I don't expect you to know the name - few do, apart from the Dungeon Master who allowed me to play her, when I was at college, and those souls who played alongside me. She was the result of some concerted creative effort on my part, a character created around an image, in part inspired by Sybil Danning's character, Saint Exmin of the Valkyri, from the movie BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS. Nythra was nothing like as arrogant as Saint Exmin, though, showing through in unnatural Intelligence for a warrior, nor was she just another "chick in chainmail" - despite her picture, her only concession to fashion was a striking pair of thigh-high boots.

Nythra's most taxing adventure, one of her first, involved a tense struggle against the Cult of The Reptile God, and almost ended in disaster as Nythra and a companion were captured, then placed under the mental control of the cult's figure-head - a Spirit Naga. I refused to let the story of Nythra end so soon, and sent a new character into the fray - an elven fighter/magic-user called Andrax - to carry on the battle. I think the DM knew that all I wanted was to rescue Nythra - I hadn't gone to the lengths of locating, converting and painting the ideal miniature for nothing...

The rescue succeeded, although Andrax sadly lost his life in the battle, defeating the Spirit Naga with a wand of wonder only to succumb to an attack by zombies as the party headed for safety, victorious. Nythra's story would continue, but there had been a price to pay...

Nythra pursued the Cult further as word of an attempted revival was received, and ended up facing strange fish-men on a remote island, formerly a pirate stronghold. The attack goes badly, and Nythra is one of few survivors, escaping thanks to timely assistance from the fish-men's mortal enemies.

Called to another world, and a slightly different existence, Nythra continues her adventures, engaging in some more island-hopping, and succumbing to yet more mental control, then venturing into the desert - a truly alien environment for a woman of the North. The pressures of college life then take their toll on the campaign, calling players away to more urgent business, and the desert adventure is never concluded...

Nythra is not forgotten, even though she is never played as a true RPG character again. My interest in computers is developed, and the advent of the then-incredible DUNGEON MASTER gives Nythra a chance to shine once again. Her personality has scant opportunity for growth, but her sword-arm gets plenty of exercise, through this, CHAOS STRIKES BACK, and the first two of the EYE OF THE BEHOLDER series. EYE...III is, sadly, a PC only game, so yet again, the adventure ends unresolved.

That was, until now...

 

With the cycling of many seasons comes the age of the "Great Machine" - the PC - and a spot of financial luck allows me to purchase just such a technological marvel (although some would question the title). The way is now clear to find those games that never made it to the Amiga, my previous computer of choice, and explore what looked in the past to be forever unknown...

Luck again smiles during a holiday in New York. Visiting the Virgin Megastore at Times Square, I come across THE FORGOTTEN REALMS ARCHIVES - a collection of the AD&D computer games, including all three parts of the EYE OF THE BEHOLDER trilogy. I play through all three, finishing the previously-unseen ASSAULT ON MYTH DRANNOR with minimal outside help, and with this ultimate victory comes the idea to bring back Nythra, and chronicle her renewed adventures...

 

What lies ahead for Nythra? At the moment, there are only vague ideas, as insubstantial as the morning mist. There is every possibility that Nythra will reappear, like an electronic Eternal Champion, in the world of online gaming.

The world has not seen the last of the golden-haired warrior-woman of the North, sword in hand, shield emblazoned with the symbol of Sif, Goddess of Excellence In Battle, towering above many atop the heels of her thigh-length boots...

 

 

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