The StormWatch Chronicles As seen through the eyes of Drano Battlehammer Part 6 Update: 07/04/1998 to drano ------------------------------------------------------------------------ August 11, 596 Well, another weekend down. This time I found myself arriving late. You see, I was to meet Koryon to help him on his trip to Niman -- to rescue his daughter, but he tried to ditch me at the last minute. Being the persistent individual I am, I went to Niman on my own to meet up with him. Unfortunately, he was stopped at the border and sent packing, so I missed him. Then, I met Delahr, who reminded me that Squire Gabriel and Lady Chastity were getting married this weekend. So I trudged my butt up to the stronghold in the mountains to get a gift from my secret stash of stuff... I thought a brass candelabra with fine chasing would do nicely, but the trip delayed me and I arrived a day late in Ravenholt. No sooner do I get there, than I meet Tempus and Bishop. The two were miraculously transformed - Bishop from a human to a dwarf (couldn't happen to a nicer guy) [Cynesra's Note: We are going to have to change the team name to "DwarfWatch" if this keeps up. . . ;] , and Tempus from barbarian to human. With all that said and done, I went to the cabin where I met Koryon and Chastity. The newlywed was pleasantly happy about her new status and I presented my gift, though I was sorry I missed the ceremony itself. Come to find out, young Borax managed to get a hold of a magic pole-arm that bestowed great power upon the wielder. He gained experience and the ability to cast the ninth circle of earth magic in one great boon. Poking his new toy at me, he explained that some form of "shadow creatures" were terrorizing the town. Lord Aloryn better explained that the creatures took a series of blows, then went berserk and could only be felled by a mighty sword blow or spell. Thinking I'd found my element, I prepared for battle. Little did I realize, Borax had taken my place. As a fully operational healer, he had sublimated my position on the team, and proceeded to aid the fighters in battle against the shadow-wraiths. I didn't feel needed, and a little putout by my younger cousin, so I stayed in a "rear-guard" position. Lucky I did, because suddenly, they were all about, trying to surround us. My meager talents came into play as one of them went berserk in my vicinity. With a competence Koryon had seen before, I stepped up to the berserked wraith and intoned the incantation to a mighty earth spell, "I call upon the earth to Destroy Undead!!!" The thing stood stunned, staring at me a moment, before its hellish being disintegrated into a pile of diamond dust. Later that evening, I overheard Bishop and Tempus, wallowing in their new bodies, doing what dwarves do best -- get drunk. After putting a good buzz on, they decided to "go taunt the baddies." The following is what I heard happening outside the cabin: "Nya, nya! You're not so tough!!!!" -- battle, battle . . . fight, fight . . . grr, grr . . . clang, clang . . . thud! -- "TEMPUS IS DOWN!!!! TEMPUS IS DOWN!!!! We could use some help!" -- battle, battle . . . fight, fight . . . grr, grr . . . clang, clang . . . thud! -- "BISHOP IS DOWN!!! BISHOP IS DOWN!!! Get Gabriel!" I then watched as the spectre-like form of Gabriel, rose from his bed and new wife, grabbed his sword, and with nothing but his trousers, glide out the door . . . . -- battle, battle . . . fight, fight . . . grr, grr . . . clang, clang . . . thud! -- "And don't think that I'll come outside and get your sorry butts off the ground again if you choose to stay out here!" With that, Gabriel drifted, almost as serenely, back to be with his love and lady. I eased back into slumber, hearing only the sounds of Snoryon . . . ahem, Koryon in the night.