THE WINTER SOCIAL

All members are encouraged to add their recollections of the evening to this page. I've started this off, but hope you'll all contribute. -= Ashwith Fairfever -=

AN EVENING OF FUN AND FESTIVITY
as recalled by Ashwith Fairfever

The festive holiday atmosphere is contagious. Everyday I look at the neighbors Christmas lights, the commercials on television, and think "Oh joy! What fun, it's holiday time!" On the other hand, I haven't had any interest in leaving Antonica, Faydwehr and Odus for such down to earth pursuits as say, putting up a Christmas tree in Seattle. What better way to combine these two forces -- than to have a Winter Social on-line! And what better place than Permafrost, where the snowballs are plentiful (cough) and Halas rum is nearby!

I really didn't think you all would come in such numbers. Nevertheless, I didn't want anyone to go hungry. I scoured the landscape for the finest in culinary ingredients. I slaved over a hot spit to bring my cooking skill from zero to fourty-three. I found the finest rum in the land (made out of toes or not.) And then the day was upon us... it was time to see if everyone would have fun drinking, eating, killing and well -- could we even have fun dying?

Our original count was 11, as we gathered at the ramp to Halas. Everyone was hopping (literally, having had far too much to drink), dancing, laughing and I don't think anyone understood anyone else. Every once in a while we'd all jump a bit as some one set off one of the tinkered fireworks that Flatimus brought to the party. It was truly an amusing and fun time. To cap off our memories, we took a lovely group photo and prepared our strategies. Thanks again to everyone who brought things, but especially to Qade and Flatimus for the fine drinks and fireworks.

We crossed the Everfrost planes without incident, though a little mishap with one of the Ice Giant guards sent us fleeing into the dungeon. We then started off slowly into the depths of Permafrost. I certainly hope my fellow adventurers weren't too annoyed at the slow pace and indecision on an initial target. Permafrost can be a dangerous land, and I felt it best that we take it one step at a time rather than jumping into a far-too-hard spawn. I was pleasantly surprised by the way we all quickly melded into a team, despite the need for two groups. Swords slashed, maces bashed and runners were burned to a crisp. The corpses of our goblin foes littered the landscape. Baramore joined our teams as Iago left and we soon cleared the Preacher camp. We were unstoppable and it was clear that this was not enough challenge. We were excited by our adventure... and wanted more.

Asron and Aurthur joined the fray, and we charged off into more difficult areas of Permafrost. The goblin jailers fell to our carefully coordinated attacks and Qade retrieved a heart of frost from a goblin wizard to use for his Staff of Temperature Flux. The King camp was broken and we retrieved two Zaharn's Coronets from the High Priest himself. And finally... our greatest challenge of the evening -- the Ice Giant Diplomat was pulled from his lair and slaughtered without mercy.

We were brave, we were fearless. We were the only guild in the dungeon. And then we wandered a bit too close to the Ice Diplomat doors... and two Ice Giants made us pay for our pride. Annathema, Ashwith, Asron, Emeraldo and Nenaminie fell to their blows. Sorilea became one with a portcullis and spent some time in a wall. The rest fled to safety. Such things happen when you've had too much merry, too much drink and too much success. Ah, but live and learn...

Aurthur and Baramore pulled each corpse from the lair of the King and returned it to the Everfrost border. Baldon resurrected those too far to travel, and all was well again. We still laughed, we still smiled. Yet, I think our hangovers were starting, and since the Ice Giants still roamed the dungeon, we thought better of returning to battle more that eve. I, for one, plan to return to exact my revenge on those giant ice beasts... and hope everyone else enjoyed themselves enough to join me for this eventual triumph.

Thank you again for the wonderful memories. I think we proved Permafrost can be a warm and inviting place despite the chilly landscape.

Ashwith Fairfever, Your Host

THE INITIATION
as recalled by Emeraldo

Ohhh, Emeraldo celebrate too much.

Today I wake up, I have strange bruises on body, I have splitting headache, I am sleeping on warm grass in middle of stone circle.

I am trying to be remembering what happened last night...Please forgive, my Common not so well.

I remember I was out protecting the village and earning some silver when suddenly very short man with beard and funny shaped orange armor hail me. We talk a little, and he warn me that soon many strangers come to try our barbarian food and drink. He say his tribe called "Emerald Templars". I think, "What luck! My name Emeraldo! I must become brother to this tribe". He say he not allowed to let people into tribe, so I must wait for others to come.

Soon another very short Holy Man with normal shaped armor come and say he member of same tribe. He ask me to join tribe, and we perform ritual of brotherhood, signing names in snow. Now I am Emerald Templar! We go back to Halas to meet rest of tribe.

Many strangers come to Halas then. Much mead is handed out. This is start of problem. Beautiful powerful Shaman give me beautiful powerful drink. She also prepare mammoth just like mom. Her name Ashwith Fairfever, she seem to be leader of tribe. Soon Halas is full of people like I have never seen. I learn of people called Elves, Dwarves, other tribe of human call himself Erudite, and Gnomes that are like Dwarves but different.

There is much singing and dancing with pretty Elves. At least I think they were pretty Elves. One of them tell me her name Flatimus, which is strange name for pretty Elf, but she was good dancer. She gave me fireworks.

Too soon though, drinks run out. Party get more serious, and people start to prepare to leave. Many powerful magicks are cast. I see different colors, I run fast like Winter Wolf, and I feel fearless and protected. I ask funny shaped Dwarf man what my tribe planning to do. I am very sorry when he tell me. My new tribe going to be killed in Permafrost! In Halas, the people scare children with tales of Ice Giants, and the Goblin King of Permafrost. The people speak in hushed voices of even a dragon called "Lady" Vox. People only half believe, but half very scared. I am sad, because I cannot leave my new tribe, but I fear I will never see my old one again.

We run across Everfrost like the wolf, but I am soon left behind, following only the light from many powerful objects the tribe carries. Soon I lose that, and am alone among giant ruins. It starts to snow again, and I can not see anyone. I shout as loud as I can for them to come find me, so I can lead them to Permafrost. I hear a faint voice ahead of me and run to it. Somehow, they have found the dungeon entrance even without my native guidance.

There to my right is the legendary Ice Giant. The tales are, of course, true. He must be 50 feet tall. Blue as the snow. And his back is turned. I sneak along far wall past Giant and down tunnel, into Permafrost! I rejoin my tribe in the hallway, safely away from the Giant. Only half of tribe is here, though, other half must be lost and coming later. They did not have barbarian with them to guide. We wait.

Some more of tribe come in ones or twos. Ground start to shake, I cover my head to protect from avalanche, but it is not avalanche. The Ice Giant guard has come to kill us! Everyone panic and start running deeper into Permafrost! I have to follow them, or else how will they survive?

We go so deep even the Ice Giant is afraid to follow us. What kind of tribe have I joined? When people in village start to talk about going to Permafrost, we put them out on the ice, and do not see them ever again.

We are quickly surrounded by Ice goblins. Real goblins, not the whelps and runts that plague Halas. Then I see what kind of tribe I have joined. The goblins are no match for us. We destroy the guards at will, looting weapons and armor, without even a scratch. We take room after room, clearing the dungeon of the monsters. I begin to think that the ruins could be rebuilt! Humans could live here again. But Goblins are one thing. Ice Giants and Dragons are another.

Even deep inside the dungeon, more tribe members come. We are joined by a Music Man, a Paladin, and a Priest of Nature. The priest is another very strange type of person. Like a Dwarf but different. But in a different way than Gnomes are different. These are things I do not understand. He wears everyday clothes even down here! He seems to have some sort of map in the book he carries, for he knows his way very well, like he has been here many times. Ashwith, leader of the tribe, lets him direct the group. This shows a very wise leader, who knows when to follow. I will follow her anywhere.

This new Priest, named Asron, says we must go and kill the Goblin King, and the Ice Giant "Dipplemat". Now I start to thinking my new tribe invincible. Or crazy. I'm trying to think of an ice floe big enough to hold all of us. We slash our way down into a huge cavern, leaving bloodied frozen goblins in our wake. We come to two huge double doors. Asron say behind there lies Dipplemat. Some of the tribe is very angry. They have had encounters with Dipplemat before, and are eager to repay him his kindnesses.

We rest, and I realize I have not eaten since the party, many hours ago. A beautiful High Elf Paladin in shining white armor named Maija of the True Heart generously spares some of her rations and water for me. I start to feel a little better.

I cannot believe what come next. My memory still blurry from fear and drink, but it seemed the doors were opened, and out stormed Dipplemat. He started to pound on first one, then another, then another of my brothers and sisters. I closed my eye, waiting for the end. It did not come. The sounds of battle continued. I looked, and saw Dipplemat, bleeding from many wounds, fall to the ground. Not a single Emerald Templar was killed, or even very badly wounded. Everyone was very excited and distracted, so they did not mind when I made off with the beast's toes and the rocks he used to throw at his enemies. I look at them now so I can believe what I remember. I hope to sell them, if anyone will believe my story of where they came from.

After this, we split up, to go find other powerful goblins and bring them here to be slaughtered. Some stay here, others go out to hunt. I am staying, guarding the group that remains. I go behind a large boulder to answer the call of nature only for a moment, with the tension of the moment temporarily over. Over my shoulder, I hear a door creak open, but think nothing of it, with Dipplemat dead on the ground. Then screaming. Sounds of bones crunching. Earth shaking. More Ice Giants have come to avenge their leader. With our forces scattered, we are no match for them. I leap to the defense, but the clever beasts find a chink in my armor and parrying skills, and I am struck to the ground unconscious.

I do not know how long I was blacked out. Somehow, some of us must have escaped back to the entrance past all the goblins that have refilled the dungeon like insects crawling from the ice. Aurthur, the valiant Human War Master has dragged me and the others from the camp with him to the entrance. Owing to the healing skill of the Holy Men, we are soon roused back to the waking world. Our journey into Frozen Hell is over.

Asron offers me the chance to leave Halas, and visit the rest of this large world. He can take me many places, but I choose to be taken near a city called Freeport. There should be many opportunities for a large man with a quick blade in such a town. In an instant, we are there. He tells me I am hundreds of miles from where we stood moments ago. I have no choice but to believe him. There is no snow, no ice, only grass and earth. It is peaceful. He points me in the direction of Freeport. I thank him, and he is gone.

I realize that humans will never live in Permafrost. The very ice has been corrupted. It feeds the evil ones. And then there is still the Icy Lady. She will not be easily banished, and until that is done, Evil will remain, and the Emerald Templars will fight it. I look forward to meeting the rest of my tribe.

Emeraldo of Halas Freeport