Chapter #199

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                                +
                              +   +
                            +       +
                          +           +
                        +               +
                      +                   +
                    +                       +
                  +      THE ADVENTURERS      +
                    +                       +
                      +      Epic II      +
                        +               +
                          +           +
                            +       +
                              +   +
                                +



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+    The various characters contained in these writings are   +
+  copyright 1994 by Thomas Miller.  Any resemblance to any   +
+  persons or characters either real or fictional is utterly  +
+  coincidental.  Copying and/or distribution of these tales  +
+  is permissible only under the sole condition that no part  +
+  of them will be sold or used for profit.  In that case, I  +
+  hope you enjoy them...                                     +
+                                                             +
+                            Thomas Miller                    +
+                            tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu  +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   THE PARTY:                                                +
+                                                             +
+   Alindyar      15th level dark elven mage              (N) +
+   Arnold        11th level human warrior               (NG) +
+   Belphanior    12th/14th/14th level high elven w/m/t  (CN) +
+      small immaterial wispy thing                           +
+   Ged           14th/14th level grey elven priest/mage (NG) +
+   Lyra          12th level female dark elven mage       (N) +
+   Mongo         16th level dwarven warrior             (CG) +
+      Gorin       7th level dwarven warrior             (CG) +
+   Peldor        18th level human thief                  (N) +
+      Bosco       8th level halfling thief              (CN) +
+   Rillen        16th level human warrior                (N) +
+                                                             +
+   SPECIAL GUEST STARS:                                      +
+                                                             +
+   Halbarad      13th level human ranger                (NG) +
+      Zephyr     large wild tiger                       (NG) +
+   Peyote        11th/12th level half-elf warrior/druid  (N) +
+      Blok       earth elemental                         (N) +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   Date:    1/18/574 C.Y. (Common Year)                      +
+   Time:    late afternoon                                   +
+   Place:   the Land of Black Ice, to the far north          +
+   Climate: sub-freezing                                     +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   "There is too much that man does not know.  And what      +
+    man does not know, that is the province of the gods."    +
+                                  - ancient Nordic proverb   +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++





               CXCIX.  The City of the Gods





  After roaming the Land of Black Ice for a day, the party
had come upon a strange city, buried in high drifts of dark
ice and snow.  The gleaming metal towers of the place rose
above the deep black snowdrifts which nearly concealed it
from the outside world.  Indeed, if not for Belphanior's
magical compass, they would have passed right by the city.

Peyote:  Dudes!
Lyra:  (scowls at the half-elf)
Ged:  An ancient city...
Gorin:  It's _huge_!
Ged:  Hmm, we're north of Blackmoor...in the Land of Black
  Ice...I wonder if this city could be-
Peyote:  Me too!
Mongo:  (irritated)  What?!?
Ged:  Legends tell of an ancient city in these parts...the
  City of the Gods!
Peldor:  Ah, home at last...
Rillen:  (considers slapping the thief)
Belphanior:  (regarding the city ahead)  What kind of gods
  lived in the place?
Peyote:  No one knows.
Alindyar:  One would presume that they are long-gone now.
Halbarad:  One would hope.
Bosco:  Well, c'mon!  Let's explore it!

  They made their way to the city, though the high snow-
drifts made this difficult at best.  Finding no main gate,
they decided to simply scale the city's wall instead, and
avoid the need for a gate altogether.

Peldor:  Piece of cake, I tell you!  (he begins climbing up
  the smooth metal wall, but slides down after a mere ten
  feet)
Ged:  Well-done.
Peldor:  Bah.  (he finds a grappling hook and ties it to a
  rope)  I don't know why these metal walls are slick like
  grease, but I'll get up there, one way or another.  (he
  tosses the hook up and over the fifty-foot high wall, and
  gestures to the dangling rope)  See?
Halbarad:  Truly you amaze even yourself.
Peldor:  It's hard, but I manage.  (he begins climbing up
  the rope)
Lyra:  (using her boots of flying, she simply floats upward
  in a matter of seconds)
Peldor:  (sees that he has been outdone)  Dammit.
wispy thing:  (sails past Lyra, as if to mock her)

  Atop the wall, there was no ledge - the inner and outer
sections of wall simply tapered to a point.  The wall's top
almost resembled a wide blade, in fact.

Peldor:  Uh-oh.  They'll never be able to climb this.
Lyra:  (floating alongside)  We'll need magical means to
  get everyone up and over.
Peldor:  (uses his ring to TK Bosco into the air)
Bosco:  Hey!
Peldor:  Relax, little buddy.  (he lifts the halfling up
  and over, and sets him down on the inside of the wall)
Bosco:  (regarding the strange, circular towers in awe)
  Ahh...(he begins to wander into the city)
Lyra:  I'd wait for the others, if I were you.  There's
  really no telling what dangerous monsters lurk in this
  place...
Bosco:  Jeepers!  (he shuffles his feet nervously)  Maybe
  you'd better get some other people over here with me.
Belphanior:  (right on cue, he appears over the wall, again
  thanks to Peldor)  Hold your horses, Bosco.  (he drifts
  downward)

  Shortly, everyone was over the wall, save Zephyr and Blok
who were both too heavy for Peldor to move with his ring.

Ged:  Hmm, a dimension door wouldn't work...
Alindyar:  A teleportation spell might do the trick, though
  I'd hate to use one just for this.
Rillen:  Maybe we should have found the city gate.
Belphanior:  How about two Reduce spells?
Peyote:  Yeah, man, that's the ticket!
Peldor:  (lifts Belphanior back over, so he can cast his
  spells)

  This obstacle was soon overcome, and Zephyr and Blok
stood with the party, although they remained at their
shrunken size.

Zephyr:  (now about seven inches long)  graaar.
Blok:  (now about nine inches tall)
Peyote:  Well, dude?
Belphanior:  What?
Peyote:  Put them back to normal.
Belphanior:  Err...I can't cancel the spell automatically.
Halbarad:  (throws his hands up)  Oh.
Ged:  Hmm, we might need them in battle.
Belphanior:  No big deal - they'll be okay in about an hour.
Peyote:  An _hour_?!?  Bogus, man.

  It was decided to explore the city, and use a spell of
dispelling magic only if a major battle broke out.  Now
that they were all over the wall, the adventurers were free
to gaze at the city from the inside.  Not only were its
towers perfectly rounded and smooth as silk, they were
also organized in a symmetrical pattern, rather like a
circular grid.  Some towers were larger than others,
either in height or diameter or both; the larger ones
seemed to be at the city's center.  All were built from
the same smooth, grey metal.

Mongo:  Wonder what that is?  It's not adamantite, or even
  mithril.
Gorin:  Definitely not iron.
Belphanior:  Who can know?  (he consults his compass)  I'd
  say we should get going.
Ged:  We can explore this place in more depth as we go.
Peldor:  Yeah.  It looks...weird.  Hard to believe that
  gods lived here.

  As they marched through the city, it became less and less
hard to believe that.  The streets of the place were laid
out in a pattern consisting of arcs, radiating outward from
a central point.  They looked like metal, though they felt
soft when walked upon, much like a thick rug.  Far above
the wandering explorers (for some of the towers were well
over a hundred feet in height) certain towers were joined
by arched walkways, of the same grey metal.  A few of the
buildings had no visible doors or windows, while others
were topped by thin spires of metal.  Here and there, dim
lights of strange colors could be seen within one tower or
another.

Belphanior:  I still don't detect any souls...(he hands the
  compass to Rillen for a moment and casts a Stoneskin on
  himself)
Peldor:  (scanning the streets ahead)  And I don't see any-
  thing alive here.
Alindyar:  This city is truly odd.
Mongo:  No shit...
Gorin:  Kinda empty.

  As they followed Belphanior, who followed his compass,
they seemed to be moving toward the center of the city.
On the ground, translucent tubes ran in this direction,
from the outlying regions of the city, like spokes on a
wagon wheel.  When examined, these seemed to pulsate with
some kind of inner light; no sword or dagger tip proved
able to penetrate the material from which the tubes were
constructed.

Mongo:  I could bash the thing with my hammer...
Ged:  No need - there's no telling what the tube is for.
Belphanior:  (scanning the tube)  It's magical, whatever it
  is.
Bosco:  (scanning the tube with his x-ray vision)  Ow, this
  hurts my eyes.
Alindyar:  Some kind of energy conduit, perhaps?
Lyra:  Seems like it.
Ged:  Yea, I agree.
Rillen:  Hmm.

  As they continued along, the towers grew higher and higher
overhead, evidence that the group was nearing the city's
center.  Shortly, they approached a massive tower, easily a
thousand feet in diameter!  This tower was the highest of
all, towering above the surrounding structures.

Arnold:  Aaa.
Peldor:  Wow!  That's got to be at least a thousand feet
  high!
Bosco:  Let's climb it.
Rillen:  Ah, how soon they forget...

  This central tower was the focus of dozens of the pulsing
tubes that ran along the streets; they all entered it at the
ground level, simply vanishing into the metal of the tower's
sides.

Alindyar:  Most interesting.
Ged:  I'd assume this place's magic hasn't entirely worn
  away.
Belphanior:  (looking at his compass)  The Rune's definitely
  inside that tower.
Rillen:  (searching for a door)  We may have to go around -
  I don't see any doors.
Mongo:  (hefts his hammer)  Let's make one.
Halbarad:  No sense in announcing our presence to the whole
  city.
Peyote:  Yeah...metal against metal...resounding.
Mongo:  Huh?
Peldor:  (ever observant)  No windows, either.

  They made their way around the base of the huge tower,
and their efforts were rewarded:  about ten minutes later
they found a massive circular hatch.  The thing was about
a foot off the ground, and measured perhaps twenty feet in
diameter.  It blended perfectly with the surrounding tower
wall; only a faint seam was visible.
  In the center of the hatch (if it was that) was an inch-
deep depression, in the shape of a three-fingered claw.
The claw-print was about eight inches long, and a human
hand could have fit in it with much room to spare.

Belphanior:  I'd say that thing's shut tight.
Bosco:  (jumping up and down, trying to get his hand in the
  claw-print, which is about ten feet above the ground)
Rillen:  Give it up.
Ged:  (casts Knock upon the hatch, to no avail)  By Boccob!
  The thing's held fast!
Alindyar:  (tries a Dispel Magic, to no avail)
Mongo:  Hmph.  (he stashes his hammer in his belt loop and
  begins pushing the circluar hatch)  Ungh!
Arnold:  (tries to pry the hatch open with his sword-point)
  Aaa.  No good.
wispy thing:  (flies up to the seam, and regards it with
  curiosity)  Pfffffs?  (it vanishes into the seam)
Belphanior:  Hey!
Peyote:  Whoa!  The little dude's gone!
Lyra:  Gone, but not forgotten.
Bosco:  (looking around, trying to figure out what he just
  missed)
Belphanior:  Well, let's blast this thing open.
Alindyar:  That might not be an effective course of action.
Ged:  We need to scry the thing...see what it's all about.
Peldor:  Hmm.  (TKs himself up to the claw-print, while the
  others talk, and places his hand in the depression)

  There was a soft hissing sound, and the circular hatch
slowly slid to the side, out of sight.

Ged:  (absolutely stupefied)  How?!?
Peldor:  It's a god thing.  You wouldn't understand.
Bosco:  (leaps over the foot-high bottom jamb of the big
  hatch, entering the tower)  C'mon, guys!
wispy thing:  (floats within, and regards the adventurers
  with amusement)  Sspee!

  They entered the tower, amazed by what they saw within.
The _entire_ interior of the massive central tower was but
a single chamber, horizontally at least; it was almost a
thousand feet wide and well over two hundred feet high.
The floor, walls, and ceiling were a pale white in color,
but more interesting were the odd protrusions that hung
from the ceiling.  Each was perhaps a hundred feet wide,
shaped like a cylinder and imbedded with disks along its
whole height.  The things stretched down from the huge
chamber's roof, but didn't quite reach the floor, stopping
about twenty feet above it.  The disks on these cylinder-
things shimmered with dim, yet constantly-changing, colors;
the cylinders' center cores themselves were transparent.
  There were eight rows of two cylinders each, radiating
out from the center of the tower, for a total of sixteen;
they were spaced symmetrically, and in a circular fashion.
The whole series of cylinders resembled an eight-pointed
star pattern.

Bosco:  Upside-down towers!

  Of the pulsing translucent tubes, there was no sign here
inside the tower.  In the exact center of the place loomed
an opaque column, about fifteen feet in diameter; it rose
all the way to the ceiling.

Alindyar:  It appears to be made of glass.
Mongo:  (with Belphanior, he leads the others toward the
  center of the tower/chamber)  Gods, but this is weird.
Belphanior:  (watching his compass as well as the strange
  cylinders)  The Rune's toward the center there...and
  above us.
Lyra:  (studying the upside-down towers, as Bosco called
  them)  What can those _be_?
Belphanior:  (gazing at the cylinders, his eye glowing)
  Pretty damn magical.
Alindyar:  Perhaps an energy source...
Ged:  Fed by those tubes outside, maybe?
Arnold:  (simply taking in the unusual view)  Aaa.
Gorin:  Yeah...
Peyote:  (likewise)  Gnarly...this place is...unnatural.
Halbarad:  Agreed.
wispy thing:  (hovering near a cylinder)  Pssssoo?
Rillen:  (looking around warily)  We're exposed out here in
  the open like this.
Peldor:  Yeah.  (he goes invisible)
Bosco:  (using his x-ray vision, he looks around, all but
  hypnotized)  Whee.

  About this time, Zephyr and Blok returned to their natural
sizes and weights, much to the relief of the tiger, at least.

Zephyr:  (glaring at Belphanior)  Grr...
Belphanior:  What?!?  (points at Halbarad)  It's his fault!

  As they approached the center of the tower, they noticed
that one of the cylinders, closest to the glass column, was
not scintillating dimly.  Unlike the other seven, it seemed
to be fully-charged with whatever magical energy powered
the cylinders, for it glowed brightly.

Belphanior:  (scanning the cylinder)  Holy...I need to
  get up there.  (he begins casting a Fly spell upon
  himself, and hands the compass to Ged)  Here, hold
  onto this while I check that thing out.
Mongo:  Err...is this wise?
Rillen:  No.
Ged:  Bah.  I, too, wish to see what's up there.
Alindyar:  As do I.
Lyra:  (also watching expectantly, she flies up halfway, via
  her boots of flying)
Bosco:  (wanders toward the glass pillar in the center of
  the cavernous chamber, whistling)
Halbarad:  (goes after Bosco, then stops halfway)
Arnold:  (bored, he simply wanders the room, looking at
  the various cylinders)  Aaa.
Peldor:  (invisible somewhere)

  Belphanior completed his spell, and flew up to the bottom
of the glowing cylinder.  He was about five feet away when
he felt a tug at his belt.  Suddenly, Blackrazor tore free
from its sheath, and dropped to the chamber's floor.

Belphanior:  What the hell...?
Peyote:  (tries to pick up the sword, but can't lift it more
  than five feet or so above the floor)  Whoa, it's like the
  cylinder repelled it.
Alindyar:  Intriguing...most intriguing.
Ged:  (wondering if this would be a good time to rid the
  party of Blackrazor)  Hmm, maybe not.

  Deciding to worry about his sword later, Belphanior turned
his attention back to the cylinder's bottom, examining it
carefully.  He was bathed in bright lights, and felt strange
tingling sensations throughout his body.  Against all common
sense, he reached into a hollow space in the center of the
bottom of the cylinder...

  Instantly, the elf was blown away from the cylinder, and
fell to the floor, hard.  In his wake rained a shower of
glowing sparks, which burned themselves out within seconds.
The elf lay unmoving, his hair singed.

Rillen:  Serves him right.
Ged:  Maybe.
Zephyr:  (growls uneasily)  Grrr.
Belphanior:  (stirs, and then shakes his head)  Wha...what
  hit me?
Alindyar:  Yonder inverted pillar-
Belphanior:  Never mind, it was a rhetorical question.  (he
  stands up shakily)  Ow.
Ged:  What did you find?
Belphanior:  Nothing...I didn't even get to touch the thing
  before it blasted me.  Maybe we'd better leave it alone.
Alindyar:  (trying to think of other experiments to try, he
  comes up with none)  Hmm.

  As they pondered these recent events, Rillen noticed that
Bosco was examining the glass column at the room's center,
about a hundred feet from the party.

Rillen:  We'd better join the small one, before he gets into
  trouble of some sort.
Ged:  Yea.  (they all head over to the glassy central pillar)
Peyote:  (returns Belphanior's sword to the elf)  Here, man.
  All yours.
Peldor:  (invisible, follows silently)

  The halfling had found something strange on the far side
of the glass column.  It resembled some variation of an iron
golem, though it was less detailed than most such automatons
tended to be.  The huge form was lying prone on the floor,
and spanned twenty feet from head to toe.  About ten feet
wide, the golem-like thing had massive limbs, which were
jointed, much like those of humans and humanoids.  Its head
contained two narrow eyes and a thin slit of a mouth; this
latter orifice was covered by a grille of fine metal wire.
  The metal man didn't move or show any signs of life, even
when Bosco began prodding and poking at it.

Bosco:  C'mon, wake up!
Mongo:  Uh...
Rillen:  Could the thing come to life?
Peyote:  Let's hope not.  That's one big metal dude.
Belphanior:  It's got vague traces of magic...very vague.
  No traps, though.
wispy thing:  (studying the thing)  Bsssp.  (it grows
  bored, and flies away)
Gorin:  Who can tell if it's alive or dead?
Alindyar:  Indeed, who can define such conditions?
Arnold:  (confused)
Bosco:  (squinting)  Hey, my x-ray vision can't see through
  this metal!
Lyra:  That's odd.  (she examines the metal, which is dull
  grey and cold)  Hmm.
Ged:  (notices some wires and gears smashed beneath the
  huge form)  Hey, what's this?  Let's turn the thing over.
Mongo:  (reluctantly sets his hammer down, and uses his
  giant strength to roll the metal form over)  Ungh!

  The thing rolled over with a loud metal <clang>, and
the adventurers could see that a plate in the metal man's
back was missing, revealing a one-by-one foot square of
exposed wires, gears, and other arcane components.  The
magi tinkered with these things for a few minutes, but
had no luck in causing anything to happen.

Ged:  (regarding the opaque column next to the metal man)
  Time to get up there...
Halbarad:  But how?
Belphanior:  Hmm.  (touches the glass, and finds it to be
  immaterial)  Hey...!  (he steps into the pillar, and
  immediately floats upward, not rapidly but not slowly
  either)  Whee!
Mongo:  What the hell?  (he follows the elf, and also floats
  upward)
Rillen:  (leading the others into the column, he looks up
  as he begins to float, and readies his bow, on a hunch)
  I sense danger ahead...
Belphanior:  But the Rune!  The Rune of Time!  Its power
  will be ours...ahh.
Ged:  (regarding the other elf with concern)
Alindyar:  (removes a translucent crystal wafer from within
  the metal thing's exposed body, and pockets it)  Ah.  (to
  Lyra)  For further research, at some later time.
Lyra:  I see.  (they enter the opaque pillar, and rise up,
  after the others)
Peldor:  (still invisible, he goes last, in order to get
  a good look up Lyra's cloak)  Huh?  (mutters to himself)
  Black underwear?  Curses, foiled again...

  They rose for about a minute, at which time they moved
right through the chamber's ceiling, entering a massive,
hemispherical chamber fifty feet in radius.  The ceiling/
wall of this room glowed bright white, and arcs of energy
danced away from it, hitting the floor with loud popping
sounds.  The aura of power emanating from the energy-dome
was almost tangible.
  The adventurers stepped out into this large room, but
quickly realized that they weren't alone.  To one side of
the chamber stood a skinny, red-skinned figure.  The thing
was some kind of demon, for pointed ears and sharp facial
features complemented darting, beady eyes.  Small wings
sprouted from its back, and a pointed tail flicked back and
forth.  The creature watched the adventurers with great
malice; in one hand it held a small black sphere, within
which flickered tiny dots of light.  A shimmering globe of
energy surrounded the demon.

Ged:  Look!  A demon!
Lyra:  Any fool can clearly see that.
Bosco:  I can clearly see that.  Hey, wait a-
Alindyar:  (muttering)  A Globe of Invulnerability...this
  is a powerful foe indeed.
Halbarad:  Demon, we have come for the Time Rune.
demon:  Ah, it's about time you showed up!  (it waves the
  ebon sphere)
Belphanior:  The Rune of Time!
demon:  Aye...and I see that you've brought me the Rune of
  Water.
Mongo:  Fuck you!  We didn't bring you anything!  (he, as
  well as some of the others, charges the demon)
demon:  How nice of you - I was hoping for some other
  fools, with some other Rune...perhaps the Rune of Fire.
  (sighs)  But...one has to be content with what one has,
  and all of the other Rune-bearers will come in time...
  most of them are on their way, actually - you just got
  here first.
Ged:  Forget it, fiend!  The Rune will be ours!
demon:  I think not.  (it brandishes up the Rune of Time)
  Prepare to meet your doom, dolts.

  Instantly, a tiny ball of electricity appeared in the
demon's hand, and quickly grew ominous, numerous bolts of
lightning swelling rapidly within.  Before any of the
adventurers could do anything, forked bolts arced forth
in their direction.

Mongo:  (prominent in the front rank, he gets blasted, and
  falls to his knees, his beard and hair singed)  ARGH!
Belphanior:  (also blasted first, he is knocked back ten
  feet, a large black burn on his chest)  Aaaargh!
Halbarad:  (hit by another lightning bolt, he is knocked
  back about twenty feet, coming to rest near one of the
  energy-walls)  Argh!
Rillen:  Urgh!  (bowled over by yet another bolt, he rises
  to his feet, bow in hand)
Peyote:  (being a druid, he is injured more seriously by
  the lightning, and is stunned as well as knocked back)
Blok:  (at the rear of the party, it is hit by a bolt of
  lightning, but doesn't stagger as chunks of rock are
  sprayed in every direction)
Zephyr:  (blasted by lightning, the big cat is stunned,
  but moves to protect Halbarad as he gets to his feet)
Gorin:  (knocked back a bit as he gets hit by a lightning
  bolt, he collides with Mongo, and both topple to the
  ground)  Whoa!
Arnold:  (in his metal armor, he gets two bolts, staggers,
  and watches bolts dance toward those in the rear of the
  party)  Aaa!

  The electricity wreaked terrible havoc among the party.
Alindyar, Lyra, and Bosco were rendered unconscious,
perhaps worse; Ged was stunned, as was Peldor, who became
visible as he staggered into Rillen.  The warriors still
stood, shakily, but they were seriously wounded now.  They
either charged the demon or prepared distance attacks, as
the demon cackled and danced in glee.

demon:  Hah!  Now for something else...a fireball, perhaps.
Rillen:  No!  (he draws, nocks, and releases a golden arrow
  that he's carried for some time now)
demon:  (struck in the heart, it screams as blackish blood
  spurts from the wound)  NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo....(the demon
  falls, and the Rune hits the floor, bouncing, and rolls
  toward the dome of blazing energy)
Ged:  No!  Don't let-

  Suddenly, as the Time Rune contacted the energy field,
everything went white; the last thing the adventurers saw
was an all-encompassing glow of purest light.





  An indeterminate time later, the stars left their eyes,
and they saw that they were now in a darkened alleyway,
whose end opened onto a noisy street of some kind.  Those
who had been most grievously wounded in the battle - the
drow and Bosco - were still unconscious.

Ged:  (looking around)  Boccob!
Belphanior:  Ugh...what now?
Mongo:  We've got a problem...

  Indeed, from the original group, only Alindyar, Arnold,
Bosco, Belphanior, Ged, Lyra, Mongo, Peldor, and Rillen
remained - all the others had vanished!

Peldor:  Or maybe _we_ vanished...
wispy thing:  (not to be discounted, it appears from
  underneath Peldor's sitting form)
Rillen:  We have other problems.  (points to the busy
  roadway nearby, a roadway that is looking more and more
  alien every second)  Look!

  Through the street strode numerous demonic figures, of
every color and disposition.  Fierce, oversized heads and
strange plumages were visible as the demons in the street
began to peer into the alleyway, taking notice of the new
arrivals...





next time :  Uh-oh!  Where the hell are they?

ftp site  :  ftp.cs.pdx.edu in /pub/frp/stories/adventurers

notes     :  Okay, you've been asking for this...it's again
           time to release the adventurers' complete stats
           and item lists.  The last time this was posted was
           episode #125, 1.5 game years ago (9 months real-
           time)
             Actually, you should thank one of your fellow
           readers, Alice Cameron - she reminded me that the
           time had once again come.
             I've included stats for non-active members of
           the party, for your edification.

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Alindyar
  15th level drow mage
  male, 5'6", 101 lbs, black skin, white hair, violet eyes
  178 years old
  al   true neutral
  STR   9
  INT  20
  WIS  16
  DEX  17
  CON  15
  CHR  13
  COM  13
  ac    3
  hp   45
  thac0 17, staff, 1-6/1-6
other:
  permanently susceptible (-3 on saves) to paralyzation
  unaffected by 1st & 2nd level illusions
items:
  cloak of protection +4
  infinite spellbook
  mirror of mental prowess
  bag of holding

Infinite Spellbook
  This book has more pages than should be physically
possible, and is capable of holding any 99 mage spells.

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Arnold
  11th level human barbarian warrior
  male, 6'3", 270 lbs, white skin, light brown hair,
    light brown eyes
  24 years old
  al   neutral good
  STR  18/99
  INT   8
  WIS   8
  DEX  14
  CON  17
  CHR  13
  COM  14
  ac    0
  hp   87
  thac0 4, 2H sword +3, (2/1) 1-10/3-18 +10
items:
  2-handed sword +3, Frost Brand
  dagger +2
  plate mail +3
  cloak +3
  helm of brilliance
  boots of water walking
  ring of health
  ring of proof vs. poison
  ring of protection +1
  potion of water breathing
  potion of extra-healing
  potion of invisibility

Ring of Health
  Renders wearer immune to any diseases and sickness
save those caused by divine sources.

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Belphanior
  12th/14th/14th level high elf warrior/mage/thief
  male, 6"1", 117 lbs, white skin, light brown hair, black
    eyes
  123 years old
  al   chaotic neutral with evil tendencies
  STR  18/09 (18/00 with gauntlets)
  INT  17
  WIS  10
  DEX  17
  CON  16
  CHR   9
  COM  10
  ac    1
  hp   69
  has permanent intimidation effect & red eyes due to potion
  thac0 3, longsword +3, (3/2) 1-8/1-12 +9
items:
  Blackrazor
  bracers of defense ac4
  gauntlets of ogre power
  staff of power
  wand of acidic spheres
  wand of lightning
  wand of foam
  wand of wonder
  wand of fireballs
  lightning rod
  Book of Beasts
  Eye of Elik
  Dark Ring
  Trumpet of Doom
  Kiel's compass
  well of many worlds
  boots & cloak of elvenkind
  folding boat
  cube of force
  dice of chaos
  ring of wizardry
  periapt of proof vs. poison
  potion of skeleton control
  potion of poison
  potion of gaseous form

Blackrazor (Belphanior)
  CN longsword +3
  Int 17
  Ego 16
  purpose:  to suck souls
  slay foe w/soul to gain levels and full hp for [levels]
    turns
  each 3 days unfed, ego gets +1 until a killing happens
  speech & telepathy (Common + wielder's languages)
  detect souls 60'
  haste (10 rounds) 1/day
  100% resistance to charm and fear

Book of Beasts (Belphanior)
  Protection from Good & Evil, 10' radius when held
  Dismissal, Ensnarement, Banishment, Binding, Gate
  Monster Summoning I-VII
  all can be reused once/week apiece from the book

Dark Ring (Belphanior)
  renders invisiblility to undead, upon concentration
  allows wearer to animate dead once/month as a 12th
    level priest

Eye of Elik (Belphanior)
  NE disembodied eye
  continually has:  infravision, ultravision
  upon concentrating, has:  true seeing, detect magic &
    traps
  darkness 3/day
  hold monster 1/day
  vision 1/day
  bones/exoskeleton/cartilage of opponent turned to jelly
    1/day
  eye glows red upon use of any power
  small fires extinguished upon use of major power
  -1 to CHR
  -3 to permanent hp total
  must have free eye socket, or gouge one
  user's alignment shifts toward evil

Kiel's Compass (Belphanior)
  Upon command, will point toward a named person, place,
    or unique item.

Trumpet of Doom (Belphanior)
  Once/day, winding will summon some random undead.  The
summoned undead are not under the control of the user.



other property/holdings:
  small building in Greyhawk's Old City section
  iron golem, Angus

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Ged
  14th/14th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob
  male, 5'8", 101 lbs, white skin, golden hair, green
    eyes
  111 years old
  al   neutral good
  STR  11 (19 with girdle)
  INT  20
  WIS  20
  DEX  17
  CON  16
  CHR  16
  COM  16
  ac   -8
  hp   53
  thac0 5, morningstar +4, 2-7/2-8 +11
other:
  immune to:  Cause Fear, Charm Person, Command, Friends,
    Hypnotism, Forget, Hold Person, Ray of Enfeeblement,
    Scare
items:
  Lightbringer (morningstar +4)
  elven chain mail +4
  medium shield +5
  wand of colorless fire
  wand of conjuration
  ring of water elemental command
  torus/talisman of pure good
  belt vs. normal missiles
  Boccob's Blessed Book
  Kiel's sky balloon
  box of preserving
  decanter of endless water
  figurines (golden lions)
  harmonica of gravity
  amulet of the planes
  small quantities of Gorka root & cloud dragon powder

Lightbringer (Ged)
  NG morningstar +4
  Int 15
  Ego 26
  purpose:  to slay undead
  disintegrates undead upon successful hit (-4 to save)
  detects undead within 60'
  speaks Common + wielder's languages
  continual light 3/day
  sunray 1/week
  fly 1/day

Kiel's Sky Balloon (Ged)
  Flies at up to 36" for maximum of 40 hours/week; can
carry up to 3000 lbs. of cargo while in flight.

Sueloise Fire Wand (Ged)
  Wielder commands nine powerful fire-related powers:



other property/holdings:
  castle and land outside of Greyhawk
  stone golem
other hirelings:
  Deryck (ranger) (in charge of castle in Ged's absence)
  Scotty (engineer) (has the lyre of building)
  Calvin (page) (just a lad)

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Halbarad
  13th level human ranger of Ehlonna
  male, 5'10", 186 lbs, tan skin, brown hair, grey eyes,
    prominent facial scar across left eye
  30 years old
  al   neutral good
  STR  16 (18/00 with gauntlets)
  INT  14
  WIS  14
  DEX  17
  CON  18
  CHR  11
  COM  11
  ac -2/1
  hp 100
  thac0 1, battleaxe +3, (2/1) 1-8/1-8 +8
        2, dagger +2, (2/1) 1-4/1-3 +7
        3, longbow +3, (2/1) 1-8/1-8 +6
items:
  battle axe +3
  dagger +2
  longbow +3 of accuracy
  9 arrows +1
  leather armor +5
  gauntlets of ogre power
  ring of animal friendship
  ring of truth
  gem of seeing
  cloak of comfort
  horn of blasting
  potion of fire resistance
  potion of speed

ranger abilities:
  priest spells:
    5/2/1 @ 6th level of ability
  hide in shadows 85%
  move silently 99%
  tracking 5
  enemy = orcs
  animal empathy (-5 on their rods save)

Zephyr (wild tiger)
  ac 6, hd 5+5, hp 40, thac0 15, dam 2-5/2-5/1-10+2-8/2-8,
    size L (9')

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Lyra
  12th level drow mage
  female, 5'4", 90 lbs, black skin, white hair, pale
    violet eyes
  99 years old
  al   true neutral
  STR   7
  INT  18
  WIS  14
  DEX  16
  CON  12
  CHR  14
  COM  17
  ac    1
  hp   32
  thac0 12, dagger +5, 1-4/1-3 +5
items:
  cloak of protection +3
  ring of protection +4
  boots of flying
  earrings of power
  infinite spellbook
  blanket of warmth
  staff of striking
  dagger +5
  2 potions of extra-healing

Infinite Spellbook
  This book has more pages than should be physically
possible, and is capable of holding any 99 mage spells.

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Mongo Thunderhead
  16th level dwarven warrior
  male, 4'0", 164 lbs, brown skin, black hair w/beard,
    black eyes
  72 years old
  al   chaotic good
  STR  18/71 (22 with girdle)
  INT  12
  WIS  12
  DEX  14
  CON  19
  CHR  13
  COM  11
  ac   -2
  hp  120
  thac0 -4, warhammer +5, (5/2) 2-5/1-4 (x2 if hurled) +17
items:
  Stormcrest (hammer +5)
  plate mail +3
  shield +1, +4 vs missiles
  girdle of fire giant strength
  helm of life
  ring of fire resistance (actually fire elemental
    control)
  ring of regeneration
  portable hole
  necklace of adaption
  amber bee of feather falling
  orb of fate
  cadeucus
  hell cube
  horn of siege
  cornucopia of endless food
  rod of lordly might
  jug of extra-healing x4
  potion of flying
  potion of sweet water

Stormcrest (an ancient dwarven artifact)
  purpose:  to slay giants and giant-kin
  hammer +5, dwarven thrower (180' range, double damage dice,
    returns to thrower)
  merely a hammer +1 for anyone not a dwarven warrior
  requires 20 or higher strength to wield
  hammer affects giants as does a hammer of thunderbolts;
    this is the only time it generates a thunderclap
  can generate a lightning bolt of 10d6 power (2/day)
  bearer may become extremely ill and weak when not on land
    for more than one week
  bearer is compelled to attack all giants
  bearer becomes prone to fits of both rage and sullen gloom,
    due to occasional and vague empathic flashbacks and
    visions of ancient dwarven times

Orb of Fate
  Once per day, this crystal sphere will answer aloud
any one yes/no question.

Cadeucus
  This powerful item of Good, when touched to a wounded
mortal of non-evil alignment, will cure all wounds and
diseases, blindness, deafness, feeblemind, and paralysis
provided the recipient makes a successful system shock
roll; failure indicates that that mortal can never again
be helped by the rod.  This item will only cure the same
individual once in any given week.

Hell Cube
  This powerful item of evil has unknown powers of a
summoning nature.

Horn of Siege
  This horn, when winded, causes a powerful earthquake
(at the 25th level of magic use).  It can be winded but
once per month.

Cornucopia of Endless Food
  This item never fails to be full of plenty of tasty,
nourishing fare, provided that it is in the hands of a
Good individual.





Gorin
  7th level dwarven warrior
  male, 3'10", 150 lbs, brown skin, brown hair w/beard,
    brown eyes
  46 years old
  al   chaotic good
  STR  17
  INT  12
  WIS  10
  DEX  13
  CON  17
  CHR  12
  COM  12
  ac  2/0
  hp   68
  thac0 9, battleaxe +3, (2/1) 1-8/1-8 +6
items:
  battleaxe +3
  chain mail +3
  large shield +1

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Peldor
  18th level human thief
  male, 5'11", 161 lbs, white skin, brown hair, moustache,
    brown eyes
  22 years old
  al   true neutral
  STR  18
  INT  17
  WIS   9
  DEX  18
  CON  17
  CHR  18
  COM  17
  ac   -2
  hp   76
  has permanent persuasiveness effect due to potion
  thac0 7, longsword +4, 1-8/1-12 +6
        6, daggers +3, (2/1) 1-4/1-3 +5
items:
  Nightfang (longsword +4)
  two daggers +3 of throwing
  smoky glass dagger
  leather armor +2
  ring of telekinesis
  ring vs. insects
  eyes of the eagle
  luckstone
  rope of climbing
  hat of disguise
  necklace of obscurity
  boots of striding and springing
  adamantine meteorite
  pouch of accessibility
  everburning green torch
  bell of healing
  ten feather tattoos
  large bean
  Daern's instant fortress
  dust of sneezing and choking
  scepter of the winds
  potion of longevity
  potion of extra-healing
  potion of feather falling
  potion of acid
  potion of treasure finding

magical feather tattoos
  Each of the feathers has some magical power; after some
owner has had a particular feather for nine days straight,
the item vanishes from physical existence.  The owner will
find a small tattoo on his person, a feather tattoo of the
color that his or her feather was.  Henceforth, the powers
of the feather are his or hers to command.  And they are:

white.........feather falling
silver........invisibility (as the ring)
yellow........regeneration (as the ring)
orange........+3 on saves
red...........fire resistance (as the ring)
green.........+3 protection
gold..........wish (1/year)
blue..........cold resistance
purple........haste (3/day)
black.........poison resistance

Necklace of Obscurity (Peldor)
  The wearer of this simple-looking necklace cannot be
scried, sought, or otherwise detected by any spell or
magical device.

Nightfang (Peldor)
  N longsword +4 of sharpness
  wieldy and light as a dagger for initiative and melee
    purposes
  only a powerless +1 sword in the hands of a non-thief
  purpose:  to aid and abet rogues (namely, its owner)
  grants nine lives to worthy wielder, via teleportation
    to nearest safe point at moment of death




Bosco
  8th level halfling thief
  male, 2'9", 40 lbs, tan skin, light brown hair, light
    brown eyes
  20 years old
  al   chaotic neutral
  STR   8
  INT  13
  WIS   7
  DEX  17
  CON  14
  CHR  13
  COM  13
  ac  1/4
  hp   37
  thac0 13, shortsword +4, 1-8/1-6 +4
items:
  leather armor
  cloak +3
  shortsword +4, defender
  winged boots
  ring of water walking
  ring of x-ray vision
  potion of speed
  potion of storm giant strength (1/2)
  potion of extra-healing

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Peyote
  11th/12th level half-elf warrior/druid of Obad-Hai
  male, 5'6", 132 lbs, white skin, brown hair, brown eyes
  46 years old
  al   true neutral
  STR  18/06
  INT  10
  WIS  17
  DEX  17
  CON  13
  CHR  17
  COM  15
  ac   0/3 (hides = 7, no shield)
  hp   66
  thac0 6, bastard sword +3, (3/2) 2-8/2-16 +6
        4, javelin +3, 1-6/1-6 +6
items:
  bastard sword +3, frost brand
  2 javelins of lightning
  net of entrapment
  ring of protection +4
  ring of earth elemental command
  rose ioun stone (grants +1 protection)
  pale lavender ioun stone (absorbs up to 4th level spells)
  scroll (1/2/3/4/5/6 level druidic spells)
  scroll (4/4/4/5/5/6 level druidic spells)
  potion of dimunition
  potion of super-heroism
  jug (4 potions) of healing
druidic abilities:
  spells 8/7/6/3/2/2
    from All, Animal, Elemental, Healing, Plant, Weather
  +2 on saves vs fire and electricity
  druidic cant
  identify plants, animals, pure water
  pass w/o trace
  +10 woodland languages
  immune to woodland creatures' charms
  shapechange (1/day each:  reptile, bird, mammal)

property:
  Blok, a 16HD earth elemental (hp 128)

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Rillen
  16th level human monk/warrior
  male, 6'6", 250 lbs, black skin, black hair, black
    eyes
  25 years old
  al   true neutral
  STR  18/51
  INT  14
  WIS  11
  DEX  17
  CON  17
  CHR  14
  COM  14
  ac   -6
  hp  111
  thac0 -1, staff, (5/2) 1-6/1-6 +8
        -3, longbow, (2/1 + doubling) 1-6/1-6 +8
items:
  quarterstaff +3
  longbow +3, of doubling
  14 arrows +2
  red arrow
  javelin of piercing
  bracers of defense ac3
  robes of protection +4
  amulet of life protection
  charm vs wounds
  boots of speed
  gloves of missile snaring
  ring of djinni summoning
  ring of feather falling
  bronze horn of Valhalla
  wand of illumination
  Laertes' ointment
  blue crystal pyramid (loaned to Tenser)
  figurine of wondrous power - onyx dogs
  scroll of protection from undead
  potion of water breathing

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+                                                             +

Rob
  15th level human high priest of Trithereon
  male, 5'10", 171 lbs, pale white skin, blond hair, blue eyes
  23 years old
  al   lawful good
  STR  11
  INT  17
  WIS  19
  DEX  15
  CON  15
  CHR  14
  COM  14
  ac -1/3
  hp  70
  thac0 9, footman's mace +3, 2-7/1-6 +3
immune to:  Cause Fear, Charm Person, Command, Friends,
  Hypnotism
items:
  footman's mace +3
  chain mail +2
  medium shield +2
  ring of x-ray vision
  necklace of prayer beads

Spells: 9/8/7/8/4/2/1

+                                                             +
+++                                                         +++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


--
Thomas Miller                        tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu
Systems Support Specialist II          Georgia Tech Network Services

"What good is being a hammer when you can't find a deserving nail?"
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