The Odyssey of Gilthanas

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The Odyssey of Gilthanas

Reader's Companion

Douglas Niles, Steve Miller, and Stan!

Guide to Gilthanas's Odyssey

rom the "eginning, the DRGON#NC$ Saga has "elonged to t%o different %orlds& the %orlds

of literature and of adventure gaming (hile novels and game produ)ts have al%ays relied on one

another to tell parts of the Saga, and %hile the t%o have often %or*ed hand+in+hand to delve into

tales %ith a greater depth than either medium )ould do alone, games and "oo*s have remained

distin)t from one another Role+playing gamers read the novels, readers used game produ)ts as

referen)e material, "ut there %as never a single "oo* that served "oth )ommunities at the same time

until no%

The Odyssey of Gilthanas %as originally going to "e a game resour)e titled -Mysti) .la)es,- "ut

%hen the opportunity arose to try this ne% format, the DRGON#NC$ team /umped at it fter all,%hat "etter %ay to )ele"rate the fifteenth anniversary of the DRGON#NC$ Saga, the first %orld

)reated for "oth fi)tion and roleplaying, than to ta*e that natural lin* to the ne0t stage of evolution

This "oo* addresses t%o distin)t needs irst, it tells the tale of %hat happened to .rin)e

Gilthanas "et%een his final appearan)e in 1alaman near the end of the Chroni)les trilogy and his

23444 TSR, 5n)

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OCR6ed "y lligator

)ro)7aharu

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release from 1hellendros's prison )amp in the Dragons of a Ne% ge trilogy "y 8ean Ra"e

Se)ondly, this "oo* provides sour)e material in the appendi0 for several intriguing sites that have

e0isted on DRGON#NC$ maps for years "ut have never made their %ay into a "oo* or game

produ)t s it turns out, these sites are pla)es Gilthanas visited during his odyssey or players of

the DRGON#NC$& 5T9 G$ or the D:NC$D D;NG$ONS < DRGONS games, the information in

this appendi0 applies dire)tly to their )ampaigns

Off the Coast of Solamnia, =>s)

The %ater dripped do%n the surfa)e of dan* tim"ers in a regular )aden)e, appro0imately in time

to the "eating of the prisoner's heart 9e had no idea ho% many heart"eats, ho% many hours or even

days had passed sin)e that persistent plopping had formed the frame%or* of his e0isten)e, "ut he

too* )omfort in it, for the very a)t of )ounting, of feeling his heart "eat, )onfirmed that he %as

indeed alive

nd %hile he lived, he should feel hope shouldn't he?

9e tried to resist the part of him that ans%ered& perhaps not, perhaps hope %as over fter years

of %andering, after es)apes and fruitless @uests, after de)eit and "etrayal, he %as "a)* %here he had "egun prisoner, lo)*ed in the dar*ness, left alone to rot

This time his )ell %as a shipa vessel of the Dar* 1nights "earing him to an un*no%n

destination 9e felt the gentle ro)*ing of the hull and heard the straining of the tim"ers as the s%ells

rose and fell 9e had thought that it %as utterly dar*, "ut %hen the thro""ing in his s*ull su"sided

slightly, he re)ogniAed that his eyes %ere too s%ollen to open $ither that, or a "eating at the hands

of the guards had "linded him, and he had "een mer)ifully un)ons)ious at the time

Bet he gradually "e)ame a%are that, in this damp and )hilly hold, he %as not alone 9e

e0amined his surroundings "y smell and "y sound The air %as musty, stained %ith the ordure of

mold and urine, and underlaid "y the more vile sten)hes of fe)es and rotten flesh No "reeAe

)aressed his s*in, and the sense of dampness )ame from more than the steady drippingit

permeated him in the )hill of the stagnant air, in the la)* of any suggestion of %armth from the sun

or any sour)e of 1rynn+"ound fire

Cruel sha)*les "ound his %rists to a %all, holding him spread+eagled in a sitting position 9is

arms and hands, suspended to the sides, felt num", and his "utto)*s and legs %ere stiff from

"earing his %eight on )old, unforgiving tim"ers (hen he fully understood his position, he too*

heart from the fa)t of his iron mana)les& the sha)*les served as a )onfirmation of time 5t had not

"een %ee*s or months sin)e he had "een pla)ed in this hold 5n fa)t, he had not )hanged posture to

eat, nor even to drin*, so he *ne% that he had not "een li*e this for very many dayselse he %ould

"e dead "y no%

9e %as "elo% de)*s on a large ship that %as "ound for he *ne% not %here ut he )ould ta*e

some minimal )omfort from the *no%ledge that others %ere in this pla)e %ith him 9e heardhushed %hisperspeople's voi)es s)ar)ely daring to ma*e a sound 9e heard someone shuffle

)lose to him %ith "are feet gliding almost soundlessly a)ross the smooth "oards

nd then he heard %ords, and his life "egan to return to him

-My .rin)e O Royal Master)an you ever forgive me?-

The voi)e %as a groan and %as follo%ed "y emphati) shushing o"viously other prisoners

%anted the spea*er to *eep his voi)e do%n to spare them the ris* of punishment "y the stern Dar*

1nights %ho guarded them

-.lease,- %hispered the prin)e -Try to "e silent and *no% that 5 have forgiven you Bou "ut

a)ted upon the impulse of your heartand if 5 had not done the same, %e neither of us %ould "e

here today-

-5 5'm sorry,- replied the one the prin)e remem"ered as #ethagas #eth %as a young elf, "ut hehad served faithfully and %ell No% his guilt, and his grief, %ere "urdens that the prisoner neither

needed nor deserved

or a time the hold %as silent save for the gradual )rea*ing of the ship 9e tried to let his mind

drift a%ay, to re)all an image of silver "eauty, a laugh li*e the musi) of the )osmos gods, ho% he



missed her 9e had )rossed a %orld to find her, sought for years, for de)ades only to )ome to this

nd still he %ould not a)*no%ledge defeat

The s%elling around the prin)e's eyes gradually lessened, and he )ould at last get a "lurred loo*

at his surroundings Si0 other prisoners shared the hold %ith him, though only he %as so rudely

)hained to the %all 9e re)ogniAed #ethagas among them The others, li*e #eth and himself, %ere

male elves To a man ragged garments "arely )overed their filthy s*in, and they "ore un*emptgolden hair .ale s*in suggested that the prisoners had languished "elo% de)*s for @uite some time

$ventually, a hun)h"a)*ed turn*ey silently "rought a "o%l of food and a pail of %ater under the

%at)hful eyes of a pair of Dar* 1nights These guards, )loa*ed from head to foot in "la)*,

o"served li*e very dangerous statues as the grotes@ue servant unlo)*ed the door in the iron "ars at

the front of the )ell 9e opened the portal only %ide enough to push the "o%l and "u)*et into the

hold single grimy ladle floated in the "ro%nish %ater

(hen the guards left, the elven prisoners too* turns s)ooping out "ites of vile )ho%der and

drin*ing putrid %ater The prin)e %as pleased to see none of the "i)*ering, even fighting, erupt as it

%ould among humans or d%arves entrusted %ith a similar regimen The others even allo%ed

#ethagas to offer the prin)e the first serving, though he de)lined and supped in turn %ith the rest

The eating ended "efore the hunger fter%ard, the prisoners gathered around himthe elf %iththe long s)ar on his fa)e %ho %ore leggings of silver and a tuni) of "urnished leather pparently

they *ne% that the guards %ould stay for a %hile "e)ause one, an elder %ho %as missing one eye

and limped a%*%ardly on a %ithered leg, at last spo*e up

-9e )alled you prin)e, no"le elf (hat is your name?-

-5 am Gilthanas Solostaran, prin)e of Eualinesti,- he replied simply

-(e *no% of you, O .rin)e,- said the )rippled elf -nd %e hail your family's name ut tell me&

9o% do you )ome to "e the prisoner of the Dar* 1nights, hauled in this ship of death?-

-That is a story that 5, myself, don't even understand,- replied the elf %ith a %ry )hu)*le -nd it

%ould ta*e a very long time to tell-

-Then %e are indeed fortunate,- de)lared the elder -or there is only one thing in %hi)h %e are

%ealthy, and that is time-

Gilthanas loo*ed at the group, all of %hom regarded him %ith attentive eyes Truly, he didn't

*no% ho% his road had "rought him here, "ut perhaps it %ould help him to understand if he %ere to

put the story into %ords

FFFFF

-On)e 5 had a great deal more than mere time,- Gilthanas "egan 9is thoughts drifted "a)*, and

it seemed as though he might have "een loo*ing at an earlier lifean e0isten)e "efore dungeons

and @uests and %anderings had given shape to his days 5ndeed, he might have "een )onsidering the

life of someone else for all the similarities he )ould "ring to his present )ir)umstan)es-5 had po%er and %ealth 5 had a reputation *no%n far and %ide, status as a hero in the greatest

)ause of the %orld and yet, 5 )ould not find happiness-

-5 remem"er,- said the elder prisoner -Bou %ere lord of some )ity in the north 1alaman, %as

it not?-

-5ndeed, good friend ut pray, tell me your name-

-5 am )alled anatharl, of Eualinesti :ale- The elf's voi)e %as soft, distant, and Gilthanas *ne%

that he, too, %as trying to re)onstru)t a %ell+removed past -5 %as a follo%er of your "rother

.orthios, until the Dar* 1nights made me their pet-

-h, .orthios he has a pla)e in my tale, though our stories are not as intert%ined as many

"rothers might "e-

-To 1alaman, then?- prodded a younger elf, %ho introdu)ed himself as Carranias, also of Eualinesti -(as that not your fiefdom after the (ar of the #an)e?-

-5ndeed 5 )ame to that )ity at the )ulmination of the :ingaard Campaign, the spring season of

"attles resulting in the defeat of 9ighlord ria*as, the Dragon $mperor of nsalon-

-Bou )ame at the head of the li"erating army, did you not?- prodded #ethagas



-s a part of that army my sister #aurana %as the Golden General, appointed "y the 1nights

of Solamnia to lead them in the triumphant )ampaign 5 fle% upon Silvara greatest, %isest, most

"eautiful silver dragon in all the %orld Together %e "attled the %yrms of Ta*hisis, Eueen of

Dar*ness (e sle% many po%erful serpents of "lue nd %hen the Dar* Eueen's armies fled

1alaman, Silvara and 5 )ame to rest in the )ity's great plaAa 5t %as soon after our ultimate vi)tory

at Nera*a that the people of 1alaman sent for me and as*ed me to "e their #ord Mayor--ut %ere you not a prin)e of Eualinesti?- as*ed anatharl

-5ndeed, "ut that realm %as the fiefdom of my "rother .orthios 9is rulership seemed se)ured,

and it even "ore splendid portents for the future Bou %ill remem"er that shortly after the (ar of the

#an)e, he married lhana Star"reeAe, %ho %as herself heir to the other elven realm, Silvanesti-

-She %as a @ueen to Eualinesti as %ell,- nodded the elder -nd the people held out great hope

that she %ould "ear a )hild to the *ing and @ueenan elf %ho %ould "ring the promise of the

unifi)ation of our an)ient ra)e-

-True nd %ith my homeland thus in good hands, 5 had )ause to use my talents else%here, to go

%here 5 %as needed-

-nd you %ere needed in 1alaman?-

-So it seemed "ut still, it %as not as easy as that- Gilthanas fell silent as the rest of the storyunfolded in his memory 9e )ould not spea* of his love for Silvara, of the "eautiful silver+haired

elfmaid %ho had tor)hed his heart into fire as if *indling it from )hilly )oal She %as his perfe)t

lifemate She should have "een his "ride and "orne him )hildren

ut then he had learned the truth& Though she )ould )hoose to loo* li*e a %oman, %ith "eauty so

deep that it tore his heart, she %as not an elf 5n her heart and soul and true flesh she %as a silver

dragon Silvara had lived for more years even than the de)ades+old elven prin)e She %as a )reature

of an)ient might and nearly immortal %isdom 9e had loved her, and he thought she had loved him,

"ut their differen)es %ere too great 5t had seemed to "oth of them that their lives had "een ordained

to "e stories in separate "oo*s

5t had not "een the silver dragon %ho had made the initial, fateful de)ision 5nstead, the elf had

turned his "a)* Gilthanas had sent Silvara a%ay and turned his life to helping the humans %ho

needed him

or many years, he almost )onvin)ed himself that he had done the right thing

FFFFF

The other elves in the )ell maintained a respe)tful silen)e, o"viously a%are that Gilthanas %as

reliving memories he did not %ish to share ut the prin)e %as )ons)ious of his audien)e, of the

tale he had started to tell, and so he dre% a deep "reath

-#et me /ust say that my years in 1alaman %ent "y in a "lur that 5 %as effe)tive there, 5 even

dare to say popular ut 5 %asn't really needed Nor did 5 find in the %or* the *ind of usefulnessthat let me *no% 5 %as doing the right thing 5nstead, 5 gre% more and more restless, and as the

years turned to de)ades, 5 *ne% that 5 %ould have to leave-

-Did you *no% %here you %anted to go?- as*ed anatharl

Gilthanas laughed ruefully, sha*ing his head -5t %as only that fa)t that *ept me in the )ity for as

long as 5 remained thirty full years after the (ar of the #an)e ut as time passed 5 "e)ame

in)reasingly restless, longing for for someone 5 had lost

-9istory passed in the rest of 1rynn, of )ourse 5 learned that my "rother .orthios %as in

Silvanesti, %or*ing hard to drive )orruption from that land, to )lean the detritus left in the %a*e of

the %ar%hi)h %ar, as every elf *no%s, %as parti)ularly )ruel to that land of our hallo%ed

an)estors-

-5t is said that the late Silvanesti *ing's nightmares "e)ame real,- %hispered the younger elf,Carranias

-5t is said truthfully,- %hispered another an)ient elf

-nd %hen the realm's o%n regent, 1onnal, failed to )on@uer the )orruption, .orthios arrived 5t

%as he %ho led the Silvanesti to vi)tory in their o%n realm- Carranias asserted his *no%ledge of



elven history, %hile the other listeners nodded in mute agreement

-nd as re%ard for his servi)e,- anatharl said "itterly, -1onnal had him arrested, thro%n into a

prison )ell and senten)ed to death 5 *no% this, for 5 fle% %ith those %ho %ould have res)ued him

in Silvanesti "ut even then, our lord too* )are to see that %ar %as avoided "et%een the t%o elven

nations-

-ye ut 5 *ne% none of this as 5 de)ided to visit my "rother 5 merely %ished to see thehallo%ed *ingdom he had restored and to learn from him a"out the lives of the rest of our family 5t

%as %ith a sense of freedom, even e0hilaration, that 5 departed 1alaman 5 traveled "y sea to

San)tion, and then overland until 5 had rea)hed the "order of Silvanesti-

-Did you tell your "rother you %ere )oming?- This @uestion )ame from Carranias, %hose eyes

had %idened %ith his imaginings a"out these royal doings

-No fool that 5 %as, 5 %anted to surprise him Of )ourse, if 5 had gotten in tou)h %ith him, he

might have %arned me a%ay, or 5 might have "een a"le to help him s it %as, 1onnal's agents

seiAed me "efore 5 had ridden many miles do%n the pea)eful forest trails

-Despite that "itter assaultor perhaps "e)ause of it5 still remem"er the %ondrous sensations

of my entran)e into the elven *ingdom& Silvanesti spread li*e a garden around me, %ith fragrant

"looms drooping heavily from lush "ran)hes, trees s)ulpted into su)h perfe)tion that they formedar)hes overhead, and a natural )anopy that e0tended for miles 5 )ame to a ponda still pool that

refle)ted the s*y %ith mirrored perfe)tionand here 5 dismounted to en/oy an afternoon's rest

"eneath the shade of a lush evergreen

-nd this is %here 1onnal's agents too* me they rushed from all sides, thre% nets, and "eat

me %ith )lu"s efore 5 *ne% %hat %as happening, they had made me a prisoner-

-Did they ta*e you to the pala)e or to some prison in Silvanost?- anatharl %ondered, spea*ing

of the )apital of the realm and one of the oldest )ities in the %orld

-(ould that they had "ut instead 5 %as ta*en to a mere hole in the ground, a dirt+%alled

dungeon %here 5 %as the only prisoner, and my guards %ere pi)*ed from 1onnal's personal

agents- -(here %as that pla)e?-

-5 did not learn until mu)h later "ut 5 languished there for a long time 5t turned out to "e a

doAen years, %hile so many things passed in the %orld "eyond My guards gleefully related the

events 5 %as missing& of .orthios shamed "efore the ruling Sinthal+$lish, of his arrest and

imprisonment in the To%er of Stars- The prin)e's voi)e tightened -They /o*ed a"out the irony,

"oasted of ho% the t%o prin)es of Eualinesti %ere the prisoners of Silvanesti "e)ause they foolishly

tried to "ring the Eualinesti and Silvanesti nations together My o%n fate, 5 %as assured, remained a

se)ret from the outside %orld-

-(hile .orthios made his es)ape,- anatharl inter/e)ted

-ye Tanis 9alf+$lven and t%o loyal griffins, plu)*ing .orthios from the high to%er and

"earing him to safety My guards %ere infuriated "y his es)apethey "eat me "loody in their

ve0ation"ut the )ruel fello%s gloated a"out the fa)t that my "rother had gone a%ay, and he didn'teven *no% that he %as leaving me "ehind They also mentioned ho% lhana, the rightful ruler of

Silvanesti, had also "een e0iled-

Gilthanas dre% a "reath 5n the silent prison, his elven listeners remained rapt

-Of )ourse, it %as not long after that the Chaos (ar %ra)*ed 1rynnthe summer of heat that

mar*ed the departure of the old gods, the vanishing of magi) That fa)t 5 en)ountered even in my

)ell, %here the tiny in)antations 5 had performed to ma*e my imprisonment more tolera"lea

glimmer of flame, a small )loa* of %armth or )oals for dryingall )eased to fun)tion

-5 tell you, good elves, that %as the "eginning of years %hen 5 felt utterly "ereft 5 longed for my

homeland and )onvin)ed myself that 5 %ould die in that holethat 5 %ould never see Eualinesti,

nor the one 5 missed a"ove all others, again-

The 9ill of Sol+allon, 33s)

The *ey turned in the lo)* %ith a harsher sound than usual, perhaps "e)ause this time it %as

t%isted %ith anger, or perhaps gloating delight (hatever the emotion of the person %ho unlo)*ed



the door, Gilthanas *ne% that this %as not his usual /ailor )ome %ith his repast of stale "read or vile

ste%

S)ram"ling to his feet, the elven prin)e stood ere)t and glared at the shado%ed hall%ay "eyond

Bears of )onfinement had paled his s*in and, no dou"t, %ea*ened his mus)les, "ut they had done

nothing to "rea* his spirit nd %hen he sa% the one %ho had opened his door, that spirit )ompelled

him into a furious rusha %ild atta)* of s%inging fists and inarti)ulate )urses Naturally, 1onnal had not )ome alone The t%o guards of Silvanesti's military governor stepped

for%ard %ith upraised staffs Gilthanas paid no heed, desiring only to get his fingers around

1onnal's throat ut %hile he sa% only the sneering fa)e of his enemy, the guards did their effi)ient

%or*, one *no)*ing his hands aside %ith a s%eep of the pole, the other )ra)*ing the prisoner a)ross

the s*ull %ith a "lo% that daAed the prin)e, sent him stum"ling against the door and then slo%ly

slumping to the floor

-Bour "rother never displayed su)h rash immaturity,- said the self+appointed leader of Silvanesti

in a tone of gentle re"u*e -9e had the gra)e to a))ept his imprisonment %ith dignity inta)t-

-5 *no% that he es)aped!- gro%led Gilthanas, dismayed "y his o%n %ea*ness and trying %ith

"luster to )over up his frailty

-Bou "elieve that old tale? 5n truth, 5 set him free 5 had no more use for him here nd perhapsyou also *no% that 5 )ompelled him to return to Eualinesti, %here he %as treated as an outla%a

traitor to elven*ind Sin)e then there have "een rumors that he %as *illed during the Chaos (ar 5

)hoose to "elieve them-

Eualinesti! $ven the name of his homeland "rought longing to the heart of Gilthanas (hen he

pi)tured the "road s%aths of forest, the )rystalline to%ers of his nation's )apital, and the serene and

"eautiful elves %ho %ere his people, he needed all of his %illpo%er not to allo% his grief to sho% in

his fa)e and eyes

-ut no%,- 1onnal's tone %as lofty, gloating, -it is time to turn our attention to more immediate

)on)erns Bou %ill )ome %ith me-

The haughty Silvanesti stepped "a)* from the door Gilthanas didn't %ant to go %ith him, "ut the

prospe)t of even a fe% minutes outside the )onstri)ting )ell %as enough to over)ome his loathing

for the one %ho had imprisoned him 9e ignored 1onnal and held his head high as he passed

through the door, and past the dirt+%alled /ailroom "eyond

One of the guards pre)eded him and the other follo%ed as the little pro)ession advan)ed up the

stairs and through a narro% door%ay that emerged onto a sloping field "eneath the open, sunlit s*y

Gilthanas %as "linded "y the "rillian)e, s@ueeAing his eyes shut "e)ause of the mind+num"ing

"rightness that overloaded his senses and threatened to shut do%n his "rain t the same time, he

e0hilarated in the vastness of his surroundings, "y dra%ing fresh air through his nostrils and

delighting in the odors of trees and grass, of fresh air and a %arm, dry "reeAe

-Move!- One of the guards pushed him roughly from "ehind, and "y opening his eyes to slits he

)ould see at least the ground "eneath his feet 9e sensed that they %ere moving uphill, and "y thetime they had gone a hundred pa)es, his eyes had "e)ome attuned enough that he )ould open them

and loo* around

Together %ith 1onnal and the t%o staff+%ielding elven %arriors, he stood atop a high, rounded

hill The s)ulpted forests of Silvanesti spread to the far horiAons, though the elevation itself %as

smooth and grassy round him %ere several )olumns of %hite mar"le, and the )rest %as paved in

similar ala"aster stones

-Do you re)ogniAe this pla)e?- as*ed 1onnal

-No-

-5'm not surprised Bou Eualinesti are indeed ignorant savages, %ith little *no%ledge of our

ra)e's proud heritage This is the 9ill of Sol+allon-

-The pla)e %here the first Sinthal+$lish met and formed the pa)t of elves that )reatedSilvanesti- Gilthanas felt a perverse pleasure in demonstrating some a%areness of elven history

-.re)isely Bour )ell is a small )ave that has "een e0)avated into the hillside "elo%-

-.erhaps it is fitting that, in your hate and pre/udi)e, you have imprisoned an elf from a different

realm here 9o% li*e you, 1onnal, to de"ase a pla)e that should "e hallo%ed-



The military governor of Silvanesti /ust laughed -$n/oy your )han)es for "luster, '.rin)e' This

%ill "e your last opportunity to spea* su)h %ords, or any others-

-Bou're going to *ill me- Gilthanas stated the fa)t, unsurprised"ut also, %ith a tingle of

energy, una))epting 9e tried to thin*, to imagine some means of es)ape, resolving that his life

%ould not end easily

-Bes Right here, in honor of the sa)rifi)es made "y our an)estor Silvanos and his fello%s, %holeft us su)h a lega)y-

-#ega)y of hatred and "lindness!- snapped the prin)e of Eualinesti -Bes, 5 suppose my "lood

%ill "e a fitting offering to your dar* furies-

1onnal's eyes narro%ed and his hand %ent to the longs%ord at his %aist Then he shrugged -5

)an't e0pe)t a fool su)h as yourself to understand-

-(hy *ill me no%?- Gilthanas as*ed -5 have "een a prisoner for ho% long? Ten years?-

-T%elve They have "een years of dramati) )hanges a)ross 1rynn, though you might not *no%

a"out that-

5n truth, the prin)e didn't, e0)ept for one )ase Shortly after his )apture, he had noti)ed the

failure of his magi)al a"ilities 5t %as as though during the familiar ritual of spell)asting he had

"een trying to drin* from an empty vessel his %ords, his ar)ane gestures, had )alled forth nothingat all The pra)ti)e of magi) might as %ell have "een the gi""ering dis)ourse of an infant, for all the

effe)t it had produ)ed

9e didn't %ant to admit his ignoran)e, yet he had to do something, if only to stall for time

-(hat are these )hanges of %hi)h you spea*?-

-Our %orld has entered a ne% age an ge of Mortals The gods have a"andoned us and ta*en

their po%ers %ith them, leaving elves and d%arves and humans to ma*e their %ay on their o%n ut

1rynn is "eset "y ne% threats, as %ell )reatures of )haos that %ould destroy our lands from

%ithin There are stories, too, of great dragonsmassive )reatures, "eyond the *en of previous

*no%ledge%ho threaten to )laim all the %orld from %ithout-

-nd so you de)ided to *ill me?- Gilthanas retorted %ryly -5'm not sure 5 follo% your logi)-

-The only reason 5 have *ept you alive this long is that 5 %ondered if, at some point in the future,

your life might "e useful to us a "argaining )hip, so to spea*, in su)h intera)tions as the

Eualinesti for)ed upon us ut no%, as of tomorro%, to "e pre)ise, there %ill "e no intera)tions

"et%een Silvanesti and Eualinestior, indeed, "et%een Silvanesti and the rest of the %orld-

The prin)e %as )urious in spite of himself -9o% are you going to a)hieve this?-

1onnal laughed, and there %as a hint of madness in the sound $ven the t%o guards, Gilthanas

noti)ed, loo*ed %arily at their leader

-Tomorro% %e %ill raise a "arrier around our landa fen)e of magi) that %ill sever all ties

"et%een Silvanesti and the rest of the %orld The Eualinesti %ill never learn of your fate, "e)ause

after the "arrier is raised neither they, nor anyone else, %ill *no% anything that happens %ithin our

realm--Bou're insane!- Gilthanas spat out, rea)ting "y refle0 -Bou %ould )ut yourself off from

everything else in the %orld? Thin* of the )ost, of the loss to yourselves!-

1onnal sneered -(e have everything %e need 5ndeed, %e have mu)h that is )oveted "y others

The "arrier %ill see that our possessions remain inta)t and that none may interfere %ith the

hallo%ed lives %ithin this forest-

-This 'forest' is a tamed garden! Thin* of it, you foolall your )hildren %ill gro% up *no%ing

nothing more of life!-

-ll they need to *no% they %ill find right here,- 1onnal shot "a)* The pure )onvi)tion rang in

his voi)e, and Gilthanas %as a%are that this deranged elf a)tually thought he might )onvin)e his

prisoner of the rightness of his a)tions -(e have the %orld's highest levels of art, and a true sense

of our o%n historyof our o%n rightful dominan)e in the story of 1rynn nd %ith the "arrier, %e%ill ensure that this status remains un)hanged and se)ure throughout the rest of time-

s he listened to 1onnal, Gilthanas had "een loo*ing around, %ondering a"out his )han)es for

es)ape 9e might get a%ay from 1onnal and these t%o guards %ith a @ui)* dash, "ut he sa% more

elves in the red tuni)s of 9ouse .rote)tor gathered in *nots a"out the "ase of the hill nd he had



no illusions a"out his stamina after t%elve years of languishing in prison .erhaps he )ould ta*e the

governor hostage, use him to )ompel the guards to stay "a)*

$ven as Gilthanas had the thought, 1onnal stepped "a)* and his t%o attendants moved to "lo)*

the prin)e's path Staffs raised, they stood ready to prevent him from atta)*ing 1onnal

5t %as then that Gilthanas )aught the first glimpse of %ings overheadof proud )reatures

gliding laAily through the s*ies 9e loo*ed up to see griffins, a doAen or more of them, )ir)ling over the top of the hill The mighty fliers had long served as aerial mounts for elven %arriors, and for

/ust a moment he longed for the speed that might )arry him a%ay

-Bou see that even the griffins a%ait your e0e)ution,- 1onnal de)lared %ith a laugh -They

*no% of our plans for the "arrier, and you might "e surprised to learn that they fully support it-

The shado% of %ings gre% "roader a)ross the hilltop, and the governor raised his arms to the

s*y, )rying out in glee -Come, my feathered allies %at)h the demise of our enemy!- (ith a

flourish he dre% his s%ord, %hile the t%o guards advan)ed to flan* Gilthanas

The first griffin fle% over, and %ith a )ontemptuous fli)* of his taloned fore)la%s, it *no)*ed

1onnal to the ground, dra%ing a startled oath Gilthanas sa% that t%o more had pushed the guards

a%ay, %hile another grasped his shoulders firmly 9e felt his feet rise from the ground, and though

the )la%s supporting him pressed painfully into his s*in, he laughed aloud at the fury on his former )aptor's fa)e 1onnal "randished his %eapon %ildly, "ut already the griffins %ere t%enty feet

overhead, gliding a%ay from the hilltop

nother of the gra)eful fliers glided underneath him, and the griffin supporting Gilthanas let go,

dropping the elf onto the "road "a)* 9e loo*ed at the %hite+feathered %ings stro*ing the air,

)arrying him %est%ard, and %at)hed as the 9ill of Sol+allon and the gardened forest of Silvanesti

surrounding it re)eded "elo%

-.erhaps not all of your )lan %ants to stay %ithin the ne% fen)e of Silvanesti?- the prin)e

murmured, loo*ing into the %ise, yello% eye of griffin flying "eside him

The )reature merely nodded his head, and then the flight spread through the s*ies, angling

to%ard the "order of the an)ient elven realm, and to all the %orld "eyond

Shado% of the Mind& The Missing City, 33s)

9er name is Mala%ell, that's %hat 5 )all her, any%ay She's never )orre)ted me, so 5 guess it

doesn't "other her ut then nothing 5 do seems to "other her in the slightest 5 %al* %ith Mala to

the %ell every morning as she fet)hes %ater for her family (e never tal* 5'm not even sure she

*no%s 5'm there5 usually stay a fe% yards "ehind her, or 5 run ahead and /ust %at)h her pass "y

5t's a )omfort /ust to "e near her

5've never seen su)h a "eautiful %oman in all my life Not /ust physi)al "eauty either though

5've never met anyone else %hose merest smile )aused my heart to a)heH her spirit is /ust as

"eautiful as her fa)e Mala has re/e)ted a handful of suitors "e)ause she )an't leave her parents allalone

Sometimes her sisters )ome to visit in their hus"ands' )arriages servants drive them do%n from

the Garden Distri)t They "ring e0travagan)es li*e fruit from Silvanesti, and they )oddle and fa%n

over their aging parents, "ut they never do any real %or* around the house nd "efore night falls

usually long "eforeH, they )lim" into their )arriages and ride "a)* to their mansions, leaving

"ehind the s@ualid home they es)aped "y finding ri)h mer)hants to marry They leave Mala to do

all the )hores, to sit up %ith their mother %hen the )old night ma*es her /oints a)he, and to help

their father do nearly everythinga "rain seiAure has left the poor old man una"le to %al* or ta*e

)are of himself though he's still @uite pra)ti)ed at "erating Mala %hen he doesn't get his %ay

@ui)*ly enoughH

So life /ust passes Mala "y 9er future days %ill "e nothing "ut the same routine of )hores untilthe %or* "ends her "a)* and the %orry %rin*les her fa)e She'll %a*e up one morning to find

herself transformed from a fair maiden to a venera"le spinster virtually overnight 9er youth %ill

disappear 9er loo*s %ill disappear, too ut she %ill still have me Mala al%ays %ill have me

The trou"le is, she'll never *no%



5 thin* a"out this as 5 follo% her on the morning trip to the %ell (e live in t%o different %orlds

There is no future for us, no hope that the passion in my heart, my love for Mala, %ill over)ome the

"oundaries that *eep us apartthey are too great 5 )an only %al* along in the periphery of her

%orld and ta*e %hat /oy 5 )an from %at)hing her and silently sharing her days and nights

Bou'd thin* su)h thoughts %ould sour my disposition and lead me to despair ut Mala is

smiling that hopeful grin she sometimes gets, and that %ipes a%ay all the sadness from my heart(hat is she thin*ing? (hat ma*es her hum happily as she %al*s to the %ell? Something has

happened 5n the time "et%een no% and %hen 5 last sa% her, /ust "efore 5 "le% out my )andle last

night, something has o))urredsome ne%s has "een delivered, or a revelation has "een rea)hed

Mala has hope, and 5 am delirious

s %e round the )orner, Mala's gait speeds up She fairly s*ips to the %ater, "ut 5 )ome to a dead

stop There's something lying at the foot of the %ell t first it seems to "e a "undle of rags, "ut

then 5 noti)e a hand and a strand of hair

5t's a person!

Mala %al*s right "y, ta*ing as little noti)e of the prone form as she does me (hile she lo%ers

her "u)*et into the %ell, 5 run up to the "ody (here did it )ome from? (ho is it? .erhaps one of

the #egionnaires from the port? Or a seaman from that trading ship that put in last night? .utenough rum in one of those sailors and he'll %ander half%ay to 5)e%all "efore passing out This one

is lu)*y to have staggered only this far

s 5 near the "ody, though, 5 realiAe this is no sailor sleeping off too mu)h drin* 9is )lothes are

too thread"are, his s*in too fair though he's severely sun"urnedH Rolling him over, the stranger's

hair falls a%ay from his fa)e revealing finely )hiseled features and slender tapering ears n elf!

(e've seen a fe% elves passing in the %ee*s sin)e Military Governor 1onnal sent %ord that all

loyal Silvanesti elves should return to their homeland, and the ones %e have seen %ere all headed

to%ard the forest as @ui)*ly as possi"le though 5 hear that even they )an't get through the invisi"le

"arrier that's gone up around the elf landsH This one loo*s li*e he's )rossed the desert alone and

unsupplied 5 )an only guess that he's )oming from Silvanesti, that he someho% got out "efore the

shield %as raised and fled a)ross the sands 5t's not terri"ly far, "ut %ithout the proper )lothing and

a suffi)ient supply of %ater, the trip still )an "e deadly

(hile 5 )he)* to see that the elf is indeed still among the living, Mala retrieves her full "u)*et,

grips the handle %ith "oth hands, and )arries it off Completely o"livious to the elf's plight or my

ministrations, she rounds the )orner, heading for her housea good idea

There is nothing 5 )an do for the elf here 5 have to get him out of the sun and find a healer to

tend to his %ounds 5'll leave him at Mala's house 9e'll "e safe there %hile 5 go do%n to the port

alaius Tanee* and his #egionnaires are al%ays loo*ing for %ays to help fol*s 5 )an't thin* of

anyone %ho needs help more than this poor fello%

FFFFF

The healer %as right, after a fe% days of rest and lots of %ater, the elf is loo*ing mu)h "etter 9e

still hasn't a%a*ened%ell, not fully 9e's opened his eyes a fe% times and mum"led all sorts of

)raAy things in his sleep 9e's tal*ed @uite a "it a"out -the %ar- though %ith the long lives that

elves lead, 5 )an't really "e sure %hi)h %ar he's tal*ing a"outH and silver dragons, and he even

loo*ed me s@uare in the eye and )alled me -Tanis- 5'm sure that %hen he %a*es up, he'll have some

interesting tales to tell

ut %aithis eyelids are fluttering 5 thin* my guest is finally )ons)ious Bes Bes, 5 )an see this

is no %a*ing dream he's having 9e ru"s his eyes as the %orld s%ims into fo)us #oo* at him,

gaAing around the room unsure of %here he is, not even )ertain %hether or not this is a dream 5

should spea* to him instead of sitting "a)* in the shado%s, "ut this is the "est %ay to determine hisintentions Bou )an't "e too )areful these days

The elf stands and %al*s slo%ly a)ross the room, staring at everything %ith undisguised %onder

9e )learly doesn't even *no% %hat )ity he's in Rea)hing out, his hand passes straight through the

)hair standing in the middle of the room



This is )ruel 5 shouldn't torture him so ut it is fas)inating to %at)h him try to puAAle it out 5s

he a ghost? (hy )an't he tou)h the )hair? 9e's an edu)ated and %ell+trained one, this elf Despite

the pe)uliar some %ould say unnaturalH surroundings, he doesn't pani) 5nstead, he tries to thin* of

an e0planation for the phenomenon he sees 5'll /ust %at)h another moment "efore 5no! Mala

enters the room, that same hopeful smile on her fa)e

The elf sees her -(hat manner of pla)e is this?- he as*s and rea)hes out to gra" her shouldersirst his hands, then arms, and finally the %hole of his "ody passes straight through her nd she

goes a"out her "usiness, ta*ing no noti)e of him in the least

-She )annot see you,- 5 say from the )orner, finally stepping out of the shado%s and into the

)andlelight

-m am 5 dead?- the elf as*s

-No- 5 laugh -nd "efore you as*, neither is Mala She's /ust some%here else Don't as* me to

e0plain it That's simply ho% things are here in Gal Tra'*alas Get used to it-

9e stares at Mala as she "ustles out of the room %ith an armful of to%els, )learly amaAed at

%hat he sees She's full of life and "eauty, "ut as Mala passes "et%een us, he still )an see me

through her "ody she's more real than a phantom, "ut not fully of this %orld

-Gal Tra'*alas? The Missing City! 9o% did 5 get here?--5f you don't *no%, then 5'm not sure anyone does, friend- 5 try to )alm him The first fe% hours

in Gal Tra'*alas )an "e very disorienting -Sit do%n The "ed is @uite real, 5 assure you Bou slept

soundly on it these past fe% days-

-This is your home, then?- The elf tries to a)t )asual, "ut he's o"viously still disoriented and

more than a little distra)ted "y %hat he sees

-Bes, mine ut hers as %ell 5t's a little diffi)ult to e0plain-

*no)* on the front door "rea*s the a%*%ard moment The elf turns to me as if to as* if that's a

real *no)* or a phantom one

-That's for meor more li*ely for you- 5 get up and move to the door in the front room -Bou

)an't hear anything that goes on in Mala's %orld-

(hen 5 open the door, the frame is filled %ith a giant of a man This is alaius Tanee*, leader of

the lo)al #egion of Steel )ell They maintain the port and govern the Missing City though they

have no influen)e on the spe)tral happenings in Gal Tra'*alasH fter the healer finished %ith the

elf, he told me alaius li*ely %ould )he)* on things %hen the elf %as up and around pparently

alaius deserves his reputation for al%ays "eing in the right pla)e at the right time $ither that or

the healer has an un)ommon gift for /udging re)uperative po%ers

-Good day, man Daun- alaius rum"les %ith his usual terse formality or a "ar"arian, he's

terri"ly %ell+mannered, "ut it never )omes off naturally he al%ays seems to "e for)ing )ivility into

his voi)e, and, in the end, it ma*es him seem all the more imposing @uite a tri)* for a man %hose

shoulders spread %ider than the "roadest oa* treeH -5s your house guest feeling "etter?-

-:ery mu)h so,- 5 ans%er and invite the #egionnaire into my home %ith a flourish of my arm 5al%ays feel the need to respond to his stiff )ourtesy %ith my "est interpretation of )ourtly gra)e -5n

fa)t, he /ust a%a*ened Mala put @uite a s)are into him, and 5've "een trying to e0plain the

situation-

-No e0planation is ne)essary- The elf has gathered his %its and )omes to meet us at the door

My sham of )ourtly "ehavior is evident "y his every movethis elf is used to moving in the

)ompany of *ings -5 *no% the tale of Gal Tra'*alas The )ity %as destroyed in the first Cata)lysm,

yet someho% )lung to spe)tral life .hantom "uildings rose from the ru""le, and ghosts )ontinued

%al* its streets in an unnatural mo)*ery of life-

h, 5 forgot ho% deeply elves detest the undead Of )ourse, su)h feelings are only natural for a

people %hose )ulture is so )losely tied to life Restless spirits foul any area they tou)h, lea)hing the

"eauty and life from the most verdant site-Bou do not *no% the tale %ell enough, my friend- 5 say, trying to put the elf at ease

-True,- adds alaius in his soothingly deep voi)e -The people of Gal Tra'*alas may "e ghostly,

"ut they are not ghosts None of the s)holars, mysti)s, or sages %ho've passed this %ay )an tell me

%hat they are, "ut they are )learly not undead monsters-



-ah! 5've told you time and again %hat they are%ho they are- 5 al%ays lose my patien)e

%hen %e have this )onversation No one %ants to "elieve the truth of the matter

-Bes, man, you have orgive me for "eing so thi)*+headed that 5 )annot see the truth, "ut 5 am

/ust a simple %arrior The %or*ings of the magi)al %orld )onfuse me- alaius tries to pla)ate me

9e doesn't really a))ept the truth, "ut for my sa*e, he pretends 5 "elieve he thin*s 5'm on the "rin*

of madness and it's "est to humor my -delusions-8ust then, Mala strides through the room and through "oth alaius's and the elf's "odiesH

)arrying a "undle of neatly folded shirts (hat's she doing? .erhaps she's going to donate old

)lothing to the poor That %ould "e /ust li*e her They "arely )an afford to put food on the ta"le, yet

she still %ants to give to the needy

-5 must say, 5 *no% some small "it a"out magi), "ut even the little 5've seen today is "eyond my

*en- The elf again passes his hand through a pie)e of furniture, then sha*es his head %ryly

-Bes- alaius uses the %ord to )lear his throat 9e's not one to %aste time in idle )onversation

-orgive my la)* of manners, friend, "ut no% that man has "rought you "a)* to health, 5 have

some @uestions that need ans%ering, most of them )on)erning %ho you are and ho% you arrived in

the Missing City-

-Of )ourse My name is Gilthanas Solostaran, and 5 am at your servi)e- (ith this, he "o%sdeeply and is over)ome "y a %ave of diAAiness, nearly )ollapsing in a heap at our feet -5f it is not

too mu)h of an imposition,- he as*s after regaining his )omposure, -may %e )ontinue in the other

room? 5 "elieve 5 have not yet re)overed fully from my ordeal-

(e return to the "edroom %here Gilthanas sits on the )orner of the )otonly after ma*ing sure

there truly %as a solid o"/e)t under the haAy "lan*et and sheets part from o))asional "outs of

fatigue, he seems to "e fine alaius sits )ross+legged against the %all, his left shoulder and *nee

s%allo%ed up "y a phantom dressing ta"le, and 5 return to my a))ustomed spot in the dar* )orner

s Gilthanas tells his tale, filled %ith intrigue and adventure "efitting a 9ero of the #an)e, Mala

)ontinues to flit around the house "undling more and more of her family's %orldly goods into

to%els, sa)*s, and even a small )rate 5 find that my attention to Gilthanas's story %avers, then

disappears entirely (hat is she up to?

inally, %hile Gilthanas des)ri"es a harro%ing es)ape from )ertain death, Mala enters and strips

the "ed on %hi)h he sits something "oth he and alaius find parti)ularly distra)tingH 9o%ever, she

doesn't lay fresh sheets on the "ed, as she does every %ee* %hen )hanging the linen (hen she

merely gathers up the "edding and )arries it into the other room, 5 )an ta*e no more 5 leave "ehind

the elf's a))ount of a harro%ing, headlong flight into the desert and follo% Mala into the main

room

.ra)ti)ally everything the family o%ns is pa)*ed and sta)*ed near the door%ay Mala's mother

ties a *not in a to%el )ontaining the fe% pie)es of /e%elry she o%ns, then )in)hes the to%el around

her %aist li*e a "elt 9er father sits on a "arrel, his familiar s)o%l mu)h less severe than usual

Mean%hile, Mala runs a"out ma*ing sure that all the pa)*ages are sealed tight 9er lips never restall the %hile she o"viously is "u""ling happily a"out the reason for all this a)tivity%hatever that

is O"viously, they are going some%here, "ut %here? This is more than a short e0)ursion they're

ta*ing everything they )an )arry

They must "e moving!

.erhaps one of Mala's sisters finally has offered to "ring their parents to live in her hus"and's

mansion More li*ely, the hus"and has de)ided that it is too em"arrassing to have his %ife visit this

dilapidated se)tion of to%n and so has paid for his in+la%s to relo)ate They'll finally get the

)omfort and )are that they deserve 5 *ne% Mala's hard %or* %ould "e re%arded

ut %ill Mala move %ith them? Surely neither of her sisters %ould %ant to have to tend the

parents herself They %ill have to "ring Mala %ith them to )ontinue to a)t as their )are+ta*er

fter 5 "uilt my home literally %ithin hers, /ust so that %e )an "e )lose to one another, is Malagoing to leave me? Certainly, 5 )an visit her %herever in Gal Tra'*alas she goes, "ut it %ill ta*e me

months, possi"ly even years to re"uild nd /ust thin* ho% e0pensive it %ill "e, sin)e the ne% home

is sure to "e mu)h more opulent that this one

ut %hat if someone else already has "uilt a home in that part of the Missing City? The Garden



Distri)t is one of the most popular lo)ales for mer)hants and #egion offi)ers to live (hat if the

sister's home already has "een )laimed "y that foul+smelling 1hurrish trapper? Or %orse, that gray+

haired #egion s)out? That le)herous old ruffian %ill spend his idle time %at)hing Mala "athe, or

ta*ing target pra)ti)e at her mother ho""ling around the house! 5 %ill not stand for su)h things!

(hoever lives there no% simply %ill have to move There are plenty of Gal Tra'*alan homes that

have not yet "een re)onstru)ted 5'll do the %or* for them myself, "ut Mala and 5 must staytogether! 5 )annot "ear for us to "e apart

#oo* at her litting around so happily, )ompletely una%are of the agony this )auses me Oh,

Mala, if only 5 )ould tal* to you 5f only you )ould tell me %hat's happening ut %ait! She ta*es a

pie)e of paper out of her apron po)*et and opens it up s she reads it, her fa)e flushes %ith /oy and

anti)ipation (hat does it say?

5 rush to loo* over her shoulder, "ut she dan)es out of the room and into the *it)hen ollo%ing

her, 5 find that it's too dar* to read anything in there, "ut Mala doesn't put the paper a%ay she gaAes

at it even in the dar* The %ords are so /oyous, she )an read them %ith her eyes )losed

(hat )ould "e on that paper? 5t loo*ed li*e a letter (hy %ould her sister send a letter %ith the

ne%s? .erhaps they aren't moving in %ith one of Mala's sisters ut %hy else %ould they "e

moving? nd %hy %ould Mala "e so happy?5 follo% )lose on her heels as she goes "a)* into the "edroom %here Gilthanas's story is rea)hing

its )on)lusion 9e re)alls seeing the )ity after a day and night in the desert

-fter so long in a Silvanesti prison, the )rossing nearly *illed me 5 %as half+)raAed %ith thirst

%hen 5 sa% that %ell nd %hen 5 )ould see the %ater, even %at)h people drin* it, "ut found that it

%as all ephemeral as a dream, 5 fell un)ons)ious The ne0t thing 5 *ne% -

Gilthanas's voi)e trails off as 5 rush hurriedly past him over to the dresser Mala laid the paper

do%n in order to gather another "undle of to%els No% 5 )an read

FFFFF

5 )an hear the )omforting drone of hushed )onversation long "efore the %ords "e)ome )lear 5t's

Gilthanas and alaius They're not in this room, "ut they are near"y

-5 must say, 5 still don't understand the nature of this pla)e,- 5 hear Gilthanas say 9e still isn't

)ertain that the spe)tral people he sees aren't undead spirits you )an hear it in his voi)e 9e e0pe)ts

for Mala and her family to suddenly give up their )harade and reveal themselves to "e life+draining

fiends

-5'm not sure anyone does- alaius ans%ers

-My host seems to thin* he has an insight others )annot per)eive-

-Bou must forgive, man- the #egionnaire says -9is sense of perspe)tive is, shall %e say,

impaired %hen it )omes to the %oman he )alls Mala- Bes 9e %ould say that alaius has spent

many years living here, "ut he has never truly a))epted Gal Tra'*alas for %hat it is-Though you %ere half+"lind %ith dehydration, your rea)tion to the Missing City %as @uite

normal Most people see the to%ers and %alls %aving in the desert heat and assume they are seeing

a mirage 9o%ever, %hen they get here and see the amaAing detail in the "uildings and even the

ghostly inha"itants, people )hange their minds, "elieving instead that the )ity is all one tremendous

illusion )ast "y a long dead sor)erer, or perhaps even "y the gods themselves-

-Bes,- Gilthanas adds %ith authority -5 )ame to that )on)lusion myself, though 5 *no% no

sor)erer of any ro"es %ho )ould )reate su)h an effe)t-

-ut the truth is even more fantasti) The mirage really is Gal Tra'*alas- alaius has a sense of

%onder in his voi)e that 5've never heard "efore .erhaps he does understand the grandeur around

him -s near as 5 )an tell, the )ity "elongs to a %orld %here the first Cata)lysm didn't happen 5

don't pretend to understand ho% it is possi"le, "ut the people %e see are real They are far too)omple0 to "e simple illusions They are "orn, gro%, fall in love, and die /ust li*e anyone you

*no% The )ity is alive too %ell, as alive as any )ity is uildings are "uilt, others are raAed

usinesses open and prosper nimals run the "a)* alleys loo*ing for s)raps of food 5f you ma*e it

your "usiness to pay attention to a parti)ular "uilding or person or family, you'll see the



unmista*a"le rhythm of life unfold "efore you Ma*e no mista*e a"out it, Gal Tra'*alas is real-

-5f that is true,- Gilthanas %onders aloud, -then ho% )an anyone "ear to live here?- The elf has

fa)ed many strange things in his life, "ut 5 dare say that other than the return of the gods, this must

"e the most "iAarre

-(ell, %e didn't *no% (hen the #egion first )ame here, there %as only the mirage and a )ity's

%orth of ruins)rum"led %alls, and mountains of "ri)* and mortar de"ris half+hidden "y themirage, %hi)h %e too mistoo* for a magi)al re)onstru)tion of Gal Tra'*alas My tri"e has al%ays

)alled this spot the Missing City, and it seemed li*e an ideal pla)e to "uild an outpost 5f %e "uilt

e0a)tly "ehind the illusion, doing our "est to re)reate the fa)ades of the "uildings, only the )losest

inspe)tion %ould reveal our presen)e (e'd have a to%n that no one )ould findtruly a Missing

City-

$ven though 5 *no% the story "a)*%ard and for%ard, 5 lie here listening to alaius The )ot is

)omforta"le, and 5 feel a little light+headed Odd 5 don't remem"er going to "ed

-5t %as only after %e'd "een here several months that anyone "egan to suspe)t the truth nd "y

the time %e %ere )ertain, our outpost had gro%n into a to%n Most people stopped "uilding in the

'o))upied' se)tions of to%n (hen you feel %ell enough to )ome do%n to the pier, you'll see that the

ne%est "uildings all stand /ust past the end of Gal Tra'*alas's )ity limits-Gilthanas )onsiders %hat he's heard -nd the people %ho already "uilt their homes in the

shado% )ity?-

-$a)h made a )hoi)e- the #egionnaire says non)ommittally -Many of them relo)ated, "ut the

#egion maintained their original "uilding fter all, the 'phantom fol*,' as some of my men )all

them, )an't see, hear, or tou)h anything of ours

-Of )ourse, most of the )ivilians )hose to move The %ealthy mer)hants in parti)ular %ere

un)omforta"le %ith the notion of sharing their homes %ith others, even if those others are not of

this 1rynn-

-ut there are others %ho )hose to stay?-

-O"viously Most of them simply refuse to a))ept the people of Gal Tra'*alas as anything other

than illusions They ta*e pride in the fa)t that they maintained their homes %hile their neigh"ors

%ere run off "y mere tri)*s of the light ut others, li*e your "enefa)tor, man, )onsider them

%holly real They "uild their lives around people from "oth %orlds, neither more or less important

than the other My men )all these fol*s 'shado% %al*ers,' "e)ause they tread the edge of t%o

%orlds Most others /ust )all them )raAy-

-So the people in this houseMala and her parentsare real to man?-

-They're more than real They are his family nd Mala %ell, let's /ust say that 5 don't thin*

5've ever felt as strongly a"out anyone as he does for that ghostly %oman-

5'm sho)*ed Not only does alaius understand the )ity, "ut he also understands me 5 al%ays

thought he sni)*ered "ehind my "a)* li*e the rest of them, mo)*ing my feelings for Mala 5 have to

apologiAe to him5 sit up on the "ed, and the room spins 5 have a lump on the "a)* of my head the siAe of a

dagger's pommel (hat happened?

-Bes,- Gilthanas sighs, -5 understand 9is life is very similar to the one 5've led these past years

The only things that matter to him are untou)ha"le or me, they %ere memoriesshado%s of the

mind"ut no less real "e)ause 5 too )ould not tou)h them t times, it %as easier to "elieve they

%ere reality and my )ell %as a re)urring nightmare Silvanesti is full of those memories-

-ut the people of Gal Tra'*alas are not memories,- alaius replies -They are here, as mu)h a

part of the Missing City as %e are-

-nd ho% mu)h the %orse for our friend if he )annot separate his dream from his %a*ing

%orld?- the elf pauses -(e ought to a%a*en him for this-

alaius )li)*s his tongue, as he al%ays does %hen %restling %ith a diffi)ult @uestion -5 thin* itmay "e *inder to let him sleep There's nothing he )an do (at)hing this %ould "e too painful-

(hat's %rong? Did Mala's father have another seiAure? Did he die? (e all *ne% it %as )oming,

"ut no one is ever prepared for su)h a thing

-5f man must lose the one he loves, it's "est that %e afford him the opportunity to "id her



fare%ell 5n the years to )ome, he %ill dra% sola)e from the )losure Other%ise, this %ill "e a

%ound that never heals-

Mala? 9as something happened to Mala? y all the departed gods, no!

5 stand on un)ertain legs

5f she's dying 5 must go to her 5 have to "e there for her, %ith hereven if she doesn't *no% it

-(hat %ill happen %hen they leave the )ity?- Gilthanas as*snother tongue )li)* announ)es that alaius doesn't have a definite ans%er -.eople leave Gal

Tra'*alas all the time They /ust disappear as the pass through the gates (ho )an say %here they go

after that? The mer)hants )ome and go on a regular s)hedule, and they al%ays return %ith )arts full

of goods from Silvanesti or Nordmaar Do they really go to those pla)es? (ho )an say? May"e

there's a %hole other nsalon for our ghostly neigh"ors to e0plore or Mala's sa*e, 5 hope so,

though that %ill "e no real )omfort to man-

#eave the )ity?

No% 5 remem"er!

The note that had Mala so e0)ited %as an invitation for the family to )ome live %ith her aunt in

Shoole They are leaving the )ity That realiAation must have "een too mu)h for me 5 thin* 5

"la)*ed out That must "e ho% 5 got this lump on my s*ull 9o% long have 5 "een un)ons)ious?(hat does it matter? (hat matters is that Mala is leaving!

5've got to stop her!

My legs already are moving 5 stum"le out the door of my houseour house Gilthanas and

alaius stare li*e 5'm a %ild "east .erhaps 5 am My heart "eats %ith the same desperation as a

ra""it's %hen the s)ent of the fo0 is in the air The %agon rounds the )orner pulled, 5'm sure, "y the

horse Mala's sisters have given thema )heap pri)e to have their em"arrassing relatives leave the

)ity for good

Gilthanas )at)hes my gaAe 5 )an see he *no%s the pani) that s%eeps through me -Do %hat you

)an,- his eyes seem to say -5n the end, it %ill do no good-

Mean%hile, alaius %al*s to%ard me %ith a sad e0pression on his fa)e 9e holds out his

massive hand, o"viously meaning to lay it sympatheti)ally on my shoulder s heart+felt as that

)onsolation might "e, 5 *no% his true thought is to *eep me here until it is too late

efore alaius )an )lasp my shoulder, 5 dash do%n the street 5f Mala's going to Shoole, she'll

ta*e the %agon out the North Gate, and that's only a fe% "lo)*s a%ay On the streets, 5'll never

)at)h the horses, "ut 5 have an advantage& 5 don't live in Gal Tra'*alas5'm in the Missing City!

5n the middle of the "lo)*, 5 turn right and run straight through the front %all of the )andle+

ma*er's shop #eaping over the pile of ro)*y de"ris that used to "e the *iln, 5 pass out the "a)* and

into the alley that )uts a)ross the Northern Distri)t Gilthanas )an't possi"ly *eep up %ith me he's

still too %ea* from his ordeal 5n most instan)es, alaius %ould have no trou"le overta*ing and

su"duing me, "ut he doesn't *no% this se)tion of the Missing City as %ell as 5 do 9e doesn't *no%

%hi)h spe)tral "uildings )an "e passed easily through and %hi)h hide dangerous piles of ru""le, or even open pits No, my %ell+meaning friends %ill have to ta*e the streets /ust li*e Mala

Through the Tan Griffin 5nn and around the livery sta"le it's "een impassa"le sin)e that

mer)hant re"uilt the )olossal "arnH, 5 see the North Gate ahead 5 run heedlessly through the Gal

Tra'*alans on the street ;sually 5 treat them %ith the same )ourtesy 5 do the more solid )itiAens of

the Missing City, "ut right no% 5'd run straight through anyone %ho stood in my %ay

t the gate, 5 stop and loo* "a)* do%n the street Nothing No )arriage No Mala 8ust the usual

spe)tral pedestrian traffi) Did 5 read the note %rong? 5s she heading for the (est Gate instead? 5

)an't possi"ly get there in time

efore my fear sharpens to pani), a flat %agon pulled "y t%o horses rounds the )orner Driving

the team at a slo% trot is my o%n Mala, a smile of "reathless anti)ipation painted on her fa)e

-No!- 5 shout, %aving my arms "a)* and forth %ildly -Mala, stop! Don't go! Don't leave me!-5 *no% she )an't hear me, "ut 5 have to ta*e the )han)e 5 yell li*e the madman everyone already

thin*s 5 am

No% alaius and Gilthanas round the )orner 5 )an see them through the %agon, ra)ing to%ard

me, afraid that 5'll do myself some harm though %hat 5 )ould do, 5 )an't imagineH



Despite my shouting and arm+%aving, Mala drives her horses straight through me Of )ourse she

does (hat else )ould she do?

5 sin* to my *nees in the dusty, haunted road

s my )ompanions rea)h me, 5 loo* over my shoulder to %at)h as Mala, my one true love, is

a"out to dissipate into nothingness

She stops the %agon, lays do%n the reins, and turns around for one last loo* at her home smile full of hope and the promise of a happier future plays a)ross Mala's fa)e, and she %aves

good+"ye

5 %ave "a)*, too stunned to spea* 5 *no% she doesn't see me, "ut it doesn't matter

.i)*ing up the reins, she urges the horses on One step, t%o, three she fades into the s%irling

sand Mala is gone 5 thro% "a)* my head and ho%l to the )loudless s*y

There is no one left in this %orld 5'm all alone 5f only the desert )ould s%allo% me up the %ay it

has Mala -5 have nothing,- 5 %hisper to the %ind ut the only ans%er 5 get is a hand laid gently on

my shoulder

Gilthanas "ends do%n on one *nee "ehind me, a loo* of painful memory on his fa)e alaius

stands "a)*, giving us a sense of priva)y %hile still "eing )lose enough to intervene should it

"e)ome ne)essary-Bou have your memories, friend man That is all any of us truly )arry through this life-

-Memories? Memories of %hat? She %as never real! 5 spent all these years )hasing after a

%oman %ho is nothing more than a %isp of smo*e Gilthanas, you may have %al*ed in the

)ompany of the gods themselves, "ut you have no idea ho% 5 feel-

-Don't 5?- 9e ta*es his hand from my shoulder and stands, loo*ing do%n at me the %ay a parent

loo*s at a petulant )hild -Bou've /ust lost the one you love, a pain everyone sooner or later must

fa)e 5t matters not one %hit %hether you had a fe% months or a lifetime together, or %hether you

ever %ere ever a)tually together at all Do not )onfuse yourself "y finding the faults in your past

they have no "earing on the emotional )hasm "efore you

- hole has "een torn in your heart 5t %ill heal, "ut the pro)ess ta*es time (ill you spend that

time %isely? (ill you savor the s%eet moments and release the rest? 5f you do, the s)ar your heart

"ears %ill "e light-

5 %hirl on the elf None of this is his fault, "ut he ma*es a )onvenient target for my rage

-(hat if 5 don't %ant it to heal?- 5 gro%l

Gilthanas loo*s at me ruefully

-Then you have t%o )hoi)es Bou )an stay here and %allo% in the memories, see all the things

you used to see, do all the things you used to do This is a tried and true method to *eep your heart

from healing, though as many "efore you have dis)overed, the pain %ill never )ease Or, you )an

devote yourself to finding the missing pie)e of your heart and returning it to its rightful pla)e-

5 sneer derisively

-That's impossi"le, and you *no% it--.erhaps,- Gilthanas smiles -ut no more impossi"le than finding a silver dragon %ho %ishes

to remain hidden-

#aughing 5 say, -nd you've told us ho% %ell that %or*ed out 9o% many years %ere you in

that Silvanesti prison?-

-$nough,- the elf points out, -to re)on)ile my past and put it "ehind me There %ere days %hen

the only thing that *ept me alive %ere my memories No% that 5'm free, 5 live for the future (hat

%ill you live for, man, the future or the past?-

-The future,- 5 say un)ertainly 9e's right %hatever happened "efore doesn't matter Mala is

gone, and nothing 5 do %ill )hange that ut if 5 ta*e the love %e had and "uild upon it, then that is

the "est %ay to honor the past s long as 5 remain true to my inspiration, Mala %ill still "e %ith

me -Do your memories no longer haunt you?-Gilthanas pauses 5 thin* he's unsure ho% to ans%er the @uestion -.erhaps they haunt me still,

"ut they no longer rule me 5 have more pressing matters to attend 5 am a prin)e of Eualinesti 5

have a duty to my people-

-(hen your duty is done,- 5 as*, -then %hat %ill you live for?-



alaius, sensing our )onversation is nearing its end, steps for%ard and helps me to my feet

-My duty %ill never end- The elf stiffens 9e loo*s into the dirt, un%illing to meet my gaAe

-This is my life-

-Then you are an even sadder )reature than 5-

FFFFF

%ee* later, Gilthanas %as %ell enough to resume his trip "a)* to Eualinesti alaius Tanee*

"rought him a pa)* of supplies, and a map of the easiest route to .urstal rom there, he planned to

follo% the mer)hant trails a)ross the .lains of Dust

5 sit on a mound of ro)*s amid the an)ient ruins of Shoole ;nli*e those in the Missing City, no

ghostly "uildings rise from this site The sea %ind )onstantly "lo%s through this pla)e, sounding

mournful

9e %as right, 5 have to live for the future

This part of the )ity seems roughly e@uivalent to the Garden Distri)t in Gal Tra'*alas 5 imagine

that the stones 5 sit on form the %all of the home %here Mala lives no%

5'm heading up to the northto the 5sle of S)hallsea, in fa)t 5 hear that Gilthanas's old)ompanion, Goldmoon, has founded a -Citadel of #ight- there, and that she tea)hes people to spea*

%ith spirits No%, 5 realiAe you're not a spirit, Mala, "ut this is the "est pla)e 5 *no% to start (ho

*no%s %hat this ne% magi) is )apa"le of?

5 hop do%n and gather my supplies The road, and my future, lay in front of me ut "efore 5

head off, 5 turn and ta*e one last loo* at the ruins There's nothing there to see, "ut 5 smile and %ave

a fond good+"ye

(herever she is, Mala %aves "a)*

The n)ient City of .urstal, 33s)

or days Gilthanas %al*ed a)ross the dry %astes $a)h morning he a%a*ened to the same vista&

flat, "ro%n land stret)hing to the far horiAons nd ea)h day he %ondered if he might not have "een

smarter to stay in the )ity and %aitthe gods only *ne% ho% longfor some ship that might )arry

him all the %ay to Eualinesti

ut he had also learned things, distur"ing things, a"out developments in his homeland Most

signifi)antly, the 1nights of Ta*hisis, dar* %arriors %ho served the five+headed @ueen of $vil

dragon*ind, had )on@uered the elven realm during the Summer of Chaos The elven Spea*er, the

prin)e's nephe% Gilthas, %as serving as a puppet on the throne, manipulated "y his Dar* 1night

masters (aiting for a ship had "e)ome too aggravating %hen the memories and fears a"out his

homeland had so filled his thoughts, and so he had set out on foot

t least he had "egun to "anish the memories of Silvara and )onvin)e himself that his life mustrun its )ourse %ithout her Someho% he "elieved that %hen he rea)hed his homeland, everything

%ould ma*e sense and his life %ould have fulfillment and purpose t night, sometimes, this hope

seemed translu)ent and intangi"le, "ut %ith the )oming of da%n he on)e again seiAed it li*e the

"ottom rung of a solid ladder

9e *ne% little of the lands he passed through, "ut %ith his vigor and strength regained and the

prote)tion offered "y a )heap iron s%ord he had pur)hased for the %ages of a %ee*'s hard la"or, he

felt )apa"le of over)oming any o"sta)le fate might lay in his path 5n the )ity he had learned that he

)ould %al* to the Torath River and follo% that %ater)ourse until it eventually rea)hed $lial There,

he %ould stri*e out along the Duntolli* Run and )ontinue %est until he made it to Eualinesti 9e

had "een %arned a"out dragons and "iAarre )reatures of )haos that might lie along the %ay, %hi)h

%ould destroy him if he %as so mu)h as noti)edThe elf had rea)hed the river"an* some ten days ago, no%, and had failed to see any sign of a

river)raftor any *ind of ha"itation or village 9e found the river )lean enough to refresh his %ater

supply every day, and sometimes he )aught fish Though there %ere dumps of "rush along these

%ater%ays the only vegetation other than grass he en)ountered herehe endured the )hill of the



near ar)ti) )lime rather than ris* a fire 9is supply of elven hard"read %as suffi)ient for more than

a month of travel, so he didn't parti)ularly %orry %hen, most days, that %as the only food he )ould

provide for himself

s to hideous )reatures %aiting to prey upon him, he sa% no sign True, he o))asionally heard

rum"les of supernatural storms "eyond the horiAon to the south or %est, "ut he maintained his

vigilan)e and never o"served any immediate threat 5f a dragon appeared, the elf had a simple plan&9e %ould lie do%n on the dry ground and )over himself %ith as mu)h dusty dirt as he )ould

@ui)*ly gather Then he %ould simply %ait, eyes on the s*y, )onfident that the serpent %ould never

noti)e himeven should it fly dire)tly overhead

5t %as on the eleventh day after he had rea)hed the river that he first noti)ed an irregularity in

the horiAon The river had gro%n to a %ide, sluggish e0panse to his left The sun %as "eginning to

set, refle)ting off the "road flo%age %hen "efore him he o"served a series of shapes s)attered

a)ross the flat ground They stood perhaps a mile a%ay from the %ater, and as he %al*ed )loser he

got the unmista*a"le impression that these %ere ruins That %as a %all, here "efore him, and

"eyond he sa% the tattered remnants of great stone houses surrounded "y tangles of "ram"le

elo% his feet the dust had s)attered a%ay from some pat)hes of ground to reveal smooth,

interlo)*ing paving stonesa %ide avenue leading from a )rum"led gate, "et%een the "uildings stone "asin, )ra)*ed and dry, indi)ated %here a splendid fountain or %ading pool must on)e have

gathered )ool %aters gust of %ind )arried dry po%der through the air, stinging his eyes and

irritating his nostrils

efore him rose the greatest edifi)e in this an)ient )ity of the dead Surely it must on)e have

"een a pala)ethe gaunt outline of an an)ient door%ay gaped li*e a hungry mouth in the "ro*en

fa)ade of a %all 9is eyes %idened %ith %onder as he slo%ly )lim"ed the mar"le stairs leading to

the door%ay The roof had long sin)e )ollapsed, "ut %ithin, outlined "y fading sunlight, Gilthanas

sa% the remnants of )orridors and )olumns, and of a s%eeping e0panse that might have "een a

throne room or a )ham"er suita"le for hosting a great "all

9e passed "eneath the still+inta)t ar)h of the door%ay and *i)*ed through the ru""le on the

floor These %ere mostly loose tiles of slate, o"viously s)attered here %hen the roof had )aved in

9e )rossed the hall%ay and passed into the entry%ay of the great room

Something s)uttled through the shado%s at the "ase of the %all "eside him, a little shape

s)urrying through the hall Refle0ively he pla)ed his hand on his s%ord, even as he heard more

noises to the rear Gilthanas spun, "ut he sa% nothing save thi)*ening shado%s as the sun )ontinued

its relentless des)ent

9e passed into the great room and sa% that )olumns had on)e stood around the entire periphery

of the pla)e No% many of these had fallen, "ut enough remainedsome splintered at *nee or head

height, others rising more than a doAen feet to%ard a vanished )eilingto provide a glimpse into

the splendor of the past 9e advan)ed a)ross a floor of mosai) tiles and %as vaguely surprised to

see the )olored stone at his feet (ith a sense of eeriness he realiAed that something, or some"ody,had )leaned off this surfa)e, tending it %ith more )are than anypla)e else in these ruins

On)e again sa% movement in the )orner of his vision and he turned, the heavy iron "lade dra%n

from its sheath and %aving in the )ool air

-(ho's there?- he as*ed

-8ust us-

The reply )ame from "ehind and he spun a"out again, then "urst out laughing at the sight of the

short, pudgy, and un*empt figure regarding him from a doAen pa)es a%ay

That fello% immediately t%isted to loo* an0iously over his o%n shoulder, then turned "a)* to

glare at Gilthanas -(hat so funny?- he demanded

-8ust nothing,- replied the elf, mastering his amusement to render a deep and a))epta"ly

formal "o% -5t is a pleasure to meet you one of the ghar, 5 am assuming-The gully d%arf's )hest puffed out nearly as far as his "ulging "elly -nd yes so it is to 5

myself 5 am ass ass ass+you+ming,- he parroted, insofar as he )ould remem"er %hat

Gilthanas had said

-5 am Gilthanas of Eualinesti,- said the %anderer, still maintaining the air of dignity



-Me too!- )ried the gully d%arf -That is, me got name too - 5f the little )reature remem"ered

his )ognomen, he apparently had no desire to share it

-5s this your )ity?- in@uired the elf

-Me my )lan %e "uild this pla)e!- "oasted the other

-5 see- Gilthanas for)ed himself to *eep a straight fa)e The ghar, after all, %ere *no%n a)ross

1rynn as the ultimate s)avengers, moving into any d%elling or ruin that had "e)ome vie%ed asuninha"ita"le "y its original o%ners -nd %hat is the name of your great metropolis?-

-This .urstal Great Capital of the ghar This is, and $lial is too! That our other great )apital,

many days that %ay from here- 9e pointed in a vaguely north%estern dire)tion

Gilthanas %as suddenly stru)* "y a sense of melan)holy 9e %ondered a"out the fol*, humans

most li*ely, %ho had "uilt these on)e+splendid edifi)es (hat had happened to them, that they left

their )ities to fall into ruin and "e )laimed "y the lo%est of the lo% (ould this happen to Eualinesti

one day? The pang of homesi)*ness gre%, @ui)*ened "y a more urgent @uestion& (as it happening

already?

-5 5 have to go,- he said, suddenly %anting to "e out of this pla)e, to "e on the %ay to his

homeland

t that moment another gust of %ind sna*ed "et%een the ruined %alls and more dust %afted pastGilthanas's fa)e 9e felt that irritation in his nose and then, "efore he *ne% %hat %as happening, he

e0ploded %ith a )onvulsive sneeAe

-5'm sorry,- he apologiAed, sha*ing his head to )lear the %ater from his eyes 9e noti)ed %ith

some surprise that the gully d%arf %as staring up at him %ith an e0pression "ordering on a%e

-5t it is you The SneeAer has )ome!- pro)laimed the ghar 9e shouted, %aving his hands,

dan)ing a sham"ling /ig around the stunned Gilthanas -The SneeAer )omes! The SneeAer )omes!-

-5 don't understand,- the elf tried to inter/e)t, "eginning to %orry -nd 5 really have to move-

-ut %ait you sleep here, sleep good My tri"e )oo* you one really fine feast tonight! (e %ait

alla time for the SneeAer no% you )ome, no% you get "ig party! nd then you sleep and %e

give you stuff, gifts %e ma*e for you Only then you "e on your %ay!-

-5 don't thin*- Gilthanas's voi)e trailed off 9e %as mystified, "ut admittedly intrigued

-(here you go in su)h hurry, anypla)e? 5 mean, 'any%ay?'- demanded the rotund d%arf,

glo%ering suspi)iously -Bou not li*e our stuff?-

-No, it's /ust that- or a moment Gilthanas felt his thoughts run a%ay %ith him 9e

remem"ered a dragon of silver, supple, )urves and a gra)eful ne)* She %as an elf maid, and his

"eloved, and at that instant his longing for her %as an emotion more po%erful than he thought he

)ould survive ut he shoo* his headshe %as gone, and he had his life "efore him -5'm going

home,- he said @uietly, almost sadly

-(ell, go home"ut not "efore you have our feast, ta*e our stuff Bou da SneeAer, right? (e

"een %aitin' for you No% you )ome, see our stuff!-

Gilthanas didn't have the strength to resist

FFFFF

ghar hospitality proved to "e as insanely freneti) as the gully d%arves themselves, "ut

Gilthanas %as surprised to find himself en/oying the attention and the friendship of the filthy runts

9e learned that the legend of -The SneeAer- had "een handed do%n from generation to generation

that the ghar here in .urstal, and in the near"y sister )ityor sister ruinof $lial, "oth had "een

living their days %aiting for the arrival of the one %ho %ould sneeAe

Of )ourse, the gully d%arves had no real understanding of %hat the SneeAe meant to them,

%hi)h %as /ust as %ell, from Gilthanas's point of vie% 9e dran* their %ine, %hi)h %as not "ad, and

ate their food, %hi)h %as "ad 9e listened to their tales, en/oying one old %ould+"e mysti) %holoudly sang of an ar)h on the gla)ier to the south

-The roAen .ast r)h!- s)ree)hed the ghar, in a @uasi+sing+song -5t is the pla)e %here true

hearts )an see* their desire!- (ith a fe% @uestions, Gilthanas learned that the ar)h %as reputedly a

reli) from a very an)ient )iviliAation, and that its po%ers %ere real, "ut diffi)ult to unlo)*



inally, the ghar "rought forth gifts for their honored SneeAer Gilthanas %as agreea"le and

prepared himself to a))ept some moldy rat+s*in )loa* or perhaps a "a)*pa)* %ith no straps 9e %as

stunned %hen his hum"le hosts instead gave him real treasures, in)luding a )loa* and "oots that

%ould *eep him %arm in all %eather, a de)anter that %ould al%ays pour fresh "everage, a s)roll

that mapped out for him the .lains of Dust and the ad/a)ent 5)e%all Gla)ier, and finally a fine

s%ord, a "lade of elven steel that had "een forged more than t%o thousand years agoTou)hed and more than a little drun*, he em"ra)ed many of the gully d%arves, dan)ed %ith

them, and fell asleep on a heap of rags in the same room %ith a hundred ghar (hen he a%a*ened,

his hosts %ere still sleeping Despite his thi)* tongue and pounding heada)he, Gilthanas gathered

his ne% treasures, gave his hosts a %hispered fare%ell, and on)e again started on the road to%ard

his home

Refle)tions on a Rose of Stone& Stone Rose, 3=s)

(el)ome to the garden!

Oh, my friends, 5 didn't mean to frighten you 5t's /ust that so fe% people )ome here anymore that

5 am terri"ly glad for the )ompany 9ere, 5've a s*in full of mulled %ineallo% me to ma*eamends for spoiling your solitude "y sharing it %ith you

No, no, no 5 insist (hat *ind of )areta*er %ould 5 "e if 5 s)ared a%ay my only guests? poor

one, let me assure you!

No 5t is my /o" to ma*e sure you en/oy your visit 9opefully, you'll have su)h a good time that

you'll tell all your friends and relations to also ma*e the /ourney So pass around the s*in and drin*

your fill Today, you are the guests of Tarn Granger, the *eeper of the gardenan uninspired name,

"ut %hen your entire to%n is named Stone Rose, there's really no reason to thin* of a fan)y title for

the main attra)tion

8ust a"out the only people %ho )ome through here these days are mer)hants and mer)enaries,

and neither of them have time to stop and smell the rosesso to spea* .ilgrims and e0plorers

rarely ma*e the trip to Stone Rose anymore 5 )an't say 5 "lame them for staying home, %hat %ith

the 1nights of Ta*hisis holding Eualinesti in their iron grip, and Sa"le the la)* Dragon turning all

the Ne% Coast into a "loody s%amp! ut those %ho ma*e the trip see something so amaAing5'm

not fi""ing one "it %hen 5 tell you it's uni@ue on all of 1rynn

(al* %ith me a %ays, and 5'll sho% you %hat 5 mean

.ardon my saying so, "ut "y the loo* of your tattered )lothing and that haunted tint to your eyes,

5'd haAard to guess that you're refugees from Eualinesti 5 thought so! The %ay you flin)hed %hen 5

mentioned the Dar* 1nights %as a dead givea%ay

5t's a sad, sad time, 5 tell you -ge of Mortals- indeed! 5f it %as our age, %ould half the land "e

ruled "y dragons the siAe of small )astles? No, sir! ut you ta*e your "eauty %here you )anand 5

don't *no% of any%here more "eautiful than the garden in Stone Rose#oo* out there 5t ta*es your "reath a%ay, doesn't it? Over an a)re of rose"ushes in all shapes

and siAes Those over there are trimmed in the shapes of dragons, a griffin, and a pegasus Off to the

north, you )an see latti)es )overed %ith vines and flo%ers the siAe of your fist ut the )enterpie)e,

literally, is the maAe No%, it's not mu)h of a maAeyou )an see the hedges are only a"out %aist

high"ut that )ir)le at the )enter sits under the shade of a rose"ush gro%n and pruned into the

shape of a miniature vallen%ood 5t's the "est pla)e in the %hole to%n to sit and @uietly sip your

mulled %ine (hy do you thin* %e're heading there, eh?H

Bes, all this %ould "e marvel enough, )onsidering the fa)t that %e're on the edge of a desert! ut

it's even more fantasti) than you thin* Bou see, all the roses, every "ush, vine, and tree, are made

of stone nd not some )rum"led granite either The stone is smooth and polished, and shines li*e

the mar"le statues you'll find in Solamnian no"le homes#oo* at them!

The detail is so fine that you )an hardly tell the differen)e "et%een these and the real thing

%ell, e0)ept for the )olor and the smell 5f these %ere live flo%ers, the air %ould "e thi)* %ith

perfume Our roses don't smell so ni)e as the normal *ind, "ut you never have to s%eep up the



petals in the fall! s the grounds*eeper, let me tell you, that ma*es me very happy (e also don't

have to deal %ith "ees and other nuisan)e "ugs, so all in all, 5'd say %e get the "est of "oth %orlds

Careful, though Those thorns are /ust as sharp as they loo*, and they're sturdy enough to do

some real damage 5 remem"er one little *ender %ho got )urious a"out %hether the "ushes %ere

made of stone on the inside as %ell as the out 9e stu)* his %hole arm in through a gap in the

"ran)hes Not the "rightest thing 5've ever seen done, "ut you *no% ho% *ender are %hen they get anotion in their heads

(ell, he got his arm %edged in there as far as it %ould go and gra""ed onto the first "ran)h he

found Sure enough, it %as made of stoneand )overed in thorns 9e yelped li*e a dog that had

stu)* its nose up a "eehive The *ender then tried to pull his arm out as @ui)* as )an "e That %as

his se)ond mista*e

5nstead of /ust having a fe% holes in his hand, he snagged his arm on /ust a"out every thorn on

the %ay out 9e yan*ed the arm a %ays, yelped again, yan*ed some more, yelped even louder, until

finally, he got himself free 5t %asn't a pretty sight, let me tell you #u)*ily, Sondra Softtou)h, the

mayor's daughter, heard the )ommotion and )ame running Sondra spent a year studying up there

%ith Goldmoon and her mysti)s on S)hallsea and )ame "a)* @uite the little healer She pat)hed the

*ender up @ui)* enough nd though he %as still very )urious a"out the flo%ers, that *ender *epthis hands in his deep little po)*ets the rest of his stay

Bes, 5've got a %hole lot of stories a"out the garden 5 suppose that's %hat )omes from spending

my %hole life tending the pla)e

(hat? Bou don't thin* stone roses need tending?

(eeds gro% here /ust as %ell as they do any%here else They may not "e a threat to these

"ushes, "ut they still loo* a mess nd %ho %ants to visit a messy garden? Then there's the mess

that people ma*e Bou %ouldn't "elieve the *ind of things fol*s %ill /ust up and leave "ehind if they

don't a)tually live in a pla)e 5've found everything from torn )lothing to rotten eggs /ust sitting in

the garden nd you'd faint dead a%ay if 5 told you ho% often 5 find daggers and short s%ords %ith

their "lades )hipped and sometimes "ro*en )lean offH "y someone %ho got it into his fool head to

try to ta*e a genuine stone rose home %ith him Do you *no% 5've even seen a minotaur "attle+a0

%ith a goodly )hun* missing than*s to one of these stems? $ven 5'm amaAed

re the roses magi)?

(ell, that's hard to say Magi) %ould e0plain %hy they stand up so %ell to normal "lades ut

then again, 5'd thin* the same thing if you started ta*ing s%ings at a "oulderno s%ord %as meant

to stri*e a ro)* over and over again

Some fol*s say the garden is a )ursed site

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The story goes that a long time ago, "a)* "efore the gods rained fire do%n on an)ient 5star, "a)* %hen this part of the land %as green and fertile, a great )astle stood %here our little to%n is no% 5n

that )astle, they say, lived a very %ise *ing and his only son, .rin)e Dottaard

s the fingers of age tightened on the *ing, he "egan to %orry a"out the fate of his *ingdom, for

his son %as yet unmarried 5n order to remedy this situation, the *ing sent his four s%iftest riders,

one in ea)h dire)tion, to ma*e this pro)lamation *no%n throughout the land& (hatever %oman

.rin)e Dottaard married %ould not only "e)ome prin)ess and eventually @ueenH of the realm, "ut

also %ould re)eive all the lands south of the )astle and half of the *ingdom's treasury to do %ith as

she pleased The prin)e, he thought, %ould never )hoose to marry a %oman %ho %ould a"use su)h

a gift

The ne0t day, hundreds of young ladies visited the pala)e, ea)h more "eautiful and elegant than

the ne0t The only one the prin)e had eyes for, though, %as Rosella Rosella %ore a )ape of deepest "la)*, and though she *ept the hood pulled lo% hiding her eyes in )onstant shado%H, the flo%ing

red lo)*s that spilled over her shoulders and her ru"y lips said this %as a %oman of e0@uisite

"eauty

y midday, .rin)e Dottaard dismissed all the ladies e0)ept Rosella, and "y sundo%n, he %as



sure no other %oman mat)hed him so perfe)tly The %edding, it %as de)ided, %ould ta*e pla)e one

month hen)e

The *ing %as "eside himself %ith /oy 9is son %ould have a %ife, his *ingdom %ould have a

prin)ess, and he )ould die a happy man

That evening, ho%ever, as the *ing passed Rosella's )ham"er, he heard a strange, an)ient voi)e

)oming from %ithin .ee*ing through the )ra)*ed door, he sa% Rosella remove her hood to revealthat she %as not a youthful maiden at all, "ut rather an an)ient sor)eress The )loa* she %ore %as

really her %iAards ro"es"la)* ro"esand she )ast a spell so that %hen it %as pulled tight a"out

her, she %ould have the visage of a prin)ess

-5 have )ast a spell,- Rosella )a)*led to herself, -to ma*e that fool prin)e fall in love %ith me 5n

one month, %e %ill marry and half the *ingdom %ill "e mine!-

The *ing ran off to tell his son the terri"le ne%s, "ut Rosella's spell %as so po%erful that the

prin)e did not "elieve a %ord of it 9e %as going to marry Rosella, and his father )ould do nothing

a"out it s the %edding day gre% )loser, the *ing plotted and planned, "ut he )ould find no %ay to

save his son and his *ingdom from this terri"le %oman

Then, one %ee* "efore the %edding, a pala)e maid overheard Rosella tal*ing to the )aptain of

the guard -5 am terri"ly allergi) to roses,- she said, -so you must not allo% any guests to "ringthem to my %edding Not even the tiniest rose"ud may "e %oven into a lady's headdress, is that

)lear?-

5t )ertainly %as )lear to the maid, and she hurried to tell the *ing %hat she had heard 5t gave him

a )lever plan

On the day of the %edding, the *ing )ame to his son and apologiAed for his rude "ehavior to%ard

the "ride+to+"e -5n order to ma*e amends,- the *ing said, -5 have arranged the most glorious event

ever The %edding %ill ta*e pla)e in our o%n )ourtyard, and everyone in the *ingdom %ill "e

there- This pleased the spell"ound prin)e, and he %ent to tell Rosella the %onderful ne%s

s the "ride and groom %al*ed out arm+in+arm, Rosella gasped, then dre% "a)* in horror The

entire )ourtyard had "een transformed into a rose garden %ith trees, "ushes, and shru"s of all

varieties, ea)h at the height of "loom

(hile the entire *ingdom %at)hed, Rosella sneeAed so hard that her hood fle% off, revealing her

true form s pani) s%ept through the )ro%d, Rosella sneeAed again and again inally, her

)on)entration %as so shattered that she )ould no longer maintain the spell that "e%it)hed .rin)e

Dottaard

reed from Rosella's )ontrol, the prin)e immediately announ)ed that the %edding %as off and

)alled for the pala)e guard Though they %ere no mat)h for the sor)eress, the guards drove Rosella

off efore she left, she turned to the *ing and said, -Bour roses have "eaten me, "ut they %ill never

do so again!-

(ith that, she %aved her hands in the air and every "ush, tree, and shru" turned to stone Then

she repeated the motion and disappeared in a puff of smo*e(hen the *ing e0plained %hat had happened, .rin)e Dottaard %ent to than* the pala)e maid 5n

the end, though, the t%o fell in love, and one month later, they married

The %edding %as held in the garden of stone roses, %hi)h "ride, groom, and *ing all agreed %as

the loveliest pla)e in all the *ingdom

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Euite a story, eh? 5t %as my daughter's favorite %hen she %as a %ee girl Most fol* don't ta*e it

as truth, "ut it's the one %e usually tell visitors

The story %e li*e to "elieve is a"out a s)ulptor and a prin)ess unny ho% they all seem to "e

a"out royalty, eh?H

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5n the ge of Might, shortly after the 1ingpriest of 5star made his .ro)lamation of Manifest



:irtue, there lived .rin)ess 1o/en, a "eautiful and mighty %arrior of the 9ouse of 1harolis She

railed against the do)trines of the 1ingpriest, %ho de)lared that any %oman %ho engaged in "attle

or other -manly duties- %as a follo%er of $vil and should "e put immediately to death

.rin)ess 1o/en, as %as the fashion for ladies in the *ingdom of 1harolis, %as a strong leadera

position the .ro)lamation stri)tly for"ade her to holdand often en/oyed the pleasures of ar)hery,

fen)ing, and horse"a)* riding 5n fa)t, /ust a"out the only thing she did %hi)h %ould have metremotely %ith the 1ingpriest's approval %as the time she spent %ith her lover, a s)ulptor "y the

name of Serran

Though Serran %ould "eg 1o/en not to flaunt the .ro)lamation so "oldly, she /ust laughed at

him -5t is %ho 5 am,- she told him -Bou %ould not %ant me to as* you to give up your )hisel and

mallet, %ould you? No Then ho% )an you as* me to give up all of the things my "lood a)hes to

do? nd ho% )an anyone %ho for)es me to do so possi"ly "e the living em"odiment of all that is

Good?-

Serran "lan)hed at the @uestion -That is heresy, 1o/en! Do not ever say that again!-

The prin)ess merely laughed at her lover 9er %ill %as too strong to allo% her to do anything

other than spea* her mind at all times, no matter %hat the )onse@uen)es nd %hen %ord of 1o/en's

unrepentant %ays rea)hed the 1ingpriest, he sent a for)e of one hundred soldiers to arrest the prin)ess

(hen the soldiers approa)hed Serran's %or*shop, .rin)ess 1o/en met them %ith )old steel The

"attle raged for three days and three nights, and %hen the sun rose on the fourth day, .rin)ess

1o/en %as the only one left standing

-This is not the end of this, Serran,- she said as he tended her %ounds -More soldiers %ill )ome

perhaps a thousand or more nd 5 %ill not "e their only target 5n order to get to me, they %ill

stri*e at you, and 5 )annot have that Tomorro% morning, 5 must leave so that you %ill "e safe-

Though it "ro*e his heart, the s)ulptor *ne% it must "e so

-5 have a present for you,- Serran %hispered as he held 1o/en in his arms for the last time "efore

she left 9e held out his hand, and in it %as a s)ulpture of a rose, deli)ate and perfe)t in every

detail -s this flo%er %ill never fade and %ilt, neither %ill my love for you, dear 1o/en or every

day that %e are apart, 5 %ill )arve another rose so that %hen %e are reunited, %e %ill have a

monument %orthy of our love-

The prin)ess left the ne0t morning at da%n

%ee* later, a thousand soldiers arrived at Serran's home loo*ing for 1o/en nd though a

hundred different offi)ers @uestioned him as to the prin)ess's %herea"outs, the only ans%er he ever

gave %as, -She has gone- nd all the %hile, he never loo*ed up from the perfe)t "looming rose he

)arved from a "lo)* of solid mar"le (hen the soldiers left, Serran )arried the rose out to his

garden and pla)ed it in a %ooden latti)e alongside si0 other perfe)t stone roses

rom time to time, the s)ulptor %ould hear rumors of his prin)ess 5f they %ere all to "e

"elieved, 1o/en traveled from one end of nsalon to the other and "a)* She may have even visitedthe fa"led Dragon 5sles ut the one pla)e her %anderings never too* her %as "a)* to Serran's side

efore he died, Serran s)ulpted more than t%enty thousand individual roses as %ell as every

leaf, lim", and latti)e that you find in the garden today

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(ho %ouldn't fa)e an entire army to defend a love as true as 1o/en and Serran's?

5f that story is even partly true, then it's no %onder the garden is su)h an inspirational site 5n the

forty years that 5've tended it, 5've seen all manner of man, %oman, and "east )ome into the garden

and leave )hanged to the )ore

There %as a man %ho traveled here all the %ay from the $st%ilde, %here he ran a grist millSeems that all his life he had heard of the garden at Stone Rose and felt an une0plaina"le urge to

see it 9e sold his mill, pa)*ed the fe% things that mattered most to him in this %orld, and hi*ed

a)ross mountain, desert, and dragon realm to get here #et me tell you, 5 )ould see every mile he'd

)rossed )a*ed onto his fa)e or frayed off his shirt, "ut a happier man 5'd never met That is, until he



sat on the "en)h under the shade tree

Bou see, sitting on that "en)h %as a %oman %ho had ta*en every last )opper from her do%ry to

pay for a similar tre*, all the %ay from a farm in Tanith

They too* one loo* at ea)h other, and it %as as if they'd *no%n one another all their lives They

sat under that tree and tal*ed deep into the night (hen 5 )ame "a)* the ne0t day, 5 found them

)urled in one another's arms, asleep "eneath a stone hedge(ell, the mayor performed their marriage )eremony that evening They live on a farm /ust do%n

the road See, even those of us %ho visit the garden every day still get s%ept up in the emotions it

"rings out

One morning, 5 arrived at %or* to hear a piteous yo%ling )oming from some%here in the hedge

maAe fter sear)hing around for a %hile, 5 )ame a)ross a "la)* *ittenit )ouldn't have "een more

than four %ee*s old%hose matted fur had "e)ome )aught on a stone thorn 5 haven't a )lue %hat

happened to the mother or the rest of the litter, "ut it %as plain to see this little fello% %as all alone

in the %orld and in need of some loo*ing after So 5 "rought him home in spite of the fa)t that my

nose )logs up and my eyes tear every time 5 so mu)h as tou)h an animal nd don't you *no% it,

that )at loves to "e petted

Bes, the "eauty of the pla)e %ill ma*e a "ody do some a%ful strange things, li*e this elf that passed through here the other day 9e %as a strange one, a Eualinesti /ust li*e you fol*s ut

instead of running a%ay from the Dar* 1nights and their minions, he %as headed straight "a)* into

the forest Still, in the end, 5 thin* the garden helped him find the right path to %al*

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(hen 5 )ame into the garden that morning, the elf %as already there, standing in front of that

"ush over there, staring hard at that rosethe one that is partly open and fa)es almost due %est

9is )lothing mar*ed him as a vaga"ond, "ut his "earing made me loo* t%i)e No%, to us

humans, all elves loo* more or less proud The %ay you )arry yourselves, tall and thin and straight,

ma*es you seem as though you e0pe)t to "e )ongratulated for /ust %al*ing into the room 5 don't

mean this as an insult, /ust as a )omparison to us humans e)ause the elf 5 sa% that morning had

an air that made him seem %ell haughty is the only %ord 5 )an thin* of to )apture it

eing as ho% 5 leave people alone unless they loo* li*e they need help or a friendly ear, 5 %ent

a"out my "usiness and let the elf go a"out his (hen 5 finished my %eeding, though, 5 noti)ed the

elf %as still staring at the same rose

Coin)iden)e, 5 told myself 5 /ust happened to )at)h him at the same pla)e 5 sa% him earlier

lot of visitors %ander the garden for hours, stopping and gaAing at the same three or four s)ulptures

that appeal to them most

(hen 5 )ame "a)* from my noon meal, though, the elf %as still there So 5 de)ided to ma*e sure

that he %as all right 5 %al*ed up ne0t to him, yet he didn't even *no% 5 %as there!5 )leared my throat -Good afternoon- 5 said and %aited for a response (hen he didn't give one,

5 )ontinued, -There are plenty of pretty roses here in the garden Mind if 5 as* %hat ma*es that one

so interesting to you?-

9e finally turned to loo* at me, and 5 )ould see a single tear %elled up in his eye

-Nothing 5t is /ust the first one that )aught my eye- 9is voi)e %as dry and distant -5t is they

are all so perfe)t-

-Bes, they sure are eautiful, too-

-nd terri"ly, terri"ly sad- he added

-(hat?-

-The roses They are very sad Can you not see that?-

5 really had no idea %hat he %as tal*ing a"out, "ut 5 thought it "est to listen a %hile longer 5)ouldn't figure out if he %as the %isest elf to ever visit the garden or /ust the plum" )raAiest

-No,- 5 told him -(hy are the roses sad?-

-e)ause they )annot "e %hat they %ere meant to "e-

5 told him that 5 still didn't understand and offered him a sip of %ater 5 %as sure that he %as



heat+mad

-The rose,- he "egan, spea*ing very patientlythe %ay you do %hen you're e0plaining

something very important, -%ants to "loom That is %hat all roses %ant& to gro% from tiny "uds full

of promise to e0@uisite flo%ers that please the eye and the nose, and finally to move on, for "eauty

in this %orld is merely transitory-

-ut these roses are al%ays "eautiful,- 5 said9e loo*ed at me as if 5 %as spea*ing in the go"lin tongue

-The roses don't %ant to "e "eautifulthat's /ust %hat they are, they )an't help it No matter

%hat they do, they al%ays %ill "e "eautiful (hat they %ant is to gro% nd that is the one thing

these roses may never do They have a duty-

- duty?- 9e %as heat+mad for sure 5f 5 %as lu)*y, he'd /ust pass out and 5 )ould get Sondra to

heal him

-Bes, a dutyli*e me My duty is to return to Eualinost, to help my people, to lead them out

from oppression That is a "eautiful thinga proud and no"le destiny-

-ut it's not %hat you %ant?-

-No! (ith all my heart 5 %ant to follo% another path My heart, my past, and my love all )all out

for me to go to the froAen lands to the south, "ut my duty )alls me %est%ard-9is madness %as "eginning to ma*e more sense

-nd don't you ever follo% your heart?- 5 as*ed -5s duty al%ays your master?-

-l%ays,- the elf replied -5t is all 5've ever *no%n 5 am truly li*e the flo%ers in this garden

Their stone s*in prevents them from "looming, from ever rea)hing their potential They are trapped

in a state half%ay "et%een their "eginning and their end 5 too am trapped or if 5 go to perform

my duty no%, then as surely as 5 stand "efore you, duty %ill *eep me trapped the rest of my days

There %ill never "e a day %hen 5 am free to follo% my heart's desire-

5 didn't *no% %hat to say

-(ell, you're here no%, and you have a )hoi)e (hy don't you follo% your heart?-

The elf stood )ompletely still for a very long time So long that 5 thought the heat finally had

)oo*ed his "rain

-5 don't *no% if 5 have the strength to 5've follo%ed duty my %hole life Can 5 ignore it no%?-

9e loo*ed at me, his eyes aflame %ith )onfusion -Can the rose ever "rea* through its stone s*in

and truly "loom?-

5 hadn't a )lue ho% to ans%er him Truth "e told, 5 %asn't even really sure %hat the @uestion

meant So %e /ust stared at one another for a very long fe% moments nd %hen %e loo*ed "a)* at

the stone roses, %e sa% something remar*a"le

slight %ind "le% through the garden, and from amid the very stone rose "ush %e stared at, a

red shape "o""ed "a)* and forth 5t %as a rosea real living rose No%, 5'll often find small

rose"ushes sprouting around the garden 5 ta*e )are to dig them up and "ring them to my o%n

garden at home They someho% seem to detra)t from the "eauty of the statues ut 5 hadn't seenany plant "udding in this parti)ular stone hedge all yearyet there one %as

The elf smiled

-5 have my ans%er,- he said, then turned to me and "o%ed deeply -Than* you for your time and

thoughts They have "een most enlightening-

(ith that, he turned and left the garden

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5'm not sure %hat ans%er the elf re)eived, and 5 surely don't *no% %hether he headed home to

Eualinesti or south to the froAen plains though %hat he e0pe)ted to find there, 5 haven't a )lueH

ut 5 do *no% that 5 let that little rose stay in the gardenthere it is, po*ing out from the top of thestone hedge 5t seems important someho%

Oh, "ut storytelling is a thirsty /o"even more thirsty than gardening

.ass me the %ine, and %hen 5'm done, 5'll tell you the tale of ho% %e )ured the mayor of

sleep%al*ing through the garden on the nights of the full moon!



The roAen .ast r)h, 3Is)

The farther a)ross the i)e he %ent, the more Gilthanas )onvin)ed himself that the huldrefol*

portal %ould prove the *ey to his /ourney 9e trudged steadily, day after day, a)ross a %ilderness of

unrelieved frost and sno% The Courrain O)ean %as some%here off to his left, "ut he %ould %orrya"out that laterfor no%, it %as /ust important to *eep ma*ing progress south

ortunately, the en)hanted )loa* the gully d%arves had given him *ept him %arm even in the

most harsh ar)ti) )onditions 9e slept dire)tly on the sno% "ut never felt a )hill underneath him so

long as he *ept the s)arlet fa"ri) "et%een himself and the gla)ier lso, no matter ho% harsh the

%ind that tore a)ross the flat s%ath of i)e "le%, it )ould not penetrate the tight %eave of the )ape

that he *ept %rapped around him

ondly he re)alled the simple generosity of the gully d%arf )lans in .urstal and $lial On this

)old e0panse he a)tually found himself missing the )ompanionship of his hosts in those ruined

)ities

$ventually he arrived at the great pre)ipi)e, the 5)e%all, and here at last he turned his )ourse

to%ard the east or many more days he plodded, al%ays loo*ing up at the sun+daAAled fa)e of "lue+%hite )liff 9e "egan to ration his food, thoughthan*s to the magi)al de)anter of .urstal

he had no %orries a"out drin* lternately he poured s%eet ne)tar of s@ueeAed )itrus fruit to

invigorate his lim"s, or tart red %ine to %arm his torso, and %ith the singleminded purpose that had

driven him sin)e the garden of Stone Rose he )ontinued on

nd then he sa% it

The ar)h %as so tall that it rose from "eyond the horiAon, even though it to%ered a mile or more

past the )rest of the 5)e%ell s Gilthanas %al*ed )loser, the ar)h seemed to sin* from his vie%

"ehind the nearer s*yline, until at last he stood at the foot of the great )liff and )ould see no sign of

the massive stone shape rising into the s*y a"ove Dar*ness settled around him as he %as studying

the sheer surfa)e, though the i)e seemed to glo% even in the pale light shed "y a )res)ent moon

fter an hour of study, the elf )on)eded that he )ould not )lim" this )liff any%here along here

Of )ourse, in the days "efore the Summer of Chaos, he )ould have )ast a spell, using his training

and talent to )ontrol the ar)ane po%ers he had mastered for most of his adult life spell of

levitation %ould have )arried him easily up the )liff, orif he %as really in a hurryhe )ould

simply have teleported himself and his possessions up the pre)ipi)e, or even into the very shado%

of the ar)h, for that matter

9o%ever, that magi) had departed %ith the gods %ho had a"andoned the %orld to its mortal

masters nd so Gilthanas found himself fa)ed %ith the prospe)t of an impossi"le )lim"

5nstead, he resolved to find another %ay or the ne0t day he mar)hed a)ross the gla)ier, no%

follo%ing the foot of the )liff until, at sunset, he rea)hed the sharp dividing line "et%een i)e and

sea 9ere the gla)ier ended in "ro*en shards and spiresa trea)herous lands)ape that shifted andsurged %ith tempest and tide 9o%ever, Gilthanas %as not interested in going further

5nstead, he sa% %here the )liff of the 5)e%all ended and %here the vast shelf of "edro)* "e)ame

a tum"le of "oulders and ru""le spilling into the harsh, )old sea 5)i)les draped many of the large

stones, and here and there great s%aths of loose sno% had s%ept avalan)he )hannels through the

slope t least the surfa)e %as irregular, though, allo%ing Gilthanas to )lim" it

9e "egan as)ending at da%n, using his s%ord as an i)epi)* and )ounting on the grip of his "oots

to )ling even to the slipperiest of surfa)es 9e avoided the %orst of the avalan)he )hutes, and %hen

for)ed to )ross a lesser ravine, he hastened %ith re)*less a"andon On)e he leaped out of a gully

se)onds "efore a rum"le of i)y sno% roared from the pre)ipi)e do%n to the sea

y nightfall he found that he %as only half%ay up, "ut he rested in a %inds%ept )revasse

"et%een t%o "oulders $ven the prote)tive a"ility of the )loa* %as ta0ed, )ausing Gilthanas tomove out "efore the da%n To remain still any longer meant he'd ris* freeAing to death

Thus it %as that the first rays of the sun fell a)ross him as he pulled himself over the ultimate

)rest of the 5)e%all efore him, ten miles or more a%ay "ut rising in )rystalline relief against the

aAure s*y, the roAen .ast r)h )rested in glorious perfe)tion



5t must have ta*en hours for Gilthanas to )ross that distan)e, "ut he %as not a%are of time

passing 5nstead, he had eyes only for the massive semi)ir)le of stonethe portal that s%ept into

the s*y and then )urled "a)* do%n to the ground 5t seemed to the elf that this )ourse must "e

sym"oli) of the promise for his life and future 9e had a destinya path to follo%and its )ourse

%as "efore him!

inally he stood "eneath the stone surfa)e 5t might have risen a thousand feet over his head, "uthe had no %ay to ma*e an o"/e)tive re)*oning 9e sniffed the air, he listened and tasted and

tou)hed, see*ing for some sign of the portal's po%er ut he %asn't surprised to find no glimmer of

a magi)al aura

9e did not ta*e this as eviden)e of failure 5nstead, he had anti)ipated thissurely the po%er of

su)h an an)ient and hallo%ed pla)e %ould not "e fo)used so dire)tly that any dum" "rute that

%andered "eneath it %ould "e affe)ted No, to rea)h the )enter of the ar)h's po%er, Gilthanas *ne%

he %ould have to do more

9e %ould have to )lim"

or the first time he too* sto)* of the ar)h's surroundings 9e realiAed that other unnatural

shapes softened and mas*ed "y a permanent sno% )over stood around him 5n one pla)e a great

dome mounded out of the i)epa)*'s surfa)e, appearing too smooth and symmetri)al to "e anything "ut a designed stru)ture Of )ourse any outer surfa)e it may have displayed %as "uried "eneath

millennia %orth of gla)ial a))umulation

eyond the dome %as the suggestion of a )roo*ed %all, also smooth and i)y on its e0terior

Other stru)tures that might have "een ela"orate to%ers or giant statues %ere no% "uried "eneath the

i)e, though they still /utted up%ard enough to suggest imaginative design and in)redi"le

%or*manship

Gilthanas %al*ed a )ir)le around the "ase of the ar)ha span %ith a diameter of nearly a

thousand pa)es The "ody of the stru)ture seemed to "e a )urving shaft of solid stone $a)h footing

%as only t%enty or thirty feet a)ross, and no "roader than the trun* of a full+gro%n vallen%ood

tree Bet these pillars s%ept up%ard and in, someho% "earing the %eight of a span that seemed to

deny possi"ility The prin)e *ne% that no one in the %orld, not even the most s*illed of d%arven

stonemasons, )ould have "uilt anything resem"ling this in the modern era 9e needed no further

proof of the ar)h's originsthis %as )learly an artifa)t of a long+vanished ra)e, "oasting

%or*manship of a @uality lost to the %orld

t the foot of one of the stone legs he sa% that narro% steps had "een )arved into the surfa)e

The )lim", espe)ially at the "eginning, loo*ed to "e trea)herous and steep Still, Gilthanas %asted

no time in dropping his sat)hel of treasures given to him "y the gully d%arves 9e %rapped his

)loa* around the "undle and, %earing his s%ord in its sheath and using the soft "oots on his feet, he

started up the stone stair%ay

or its lo%er )ourse this %as more a))urately a ladder, sin)e the ar)h started out rising nearly

straight up into the air The steps %ere only %ide enough for his toes, "ut his fingers )ould )ling tothe higher not)hes in the stone surfa)e, and he made his %ay %ithout a great deal of diffi)ulty Soon

the %ind "egan to %hip at him, and he felt the )hill through his %ool tuni), "ut he )lung tightly to

his handholds and made sure that ea)h foot %as firmly planted "efore he advan)ed to the ne0t step

y the time he had risen a hundred feet a"ove the surfa)e of the gla)ier, the angle of in)line had

de)reased enough that Gilthanas )ould )lim" %ithout the use of his hands $ven so, he remained

hun)hed for%ard, and as the %ind rose to ho%ling for)e, he fre@uently gra""ed at the stone surfa)e

to steady himself 9e "egan to ta*e note of the irregularities in the surfa)e of the i)e "elo%the

shrouded stru)tures of the an)ient huldrefol* )ity

This %as not a ruin in the same sense as .urstal, %here it %as possi"le to guess at the nature of

the stru)tures and )learly per)eive their purposes 9ere, any purposes eluded his understanding

e0)ept, perhaps, for one great "o%l that might have served as some *ind of amphitheater Other%isethe %alls, domes, irregular shapes, and i)y spires that e0tended for miles inland made no sense in

the )onte0t of any )ity Gilthanas had ever seen

inally he stood at the top of the ar)h, %here he found a smooth platform no larger than the main

ta"le in a typi)al inn #i*e the rest of the ar)h, this flat e0panse %as )lear of sno% and i)ea fa)t



%hi)h, for the first time, stru)* him as unusual (ith a steady stride he %al*ed to the )enter of the

platform and turned to fa)e the sun 9e spread his arms %ide, "ra)ed himself against the %ind

"uffeting him, and raised his voi)e to the heavens

-Silvara!- he )ried -5 see* you! May the po%er of the ar)h fulfill my @uest!-

9e %aited, feeling the )hill of frost"ite on his )hee*, see*ing some sensation of an)ient po%er

some magi) that %ould s%eep him a%ay from here ut he sensed no indi)ationno smell or tasteof an aura 9e listened, "ut the sound that rea)hed his ear evo*ed a mu)h earthier )ompany

-8ump!-

The %ord %as follo%ed "y a hearty laughthe spea*er apparently greatly en/oying his

suggestion

5mmediately Gilthanas opened his eyes Stepping for%ard, heedless of the long drop, he loo*ed

do%n to see a trio of tiny figures standing in the sno% "elo%

-8ump!- shouted one of them, and this time all three "ent over from the for)e of their fulsome

guffa%s -(e'll )at)h you!- he hollered, spreading his great arms in an e0pansive, ludi)rous

gesture

-Thanoi,- muttered the elf, re)ogniAing the tus*ed fa)es and the po%erful and hul*ing "odies of

the %alrus+men 9is memories of the )rude ra)e %ere "ad, dating "a)* to his first @uest on thisgla)iera sear)h for an or" of dragon*ind that had "rought him here more than forty years ago

-Go a%ay,- he shouted in reply -Or perhaps you'd )are to )at)h one of my arro%s!-

9e tried the "luff, hoping that the )reatures hadn't seen that he %asn't armed %ith a "o% 9e %as

disappointed %hen they only laughed harder -re you going to thro% them do%n? .erhaps %e )an

)at)h them in your pretty )loa*!-

No% he sa% that the largest of the %alrus+men, the spea*er and presumed leader, %as holding

out a s)arlet "undle The other t%o pa%ed through the ro"e, ho%ling as they pi)*ed up the elf's

treasured "elongings

Gilthanas flushed %ith rage Not for the first time did he truly miss his magi), *no%ing that in

years past he )ould have unleashed his po%er on these insolent %ret)hes to punish them thoroughly

%hile "arely "atting his o%n eyes from the effort Gritting his teeth, he )he)*ed that his s%ord

%as loose in its s)a""ard and started "a)* do%n the stairs he had as)ended

Only then did he stop and refle)t 9e had felt no po%er no ar)ane effe)t atop the ar)h"ut he

had "een so sure he )ould find Silvara "y using it someho% .urposefully he stepped "a)* a)ross

the platform, this time turning his fa)e to the east gain he "esee)hed the an)ient po%er of the

huldre, )alling Silvara "y name, straining his mind for some sensation, some suggestion of an

image, of his silver dragon maid

ut there %as nothing "eyond the ho%ling of the %ind and the in)reasingly mo)*ing laughter

from "elo% 9e s@uinted in the distan)e, follo%ing his tra)*s "a)* a)ross the sno%, and then he sa%

it&

"ro%n shape, )learly the hull of a slee* "oat, lay in a not)h on the i)y shoreline 9ad thethanoi )ome here in that )raft? Certainly he hadn't seen any sign of them in the ruined )ity

"eforehand Bet, though his tra)*s %ere )learly visi"le, there %as no spoor leading from the "oat, or

anything suggesting that the %alrus+men had )ome from other than the sno% right "elo%

On)e more Gilthanas started do%n the ar)h On the lo%er, steepest stret)h, he %as for)ed to fa)e

the steps and thus turn his "a)* to the thanoi, %ho had gathered in a loose ring "elo% him The elf

startled the hul*ing "ullies "y spinning %hen he %as t%enty feet off the ground and leaping to the

sno% to land "eyond the ring of %alrus+men y the time they had re)overed from their surprise,

turning to fa)e him, he %as standing %ith his s%ord dra%n

-5t has "een years sin)e 5 have *illed one of your )lan,- Gilthanas de)lared )oldly -ut it is not a

*na)* 5 have lost-

-9oar*, hoar*!- laughed the largest thanoi - "ig sting for a little fello%- The )reature heftedhis formida"le %eapon, %hi)h %as a %ooden shaft %ith a vast sheet of )lear i)e forming an a0+

"lade at one end Gilthanas didn't let the )rude appearan)e of the %eapon fool him he *ne% that the

frostreaver %as a %eapon as deadly as any raAor+edged "lade of steel

-Give me my things, and 5 %ill go,- the elf de)lared "oldly -;nless you )hoose to fight-



-(e give your things "a)*"ut only if you go that %ay,- grunted the thanoi, pointing inland

5mmediately Gilthanas remem"ered the "oat Did they %ant to *eep him a%ay from the )raft? Or

did they merely intend to follo% him a)ross the gla)ier and *ill him at their leisure?

-5 have a mind to go there,- he replied, indi)ating the )oast -ut 5 %ill ta*e my things,

regardless-

-No! Go a%ay!- "ello%ed the greatest of the %alrus men-re you thieves?- the elf s)offed -Bou %ouldn't *no% %hat to do %ith those things if you *ept

them!-

-Do?- The thanoi's voi)e dropped to a mena)ing gro%l -Do this!-

Gilthanas %as startled %hen one of the thanoi hoisted the de)anter of .urstal and smashed the

glass against the stone ar)h nother tore asunder the s)rollthe pre)ious map that had "rought

him to this point nd the third rent his )loa* into small pie)es %ith savage, grunting tears

The elf lost his temper and )harged in to atta)* 9is steel s%ord shattered one frostreaver, then

)ut do%n t%o of the lum"ering thanoi 9e sta""ed the last one in the "a)*, furiously t%isting the

"lade, then *i)*ing the )orpse as his trem"ling rage lingered long after his enemies %ere dead

Most of his magi)al treasures %ere gone, destroyed uselessly, mindlessly and for %hat?

inally, )old and thirsty, he plodded a)ross the i)e, see*ing the %ooden hull he had seen from sofar a"ove Dar*ness fell, "ut no% he )ouldn't stop, for to sleep %as to die The )old %ind tore

through his tuni), and he longed for the )loa* 5f the "oat proved useless, or even "arren of

provisions, he %ould undou"tedly perish from e0posure to frost or sea ut no% it %as his only

)han)e

9e dis)overed the )raft and %as astonished to see that it appeared ne%at least, it sho%ed no

signs of %eathering 5t floated in a natural slip "et%een t%o /utting prongs of i)e The plan*s %ere

smooth, and the hull %as polished to a high sheen There %as no sno% in it, nor %ere there tra)*s in

the fresh po%der around it 9e s)ram"led over the gun%ale, estimating the vessel at a good t%enty+

five feet long More to his delight, he found a )as* of %atersomeho%, mira)ulously unfroAen

and a )rate )ontaining many fresh loaves of elven %ar"read The provisions should last for a month

or more urthermore, he loo*ed under the forede)* and found )lean "lan*ets and several plush

furs 9o%ever, the "oat held no oars, and he )ould not find any sign that a mast had ever "een

mounted

Most )urious %as an ela"orate s)roll%or* of %ords )arved into the transom 9e re)ogniAed the

stru)ture of verse, though the letters themselves %ere ar)ane and utterly foreign to him

Nevertheless, he ran his fingers over the %ords, %hispering to himself 9e de)ided to )amp here

and %arm himself in the furs %hile he made his plan

9e doAed off, and the last thing he did %as mum"le the %ords -$lian (ilds,- %ith the vague

notion that he )ould get supplies there

Suddenly, the "oat "egan to move

Moment in Time& $lian (ilds

Time is a strange thing

Bears Months Days 9ours Minutes Se)onds $ven the "riefest of moments They )an all drag

on for %hat seems li*e eternity, or they )an fly "y in a split se)ond No matter ho% long one spends

%ith a lover, it is never long enough, "ut the time spent %ith a reviled )ommander seems t%i)e as

long than it a)tually %as

Some say that the moment of a man's death lasts forever and that he has enough time to relive

his entire life and even e0perien)e ho% things might have "een s Gilthanas and 5 "oth dropped

our guard and lunged at ea)h other in all+out atta)*s, it %as )lear to me that only one of us %ould "e

trapped in that eternal final moment %hile the other's life %ould pro)eed for%ard in fits and starts,%ith ea)h day, hour, and minute seeming to vary in length

The Meeting, 18sc

5 never thought it %ould )ome to this %hen 5 first met Gilthanas 9e %as the most %ondrous



thing to have entered my life up to that point

5 had /ust survived the Test the month "efore, and the Superior Master said that he had "een

impressed %ith my performan)e One of the foes 5 had "ested %as a)tually of a ran* far higher than

5 thought 5 %ould ever "e s*illed enough to attainin fa)t, to this very moment, all these years

later, 5 feel that it %as more lu)* than s*ill that allo%ed me to su))eed

(hen 5 re)eived the message that the Superior Master %anted me to meet him on the do)*s of the or"idden City, my heart filled %ith "oth elation and dread 5 felt elated "e)ause an audien)e

%ith the Superior Master is something that he reserves only for the greatest of the ran*s, the Red's

$missary, or those %ho had earned a spe)ial mission from %hi)h they do not return 5t %ould "e the

greatest of honors for the Superior Master to sele)t one as young as 5 am for su)h a mission, "ut it

%ould also mean that 5 %ould not have an opportunity to ta*e a %oman and )arry on my family

line lthough 5 %ould "e )ounted among the honored dead, it %ould "e a death %ithout meaning

for 5 %ould have no )hildren to re)ite the a)hievements of my life

5 hurried through the streets of the or"idden City, trying to ignore the strange sounds that

o))asionally )ame from %ithin the "uildings and staying %ell )lear of the "loodsu)*ing vines that

had helped me defeat one of my foes during the Test $ven though my peers )onsidered me strong

enough to %al* in the or"idden City, the )rystal "uildings still seemed li*e pla)es from %hi)hunfathoma"le horrors )ould spill forth at any moment Several times during the Test, 5 had thought 5

had )aught sight of the golden+s*inned d%arves that had for)ed my fore"ears into a state of slavery

through their po%erful magi) ut %henever 5 stared in that dire)tion, 5 dis)overed that the image

%as a mirage/ust the light refle)ting off a )rystal door%ay or a spot %here the )rystalline "uilding

had healed itself of some damage it had in)urred The )om"ination of the )rystal and dried "lood

for all the )rystal "uildings "led %hen damagedoften )aused men of higher ran* than 5 am to

ma*e mista*es 5 too* it as a sign that my )ourage and steadiness %ere in)reasing %hen my

imagination played only one su)h tri)* on me that day

(hen 5 rea)hed the do)*, 5 found the Superior Master standing on the outermost point of the

pier, gaAing upon the tur"ulent %aters "eyond our island s 5 moved )loser, 5 noti)ed that a thi)*

fog %as rolling in, o"s)uring the sea

efore 5 announ)ed my presen)e or spo*e my name, he said, -(el)ome, young one 5 "rought

you here "e)ause 5 had a dream that made me "elieve that you %ill find your destiny here ehold-

rom %ithin the fog"an*, a %ondrous vessel emerged 5ntri)ate )arvings )overed its transom

single passenger sat %ithin the "oat, and as the vessel dre% s%iftly to%ard the do)*s, 5 sa% that the

passenger appeared human yet someho% did not 5 first thought that it %as a )hild, "ut %hen the

"oat dre% )lose enough, 5 sa% the )urious "one stru)ture of his fa)e, as %ell as the large, slanted

eyes, and the ears that ended in points

9e moved %ith a gra)e that %as unli*e any 5 had ever seen, as he leapt from the "oat onto the

do)* 9e said a fe% %ords in a language 5 did not understand, eyeing us )arefully, his hand resting

near the s%ord "y his side 9e %as trying to appear nonthreatening, "ut it %as )lear to me that he%as ready to defend himself if %e should have hostile intentions

The Superior Master spo*e to him, saying something in %hat sounded li*e a different language

than %hat the stranger had spo*en, "ut the strange one then responded in that same tongue They

"o%ed to ea)h other and the Superior Master said something and indi)ated me ll 5 understood

%as my name

The stranger then turned to me and spo*e in heavily a))ented $lian, -5 am Gilthanas of

Eualinesti 5t is a pleasure to ma*e your a)@uaintan)e, Master of Ran* Solov-

-(hat manner of person are you?- 5 as*ed -Bou are unli*e any man %e have here on the $lian-

-5 am Eualinesti,- he replied, a momentary loo* of )onfusion upon his fa)e Then he suddenly

gained understanding -Bou have never seen an elf "efore? 5s that %hat you mean?-

5 loo*ed at the Superior Master, feeling my )hee*s flush %ith em"arrassment Gilthanas soundedso surprised that 5 felt as though 5 may have missed something in my edu)ation The Superior

Master said, -(e rarely leave our island, Bour 9ighness,- the Superior Master told him -The

young one has never "een to the mainland 5 thin* he %ould find it very illuminating if you %ere to

tell him of your ra)e, yourself, and %hatever underta*ing has "rought you here-



(e retired to the Superior Master's d%elling and Gilthanas told me of %onders su)h as 5 never

*ne% e0isted and made it )lear that he %as a %onder himself 9e %as a prin)e of his people, the

Eualinesti elves and had already lived as long as t%o human lifetimes and %ould live at least seven

more if he did not die through misadventure ll of his people lived su)h long lifespans, he said 9e

also told me of dragons that %ere not destru)tive li*e the Great Red %ho %as our Mistress "ut %ere

instead *ind and gentle 9e %as in love %ith one, and he %as )urrently attempting to rea)h her 9ehad put into port in Claren $lian, hoping to find supplies here, "ut his trip had "een mu)h shorter

than he had anti)ipated -The magi)al "oat 5 travel in apparently /ourneys mu)h s%ifter than any

other )raft-

-Bes and no,- the Superior Master said -5 have read of )raft su)h as the one you travel %ithin in

one of the li"raries here in Claren $lian, Bour 9ighness, and it may seem faster to you "ut in fa)t it

travels mu)h more slo%ly Bou are trading safety and )omfort for time-

Gilthanas fro%ned at him -5'm not sure 5 understand-

-This magi)al )raft has the a"ility to ta*e you unerringly %here you %ant to go,- the Superior

Master "egan, -yet, no matter %hat destination you see*, five years %ill pass %hile you travel-

-5t didn't seem li*e five years, though,- Gilthanas refuted, still fro%ning slightly

-h, that's the magi) of the vessel at %or* Though you may spend %hat seems li*e hours on the "oat, five years %ill pass in the lives of others not on"oard the )raft %ith you Bou )an go %herever

you %ish, and no one )an detain you,- he finished

Gilthanas sat @uietly for a long %hile, his handsome fa)e %earing a thoughtful e0pression Then

he said, -Silvara and 5 "oth have many )enturies ahead of us 5t is "etter that 5 travel unerringly to

%here 5 thin* my sear)h )an start than to /ust %ander aimlessly-

The t%o moved onto other topi)s, su)h as the %orld "eyond our island t first their

)onversation revolved mostly around the Superior Master espousing the glory of our Red Mistress

and %arning him of her might Gilthanas learned mu)h a"out the terri"le dragons %ho no%

)ontrolled lands that on)e "elonged to others, su)h as humans and elves 5 myself found out more

a"out the %orld outside our island home, in)luding the fa)t that these dragons of )olors "lue, red,

%hite, and "la)* )ould t%ist the lands they )ontrolled into terrain that favored their natures

The Superior Master and Gilthanas also dis)ussed the silver dragons%ho )ould )hange their

shape at %ill, more mira)les!and many other "eings that 5 )ould "arely )on)eive of Gilthanas

even sho%ed me some )om"at te)hni@ues his people )ommonly employed and )ongratulated me on

ho% s%iftly 5 mastered %hat he )onsidered very )omple0 dueling maneuvers 5 told him that it %as

only natural that 5 should, as 5 %as a Master of Ran*, one of the greatest fighting men on all of

1rynn 9e agreed and said earnestly that for a human as young as 5, 5 %as truly an amaAing %arrior

9is %ords filled me %ith pride, for he %as a "rilliant s%ordsman himself, and he %as also a "eing

%ith far more life e0perien)e than 5 )ould ever a))umulate

fter sharing a meal %ith him, 5 %al*ed %ith Gilthanas to the do)*s 9ere, he "oarded the "oat,

and it headed out to sea 9e turned and %aved as the fog rolled in and s%allo%ed him5 told the Superior Master that 5 %as grateful for the opportunity to meet Gilthanas, "ut that 5

failed to see ho% this %ould affe)t my destiny

Still %at)hing the elf fade in the fog, he said, -5t %ill "e)ome )lear shortly, young one-

Suddenly, 5 heard the sil*y voi)e of the $missary "ehind us 5 %hirled s%iftly and fell to my

*nees, daring not to loo* at the slender, ro"e+%rapped form of the one %ho spo*e for our Mistress

-(hat are you doing here?- she demanded -5 have "een %aiting in your )ham"ers, Superior

Master 9ave you forgotten your pla)e?-

The Superior Master did not *neel "efore the $missary 5 am told the Superior Master did not

*neel "efore her even %hen she "ested him in "attle "ut instead merely admitted that she %as his

"etter (ith this admission, the Ran*s of the Masters started to do the Red's "idding until su)h time

as a mem"er of the Ran*s proved their "etter 5, ho%ever, %as no Superior Master, and 5 had seenthe $missary destroy men greater than 5 for lesser offenses than failing to *neel

The Superior Master stood his ground and replied, -(e have had a visitor The young Master

and 5 %ere attending to him and seeing him "a)* on his %ay-

-Bou should have /ust *illed the fool,- the $missary stated -(ho %as this person?-



The Superior Master responded "y relating Gilthanas's tale 5 glan)ed up at the $missary, %ho

%as listening in silen)e, her mottled gray ro"es s%irling around her in the %ind The hood fluttered,

affording me a "rief glimpse of the "lue+"la)* metal mas* that hid her fa)e 5 @ui)*ly dropped my

eyes again

(hen the Superior Master revealed that Gilthanas %as sear)hing for a silver dragon, the

$missary interrupted %ith a shrie*, - silver dragon?! 5 %ill "roo* no mention of silver dragons!Our Mistress %ill not tolerate su)h )reatures any%here near her domains, save those that she

intends to slay to po%er her totem! 5 %ant you to pursue and slay this elf immediately!-

5 loo*ed to%ard the fog"an* %here Gilthanas had vanished moments "efore, my "lood running

)old (e )ould not pursue the elf, nor did %e have any %ay of dis)overing %here he may have

gone s the Superior Master e0plained this to the $missary, 5 noti)ed her deli)ate, glove+)lad

hands )len)hing and un)len)hing (hen he %as done, she said, -Bou have five years to prepare

then Bou %ill find him and *ill him 9is silver dragon too, if you fail to *ill him first There %ill "e

no sola)e for silver dragons or their human )ompanions, so says our Mistress .repare your Ran*s

5 %ill report to our Mistress in person- (ith a s%irl of her "illo%ing )loa*s, she %as gone

The Superior Master told me to rise 9e as*ed me %hat 5 thought of the elf and his dragon lover

5 said he seemed li*e a good man, and that he and his lady seemed as though they deservedhappiness The Superior Master nodded in agreement and then as*ed me if 5 )ould *ill the elf and

the silver dragon if so )harged

5 said, -5 am one of the Masters 5 do %hatever you "id, Superior Master-

9e said, -5 am )harging you %ith a very important mission Bou %ill have time to find a %oman

and to start a family, "ut at the end of four years from this day, you and nine others%hom 5 %ill

allo% you to handpi)* from the Ran*s%ill venture forth into the %orld "eyond $lian and learn

%hat you )an a"out Gilthanas and Silvara so that you may destroy them "oth-

FFFFF

our years passed as though they %ere se)onds 5 %as *no%n as a favorite of the Superior

Master, so many fine %omen %anted to "e)ome mine 5 )hose a spouse @ui)*ly, and %e had t%o

strong sons and one daughter "efore the end of the fourth year (hen my fourth year ended, 5 had

finished training si0 others in the )om"at te)hni@ues that Gilthanas had sho%n me 5n addition, the

Superior Master and others %ho had returned from the mainland spent many hours telling us %hat it

%as li*e there, and 5 narro%ed do%n Gilthanas's potential destinations One of us %ould travel

to%ard the )ity of lotsam on the lood ay, one to 1urmost on the shores of an elven forest, t%o

%ould travel to the distant )ity of .alanthas, and si0 of us %ould /ourney to )ity of 1alaman, for it

%as there that Gilthanas and his love on)e lived May"e the silver dragon %as still there, and may"e

%e %ould need great num"ers to slay her

Some dar* nights, as 5 lay in my %oman's arms, 5 %ondered if it %as right to *ill Gilthanas, parti)ularly sin)e he had su))eeded in opening my mind to an entire %orld "eyond $lian and

sho%ed me some of the )om"at arts of his people (hile 5 had sho%n him some of our martial arts

in return, he %ill not have had years to pra)ti)e )ountermeasures to them as %e had done

5n the end, it )ame do%n to my duty to the Superior Master, the safety of my people, and the

future tales of my sa)rifi)e that my )hildren %ould tell 9o%ever, did 5 really %ant glory so "adly

that 5 %as %illing to *ill a %onderful "eing su)h as Gilthanas for it?

The Eternal Moment, 28sc

5 eventually arrived at the only de)ision 5 )ould s the light flashed off the steel of our "lades, a

thought a"out %hether he had ever found even a hint of his lost love flashed into my mind

5 %ould never *no% t the end of this moment, the "lood of one or "oth of us %ould "e spilledupon the dusty ground This moment that )ould "arely "e @ualified as an instant, yet %hi)h )ould

possi"ly last forever for one or "oth us, %ould "e one of finality one %ay or the other

Dragon's Graveyard, =Is)



The mist parted and Gilthanas found himself under a moonlit s*y, loo*ing up at a rim of dar*,

for"idding )liffs The "oat %as nosing into a small )ove, and gentle %aves "ro*e upon a fringe of

sugar+%hite sand

Though his mind tried to a))ept the fa)ts as e0plained "y the Superior Master on Claren $lian,

his emotions found it impossi"le to "elieve that five years had passed sin)e he had em"ar*ed fromthat eastern realm %ith Silvara's name on his lips 5t had "een a full ten years sin)e he had

dis)overed this "oat on 5)e%all Gla)ier and had first set sail in pursuit of his "eloved Silvara

ut no%, perhaps, that @uest %as )oming to an end 9e had set the "oat on a sear)h for Silvara as

he left the $lian (ilds No% the elf stood in the hull, %at)hing the "ea)h as the "oat glided

for%ard, nudging gently into the soft sand 9e )lim"ed over the pro% and too* a moment to ensure

that the )raft %as firmly "ea)hedthough he reminded himself that, %hatever happened here, he

%as finished %ith it

Then he loo*ed to the land, ta*ing in the lofty semi)ir)le of )liff that rose dire)tly from the

fringe of sand to soar high into the night s*y The fa)e of the stone %as smooth and, in the dar*ness,

almost featureless 5f a path, ravine, or sloping ledge led up%ard, he )ould see no sign of su)h a

route .erhaps daylight %ould reveal something useful;ntil then, he de)ided he %ould e0amine the length of the "ea)h 5n fa)t, the night s*y %as very

"right, %ith a full moon )asting "rilliant moonlight That %hite or" no% appeared to "e at Aenith

9e paused, turning his eyes s*y%ard and studying the %hite )ir)le %ith fresh )uriosity 5t stru)*

him as a very odd )oin)iden)e that, after a /ourney of hundreds of miles, )oursing around the long

)oast of a )ontinent, he should arrive at his destination underneath a full moonand %ith that

moon apparently at the summit of its )lim" through the s*ies 9is interest @ui)*ened as, "eyond the

%hite, he sa% a slender )res)ent of shado% pass a)ross the fa)e The moon %as "eing e)lipsed "y

1rynn

This alignment )onfirmed his guess& 9is presen)e here, no%, )ould not possi"ly "e a

)oin)iden)e

-The Dragon's Graveyard appears only %hen the moon is e)lipsed "y the %orld-

Gilthanas, startled "y the deep voi)e "ehind him, loo*ed in the dire)tion of the sound 9e sa% a

narro% gap in the fa)e of the )liff, "ut the ro)* %alls )losed in overhead and )on)ealed the ni)he in

full shado% Then he gasped as a "ro%n metalli) head emerged, follo%ed "y a serpentine ne)* of

the same "ronAed )olor

- dragon!- he gasped, his head pounding -Then it's truethis is a pla)e hallo%ed "y your

*ind, "y the dans of Good dragons-

-5ndeed it is,- murmured the serpent, slithering for%ard so that mu)h of its gleaming "ody

emerged from the narro% )ra)* This %as a "ronAe dragon no% s)o%ling unhappily "efore

Gilthanas The %yrm )rou)hed, )atli*e, %ith its head looming dire)tly over the prone elf -So mu)h

so that %e resent the intrusions of other, lesser fol* $0plain yourself, elf tell me %hy 5 should not*ill you right no%-

-5 am not your enemy- Gilthanas slo%ly rose to his feet, gratified that the dragon pulled its /a%s

"a)* slightly to give him room to stand The serpent regarded him %ith dar*, slitted eyes, and he

)ouldn't help "ut remem"er Silvara She is a metalli) dragon too, a silver )ousin to this "ronAe

Bet there %ere differen)es, even more than similarities, "et%een the t%o serpents This %as a

male, %ith the thi)* "ro% ridge and "road snout of his gender 9is voi)e %as deep and mena)ing,

utterly la)*ing the softness Gilthanas remem"ered in the spee)h of his "eloved nd his manner,

despite his slight %ithdra%al, remained mena)ing

-5 have )ome here see*ing a silver dragon,- Gilthanas said -5 %ant to *no% if she still lives

and if not, to mourn her-

-.erhaps a %orthy @uest,- mused the serpent -Though presumptuous of you to assume that youare a %orthy mourner for one of my *in+dragons (hy do you see* to do this?-

-She and 5 - Gilthanas suddenly realiAed that he )ouldn't tell this "ronAe serpent the truth, at

least not the %hole truth -(e fought together during in the (ar of the #an)e,- he "lurted -She %as

a "old and "eautiful flier, and together %e sle% many of the Dar* Eueen's %yrms-



- great hero, you must "e,- said the %yrm mo)*ingly Bet for the first time Gilthanas heard

un)ertainty in that voi)e 5t o))urred to him that this %as a mu)h younger dragon than Silvara

though his tail remained out of sight, he %as no more than half as long as his former )onsort

-5s this "ea)h the Dragon's Graveyard,- Gilthanas as*ed 9e sa% no sign of tom"s, or any other

monuments or remains -9ave 5 )ome to the right pla)e?-

-The graveyard lies not on the "ea)h itself ho%ever, you are at the right pla)e, at the right time,-replied the %yrm -Bou %ill not "e allo%ed %ithin the graveyard lies "eneath the sea, and only a

Good dragon may go there-

Gilthanas shoo* his head, more and more frustrated -Do you *no% Silvara, Sister of 9eart?- he

as*ed "oldly -Can you tell me if her "ones lie in the graveyard?-

-Silvara!- replied the serpent, all "ut gasping 9is eyes narro%ed, and he lo%ered the )ro)odilian

/a%s to regard the elf )oldly The ne0t %ords tum"led forth in a sneer -She is indeed a heroine of

our metalli) )lans and she has not "een here So far as 5 *no%, she has vanished-

Gilthanas felt the hope flo%ing from his "ody and for)ed himself to resist the urge to slump in

de/e)tion 9e %ould not reveal %ea*ness in front of this %yrm -9o% ho% do you *no%?- he

demanded -9o% )an you "e sure?-

-e)ause 5 am Sterellus, guardian of the graveyard nd 5 have "een posted here these manyyears, holding this pla)e proof against the monster dragons that have re)ently )laimed lands to the

north and south of here-

-Monster %yrms?- Gilthanas remem"ered the stories of the great red dragon, Malystry0, %ho

had mena)ed the eastern portion of nsalon, and of the other $vil dragons that had started ta*ing

other territories 9e shuddered at the thought that, during the years of his voyage, even more of

these horrendous overlords had )laimed parts of the land -(hat dragons? (here are they?- he

pressed

-There is Red enalysten in the deserts to the south and la)* Mohrle0, %ho ma*es his home

in Nordmaar's s%amp nd finally, )losest to us here, there is the mighty Green #orrinar, %ho has

sought to rema*e the (oods of #ahue ny one of them %ould seiAe the treasures here, if he )ould

"ut dis)over this pla)e and "est our guardian-

-That is, you?- as*ed Gilthanas -orgive me, Sterellus, "ut 5 have heard of these overlords

that they are true monsters, greater "y far than any mortal dragon 9o% is it that you )ould stop one

of them, should he )ome here?-

The "ronAe snorted, and for a moment Gilthanas %ondered if he had gone too far Still, he held

firm, mas*ing his misgivings %ith an e0pression of "land )uriosity

-5 %ould meet them in am"ush,- snarled the dragon, though not %ithout that tremor in his voi)e

-No%, go a%ay from here! 5 have never seen Silvara, not here, not any%here! nd 5 do not %ant to

see you any more!-

The serpent "a)*ed into the not)h in the )ave, and Gilthanas strolled along, staying )lose to

those metalli) /a%s The nervousness in Sterellus %as un)hara)teristi) of a dragon, and the elf'ssuspi)ions had "een fanned into flame

-#eave! Do you hear?- demanded the %yrm, lifting his head up high No% the %hole dragon,

in)luding the serpentine ne)*, had %ithdra%n into the )ra)* in the )liff fa)e

Gilthanas dre% his s%ord in a lightning gesture 9e )ra)*ed the flat of the "lade against those

/a%s, then stepped for%ard to hold the en)hanted %eapon against the /oint %here the ne)* met the

"ronAe "reast

-5 thin* you're lying,- he said )onversationally -nd 5 %ill leave"ut not until you tell me the

truth-

-Ou)h!- )ried the dragon, trying to t%ist a%ay ut the )ave %as too narro%, and the sharp "lade

held him pressed against a )old stone %all, %ith no room to %iggle

-Bou're right 5'm not here to guard this pla)e! 5'm too young, too small, too %ea*!--Bou are!- agreed Gilthanas, pressing harder -Tell me more!-

-5'm dying!- s@ua%*ed the "ronAe, %ith su)h passion that the elf eased up his pressure and

stared at the slitted eyes in sho)* There %as a misty film over those pupils, a rasp to the "reath that

)ame from the great nostrils



-5 )an see that 5'm sorry,- said the elf

-5t is a perni)ious disease resistant to magi) it has "een eating a%ay my insides for too long,

no% Some of the elders )laim that 5 %as "orn %ith this illness and that it's a part of me 5 have "een

%aiting here, for the right time-

-nd %hile you %ere %aiting here you sa% Silvara, didn't you?- Gilthanas demanded -(as she

here?- 9e lo%ered his "lade, "ut *ept his gaAe on those huge eyes-Bes, yes she %as! 5 tried to *eep her here, to have her *eep me )ompany until 5 died "ut said

she had a pla)e to go, and she fle% a%ay!-

-Then she lives?- Gilthanas pressed, his heart soaring even as his %eapon pressed for%ard

aggressively -9o% long ago %as this?-

-Bears, many %inters!- "lurted Sterellus -5 don't *no% ho% long ago!-

-(here did she go?-

-She told me that she %anted to see a friend a )reature she *ne% %ho lived on a lofty

mountaintop-

-(ho? (here %as this?-

-5 don't *no%!- insisted the "ronAe dragon

"ruptly Sterellus stiffened, his eyelids )losing as if he had entered some sort of tran)eGilthanas pressed the "lade harder into the supple ne)*, "ut this time he dre% no further rea)tion

The "ronAe dragon's attention %as dire)ted else%here lo%, tuneless sound emerged from the

great /a%s, and the prin)e realiAed that the )reature %as singing a mournful song

Slo%ly, )arefully, the elf "a)*ed a%ay 9e )ast a glan)e over his shoulder and %as astonished to

see the %aters slo%ly re)eding to left and right, revealing a shimmering path%ay along the floor of

the "ay 5n the distan)e, half )on)ealed "y foaming froth, he sa% o"/e)ts of "right silver and long

s*eletons of %hite "one

Then Sterellus %as moving The "ronAe dragon padded out of his )ra)* and )rossed the "ea)h,

starting along the path%ay that led to the Dragon's Graveyard Gilthanas too* a step after, "ut %ater

spilled to%ard him in gentle %aves that lapped %ith enough mena)e that he *ne% this pla)e %asn't

for him

The dragon moved farther along the road to%ard his grave, and Gilthanas loo*ed along the

shore Silvara had "een here and had left to go to a high mountain (here?

9e )ouldn't *no%, "ut he did *no% something a"out this )oast 1alaman %as not far from here

1alaman, the )ity %here he had "een honored as lord, had "een revered as governor for so many

years 9e had friends there, and they %ere %ise people, %ith a))ess to maps and li"raries

5n that instant he made up his mind 9e %ould go there, see* %hat help he )ould find and try to

dis)ern %here this mountain might "e 9e )ast one loo* at the en)hanted "oat and *ne% that he

%ould leave it here 5t might ta*e him months to rea)h 1alaman, "ut that %as all and %ith Silvara

"efore him his @uest had ta*en on ne% urgen)y No longer )ould he afford a five+year interval %hile

he traveled %ith magi)al ease9e loo*ed again along the path leading into the sea Those %ere "ones there, %hite s*eletal

remains of mighty )reatures Silver and gold glittered among the remains, and here and there he

sa% signs of other o"/e)tsa mar"le statue here, there an array of )hali)es adorned %ith glittering

diamonds That %as a magi)al pla)ea sa)red pla)e nd Sterellus %as right, Gilthanas *ne% it

%as a pla)e of dragons 9e had no "usiness there and )ould feel only relief at the *no%ledge that

his "eloved Silvara had not ventured into it

9e slid his s%ord "a)* into its s)a""ard and too* a last loo* at the shimmering road%ay

Sterellus %as in there, his life %aning, ultimately finished Gilthanas turned his "a)* and started to

%al*, no longer %illing to %aste time

9e had a treasured love to re)laim

They lso Serve& 1alaman =Is)

From the journal of Sir Migel Aurrafil,

Chief Advisor to Tierrel Rchner, !ord of "alaman



23rd day of Fleurgreen, 23sc — Spring is nearly over That has never meant mu)h here in

1alamanour )limate varies so little from season to season"ut it does mar* the passage of time

Summer on)e "rought /oy and festivities to the )ity The )ommon fol* %ere apt to gam"ol a)ross

the )ommons simply for the /oy of "eing alive ut no longer

No%, the spineless fools are afraid to %al* the streets at midday Ships still sail into our har"or,

and )ommer)e still pumps life+sustaining steel into our e)onomy, "ut only /ust "arely The sailorsremain a"oard their ships, not daring to %ander into the heart of to%n not that it %ould do them

any good to do so, any%ayH The )ity is "ut a shado% of its on)e great self

shado%? $ven in my despair, a hint of my reno%ned humor sho%s through

The )ause of all this misery is the shado% that has fallen over 1alamanindeed a)ross all of

Nightlund (ho feels safe in a )ity thro%n into perpetual t%ilight? No one! The sun never sets on

1alaman"ut neither does it ever rise 5t simply hangs there, /ust "elo% the horiAon, painting the

s*y "lood red rom the moment the gods left, %e have "een the "utt of their final /o*e They may

have deemed this the -ge of Mortals,- "ut the gods made sure to leave their mar* indeli"ly on all

our lives

nd yet the ra""le is so starved for someone to loo* to in their hour of need that the people

)ontinue to pray to .aladine, Misha*al, and the other departed godsthe very gods %ho infli)tedthis )urse upon them (hat the people need is a heroa flesh+and+"lood figure%ho )an "anish

the fear from their minds 5f #ord Ry)hner had a greater rapport %ith the masses, %e %ould have

turned the fortunes of the )ity around "y no%

Sadly, though he is a man of impe))a"le taste and "reeding, #ord Ry)hner %ill never "e a man

of the people This puts the people in a very deli)ate situation (e need a leadera hero to the

"edraggled )ommoners"ut it must "e someone %ho poses no threat to #ord Ry)hner's position

and my o%n /o" or months, 5 have struggled %ith this issue

Today, the neatest solution possi"le %al*ed right up to the pala)e and *no)*ed on the front

doors

5magine our surprise %hen the royal trumpets "lared to herald the arrival of the former governor

of 1alaman, Gilthanas of Eualinesti! 9ere is a man the people loved! The "rother of the Golden

General %ho freed the )ity from the lue Dragonarmy, he led the defense against further atta)*s

and stood as a sym"ol of freedom 5 %ager that if, for some reason, you %ere to %al* into ten

different pu"s throughout the )ity, you'd find that nine of them either have a tapestry "earing

Gilthanas's image, a favorite song of his e0ploits, or a traditional toast to his health %herever he

may "e

Gilthanas led 1alaman out of its %orst years and into a golden age 5f anyone )an rouse the

imagination and enthusiasm of the simple fol*, it is he s an elf, Gilthanas does not appear to have

aged a day, unli*e the people of the )ity Gilthanas is a %al*ing sym"ol of all that on)e %as great

a"out 1alaman and yet may "e great again ll 5 have to dis)over is %hether or not he desires to

return to his former postand if he does, %hether he has an opening for a senior advisor 5 o%e#ord Ry)hner a great deal, "ut 5 o%e myself even more

From the diar of !ad #ennetta Aurrafil

10 Holmswelt 23sc— Migel is su)h a "oor 5 haven't the faintest )lue %hy 5 married him No,

that's not true 5 really had no )hoi)e (hen you're the last daughter of the last daughter in a long

line of last daughters, you )annot afford to re/e)t a proposal from the li*es of Migel urrafil Still,

%hen he )ourted me, he %as a )ompletely different man, thro%ing money at the most frivolous

things /ust to ma*e me smile .eople still tal* a"out ho% he )onvin)ed #ord Ry)hner to hold a

spe)ial "all /ust so that he )ould propose to me in front of the )ity's finest families 5 fan)ied that he

%as the most %onderfully romanti) man in all the %orld

fter ten years of marriage, though, and after an endless series of )oteries and galas, 5 havedis)overed this truth& man possessing money and influen)e )an also possess a )omplete la)* of

%it, gra)e, and tenderness 5 )an thin* of no "etter proof of this than my o%n Migel

ll those e0travagan)es and the pu"li) )ourtship %ere merely to in)rease his o%n reputation

The fa)t 5 %as the "enefa)tor of them held pra)ti)ally no %eight in his eyes That he %ooed the



daughter of a peasant and su))essfully introdu)ed her to polite so)iety only proved he %as a man

%ho *ne% the hearts of -the )ommon fol*,- )ementing his position as #ord Ry)hner's )hief advisor

5 am merely one of the )o""lestones used to pave his path to po%er

Tonight, 5 suffered through yet another tedious formal affair, one )arefully )al)ulated, no dou"t,

to provide my dear hus"and %ith more influen)e in the affairs of state Still, there %as a distin)t

differen)e in the air tonight, and it manifested itself %ith the arrival of the guest of honore0+Governor Gilthanas The room pra)ti)ally silen)ed as all present "ent an ear to eavesdrop on his

)onversation

Gilthanas is a %ell+spo*en man and very pleasing to the eye 5 remem"er my mother telling me

a"out seeing him address the popula)e after the for)es of $vil %ere driven from the )ity on)e and

for all 9er re)olle)tions did not half+)apture the feeling of fa)ing him in person 5'm )ertain that

every man in the room %as pi@ued %ith envy as the %omen nattered a"out his style and gra)e

$very man, that is, "ut Migel 9e stayed so )lose to Gilthanas that one might thin* them /oined

at the hip 5'm not sure %hat my hus"and has in mind, e0)ept that %hatever it is %ill in)rease his

stature in the pala)e 5 do *no% that Gilthanas )annot dis)ern the %hole of it a man as no"le as that

%ould have no part in Migel's petty po%er plays

5 hope Gilthanas de)ides to remain in 1alaman for a time The )ity %ould "e a signifi)antly "etter pla)e if he )ould "esto% even a smattering of his integrity and honor upon our so+)alled

leaders

Sir Migel$s #ournal

17th day of aleswelt, 23sc— Things )ould not pro)eed more perfe)tly 5n the three months sin)e

Gilthanas's return, %e have seen a mar*ed and )ontinued in)rease in the morale of )ommoner and

gentry ali*e nd on)e it "e)ame )lear Gilthanas had no intention of remaining in 1alaman very

long thus posing no threat to the politi)al status @uoH, his natural )harm "eguiled even the no"les

(hen 5 as*ed him a"out his family in Eualinesti, he mentioned "riefly that he intended to see them

again, "ut %hen pressed, also stated that he had no intention of ta*ing his nephe%'s pla)e on the

throne lthough this hadn't "een a fear of mine, 5 find it heartening to *no% that he doesn't %ish to

rule else%here %hen %e need him so mu)h here

9o%ever, 5, for one, am saddened "y his disinterest in regaining his post 8ust thin* of %hat 5

)ould do as )hief advisor to this great man! Still, it is important 5 ta*e advantage of his presen)e

no%, for Gilthanas seems eager to depart

8ust this afternoon, 5 found him poring over maps and )harts in the pala)e li"rary s 5 as*ed him

%here he planned to go ne0t, hoping to glean some insight into his motives, 5 noti)ed he had

dra%ings of several far+flung regions sitting open "efore him 9e made some polite, non)ommittal

reply, "ut 5 dis)erned he did not *no% %here his travels %ould ta*e him Something, or someone,

%as leading him on a merry )hase and so far has eluded even his *een senses

5f 5 am right, and his @uarry, %hoever or %hatever it may "e, is "eyond his sight, then 5 may havea trump )ard to play ut does Gilthanas )hase a person or a treasure? (hatever it is must "e

in)al)ula"ly valua"le, for he refuses to dis)uss it %ith anyone in the pala)e 5n order to *no% ho%

"est to handle the situation, though, 5 must have a "etter understanding of his )ir)umstan)es

5 "elieve 5 have /ust ta*en steps that %ill provide me the information 5 re@uire

s Gilthanas as*ed me @uestions regarding the maps in the li"rary, 5 feigned )omplete ignoran)e

after all, %hy furnish him %ith ans%ers %hen he is not forth)oming to my o%n in@uiries?H 5 did,

ho%ever, tell him of 8ennetta's passion for )artography 9e %ill, no dou"t, see* her )ounsel and, in

the pro)ess, open his heart to her she seems to "reed that sort of )onfiden)e in everyone she

meetsH 5n an effort to aid him, she )ertainly %ill pass information to her hus"and that Gilthanas

might never entrust to me

s al%ays, my %ife proves useful in %ays that a more genteel %oman never %ould 9er )oarser talents provide me %ith resour)es and insights that any other man in my position )ouldn't possi"ly

mat)h 9er )ommon heritage is at on)e a "lessing on my reputation and an e0)use for any "rea)h of

proto)ol 5 am for)ed to ma*e The ultimate irony lies in the fa)t that 8ennetta feels she needs me

more than 5 do her She %ould, 5 "elieve, leave me in an instant if she per)eived ho% heavily 5 rely



upon her my reputation and )areer %ould shatter %ere that to happen Than*fully, she )annot see

"eyond her o%n fears of poverty

On another su"/e)t, 5 must admit that 5 find it trou"lesome that some agen)y out there %ishes to

destroy our hopes for a "righter future This very day some fello%s in dar*, loose+fitting gar"

)onfronted Gilthanas %ithin the pala)e Than*fully, his s*ill %ith his "lade and the support of the

pala)e guards prevented him from falling to these un*no%n men Gilthanas himself hasn't the leastidea of %ho these fello%s are or %hy they %ould %ant to *ill him 5 fully intend to find out %ho is

"ehind this

!ad #ennetta$s %iar

12 !ea"em#er 23sc— Gilthanas sought me out again today 5 have finally gro%n used to

referring to him "y name rather than -Bour Gra)e- or some other formal titleH 9e is @uite

e0hilarated "y the plans he and Migel have dra%n up nd to thin*, they never %ould have arrived

at this solution %ere it not for me

(hen Gilthanas first )ame to me, 5 %as almost overa%ed "y "eing alone %ith him fter all, it is

not every day that a simple )artographer's daughter gets a private audien)e %ith a man of legend 5t

%as only %hen he e0plained that he )ame to me "e)ause of my family's o))upation that 5 )almedenough to en/oy his )ompany 5f any good )ame from gro%ing up in that )ramped shop, "eing a"le

to aid Gilthanas is )ertainly it

9e "egan "y @uestioning me a"out fara%ay pla)es li*e the 5sle of San)rist, the hills surrounding

.alanthas, and even the fa"led Dragon 5sles t first, 5 )ould dis)ern no rhyme or reason to his

interests, "ut slo%ly it da%ned on methey %ere all pla)es that have mountains %here silver

dragons have "een *no%n to )ongregate 5 further surmised that he must "e loo*ing for his former

lieutenant and, if pala)e rumors are to "e "elieved, paramourH, Silvara lthough she most often

appeared in the from of a %ild elf, %henever the dragonarmies attempted to reta*e the )ity, she

resumed her natural shapethat of a silver dragon Shortly after the %ar, the rtist's Guild

de)orated their hall %ith a grand mosai) of Gilthanas riding into "attle on Silvara's "a)*

Though 5 %as loath to pry into his personal matters, on)e it "e)ame o"vious that 5 suspe)ted the

truth, Gilthanas insisted on telling me the tale of ho% he and Silvara parted tear still )omes to my

eye as 5 refle)t on it (hy is it that %e )an only re)ogniAe the important moments in our lives %hen

%e vie% them in memory? Gilthanas's heart %ill not "e %hole again until he finds Silvarayet he

has only the vaguest )lue %here to sear)h

Together, %e have fi0ed upon a doAen sites that seem li*ely pla)es Silvara might have gone

They are spread a)ross the entire )ontinent and "eyond 5t %ould o"viously ta*e Gilthanas years to

visit them all Mean%hile, Silvara might move along to any%here else she pleasesperhaps even

a)ross one of the great seas The matter seemed hopeless

One night, 5 )ould "ear the sorro% no longer 5n (ret)hed tears, 5 )ame to Migel, the only sour)e

of sola)e availa"le, and surprisingly, he a)tually )omforted me and attentively listened to all 5 hadto say

(hen 5 finished, instead of "erating me for "eing an emotional fool, he held me )lose and

soothed me Stro*ing my head %ith his palm -$verything %ill "e all right,- he promised nd so, it

seems, it %ill "e

Migel spo*e %ith Gilthanas the ne0t day 9e )onvin)ed him that su)h a @uest %ould ta*e a

lifetime even for an elfH and still might "ear no fruit 5nstead, my hus"and offered to spea* to #ord

Ry)hner on Gilthanas's "ehalf 1alaman %as in a state of pea)e Surely the lord %ould spare a half+

doAen of his s%iftest riders to s)our the land to sear)h for ne%s of #ady Silvara They )ould )over

the entire )ontinent in less than a year, and should their efforts prove fruitless, more riders )ould

em"ar* immediately to )over si0 more paths 5f they met %ith su))ess, Gilthanas %ould *no%

e0a)tly %here to go %ithout %asting years on futile /ourneys5 have never "een more proud of my hus"and than the day he )onvin)ed #ord Ry)hner to

support this plan nd 5 have never seen a happier soul than Gilthanas %hen he heard the ne%s

or the past several %ee*s, Gilthanas and 5 have pored over my grandfather's maps daily,

plotting out the si0 "est )ourses for the riders to follo% 5 "elieve %e are nearly through



.aladine, if you )an yet hear our prayers, 5 "eg you to grant %hatever "lessings you )an to this

endeavor No soul 5 have ever met deserves happiness more than Gilthanas

Sir Migel$s #ournal

$th day of Gildem#er, 23sc— 5f ever there has "een a more perfe)t plan than this, 5 *no% nothing

of it 5 not only have se)ured an in)rease in the prosperity of the )ity as a %hole, "ut 5 also havemade myself indispensa"le to "oth #ord Ry)hner and Governor Gilthanas My #ord )annot do

%ithout me, for 5 am the one %ho *no%s ho% to *eep Gilthanas from leaving the )ity The

governor, on the other hand, relies upon me to *eep him updated on the progress of our )ontinent+

%ide sear)h for his former )onsort

Gilthanas has agreed to a))ept his former title for as long as he remains in 1alaman (e told

him, not untruthfully, that it %ould elate the masses to hear a"out the de)ision fter all, in every

appearan)e his return "rings "a)* the golden years Gilthanas may not "e a"le to dispel the eternal

t%ilight that grips the )ity, "ut he has %or*ed every other sort of mira)le the people )ould hope for

t the governor's "ehest, the open+air mar*et on)e again fills the streets %ith produ)e, "a*ed

goods, and all manner of handi)rafts Mar*et days are only three times a %ee* as opposed to the

daily affair they %ere in years pastH, "ut "efore Gilthanas's return, there hadn't "een a mar*et day innearly five years

The governor himself %anders the mar*et ea)h day, greeting everyone he meets %ith a firm

handsha*e and a )ivil nod of his head nd he al%ays ma*es it a point to "uy one or t%o items from

the stalls, even if the pala)e larders are full -The only %ay to raise )onfiden)e is to a)t )onfident,-

he has told me on several o))asions t his insisten)e all mem"ers of the pala)e staff must spend at

least an hour a %ee* %al*ing the mar*et, and he strongly en)ourages us to ma*e at least one

pur)hase

s a result of the mar*et days, other shops in the to%n s@uare have not only reopened, "ut also

are doing "usiness unli*e any they've *no%n for years More and more trade ships )onsider

1alaman a ne)essary stop, and their sailors )ome into the )ity rather than staying on their ships at

night 5nns throughout to%n again have more full rooms than empty ones, and the :ingaard

re%ery )annot produ)e its dar*, vis)ous ale fast enough to meet demand

1alaman very %ell may soon regain its position as the trade port se)ond only to .alanthas nd

given the fa)t that .alanthas is no% under the s%ay of "oth the 1nights of Ta*hisis and the Great

lue, S*ie, many traders may find it more profita"le to move their )argo through our fair dry nd

it is all than*s to me

(ould it "e too mu)h to thin* that one day 5 might hold an offi)e of my o%n? #ord Mayor,

perhaps? That is not too mu)h to as* for "ringing life and prosperity "a)* to an entire )ity ll 5

have to do to ensure my su))ess is *eep Gilthanas in 1alaman, and that is a))omplished easily

enough dditionally, although no progress has "een made on dis)overing %ho %ould send

assassins after him, 5 feel that sin)e no further attempts have "een made on his life, Gilthanas nolonger has anything to fear from that un*no%n aggressor

1eeping him here is easily enough done fter all, 5 have *ept him this long on nothing more

than a promise and a prayer 5 see no reason %hy this situation )annot "e maintained indefinitely

!ad #ennetta$s %iar

3 Frost%olt 2&sc— (hat a false friend 5 am! Gilthanas )ame to me today, and though he is as

stoi) as anyone 5've ever met, he )onfided in me that his heart "egins to despair of ever seeing

Silvara again 5 listened %ith rapt attention, )ooed %here 5 ought, and advised him to "e patient

-These things ta*e time,- 5 said -She has had nearly t%o de)ades to se@uester herself Bou )an't

e0pe)t to lo)ate her in /ust a fe% short months-

9e smiled and patted my hand -Of )ourse you are )orre)t- he said and smiled gamely 5t %as all5 )ould do to smile "a)* 9o% )an 5 live %ith this terri"le se)ret? nd %hat *ind of friend am 5 if 5

do not share it %ith Gilthanas?

#ast night, 5 )ame to Migel's study to in@uire as to any items he might re@uire from ne0t %ee*'s

first mar*et day (hen 5 arrived, though, he %as engaged in )onversation %ith Ri*a, that detesta"le



toady he )alls a )ler* Rather than "arge in on their dis)ussion, 5 resolved to %ait silently "y the

door and enter only %hen there )ame a "rea* in the dis)ourse 5t %as never my intention to

eavesdrop, "ut %hen 5 heard Gilthanas's name mentioned, my )uriosity got the "etter of me To my

utter dismay, they %ere tal*ing a"out %hat lies they )ould fa"ri)ate to ma*e Gilthanas "elieve that

the sear)h for Silvara %as pro)eeding smoothly

-(e must give him something solida sighting or a mer)hant %ho met Silvara along histravels,- Ri*a intoned as he pa)ed "a)* and forth a)ross the li"rary Migel, seated "ehind his

reading des*, %at)hed him %ith a s)o%l

-Sit do%n!- my hus"and ordered, then returned to the issue at hand -5t must not "e solid enough

to )ause him to leave 5f the elf thought that someone had re)ently seen his dragon %en)h, he %ould

"e on his %ay there "efore the %ords finished e)hoing in the grand hall No- nd here he stro*ed

his )hin in a manner that sent a )hill through my entire "ody -5f it must "e a rumor, then it must "e

an old one n inn*eeper %ho sa% Silvara three years ago-

-Bes!- Ri*a said fidgeting in the seat he'd ta*en -She stopped in .alanthas on her %ay to %ho+

*no%s+%here-

Migel %aved his hand dismissively -.alanthas is too large a )ity 5 thin* Throtl %ould "e a more

useful lo)ale person )ould "e going any%here from that go"lin+infested hole, parti)ularly if that person %as really a silver dragon-

(ith that, "oth Migel and Ri*a "egan to laugh in the most mali)ious manner 5 %as @uite ta*en

a"a)* and must have gasped out loud, for my hus"and rushed to the li"rary door and thre% it open,

)at)hing me in the "right light of the reading lamps

-9o% long %ere you standing here?- he demanded, holding me firmly "y the %rist -9o% mu)h

did you hear?-

-$nough to *no% that you are a detesta"le villain- 5'd never spo*en to Migel in su)h a tone 9e

released his grip on my arm -$nough so that %hen 5 share it %ith Gilthanas, he %ill see you for the

liar that you are 9e %ill leave 1alaman as @ui)*ly as he )an, and you %ill "e left to e0plain %hy-

My hus"and smiled )ruelly at me

-nd %hat happens then?- 9e turned and strolled )asually "a)* to his seat at the des* -(hen

Gilthanas leaves %hat %ill happen to our )ity? Do you thin* the mar*et %ill remain open %ithout

our great governor here to instill the simple fol* %ith )onfiden)e? Of )ourse not 1alaman %ill

plunge immediately "a)* into the dar* and frightened times %e fa)ed until si0 months ago

Gilthanas is the only one holding this renaissan)e together-

-(hat of it?- 5 as*ed -9e o%es us nothing Rather, it is %e %ho o%e everything to Gilthanas 5s

this ho% %e sho% our than*s? y lying to him a"out his one true love? y ma*ing a mo)*ery of

the only thing that matters to him?-

-ll %e are doing, my dear %ife, is )reating hope in his "reast so that he %ill remain patient

%hile %e find his love 5t does no one any good to have our mu)h "eloved governor running off to

)hase shado%s and rumors a)ross the )ountry+side No, all %e are doing is giving him faith that heand Silvara %ill one day "e reunited s long as they end up together, does it really matter that

Gilthanas's faith is pla)ed in a lie?-

5 )ouldn't tell right from %rong anymore Damn Migel and his artful %ords

-5s it *inder to *eep Gilthanas in 1alaman, %here he )an ease the suffering of the entire

population, than to let him run hither and yon on a sear)h that might never end?-

5 )ould not ans%er

-5 suggest you thin* a"out that, my dear, "efore you )ondemn "oth the governor and the entire

)ity to %hat is li*ely to "e de)ades more of dar*ness and )onfusion-

So 5 held my tongue %hen Gilthanas and 5 met nd though 5 still )annot ans%er %hether telling

him the truth is the )orre)t )ourse of a)tion, 5'm not )ertain ho% long 5 )an perpetuate Migel's half+

truths

Sir Migel$s #ournal

2$th day of 'roo%green, 2&sc— 5 am surrounded "y "uffoons! Sailors already provide Gilthanas

%ith too many rumors of pla)es Silvara may "e %ithout my o%n in)ompetent staff presenting him



%ith ones of their o%n )reation 5 s%ear, 5 %ould *ill Ri*a this very instant if 5 did not thin* that

any repla)ement 5 found %ould "e t%i)e as inept

This morning, 5 found my fool )ler* regaling the governor %ith a preposterous tale a"out a silver

dragon prote)ting Goldmoon and her mysti)s on the 5sle of S)hallsea Than*fully, the dragon in the

story %as a male, and so Gilthanas paid it no heed

To ma*e matters %orse, one of my riders returned to 1alaman today 9e and the others have "een living high on the hog in Ohme for the past si0 months, toasting every sunrise and sunset 5t

seems they have run through the sat)hel of steel 5 gave them @ui)*er than anti)ipated There are

)oins to spare in the treasury these days, so that is no o"sta)le

My pro"lem is that %ord has gotten a"out that my man has arrived Gilthanas already has

demanded an audien)e %ith the rider, and it %as all 5 )ould do to )onvin)e him to delay until the

man had time to rest No% 5 have spent the entire afternoon )oa)hing the sod on %hat to say

e0a)tly %hi)h lies %e have told the governor and %hat spe)ifi) ans%ers to give to spe)ifi)

@uestions 5 )an only pray this simple man does not fall to pie)es in the presen)e of -the hero of the

people- 5f 5 had *no%n ho% trou"lesome that title %ould "e, 5'd never have suggested it Gilthanas

no% seems to have an almost ar)ane po%er over the )ommon fol*they )an hardly spea* )learly

in his presen)e, let alone thin*HTo ma*e matters %orse, the rider "rings %ith him ne%s of a sighting of the governor's dragon

maid pparently, Silvara has "een seen flying around a parti)ular spire in the stivar Mountains

The rider says the pla)e is )alled the .ea* of Clouds, and legend tells that it is home to a %ise and

"enevolent *yrie hermit (hether or not su)h a "ird+man lives there does not )on)ern me at all

9o%ever, it is imperative Gilthanas not find out a"out this rumor

Matters here in 1alaman are at a )riti)al /un)ture 5f %e )an in)rease outgoing trade "y another

four ships a %ee*, %e )an add another pier to our %aterfront nd that %ill in turn "ring more

mer)hant ships to the har"or (e stand at the verge of fulfilling all my dreams for our )ity 5 )annot

allo% the governor's romanti) interests to /eopardiAe 1alaman's futuremy future!

!ad #ennetta$s %iar

1 (urthgreen 2&sc— 5 am a )o%ardly, faithless %oman, and 5 deserve all the shame 5've "rought

upon myself or the past ten months, 5 have done nothing "ut lie to a man %ith a heart as no"le

and a spirit as pure as any 5've ever en)ountered 5 "elieved my hus"and, a man 5 *no% to "e of

s)andalous honor, and a))epted his %ord that %hen a)tual ne%s of Silvara arrived, he %ould pass it

immediately on to Governor Gilthanas Someho%, 5 trusted that %hen a )hoi)e %as to "e made

"et%een personal )omfort and moral responsi"ility, my o%n Migel %ould )hoose the righteous

path

(hat a fool 5 am

5 have made a point of staying %ithin a dis)reet distan)e of my hus"and %henever he entertains

mem"ers of his staff Oh, 5 played the dutiful hostess and feigned "ored disinterest, "ut in truth, 5listened )arefully to every %ord sear)hing for some hint of de)eption That hint )ame last night

The tedious Ri*a, after one glass of %ine more than his usual limit, made a passing )omment

a"out the rider %ho visited the pala)e last %ee* That toady said something to the effe)t of, -9e

too* his truth "a)* to Ohme-

Migel )ast upon the toady su)h a %ithering gaAe that Ri*a immediately )ommented on ho% late

the evening had gotten and sho%ed himself to the door or my part, 5, pretending to noti)e nothing

amiss, "id Ri*a's vanishing form a fond good evening, then )ommented on ho% odd my hus"and's

)ler* %as "ehaving This seemed to satisfy Migel that Ri*a's slip of the tongue had eluded me

The ne0t day, %hile Migel %as in )ourt advising #ord Ry)hner on the matter of proposed

)onstru)tion along the %aterfront, 5 re+entered his li"rary and found his personal /ournal Oh, %hat

a fetid tangle of intrigue and lies 5 found therein, the very %orst of %hi)h %as the matter )on)erningGovernor Gilthanas

Migel finds this matter too important to leave to )han)e, and so do 5 5 have no dou"t that

Gilthanas sa% through my hus"and's )ourtly politi)s, "ut 5 fear he did not *no% ho% rotten Migel is

at the )orethat is, until 5 "rought the /ournal to the governor's @uarters



5 %as unsure as to ho% Gilthanas %ould rea)t (ould he thro% do%n the tome, @ui)*ly gather

his "elongings, and leave the )ity "y the most opportune method availa"le? .erhaps he %ould gra"

his s%ord and stal* over to the )oun)il )ham"ers to e0a)t revenge on Migel 5 %as li*e%ise

un)ertain as to %hether or not 5 %ould perform my %ifely duty of "egging the governor to spare my

hus"and's lifeH

(hat he did, ho%ever, too* me )ompletely "y surpriseGovernor Gilthanas, upon reading that his o%n true love, Silvara, had "een spotted at the .ea*

of Clouds, *issed my hand in a most elegant manner

-Dear 8ennetta, you have saved me (hile others in 1alaman only muddied the %aters of my

mind, you have "een a spring of truth, light, and honor 5 have not the %ords to than* you, "ut 5

hope that you %ill find some measure of satisfa)tion that it %as your *indness that allo%ed me to

find my heart Do not let the s)oundrels in this pala)e ever @uestion your integrity or sin)erity-

nd %ith that, he %as gone

Despite the governor's %ords, though, 5 *no% that 5 have "een an unfaithful %ife 5've "ro*en

every rule of )ondu)t Migel taught me %hen he too* me from my family and "rought me into this

%orld of )ourtly delight 5 no longer deserve this life of privilege

nd so 5 too have pa)*ed my "elongings and prepare to leave the )ity 5've not tou)hed one of the /e%el+en)rusted ne)*la)es or golden earrings Those "elong to Migel, and even "efore 5 %as a

lady, 5 %as never a thief No, 5 ta*e only the )lothes on my "a)* a )otton shirt and t%eed trousers

that Migel never allo%ed me to %earH and my grandfather's maps .erhaps 5'll %al* some of the

roads he s*et)hed, presuming they're still passa"le

This diary, as %ell as Migel's /ournal, 5 %ill leave %ith a "oo*seller 5 *no% in the mar*et 5 fear

my hus"and %as right %hen he said that %ithout Gilthanas, 1alaman %ill return to the days of

)o%ering in the t%ilight, fearing %hat may lur* in the shado%s 5f that is the )ity's future, so "e it

The )itiAens )annot rely on some shining hero to "anish the dar*ness from their lives Most heroes,

5've )ome to suspe)t, are more li*e Migel than Gilthanas nd the more po%er %e give them over

our lives, the more there truly is to fear in the gathering dar*ness

The .ea* of Clouds, =Js)

-No%, %or*ing %ith the element of ro)* that's the ne0t lesson at least 5 thin* it is isn't it?

(hat is that form of magi) )alled, any%ay?-

-Geoman)y?- Gilthanas ans%ered helpfully, as he al%ays did %hen his tea)her's mind %andered

-.re)isely!- 1eela* nodded his feathered head, "o""ing his full "ody for%ard and "a)* on his

s*inny legs The *yrie puffed out his )hest and stret)hed tall -5 see that 5 have taught you %ell-

-Of )ourse you have,- Gilthanas replied -9ave 5 not a"sor"ed every lesson you have imparted

to me?-

-5 remem"er %hen you first )lim"ed up heret%enty years ago, it %asand %e started %ithlessons on aeroman)y 5t too* you most of that time /ust to learn a spell that %ould move a little

gust of %ind-

Gilthanas )leared his throat in em"arrassment, then spo*e -)tually, it %as only a little more

than a year ago %hen 5 first )lim"ed to your pea*- The prin)e )ouldn't help "ut ma*e the

)orre)tion Certainly he %as prepared for most of his pedagogue's little imaginings, "ut he %ould

not allo% himself to "e remem"ered as a fool

$ven if, %hen he had first started his studies of the ne% magi), he had "een as helpless as a "a"e

trying to s%im up a raging stream

9e re)alled his arrival here at the .ea* of Clouds of the sheer, o"viously un)lim"a"le

mountain that had risen "efore him from the tangled heart of the stivar Mountains 5t had ta*en

him t%o %ee*s to find the hidden passage near the "ase of the mountain, and even that had not "eenan easy route to the summit Chilly and lightless, the se)ret %ay had %ound through a maAe of

)orridors and as)ending shafts %ithin the massif 9e had %andered for many days, see*ing only to

%or* his %ay up%ard

D%arves lived there, and he had spent tense moments in a )onfrontation %ith the mountain



d%ellers 9e learned that they %ere masters of the undermountain, "ut )ared little for the upper

rea)hesand nothing at all for the e0terior of the summit t length they had given him leave to

pass

nd finally he had emerged here, on the )loud+%rapped summit 1eela* had greeted him as

though he had "een e0pe)ting himlater, the elf realiAed that the a"sent+minded *yrie had simply

thought that he re)ogniAed Gilthanas from a series of lessons he'd "een )ondu)ting in his mindut %ithin that mind, %hi)h sometimes seemed as fog+shrouded as the mountaintop, there

lur*ed a "rilliant sense of intuition and an instin)tive understanding of the )hanges that had "een

%rought in the %orld %ith the arrival of the ge of Mortals 1eela* had longed to share this

*no%ledge, and so he had demanded that Gilthanas "e)ome his pupil

t first the elven %anderer had refused, intending only to learn %hat the an)ient *yrie *ne% of

Silvara "efore )ontinuing on his %ay The )reature revealed that he had in fa)t *no%n Silvara and

that she had departed from here for a destination she had made *no%n to the *yrie ut 1eela*,

despite his apparent senility, had "een shre%d enough to negotiate a deal& Only after Gilthanas

studied his tea)hings, and learned enough of the ne% magi) to master three s)hools of sor)ery

%ould he impart this information

No%, thirteen months later, Gilthanas %illingly admitted that the *yrie had proven to "e an adepttea)her (hile he might not have remem"ered %hat he ate for "rea*fast, he seemed to understand

the %ay that stone and air, fire and %ater %ere lin*ed to the po%ers lur*ing %ithin a mortal heart

9e had sho%n the elf ho% to harness those for)es and use the po%er in a %ay that %as mu)h li*e

the magi) of old

During that time, it seemed to Gilthanas as though the %orld had shrun* around him Nine days

out of ten the aptly named .ea* of Clouds %as en)ased in mur* so thi)* that the *yrie and the elf

might have "een en)losed in a %alled room They )ondu)ted their studies and their lives on the flat

plateau of the mountaintopa )ir)le the siAe of a large playing field narro% passage%ay

des)ended to a series of )averns %here the t%o sought refuge during the rare intervals of "ad

%eather, "ut for the most part Gilthanas and 1eela* had lived outside

On the rare days %hen the )louds "le% a%ay and the e0tent of the stivar Mountains %as

revealed as a daAAling vista, Gilthanas never tired of drin*ing in the vie% The mountain range %as

green and lush, vi"rant %ith %ater and life, and often draped %ith de)orative tendrils of mist that

s%athed the lo%er valleys

To east and %est %ere more dire panoramas, ho%ever 5n the dire)tion of the rising sun he )ould

see as far as the fetid s%amp of the "la)* dragon overlord )alled Mohrle0 Several times the elf had

seen that monstrous form, li*e a great shado% of impossi"le proportions, s%eep through the s*y

over his realm, or %allo% and )avort in one of the shallo% ponds 5n the other dire)tion lay the

spra%ling, thi)* forest enhan)ed for the re)lusive dragon, #orrinar 9e had never o"served the great

green master of that realm, "ut 1eela* assured him that the serpent e0isted and that he %as a

ruthless overlordThough the *yrie lived simply, these %ere days of )omfort and pleasure for the elven prin)e 9e

found the )hallenge of using his mind a refreshing pro)ess, and he sho%ed a remar*a"le adeptness

in learning the %ays of the ne% magi) 9e )ould mold air into a variety of shapes, )all upor tame

the %ind, and even %eave spells or gain information merely "y )on)entrating his efforts 9e had

mastered three s)hoolsdivination, en)hantment, and aeroman)y"ut lately he had "een gro%ing

restless, and he *ne% that soon it %ould "e time to as* the *yrie to fulfill his end of the "argain

That )han)e %as propelled "y outside )ir)umstan)es, as Gilthanas %as attempting to )onvin)e

1eela* that he had, in fa)t, only "een here for little more than year

The first of the "la)*+)lad figures appeared on their plateau %ith a suddenness that froAe

Gilthanas in pla)e T%o more of the mas*ed intruders @ui)*ly popped into vie%, %hile the first

laun)hed himself a)ross the mountaintop %ith a rush ll %ere fully )on)ealed "ut %ore loose)lothes that gave them freedom of movement $a)h %ielded a longs%ord in one hand and a short,

narro% dagger in the other

ortunately, Gilthanas had never a"andoned the ha"it of %earing his s%ord %hen he %as thus

e0posed 9e dre% the %eapon and met the other's slashing atta)* %ith a @ui)* parry Cold, dar*



eyes glared at him through a slit in the mas*, and then the mysterious atta)*er spun a%ay and, in

the same gesture, thre% a sharp dagger straight at Gilthanas's heart

The steel s%ord %hipped past and the *nife )lattered a%ayand no% the elf *ne% the ta)ti)s,

re)ogniAed that these intruders %ere trained assassins similar to the ones that had atta)*ed him in

1alaman (ho they %ere and %ho had sent them %ere @uestions he for)ed aside for the moment

"andoning any thought of mer)y, he )harged and sta""ed the *nife+thro%er through the )hestut the other t%o %ere rushing for%ard 9is gangly, feathered arms flapping, 1eela* hopped

for%ard, s)ree)hing at the assassins to halt Gilthanas groaned as one of the figures slashed the

gentle *yrie a)ross his fa)e and )hest 1eela* tum"led to the ground

nother atta)*er %hirled )loser, and the elf stru)* him do%n ut his o%n thrust left him

vulnera"le, and he re)oiled suddenly %ith a sensation of "urning pain a)ross his )hee*

9e %as )ut! 9is first thought %as that he had lost an eye, and his vision s%am %ith red 9e

stru)* unerringly, ho%ever, and the last of the assassins "led his life onto the stone )old

mountaintop Gilthanas )lapped a hand to his fa)e, feeling the "loody )ut, "ut finding that his eye

remained %hole

5n moments Gilthanas %as *neeling "eside the stri)*en 1eela* The elf shuddered in horror as

he sa% the deep gash and the "lood %elling into a %ide pool 9e thought that the *yrie %as alreadydead, "ut then the %ounded fa)e t%it)hed and one eye )ra)*ing open

-Good pupil, you %ere - )roa*ed the dying )reature -Bou deserve your True 9eart your

silver one See* her among the gnomes in their to%er "y the sea -

nd the *yrie said no more

Moment in Time& The ssassin's .ath

sharp, %ell+forged "lade in the hands of an e0pert s%ordsman )an )ut the flesh %ithout the

person feeling anythinguntil the "lood starts spilling over the s*in 5t %as /ust su)h a "lo% 5

stru)* against Gilthanas, the first elf 5 had ever met

Or did 5?

(e had lunged at ea)h other, ea)h of us defle)ting ea)h other's "lo% at the last moment, our

s%ords ringing (e "oth *ept our "alan)e and %hirled a%ay from ea)h other, slashing as %e %ent

ut did 5 stri*e him?

5t %ould ta*e a moment for the "rain to realiAe the "ody %as dying nd some moments )an last

forever

Follo&ing the 'ath, 2(sc

Some days seem li*e years That is ho% the days felt %hile 5 %as traveling %ith a %hite+haired

elf %ho )alled herself Stal*er 5 rarely sa% her fa)eshe *ept the hood of her )loa* dra%n at all

times, mu)h li*e the $missary did "a)* on $lian lso li*e the $missary, she *ept herself %rappedin layers of )loth that *ept her se0 and ra)e am"iguousand her array of poisoned "lades hidden

to all "ut the *eenest of o"servers 9er e0pert talent at voi)e mimi)ry made it even more diffi)ult to

dis)ern %hat se0 she %as %hen first dealing %ith her 5t %asn't until she disro"ed in an effort to

sedu)e me on our se)ond night traveling together that 5 %as even )ertain she %as female

5 ended up traveling %ith Stal*er after "e)oming an un%illing guest of 1hellendros, the mighty

"lue dragon %ho rules the sandy lands of nsalon's north%est fter e0plaining to the Dar* 1nights

%ho detained me in .alanthas that 5 %as an $lian agent of the Red, 5 %as ta*en to a )ave not far

from the )ity 9ere, 5 met their fearsome master 5t %as the first time 5 had "een in the presen)e of a

dragon, and it too* all my strength of %ill not to /ust %hirl and flee even "efore he spo*e, so strong

%as the sense of mena)e and dread that surrounded him

(hen 1hellendros spo*e, it %as %ith a deep voi)e that %as surprisingly ri)h and )omforting, notat all the hissing, reptilian sound that 5 %ould have e0pe)ted urther, his $lian %as as perfe)t as

that spo*en "y any native of my island 9e said that he had an interest in Gilthanas as %ell he

)ared naught for the silver dragon, "ut he %anted the elf )aptured and imprisoned %ithin his

dungeons (hen 5 restated that my mission, and that of my "rethren, %as to slay Gilthanas,



1hellendros as*ed, -Does it matter to Malystry0 %hether Gilthanas is dead or imprisoned?-

5 replied that it pro"a"ly didn't The $missary's main )on)ern seemed to "e the silver dragon

There %as no @uestion that %e %ere to slay the silver dragon, should %e en)ounter her The

$missary had made that )lear during the years %e %aited for Gilthanas to emerge from his magi)al

passage

The dragon responded, -My main )on)ern is that Gilthanas and his old )omrades in arms )ausedme many diffi)ulties half a )entury ago 5 do not %ant to see those diffi)ulties arise again, so 5 %ant

him neutraliAedunli*e the others, he is not old and fee"le 5f the Golden General %asn't

preo))upied in her homeland, 5 %ould "e ta*ing similar steps to have her dealt %ith as %ell-

5 pointed out that if he %as dead, Gilthanas %ould never pose a pro"lem again lthough the

dragon agreed that 5 made a )ompelling )ase, he as*ed mat 5 trust in his e0perien)e %ith Gilthanas

and in the %isdom of the ages that he "oth the elf and the dragonrepresented -(e are "oth far

%iser and )unning than you )ould ever hope to "e)ome Solov, despite the fa)t that you are highly

intelligent-

(e dis)ussed the matter further, and %e eventually agreed to imprison Gilthanas in

1hellendros's dungeons sin)e this option %as /ust as good as having him dead 5 made it )lear,

ho%ever, that 5 %as not s*illed at su"terfuge nor %as 5 at all talented in ta*ing foes alive Thedragon "ared his fangs in %hat 5 suppose passes for a smile among his *ind and said, -5 suspe)ted

as mu)h That is %hy 5 have )hosen to provide you %ith an ally-

Stal*er stepped from the deepest shado% in the )ave already %rapped in her many )loa*s She

did not spea* $lian, "ut she spo*e the tongue of elves and of the Solamnianslanguages 5 had

mastered to some e0tent %ith the aid of the Superior Master

-5f you find yourself in)apa"le of ta*ing Gilthanas alive,- 1hellendros said, -Stal*er )an do so

None in my servi)e are as adept as Stal*er in dire)ting vi)tims into traps even if the traps are

some%hat overmu)h at times-

-ut they %or*,- )ame the soft voi)e from %ithin the shado%s of the hood

1hellendros had a report that Gilthanas %as in 1alaman (hen 5 mentioned that some of my

"rethren had traveled to that region, he stated that the lo)al lords %ere supporting Gilthanas and that

my fello% Masters had "een *illed in "attle %ith pala)e guards 9e restated the need for more

ela"orate ta)ti)s li*e those pra)ti)ed "y Stal*er 5 )onsidered the %isdom of his %ords and too*

Stal*er as my temporary ally

5f anyone demonstrates %hy %omen should not "e %arriors, it is Stal*er Never mind their duty

to their men and so)iety at large to "ear )hildren so that someone )an )arry on the "loodline and

retell the tales of their fathers' deeds, "ut they a)t entirely too )apri)iously for their o%n good irst,

after 5 re/e)ted her on our se)ond night together and e0plained that 5 %as devoted to the %oman 5

had at home, she laughed at me for not ta*ing advantages %hen they %ere offered to me -#ife's

supposed to "e fun,- she said -esides, %omen are more than "rood mares for you men (hen you

start seeing %hat is truly around you, you'll find that %e have a lot more to offer than /ust )hildren-s %e /ourneyed, her "ehavior gre% even more tiresome than it had "een %hen %e started She

%ould ta*e )are to point out other %omen %ho "ore %eapons, sometimes urging me to spar %ith

them 5 al%ays refused No %oman )ould stand up to my e0pert )om"at maneuvers Stal*er al%ays

shrugged and said that my -over%eening pride and a"ility to underestimate possi"le foes- %ould

prove to "e my do%nfall or that my -"lindness- %ould lead me to an early grave

(hen %e had the lu0ury of an inn to stay in, she %ould often find an engaging )ompanion and

leave me to my o%n devi)es ;sually 5 sat in front of the )ommon room's fire and %at)hed its

dan)ing flames, thin*ing of home or of the mission Sometimes 5 %ent up to my private room and

pra)ti)ed )om"at maneuvers in an attempt to *eep from thin*ing of %hat 5'd left "ehind One thing 5

noted, though, %as that %hen %e left the inn, Stal*er's )ompanion %as dis)reet enough not to ma*e

an appearan)e 5 silently than*ed these men for not "o%ing to her o%n -over%eening pride-During one of her trysts at a )ampsite, ho%ever, )uriosity got the "est of me 5 )rept after her and

a )ompanion %ho she'd found traveling on the road that day, follo%ing them to the edge of a

stream, %here 5 dis)overed the depths of depravity that ma*es up Stal*er's soul s "oth she and her

)ompanion seemed lost in the passion of the moment, she gra""ed a dagger from their dis)arded



)lothing and drove it into his eye %ithout %arning 5 retreated from this s)ene after that, for she

didn't stop %ith his death 5 had to %onder %hat *ind of monster the dragon had saddled me %ith

s our travels )ontinued, 5 *ept a )areful eye on Stal*er, trying to determine if she used any

pattern to sele)t her vi)tims 5 )ame to realiAe that she *illed only the ones %ho responded )rassly to

her advan)es she merely ro""ed the others and left them tied to a near"y tree although the ropes

%ere usually so poorly tied that 5 suspe)t the vi)tim %or*ed himself free %ithin a fe% hours 5 admitthat on one level 5 feel as though she %as doing the %orld a favor ny man too %ea* to resist her

temptations %ould pro"a"ly /ust spa%n another %ea*ling

(hen 5 as*ed her a"out it, Stal*er defined these a)ts as *eeping life -fun- and *eeping her spirits

high, and she "e)ame very annoyed %hen 5 e0pressed disapproval 5 have to admit that 5 found her

to "e a far more palata"le )ompanion after a night of -fun,- as she seemed )heerful after it and

%ould appear @uite interested in intelle)tual pursuits or hours, she %ould engage me in

philosophi)al dis)ourse a"out the definitions of -fun- and -honor- and -right- and -%rong-

ll of these irritations seem li*e nothing )ompared to the last one, ho%ever (e had entered

Nightlund several days "efore, )rossing the :ingaard River and moving into the unnatural pall that

hung over all of this )ountry 5t rained steadily as %e traveled east%ard The roads turned into

streams of mud, slo%ing our progresss %e trudged along the road, she "e)ame very aggressive in her assertion that murdering men

%as perfe)tly a))epta"le "e)ause it made her happyespe)ially in these dreary surroundings

lthough 5 felt an urge to argue this point %ith my %eapons instead of %ords, 5 reminded myself

that she %as the servant of one of the Red's allies and restrained myself

s %e started to get tired, %e %ere lu)*y enough to )ome %ithin vie% of a run+do%n inn Stal*er

suggested that %e spend the -night- in dry and )omforta"le surroundings -Clean sheets %ill go a

long %ay to ma*ing me more )heerful a"out life in general, even if there's never a sun in the s*y

around here-

5 made Stal*er promise that if %e stayed at the inn, she %ould not *ill any of the other patrons or

staff She s%ore that she %ouldn't

The name of the inn %as - 1night's Rest- 5t %as run "y a family %ho all had "ig ears and

loo*ed as si)*ly as the vegetation of the shado%+dren)hed lands)ape around us e% guests had

arrived, so se)uring rooms %as easy

Stal*er insisted that %e en/oy a de)ent meal together after sto%ing our gear and )hanging into

dry )lothes (hile %e sat in the )ommon room eating the "land food that 5 had found typi)al of

most regions 5'd visited a)ross nsalon, the %ord -Gilthanas- drifted to%ard us from the "ar+

)ounter (e loo*ed in that dire)tion as one and sa% a human %oman in mud+spattered "oots and

trousers The inn*eeper's %ife %as hanging her sodden )loa* ne0t to the firepla)e, %hile the %oman

pulled maps from a leather sat)hel and opened them on the )ounter Stal*er rose to her feet and

sauntered to%ard her, pulling "a)* her hood 5 follo%ed s Stal*er %al*ed, her posture seemed to

)hangeas it al%ays did %hen she %as a"out to fool a vi)tim into trusting her 5 found the %ay she)ould )hange her "earing and personality in the spa)e of a moment remar*a"le

The %oman pointed to one of her maps, saying, -This road and that road are %iped out, (ill

nd that one that one you )an pretty mu)h %rite off as %ell rom %hat 5've heard, there's some

sort of nest of %al*ing dead near the "ridge-

The inn*eeper )ursed -et%een the dragons, the undead, and the damn shado% that's "een

hanging over the land, there's not going to "e any travelers left anymore!-

Stal*er said, -.ardon me for interrupting, "ut %e overheard you mention the name 'Gilthanas'

(e happen to "e loo*ing for an elf+prin)e named Gilthanas (e %ere led to "elieve at the last inn

that he is )urrently residing in 1alaman 5f you *no% of him, )an you tell us %hether he is still in

the )ity?-

She regarded us %ith suspi)ion -re you friends of his?--My friend here is a former adventuring )ompanion of Gilthanas's nd me %ell, many years

ago, 5 gave my heart to him, and he gave me his (e'd given him up for dead, so naturally 5-

-re you Silvara?- The %oman suddenly loo*ed very e0)ited Stal*er didn't laugh, "ut 5 have no

dou"t that she %as having a diffi)ult time )ontaining herself %hen she leaned )loser to the %oman



and ans%ered in the affirmative The %oman started to e0)itedly dig through her maps -Oh, to

thin* 5 %ould meet "oth you and Gilthanas! My hus"and treated him most ill, your ladyship, he-

-.lease,- Stal*er said softly, "rushing her %hite hair from her eyes -(e Good dragons do not

stand on )eremony 8ust )all me Silvara-

-;s meeting here ma*es me %onder if the gods of Good might not "e %at)hing over us after

all-Stal*er too* her hands into hers, loo*ed into her eyes, and said in an earnest tone, -They do, my

friend The gods aren't gone They are /ust testing us nd if %e remain strong, they %ill return-

Stal*er made many other soothing noises and told many other lies, and %hen she %as done, not

only did %e have a )omplete a))ount of Gilthanas's a)tivities during his year in 1alaman "ut %e

also had ne%s of his destination urther, she gave us the only map she possessed of the area around

the (oods of #ahue for our /ourney to the .ea* of Clouds (hen she left, she seemed to %al* on

air 5 told Stal*er that she had "een )ruel to the poor %oman

Stal*er replied %ith a grin, -5 gave her hope 9o% )an that "e )ruel?-

5 said that they %ere all lies

-Those 'lies' got us %hat %e needed,- she noted impatiently -No% get off your moral high horse

and start thin*ing a"out %hat %e should do ne0t- (ithout %aiting, she )ontinued, -5'm no%%ondering if those reports %e heard of a silver dragon heading %est out of Nightlund might have

"een true 5f Gilthanas is loo*ing for Silvara, she's pro"a"ly also loo*ing for him, hoping for the

*ind of sappy, lovey+dovey reunion that ma*es right+thin*ing people si)* to their stoma)hs 5 thin*

this %oman might "e %rong in her "elief that Gilthanas %as going east fter all, he )ame from the

east-

5 pointed out that her logi) %as fla%ed, as he had arrived "y "oat and may have disem"ar*ed at

any point along the )oast, %hi)h puts his dire)tion of travel in @uestion She s)o%led at me and

said, -5 don't "elieve in logi) #ogi) has never done me any good 5 thin* %e should head %est-

5 said 5 had no intention of going "a)* in the dire)tion %e /ust )ame from

-#oo*, even if Gilthanas is still in this area, if %e go "a)* %est, %e )an set a trap for him, ni)e

and )lose to 1hellendros's strongholds long the %ay, 5 )an drop some referen)es that might ma*e

him thin* Silvara %ent that %ay after all, if 5 )ould ma*e that silly %oman thin* 5 %as Silvara

%ithout even trying, /ust imagine %hat 5 )ould do if 5 made a serious go at impersonating her? 5

)ould lead him right into our arms!-

5 told her that 5 didn't thin* the *ind of )at+and+mouse games that she so en/oyed %ere

appropriate %hen hunting one su)h as Gilthanas 5 said 5 %anted to )onfront him in an honora"le

fashion and then give him the )han)e to surrender to her or "e *illed "y me

-(here's the fun in that?- she as*ed -Don't you get any pleasure out of toying %ith your prey?

5f you as* me, that's half the fun letting your prey )ome to you, and then letting it 'es)ape,' if

there's time for that-

-No,- 5 replied -That is not ho% %e )ondu)t ourselves Masters of Ran*s *ill our @uarries,s%iftly and as simply as possi"le Death is no game-

-$verything's a game, my too+serious friend 5f you don't learn to play, you'll find yourself

regretting all the fun you passed up- She sighed and stret)hed -Bou *no%, 5 thin* 5'm starting to

realiAe that you and 5 don't e0a)tly ma*e a good team Our masters may have )ommon interests, "ut

%e /ust aren't %or*ing out (hy don't %e try it this %ay& 5'll head "a)* %est%ard in )ase that

%oman %as %rong, and you go east through the green dragon's domain to see if he really did go

loo*ing for that magi)al mountain-

5 pointed out that she %as supposed to help )apture Gilthanas in )ase 5 found him 5 also pointed

out that she %as supposed to %or* %ith me if she found him first

-Beah, yeah, yeah,- she said She sear)hed through the many layers of her )lothing She dre%

forth a golden ring %ith a "right red stone and thre% it on the ta"le 5n rattled a)ross the "oards and)ame to rest "et%een my hands -This ring's part of a mat)hed set They'll let us summon ea)h

other Bou'll %ear one, 5'll %ear the other, and %hi)hever of us finds Gilthanas first ru"s the stone

The other stone %ill then turn "right "lue That person then t%ists the stone, and he or she %ill "e

transported to the vi)inity of %here the other one *no%s Gilthanas to "e ll you or 5 have to do is



)on)entrate on %anting to find him and then the one %ho got the message %ill "e %here the

sender %as thin*ing a"out!-

She )ouldn't e0plain anything else a"out ho% the rings %or*ed-5t's magi)! (hat do you %ant

from me?!-and so 5 too* the ring and %e parted %ays

t least 5 %as rid of her nd even if she found Gilthanas first, 5 "elieved she %ould "e

honora"le enough to )onta)t me via the rings Similarly, 5 "elieved her honora"le enough not to "etray me "y giving me a )ursed magi)al item 5 "elieved that our servi)e to masters %ho %ere

allies %ould "e enough to *eep her madness in )he)*

5 %ould then "e there in a moment, and then the @uest %ould "e over

(inston's To%er, =Ks)

9o% long had he "een %andering the %ilds of nsalon? Gilthanas no longer *ne%, nor )ared

5nstead, he allo%ed himself a moment of elation as he )raned his ne)* and studied the lofty e0panse

of the tall, narro% stru)ture rising from the )oast The ship pit)hed and rolled "eneath his feet as the

)aptain %or*ed her into the rough %aters along the 1arthay shore, "ut the elf had eyes only for his

destination 9e %as fas)inated "y the ela"orate image atop the spire, li*e shining glass fa)ets thatformed a sort of rose"ud The ship's )aptain informed him that the o"/e)t had on)e "een a

lighthouse "ea)on, "ut that it had not %or*ed during the man's lifetime on the sea

doAen )lues had "rought the elven prin)e to this to%er "uilt as a fortress to an)ient 5star, and

no%, a monument to gnome te)hnology 9is latest information had suggested that Silvara had )ome

here, and he had doggedly follo%ed her trail, even to the point of "oo*ing passage from the

mainland s payment, he had used the platinum )oins he had found on the "odies of the assassins

%ho had slain 1eela* and attempted to *ill Gilthanas himself ;nfortunately, his sear)h of the

"odies hadn't yielded any information regarding the sour)e of their mission That %as a mystery

that the elf had vo%ed to address eventually

stone %harf e0tended into the sea from the "ase of the )liff "elo% the to%er The )aptain

ordered a "oat lo%ered, and the )re% ro%ed )lose enough that Gilthanas )ould leap to the do)*

(ith a fe% surreptitious glan)es, the sailors ro%ed "a)* to their ship, %hi)h hastened to put on

)anvas and get a%ay from this pla)e The elf )ould only )hu)*le as he made his %ay up the stairs

)arved into the )liff fa)e 9e %as here, and perhaps he %ould find ans%ers %ithin this to%ering

edifi)e

9is elation passed @ui)*ly as he "egan to )onsider the pro"lem of entering and sear)hing the

to%er The dar* fa)e that he had first assumed %as stone no% loo*ed to "e smooth metal, %ithout

even the /oints that might have made s)aling a stone %all at least a possi"ility ramp )urled

around the "ase of the to%er, leading past several open, "e)*oning door%ays, "ut the prin)e

de)ided to ma*e a little more )autious approa)h

9alf%ay around the to%er he found another irregularity in the %all& a series of stone steps risingto a small platform against the "ase of the stru)ture They loo*ed li*e the stairs leading to a typi)al

entry%ay, e0)ept he )ould see no door 9e )lim"ed to the spa)e and e0amined the %all )losely for

any sign of a seam or "rea* The only thing he )ould dis)over %as a small silver "utton e0tending

perhaps a finger's %idth from the %all Other%ise, he found no sign of any "rea* or any mar* in the

metal plate that %ould have indi)ated a door

Gilthanas, li*e most inha"itants of 1rynn, *ne% a little of gnomes -Tin*ers,- they %ere )alled,

and they had a legendary fas)ination %ith invention The development of a )ompli)ated ma)hine

%as the typi)al life's goal of any gnome %orth his or her %eight in salt O))asionally these

ma)hines %or*ed, usually in some %ay not anti)ipated "y the inventor Euite often, the ma)hine

proved deadly to its designer and to anyone else %ho happened to )ome %ithin rea)h of its )la%s,

gears, levers, %heels, and so forthThus, Gilthanas regarded that silver "utton in the %all %ith a )ertain amount of trepidation 9e

*no)*ed on the %all, determining from the sound that it %as in fa)t metal, and it seemed to "e @uite

thi)* 9e pushed and prodded along the surfa)e as far as he )ould rea)h, even dra%ing his s%ord

and tapping over his head, to no avail 5n the end, his la)* of patien)e led him to the ines)apa"le



)on)lusion& 9e had to press the "utton

9e pla)ed his thum" on the silver )ir)le and pushed The "utton glided into the %all %ith smooth

ease, though he felt some sort of me)hanism engage on the other side or t%o long, long

heart"eats, nothing happened

nd then Gilthanas %as pressed flat, )rumpling against the surfa)e under his feet 5n a split

se)ond he realiAed that the platform %as rising at tremendous speedthat a))eleration pressed himdo%n 9e %as lifted doAens of feet up the fa)e of the to%er and then, a"ruptly, the platform snapped

to a halt

The elf, of )ourse, *ept rising, )atapulted high into the air "y the for)eful lift 9is stoma)h

lur)hed and his senses %hirled, "ut he had the presen)e of mind to loo* up%ard t the top of the

to%er, he sa% a platform e0tend, and he immediately dedu)ed that this %as a landing that should

have )aught him on his %ay do%n, after he had "een lifted past it 9o%ever, it had )learly emerged

too early, and the elf smashed into the "ottom of the platform's surfa)e %ith num"ing for)e

Only his @ui)* %its saved his life nti)ipating the impa)t, he had lifted his arms over his head

to )ushion the "lo% to his s*ull and *i)*ed his legs out to either side One foot flailed through a gap

in the girder supporting the platform, and then he %as hanging upside do%n, his *nee )roo*ed

through the opening %hile the %orld spun diAAily more than a hundred feet "elo%5mmediately some sort of ma)hine )ran*ed into motion, pulling the platform "a)* to%ard the

rim of the to%er The girders folded, and Gilthanas per)eived that, in a fe% se)onds, his leg %ould

"e pin)hed or perhaps even severed at the *nee "et%een massive steel "eams (ith a desperate

lur)h, he pulled himself around, )at)hing the edge of the metal rod %ith his hands and e0tri)ating

his foot from the rapidly shrin*ing gap s the girders folded together, he flung himself for%ard and

spra%led onto the top of the to%er, %at)hing in amaAement as the platform settled to "e)ome

merely a part of the flat floor

-That %ent %ell,- he murmured to himself, rising to his feet, dusting himself off, and )he)*ing

for "ro*en "ones 9is head hurt, his leg %as )hafed, and his fingers %ere )ramped from the strain of

supporting his %eight, "ut nothing seemed permanently damaged The great light loomed a"ove

him, and he passed several deadly loo*ing devi)es that might have "een %eapons of "om"ardment

9e didn't tou)h any of them

9e found a trapdoor leading through the top of the to%er and gingerly lifted it, relieved to find

that no ma)hines %ere involved short ladder led him to the metalli) floor of a round room, %hi)h

seemed to o))upy the full )ir)le of the to%er's diameter right light emerged from several panels

along the %alls, fully illuminating the pla)e

5mmediately he )aught the s)ent of death #oo*ing around, he sa% several doors and a fe% dead

gnomes spra%led on the floor "efore one of them There %ere various ta"les and shelves %ith

strange me)hanisms upon them in here One in parti)ular )aught his eye& 5t %as a massive

assem"lage of gears and pulleys atta)hed to a spear 5t had apparently %or*ed, for impaled on the

spear %as the "ody of another dead gnomeno dou"t the intrepid inventor himselfThe elf felt his spirits sin*ing 9o% %as he going to learn anything here if all the gnomes %ere

dead? Still, he had only started to e0plore the to%er

9e %ent to one of the doors un"lo)*ed "y )orpses, and opened it to reveal a long shaft %ith a

)hain )ir)ling over a pulley mounted in the roof s soon as he had pulled the portal %ide, the )hain

started )lin*ing, and a @ui)* do%n%ard loo* sho%ed him that some sort of )ompartment %as rising

to%ard him Common sense told him to slam the door and run, "ut some perverse )uriosity held

him in pla)e The approa)hing )age slo%ed, finally )oming to a gentle stop perfe)tly in line %ith

the floor of the room

(ithin that )age, not surprisingly, %ere several dead gnomes in various stages of de)omposition

Re)ogniAing this as some sort of lift, Gilthanas had seen enoughhe %ould try to find an old+

fashioned stair%ay (hen he )losed the door, his intuition %as re%arded as he heard the )hain %hipthrough the pulley %ith unfettered speed se)ond later he heard the )age )rash into the floor far,

far "elo%

urther sear)h revealed a dar* stair%ell "ehind another door, and the elf slo%ly "egan to

des)end 9is eyes %ere attuned to minimal light, "ut even so, he found it hard to ma*e out any



details in here #o%er and lo%er he )rept, pausing to open an o))asional door and )arefully e0plore

)ham"ers "eyond 9e found the remains of many gnomes, as %ell as odd "its of ma)hinery, "ut

nothing that indi)ated anyone %as alive l%ays he %ent "a)* to the stairs, still ma*ing his %ay

do%n%ard

9e estimated that he %as nearing the "ottom of the to%er %hen he heard a faint )ry, the sound

e)hoing through the hollo% metal -9ello?- he )alled -5s someone there?--9elp!- The )ry %as repeated, urgently -ut "e )areful-

-5'm )oming!-

9e moved as @ui)*ly as he )ould, )alling out again, hearing the responses in a male voi)e that,

though %ea*, %as )learly invigorated "y hope

inally, he stood "efore a silver door, %ith a series of "uttons do%n the right side of the frame

The voi)e seemed to "e )oming from %ithin

-(ho's in there? re you hurt?- Gilthanas as*ed

-My name is #ethagas and 5'm not hurt, at least not any more 5've "een in here for yearsit's

"een that long sin)e 5've heard a living voi)e! .lease, get me out!-

-5'll try,- Gilthanas promised, though he loo*ed as*an)e at the array of "uttons -Do you *no%

%hi)h "utton 5 should push?--Don't push any of them!- The voi)e )ame "a)*, so shrill %ith pani) that Gilthanas /umped "a)*

from the silver door -That is, )an you try /ust pushing on the door?-

9e did, and surprisingly enough the portal s%ung easily open to reveal a spa)ious room of metal

%alls illuminated "y the same %hite "rightness he had noti)ed a"ove (ith a so" of /oy, the

prisoner )alled #ethagas stum"led for%ard, hastily interposing his "ody "et%een the silver door and

its frame

-5t %asn't lo)*ed?- Gilthanas said in amaAement, at the same time seeing the golden hair and

slender, pointed ears of a fello% elf

-No, "ut it fit so smoothly into the %all that there %as no %ay to pry it open from the inside-

-Bou've "een in there for years? 9o% did you survive?-

Mutely, #ethagas pointed at a series of noAAles along the far %all s the t%o elves %at)hed, one

of these spe%ed a narro% stream of %ater, %hi)h splashed on the floor and then flo%ed through a

grate /ust "elo% The ne0t noAAle then dropped a fe% plops of green goo, %hi)h also dri""led

through the grate

-utomati) food and %ater,- #eth replied, tautly -iendish, isn't it?-

-More li*ely a))idental,- Gilthanas said -9o% did you )ome to "e here?- he as*ed, guiding

#ethagas out of the to%er

-5 %as on an adventure %ith t%o friends %e %ere loo*ing for a ma)hine that %ould help us

defend Eualinost (e thought there %ould "e good profit in it, so %e fle% here on griffins that have

al%ays "een loyal to my family One of my friends died atop the to%er, pier)ed "y some *ind of

spear+ma)hine The other one got tangled in some gears5 sa% him mangled "efore my eyes--nd you ?-

-5 %as /ust loo*ing for a pla)e to rest 5 stepped into this room, the door )losed "ehind me, and

then 5 spent several years here until you )ame along 5 o%e you my than*snot to mention my

sanit, and my life-

-Glad 5 )ould help,- Gilthanas said -ut %hat is it a"out Eualinesti that it needs defenses?-

-The Dar* 1nights and the Spea*er of the Sun are still at odds, to "e sure, "ut ne% threats are

ta*ing shape Sooner or later one of the Great Dragons is )ertain to lay )laim to our forests-

Many more @uestions )ame to Gilthanas, "ut he didn't get the )han)e to as* them

-ut %hat's your story, friend?- #eth as*ed -Not to mention, ho% did you survive this far?-

9e %as a"out to ans%er %hen "oth elves "e)ame a%are of t%o voi)es, )learly "i)*ering, and

)oming )loser-.ut a lo)* on the door, 5 said 5 said it %ould %or* "etter %ith a lo)*, "ut no! Bou had to "e

right, again!- The spea*er %as a male, "ut his tone %as high+pit)hed and almost franti) %ith

irritation

-5t %ould have %or*ed!- insisted the other, in an even higher, apparently female, voi)e -ut



%ho said they )ould open it from the outside! That's not even fair!-

moment later, t%o gnomes strolled into vie%, )oming up the stairs that Gilthanas had "een

des)ending They %ere short and plump, "arely %aist high to the elves $a)h %as dressed in a go%n

of "lue and had long gray hair The male also displayed a "eard of the same )olor that des)ended all

the %ay to the floor

-5 say,- remar*ed the "earded one, ignoring Gilthanas to s@uint up at #ethagas -(ould youmind stepping "a)* into the .erpetual .rison? Our e0periment is far from over-

-5 %ould mind, very mu)h!- snapped the elf, his long+fingered hands )urling into fists

-There's no need to "e huffy!- retorted the female gnome sharply -fter all, you've "een our

guest for five and a half years no% 9aven't %e fed you every day?-

#eth "lan)hed -ive and a half years?- he )roa*ed, sagging against the %all

ut the gnomes %eren't listening -Te)hni)ally, the ma)hine fed him, not us,- the male %as

reminding his partner -fter all, %hat's the point of a .erpetual .rison if one has to tend the

prisoner? (ho %ould still "e a prisoner if you %ould have /ust let me put a lo)* on the door!-

-Never mind that! 5t still %or*ed and %ill %or* againor my name is not

Drussilandahooperdaughterasti)relli)re-

-$nough!- snapped Gilthanas, remem"ering another thing a"out gnomes& (hen one started tosay hisor her name, the re)itation had to "e stopped immediately Other%ise, it )ould ta*e

several days -The point is, you have no right to hold this elf prisoner!-

-(hy, the very idea!- sniffed Drussi -9ave you no respe)t for s)ien)e? or *no%ledge, or

invention, or dis)overy? Bou're "oth ignorant savages!-

-5'll sho% you savagery,- gro%led #ethagas, stepping for%ard, )learly ready to %ring a gnome's

ne)* 9e )ontinued to mutter, -5mprisoning me in a )ell for years feeding me %ith foul slime

leaving your fello% gnomes to rot on the floor around us-

Gilthanas pla)ed a )alming hand on the younger elf's shoulder -.erhaps %e )an tal* a "it,- he

said to the gnomes -re there more of your people here?-

-There %ere lots,- )hirped the male -There've "een a fe% a))idents, though-

-nd there'll "e more, you old fool!- snorted Drussi -s if you )ould do anything right,

Spudderapa*oosongrandsonfatherianri)*tillation+-

-9o% a"out %e /ust )all you 'Spudder?'- Gilthanas inter/e)ted -No%, do 5 ta*e it you are the

only t%o gnomes left here?-

-or no%,- admitted Spudder

-5 )ame here on a @uest,- the elf )ontinued -5'm see*ing a dragon of silver, and 5 learned that she

%as )oming to help gnomes in a to%er 5 thin* she )ame here Did you see her?-

-Silvara?- as*ed Drussi -Of )ourse %e did!-

-9o% long ago?- Gilthanas's heart @ui)*ened, and he s)ar)ely "reathed as he %aited for her

ans%er

-Not long a fe% years, at the most--ut she %as here! (here did she go? Did you tal* to her?-

-Only to tell her %e didn't need any help She got *ind of huffy, and then she left-

-To %here?- )ried Gilthanas, feeling his hopes slipping a%ay

-She %ouldn't tell usor rather, %e didn't as*,- said Drussi -No%, if you'll forgive us, %e've got

%or* to do -

-Not so fast!- #ethagas de)lared -irst, you'll see that %e )an get out of here!-

Gilthanas %as sagging %ith defeat, "arely listening to the de"ate as the other elf finally

persuaded the t%o gnomes to see them out of the to%er Drussi and Spudder led them do%n the

stairs until they rea)hed a )avernous room that %as apparently underneath the "ase of the to%er

-My griffins?- #eth as*ed -9ave you seen them?-

-They're still out there, flying around .ro"a"ly %aiting for you,- Drussi sniffed -9o% do %eget out?- he as*ed

Spudder pointed to a large ma)hine& a %heeled me)hanism %ith a studded drill mounted on the

front -This is our digger 5t %ill ta*e you through the %all-

-Bou have to dig your %ay out?- Gilthanas as*ed in dis"elief



-;s? No! Bou're the ones %ho %ant to leave!-

-Do you have any rope?- he pressed -5 thin* 5'd rather ta*e my )han)es )lim"ing do%n from the

to%er or going out the door-

-5f you insist,- muttered Spudder, adding an epithet for ')o%ard' under his "reath The elves

ignored the taunt and )onvin)ed the gnomes to )lim" %ith them to the top of the to%er lthough

"oth gnomes insisted the lift %or*ed /ust fine, going up at least, the elves preferred to trust their feet

inally, they stood "eneath the trapdoor, ea)h elf %rapped in a heavy )oil of rope Remem"ering

that this portal had "een the one part of the to%er un"lemished "y any sort of ma)hine, Gilthanas

rea)hed up%ard to push the door open

-(ait!- gasped Drussi, too late

"lade slashed out of the )eiling, sli)ing do%n to gash Gilthanas's hand as he snapped it "a)*

9e )ursed and )lapped a hand over the %ound - se)ond later and 5'd have lost my hand-

-(e have a trap to prote)t the door!- insisted Drussi

-Most traps try to *eep people from )oming into a pla)e,- gro%led the elf 9e loo*ed at the )ut,

%hi)h did not seem very deep -Still, there %as no real harm done-

-Not yet,- said Spudder, sha*ing his head -ut %ait until the poison ta*es effe)t-

)**ortunities+ alle of Crstal, 2-sc

From !insha Majere$s 'ersonal #ournal

)th day of !ea"em#er, 2*sc

5 am #insha Ma/ere, 1night of Solamnia 5 am the daughter of .alin Ma/ere, the man %ho

"rought sor)ery "a)* to the %orld %hen mages thought it lost 5 am the granddaughter of Caramon

Ma/ere, one of the heroes %ho prevented the Dar* Eueen from )laiming dominion over 1rynn

during the (ar of the #an)e 5 am a Rose 1night, the guardian of t%o thousand years of tradition

These lega)ies intimidate me some days, and in my dar*est moments 5 fear 5 %ill never live up to

them, parti)ularly in light of ho% 5 have "een )alled to serve the Orders of the 1nighthood

5 serve under #ady 1night 1arine Thasally in a )landestine )ir)le in the )ity of San)tion #i*e all

other 1nights there, 5 live a lie, "ut it is a lie 5 am un)omforta"le %ith 5 %ant to "ring honor to my

family name as my parents and grandparents did "efore me 5t is not enough to have "e)ome the

first %oman not of Solamnia to "e admitted to the Order of the Rose 5 %ant to sho% 5 am %orthy of

my family name, and some days 5 %ant it so "ad, it hurts On those days, 5 am %illing to do almost

anything and ta*e any )han)es that don't violate the Measure or endanger the se)urity of my hidden

)ir)le fter all, if 5 spend all my time in servi)e playing the role of a foul+mouthed alley+"asher of

loose morals named #ynn of Gate%ay, the )han)e to live up to the lega)y of the Ma/eres may never

present itself Of )ourse, su)h a preo))upation %ith personal glory is in )onfli)t %ith the Measure,

"ut it's very diffi)ult for me not to su))um" to the feeling that serving /ust isn't enoughnd that's %hy 5've started this /ournal 5t isn't so "iographers )an someday -get the story right,-

as my grandfather so fre@uently says %hen lamenting that none of his no%+famous friends *ept

)onsistent /ournals and that no% hundreds of "ards are telling their life stories in as many different

%aysH No, 5 am *eeping this /ournal in the hopes that it %ill find its %ay into the li"rary of Castle

;th (istan ut, rather than serving as a re)ord of my great deedsalthough 5 hope to have some

of those to re)ord as %ell, if #ady 1arine doesn't find 5 have violated the Measure so grossly that

she )asts me out of the 1nighthoodthe purpose of this /ournal %ill "e to re)ord my mista*es 5t is

my hope that as 5 %rite of them and refle)t upon them, 5 also %ill learn from them, and that other

young 1nights may learn as %ell May"e they %ill avoid ma*ing the same errors 5 have

Then again, may"e not $veryone's "een in situations after %hi)h they loo* "a)* and realiAe they

%ere too )o)*y or /ust %illfully ignorant of the fa)ts staring them in the fa)e all along Sometimes%e do it "e)ause of love, sometimes %e do it "e)ause of am"ition, and sometimes %e do it out of

ine0perien)e

5 should feel "lessed 5 made it this far and e0perien)ed only one su)h situation 5 should feel

dou"ly "lessed that 5 still live so that 5 )an learn from the past and never ma*e the mista*e again,



%hether it %as "orne of am"ition or ine0perien)e Certainly, love %as furthest from any possi"le

motivation 5 might have had to do %hat 5 did, )ons)iously or su")ons)iously

5t o))urs to me that the very purpose of this /ournal may go against the Measure 5s it too

prideful of me to assume that someday a young initiate as 5 on)e %as might read these %ords and

thus "e %arned a"out the folly of over)onfiden)e? No, 5 don't thin* so fter all, 5 got the idea from

Gilthanas of Eualinesti, one of the )ele"rated 9eroes of the #an)e Despite %hat many "elieve, he%as still alive as of the very morning 5 started this /ournal 5n fa)t, his %ords inspired me to start it,

and it %as his %ords that made me realiAe that even %hen things seem the dar*est, there is al%ays

hope

The events that led me to %here 5 am no%sitting "y a stream several days' ride north of

San)tion %hile my horse (ind)at)her %aters herself and 5 %ait for my %ounds to healstarted a

little over three %ee*s ago at the ro*en 9orn, a tavern in the )ity of San)tion ;nli*e many other

San)tion taverns, though, the mood at the ro*en 9orn %as generally a friendly one, in some %ays

not unli*e the inn my grandparents run in the "anasinian tree to%n of Sola)e That night, things

%ere parti)ularly friendly 5 %as playing di)e %ith several other regulars, and %e %ere e0)hanging

good+natured "ar"smine "eing the most )rude, "e)ause that's %hat everyone e0pe)ts of #ynn

and 5 thin* the general )ordial atmosphere pro"a"ly )ontri"uted to my lapse in /udgment5 had /ust )leared t%elve silver off the ta"le %hen #onar entered the pu" $ver sin)e 5 first met

him, 5'd felt there %as something different a"out #onar 9e %as more handsome than the average

s)um d%elling in San)tion, and 5'd seen him )ondu)t himself %ith honor on more than one

o))asion On)e, he stepped into a fight involving a minotaur and a "oy "arely "ig enough to lift his

o%n s%ordand then too* the )hild "a)* to the village he'd )ome from San)tion %as not the pla)e

for *ids in sear)h of adventure Many others %ould have saved the "oy and then sold him into

slavery

5'd en/oyed several )onversations %ith #onar a"out topi)s ranging from %hi)h nation produ)es

the "est "lades to %hether there is any lin* "et%een the arrival of the Great Dragons and the final

departure of the gods, and even more esoteri) philosophi)al topi)s although in the latter type of

)onversations, 5 al%ays guarded myself #ynn isn't e0a)tly *no%n as a s)holar, and if 5 %as to start

dis)ussing things from the point of vie% of the ideals held either "y the 1nights of Solamnia or "y

Goldmoon's mysti)s, 5 feared 5 %ould raise suspi)ions So, 5 instead /ust used a series of "astardiAed

1hurrish arguments a"out ate and a )hosen )hampion that %ould drive $vil from the land

(henever #onar %ould push me on my ideas, 5'd resort to insults rather than reason or admitting

my theories %ere unsound 5 felt a%ful having to pass myself off as so un*no%ledgea"le in

philosophy and so ignorant of even the "asest standards of intelle)tual dis)ourse, "ut 5 had

appearan)es to thin* a"out

Still, 5 %anted #onar to li*e me at least, so 5 tried not to "e too offensive 9e seemed li*e a

de)ent man, and he %as %ell read and *no%ledgea"le 5 also thought he had a ni)e smile The only

fault 5 )ould see in him %as that he %as one of 9ogan ight's top men and 5 found this a faultonly "e)ause part of me %anted him to "e "etter than that 9is servi)e to the shady, mysterious lord

of San)tion also guaranteed that %hatever friendship %e might forge %ould "e forever "ased on

false prete0t 9o% )ould 5 ever reveal that, although 5 genuinely li*ed #onar, 5 "efriended him

"e)ause my mission in San)tion %as to dis)ern the goals and motivations of his master? 5 had on

more than one o))asion %orried a"out %hether de)eiving someone 5 thought to "e an upstanding

person for my o%n ends %as against the Measure (hen 5 used the mysti) a"ilities 5 %as taught "y

Goldmoon to e0amine the nature of his soul and found that he %as only slightly more tainted %ith

$vil than my fello% 1nights, those )on)erns gre% even greater $a)h time 5 )onsidered them,

though, 5 )on)luded that as long as 5 too* steps to prote)t #onar from physi)al harm should the

)ir)le move against ight on information 5'd o"tained from himH, there %as no dishonor in

de)eiving himt least no more dishonor than the lie 5 live in San)tion

That night, #onar had )ome to the ro*en 9orn for only one purpose 9e paused /ust inside the

door%ay, s)anning the pa)*ed )ommon room 9is eyes )ame to rest on me 9e pushed his %ay

through the )ro%d -Can %e tal*, #ynn? Outside?-



-Sure,- 5 replied The other players s)o%led at me as 5 left the ta"le 5 gave them a s%eet smile

-Sorry "oys 5'll let you %in your money "a)* some other night-

s #onar and 5 %al*ed up the street, he said, -5 hear you've "een as*ing around for %or* that's a

"it more respe)ta"le than the alley+"ashing and gam"ling you've "een doing-

5 shrugged -May"e So long as the pay's good-

-The pay's good The pay )omes from #ord 9ogan-My heart s*ipped a "eat and my spirit soared My effort to "e friendly to%ard #onar and to seem

)apa"le %henever he %as around %as paying off! 5 *ept a )alm fa)ade, though -#ord 9ogan? (hat

%ould #ord 9ogan %ant %ith me?-

-Nothing, "ut 5 )ould use an e0tra s%ord on an e0pedition on his "ehalf 5t'll ta*e us through

ogre territory (ould that "e a pro"lem?-

-5 )an outrun ogres,- 5 said

9e grinned -5'll pay you fifty steel )oins right no% The "alan)e depends on the out)ome of our

e0pedition 5'll provide food and fodder, "ut you need to provide your o%n horse Still interested?-

-Definitely (ind)at)her needs some real e0er)ise,- 5 replied -.lus, fifty steel is more money

than 5've gotten this month so far (hat's the nature of the e0pedition?-

-5'll tell you on)e %e're under%ay- 9e hesitated, loo*ing me up and do%n, not las)iviously, "utrather in an appraising fashion -Bou're pro"a"ly going to "e the only %oman in our group-

-Bou *no% %hat 5 do if someone gets gra""y- 5 replied, patting the dagger on my "elt -ut if

they *eep to themselves, 5'll do the same-

#onar flashed me a "rilliant smile, one that made him appear even more handsome 9e handed

me a pou)h of )oins -(e leave at da%n (ait at the mouth of the eastern pass-

fter #onar departed, 5 %ent to notify #ady 1arine of my good fortune She %as the leader of

the )ir)le, so it %as only right that 5 inform her of my imminent departure, "ut 5 %as also hoping for

some advi)e, for she is far more e0perien)ed than 5 am She %as not in, ho%ever, and her s@uire did

not *no% %here to rea)h her fter %hat 5 no% *no% %as too little )onsideration, 5 thought 5 )ould

handle the situation %ithout any advi)e from #ady 1arine, and 5 felt )onfident that she %ouldn't

have for"ade me to underta*e this /ourney 5 )ould thin* of no reason for #onar to "elieve 5 %as

anything "ut %hat 5 appeared to "e, and even if some sort of setup %as in the ma*ing here, 5 had yet

to en)ounter anyone in San)tion %ho %as my e@ual %ith a s%ord 5 felt that as long as 5 *ept my

guard up, 5 %ould "e fine So, 5 left a message %ith the s@uire and %ent "a)* to my @uarters to

prepare and get a fe% hours sleep

The follo%ing morning, (ind)at)her and 5 %ere the first to arrive Shortly, #onar arrived %ith

four other men, "ringing our num"er to si0 9e also had t%o pa)* mules in to% 5 only re)ogniAed

one of the men, a le)her "y the name of 1resh ortunately, as far as 5 %ent, 1resh al%ays had "een

all tal* and no a)tion 9e had seen %hat happened to men %ho tried to for)e themselves on me

-5ntrodu)e yourselves if you %ish,- #onar said -s far as 5'm )on)erned, all you need to *no%

a"out ea)h other is that you're all )apa"le fighters %ho )an hold your o%n in "attle-The four strangers made no attempts at pleasantries 1resh loo*ed me up and do%n, as if he

)ould see straight through my armor and )loa* -#ynn and 5 already *no% ea)h other,- he said -ut

%ho *no%s? May"e %e'll have a )han)e to get )loser on the road-

-Careful, 1resh,- 5 replied -5f you get )loser than a s%ord's length, you might impale yourself-

One of the strangers, a man of s%arthy )omple0ion that revealed a 1hurrish heritage, found this

more amusing than 5 %ould have thought possi"le fter he finished guffa%ing, he said in heavily

a))ented Solamni), -5 li*e a %oman %ith spirit-

fter avoiding Dar* 1night patrols, %e rode all day through the eastern pass from San)tion,

stopping only t%i)e to allo% our steeds to rest s %e )amped that first night, #onar finally revealed

our destination -Some of you may have heard of the :alley of Crystal That's %here %e're headed

(e're going to fill the pa)*s %e empty of food %ith )rystals and deliver them to #ord 9ogan ny@uestions?-

-Beah,- 5 said, -9o% is our "alan)e going to "e )al)ulated?-

-Bou'll all get an e@ual share of ten per)ent of the value of the )rystals %e "ring "a)*, as

appraised "y #ord 9ogan-



5 shrugged -Sounds fine-

The men thought so, too

The ne0t fe% days %ere uneventful, e0)ept for le%d )omments and ver"al sparring "et%een

1resh and me and "elly laughs from the 1hur #onar spent some time @uiAAing me a"out my travels

"eyond San)tion, pla)ing parti)ular emphasis on the area around the Ne% Sea and S)hallsea t the

time, 5 didn't suspe)t that it %as anything "ut )onversation on his part fter all, he originally hailedfrom Caergoth, and 5 "elieved that he %as trying to see if %e perhaps had visited the same pla)es

No% 5 *no% that he %as thin*ing far more sinister thoughts

(e %ere traveling through a narro% pass t%o days a%ay from the :alley of Crystal %hen the

am"ush o))urred Three 1hurrish men stepped out from "ehind ro)*s -Bour money or your life!-

one )alled out

-'Bour money or your life?!'- e0)laimed the man %ho found 1resh and me amusing -(hat

manner of "andits say su)h foolishness?-

-Serious ones,- replied the spea*er 9e "ar*ed a %ord in 1hurrish, and three arro%s )ut do%n

our /olly )ompanion

#onar let out a roar and spurred his horse for%ard, dra%ing his s%ord The three men in front of

us rea)ted %ith surprise, having )learly assumed their demonstration %ould su"due us rather thanenrage us Still, they shot another volley of arro%s (hile an arro% felled one more of the strangers

%ho had traveled %ith us, another tore harmlessly through my )loa* as 5 *need my horse a%ay

5 spurred (ind)at)her for%ard "ut leaped from her "a)* onto a ledge on the side of the )anyon

She %as trained to gallop until )lear of the "attle area, then stop to a%ait my return

5 s)aled the %all s%iftly, mentally than*ing "oth my grandparents and the mysti)s at the Citadel

of #ight %ho had let me s)amper li*e a mon*ey first through the trees of Sola)e and later up and

do%n the )liffs of S)hallsea 5 rea)hed the top %here the ar)hers %ere, finding that they %ere still

fo)used on *illing my )ompanions do%n "elo% 5 slo%ly dre% my s%ord and dagger Then 5

)leared my throat

One ar)her turned and 5 flung my dagger at him 5t lodged in his ne)*, and he %ent do%n %ith a

strangled )ry as 5 )losed on his four )ompanions They dropped their "o%s and dre% the %i)*edly

)urved "lades the 1hurrish %arriors are *no%n

5 du)*ed under a %ild s%ing "y the lead %arrior and, as %e engaged, sta""ed him in the "elly 5

%ithdre% my %eapon s%iftly, slashing another foe's leg "efore retreating out of s%ord range 9e

fell to the ground, s)reaming

The last t%o 1hurrish "andits atta)*ed together, sta""ing at me from the right and the left 5

dan)ed a%ay from the s%ordsmen, dra%ing my se)ond dagger as 5 did 5 used it to "lo)* a s%ing

from the left foe and used my s%ord to ha)* his head from his shoulders The headless "ody

spasmed as it fell

The final %arrior and 5 )ir)led for a )ouple of moments The s)reams of the man 5 had ho""led

faded to moans and %himpers My one remaining foe suddenly rushed me 5 parried t%o of his "lo%s, then he overe0tended himself %ith a lunge, and 5 dove to%ard his open side My s%ord

pun)hed through his )hainmail 9e )oughed up "lood "efore falling limply to the hard, dusty

ground

The %himpers "ehind me suddenly %ent silent 5 %hirled to see #onar standing there, his s%ord

deep in the "a)* of the 1hur 5 had %ounded "o% and arro% lay in the 1hur's still+t%it)hing

hands -Bou left this one alive, alley )at nd he almost got you #onar to the res)ue-

5 set my fa)e in a mo)*ing e0pression and raised my s%ord in a salute -:ery gallant of you, Sir

1night, "ut 5 )ould have handled it-

9e gave me an odd smile that 5 no% *no% %as "orn of suspi)ion 9e said, -ased on that

display, 5'd say you're "eing %asted in San)tion Bou should "e leading the life of a sell+s%ord-

-May"e you )an put in a good %ord %ith #ord 9ogan,- 5 replied, %iping my s%ord on a deadenemy 9e nodded, )lapping me on the shoulder

(e )lim"ed do%n into the )anyon The four strangers %ere all dead 1resh sa% this as a good

thingmore for him and me to split at the end, and more mounts to )arry our )rystals -Only if %e

don't run into more trou"le,- 5 said



The rest of the trip %as uneventful (e spent a day "urying the "odies 5 struggled to hold my

tongue as 1resh looted "odies 5 looted one myself to *eep up appearan)es, "ut as soon as 5 return

to San)tion, 5'm going to arrange to have the items sent to the Citadel of #ight as a donation

#ate in the se)ond day after the am"ush, %e spotted rays of )olors dan)ing in the "lue s*y 5

pointed them out, )ommenting on their "eautiful and "iAarre nature

-Seen 'em,- 1resh said -(asn't impressed the first time in't impressed no%--Those are refle)tions from the valley,- #onar said in a more )onversational tone -nd %hile

those lights may "e pretty, they'd "urn your eyes out if you %ere to enter the valley right no% (e're

going to )amp near the entran)e and go in only after sundo%n-

(e rea)hed the valley, and 5 sa% a small sample of %hat #onar meant narro% )anyon led

from our )ampsite to the :alley of Crystal, and in it dan)ed sheets of )olored light so "right that 5

sa% spots for minutes after 5 loo*ed at it #onar and 1resh "oth found that amusing

The sun set as %e esta"lished )amp (hile 1resh "uilt a fire pit, #onar and 5 %ent to the valley

to gather the first "at)h of )rystals (e too* only saddle"ags "e)ause, #onar e0plained, the )rystals

%ere sharper than raAors and %ould sli)e through less sturdy )ontainers $ven in the moonlight, the

valley %as a%ash %ith )olors, ma*ing it one of the most "eautiful sights 5 had ever vie%ed The

)rystals stret)hed for miles, )overed in undulating %aves of )olors

-This is amaAing,- 5 said, my "reath stolen "y a%e

(e gathered )rystals for a"out t%o hours, until ea)h of us had filled t%o sets of saddle"ags ythe end, nay leather gloves had "een redu)ed to tatters, and 5 had several small )uts on my hands

a)* at )amp, 1resh had "uilt a large fire pit 5 offered to %ater the horses 1resh said there

%asn't any %ater %ithin fifty miles of the valley, so the horses %ould have to do %ith only a little

-.eople say the Chaos god tou)hed this pla)e,- #onar said -#ord 9ogan %ants to gather )rystals

"oth for resear)h and to pay the ogres so they don't side %ith the Dar* 1nights Ogre shamans %ant

these things very "adly, "ut they refuse to )ome in here themselves (hy, %e're not )ertain-



until %e %ere ready to leave

-That's no good,- 5 said -The horses )an't go too long %ithout %ater-

-5f %e %or* hard, %e may gather enough )rystals to "e on the %ay "a)* tomorro%,- #onar said,

retrieving a %hetstone from his pa)* -The horses %ill "e fine for that long-

5 agreed %ith him, "ut still spent some e0tra time on (ind)at)her, tal*ing to her and thoroughly

"rushing her do%n (hen 5 re/oined #onar and 1resh at the )ra)*ling "laAe, 5 suggested that theyshould tend to their o%n horses -5t's "ad enough %e )an't %ater them until %e leave the valley

They'll serve you mu)h "etter if you treat them right-

-Really?- #onar said, )o)*ing an eye"ro% -nd %here did an alley )at su)h as yourself learn

that?-

-On the road One of the men guarding the )aravan 5 traveled %ith %as a 1hur Bou *no% ho%

they are %ith horses They eat on them, sleep on them, and they *no% ho% to get the most out

them horse that is "rushed and ru""ed do%n after a day's ride %ill outperform a horse that's "een

treated li*e a pair of %ooden shoes and /ust left "y the door-

#onar stopped sharpening his s%ord -Bou may "e right, little alley )at,- he said 9e got to his

feet and did that interesting little t%irl %ith this s%ord he usually did /ust "efore sheathing it Only

this time he didn't 9e /ust rested the "lade against his right shoulder as he %al*ed around the fireand "ehind me

-5 ain't ru""ing do%n no horse,- 1resh said -That's not a /o" for a %arrior 5f you as* me, that's

%oman's %or*-

-Good thing 5'm an alley )at,- 5 said, ta*ing a pie)e of dried meat for myself

#onar laughed "ehind me -Sharp+tongued as ever, #ynn 5 thin* %e might have "een friends you

and 5, under different )ir)umstan)es-

.ain e0ploded in the "a)* of my ne)*, as #onar stru)* me %ith %hat must have "een the

pommel of his s%ord 5 fell for%ard as the %orld seemed to go %hite efore my vision )leared, my

training as a 1night of Solamnia )aused me to instin)tively struggle to my *nees and start dra%ing

my s%ord Then 5 %as *i)*ed hard in the stoma)h and )ollapsed again, ta*ing several more "lo%s

over the ne0t fe% minutes $very instin)t %as s%ept a%ay as a haAe of pain )onsumed my mind ll

5 )ould do %as gasp for air

s the %orld s%am in and out of fo)us, 5 felt strong hands grasping me and thro%ing me against

one of the "oulders s 5 struggled to re)over my "reath, 5 heard my s%ord "eing dra%n from its

sheath 5t )lattered against the stones some%here, and the hands gra""ed me again and pulled me

into a sitting position %ith my "a)* against the "oulder Then something tore through the haAe of

pain& The feeling of )old steel against my ne)*, follo%ed "y %arm "reath on my right ear -This is

%here the game ends, alley )at,- #onar %hispered

$verything snapped "a)* into fo)us The pain "e)ame sharper than "efore, and as #onar moved

"a)* to lo)* his "ro%n eyes %ith mine, 5 sa% his fa)e in far greater detail than 5 ever had "efore 5

sa% his )hiseled features, the "eard that %as )oming in strong after our time on the road, the small%rin*les that appeared at the )orners of his eyes as he smiled at me, and the )oldness in his eyes 5

realiAed that the )harm and %armth of his smile had "een purely superfi)ial and that it had hidden a

dar* soul, /ust as 5 hid my true nature "ehind the fa)ade of #ynn ighting "a)* "oth fear and pain, 5

said, -(hat's going on, #onar? (hy are you doing this?-

-Bou might fool the riffraff at the ro*en 9orn, "ut you're not good enough to fool #onar

9iddel- -5 don't *no% %hat-

9e silen)ed me "y pressing the "lade harder against my throat and shushing me -No more lies,

little alley )at No more lies 5 grant you, you're good 5sn't she, 1resh?-

-That remains to "e seen,- 1resh said

-l%ays thin*ing %ith his loins, that 1resh,- #onar said %ith a sigh -Suffi)e it to say, dear

#ynn, he thought you %ere /ust another s%ord+%ielding %en)h in "rit)hes 5t %asn't until %e raninto those "andits that he sa% %hat 5 sa% the first time 5 %at)hed you "ra%ling in San)tion-

-So 5 )an fight 5 had to learn ho% 5-

-Bes, yes Spare me the so" story Bou %ere ta*en a%ay "y slavers "ut es)aped and a *indly man

taught you ho% to use a s%ord or may"e your father never got a son, so he taught you ho% to



fight, "ut "efore you )ould inherit the "andit empire he'd "uilt, 1nights of Ta*hisis %iped it out

re either of those )lose?-

-5 have no idea %hat your pro"lem is, #onar-

9e slapped me 5 tasted "lood in my mouth 9is smile %idened and his eyes gre% )older -No

more meo%ing My 'pro"lem' is that you are too good %ith that s%ord to "e /ust another %en)h in

"rit)hes Bou are too good at fighting, period 5've "een %at)hing you nd 5've "een doing a little "it of )he)*ing up on you or a supposed alley+"asher, you don't seem to ra)* up many vi)tims

Bou gam"le, you "ra%l, "ut you spend little time lur*ing in alleys and %aiting for drun*s (hy is

that? 5t's a lot @ui)*er than di)e games

-nd %hen you "ra%l 9mm 5 thin* you try to hide it, "ut you /ust )an't (hen it )omes to the

martial arts, you are simply too good- 9e gra""ed my )hin in his hand and leaned )loser, putting

his fa)e in)hes from mine -Bou're no )ommon rogue, #ynn, no matter ho% hard you try to pass

yourself off as one ut %ho are you? Certainly, no 1night of Solamnia %ould "e so rude, nor

%ould she ever allo% the *ind of dishonor to "efall her that you engage in nightly No, there is only

one type of person you )an possi"ly "e-

9is eyes gre% even )older as he said, -So, %hat Order are you a mem"er of? The #ily or the

S*ull?-5 %as so stunned that 5 "ar*ed out a laugh 9e didn't understand the nervous rea)tion and slapped

me again 9e delivered a *nee into my stoma)h, t%i)e $a)h time, 5 spasmed for%ard, "ut #onar

slammed his free hand against my )hest, for)ing me "a)* against the stone

-This is not funny, #ady #ynn,- he snarled 5 vomited forth the "it of dried meat 5 had eaten, then

alternately dry+heaved and tried to )at)h my "reath -This is your death, and it )an "e a painful one

(hat Order re Bou (ith?-

-.lease,- 5 moaned 5'm not ashamed to admit that on)e the spasms from the "lo%s to my

stoma)h su"sided, 5 started sha*ing %ith fear -5'm not a 1night of Ta*hisis Bou've got it all

%rong-

-9ave 5?- 9e pushed the tip of his stiletto harder against my ne)* 5 felt the %arm tri)*le of

"lood as he penetrated the s*in

-Bes,- 5 %hispered -5n the name .aladine, 5 s%ear 5 am not a Dar* 1night-

-5n the name of .aladine? .aladine?! re you trying to ma*e me thin* you're a 1night of

Solamnia?!- 9e laughed -(hat do you thin*, 1resh? Could our little alley )at really "e a 1night

%ithout her shining armor?-

-Too s*inny,- 1resh said -nd too good+loo*ing in't never "een a good+loo*ing %oman

1night That's %hy they "e)ome 1nights in the first pla)e

-5'm a 1night of Solamnia,- 5 said, my %ords spilling for%ard s%iftly "efore reason stopped

them ear of death and the sting of the insults they %ere heaping upon me had "e)ome too mu)h to

"ear -5'm a 1night of the Rose! 5 spit on the memory of #ord ria*an and 5 spit on the s)aly hide

of Ta*hisis! 5 )ame to San)tion on a spe)ial assignment from Grand Master #iam $hrling Mymission is to investigate the a)tivities of your master, 9ogan ight, "ut 5'm not really your enemy

as the Dar* 1nights are The Orders /ust %ant to *no% %hat he's up to, "ut he %ouldn't deal %ith

them! 5'm not a Dar* 1night!-

Revealing my ran* %ith the Orders may "e a violation of my vo%s 5 %ill ma*e sure 5 emphasiAe

this a)t %hen 5 su"mit my report to #ady 1arine 5 did not violate the Measure "y leaving San)tion

%ithout her permission or *no%ledge, "ut revealing myself as a )overt 1night to someone %ho is

not a mem"er of the Orders is in all li*elihood a grave offense

5t doesn't matter that it didn't do me any good

#onar )o)*ed his head, and his eyes still )oldly glared - Rose 1night? Bou?! Bou must ta*e

me for an idiot, #ady #ynn! (hy didn't you /ust go ahead and spin a lie a"out "eing a personal

emissary from the $mperor of $rgoth %ho %ants to ta*e a pee* at #ord 9ogan's for)es from theinside to see if %e're %orthy of military aid?-

-5'm telling the truth,- 5 said

9e regarded me for a moment, loo*ing thoughtful The stiletto remained painfully at my throat,

still digging past my s*in Suddenly, he said& -(hat is the si0ty+eighth point of the Measure?-



5 "lin*ed -(hat?-

-The K>th point (hat is the si0ty+eighth point? 5f you're a Rose 1night, you *no% it-

-There aren't si0ty+eight points in the Measure,- 5 replied, -not anymore Grand Masters Gunthar

and #iam revised it years ago-

-Then %e're an impasse My father %as on)e a 1night 9e got thro%n out "efore 5 %as "orn, "ut

he made me memoriAe the main points and standards outlined in the Measure "e)ause he thought it%as a good )ode to live "y 5 thin* he %as right to do so Some of them ma*e a lot of sense nd if

you )ould have told me %hat the si0ty+eighth point %as, 5 might have let you live to present proof

of your affiliation ut no%, 5 /ust thin* it's a trap

-t any rate, Rose 1nights aren't the type of people %ho hang out in "ars and fraterniAe %ith

lo%lifes Rose 1nights have more honor than that- ne% tone had )rept into his voi)e, a tone that

stru)* an even deeper fear in me than "efore

1resh heard it too Rising to his feet, he as*ed, -Bou're not /ust gonna *ill her?-

-That %as the general idea,- #onar replied

-That'd "e a %aste #et me have some fun first-

#onar shrugged and stru)* me on the forehead %ith the hilt of his stiletto, )ausing the "a)* of

my head to slam against the ro)* 5 finally lost )ons)iousness (hen the %orld s%am "a)* intofo)us, the sten)h of 1resh's un%ashed "ody filled my nose 5 had "een pulled a%ay from the ro)*s

and %as flat on my "a)* The stars s%am "rightly in the heaven Someone %as tugging at the

strings of my "ree)hes 5 heard #onar say, -Don't let her s)ream 5 hate it %hen %omen s)ream-

1resh laughed, and 5 realiAed that he had "een struggling %ith my "ree)hes -Bou're a%a*e

Great 5 %ouldn't %ant you to miss the last and greatest thrill of your life!- 9e slapped me hard

a)ross the fa)e, and then started struggling %ith my "ree)hes again

-8ust )ut them off,- #onar sighed from some%here near"y -She's not going to need them again-

My head suddenly )leared as a different *ind of terror flooded my "eing Not only %as 5 going to

die here, "ut also they %ere going to ta*e a%ay every shred of dignity 5 possessed "efore they *illed

me 5 had )ompletely mis/udged #onar 5 had "een ta*en in "y good loo*s, )harm, and the fa)t that

he %as less tainted %ith $vil than many of San)tion's residents

-5 guess you're right,- 1resh said -5 )an't undo the )ursed *not she used-

-.lease, 1resh,- 5 %hispered 5 %ould not allo% these )retins to do this to me -5f 5 )ooperate,

%ill you let me live? 5 don't %ant to die .lease-

9e grinned at me and ran his tongue over his )roo*ed teeth -Sure May"e 5'll de)ide you're too

valua"le to *ill,- he %hispered "a)*, leaning )lose

5 *issed his unshaven )hee* and he returned a putrid *iss on my mouth as 5 ran my hands do%n

his "a)* and over his side, finding his %aist and )aressing it

My right hand found the dagger on his %eapons "elt (ith my left, 5 started to undo the "u)*le,

hoping he truly al%ays thought %ith his loins as #onar said 1resh didn't disappoint me

-Beah,- he said -;ndo mine first then ta*e )are of that damned *not on yours-5 thin* 1resh died more startled than in pain 5 s%iftly dre% his dagger from his hilt and slashed

his throat 9e /er*ed "a)*%ard, his hands instin)tually going to his ne)* to stop his life from

pumping from his "ody lood poured from "et%een his fingers and spilled upon me as 5 s)ram"led

out from under him

#onar %as less surprised than 1resh 9e rose to his feet on the far side of the )ampfire, dra%ing

his s%ord -Bou should have /ust lain "a)* and ta*en it, alley )at,- he said in an irritated tone -5f

1resh had en/oyed himself, you might have lived a fe% more days-

-Not a good "argain,- 5 replied, @ui)*ly dra%ing 1resh's s%ord from its sheath 9e %as

t%it)hing li*e a fish out of %ater, not @uite dead yet 5 *i)*ed his hand aside as he gra""ed for me

#onar and 5 started to )ir)le around his "ody -(hy don't 5 /ust lay you out ne0t to him and return to

San)tion %ith the )rystals and earn 9ogan ight's favor that %ay?--Bou haven't %on yet, #ynn- 9e t%irled his "lade as he approa)hed -5'm going to "e hard to

*ill, parti)ularly sin)e you're using 1resh's inferior %eapons Bou and 5, "eing real %arriors, go for

@uality in our %eapons 1resh %ent for %hat )ost the least-

9e %as right s %e )ir)led, ea)h of us attempting to find /ust the right moment to stri*e, 5



noti)ed that the s%ord 5 %as using %as horri"ly un"alan)ed 5 too* a )han)e and s)anned the area

for my o%n dis)arded %eapons, "ut #onar too* that as an opportunity to rush at me

5 parried the s%ings that )ame too )lose, "a)*ing a%ay from him 9e %as very good 5 "arely

held against his "lo%s, as did the %eapon 5 held

Our "attle )arried us a%ay from the )amp and into the entran)e of the :alley of Crystal The

%hite+"lue glo% of the )rystals "eneath the moonlight refle)ted on #onar's %ell+honed "lade,ma*ing it appear magi)al The s%ord 5 %ielded %as so ill+used that it remained a dull gray

The "eating 5 had suffered at his hand )aused me to tire @ui)*er than 5 normally %ould, so he

managed to *no)* the s%ord from my hand %ith a flurry of "lo%s 9o%ever, he left his side open

%hile doing so 5 dove for%ard, intending to pun)h the dagger through his )hainmail 5nstead, the

"lade snapped on the lin*s #onar "a)*ed a%ay from me as %e "oth loo*ed at the "ro*en %eapon in

my hand %ith amaAement 9e )he)*ed his gut for %ounds, found none, then s%iftly moved

"et%een the dropped s%ord and me

-e reasona"le, #ynn #et me *no% %ho you really are That %ay, 5'll *no% %here to send your

"ody-

5 "a)*ed a%ay from him, my "ooted feet stum"ling a)ross the first fe% s)attered )rystals

Several of them shifted loose 5 too* a )ouple more steps "a)* -Beah #et's "e reasona"le #et's go "a)* to San)tion together Bou )an "ring me "efore 9ogan ight May"e he'll "elieve me 5 promise

5'll leave out the part a"out you standing "y %hile 1resh attempted to rape me 5 thin* #ord 9ogan's

a "it more honora"le than someone %ho %ould )ountenan)e su)h a thing-

-irst, #ord 9ogan %ould ta*e my %ord over a 1night of Ta*hisisor even a 1night of

Solamniaany day 9e *no%s that 5 share his )on)ern for *eeping San)tion free from oppression

"y any of your dying religious orders #ord 9ogan is preparing for the future %hile you *eep

loo*ing to%ard the past, at the e0pense of the people of 1rynn The gods have left the %orld to the

mortals, yet you 1nightson "oth sides of your little s@ua""leseem to have missed that

entirely-

-The 1nights of Solamnia have al%ays "een a"out more than servi)e to the gods,- 5 said

9e )ontinued, ignoring me& -Se)ond, #ord 9ogan has made it )lear that he doesn't %ant any

mem"ers of the so+)alled 'fighting orders' in his )itylast time, you nearly )reated a massa)re

%hen your Dar* 1nights, the 1nights of Solamnia, and the #egion of Steel sho%ed ho% "ad guests

)an "e Bou have nothing to say that he %ould %ant to hear Bou and yours are part of the past-

-5 thin* if your master %as to a)tually tal* to a 1night of Solamnia, he'd dis)over that %e've

learned from our mista*es in San)tion 5 thin*-

-Bou never learn from your mista*es None of you '1nights' do nd 5 thin* 5've given you

enough time to )ome )lean and to say your last %ords-

9e advan)ed to%ard me 5 @ui)*ly )rou)hed and "lindly s)ooped up a handful of )rystals and

dirt and flung them at his fa)e 9e s)reamed in pain as the )rystals slashed him, and 5 moved for my

s%ord $ven partially "linded, ho%ever, #onar managed to s%ing at me %ith his s%ord, )at)hingme a)ross the "reast lthough his stri*e didn't penetrate my armor, it did *no)* me to the ground

Sharp )rystals )ut into the "a)* of my legs

#onar "ello%ed %ordlessly, "lin*ing as "lood from the )uts on his forehead streamed into his

left eye 9e raised his s%ord to deliver the *illing "lo% 5 fought against my refle0es and *ept my

eyes open and fi0ed on the gleaming "lade to %at)h the final stri*e as it fell s 5 stared at Death in

the fa)e, 5 finally "eat "a)* my fear 5 suddenly felt )almer than 5 had in years 5 %hispered,

-.aladine, please %at)h over my soul-

ut the *illing "lo% never landed 5nstead, #onar suddenly /er*ed a half step for%ard, and the

"lade of a s%ord "urst from his )hest %ith a )run)h of "one and a snapping of )hainmail lin*s 9e

)oughed, and "lood %elled forth from his mouth and the %ound on his )hest The s%ord retreated

and he fell to the ground, t%it)hing as life fled from his "ody-ilthy dragonarmy s)um,- someone said in elven -Bou %ill "urn my forest no more-

Standing a"ove #onar's form, holding my s%ord, %as a figure out of legend 9e appeared /ust as

he had in Gramps's talesan elf %ith long golden lo)*s, large "lue eyes, and a fa)e so handsome

that he puts even others of his fair ra)e to shame Grammy )ould still ma*e Gramps /ealous "y



des)ri"ing ho% her heart had fluttered %hen she first laid eyes on Gilthanas of Eualinesti No% that

5 had seen him myself, 5 understood %hy

-Gilthanas?- 5 said, still not entirely "elieving my eyes 9e turned his large "lue eyes to%ard me

There %as a strange loo* in them, a loo* of fury Then, his e0pression filled %ith re)ognition

-Ti*a!- he e0)laimed 9e helped me to my feet -Ti*a, %hat are you doing here? 5 thought you

%ere dead!-That %as even more surprising to me than his appearan)e My parents and Gramps fre@uently

)ommented on ho% mu)h 5 resem"led Grammy a"out the fa)e, "ut surely Gilthanas had to *no%

she %as mu)h older than 5 %as at this point

-Bou're %ounded,- he )ontinued, noti)ing the )uts on my legs -Did that animal do that? nd

your hair Did he )ut off your "eautiful lo)*s?-

rom %hat she told me %hen 5 de)ided to )ut mine, Grammy has %orn her hair long her entire

life, ta*ing advantage of the spe)ta)ular )urls that nature had gifted her %ith lthough 5 had

inherited the red )olor she had %hen she %as young, 5 had not inherited the )urls 5 also )hose to

%ear my hair short "e)ause it %as more )omforta"le %hen %earing a great helm

9is @uestion )onfirmed that he thought 5 %as Grammy, though 5 )ame to @uestion %hether this

%as really Gilthanas Could he /ust "e a madman? 9e had a s)ar do%n one side of his fa)e, andGrammy had never mentioned a s)ar ut a long time had passed sin)e she had heard from him, so

long, in fa)t, that she and everyone else thought him dead s 5 %as trying to de)ide %hat to do

ne0t, 5 heard someone )alling his name

-9ere, lean on me, Ti*a,- Gilthanas said -5'm sure Tasslehoff has some "andages in his pa)*

(e'll fi0 your legs in no time-

-Than* you, Gilthanas- 5 said The name felt strange %hen 5 said it, someho% false ut, despite

his o"vious madness, ho% )ould he "e anyone "ut Gilthanas?

9e helped me "a)* to%ard the )amp nother elf )ame into vie% -Tasslehoff,- Gilthanas )ried

-Ti*a has "een atta)*ed "y dra)onians! She needs our help!-

The other elf rushed to our side, and the t%o of them helped me to%ard the )amp On)e there,

the se)ond elf offered me a "lan*et so 5 )ould stay de)ent %hile he tended my %ounds

-5 %ill return to the pass,- Gilthanas said -5 don't %ant any of that s)um snea*ing up on us-

-Don't go too far,- the other elf said

-Bour friend seems @uite insane,- 5 said as 5 slo%ly and painfully slid out of my pants

-Bes,- the elf said, loo*ing in the dire)tion of his fair+haired )omrade -9e has "een affe)ted "y

a rare gnome poison 9is madness is only going to get %orse, and he'll die %ithin a fe% months if 5

don't get him a )ure Oh, 5'm #ethagas, "y the %ay 9is name is Gilthanas-

-5 thought 5 re)ogniAed him,- 5 said -My name is-

5 )aught myself 5 already had violated my oath of se)re)y on)e that evening, under duress 5

%asn't going to do it again out of thoughtlessness

-#ynn 5'm from San)tion (e )ame out here to gather )rystals to sell to the lord of the )ityMy 'partners' de)ided to ta*e something from me that 5 %as un%illing to part %ith So, they died-

-Rest assured, 5 %ill attempt no su)h thing,- #ethagas said -No%, try to rela0 This might sting a

"it-

-(hy are you t%o here?- 5 as*ed through gritted teeth as he poured al)ohol on the "a)* of my

thighs -Bou %on't find help in the middle of no%here-

-5 sa% your fire Our griffins need rest, and 5 hoped that someone here might help us-

-Bour mounts )an rest, "ut as for help %ell, it's /ust li*e an elf to loo* in the %ilderness for

something that )an "e found in a )ity- 5 ended the )omment %ith a snigger, trying to imitate the

sound 5 had heard from a trapper %ho fre@uented the Sola)e inn %hile 5 %as a )hild 9e %as

perhaps the most virulent "igot 5 have ever met, and #ethagas seemed to pi)* up on my )hanged

attitude-That )ould "e so,- he replied -There is o))asionally %isdom to "e found in nature 9o%ever,

%e did find you, a )itiAen of San)tion Can you tell me of any %ise men %ho live there? nyone

%ho )an help my friend?-

-i0 my legs, then %e'll tal* nd %at)h that "lan*et,- 5 replied, for)ing a )old tone into my



voi)e 5 sensed #ethagas stiffen, and his ministrations "e)ame a "it less gentle

$ven at the time, 5 felt 5 should have sho%n more gratitude legend had )ome to save me at a

time %hen 5 didn't really deserve saving, and had thus given me a se)ond )han)e Bet, as 5 thought

a"out it, 5 realiAed the se)ond )han)e meant that 5 had to stay true to my vo%s and stay in the role

of #ynn for as long as 5 %as %ith these elves nd that meant "eing as )rude as 5 possi"ly )ould,

rea)hing deep "a)* into my memory for the very %orst of the ra)ial slurs 5 had heard from the patrons at the 5nn of the #ast 9ome

$ventually, my "ehavior "e)ame too mu)h for him to "ear -5 need to get more "andages from

my saddle"ags,- he said, heading to%ard the trio of griffins that stood silhouetted against the rising

moon Moments after he left, Gilthanas appeared at my side, having arrived %ithout ma*ing even

the slightest sound 9e loo*ed appraisingly at my in/ured legs -Tasslehoff did a good /o",- he said

-Gilthanas,- 5 said, his name still sounding false on my tongue 5 needed to prove to myself that

he %asn't /ust some lunati) %ho had fooled "oth himself and #ethagas 5 )ouldn't help "ut thin*

the gods, even if they had left 1rynn "ehind, %ould have re%arded Gilthanas %ith happiness %ith

Silvara instead of insanity for his servi)e during the (ar of the #an)e 5 too* his hand and

)on)entrated for a moment, fo)using upon the pulsing of my heart and dra%ing forth the mysti)al

po%ers that Goldmoon had opened up to me during the summers 5 spent on S)hallsea(hen 5 opened my eyes again, Gilthanas %as loo*ing at me e0pe)tantly, "ut no% 5 also )ould

see the "right green and "lue life energy that so "rightly represented his soul 5 had seen a similar

pattern %hen 5 had loo*ed at #aurana, the one time 5 met her 5 no longer had any dou"t 9e %as

Gilthanas

ut %here the glo% of his sister's soul had "een )alm and soothing %aves, Gilthanas's form %as

surrounded "y a seething and )haoti) mass of )olors 9e %as indeed deeply, perhaps irrevo)a"ly,

insane

-Ti*a?- he said, noti)ing the sorro% that must have registered on my fa)e at that realiAation

-re you all right?-

5 held his hand tighter -This is so unfair,- 5 said -9o% )ould this "e, Gilthanas? (hy aren't you

%ith Silvara? The stories people tell of you and her re they all /ust fantasies? #ies? 5s

everything ugly and grim? Can't there ever "e a happy ending?-

9e fro%ned at me -Silvara? 9o% do you *no% a"out Silvara and me?-

The nim"us of light a"out him seemed to fli)*er out as 5 allo%ed my spell to end (ith it %ent

my last "it of hope -Bou and she did a great servi)e for 1rynn and the )hildren of .aladine (hy

didn't .aladine re%ard you "etter?-

-Ti*a, Ti*a, Ti*a,- he said in a slightly patroniAing tone -The gods give mortals only the

re%ards they deserve Truth is, 5 didn't deserve Silvara 5 didn't *no% %hat 5 had in her She tried

telling mesho%ing me"ut 5 %as too %rapped up in myself to realiAe it $ven after 5 lost her, it

too* me de)ades to realiAe %hat 5 had done No% 5'm trying to get her "a)*, to earn my re%ard Do

you *no% 5 drove her a%ay "e)ause she lied to me?--Bou did?-

-Bes, she isn't a 1agonesti at all She is a - 9e hesitated, loo*ing at me %ith a slight fro%n

-(ait Bou're not Ti*a Bou loo* a little li*e her, "ut you )an't possi"ly "e her She should "e mu)h

older-

-Bes!- 5 shifted e0)itedly, "ut the pain shot through my )ut legs 5nstead, 5 /ust )lut)hed his hand

-5'm Ti*a's granddaughter 5'm #insha Ma/ere-

-#insha? Bou're ho% old? $ighteen? Nineteen? Bou loo* almost li*e your grandmother did %hen

5 first met her Does she live still?-

-She's as feisty as ever Caramon, too ut listen, your friend #ethagas told me that you've "een

poisoned (hat happened?-

-ate,- Gilthanas said -ate and pride 5 drove Silvara a%ay "e)ause 5 %as too proud to admitho% deeply 5 had fallen in love and ho% mu)h her lie had %ounded me nd no% 5'm going to

%aste a%ay as a lunati) %ithout ever getting "a)* together %ith her- 9e loo*ed at me sadly -t

least 5 got to meet you, #insha Ma/ere re you follo%ing in your grandparents' footsteps?-

- little less su))essfully, perhaps, "ut 5'm trying,- 5 replied, indi)ating my %ounded legs



-Dra)onians %ill al%ays "e a mat)h for a young %arrior, no matter ho% tough she thin*s she is-

9e paused again -That %as a dra)onian 5 saved you from "a)* there, %as it not?-

5 didn't have the heart to tell him the truth -Bes 1apa* ut, you seem fine no% Tell #ethagas

a"out Silvara %hile you )an 5'm sure he'll help you-

-5 have moments li*e this one, "ut they are getting rarer and shorter %ith ea)h passing day nd

#ethagas already *no%s a"out my @uest to reunite %ith Silvara 9e has promised to stay %ith meuntil 5 have found her irst, though, he %ants to stop the poison from *illing me 9e is a very

sensi"le and loyal )ompanion, #eth is- 9e started to stro*e my hair %ith his free hand, an a"sent+

minded loo* )rossing his fa)e -Bou should let your hair gro% out Bour grandmother had su)h

lovely hair-

-Bou *no% %hat 5 thin*? 5 thin* that %e've "oth "een granted a se)ond )han)e here tonight 5t

%as ate that "rought us all here ate, or may"e even the hand of .aladine himself- 5 shifted

again, trying to loo* into his "lue eyes "ut only %in)ing %ith pain -5 thin* that #ethagas guiding

his griffins to our fire %as no mista*e Bou %ere fated to save me from my atta)*ers, so that 5 )ould

have the )han)e to "e)ome the 1night 5've al%ays %anted to "e nd "e)ause you saved me, 5 )an

give you information on not /ust one pla)e %here you might find a )ure, "ut t%o! .aladine "e

praised, Gilthanas, "ut 5 thin* that 5 )an help you and your silver dragon reunite!--Silver dragon?-

-Bes, you and Silvara?-

-(hat are you tal*ing a"out, silver dragon?- Gilthanas leapt to his feet -Silvara is not a dragon!

9o% dare you a))use my "eloved of "eing a rampaging monster?!-

5 thin* Gilthanas might have stru)* me if #eth hadn't returned at that very moment and dragged

him a%ay Gilthanas didn't regain his sanity %hile 5 %as %ith him and #eth 5nstead, he fought

imaginary )reatures and set #onar's "ody on fire "e)ause -Aom"ies %ill reanimate if you don't!-

5t %as very diffi)ult for me to maintain the fa)ade of #ynn during that time 5 %anted to /oin their

@uest, "ut 5 *ne% 5 )ouldn't 5 had duties to return to ut 5 still helped #ethagas as "est 5 )ould

Cou)hed in ra)ist and a"usive termssu)h as threatening to *ill Gilthanas "e)ause his insanity %as

disgusting me even more than elves typi)ally did5 provided them %ith information on ho% to

rea)h Godshome a mysti) site my -mother- on)e visitedH and the River of 9ealing a pla)e a

1night told me a"out a fe% years "a)*H 5 thin* #ethagas is a "rave and honora"le elf, and that

Gilthanas did right in pla)ing his trust in him 5 /ust %ish 5 )ould have left him %ith a "etter

impression of me (hat %ill he thin* of my parents if Gilthanas remem"ers our )onversation and

tells him %ho 5 am?

5 )ontinue to attempt to help them on their /ourney s 5 slo%ly ma*e my %ay "a)* to San)tion, 5

offer nightly prayers to .aladine and his t%o sons, and hope that one of them is listening and is

%illing to help Gilthanas on his diffi)ult path

5'd thro% a prayer or t%o in for myself, too, "ut 5'm saving them in )ase my %ounds get infe)ted

"efore 5 rea)h San)tion 9opefully, my infra)tions against the Measure %ill "e deemed light enoughto let me ta*e advantage of the se)ond )han)e ate or the gods have given me

5t's my most sin)ere hope right no% nd if you're reading this, it pro"a"ly )ame true

shes& Godshome, =Ls)

From the #ournal of !ethagas of .ualinesti,

started in the /ear 2-sc

+ntry 1&, n Godshome

5 have fe% a)tual memories of the eva)uation of Eualinesti during the (ar of the #an)e 5 %as

still very young at the time, "arely more than a "a"y, and my father "elieves that the horrors 5

e0perien)ed )aused me to "lo)* them from my mind ut sometimes, %hen sitting at a )ampfire,memories of s)reaming, the sound of "eating dragon %ings, and the sight of a forest aflame all

around me flash into my mind, leaving me "reathless for a moment

s 5 sit here in this desolate valley, a fire raging and a s*inned ra""it siAAling on a spit, some of

those memory fragments are drifting through my mind, along %ith the "oth the /oys and hardships 5



e0perien)ed %hile gro%ing up in Eualimori, our )ity of e0ile

One memory in parti)ular e)hoes through my mind

My mother %as very religious (hen 5 as*ed her %hy the gods had let the dragons destroy our

home in Eualinesti, she responded that $'li had )hosen to let the dragonarmy destroy those elves

%ho %ere %ea* in spirit and )orrupted "y the taint of humans She "elieved that the gods had given

the forest of Southern $rgoth to us, and that there the "est of the elven nations %ould gro% strongShe vie%ed the return of divine po%ers to the priesthood as eviden)e that the elves of Southern

$rgoth %ere indeed )hosen over all other peoples The ne0t step, she said, %ould "e the re"irth of

the legendary )ity of Godshomeonly it %ould "e re"orn under the "anner of a united elven

*ingdom

Godshome My mother loved telling and retelling the legends of Godshome, e0plaining in a

doAen different %ays ho% it %as "oth a )ity %here god+fearing people of all ra)es gathered to

%orship and a se)luded vale %here those %hom the gods found %orthy %ere given their dire)t

"lessing The )ity %as supposedly "uilt to appear li*e a giant %heel %hen vie%ed from the air,

%hile the vale )ontained living statues of all the gods and a pool %hi)h )ould grant mortals the

po%er to rea)h the stars themselves

5 had only ever heard those stories from my mother, and 5 hadn't heard a"out or thought of Godshome for years %hen suddenly #ynn of Gate%ay mentioned it

She %as a very strange %oman, even for a human She had every appearan)e of "eing a rogue

and a s)oundrel, yet "efore %e parted %ays she had used the map from Gilthanas's pa)* and

indi)ated not one "ut t%o pla)es to %hi)h 5 might ta*e him to find healing loo* of pain )rossed

her fa)e %hen Gilthanas started ho%ling apologies at Silvara, Tanis 9alf+$lven, and several others

%hom 5 )ouldn't pla)e The %ay she %in)ed made me thin* that she might have *no%n some of the

people he %as seeing in his fevered visions, "ut %hen 5 pressed for details, she "e)ame rude

fter lam"asting me %ith slurs that 5'd heard only the most "la)*+hearted of villains level against

my people, she insisted that she %as doing this only to repay us for saving her life %hen the s)um

she %as traveling %ith atta)*ed her She insisted that if she didn't help me find a %ay to )ure

Gilthanas, she %ould have to *ill him "e)ause he disgusted her so mu)h Bet, %hen she didn't thin*

5 %as %at)hing her, 5 sa% her loo* at my friend %ith su)h pity that 5 *ne% she felt heart"rea*, not

disgust, at his state ut, if she )hose to lie a"out her motivations, that %as her de)ision

The t%o pla)es she added to Gilthanas's map %ere -Godshome- and -River of 9ealing- She

e0plained that she'd heard of the pla)es from a retired e0plorer, and from other disparaging remar*s

it seemed this e0plorer %as a mother %hom she had little love for and %ho had sho%n little love for

her Still, #ynn %as sure that the information on these sites %as valid, and that 5 %ould find a )ure

for Gilthanas at either one

The River of 9ealing %as lo)ated in the fara%ay :ingaard Mountains %hile Godshome %as

merely a fe% days flight from our )amp -5f there's any%here the gods )an still "e found, it's there,-

the rogue had assured me -nd the gods )an heal pretty mu)h anything that might ail a mortale0)ept la)* of faith, 5 suppose-

That %as an interesting statement even if 5 am still not entirely sure %hat she meant fter all,

ho% )ould someone stand in the presen)e of the gods and not "elieve? nd if the tales my mother

told %ere true, then Godshome %ould have to "e one of the most glorious sites in nsalon

ut, no% that 5 have arrived at Godshome, 5 see that it, li*e so many other pla)es in the %orld,

has lost all magi) 5 am glad my mother died "efore the Summer of Chaos, for its end surely %ould

have "ro*en her heart 9o%ever, the sight of this vale %ould have hurt her even more

5 found the ruined )ity of Godshome first, soaring on griffin "a)* over the arid lands)ape of

Nera*a large en)ampment of Dar* 1nights had esta"lished themselves here, although for %hat

reason 5 do not *no% perhaps they %ere sear)hing for signs of the departed gods as 5've heard

mysti)s from the Citadel of #ight have done?(hatever the reason for them "eing there, it simply added motivation for me to avoid those

ruinsto vie% it simply as the landmar* that it is ))ording to "oth my mother and #ynn of

Gate%ay, the gods )ould "e rea)hed dire)tly in the vale, not in the )ity

So, 5 fle% the griffins into the near"y mountain range, soaring through narro% )anyons and



)ir)ling over valleys that appeared ina))essi"le to anything "ut flying )reatures ;nli*e most other

mountain ranges in nsalon, these did not appear to )ontain the ruins of an)ient ogre )ities perhaps

even at the height of their )iviliAation, those $vil "eings had shunned this range, sensing that the

po%ers of the divine held s%ay here Nor did the range seem to hold any valleys that mat)hed the

des)ription my mother had given"o%l+shaped %ith a )ir)ular pool in the middle

s 5 sear)hed, 5 also thought of ho% my mother had said that the valley )ould "e found only if the gods %ished it 5 %asn't sure e0a)tly %hat to e0pe)t if the gods still resided there, they %ould

allo% me to find it or not 5 de)ided that 5 %ould sear)h for four days fter that, 5 %ould head

%est in sear)h of the River of 9ealing

5t too* me t%o days to find the valley During this time, Gilthanas slipped in and out of a half+

a%a*e state, often e0perien)ing violent rages during %hi)h he thrashed in the saddle 5 eventually

had to land and tie his arms to ma*e sure he didn't unfasten his harness and fall to his death 5 )ame

to fear that he might *ill himself "efore the poison did ut, the stories a"out Godshome *ept

)oming to my mind, filling me %ith hope Gilthanas %as the son of Spea*er Solostaran, and he had

stood against the hordes of the dragonarmies so the Eualinesti )ould return to our homeland

Surely, if someone %ho had sounded as disreputa"le as #ynn's mother )ould find Godshome, the

gods %ould e0tend a %el)oming hand to GilthanasMy hopes started to %ane %hen 5 )ir)led a"ove Godshome :ale 5t %as readily re)ogniAa"le as

the pla)e 5 sought& a "o%l+shaped valley %ith a la*e that formed a perfe)t )ir)le at its )enter The

%ater of the la*e seemed strangely "la)*, "ut something %hite shone %ithin it Steeply rising, ro)*y

slopes lined the valley, offering no e0its from the valley that 5 )ould see from the air la)*ened,

toppled stumps )overed the area as if the entire valley had "een su"/e)ted to a fire far greater than

even that %hi)h had s%ept through Eualinesti %hen it fell to the dragonarmy

5 landed the griffins Gilthanas %as un)ons)ious, so 5 left him "ound in the saddle No%here

)ould 5 see the statues of the gods that supposedly stood %ithin the valley s 5 %al*ed to%ard the

)urious "la)* la*e, the "reeAe sent a fine gray ash s)urrying "a)* and forth a)ross the "arren valley

floor

(hen 5 rea)hed the edge of the sun*en area at the valley's )enter, instead of seeing dar* and

polluted %ater, 5 found myself gaAing do%n upon a solid glassli*e su"stan)e 5t %as )ra)*ed, almost

as if a giant had stru)* it dead+)enter %ith a fist Despite the )ra)*s and the ashes that the %ind

pushed a)ross it, the surfa)e appeared highly polished, allo%ing me to see refle)ted in it the pale,

s)arred moon that had appeared in the heavens on the night follo%ing the defeat of the god Chaos 5

loo*ed to the )lear "lue s*y The sun %as sin*ing "ehind the mountains, and the moon %as no%here

in eviden)e

5 )ould see no statues of the gods 5 )ould see no la*e in %hi)h mortals )ould s%im to the stars

Nothing "ut ash remained, ma*ing this pla)e a mo)*ery of %hat it had on)e "een

5 )ursed the gods, then and there 5 )ursed them for a"andoning nsalon, for giving people li*e

my mother false hope %ith their "rief return after the (ar of the #an)e 5 )ursed them for leading#ynn of Gate%ay to give me false hope and %aste pre)ious days in my @uest to save the man %ho

had saved my life 5 dared them to stri*e us "oth dead 5 dared them to sho% themselves, to prove to

me that they %ere nothing "ut )o%ards %ho so feared for their o%n safety that they first shattered

the %orld in response to the 1ingpriest of 5star's demands of su"mission 5 taunted them for fleeing

in the fa)e of the god of Chaos and then )ursed them again for leaving those %ho %orshiped them

not even the magi) of %iAards 5 raged at the heavens until my throat gre% soar, and until 5 noti)ed

that Gilthanas had freed himself and %as raging right along %ith me

5 realiAed the futility of )rying out to the gods They are either deaf or dead The ashes in this

valley, the ashes that %ill "e impossi"le to *eep from )linging to the ra""it that 5 am roasting, are

pro"a"ly their remains (hatever the truth is, the gods are gone 5 sought their aid, and they )ould

provide none 5 %ill on)e again restrain Gilthanas in the saddle of one of the griffins and then %e%ill travel to%ard Solamnia in sear)h of the River of 9ealing Or, "etter yet, a sage %ho )an

provide a )ure even sooner

Of $lves and dventures& River of 9ealing, =Ls)



9ave 5 got a s)heme for you, my friend! genuine money+ma*er that )an't fail ll %e have to

do is (ill you loo* at that? 8ust li*e an elf to dra% a *nife on a guy for doing %hat )omes

naturally 5f she didn't %ant menfol* )oming onto her, she "loody %ell should stay out of taverns

or at least she should dress in a more modest fashion!

9ave 5 ever told you ho% mu)h 5 hate elves? Gods, it ma*es my "lood "oil /ust to thin* a"outthose pointy+eared *no%+it+alls "reathing the same air 5 do

(hy? e)ause they've made my life a living hell, that's %hy 8ust a"out every time 5 had a ra)*et

that loo*ed li*e it %ould %or* for the long haul, some damned elf has )ome along and s)re%ed it

up!

(hen 5 %as a *id, 5'd set up this ni)e little s)heme %here me and a partner %ere peddling visions

from Ta*hisis (e'd set up shop in one of the temples in the Old Distri)t %here %e'd found a hollo%

that %ould let someone in a se)ret )ham"er pose as the -voi)e of the god- Bou've no idea ho%

mu)h drun*en or stupid Dar* 1nights %ould pay to hear their goddess spea* on)e 5 -)hanneled

her- through my "ody (or*ed li*e a )harm until some damn elf sho%ed up Didn't *no% there

%ere elves among the Dar* 1nights, did you? (ell, there are nd this one had "een around for the

)onstru)tion of the rooms %e %ere using 5 "arely es)aped %ith my life, and my partner%ho hadtaught me everything 5 *ne%%as lyn)hed "y the Dar* 1nights right there on the spot

ut, hey, that's %hat happens sometimes That's the ris*s %e ta*e 5 )ould have let it go if it'd

"een /ust that one time

ut a fe% years later, another elf ruined things for me 5'd gotten settled in Caergoth %here 5 %as

doing a "ris* "usiness in selling 1agonesti her"al )ures for everything from gout to impoten)e Of

)ourse, the )ures %ere nothing "ut applesau)e, oatmeal, and thyme, "ut people %ere snat)hing 'em

up any%ay ;ntil this holier+than+thou elven %en)h %ith feathers and flo%ers in her hair and a leaf

tattooed on her )hee* sho%ed up, 5 %as doing fantasti) "usiness 5 guess she )ame loo*ing for me,

thin*ing 5 %as one of her pointy+eared )ousins or something, and %hen she dis)overed 5 %asn't, she

first gave me a le)ture a"out truth and honesty and then she started *i)*ing my ass

9ey, there's nothing funny a"out this et%een her and the to%nsfol* 5 "arely es)aped!

ut that's not it 5f that had "een the end of it, 5 might have /ust )hal*ed it up to "ad lu)* ut

t%o months ago, it happened again! nother damn elf sho%ed up and ruined "y life!

fter Caergoth, 5 eventually ended up in 1orval 5'd headed north instead of south, "e)ause the

idea that someho% elves in general %ere /ust "ad ne%s for me %as already starting to form in my

head5 had no desire to get any )loser to Eualinesti than 5'd already "een

t any rate, 1orval loo*ed li*e the perfe)t pla)e for a )ompletely fresh start 5t %as a @uaint little

village %ith a"out a doAen )itiAens that still held regular servi)es to Misha*al and .aladine in a

little temple at the heart of the to%n, and everyone %as the perfe)t stereotype of 'salt of the earth'

asi)ally, it seemed li*e the perfe)t pla)e to ta*e it easy %hile dusting off some of the old stand+"ys

li*e faith healing, spirit )hanneling, and fortune tellingor the first four months, 1orval %as paradise ll 5 had do %as 'read' a fe% goat entrails and

)orre)tly guess that one of the to%n leaders %as sleeping around %ith another to%n leader's %ife

and 5 had free room and "oard

ut %hen 5 heard the legend of the River of 9ealing, 5 *ne% 5 had it made ))ording to a

favorite lo)al story there, there %as this river in the mountains %here Misha*al li*ed to s*inny+dip

"y+produ)t of this %as that the %aters permanently too* on part of her divine essen)e so that

those %ho "athed in them %ould "e )ured of %hatever ailed them .ro"lem is, terri"le )reatures

haunted the only pass leading to the valley %here this river )ould "e found

eing the resident all+around supernatural good guy, 5 announ)ed that 5 %ould "rave %hatever

foes lur*ed in the pass to "ring "a)* "ottles filled %ith the "lessed %aters fter all, if anyone

deserved the "enefit of Misha*al's gift, the people of 1orval did, and, )learly, it %as fate that hadsent me to them The good people said there %as no need for me to ris* myselfthey %ere doing

fine %ithout the healing %aters they said"ut, "eing the "rave and selfless soul that 5 am, 5 put

myself on the line for them

(ell, no, not really ll 5 did %as load up on dried fruit and )heese and rough it for a fe% days in



the hills to the east of to%n 5'd "rought a doAen or so "ottles along, too, and after three %ee*s, 5

filled them from one of the many streams running through the hills and then headed "a)* into to%n

Of )ourse 5 *ne% that the yo*els %ould eventually )at)h onto the fa)t that the "ottles had

nothing "ut drin*ing %ater in them .art t%o of the plan %as to tell them that 5 had dis)overed a

%ay to put the evil spirits of the pass to rest so that they )ould safely travel to the River of 9ealing

themselves all it %ould ta*e %as that platinum holy sym"ol from their temple and that /e%el+en)rusted medallion that's "een the mayor's sym"ol of offi)e sin)e the time of the Cata)lysm Bou

see, the angry spirit in the pass is really a priest of Ta*hisis and only those t%o mighty sym"ols of

Good )an smite him Beah, you )an see right through it, "ut 5'm sure the good people of 1orval

%ould have s%allo%ed that line %ithout hesitation

5 never got a )han)e to even try it, though (hile 5 %as en/oying my hero's %el)ome and

distri"uting %ater to the old, infirm, and sufferers of )olds, a trio of griffins fle% overhead

Beah, you're a"solutely right Griffins mean elves elieve me, my "lood ran )old at the sight 5

silently prayed that they %ould /ust *eep going, "ut no They )ir)led "a)* and spiraled in for a

landing

There %ere t%o of them t%o males One of them %as a total loon 9e thought the mayor's

daughter %as his sister and mistoo* me for Sturm right"lade one moment and a dra)onian thene0t Oh, and he thought 1orval %as some pla)e in Eualinesti and that %e'd assem"led a feast in

his honor

t any rate, the sane elf, named #eft or some+su)h, said he'd )ome loo*ing for a guide to the

River of 9ealing, or at least a maphis raving pal had "een poisoned and needed to "e dun*ed in it

"efore it %as too late

irst, everyone pointed fingers at me Then the villagers offered up some of the "ottles of %ater

5'd given them The )raAy elf%ho at that point in time "elieved himself to "e 1ith+1anan, founder

of EualinestiguAAled three "ottles of 's%eet %ine, the li*e of %hi)h he had never tasted "efore'

and suddenly seemed lu)id

5 %as the only one %ho %as startled, of )ourse fter the madness %ent out of his eyes, #eft

started relating a %hole string of very )onfusing events to the other elfyou *no% ho% elves )an

"a""le, and "a""le he did 9e spo*e of all sorts of nonsense li*e diamond+filled valleys

Mean%hile, 5 did %hat 5 )ould to su"tly en)ourage them to get their s)ra%ny "utts out of my

to%n -There's a storm )oming,- 5 said, -and if you don't leave no% you may "e trapped-

9e loo*ed li*e he %as "uying it "ut then the Salt of the $arth de)ided to pipe up again -re

you sure, Seer?- as*ed Old Man (ell"yt -My *nee ain't s%ollen- nd then the (ido% Nell

started tal*ing a"out her arthritis nd then they all started tal*ing a"out %anting to feed the elves

"efore they got on their %ay nd of )ourse the lighter+"lond one had to use his ne+found )oheren)e

to say, -5t's not that %e dou"t your a"ilities, soothsayer, "ut my e0perien)e says that the ailments of

the elderly are more a))urate in predi)ting the %eather than even most (iAards of 9igh Sor)ery

)ould 5 thin* %e'll do /ust fine if %e leave tomorro% rather than today .lus, 5'm famished, and 5%ould "e honored to share a meal %ith the good fol* of 1orval- nd, of )ourse, #eft agreed %ith

him Those pointy+ears sti)* together li*e glue (ait %as his name #eft? .erhaps it %as #eapt?

Oh %ell, it doesn't matter

Na% 5t's never a pro"lem to re)over from the 'ut my *nee doesn't hurt!' %hen doing the

%eather predi)tion "it C'mon, give me more )redit than that! .lus, 5 had the advantage of

demurring to -the %isdom of many lifetimes, )olle)ted in this one man, in he %ho is Gilthanas-

Beah, 5 laid it on thi)*, "ut it %or*ed 5f there's one thing 5 *no% a"out elves, it's that they have

egos as "ig as their ears and if you %ant to distra)t one, you appeal to his ego

ut, as it turned out, 5 shouldn't even have "othered 5 %as still "uttering up londie and ma*ing

suggestions for the feast %hen his fa)e suddenly too* on a hateful e0pression and he said, '5'm

going to tell you something 5 should have said years ago& 5 find the %hole idea of you and her ma*ing love revolting She's still a )hild, and she's only going after you "e)ause it ma*es her feel

li*e an adult 5f you lay a hand on her, 5 may /ust have to *ill you'

5 don't *no% %hat he meant, and 5 never found out, "e)ause the ne0t thing he did %as shrie*,

-Silvara! Silvara!- and run up to the (ido% Nell, run his hands through her %hite hair and start



raving a"out ho% he has desperately sear)hed for her and ho% only she )ould fill the emptiness in

his heart lo%ery elf )ourting nonsense li*e that

Beah 9e'd flipped out again 5t %as all %e )ould do to *eep him from running off %ith the old

"at #eft turned on me angrily, and 5 thought the gig %as up, "ut then (ell"yt piped up, -The

legends of the River of the 9ealing says that people must "athe in it for its effe)ts to ta*e hold

(ylan %ill ta*e you there, 5'm sure-Beah '(ylan' is %hat 5 told them my name %as Seemed sort of magi)al+li*e 5 mean, %ho'd

ever "uy into a magi)al+mysti)al+%or*er named .ehter?

t any rate, #eft started pushing me to sho% him to the River of 9ealing, and on)e again, the

Salt of the $arth de)ided to "e helpful -No, you should go %ith them That poor elf needs your

help more than %e do .erhaps they )an assist in slaying the spirits in the pass?- nd of )ourse,

#eft said -(e %ill help you in any %ay %e )an if Gilthanas re)overs, 5've no dou"t he %ill /oin

your mysti) in slaying the $vil spirits that are *eeping you from the River of 9ealing- nd then he

pro)eeded to "ore us all %ith the mighty deeds of Gilthanas%ho %as hiding under a near"y

hand)art, s)reaming a"out "lue dragons %ith the heads of snails

No, 5'd never heard of Gilthanas until that day 9uh So, he really %as some *ind of elf*ing 5

never %ould have guessed Not that it %ould have made a differen)e one %ay or other 9e still gotstrapped to the "a)* of one of the griffins li*e an unruly "a"y and %e too* off for the mountains,

flying lo% along the pass that the yo*els thought led to the River of 9ealing

9ere's a "it of advi)e for youif someone ever offers you a ride on the "a)* of a griffin, turn it

do%n! Not only is it damn )old%hy those pointy ears don't fall off %hile they're flying around on

those "easts 5'll never *no%"ut you'd never thin* that )reatures %ith "ea*s )ould have su)h foul

"reath! That, and they're damn unruly s 5 %as mounting mine, it almost "it me in half

t any rate, %e fle% lo% through the pass, the lifeless gray sla"s of ro)* that ma*e up the

:ingaard Mountains rising on either side of us Then #eft%ho %as riding the lead griffin and

seemed to "e )ommanding all three of them someho% lost )ontrol of his griffin 5t seemed to

"u)* in midair, and if he hadn't "een strapped into the saddle, 5'm sure he %ould have "een thro%n

to his death split se)ond later, mine did the same and it started s)ree)hing and )lim"ing steeply

into the air as it thrashed its head "a)* and forth 5 found myself flung against the "a)* of the saddle

so hard 5 feared my spine %ould "rea*

The griffins %ere s)ree)hing and #eft %as shrie*ing orders to get them "a)* under his )ontrol

and the one 5 %as riding suddenly %ent from a )lim" to a steep dive, thro%ing me for%ard in the

saddle and %hen it did, 5 sa% %hat %as )ausing the pro"lem Then 5 started s)reaming, too!

Clinging to the griffin's side %as the ghostly shape of a strange man+ha%*a )reature %ith a

human torso and head "ut %inged arms and the legs of a "ird 5ts transparent talons %ere tearing the

mount's "elly and it %as stripping flesh off the griffin's side %ith its ghostly teeth (hen 5

s)reamed, it glared at me %ith red eyes and released my mount The griffin snapped at the phantom

%ith its "ea* "ut the terri"le )reature %as unaffe)ted 5nstead, it fi0ed its eyes on me and shrie*ed,'9uuumaaaan! The destroyer of our aerie!' My mount on)e again /er*ed up%ard in a sudden )lim",

#eft pulled his griffin a%ay from his atta)*er, and the monstrous )reatures pursued, s%arming all

around me

5'm not ashamed to admit that 5 %et myself as they )ame at me 5'm a )on artist, not an

adventurer, so real ghosts are not my forteand ghosts of some "iAarre flying humanoid are not

even on my list of things 5 *ne% e0isted! So 5 started s)reaming li*e a lady+in+%aiting )onfronted

%ith a spider& -Get me do%n! Get me on the ground!-

The phantoms %ere s%arming all around me One of them )ame straight at me, its glo%ing red

eyes lo)*ing onto mine and a sensation rushed through me that said that gaAe %as searing my very

soul!

-9uuumaaaaaaan!- the )reature shrie*ed, "earing fangs and preparing to rip into me %ith itstalons

5 s@ueeAed my eyes shut and started %hispering a prayer to Reor0 (hy? (ell, honestly, it %as

the only god 5 )ould thin* of at the time! 5'm not very religious, to "e honest, "ut 5 found that

d%arves part %ith their )ash easily if you )onvin)e them that you've got a pie)e of something that



Reor0 tou)hed or regurgitated during a drun*en "inge So, Reor0 )ame to mind "e)ause he's the

god 5've dealt %ith the most

9a! No, 5 don't pray regularly The gods have never really done anything for me, "ut they haven't

done anything to me either (hy attra)t potentially negative attention? .lus, if you )an "elieve

those people from S)hallsea, the gods aren't listening anymore 5nteresting 5 never had you pegged

for the religious sort ran)hala, huh? (ell, you'll have to introdu)e us some timet any rate, 5 )losed my eyes as the ghost rushed to%ard me and muttered a prayer My mount

)hanged dire)tions again, on)e more plunging do%n%ard The air rushed against my fa)e %ith

unpre)edented for)e and the i)y )hill of the phantom )la% as it )leaved the air %here my head had

"een moments "efore 5 huddled in the saddle, *eeping my eyes shut as the rush of %ind in my ears

dro%ned out the )ries of the ghosts 5 thought my s*in gre% so num" that 5 )ould no longer feel the

%ind upon it, and then the rush of %ind faded in my ears as %ell

nd then #eft's voi)e& -5t's all right, (ylan Bou )an open your eyes no%-

5 loo*ed around and dis)overed that the griffin had landed my fa)e hadn't gone num" the

%ind had /ust stopped 5 loo*ed up and sa% that the ghostly "ird+men %ere still )ir)ling a"ove

They seemed una"le to )ome )loser

-Bou saved our lives,- #eft said -nd 5 o%e you an apology a)* in 1orval, 5 %as thin*ing you%ere a fraud, "ut you've proven me %rong 5 have some small *no%ledge of spirits, "ut even 5

never %ould have guessed that their e0isten)e is restri)ted to the air (hat *ind of spirits are they?

They remind me of "anshees, "ut their "ehavior is different-

5 %as so stunned that it too* me a moment to find my voi)e 5 had impressed an elf! My mind

started reeling %ith the possi"ilities (here to "egin, 5 %as thin*ing 9o% mu)h )ould 5 ma*e out

of this? So many ideas flooded my mind that 5 didn't *no% %here to ta*e things from there So 5

started tal*ing to stall for time, "asi)ally spinning lies a"out the ghosts 5 started e0plaining ho% the

spirits %ere slain "y Dar* 1nights during the Summer of Chaos and ho% the "ird+men have "een

haunting the pass every sin)e

-(ere they aara*o)ra or *yrie?- #eft as*ed

-ara*o)ra,- 5 told him, not really *no%ing %hat either of those things are "ut, as you *no%, as

long as you sound authoritative, people "elieve you No, it's not strange ho% 5 remem"ered those

t%o names %hen 5 didn't )at)h #eft's 8ust let me tell my story! 5 told #eft, -They %ere on)e

pea)eful, loving )reatures loo* %hat *ind of monsters they have "e)ome in the afterlife, all

"e)ause of those hateful 1nights 5t's terri"le Terri"le- (hi)h, of )ourse, triggered the response 5

%anted The Dar* 1nights have "een s@uatting in Eualinesti for at least thirty years no%, and 5 %as

pretty sure #eft %asn't too happy a"out it

nyho%, 5 got him ranting a"out the Dar* 1nights for a "it, su))essfully ma*ing him forget all

a"out %hether those ghosts %ere aara*o)ra or *yrie nd %hen Gilthanas started ho%ling a"out the

slugs that %ere filling the s*y, #eft de)ided that %e should get under%ay The River of 9ealing

a%aited and soon Gilthanas's mind %ould "e restoredThat %as one of the moments 5 %ished 5 %as a violent man 5 )ould have "ashed #eft's head in,

right then and there and turned "a)* Oh yeah, -the danger %as over- Don't you *no% anything,

Selin? 5 thought "eing a %orshiper of a "ard god and all you %ould "e familiar %ith all those stories

a"out adventuring parties that either go up a mountain or )lim" do%n a hole The first monsters met

are never as "ad as the ones that follo%!

ut, sin)e 5'm not a violent man, and sin)e 5 )ouldn't )ome up %ith a reason %hy %e shouldn't

ta*e the loony up to the top and dun* him in the river, %e started out again, %al*ing the griffins

along the ground instead of flying on them

That %as a )reepy )ouple of days, let me tell you 5t felt li*e %e %ere "eing %at)hed the %hole

time 5 didn't dare loo* up "e)ause 5 *ne% %hat %as %at)hing usthose ghostly "irdmen They

%ere /ust %aiting for us to ta*e to the s*y again so they )ould rip our hearts out The only upside%as that Gilthanas slipped into a semi)ons)ious state and stopped his ho%ling

$ventually, the pass opened up into a "eautiful lush valley, the *ind of pla)e %here in those

stories 5 mentioned "efore you'll find t%o+headed ogres enslaving uni)orns and fair maidens

No, of )ourse there %as nothing li*e that in the valley 5t %as /ust a valley, although a "eautiful



one 5t %as shaped a "it li*e a "o%l and from the mouth of the pass %e )ould see a la*e of spar*ling

)lear %ater %ith a small "uilding "y its side "ro*en and overgro%n road led to the "uilding, and

a river that glittered li*e the la*e sna*ed its %ay out of vie% among some evergreens

5 proudly pronoun)ed that this %as the River and the #a*e of 9ealing #eft as*ed %hat the

"uilding %as, and as 5 fum"led for an ans%er he volunteered one -5s it a temple of Misha*al?-

5 @ui)*ly agreed %ith him and made a lu)*y guess that it %as a"andoned "ased on its run+do%nappearan)e 5 told him that priests had settled here after the (ar of the #an)e "ut that the Dar*

1nights had *illed them too That triggered another round of )ursing and )ondemning of Dar*

1nights #eft %as a"out the easiest guy to manipulate that 5've ever )ome a)ross and 5 %as

starting to %onder if 5 should /ust go ahead and /oin him and his friend #iving off them %ould no

dou"t "e easy

ut then 5 remem"ered that these %ere elves 5 %as dealing %ith 5 /ust had to get rid of them

"efore they ruined my sure thing in 1orval So, 5 reminded #eft of his unfortunate "uddy

(e %al*ed the griffins do%n the shore of the la*e 9ere, %e untied Gilthanas and started to

undress him t that point, he started muttering a"out Silvara again 9ey, that isn't funny ut 5 )an

tell you that 5 let #eft deal %ith undressing him after that

t any rate, he got stripped and %e %al*ed him to the shore of the la*e #eft as*ed me %hat %e%ere to do 5 shrugged and pushed Gilthanas in #eft )ursed my name and /umped into the %ater

after his friend They "oth emerged moments later5 don't *no% if you )an pi)ture it, "ut elves

loo* even s*innier %hen they're %et nd, "ased on #eft's foul mouth, 5 thin* they get a"out as

angry as a )at in %ater as %ell

Gilthanas seemed o*ay, though or a split se)ond Then he slugged #eft, shouting, -oul

1onnal! Bou %ill not imprison me again! Not %hen 5 am this )lose to finding my "eloved Silvara!-

Cursing under my "reath, 5 %aded into the la*e Gilthanas %as trying to dro%n the stunned #eft,

still s)reaming a"out 1onnal and Silvara 5 gra""ed hold of his shoulder and he %hirled on me

-Tanis!,- he "ello%ed %hen he spotted me -Tanis, you %ill pay for ro""ing my sister of her

virtue!- nd then he gra""ed me "y the throat and thrust me under the %ater

5 have no idea %ho this Tanis guy is, "ut 5 hope for his sa*e that he never )rosses paths %ith

Gilthanas 5 don't thin* he'd %al* a%ay from it Gilthanas %ould have *illed me if not for #eft #eft

hit Gilthanas upside the head and dragged "oth of us from the %ater

-(hy didn't it %or*?- he demanded as 5 tried to )ough the %ater out of my lungs 5 suggested

that may"e there's a reason it's )alled the -River of 9ealing- Then 5 realiAed that my sar)asm might

have tipped my )on and 5 @ui)*ly added& -Drin*ing the %ater of the la*e %or*s for minor ailments,

"ut perhaps only the river itself )an )ure serious )onditions-

#eft loo*ed dou"tful and distrustful, "ut he still gra""ed the un)ons)ious Gilthanas and tossed

him over the "a)* of one of the griffins 9e then rode the "east a)ross the la*e 5 %at)hed as he

su"merged Gilthanas in the river The )raAy elf regained )ons)iousness and struggled ut #eft

for)ed him under the %ater and held him there for several moments Then he dragged Gilthanas outand thre% him on the shore 9e stood over the other elf for a moment, and then Gilthanas stum"led

to his feet They stood a)ross from ea)h other for %hat seemed li*e a very long time, and then they

em"ra)ed 5t had %or*ed The river had )ured Gilthanas of his madness 5t %as a happy ending for

everyone "ut me

(ell, 5 guess it might have "een if Gilthanas hadn't turned out to "e su)h a damn -)redit %here

)redit is due- honor frea* irst he apologiAed profusely for atta)*ing me, e0plaining that he

remem"ered mista*ing me for Tanis, his sister #aurana's dead hus"and

Really? That Tanis 9uh 5 didn't *no% the Golden General %as married to him That does ma*e

sense, though nd 5 )an understand %hy Gilthanas %ould "e ti)*ed fter all, he %ouldn't %ant

human "lood )ontaminating his pre)ious elven "loodline, no% %ould he?

t any rate, %e spent the night in the ruins of the Temple of Misha*al%hi)h %as @uite the pla)e, "y the %ay There %ere images of a na*ed %oman "athing in the la*e Gilthanas thought that

it %as an image of the goddess Misha*al There %ere a )ouple of statues of her in there as %ell

Selin, let me tell you, if 5 %ere to start attending servi)e on a regular "asis or %orship someone, 5

thin* it %ould have to "e Misha*al 5f the servi)e gets "oring, 5'd /ust sit "a)* and en/oy the



s)enery

O*ay Bou're right That's "eing disrespe)tful to the goddess 5 apologiAe nd 5 got myself

sidetra)*ed again

s 5 %as saying, after spending the night in the ruins, %e headed "a)* to 1orval 5 tried

)onvin)ing Gilthanas and #eft that 5 %ould ma*e it "a)* /ust fine on my o%n nd on)e 5 got there,

5 told them, 5'd round up a "un)h of the young men and %e'd )ome up here and repair the templeand use it as a shelter for the si)* %ho need the healing %aters 5 thin* 5 )ould have )onvin)ed #eft

to go, "ut damned Gilthanas %anted to travel to 1orval and than* the people there for their

*indness (hat *indness? ll they did %as point their fingers at me and say, -9e'll ta*e ya to %here

you %ant to go!-

ut, "eing that he %as the elf prin)e, he got his %ay (e %al*ed the griffins "a)* through the

passGilthanas %as a lot harder to "am"ooAle as far as the ghosts go than #eft %as "ut 5

nonetheless did itand %e eventually rea)hed 1orval The Salt of the $arth gave Gilthanas his

promised feast They hailed me as the greatest thing to happen to their village sin)e they dis)overed

fire They offered #eft their daughters No, not really 5'm *idding a"out that last part ut they did

go %ay over the top Still, if #eft and Gilthanas had /ust eaten their por* and "een on their %ay, it

might still have "een a happy parting for me as %ell as them ut have you ever *no%n an elf to*eep his mouth shut %here there's a )han)e to get in front of an audien)e and impress them? No, of

)ourse not nd neither have 5 nd let me tell you, Gilthanas "ehaved true to type

During the feast, the #ord+Grand%hathaveyou of 1alaman and Eualinesti got up and gave a

toast and a spee)h in my honor 9e told them all a"out ho% 5 intended to reopen the Temple of

Misha*al in the valley and started urging all of them to relo)ate up there %here the ground %as

fertile and the magi)al %aters %ould *eep them healthy -Bou )an )reate an island of tran@uility,

/oy, and health and you have (ylan of Solanthus to than* for it!-

The ne0t morning the elves left y the end of the %ee*, some of the younger people of 1orval

%ere preparing for a mission to e0plore the pass to the River of 9ealing fter Gilthanas's little pep

tal* and grand e0planation of ho% 5'd dis)overed the ghosts %ere no threat, they %ere no longer

afraid That Gilthanas 9e )ould pro"a"ly sell sand to the people of Relgoth y the end of the

month, the young fol* had )ome "a)* and they de)ided that moving to the valley %as the thing to

do $veryone %as so e0)ited that 5 %as going to lead them to this %onderful ne% pla)e, a%ay from

illness, "andits, and pro"a"ly even "ad %eather

The follo%ing night, 5 gathered my "elongings and left to%n (hy? (hat do you mean why- 5'm

not interested in having villagers fa%n over me unless there's a ta*e to "e had 9elping them move

their damn to%n %ould have "een hard %or*, and "eing a real spiritual leader is a lot harder than

/ust pretending to "e one #eadership is for "la""ermouths li*e Gilthanas and Dar* 1nights Me, 5

/ust %ant people's money On)e Gilthanas told the people of 1orval that the River of 9ealing %as

safe, there %as no money to "e had There %eren't even any free meals, "e)ause they %ere going to

e0pe)t something of me Something real Damn elves #i*e 5 said, they've ruined every good thing5've ever

No, don't you give me that Gilthanas and #eft didn't leave me the opportunity to do good They

fouled an opportunity to hey, isn't that /ust the strangest damn thing #oo* at that That elf

%oman, the one %ho threatened Stumpy %ith a *nife isn't that her? 9eading up the stairs %ith Sir

#orannus? $lves are )raAy She'll turn do%n a perfe)tly good guy li*e Stumpy, "ut is perfe)tly

%illing to share her "ed %ith an offi)ious ninny li*e #orannus

Damn Dar* 1nights They're almost as "ad as elves if you as* me They deserve ea)h other

Oh, spea*ing of Dar* 1nights and deserving ea)h other, 5 didn't )ome here to "ore you %ith

stories a"out elves 5 )ame to re)ruit you for my latest s)am 9o% does this gra" you& ragments of

Sturm right"lade's s%ord 5 have /ust the "uyer lined up

9argoth, =Ls)

The port )ity of 9argoth %as a "ustling )enter of humanity a"out a day's flight from 1orval The

)onstant movement of people made Gilthanas immediately long for the days of %andering, of



solitary living and study, or of the sole )ompanionship of #ethagas

The younger elf, in )ontrast, seemed to %el)ome the surrounding a)tivity and thre% himself into

the life of the )ity %ith "oisterous enthusiasm 5t %as #eth %ho found them a )lean, ine0pensive

room in an inn %here elves %ere %el)omed, "ut not @uestioned No% that they %ere traversing

%estern nsalon, Gilthanas had de)ided to *eep his identity a se)ret Nearly all the elves they

en)ountered )ame from Eualinesti, and he %ished to avoid attention, as %ell as the attendantrumors that %ould arise if the %andering prin)e %as *no%n to "e this )lose to home

5nstead, he %aited around the inn or %andered the )ity as an anonymous vaga"ond 9e let his

)ompanion as* the @uestions, *no%ing that #eth %as getting around 9argoth and see*ing any

information he )ould regarding silver dragons The youngster %as su"tle and )oy, never mentioning

Silvara "y name as he loo*ed around the "usy %aterfront and %or*ed his %ay through the many

)ro%ded inns

#ate one evening, after ten days in the )ity, #eth a%a*ened Gilthanas %hen he returned to their

room The prin)e noti)ed the tra)es of da%n already "rightening the horiAon

-5 have found an elf %ho %ants to tal* to you %ho says he has information a"out silver

dragons-

-(here is he?- Gilthanas "lin*ed the sleep from his eyes and shrugged into his tuni) .ulling onhis "oots and "u)*ling his s%ord around his %aist, he stood, %ide a%a*e and ready to go

-9e %ill meet us near the Sailor's Guildhouse at the %harf,- #eth replied -9e's %aiting for us

no%-

5n a fe% minutes, the pair made their %ay through the nearly empty streets of the to%n The s*y

had "rightened to a very pale "lue %hen Gilthanas sa% the pea*ed roof of a large hall Near"y %as

the shado%y entran)e to a small, stone "uilding

-There he is- #eth indi)ated the figure %aiting %ithin the dar* al)ove

-That's an elf?- The fello%'s furtive manner and heavy )loa* reminded Gilthanas more of a

human s)oundrelsome pirate or "a)*+street )utthroat 9e )ouldn't see the elf's fa)e, e0)ept for a

vague outline of his )hin

-5 hear you's loo*ing for silver dragons,- said the mysterious fello% in a hoarse voi)e that did

nothing to dispel Gilthanas's earlier impression

-(ho are you?- demanded the prin)e, immediately suspi)ious

-orgive me, O Great #ord,- sneered the fello% in a voi)e dripping %ith mo)*ery 9e pushed

"a)* the deep hood and Gilthanas sa% the pointed ears that proved him an elf 9is long hair %as

tied in a narro% tail do%n his "a)*, %hi)h %as a style unusual for a fello% elf -5 am "ut a hum"le

servant un%orthy even of "eing named in your presen)e-

Gilthanas de)ided not to press the issue -(hat do you *no% of a dragon of silver?-

- dragon not /ust any one of them? re you going hunting for spe)ifi) prey, then?-

-The reason 5 see* this dragon is not your )on)ern-

The elven s)oundrel shrugged -May"e may"e not ut 5'll sho% you %here %e )an find theans%ers-

The mysterious informant a"ruptly pushed open the door "ehind him (ithin, Gilthanas sa% a

dar* )orridor, dimly lit "y )andles ut his eyes immediately fastened on the horri"le image

rendered on the interior %all

ive heads gleamed "la)* at him, leering %ith un"lin*ing stares $a)h %as the terminus of a

serpentine ne)*, and even "efore he sa% the five )olors Gilthanas *ne% that this %as a pla)e of

Ta*hisis, the Eueen of Dar*ness

-Traitor!- he )ried, seiAing the elf's )loa* and roughly pushing him against the stone %all

-No!- insisted the other %ith surprising )onvi)tion -Bou should *no% that other elves are aiding

the Dar* 1nights alsothey offer the only hope of vi)tory in this dying %orld $nter and see for

yourself #isten! Bou %ill learnyou %ill see!--5 %ill not!- Gilthanas insisted, furious 9e dre% his s%ord and pressed the tip against the elf's

throat -(hat do you *no% of silver dragons?-

-Nothing!- %ailed the misera"le %ret)h -8ust that the 1nights %ill help you find them and *ill

them! There is a re%ard for ea)h Good dragon slain They %ill pay you %ell!-



Gilthanas's arm trem"led and he felt a po%erful urge to drive the s%ord home and end the

@uivering life of this foul )reature Only some vague memory of *indness held his hand, and at last

he )ast the elf to the ground, dra%ing "a)* his foot to *i)*

nd a"ruptly turning a%ay

9e slammed his "lade "a)* into the sheath as #eth fell in "ehind him

-5'm sorry,- said the young elf misera"ly -5 thought he %as that is--Never mind,- said Gilthanas, still si)*ened at the thought of his people turning to the Dar*

Eueen

-Should 5 *eep loo*ing and as*ing?- in@uired #eth

-There's nothing for us here,- Gilthanas said %ith a sharp sha*e of his head Silvara's trail %as

)old, lost in the tangle of a vast )ontinent 9e fought against a %ave of hopelessness, and *ne%

there %as only one thing he )ould do

-5t's time to go home,- he said, and his thoughts "rightened at the memory of Eualinesti

The $ndless Moment Shatters

5 sa% Gilthanas's e0pression shift as he turned to%ard me again, )ompleting the spin during%hi)h one or "oth of us had delivered the final and fatal )ut to the other The tense loo* that had

appeared on his fa)e as he prepared to fight me softened, and his )hest rose and fell rapidly or

some reason, my a%areness fo)used on the s)ar that no% marred his features, %hi)h other%ise

remained un)hanged from the first day 5 met him 5t had "een a de)ade sin)e %e had first met and

during that time the first %rin*les had appeared on my forehead and the "eard of manhood had

sprouted on my )hin 9o%ever, if it hadn't "een for that s)ar upon Gilthanas's fa)e, 5 might %ell

have thought that %e had met ea)h other for the first time only moments ago

Not only did elves live a very long time, "ut they did not )hange in appearan)e as they aged

9o% long %ould a life su)h as mine seem to one su)h as he? (ould it "e li*e a moment to him?

Does it seem as though %e age and die, as he stays young?

9e moved a%ay from me, "ut he didn't move Magi) must "e at %or* again

5n any )ase, it %ould "e over in a moment

-(hy?- 5 heard Gilthanas say 9e moved )loser to me or some reason, the sun no longer

glinted off his s%ord

(hy? (ould there "e time to e0plain? There are those %ho say that the moment of a man's death

lasts forever, "ut that %ould only "e from the perspe)tive of the dying man 5 )ould not possi"ly tell

Gilthanas %hat he %anted to *no% or in another heart"eat, he %ould "e gone *illing "lo% had

"een stru)*, and 5 felt )ertain that it %as mine

The Foot*rint of Chaos, 28sc

5 lost Gilthanas's trail )ompletely after the .ea* of Clouds The d%arves living at its "ase *ne%only that %arriors had atta)*ed him %hile he had "een living %ith a hermit %ho d%elt on the pea*

they *ne% this "e)ause they had tended to his %ounds (hen 5 as*ed a"out a silver dragon, they

reported that su)h a )reature had indeed resided here for a fe% years, "ut it %as "efore Gilthanas

sho%ed up The d%arves )ouldn't agree on %hen the dragon had departed, although they *ne% that

it had either gone north, east, or northeast They had told the elf the same thing, and he had headed

in one of those dire)tions as %ell

The en)ounter %ith the d%arves made me realiAe ho% "adly 5 %anted to "e "a)* on $lian 5sle

On $lian, people are honest and straightfor%ard They tell you %hat they thin* %hen you as*, they

offer to help %hether you need it or not, and they are all honora"le and honest in all things 5n the

rest of the %orld, everyone al%ays loo*ed for an angle that they )ould e0ploit to get something

from you %hether they had earned it or not 5 left the d%arves, %ondering if their )onfusion a"out%hat dire)tion Silvara and Gilthanas had gone in %as genuine or "e)ause 5 didn't pay them enough

The only honest and straightfor%ard people 5'd en)ountered %ere the *ender, %ho some%hat

resem"led the elves "ut e0hi"ited a )ompletely different personality 1ender al%ays told me e0a)tly

%hat they thought and, in )ontrast %ith the rest of the peoples of nsalon, %ere very refreshing



.redi)ta"ly, all others despised them for their unassuming %ays

The en)ounter %ith the d%arves made me realiAe ho% mu)h 5 had gro%n to miss my people s

near as 5 )ould tell, 5 %as the last surviving Master of Ran* %ho had "een )harged %ith the slaying

of Gilthanas 5t %as up to me and me alone to finish the mission $ven if 5 )ould fa"ri)ate some

e0)use to return home, 5 %ould "e returning in failure That %as not an option, for it %ould stain the

honor of my )hildrenor the ne0t several %ee*s, as 5 moved along the "orders of a land )laimed "y a "la)* dragon

*no%n to men as .it)h, my )hildren %ere foremost in my thoughts So many years had passed sin)e

5 left They %ould not remem"er or re)ogniAe me, for although the years had flo%n "y for me as

though they %ere nothing, they added up to a lifetime for them a lifetime %hi)h 5 had not "een

part of

They %ould not re)ogniAe me, nor 5 them, if %e %ere to meet My %oman had undou"tedly told

them of my glorious mission, "ut 5 %as /ust a name to them They %ould honor this name, "ut they

might never get a )han)e to *no% their father $ven if they did, 5 )ould never re)laim the /oy that 5

*no% my father derived from %at)hing me gro% from a "a"y into an adult

Masters of Ran* *ne% that they might need to pay the pri)e of not seeing their sons gro% up

During my lonely tre*, this suddenly seemed li*e an un"eara"le pri)e or the first time sin)e 5 left$lian, 5 again %ondered if 5 had made the right )hoi)e, although the @uestions no longer revolved

around Gilthanas and his honora"le heart No, no% the dou"ts revolved around me 9ad the honor

of this mission )ost me more years than the honor %as %orth?

5 pursued these thoughts no further, for suddenly the magi)al ring 5 had re)eived from Stal*er

seemed to vi"rate on my finger 5 loo*ed at the stone and found that its )olor had shifted! She had

found him! No%, 5 %ould see if the ring truly %or*ed, as she "elieved that it %ould

5 gra""ed the stone "et%een t%o fingers and t%isted it 5 felt ar)ane energies surging through me,

and the %orld around me dissolved into a s%irling sea of )olors 5 )losed my eyes as 5 started to feel

diAAy (ithin a moment, the air around me %ent from humid and heavy %ith the sour smell of

rotting vegetationfor 5 %as in the middle of a s%amp to )ool and heavy %ith the a)rid smell of

something "urning 5 opened my eyes and found that the %orld around me had )oales)ed again "ut

that it %as )ompletely different

5t %as a "arren and "ro%n pla)e, a star* )ontrast to the lush greenery of the s%amp 5 had )ome

from Overhead, flourishing trees had o"s)ured the dome of the s*y /ust moments "efore No% they

didn't ut %here %as Gilthanas? nd %here %as the fire that )aused the smell of "urning

vegetation?

5 s)anned my surroundings 5 stood on a grassy ridge To my left %as a verdant and pleasant

lands)ape that retreated to%ard the horiAon in a series of hills To my right %as a )anyon

in)ongruously shaped li*e a giant foot 5ts sides and the ground around it appeared as though they

had "een su"/e)ted to great heatas though the )anyon had "een s)oured into the surfa)e of the

%orld itself "y huge gouts of fire The smo*e 5 )ould smell appeared to "e the fire "urning at the "ottom of the rift, for the )anyon %as filled %ith smo*e

ut 5 )ould see Gilthanas no%here Neither %as Stal*er apparent, nor any other living "eings 5

%as )ompletely alone (hy had 5 appeared here, at this deserted pla)e?

5 inspe)ted the )anyon to ma*e sure Gilthanas %asn't %ithin its smo*y depthsalthough 5 felt

that 5 %as not alone as 5 sear)hed it no one responded %hen 5 )alled out for the elf and Stal*er 5t

o))urred to me that perhaps Gilthanas had already "een here and that he had slain Stal*er as she

attempted to )apture him 5 )ould easily pi)ture thatshe %as playing games, "ut Gilthanas %as too

s%ift and intelligent for her, turning the stal*er into the one "eing stal*ed

ut sin)e 5 sa% no eviden)e that any violen)e had "efallen either Stal*er or Gilthanas, and sin)e

5 had no *no%ledge of %here in the %orld 5 %as, 5 esta"lished )amp near the strange )anyon and

%aited until someone arrived %ho )ould give me some information 5 noti)ed that the gemstone hadreturned to its original )olor, indi)ating that there %as yet magi) in the ring, and that 5 )ould

possi"ly try )alling Stal*er to my lo)ation should 5 dis)over Gilthanas near"y after all

round noon the ne0t day, three giganti) "irds appeared in the s*y s they dre% )loser, 5

realiAed that they %ere some )urious hy"rid "et%een lions and eagles, and that upon t%o of the



"easts' "a)*s %ere riders 5 had never seen su)h )reatures "efore, "ut they mat)hed roughly the

des)riptions of griffins that %ere detailed in the or"idden City's storehouses of *no%ledge

s they landed on the very ridge 5 had first appeared on, 5 sa% that "oth riders %ere elvesand 5

sa% that one of them %as Gilthanas, his golden hair flo%ing in the "reeAe as his magnifi)ent mount

)ame in for a landing

Gilthanas dismounted and %aved to me 5 %aved "a)* 9e )alled out to me in a language 5 hadnot yet mastered, "ut 5 responded to him in the elven tongue 5 had learned it "efore leaving $lian

and had re)ently pra)ti)ed it %ith Stal*er Gilthanas seemed pleasantly surprised "y my greeting,

%hi)h %as a formal one that denoted friendship and a %illingness to assist the person to %hom it

%as "eing offered 5t %as my hope to dra% him near %hile *eeping him off+guard so that 5 )ould

stri*e @ui)*ly

s he moved )loser, Gilthanas said, -Bou spea* Eualinesti very %ell -re you from

"anasinia?-

-No, "ut 5 have had an opportunity to learn your tongue,- 5 said, %eighing my %ords as 5 spo*e

5 %ould slay Gilthanas so 5 )ould return to my family, "ut 5 %ould not do him the dishonor of lying

to him -or a time, one of your ra)e %as a traveling )ompanion of mine 9o% )an 5 help you?-

-(e have heard that a silver dragon has "een seen around here 9ave you seen one? Or a1agonesti elf, perhaps?- Gilthanas's eyes suddenly %idened as he e0amined my fa)e -Solov?

Solov, is that you?-

5 smiled -Bes, it is indeed 5t has "een a long time-

- very long time! 5 never thought 5 %ould see you here! (hat "rings so far from your

homeland?-

-Bou- efore he had a )han)e to rea)t, 5 dre% my s%ord and slashed 9e leapt "a)* %ith

refle0es that %ould have put a )at to shame 5 s%ung again, and again he avoided my "lo%,

sidestepping my atta)* and dra%ing his o%n s%ord to further defle)t mine

9is friend )ried out and dre% his o%n %eapon, "ut Gilthanas %aved him "a)* The elf prin)e

"a)*ed a%ay and demanded, -(hy are you atta)*ing me? (e parted friends those many years ago

(hat has )hanged?-

My response %as to atta)* again The sounds of our )lashing s%ords rang a)ross the )ountryside

s our "attle )arried us to%ard the strange, smo*e+filled )anyon, it soon "e)ame apparent that %e

%ere evenly mat)hed%hile he may have )enturies at his disposal, not even elves )ould e0)eed the

)om"at s*ills of a Master of Ran*

a)ed %ith this *no%ledge, %e stepped "a)* 5t %as )lear that our duel %ould "e %on "y a single

s%ord stro*e and that vi)tory %ould )ome through lu)* as mu)h as s*ill

(e "oth dropped our guard and lunged at ea)h other in all+out atta)*s Sunlight dan)ed along the

edge of his %ell+honed s%ord Only one of us %ould survive the ne0t moment Still, our s*ills

asserted themselves and our "lades )langed against one another on)e, t%i)e, and then %e "oth did a

spinning slash, moving a%ay from ea)h other and then ta*ing sto)* of the situation-(hy?- 5 heard Gilthanas say 9is s%ord no longer glinted in the sunlight

5n the hands of a master, a %ell+honed s%ord )an *ill a man so @ui)*ly that he doesn't realiAe

he's dead until several moments later until he feels the "lood starting to tri)*le 5t is in that final

moment that some people say the dying one relives his life, repeatedly, so that the moment "e)omes

an eternity 5s that %hat Gilthanas %as a"out to e0perien)e?

9e moved )loser to me, yet he didn't appear to "e %al*ing 9e moved farther a%ay, "ut still his

legs did not seem to move 9is s%ord no longer shone in the sunlight Something dar* %as smeared

along its edge

-(hy did you atta)* me?- 9is fa)e appeared sorro%ful, the fa)e that %as un)hanged from the

day 5 had first met him, aside from the s)ar on the right side of his fa)e 5 should give him an

ans%er, "ut he %ouldn't have time to hear it 9e %as a"out to die, and 5 %as a"out to go home to myfamily

5 remem"ered the day 5 first met Gilthanas 5 never %ould have thought it %ould )ome to this

9e %as the most %ondrous thing to have entered my life up to that point



FFFFF

-(hy?- Gilthanas as*ed again, gaAing do%n upon the )rumpled form of Solov There %ould "e

no ans%er The "attle )ould have ended in only one %ay, and as it did, the time for ans%ers passed

and )ould never again "e re)laimed

naya's Tree, =>s)

This pla)e )alled Eualinesti %as not the land that Gilthanas remem"ered So many )hanges had

affe)ted it that he found it hard to )onvin)e himself that he and #ethagas had in fa)t returned to

their homeland

The natural forest of the elven *ingdom had al%ays "een %ild and tra)*less, "ut no% a tangled

maAe of shru""ery gre% so densely that, in most pla)es, it all "ut "lo)*ed travel Tendrils of moss

draped from the loftiest "ran)hes, %hile vines and "ram"les fought for )ontrol around the mighty

trun*s There %ere good, %ell+maintained roads, "utas the t%o elves had "een %arnedDar*

1nights patrolled them

They had heard the stories in 9argoth of the massive green dragon, eryl, %ho no% )laimed thisforest as her o%n She tolerated the elven leaders, "ut only "e)ause she had intimidated them to the

point of a"/e)t slavery They *ne% of the Dar* 1nights, %ho presumed to %al* as lords here sin)e

their )on@uest of the elves during the Summer of Chaos

nd even the 1nights ruled only at the sufferan)e of the mighty green

The )urrent ruler of his people, inheritor of the Sun Medallion on)e held "y .orthios, %as the

Spea*er of the Sun Gilthas Solostaran 9e %as the son of Gilthanas's sister #aurana and of Tanis

9alf+$lven Gilthanas had learned that his sister no% lived %ith her son in the )apital of Eualinost,

"ut he had already de)ided against going there 5nstead, he %ould see* his "rother .orthios, reputed

to live as an outla% in the depths of the tangled forest

or that @uest, Gilthanas )ould thin* of only one pla)e to "egin

To rea)h the grove, the t%o elves rode their griffins, the original trio of the flyers that had

"rought the pair from (inston's To%er on 1arthay To avoid dis)overy "y eryl or the Dar*

1nights, the )reatures fle% "eneath the to%ering treetops in the %ide )anopy of spa)e a"ove the

middle "ran)hes .rogress %as slo%, %ith the griffins and their elven riders gliding from one tree to

the ne0t and then per)hing on stout lim"s, sear)hing "efore them %ith eyes, ears, and nostrils

inally, near nightfall, they )ame to a pla)e %here the gnarled and monstrous trees of the forest

)ame to an a"rupt end efore them %as a strip of meado%, "eyond %hi)h rose a line of stout oa*

trees The massive oa*s formed a "road ring and gre% so )losely together that the )enter of the

grove %as lost in shado% and tree "ar*

-This is the pla)e 5 *no% it is,- Gilthanas told #eth

-There'll "e guards,- %hispered the younger elf, peering out through the "ran)hesGilthanas nodded 9e )ould smell the presen)e of men their s%eat and smo*y )lothes mingled

%ith the taste of fire and steel, mar*ing them as Dar* 1nights -#et's leave the griffins here-

The three )reatures settled %at)hfully on stout lim"s a"ove the forest floor %hile the t%o elves

s)ram"led do%n to the ground s night fell, they sa% that the 1nights, some on foot and others on

horse"a)*, made regular rounds a"out the oa* grove Still, the t%o stealthy visitors did not find it

an insurmounta"le )hallenge fter the passage of a @uartet of riders, they )rept a)ross the strip of

open ground and soon entered the )ool freshness among the an)ient trees

The s)ent and am"ian)e of the familiar forest surrounded Gilthanas li*e a %el)oming )o)oon

9e remem"ered %hen this had "een the air of all these %oods, and his heart "ro*e at the thought of

%hat his nation had "e)ome

ut he %ould ta*e no time to grieve5nstead, he led #eth through the thi)* trees and in "et%een )lumps of mushrooms on soft, mossy

paths Though the foliage )reated a thi)* )anopy overhead, the pair of elves )ould see )learly Soon

they rea)hed the heart of the grove and stopped "efore a massive tree

The trun* of the oa* %as as "ig around as a )ottage, and the lim"s rose, gnarled "ut mighty, high



into the night great )ra)* %as s)ored do%n the fa)e of the tree, and Gilthanas felt a momentary

reveren)e 9e *ne% the history of this pla)ethe lega)y not /ust of his nation "ut of his family

This %as the tree of naya, lover of Eualinesti's founder 1ith+1anan nd from that )ra)* had

stepped Silveran Greenhands, 1ith+1anan's heir and su))essor as the Spea*er

No%, Gilthanas )ould only hope that lega)y %ould lead him to his "rother

-5 heard you had )ome to Eualinesti 5 thought you might )ome here-9e %hirled in dis"elief as the %ordsas the unmista*a"le voi)e of .orthiosrea)hed him from

"ehind a near"y oa*

-My "rother! 5 )ould only hope to find you here!- Gilthanas started to step for%ard "ut %as

halted "y the stern voi)e

-(ait! 5 %ill let you loo* at me, "ut *no% that 5 have )hanged, "rother 5 am s)arred "y grief

and %ar,- .orthios stated in a lo% voi)e

Gilthanas fingered the slash that )rossed his eye -So am 5,- he replied

$ven so, he %as not prepared for the vie% of his elder "rother .orthios )on)ealed his head %ith

a deep hood, "ut s)ars %rin*led his fa)e 9is lips merged smoothly into his s*in, ma*ing his smile

seem ghastly, li*e the leer of some fleshless s*ull ut his eyes dan)ed %ith /oy, and his arms

)lasped Gilthanas in an em"ra)e of deepest affe)tion or long moments the t%o "rothers hugged,%ithout spea*ing, "arely even "reathing

-5 dreamed you'd )ome,- .orthios said softly -5 %aited for you and *ne% your travels %ould

"ring you here-

-5 have %andered far, "rother- Gilthanas dre% a "reath, and tal*ed of his @uest, of the madness

and de)eption and despair that had mar*ed his path -ut %hen 5 )ame home, 5 *ne% that 5 had to

)ome here, to naya's Tree-

-5t is good that you did not go to the )ity,- .orthios said -The Dar* 1nights %ould have ta*en

you in a minuteeven if our nephe% didn't turn you over to them himself-

-Gilthas he has "etrayed his people his family? 5've heard the stories, "ut 5 )an't "elieve he

%ould do this or that our sister %ould let him!-

.orthios shrugged %ith real regret -Truth to tell, 5 don't thin* he has mu)h )hoi)e 9e is pulled

in every dire)tion, and to em"ra)e one master %ould "e to die "efore another Suffi)e to say that

Eualinesti is not the land you left-

The elder "rother put his hands on Gilthanas's shoulders and loo*ed at him fran*ly -Nor is it a

pla)e you should plan to stay, my "rother-

The younger prin)e %as sho)*ed -ut you live here an outla%, 5 *no%, "ut you resist the

Dar* 1nights and the green dragon! re you saying 5'm not good enough to fight at your side?-

.orthios shoo* his head -Of )ourse you are "ut 5 *no% this a"out you& Bou are see*ing a

treasure, and you %ill not find it here Nor should you a"andon your @uest-

-Silvara? 5 have lost her, my "rother She is gone to me!-

-.erhaps perhaps not Bou *no% that you are )lose to her an)ient home and to the pla)e %here.aladine tou)hed 1rynn-

-(hitestoneon San)rist!- Gilthanas said 9e remem"ered hearing her spea* %ith reveren)e of

(hitestone Glade efore she left 1alaman many years ago, she had mentioned that she %anted to

visit that hallo%ed site to meditate for several days -Of )ourse she %ould see* )ommunion %ith

her god there 5'll visit the Glade first, and if she isn't there still, 5 )an visit oghaven :ale in

Southern $rgoth-

-5 )annot say for )ertain "ut only suggest that, if 5 had )ome as far as you, 5 %ould find a %ay

to finish the rest of the /ourney-

-Bou are right, "rother 5 must go-

#eth and Gilthanas left the grove "efore the da%n, )ra%ling through the meado% to the trees of

the forest proper "ove them they )ould "arely ma*e out the %hite shapes of the three griffins, still per)hed on their lim"s

They %ere a"out to )lim" the tree %hen a near"y e0)lamation startled them

-#et go! Stop that!- voi)e, the musi)al tones of a female elf, /olted through the night

-9ere, no%,- gro%led a deep, un@uestiona"ly human response -Bou *no% these %oods are off



limitsyou'll "e spea*ing to the )aptain, you %ill-

-No!- No% the elven voi)e %as shrill %ith terror

efore Gilthanas )ould rea)t, #ethagas, s%ord in hand, "olted through the dar*ness The prin)e

heard a sharp oath, follo%ed "y a gurgling grunt 9e had /ust risen to follo% %hen #eth )ame "a)*,

leading a disheveled"ut very pretty%hite+haired elf %oman "y the hand She %ore leathers )ut

similarly to that of a 1agonesti elf -C'mon!- he %hispered -Get to the griffins!--Than* youyou saved my life!- gasped the female "ruptly she pulled #eth to her, and their

lips met in a fier)e, )rushing *iss

-(e've got to get out of here!- Gilthanas hissed urgently

Only after another fe% se)onds of taut em"ra)e did the elf %oman release #ethagas She loo*ed

at him %ith pure adoration, %hile #eth, for his part, seemed unsteady on his feet 9e %as "reathing

hard, and his fa)e %as lo)*ed in a giddy grin

Someho%, the pair held hands %hile they )lim"ed the trees to the griffins They paused for

another passionate *iss "efore mounting the three flyers The feathered )reatures fle% a%ay "efore

further sounds of alarm rose from "elo%

-5 am )alled lla,- said their ne% )ompanion, addressing #ethagas -nd 5 o%e you my life

everything that 5 have--(hy %ere the guards atta)*ing you?- demanded the young elf, his voi)e tight %ith rage as he

remem"ered the s)ene

-5 5 %as trying to enter the sa)red grove and honor my father,- lla replied -ut that is

for"idden "y the Dar* 1nights They %ould have *illed me!-

-Bou are safe, no%, %ith us,- #eth de)lared gallantly Riding three a"reast, the trio of elves on

their griffins fle% over the sea to%ard the 5sle of San)rist

The "du)tion& (hitestone Glade, =>s)

-Do you thin* they still %at)h over us?-

5 had "een %aiting for this @uestion ever sin)e 5 too* on the duties of preparing and then testing

Sir (illam for advan)ement in the Order of the S%ord s part of my effort to get to *no% him, 5

had assigned myself to share his %at)h in the (hitestone Glade, one of the most holy sites in

nsalon ;ntil /ust a fe% years ago, %e had "elieved magi) had fled, "ut then a young Rose 1night

named #insha Ma/ere "elieved that the intervention of the gods themselves saved her from an

atta)*er in the Glade This night, the %inter %ind "lo%ing through the "arren forest seemed

parti)ularly harsh, and the young 1night pro"a"ly needed the )onversation to ta*e his mind off the

)old

-(hat do you thin*, (illam?-

9is eyes %andered a)ross the (hitestone Glade "efore us The massive stone glinted under the

light of the pale moon -5 don't *no% My father taught me to honor the gods %hether they are present or not nything less %ould "e a violation of the Measure& 8ust "e)ause the gods are a"sent

doesn't mean %e should stop honoring them or o"eying their stri)tures ut do you thin* they're

really gone?-

-(ell, you've heard of #ady #insha's e0perien)e in the Glade She "elieves it )ame from the

gods, not from %ithin her 5'm in)lined to "elieve her "e)ause of t%o things irst, she %as taught to

master the inal Gift of the gods at the feet of Goldmoon herself Se)ond, she is a Rose 1night and

5 )onsider her honor to "e "eyond @uestion-

-5 %ould never @uestion her honor, Sir, nor the truthfulness of her statement #ady Sheryl "eat

me soundly on the training field to defend her friend's honor %hen she suspe)ted 5 %as doing that

very thing, and 5 do not %ant to repeat the mista*e %ith the 1night %ho may sponsor me for

admittan)e into the Order of the S%ord 5 /ust )an't help "ut %onder Mu)h )hanged in the %a*e of the gods' departure Can %e truly "e )ertain that %e guard a holy site?-

-(e )an't,- 5 said -ll %e )an "e sure of is our o%n "eliefs and the Measure 5f you learn to "e

true to those and to uphold their standards, you %ill serve effe)tively as a 1night of the S%ord-

-8ust on)e,- (illam muttered -5'd li*e to see the stars flash as they did for :inas Solamnus 5'd



li*e to *no% that there really is something greater than us that isn't a dragon 5 %ould really li*e to

have a sign that they are still out there and that our servi)e to them means something-

-5f there is proof, (illam,- 5 said, -then %hat does "elief matter? (e )annot pretend %e *no%

the minds of gods, nor %ill %e ever "e )ertain that they %ill again give us proof of their e0isten)e

"eyond life itself and the inal Gift of mysti) magi) that they "esto%ed upon the %orld-

-Ta*hisis still %hispers to the Dar* 1nights Or so they )laim-5 shrugged -5f you %ish to "elieve the Dar* 1nights, (illam, then you have your proof that the

gods are still a)tive in the %orld 5f you see* hard enough, may"e you'll find your o%n proof Or

may"e it's right here in this Glade-

9e loo*ed "a)* at the stars -(hat do you "elieve, Sir Gavin?-

-(hat 5 "elieve is unimportant Bour "eliefs are %hat matter 5 %ill tell you this& 5 "elieve in the

good of the 1nighthoods 5 "elieve that our duty to oppose $vil in all its forms, the duty that

.aladine, 1iri+8olith, and 9a""a*u* )harged :inas Solamnus %ith, is still ours The gods do not

need to impress me %ith priestly parlor tri)*s for me to *no% that

(illam gave me a thoughtful loo*, then fell silent

5 loo*ed at the (hitestone 5 hate thin*ing a"out the gods, "e)ause it al%ays starts me thin*ing

a"out the Orders %hen 5 %as a )hild 5 gre% up during an age of revival for the Solamni)1nighthood The ran*s %ere s%elling %ith ne% mem"ers and the gods %ere again guiding them

for%ard 5 dreamed of "eing li*e my father, a S%ord 1night, a holy %arrior %ho in his youth had

"rought the %ill of 1iri+8olith to the remnants of the dragonarmies all a)ross nsalon

Sadly, 5 %as not to follo% his e0ample (ithin %ee*s of my "e)oming a s@uire to #ady Riva

Silver"lade of Castle $ast%at)h, the Dar* 1nights invaded and seiAed .alanthas s the Orders

rallied to )ounteratta)*, Chaos %al*ed the surfa)e of 1rynn and %e had to unite %ith the Dar*

1nights to drive him "a)* to the "yss from %hen)e he had )ome

lue and silver dragons united as their human allies had, and together the 1nights of Solamnia

and the 1nights of Ta*hisis plunged into the "yss ut not s@uires S@uires remained "ehind to

hold the fortifi)ations along %ith )ommon %arriors and the heads of the Orders Chaos %as

defeated, "ut at the )ost of virtually everyone %ho %ent to oppose him

5f it hadn't "een for #ord #iam $hrling and #ord Gunthar's revised Measure, the 1nighthood

%ould pro"a"ly have died The attempt to /oin %ith the Dar* 1nights in re"uilding nsalon almost

led to our o%n 1nighthood's destru)tion any%ay they murdered #ord Gunthar and attempted to

seiAe )ontrol of San)rist and destroy us This %as "efore Ta*hisis supposedly started %hispering in

their ears again, "ut it )learly demonstrated the fa)t that they pay lip servi)e to the )on)ept of honor

"ut in fa)t have none

lthough %e've survived, 5 still feel as though %e are "ut a pale imitation of our fore"ears My

father's armor glittered in sun 9e %as li*e a giant %al*ing among men %hen he inspe)ted his

troops 5 have to struggle to *eep my armor polished, and 5 have to struggle to *eep fo)used on the

Measure and to *eep my a)tions devoted to furthering the pre)epts of the gods "e)ause in mydar*est moments, my faith "oth in them and in the Solamni) Orders is %ea*

-9o!- (illam )ried, his voi)e and the hiss of his s%ord leaving its s)a""ard "ringing my

attention "a)* to our guard duty -(ho goes there?-

-Stay your hand, Sir 1night,- said a dar* figure among the trees, his Solamnian tinged %ith a

slight a))ent -(e are friends %ho have )ome in sear)h of information-

The spea*er emerged from the trees, stepping into the moonlight+dren)hed glade 9e %as a

"londe+tressed elf male %ho %as slightly taller than is the average among his *ind Something

a"out him %as slightly familiar (hen t%o other elves emerged from the %oods, my heart almost

stopped One %as a fairly nondes)ript male, "ut the other

(hite hair flo%ed around her fa)e, %hi)h %as a vision of "eauty, and under her thi)* %inter

)loa* 5 )aught sight of the "u)*s*in garments traditionally %orn "y the 1agonesti elves onSouthern $rgoth e)ause of her, 5 *ne% %here 5'd seen the "lond elf "efore! 5n 1alaman, in the

)astle of the lord, there hangs a portrait of the t%o painted shortly after the (ar of the #an)e!

Gilthanas and Silvara had /ust stepped into my life!

ut %eren't they "oth dead? Could the gods have ans%ered my prayers? Could they have )ome



from the past to ta*e me "a)* %ith them? ut these /oyous thoughts %ere s%iftly proven as silly as

5 should have re)ogniAed them to "e the moment they entered my head

-5 am Gilthanas of Eualinesti,- Gilthanas said, -and these are my trusted )ompanions, #eth and

lla (e have )ome to San)rist in sear)h of information a"out the Good dragons-

-Bou are not Silvara?- 5 as*ed the 1agonesti Gilthanas identified as lla

She "lin*ed -y the gods, no!-lla and #eth e0)hanged loo*s My first thought %as that they %ere amused at my e0pense, "ut

then 5 noti)ed that she rea)hed out and tou)hed #eth's hand 5t %as a @ui)* and very "rief

movement, "ut enough to ma*e me realiAe that if she %as anyone's love, she %as his

My thoughts must have appeared in my fa)e, for Gilthanas said, -No offense has "een given, Sir

1night, let me assure you of that ut %e do need your help, if you )an grant it-

-5 %ill help in %hatever %ay 5 )an, "ut first forgive my manners 5 am Sir Gavin, 1night of the

S%ord and this is Sir (illam, 1night of the Cro%n urther, a prin)e su)h as yourself should have

"een dire)ted to the )astle, Bour 9ighness,- 5 replied -(hi)h of the men at the do)*s sent you here

instead?-

-None (e arrived on the "a)*s of griffins, "ut 5 thought it "est to land in the %oods and not

)ause alarm in the )astle 5 %anted to revisit the (hitestone Glade along the %ay and, honestly, 5%as as surprised to see you t%o here as you must have "een to see me-

-9o% so?- (illam as*ed

-5 thought the gods gone (hy guard this pla)e?-

-Bour )ommander's a"sen)e does not mean that it is appropriate to disrespe)t him "y forgetting

to tend to his e@uipment or a))omplish the tas*s he set "efore you,- 5 said -esides, %e "elieve

that .aladine's po%er still resides here-

-5s that so?- Gilthanas s%ept his eyes a)ross the Glade, undou"tedly noting the %ithered grass

and the a"sen)e of the eternal spring that on)e had e0isted there 9e did not )omment on that, "ut

instead loo*ed at me %ith an earnest e0pression -Then Silvara must have "een here She honored

.aladine a"ove all other gods-

-5s that %hat you re@uire our assistan)e %ith? inding the #ady Silvara?-

-Bes (e parted %ays in 1alaman 5 am desperately trying to find her 9as she "een here? 9as

she "een assisting the 1nighthoods in )ontinuing their servi)e to the gods?-

-.erhaps,- 5 said -5 don't *no% 5f she has visited San)rist, #ord #iam %ould *no% Come,

follo% us to the )astle (illam %ill attend to your "easts-

-No, 5 "elieve it's "est if %e ta*e )are of that, Sir 1night,- #eth said -Griffins don't ta*e

parti)ularly %ell to strangers, espe)ially not ones that are "arely tamed su)h as these-

-;nderstood 5f you %ould "e so *ind, #eth, %e %ill %ait here %hile you and lla ta*e )are of

them then-

-5 should go along,- (illam said -There may "e gnome )reations in the forest-

This too* me some%hat a"a)*, "ut 5 sa% no reason to deny his re@uest s he follo%ed #eth andlla from the )learing, 5 again sa% her tou)h her )ompanion very "riefly

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(hen %e returned the )astle, #ord #iam had, naturally, already retired for the night Gilthanas

insisted that he not "e distur"ed, and so 5 had (illam )onta)t the senes)hal to arrange @uarters for

them %hile 5 )onta)ted the shift after ours to tell them to start their %at)h in the Glade early

The follo%ing morning, 5 heard from a page that Gilthanas had as*ed #ord #iam a"out Silvara,

"ut that #iam *ne% not of her %herea"outs My thoughts drifted "a)* to a dispat)h from Southern

$rgoth dating "a)* a fe% years 5t )laimed that a silver dragon had "een spotted there 5 %ondered if

5 should tell the elf+prin)e, or if it %ould /ust "e sending him off on a fruitless )hase ut, then 5re)eived %ord through another page that #ord #iam e0pe)ted my attendan)e at a feast that evening

in Gilthanas's honor 5 de)ided to spea* %ith the elf+prin)e then 5 had (illam's training to thin*

a"out during the day #ady Sheryl and 5 %ere to drill him in s*ill %ith polearms today



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lthough hastily arranged, the feast %as nonetheless as splendid as proto)ol re@uired %hen

honoring royal visitors li*e Gilthanas of Eualinesti The Grand Master %anted his senior 1nights

there, so a pair of re)ent initiates in the Order of the S%ord too* my ne0t shift in the Glade 5

%anted (illam at the feast, as 5 feel that a mentor should attend to all aspe)ts of his student'strainingand learning to sit still for hours on end during feasts )an "e an important diplomati)

s*ill

s 5 loo*ed around the Grand 9all, 5 noti)ed that the )ham"er )ould a))ommodate perhaps five

times the people that %ere )urrently seated here s #ord #iam rose to his feet and offered a "rief

spee)h and a %el)ome toast to Gilthanas and his )ompanions, 5 noti)ed ho% his voi)e e)hoed in the

hall My mind again drifted "a)* to %hen 5 %as a )hild 5 %ould sometimes snea* onto the

"al)onies that )ir)led the hall on the se)ond floor and there %at)h #ord Gunthar and the 1nights

feast, the light of the tor)hes dan)ing off their armor (hen #ord Gunthar or another 1night %ould

toast the assem"lage, his voi)e %ould not e)ho from the %alls, "e)ause the room %as almost full

5 shifted in my seat, allo%ing my eyes to slide a)ross the 1nights, most of %hom %ere %at)hing

#ord #iam as he spo*e Of the t%o %ho %eren't, one %as %at)hing (illam #ady Sheryl, %ho has "een pining for his attentions sin)e she too* )ommand of Revered Daughter Crysania's honor

guard, at the spe)ifi) re@uest of the venera"le priestessand (illam himself, %ho %as %at)hing

lla

#ady Sheryl is a sad )ase She isn't very s*illed in the )ourtly arts, having "een raised in the less+

than+gentile to%n of Ne%ports, and (illam is a "it too thi)* s*ulled to realiAe that her overtures on

the training fields are not to "elittle him "ut instead to get his attention 5t's interesting ho% adults

often "ehave li*e )hildren in affairs of the heart, as in Sheryl's )ase, %here she relies on /i"es and

pun)hes %hen she should /ust tell him ho% she feels She is no shrin*ing violet in all other matters,

so no one %ould "at an eye if she %ere to do so $0)ept perhaps (illam, %ho %ould pro"a"ly "e as

surprised as )an "e

5 loo*ed "riefly at lla She %ore a "orro%ed go%n and /e%elry and appeared even more

stunning than she had earlier in the day 5t %as )lear to me %hy (illam )ouldn't *eep his eyes off

her 9er e0oti) appearan)e in the Glade intrigued the "oy, and no% he appeared to "e )ompletely

entran)ed "y the image of her as a no"le %oman of unsurpassed "eauty 5 found myself hoping that

(illam %as %ise enough to not let his heart "e)ome )aptured "y her "eauty

That hope strengthened %hen 5 sa% #eth's hand %ander to her fingers as they lay on the ta"le

and gently s@ueeAe them lla turned to him, and he smiled %armly 5t )onfirmed to me %hat 5 had

suspe)ted yesterday& They %ere a )ouple, %hi)h meant there %as no room for the li*es of (illam

s the feast progressed, Gilthanas spent most of his time spea*ing %ith Sir #iam Clearly, he

had "een out of tou)h for some time, and mu)h of %hat he *ne% of the tumultuous years sin)e the

Chaos (ar %as rife %ith misinformation On the )urrent state of the 1nights of Solamnia,Gilthanas interrupted the Grand Master's e0planation of ho% )overt )ir)les are "eing esta"lished in

many areas "y )ursing the name of Sir urrafil 9e @ui)*ly apologiAed for his out"urst, "ut then

e0plained that urrafil had told him a variety of lies during the year he spent in 1alaman, in)luding

the -fa)t- that the 1nights limited themselves to San)rist

-9e might not have "een purposefully lying,- #ord #iam said -e% people realiAe ho%

e0tensive our re"uilding efforts have "een Most of the attention is "eing fo)used on the #egion of

Steel, %hi)h serves our purpose rather %ell (e are finding ourselves %ith )apa"le allies in many

)ities %hen %e attempt to esta"lish our )overt )ir)les, and %hile the 1nights of Ta*hisis are "usy

%at)hing the #egionnaires, %e )an regain the footing %e lost in the Chaos (ar-

-Spea*ing of the #egion, #ord #iam, have you had a )han)e to revie% #ady 1arine's latest

dispat)h from San)tion?- as*ed #ord Euintayne -The notion of using a single 1night as the visi"le)onta)t point "et%een our )ir)le there and the #egion seems li*e the perfe)t %ay to avoid the

de"a)les of years past-

-5 agree,- #ord #iam replied -No%, if only #ady #insha, or any of the other 1nights, )ould

dis)ern 9ogan ight's motives in the )ity, %e might a)tually get some%here-



The dis)ussion a"out San)tion )ontinued as *ender tum"lers rushed onto the floor of the Grand

9all and "egan performing the )lassi) routine -#ord Toede's 9unt- During this, Gilthanas turned to

me and said, -5 have "een hearing tales of great dragons larger and more po%erful than any %e ever

fa)ed during the (ar of the #an)e that have seiAed huge s%aths of territory (hat of the metalli)

dragons? Surely, they must oppose these "easts?-

-las, 5 %ish it %as so 5 *no% of t%o metalli) dragons %ho have survived the Dragon .urge& a "rass dragon %ho has ta*en up residen)e along the Silvanesti "order in the south, and a silver

dragon *no%n as Mirror at the Citadel of #ight-

-Bes 5 heard of Mirror %hile in 1alaman- sudden sadness appeared on his features as his

eyes drifted to the *ender )lo%ns -s 5 told #ord $hrling, Sir 1night, 5 )ame to San)rist hoping to

find a dragon, or at the very least someone %ho *ne% %here she %as last seen and if not her,

then may"e one that )ould tell me %here she may have gone-

-5 don't *no% if this means anything, "ut %e re)ently had %ord from Castle $ast%at)h stating

that a silver dragon had settled in the near"y area-

-ny %ord as to %hether it is a male or female?- Gilthanas suddenly straightened in his )hair,

his fa)e "rightening

-No, 5'm afraid not t any rate, 5 don't put mu)h sto)* in the report This %ouldn't "e the firsttime that #ady Riva and her 1nights have either misinterpreted or simply imagined something One

)an hardly "lame them as their assignment is not an envia"le one-

Gilthanas fro%ned -(hat do you mean?-

-Bou haven't heard? "out fifteen years ago, the "iggest %hite dragon anyone had ever seen

)laimed dominion over most of Southern $rgoth .eople /ust )all him the (hite these days y all

reports, the "east has "uried 9uma's Tom" and mu)h of the #ast Gaard Mountains under magi)ally

generated i)e-

-(hat of Eualimori? nd Silvamori?-

-Most of the )itiAens fled to the isle of Cristyne The 1agonesti stayed and attempted to defend

their lands from the dragon s far as %e )an tell, they %ere mostly %iped out in the pro)ess-

Gilthanas sat stunned for moment, the "uilding e0)itement 5 had dete)ted in him dispelled 5

noti)ed that lla %as gripping #eth's hand so hard that her *nu)*les %ere %hite 9er eyes seemed

to shimmer %ith tears The poor %oman must have "een %itness to some of the atro)ities

perpetrated against her people "y the (hite Dragon Chivalry di)tated that 5 end this parti)ular line

of )onversation

-(ith the almost total a"sen)e of metalli) dragons on nsalon no%, 5 thin* that the silver dragon

in @uestion is more li*ely a produ)t of their imaginations rather than your Silvara-

-Still,- Gilthanas said, -this is the "est lead 5 have had sin)e 5 started my @uest to reunite %ith

her! nd it ma*es sense Castle $ast%at)h is )lose to oghaven :ale %here she on)e made her

home! 5f any dragon %ere to attempt to drive off that %hite "east, it %ould "e her re you

personally a)@uainted %ith #ady Riva, Sir Gavin?--She %as one of my sponsors,- 5 said

-$0)ellent Could 5 trou"le you for a letter of introdu)tion? 5 %ould very mu)h li*e to travel to

Castle $ast%at)h and spea* %ith her and her 1nights a"out this silver dragon 5f it is not Silvara, at

least my mind %ill "e at ease She has no reason to trust me, ho%ever, and may not "e as hospita"le

as you are here on San)rist5 *no% 5 %ould thin* t%i)e a"out trusting strangers if 5 %ere living in

the shado% of a po%erful dragon $ven %hite dragons )an "e devious if they put their minds to it-

-5'd "e happy to %rite you a letter of introdu)tion, Bour 9ighness nd 5 feel )onfident in

assuring you, #ady Riva %ill give you every "it of )ooperation she )an-

-5 am in your de"t, Sir 1night-

-Nonsense- 5 smiled gently -This is "ut a trifle, and if you find your "eloved, my a"ility to ta*e

/oy from it due to the small part 5 played %ill pla)e me in your de"t-Gilthanas nodded and smiled, this time %ith radiant /oy 9e turned to %at)h the *ender

performers %ith an a"sent loo* on his fa)e, almost as if he %as reliving a pleasant memory or

perhaps imagining something pleasant to )ome

-Sir 1night, %hat happened to the 1agonesti?- 5 turned my gaAe to%ard lla 9er large, dar*



eyes %ere still shimmering %ith threatened tears -Do any live still?-

-5 "elieve so, milady Some have fled to Cristyne, "ut others )ontinue to resist the (hite The

1agonesti most definitely still live-

Tears finally spilled over her )hee*s -5 didn't have the )ourage to stay May the lue .hoeni0

forgive me, "ut 5 )ould not "ear the destru)tion any longer ut they live still?- she as*ed,

struggling to *eep her voi)e steady-y my honor, milady, the 1agonesti )ontinue to "ear arms against those %ho %ould ta*e their

an)estral lands from them-

-Good- She lo%ered her head, )ontinuing to %eep silently, her tears flo%ing freely My eyes

drifted to #eth The young Eualinesti put his arm around her and leaned )lose 9e %hispered

something in her ear She nodded and s%iftly %iped the tears from her eyes She stood and %ith an

o"vious effort of %ill steadied her voi)e to say, -Sir #iam, 5 appre)iate your gra)ious hospitality

"ut 5 have gro%n tired 5 "id you good night-

Sir #iam rose to his feet -5 shall have a 1night es)ort you-

-No need, Sir #iam,- #eth said -5 shall see lla safely to her )ham"er llo% your 1nights to

)ontinue to en/oy themselves-

#iam nodded -s you %ish--re you all right?- Gilthanas as*ed, genuine )on)ern in his voi)e

-Bes,- lla said, another tear tri)*ling do%n her )hee* She s%iftly %iped it a%ay -5 am tired

That's all 8ust tired-

#eth too* her arm lthough he %as trying to hide it, 5 sa% in his fa)e a pain at her sorro% s

they left the ta"le, (illam )ame into vie% My young )harge %as %at)hing them as they left

%at)hing her to "e spe)ifi) nd he made no effort to hide the pain he %as feeling The damn "oy

%as smitten and every tear that she had /ust shed at the ta"le had pro"a"ly felt li*e a dagger in his

heart

5 s%ear that the gods made elven %omen the %ay they did to torment young men

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The ne0t night, (illam and 5 again stood at our post in (hitestone Glade (e had "een on %at)h

for mere minutes %hen the topi) 5 *ne% he %ould "roa)h )ame up

-Bou spent time on Southern $rgoth, didn't you Gavin?-

-Bes, (illam 5 served under #ady Riva for three years "efore returning to San)rist t the time,

the (hite %as e0panding his domain (e helped many elves flee the island to Crystine-

-So, you've seen many elves?-

-Bes, lad nd "efore you even as*, 5 have seen some that rival lla in "eauty-

-ut none as gra)eful, 5 am )ertain- 9is fa)e too* on a distant e0pression -(hen she moves

it's as though the %ind itself has ta*en mortal form-5 grunted -She's ta*en, "oy-

9e snapped "a)* to reality -(hat?-

-She's ta*en Did you see the %ay #eth loo*s at her?-

-No,- he said, his tone guarded

-(ell, %hen you're around them tomorro%, ta*e a )loser loo* 5t's more than /ust )hivalry for

him, and she returns his feelings Spare yourself em"arrassment and heart"rea*- 9e loo*ed so

)restfallen that 5 had to laugh -Consider yourself lu)*y, "oy Bou *no% %hat happened the last

time an upstanding 1night got involved %ith an elf+maid, don't you?-

-9e died a heroi) death, defending the To%er of the 9igh Clerist against the for)es of $vil-

-ll right 5 forgot a"out Sturm right"lade 5 %as thin*ing of #ord Soth, (illam Don't let lust

override your sense of honor--5 thin* you insult me, Sir-

-No, (illam, 5'm /ust imparting to you the "enefit of my years $lven %omen are "eautiful,

e0oti) )reatures The first fe% times a young man en)ounters them, they set his head spinning 5

*no%, "e)ause 5've "een there nd 5 *no% that you should put her out of your mind "e)ause she



and #eth are already in love %ith one another-

silen)e fell "et%een us or several long minutes, the only sound %as the %ind snapping at our

)loa*s

-5 )an't get her out of mind, Gavin-

5 loo*ed at him, trying not to laugh -Bou'll never "e)ome a 1night of the S%ord %ith that *ind

of %illpo%er, (illam- misera"le e0pression )rossed his fa)e -5've gotten past the gender of #ady Sheryl and #ady

9annah5 vie% them no% /ust as fello% 1nights"ut ho% )an 5 ever re)laim my heart from

lla?-

-She doesn't have your heart, you young fool! nd 5 suspe)t that #ady Sheryl %ouldn't mind if

you %ere to a)*no%ledge that she's a %oman as %ell as 1night-

-No% you mo)* me She "elittles my a"ilities as a s%ordsman every )han)e she gets-

-nd she also offers to train %ith you every )han)e she gets! (hy do you thin* that is?-

(illam "lin*ed Then a startled e0pression appeared on his fa)e -ut she turned me do%n %hen

5 as*ed to es)ort her to the utumn's T%ilight festival-

-Of )ourse she did She %as leaving for G%ynned the day of the festival, es)orting #ady

Crysania and her party to the emperor's )ourt for an audien)e--She never said that-

-No, "e)ause you s)urried out the hall so fast she didn't have a )han)e to e0plain #ady Crysania

%as traveling to $rgoth to see if the emperor's daughter %as ill or strong in the mysti) artsthe

)hild %as )laiming that spirits spo*e to her Sir #iam %anted the Revered Daughter to have e0tra

es)ort %hile a%ay from San)rist-

(illam loo*ed li*e he %as a"out to say something, "ut then )losed his mouth and turned his

gaAe up at the moon

-Tal* to #ady Sheryl tomorro%, (illam 9er you might "e a"le to %in, "ut lla is as

unrea)ha"le for you as the moon-

-#ady Sheryl is a "eautiful and intelligent %oman indeed, "ut she is to lla as the moon is to the

sunshe pales "y )omparison-

5 sighed -5've done %hat 5 )an for you in this matter This )onversation is at an end-

The rest of the %at)h passed in silen)e, %ith (illam deep in thought fter %e had "een relieved

and %ere %al*ing "a)* to sleeping Castle ;th (istan, he said, -5'm not sure 5 )an a))ept your

estimation of #ady Sheryl-

-My advi)e is that you see* out #ady Sheryl to at least )larify her feelings to%ard you,- 5 said

-Don't "e surprised if she laughs at you initially and )hallenges you to a sparring mat)h 5f she

does, 5 am right 5f she instead gets serious and apologiAes to you, then 5 am %rong- One of the

tales of Gilthanas and Silvara )ame to mindthe version %here he doesn't dis)over %hat he has

lost until it is too late -5 have given you my "est advi)e already, "ut 5 %ant to add this& 5 truly

"elieve you should see* out #ady Sheryl and tal* to her, man to %oman 5f you don't, you may findit's too late and then you'll regret it for the rest of your life-

s 5 spo*e, %e )lim"ed the steps to the "attlement, intending to enter our @uarters from there

lla, in her )loa*, appeared at the top of the stairs, starting do%n them %ithout really loo*ing

ahead fter a fe% steps, she noti)ed us, a startled loo* on her narro% fa)e She "egan to apologiAe

and to retreat up the stairs

-No, milady, please, you go first,- (illam said, moving "a)* do%n the stairs, pushing me "ehind

him -(e %ould not thin* of impeding your progress,-

The elf lo%ered her eyes demurely, a slight smile on her fa)e 5 got the sense that she %as

em"arrassed "y (illam's )hivalry

-(hy are you up at this late hour?- (illam as*ed -5s there something you need assistan)e

%ith?--No, *ind sir 5 /ust found myself una"le to sleep, so 5 de)ided to visit %ith the griffins-

-llo% me to es)ort you, milady-

She lo%ered her eyes again -5 don't %ant to "e a "other, Sir 1night 5 %ill "e fine Bou need not

)on)ern yourself-



-Nonsense 5t is no "other urther, 5 %ould "e fas)inated to hear of your travels %ith Gilthanas

of Eualinesti 5 have heard many tales of his deeds in the years during the (ar of the #an)e, and 5

%ould li*e to hear some more-

-O*ay,- she said %ith a s%eet, "right smile 9e offered her his arm and she too* it

5 )aught (illam's eye and fro%ned at him -(e have an early morning tomorro%, Sir (illam-

-Bou've no need to )on)ern yourself, Sir Gavin 5 %ill go straight to "ed on)e #ady lla has)he)*ed on the griffins-

-.lease, Sir 1night! 5 am not of no"le "lood!-

-ut your "eauty alone ma*es you deserving nonetheless of the honorifi),- he said, smiling at

her She dropped her eyes again, "lushing and smiling slightly 9e then loo*ed "a)* at me, an

imploring loo* on his fa)e

-:ery %ell,- 5 said -On your honor, you %ill rest this evening nd you %ill uphold the Measure

in every %ay-

-Of )ourse, Sir Gavin!- 9e sounded startled Bet, there he %as, arm in arm %ith another man's

%oman -My honor is my life!-

5 fro%ned at him again, unsure as to %hether he understood ho% serious 5 %as ta*ing this

matter "ut if 5 "rought it up, 5 %ould have em"arrassed young lla 5 felt that if 5 %ere to "erate(illam in front of her, 5 %ould "e dishonoring myself, as 5 feared he %as a"out to dishonor "oth her

and himself

5nstead, 5 merely said, -5 *no%, Sir (illam $s)ort lla "a)* to her )ham"er %hen she is done

inspe)ting the griffins 5 %ill see you at sunrise tomorro%- 5 headed up the stairs %ithout loo*ing

"a)*

s 5 entered my @uarters, a page %as returning the "ed+%armer to its stand -Good evening, Sir

Gavin,- the "oy said -9o% %as your %at)h?-

-Cold,- 5 replied, dismissing him %ith a gesture My thoughts revolved around (illam as 5

removed my %eapons "elt Greater 1nights than he had fallen vi)tim to the temptation of an elven

%oman 5n my youth, 5 myself had done so She hadn't "een involved %ith another man, ho%ever

s 5 started to remove my armor, a pounding on the door and shouts in the hall%ay interrupted my

thoughts 5 s%iftly gra""ed my s%ord and thre% the door open The page %as outside, %hite as a

sheet

-Monsters!- he shouted -There are monsters on the )astle %alls! Sir (illam is fighting them!-

5 pushed the "oy aside and stormed do%n the hall%ay -Sound the alarm!- 5 shouted rom

"eyond the reinfor)ed door that led to the "attlement of the )astle )ame a strange s)ree)h, a sound

that )ould only have "een uttered "y a )reature from the "yss, 5 thought 5 hesitated "riefly, "ut

then my )ourage rose again and 5 flung open the door

9overing a"ove the %all %as one of the griffins (illam )lung to its side, his arms %rapped

around the %aist of a "la)*+)lad person5 )ould not tell if it %as a man or %oman, for a "illo%ing

)loa* o"s)ured his or her form and hid the fa)e in the shado%s of a dra%n hood(illam loo*ed over his shoulder as 5 rushed for%ard -Gavin! Than* the gods!-

Then 5 sa% a flash of steel amidst the folds of the )loa* The rider t%isted in (illam's grasp and

drove a short s%ord through the )ra)* %here his "reastplate and "a)* armor met (illam let out a

strangled )ry and released his grip The griffin soared up%ard, (illam's %eight pulled him free of

the "lade, and he )lattered to the hard stones of the "attlement

5 leapt over his prone figure and onto the )renellation 5 s%ung %ide %ith my s%ord, hoping to

stri*e the griffin "efore it %as too far a%ay, "ut all 5 a)hieved %as to almost lose my "alan)e and

plunge into the i)y moat forty feet "elo% gainst the "right dis* of the moon, 5 )ould see all three

griffins that Gilthanas, #eth, and lla had arrived on The one 5 had %itnessed on the %all %as

lagging signifi)antly "ehind the others single )loa*ed figure sat upon ea)h of the t%o trailing

griffins"ut 5 )ould see t%o figures upon the lead one and one of the people had long hair thatfluttered in the %ind 5t %as lla!

5 /umped off the %all and strode to (illam's side lood %as streaming from the %ound and the

page stood over him, loo*ing )onfused and frightened The "oy %as a)tually %ringing his hands

-et)h one of the mysti)s,- 5 "ar*ed -nd ma*e sure it's one %ho *no%s ho% to heal!-



The page "lin*ed at me, then rushed into the )astle, leaving the door open "ehind him 5 put my

s%ord aside and *neeled ne0t to (illam 5 pulled him into my arms and said, -5t'll "e all right,

(illam 8ust rela0-

9e loo*ed at me, his fa)e t%isted %ith pain Then he )oughed, and "lood spilled forth from his

mouth as he trem"led in my arms 5'd seen enough good men die to *no% that he didn't have mu)h

time-Get a healer to the northern "attlements,- 5 shouted -To the "yss %ith the damn mysti)s, /ust

"ring me a healer!- $lse%here in the )astle, someone finally sounded the alarm

(illam )lut)hed at my )loa* 9is "reath hissed over his lips, forming "u""les in the "lood

-lla,- he moaned, his eyes lo)*ing %ith mine -lla-

-Bou did your "est, (illam There is no dishonor in failing, only in not trying to perform your

duty Bou and 5 shall hunt do%n the villains that a"du)ted her %hen you have healed They %ill pay

for %hat they've done %ith their lives, and %e shall mete out /usti)e together-

9is eyes %idened and a strange loo* passed over his fa)e, a loo* the meaning of %hi)h 5 )ould

not determineit almost seemed li*e desperation 9e dre% a shuddering "reath and spo*e her

name again -lla-

Then his eyes %ent "lan* 9is final "reath "u""led a)ross his lips as life fled his "ody-y Misha*al!- 5 heard someone )ry 5t %as the young girl %ho served as the Revered

Daughter's assistant and the page 5 had dispat)hed She %as %earing only a dressing go%n and ran

a)ross the i)y flagstones of the "attlement in "are feet -5 %ill help him, Sir 1night Goldmoon has

instru)ted me in healing magi)!-

She *neeled at our side and pla)ed her hands on (illam's "loody )hest She )losed her eyes and

prepared to use the final gift of the gods, "ut then her eyes fle% open and she dre% "a)* her hands

as though she had "een "urned

-5t's too late,- 5 said, regretting the %ords even as they left my lips 5t had "een an un"idden

phrase, said %ithout )onsideration They %ere not the %ords this )hild needed to hear

She raised her hands and loo*ed at the "lood upon them They %ere trem"ling 9er doeli*e eyes

drifted to (illam's "ody, and she "urst into tears -5'm sorry,- she so""ed -5'm so sorry 5 didn't get

here in time 5 %as sleeping 5'm sorry!-

-5t's not your fault,- 5 said, for)ing "a)* tears of my o%n, struggling to *eep my voi)e steady 5

lo%ered (illam to the )old stones and )overed him %ith my )loa* 5 then helped the girl to her feet

She put her arms around me and so""ed against my armor 5 lifted my eyes to s*y, to %here 5 had

seen the three griffins pass "y the moon -5t's not your fault, milady They *illed (illam, not you

nd, "y my honor, they %ill pay-

The "attlement e0ploded %ith a)tivity S@uires and a healer arrived 1nights in varying states of

dress %ith their s%ords dra%n suddenly seemed to "e every%here Some%here, 5 heard #eth )alling

the name of his "eloved That odd, desperate e0pression in (illam's eyes flashed in my mind 5

%ondered if the "oy had died %ith a "urning passion for a %oman %ith another man in her life died afraid that he %ould never see her again

Then 5 heard Gilthanas's voi)e -(hat happened?- the elf as*ed

5 turned to him after passing the so""ing girl off to the page s he led her a%ay, 5 said, -The

)astle %as infiltrated Someone has a"du)ted lla, stolen your griffins, and used them in their

es)ape Sir (illam %as slain trying to stop them-

The elf+lord's "ro% furro%ed in a fro%n -That's not possi"le-

-Bou sa% the "lood on that girl's hands, did you not?- 5 said, anger %elling up inside me -Do

you see the "ody here on the ground "efore us? 5f you )he)* the )ourtyard, you %ill see that your

mounts are indeed gone 5t is possi"le, #ord Gilthanas, and it has happened-

-Bes, Sir 1night, 5 understand, "ut %hat you are suggesting has happened here is impossi"le-

-re you saying 5 am lying? re you )alling my honor into @uestion?--No, Sir Gavin,- he replied softly -5 %as thin*ing a"out the griffins They %on't o"ey anyone

"ut #eth 9o% )ould they have ta*en the griffins %ith him still here?- s if to prove Gilthanas's

point, #eth ho%led lla's name Someone had told him the ne%s

-They )ould have ta*en the griffins if they used dar* mysti)ism to usurp the "ond that #eth has



nurtured %ith them- #ady Sheryl emerged from the )haos of 1nights that %ere streaming "a)* and

forth along the "attlement She %as dressed in her nightgo%n and steel+toed "oots 5n one hand, she

)arried her s%ord 5n the other, she held a pie)e of par)hment she had pi)*ed up from the

flagstones She offered it to me, her eyes drifting to the shrouded form on the ground lood %as

starting to seep from "eneath the )loa*

5 e0amined the par)hment On it %as a )rude representation of the Seal of the $mperor of $rgoth%ith a "la)* spot at the )enter

-(hat do you mean, dar* mysti)ism usurped #eth's "ond %ith the griffins?- Gilthanas as*ed

-5 %ent through my trials on S)hallsea %ith a 1night %ho spent part of her )hildhood at the

Citadel of #ight She )ould )ommuni)ate %ith animals through the po%ers of the heart, and 5 on)e

sa% her )onvin)e a hunter's loyal hound to a"andon the s)ent of a deer she %anted to go free 5f she

)an do it, so )an mysti)s %ho are of a dar*er spirit-

-nd this sym"ol relates to them?- 5 passed the par)hment to Gilthanas %ho studied it intently

-Bes,- #ady Sheryl replied -(hile at the $rgothian )ourt earlier this year, the emperor's

daughter said that the spirits that spea* to her %arned her of an $vil that is represented "y this

sym"ol (hen the li"rarians resear)hed it, they dis)overed that it stands for a movement that rose

during the (ar of the #an)ea movement devoted to the servi)e of Sargonnas and the destru)tionof the $mpire of $rgoth-

-ut %hy a"du)t lla?- Gilthanas as*ed

-5 don't *no%,- #ady Sheryl said She shivered violently as she loo*ed at (illam's "ody again

-The Revered Daughter %ould *no% (e should go as* her-

-Bes,- 5 said -#et us go Bou'll )at)h your death, Sheryl-

-9e should "e "rought in from the )old as %ell,- she said, her eyes still on the "ody -9e's going

to "e mu)h )older than 5-

-Go, Sheryl s* the Revered Daughter to prepare herself for an audien)e %ith myself and

.rin)e Gilthanas-

-Bes, Sir Gavin- 9er eyes fluttered to my fa)e 9er lo%er lip trem"led, "ut her voi)e remained

steady as she said, -5 *ept as*ing him to let me tea)h him ho% to use his s%ord "etter-

5 "ar*ed at a )ouple of s@uires %ho %ere ga%*ing open+mouthed at my fallen )harge -Ta*e him

to the )rypt, you laAy dogs Start preparing the "ody for its time in state!-

-(ere they )lose?- Gilthanas nodded to%ard Sheryl %ho %as %al*ing do%n the hall, too slo%ly

and %ith her shoulders slumping The "lade of her s%ord %as "arely off the floor

-No,- 5 replied -ut they should have "een-

FFFFF

Sir #iam, Gilthanas, #eth, and 5 stood in the Revered Daughter's audien)e room, listening as

Sherylno% more appropriately dressed in a tuni) and trouserse0plained %hat she *ne% of the)ult 5 )onfess that 5 "arely heard a %ord she said The sight of (illam dying in my arms hovered

"efore my eyes and the e)ho of his final %ord rever"erated %ith deafening intensity in my head

The events that "rought (illam and the *idnappers to the "attlements of the )astle %ere

shrouded in mystery, "ut for some reason, he had left his %eapons "elt in the )ourtyard "elo%

.erhaps the villains had threatened to harm lla unless he dropped his "lades They then too* to the

air and he leapt up and gra""ed hold of one of the riders .erhaps it %as something else (e %ill

never *no%, for although a Rose 1night %ith the a"ility to )ommuni)ate %ith the spirits of the

re)ently dead attempted to spea* %ith (illam, he had already gone to /oin .aladine in the eyond

Only those %ho had flo%n off on the griffins )ould no% tell us %hat had transpired

-5 %ill hunt these animals to the very edge of the "yss,- #eth )ried, sha*ing %ith rage -nd if

they have harmed her, 5 %ill *ill ea)h and every one of them!-Gilthanas put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a stern loo* -e )alm, my friend (e %ill

hunt these villains together "ut first %e must allo% #ady Sheryl and the Revered Daughter tell

us %hat they *no% a"out these )ultists-

-There isn't mu)h more to tell,- #ady Sheryl said -They have their lair some%here in the



mountains along the "order "et%een the $rgothian $mpire and the go"lin *ingdom of Si**'et 9ul

They are rumored to perform some manner of rites on the (inter Solsti)e at a pla)e )alled Rae*el's

.it, so it is @uite possi"le that they *idnapped lla to sa)rifi)e her in some foul ritual-

-ut %hy her?!- #eth %ailed -(hy her?!-

-e% pla)es in nsalon have su)h a )on)entration of men and %omen %ho are valiant and pure

in "ody and soul as San)rist,- Crysania said softly, her sightless eyes turning to%ard us -.erhapsthey a"du)ted lla over one of the 1nights "e)ause of the reputed "ond that the 1agonesti share

%ith the land The very fa)t that they su"verted #eth's "ond %ith his griffins sho% that they are

po%erful dar* mysti)s .erhaps they intend to tap into her energies-

-5s su)h a thing possi"le?- Sheryl as*ed

-The dragons a"sor"ed the life energies of their slain foes during the Dragon .urge .erhaps

these follo%ers of Sargonnas at Rae*el's .it are engaged in similar a)tivities-

-Or perhaps they are merely honoring their god,- Gilthanas muttered 9e loo*ed around the

room %ith a pained e0pression -Several years ago, 5 en)ountered people %ho 5 no% "elieve to "e

mem"ers of this )ult on the island of $lian, off nsalon's eastern )oast lmost a de)ade later, in

Solamnia 5 met a man 5 thought 5 had "efriended "a)* then "ut he %as "ent on *illing me

-lla's predi)ament is my fault, for 5 "elieve she %as a"du)ted as part of an attempt to gainrevenge upon me or %hat, 5'm not sure, "ut it )ould "e as straightfor%ard as them %ishing to

avenge the death of a )omrade 5t )ould "e "igger than that ut that is %hy she %as )hosen, 5 am

)ertain of it- 9e pla)ed a hand on #eth's shoulder The other elf loo*ed at him %ith smoldering

eyes -5f #ord #iam %ill provide us %ith a fast ship, %e %ill travel to Northern $rgoth together

and 5 shall see that you are reunited %ith the %oman you love, or 5 %ill die in the attempt-

-Bou %ill not go alone,- 5 said, a *not of anger )len)hing in my "reast -5 %ill /oin you to avenge

my friend 9e %as murdered most foully, and 5 %ill "e the one to destroy these follo%ers of Dar*

:engean)e-

-5t %on't "e an easy tas*,- Sheryl muttered, a loo* of deep sorro% appearing on her fa)e -5

should "e there at your side ut 5 )an't 5 have a duty here 5 have to stay and prote)t the Revered

Daughter or all %e *no%, she %as their intended target, and may still "e-

Crysania held out a hand and Sheryl too* it The aged priestess said, -5 appre)iate your devotion

to duty even if your heart )ries out to avenge (illam The gods %ill re%ard your sa)rifi)e some

day, dear Sheryl, "e)ause you are putting Good a"ove the need to e0punge your pain-

-My than*s, Revered Daughter,- Sheryl replied so softly that it %as almost inaudi"le -That is

small )omfort, as 5 don't thin* the gods have ever heard a single one of my prayers-

-Bou may ta*e my ship,- Crysania said after a slight pause -Sheryl, %ould you please go %a*e

the )re% and tell them to prepare to depart %ith the tide?-

-5 %ill fet)h my gear,- 5 said to Gilthanas -5 %ill meet you at the ship-

FFFFF

5 )hose to travel light& a )loa*, my "roads%ord, t%o daggers, a )ross"o% and ten @uarrels, and a

ru)*sa)* )ontaining e0tra )lothes, a spare pair of "oots, oil for my %eapons and armor, and my

armor These evil priests %ere going to *no% that they %ere meeting their end at the hands of a

1night of the S%ord

5 renamed to the (hitestone Glade "efore heading to the har"or The 1nights posted there

realiAed %ith a single glan)e at my grim visage that they should not spea* to me They retreated

deeper into the forest as 5 *neeled in front of the )ra)*ed and "ro*en (hitestone

The %ind rushed through the glade, "iting at my )hee*s as 5 loo*ed up into the heavens %here

the mad s%irl of stars left in Chaos's %a*e glimmered dimly

.o you thin% they still watch o/er us-5 pushed the sound of (illam's voi)e out of my mind 5 )leared my mind and %hispered a prayer

to 1iri+8olith, the patron of my Order 5 *ept my fa)e turned s*y%ard, my eyes s)anning the stars

1iri+8olith %ould guide me in this @uest 1iri+8olith %ould ensure that 5 )ondu)ted myself

honora"ly, as a man devoted to his servi)e should 5 didn't %ant to "e sent to a different age 5 /ust



%anted strength to )omport myself %ith honor .o you thin% they still watch o/er us-

5 stopped praying -No,- 5 %hispered to the e)ho of the dead man - 5 do not 5f #insha Ma/ere

found anything in this grove, it %as the memory of the gods "ut not their presen)e-

5 %ent to the do)*s

Ra)*el's pit =4s)

Gilthanas slashed hard on the "a)* s%ing and the go"lin's head fle% from its s*inny shoulders,

trailing "lood and freeAing the )reature's horrified grima)e into a death mas* The head tum"led

a%ay li*e a misshapen "all, and "y the time the prin)e loo*ed around to see* his ne0t target, the

rest of the runts %ere s)attering into the night

Near"y Sir Gavin %as already )leaning his s%ord on a rag he'd ripped from a dead go"lin's

)loa* #ethagas %as panting, %ith his "loody "lade still raised Nervously the young elf spun a"out,

hearing an imaginary threat "ehind him

.erhaps t%o doAen go"lins spra%led around the trio in various postures of grievous in/ury or

death fe% moaned, or gasped for "reath, "ut for the most part the loathsome )reatures remained

still The rest of the tri"e had run a%ay, vanishing into the )ra)*s and )revi)es of their mountainhome, and Gilthanas felt that there %as little )han)e they %ould "e "a)*

-re either of you hurt?- he as*ed his )ompanions

-5'm fine a fe% ni)*s, that's all,- replied the young elf

-Euite untou)hed, than* you,- stated the 1night

Gilthanas loo*ed at the old man %ith fresh appraisal 9e had %ielded his great s%ord li*e it %as

a t%ig, )arving a%ay at go"lins to all sides 5n the end, his full+throated "attle )ry -or the Oath

and the Measure-had put the pani) into the atta)*ing go"lins

-They must have "een %at)hing us for the last fe% miles,- Sir Gavin suggested -That gave them

time to ma*e their atta)* in num"ers-

-nd this %as the last pla)e they )ould get )lose to us %ithout "eing seenat least, the last pla)e

on this side of the pass- Gilthanas loo*ed at the sharp ridge et)hed against the s*yline "efore them

rom this valley, their path %ould ta*e them onto the "road mountainside, %here the trail %as steep,

"ut visi"ility %as )lear for miles in any dire)tion

-.erhaps the superstitious "uggers feared to )ross over and get too )lose to the .it,- suggested

Sir Gavin

-Do you thin* the gully d%arves *ne% %hat they %ere tal*ing a"out %hen they told us to )ome

here?- as*ed #ethagas, hesitantly -There )ould "e more than one 'la)* Mountain' along here-

Gilthanas shrugged -They're all %e have to go on and 5've *no%n gully d%arves to "e helpful

a time or t%o in the past 5 thin* %e should ta*e their %ord-

-Bou're right%e don't have any other )hoi)e,- #eth said -nd if they )an help us find lla

and %hoever too* her a%aythen 5 )ouldn't "e more grateful-Grimly the three travelers started onto the steep slope reathing hard, they leaned into the )lim"

and plodded resolutely up the trail Gilthanas thought of the tas* that had "rought them here, to

Northern $rgothof the stormy )rossing from San)rist, the tre* through village after village of

"ar"arians or gully d%arves, finally the am"ush "y a hundred go"lins 9e %as relieved at the

thought that they %ere almost done Then, finally, he %ould go see* the silver dragon that /ust

might "e the one he loved

These thoughts )arried him all the %ay to the )rest, %here he stood %ith his )ompanions /ust

"efore dus* and loo*ed into a "arren, ro)*+stre%n valley 5n the )enter of the vale the ground

plunged a%ay to form a deep holea gap in %hi)h mists %rithed and strange %inds moaned

-(e've found it!- #eth de)lared -That has to "e Rae*el's .it!- 9e started do%n the slope at a

trot -This is %here the )ult %orships and %here those "astards must have "rought lla!--(ait!- hissed Gilthanas, still ta*ing in the rest of the surroundings -5f this is their )eremonial

)enter, they'll have guards!- 9undreds of small )aves, rough *nolls, and little ravines )ould )on)eal

an enemy nd the mouth of the pit %as at the "ottom of the hill, in )lear vie% from all dire)tions

-9urry!- %as #eth's only reply



The 1night and the elven prin)e did the "est they )ould, gasping for "reath as they /oined their

)ompanion at the very lip of the pit

-Mar* my %ordsit's a hole straight to the "yss,- de)lared Sir Gavin grimly 5ndeed, the

"ottom )ould not "e seen "e)ause of the mist and smo*e that )urled through the air "elo% them

$ven so, they )ould see far enough to realiAe that the hole des)ended a hundred feet or more

%ithout rea)hing "ottom-There's a trail, %ith steps leading do%n,- said #eth, pointing

-(e *no% that the )ult %orshiped around Rae*el's .it (e don't *no% that they %ent inside it,-

Gilthanas argued

-(here else?- demanded the young elf, almost )ontemptuously ta*ing in the "arren valley %ith

a gesture -5'm going do%n there That's %here %e'll find lla!-

-(e're going %ith you, lad,- said Sir Gavin, and Gilthanas nodded )urtly in e0asperated

approval -8ust go slo% enough that %e )an stay together-

The trio of travelers started do%n the narro% stairs, %hi)h %ere "la)* stone steps that had "een

)arved dire)tly into the steep %all of the pit #ethagas too* the lead, follo%ed "y Gilthanas and then

Sir Gavin fter t%o doAen steps, the route led to a small platform, li*e a "al)ony overloo*ing the

o"s)ure depths of the pit More stairs led do%n from there, and they passed a su))ession of su)h platforms, dropping deeper and deeper into the )ylindri)al )avity They )ouldn't see the "ottom, "ut

they "egan to ma*e out out)rops of ro)* "elo% them

-There she islla!- )ried #eth, a"ruptly ra)ing do%n a doAen stairs to )ome to another

platform 9ere no further steps led do%n deeper into the pit, "ut as he arrived at his )ompanion's

side Gilthanas, too, sa% the elf maid

lla %as spra%led upon the top of an o"elis* of ro)* thirty or forty feet "elo% She lay spread+

eagled, on her "a)* 9er eyes %ere )losed, "ut she did not have any visi"le %ounds

-y all the godsif's she's hurt 5'll *ill every )ultist in this hole!- #ethagas )ried

-Too late, 5'm afraid %e already did the /o" for you-

The three )ompanions %hirled to )onfront a tall Dar* 1night standing on one of the platforms

/ust a"ove them The man %as dressed in "la)* armor, even to the grotes@ue mas* that fully

)on)ealed his fa)e Other 1nights, the armor less ela"orate in de)oration "ut /ust as )omplete in

)overage, flan*ed their leader and glared impassively do%n at the t%o elves and the Solamni)

1night

#ethagas )ho*ed out a strangled )urse "ut Gilthanas spo*e loudly, "efore the younger elf )ould

do anything rash

-(hom did you *ill?- he as*ed

-Three of them, the )ultists of Rae*el's .it They %ere little more than )hildren, really They

lived li*e savages in that valley up a"ove Still, the %en)h among them %as a handsome thingtoo

"ad she fought so hard that %e had to *ill her- -Bou "ut)hers! (hat have you done to lla?- )ried

#eth-(hy, nothing at all- The 1night raised his voi)e, shouting do%n into the pit -5sn't that right,

my dear?-

-Of )ourse- lla's voi)e %as as firm, as strong as ever

(hen Gilthanas loo*ed "a)*, he sa% that the elf maid had risen to stand easily atop her o"elis*

of ro)* She %aved mo)*ingly to the spee)hless trio as one of the 1nights thre% do%n a rope She

s)ampered up the line li*e an a)ro"at, some distan)e a%ay from the platform %here #eth,

Gilthanas, and Sir Gavin %at)hed in sho)*

-She's mad under some dar* spell!- gasped the young elf, finally, "efore )alling out to her

-lla"e%are sor)ery!-

She only laughed, and let go of the rope as several 1nights assisted her to stand ne0t to their

)aptain -Oh, #ethagas,- she )hided -Bou're su)h a )hild Still, it %as fun to toy %ith you for a%hile- Tou)hing the )aptain on his "road shoulder, she stru)* a )oy pose "eside the "urly human

-ut it's here, %ith the Dar* 1nights, that the future liesmine, Eualinesti's, and all 1rynn's 5

have made my )hoi)e, and my master is )alled 1hellendros no% Bou should have made yours, as

%ell though it %ill "e up to ate to see %here it )arries you-



(ith a groan the young elf )overed his eyes and dropped to his *nees

-(hy?- Gilthanas demanded -(hy did you do it?-

-(hy, she did it to "ring you to us, of )ourse,- said the 1night )ommander -She %as an

important part of a s)heme that has "een in pla)e for many years .erhaps you %ill "e interested to

*no% that she is the stal*er %ho a))ompanied the assassins you en)ountered earlier in your

/ourneys--(hy do you %ant me?- as*ed the prin)e

-5t's not us,- said the 1night, -ut someone %ho %ill pay a good pri)e for you Still, our o%n

Order %ill rest more )omforta"ly in Eualinesti, *no%ing that you are safely out of the %ay-

-:ile trea)hery!- shouted Sir Gavin -Bou shall not have us!-

efore Gilthanas )ould stop him, the elder 1night dre% his s%ord and )harged up the stairs T%o

mu)h younger %arriors )lad in "la)* armor, ea)h %ith a great "lade raised, met him Sir Gavin

ha)*ed at the first one, *no)*ing him off the stairs (ith a hysteri)al s)ream, the Dar* 1night

toppled into the depths of Rae*el's .it

ut the other 1night %as ready 9is "lade )leaved do%n, )utting deeply into the elder %arrior's

shoulder Sir Gavin fell fa)e first, slipping "a)* do%n the stairs, leaving a trail of fresh "lood

-(e )an fight them!- #ethagas hissed, rising and stepping to Gilthanas's side -Ta*e them do%n or die trying!-

The prin)e sighed 9e gestured to the array of 1nights glaring do%n at them, easily t%o s)ore

"lo)*ing their route out of the pit nd ho% many more %ere lur*ing in the valley %ithout?

-(e have "een )aptured- Gilthanas glared at lla -etrayed, true, "ut only )aptured No% is

not the time to die-

#eth grima)ed in relu)tan)e, "ut made no move to advan)e

-5 surrender to you,- de)lared Gilthanas, dra%ing the s%ord of .urstal and holding it, hilt first,

"efore him -Though if the dungeons of Silvanesti )ouldn't hold me, 5 dou"t that yours %ill do any

"etter-

lla laughed, %hile the Dar* 1night too* Gilthanas's s%ord %ith a good+natured shrug -5t's

only for a short time,- he said -nd then the "lue dragon %ill de)ide %hat to do %ith you-

-s to Silvara,- teased the elf maid, as a rope %as se)ured around Gilthanas's %rists -5t seems

that she %ill /ust have to %ait-

Silver 9earts

Castle East&atch, 28sc

Castle $ast%at)h is an ugly pla)e 5t is a dra" and gray "uilding of stone, unimaginative in its

)onstru)tion uilt from the stones of a fortress that re"els )ast do%n during the )ivil %ar that gave

"irth to Solamnia, it %as )onstru)ted %ith very little else "ut fun)tionality in mind

The one flourish it has is a "al)ony outside of %hat %as intended to "e the #ord's @uarters fter 5 e0pressed an appre)iation for the vie% it afforded of the har"or and the sea "eyond it, #ady Riva

had given it to me as my @uarters, despite my protestations

-5 %ant to "e treated as /ust another 1night,- 5 had said

-Bou are not '/ust another 1night,'- she had responded -nd %hile not everyone serving at

Castle $ast%at)h *no%s this, Sir ran)is and 5 do That is %hy he is stepping aside as the ran*ing

Rose 1night and %hy you %ill ta*e his pla)e 5t is also %hy you %ill have these @uarters-

(hen a 1night of Solamnia has made up her mind, one )an do nothing to )hange it Riva even

sho%ed me, "oth in the revised Measure and in the one that %as in effe)t in my youth, %hy ta*ing

her @uarters %as in a))ordan)e %ith the Code that %e "oth upheld

My eyes drifted to the %indo%s and the "al)ony "eyond them 5 had felt his presen)e stronger

than 5 had in years 9e %as out thereThe "ond silver dragons share %ith mortals is not something 5 )an ever fully e0plain to someone

%ho isn't one of us Many de)ades ago, 5 had an opportunity to have )ivil dealings %ith a "lue

dragon %ho )alled himself Co"alt 5 tried to e0plain it to him, "ut it %as impossi"le $ven gold

dragons find the )on)ept unfathoma"le, although they a)*no%ledge intelle)tually that the "ond



e0ists lue dragons li*e Co"alt, of )ourse, furiously insist that %e merely possess %ea* spirits and

that %e imagine our "ond %ith mortals "e)ause %e %ish to "e li*e them

Only other silver dragons *no% that %e feel the emotions that %e inspire in mortals as surely as

others might feel a gentle )aress or the harsh "lo% of a fist Those sensations are in)reased

dramati)ally should %e ever "e fortunateor unfortunate, depending on your point of vie%

enough to meet that one single mortal %ith %hom our spirit is in )omplete harmony Most silver dragons live their entire lives and never e0perien)e su)h "liss and torment, "ut those %ho do must

pursue this relationship or %ither and die Some %ould say that the "rood that gave "irth to me %as

)ursed, for "oth my sister and 5 met that one mortal or her, it %as 9uma or me, it is Gilthanas

5 %anted him to love me as 5 loved him 5 needed him to love me or a time, it seemed 5 had his

love as %e "attled together against the for)es of the dragonarmy and ris*ed our lives for the good of

all ut after %e settled in 1alaman that )hanged 9e started to ignore me, to lose himself in -%or*-

)reated for the sole purpose of allo%ing him to avoid me Only %hen the )ity %as in )risis had he

seemed to a)*no%ledge the "ond "et%een our souls t other times, he refused to listen to all my

attempts to e0plain ho% his disregard of me %ounded me at other times

s 5 )alled upon him to understand that the "ond %e shared %as not a )asual thing for me, %e

had o))asional arguments During one of them, he told me that he )ould never forgive me for notrevealing my true nature as %e lay in ea)h other's arms on the shore of the Thon+Sorpon in

Southern $rgoth 9e refused to see that 5 had "een frightened at the idea that he might re/e)t me 9e

never )ould have understood the pain his fear and horror %ould have infli)ted upon me, /ust as he

)ouldn't )omprehend the pain his indifferen)e %as putting me through in 1alaman No matter ho%

hard 5 tried to e0plain it to him, he failed to understand the nature of a silver dragon's soul, and so

he refused to let his resentment fade 9e simply )ould not a))ept that Silvara, the elf maid %ho he

loved, did not truly e0ist

5 finally de)ided that the only %ay to ma*e him understand my suffering %as for me to put him

through the same pain 5 had no )hoi)e "ut to leave 1alaman "ehind On)e he realiAed that my

a"sen)e %as as painful to him as his indifferen)e had "een to me, he %ould )ome for me, 5 thought

5 left 1alaman and drifted through the near"y hills for several months, longing desperately to have

him near, e0pe)ting him to )ome sear)hing for me ut he never did

inally, the pain "e)ame too mu)h to "ear 5 had to retreat to the Dragon 5sles and the )omfort of

my o%n *ind

ut even there, 5 found no sola)e My longing for Gilthanas %as too great 5 eventually returned

to nsalon, %here 5 struggled %ith my pain for many months, hoping and praying that he %ould

finally re)ogniAe that he needed me as mu)h as 5 needed him

ut he didn't 5 eventually )ame to fa)e the fa)t that my mortal soulmate had re/e)ted me and

that the pain of his re/e)tion %ould *ill me ut then 5 found a %ay to "e as free of him as he had

made himself of me& "y a"andoning the form of Silvara 5 found a %ay "a)* to the life of

)ontentment 5 had on)e *no%n, and 5 thre% myself into that life %ith a"andonut no%, de)ades later, 5 felt as though 5 had %o*en up from a dreamless sleep, my soul again

singing %ith the love that Gilthanas had for me or the love that he had for Silvara, to "e more

spe)ifi)

5 rose and put on a ro"e 5 )alled for a page and as*ed him to "ring me a ran*ing s)ri"e and all

the dispat)hes a"out Dar* 1nights, elves, and any ships that %ere e0pe)ted to arrive on Southern

$rgoth The page tried to argue %ith me 9e suggested that it )ould %ait until morning urther, he

said, he %as afraid that he might "e %hipped if he %ere to a%a*en a senior s)ri"e at this early hour

5 proved to him that 5 %as a far greater threat than a s)ri"e's leather "elt 5 displayed the strength 5

possess even in the apparently frail human form 5 have adopted and %ith one hand lifted him up

under the )eiling -Bou %ill fet)h a s)ri"e,- 5 snarled at him, allo%ing my human form to %aver,

permitting him to loo* into my eyes as they truly are 5 dropped him to the floor 9e fled in terror, adar* stain spreading do%n his trouser leg The s)ri"e arrived less than fifteen minutes later

5 stood on the "al)ony, that one tou)h of "eauty on the )astle, letting the %ind %ash over my s*in

as the portly man entered, %ith %hat fe% hairs he still possessed standing on end from his pillo%

9e %ent on a"out Dar* 1nights threatening the sta"ility of $rgoth, a"out more thanoi arriving in



Southern $rgoth, a"out nothing that 5 had any interest in hearing and nothing that "rought to mind

the sensations 5 had felt %hen Gilthanas tou)hed me in my sleep

5 eventually realiAed that the man's teeth %ere )hattering, as the i)y %ind from the sea%hi)h

merely slid a)ross my s*in as pleasantly as sil* slides a)ross a mortal's "ody%as rushing into my

@uarters and )hilling him to "one 5 dismissed him

-B+y+yes, #+lady rlena,- he said, shivering violently -5 h+h+hope the inf+formation %as of use--Bes, Dolan Bou have "een very helpful-

5 remained on the "al)ony for another fe% minutes after he departed, loo*ing in the dire)tion

from %hi)h 5 had sensed Gilthanas 5 sa% the sno%+shrouded hills of $ast%at)h glittering under the

pale moon eyond them, 5 )ould "arely ma*e out the night+"la)* sea

This %as not the first time in re)ent months that 5 had sensed Gilthanas in my sleep On other

nights, 5 had a%o*en unsure %hether it had merely "een a dream ut tonight tonight, 5 %as

)ertain 5 had dreamt a"out Gilthanas in the past months 5 had sensed him on other nights, "ut the

sensations had never "een as strong as they had "een this night Some%here, near"y, Gilthanas %as

thin*ing of me 5 )ould go to him The dream %as still strong enough in my memory that 5 )ould

find him 5 spread my arms and stepped )loser the railing, preparing to ta*e on my true form and to

soar into the s*y No 5 %ould not do this

Gilthanas never loved me 9e loved Silvara, a 1agonesti elf nd she no longer e0ists

5 turned from the "al)ony and returned to the )omforta"le surroundings of my @uarters 5 )aught

sight of myself in the full+length mirror in the dressing area 5 paused to study the form of #ady

rlena .lata, 1night of the Rose

5n re)ent years, 5've found that 5 )annot adopt a form that isn't pleasing to the eyes of the spe)ies

5 am trying to emulate 5n the years immediately follo%ing my return to nsalon from the Dragon

5sles, 5 made several attempts to do so5 found myself longing to "e among humans, "ut 5 did not

%ant to attra)t attention, so 5 endeavored to ma*e myself plain 5 failed 5 made one last attempt a

fe% months after 5 had returned to Castle $ast%at)h, "ut settled on the form 5 %ear to this very day

5 let the ro"e slip from my "ody and studied myself )arefully 5 appeared thinner than %hat 5've

)ome to *no% that most human males find attra)tive s Sir ran)is on)e put it, 5 appeared li*e the

*ind of female %ho -dies trying to "ring a "a"y into the %orld, "ut %ho *in dan)e )ir)les 'round

most Dar* 1nights %hile )arvin' 'em to "its- The "ridge of the nose %as too straight The lips %ere

too thin The hair %ith its plain stra% )olor %ould never inspire "ards to %rite songs Nonetheless,

everything %as in perfe)t proportion 5 %as as "eautiful as the average %oman, and more than many

and that after an attempt to not "e attra)tive

Still, this form %as no Silvara (ith that thought, my form )hanged, almost un"idden My

shoulders narro%ed as my "ody gre% shorter and slimmer, my s*in dar*ened, and my eyes gre%

larger and more slanted My hair turned a silvery+%hite The image loo*ing "a)* at me in the

mirror %as Silvara, a female %ho %as the very pinna)le of %hat the 1agonesti )onsidered "eauty-(e %ant your guidan)e,- #ady Riva had said %hen 5 first )ame to Castle $ast%at)h %ith the

intent of aiding the 1nights here Naturally, 5 %ore the form of Silvara -Bour e0perien)e, %isdom,

and insights %ill "e an invalua"le aid as %e gather strength to oppose Gellidus the (hite and his

minions ut 5 )annot tolerate you appearing in that fashion My 1nights %ill find it diffi)ult, and

the mer)enaries %ill find it impossi"le to ta*e you seriously %hen you appear li*e that They %ill

either vie% you as a fantasy )ome to life, or they %ill treat you as a "ar"arian savage 5 need you to

"e a 1night of Solamnia, not an elf %hom my troops might loo* do%n upon -

This form had inspired "ards to %rite songs This form had set the heart of my "eloved Gilthanas

aflame This form had "rought me mu)h pain and suffering

5t %as also the "ody of a %oman %ho %as dead as far as 5 %as )on)erned nd %ith her, the "ond

5 had shared %ith Gilthanas had died The day 5 "e)ame #ady rlena %as the day the pain )eased(ith a thought, 5 resumed the appearan)e of #ady rlena She %as respe)ted "y her peers and

feared "y those %ho %ould do evil "oth in Southern $rgoth and in the go"lin nation of Si**'et 9ul

She %as a %arrior %hom other 1nights trusted and %hom they *ne% %ould al%ays )ome to their

aid no matter ho% impossi"le a "attle might seem



#ady rlena is a %oman %ho has no need for love The 1nighthood is "oth her hus"and and

)hild She has many friends and en/oys their )ompany, "ut she never "roo*s any suggestion of

roman)e "et%een herself and anyone else She is married to the Order of the Rose, and she has no

room for anything else in her heart Silvara loved a mortal and no% she is dead #ady rlena no%

e0ists %here on)e Silvara had "een, and #ady rlena loves only the Solamni) Orders

5 am #ady rlena no% The dreams of a dead %oman mean nothing and #ady rlena %ill not)ry over su)h trifles The heat from the firepla)e is )ausing her eyesmy eyesto %ater

#ady rlena does not )ry over the lost love of a different life

5 do not )ry over the lost love of a different life

5 do not feel Gilthanas's love "urning my soul 5 feel nothing 5 feel nothing

FFFFF

The )rea*ing of the hull tim"ers %as a steady rhythm, reminding the prisoner that he %as in fa)t

still alive The mana)les, soa*ed %ith salt%ater, had long sin)e )hafed his %rists ra% 9is tongue

%as s%ollen %ith thirst, "ut 1nights gave their prisoners only enough %ater to *eep them alive

Though he %as "arely )ons)ious, Gilthanas *ne% that #ethagas %as here, as %ere anatharl,Carranias, and the other elves The 1nights had told them something of their fate& They sailed

to%ard the mainlandto%ard a destiny %ith a monstrous "lue dragon )alled 1hellendros 9e had

plans for the prisoners plans that %ere un*no%n, "ut )learly horrifying, to the Dar* 1nights

Gilthanas leaned his head against the hull and )losed his eyes (hen he s@uinted hard, turning

his imagination "a)* to a full remem"ran)e of his past, he sa% /ust a glimmer of silver s)ales

0sing the A**endi

-She's out there still,- he %hispered, ma*ing no sound "ut dra%ing )omfort from shaping the

%ords %ith his lips -nd she %aits for me 5 *no% she does-



$a)h entry or siteH )ontains several se)tions, %hi)h )ontain information similar to that found

%ithin the ea/es from the nn of the ast Home "oo* ll entries have an introdu)tion, a history,

and an adventure seed $a)h one also )ontains a se)tion either on se)rets or on present+day

information, or "oth&

5ntrodu)tion& "rief paragraph or t%o des)ri"es a parti)ular site, region, or phenomenon

visited "y Gilthanas in this "oo* These des)riptions provide )ursory information that anyone onnsalon might *no% a"out the pla)e

9istory& This se)tion )ontains information *no%n to people living near the site "ut not those

from other regions The information in the history often sheds some light on events you read a"out

earlier

Se)rets& This se)tion )ontains *no%ledge that very fe% if indeed anyH people in nsalon are

a%are of Sometimes it in)ludes spe)ifi) game )hara)teristi)s so that Narrators or Dungeon Masters

those %ho mediate the game and dire)ts the storyline for the playersH )an immediately use the

se)rets in a roleplaying game

.resent Day& This se)tion des)ri"es the present+day )ondition of the site

dventure Seed& This se)tion )ontains the essential nugget of an adventure that might ta*e

pla)e at the site in @uestion Not all of these seeds ta*e pla)e in the present day

5f the information in this appendi0 pi@ues your )uriosity a"out adventure games, "ut you don't

*no% ho% to get started, as* for the .!GO+ 4 FFTH G+ .ramatic d/enture Game or

D;NG$ONS < DRGONS Game at your lo)al "oo* or ho""y store

The ill of Sol3Fallon

Silvanesti is a lush, rolling land %ith a forest that )overs hundreds of a)res of gently sloped

)ountryside Some hillo)*s lie "uried "y the )ultivated oa*s and pines, %ith a leafy )anopy a"ove

so thi)* that it never seems "righter than dus* even %hen the sun shines dire)tly overhead (aving

grass )overs other "luffs, allo%ing visitors to gaAe out over the rest of Silvanesti Su)h pla)es are

@uite popular among the elves for stargaAing

No hill in all of Silvanesti, ho%ever, offers a vie% as %ondrous as the one from Sol+allon

A istor of the ill of Sol3Fallon

The vie% from Sol+allon has, for as long as any elf )an remem"er, "een )onsidered the most

"reathta*ingly "eautiful in all of Silvanesti Those %ho have visited this site say that the stars seem

)lose enough to rea)h out and plu)* from the s*y .erhaps that e0plains %hy Silvanos, the first

leader among elves, )hose this hill as the site for the first Sinthal+$lish the Silvanesti elf Coun)il of

9igh OnesH in the year .C

5t %as on the 9ill of Sol+allon that representatives of the most po%erful elf families met Therethey stru)* an a))ord to form the first elven nation and made preparations to defend their ne%

nation from dragon atta)* They met here again some seven+hundred+fifty years later, after the

dragons %ere defeated and the elves' sovereignty se)ured, to ele)t Silvanos the first Spea*er of the

Stars

rom that time for%ard, the Silvanesti elves have revered and honored the 9ill of Sol+allon

$lves have )rafted great %or*s of song and poetry here, and Silvanesti leaders of every generation

have )ome here to )onsider matters of grave importan)e They say that the vie% from the hill

inspires one's mind, and the souls of all those %ho have )ome "efore "olster one's spirit lso, in

the %a*e of the Chaos (ar, a ne% @uality has "een attri"uted to the hill

(hile the vie% from Sol+allon has al%ays "een ma/esti), in the dead of night it no% transforms

into something that )an "e des)ri"ed only as mira)ulous t the stro*e of midnight, the no%+familiar s*y %ith its one pale moon disappears and is repla)ed "y a vision from the past Three

moons on)e again ride high in the s*y, lighting up the )ountryside as they did "efore the gods'

departure& one %hite, one red, and one "la)*though only those %ho have "een trained in the art

of dar* magi) )an see the "la)* Nuitari



This sight, though, is %itnessed only from the summit of the hill Those standing any%here else,

at the foot or even half%ay up the 9ill of Sol+allon, noti)e nothing strange other than the loo* of

%onder on the fa)es of those atop the hillH One must "e atop the hill at the stro*e of midnight in

order to see the display )lim"ing it later reveals nothing, even if others are still in the midst of their

revelation The vision lasts for as long as the vie%er remains on top of Sol+allon or until da%n

"rightens the eastern s*yormer pra)titioners of 9igh Sor)ery flo)*ed to Sol+allon in hopes that the light of the moons

%ould restore their a"ilities to )ast spells (hile some of them )laimed to feel a sense of euphoria,

none ever e0hi"ited a return of their old po%ers, leading s)holars to )on)lude that the vision is

merely an illusion rather than some gods+)reated mira)le though they have rea)hed no agreement

as to the sour)e of the illusionH

Sin)e the raising of the Silvanesti Shield, no one )an enter Silvanesti to e0amine the site The

more paranoid mem"ers of the a)ademi) )ommunity fear that the elves raised the shield for the

e0press purpose of *eeping the 9ill of Sol+allon to themselves They )laim that the moons give off

an infinitesimal amount of magi)al po%er, %hi)h the Silvanesti plan to use to e0pand their forest

home to )over all of eastern nsalon an assertion %hi)h is "elied "y the fa)t that the forest "ehind

the shield seems to "e shrin*ing at an alarming rateH The Se)ret of the 9ill of Sol+allon(hile the nightly vision is a %ell+*no%n mystery of the hill, there is another less+pu"li)iAed

enigma Some visitors to Sol+allon have reported hearing distant, pain+%ra)*ed moans that

)oin)ide %ith the vision of the moons

The truth of the matter is that these sounds have nothing to do %ith the nightly illusion Rather,

they )ome from a se)ret fa)ility "uilt into the "ase of the hill 5n the years after he seiAed )ontrol of

Silvanesti, General 1onnal needed a )ell in %hi)h to detain prisoners %hose )apture, should it

"e)ome pu"li) *no%ledge, %ould )ause his regime trou"le 1onnal's men hollo%ed out a small

)ave in the hill and fitted it %ith "ars, ma*ing a perfe)t dungeon into %hi)h any dissident )ould "e

thro%n s it turned out, shortly after its )ompletion, the )ell "e)ame home to Gilthanas Solostaran

or t%elve years the Eualinesti prin)e rotted "eneath the hill and %as )ertainly the sour)e of every

rumor of ghostly moaning

Gilthanas es)aped on the day "efore the Silvanesti Shield sealed the forest nation from the

prying eyes of the outside %orld No one *no%s %hom, if anyone, 1onnal has imprisoned in the

)ell sin)e Gilthanas's flight

Adventure Seed

Though it has "een proven that the illusion of the three moons provides no return of 9igh

Sor)ery or )leri)al po%ers, stories )ir)ulate %ithin Silvanesti that the vision does have an effe)t on

pra)titioners of the ne% magi) oth sor)erers and mysti)s %ho have re)ently visited the 9ill of

Sol+allon report that their spell)asting a"ilities %ere severely impaired and in some )ases

)ompletely eradi)atedH after vie%ing the illusion The effe)ts have lasted from a fe% days to nearlyan entire month, "ut so far it has not )aused any permanent losses

One se)t of priests of $'li the elven name for .aladineH )laim that this is the punishment the

gods of magi) infli)t on those %ho %ould pra)ti)e the ne% magi) %hi)h these priests )onsider to

"e "lasphemousH Dissidents %hisper that the effe)t is part of some great s)heme "y General

1onnal to eradi)ate the pra)ti)e of magi) "y anyone %ho has not s%orn allegian)e to him Still

others say that Sol+allon's illusion is a sor)erous %or*ing po%ered "y the magi)al energy of the

forest itself Sin)e the Silvanesti Shield has "een draining the forest of life, the hill has had to find

an alternative sour)e of po%erspell)asters %ho visit the site

Does the illusion a)tually impair the use of sor)ery and mysti)ism? 5f so, %hy is this /ust "eing

dis)overed no%? 5f not, %hat is )ausing this effe)t? The gods? General 1onnal? To %hat end? Or is

the hill a)tually a natural energy sponge that soa*s up the magi)al a"ilities of its visitors?

The Missing Cit

5n the realm of rass Dragon Overlord lyesta stands as odd a pla)e as there is in all of nsalon



Those %ho travel along the Courrain )oastline in this realm eventually see a medium+siAed )ity on

the horiAon The )ity shimmers in the desert heat, o))asionally seeming transparent or even

"lin*ing out of e0isten)e Many people assume it is merely a mirage s they dra% )loser, though,

it "e)omes )lear that at least some of the "uildings are solid This is the Missing City

On the one hand, the )ity is a spe)tral to%n %ith "uildings of the style that the Silvanesti elves

"uilt in the years "efore the first Cata)lysm ut that's not allghostly figures inha"it the )itythese spirits seem to live normal lives )ompletely una%are of the real %orld around them

The Missing City is more than a magi)al )uriosity, though The #egion of Steel, an organiAation

devoted to )hampioning the )ause of /usti)e in nsalon, has "uilt an outpost here, )onstru)ting solid

"uildings that loo* e0a)tly li*e the mirage "eneath the translu)ent images They also have "uilt

stru)tures outside the spe)tral %alls for those %hose nerves )annot handle living in the midst of

ghostly a)tivityH and )onstru)ted a pier so that they )an engage in sea trade sin)e the nearest )ity is

more than one hundred miles a%ayH

A istor of the Missing Cit

S)holars agree that the mirage of the Missing City represents the an)ient Silvanesti to%n of Gal

Tra'*alas Silvanesti tome re)ords that in the months follo%ing the Cata)lysm, griffin riderstraveled to )he)* on all the elves' settlements One rider reported that not only %as Gal Tra'*alas

destroyed, "ut also noted the follo%ing& -The )ity %as haunted "y fiends, %ho too* the forms of our

"rothers and sisters in order to enti)e us to lo%er our guard The )ity too is re"orn in an unholy

mo)*ery of life, for though ru""le litters the pla)e, the li*eness of every "uilding and "arn still is

visi"le- rom that day for%ard, Gal Tra'*alas "e)ame a shunned pla)e No Silvanesti %as to visit

there on pain of death

So, the site stood empty for )enturies Certainly, nomads and travelers visited o))asionally

s)holars presume that several plains "ar"arian fol*tales regarding -the )ity of the dead- a)tually

tell of real e0)ursions to the ruinsH, "ut no organiAed group of )iviliAed people set foot on the site

until after the Se)ond Cata)lysm

Shortly after the #egion's founding, mem"ers of the #egion of Steel s)oured the )ontinent for

pla)es to "uild en)laves a%ay from the influen)e of either the 1nights of Solamnia or those of

Ta*hisis The Missing City seemed an ideal lo)ation and sym"oli)ally %ell suited to the #egion's

tas* They meant themselves to "e an invisi"le order, living among the people and fighting for

neither Good nor $vil, "ut instead for truth and fairness To "uild a head@uarters under the )over of

an e0isting if insu"stantialH )ity %as perfe)t

Today, this #egion )ell operates under the leadership of alaius Tanee*, a giant of a "ar"arian

%hose reputation of "eing -tough "ut fair- has %on him the respe)t of nearly everyone in to%n

alaius uses the Missing City as a pla)e to )oordinate the a)tions of their operatives in neigh"oring

dragon realms, as %ell as a safe haven for any #egionnaires on nsalon's eastern )oast %hose

a)tivities ma*e it impossi"le for them to move a"out at largeResidents of the Missing City dra% a strong distin)tion "et%een their home and Gal Tra'*alas

ny solid item "elongs to the Missing City, %hile anything spe)tral or immaterial is from Gal

Tra'*alas Nearly everyone %ho visits the )ity remar*s a"out the unsettling feeling of %at)hing the

ghostly residents of Gal Tra'*alas move a"out their very ordinary lives

Oddly enough, the residents of the mirage )ity )hange in the same %ay anyone in the real %orld

%ould They age, "ear and raise offspring, and eventually die Some o))asionally move out of the

)ity Despite the fa)t that the population of Gal Tra'*alas %as, at the time of its destru)tion, almost

%holly Silvanesti, the ghostly residents of today )ome from a variety of ra)es and regions

Many s)holars "elieve the )ity represents an alternate realitysome tri"utary of the River of

Time in %hi)h neither the irst nor Se)ond Cata)lysm o))urred The Missing City is a %indo%,

they say, into a more perfe)t %orld than modern+day 1rynn Other s)holars "elieve the mirage is amagi)al illusion %ith an un*no%a"le purpose, )reated "y one of the gods either Ma/ere or

9iddu*el, depending on the s)holar's "iasH "efore departing 1rynn at the time of the first

Cata)lysm



Secrets of the Missing Cit

The Missing City is one immense set of ruins None of the original "uildings still stand though

here and there a se)tion of a %all has survived t%o )ata)lysms and several )enturiesH (hile the

#egion has removed most of the ru""le from the se)tions of to%n it inha"its, visitors to the rest of

the )ity should move a"out )autiously& One never *no%s %hen an apparently )lear door%ay might

lead to a pit full of /agged "ouldersThe )ity of Gal Tra'*alas %as and still isH divided into four distri)ts The eastern @uarter, *no%n

as the .ort Distri)t, %as %here most of the )ity's )ommer)e too* pla)e Small open+air mar*ets

dotted the distri)t, and shops of all varieties lined its streets This distri)t is %here the #egion

)onstru)ted most of their "uildings The hustle and "ustle of Gal Tra'*alas is nearly mat)hed "y the

goings on in this se)tion of the Missing City :isitors must "e %ary, lest they mista*e a real person

for a phantom and %al* headlong into him or her

The other three se)tions of the an)ient )ity %ere the Garden Distri)t filled %ith the ornate and

opulent homes of the ri)hest and most po%erful familiesH, the rtisans Distri)t %here masters of

various )reative arts made %or*s of unsurpassed "eautyH, and the Northern Distri)t the only pla)e

for those %ithout money, "reeding, or s*ills to liveH

5n re)ent years, the Missing City has gro%n "eyond the "orders of Gal Tra'*alas so that peoplemight have a pla)e to go %hen they tired of %al*ing among the -ghosts-H alaius Tanee* has his

"ase here, and it is the only pla)e a person may "uild %ithout *eeping %ithin the style of Silvanesti

ar)hite)ture

Adventure Seed

(hile staying at an inn %ithin the )onfines of the mirage )ity, one might a%a*en in the morning

to find that one or more of his or her "elongings have "e)ome in)orporeal t the same time, one of

the items in the room of roughly the same siAe as the affe)ted arti)leH that had "een ghostly the

night "efore has no% turned )ompletely solid (hile one ponders %hat to do, a ghostly figure

you've never seen "efore enters the room, pi)*s up the in)orporeal item, and %al*s out of the room

efore he does, though, he loo*s dire)tly at him or her and %in*s mis)hievously

(hat is happening? (ho is the old man? 5f he is from Gal Tra'*alas, %hy )an he see the -real-

person %hen no one else from the mirage )ity )an? 9o% did he s%it)h the arti)les, and is there a

%ay to reverse the pro)ess? 5s it possi"le to "ring people "a)* and forth in the same manner?

Ruined 'urstal

Stret)hing a)ross the eastern .lains of Dust li*e the shattered spine of a long+dead giant is the

1ing's Road .rior to the Cata)lysm, the Silvanesti no"les and mer)hants traveled in marvelous

)arriages on this elevated high%ay Trade )ities lay along its length, the greatest of these "eing

.urstal On)e the pride and /oy of the nation of 1harolis, the )ity "e)ame another vi)tim of the)ir)umstan)es that led to the Cata)lysm

A istor of 'urstal

s the $mpire of $rgoth entered its Golden ge, some t%o thousand years "efore the Cata)lysm,

one of its an)ient enemies "e)ame an ally& the nation of 1harolis ounded %hen s)attered tri"es

united to stand against the )on@uering hordes of )*al $rgot, the 1harolish ins)ri"ed the name of

their nation alongside the other signatures of the original S%ordsheath S)roll, despite irre)on)ila"le

)ultural differen)es %ith their $rgothian neigh"ors The 1harolish, named for the %arrior %oman

%ho united them, %ere ruled "y a matrilineal monar)hy %hile the $rgothians %ere patriar)hal in all

thingsH

ollo%ing the signing of the S%ordsheath S)roll, trade "et%een all the )iviliAed nations greatlyin)reased, and the "order to%n of .urstal %as in a perfe)t lo)ation to "enefit #o)ated %here the

"orders of $rgoth, Silvanesti, and 1harolis met, the )ity "e)ame a hu" of overland trade "et%een

the three nations s it gre% in siAe and importan)e, the elves of 9ouse Mason )onstru)ted one of

the %onders of pre+Cata)lysmi) nsalon& the 1ing's Road Molded rather than )arved from stone,



this marvel ran thirty feet a"ove the ground and %as supported "y great pillars for some si0 hundred

miles, starting from the %estern shore of the River Thon+Thalas in Silvanesti and terminating in

.urstal The )ity %as never %idely re)ogniAed for anythingsu)h as the fa"led ships of Tarsis, the

To%er of 9igh Sor)ery in .alanthas, or the golden domes of the 5mperial .ala)e in Daltigoth"ut

in the spa)e of t%o hundred years it nonetheless "e)ame very important

(hen the provin)es that %ould eventually "e)ome Solamnia de)lared their independen)e from$rgoth, .urstal's importan)e only gre% The ne%ly esta"lished nation %as hungry for trade goods,

and its leaders an0iously %ished to remain on good terms %ith the Silvanesti Spea*er of the Stars

"e)ause of the nation's %ell+)rafted elven goods The 1harolish people %ere more than happy to

o"lige and performed a "alan)ing a)t "et%een Solamnia and the $mpire of $rgoth, trading %ith

"oth nations %ithout offending either side

s 5star "e)ame in)reasingly po%erful in the %a*e of the Third Dragon (ar, ho%ever, 1harolis's

"alan)ing a)t )ame to an end (ith Solamnia and 5star ta*ing hostile stan)es to%ard $rgoth, the

nation of 1harolis /oined them Solamnia %as dominant militarily and 5star %as in)reasingly

po%erful as a trade nation, so there seemed little point to appease 1harolisa nation in sham"les

(hen 5star "egan imposing and aggressively enfor)ing trade standards upon other realms, 1harolis

%illingly adopted them The politi)al stan)e of the nation lessened .urstal's importan)e some%hat,as the Silvanesti remained allies of the $mpire of $rgoth, "ut elven mer)hants )ontinued

nonetheless to )ome to .urstal even after they had stopped trading %ith 5star proper

5n =>.C, %ith the installation of the first 1ingpriest, 1harolis sa% a glimmering of %hat the

future %as to "ring 5n his first address to the people of 5star, the 1ingpriest stated that mortal

%omen %ere to "e su"servient to mortal men, as Misha*al %as su"servient to .aladine lthough

5star's am"assadors @ui)*ly apologiAed to the outraged Eueen of 1harolis, a su))ession of

1ingpriests )arried this vie%point for%ard (hen 5star finally implemented the .ro)lamation of

Manifest :irtue, %ith its lists of -evils- the nation %as devoted to )om"ating, a passage appeared to

"e dire)ted s@uarely at 1harolis& -5t is a sin for (oman to elevate herself a"ove Man s .aladine

rules over the gods of Good, so shall Man rule over righteous mortals ny (oman %ho elevates

herself a"ove Man is doing the %ill of the Dar* Eueen-

1harolis e0pelled all of 5star's priests from %ithin its "orders, triggering several uprisings among

the people Many of them had a))epted 5star's position that the 1ingpriest %as the )hosen

intermediary "et%een 1rynn and the gods s the nation des)ended into )haos, 5star's legions

invaded .urstal %as the first ma/or )ity "esieged The legions s%iftly too* )ontrol of the eastern

provin)e of the nation, as %ell as the %estern portions of Silvanesti that Spea*er #ora) left

uninha"ited he had ordered his people to the far side of the River Thon+Thalas after the

.ro)lamation of Manifest :irtueH

The siege of .urstal lasted from >4.C to >=.C 1harolis had not made mu)h effort to muster an

army, trusting instead in the might of Solamnia to prote)t them against the only potential enemy

they had feared& $rgoth (hile the Solamni) 1nights %ere initially happy to help the 1harolisharmy su"due the armed uprisings in various parts of the nation, in >I.C, the 1ingpriest ordered the

Grand Master to %ithdra% all 1nights and troops from 1harolis, e0)ept for those serving in the

garrison in Tarsis (hile the pretense %as one of reinfor)ing the legions fighting the go"lin and

ogre uprisings in the 1hal*ist Mountains, it %as )lear to all o"servers that the o"/e)tive %as to

%ea*en the 1harolish government's a"ility to )ontrol its )ountryside The Grand Master, ho%ever,

%ithdre% only half the num"er of troops that the 1ingpriest had re@uested, and the Silvanesti

9ouse dvo)ate had "een )overtly supporting .urstal ever sin)e 5star's legions mar)hed on it

Nevertheles, 1harolis no longer had the resour)es to "oth fight 5star for )ontrol over its eastern

lands and *eep the uprisings from spreading li*e %ildfire

5n the fall of >=.C, the legions of 5star "ro*e do%n the gates of .urstal The streets ran red %ith

the "lood of "oth its defenders and )ivilian )itiAens The )ity's last mayor is said to have )alledupon the dar*est of magi)s to raise the spirits of the slain )itiAens and turn them upon the legions

(hether the tale is true or not, .urstal's defenders infli)ted terri"le )asualities upon 5star's

legions as their )ity fell The )ity %as then set a"laAe, the earth around it salted, and it %as never

resettled The legions left the "odies of the slain )itiAens for s)avengers to )onsume, "ut they



)arried all of .urstal's ri)hes "a)* to 5star (ithin the ne0t fifty years, the %ealth of most of

1harolis follo%ed the last @ueen is said to have "een redu)ed to a personal )on)u"ine of the

1ingpriest (hen the Cata)lysm destroyed 5star, the resulting @ua*es around .urstal toppled the

remaining fe% "uildings left standing

Secrets of 'urstalive )enturies after its destru)tion, .urstal remains in ruins The harsh desert )limate around the

)ity has dis)ouraged any )iviliAed fol* to resettle the site dditionally, the rumors of the )urse

imposed "y its last #ord Mayor *eep most nomads a%ay from it

Still, su)h lo)ations are to adventurers as honey is to flies y all reports, several types of undead

inha"it the )ity Some say they are the )itiAens of .urstal and the legionnaires of 5star still fighting

for )ontrol of the )ity Others say the pla)e has "e)ome a magnet for the spirits of $vil dead from

all a)ross nsalon, and that these )reatures atta)* anyone %ho enters the ruins Bet others )laim the

undead go through everyday routines and remain o"livious to the living %hen they enter their

realm This last rumor is largely dis)ounted as )oming from ignorant fol*s )onfusing .urstal %ith

Missing City to the southH Despite this threat, many "rave "ands have ventured into .urstal and

had varying e0perien)es, though "y all a))ounts no"ody has any forgotten hoards

Adventure Seeds

(hile visiting Tarsis, the heroes meet Davin #u)*%and, the eldest son of Sharina #u)*%and, the

#ady of Tarsis (hile %or*ing to )atalog the long+negle)ted re)ords of the )ity, he )ame a)ross a

missive that dates from four years "efore the Cata)lysm One of these %as a letter to Eueen

1harolis P55, the young monar)h %ho %as reputed to have "een enslaved in 5star 5n it, an unnamed

agent stated that he had )onfirmed that the "ul* of the .urstal City Treasury %as still )on)ealed in

the se)ret vault .art of the letter )ontains dire)tions to that vault and a %arning a"out the many

ne% traps that the agent has "uilt around it 9e says that he %ill a%ait the @ueen's arrival in $lial,

and that they %ill then go %ith a for)e to .urstal to )olle)t the %ealth and use some of it to "uy safe

passage to $rgoth -The spies of the 1ingpriest %ill never suspe)t that you are fleeing in that

dire)tion,- the message ends The s)holarly young man *no%s this to "e %rong 5star's priests

supposedly too* the @ueen )aptive the year the letter is dated

Davin %ants the heroes to help him find the treasure hidden in .urstal 9e "elieves that some of

the referen)es in the letter %ill help them su))eed %here no one else has 9e %ants to use the "ul*

of the money to hire mer)enaries or to help the #egion of Steel in Tarsis muster a large armed for)e

and li"erate its people from the oppressive rule of eryl the Green (yrm and her Dar* 1night

minions "itter t%ist in this tale may "e that Davin is a)tually an agent of eryl 9e "etrays the

heroes after they have helped him get through the dangers of the )ity

5s there hidden treasure in .urstal? 5s the )ity truly infested %ith thousands of undead? That's up

to you to de)ide 5n the )ase of Davin the etrayer, here's a suggestion& trio of adventurers lootedthe treasury of .urstal de)ades ago ll that remains are sa)*s of )opper pie)es and a )ouple of

dented gold )ro%ns The total value of the treasure in this "etrayal s)enario is =I steel pie)esH

The to&n of Stone Rose

s to%ns go, Stone Rose is small 9ome to a"out t%o hundred hardy souls, it is one of only

three permanent settlements along the Run in the .lains of Dust ;nli*e the other t%o Duntol and

(illi*H, Stone Rose is not a trading post, though )entaur and human "ar"arian tri"es o))asionally

use it as a )onvenient meeting spot 5n fa)t, the to%n seems to serve no purpose other than as a

navigation point, and it li*ely %ould have "e)ome deserted long ago if not for the garden from

%hi)h Stone Rose dra%s its name

A istor of Stone Rose

The settlement that later "e)ame Stone Rose %as founded during the ge of Dreams, %hen the

plains %ere still fertile, farma"le land 5n fa)t, the to%n "egan as a mar*etpla)e %here farmers and



artisans from the region )ould sell their goods

#ittle or nothing of interest is *no%n to have happened in the to%n, until roughly one hundred

years "efore the irst Cata)lysm, %hen a Solamni) 1night "rought tales of a to%n %ith -a garden of

stone roses- to :ingaard 1eep 5t soon "e)ame fashiona"le, and later e0pe)ted, for 1nights to ma*e

a pilgrimage to Stone Rose %ithin five years of passing the 1night's Trial the 1nighthood

en)ouraged mem"ers of the Order of the Rose to ma*e the /ourney at least on)e every de)ade Thistradition faded in the %a*e of the Cata)lysm

No relia"le data e0ists on the )reation of the Garden in Stone Rose, "ut t%o legends have

survived to the present day The first )on)erns a la)*+Ro"ed mage %ho laid a )urse upon an

e0isting rose garden s)holars are in agreement that, if this tale is true, the spell must have "een )ast

around the time of the 1inslayer (arH The other tale )enters around a 1harolish prin)ess named

1o/en %ho defied the di)tates of the .ro)lamation of Manifest :irtue Many fol*tales of the time

)enter on similar figures, and there is no reason to give one parti)ular story )reden)e over any of

the others

ollo%ing the first Cata)lysm, Stone Rose remained one of the most intriguing pla)es in

southern nsalon, and anyone "rave enough to travel made it a point to visit 9o%ever, due to its

no% remote lo)ation, the to%n dre% fe%er and fe%er travelers until it nearly stopped appearing onmaps

)ommunity still lived %ithin the to%n, though Many of the fol* %ho, in years past, provided

lodging and amenities to the /ourneying 1nights remained in Stone Rose They ad/usted their %ay

of life, irrigating and farming %here possi"le fter all, they reasoned, the Garden is still here

eventually people %ill start visiting again This, ho%ever, turned out to "e far from true

Today, the only people %ho regularly visit Stone Rose are mer)hants ta*ing their )aravans along

the Run the road that follo%s the "orders of the modern realm of Duntolli*H, nomadi) tri"es of

humans or )entaurs loo*ing for trading partners, and travelers %ho have lost their %ay None of

them, as a rule, have any )lue that the Garden of Stone Rose and o))asionally, even the to%n itselfH

e0ist

Stone Rose in the 'resent %a

The modern to%n of Stone Rose is nothing more than a )olle)tion of aging "uildings The to%n

s@uare is the remnant of the to%n's on)e popular open+air mar*et No%, the only mer)hants %ho

visit the s@uare are those %ho "ed their horses or )amels do%n there for the night

lthough the desert has ta*en a severe toll on nearly every "uilding in to%n, several impressive

mansions from Stone Rose's heyday still stand The most note%orthy edifi)e in to%n, though, is the

ar)hed mar"le door%ay and )rum"ling to%er that lo)als )all -the Castle-

lthough these stru)tures seem as though they might on)e have "elonged to a great pala)e or

manor, no"ody )an find eviden)e that any su)h "uilding stood on the site 9istorians "elieve the

lo)als "uilt fau0 ruins as an added attra)tion to the Garden, %hi)h lies dire)tly "ehind the ar)h%ayThe Castle stands at the top of a lo% hill fter %al*ing through the ar)hed mar"le door%ay,

visitors step dire)tly up to a lo% %all that overloo*s the Garden of Stone Rose t first, one might

not noti)e anything unusual from a distan)e, the "ushes and hedges in the Garden appear @uite

natural and seem @uite reminis)ent of rose gardens in many typi)al affluent neigh"orhoods ive

topiaries mar* the Garden's %estern "oundary the southernmost s)ulpture is of a silver dragon,

follo%ed "y a griffin, gold dragon, pegasus, and finally a "rass dragonH The "ul* of the Garden

)ontains various styles of hanging roses interspersed %ith short, round "ushes t the )enter stands

a lo% hedge maAe radiating out from a tiny vallen%ood tree

visitor %ho gets )loser to the Garden proper, ho%ever, noti)es that the plants have a strange,

off+%hite )olor, and shine as though )overed in a thin film of %a0 Only %hen one dra%s very near

is it evident the roses, stems, and leaves of every plant %ithin the Garden all are made of stone No one *no%s e0a)tly %hat type of stone )omposes the gardenit has many of the same

properties of polished mar"le, "ut s)holars insist it does not resem"le any natural ro)* found in

nsalon Geoman)ers %ho )ame to study the Garden found that, even %ith their magi)al )ontrol

over ro)*s of all sorts, they )ould not affe)t the stone roses 5n fa)t, as far "a)* as anyone )an



re)all, no %eapon, spell, or for)e of nature has so mu)h as s)rat)hed any of the -plants- here

The Garden is generally a @uiet and solemn pla)e %here people are left alone %ith their

thoughts The )areta*er, a *indly man in his mid+fifties named Tam Granger, has @uite a *een eye

for assessing people's moods (hen he sees someone %ho needs a "ody to tal* to, he am"les up

%ith a friendly smile on his fa)e and lends them his ear

Adventure Seed

One day a party of heroes are summoned to investigate reports that the stone roses in the Garden

are a)tually gro%ing 5n fa)t, anyone %ho has "een to the Garden "efore noti)es that all the hedges

are larger and more disheveled than they appeared on the last visit This has Tarn Granger in a snit,

"e)ause the plants remain impervious to all his gardening tools To ma*e matters %orse, stone

seedlings are springing up all over the )ity One %oman "e)ame trapped in her home %hen several

stone plants gre% a)ross the only door to the "uilding

(hy have the stone roses suddenly "egun to gro% after so many )enturies of lifelessness? 5s

there an outside for)e at %or*, or is this merely part of the Garden's )urse? Can the heroes find a

%ay to stop the gro%th, or at the very least, an effe)tive method of trimming the plants? (hat %ill

happen if these petrified plants "egin to spread a)ross the )ontinent?

Fro4en 'ast

Millennia ago, a "iAarre ra)e of diminutive )reatures *no%n as the huldrefol* d%elled in distant

)orners of 1rynn Their origins remain a mystery and all that remains of them are an)ient ruins of

their )ities and sa)red sites (ithout fail, these sites remain virtual sin*holes of magi)al energy

even to the present day

A istor of Fro4en 'ast

;ntold )enturies ago, the huldrefol* "uilt one of their mightiest )ities on the storm+tossed %aters

of the Courrain O)ean Their s*ill %ith elemental magi) has yet to "e mat)hed "y any save the

gods, and it %as a fusion of earth, %ater, and air magi) that allo%ed them to )reate a )ity the siAe of

.alanthas that hovered a"ove the %aves

The earliest re)ords of this )ity are found in Silvanost They tell of elven sailors trading %ith the

huldre and learning elemental magi) from them Only the "ravest or greediest of seafarers %ould

trade %ith the huldrefol*, as the strange ra)e %as /ust as li*ely to destroy the vessel and enslave the

)re% as offer them favora"le trade terms and insights into their magi)al se)rets

The a))ounts indi)ate that the )ity %as a tangle of spires, streets, "ridges, t%isting alleys, and

tremendous statues of "eings that no elf had ever %itnessed The most amaAing of these %as,

a))ording to Daralthanias arsailer, one of the founders of 9ouse Mariner, a levitating statue of a

spheri)al )reature %hose fa)e )onsisted of a single huge eye and a %ide mouth filled %ith terri"lysharp teeth ;pon its top %rithed s)ulpted stal*s, at the end of %hi)h ogled a doAen additional stone

eyes The huldrefol* said it %as a terri"le "east from "eyond the stars Daralthanias didn't press for

more information, "ut his "rief a))ount of this en)ounter gave rise to a variety of dramati) "ard

tales %here foolish %iAards )ast spells that "ring the toothy+ma%ed monsters do%n upon Silvanesti

"y the doAens

The huldrefol* )ity's name sounded vaguely li*e -roAen .ast- pronoun)ed in the huldre tongue

Sin)e the huldre /ust repeated the name %hen as*ed -(hat does it mean?- that's ho% the elves

started referring to the )ity

lthough the huldrefol* a"andoned roAen .ast many )enturies later, the )ity seemed oddly

unaffe)ted "y the passage of time lthough the huldre had left the )ity %ith food remaining in their

pantries and, in some )ases, even forges still "urning in %or*shops, the food never spoiled, dustnever gathered, and flames never fli)*ered out 5t %as as though time no longer mattered in the )ity

nothing de)ayed, fire "urned "ut didn't )onsume any fuel, and those %ho spent time in the )ity

never got tired or hungry 5f they tried to eat, they felt si)* and "loated Sleep %as impossi"le

9o%ever, as soon as someone left the )ity, hunger and fatigue %ould overta*e them One report



tells of an elven s)holar %ho spent three %ee*s sear)hing the )ity in the hopes of finding a %ay to

translate the "iAarre huldrefol* %ritten language (hether he did %ill never "e *no%n, "e)ause the

moment he stepped from the )ity's %ide do)* and onto the gangplan* leading to his ship, he

dropped dead from starvation and dehydration

fter ma*ing this dis)overy, the elves avoided the )ity, "elieving it dangerous, pointless, and

impra)ti)al to attempt to unlo)* the se)rets of the huldrefol* They did dis)over that a large ar)h inthe )ity's south%estern @uarter a)tually fun)tioned as a teleportal 5t allo%ed those %ho figured out

ho% to a)tivate it to )ross hundreds of miles to another a"andoned huldrefol* )ity that hovered

a"ove the %aves of the Tur"idus O)ean, off the southern shores of 1harolis ;nfortunately the

elves )ould never a)tivate this %ondrous teleportal the same %ay t%i)e, so soon they a"andoned it

as %ell

fter the Cata)lysm, the southern gla)ier rapidly moved north%ard lthough its advan)e

)rushed islands and southern )oastal )ities, the huldrefol* )ities south of nsalon remained

immova"le and indestru)ti"le soon they %ere )ompletely en)ased in the i)e all "ut t%o massive

ar)hes that rose over the gla)iers These ar)hes are the fo)us of the teleportals that allo% instant

passage "et%een the t%o )ities, and they have reportedly remained fun)tional even in the %a*e of

the gods' departureSo en)ased, the name roAen .ast seems even more appropriate for the mysterious huldrefol*

)ity than ever "efore

Fro4en 'ast in the 'resent %a

Despite the efforts of the %hite dragons living in this area, the southern gla)ier is slo%ly starting

to retreat from this part of nsalon 5n )ontrast %ith the in)redi"le speed at %hi)h it e0panded from

the south pole in the )enturies follo%ing the Cata)lysm, it is pulling "a)* very slo%ly, moving only

a fra)tion of an in)h ea)h year

Still, despite the fa)t that roAen .ast and its sister )ity lay "uried under tons of i)e, the

teleportals remain visi"le They appear li*e giant stone ar)hes surrounded "y irregular "umps in the

i)e Dra%ing )loser, e0plorers %ho loo* do%n )an see the haAy forms of the "uried )ity "eneath

their feet s in ages past, it is virtually impossi"le to figure out ho% the teleportals fun)tion or

%hen they %ill a)tivate Rumors a"out these mira)ulous devi)es aren't hard to )ome "yin)luding

stories of adventurers %ho have stepped through an a)tive ar)h never to "e seen again

s the gla)ier has started to retreat, another legendary area of roAen .ast has "een freed from

the i)e (armer %inds may have )aused the gla)ier that had engulfed it to melt @ui)*er than other

parts of the i)e, or perhaps the )ity's magi) )aused it to retreat more @ui)*ly

Shortly "efore the Silvanesti de)ided that roAen .ast %as too dangerous to e0plore, a young elf

named $li rightsun found a finely )rafted, en)hanted "oat ))ording to the stories he told, this

magi)al "oat too* him to %hatever destination his heart desired his father had "een ta*en )aptive

"y human pirates a fe% %ee*s earlier, and %hile $li sat in the "oat %ishing he )ould sail it to %herethey might have ta*en him, the "oat suddenly moved 5t delivered the young elf unfailingly to a

se)ret )oastal village on the shores of %hat someday %ould "e)ome the mighty mer)hant nation of

5star

The story %as %ritten do%n, "ut ultimately %as lost in the dusty ar)hives of the 5mperial

;niversity in $rgoth and the Royal r)hives in Silvanesti (hen $mperor Mer)adior Redi) :5 of

$rgoth ordered the 5mperial li"rary refur"ished, the story resurfa)ed Re)ogniAing the potential of a

"oat that )ould transport passengers unfailingly to %hatever destination they desire, the emperor

dispat)hed adventurers to 5)e%all to loo* for the huldrefol* )ity and the "oat Several returned to

$rgoth, some even "rought a "oat along %ith them, "ut it %as never the )orre)t "oat Many other

groups simply vanished %ithout tra)e

Secrets of the uldre5oat

The huldre"oat is an artifa)t )reated "y the huldrefol*, and li*e most of their other )reations, it

fun)tions in a %ay that seems "iAarre and impra)ti)al to other "eings

The "oat is t%enty+five feet in length and it appears as ne% as though its )reators had /ust



hammered the final nail into its hull The plan*s are smooth and the hull al%ays remains polished to

a high sheen The "oat and its passengers are never su"/e)t to the elements no matter ho% severe

The "oat is also immune to the passage of time, although its passengers aren't Therefore, at the aft

end there is a )as* of %ater and a )rate )ontaining loaves of "read ;pon inspe)tion, the passengers

)an see that the provisions %ould last a single person for an entire month

Carved upon the ship's transom is ela"orate s)roll%or* The %ords are %ritten in the huldrelanguagea s)ript %hi)h no mortal is ever *no%n to have mastered ppropriate divinatory magi)

allo%s passengers of the "oat to de)ipher the %riting&

gift this /essel to my "eo"le

5o that we can tra/el safely where we will

Trading 6eaningless Time for recious ife

(ou who would "ilot, touch these words

5"ea% of the "lace or "erson you see%

nd you shall arri/e safely and without fail at your destination

5o long as it stands #y the +lement of my #irth—+ternal 8ater

5f someone tou)hes the %riting and fo)uses on a destination or personH after laun)hing the "oat

into open %ater, it starts to head a%ay from the shore fter some three hundred yards of travel, a

fog"an* mysteriously rolls in and rapidly engulfs the "oat The riders then find themselves in a fog+

shrouded environment %here all sounds, e0)ept the lapping of the %aves against the "oat's hull,

seem strangely su"duedthe sound of the %ater in )ontrast is someho% amplified

or those riding in the "oat, t%enty+five hours pass for every one hundred miles of distan)e

"et%een the destination and the point of origin if the trip is less than one hundred miles, a full

t%enty+five hours pass any%ay The distan)e is )al)ulated in a straight line, regardless of %hatever

terrain might e0ist "et%een the point of origin and the destination The "oat )an even )arry its

)ontroller and passengers to un)onne)ted "odies of %ater The destination must have enough %ater

for the "oat to sail upon, though

9o%ever, no matter ho% many days the trip seems to ta*e for the passengers in the "oat, five

years pass in the %orld "eyond the fog "an* 5t doesn't matter %hether the distan)e )overed is ten

miles or on thousand milesfive years al%ays pass "et%een the moment the "oat enters the fog

"an* to the point it emerges at its destination

On)e engulfed in the fog, it is possi"le for the )ontroller to )hange the destination "y tou)hing

the transom again and e0pressing his or her ne% desire 9o%ever, the distan)e to the ne%

destination is )al)ulated from the point of origin No a)tual time is added to the /ourney

The e0a)t properties of the "oat )annot "e immediately dis)erned "y any group of heroes should

they find it or e0ample, only e0perien)e %ill tell them of the effe)t that )auses five years to pass

%henever a /ourney is underta*en Narrators should thin* )arefully "efore introdu)ing this "oatinto their )ampaigns unless they want time to pass %ithout the heroes "eing a"le to affe)t eventsH

inally, the huldre"oat al%ays returns to roAen .ast after use 5f left for more than three days in

a port other than one %ithin fifty miles of roAen .ast, the "oat vanishes %ithout %arning or tra)e

5n truth, it is magi)ally transported "a)* to roAen .ast, appearing there instantly nyone %ho is

on"oard at the time of this transport travels %ith it

Adventure Seed

The $mperor of $rgoth )ommissions a party of heroes to find roAen .ast and the magi)al "oat

that is mentioned in the an)ient Silvanesti te0t Should the heroes su))essfully rea)h roAen .ast,

they may have to fa)e thanoi, other adventurers, or perhaps even some huldrefol* %ho have

returned from %herever they disappeared to so long ago.erhaps the heroes a))identally a)tivate the huldre portal %hile there The portal might ta*e

them to other a"andoned )ities, or it may ta*e them to an inha"ited pla)e %here they )an learn the

se)rets of the huldrefol*



Claren Elian

#o)ated east of the Goodlund .eninsula, Claren $lian has "een the o"/e)t of legends sin)e the

days %hen Silvanesti mer)hant vessels %ere )ommon sights in 5star's har"ors heavily forested

island, it has nonetheless not "een plundered "y minotaurs for lum"er and virtually no *no%n

e0ploration of it has "een underta*eneven "y *enderMost people in eastern nsalon "elieve the tales that po%erful forest spirits d%ell on the island

The fa)t that those *no%n to have em"ar*ed on e0peditions to Claren $lian have failed to return, or

have returned %ith tales of terri"le "easts lur*ing in the forests, reinfor)e the per)eption that the

stories of the island are anything "ut *ender tales

5n truth, the island is home to "eings %ho are at on)e mu)h less and mu)h more than the legends

)laim

A istor of Claren Elian

Claren $lian is inha"ited "y the Ran+$li, a little *no%n )ulture that has lived in isolation for

many )enturies They %ere on)e pea)eful philosophers, "ut after "eing enslaved "y magi)+using

d%arves, )alled s)ions, to help "uild the )ity of Claren $lian, they sought to master every form of )om"at so they %ould never "e enslaved again

Their so)iety is strongly patriar)hal, and the measure of a man e@uals his s*ill at arms The

greatest honor for a male of the Ran+$li is to "e)ome a Master of Ran* These are the greatest

%arriors among them, and one rea)hes this stage only "y surviving a grueling series of tests The

highest honor for a %oman is to "ear the )hildren of a Master of Ran*

efore the Cata)lysm, the Ran+$li d%elled high in the eastern mountains of 5star, intera)ting

%ith others only %hen they %ere sought out More than on)e, they served as assassins for the

1ingpriest, "ut mostly they *ept to themselves (hen the Cata)lysm stru)*, the vast ma/ority of the

Ran+$li %arriors %ere *illed, leaving only %omen, )hildren, and the eldersthe master

philosophers of the fighting orders Only the highest of the mountain villages and the )ity of Claren

$lian survived Claren $lian itself is no% *no%n as the or"idden City, for only the Masters of

Ran* go there or )an give permission to visit it

rom this "ase, they re"uilt They )ontinued to hone their fighting a"ilities and "e)ame the

greatest of all %arriors and assassins in nsalon, despite the fa)t that they rarely used their s*ills

"eyond the )onfines to their island Many e0plorers, ho%ever, met their end on an $lian "ladeH

Claren Elian in the 'resent %a

Only s*illed sailors )an approa)h Claren $lian safely The %aters around it are fraught %ith

reefs, and "oth the %inds and )urrents are unpredi)ta"le, ma*ing the %aters dangerous even for

e0pert )re%s

The eastern, southern, and most of the northern shores of the island rise steeply from theSouthern Courrain O)ean These sheer )liffs and the lo)al )urrents )an pound ships %ith un%ary

)re%s to tinder Dar*, for"idding forests stand atop the )liffs

The %estern and part of the northern )oasts are lined %ith narro% "ea)hes of "la)* sand

9o%ever, rea)hing these "ea)hes )an "e very dangerous The %aters are shallo% and rife %ith

reefs, ma*ing it dangerous to "ring even small "oats )lose to the island s the shore )ontinues

north, )liffs start to rise a"out fifteen to t%enty feet from the "ea)hes

#arger vessels )an approa)h the island at only one %ell+*no%n pla)e 5n the de)ades "efore the

Se)ond Cata)lysm, 5lltide ay emerged as a regular portage for the vessels under the )ommand of

the notorious Gad Ma))a"y 9e )harted a safe )ourse through the reefs, reportedly at the )ost of

t%o ships 9is raiders )ould an)hor in a %ell+sheltered natural har"or and replenish their %ater

supplies from the falls of pure, s%eet+tasting %ater that tum"led over the fifteen+foot )liff onto the "ea)h

lthough Ma))a"y's grandson, S)arrel Ma))a"y, )ontinues to plague shipping in the lood Sea,

he does not ma*e use of Claren $lian (hen Malystry0, the great red dragon, seiAed )ontrol of the

Goodlund .eninsula in Is), she almost failed to noti)e the Ran+$li



lmost

;pon transforming the Goodlund .eninsula into a vol)ani) %asteland, she turned to the islands

off the )oast She realiAed that the s*illed *illers on the island )ould "e of use, and she set a"out to

intimidate them fter "urning a s%ath a)ross the island and destroying the entire population of a

village, she realiAed they %ould die rather than su"mit She tried a different approa)h and sent an

emissary to learn ho% she might earn their su"mission The leader of the Masters of Ran*, theSuperior Master, said that the $missary %ould have to "est him in )om"at She did, and the people

of Ran+$il s%ore allegian)e to Malys s a result, S)arrel does not %ant to dra% too )lose to the

shores )ontrolled "y the Red Marauder

The ma/ority of Claren $lian is )overed "y lush green forests, and even though Malys

demonstrated her po%er "y s)or)hing the island's )enter, the hearty forests have already started to

re)laim that land

No o"vious paths lead from the island's shores to its interior, and %ould+"e e0plorers must )ut

their o%n trails This is slo% going, %ith a party )overing only one mile in an hour On)e a%ay

from the shore, ho%ever, they start to en)ounter overgro%n "lo)*s of stone and toppled pillars here

and there

These signs of an)ient )iviliAation "e)ome more )ommon as one moves north%ard inally, theforest falls a%ay to reveal the )rystal ruins of a on)e glorious )ity, no% overgro%n and resem"ling a

giganti) garden .illared )ourtyards vie for attention %ith many tiered "uildings that to%er as high

as si0ty feet rieAes of serpents and flo%ers de)orate everything Ornate statues stand every%here,

representing idealiAed d%arves, and many %alls are )arved %ith s)enes of d%arves "eing served "y

human slaves t the heart of the )ity is a one+hundred+fifty+foot "uilding Slender )rystal to%ers

)apture and fo)us the light onto the )enter pala)e, %hi)h spar*les li*e a thousand stars

Claren $lian en/oys a mild )limate for most of the year, than*s to %arm southern )urrents from

the lood Sea Summer lasts for nine months of the year, and %inter is only a dulling of the ever+

present heat

Adventure Seed

Mysterious assassins are stal*ing .alin Ma/ere and several of the students at the )ademy of

Sor)ery .alin "elieves these are the same group of assassins %ho attempted to *ill Goldmoon a fe%

months prior 5s there a )onne)tion? 5s someone trying to stop the resurgen)e of magi) in nsalon?

5f so, %ho?

9eroes )an "e)ome involved and find themselves targeted for assassination themselves

$ventually, they find )lues that lead them to Claren $lian 9ere, the Superior Master dire)ts them to

the )ity of living )rystal, e0plaining that many of his people have fallen vi)tim to the sor)erous

)ontrol of an insane s)ion %ho has re)ently reappeared %ithin the )ity 9e says that unless the

heroes slay this evil "eing, the s)ion %ill )ontinue to for)e the Ran+$li to destroy those %or*ing to

unlo)* the foundations of 1rynn's magi)The heroes must "rave a maAe of fantasti) )reatures and living plants "efore )oming fa)e to fa)e

%ith one of the most po%erful magi)al "eings the %orld has ever *no%n

%ragon$s 6raveard

On the northeastern )oast of nsalon is a se)ret graveyard for the Good dragons Dragons too

si)* or too severely in/ured to rea)h the Dragon 5sles )ome to this se)luded area %here they )an

enter the sea and disappear or )enturies, adventurers %ho heard the legend of the Dragon's

Graveyard have sought for this pla)e %here dragon "ones and treasure are piled higher than a

*ender's head

A istor of the %ragon$s 6raveard

lthough the Dragon's Graveyard has "een populariAed through stories that are told and retold in

taverns, fe% people, save $rgothian "ards and a handful of s)holars, *no% the true origin of the

tales e%er still realiAe that the stories a)tually have "asis in fa)t



5n one of the )ompilations of %or*s )redited to Euivalen Soth, a "rief song tells the story of a

silver dragon %ho )ried out to the gods for prote)tion after the "ody of his mate %as seiAed "y

humans and used for food, )lothes, and tools lthough .aladine seemed deaf to the dragon's fears,

9a""a*u* and ran)hala ans%ered, )reating a pla)e to %hi)h dying metalli) dragons )ould retreat

and %here their physi)al forms %ould "e prote)ted from dese)ration "y mortals The gods

)om"ined their po%ers and raised a tiny island from the sea, a fe% miles off the northern shore of nsalon 9ere, if a Good dragon raised his or her voi)e in song, a grave %ould open The dragon

%ould lie do%n and %hen the might )reature e0pired, the earth %ould "ury them "ody in a grave

that no one %ould ever find

or on)e, the legends are )ompletely a))urate lthough the island itself san* "eneath the

Tur"idus O)ean %hen the lands of Nordmaar rose from the depths during the Cata)lysm, the

Dragon's Graveyard still e0ists as a pla)e %here Good dragons )an magi)ally inter their "odies at

death (here "efore the dragons %ould either have to fly or s%im roughly thirty miles from the

)oast, they need no% only %al* to a se)luded )ove on the northern shore of $st%ilde There the

%aves open up to s%allo% them after they sing a song that is holy to ran)hala and 9a""a*u*

The %ragon$s 6raveard in the 'resent %aThe Dragon's Graveyard remains a *ey site to metalli) dragons .arents are )onsidered dereli)t

in their duty to edu)ate their offspring properly if they fail to tell their young a"out the Dragon's

Graveyard Despite the departure of the gods from nsalon, the site retains its magi) and )ontinues

to render the )orpses of Good dragons ina))essi"le to those %ho %ant to dese)rate them

The )ove that allo%s a))ess to the Dragon's Graveyard )an "e rea)hed "y "oat or through a

narro% pass that leads through the hills and granite )liffs that ma*e up $st%ilde's northern shore

lthough apparently free of dragon domination, mem"ers of the normally pea)eful #or+Tai tri"e

of $st%ilde have ta*en an oddly militant posture re)ently against those %ho enter their territory,

%hi)h in)ludes the hills and )liffs around the Dragon's Graveyard 5n ages past, the #or+Tai %ere

simple shepherds, "ut %ith the advent of the ge of Mortals, they seem to have "een transformed

into fier)e %arriorsperhaps a natural rea)tion to the perpetual t%ilight that has des)ended to the

%est and the dragon overlords that have seiAed territory to the east of them urther, they have "een

seen )onstru)ting idols of dragons, "efore %hi)h they perform some )eremonies e% outsiders

have %itnessed these )eremonies and es)aped %ith their lives

Adventure Seed

n estheti) from the #i"rary of the ges might hire a group of heroes to es)ort him safely to

the 5sle of S)hallsea 5ryl Song"roo*, long retired from the life of an adventurer, operates the CoAy

9earth 5nn in the to%n of S)hallsea and %rites histories of the Citadel of #ight and its mem"ers for

the Great #i"rary The estheti) )laims to have "een sent to the isle "y ertrem to gather more

details a"out the Dragon's Graveyard, as %ell as dire)tions on ho% to get there 5ryl's histories)onsist mostly of her o%n o"servations and thoughts and pay little attention to trivialities li*e

%here the events she tal*s a"out too* pla)eH

s the heroes and the s)holar meet %ith 5ryl, a group of men from Claren $lian attempt to

*idnap her 5f the heroes ta*e any of the atta)*ers alive, the heroes )an for)e them to reveal that

Malys has "een tra)*ing the s)holar's progress and is determined to find the lo)ation of the

Dragon's Graveyard herself They don't *no% her plans or %hat aroused her interest in the site

The Cit of "alaman

1alaman is a *ey port on the northern shore of nsalon The )ity sits on the estuary of the

:ingaard River, and its har"or is deep enough to a))omodate all "ut the largest of mer)hant ships

A istor of "alaman

Gro%n from a fishing village "y am"itious 5star mer)hants three )enturies "efore the Cata)lysm,

1alaman has "een the )enter of trade in Nightlund for %ell over half a millennium The )ity's



population remained )onstant from the Cata)lysm to the Chaos (ar, though .alanthas e)lipsed its

status as the )hief northern port after the destru)tion of 5star

lmost sin)e its foundation, the people of 1alaman %ere, generally spea*ing, happy and

prosperous The poor inha"ited a small se)tion of the )ity, "ut even they lived "etter off than the

poor of other )ities did The lords of 1alaman des)ended from a line of Solamni) 1nights %ho,

after the Cata)lysm, s%ore off that heritage for politi)al reasons Still, these lords still held to theideals of the 1nighthood or generations, 1alaman *ept its %alls in good repair, trained its

defenders to "e vigilant and )ompetent, and even maintained a small fleet of four %ar "arges to

assist in the defense of the har"or

5n the early stages of the dragonarmies' %estern offensive, 1alaman fell through trea)hery rather

than siege or honest "attle Dragonarmy agents infiltrated the )ity and murdered most of its

defenders, the lord 1night, and his family as they slept Only one mem"er of the ruling family %as

spared Calof, the third and youngest son of the lord Dragonarmy galleys sailed into the har"or

un)ontested and defeated 1alaman's %ar "arges %ith little resistan)e (hen the ne% day "ro*e over

the )ity, the )itiAens a%o*e to find themselves %ith ne% masters

8ust as the )ity %as the first to fall to the dragonarmies, so %as it the first to "e li"erated "y the

(hitestone rmy under the )ommand of #aurana, the Golden General round the time Gilthanasassumed the position of military governor, elements of the lue Dragonarmy made several attempts

to reta*e the )ity, ea)h of %hi)h failed due to the e0pert military leadership of Gilthanas and

Silvara

s the threat of the dragonarmies %aned, Gilthanas involved himself more and more %ith the

politi)s of 1alaman During these years, )itiAens reported seeing Silvara %andering listlessly

through the streets in her guise as a 1agonesti O))asionally, her spirits %ould seem to lift %hen

someone needed her help in settling a dispute or %hen a mer)hant or mapma*er invited her on an

e0pedition More often than not, ho%ever, the )itiAens felt un)omforta"le a"out approa)hing her

$ventually, Silvara %as seen no more Some )laim she left the )ity after a )a"al of )orrupt

mer)hants and ship"uilders tried to tri)* her into eliminating their )ompetition Others )laim she

left "e)ause Gilthanas had gro%n to hate her sin)e she %as not truly an elf (hatever the truth,

several people last sa% her flying north along the )oast, the setting sun glinting off her magnifi)ent

silver s)ales

(hen the Dar* 1nights invaded nsalon during the Summer of Chaos, the )itiAens of 1alaman

found themselves %ishing for the dragon and the elf %ho had led them through the dar* years

Those men the Dar* 1nights didn't *ill %ere relo)ated to Nera*a to serve as slaves

5n the %a*e of the Chaos (ar, the strange t%ilight that spread from Dargaard 1eep to en)ompass

all of Nightlund seeped a)ross 1alaman and the estuary or more than t%o de)ades, the )ity has

seen neither night nor day, leaving the lo)al vegetation %ea* and si)*ly steady migration of

people a%ay from the dar*ness has drained the population even further

"alaman in the 'resent %a



The only stru)tures along the do)*s not intended to house trade goods and other )argo are the

har"ormaster's offi)es and the fa)ilities of the single ship"uilder remaining in the )ity Most of the

%arehouses no% stand empty and deserted, %hile a handful of others have "een )onverted into

living spa)e "y people hoping to leave 1alaman on the ne0t ship that puts into port

5n )enturies past, the heart and soul of 1alaman's "usiness distri)t %as the famous open+air

mar*et On)e, the open+air mar*et held virtually every *ind of good from almost every part of

nsalon 5n the many stalls, one )ould find maps, e0oti) foods, livesto)*, and even )urious artifa)ts

from the ruins in near"y mountain ranges No%, the mar*et stands li*e a deserted )learing in the

)rum"ling )ity CitiAens tend to avoid the area, and if for)ed to )ross it, they rush as @ui)*ly as they

)an to get "a)* to the safety "et%een the "uildings lmost all trade no% o))urs along the%aterfront, as very little overland travel rea)hes the )ity anymore

t the )enter of the )ity stands Castle 1alaman Despite the pall that drapes the land, the )ity's

lords have maintained the stru)ture, %hi)h remains one of the most "eautiful "uildings in northern

nsalon (ithin the last )entury, the )astle has "een home to t%o %omen %ho had great impa)t

upon the modern history of nsalonthe lue #ady, the infamous 9ighlord of the lue

Dragonarmy during the Solamnia offensive and #auranalanthalasa, the Eualinesti prin)ess *no%n

as the Golden General Gilthanas also *ept @uarters here during his tenure as governor The )astle

no% serves as home to Tierrel Ry)hner, #ord of 1alaman his family and his trio of advisors and

their families

Adventure Seed(hile sailing along the northern )oast of nsalon, a storm for)es a group of heroes into port at

1alaman Gilthanas has returned to the )ity and is re)ruiting s*illed %arriors to investigate the

strange disappearan)es of ships that have "een o))urring along the :ingaard River The heroes are

to /oin the )re% of 6yrella9s Heart, a vessel )ommanded "y the river pirate half+elf t%ins Myrelana

rom its earliest days, the har"or of 1alaman served large mer)hant vessels The do)*s are %ide,

ma*ing it easy to load )argo to or from more than one ship at a time The lords of the )ity

)onsistently "uilt and maintained %arehouses along the %aterfront rather than the taverns and

houses of ill repute so many other )ities display ne0t to their ports This arrangement al%ays has

given the %aterfront of 1alaman an oddly deserted appearan)e Sailors %ho don't *no% "etter

sometimes feel their hearts sin* %hen they put into the port and see only ro%s of austere gray "uildings, rather than the hustle and "ustle of %el)oming inns they e0perien)e in other )ities



and #eana The /ourney is supposed to go from 1alaman to 8ahs"urg in the south

The river pirates aren't e0a)tly a))epting of people from outside of their )ulture 5t's an uneasy

/ourneyunless the heroes impress the rough+and+tum"le pirates, they spend the %hole voyage

su"/e)t to a"use There should "e plenty of opportunities for adventure, though there is not one

reason, "ut several, "ehind the disappearing vessels irst, the Dar* 1nights have esta"lished a "ase

in the s%amp at the 1night's Spur delta, and they have "een seiAing vessels )arrying )argo thatspies in 1alaman tell them is valua"le Se)ond, a ne% "reed of undead has started to appear along

the river undead river pirates These )reatures also have "een seiAing vessels ;nless the heroes

dis)over the se)ret "ehind their origins, over the ne0t fe% years, the num"ers of the undead %ill

gro% enought to "lo)* all travel along the :ingaard Su)h a tragedy %ould finally "ring a"out the

death of 1alaman as a )ity, not to mention ending the thriving river pirate )ulture "ased in the )ity

of :ingaard or more information on the :ingaard River, the river pirates, and the Dar* 1nights

at 1nights' Spur, see the Heroes of .efiance game supplementH

'ea7 of Clouds and Mount rego

The .ea* of Clouds, the highest point in the stivar Mountains, and its )ompanion pea* Mountrego have "een a )enter of mysti)al and other%orldly a)tivities sin)e the Cata)lysm e% "eings

are a%are of the area's signifi)an)e, "ut those %ho are *no% that it is a pla)e that is "est avoided

#orrinar, a re)lusive green dragon %ho )laims the stivar Mountains and the orest of #ahue as

his realm, ho%ever, is very familiar %ith the mysti)al properties of the .ea* of Clouds and is

presently %or*ing to find a %ay to ta*e advantage of them

A istor of the 'ea7 of Clouds and Mount rego

The stivar Mountains are a to%ering %all of stone that %as pushed up from the depths of

1rynn during the Cata)lysm Their pea*s range mostly from four thousand to ten thousand feet

a"ove sea level, "ut the .ea* of Clouds soars to fourteen thousand feet %ith Mount rego rea)hing

t%elve thousand feet (hile the foothills are not parti)ularly trea)herous, the higher pea*s of this

young mountain range feature severe slopes and near+verti)al )liffs The mountains have yet to "e

softened "y the effe)ts of %ind and %eather and stand li*e a giant ro% of /agged teeth

To the %est of mountains spra%ls a dense forest of %iry trees that has "een home to the Tri"e of

#ahue for as long as anyone )an remem"er Reputed )anni"als, they found themselves the target of

the legions of 5star's failed attempt to )ommit geno)ide in the de)ades prior to the Cata)lysm $ven

the upheavals that turned their peninsula into the "order "et%een Nordmaar and $st%ilde and

%hi)h thre% the stivar Mountains s*y%ard did not destroy them

.resently, the Tri"e of #ahue )ontinues to live in s)attered %oodland villages %hile diligently

defending their an)estral lands from invaders lthough still fier)ely independent, survival has

for)ed them to a)*no%ledge #orrinar or -ume- as they )all himH as the lord of their forest This isnot an arrangement that "others them, ho%ever, as #orrinar ma*es no demands of themother than

to "e left alone

Small )ommunities of ogres and d%arves d%ell %ithin valleys hidden %ithin the stivar range

They a)*no%ledge #orrinar's po%er, "ut, as %ith the #ahutians, he mostly leaves them alone The

green dragon only o))asionally )alls upon them to help %ith resear)h into the properties of the

reputedly magi)al pea*s

Secrets of the 'ea7 of Clouds and Mount rego

The Cata)lysm did more than /ust alter the fa)e of nsalon 5t %as a disaster of su)h magnitude

that the very fa"ri) of reality tore in several lo)ations lthough Mount rego has al%ays "een

)harged %ith magi)al energy, %hen the .ea* of Clouds /utted up, it "e)ame a pla)e %here the "oundaries "et%een 1rynn and the vast "yss "eyond the %orld %ere parti)ularly %ea*

et%een the Cata)lysm and the Chaos (ar, the .ea* of Clouds "e)ame an interse)tion point

"et%een the "yss and plane of 1rynn (hen #unitari and Solinari %ere full and in alignment, the

)haos of the "yss )ould "e laid "are to those *no%ledgea"le in the %ays of magi) and po%erful



enough to %ithstand the dra% upon the "ody and soul that the for)es of other realities pla)e on a

person

s the .ea* of Clouds )ould permit a))ess to %orlds and pla)es "eyond 1rynn, tunnels and

)aves riddled Mount rego and emerged else%here in nsalon entirely e% %ritten re)ords

des)ri"e %here these magi)al )averns lead One of these re)ords, the %ritings of 5ryl Song"roo*, a

Silvanesti elf %ho donated her /ournals to the Great #i"rary of the ges, in)ludes an a))ount of ho% she and her )ompanions used one of the )aves to travel instantly from the Mount rego region

to the 5sle of S)hallsea

fter the Chaos (ar, mu)h of the magi) %as drained from "oth the .ea* of Clouds and Mount

rego Sor)erers and mysti)s %ho have visited the .ea* of Clouds indi)ate that the portal to the

"yss that on)e e0isted there )an no longer "e found, %hile those %ho have "raved the )aves of the

ogres %ho d%ell "elo% Mount rego no%adays have found no magi)al portals urther, in

)enturies past, Mount rego %as reputed to )ast no shado%, nor did any shado%s fall upon its

fa)es, %hi)h is a phenomenon that 5ryl Song"roo* herself %itnessed and %rote a"out Sin)e the

Chaos (ar, ho%ever, Mount rego has "een as sus)epti"le to light and shado% as any other o"/e)t

The d%arves and the ogres living at the pea*s represent )ommunities that are less than a )entury

old The d%arves d%ell in a village named 9earthhome at the foot of the .ea* of Clouds They)onsist of soldiers from the (ar of the #an)e and their des)endents %ho )hose to esta"lish their

o%n )ommunity rather than return home to Thor"ardin Their leader, 1run Silver)hisel, %as a

young offi)er in the %ar"and during the (ar of the #an)e and, although he has started to slo%

do%n a "it, the d%arves still loo* to him for leadership Silver)hisel also serves as the go+"et%een

for the d%arves and ogres and the dragon overlord

The ogres are the remnants of the loody ist tri"e fter unsu))essfully trying to defend their

lands from the dragon *no%n as Cinder, they fled north and resettled in the )aves of Mount rego

(hen #orrinar arrived, they thought it "est to su"mit rather than fightand %ere pleasantly

surprised %hen they dis)overed that the dragon %as interested in %or*ing %ith them rather than

su"/ugating or destroying them The ogres are "usily engaged in mapping the tunnels that

honey)om" Mount rego and loo*ing for magi)al gates that lead to other pla)es on 1rynn any

treasures the ogres find, #orrinar allo%s them to *eep ll the dragon %ants are the maps the ogres

)reate

The tri"e's )hieftain, 9ren)h, ma*es sure that #orrinar gets %hat he %ants in short order s soon

as sear)h parties return to the main settlement, 9ren)h )olle)ts the ne% maps, )he)*s them against

any areas that overlap %ith others, and then ma*es )opies for #orrinar 9e has a friendly

relationship %ith the leader of the d%arven )ommunity, 1run Silver)hisel, and lets the d%arf

deliver all the maps the loody ist sear)h parties produ)e This %ay, 9ren)h )an "etter *eep his

)haoti) tri"e fo)used on their tas*

Adventure SeedsMagi) has left the %orld no priest or %iAard has "een a"le to )ast a traditional spell sin)e

Chaos %al*ed the land and the gods fled fifteen years ago 9o%ever, a party of heroes have learned

of a %ise man d%elling atop Mount rego %ho reportedly still *no%s the se)rets of magi) No one

has found his d%elling, ho%ever, and the lo)als are getting in)reasingly nervous a"out sear)hing

the area as %ord has rea)hed them that a green dragon has "een spotted in the (oods of #ahue in

3Ks)

5f the heroes "rave the rumors of dragons, )anni"als, and marauding ogres, and if they survive

the )lim" up Mount rego, they find an e))entri) *yrie and a silver+tressed 1agonesti maiden 9e

tells the heroes that he already has a studentthe 1agonesti elf"ut if they retrieve the 5ron Staff

of 1harda, a mighty artifa)t that on)e "elonged to the )onsort of the demigoddess rtha, he %ill

)onsider tea)hing them ho% to %ield magi) in -the ne% %orld-lternatively, the heroes )ould hear another rumor a"out the %ise man on Mount rego& (hile

in the to%n of Ohme to the north, they hear that he %ill reveal se)ret te)hni@ues of magi) to those

%ho are %illing to pay him one thousand steel pie)es and a single en)hanted item The heroes'

sour)e even tells them e0a)tly %here he )an "e lo)ated 9o%ever, if they see* out the %ise man,



"andits atta)* them, intending to steal their money and magi) items and sell them to the Dar*

1nights as slaves atta)* them

On)e the heroes return to Ohme or another near"y to%nH, they learn that the daughter of a

mer)hant she %as also a former (iAard of the Red Ro"esH %ent in sear)h of the %ise man, "ut

didn't return The mer)hant had "elieved that she had "e)ome a student, "ut no% it seems she %as

sold into slavery The heroes are as*ed to lo)ate and res)ue her from her slave masters

9inston$s To&er

Rising from the ruins of an an)ient fort, (inston's To%er is a one+hundred+thirty+foot, si0+sided

stru)ture of gnome )onstru)tion 5t %as on)e a "ea)on esta"lished to mar* the har"or of 1arthay

No%, it stands on the southern edge of the Silent .lains, a remnant of a long+gone age and the

)enter of tin*er gnome a)tivity in eastern nsalon

A istor of 9inston$s To&er

5n the %a*e of the Great Trade (ar "et%een $rgoth, Silvanesti, and 5star, %hi)h lasted fromKLI.C to K4.C, the 5star government undertoo* massive )onstru)tion pro/e)ts geared to%ard

fortifying main trade )enters and har"ors One har"or that %as reinfor)ed %as 1arthay, a port at the

edge of the minotaur lands These fortifi)ations too* pla)e )enturies "efore the formulation of the

.ro)lamation of Manifest :irtue, and they %ere the produ)ts of a mi0ture of 5star ingenuity and the

"est nonhuman ar)hite)ts had to offer

lthough many masterpie)es %ere )reated during the one+hundred+fifty years it too* to )omplete

the massive pro/e)ts, the most note%orthy of these %as (inston's To%er The stru)ture %as named

for the governor of 1arthay, and it served "oth as a lighthouse and a fortress from %hi)h vessels

see*ing enter the ay of 5star )ould "e atta)*ed 5ts "allistas reputedly )ould fire at ships as far as

one hundred miles out to sea, and they used magi)ally enhan)ed gnome devi)es to target urther,

the magi)al "ea)on at the top of the to%er %as so po%erful that it )ould "e seen any%here on the

ay of 5star or in the forests of the 1arthay on )lear nights, and it )ould )ut through even the

thi)*est fog inally, any num"er of se)ret defenses, "oth te)hnologi)al and magi)al, guarded the

to%er and har"or Re)ords dis)overed in the 9igh Clerist's To%er indi)ate that %hen 9igh Clerist

uth levin visited (inston's To%er in =3I.C he %as so impressed %ith some of the traps that he

ordered several of similar design added to the defenses of the great to%er in Solamnia

The mighty (inston's To%er )ame into "eing "e)ause Governor (inston had an open+minded

outloo* that %as rare even among his 5star )ontemporaries and %hi)h %ould only "e)ome rarer as

5star gre% in strength 9e "rought gnome, minotaur, and 5star engineers to an unpre)edented

meeting of minds, "ringing out the "est in all their outloo*s and li*e%ise eliminating the %orst of

their tenden)iesrom the gnomes )ame all manner of innovation in defensive te)hnology as %ell as a vast

improvement in the %or*ing of lighthouse "ea)ons The pra)ti)al eyes of the minotaur engineers

)ur"ed the gnome tenden)y to )reate over%rought and self+defeating devi)es %hile devising great

offensive %eaponry for the fortress%hi)h the gnomes then enhan)ed in their o%n uni@ue

fashions The 5star engineers %ere responsi"le for the design of the fortress itself, applying the

gnome and minotaur innovations %ithin the )onte0t of superior 5star ar)hite)ture The 5star

mentality infused the fortress )omple0 %ith the *ind of grandeur that 5star's government felt their

nation em"odied During the early stages of the )onstru)tion, Governor (inston stood at the )enter

and made sure that all the disparate parts of the pro)ess )ame together into a greater %hole nd,

although (inston's To%er %as not )ompleted in his lifetime, his su))essors %ere loyal enough to

his vision to see that it %as )arried through to the ends the nation of 5star gre% in)reasingly intolerant to%ard nonhumans, the fe% minotaurs %ho

remained free of slavery at the hands of 5star retreated into the mountains of 1arthay, leaving the

forests and )oasts to the humans The des)endants of the gnomes %ho had helped engineer the

defenses of (inston's To%er remained in the fortifi)ation %here they )ontinued to maintain the



devi)es and implement o))asional improvements under the %at)hful eyes of 5star's )ommanders 5n

*eeping %ith one of the provisions of the .ro)lamation of Manifest :irtue that gnomes %ere

)reatures of )haos %ho should "e isolated from the glorious order )reated "y the 1ingpriestH, the

gnome en)lave found itself restri)ted to (inston's To%er

5n the final de)ade "efore the Cata)lysm, as 5star's legions stationed in 1arthay %ere )ommitted

to e0terminating the minotaurs, (inston's To%er %as left almost entirely for the gnomes to manageThe legions and )ommanders had mostly moved into the mountains "y order of the 1ingpriest, %ho

had de)lared that the last vestiges of an independent minotaur )iviliAation had to "e %iped from the

fa)e of nsalon in order to fulfill the tenants of the .ro)lamation of Manifest :irtue

(hen the Cata)lysm stru)*, the ensuing earth@ua*es redu)ed the fortress around (inston's

To%er to ruin, "ut the to%er itself remained inta)t The disaster that spelled the doom of 5star

"e)ame the salvation of the minotaur nation, as the 1arthay provin)e %as dro%ned "eneath the

lood Sea of 5star, e0)ept for the islands of modern 1arthay, Mithas, and 1othas 9ere, the

minotaurs re"uilt from )enturies of oppression and geno)idal poli)ies The minotaurs on 1arthay,

ho%ever, remained in a state of "ar"arism, d%elling for the most part in their mountain )aves The

single tri"e %ho des)ended south%ard esta"lished the village of 1ai+#an, %here they o))asionally

trade %ith sailors from Mithas This is a rare o))urren)e, ho%ever, as these savage minotaurs have areputation of "eing )anni"als

s the minotaurs rose from the %re)*age of 5star, the gnomes "e)ame an entren)hed settlement

in the area around (inston's To%er oth savage and )iviliAed minotaurs shunned the pla)e "e)ause

the gnomes %ere vie%ed as dangerous and annoying if distur"ed So, in the )enturies sin)e the

Cata)lysm, the gnome )lans of (inston's To%er have "een running %ild, implementing all *inds of

-improvements- to the to%er's defenses

9inston$s To&er in the 'resent %a

The stru)ture to%ers a"ove the overgro%n ruins of the 5staran fort, a grim spire amid the

dis)arded remnants of a dead )iviliAation The har"or it on)e prote)ted %as s%ept a%ay "y the

Cata)lysm, and the sandy "ea)h and ro)*y peninsula upon %hi)h the ruins stand do not appear to

provide any pla)e for ships to drop an)hor safely 9o%ever, a series of sand"ars and a narro% reef

near the shore do indeed ma*e good and fairly sheltered an)horage for those interested in e0ploring

the island

;pon dra%ing near, e0plorers see little eviden)e of the gnome )haos that e0ists %ithin the to%er

The only e0ternal eviden)e )an "e seen at the to%er's top, %here the gnomes have -improved- upon

the massive "ea)on "y adding a doAen more fo)using lenses and )urved metal plates to the ones

that %ere already mounted there The net effe)t is one that )auses the top of the to%er to appear

almost li*e an open rose"ud that shines and glints in the sunlightthe gnomes are very dedi)ated

a"out *eeping them polished even though their -improvements- have long made it so the "ea)on no

longer fun)tions ramp spirals up%ard from the ruins, around the to%er to a parapet eighty feet a"ove the

ground Several door%ays stand open, allo%ing a))ess to the to%er's interior 9o%ever, the parapet

also sports the first sample of the gnome's innovations They have )onverted the parapet into a

treadmill that a)tivates as soon as someone steps on it lthough the intent %as to )arry a person

from door to door, the treadmill moves so fast that only the most nim"le heroes )an remain standing

or even get off the )ontraption on)e it has "een started

The interior of the to%er is a series of stairs, ladders, )at%al*s, and platforms at various levels

Dar* shafts fall a%ay to diAAying depths There is very little eviden)e of the pra)ti)al design that

the 5star and minotaur engineers imposed upon the gnomes No%, not even the gnome )lans )an

safely navigate through the to%er's interior, trying instead to *eep to their respe)tive portions of the

to%er %hile using a variety of methods to s)ale the outside of the to%er %hen they need to ventureinto the outside %orld

The to%er is a dangerous maAe that is filled %ith %hatever haAards the Narrator )ares to dream

up Those that are *no%n to e0ist in)lude the follo%ing&



gargoyle automaton ;se stahn* statisti)sH

Ru""er %alls and floors that ma*e falling )hara)ters "oun)e until someho% res)ued

Trapdoors to slides and shafts

Me)hani)al tendrils that pull vi)tims into grinding gears ;se %yndlass statisti)sH

:ats of strange gnome )hemi)als that may spill over at any time

Me)hani)al spiders and ele)trified %e"s ;se giant spider statisti)sH

To the north of (inston's To%er, the Silent .lains stret)h to%ard the (orlds)ap Mountains

%here "ar"ari) tri"es of minotaurs )ontinue to d%ell in )aves as they did "efore the destru)tion of

5staran Ruins of 5star roads and villages litter the desolate, sandy plain, the greatest of these "eing

the )ity of 1arthay #i*e the fortress guarding the port, earth@ua*es shattered 1arthay The fe%

)itiAens %ho survived %ere "ut)hered %hen vengeful minotaurs des)ended upon them, em"oldened

"y %hat they sa% as the gods re%arding their perseveran)e "y punishing 5star

5n addition to the minotaurs and gnomes, a small )lan of d%arves d%ells upon 1arthay, the

des)endants of d%arven e0plorers %ho "e)ame ship%re)*ed %hen their vessel %as smashed to

tinder against the /agged northern )oast of the island fter en)ountering the savage minotaurs, the

d%arves retreated high into the (orlds)ap Mountains, %here they no% d%ell in )aves a"ove thesno%line fter t%o hundred years, they still remain deeply afraid of the minotaurs, and the

approa)h to their d%ellings is guarded "y all manner of deadly traps The d%arves sustain

themselves %ith the help of a magi)al artifa)t that "oth produ)es food and )ures all illnesses

lso high in (orlds)ap Mountains are a series of a"andoned *yrie aeries 5n the de)ade "efore

the (ar of the #an)e, a minotaur priest of Sargonnas )ame to 1arthay %ith many of his follo%ers

%ith the intent of performing )ertain rituals These rituals might have led the )hief minotaur god to

return to full strength in nsalon after the Cata)lysm "efore Misha*alH The priest's efforts %ere

th%arted "y a group of heroes and the *yrie fter%ards, the *yrie relo)ated to parts un*no%n to

avoid the %rath of the minotaurs They may still "e living else%here in an even less a))essi"le

portion of the (orlds)ap Mountains, or they have perhaps left 1arthay for a pla)e %here they )an

"e safe from the minotaurs

Adventure Seed

fter "eing )aptured "y minotaurs %hile sailing on the lood Sea, a party of heroes is "rought

"efore $mperor Chot himself 9ere they learn that his heir has gone missing %hile e0ploring the

ruins of 1arthay and (inston's To%er urther, the sear)h party that %as sent to lo)ate him has gone

missing too The heroes are given a )hoi)e& They )an entertain the royal )ourt in the rena, or they

)an /oin the se)ond sear)h party to sear)h (inston's To%er for Chot's )hosen heir

Should the heroes ma*e it safely past the gnome )ontraptions, they find Chot's heir hopelessly

insane 9e thin*s everyone and everything are ma)hines 9o%ever, he )ooperates %ith %hatever

the heroes %ant ;nfortunately, on)e they "ring him "a)* to $mperor Chot, the minotaur leader insists they find a )ure for his son

The alle of Crstal

8ust south of the d%arven *ingdom of Qha*ar is a "one+dry valley of the 1hal*ist Mountains,

%hi)h re)ently has "e)ome *no%n as the :alley of Crystal The valley is one of the more

spe)ta)ular lega)ies Chaos left on the surfa)e of 1rynn

istor of the alle of Crstal

5n the summer of I>I.C%hi)h is treated as Bear "y the s)holars at the #i"rary of the ges in

their ne% re)*oning The sun stopped moving in the s*y, the o)eans "oiled, and ne% "reeds of monsters s%armed a)ross nsalon, destroying even the memories of every living thing in their

path

Then )ame Chaos, a "eing %ho )laimed to "e "oth the "eginning and the end of all life on

1rynn, in)luding the gods themselves ))ording to stories told "y "ards all a)ross nsalon, only



"y fa)ing Chaos in the "yss )ould the )om"ined for)es of the 1nights of Ta*hisis, 1nights of

Solamnia, and the Good and $vil dragons defeat him 9o%ever, in addition to the death of virtually

every "eing %ho %ent to fa)e Chaos, vi)tory )ame at a pri)e& The gods had to leave 1rynn to its

fate, ushering in the ge of Mortals

Chaos left many mar*s upon nsalon Some spe)ulate the farthest rea)hing of these %as the ne%

sor)erous magi) .alin Ma/ere and others dis)overed in the de)ades after the Summer of Chaos,although there is no proof of this Chaos's most spe)ta)ular )reation in this time, ho%ever,

undou"tedly is the :alley of Crystal

No one )an say for sure %hy Chaos did the things he did, "ut one tale told is that after Chaos had

)aused all the #ords of Doom to erupt as they had never erupted "efore, he de)ided to refle)t their

hellish glare into the heavenly domain of .aladine himself To a))omplish this, he )reated the

:alley of Crystal, a daAAling )olle)tion of )rystals, the li*e of %hi)h nsalon had never seen or as

long as the vol)anoes erupted, the tale says, a "eam of red light refle)ted from the valley into the

heavens

lthough someone %ho never a)tually sa% the :alley of Crystal and %ho has no sense of

geography )on)o)ted this storythe valley is hundreds of miles from #ords of Doom it has

"e)ome @uite popularThe fa)t remains that no one *no%s %hy the :alley of Crystal %as )reated or %hat purpose it

serves, if any That is perhaps no surpriseho% )an any "eing truly fathom the mind of Chaos

in)arnate?

The alle of Crstal in the 'resent %a

This dry vale "rims %ith a "e%ildering array of stones They line the )liff sides and )over the

valley floor heroes %ho enter it must %ear hard+soled "oots, as the /agged )rystalline protrusions

@ui)*ly slash soft+soled foot%ear to ri""ons $ven )hara)ters in hard "oots must "e )areful, as

someone %ho trips and falls may, at "est, gain terri"le s)ars, and at %orst, suffer fatal %ounds

The :alley of Crystal lies %ithin the territory )laimed "y the ogre nation of lode (ithin re)ent

years, the ogres started )olle)ting the )rystals here, and that harvest is gradually "e)oming a fi0ture

of the nation's e)onomy The ogres trade most of the )rystals to lode's Dar* 1night neigh"ors in

e0)hange for %eapons and armor

Moreover, several units of Dar* 1nights garrison in southern lode, %here they *eep a %at)h

over the domain of Sa"le the la)* ;nli*e many other dragon overlords, Sa"le has no interest in

forming allian)es %ith the Dar* 1nights 9er )urious interest in magi)al e0periments and the

)reation of ne% and "iAarre life forms )on)erns the Dar* 1night leadership they feel it "enefi)ial

for all involved parties to a))ept payment from Chieftain Donnag, the )urrent %arlord of the tri"es

of lode, in order to strengthen their southern "orders The ogres have not esta"lished any

permanent )amps near the valley%ater is too s)ar)e in the region for that urthermore, the

d%arves of Thoradin, %hose *ingdom "orders on the :alley of Crystal, have a))ess to an e0it thatleads from their hidden underground realm into the valley D%arven %ar "ands typi)ally s%arm and

*ill any am"itious ogres arrogant enough to try esta"lishing a permanent outpost

The daAAling refle)tions of sunlight off the thousands of )rystals ma*e it so impossi"le to see

that it is diffi)ult to enter the valley during the day 9umans, ogres, and other "eings %ho don't have

sensitive vision )an move )arefully through the valley, so long as they ma*e an effort to shield their

eyes %ith veils even then, they must s@uint against the painful "rightness $lves, go"lins, d%arves,

and others %hose eyes are highly sensitive to light ris* permanent "lindness should they enter the

valley during the day the glare is so sharp and their eyes so sensitive that it may even "urn through

)losed eyelids

9eroes %ho )ome to the valley )an )olle)t 3 to 3 )rystals for ea)h hour ea)h individual spends

sear)hing The leaders of Nera*a and San)tion are )olle)ting the )rystals and %ill pay 3 to 3,steel pie)es per )rystal 5n "oth )ases, ho%ever, they pay su)h high pri)es only if the heroes assure

them the )rystals %ere not tou)hed "y living, "are hands during )olle)tionother%ise, they only

pay ten to one hundred steel per )rystal Neither the Dar* 1nights nor the agents of 9ogan ight,

the lord of San)tion, %ill e0plain %hy they %ant to *no% if the )rystals have "een tou)hed



9o%ever, they %ill use magi) to verify the truthfulness of the heroes regarding the )rystals for sale

Secrets of the alle of Crstal

lthough the ogres of lode have yet to dis)over the true importan)e of the )rystals found in the

:alley of Crystal, the Dar* 1nights and agents of the mysterious lord of San)tion, 9ogan ight,

have )ome to realiAe that some of them are a type of magi)al "attery(hen )arried "y a person %ith the a"ility to use mysti) magi), )ertain )rystals )an "oost his or

her spell)asting a"ility "y a signifi)ant margin Roughly one in one hundred )rystals has this a"ility

The Narrator should dra% from the ate De)* or roll 3d3 to determine if a )rystal harvested "y a

hero is thus en)hanted 5f the result of 3 )omes up t%i)e in a ro%, the )rystal is magi)ally )hargedH

5t is impossi"le to tell a magi)ally )harged )rystal from the others until the hero a)tually uses it

and it )an "e used only if a )hara)ter is )arrying it and attempts to )ast a spell after he or she feels

)ompletely drained of magi)al a"ilities

SA6A rules+ The )harged )rystals of the valley ea)h provide from 3 to 3 additional spell

points On)e a )harged )rystal tou)hes the "are s*in of a hero or )hara)ter, it automati)ally attunes

to him or her no other person )an ever gain the "enefit of the spell points stored %ithin them$ven if a "eing has no )apa)ity for using mysti)ism, the )rystal still attunes to him or herno one

else %ill ever gain the "enefit after it tou)hes living s*inH

person %ith mysti)al a"ilities %ho )arries a )harged )rystal )an dra% upon the e0tra spell

points on)e the reservoir of magi)al energies %ithin him or her as "een e0pended The )rystal must

"e tou)hing "are s*in in order to "e effe)tive The spell points are e0pended as per normal rules, "ut

they never re)harge 5f the hero *eeps dra%ing spell points from the )rystal, it eventually "e)omes

nonmagi)al The Narrator should se)retly *eep tra)* of ho% many spell points are in a )rystalH

A%:% rules+ The )harged )rystals hold 3d3J spell levels ea)h, only usa"le for the )asting of

priest spells On)e a )harged )rystal tou)hes the "are s*in of a hero or )hara)ter, it automati)ally

attunes to him or her no other person )an ever gain the "enefit of the spell levels stored %ithin it

$ven if a "eing has no )apa)ity for using priestly magi), the )rystal still attunes to him or her as

des)ri"ed a"oveH

5f a "eing %ith the a"ility to use priestly magi) )arries a )harged )rystal, he or she )an re)ast

spells of his or her )hoi)e, using the )rystal to do so The )rystal must "e tou)hing "are s*in in

order to "e effe)tive 5f the "earer of the )rystal tries to )ast a spell even after he or she has

e0pended all spells prayed for that day, the spell is dra%n from the )rystal (hen stored spell levels

are e0pended, they do not regenerate 5f the hero *eeps dra%ing spells from the )rystal, it eventually

"e)omes nonmagi)al The Dungeon Master should se)retly *eep tra)* of ho% many spell levels a

)rystal )ontainsH

Adventure Seed Dae%ar d%arf from the 1ingdom of Thor"ardin approa)hes a group of heroes The d%arf's

name is Rohar 9ammerflint, and he introdu)es himself a follo%er of Severus Stonehand, .rophet of

Reor0 5f given the opportunity, the d%arf e0plains that Severus and his follo%ers "elieve Reor0 is

testing the faith of the d%arves in these dar* times and that it is the duty of all to prepare for the

eventual return of the gods

Severus has )harged Rohar %ith a mission he "elieves is sa)red to Reor0 Severus "elieves the

Dae%ar and 9ylar d%arves must re)laim the an)ient )ity of 1al+Tha0, %hi)h has "een inha"ited "y

the -a))ursed, foul Qha*ar- sin)e the Cata)lysm 9e as*s the heroes to serve as his e0tra s%ordarms

and )omrades 9e promises them vast ri)hes, as he has heard that Reor0 "rought a "ounty of

pre)ious stones to the surfa)e of 1rynn as his final gift to its people "efore departing These

treasures lie "efore %hat Severus "elieves to "e long+forgotten a))ess%ays to the )ity, %hi)h Rohar e0pe)ts %ill allo% him and the heroes to snea* into 1al+Tha0or -Thoradin,- as it on)e again %ill

"e )alled %hen its rightful inha"itants re)laim itand gain an estimate of ho% many Qha*ar

d%arves live there

Nothing is ever this easy, of )ourse The heroes first have to travel through ogre territory, fight



dangerous )reatures near the :alley of Crystal, and then find the hidden entran)e to the )ity %ithout

"eing slashed "y their supposed payments On)e %ithin *ingdom of Qha*ar, they must avoid

)apture "y the hideously misshapen d%arves infe)ted %ith a terri"le fungal disease Should the

heroes intera)t %ith the Qha*ar d%arves, they )laim they are *eeping a deadly evil from es)aping

into the depths of the )ity and that if Severus and his follo%ers invade, it %ill "rea* free and spell

doom for possi"ly all of 1rynn 5f the heroes voluntarily depart Qha*ar, they %ill ma*e enemies outof Severus's )ult

Note& The future of Severus Stonehand and the out)ome of his @uest to drive the Qha*ar from

Thoradin is des)ri"ed in the .!GO+ 4 FFTH G+ .ramatic d/enture Game

6odshome

5n ages past, -Godshome- referred to t%o lo)ations irst, there %as the %idely *no%n City of

Godshome, a pla)e %ith temples devoted to most of nsalon's gods Se)ond, there %as a hidden

valley that only those )hosen "y the gods )ould find

#o)ated %ithin the 1hal*ist Mountains near the heart of the Dar* 1night+)ontrolled lands of

Nera*a, "oth Godshomes are mysti) sites all "ut forgotten "y the peoples of modern+day nsalon

A istor of the Cit of 6odshome

or many )enturies "efore 5star "e)ame po%erful and )orrupt, pilgrims from all a)ross nsalon

made the )ity of Godshome their prime destination 5n ages past, every devoted %orshiper hoped to

ma*e su)h a pilgrimage at least on)e in his or her lifetime

Godshome )ould "e des)ri"ed more a))urately as many )ities %ithin a single )ity The )ity's

layout resem"les a great %heel, %ith its distri)ts radiating out%ard from the Great Temple of the

Stars, %hi)h is a grand stru)ture )ontaining )athedrals devoted to all t%enty+one ma/or gods of the

1rynnish pantheon The )ity had fifteen different distri)ts, %hi)h pilgrims and inha"itants )ould

gain a))ess to only from a single gate in the )ity's outer %all The follo%ers of some deities did not

get along %ith the follo%ers of other deities, so limited a))ess helped prevent hostilities $a)h

distri)t %as )ompletely self+)ontained, %ith inns, shops, residen)es, and all other features that one

might e0pe)t to find in a )ity

#esser temples and )hur)hes dotted the different distri)ts, ea)h devoted to a different aspe)t of

the god or operated "y a different se)t devoted to honoring the deity in their o%n %ay (hile travel

from distri)t to distri)t %as also possi"le theoreti)ally through the Great Temple of the Stars, only

high+ran*ing priests or those granted spe)ial dispensation "y the (orshipful Master of the Stars, the

higest+ran*ing priest and lord of the )ity, )ould use su)h passage

Clearly, %ith t%enty+one gods in the pantheon and only fifteen distri)ts in the )ity, not all the

gods maintained temples at Godshome outside the Great Temple of the Stars The three gods of

nature9a""a*u*, Chislev, and Qe"oimand their follo%ers )ould not a"ide the relatively )lose@uarters of Godshome, and therefore had holy sites else%here Similarly, the three gods of magi)

did not have temples in Godshome, as their follo%ers typi)ally made the e@uivalent of a pilgrimage

every time they visited one of the To%ers of 9igh Sor)ery

s 5star and its 1ingpriests gre% in po%er, the importan)e of Godshome %aned The 1ingpriests

en)ouraged the )entraliAation of %orship in their o%n seat of po%er They implemented steps on

many levels to dis)ourage the traditional pilgrimages These in)luded in)luded leveling

outrageously high ta0es against the inns on the roads to Godshome, not providing regular patrols

%hile dis)ouraging lo)al lords from doing the samealong the roads so they "e)ame a hot"ed of

"anditry, and funding the )onstru)tion of a great temple in 5star that supposedly super)eded all

those in Godshome

s the final )entury "efore the Cata)lysm da%ned, the efforts of 5star had effe)tively )ausedmany of nsalon's peoples to vie% Godshome as a )orrupt and seedy pla)e %here hu)*sters sold

false )ures and "lessings, tri)*sters performed fraudulent mira)les, and "lasphemers espoused

hypo)riti)al modes of %orship that offended the gods $ventually, the 1ingpriest and his )lergy

gre% so po%erful that they )ommanded their legions to atta)* Godshome and raAe it The priests



and holy %arriors %ho still remained there settled their differen)es and valiantly defended their )ity

and temples or almost t%o de)ades prior to the Cata)lysm, the )itiAens of Godshome defended

their )ity and temples from an over%helming and impla)a"le foeuntil one night, the entire

popula)e vanished %ithout tra)e

The )ommanders of the 5staran legions mar)hed their troops into the a"andoned )ity, intent on

solving the mystery of its emptiness, "ut %ithin hours, the Cata)lysm stru)* Distant 5star %asdestroyed %ithout tra)e, stru)* "y a fiery mountain and s%ept a%ay "y tidal %aves $arth@ua*es

%ra)*ed Godshome, )ausing the temples to )ollapse Only a handful of the thousands of soldiers

that had laid siege to the )ity survived to tell of its fate

Secrets of the Cit of 6odshome

Godshome has lain a"andoned sin)e the Cata)lysm, the roads that on)e led to it shattered "y

earth@ua*es and disintegrated "y lava flo%s The ogres and nomadi) herders %ho moved onto the

arid plains in the ensuing )enturies "elieved the foothills in %hi)h it stood to "e haunted, and

adventurers %ho visited the region )onfirmed this& Ghostly soldiers still roam the shattered dry and

hills surrounding it, loo*ing for the vanished priests and holy %arriors e% adventurers have

survived e0)ursions into Godshome, "ut those %ho have return %ith great treasures So far, none of the many sa)red artifa)ts that are rumored to have on)e "een lo)ated there have "een re)overed

A istor of 6odshome ale

lthough Godshome %as the end destination for most an)ient pilgrims, a sele)t fe% %ould

)ontinue on%ard to one of the most holy sites on all of 1rynn 5f the priests in the )ity determined

that a person %as %orthy of the dire)t attention of the gods, they %ould tell him or her of a se)ret

trail that led into the mountains to the true Godshome

Secrets of 6odshome ale

5n ages past, none )ould find their %ay to Godshome :ale unless the gods themselves permitted

it 5f the gods did not %ish to assist the petitioner, the trail %ould %ind its %ay through the

mountains and eventually deposit those follo%ing it "a)* in the foothills near the City of

Godshome 9o%ever, if a %orthy person or persons, as su)h pilgrimages )ould "e underta*en "y

@uesting parties of heroes as %ell as individualsH traveled this trail, the god %hose guidan)e he or

she sought %ould su"/e)t the petitioner to tests intended to verify devotion to the ideals the god

held dear e% re)ords of these tests have survived to nsalon's present day, "ut they ea)h maintain

that the tests often proved lethal to those %ho undertoo* them, )ausing those %ho %ere un%orthy of

the god's attentions to perish during the e0perien)e

fter the tests, the su))essful petitioners %ould emerge in a "o%l+shaped valley 5ts steeply

rising, evergreen+lined slopes offered no apparent e0its from the valley, although one al%ays

presented itself after the petitioner had rea)hed the )enter of the valley 9o%ever, the meansthrough %hi)h he or she entered the valley %ould "e s%allo%ed "y the )liffs, as %ell

t the )enter of the valley %as a depression in the shape of a perfe)t )ir)le 5t %as surrounded "y

t%enty+one shapeless "oulders, %hi)h represented the ma/or gods The "ottom of the depression

)onsisted of "la)* ro)* polished to su)h a sheen that it appeared to "e a pool of %ater at first

glan)e Regardless of the time of day or %eather )onditions, the )onstellations and moons of

1rynn's s*y refle)ted in the "la)* surfa)e n avatar of the god %ould appear on the )onstellation

that represented him or her, and provide the petitioner %ith guidan)e 5nvaria"ly, the god's message

%ould "e short and )rypti), and on)e it had "een delivered, a pass %ould open else%here in the

)liffs to allo% departure from the valley

5n the %a*e of the Chaos (ar, the valley has "e)ome a little+*no%n passage through the

1hal*ists Narro% trails that )annot a))ommodate %agons or even horses %ind their %ay alongledges and through )revi)es until they )onverge on a single narro% pass that leads either north%est

or south+%est, depending on %hi)h side of the mountain range a person is )oming from The passes

open into Godshome :ale, %hi)h is no% "arren and devoid of life The evergreen trees are no%

"la)*ened, toppled stumps and the mosses that on)e gre% among them are fine ash that s%eeps



a)ross the stony ground in the "reeAe

The "oulders that on)e surrounded the "la)* pool have vanished, as a"sent as the gods The

shiny "la)* surfa)e has )ra)*ed, no% ta*ing on the appearan)e of a mirror that someone stru)*

dead+)enter %ith a fist There is still some mysti)al @uality to the site, as a distorted refle)tion of the

moon that appeared in 1rynn's s*y after the gods departed )an "e seen in the )ra)*ed surfa)e

Adventure Seed

Shortly after the founding of the Citadel of #ight, a group of heroes are approa)hed "y 5ryl

Song"roo* and 8asper ireforge, t%o of that mysti)al organiAation's leaders They %ish to see*

Godshome and find eviden)e of the gods' presen)e on 1rynn efore they leave, ho%ever, they as*

the heroes to /oin them in their @uest ;sing a map re)overed from Tasslehoff's "elongings

follo%ing his death, the mysti)s and the heroes head into the 1hal*ists in sear)h of Godshome

fter "raving many dangersin)luding marauding ho"go"lin hunting parties and ogresthey

find the valley, and its appearan)e almost "rea*s 8asper's spirit s they depart the valley, they

en)ounter a group of 1nights of Ta*hisis under the leadership of an aging 1night of the S*ull The

Dar* 1night, as distraught as 8asper and driven partially mad "y the loss of his goddess, )hallenges

him or a hero %ho still follo%s the true godsH to a duel to the death The Dar* 1night is )onvin)edthat if he *ills a priest of a Good god in honora"le )om"at, the Dar* Eueen %ill on)e again %hisper

her plan in his ear and "esto% her "lessings upon him

River of ealing

#o)ated in a se)luded valley in the :ingaard Mountains, the River of 9ealing first appears in

te0t in the epi) poem -The Serpent and the 1night- The verses relate the story of a maiden %ho

saves a "linded Cro%n 1night from )ertain death #ater, she is revealed as a gorgon lthough the

epi) is largely "elieved to "e the produ)t of a .alanthian "ard's imagination, this pla)e is indeed

very real, and its po%erful healing properties persist even into the ge of Mortals

A istor of the River of ealing

The River of 9ealing is lo)ated in an almost ina))essi"le valley in the :ingaard Mountains

Only one *no%n %ay e0ists to rea)h the River of 9ealing n an)ient, mostly %ashed+out road

leads from the village of 1orval and through a pass that is "lo)*ed "y sno% for five months of the

year

lthough the reputed properties of the river are %ell *no%n to many )itiAens of 1orval, even the

"ravest or most desperate person among them has not dared travel through the pass for many

de)ades The pass is oddly "arren, and all lo)als %ho attempt to travel through it invaria"ly turn

"a)* %ell "efore rea)hing the summit ll report sensations of "eing %at)hed "y some sinister

for)e, although no living "eings are any%here to "e seen

The sinister for)e felt in the pass are the spirits of a tri"e of *yrie %ho on)e prote)ted travelersfrom harm as they /ourneyed through the pass They all devoutly follo%ed Misha*al, "ut in the dar*

years follo%ing the Cata)lysm, "andits in the employ of a la)*+Ro"ed %iAard *illed them The

%iAard %anted their )orpses for his efforts to )reate a flying golem The spirits of the *yrie still

haunt the air around their aeries along the top of the )liffs of the pass, angrily gaAing do%n upon

those %ho travel to%ard the river They )annot atta)* "eings %ho are tou)hing the ground, "ut they

set upon any flying )reature immediately

On)e the pass has "een traversed, e0plorers emerge in a drop+shaped valley that is ringed "y

steep mountains trail leads from the mouth of the pass to a shimmering la*e of )rystal )lear

%ater On the far shore, almost dire)tly a)ross from the mouth of the pass, stands a dilapidated

stru)ture



To the north of the la*e, the valley )lim"s steeply to meet the mountains The River of 9ealing

enters the valley here, flo%ing from a narro%, fertile )anyon The )anyon sna*es through the

mountains for roughly si0ty miles, although /ust t%enty miles up the valley lives a )ommunity of

hill giants These humanoids moved here after "eing driven east%ard during 1hellendros's seiAure

of Solamnia The giants aren't hostile to%ard those traveling through the )anyon, "ut they %ill try to

)laim one horse from mounted parties as a toll

The )anyon terminates as the sheer )liff %alls that line it )onverge The river's head%aters are

lo)ated in a )ave high up on the mountainous %all The )rystal )lear %ater pours forth %ith a

daAAling of rain"o% )olors during the midday hours %hen the sun is at an angle that allo%s it to

shine into the )anyon $0plorers should find it a steep and diffi)ult )lim" to rea)h the )ave)ontaining the river's head%ater Only s*illed mountaineers in possession of the appropriate

e@uipment )an do so Naturally, heroes %ho )an fly should rea)h the )ave mu)h more easily

On)e inside the )ave, the heroes )an follo% a narro% ledge that runs "et%een the river and the

%all of the )ave The %ater flo%s s%iftly from deep %ithin the )ave, threatening to %ash anyone

%ho gets into it over the )liff fter )lim"ing steeply for almost t%o hundred feet, the passage

levels out and %idens into a large )ave t the "a)* of the )ave, )rystal )lear %ater pours forth from

a spring, forming a pool The River of 9ealing flo%s do%n the mountain from it

S)attered a"out the )ave are a doAen highly detailed, life+siAed stone )arvings of humans,

d%arves, and *ender, mountain )lim"ers or adventurers all n e0amination reveals that a fe% of

the fa)es are )alm, "ut the ma/ority of them appear startled %hile others appear horrified

These statues %ere on)e living males and females %ho have "een turned to stone "y the gaAe of the gorgon %ho lived here at one point )areful sear)h of the )ave reveals a small tunnel in the

most distant )orner 5n order to e0plore it, heroes have to get do%n on their hands and *nees The

tunnel terminates in a small )ave The dried and %ithered )orpse of a )reature that %as part sna*e

and part human lies in the rotted remains of furs and "lan*ets Shriveled remains of sna*es )over

lthough fe% living "eings remem"er, this "ody of %ater is named the #a*e of #ight The River

of 9ealing feeds it from the north The "uilding on the far shore of the la*e is a small temple that

%as on)e devoted to Misha*al, a goddess of fertility and healing, %ho %as %idely %orshiped in

Solamnia (ithin the temple, on the %alls of the )ham"ers )ontaining its 9oly Cir)les, e0plorers

)an see a mural portraying Misha*al "athing in the la*e outside the temple The priests "elieved

the healing properties of the "oth the la*e and the river )ame from Misha*al's "lessing The templeis home to all manner of small animals and vermin, "ut nothing there )an threaten the heroes lives



the top of its s*ull These are the earthly remains of a gorgon, perhaps proof that the epi) poem

-The Serpent and 1night- is "ased in fa)t

The river's healing properties are strongest at its origin The %aters here )an )ause lost lim"s to

regro%, ma*e the old young, and even "ring the dead "a)* to life s the river flo%s south%ard, its

magi)al effe)ts are diluted The %aters of the la*e have refreshing @ualities and have "een *no%n to

instantly )ure )olds, "ut little else eings su"merged in the river find themselves )ured of moreserious ailments and diseases, in)luding life+threatening %ounds and fatal poisonings Drin*ing the

%ater has no effe)t

Secrets of the River of ealing

lthough Misha*al may never have literally "athed in the River of 9ealing, its %aters are sa)red

to her and they )ontinue to grant her healing gifts even in the ge of Mortals

nother part of the valley %here her presen)e may still "e felt is the temple on the shore of the

#a*e of #ight efore the Cata)lysm, it %as home to some of her most devout priests, and a vestige

of Misha*al's po%er still remains here Spell)asting heroes %ho meditate or pray %ithin the %alls of

the temple find that spells )ast %ith the intent of healing in/uries or )uring diseases have ma0imum

effe)tiveness for a period of t%enty+one hours after%ard one hour for ea)h of the gods of 1rynnHThe spirit of the de)eased gorgon still lingers in the )ave %here she lived, %aiting for the Cro%n

1night %hom she res)ued to return 9e left to resign his ran* %ith the Orders, "ut %hen he

rea)hed the 9igh Clerist's To%er, other 1nights )onvin)ed him he had "een under the influen)e of

mind+effe)ting magi)love for a gorgon %as not natural!H The gorgon, ho%ever, %aited for him,

pining a%ay until she finally died of a "ro*en heart 9eroes %ho are attuned to the spirit %orld %ill

feel great sorro% %hen they enter the )ave The spirit is invisi"le and insu"stantial and the living

)an )ommuni)ate %ith her only through the use of proper magi)al spells or a"ilities

The only danger this undead gorgon poses is that it %ill attempt to for)e anyone %ho enters the

)ave %earing the armor of a 1night of Solamnia to stayher undead state has )aused her

per)eption to "e)ome )onfused She %ill release the 1night if someone e0plains the reality of the

situation that she has "een dead for hundreds of years, and so has the 1night she loved

The %ater of the River of 9ealing has the follo%ing game effe)ts&

#o)ation D<D rules SG rules5n the la*e Restores su"dual damage Restores 3 )ard

#o%er river Restores 3dK hp or )ures poison Restores I )ards or )ures poison

Midriver Restores Id3 hp or )ures Restores K )ards or )ures "lindness

;pper river Restores Id= hp or regenerates Restores 4 )ards or regenerates lim"s

9ead%ater 9eals all in/uries and ailments,

raises the deadF

9eals all in/uries and ailments, raises the

dead

F Chara)ters and heroes %ho are raised from the dead, or %ho regro% lim"s are su"/e)t to the

system sho)* rules under the D<D rules

The spirit of the gorgon has all the a"ilities and properties of a haunt See the D<D

MONSTRO;S MN;# tome or DRGON#NC$ dramati) supplement The 'estiary for detailsH

Adventure Seed

party of heroes are in 1orval %hen a )hild falls deathly ill The healers )an do nothing for the

)hild, "ut a sage %ho retired from the Great #i"rary of the ges in .alanthas to live among thesimple peasants of 1orval is familiar %ith the River of 9ealing 9e and the )hild's family approa)h

the heroes and as* them to a))ompany them to the pass "et%een 1orval and the river

;nfortunately for the heroes, a "andit lord %ho heard .ehter's tale of the river see the short storyH

has de)ided to use it as a sour)e of in)ome 9is men have sealed off the pass and have turned the



old temple into a fortifi)ation to guard the la*e

The Foot*rint of Chaos

The terrain north of Thelgaard is as )lose to uninha"ita"le as one %ill find in Solamnia The soil

is fertile, and the land rises and falls in a series of foothills leading up to the :ingaard MountainsGreat pine trees gro% in )opses here and there, "ut that is a"out the only life one %ill find in the

region

Travelers %ho do ma*e the arduous tre* into the mountains, though, may )rest one of the hills to

find themselves staring do%n at %hat appears to "e a )anyon in the shape of a giganti) three+toed

foot This is the ootprint of Chaos

A istor of the Foot*rint

The ootprint serves as a reminder of the Summer of Chaos, %hen all of reality %as nearly

destroyed (hen one first sees the ootprint, the )anyon floor seems to "e )overed "y a thi)* haAe

s one dra%s )lose, it "e)omes )lear that the "ottom of the ootprint is filled %ith smo*e, as

though something in the )anyon %as "urning 5t is only a"out as thi)* as a light fog, and it does notimpede travel Those %ho have e0plored the site say that they found no fires or any other logi)al

sour)e for the smo*e inside the ootprint They note, though, that the smo*e smells li*e "rimstone,

and it stings "oth eyes and lungs lso, they dis)overed %hile standing in the "ottom of the

footprint that the smo*e rises a"out fifteen feet a"ove them

lthough no settlements e0ist in the area, %ood)utters and hunters fre@uent this region Game is

plentiful and, "y all a))ounts, of very high @uality Deer, ra""its, "oars, and s@uirrels )an "e found

here in amaAing num"ers, @uite pro"a"ly "e)ause the only predators in the area are eagles %ho nest

in the :ingaard Mountains

Sin)e this "eautiful and verdant region is fairly unpopulated, the ootprint has remained a

remote )uriosity that most people have heard of, "ut very fe% ever visit

Secrets of the Foot*rint of Chaos

lthough the )anyon is in the appro0imate shape and siAe of his foot, the Chaos god never trod

on this se)tion of nsalon Rather, this phenomenon is the result of a %ing of fire dragons )hildren

of ChaosH, %ho fle% lo% over the land and s)oured it %ith their flaming "reath (hen they %ere

done, the fire dragons disappeared, leaving only the ootprint of Chaos No one %ill ever *no% if

the shape of the )anyon %as intentional or /ust another happenstan)e asso)iated %ith that tur"ulent

summer

Nothing lives at the "ottom of the )anyon This is not terri"ly surprising )onsidering the fa)t that

the ootprint %as )reated "y dragon "reath, "ut sin)e the rest of the region @ui)*ly re"ounds after a

fire or other natural disaster, it is )urious that the )anyon remains lifeless even thirty years later

Adventure Seeds

%ho %ent to

the ootprint

and never

returned? re

they still living

up in the

%ilderness, or

did they simply

vanish into thesmo*e?

nother adventure )an "egin %hen a group of heroes en)ounter a trapper %ho "egs for their

help 9e and his partner %ere hunting in the region of the ootprint of Chaos %hen they heard a

terri"le %ailing )oming from the )anyon They )ould see nothing through the smo*e, so his partner

Rumors )ir)ulate that the smo*e in the ootprint of Chaos has amaAing re)uperative po%ers

.eople from all over Solamnia "egin flo)*ing to the )anyon as a %ay to heal everything from

a)hing /oints to "lindness Someone )laims *no% someone %ho has a friend %ho had a severed

arm regro%n "y the smo*e 9o%ever, as heroes as* around, it "e)omes )lear that %hile

everyone has heard these rumors, no one they )an find has a)tually "een to the )anyon 5n fa)t,

anyone in to%n %ho did go has never returned re the rumors of the smo*e's restorative

properties true? 5n either )ase, %ho started the rumors? nd %hy? (hat happened to the people



%al*ed do%n into the )anyon to see if someone there needed help s soon as the smo*e s%allo%ed

him up, the man "egan s)reaming that he %as "eing atta)*ed The man's )ries %ere silen)ed almost

immediately, and the trapper heard the sounds of a %ild animal perhaps t%o or threeH gro%ling and

)he%ing (hat animal or animalsH )ould "e living in the ootprint? (hy does it lie in %ait for

people to %al* into the smo*e? 5f there is no )reature in the )anyon, is this man delusional or is he

purposely lying to the heroes? (hy?

The 6rove of Anaa$s Tree

Sin)e the founding of Eualinesti, a grove of oa* trees has "een held as a pla)e of memorial to

%hi)h elves travel to meditate on the diffi)ulties of relating not only to other elves "ut also to other

ra)es Eualinesti %oodshaperselves %ho share a parti)ularly strong "ond %ith naturevie% the

site as sa)red

A istor of the 6rove of Anaa$s Tree

mong the re)ordings of 1agonesti oral histories set do%n "y the great elven "ard Euevalin

Soth is that of the 1eeper of the orest Mithranhana, the forest that later )ame to "e )alledEualinesti, on)e had a long line of prote)tors )harged %ith ensuring that no one despoiled it in any

%ay lthough one )an only spe)ulate that the first 1eeper )ame a"out %hen the elves %ere )reated,

the oral histories of the 1agonesti )ontain hints that the 1eeper %as al%ays thereuntil the last one

died in 1ith+1anan's arms

The first 1eeper %as named Qiatia 1agonesti )laim that a uni)orn )ame among an elf family

long ago and stood silently "efore young Qiatia 5n the moments that passed "et%een them, the girl

seemed to hear something that no one else )ould Then, %ith a fare%ell %ave, Qiatia )lim"ed onto

the uni)orn's "a)* and %as never seen "y her family again Rumors that she had "e)ome the 1eeper

eventually rea)hed their ears as the tale spread throughout the %ild elf tri"es

The se)ond 1eeper, Delarin, %as ta*en from a %ild elf family generations later Qiatia

apparently trained her %ell "efore "e)oming one of the great oa*s that dot Mithranhana

pparently, Delarin died after driving a dragon out of the forest 9er su))essor, young ;lyante,

too* her pla)e, follo%ed "y Camirene Sadly, Euevalin Soth )ould not find any stories a"out these

t%o 1eepers, so they remain "ut names in his re)ords inally, Camirene too* the last 1eeper,

naya, as her su))essor

s s)holars of elven history *no%, naya %as the first love of 1ith+1anan, the founder of

Eualinesti The t%o pledged themselves to ea)h other %hile 1ith+1anan %as living in the forest

She sho%ed him the sa)red )ave of the 1eepers "efore giving her life and that of her un"orn )hild's

to save him

#egends among the Eualinesti and the 1agonesti state that as naya died, she li*e 1eepers

"efore herH "e)ame one %ith the forest, transforming into an oa* tree Bears later, that tree splitopen, and Silveran Greenhands, naya's un"orn )hild emerged fully gro%n 9e %ent on to "e)ome

the se)ond Spea*er of the Sun and is also reported to have "een a po%erful %oodshaper

This en)hanted grove has held an important pla)e in the rites of passage that "ind together the

Shapers of Destiny, as the Eualinesti %oodshapers are formally *no%n On)e a young elf %ith the

natural in)lination to "e)ome a %oodshaper de)ides to follo% the .ath of the Shaper, he or she must

spend three days and three nights in meditation %ithin the grove During this time, the young

%oodshaper has a vision that reaffirms the elf's "ond to the forest and sometimes gives the

%oodshaper a glimpse into his or her future

5n ages past, the Shapers of Destiny "elieved that Chislev herself rea)hed out to them during

their time of meditation 5n the %a*e of the gods' departure from 1rynn, many still "elieve that they

feel the tou)h of the goddessthat she grants them insight into %hat she *no%s their life's purposeto "e"ut many others "elieve that it is merely Chislev's )hild, Nature, that is )alling out to them

Should a young %oodshaper fail to e0perien)e anything "ut hunger and fatigue during the three

days, elder %oodshapers deem the )andidate unready for the responsi"ilities of a Shaper and tell the

elf to try again the follo%ing year



lthough no% %ell over =, years in age, naya's Tree still stands at the )enter of the grove

%here naya merged %ith the forest Despite its vast age and despite "eing split do%n the middle,

sho%ing the hollo% %here Silveran Greenhands matured, it remains vi"rant and healthy The same

is true of the eighteen similarly an)ient and immense oa* trees that surround naya's Tree #egends

state that they originated from splinters that %ere driven into the ground %hen naya's Tree gave

"irth to Silveran Eualinesti %oodshapers and priests "elieve that ea)h of these oa*s represents oneof the 1rynnish godse0)ept the three gods of magi) %hom the Eualinesti "elieve have no desire

to "e represented in the natural %orldand that for as long as these trees remain healthy and

hearty, Eualinesti too %ill survive, no matter the hardships The simple fa)t that the grove survived

the "urning of the forest during the (ar of the #an)e "y Dragon 9ighlord :erminaard's troops

entirely uns)athed seems to prove this theory's verity

The 6rove of Anaa$s Tree in the 'resent %a

The Grove of naya's Tree )ontinues to "e an important part of the rites of passage of young

%oodshapers 9o%ever, far fe%er formally follo% the path of the Shapers of Destiny, as eryl, the

dragon tyrant %ho has seiAed )ontrol of the Eualinesti orest, and her Dar* 1night minions have

de)lared the grove off+limits Eualinesti turn)oats informed eryl that the Shapers %ere among themost fier)ely patrioti) of the elves and that steps had to "e ta*en to %ea*en them if the intermittent

re"ellions %ere to ever "e @uelled urther, /ust as the grove remained untou)hed "y the raging

inferno unleashed upon the forest "y the Red Dragonarmy, so has eryl "een una"le to affe)t it

%ith her mighty %oodshaping a"ilities she )an neither )oa0 the vegetation to gro% faster %ithin

the grove, nor )an she destroy it The grove has also resisted her attempts to unlo)* the se)rets of its

magi) in retaliation, she has ordered the Dar* 1nights to put to death any elf %ho is found %ithin

its "oundaries

Still, every year, a "rave %oodshaper or t%o uses his or her )lose relationship %ith nature to

snea* past the Dar* 1night )ordon that surrounds the Grove at all times and to remain there for at

least three nights and three days Stories a"ound that these %oodshapers have found their a"ilities

greatly enhan)ed from the visit (hether there is any truth to these stories, no one )an say for sure

Adventure Seed

llorran of Eualinesti is a %oodshaper %ho has resided on the 5sle of S)hallsea for the past

de)ade, serving as an instru)tor in the po%ers of the heart at the Citadel of #ight One morning he

a%o*e from a parti)ularly lu)id dream that he firmly "elieves %as sent to him "y the spirit of

naya

5n the dream, a "eautiful, green+s*inned maiden %hose fa)e %as painted in the style of a

1agonesti shaman told him to /ourney to Eualinesti and to )ut a live "ran)h from the split oa*

Then, she said, he %as to plant it in the Dryad Grove near the Citadel There it %ould ta*e root and

)ome to "e a ne% site to %hi)h all %oodshapersEualinesti, 1agonesti, and Silvanesti)ould /ourney to )ommune %ith nature, irrespe)tive of their )ultural "a)*grounds - ne% day is da%ning

for all elves,- she said /ust as he a%o*e

llorran approa)hes a group of heroes either at the Citadel of #ight, in the .ort of S)hallsea, or

at a port along the "anasinian Coast The Narrator should present him of an old and trusted friend

as one or more of the heroes perhaps even having him appear in an adventure previous to this one

in order to esta"lish him as part of the )ampaignH 9e as*s them to help him underta*e his mission

into the depths of eryl's domain and to "e part of something that %ill unify all %oodshapers

5f the heroes /oin in the mission, they must avoid numerous Dar* 1night patrols and outsmart a

group of "rutes, dra)onians, or one of eryl's lesser green dragon minions 9elping llorran se)ure

the "ran)h %ill "e most )hallenging, as some of the most dutiful and vigilant Dar* 1nights

stationed in the Eualinesti orest have "een )harged %ith guarding the groveShould they and llorran "e su))essful, it remains up to the Narrator to de)ide if the %oodshaper

truly %as inspired "y a higher po%er or if he %as merely possessed "y hopeful fantasies 9is

%oodshaping talent and the magi) inherent in the "ran)h %ill )ause it to ta*e root in the Dryad's

Grove and the dryads %ill )ertainly %el)ome the addition to their forest, "ut is it truly the



momentous event he "elieves it to "e? 5f it is, may"e the "ran)h matures into a massive oa*

overnight

9hitestone 6lade

(hitestone Glade %as one of the most revered sites of the 1nights of Solamnia for over t%omillennia 5n present+day nsalon, (hitestone Glade )ontinues to hold signifi)an)e, even if its

importan)e has %aned as a result of developments during the (ar of the #an)e and follo%ing the

Chaos (ar

The istor of 9hitestone 6lade

5n the de)ades after Solamnia "ro*e from the $rgothian $mpire, :inas Solamnus gre%

)on)erned that the nations he had led to freedom from the )orrupt $rgothian $mpire %ould

eventually slide into )orruption themselves Therefore, as the t%ilight years of his life approa)hed,

Solamnus undertoo* his fa"led Euest of 9onor, a sear)h for insight, %isdom, and guidan)e

fter many %ee*s spent in the mountainous %ilderness around .alanthas, Solamnus sailed to

San)rist 5sle ;pon his landfall, he forged into the forested %ilderness %est of Mount Nevermind5n time, he found a glade %here a "la)* stone of granite, t%i)e as tall as a person, stood as though

thrust into the ground "y great for)e 9e instantly sensed there %as something spe)ial a"out it, so

he fasted and prayed to the gods of Good

fter three days and three nights, .aladine, 1iri+8olith, and 9a""a*u* revealed themselves to

him s their )onstellations shone "rightly in the s*y overhead, ethereal musi) filled Solamnus's

head.aladine's grand /usti)e represented "y %ell+ordered )hords, 1iri+8olith's )ourage "y

enduring themes, and 9a""a*u*'s temperan)e in "alan)ed )ounterpoint (ith the musi) )ame

visions and %isdomthe frame+%or* %ithin %hi)h Solamnus )ould )reate a *nighthood that %ould

)arry for%ard not only his o%n lega)y of truth and honor "ut %ould uphold the high ideals of the

three gods for generations to )ome

5n a flash, Solamnus *ne% that three orders %ould "e esta"lished, and that their mem"ers %ould

em"ody honor and live it day "y day The highest order %ould "e devoted to .aladine, )hampioning

/usti)e The se)ond %ould uphold the high standards of )ourage and self+sa)rifi)e em"odied "y

1iri+8olith The third %ould "e devoted to 9a""a*u*, forever personifying loyalty and o"edien)e

s Solamnus's vision ended, the heavens "laAed %ith a divine light so strong it "linded him

(hen his vision )leared, the "la)* ro)* had transformed into a gra)efully t%isting pillar of %hite

)rystal so "rilliant it appeared as if a pie)e of a star had fallen from the heavens and lodged itself in

the ground on San)rist

Solamnus returned to the mainland and founded the Solamni) 1nighthood, penning the original

Measurethe standards to %hi)h all Solamni) 1nights hold themselves and the Oath -My

9onor is My #ife- are the %ords they )ontinue to live "ys the Orders gre% in siAe, settlements appeared in the %ilds of San)rist (hitestone Glade

served for )enturies as the pla)e %here the heads of the Orders %ould meet to dis)uss )hanges to

Measure and pass /udgment on 1nights %ho had )ommitted gross infra)tions against the Oath and

the Measure The ;th (istan family %as )harged %ith prote)ting the island and the sa)red glade

Over the )enturies, the (hitestone )ame to hold meaning for the rest of the peoples of nsalon,

"e)oming a sym"ol around %hi)h the for)es of Good )ould rally One of the first 1ingpriests of

5star even offered a "lessing at the stone, de)laring it sa)red to the gods and for"idding mortals to

tou)h it

The 1nights of Solamnia have stood proudly against $vil for over =,K years lthough the

spiritual )enter of the Orders fell vi)tim to )orruption in the years follo%ing the first Cata)lysm,

they have "een revitaliAed "y the efforts of t%o e0)eptional Grand Masters %ithin the past )entury,Gunthar uth (istan and #iam $hrling The 1nights remain a strong for)e for Good in present+day

nsalon a union of men and %omen %illing to sa)rifi)e their lives in "attle for truth and /usti)e if

)alled upon to do so

9o%ever, there are those %ho )all these the final days of the 1nighthood, despite the resurgen)e



it has en/oyed in re)ent de)ades, and su)h doomsayers seem to have more eviden)e for su)h

predi)tions than they had even during the dar*est times follo%ing the first Cata)lysm This

eviden)e is found in (hitestone Glade

One of the more po%erful legends that surrounds the (hitestone is that it is a sym"ol of the

divine support and "lessing for the 1nighthood The nature of the stone and the glade seemed to

"ear this out Regardless of the time of year, the )limate in the glade %as one of late springal%ays mild and pleasant, even %hile the rest of the surrounding forest %as "a*ing in summer heat

or shivering in the depths of %inter frost 9o%ever, during the (ar of the #an)e, the stone %as split

in t%o %hen the "la)*smith Theros 5ronfeld thre% a dragonlan)e into it lthough the 1nights of

Solamnia %ere instrumental in defeating the Dar* Eueen's for)es during the (ar of the #an)e,

some philosophers too* the destru)tion of the (hitestone to mean that, despite the fa)t the gods

on)e again "esto%ed their gift of priestly magi) to their follo%ers, they had %ithdra%n their

"lessing from the 1nighthoods

or a time follo%ing the (ar of the #an)e, the 1nights of Solamnia appeared to prosper, "ut

then the 1nights of Ta*hisis s%ept a)ross the )ontinent in an unstoppa"le %ave during the Summer

of Chaos The 1nights of Solamnia %ere virtually %iped out and even the mighty 9igh Clerist's

To%er fell to the for)es of $vil urther, %hen all magi) )eased to fun)tion in the %a*e of theSummer of Chaos, the glade's pleasant %eather )eased lthough fragments of the (hitestone

remained in the Glade, still as %hite as the stars in the heavens, its magi)and the "lessings of the

godsappeared to have departed entirely

9hitestone 6lade in the 'resent %a

(ith the magi) of (hitestone Glade apparently a"sent, even some mem"ers of the 1nighthood

itself )onsider this loss of magi) a sym"ol that their days are "eing num"ered The (hitestone is

shattered, the eternal spring of the Glade is no more, and the 1nightly Orders have "een in retreat

for the last de)ades, surviving only "y a"andoning several of their traditions in favor of stealth, and,

some %ould )laim, dishonora"le )ondu)t

S%ord 1nights and Rose 1nights %ho have traveled to the (hitestone Glade to follo% in :inas

Solamnus's footsteps, ho%ever, tell a different story The most %idely retold tale is that of #insha

Ma/ere, the first non+Solamnian %omanand one of the youngest at thatto ever earn ran* in the

Order of the Rose Only days after #insha's a))eptan)e into the ran*s of the Rose 1nights, the

Order as*ed her to "e)ome part of a )landestine )ir)le of 1nights some%here in east She "e)ame

deeply trou"led (anting not only to live up to the e0amples set "y her grandfather and fatherthe

famous Caramon Ma/ere and .alin Ma/ere"ut also to the grand traditions of the Order of the

Rose, she feared su)h a mission %as %rong and dishonora"le 5n =Is) #insha em"ar*ed on her o%n

Euest of 9onor, hoping to find a resolution to the moral dilemma she fa)ed

Travelling to (hitestone Glade, she spent t%o days in prayer to the gods On the third day, she

used the mysti) magi) she had mastered as a girl at the Citadel of #ight to rea)h out to any spiritsthat might "e present in the Glade y the end of the third day, she felt drained, "oth physi)ally and

spiritually, "ut as she loo*ed to the heavens, no stars "laAed at herall she sa% %ere )louds drifting

in the pale light of the moon

Suddenly, she %as atta)*ed nother 1night, a mem"er of the Order of the S%ord named

(andyll, had follo%ed her to San)rist 9e felt /ealous of her a))omplishments and that he had "een

ignored for advan)ement to Rose 1night in favor of her #insha fum"led for a %eapon as the

)orrupt 1night attempted to strangle her 9er life %as slipping a%ay %hen her hand fell upon a

ro)* She felt energy surge through her as she used the fragment to stri*e the man's s*ull She

stru)* him t%o more times and he tum"led aside, no% shouting in pain instead of fury Then,

almost instin)tively, she )alled upon the po%ers of the heart and )ommanded near"y vines to lash

out and gra" hold of him%here she had "een spiritually drained, she no% felt )ompletelyre/uvenated She loo*ed at the "lood+smeared ro)* she had used to fight off her atta)*er 5t %as a

fragment of the (hitestone, someho% missed "y s)avengers and reli) hunters ut it shone %ith a

soft %hite light that faded even as she noti)ed it

The gods still %at)hed over 1rynn, #insha de)ided, and then and there resolved to serve the



1nights of Solamnia in %hatever %ay the Grand Master sa% fit 5f she had "een meant to die there,

the magi) of the (hitestone Glade %ould not have )ome to her assistan)e ;pon delivering her

atta)*er to Castle ;th (istan and the /usti)e that the Measure demanded, she returned to her

parents' home in Sola)e and from there vanished into the o"s)urity of a )landestine )ir)le

Re)ently, other 1nights of the Rose and even mysti)s %ho are not part of the Orders have

reported strange flashes of re/uvenation %hile in or near the Glade S*epti)s say that the so+)alledmagi) of the Glade is merely an illusion "rought a"out "y desperation or %ishful thin*ing on the

part of those %ho e0perien)e it

Nonetheless, (hitestone Glade is gradually returning to importan)e as a site that more and more

1nights of Solamnia on)e again %ish to visit The Grand Master of the Orders has made his

position )lear on the matter "y reinstating the honor guard in the Glade& 5f the po%er of the gods

still resides there, the 1nighthood *eep any minions of $vil from despoiling it

Secrets of the 9hitestone 6lade

There is indeed magi) present in (hitestone Glade, "ut %hether it is part of the primordial

magi) that %as infused into the %orld of 1rynn at its )reation or the produ)t of a god's %at)hful eye

is un)lear 9eroes must dis)over the properties of the Glade through playSA6A rules+ 9eroes %hose natures are derived from )ards %ith (hite or Red auras from the

Shield, S%ord, or Cro%n suits re)eive additional spell points %hile in (hitestone Glade The points

)an "e used to )reate only spells of the alteration, animism, and )hanneling spheres The num"er of

points re)eived varies and is determined "y dra%ing a )ard from the ate De)* and dou"ling the

num"er on the )ard On)e used, the points do not regenerate, "ut ea)h time the hero returns to the

Glade, he or she )an gain its "enefit The e0tra points remain %ith the hero until they are )ast, even

after he or she leaves the GladeH

A%:% rules+ 9eroes of #a%ful Good or #a%ful Neutral alignments and the a"ility to )ast

priest spells re)eive the )urious a"ility to retain spells in memory even after they have "een )ast

(henever the priest )asts spells from the nimal, .lant, or .rote)tion spheres %hile %ithin one

mile of the Glade, he or she )an roll a su))essful (isdom )he)* to retain the spell in memory or

ea)h additional )asting "eyond the first, a )umulative = penalty is added to the roll

Adventure Seed

party of heroes is hired to es)ort an old Rose 1night, %ho is si)* and dying, to (hitestone

Glade 9e has heard that a young 1night says the gods tou)hed her %hile she prayed there, and

no% he %ants to visit San)rist one last time to see if .aladine %ill reveal himself to him as %ell

9o%ever, a long+time enemy of the 1night, a former 1night of Ta*hisis, opposes the heroes and

their )harge during their travels This foul+tempered individual fell a%ay from the Orders after the

gods left 1rynn and doesn't "elieve the Dar* Eueen has returned as some )laim The heroes must

es)ort the Rose 1night safely to San)rist, or at least *eep the Dar* 1nights' minions frominterfering as the t%o old enemies have their final duel

Rae7el$s 'it

Rae*el's .it is a terri"le mar* left upon 1rynn "y one of her most $vil priests $ven in the ge

of Mortals, it )ontinues to fester li*e an open sore #o)ated in the southern part of the Sentinel

Mountains, its true origins are shrouded in legend, "ut little dou"t e0ists that it is ran* %ith $vil

A istor of Rae7el$s 'it

s )*al $rgot %as )on@uering the lands that %ould some day "e)ome the $rgothian $mpire,

legend has it that a priest *no%n as Rae*el plotted against him lthough Rae*el )laimed to "e a priest of Manthus an $rgothian god of industry and dreams, *no%n as Ma/ere else%here in

nsalonH, he in fa)t served a triumvirate of $vil godsthe Dragon Eueen Ta*hisisH eleth, a god

of death and disease ChemoshH and rgon, the god of Dar* :engean)e SargonnasH The deities

had promised him $rgot's fledgling empire if he %ould perform )ertain rituals that %ould grant



them ultimate po%er over nsalon Someho%, three gods of GoodManthus the Mighty, Cori/ the

lade 1iri+8olithH, and the lue .hoeni0 9a""a*u*H un)overed the plot and sent their o%n

)hampion against Rae*el The identity of the )hampion varies from story to storysome )ast )*al

$rgot in the role of )hampion these are the most popular versions in the $mpire of $rgothH, %hile

others )ast the elven leader Silvanos or a lo%ly *ender or gnome as the )hosen one highly

ahistori)al variant popular in Solamnia states that :inus Solamnus %as the one %ho defeatedRae*elH 5n all versions, the hero arrives too late to stop Rae*el from performing the sa)rifi)es that

"egin the ritual, "ut instead thro%s him into the gap he has opened to the "yss %hile the three

gods of Good )om"at the three gods of $vil

)hilling $rgothian song tells of a day %hen a )a"al of thirty+three dar* mysti)s %ill raise their

voi)es in a dirge that %ill "ring Rae*el "a)* from "eyond the :eil 9e %ill finally )omplete the

ritual he started almost three thousand years ago and assume dominion over the empire, turning it

into a )harnel house e% $rgothian "ards ever use the song as part of their a)tive repertoire, "ut

virtually none of them ever forget the names of the thirty+three mysti)s

Rae7el$s 'it in the 'resent %a

The gods have %ithdra%n from 1rynn in the ifth ge, "ut Rae*el's .it still ya%ns up, a t%o+hundred+foot diameter shaft %hi)h is filled %ith "oiling mists and ho%ling shado%s The hunters

from the near"y "ar"arian village of 1er+Manth rarely )ome %ithin t%enty miles of the pla)eand

those "rave hunters %ho have dared to sear)h for game )loser say that they have not seen any

animals on)e they are %ithin ten miles of the .it

Sin)e the Chaos (ar, stories have )ir)ulated that on the dar*est, longest night of ea)h year, a

ten+year old )hild has )ra%led from Rae*el's .it Many dou"t the truth of these tales, as their

origins have "een tra)ed "a)* to a *ender %ho in 34s) )laimed to have "een ta*en )aptive "y a

group of young humans %ho )alled themselves the Children of the .it 9e also supposedly

%itnessed one of their num"er "eing "orn 9e died shortly after stum"ling into This%ay in southern

1enderhome, %ounded and suffering from a disease that none of the *ender healers )ould )ure To

further dis)redit the tale, %hen elladonna 8uniper, the affli)ted *ender %ho rules of 9ylo,

dispat)hed parties to sear)h for these mysti)s, they )ame "a)* empty+handed

Nonetheless, tales a"ound of a hidden group of mysti)s living some%here in the southern

Sentinel Mountains 5t reportedly )onsists entirely of e0)eedingly handsome humans ranging in age

from ten to a"out thirty Some tales )laim a "ent, an)ient man leads them The more detailed

versions of the rumor )laim that he %ears a holy sym"ol of rgon, although he also has the sym"ol

of Manthus "randed on his fa)e

Secrets of Rae7el$s 'it

There is indeed a tiny group of mysti)s living in the Sentinel Mountains not far from the pit

and only one of them is of 1rynnish origin, the old and de)repit Dolan Ra*+Mahls the (ar of the #an)e raged a)ross nsalon, Dolan Ra*+Mahl %as getting "y as an alley+

"asher 9e *ept a lo% enough profile so that neither the Thief Guild )hapter in G%ynned nor the

authorities noti)ed his a)tivities 9o%ever, his lu)* ran out %hen he attempted to ro" a priest of

Manthus ;nfortunately for Dolan, this priest had "een part of the $rgothian delegation to the

re)ent gathering of the (hitestone Coun)il on San)rist There the priest had met $listan, one of the

first generation of priests to %ield the magi) of the gods sin)e the Cata)lysm, and had gained

*no%ledge of the proper %ays to honor Manthus, %ho granted him priestly magi) This magi) too*

Dolan )ompletely "y surprise, )ausing him to stiffen so that he )ouldn't move a mus)le, %hi)h

allo%ed the priest to drag him through the to%n to the City (at)h

(hen Dolan %ent on trial, he "egged for his life The /udge said that normally he ordered

violent )riminals li*e Dolan hanged, "ut that the thief %as so patheti) that it %as hardly %orth it5nstead, the /udge turned to an an)ient la% that seemed appropriate no% that the gods %ere

returning to nsalon& 9e ordered Dolan's fa)e "randed %ith the sym"ol of Manthus so that all )ould

see that he had transgressed against the divine po%ers $ven though the priest, the vi)tim of Dolan's

atta)*, o"/e)ted, the /udge upheld his ruling



"rand that had not "een used for over four hundred years mar*ed Dolan's fa)e Still so""ing

from the pain, he %as dragged through G%ynned and thro%n out of the )ity's front gates 9ere, he

)ooled his siAAling fa)e in the mud "y the road s he lay there, he s)reamed at the gray )ity %alls,

s%earing that all of G%ynned %ould suffer at his hands some day The guards on the %alls laughed

Suddenly, a sil*y voi)e as*ed if Dolan %as truly interested in revenge The thief loo*ed in the

dire)tion of the voi)e and sa% a red )ondor sitting in a near"y tree The )ondor )ontinued to spea* to him, and Dolan dis)overed that it %as a messenger from one of the true gods and that only he

)ould see it The )ondor offered him the opportunity to serve the god of vengean)e, rgon, and told

him to /ourney to the ruins of av in the south, %here he %ould dis)over the %ays to honor rgon,

if he survived the trials he %ould have to undergo

Dolan su))eeded, and thus "e)ame the first priest of rgon in $rgoth sin)e the Cata)lysm 9e

%or*ed to further the dar* %ill of his god and to e0pand his %orship for the ne0t three de)ades

During the Summer of Chaos, as the gods prepared to depart from nsalon on)e again, rgon's

messenger )ame to Dolan to tell him %hat %as happening 9e )ommanded the priest to /ourney to

Rae*el's .it to perform a ritual to start a pro)ess that %ould eventually "ring a"out the final

destru)tion of the $mpire of $rgoth

Dolan o"eyed the )ommands of his god s he performed the ritual on the edge of the smo*ing pit, he felt the presen)e of rgon, %hi)h had "een a )onstant part of his "eing for thirty years, fade

sharp red flash spar*ed from the pit's smo*y depths and in the heavens the very )onstellations

)hanged Dolan held his "reath as he a%aited a tide of destru)tive for)es to vomit forth from the pit

"ut nothing happened ;nsure of %hat do to ne0t, Dolan too* up residen)e in a near"y )ave and

%aited for an additional sign from his god

fe% months later, on the %inter solsti)e, the sign Dolan had "een %aiting for )ame in the form

of a young "oy of unearthly "eauty -5 am a )hild of the pit,- he said -5 %ill tea)h you the %ays of

magi), and you %ill tea)h me the %ays of revenge (ith your help, my "rothers and sisters %ill

eventually )onsume this land-

The )hild sho%ed Dolan ho% to master spiritual magi), the final gift of the gods "efore they left

1rynn Dolan taught the )hild the proper %ays to honor rgon year later to the day, the )hild

too* Dolan to the pit 9ere, they %itnessed another "eautiful )hild )ra%led out of its depths

$a)h %inter solsti)e sin)e then, another )hild has emerged from the pit Dolan has learned that a

ritual that started three thousand years ago is finally rea)hing its fruition This %ill )ontinue until

they num"er thirty+three Then, the final days of $rgoth %ill "e at hand, and its demise unavoida"le

Dolan hopes that he %ill live long enough to see this demise 9e has already started using the

foul magi)s taught to him "y the )hildren to e0tend his life 9e hopes that $rgoth %ill die %ith him

in fa)t, he has gro%n to hope that all of nsalon dies %ith him!

(hen a small for)e of Dar* 1nights )ame to Rae*el's .it in =Ls), three of the oldest pit+"orn

%ere slain %hen the 1nights )ame upon them une0pe)tedly The remaining pit+"orn have assured

Dolan that they %ill return, emerging from the pit as they had on)e "efore -No living "eing )anstop us,- one of them said -Only he %ho sle% Rae*el, the one *no%n as 8ulius 9ar+Retal, )an harm

usand he is long dead-

The *no%ledge that an unavoida"le doom a%aits $rgoth in the not+too+distant future *eeps

Dolan )linging to life

Adventure Seed

pair of teenaged *ender vanish from their homes east of the mountains that hide Rae*el's .it

9eroes in the area listen to the *ender parents plead %ith them to find their lost )hildren Some

affli)ted *ender lo)als tell the heroes they are )onvin)ed the t%o missing *ids %ere a"du)ted "y

$vil )ultists d%elling near Rae*el's .it One of the affli)ted *ender )an lead the heroes there, "ut

she refuses to e0pose herself to any dangerfter a "attle %ith some of the )ultistsall of %hom are very po%erful in the mysti) artsthe

heroes are almost over%helmed, until a pair of young *ender sho% up and turn the tide of "attle in

their favor These are the missing teenagers They had not "een a"du)ted "ut had merely run a%ay

from home "e)ause their parents had said they %ere too young to get married efore the in+all+



li*elihood @uite irritated heroes )an "ring the pair home for a happy ending, Dolan Ra*+Mahl )asts

a deadly )urse upon the heroes that )auses a rotting disease 9e revealspossi"ly as his dying

%ordsthat the heroes have seven %ee*s to find a pla)e *no%n as the River of 9ealing Only there

)an the )urse "e lifted and the disease )ured They %ill die if it ta*es longer than that

%ragon 9ars; Card 6ame

A card game for 2 to < *laers

Revised rules "y Steve Miller

DRGON (RS is a )ard game that has gained %idespread popularity throughout nsalon over

the past fe% de)ades Those %ho play it )laim that it %as )on)eived "y regulars of the ro*en

9orn, a tavern in San)tion, shortly after the (ar of the #an)e 5n those days, ea)h player -played- a

Dragon 9ighlord "attling for a pie)e of the )rum"ling Dragon $mpire to %in, ea)h 9ighlord had to

destroy the Dragons serving the other 9ighlord (ith the advent of the ge of Mortals, players

thought of themselves as dragon overlords fighting to destroy the dragon minions of other

overlords The people of 1rynn play the game "oth purely for the fun of it as %ell as for moneylthough the people of 1rynn play it using a T#5S de)* a 1rynnish de)* of )ards used for

everything from fortune telling to games of )han)eH, this game )an "e played %ith a standard de)*

of playing )ards, li*e the ones used for .o*er or ridge 5n addition to the de)* of )ards, ea)h

player at the ta"le needs thirteen )ounters )oins, s)raps of paper, pie)es of )andy, or other small

o"/e)tsH pie)e of paper and something to %rite %ith may "e useful as %ell

The )5ject of the 6ame

$a)h player must prote)t his or her loyal Dragons from harm and try to slay Dragons in the

servi)e of other players

The Rules

$a)h suit in the de)* represents a spe)ifi) element of the game The suits of Clu"s, 9earts, and

Diamonds represent attac% /alues or defense /alues, the mighty %eapons and defensive

fortifi)ations of the opposing for)es as %ell as the "attle pro%ess of the mighty Dragons Clu"s are

atta)* )ards, 9earts are defense )ards, %hile Diamonds )an "e used either for atta)* or defense

Defense values are played to prote)t a player's Dragon, %hile atta)* values are applied in attempts

to eliminate the Dragons )ontrolled "y other players The value of ea)h )ard e@uals the num"er

printed on its fa)e $a)h fa)e )ard in the de)* also has a point value 8a)*s have a value of 33,

Eueens of 3=, and 1ings of 3I )es are %orth 3 point

The suit of Spades represents the Dragons that are re)ruited into servi)e "y the players The

num"ers on the Dragons represent health "oints $a)h Dragon has a num"er of health points e@ualto its value 5f a Dragon suffers damage from an atta)* that e0)eeds its health points, it is slain and

pla)ed in the Tro"hy Hall of the player %ho sle% it

6etting Started

5n preparation for play, remove all )ards from the suit of Spades and the 8o*ers from the de)*

The 8o*ers are not used in this game and should "e set aside

Shuffle the thirteen Spades and pla)e them fa)e do%n in the )enter of the playing surfa)e This

area is )alled the .ragon est $a)h Spade represents a Dragon of different strength and a"ility,

%ith the )e "eing the %ea*est Dragon

$a)h player should )ount out thirteen )ounters and *eep them ready These *eep tra)* of the

)urrent health levels of the Dragon under the player's )ontrol and %ill "e referred to as healthcounters

$a)h player dra%s one Dragon from the Nest, %ith the youngest player dra%ing first, and pla)es

it fa)e up on the play surfa)e in front of him or her $a)h player should pla)e a num"er of health

)ounters on his or her Dragon e@ual to its health at this point, the same as the )ard's fa)e valueH



Shuffle the rest of the de)* and deal ea)h player a hand of five )ards

The game )an no% )ommen)e The player )ontrolling the most po%erful Dragon goes first

'laing the 6ame

3 t the "eginning of ea)h turn, the player refills his or her hand to a ma0imum of five )ards

players already holding five )ards s*ip this stepH (hen a player dra%s the last )ard of the de)*,simply shuffle the dis)ard pile and start again

= lip the top )ard of the de)* The suit of this )ard is the trum" suit for the turn

I The player )an )hoose either to atta)* one opposing Dragon, or dis)ard his or her )omplete

hand and dra% a ne% one 5f the player dis)ards, his or her turn ends %hen the ne% hand is dra%n

5f the player laun)hes an atta)* see -tta)*ing and Defending Dragons-H, the turn ends after one

atta)*

(hen the turn ends, play passes to the left

Attac7ing and %efending %ragons+ (hen a )ard is played, the atta)*ing player does not reveal

the )ard he or she has played until after the )ontrolling the Dragon "eing atta)*ed has )hosen to

defend and has sele)ted the spe)ifi) )ard he or she %ishes to play The initial atta)* and defense)ards are revealed simultaneously

Attac7+ To laun)h an atta)*, the player )hooses an atta)* )ard from his or her hand and initiates

a "attle against an opponent's Dragon The fa)e value of the atta)* )ard indi)ates ho% many

damage "oints the atta)* )an )ause 5f the )ard used in the atta)* is trump, flip the top )ard of the

de)* 5f it is an atta)* )ard Clu" or DiamondH, the fa)e value is added to the atta)* 5f the ne% )ard

is also trump, repeat this pro)ess until the flipped )ard is not trump, adding ea)h su"se@uent atta)*

)ard's fa)e value to the damage point total Defense )ards do not )ount to%ard anything

%efend+ The player under atta)* )an attempt to fend off the assault On)e the total atta)* s)ore

has "een )al)ulated, he or she applies the value of the defense )ard from his or her hand to "lo)* all

or part of the damage infli)ted upon the Dragon 5f a )ard he or she used for defense is trump, he or

she flips the top )ard of the de)* and adds its fa)e value to the total defense s)ore if it is a defense

)ard 9eart or DiamondH 5f the ne% )ard is also trump, repeat this pro)ess until the flipped )ard is

not trump, adding ea)h su"se@uent defense )ard fa)e value to the total tta)* )ards do not )ount

to%ard anything

'ress the Attac7+ 5f the atta)*ing player has another atta)* )ard from the same suit as the first

one played, it )an "e used to press the atta)* The )ard's value is added to the atta)* total or

e0ample, if a Clu" %as used to initiate the assault, in order to press the atta)* the player must use

another Clu" if the player )annot play another Clu", he or she )annot press the atta)*

The defender may then )hoose to add to his or her defense 9o%ever, he or she is free to use any

defense )ards in his or her hand 9eart or DiamondH The atta)*ing player may, in turn, )hoose to

further press the atta)* This se@uen)e )ontinues until the atta)* )annot "e pressed any furtherAssess %amage+ To determine the out)ome of the atta)*, su"tra)t the total defense from the

total atta)* 5f the remainder is positive, the targeted Dragon suffers that many damage points

or every damage point a Dragon suffers, the )ontroller must remove one health )ounter from it

5f any health )ounters remain, the Dragon survived and play passes to the left 5f all the health

)ounters are removed from a Dragon, that Dragon has "een slain! 5t is removed from the game see

-Ne% Dragons and Despoilers-H and pla)ed fa)e do%n "ehind the atta)*er's Dragon 5t is no% in

that player's Trophy 9all

ll )ards used in atta)* or defense are dis)arded and pla)ed, fa)e up, ne0t to the de)*

=e& %ragons and %es*oilers+ (hen a Dragon is removed from play, its )ontroller must

immediately dra% a ne% one from the Nest, put the appropriate num"er of health )ounters on it,

and refill his or her hand to five )ards "efore play passes to the ne0t player 5f no Dragons remain inthe Nest, the player is still in the game, "ut he or she is a des"oiler rather than the %arlord he or she

has "een up to this point

despoiler has no Dragon to prote)t he or she fights only to *ill other players' Dragons

despoiler is at something of a disadvantage (hile the player )ontinues to refill his or her hand at



the "eginning of ea)h turn, all defense )ards dra%n are useless sin)e the player no longer has a

Dragon to defend They )an "e disposed of only "y dis)arding the %hole hand, preventing any

atta)*s that turn

9inning the 6ame

The game ends %hen every player has had one final turn after the Nest is empty or the lastDragon dies

(hen the game is over, ea)h player adds up the health point value of the Dragons in their

Trophy 9all The resulting num"er is the player's /ictory "oints

5f any Dragons remain fa)e up on the ta"le at the end of the game, they have survived the

Dragon %ar! Their players re)eive five additional vi)tory points for su))essfully prote)ting the

Dragon until the end of the %ar The player %ith the highest vi)tory point total %ins the game

Documents

The Odyssey of Gilthanas