Poetry.

Ah!...Well you see, when the poet uses the term 'hoth en orqur' to denote the goblin horde in conjunction with the phrase'yeltien en ailoki', it is a clear reference to the famous 'Lay of Athelian' in which the main character tricks the dragon into larger and larger promises, clearly reflecting in how each stem increases in syllables, thus giving the listener the ability to experience the load of the new demands as the listener's mind has to accomodate a growing body of information. This is a technique that was first used only about three thousand years ago, and relates to the current events in the sense of....What are you saying?

Oh, what does it mean? Well, that is what I am trying to explain to you, you silly dwarf. The LITERAL meaning may be 'Bravely facing the goblin horde and the anger of the dragon', but that is not the DEEPER meaning of this poem. Obviously, you need to get acquainted with some of the principals of Late Conceptual Elvish Poetic Theory before you even bother to ask me that question. Sometimes, I swear, our art is wasted upon lesser races. I know you saved our outpost and killed the dragon and all, but please....show some respect for our art!


Elven gratitude is not without its perils. After having been treated to an inordinate amount of feasting, involving a variety of forest mushrooms, berries and interestingly flavoured root, coupled with (very) small slices of meat, the lethality of elven firewine becomes rather obvious to the party. It is a wonder and a testament to their resolve and cool under fire that they manage to respond to the 32 verse long tribute given to them in high elvish by the resident 'conceptual poet' of the elven outpost with nothing more violent than a gracious yawn. The hamsters on the other hand, are quite happy with the fare, having lived of cave mushrooms for the last few millennia, and their culinary horizons have been broadened dramatically in the space of a few hours. In fact, they manage to convince the high herbologist of the outpost to outfit them with maps detailing the presence of various mushrooms and plants, and decide to devote their lives to going off scouring the world for exotic berries and fruit. After some heated discussion, they decide to fly the party over to the gnomish hamlet the next morning

The return to the hamlet is awkward, to say the least. The hamsters expectations are high, and the disappointment crushing. The gnomes are as far away from being the mythic godlike beings that brought the fire of wisdom to their ancestors as could be possible. Still, the gnomes are grateful for their book, and treat the party to yet another celebration feast. The food is better the drink is quaffable, and the songs are of the '21 barrels of ale on the wall'-variety. The party once again bask in the adoration of the gnomes, and sing along happily.

The next morning, the hamsters prepare their ships for flight. The world outside of Mt. Snaefang beckons, and they have much work(and eating) ahead of them. Deciding to take to the skies once more, they bid the party farewell. As the ships are lifting their anchors, Mendez launches himself at one of the ropes, and stands on anchor as it is pulled up. Laughing and waving to the rest of the party, he draws his sword and points at the horizon.

As the ships disappear into the cloudy skies, the party swear that they hear Mendez' voice proudly ringing from above, 'Mendez: playboy, starship skipper!' before all is quiet again.

Perhaps a trip back to seawell to sell their stuff might be in order?

A new party member

Eolar looked out of the window where the sun slowly set. He was still sitting in the small elven tavern where he spent most of the day talking to Elogyn. They were speaking about the battle and news from other temples Elogyn had visited recently. Their conversation was only interrupted from time to time by the innkeeper, who was visibly exited to have one of the heroes in his tavern and insisted that all drinks are on the house.
They just finished talking about the aftermath of the fight at the old shrine when Elogyn suddenly offered a proposal:

"Oh heroic Eolar, let me follow you and be guided by you. Show me the ways of a great cleric and warrior. Let me travel with you and fight the cause with you!"

Eolar was surprised and felt honoured: "You want me to be your mentor? Are you not currently assigned to one?". It was common for clerics of St.Cuthbert to have a mentor, but Elogyns skills and clerical knowledge almost match his own. On the other hand, Elogyn was still of lower rank and therefore he would be entitled to mentor her. Elogyn, who could sense his hesitation continued "My old mentor was a scholar and because of his age was unable to travel. Whenever the head of our local church needed a messenger I applied for the job to get out of the library. After a while my mentor was reassigned to a new acolyte as I hardly was in anymore. I'm without mentor since and struggle to handle the world outside the church walls! To travel with such an experienced cleric like you would be a great learning experience for me and I would feel honoured!"

While she was talking, Eolar thought about the prospect of traveling with a fellow cleric. Finally he would be amongst somebody who shares the same faith. He hadn't been a residental cleric for a long time and it would be good to refresh some of his ritual and ceremonial knowledge which Elogyn seem to know a lot about. She would learn how to survive outside of cities how to deal with other races and creatures.

The innkeeper suddenly looked towards the door where a huge wolf entered the room. Some of the guests slowly vanished behind bits of furniture in their vicinity and all remaining eyes were focused on the door. An elven women followed the beast and looked around. To Elogyns surprise Eolar waved a hand to signal the newcomer. Shen-Shen came over followed by the wolf which sat down as soon as they reached the table.
After a disapproving look on Elogyn, Shen-Shen sat on the last remaining chair and turned towards Eolar. You said you need time to think! Did you decide? I just heard of another group of adventurers leaving the outpost today and I have an offer to join them!"
Eolar looked at Elogyn who was visibly scared by the wolf sitting next to her and smiled "Yes, I made my decision! You might remember my friend Elogyn here who came to the temple this morning? She is going to be my new protege and will join our group. So I won't need your services now. You are free to join the other group."

Elogyn gave him a surprised look which soon changed into a delighted one. She bowed her head and immediately continued watching the wolf next to her who didn't seem to take notice of her.
"Very well! If you think faith and prayer are more helpful in the wild than swords and a wolf...!" Shen-Shen got up , faced Eolar and bowed. "May your god protect you!", "He will! May St.Cuthbert also protect you on your journey! Godspeed!".
She turned round and left the tavern to the relief of most of the guests who didn't seem to feel comfortable in the presence of a wolf.

Eolar sat down and turned to Elogyn again "Well then, we better get going. We first have to inform the authorities of our decision and ask their approval. I saw another fellow cleric who is going to leave for Seawell tomorrow. I will give him a letter for the bishop. And then I have to introduce you to my companions!". He looked at her "....and we have to get you ready for adventuring!"

Quantum Discharge

In the elven outpost the battle rages relentlessly. The various elven commanders are deploying their archers as best as they can but the sheer numbers of the attacking host seem overwhelming. Nariel slumps down next to a bucket of water that water runners have placed at certain intervals to allow the fighters to refresh themselves during the battle. The dragon is still spewing acid at the barricades and Nariel is not very optimistic about how much longer they will hold. He does not really believe that they will be overrun. But surely Elves will die and that is always a sad event. He sits there broodingly drinking his water when, in the corner of his eye, he notices one of the human visitors that were caught within the outpost when the enemy army attacked slowly walking over to him. Normally he would not pay him any attention but the man looks strange. He looks old and somewhat disheveled and his eyes are very strange indeed. He has a vacant stare, as if he were sleeping with his eyes open.
The old man reaches Nariel, and, with considerable aplomb in the midst of battle, he starts to speak. He speaks in a hoarse but surprisingly melodic voice. And what he says is this:

A moment's time, my unknown friend
for there's a story to amend
of one unmentioned but well-known
and crucial too, as will be shown

The old man falters shortly, seeming momentarily lost. He looks at the sweating and bloodstained Nariel but then continues as if he had never stopped.

though I see you're quite distracted
there's a reason why I acted
the reason being, I predict
you'll get your elven asses kicked

ah! -
He holds up a stalling hand when Nariel shoots him an angry glance at this outrageous statement.
no longer sullen, pensive!
yet,-
He waggles his index finger in reprimand.
no time to get defensive
you must know that help is near
an airborne ghost but do not fear

if you see such apparition
don't give in to superstition
just goggle skywards, be so bold
out of the mist, lo and behold

the missing member of the crew
with pristine shirt, but not a clue
white grin brighter than big dipper
Mendez: playboy, starship skipper

The old man smiles, immensely pleased with himself. Then, suddenly and without warning he collapses like a puppet that has its strings cut. Nariel stands transfixed in bewilderment. He looks at the old man on the ground. The back of the old man's head is completely smashed. Blood and brain tissue slowly seep out of a gaping hole. Nariel, still in silent stupefaction, shakes his head. And turns his gaze towards the barricade. And upwards. On the horizon he sees a tiny speck of black. And another one. More dragons? No. It does not look like dragons. Starship skipper...

2426 years, 4 months, 12 days ago - Late afternoon

Grumble Starseeker, high artificier of the Exile Experimental Astronomy guild was having a good day. Not only had his eager apprentices outdone themselves with their publicity for their special event, and managed to get every single exile in the mountain to brave the outdoors for it, their calculations had actually been spot on. Grumble made a note to reward the new cognifier operating assistant, she had actually managed to predict a full solar eclipse to the closest second. Very impressive indeed.

Also, the rest of the team should be rewarded for their wonderfully aggressive flyposting campaign. He could hear the hushed excitement in the voices of his fellow gnomes as they saw the light return to the world as the sun came out from the disc of the moon, the spring heat returning with it.

Grumble took a look back at the normally smug artificiers from the G M-C-o-o-D I group, nodding to themselves, obviously impressed. For once, their crazy clockwork men and remote controlled owlbears weren't getting all the attention. Their rivals in the G N-M-C-o-o-D I group seemed equally impressed.

No wonder, after all, could a hamster picking up your slippers and bringing you a pipe ever be a match for the glories of the firmament, no matter how well trained? Grumble took a final look at the crowd, savouring the admiration from the assembled, technicians, administrators, janitors, scientists, security systems operators and fellow astronomers, before he made his way back to the entrance, with what he hoped was a suitably regal gesture.

With some disapproval, he noticed a look of hesitation on the faces of some of the lower-class gnomes, particularly amongst the security system operators, as he solemnly made his way back to the columns, to shouts of what assumed must be adulation from the crowd.

Grumble Starseeker was hit by 3 arcs of electricity simultaneously. The crowd gasped in horror as his charred remains slumped down, leaving only a trail of smoke rising up to the clear blue sky.

How were they going to get back in now?

Map

The great traveler Palin is reputed to be the only man ever to travel all over this vast continent. From lizard infested swamp to icy-cold mountain, from the desolate heat of the Furnace coast to the lost city in the clouds. Among the treasures in the library of the gnomes, the party came away with what is probably the only comprehensive map of the region, draw my the great Palin himself.

It is reproduced for you here, with a few extra hasty-scribblings indicating some of the party's recent travels. Have a look for the link on the right:

Greed and Darkness

“He wants us to build him what?” The small, twisted figure yells at his subordinate in the poorly lit room. “Impossible.”
But then after an intense, whispered conversation; “He wants to pay me how much?!”
There is silence and then, “We’ll try. Take his gold and set to work. I suppose if we apply ourselves; it’s possible.”
The subordinate scurries off into the darkness and starts his macabre experiments.
Life is pretty cheap to these people.

Down in the Valley of the Surprisingly Jolly Green Giant

Grimes the Hill Giant, dressed in his new green armour, strides across the valley.
His fears that the psychotic Gnomes and their mercenaries would pursue them back to the Orc camp and kill-them-all-in-their-sleep, had been thankfully unfounded.
Ironically, it had been that near-death experience that had led to his increased mental aptitude and subsequent leadership of, what was left of Calvera’s War caravan.
Without the foul presence of the fierce Owl bear, normal bears had started to return to the valley. Perfect pets for the huge Grimes. His training methods were brutal but effective. Being repeatedly hit with a big stick tends to enforce co-operation.
The Ogres had stuck with him, a few Worgs and several dozen Orcs without leadership followed him too. Add to this the harem girls, the Orc children and treasure; he’d inherited quite a legacy.
His first decision was to reinforce his control of the Valley. He moved the wagons to the centre of the Valley and with felled trees and huge boulders; he'd created crude walls with study gates at either end.
As soon as they were in place, he declared himself ‘Lord of the Valley’ with all creatures who would declare their loyalty to him; welcome.
He had made allies too. The Human Bailey was supplying his men with drugs in exchange for the loan of a few of his Orc warriors AND he had made contact with some of the underground denizens of the mountain itself.
Creatures that could turn out to be very useful indeed.