.

    Tactics changed often. Sometimes Ashen would fire at a few and lead them down the tight tunnels into the waiting blades of Tagnar and Sam, and a hail of arrows from the rest. Other times Ayanie and Skyla would slink forward, bring down destruction and retreat past the blockade of Sam and Tagnar. Kharbeh, as always, was elusively everywhere she wanted to be, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind, her arrows picking off mages from the darkness.

    Khaya and Mingal were impossibly busy. With so many casters opposing them, they wisely chose their spells for the moment, as often the magic was dispelled as quickly as it was cast and certainly before each battle was over.

    The most cunning of gnoll mages challenged them, and even a Red Wizard, trapped by the party’s advance had to be defeated before they could continue.

    It seemed as though each mile they traveled took a day, and every bit of their strength. Each camp made was under constant seige.

    Their last camp came under attack by a massive steel guardian, a golem of some kind. Sam and Tagnar locked shields against it in the narrow passageway and were rocked in place by the constructs mighty blows. Between them however, it could not pass, and it succumbed to the combined magics of Ka’ell, Adam, Skyla, Ayanie, and the hail of arrows from the clerics, rogue and ranger.

    This left the group very weakened as they left camp. And only half a mile further into the tunnels, they came upon a Thayan triad, a most ruthless and effective combat force which had nearly killed the entire group that went below the Lost City.

    Ashen came back, shaking his head in dismay as he relayed what he had seen as he scouted in the darkness. The mages were woefully lacking in offensive power. Yet, they had one advantage. Defensive magic. It was decided Sam would assault the group as a distraction, and try to finish the mage quickly and hopefully Sam could defend his back long enough for the party to attack the enemy and keep Sam alive.

    Stoneskin, invisibility, haste and all manner of spells were cast upon him. Too focused on the mage to consider just how lethal Sam was at this moment, he charged into the group unseen. His hastened silver sword flashed in the darkness three times, severing both arms and the head of the mage before spinning in the same blow to catch the cleric across the mouth as he cast some spell.

    The Thayans were routed, and they attempted to flee, but the hail of arrows cut them down. However this was only the advance party of the Thayan’s blockade to their cavern. The defensive position ahead of them was vast.

    Still under the effects of the magic, yet unable to communicate due to the aura of silence around him, Sam slipped a keg from his pack and tried to slip right into their midst to light it. Their mages must have expected such, as sudddenly their clerics were upon him, and he was routed back into the party’s midst.

    Twas a near thing Sam did not fall then and there, but the diligent clerics saved his life just as arcane fire blasted him nearly lethally. What had started as a good idea turned into chaos… the mages rained fire on the counter-attacking force as they charged. Tagnar held off a iron golem alone, the old dwarf cursing in a nonstop stream of dwarven. Returning to the fight, Sam dueled a cleric while Ashen whittled a knight down with his dual blades in a flurry of skilled blows.

    When it was over, the party was exhausted and wounded, but after three or four days in the tunnels, they penetrated into a vast underground cavern, lit by some mysterious red glow somewhere in the foggy ‘sky.’

    Now they were in the Thayan Lair.

    Here they faced Thayans and their powerful constructs. Their elite knights brutally lethal with their greatswords, their clerics raining fire from the red mysterious sky.

    Unable to continue, the group decided to set up camp at he ruins of an old watchtower. Suddenly a Thayan Elite Knight charged into their midst, an Sam’s sword flew just behind the charging knight, unable to stop him. It knocked Kharbey to her knees and ran her through. The blood curdling scream of the pixie provoked the wrath of the entire party. Surrounded on all sides, the knight paid the price for Kharbeh.

    Mingal and Khaya were well prepared however, and despite her death, the pixie was brought back. Disheveled an with a really bad attitude, she picked herself up to continue the fight. There was no other choice. The group could not afford to drag dead weight around.

    Another camp. Though it too came under attack several times, the attacks were repelled successfully.

    Onward. Battles. Camp. Attacks. Onward. Battles. Camp. The cycle repeated. It was less an assault than a campaign into enemy territory and the slaughter of near constant Thayan patrols.

    One such battle held such a pitch that it seemed all would be lost, the party was scattered by knights, golems casters and clerics that it took them an hour just to find everyone again. The Thayans were somehow watching them, and through the use of their portals were sending triads at their rear, their flanks and their front. The shield fighters were unable to keep up as the Ayanie, Ka’ell and Skyla became the target of the attacks.

    As the group recovered in yet another camp, Sam, Tagnar and Kharbeh observed the narrow passes, and saw how the winding path came close to an altar just twenty feet away. Kharbeh wanted to use a rope bridge to cross over, cutting several miles off their way. She threw a line over and snagged the altar. Sam was the anchor man, leaning his massive weight back as she crossed. Soon she popped up from behind the altar and grinned. It was quiet.

    Tagnar went next, to provide security. One by one they climbed over, largest first. Once half the party was across, the Thayans stuck the divided force. A talented mage assaulted them with fire and a golem, severing the rope. This mage seemed invulnerable and was able to hold the combined firepower of the magic and arrows for what seemed like an eternity, but eventually he too fell to the attacks.

    Ashen saved the day by coughing up the last rope they had. Soon everyone was across but Sam. It was quite the interesting sight to see nine combatants on one side of the chasm, and the huge half orc on the other. Considerable doubt plagued them as they wondered if indeed they could haul almost 400 pounds of half-orc and his three hundred pounds of equipment.

    Sam called on the magic of his crafters ring, and the divine strength afforded him by Helm, and charged the chasm. It was a blind leap of faith. (called a 22 strength roll) The head long leap was accompanied by a mighty roar.

    It was true. Half-orcs can fly.

    Right into the altar.

    The noise of both the roar and the resulting collision brought beasts from the earth and the party came under attack on the narrow precipice. Tagnar held them at bay until Sam collected his senses enough to join the front. Once again they battled. The only escape was to plummet to their deaths in the chasm below. The mages and clerics were spent and it was a fight to the death as Elite Knights appeared through portals. Mighty earthen contstructs, which could crush rock in their hands assaulted their front and a flank as the knights attacked the rear.

    They were surrounded. There was no more magic this day. The fight was decided by blood, will and steel.

    They never retreated a step. Sam remembered Skyla, Ayanie and Ka’ell, the three lined up like mere infantry trying to hold the flank, as they let loose their crossbows into the face of a knight as he charged, dropping him. As they reloaded with shaking hands, the next one with raised greatsword bore down upon them, and he too was felled on top of the first. Tagnar fought earth beasts to the south and Sam battled his own to the north. The exhausted clerics summoned all that they could, yet they had only the power to cure scratches.

    At the end, bloodied and bruised, they stood their ground against impossible odds. It was time to rest.

    In all, they covered only 100 meters that day.

    After the camp, the group had enough peace to finally catch a decent sleep. Sam prayed for aid in the final assault. The frantic attacks by the Thayans meant they were getting close. As they rounded a corner, they discovered a large, well established portal which Adam deduced was the source of the Thayans ability to send triads wherever they desired. It was a breif, one sided battle for once, now that they were used to dealing with Thayan tactics.

    Adam tried and tried with Ka’ell and Meril to make the portal work to their advantage, but in the end, they decided it must be destroyed. Sam cheerfully provided his demolitions expertise, and one Thayan Portal later, they pressed on towards a bridge.

    As Ashen, Tag and Sam crossed, they could see a heavy force guarding a temple ahead. Arrows almost drove them back, but Tag and Sam charged forward and knelt down behind their shields screaming for the mages to bring their most destructive magic to bear. Ka’ell,Ayanie and Khaya answered the call. It was a killing field as the concentration of enemy tried to escape. The smart mages cast spells to the left and right and worked their magic into the center where the cowering Thayans were absolutely annihilated under the hammer of fire and ice, and righteous light.

    When they seized the temple. Only one priest guarding the altar remained, yet his fanatical devotion drove him mad. Rather than surrender, he sacrificed himself in a futile charge.

    The bards examined the altar with Ka’ell. Surely enough, they had finally arrived at the stronghold of the Thayans.

    This was their temple. This was the end.

    They guarded the doors and rested while they bards and mages above unlocked the secret to open the doors to the temple.

    It was a quick fight gaining entry into the temple. However, the door leading from the antechamber revealed an entire Thayan army in the training hall. The ten were outnumbered a hundred to one.

    This one door was the fulcrum, and it traded hands several times. Sometimes three to five of the assaulting heroes would press into the hallway, only to be pushed back through it. Then several elites would blast through with their supporting mages behind them and they fought in the antechamber for their very lives. Each time the result was the same. They Thayans on one side, the heroes of Narfell on the other. Piles upon piles of bodies in between.

    As their magic powers waned for the day, it was apparent… The Thayans were goin to win. There were just… simply… more of them.

    Suddenly Meril tipped the balance. Using a small stone he summoned ‘O,’ the mysterious monk, several of his apprentices and an army of undead knights and mummies.

    Sam was in shock.

    He had heard them mention Meril could bring reinforcements, yet he didn’t remember anyone telling him exactly ‘where’ these reinforcements would come from. After a short conversation, O and his minions pressed the fight past the door and into what was left of the Thayans.

    Sam refused to aid them. He would not fight alongside the undead, though the bards scoffed at him for it.

    Soon however, O returned, covered in the blood of his foes. When the party entered the massive hall, they saw a stone floor awash in blood, only the monks standing. The mummies, skeletons fallen among the Thayan corpses. A war had been fought in this great hall, and the survivors numbered less than five.

    They had broken through the last of the prepared Thayan defense.

    It was a matter of cleanup now. They went room to room, slaying those that had hidden themselves behind closed doors. None could be spared. Even one Thayan left alive would begin anew the evil work they had pledged to.

    They seized a massive library, absolutely packed with Thayans. Tagnar and Sam held the doorway as Skyla screamed in delight as she unleashed the power of her fire into the ranks of the enemy. It was over before it began, some of the charred remains still standing like blackened statues.

    A brief investigation of the library revealed little, save a large book from which Sam read over the shoulder of Adam. “He who reads from this book shall enter into the pits of hell.” Sam scoffed.

    Perhaps he shouldn’t have. The next door Kharbeh untrapped and unlocked revealed a knight, his greatsword held high. He nearly cleaved the poor pixie in half, but she dove out of the way. Sam barreled into the knight, knocking him back through the doorway and cut him down as quickly as he could.

    Now standing a few feet past the entrance to this new hallway, Sam saw four knights charging him, their greatswords held high. Sam hesitated a moment, thinking Tagnar just behind him. But as he looked, he saw only the mages peering into the hallway, their eyes wide at the attacking Thayans.

    It was a hesitation as precisely the wrong moment. Fatigue was heavy with the paladin already, and as he realized he would have to take the brunt of these terribly well trained foes, he turned his attention back to them and tried to raise his shield.

    It was too late.

    The first Thayan’s two-handed swing caught Sam across the right side of his helm, spinning him into the wall where his head connected with another dazing crash. The next blow only half a second behind it on the shoulder of his shield arm, sending him to his knees. Sam felt two more strikes across his back, felt the powerful blows cut through his armor and into his sides.

    He turned around, on his knees, unable to lift his shield. He saw a greatsword lifted high above his head and he tried to lift his sword to parry it when suddenly, his peripheral vision caught the flash of a greatsword being thrust towards him.

    He had been in battle enough to know where the knight was aiming. He had no choice. He could parry the slashing blow to his head, or the thrust to his exposed neck as he looked up. It didn’t matter which he chose, he could only stop one.

    It didn’t hurt as the tip of the sword passed through the soft flesh of his neck. Blackness came quickly.

    He was in the library.

    Somehow they had held on, and managed to survive. They drug him from where he fell and Khaya raised him before his body had cooled the slightest bit. He felt the scar across his throat. He remembered…..

    Sam was allowed to stay back some as he tried to recover. His blows seemed weaker, and his mind cloudy and fuzzy. The monk O was with them still, but Sam struggled to merely stay near the group. A few more rooms with paltry resistance were cleared. In the massive hall, still awash with the blood of the Thayans, there was one door left to open.

    Another massive fight ensued. Iron guardian constructs, elite knights, mages and everything the Thayans had left poured through the door. Sam, though still numb and unthinking, was experienced enough at fighting that the instict of battle stayed with him. He fought, though not with the skill of before, and held front with Tagnar whilst volley after volley of arrows cut down the Thayans as they rushed through the final door.

    In a lull, the monk, O, charged into the room. Numbly, Sam followed and the Narfellian assault force poured into the chamber where the last Thayan defenders fell.

    Sam lowered his shield and sword, absolutely exhausted, looking at Tagnar who also was looking as if he’d fall over dead at any moment. His eyes glanced over everyone else. They were alive, still standing, shoulders rounded with fatigue.

    At that moment, a door in this final room burst open, and a man with a crown atop his head charged forth screaming that everyone would now die, nearly bowling Sam and Tagnar over in his rush. Several fireballs seared across the party and they scrambled to dodge his powerful magics.

    Picking themselves up, Sam called upon Helm for one last rush of strength, and felt his god answer. He lifted his sword at the madman and brought it down on his knee. He fell in a crash as Tagnar brought his weapons to bear. Don’t let him up, Sam, he heard someone cry out. The mage never got off another spell. Every time he tried to rise, Sam put him down again as Tagnar made quick work of his knees and ankles. When it was over, there must have been a full quiver’s worth of arrows and the crushed mages body was a bloody pulp.

    NOW it was over. Maligor, the once thought lost rival ruler of Thay was dead. The last components of the Belgarathon artifact were now safely in their possession.

    Suddenly a portal opened and Sam called out a warning. Another triad, he thought. But it wasn’t. Instead, this time, a lich appeared. Szass Tam.

    Szass Tam- the ruler of Thay had appeared. His might rivaled that of a god.

    O bowed to his master quickly. Sam, despite his daze, was stunned. Szass Tam demanded that the stones of power be delivered to him. Meril and Adam complied, thanking the lich for his help.

    Absolutely stunned, his foggy mind trying to comprehend everything. Slowly he put it together.

    These were rogue Thayans working for Maligor, intent on obtaining this artifact to overthrow their ruler, Zulkir Szass Tam.

    O worked for Szass Tam, always had. The reinforcements Meril summoned were provided by the lich. The bard had struck a deal with a lich for aid against the Thayans, in exchange for turning over the stones to him.

    Magicly, the boxes containing the components of the Belgarathon artifact appeared in his hands, then vanished. Only Meril seemed to understand. The rest of the party was stunned into silence, save Skyla, who tried desperately to charm her way to reason with the creature. He was amused. And acutely aware of her efforts.

    He tried to think of what to do, but his mind was still foggy and sluggish, and the lich watched him closely. He could not think of what to do, but he tried.

    Just as he was about to vanish, Kharbeh spoke up, looking for all the world like someone drug through the mud. Her grumpy demeanor had not changed since she had come back from the dead. She demanded of the lich to be compensated for her efforts.

    Finally a truly amused chuckle came from the beast. Trinkets and gold, he said, and promised to send something.
    True to his word, he sent some kind of reward back through his portal. O and Szass Tam were gone. Only his voice remained, and he gave them only moments before he sent them to Peltarch.

    Sam was sick. He had been deceived. Lied to. He had bled for Narfell, for his countrymen, his home. He had helped defeat the Thayans in their stronghold, all the while aiding their ruler unknowingly. He had traded his life for this cause.

    Zulkir Szass Tam was gone, the artifact was gone. The Thayans were gone- all of them at least.

    He watched as the others scrambled over the pitiful ‘reward’ the Zulkir had sent back. He nearly threw up in disgust.

    His first sortie as a knight of the Order of the Divine Shield had not ended on a positive note.

  • ?

    Sam could not imagine anything going better.

    He had won what he considered a great victory in Norwick in the last night. While walking with Adela Cain, the blind paladin of Helm, and Rera, the crippled elf girl, Rando stopped them.

    Sam was dumbstruck at the reason.

    "Remove your staff."

    Sam hadn't even thought for a moment about it. Adela was quite blind as anyone could see, and without her stick would walk into all manner of potholes on the road or even buildings. Rera on his other hand, held onto his arm and hopped as she could with them.

    "I'll not tell you again, remove your staff."

    Sam's blood boiled.

    What kind of "captain" was this Rando, that he could not find any compassion in his heart for a blind woman and a cripple.

    Heated words followed, and Sam challenged Rando. If Rando could not find compassion, by Helm it was time someone beat it into him!

    If Rando lacked the courage to make a decision, or seek one from Jandor, then let him have the courage to stand for his conviction for the law against Sam's conviction that the law could be tempered with compassion.

    Even Uthger agreed, surprisingly enough to Sam, and even demanded that Rando step down within the month, or Uthger would take back his position.

    Rando took the 'out', seeking Jandor. The mayor, though a barbarian, saw fit to see it through fair eyes. "This is not Peltarch." he said cooly. The permission was given, and Sam secured the decision with his pledge to serve equally any punishment Rera or Adela might be given should they abuse the priviledge of having a walking stick.

    Sam was pleased.

    Earlier, Cyrus had given Sam the items he would need in the order. A robe, a new holy symbol to replace Sam's very old and terribly damaged one. And a set of armor painted in the colors of the order.

    He chose to donate his old set of plate, and helm (since it didnt match anyway) to Rith, who took it gladly and agreed to conduct the knighting ceremony.

    It was only a few hours away and he was excited.

    His thoughts turned to those he knew, wondering who would come. He hoped to see several faces. For once, this knighting meant something to him, and he could not understand why.

    He'd been knighted twice for deeds past by two orders, and both times found it embarrasing and a nuisance. In fact, in order to BE knighted the first time, he had to be given a surname, something he found no use for and in fact, he could not even pronounce. He did not even consider the knighting of the coward Vashere- the oath he was given that night was empty.

    Oddly enough, now that he -was- a paladin… it seemed to mean something to him.

    And soon he would be married as well. His greatest concern was to be able to provide for her. As if Helm had lined up so many great things at once, a home fell right into his lap. Rather than Jiyyd accepting his permits to build something new, which they had denied, Robyn sold him her house as a private transaction.

    She packed up her belongings, asking Sam to take care of those she chose to leave behind, and headed to Peltarch. In a way it was sad to see Robyn go, but as he stood in front of HIS door, looking over jiyyd from atop the hill, and at the temple...

    This just seemed like home. As he stood atop a hill, watching over the Nars, now he stood atop a hill in Jiyyd, where he could survey his home as well.

    There was no land to till here however. Sam would be soon be knighted and soon live next to the temple. He pondered these signs at length

    Helm's will was clearly evident to him, what he must do, as clear as if he had been told in person.


  • It was late at night in the Boarshead Inn. Sam had decided to get an actuall bed to sleep on. It was something of a reward.

    His thoughts did not exactly drift.. they shot here and there back and forth between several recent events. As soon as he set his mind to ponder one, another would shoot into his head.

    First… he hadn't seen Durai and Shalia. No one he spoke to seemed concerned that they were missing. "They are on their honeymoon!" was the common response, typically followed by a "dont worry."

    Hmm... dont worry. Sam shook his head in the bed. He wondered what not worrying felt like. It had to be an empty feeling. If one never worried, then of what did one care about? And without a care, what reason for living at all?

    Only a couple close friends elected to break into the Hightower house for clues. It was a desperate measure, but the only thing they found was a white hound locked in the storage room which exploded when approached, seriously wounding them all.

    Sam was sure Durai would understand about the damage... he had broken down that door once before. It wasnt as if he didnt pay for the last one either. He didnt know what to make of the white hound. But alas, the house was in order. Still no signs or clues as to the couples whereabouts.

    He wondered under what rock they could be hiding... Under what.. UNDER! Sams thoughts changed again.

    Under... the Lost City. He had done what he'd never imagined he'd do. He had followed- of all people- Adam Bromley... UNDER something! As if being UNDER Norwick with him the last time wasnt bad enough... he had gone UNDER of all places the LOST CITY. To do what?

    To look for Thayans, he said.

    And oh, by the way Sam, Can you help carry this 500 pound gnomish device along the way?

    If not for the orders of the Order given to him by Ishar, Sam would have certainly told the fool bard to pound sand. Unfortunately, orders were orders and Sam agreed, carrying the device nearly the whole time with the help of Talgrath, Kael in troll form and Maya. It was an ugly contraption and impossible to fight with, Difficult to grip and painfully slow when it did... well... whatever it did.

    Adam seemed to know how to use it however, and after what seemd like a thousand "pick it up, put it here, pick it up, put it here's" They finally found a hole, having managed a successful entry into the lost wastelands of the city.

    Yes, Adam had found his silly green rock and the bards had foolishly decided to have a conversation in the depths of the chasm's below the-

    Bards... Sam's thoughts spun again... not bards- A bard. One in particular.. Sam's heart fluttered.

    Marry me? she had asked. Marry me! The words flew threw him like ghosts, into and out of his soul, with each passing giving him a bit of a thrill, and he grinned stupidly as he lay in the bed, unable to restrain himself.

    The shock had still not worn off. Though his experiences with Mellia had certainly been as up and down as he could have imagined, he knew they both had hurt each other. They both knew how delicate each was. Mellia, afraid of being treated like a possession to be abused and misused, as her former husband had. And Sam, quite the opposite, deathly afraid to bare his soul so deeply to any that they could smite him with but a word.

    She had nearly done so once. And of course, Sam had pained her just as equally. He was ashamed of it, and had been trying mightily to overcome it. If not for her, then at least for himself.

    Perhaps she had seen his efforts and come to realize that indeed, though Sam was a being of great and terrible violence at times, she would ever be in the eye of the hurricane that was Sam. Protected and immune from whatever might ravage around her.

    He lay in bed, his mind picturing her face, her delicate smile which hadn't quite the strength he expected, nor the joy. Sam didn't know how truly committed to this proposition she was, something was amiss within her.

    She could easily find a better man, and Sam knew it. Sam was afraid of this fact.

    But… if there was one strength in Sam, it was perserverance and loyalty. If she was willing to take this step with him, he would ever and always strive to be worthy of her love. It might be a difficult task at times, but in truth, she asked little of him.

    To be safe? To be unafraid that he would punish her with whips, or burning brands? That he would never strike her? Perhaps she even genuinely wished to be loved back. Sam was pretty sure she didnt know what that would be like. In truth... Sam really didnt either.

    Her proclamation of love to him the first night had triggered something in him that was strong and on fire. Something that left him incredibly vulnerable to her and yet just as forgiving when that vulnerability was struck.

    The cycle of fleeting thoughts was broken. Fatigued from the fighting of the day prior, Sam slipped into dreams. Pleasant dreams filled with a pretty bard... A bard who needed and wanted..... Sam.

  • ?

    innocent look I didn't do it. 😛

  • ?

    Sorry Auntie 'Lanny!

    :oops:

  • ?

    whistles innocently Um… I was all Rick's fault. That's it. Rick.


  • They got married?! Without me?!? AGAIN?!!!

    Dead. Sooooo dead.


  • For the most part- things had been quiet. Sam rather enjoyed the time he had to spend with his friends of late.

    As usual, there were the normal set backs. His dream of retirement was once again shot down, this time by the hins. He knew he placed to much faith in Scutum. Or perhaps he clung too willingly to hope.

    In either case, the fields in the Silver Valley would not be tilled by Sam, nor would he live quietly by the Andryl shrine. He had dearly looked forward to stepping down from the hill, tilling those fields, tending to the maintenance of the shrine, that it should never fall into disrepair. Much regretted not being able to live in the small dwelling near the river. The silver valley was a peaceful place, but… it would seem as though Sam was destined to never know peace.

    At least however, there were small joys in his life. Rick and Aaimie, well more Rick than Aaimie, were fast friends. Friends out of desire for a change and not necessity.... or oath.

    Apparently Durai had gotten into a situation with the troublemaker Juno Everhart. Trouble that had resulted in a duel with the man. A duel which resulted in Durai's defeat. As the rumors floated in on the hill to Sam, his expectant scowl hid his watchful gaze for the day Juno mischose to walk over the hill.

    He didnt have to wait long. Juno strolled up, his cocky demeanor present as usual. Sam stepped down from the hill to meet him on the plains.

    Without so much as a pleasantry, Sam said he'd heard that Juno had spoken ill of a faithful of a rigtheous god, a faithful Sam was sword to protect. Juno's snippy response angered Sam and the finger that was jabbed into Juno's chest cut his words short, and sent him back a step.

    Sam covered the ground again, puffing himself up to his full size and height, peering down at Juno from atop his crossed arms.

    "If'n yuh ev'r says ill o' wunna faithful o Mr Helm, Tyr, Torm, Ilm'ter, Sune, 'er ena oder gud god... Sam's gunna be on yer honor fer it, Mr Juno."

    For once, the man sobered and accepted the terms. Though his face said differently, Sam was forced to accept the words as spoken. To Sam, this was not a matter of pride, or false honor. This was real honor. The honor and reputations of those who had suffered and bled for Narfell were not to be tarnished by the idle jokes of the ungrateful. Should Juno step across the line Sam had just drawn in the sand, Juno would receive the pummeling of his life- and to that Sam was committed.

    He left the hill, out of sorts somewhat, but quickly raised in spirits when he received a letter on the Regal Whore.

    It is time, we have already left for Peltarch. -Durai

    "Shite!" Sam almost forgot his helm in his haste. He arrived in Peltarch, breathless, but in time to witness the wedding of Durai and Shalia. It was a small afair. Only Robyn, Sam and Rick as witnesses.

    As promised, Sam gave Shalia away. He felt a tug on his own heartstrings as he did so. He was older than most of these people combined, had been to many weddings, but never his own. The old half orc felt his age. He didnt let his thoughts wander too far, the ceremony was lovely and Daisy's pleasant voice certainly was music enough to keep their spirits light.

    Rick and Sam each left the wedding in haste to purchase gifts. The small reception was held in the Mermaid in the private room. Gifts were exchanged, a toast and then they began drinking and talking.

    The festivity was cut short by Dwarron and Grag however, as they burst into the private room, hurriedly asking for Sam to head to his hill. Something was wrong.

    Sighing his dissappointment, Rick and Sam left the newlywed couple to see to the hill. What possibly could not be handled by the legion?

    It was a long, but fast run south.

    Something was certainly wrong however, the hill was covered in defenders. As they crested the hill, he could see the problem. Several decapitated heads were thrust onto pikes. As Rick and Sam examined them, they all had something in common.

    They each were missing an ear.

    Sam inspected the first head, the pike jammed exactly between the ruts made by Sam's feet over the years. One in the place Rick commonly stood, and one in the center of the road.

    Defiance? A message? Sam pondered… the ears... his blood chilled.

    "Mr Rick! Runup an tell Mr Durai! Quicklike eh?"

    Rick nodded, he too had no doubts what this message meant.

    Thyrm had returned from Waterdeep.

    A few days passed… and no sign of Durai or Shalia- he hoped it was just their honeymoon to blame.


  • Juggling. Thats exactly what Sam was doing- juggling eggs.

    The objects however, were not truly eggs, they were lives, yet to drop one would be just as disastrous. The eggs were flying faster and faster and Sam was certainly no performer.

    His frequent visits to Shalia and Durai, his two favorite eggs, seemed to go well, but there was always the thought in his mind that his welcome would be worn, his advice unheeded. In truth, the advice part was already happening. Maturity perhaps, but Sam suspected more that it was the couples desire to appear unified no matter the outside influences.

    This could be good… and just as dangerous should Shalia or Durai be separated from the other. Sam hadn't the experience to know.

    Indeed his own efforts at bonding... were miserable efforts causing him much pain and consternation. He was faced with a choice himself, and he found from experience that he was completely inept at juggling two women. He would soon have to make a decision, and quickly try to set one of the delicate eggs down without breaking it..... her.

    Shalia had already begun to meddle in this and Sam had fled the scene, embarrased and afraid of his own ignorance, and lack of wisdom. He knew he had no sense, no experience and was ill equipped to handle her charms. In truth he was ill equipped to handle 'any' woman's charms, but Shalia in her innocence and objectivity parried his gruff porcuipine quills deftly to reach the heart of the matter- his heart.

    He would have to make his own decision soon, before someone made it for him.

    That is.... if he could find time to THINK for 5 minutes!

    Revana was as elusive as a Wolf. Though that didnt prevent him from looking for her to check on her, he did rarely find her. She as always seemed busy, preparing herself diligently, training and expanding her knowledge of the land, learning the people. She was quite independent. Sam prayed nightly that her elusiveness would protect her. If her allies could not find her, perhaps her enemies would be harder pressed to do so as well.

    Shalia's return brought even more information into the mission to save Kanen. He was most surely alive, though the secrets that were revealed confused everyone present. More information was required, and though they had acquired much already, even the edges of the puzzle they sought to put together were as yet undefined. Too many questions went unanswered

    In an effort to speed things along, Sam spoke to Ishar, one of the Order. Though Ishar pledged the support of the Order, saying that they order would always come to the aid of one of their own, when Sam looked around, he could find no one in the Order who was charged to aid him. Even Ishar claimed that with the Elinah missing, the Order was having to reorganize and such decisions might have to wait until the council met again to discuss the future.

    Even so, Sam already knew the Order was much more concerned with the Thayan threat than they were with finding Kanen.

    Sam clumsily swept up the Thayan egg and tried to put it into play.

    This was too much for Sam, and he willingly tossed an egg aside, letting it fall unheeded. The Alliance. Sam had no more time for them. The rumors of the pillaging of the countryside was going to make them an enemy of the druids.

    And worse yet... Bruno. Many of the Orders private records had been made open to him, so he could keep up with the findings of others and contribute his own. As he rummaged through the files, he came upon the sealed reports of Bruno, his one time friend, and ally against the bandits. Bruno was the only being of cursed blood Sam had ever called friend.

    Suddenly Sam realized how wrong he had been for so many years. He had even defied Kanen's and Elinah's judgement on the matter.

    Unconsciously, as he read report after report, his hand lowered to his waist. When he closed the report, the intense scowl on his face matched the tightness of the grip on his sword.

    He left in a hurry, and turned in his symbol of membership to Hendry, the barkeep, a veiled warning in his wake.

    That task completed, he turned north to Peltarch, to seek some company and discuss the future.

    In his mind, the eggs went round and round.