The Friday Knights go Skiing

[Neame]

<DIV>Our merry band has spent a very enjoyable few hours in the sun, and now it is time for something with a bit more excitement, so there is only one thing to do.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Skiing!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Its time to visit; Everfrost.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The group look back and remember Brevils first reaction to the suggestion, he’s been dreading going there ever since we entered the Thundering Steppes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Wavy lines, fad to a time gone by…</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“It’s a dangerous place, I don’t think we’re ready” explained Brevil, “we will be dumped on a lump of rock sticking out of the ocean and the only way off is to swim to the mainland.”<BR>“What’s wrong with that? I do it all the time in the Baubbleshire, wonderful canal system you know.” Holfast commented.<BR>“There’s ice, rocks, and snow several feet deep, and icebergs” added Brevil.<BR>“What’s wrong with that?” said Neame, “nothing wrong with a bit of snow.”  <BR>“It’s a frozen wasteland” Brevil added. “Only fit for polar bears, and Barbarians.”<BR>“I’m half Barbarian, I’ll have you know” objected Neame.<BR>“Rather small for a Barbarian aren’t you?” commented Holfast.<BR>“Yeah, well, I’m from the small half of the family, you should meet my brother Gorwell, now he’s big; and you’re a fine one to talk” said Neame.<BR>“Big! You should see his niece, Gloria, now there’s a big girl; I know, I’ve met her” Certoceto said with a shudder. “Yes, those hips could mezz a Kromdal. Handy with a bow too, and if you two stand in front of her in a rainstorm you wouldn’t get wet.”<BR>“Her middle name ain’t ‘Sboobiz’ for nothing I must admit” said Neame, “and shouldn’t that be a Kromise, coming from Halas and all.”<BR>“Whatever” shrugged Certo.<BR>“Oh, and speaking of big, did I mention sharks?” continued Brevil.<BR>“What about sharks?” exclaims Certo, “I hate sharks vicious creatures. Spawn of the devil.”<BR>“Which one?” quizzed Holfast.<BR>“The one that created sharks probably” responded Certo.<BR>“And they’re big; very big, very, very big.” Brevil goes on, “and some even bigger than that. Then there’s Dreadwake.” Certo was on his way to a convincing impression of a snowman at that point, with the shade of white he was turning. “You just have to ask Seth about him.”<BR>“I feel dizzy” complained Certo, “I think I’m gonna be sick.”<BR>“That’s just us going back to the present” stated Brevil.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>More wavy lines, as the group blend back to the present…</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Nope, I still feel sick. I just can’t stand the thought of sharks” confirms Certo.<BR>“Just imagine the size of the steak I could get out of one of those beauties” Holfast drools, “I’m gonna have to brush up on my fishing skills.”<BR>“If you’re game we could always tie a line round your neck, and you can swim in front of their snout” suggests Certo.<BR>“You insinuating that I should be the bait?” retorts Holfast, “do you think it would work?”<BR>“Worth a try.” Certo smile wryly.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The Friday Knights are enjoying a leisurely pint in the Mermaids Lure after returning from their excursions around the Sinking Sands discussing their next outing. The cool Halas lagers are slipping down like well oiled oysters, chilled to perfection. Holfast has finally got the hang of drinking out of a bottle, once he has removed the wedge of lemon garnish. He’d would much prefer a frothy Dwarven ale, but only a Barbarian beer can quench the type of thirst he now experiences; or so he’s told. A hunk of Thundermist cheese with warm crusty bread compliments the drink as he relaxes and stretches his plates, toes wiggling with pleasure. The remaining members of the party are equally luxuriating, and contemplating the better things of life. Even the colour is coming back to Certo cheeks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“But what are the benefits of Everfrost?” enquires Neame, eager to explore the land of his larger ancestors. “There must be something worthwhile there.”<BR>“Oh yes” says Brevil, “quests-a-plenty leading to treasure beyond your wildest imagination.”<BR>“Are you sure, my imagination can be pretty wild at times” replies Neame.<BR>“And mine can be downright fanatical” adds Certo.<BR>“I was sold with the fishing, and I can take the opportunity to start a whole new recipe book on ice cream. Ben Snowfoot and his cousin Jerry have had a monopoly for far too long” says Holfast.<BR>“Well it looks like we’re on the piste in Everfrost then” concedes Brevil.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It was now off to the thermal long-johns merchant, and the wooly hat vendor to get kitted out for the weather. Brevil also picks up a copy of the ‘Essential Snowball Primer’, while Holfast borrows a book on sub-zero cooking. Suitably equipped the group head off for the docks in the Thundering Steppes and then on to Everfrost.</DIV> <DIV>It is on a creaking dock with a bitter north wind blowing that the Friday Knights find themselves, a spire of rock looms in front of them. The dock leads through the rocky outcrop to nowhere, just as Brevil had described. A drop into the freezing waters is all that there is at the end of the all too short trail. However Brevil is insistent that we should climb down onto a ledge and follow him to take a look at some old bones. The Gnome deftly picks his way down the rugged wall to the slim shelf below, Holfast bounds down without a care, and lands on his Halfling feet, which have barely enough to gain purchase. Neame on the other hand gingerly makes his way, but a loose stone makes a break for it, and takes the Paladin with it. A mixture of slide, tumble and leap sees the warrior to the others who find his attempt most entertaining. Certo applies some much needed unction while Neame looks puzzled as to how the healer made it down so confidently.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“I used the tunnel around the corner” Certo states.<BR>“Doh!” was Neames reply, and together they cautiously follow Brevil around the base. Holfast on the other hand takes a detour via a neighbouring island.</DIV> <DIV>“Inspect these bones” instructs Brevil.<BR>“It says we need to inspect some more bones” says Holfast, “are we going on a bone hunt?”<BR>“We may well do” replies Brevil, “one thing I do know, it’s gonna mean a lot of swimming.”<BR>“No problemo” brags Holfast.<BR>“In shark infested waters” adds Brevil.<BR>“No problemo” repeats Holfast.<BR>“Yes problemo!” retorts Certo.<BR>“Come on, bite the bullet, and jump in” calls Brevil as he leaps off the ledge, and into the water.<BR>“It’s not biting the bullet I’m worried about; it’s biting the Templar that concerns me.” And Certo follows the rest of the group into the icy water.<BR> <BR>The group swims east, following the coastline at a distance that borders on the scary, although some re-assuring ice flows are dotted at comfortable positions along the way. Three quarters of the party are concentrating on the effort of swimming, and keeping an eye on their surroundings, the remaining quarter is keeping wide eyes on the surroundings, and providing the others with a commentary.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Look at the size of that one.”<BR>“Look At The Size Of That One.”<BR>“Look! At the! Size! Of! That! One!”<BR>“LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT ONE!”</DIV> <DIV>“As long as they stay down there, and we stay up here, we will be ok” assures Neame, and then there was a significant increase of splashing, and the Halfling was away.<BR>“Holfast has caught one” laughs Brevil.<BR>“Whew! I think I’ve been noticed” announces Holfast, “where am I going?”<BR>“Head for that cave to the north” advises Brevil.<BR>“I’ll catch it next time round”<BR>“Over here!” Neame calls.<BR>“Panic over, I’ve lost it.”<BR>“Over here!” Neame repeats his call, “your heading for the open sea you stupid scout.”<BR>“Ok, I think I’m there.”<BR>“Yes, but you should be here.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Holfast finally swims into the cave entrance and takes a breather on the frosty beach. Once everyone had got their breath back, they dived back into the water in search of the next set of remains. It was Holfast who found the key first, saying that he had noticed a chest on his way in, and perhaps the key would fit it. After first swimming in the opposite direction he returned to the said chest, and hey presto he was right, the key did indeed fit the lock. With the skill only an experienced scout possesses he opened the rusted chest to reveal the treasures within. Even under water one could hear the creaking of the rusted hinges, and there among the publicity shy shellfish (some one which find themselves, much to their consternation in Holfasts backpack) is a barnacle encrusted scroll case.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Is this what we’re after?” Asks Holfast.<BR>“I presume so” says Brevil, “I think we should all take a look at it.”<BR>“Hmm, it looks like we have to find some spirits dotted around Everfrost” Brevil says as he reads through the moldy parchment.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Once everyone had digested the information Neame dutifully replaced the items back in the places they had been discovered so the next party could find them. “So where do we go first?” he asks.<BR>“We go and speak with Master T’Lys, and get started on the main reason we are here” says Brevil, “once we have completed the job he gives us, we will gain some much needed kudos for our guild.”<BR>“What does he want doing?” asks Certo.<BR>“I think he’s looking for some volunteers to find some missing parts to a wand he has, or something like that” explains Brevil.<BR>“That doesn’t sound difficult” Certo answers.<BR>“Do you know where they are?” asks Brevil.<BR>“Well; no, but with some careful research, and our usual luck we shouldn’t have a problem” replies Certo.<BR>“Remember, this is Everfrost” warns Brevil, “but I like your confidence.”<BR>“Let’s rock!” growls Holfast in a heavy metal sort of way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Out into the wide open space where the sharks bask free swim the two and two halves in search of Master T’Lys and their next mission. Not surprisingly he is standing on one of the several floating lumps of ice. The fact he is on one such iceberg-let is not so much of a surprise, why a Tier’Dal would choose to live here is. This and other great ponderables were completely ignored by our group as they found the specific floating island on which he happed to be residing. As two tallish figures, and one most definitely short figure all very cold and wet are making themselves known to the aforementioned Dark Elf, the remaining short shanks is climbing onto a very separate icepack. The identity of this short chap shall remain unknown for the time being, but will be plainly revealed when the other one calls out in alarm very soon.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Hi there, I wonder if you can help me?” the one who shall remain nameless asks.<BR>“Sure, but can I tell you about my family” replies Seth McMannus.<BR>“Ok, although I am told you want someone to find your wand” Mr. Mystery continues.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It is at this point that we find out by the process of elimination who the hapless questioner is, but it is not too difficult to guess who it is. It’s a safe bet you knew all along.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Nooooooo!” shouts Brevil from the correct island. The accompanying group members look around in surprise while over on the other island…</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Seth’s face turns into a mask of abject horror while Holfast (yup, you were right) looks round with an expression of abject puzzlement. “Oh no! It’s Dreadwake!” Then with a thunderous roar of shivering water making way for a grey mass much nastier than it, and a blood freezing crunch of snow and ice compressing underneath said mass steadily growing larger and darker, and darker and larger, and larger, and larger. In seconds a dark and dank cavern appears around the hapless Seth, a cave edged in a multitude of razor like formations uncannily resembling sharks teeth. Then in the few additional seconds that remained of Seth’s existence, the cave approaches a Halfling very close to our hearts, and with the gaping maw even closer our hearts are working overtime. Holfast in response abandons the idea of setting up his portable stove, and with the thought of ‘I’m gonna need a bigger pot’ decides to listen to the advice of his friends on the other island, or to be more precise frantically free-styling to the mainland slips back into the water to follow them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Run!” come the terrified calls of the group.<BR>“Swim I mean!” they correct themselves.<BR>“No! This way, turn around” they correct Holfast. Then as he turns about and heads towards them with the gargantuan predatory fish close on his flapping heals, they decide they were correct the first time. “On second thoughts you were right the first time, go the other way,” the group scatters.<BR>“Make up your minds, you want steak for dinner or not.” Holfast calls back as he reaches dry land (which isn’t quite accurate as the land is ice encrusted and snow covered, but you get the idea). He makes a stand and faces the fish, drawing his weapons, the finest dual wield knife and fork set money can buy, or in Holfasts case can purloin from his landlady’s breakfast table. It’s showdown time, as they fix on each others gaze. Holfast sees the hungry intent in the eyes of Dreadwake, who sees the hungry intent in the eyes of Holfast. A substantial audience has formed, at a safe distance. They think the outcome is a forgone conclusion, and with both adversaries on the menu only one will leave a tip, but no one is willing to serve themselves up as a main course.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The tension is electric.<BR>Dreadwake scowls, Holfast scowls.<BR>Holfast growls, Dreadwake growls back.<BR>Dreadwake faints to the left, Holfast jumps to the right.<BR>Holfast licks his lips, Dreadwake decides he’s had enough and swims back out into the deep dark ocean.<BR>The crowds go wild!<BR>Holfast takes a bow to the standing ovation, accolades showers down upon the little hero, as well as the odd snowball. Everyone is in awe of his prowess in standing up again such a monster alone. Everyone that is, with the exception of three unimpressed figures who are tut-tutting at the back, and as it happens are the source of the previously mentioned snowballs. They were glad the shark swam away not knowing what a lucky getaway it had just made.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Slap! Slap!<BR>“What, what happened? Where am I?” a dazed Holfast comes round.<BR>Slap! Slap!<BR>“Ouch, now I remember, a shark, a mouth, those razor sharp teeth” recollects the Halfling.<BR>Slap! Slap!<BR>“And enough of the slapping if you please” he adds as he stands up.<BR>“Oh, sorry” a Templar apologizes.<BR>“Shall we continue,” says Neame.</DIV> <DIV>“You were incredibly lucky you managed to out swim that thing” comments Brevil, “now lets get going.”<BR>“I could of taken it, but I have bigger fish to fry” boasts Holfast.<BR>“Somehow I don’t think so” Neame says, mostly to himself.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The band of warriors head off deeper into the mountains, blizzard winds whipping up around them. The first task is to seek out the four pieces of wand for Master T’Lys. Looking at the scroll given to Brevil, the first shard was not too far away. So it was there the band headed for. As they emerged from the glacious canyon, a few ice wolves less left behind them, Brevil directs them to the left.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“We need to look over there” Brevil points to a bleak outcropping of rock, “but be careful, there are some nasty ice cube lizards out there.”<BR>“Cool” says Holfast.<BR>“Oh and this may take a while, they are pretty rare” continues Brevil, “we’re looking for a red crystal shard.”<BR>“Like this one?” asks Holfast.<BR>“Err, yep, just like that one. Shall move on to the next one” suggests Brevil.<BR>“What was so hard about that” says Certo.<BR>“Fluke” says Brevil, “we need to go back to that little cave now, past those nasty sharks.”<BR>“Cool” says Holfast.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The group trek back through the canyon to the water and launch themselves to the nearest floating sanctuary, then on to the next, and the next keeping an eye on the more aggressive swimmers; in the opening to the cave, and safety.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“We could do with a bit of sneakiness here” suggests Brevil, and Holfast obliges with the application of his hiding spell. “They’re not difficult around here, just a bind” adds Brevil. The group slide past, almost literally as the floor is a solid sheet of ice, the wandering skeletons and ice golems. A break in the wall appears on the right, and Brevil leads the group through fissure out into the cold open air. The wind gusts around the encircling the cliff faces driving frozen crystals of ice into the faces of the group. Before them is a valley teeming with life, the majority of which is ready to take a bite or two out of our brave heroes. Brevil leads them into the centre of the vale and indicates that the next shard should be within the vicinity, so the group split up and start looking. This of course then poses another problem, in that the spell Holfast used to hide everyone has a finite range to it, and it wasn’t long before Neame wandered out of the area of protection, and into the area of influence of a local Numbfoot. Reluctantly Brevil broke of his hunt to assist, followed by Certo and Holfast. The search resumed, then Certo picked up a Snow Leopard, and after that Holfast picked up a quick snack. This is how it continues for some time until Brevil calls out in glee that he has found the white shard, two down two to go.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“The next one east of here, it’s blue this time” instructs Brevil, “be careful of the giants, they can see through invisibility.”<BR>“Giants don’t scare me” boasts Holfast, and the group move on under the cloak of Holfasts invisibility, all except Brevil who doesn’t trust it. He prefers to use his own. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>They arrive at the site of a wizened tree with a number of Numbfoot, a scattering of Kromise, and the odd Snow Leopard wandering around it. Oh, and a spectral bird creature. There are also some Stags, or as Holfast calls them, venison steaks with coat hangers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“This is not good” concedes Brevil, “you see where that epic creature is?” Everyone nods, “that’s where the blue shard is, or should be.”<BR>“We need to form a plan” suggests Neame, “right, Certo keeps a close watch on the bird, I’ll draw off any giant that gets too close, and Holfast will wander off looking for his dinner.” This last part is not part of the plan, it’s just a commentary of what is happening about now.<BR>“Holfast get back here. No, over here. Help me make sure the giants don’t get Brevil when goes in for the shard.” Calls Neame, “but first we need to get rid of that gang of Numbfoot. I’ll pull them up the hill here.”</DIV> <DIV>“Wait! Wait!” calls Brevil in alarm, “we must speak to the Spirit of Frigid Pine. It’s here.”<BR>“Oh, it’s not easy to see, being white, in a white landscape” says Neame.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With much trepidation, the group approaches the vision, and hastily spoke with it. It wanted us to kill the Numbfoot around the World Tree. The band arrange themselves into a battle formation and Neame gets the first bunch. Biff! Bash! Bosh! The second group arrives, and departs. The third and last group is attracted over, and sent the same way as their predecessors. After a tense wait while the bird flies by the group return to the spirit tree and report on a job well done. It’s now time to search for that shard; the ghostly bird apparition moves around, but is never very far away. Brevil disappears and sprints down to the tree. It’s not long before Certo spots it change direction.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Watch out!”” shouts Certo, “that bird is coming back.” Brevil sprints back and waits for it to go past. Once the danger moves away he moves back down.</DIV> <DIV>“Ah-ha! Found it” announces Brevil.<BR>“Run!” the others echo.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This time the Gnome attracts the attention of a Giant, but has to take a circuitous root back to the camp, and as he does so his health is being battered away at an alarming rate. The group encourages him to run faster, and then in a fit of valour Certo rushes to the Warlocks aid. This is not the most sensible thing to do, even if it is in the best of intentions, as now Certo has a Giant on his tail. Brevil decides to make a break for freedom, and gallops along the edge of the grove in order to shake of his assailant; his life is now on a thread. Certo in the meantime has brought his Giant back to Neame and Holfast, who cut the towering humanoid down to a manageable size, horizontal. Brevil has successfully broken contact with his Giant friend, and is making his way back.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Once again Brevil sneaks down to the old tree, it takes him a few moments to locate the spot where the shard was first found, he takes a hasty look around him and bends down to dig out the crystal.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Behind you!” The others shout. The ghost bird is returning, and is getting perilously close.<BR>“Move it!” The others shout even louder. Brevil is committed to getting that shard, but the ghost bird is approaching from the other side of the tree, and is not visible from where Brevil is digging.<BR>“Nearly got it” Brevil calls back. The bird is going to be on the Gnome any second.<BR>“Got it!” he calls.<BR>“Run! Run! Run!” The others shout in an octave higher that usual. And just as the bird gets to the tree Brevil is off; straight into the legs of another Giant. He keeps going, as he is now familiar with this scenario. “Meet you by the tunnel” he calls back. He thinks he has left the rest of the group behind, but they had started their escape long since.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A few Numbfoot and the odd Snow Leopard later the group are tip-toeing through a tunnel crawling with massive spiders. On the way to finding the last shard, a green one locked in a frozen lake. When the group emerges, they emerge onto a wide open space with Polar Bears and Wooly Mammoth, strange skating icicles slide here and there together with the familiar Giants.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Try and cook those things” Neame says to Holfast as he points at a Frozen Tempest.<BR>“Hmm, not the most nutritious of foods” agrees Holfast, “but great with cocktails.”<BR>“The shard is somewhere over there I think” says Brevil as he points towards the ghost of Tundra Jack and Iceberg.<BR>“Yippee, more butt kicking spectral mayhem” moans Certo.<BR>“Ah, but they wander a lot further a field, so we just have to wait a short while and let them go away.” Replies Brevil. “Look they are moving off now, let’s go.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Off the troupe trot, not so sure footed on the ice as the locals, but thankful that most of them are on the peaceful side. They still need to be on their guard as amongst those peace loving Polar bears is the occasional mean machine. There are also some weird structures sticking out of the ice, they look just like large glow globes that light the streets of Qeynos at night, but Brevil warns the group that they should not be approached, as they have a tendency to jump out of the ice and chase after the unsuspecting passer by. With such a warning as that it’s like waving a napkin in Holfasts face, but totally out of character, he abides by the advice.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The ease of finding the first three is not reflected in the search for the last one. Brevil is convinced as to its location, but it is not where it should be, in fact it doesn’t seem to be anywhere. As they search, the group amuse themselves by crushing a few of the Frozen Tempests, and Brevil even gets a little excited over the appearance of a Frozen Cyclone. Which is not such a walk in the park, but the battling foursome prevail in its defeat, and are rewarded for their valour with a rather large metal chest containing goodies for all.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After much searching, and waiting, and searching, and fighting, the illusive shard is found. How anyone could have missed it beyond belief, as it is bright green and sitting right next to another ghostly apparition.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“According to the scroll, this is the Spirit of Wintry Mist” reads Brevil, “This saves us some time, as we need to speak with it.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A fortuitous co-incidence, but the task this spirit requires the group to do, a light duty it suggests, just eliminate four Tundra Terrors; which turn out to be those mysterious glow globe things sticking out of the ice. However once Neame taunts one out of the ice, it is far from a lamp post, more like a giant prawn, or maybe a scorpion. Actually it doesn’t look like anything. One thing is sure, they are tough crustaceans to crack. The job is done, and the victors report back to the spirit.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“We have still got a couple more spirits to talk to yet” says Brevil, “there’s Arctic Doom, and Polar Lights. The good news is, they are not far from here; we just have to make our way through a mass of invisibility seeing Giants, and swim around Goblin infested ice floes. In fact one of those spirits is in the tunnel teeming with Giants.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Off go the Friday Knights in search of more ghostly inhabitants. Getting to the tunnel is not such a problem, and getting into the tunnel is quite easy. Getting out of the tunnel at the other end, intact may not. After clearing the guards at the mouth of the tunnel, and following Brevils lead the group run in pulling those inside to a spot just before a second tunnel splits off. There they tackle those Kromise that object to a bunch of little folk invading their dwelling. Felling a further trio half way down the second tunnel reveals the next spirit. The spirit of Arctic Doom.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“I wish you to rid me of four Krom dear boys” says the skeletal ghost, in a somewhat haunting tone.<BR>“Will you take credit, we’ve took care of twice that much already?” asks Holfast.<BR>“No mate” replies the ghost, “according to the contract yer gotta kill the four Giants once I tells yer to.”<BR>“Jobs-worth” mutters Holfast.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The job is not really very taxing, and is completed quickly. After receiving the official ok from the ghost, the group move on to the next duty. This brings them out high up on a cliff overlooking the sea. The portal to Permafrost is off to the left, but it is a dive off the edge of the cliff Brevil insists we make, and like lambs to the slaughter the rest follow. It’s just as well as the Giants here are not pleased. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The water is just as cold, and just as murky, and through it the four adventurers swim to an ice floe just behind a rocky prominence, there they meet with the Spirit of Polar Lights, a spectacle they cannot miss as it is a blaze of sparkling bright light. The task given to the group by this being is not so quick, in fact it sounds almost impossible. They must find four traps under the water, and release the fish within them. Their locations are unknown, so the group has no option but to swim to every floe and check underneath each one. There does not seem to be any shark hazard, but swimming close to the edge of an ice floe attracts the attention of those Goblin types wandering around on its surface, not to mention the odd Giant here and there. The search was greatly aided by Certo’s ability to cast a water breathing spell on the group, even though everyone had a clever little earring that did the same job, but it makes Certo feel useful.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It is a tedious task, but each trap is found one by one without incident, without much incident more or less. A brief interaction with a rather old looking shark near one of the traps in the north of the area broke the monotony, the second trap was found close to the east wall, one in a more southerly direction, and the last happens to be quite close the lights. Once all the traps have been sprung the group report back to the spirit who, they must assume is pleased with their work, as first it says it is, and second does not strike them down with a bolt of lightning.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Now it’s back off to Master T’Lys with his precious wand kit” says Brevil “and we are now prepared to enter the Menagerie. Which is nice.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Back with Master T’Lys, he is delighted to get his wand back, but as expected he has another job for the adventurers. They must rid the region of some troublesome warlords. Brevil’s look of exasperation says it all.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“This don’t look good” comments Neame, “is there something we should know?”<BR>“Well..” Brevil extends the word into a whine.<BR>“Well what?” retorts Certo.<BR>“Um, it’ll be fine, might take a bit of time” Brevil says more reassuringly, “they can be a bit elusive, but we could be lucky.”<BR>“Where have we heard that before” exclaims Certo.<BR>“We’re not going to get anywhere standing here are we” Neame chivvies the group.<BR>“Lets see if Bloodrage wants to come out to play” calls Brevil as he dives back into the water. The rest follow close on his heels.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As the group makes their way to back to The Jagged Plains, Brevil explains about Bloodrage the Minotaur chieftain, and how he won’t appear unless we wipe out one of his encampments, and even then he may not deign to turn out. He is a prized catch, and frequently hunted, so patience is necessary. This is just what occurred, as the group found themselves clearing out three populations until the chief decided to make his appearance.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“There he is” calls Neame.<BR>“Quick, before he runs after someone else, be care he’s still a tough foe” shouts Brevil as Neame goes in after beastlord.<BR>“Grab that bull by the horns” encourages Certo.<BR>“ha-ha, who’s the comic then” responds Neame, “don’t give up that day job.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Neame comes up with the goods, as he taunts a boiling burst of steam from the Minotaur’s nostrils. Head down, charging the Paladin with ice gleaming on the tips of its horns, and fire burning in its eyes it stampedes into the quartet, Holfast whips to its rear and tears into the bovine flanks. With a rain of fire from the Warlock, and the fighter keeping the focus of attention squarely on himself, grateful that the healer is making sure his wounds are quickly treated. Then with a cloud of ice the warlord hits the ground. The biggest reward not being revealed in the chest, but the satisfaction the first adversary is vanquished. So it is on to the next warlord on the list, at the World Tree. Unfortunately the ghostly apparition of a bird, The Seraph of the Stags Brevil has found it is called is still roaming around the area. The group clear out the Numbfoot hunters in the hope that Icebrun appears, but the presence of the ghost must be keeping it away; it certainly gets in the way, and is a distraction to the group when they are battling the other beasts. This head honcho will have to wait, and the adventurers seek glory at the dwelling of the last warlord, an Icegill Goblin that goes by the name of Webclaw, which happens to be back through the tunnel of spiders, and the realm of the Giants.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>On the groups arrival, they must ensure there’s a clear field of combat, as Master Webclaw comes with an entourage of five henchmen, so this is going to be a real challenge. With wandering Icegill and Giants out of the picture, the main target is picked, and the fight begun. With great valour the odd band of brothers give their all, but in the jaws victory, defeat is the outcome, and the Friday Knights must trek back to try again. One-nil to the Goblin. For a second time, the field is prepared, and the fight begun…</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>…Two-nil…<BR></DIV> <DIV>…Three-nil. The task ahead is becoming more and more daunting. Four-nil, the feeling among the battlers is waning, but help arrives unexpectantly in the form of a duo out for the same quarry. They offer to join forces, and after once again clearing the area of interference together the six defeat the Master and his cohorts with such effortless ease it makes the victory somewhat hollow. But, the job is done, and with much appreciation the relieved foursome offer first choice to the rescuers, and with equal magnanimity acknowledging the gesture, pass the choice back. Then with much thanks, the groups go their separate ways. It is now time to return and seek out Icebrun, a job that cannot be put off any longer.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A return to the World Tree found that the ghost had departed allowing the group freedom to take on the Numbfoot with impunity, and luck stays with the group as the very character they are after is there waiting. He does have his own group of hunters supporting him, but when they are attacked, they do not prove to be such a devastating problem as the previous encounter, in fact the accompanying Numbfoot are brought down with surprising ease using well timed area of effect spells from Brevil’s impressive arsenal. Once Icebrun stands alone, all effort is concentrated on him, the result being the group have their three warlords as demanded by T’Lys, and it is back to him the FK’s return for their reward.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There is no surprise when T’Lys has just one last task for the group, a task Brevil has prepared the others for. It’s that visit to the Menagerie, and a meeting with a chap named Tobrin. It seems he has a very nice eye patch that will come in handy.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Ok, this can go well, or extremely badly” Brevil begins, “we need to watch our steps very closely, one false step will lead to disaster.” The emphasis on the ‘will’ made it quite clear to the group that the slightest mistake will end the expedition in failure.<BR>“So it’s back down the ice tunnel then?” asks Neame.<BR>“You got it” replies Brevil, and dives back into the freezing waters.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The adventurers outside the massive doors of the Menagerie in no time, and Brevil advises that he should be the one to open the door, the rest should follow him in, which sounded good to everyone.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Here we must kill everything in sight” says Brevil, “hold your horses there, my hairy footed friend. Not so fast. We must do it carefully and methodically. There are four rooms; this one in front of us is the first. We need to clear a path over to that door there.” Brevil points to a tall set of double doors on the left. “Once we have then cleared that room we can make our way over there.” He points to the equally tall set of double doors on the right. “Then, after clearing out that room, we make our way to the doors straight ahead and our ultimate target.”</DIV> <DIV>“Sounds easy enough to me” declares Holfast as he makes for the stairs. A well timed lunge by Neame prevented the Halfling getting too far. “I think the magic man hasn’t quite finished explaining the plan my sneaky friend. Brevil, please continue.”<BR>“May I bestow a humble Gnomes gratitude on you brave Sir Paladin” thanks the Gnome. <BR>“Pleeeezze!” pleads the Templar, “you’ll be going all ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ and ‘for sooth’ in a minute, and if you dare start with the ‘hey nonny no’ I’m leaving.” <BR>“To continue” continues Brevil, “we have to get this right first time. If anything goes wrong stay put, we cannot leave without completing this job.”<BR>“Why’s that then, nonny? He-he-he” chuckles Holfast, going into one of his annoying dances.<BR>“Watch it, I’m serious” warns Certo.<BR>“We leave, we get locked out and won’t be let back in for a long time” advises Brevil.<BR>“Right, lets rock!” exclaims Neame in a heavy metal kind of way.<BR>“For Tunare’s sake” sighs Certo.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The Paladin edges forward and launches one of his holy smoots at the nearest denizen. It brings along a couple of its associates, and are a pile of bones in a matter of seconds. A couple more and the area is free, then it’s on to the frosty Golems at the first door, they become giant slushies in no time. This is the pattern that continues through rooms one and two; although the residents within them require cursory panning they are removed with equal ease. Then after the last remaining Golem pair the party find themselves in the final chamber to be presented with the ghostly figure of Tobrin.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“He don’t look dodgy, I’ll go and have a word” states Holfast.<BR>“Stop!” shouts Brevil, “he is not what he appears. He will turn on you in the blink of an eye. Neame you go and talk to him.”<BR>“Ok.” The Paladin agrees in naïve innocence, but then a frown of suspicion clouds his brow, this however does not get to break as true to form all hell breaks loose, and not only does Tobrin turn vicious but he is joined by four henchmen also bent on destruction.</DIV> <DIV>“A hand would be much appreciated at this point” pleads Neame. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Then after a short round of applause the rest of the group wade in. A sarcastic remark from the Paladin is lost in the foray, but the pious knight continues to taunt the ghost and his cohorts, accepting the pummeling in good spirit while the Warlock brings down his own fiery hell on the adversaries, and the rogue arms a blur lays into their flanks. Certo has his arms full keeping Neame on his feet, but sneaks in the odd thwack with his staff. Soon the conflict is over and in place of the enemy stands a sizable chest. Four pairs of eyes bulge, and their associated mouths begin to drool.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“It’s not what it seems” says Brevil, “but before Holfast gets his grubby hands on it, everyone crowd around.” Neame grabs a fast moving collar, and halts the actions of the zealous Halfling. The party as one gathers around the chest as the Swashbuckler is let loose on the lock.</DIV> <DIV>“Don’t [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] this up, we could all still fail here” warns Brevil.<BR>“Fear not my diminutive compadre, these nimble fingers are a wonder to behold” boasts Holfast.<BR>“Just don’t let those little wonders blow the rest of us up” replies Brevil.<BR>“Done” announces Holfast.<BR>“A bit disappointing I must say” frowns Neame.<BR>“That was text book lock picking technique” justifies Holfast.<BR>“Not you, the chest. There’s bugger all in it” says Neame as the group as one peer in.<BR>“Somehow I don’t think we need worry about that now” points Brevil looking over the chest and across the chamber, “look there.”<BR>“Not more dungeon fodder. When will this all end!” cries Certo.<BR>“A bit dramatic there mate” queries Neame.<BR>“I can ham it up with the best of them” replies Certo, “shall we mop them up?”<BR>“Yeah, lets.”</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>[Removed for Content]! Bash! Bosh! Thump! Whack! Crash!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>“Job done.” Puffs Neame, “where’s our reward?”<BR>“Ah, gentlemen” announce Master T’Lys, “thank you for sorting this little problem. And as a reward have this fascinating item as a token of my gratitude.”<BR>“Hmmm, what is it?” asks Holfast.<BR>“A crummy jockstrap!” fumes Certo, “what sort of prize is that?”<BR>“It’s an eye patch” laughs Brevil.<BR>“Ooooh. What’s it for?”<BR>“It allows you to see those that do not wish to be seen.”<BR>“Let’s go home shall we?”<BR>“Yeah, lets.<BR></DIV>