Thursday November 19th, 1998
This evening we had our usual professioal hunt, as we call it, where we break off into groups of each profession, this evening we did such and when we returned, we listened to a few stories. Here they are, enjoy!
Tarlina says, "Okay, Fer those a ye what nae know me, Im Tarlie, and that mess of scars is my brother krez"
Tarlina points at Krezgy.
Krezgy says, "I has the looks of the family o'course"
Krezgy leans back.
Krezgy chuckles.
Tarlina says, "This is just a cute story about somethin what happen to us, and Krez is gonna tell it, Cause apparantly as of two days ago, I kint Tell a story right"
Krezgy says, "no"
Krezgy says, "well"
Krezgy says, "aye thats some what true"
Krezgy says, "but ye will help I'm Sure"
Tarlina says, "Iffn I catch any mistakes"
Krezgy chuckles.
Krezgy says, "well .."
Krezgy says, "if we're all ready"
Krezgy takes a drink from his fine old brandy.
Tarlina says, "we're ready"
(Tarlina waves dismissively at Krezgy)
Krezgy leans on Tarlina.
Krezgy says, "I know I's just buggin ye"
Krezgy says, "well this was a long while back"
Tarlina says, "well, At the time, I had taken to healing in the Ice room.. since Krez doesnae wanna start the story"
Krezgy says, "I was gettin there"
Tarlina says, "nae fast enough"
Krezgy asks, "she was well along wi' child say, 5 or 6 months aye?"
Krezgy peers quizzically at Tarlina.
Tarlina says, "Somethin like that"
Tarlina says, "Pregnant empaths aint nice people"
Tarlina grins.
Krezgy says, "to say the least"
Krezgy snickers.
Krezgy clears his throat.
Krezgy says, "anyway"
Krezgy says, "I'd go an' visit her ta make sure she was gettin along good"
Tarlina says, "And I found out.... He has this... chocolate... Somethin"
Krezgy says, "gets turribly quiet at times in the ice room and feverishly busy too"
Krezgy just tickled Tarlina.
Krezgy asks, "I's tellin this?"
Tarlina giggles.
Krezgy rolls his eyes.
Tarlina says, "yer slow Krez"
Tarlina pushes on Krezgy without much success.
Krezgy says, "I'm tired"
Krezgy pushes on Tarlina without much success.
Krezgy says, "anyway"
Krezgy says, "it was a slow spot of the night"
Tarlina asks, "Whers the ice room anyway?"
Krezgy rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Krezgy says, "under the crypt"
Tarlina says, "I only get places if people give me a ring, or take me there"
Krezgy says, "in arch wights"
Tarlina says, "I get loster than a weedmage"
Tarlina says, "no offense honey"
Krezgy pokes Tarlina in the ribs.
Krezgy says, "it was slow so I decide to have a lil fun"
Tarlina says, "So it was a slow night"
Tarlina says, "and Krez has this chocolate Tart"
Krezgy says, "I happend ta have this chocolate tart with me"
Krezgy leans on Tarlina.
Tarlina whistles tunelessly to herself.
Krezgy says, "you go for a while"
Tarlina says, "Fine, You tell it"
Krezgy says, "you seem to wanna have at it"
Krezgy looks over at Tarlina and shakes his head.
Tarlina shrugs.
Tarlina takes a drink from her silver champagne.
Krezgy clasps his hand over his mouth.
Tarlina says, "Well, I asked him fer the Tart, rather nicely I might add"
Krezgy says, "an' as if I'd give a tart ta her"
Krezgy shakes his head.
Krezgy says, "chocolate no less"
Krezgy smacks his lips.
Tarlina says, "and he wouldnae give it to me, So I went to snatch it from him"
Krezgy says, "I manage to dodge her right quick too"
Krezgy grins.
Tarlina says, "Cause hes a pain"
Krezgy smirks.
Tarlina says, "So I kinda had ta sit on him ta get it"
Krezgy says, "next thing i know I'm on my back"
Krezgy says, "shes PINNED me to the floor"
Krezgy gawks at Tarlina.
Tarlina stares at Krezgy.
Krezgy says, "in Her state"
Tarlina exclaims, "I nae pinned you!"
Krezgy says, "I have No idea how she did it"
Krezgy says, "did too"
Tarlina says, "I jes sat on ya"
Krezgy says, "remember shes 6 months along wi' child here"
Tarlina shifts her weight.
Krezgy says, "nay ye didn't ye tackled me"
Tarlina says, "Shoulda give me the tart"
Tarlina exclaims, "and he still has the Tart!"
Krezgy says, "well I wriggle outta her clutches"
Krezgy grins.
Krezgy says, "an' I'm teasin her wi' the thing"
Tarlina exclaims, "Im sittin on him, and he still woan give me the tart!"
Krezgy just tickled Tarlina.
Krezgy just nudged Tarlina.
Tarlina says, "I asked nice the first time"
Krezgy says, "ya can smell this tart, miles away"
Krezgy says, "thas how good twas"
Krezgy says, "so i go to wave it at her kind teasin like"
Tarlina says, "and hes teasing a pregnant empath with a Tart"
Krezgy says, "durn the thing wouldn't wave"
Krezgy says, "its busted! sez I"
Krezgy chuckles.
Krezgy just nudged Tarlina.
Krezgy says, "yer que"
Tarlina says, "So I tell him to let me see it"
Tarlina says, "I was thinkin was him what was busted nae the tart"
Tarlina says, "and finally he give it to me"
Krezgy says, "bah, give it up? grr. well whats the use of a busted tart"
Tarlina says, "So I went to wave the Tart... and drat the thing wouldnt wave"
Krezgy chuckles.
Krezgy says, "so we get back to the garret"
Tarlina says, "cause im kinda nose"
Krezgy says, "she sez ta me"
Krezgy asks, "Kinda?"
Krezgy raises an eyebrow in Tarlina's direction.
Tarlina says, "Nosey too"
Tarlina pokes Krezgy in the ribs.
Krezgy coughs.
Krezgy says, "she sez ta me, krez I wanna know Why this thing won't wave"
Krezgy says, "I'm callin a god"
Krezgy rolls his eyes.
Tarlina says, "well, it was unnatural"
Krezgy says, "I say, Just EAT the thing"
Krezgy exclaims, "you got it! eat it!"
(Tarlina crosses her arms over her chest)
Krezgy mutters stubborn.
Tarlina says, "I wanted ta know why... The Tart would be there"
Tarlina says, "I nae wanna eat a defective tart"
Krezgy says, "nooo, she puts in a request for a god"
Tarlina sniffs.
Krezgy says, "finally a demigod shows up, nice Lady I forget her name I'm afraid"
Tarlina says, "I never ferget her face though"
Krezgy says, "I grab em both an' put em in the major sanctuary spell"
Tarlina says, "I casted the sanct, Krez"
Krezgy says, "Tarlie start splainin about it"
Krezgy just nudged Tarlina.
Krezgy asks, "er ye did?"
Krezgy says, "whatever"
Tarlina says, "I tell her, The Tart woan wave"
Krezgy says, "nay important"
Tarlina says, "aye, I did"
Tarlina says, "and she looks at me, kinda confused"
Krezgy takes a drink from his fine old brandy.
Krezgy says, "she says"
Tarlina just nudged Krezgy.
Krezgy asks, "Why would you want to wave a Tart?"
Krezgy says, "and she gives me this confused smile"
Tarlina says, "I doan think she had a big brother"
Krezgy chuckles.
Krezgy says, "I say, I was teasin her with it and yanno to make it seem tantalizin"
Krezgy says, "yanno wave it in her face"
Krezgy whistles tunelessly to himself.
Krezgy just nudged Tarlina.
Tarlina says, "Like he does wit everythin I want"
Krezgy scoffs.
Tarlina says, "So we explains it to her"
Krezgy says, "I nay wave Lan in yer face"
Krezgy ducks his head.
Tarlina says, "And I pull the tart out. and hold it up to show her, the tart wont wave"
Krezgy says, "she goes to demonstrate"
Tarlina says, "And dont ya know, The Dratted Tart waved just as nice as you please"
(Krezgy waves his hand back and forth lightly.)
Tarlina waves a magnum of silver champagne around.
Krezgy says, "jus like that"
Tarlina takes a drink from her silver champagne.
Krezgy says, "my jaw was on the sanctuary floor"
Tarlina asks, "Do ya know how 'barrased I was?"
Krezgy says, "I couldn't breathe cause of laughter"
Tarlina says, "I bout melted inta the walls of the sanctuary"
Tarlina blushes a nice shade of off-pink.
Krezgy says, "the demigod was starting by now"
Tarlina just nudged Krezgy.
Krezgy says, "er staring"
Krezgy snickers.
Tarlina says, "She thought we was nuts"
Krezgy says, "I was trying to make excuses like she missed her medication"
Tarlina says, "Er funnin wit her at least"
Krezgy snickers.
Tarlina sighs.
Krezgy rubs Tarlina gently.
Krezgy says, "thankfully"
Tarlina says, "Well, finally we get it out inta the open"
Krezgy says, "she let us off easy wi' out lockin us up"
Krezgy says, "and said aye it had been one of her more interestin jobs that eve"
Tarlina says, "Turns out... The ice room has a voln enchantment on it"
Krezgy says, "wished us Quite Well"
Tarlina says, "Kint wave but a special item innere"
Krezgy glances at Tarlina.
Krezgy says, "nay tarts at least"
Krezgy says, "to this day, I think I hear the Lady demigod chuckling at me"
Tarlina exclaims, "and I guess the moral a the story is, Dont wave Tarts at yer PREGNANT sister, in the Iceroom!"
Tarlina says, "Specially if she an empath"
Tarlina says, "The Tart... was quite tastey by the way"
Krezgy smiles impishly and whispers, "No but you can try marzipan."
Juspera says, "And this is the story of how Nevrek and Juspera came to the Top of the World."
Juspera says, "It was a bit of a pipe dream. I thought it would be a bad idea for someone my age to go to Pinefar, but of course there was that little part of me that kept egging me on."
Juspera says, "I couldn't get anyone to take me. I was frightened but, remembering that I first traveled to Icemule with no companion other than a map, I decided it wasn't out of the question for me to do the same here."
Juspera says, "This was back when I had 23 trains."
Juspera says, "Mummified in a cocoon of spells that a friend had given me, I set off. The trip to Icemule was routine. Upon passing the silverback orcs then cold guardians outside the east gate, I entered new territory and felt the tension of excitement begin to build up."
Juspera says, "It was snowing and the ice giants frightened me like any unfamiliar creature frightens me, though by the information on my map they were not much older than I."
Juspera takes a drink from her fine old brandy.
Juspera says, "Then caribou, wolverines, grizzly bears, coyotes... the creatures my older friends hunted and died from. I moved with speed. I didn't want the creatures to have an opportunity to use some horrid and unforseen type of attack on me."
Juspera says, "I pressed on, climbing and climbing with my weapon and shield away and my gloveless hands numb. Each critter I passed sent another shot of fear into my heart."
(Juspera looks for Nevrek.)
Juspera exclaims, "Snow leopards, how old are they? Are they dangerous? Upon reaching a dead end I studied my map again and found that I was far off course. Climb back down, and be quick!"
Juspera says, "Finally I neared Pinefar. Ahead of me on my map were Nightmare Gorge and glacei. I have heard stories of these things, heard adventurers moan about untimely deaths at their hands."
Juspera says, "The major glacei, terrifying and strong enough to be more than just a thorn in the side of those who hunt the minor. Though I had no idea what they looked like, I had even had a bizarre nightmare about them a few days before."
Juspera takes a drink from her fine old brandy.
Juspera says, "But I climbed into the gorge. I raced past the glacei with the hail swirling about their heads, scarcely noting where I was. A huge blast of wind knocked me over and pinned my arms to my sides, but my spells protected me. When I reached Pinefar I was exhausted."
Juspera exclaims, "There it was, Hortinger's wagon! I looked over the goods; nothing I wanted to buy, but I didn't care. The goal was getting there. But oh, a raffle ticket!"
Juspera says, "I set about to look for a bank, breaking a pick on some door I found and generally stumbling about like a fool. The bank was closed when I found it."
Juspera says, "I was determined to hunt for the 10k in coins I would need. I bought some Pinefar liquor for Rastavan's collection and set back down the slopes. I found crones, giants and trolls to prey on and was surviving nicely until an uninvited and rather unexpected avalanche caved my skull in."
Juspera says, "The good thing about those deaths is, of course, that they're so quick you never feel a thing. Now that I think of it, I remember hearing rumbling before the avalanche came down, but I was too busy to take note of it."
Juspera says, "All my wits were concentrated on the battle with these strange things I'd never fought before, on a strange snowy slope. At any rate, the mass exodus of spells from my corpse was a sight to behold."
Juspera grins.
Juspera says, "The good Dgry Kasv made the trip up to rescue me. I enjoyed it as much as is possible to enjoy being a frozen corpse in the middle of nowhere."
Juspera says, "Once raised I puttered around Icemule for a bit, did some picking and eventually decided that I would never make it past the glacei again without at least mass spells. So I traveled back to the Landing."
Juspera says, "While I was there I ran into my buddy Nevrek, who was interested in heading up to Pinefar as well. I loaded up a disk with what I hoped was 10k in boxes and gems and we set off."
Juspera says, "Nevrek is a good friend, pure Faendryl and pure thief. We joked on the way up, snickered over having to scale the rugged butte and somehow managed not to get lost."
Juspera says, "When we approached Nightmare Gorge I told him what we were up against... then I took a step into the chasm, was immediately flattened by the wind and torn to shreds by the horde of glacei in the room."
Juspera says, "Nevrek escaped and, I found out later, made it safely to the trading post. I, however, was alone, and the glacei had buried my body, hiding me from whoever might walk by."
Juspera says, "Someone did walk by. Right past me, in fact, then back to search for me. I am thankful now that I had had a full disk as the boxes and gems scattered on the ground must have been a good clue that I was buried there beneath the snow."
Juspera says, "My rescuer was a cleric and soon I was on my feet in Mule again. I felt disheartened; I was clearly out of my league. I decided to give up my quest for a raffle ticket and return to the Landing."
Juspera says, "However, as the night wore on, a certain Mr. Dwu Axetoe's persistence wore on me. He was to lead an expedition to Pinefar, if I would like to come."
Juspera says, "I eventually gave in. Nevrek, who was back from the post and (despite meeting with death on his way) no worse for wear, also wanted to go. We found a friend to give us spells and spent our time waiting for the expedition leader by hunting warfarers and stone giants for boxes."
Juspera says, "After more than an hour, our disks were full and the fearless Dwu was still not ready to leave. We grew tired of waiting... And so we left by ourselves. After a hazardous and injurious climb through darkness we reached Pinefar, exhausted."
Juspera exclaims, "It was in the early hours before dawn and we were the only folk stirring for miles about. Triumphantly we sold our gems and emptied our boxes, rushed to the wagon and bought raffle tickets!"
Juspera says, "It is a good feeling to believe you have won. We wandered around the homey trading post for a bit, trying to thaw out. We purchased many samples of the local drinks. As we lounged in front of the fire I mused, "You know, we are not far from Koar's shrine.""
Juspera asks, "Why not pay a visit?"
Juspera says, "Why not? Well, we can barely survive the glacei on the way from here to Mule... and you want to go the other way, further north? Nevrek seemed serious, but I was not about to risk my life doing something so ridiculous."
Juspera takes a drink from her fine old brandy.
Juspera says, "But I looked at my map. Koar's shrine... would that be an experience to remember, seeing the newly discovered shrine to the last drake? It was not so very far away considering the distance we had already come."
Juspera says, "And so I made the insane decision that would change my life. "All right, let's go." I was the one with the map; he could not go alone. I told him to set his ring and I did likewise."
Juspera says, "Marveling at how crazy I was, I fastened up my cloak, drew my weapon and stepped out of the trading post lest I give myself any more time to think."
Juspera says, "Northeast of the trading post is the tundra, populated by more glacei, wooly mammoths, ice wraiths and sabretooth tigers. Polar bears, too. We raced through the icy darkness like we were mad, skipping over mounds of snow and not even stopping to look at the beasts surrounding us."
Juspera says, "Ahead of us were worse. Seekers, ice golems and ice elementals. Creatures whose names I'd never seen except on my map. The seekers were are more than twice our age. Ice elementals are a century old in trains; the age of ice golems is unknown."
Juspera says, "The fear of being the only people in an icy nowhere, in complete darkness, where the local inhabitants have more power than you could hope to master in half a century..."
Juspera says, "I shall say it is impossible to comprehend, and that is a good thing. I simply did not think about it. My pulse was pounding so hard and my mind working so fast that I did not notice anything around me. My eyes leaped between the map and the barely discernable path as we ran on."
Juspera says, "The tundra ended and we came to an arch, then steps. We reached the last and stopped. A faint light began to grey the horizon and I knew where we were; Aenatumgana, the top of the world. We were at the Top of the World."
Juspera says, "There is a word, numinous... it is used to describe those things that are beyond normal life, above it, woundrous. The Arkati are numinous. Aenatumgana is numinous."
Juspera says, "It's the type of thing that gives you a tight feeling in your chest as you keep trying to get your mind to grasp the fact that you're really here, that such a place exists."
Juspera says, "All around us was ice and a cold so fierce it was almost tangible. It was like being on another plane."
Juspera says, "I thought about the Landing, about River's Rest... they might as well not have existed. Even Icemule was impossibly far away. But we were here, at the top of the world, and it was real. It was, at least, as real as my overwhelmed mind would let it be."
Juspera says, "But this had to be taken in in moments as the danger here was very real as well. It was like another wind around me, invisible but assaulting me. We met ice elementals. Nevrek was mauled by one but survived; we ran on."
Juspera says, "We came to an icy slope and I scrambled up; I waited there, trying to dodge the elemental that followed me from room to room... I felt Nevrek die. The thought of Koar's shrine up ahead left me and I climbed down."
Juspera says, "He had broken his neck. I felt totally alone and hopeless for a moment, but let common sense slip into my fear and shield me a bit. Lifekeep and drag; what else is there to be done? Being all alone in the most hostile place I'd ever seen did not change that."
Juspera says, "I dragged my friend to the steps we had climbed and stopped. I could not drag him over."
Juspera says, "And so we were out of options. We talked for a bit, planning, but knowing that the ten minutes of lifekeep I could give him would wear off before I could get a rescuer from Icemule. But... the ring! I removed my ring and wore it; nothing happened."
Juspera says, "The sun began to come up. So there I was at the top of the world, dead friend at my feet, and the grey light slipping over all the snow and ice like the rest of Elanthia had never existed."
Juspera says, "My spells began to wear off."
Juspera says, "All of a sudden the wind slammed into me like a wall. I staggered and noticed that I was actually injured. My bare hands and knees were numb and bruised."
Juspera says, "Every few minutes the wind would blast again, until all my exposed skin was cracked and bleeding. I looked like I had been in an hour-long battle. I was eating herbs by the handful; Nevrek pleaded with me not to die."
Juspera asks, "As we waited there, hopeless, an older noble tramped down from above... and kept going without a word. The fear rang in my heart again. Was this place so dangerous that even legends could not stop to help a dead adventurer?"
Juspera says, "We waited and my friend was decaying. My flask had been full, but flasks are finite; I toyed with attempting a run to Mule. Telling Nevrek I'd "be right back," I raced down the steps and through the arch... and bumped into a hunter of some age."
Juspera says, ""Dead fellow up there!" I gasped."
Juspera says, "The look on the man's face was not promising. "Good gods.""
Juspera says, ""Is there a way to drag him out?""
Juspera says, ""No, you need a fogger." Still with that horrified look, the man turned back to his hunting. I felt like crying. I climbed back up to Nevrek and told him what I'd heard."
Juspera says, "The moan of a corpse tends to echo in a place like that. I pondered sitting down. I was freezing and exhausted; but I still had hope that I might survive, and I did not want an ice elemental to walk in while I was sitting."
Juspera says, "In a pathetic attempt to make things better I poured a little of the peppermint schnapps I had been saving for Rastavan's liquor collection into Nevrek's mouth. Unfortunately, in his state he was unable to appreciate it."
Juspera exclaims, "And we were waiting in silence when--almost inexplicably--we felt ourselves being watched. A locate. And then another. Forgetting avalanches in my relief, I threw back my head and howled!"
Juspera exclaims, "I rejoiced with tears. One of the folk we had seen must have sent for help!"
Juspera says, "...and we waited. And no one came. Remembering past trials with Illoke shamans, I asked Nevrek if he thought ice elementals could locate. "Not funny," said he."
Juspera says, "Just when we were beginning to get nervous for real, a shifty looking fellow climbed up to us. He held our hands and with scarcely a goodbye to the unimaginable wasteland before us, we were back in the trading post by a warm fire."
Juspera says, "As I watched on like an accidental voyeur, the stranger prepared his magic and, to my awed ears, claimed Nevrek's soul as his own before raising him."
Juspera says, "Our rescuer was Lord Zebbry, a cleric of dark demeanor but a man to whom I shall be eternally grateful. And I wasn't all that worried about Nevrek's soul as there were prior doubts about its purity and where it was headed anyway. I was simply happy to see him alive."
Juspera says, "We tarried about the post for a bit, eating and drinking and trying to heal ourselves. Folks began to show up, the sun grew a little warmer. Nevrek was itching to be on his way."
Juspera says, "I wanted to stay and I wanted to let the feel of the place sink in in the hope that I would remember the wonders better; but Nevrek wanted to go, and I had the map."
Juspera says, "Bidding farewell to Pinefar and high adventure, we skidded past the glacei and allowed a wizard to gate us back to Mule. We stepped out onto Tavern Burrow Street."
Juspera says, "Nevrek wanted to be off, and he accompanied the wizard on a journey back to Wehnimer's Landing. I wasn't ready to leave. I was close to training and I thought it would be appropriate to train up this way after all I'd been through."
Juspera says, "I wandered through town a bit and ran into a very late Dwu. We talked for a bit, shared stories and then he left me to myself. I picked boxes at the well for another hour, and as the sun rose as high as it does that far north I wandered to the inn. I had been up for nearly a full day."
Juspera says, "I did a strange thing before checking in... I got down on my knees and prayed for a bit. I make it common knowledge that I don't really believe in the Arkati--but occasionally I pray anyway, just in case. This was one of those times."
Juspera says, "I have been thinking for a while about my life and about leaving the dark institution to which I had bound myself; this change would require a change in training on my part. And a change in training would be a commitment."
(Juspera scratches her left shoulder with her thumb.)
Juspera says, "But I have been to the Top of the World, and I have nearly seen Koar's shrine. I still have visions in my head of what it might be like; the numinous has an effect on you. I was ready to make that commitment I had been toying with."
Juspera says, "After training I stumbled back to the Landing. It was noon and warm and I was exhausted. I dumped my hard-won liquor into the Aspis raffle prize case for Rastavan and collapsed into a chair in the lounge, falling asleep immediately."
Juspera says, "I don't know if I dreamed. But the whole adventure itself seems like a dream--I can scarcely remember the scenery of the far northern places, in such a hurry was I when I was there... the force of fear, the cold, the sense of wonder are about all I remember."
Juspera says, "I shall have to go back."
Juspera says, "That's the end."
Juspera says, "As an end note to this story... a week later I went to Pinefar again and, after my friends had gone to bed, journeyed out alone to see Koar's shrine again, I knew I would surely die and decay, which indeed I did."
Juspera says, "At the top of Aenatumgana is a pile of leaf wrappers that had been in my disk when I died."
Juspera says, "I am still wondering if Koar likes cigars."