The banquet in my honor is now over. The party ruinied by the political infighting of the knights and the news that Harnna's daughter Cantra has been kidnapped by parties unknown. The one plus side of the the night's event if there is one to be found, I can now liberate Iolo The Senile and put him to work doing my unholy bidding. Time to go collect the jailbird. I reach the jail and unlock the old coot's cell door. He expresses his gratitude at my freeing him and, like my other two compainions, claims that the lightning has caused his gear to go missing. Again I am sceptical. More than likely the addled minded fool has traded them for the usless items he now carries. I notice he has an urn (which Shamino eyes strangely) instead of his trusty crossbow. Hmmm, I do recall one of the knights, Caladin I believe, claiming that his dearly departed grandfather's urn has gone missing to be replaced by a crossbow. Perhaps I can convince him to turn it over for his forefather's remains. I find him in his office, and present him the urn. He offers the crossbow back, but I ask him how much the ashes really mean to him. He then offers the crossbow and money. Deal! I should see if anyone else is missing their dead realatives, like the familiy of the guard I've slain earlier to steal from the weaponsmith. I ponder how I shall further profit from future slayings as we make our way back to the former home of Lydia (may she burn in Hell) where I have set aside some gear and equip Iolo with his instruments of war. Deciding that all this profiting of death has left me with a good chunk of change I decide to head to the weaponsmith and treat myself to some new armor. Walking out a few Monetari lighter, yet with some new chain leggings purchased to keep Shamino alive, and some arrows and bolts for myself and Iolo respectfully, I also have a lead on where my magic breastplate may have gone. Turns out the weaponsmith recognized it as one he had forged for a woman in Fawn (no doubt to curry favor with the wench). So realizing that recovering my property takes precidence over the misfortune of others, Bojangle's and his minions march on Fawn!

After several hours we arrive at the gates of the white-stoned city of Fawn. Not being under threat of poison I shall take my time in this beautiful city and loot and learn all I can. I will also get back my gear! As we stroll into town one of those cursed magical stroms kick up out of nowhere. Lightning strikes all around us as my compainions cower in fear. Iolo almost soils himself as a bolt of lightning strikes at his feat, creating a lute. As the strom clears several townsfolk gather round as Iolo picks the lute up and begins to strum. Several in the crowd call for Iolo to play a tune. They get their wish as Iolo plays the most horrible music I that has ever crossed my ears! As the old fool drones on about his lost love (a figment of is less than lucid mind) I quickly snatch the lute from his hands and break it over the closest solid object I can find, Dupre's skull. Both seem unphased by my actions as we continue on to plunder this wonderful and hopefully rich city.

Fawn, City of Beauty, soon to be looted of all things not nailed down!

After looting a few private dwellings of the local currency known as Filari, we make our way to the provisioner's shop. His brain is slightly addled, yet he keeps good watch over his shop and stores his valuable merchandise under glass. I while Iolo chats with this fellow dimwit I sneak down the stairwell to what appears to be his storeroom. Finding several switches I open a secret door into a room filled with crates and barrels. I search them all, only to be disappointed by the lack of quality goods, most of the items stored here are mundane such as dinner plates, bolts of cloth, and forks. I do however make my way out with one pair of mail gloves and some more lockpicks. I pull Iolo away from the shopkeeper and continue to make my way through Fawn. As I rummage through several more dwellings I am disturbed to note how many bottles of the foul Fawnish Ale are stored in peoples nightstands. Not only are the citizens of this town able to stomach such foul brew but they apparently all drunks! As I fill my money bag with more coin, I notice Dupre keeps taking the bottles. I shall speak to him of this later, and more than likely have to remind him in a forceful way to lay off the booze. I find a large two story house with its front door locked. Surely this place must be well stocked! I pick the lock and make my way inside. In the bedroom, I find a plate mail breastplate. Its not my magic one, but it will do well to keep my keep my companions alive. I order Dupre, the drunken brawler of the group to don the heavy armor. He complains that he is too over burdened to carry it! Looking in his pack I find many bottles of Fawnish Ale. Well looks like he shall have to dispose of that to lighten his load, and in a way that will make him suffer for his idiocy. I calmly tell him that he deserves a drink, allow him to partake in the Fawnish ale that has plundered. The man, being the alcoholic that he is doesn't stop at one drink, he has three. Looking a little grean in the gills, and refusing to drink more I grab him by the hair and force him to drink another 4 bottles. When I feel that he's had enough I release him, and cackle with glee as he empties his stomach contents on the nice carpet he's standing on.

Keep drinking Dupre you pathetic lush!

I allow him to keep a few bottles of Ale as he is now able to don the plate mail. I snatch up some more money out of a locked chest and cabinet and we make our way out, leaving several large piles of vomit in on the floor of the master bedroom. Several more houses are liberated of their valuables, as I fill my moneybag with more Filari and grab nice new helm for myself, and some plate mail leggings for Dupre (who seems to have quit whining about being overloaded). I continue to ignore the public as I a rob their city blind. I shall talk to these fools later. In my pilfering I manage to find some regents (ingredients for magic spells) and a magic scroll with the spell of "Ignite All" inscribed on it. Well hey, I may not have my spell book yet, but at least its a start. Finally I make my way into a house that must belong to the woman who's brestplate I now have. I say that because as I open her dresser drawers I find my long lost magic plate armor! The woman must be a fool to have such treasure and not know to use it, or even keep it under lock and key! I shall take this back! Long live Bojangles!!!!!!! Deciding that the white breastplate I now carry is nothing to scoff at I give it to Shamino, who deciding to play nice, leaves his old rusty chain mail in the dresser where I have just taken my magic plate mail back. To elated to berate him for his generosity, I have decided that this city has been sufficiently looted of all its valueables and shall now probe the townsfolk for information.

The pillage of Fawn has been most profitable

In my wanderings through Fawn I have overheard that a woman named Alyssand has lost her engagement ring to the magical lightning storms, which was replaced by a set of Magical Gauntlets! Obviously they are mine, and I seek her out. I ask her about the ring and the gauntlets, and she quickly hands the gauntlets over and tells me to keep the ring, citing that it was given by her fiance who has perished in the storms. I try to walk away before the girl starts crying when she's asks me to help bring down the evilness in Fawn. Evilness? In Fawn? Seeing as how most of the town is wealthy and I'm sure there is some great reward to be had, I allow Alyssand to tell me of this "evil" she needs vanquished. Turns out, some Oracle Statue that all the townsfolk (sheep) have been idolizing has been conveniently telling the people to do the same things as the High Priestess of Beauty, Kylista, and her three cronies the Great Captians (apparently boy-toys, because Fawn can only be ruled by women) Joth, Garth, and Voldin. Alyssand says that her and a group of younger people (the Cause) are trying to determine why the Oracle is all of a sudden becoming a mouthpiece for the ruling class of Fawn. I agree, both for the sake of discrediting this pagan idol worship and lining my own pockets. Time to go investigate.

As I make my way through the streets I notice someone following me. He is obviously some kind of amature, because when I turn around and hail him the fool actually starts talking to me. At first I ask him if he knew that I was the one responsible for clearing the goblins out of the tower just south of Fawn. He replies that I should meet the Lady Yelinda who will undoubtly shower me with praise. Then I ask the fool if he is indeed following me. He stammers some kind of excuse and turns away. I shall have to keep my eye on him, I am probably under suspicion for dealing with this "Cause". I make my way into what appears to be some kind of city hall to find some very important looking people sitting down for a meal. Singling out the one decked out in armor, I speak to him first. He is the Jorvin, captain of the guard, and thanks me for clearing the goblins out of Fawn Tower. He also lets slip that he and all his forces were holed up in the city fearing to clear the tower themselves. Well his excuse was that he was not to leave Fawn undefended but I call it cowardness!. I begin to speak to one of the other men at the table, when I hear a commotion from outside the dinner hall. I step out to see Dupre staggering around, he is most probably drunk again! He shall suffer for this. I draw my sword and make my way to him when from out of the shadows a crossbow fires, with a bolt lodging its way into my shoulder. I notice for the first time the reason for Dupre's stumbling in that he has a bolt sticking out of his thigh. Iolo, fogetting that he is senile, quickly fires back with his crossbow. I hear a low grunt and as I make my way to the corner where the assassin is now cowering. I bring my mighty blade down on his arm, disarming him both figuratively and literally. The man is clearly dying as he shouts that Batlin will be victorius and the Fellowship will reighn supreme. Before I can interrogate him further, he is dead, turning the white stones at his feet a dark crimson. From my earlier conversations I know there are members of the hated Fellowship residing outside the town. I shall bring my wrath down upon them.

I rush to leave with murderous rage filling my heart, and a desire to kill all who wear the medallion of the Fellowship, when I am hailed by Jorvin. He informs me that I am invited to a formal reception hosted in my honor by the Lady Yelinda. Well, vengence may have to wait, as I can kill those fools at any time. I am also informed that Iolo is to attend as well, the Lady having heard of his music and wishing to hear more. You've gotta be kidding me, why would anyone subject themselves to that crap. However, I may be able to figure out whats going on in this city and possibly score some points with Lady Yelinda.

I make my way back to the banquet hall and am greeted by the beautiful Lady of Fawn. Wow, she is quite the looker. She smiles and greets me, then walks right past me to Iolo! She tells him how touched she was to hear his "music" and gives him a diamond necklace to give to his wife. What in the Abyss is this, I am the hero here not this decrepit old fool! Iolo it appears is too overloaded to carry it, so I snatch it out of the woman's hands and offer to "hold" it for him. She then calls for a toast, her's is to beauty, and love. Iolo's is to bliss, fitting due to his ignorance, and ignorance is truly bliss. Lady Yelinda then toasts to the rulers of Fawn, and Dupre raises his (where did he get one?) glass and toasts Lord British. This might not be good, the woman's face turns pale, and Jorvin jumps up in a rage accusing me of being allied with the "Beast British". Yelinda orders that Durpre be arrested, tried and executed for being allied with the murderous Lord of Britan. Damn that drunken idiot and his booze loosened tounge! I draw my sword to cut out the offending tounge, forgetting that my action may be taken as a sign of aggression against the Lady. Before I can explain, I am struck by magic and knocked unconsious. I awaken, along with Iolo and Shamino, in the inn.

What did I do last night?

Next to the bed is a scroll demanding my presence at the trial of Dupre. I am almost tempted to leave the fool to the tender mercies of these people who hate him so, yet realize that I need him to complete my quest (he also owes me money). The scroll says the trial is at the temple so I make my way there. I step through the large doors and find most of the town there to witness this spectacle. The trial is held in front of the Oracle Statue, doubtless the zelots in this town will look to a stone object for guidence. Dupre is brought forward and brought up on charges of treason by the High Priestess Kylista and being allied with the "Demonic Lord British" this really pisses the assembled crowd off as they call for Dupre's head. Order is soon restored and the first witness is called by Voldin, one of the Great Captains. The witness is Delphynia, the woman who gave me the Varo leaves to cure the poison inflicted upon me when I recieved my tatoo. Delphynia testified the cirumstances of our meeting and Voldin, trying to curry favor with Lady Yelinda, states that my poisoning was a result of being allied with Lord British. Of all the crackpot theories! Before I can respond and cross-examine the witness she is told to step down. This is no trial, this is a witchhunt! Next called is Leon, one of the Fellowship members from outside the city. He states that he met Dupre while I was getting my map from Scots. Voldin accuses him of preaching blasphemy (well he's right on that) and conspiring with Dupre, then throws him out of the courtroom. Delin, the senile provisioner is called forth next, great. The fool has to be reminded to face the Oracle. The man is asked some questions, comes up with a nonsence response, and is dismissed. Finally, Lady Yelinda is called to testify. The harlot commits perjury stating that Dupre's toast was "Curse all of you and may Beast British drink your blood", obviously a lie, as Dupre is usually too drunk to string that many words together! This "trial is not going well. Lady (and I now use the term loosely) Yelinda then states that no more witnesses need to be called to support the charges, Dupre (on advice from myself) agrees. Voldin, the suck-up, rests his case stating that he has proven Dupre to be guilty of all charges. A recess is called until the next day, where Dupre may call witnesses to speak in his defence. Guess I'll have to represent him as he'll probably be suffering alchohol withdrawls by that point.

Deciding that the prosecution has never heard the words "due process" its time for me to play a little dirty myself. Perhaps the "Cause" may be able to help out. I find Alyssand at the tavern. She has information that Dupre is being held in a cell below the Temple, and gives me a key to help me break in. I'm sure I can either find some way of swinging the verdict to my favor. I find Dupre in a cell, along with the corpses of others who apparently didn't have the sort of legal counsel Dupre does. Hell, the guards didn't even take his weapon, what kind of legal system do these people have?

Your drinking really screwed you this time didn't it?

There's a switch next to his cell door. Maybe that'll open it, and I can just snatch him up and flee the city. I'm not so lucky as a large iron door on the north wall slides down revealing a staircase. I go up the stairs to find Voldin playing with some levers. He must've heard me coming up the stairs and mistook me for Kylista because he said that the levers are set and the prisoner will be found guilty. He didn't even turn around to see it was me. The levers must control the Oracle statue, I give the man credit, he's found a great way to fleece the people, but now I'm afraid he won't live to see me take control of their little game. He turns around and realizes his mistake. He draws his blade and promises that I shall not leave the chamber alive. The man is nearly cut in two as my two-handed sword crosses his body in a lethal arc. He should've stuck to playing prosecutor and left combat to the experts.

The scales of justice have just tipped in my favor.

I throw the switches not quite knowing which ones do what, until the Oracle speaks to me, asking my wish. It says that it shall pass whatever judgement I tell it to. Deciding that a "not guily" verdict isn't enough, I order it to denounce the trial as well. The Oracle does one better and states that it will expose the true traitors as well. It then states that it has waited for this moment for many years, doubtless it has been controlled by the High Priestess and her newly departed henchman Voldin. It states that it will now only speak the truth. Trying to further converse with the statue is pointless, I have what I want from it and I leave, eagerly awaiting tomarrow's procedings. Having nothing to do I head back to the inn to pass the time in slumber.

I awaken the next morning and make my way to the temple for round two of this farce of a trial. Dupre is called in, and the procedings come to order. Notably absent are the High Priestess Kylista and Voldin. I am given a chance to call witnesses on Dupre's behalf. Not trusting the local populis, and confident that the Oracle has been rigged in my favor I decline to call any. Lady Yelinda calls upon the Oracle to render judgement. All rise as the Oracle speaks...

Absolutly 100% NOT GUILTY!

As if there were a doubt! The Oracle then goes on to name Kylista and Voldin the guilty parties for attempting to frame Dupre on such ridiculus charges. Lady Yelinda is obviously shamed, and offers Dupre the Crystal Rose of Love as a payoff for the crap she put him through. Jorvin then barges in to inform all present that Kylista has been arrested, well that was quick. Yelinda apologizes yet again, and promises that we will always be welcome in Fawn. Dupre is released, court adjourned and we are free to go. Dupre celebrates his freedom by swigging down a bottle of Fawnish Ale, with predictable results.

The sweet taste of freedom, and vomit.

We leave Fawn, and I decide to head to the place known as the Sitting Bull Inn, which is a short distance south and east. On the way there, I find a hollow tree. Looking inside, I find a key and two bags, one containing money and one potions. I take all I find, and move on to loot the houses outside of the Inn. I find nothing of value in these shacks! I do however find a tall stone with what appears to have something on top of it. Being the genius that I am, I grab all the crates that I can find and stack them up to the top of the stone. I feel around the top of the stone and find an invisible object. Through careful investigation, I determine it to be a chest. I try to open it, but it is locked. Deciding that a hidden chest would be most likely openend by a hidden key, I use the key found in the hollow tree to open the chest, inside is quite the treasure trove: Monitari, healing potions, magic bolts, a ring of invisablility and the biggest prize, a magic sword. I gaffle everything useful out of the chest. Well got some new toys, it'd be a shame not to use them. Think I'll go hunting now.

We head north, and find a decrepit old skeleton next to a rock. Searching the old corpse I find a pair of plate leggins, which I give to Shamino to equip. We then head west towards a clump of woods looking for things to kill. We bears, snakes, and wolves fell to blades and bolts as me and my compainions killed all that we saw. As we moved north to the coast we happened across a trio of goblins. Trying to converse with them was a wasted effort and all were slain by my blade. We found a camp of three more near a black stone obilisk, these two were also slain. There was nothing of value on anything, however the experience we recieved was gold in itself. Slightly wounded we made our way back to Monitor. I left my compainions at the List Field to train and made my way to the tavern to treat myself to a well deserved drink. I found Lucillia flirting with one of the patrons and called her over. Perhaps I should ask if she knows anything of the traitor who is selling out the Knights to the Goblin Hordes. I ask her what she knows of such things, and she has little information to give me. She starts making eyes at me and I can see that she's flirting. Well, all work and no play make for one stressed out Avatar. I play along. In our converstations she mentions the Knight named Luthor has been running around with with some sort of magical shield daring people to challenge him, hmm, sounds like a plan to me. I continue to flirt with the barmaid and she asks if I'd like to meet her later, this one moves fast. Thinking I can use her infatuation with me to get some free meals out of the deal I agree. She tells me to come back to the pub after closing time. Party on!

I go pick up my compainions at the list field. All are somewhat bruised and battered from their training, yet it seems that they have learned some skill while training. Think I may go find this Luther character, and try and take his shield. I go to speak to him and I can already tell that I shall hate this pompus ass. He's a Bear Knight, so this should get even worse. Before I ask him about his shield, I ask him about the traitor. He suggest I go talk to Krayg the Provisioner and strongly hinted that he is the guilty party. Enough of this crap, I asked him about the shield and lo and behold it is Dupre's magical shield that was taken from him in the storm. I demand it back, but he refuses to give it up, so I tell him that Lucillia, the barmaid, finds him repulsive, that Lydia, the dead tattoo artist called him a bully, and that he's a thief and a coward. That got him. I have now been challenged to a duel on the list field tomarrow at 9. Excellent! After I am done with the bar wench, I shall deal with this scum. Having time to kill, I decide to go talk to Krayg and see what he has to say. I find him in his shop, and he has no kind words to say about Luthor. I ask him about the walks in the woods that he often takes, and he says its to pick up old artifacts. He does say that he has seen someone else creeping around there also, and that every time he tries to talk to him, he runs away. He suggested that I go seek out the Black Obelisk in the woods and search for evidence. Well I was there before but didn't do much searching, so perhaps I shall head back that way. It's already 6pm, and I hope to make it to the enemy encampment before nightfall. I make it in time, there are no goblins about alive or dead, perhaps the ones that I've killed earlier have been taken by their comrades. What I do see however, is a bottle of Fawnish Ale on the ground. Suddenly my list of suspects has just dropped to two. Dupre, who drinks the vile brew without reguard for the consequences, and Simon the Innkeeper who can actually drink the crap and not vomit. Dupre, aside from his previous incarcerations, has never left my sight. Simon on the other hand....

Exhibit "A" a bottle of the Demon piss known locally as Fawnish Ale.

Snatching up the bottle I make my way back to Monitor. Along the way I pass a group of what appear to be monks clad in black robes dancing and chanting around a cauldron. This could be interesting. I try to interrupt the procedings but none of the fools will speak to me, never have I been so ignored, blood will be shed for this disrespect! Before I can strike the first blow, my companions, thirsting for blood jump into the fray and slay 3 of the 4 before I can even wet my blade. I raise my sword preparing to bring doom to the last survivor when magical energy springs shoots from the witch's outstreached hands. I feel weak all over and can barely move my swordarm. My compainions have me covered though, a bolt from Iolo's crossbow strikes the witch in the skull as Dupre cleaves her in two with his halbred. Victory is mine, however I must give credit to my compainions who have proven their worth to me with a desire for battle not yet seen by my own eyes. I still feel weak, and must make haste to Monitor before some evil befalls me.

A slaughter of heretics, now whats for dinner?

Refreshed by the massacre, I make my way back to Monitor. My first stop is at the Provisioner's to tell him of my find. The fool fails to recognize my find, so I shall take the bottle directly Simon and demand an explaination. He's not at the inn, so he is more than likely eating at the tavern. I am correct of course, and I make my way to challenge him in front of the whole town. I ask him about the bottle and he blows it off, Dupre pipes up that he is a liar and traitor. Before I can tell him to hold his tounge, Simon changes into a goblin right before my eyes. The rest of the tavern's patrons cower under their tables as Simon carges at me swinging a flail, screaming "Death to Monitor!". Guess I found the traitor. I dispatched him with ease, much ease as the fool basically impaled himself on my blade. With his dying breath he told me the location of the Goblin Base Camp, and told me to kill the mighty Goblin King, Pomdirgun, who he apparently holds quite the grudge against. The dying trog even tells me that he is carrying a key that will allow me to enter the goblin HQ, nice! The two time traitor finally dies in the middle of the tavern and I loot his corpse of the keys he carries. Some of them probably unlock somthing back at the in, and I will make my way there to pillage as the citizens of monitor get out from under the tables and resume their meals..pathetic.

The traitor: tried, convicted and executed in the Court of Bojangles. Now move along, nothing to see here.

I search the inn, using my recently aquired keys. I am pleased to find some more Monetari to add to my hoard, but find little else of value. Well, its almost 8 o'clock, and I have a date tonight, so I settle myself down for a nap. I awaken, and leave my compaions at the inn and make my way to the tavern. Its now 3am, and looks like the place is closed down. I find Lucillia waiting for me in the bedroom, and for the next few hours I am a bad little Avatar. Cue the music!......

Needless to say, the lady was quite pleased the next morning. And as a token of her appriciation she left gives me a cloak made from the skin of the fierce Gwannis, that I give to Iolo after I sneak out the window and meet him back at the inn. I gather up my cronies and make my way to the List Field to deal with the looser named Luther. I go to the List Field and challenge him to the duel. The sniveling whelp falls to a mighty hammer shot by yours truly. He is truly shamed as tears begin to flow down his cheeks, he begs me to slay him on the field so that he does not have to live with the taste of defeat. I spitefully spare his insignificant life and refuse him an honorable death. I then tell him I shall take the magic shield at a later time so that he might be further embarassed as he hands it to me in front of others. I take some time to comb the houses to see if I had missed looting anything earlier. Several hours later, I find nothing, and decide to go get my..I mean Dupre's Shield back from Luther. I find him in the training hall. I go up to him and demand the shield back, he tries to pretend like we're friends in front of everyone, and I shatter that illusion by punching him in the stomach. He doubles over in pain and I take back my property. Dupre is currently using a two handed weapon, so I give it to Shamino to use.

I realize that storming the headquarters of the Goblin Horde is quite the task, even by my standards. Myself and three minions against untold numbers of flesh eating monsters makes for poor odds. I shall have to find a way to even the playing field. Remembering the tales told me by others on this cursed isle, I realize that I must travel to Moongshade, City of Mages, to get back the the power that has been stolen from me by the storms, the great equalizer: Magic

Chapter 5