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Part Two, Chapter One:

The attack had faded in everyone's memory, and the town was back to normal.  Astral walked down to the waterfront to notice that a one way passage to the land of Illaion was 40 gold pieces.  He had always wanted to go on a trip, so he planned it out and a week later, he was on the boat to Illarion, little knowing of the dangers that lie ahead...


((Part one is located here in case you are lost))

Chapter 2:

Weeks passed as the ship sailed through the open seas.  On the second day of the fourth week, the mystical land of Illarion became visible over the horizon.  The captain called all the passengers (23 in total) to the main deck.

"There she is!" said the captain happily when the passengers had gathered "The mighty land of Illarion!"

Astral stared in amazement at this new land shrouded in mystery.  He wondered what new adventures would take place here.  He pulled out a scroll from his pocket.  

"Korwin" he read, "Lives in the town of Troll's Bane.  The house number 7516."

He had been given instructions by one of his travelling friends to find Korwin, and he would help him adjust to the land of Illarion.

A few hours later the ship was in the dock, and Astral was already on his way to Troll's Bane.  As he grew near, a swarm of insects flocked towards him.

"Begone!" he said angrily as they buzzed around him.

Just then a man appeared out of the forest.  The man seemed to speak silent words with his lips.  Suddenly a great ball of fire appeared near Astral and the insects were no more.

"You're new around here, aren't you?" the man asked inquisitively.

"Yes.  And what might be your name?" replied Astral.

"I am Korwin, forest Ranger" said the man, "And you are Astral, correct?"

"That is true.  I came to this land and was told to seek you out.  I was told that you would be of some assistance." said Astral.

"Come with me" replied Korwin instantaneously.

And so Astral followed Korwin back to his nice house in Troll's Bane.  They sat down for some tea and chatted for a while.

"I noticed that you seemed to summon a ball of fire in the forest.  How might one do that?" asked Astral with great curiosity.

"Ahhh, the realm of magic!" replied Korwin with a smile, "I knew that you would ask, being new to this land.  Learning this magic is a complex task.  I will explain in more detail in the morning, for you have journeyed long today and are weary." Korwin gestured Astral to follow him down the hall and pointed to a spacious and confortable room to the right.  "This shall be your room for the night.  Rest well, for tomorrow there is lots to do.  Good night."

Chapter 3:

After many hours of confortable sleep, Astral finally awoke.  He put on his armor and ventured down the hall.  He saw that Korwin was already sitting at the table reading a scroll.

"Good Morning!" said Korwin turning to face him, "Did you sleep well?"

"Indeed I did.  Thank you for your hospitality." replied Astral.

"Come sit down and have some bread.  Then I shall tell you all about this magic." said Korwin pulling out a chair.

Astral sat down in the nicely adorned chair and Korwin passed him a piece of bread along with some condiments.

"To use this magic, one must first learn the secrets of certain runes.  Here is a simple rune.  Learn this rune, then learn more of these to combine." said Korwin passing him the book titled RA.

"Thank you." said Astral kindly as he studied the old looking book.

After the meal, Korwin showed Astral to a quiet and well lit room with a view of the forest.

"You may study here." said Korwin, "I am going out for a while now.  I expect to be back by sundown.  I left some lunch on the counter for you."

"You are too kind!" said Astral happily. "Thank you."

Korwin smiled and left the room.

Astral sat down in the confortable chair and opened the book.

"RA, The Rune of Fire" it read.  

Astral studied the book for many hours.  He stopped for the nice meals Korwin had left when he felt hungry.  Just as he completed studying the table of known runes, Korwin walked in the door.

"How have you faired?" he said as he entered the room.

"Very well.  All I need now is to learn a second rune." replied Astral happily.

"Alas, it is quite late.  You had better get some rest.  Remember what you have learned today, as you will need it to use it tomorrow." answered Korwin in a tired voice.  "I need rest myself.  Finish this book and then rest."

"That be true" he said looking out into the night.  "Good night."

Korwin nodded and left the room.

Astral took a last look through the book before he closed it up and set it on the table.  He walked down the hall to his room and stretched out on the bed.  He soon fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Four:

The next morning, Astral awoke late to find a small meal and a note sitting on the table.  The note had been left by Korwin, who had left long before.  It read:

"I have woken early on this bright morning and i expect to be gone for a good part of the day.  Alas, i once again cannot be there with you, so you might go for a walk about the land.  Venture to house number 8629 where you will find a man named Inioch.  He will assist you today in my absence."

Astral ate the small meal and then set out around the town.  Many people were busy today, for it was market day.  He found his way into the slightly newer area of town and soon came across a cozy little house bearing the number 8629.  He tapped at the door gently.

"Ahh, you have arrived!  I have been expecting you for some time now." a man said while making his way to the door, as if he already knew who it was.   The man hastily opened the door and beckoned Astral inside.  "I am Sir Hope, Inioch is my name."

"I am Astral.  It is an honor to meet you." replied Astal.  "I slept long this morning and have not arrived until now.  Korwin said that we might go adventuring."

"Yes, that is what we shall do.  Just let me get my walking shoes and we will be off." Inioch slipped his shoes on and they stepped ouside as Inioch quietly closed the door behind him.

"Where shall we go to?" asked Astral as he looked around in awe.

"We shall follow the river east until it ends.  Then we can go off into the forest and venture to an ancient temple deep within." Inioch replied with enthusiasm.

So they were off down the river.  The sun was mid way in the sky as they approached the end of the river.

"Here is where we may sit down and rest our weary bodies over some biscuits."  Said Inioch.

"I too grow tired.  Let us rest now before it becomes late." said Astral happily.

The lunch bag was unpacked and they sat around a makeshift campfire.  They ate many biscuits then, for they had travelled far already.  Astral turned his head and looked over the river.  Just then a bright gleam caught his eye.  He strained his eyes and could make out the shape of a circle made of bright gold moving down the stream.  He plunged his arm into the water but did not catch it in time.

"Curses!" he said as it slipped past his fingers.

He ran further downstream with all the speed he could gather hoping to catch the object again.  Inioch sat back in amazement as Astral flew down the riverbank like a shooting star.  He came to a spot where the current was weak, sort of held back into a pond.  Astral suddenly dived into the water with and enormous splash.  He remained underwater for several moments fumbling his fingers around the object.  Inioch had already gotten to the area.  Astral then stood up and climbed out of the clear, but cold water holding a shiny object in his right hand.  Inioch stared at the ring for what seemed to be minutes.  It was very bright, and if you looked hard enough it seemed to have a bluish tint, but very faint.  There was also traces of writing on it, but very small and worn out.




They both agreed to return to town at once and consult the council of Korwin.

thats an interesting theory, player # is house #, i like that.

((my idea . the html version can be found here.))

(Edited by Astral at 7:23 pm on Jan. 27, 2002)

Excuse me, astral, this is not elvish at all sorry to burst your bubble.

The ring was forged in a land far from here, perhaps the elves there have a slightly different tongue?  Or perhaps it was mis-interpreted...

Chapter Five:

"Hmmmm..." said Korwin quietly to himself.  "It is like nothing i have ever seen before..."  Korwin sat at the table examining the ring.

"Strange indeed" answered Astral.  "It was just flowing down the river."

"Flowing?" inquired Inioch looking confused.

"Yes.  It seemed to neither sink or float, but rather hover."  replied Astral.

"Let us go down to the library and investigate!" said Korwin.

So they passed down the main path of the town and soon came upon the library.  Korwin carried the ring carefully.  Suddenly Korwin saw a small pond, for it had rained recently.

"I would like to see this floating for myself" he said to them as he turned back.

Astral nodded.  Korwin walked over to the small pond and dropped the ring in.  It sank to the bottom.  Korwin sighed and was about to reach in after it when suddenly it floated back to the surface.

"Alas!" he said.  "The tale has been proven true!  Let us go now in haste, for i fear that there is more here than meets the eye."

The three quickly entered the library.  They searched first for elvish tales.  There was nothing found.  Tales about rings next.  There were quite a few, so they split up.

"Ring of Fire..." mumbled Inioch.  "Somehow it does not look fiery."

Astral picked up an old book and blew the dust off.  "Guardian's Ring - Protector of all good.  Fits only the fingers of a hobbit." Astral read.  "Well I think it rules this tale out." he continued, eyeing the ring.

"Glendeur" read Korwin suddenly.  "Bringer of Mystical Power. Forged by the elves in AC143"

"It must be speaking of the 'Azaryth Calender', thus the AC.  Let's see..." Korwin said silently, then paused to think.  "Today would be 1253 in their reckoning.  It all seems to fit."

"...bears the inscription 'High Kings of Azaryth'." said Korwin curiously.

He got up and walked over to another bookshelf.  Astral and Inioch watched with great interest.

"It seems that the phrase would translate to what we found on the ring in Azrien.  So the name is Glendeur."  said Korwin triumphantly.

"Glendeur..." repeated Astral after recieving the ring back.  He looked at it carefully.

"Guard it well, for we know not of who or what else may seek it.  Do not speak of it openly." said Korwin in a low voice.  "You will have to sleep at my residence for now.  I have been informed that your new house is soon to be ready.  But let us rest now, for we are weary."

So they returned to their houses and rested.

Astral woke early in the morning to read a new book, titled 'Pen - The Rune of Spirit'.

By mid afternoon, he had finished the book.  Korwin went with him to the woods to test out the new spell.

When they arrived, Korwin proceeded to cast a lightning bolt of some sort to keep the animals away.  "Try combining the runes 'ra' and 'pen' now." he said.

"Alright" replied Astral.  He curled his lips and they moved as if he was speaking, but yet no sound was heard.  'Ra Pen' he thought, but all he seemed to summon was a small cloud of smoke.  As the smoke appeared, the ring seemed to twitch in his pocket.

"It takes practice" said Korwin gently.  "Give it another try."

Astral repeated the same process, and targeted the spell where Korwin indicated.  He did not notice that the ring had slipped onto his finger.  Suddenly a great ball of blue fire appeared and Korwin was nearly knocked off his feet.

Regaining his balance, he saw the ring on Astral's finger.  "Take it off!" he hissed.

Astral slipped the ring off his finger.  "I swear, i did not try to put it on!  But somehow it was on my finger.  I do not know what caused it to do that." he replied to Korwin.

"Nor do I." said Korwin.  "That is why i suggest you not mention it or use it again until we learn more of its nature."

"Agreed" said Astral.  "I think we should head back now.  The sun is approaching the horizon.

Korwin nodded and they set off back to town.

When they arrived in town, they had a little diner, then settled off to bed.  While they slept, the quiet creak of a door opening echoed through the house.  Footsteps across the nice floor then rang.  Someone was in the house.