Mace (Died Turn 106): Mace died some months ago - killed in a public execution not far from the palace of Bisha. The Messiah of Pain, head of the cult of Loviatar had been spotted in the Trolin shrine where he was recieving healing having paid over a hundred cadocs for treatment for the terrible injuries inflicted on him by Leda Cross. Much to the surprise of the guardsmen hastily assembling outside the shrine Mace surrendered himself without a fight, believing that he could strike a deal with the Duke that would allow his faith to flourish in Bisha. Unfortunately he was wrong - despite ChevalierÕs edicts legalising torture in the DukeÕs name and despite the OrthianÕs respect for Mace as a terrifying warrior Chevalier could not fly in the face of his duties and his ruling council. Mace was formally arrested by the high priest of Corgul, under whose command he could not even manage a last orgy of destruction, and led off for beheaing. Following hard on the heel of this was a two day general amnesty for Loviatarians to come forward and renounce their faith. The only notable exceptions to the recanting were MaceÕs leutenant, the warrior Mandelbrot, and Holon Hunner, the Accountant of Pain, both of whom fled the city. The seedy fetish bar, DDÕs, that acted as a front and recruiting ground for the faith has been placed under new management.
Some highlights/triva about MaceÕs career supplied by Steve - Dragar Darksoul - Eldridge: MaceÕs adventuring life began some ten years ago and he was the last survivor of the four companions who attempted to paint South Erythria red way back then. Advenutures included being Õstitched upÕ by Doctor Taproot and left at the mercy of head-hunters (not ones from Price Waterhouse either). Mace served six months in a southern gaol too after Dragar grassed him up. This treacherous maniac Dragar Darksoul proved to be Mace's longest surviving friend. Dragar fled the nomad uprising with Mace and came north aboard the Farland. Those were happy days - how the pair chortled in many a north western bar as they recalled having to jump ship at Skeksis after eating the captain's wife...
Early adventures in the region included a drunken beach party feasting on giant crabs, storming an orcish watch-tower on Skeksis, teaming up with HV the Champ, Vulture and High priestess Versch, troll-bashing.... One highlight was when Dragar went berserk stripped naked and attacked a giant slug then tried to kill Mace. Mace couldnÕt out-run the Orthian and had to throw himself off a cliff to escape. Dragar's lunacy finally ended his own life and ruined Lady AriaanaÕs mission to the Skeksis orcs when he single handedly assualted king Borg's bodyguard.

Mad Jack (Died Turn 73): Mad Jack's adventuring career started far to the North on the Isle of Tafkhim. Travelling with his slightly insane brother Black, a Trorindite, he soon linked up with that famed Orthian, Ranulf and several others on a quest for the Sword of the Tafkhim Prince. They discovered it after many hairy encounters only to lose it in a betrayal by one of their party. Sports fans will be interested to know that it was during this time Mad Jack invented the now popular sport, Wyvern Tail Riding. Disillusioned by the loss of the sword, M.J. and his brother travelled south to the Northwest. On their first job, working for Ebron merchant of Sigismund two things happened that would change M.J.s life forever. The first was the death of his brother Black, to the sting of a wasp like monster. The second whilst working for Ebron he met the manÕs new son-in-law, Baronet De l'Enfernal. So started a partnership and friendship that would endure many a hard test (especially on the Baronet's side). Mad Jack proved his cunning and devious intellect, setting up security at the De l'Enfernal mansion that would claim many a victim. Although the loss of many of his household staff was distressing Chevalier liked what he saw in this new recruit and gave him 50 men to take the village of Arean from the Pirate Brotherhood in preparation for the invasion of Squat.
Finding the target on full alert due to the activities of four allies, Bob, Fleetfoot, Ghyll and Herbert and an unexpected visitor, Lord Squat, Mad Jack led his men on a typically bloody but successful assault. It was in the aftermath of this battle and his heavy handed questioning of prisoners that he managed to sow the seeds of doubt in the allies. On the following day ChevalierÕs fleet arrived and taking on board his men and allies sailed for Squat. When disaster struck in the sinking of the flag ship, M.J. again proved his leadership qualities, acting swiftly he saved many lives, despite the desertion and betrayal by the four allies. He never forgot this act, especially those of Fleetfoot and Bob.
Three months later he lead the victorious assault on Squat, flying in to deal death with the mighty blade Crann Tarith. He ended the fight barely alive but surrounded by dead enemies, a situation he would become used to! As a reward for his heroics he was made a Captain of ChevalierÕs army replacing Damfold, slain by Bob in the sinking three months before. He swiftly instigated a training regime that would sharpen up the already battle hardened men into one of the most fearsome battle troops ever seen.
A year later his training was put the test at Diamond Springs, his men surpassed themselves and his cunning battle tactics and use of scaling ramps and scorpion bombs, meant the swift and virtually loss free taking of that settlement. He also distinguished himself with his own blade, slaying both Shone Sunblaze and Fanith Lar two champions of Sahmen. This venture made him rich in both money and magic, but the quest for glory and battle meant he did not rest on his laurels but sailed to Trefato as a newly knighted commander of 100 men.
On Trefato he fought in the civil war for over a year. Again his leadership was shown to be exceptional. Against all odds he lead his 100 men behind enemy lines for a year. Fighting a guerrilla war his men became a legend "The Ghost Legion" would strike, take a stronghold then simply disappear leaving behind only strongly defended defiles and dead cat riders in their wake. He was at the final battle of the war and with Chevalier fought his way up the tree of life and helped kill Death incarnate and the pretender Prince.
After this two quests dominated his life. The battle fruit and his lady love. He sailed first to the Morgue on Bromo to find a floral token of his esteem. It was an usually place to go for such a gift, especially when the flower is 15 feet tall and eats a few of those trying to pick it, then again the lady in question, Versch high priestess of Renchu, is an unusual choice herself. M.J. sailed back to Sigismund in triumph love token in tow. It can be truly said of the man that upon his return he did not just flirt with death but gave it a "right good seeing to". His next quest was for the Battle Fruit and led him
indirectly to his death. After having a bloody duel with Obaal in the mistaken belief he was an Orthian, M.J. joined the assault on Tulak. There he distinguished himself once more and captured High Priest Postar. He refused to hand over his prize to Slanter and Slanter backed down warning him what would happen if the prisoner was not handed back in Sigismund. This act of defiance to the most feared warrior of Renchu gained him the Battle Fruit at last. He suggested an immediate withdrawal to Slanter and, when his advice was ignored, managed to cut his way out of the town with his men. He was shipwrecked on a deserted Island and it was here, in a gesture to his dead brother that he released the priest and sealed his fate. He died shortly afterwards in a titanic battle with Slanter, screaming his defiance to the last, losing only because his luck was out.
He will be sadly missed by his friends and his enemies will be greatly relived he is gone. He lived and died a true Orthian and his place at Orth tables is assured. He will be avenged whether by the Duke, or his son now growing in VerschÕs belly we will have to wait and see.

Corine Jaldar (Died Turn 73): Corine Jaldar died a lonely death away from the eyes of men, all men that is except Nain the Watcher whom she tried to save from the goblin torture chambers and who communicated word of her last moments to Bisha that we might know of her heroics. The obituary below comes from CorineÕs player:
Corine was an difficult PC to play, starting as she did on 250 points in a region populated by mighty heroes. She overcame her weakness by becoming a groupie to the stars (especially NPC's such as Sirs Bantainin, Heinrich and Herbert), and influencing their actions.
Her highlights were the destruction of the zombie hoard at Darhan (courtesy of loads of PC's), the destruction of the orcs north of Tulak (courtesy of the Tulak army), and exacting revenge on Arianna and Olaaf (courtesy of a phoenix).
Lowlights included being in Sigismund when the volcano struck and getting Sahmen to save the city (or so she thought...), watching helpless as Herbert and Bantainin died against overwhelming odds at Ramshorn and accepting a mission from Magus Valdrad.
Corine finally bit off more than she could chew when she penetrated the lair of Basherak's goblins (aiming for Turshan!), killing dozens before finally going down in combat.
My advice from the experience: when you start a weak-character that suffers mental breakdown, don't become a Sahmenite - it will be the death of you... Visit a Trolin temple and get cured instead of role-playing it!!

Leda Cross (Died Turn 70): Leda Cross was a violent and foul mouthed young lady with a penchant for battle axes. The only surprise is then that it took her so long to find the Orthian religion, converting only last year after a duel with Avalor Dangerous. It is possible she was kept from her natural calling for so long by her early flirtation with the faith of Loviatar. The Godling came to her in her hour of need and offered her salvation in return for her soul - he was collecting Servants at the time. Leda's service to Loviatar ended when she walked into the Corgul temple in Bisha and presented herself to the high priest. There then followed a lengthy probationary period during which she was forced to accompany a group of heroes questing against the Pain God. Her status gradually changed from that of prisoner to team member and at the last it was Sir Philoctetes and not Leda who allowed Loviatar to escape. Leda in fact delivered the coup de gras to one of the Godling's most powerful Servants, a magic-devouring beast named Utter.
After her actions against Loviatar Leda saw active service against the Black Moon orcs as a temporary recruit to TulakÕs third army. Leda performed exceptionally well against the orcs and the tribe were driven from the Triptish hills. Like Corine Leda moved from the Triptish campaign into the service of the Magus Valdrad and as in Corine's case the move proved fatal. Leda was sent to mount Sasbicand on a secret mission that seemed to involve killing goblins. She had recruited a band of warriors in Tulak but during a brief stop in the village of Roxbury one of these men became involved in a fight which he lost. The man who floored him, Brian the Slayer, took his place in LedaÕs team. This was not the only brawl in the Red Rock Inn that night, Leda herself punched out the bodyguard (Lathspell) of a merchant (Doctor Taproot) with whom she had an old dispute. It was only much later that 'Brian' revealed himself as Mace, still a true Servant of Loviatar and bound on revenge for LedaÕs betrayal.
Mace timed his treachery well, making his move after letting Leda do the bulk of the fighting against a goblin warband headed by a rock troll. Despite injuries sustained during her very tough fight against the troll Leda was well prepared to counter the Pain magics that Mace threw against her and recovered from her surprise to mount a very creditable defence. In the end she was not assassinated in the manner in which Mace had hoped but went down in a well matched fight between two fine warriors. It was a fight that only Fate prevented Leda from winning (i.e the outcome was keyed to that weekend's lottery bonus ball and she was out of luck) and one that earned her immediate access to Orth's Feasting Halls.

Chaka (Died Turn 18): Chaka with his southern isles ebony skin, his vast frame and even vaster laugh was always one to stand out but of late it was his deeds that marked him. Having come at last to fully embrace the faith of Corgul he set himself against the foul tide of lycanthropy threatening to engulf the city he loved. He spent many long cold nights on watch, on patrol, investigating every lead. He battled werewolves in broad daylight armed with only a blacksmith's sledgehammer and he fought them in the dark to save fellow Corgulian Cedric Wolfsbane. In this last fight both were so deeply bitten that they knew the must submit themselves to the cure - in the tainted depths of the Trorindar shrine they found only death at the hands of the enemy Chaka had sought so long.

Cedric Wolfsbane (Died Turn 17): Cedric Wolfsbane was a far more sober character than his younger brother Frederick who died last year in Darhan. He was a loyal servant of the Corgul temple and on their behalf ventured into the cess-pit that Cursiter has become under HesterusÕ rule. He sought out information on the vampire knight Sir Andre Sa'Kel, following up reports that the Renchuite was on the trail of the Shield of Renchu. It was Cedric's warning that sent Sir Eliriad racing to Sir HetherlamÕs room.
Despite his fateful surname Cedric had not set himself against the werewolves and was leaving the city ahead of the titan when he became the target of an attack. He did, however, fight well and went to Corgul with a clean soul.

Bondrick Blackadder (Retired Turn 68): Bondrick Blackadder, a Haquarian adventurer of some note. A fuller retirement statement may be forthcoming but in brief:
Bondrick spent several years risking his neck for the Haquar church on a variety of missions that netted him considerable wealth and personal glory. He put it all aside when he met Niomi, a barmaid at the Secret Scroll (now the Second Scroll) whom he later had occasion to rescue from the burning tavern in the fire following the battle of Darhan. Bondrick's elder brother Baldrick died in that battle and this may have been a factor in his deciding to settle down with Niomi (having first overcome her parents' objections). He became the keeper of the city graveyard but was drawn back into the adventuring life when the undead plague of AE 910 robbed him of many of his charges. Niomi was killed in the plague but raised from the dead by Fleetfoot, along with Lilith the Whore. There followed another period of domestic bliss, ended by the 'just one more adventure' syndrome. Bondrick left his wife and newborn son (Baldrick) to investigate the strange world inside a box acquired by the Haquar temple. He began to miss his home almost on entering the box-world and after penetrating the first few veils of the place he used his magics to return. The shock of discovering that his short time within the box had been months in Darhan, months missed from seeing his son grow, led Bondrick to hang up his sword for good. He sold off the various wonders he'd gathered during his travels - to his younger brother Edmund - and took an honest job. We wish him all the best.

Arilyn Darklighter (Retired Turn 16): Arilyn Darklighter who had a short career, the highlight of which was stabbing a poisoned dagger into Lord Namibsi DusquatÕs wedding tackle. She went on to survive an assassination attempt by her former partner Raymell Crumn, fleeing to Darhan to escape him. In the forest city her luck turned from bad to worse and she went to the Drasci temple begging for work. What she got was suckered into a non-existant mission along with a number of other young women - resulting her being sold into slavery. At this point her player decided to concentrate on his other two characters!

Fleetfoot (Retired Turn 156): Fleetfoot, a mage whose adventuring career has lasted well over a decade and taken him from the unimaginably distant southern isles to the north western corner of the Erythrian continent. In all these long years Fleetfoot's goal had always been to study magic. In the end he got what he wanted. A remote and defensible tower, a chest of arcane papers on elementalism and an excellent grounding in rune magic. This all set him up perfectly for sitting down for the next decade and doing what mages do best. This could provide entertaining role-play to some but to FleetfootÕs player it seemed the ideal end to a very rewarding career and I tend to agree that the old maxim 'quit whilst you're ahead' can be a good one. A summary of Fleetfoot's path to greatness written by the man himself is appended to this Newsletter.

Sir Hetherlam (Died Turn 103): Hetherlam Silvereye's illustrious career ended recently after well over 100 turns and near ten years. It's always sad to see a well-loved character go, but if there was no chance of ever coming to grief then a certain vital thrill would be absent from the game when it came to opening that innocent little envelope... There follows a tribute from his friend Sir Jerival:
Hetherlam Silvereye was viciously murdered in Bisha recently. A brave and honourable man, he was a true and loyal friend and will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. I first met Hetherlam in AE906, on board a captured pirate ship, as we escaped from the battle of Woodbry. Our first adventure occurred on this ship as we sailed to the pirate base to clear it out for the Trorindar temple. We then travelled to the Jenghi mines to clear them of Ghouls, and it was there that I first witnessed his mighty bravery. Without thought for his own life, and serving the path of good, he fought the wielder of the Sword of Destu, two wraiths and two Dark Templars, refusing to surrender or retreat. With myself and a few others we succeeded in chasing the Swordwielder from the battlefield. Henceforth, Hetherlam became my one true friend, someone I could always rely on to be by my side. He was someone I could trust with my life.
Together we had many adventures, including our prevention of an attack on my home town of Kallikta. We infiltrated a Renchu temple in Rulfin and closed down the portal that was being used to shelter their agents. For this bravery Hetherlam received the title 'Defender of the Bridges'.
We travelled west together and I became involved in Corgulian missions for his new priest, Hendrus. The first of these appears to have led to his untimely death; and the second led us to preventing the IceWitch from tightening her grip on Bisha.
It was at this time that our ways parted. Hetherlam wished to continue working for the Corgulians, whom I believed to be too involved in generating personal power. Hetherlam however remained to his death morally spotless, and remained true to himself and his friends. We kept in touch as often as was possible and my only regret is that we did not communicate more frequently.
Hetherlam's life was cruelly ended by a man who was not worthy to lick his feet. His name - Andre Sa'Kel. Remember it well. Hetherlam will now be at CorgulÕs side where he deserves to be. You will be missed, my friend, and your death will be avenged.
Sir Jerival - Knight of Jengi, Lord of the Woods, Defender of the Bridges.

The (late) Great Guru (Died Turn 85):The Great Guru was an extraordinarily well travelled man. Such leanings went hand in hand with his personality, indeed they were a necessity since his particular brand of chaos and evil made him few friends and legions of enemies. His experiences eventually led to him forsaking Drasci in favour of Haquar. He fled from yet another soiled nest - in the distant isle of Exile - to seek a new career in the North West. At first he started well, closing down the unwholesome Bishan boutique - Skins and Things -before heading out towards the ruins of Gagh-Arch. It was on this voyage of discovery that he met Olaaf the Ancient and became as close to 'friends' as either Haquarian could manage. On this trip he also met a face from his murky past, Slanter Magicstorm, and lost no time in falling out with him once more, this time making bitter foes of Slanter's fellow Renchuites, bile and Sir Andre too.
Back in Bisha he colluded with Olaaf to kill the Somolian mage Hygrom, the crime for which he was eventually executed. He was captured by Sirs Weapon and Eliriad and sentenced to two years after an unsatisfactory prosecution. He served barely two weeks though, breaking out of gaol and killing a couple of guards in the process. Unfortunately he'd not reckoned with his incognito cell-mate Snowolf and was ultimately recaptures and beheaded. He went out with good humour to the end, showing two fingers to the world and making sure his last words word obscene.

I've already done an obituary for the Great guru but here is the one composed by the player himself:
Saturnalia has long suffered the interminable prencesce of this filty little man. A Drasciite in his youth in the distant Nad Woods of the north East, the Guru arose quickly to infamy in his local town of Zopjet through a succession of murders, fires, hurled insults and charges of public indeceny. Feared and reviled by all sides, the Great Guru became a power of Haquar, possessed of mighty necromantic powers and an utterly wicked sense of humour, though only he laughed at his own jokes.
A servant to the wielders of both Haquarians Swords, he arose to new levels of infamy in the North West with acessory to the murder of the somolian Hight Priest Hygrom and a long list of lesser murders including the proprietor of Skins 'n' Things. Unfortunately, such behaviour swiftly attracted the attention of the Corgul church, with a pyrotechnic arrest by Sirs Weapon and another one, imprisonment, aggravated escape and then the full scale scrambling of the entire Corgul Temple of Bisha to nail him again. Taking no chances, the Corgulits bravely killed him whilst unarmed - which is typical, really. And by his death, many claims of Corgulian brutality, corruption and extortion die with him, unanswered.
The moral of this story is: never trust a Corgulite as far as you can throw him. (or a Moranan for that matter! - Ed).

Frederick Wolfsbane (Died Turn 5): Here are two obituraries written for Frederick wolfsbane by two of the companions with whom he shared his short adventuring life.

(by Korvius Ep Kantory)
Frederick wasa young and niave lad, whose career as a Corgulian got off to a rather shaky start when he was noted frequenting the notorious 'Pink Pagoda'.
In the company of Volgaris and myself he rapidly matured, but alas only for a brief period.
He died what could be considered a good Corgulian death, saving the life of a friend, and allowing knowledge to be bought back to Darhan so that it might be used to help others.
He will be missed.

(by Volgaris)
Freddie was my friend, and his life was taken through treachery, an unkind and callous act of theft left him unable to properly defend himself in the face of immense danger. But showing courage beyond his years he still came to the aid of one in need, although it cost him his life.
Freddie you will be avenged. Goodbye my friend.

Wraif (Died Turn 5): Wraif was a young nomad whose path had lead him north from the great deserts of the Empire to endure the North West's bitter winter in search of his destiny. He was, like all his people, a devout and fervent follower of the sun god and it was to the Sahmen temple that he looked for guidance. He left the city bound to search for relics from the Castle of Light, beach combing along the cliffs where the castle had stood and housed generations of Sahmen knights before the sea claimed it. The sea claimed young Wraif too when he boldly tried to wrest a treasure from the sea and we may hope that he now sits with the knights of the past in Sahmen's halls.

Rokk Deouse (Died Turn 9): Rokk Deouse enjoyed a brief career but the emphasis was on enjoyment. The ogre always presented a convincing display of doped up mindlessness but either through luck or some deeply hidden cunning he managed to navigate a clever path through the obstacles that fate littered in his path. He died on the battle field with the blood of his enemies on him. A true, if atypical, Orthian.

Aleyne (Died Turn 96): Aleyne of Darhan (By the player)
Aleyne of Darhan had a long and successful thieving career which left her wealthy and infamous amongst certain sections of Erythrian society. Never stealing from those who could not 'afford' it, her most notable theft was from the Destu temple in Cursiter, but she was also known for her home visits to the rich and famous - including Startrap and Cimarohn. Theft was not her only skill. She 'investigated' for Haquarians and did covert operations for Suoconans and effectively participated in the defence during the siege of Darhan. However, the small, but incredibly attractive thief, who was always known to be accompanied by huge muscular fighters, over-reached herself when she attempted to steal the Staff of Larn from Turshan. She actually succeeded, but in a combined attack from a powerful Destu magic-user and the Ice dragon himself she died clutching the artefact in her frozen hands.
She leaves a grieving family in Darhan and a scattering of ex-lovers around Erythria. Aleyne loved and lived life to the full. She remains alive in the memories of all Darhan thieves and in the recollections of her lovers. She was a true Suoconan. (sniff! - Ed)

Sir Gerin (Died Turn 85): One of Sahmen's finest sons, a true Sahmenite who carved himself in the image of his god. He smote more evil in his life time than can be told of here and in truth this was not his first life time. A very few of you with long long memories may remember the rather psychopathic warrior Long Lankin, a Sahmenite who rode with Lady Algaria's 'Young Ones' back in the heady days of the Dark Templars and the grand battle against Narcissus in the South. He died after his offer to Sahmen to take his life in return for showing his companions the path to salvation was rather surprisingly accepted. What none but the now deceased Lady Diana Beanbag knew, was that after his spontaneous human combustion the spirit of Long Lankin was place into the short but worth body of peasant named Gerin.
It is fitting that Sir Gerin should have died with the Sword of Sahmen in hand since he spent so much of his life and risked so much in pursuit of it, serving the previous Sword Wielder, Raymel Whiteflame, without jealousy. Sir Gerin died in battle as I'm sure he would have wished and on reflection in Sahmen's halls he will no doubt count this as just repayment for the time he once saved Chevalier's life against his own better judgement (on an OTT - ed).

Cimarohn Gommar (Died Turn 110): Could want no more fitting death, slain in battle during single combat with another blood thirsty Orthian, Sir Dubrek. On the day she was the better warrior and fell at the last simply because her opponent had come to the field of battle better prepared with Orth's magic. Cimarohn's long career may have ended in the west but the vast majority of it was spent in the far east of the continent, much of it in the company of fellow Orthian, Avalor Dangerous.

Shone Sunblaze (Died Turn 42): The son of priest Severlin Sunblaze of Tulak set out from his home town little more than two years ago, setting foot on a long trail of adventure that would lead him to the dizzy heights of Squire to the Sword Wielder and to death in battle against the renowned captain Mad Jack. Before meeting his end on the northman's blade Shone had seen service against the forces of Hesterus practically on Cursiter's doorstep and later journeyed deep into the Veydean to fight alongside the Plague Rock dwarves against king Basherak's goblin hordes in a number of vicious subterranean battles. Shone was a devout follow of his god and an embodiment of Sahmen's principles. The loss of the Sword at diamond Springs was not the only blow to the church of Sahmen when Diamond springs fell.

Andolf Karne (Died Turn 24): A young Dianodian warrior who first set out from Bisha in the company of Gunther Ironsword last year. His brush with the cartel convincing him to leave the city for health reasons. He eventually arrived in Diamond Springs and parted company with the Corgulian to travel on for Cursiter. It was to Diamond Springs though that he returned to set out on his last fateful journey, having been given a mission by Arblay. In the company of Segrick the Wanderer Andolf found his way to Plague Rock where his timely intervention saved the life of Shone Sunblaze and his companion Lango, thus oiling the wheels of fate towards some as yet unknown destiny. Andolf and Shone later descended into the bowels of the mountain with the wielder of the Sword of Sahmen, Sir Gerin, and his retinue. After playing his part in aiding the dwarves in their war against king Basherak's goblin hordes Andolf left with Segrick. It was later discovered that they had taken the opportunity to steal from one of Sir Gerin's badly injured companions. They fled the mountains but tried to sell information of the Sword Wielder's activities to general Seriot, having encountered his army advancing on Ramshorn. Sadly Andolf's arrogance did not mix well with Seriot's own and the Orthian killed the Dianodian following an attempt by the former to shoot him through the neck at point blank range. Segrick is believed to have escaped, flying from the command tent.

Naylz Thunderhammer (Died Turn 4): Naylz had a short life by dwarven standards but they will not miss him. He was banished from the Veydean at an early age, his temper being more like that of an ogre with tooth ache than a dwarf. He clearly retained some concern for his homeland however, leaving his adopted city of Cursiter to bring warning of King Hesterus' attack to his people. However as fate would have it he became embroiled in the attack on Ramshorn, being trapped within the village as Hesterus' troops encircled it. Unfortunately whilst he took time to bind and clean his wounds within the security of one of the round houses the villagers surrendered to the opposing force. When Naylz rushed from the house, howling war cries he found himself surrounded by the foe and was quickly slain. The only other fatalities taken defending Ramshorn were one young villager, and on the slopes below, captain Bantainin and Herbert.. These last two died as Sahmen heroes might hope to, surrounded by drifts of the corpses of evil men. Despite there being but two of them against an entire army they employed their mastery of battle and the tools of war taken from Turshan's hoard to such effect that they carved a considerable hole in general Seriot's force.

Dragar Darksoul (Died Turn 65): This warrior was renowned for his vicious and chaotic worship of Orth at both ends of the continent. He started strictly small time in the dives of the hot and dusty southern empire, mixing it with conmen and thieves. His first contact with the upper echelons of society was when he was plucked from obscurity to obtain the Alorean Emerald for the Grand Vizier of Los, in the company of Sir Ardna de Totta. He came north with his long-time companion Mace well before the mass exodus that followed the recovery of The Sword of Sahmen. The warrior simply sought a land where his kind of excesses would draw less immediate reprisal. He battered his way off the isle of Skeksis and coming to Sigismund took service with for Silesia, putting his skills to good use against Thri-Kreen in the mushroom caves of Delv. He spent a fair time in gaol, mostly in Darhan, for brawling. After one six month spell inside he paid the city back by murdering an armourer, several of his journey men, a number of innocent by-standers and half a dozen of the ten rangers sent to bring him back. Escaping back to sigismund he rejoined his comrade Mace for a fatal return to Skeksis. On the dread island, with his sanity hanging by only an elasticated thread Dragar took enormous pleasure in killing not only the local flora and fauna but his own companion Seron Bathsheba. Hard on the heels of a particularly nasty incident involving being frozen into a huge ball of bat guano Dragar flipped completely. Without provocation the Orthian singlehandedly attacked the orc king Borg, his score of bodyguards and the eighty or so footsoldiers he had with him. Despite unwilling aid from Mace Dragar could not manage this feat and fell with ten orcish veterans to his axe.

Inferno (Died Turn 44): Inferno was born a slave and died one. In between however he became one of Renchu's fastest rising dark-stars. His career began with a voyage to the Serpent Isles. This was highly successful and lead directly to his marriage to Sian and his leadership of the mission to Gagh-Arch. Unfortunately his next task proved to be even harder than recovering the seeds of death had been.. and that was hard! His team had assets, like Sir Andre Sa'Kel and liabilities, like Dark Valentine. It was Dark's violation of a plainsmen's burial site that lead months later to Inferno and his companions Leda and Bile being pursued by a large band of the nomads. Just as death seemed imminent a mysterious stranger appear to offer the trio salvation.. for the price of their souls. Bile refused and the other two accepted. Inferno sold his soul and was well paid, but when at last he returned to Cursiter he presented himself to the Renchu temple, hoping to explain himself. Priest Reshnu was forewarned by Bile, who had survived when the stranger kept his promise and saved those who pledged themselves to him. Reshnu considered Inferno's actions treachery of the worse kind, killing him and having his body impaled on the traitor's spike.

Bob (Died Turn 107): The famous have been crowding to get on the roll of honour this month! Before moving on to the fallen I will just take this opportunity to invite any who have lost characters in the area to write their own obituaries. I think this would be a good idea, especially for those who have spent much of their time adventuring in other areas since I have little or no information on those times. It seems a shame for a character such as Moranthis to be summed up in terms of the last few months of a decade long career. Be guided by the length of text I normally give.
Deep below the ground, amongst the roots of mount Sasbicand a band of close on thirty of Saturnalia's finest warriors and no few mages emerged from Deth Stormborn's mystical portal to Haven and began final preparations before advancing of the wyrm of Ang-Ashad to reclaim The Sword of Sahmen. Only two days previously they had escaped an attack by the wyrm at Diamond Springs where it destroyed the Sahmen shrine. The quester's leader, a mystical knight named Kas, brought forth a duplicate to battle the dragon - which they believed was also a duplicate - whilst they made for the mountains unseen, using Deth's magic.
The questers found the dragon (known to the dwarves as Turshan) on its hoard and attacked with incredible valour. Many were killed outright as it first breathed, frozen by its icy exhalation. Amongst those to die in these first seconds were Raymell Whiteflame, the Somolian mage Winsens and Deth's ogre companion - Draze.
In the subsequent battle well over a dozen more heroes were slain, including Kas and all his followers, Lady Algaira, Sir Mithral, Moranthis - former wielder of the sword of Orth and Bob. When at last the dragon fell to a great blow from Avalor Dangerous, using his brother's sword of fate, there remained the problem of the surviving berserkers. Without the use of berserk spells the dragon would never have been defeated but with Bob dead and nobody to pacify the madmen extreme measures were needed. During the fight Deth Stormborn had transformed into a huge, raging were-panther and now was on the point of killing the already badly injured Sir Gerin. Naz took Deth's life instead with a bolt of energy. With more time to consider the best action the remaining berserkers were brought back to sanity with demagic spells.
Hard on the heels of the fight came the issue of how to split the treasure and Naz concluded that the only reward Dritzz deserved was death. Some protested that the thief had made it all possible by leading them in but Naz had no mercy for a known assassin. The Sahmen mage narrowly beat Avalor to killing him, Avalor citing the murders of Clanos, Maegluin and Halvar Dangerous as ample reason to slay Dritzz.
Bob - A flamboyant character to say the least. Far from the typical mould of a Suoconan Bob always had an eye to personal gain and didn't care who she had to sleep with of hack to death to get it. She was seldom without a hunky fighter at her side and after Dorian died she wasted no time in prizing Herbert away from his new love Amber. However at the last she died alone since Herbert stayed to defend Diamond Springs, motivated they say by the fact that Amber was there and claiming still to be carrying his child. None will be sorrier to see her passing than the mage Fleetfoot to whom she was a kindred spirit, a true and platonic friend. Happiest to hear of her death will be the pirates of Squat Isle from whom she recently stole some highly valued treasures of the Brotherhood. Baronette Chevalier will be saddened as he would have liked her to have died far more slowly and at his hands.

Deth Stormborn (Died Turn 86) - A shrewd business-like adventurer with a passionate hatred of Destu. Deth was feared by his enemies for his excellent swordmanship and his uncanny ability let you know he'd arrived by tapping you on the shoulder. Recently he had turned his hand to trade and was building up a profitable transport business with a turn-over of close on a thousand cadocs in only a few months. He was a family man and will be sorely missed by his companion Calterna and their newborn daughter. Last year he had a run in with Olaaf the Ancient and that is one lich who will rub his boney hands together in glee at the hero's passing. In the end it was the curse that Destu laid on him long ago that lead to his death, his were-pantherism had been envied by others in the past but surely no longer.

Dritzz Zarcon (Died Turn 85) - This sneaky self serving import from the east had quite a profitable association with Celestrial Storm for the first few years of his visit. An assassin of some cunning and exceptional skill he followed Drasci's darkest aspect and rarely actually stole, preferring to kill people and loot the bodies after. For a time Dritzz even eclipsed Anostus Crumm's dark star, managing to kill Halvar Dangerous and Maegluin where the great assassin had failed (Dritzz was only directly responsible for killing the elf, Celestrial struck the death blow on Halvar). Famed Somolian Clanos Danor also fell to his knife whilst sleeping. Perhaps one of the most memorable scenes from Dritzz's career in the north west was when he was turned into a small shrub by the Balorn forrestral and was seen desperately "phasing" ahead of the forest fire set by his companion Celestrial. I think it safe to say that no-one will miss Dritzz and adventurers will sleep easier in their beds but that the world will be a duller place without him.

Moranthis (Died Turn 134) - What can one say about this mighty Orthian? He had a career that spanned a decade and brought his the highest accolade an Orthian can hope for - the Sword of Orth. He adventured across the face of Saturnalia but only his death has much relevance to the people of the north-west and so I shall not report his many victories here. The wyrm of Ang-Ashad was so powerful that in the fight during which so many brave heroes lost their lives it was largely the throw of Dianodus' celestial dice that decided who would live and who would die. Once singled out for destruction by the dragon very few survived. Moranthis did not. < 2000+ VIT to -300 VIT in two easy rounds!>.

Raymell Whiteflame (Died Turn 60) - This good and honourable warrior's entire adventuring life has been focused on The Sword of Sahmen and given that he had to die he could have wished for no more than to do so in an ultimately successful bid to regain the sword for Sahmen. After a long quest in the south Raymell was honoured by being chosen as swordwielder above more experienced Sahmenites such as Lady Diana and Sir Gerin. His piety and devotion to Sahmen marked him out as the chosen one and he fulfilled his role well until the fateful day when a crack squad of Harquarian warlocks lead by Sir Philoctetes teleported into his headquarters and wrested the Sword from him. Since then he has tirelessly trailed the Sword until coming at last to the dragon's lair. During his adventuring he saved a pair of elf-children from certain death in the Sigismund arena and unintentionally decommissioned the bulk of baronette Chevalier's pirate-bashing fleet when he set one ship's sails alight with a spark spell as a diversion to cover his escape. Raymell will be remembered for his good heart and by his friend Sir Ardna for the number of times he detonated fireballs at point blank range, blowing up friend and foe alike.

Arque (Died Turn 49): Grim death has been stalking around the beginning of the alphabet of late. Arque died in the El-pits at the centre of the Elish forest. She and Leucine were searching for the heart of the major spirit of ruin known as Loath. They had found themselves unable to do more than destroy the physical forms that Loath infested as she attacked them in the forest and so they had entered the El-pits to seek out the creatures heart. They found themselves under a concerted attack by both Loath and a mysterious second person in one of the deep caves. Arque came to grief in a pool of acidic slime then was buried alive and finally hacked to pieces by zombies which Loath inhabited but which were under the command of the other person. Leucine also ended up in the pool, dropped there when her "Sky Bow" suddenly stopped working and later flung there by blasts of black fire from the second person's sword. She eventually was forced to flee, leaving in a most impressive manner by use of a teleport spell.

Akira Briareos (Died Turn 61). A well known and popular man in Darhan he was found dead in his bath at Lord Tsac's house, having been garotted. The new black dagger is Arton Kriss' former closest rival, Raven Dell. Akira had a long career spanning five or more years, amongst his most recent successes was the delivery of the Gildern cup to the Haquar temple.

Dark Valentine (Died Turn 9): Dark Valentine enjoyed only the briefest taste of the adventuring life, leaving from Sigismund for the distant ruins of Gagh-Arch and dying there. Mirroring Celestrial's tale she too was a Renchuite killed by a fellow Renchuite which lends a certain wisdom to Jean-Luc de Bifron's comment when offered the chance to follow after Inferno's group with Sir Andre Sa'Kel,
"I'd rather face the ogre of Lort's Deep on my own than sleep along side six Renchuite adventurers!"
The first step on the path to doom came when the Renchu party Dark had met up with were forced to shelter on a hill sacred to the plainsmen to avoid a crawler migration. A plainsman chief was laid out within the stone circle atop the hill and against everyone's advice Dark Valentine looted the body, taking two silver chalices of gems. Despite endangering the party she kept these all to herself. When on the following day a large band of plainsmen caught up with the Renchuites to avenge the sacrilege she kept tight hold of her chalices, spilling gems into the grass as she stumbled away. The ensuing fight was bloody and would have resulted in certain death for all the Renchuites but for the spectacular show of strength from Sir Andre Sa'Kel, the vampire knight battling ferociously to save his companions. When the plainsmen were finally beaten off not one amongst the city dwellers was without serious injury - Dark herself having a broken arm and holding both chalices tight to her chest with the good one.
Reaching the ruins Dark showed a startling lack of generosity, refusing to share her gems even with Sir Andre who had saved her life three times over from the vengeance her rash actions has brought on all of them. Finally the group's leader, Inferno, split her head with his axe and divided the gems himself.

Arran Whitewolf (Died Turn 28): Arran was a devout Corgulian and a keen scholar, an fine example of the finest traditions of the faith. His adventuring life had not been startlingly successful but he personally had always acquitted himself well. He took part in a lengthy journey to the gnome nation with Brady, Herbert, Amber , Cootan and Damfold Idaho. He was not present at the disastrous finale, having broken away from the group - convinced that Damfold had been replaced by a doppleganger. His suspicions proved correct and he managed to save the real Damfold as well as another victim of the beast. In his subsequent dealings with the enraged gnomes he proved to be a fine diplomat and actually managed to calm them and engage their aid. Had he stuck with the main group the mission may well have succeeded in bringing the magus Valdrad the ring he sought.
It was on another mission for the magus that he met his end. As one of nine adventurers answering the call to rescue Avalor Dangerous from his prison in the darkland wilderness that lies on the borders of the kingdoms of Death and Darkness he was teleported away from his business in Gagh-Arch. Sadly despite the fact that he was chosen as the psychic repository for all of the party's healing none of them thought to intervene when he was threatened. Ignoring the obvious - that he could heal them of any injury they incurred in saving him from the monster that they had summoned through a rash and greedy act - they watched him die. His death was brought around by an uncharacteristically wrong answer to a simple but rather vital question which only goes to show that even the cleverest of us can make stupid mistakes under pressure.

Celestrial Storm (Died Turn 75): Celestrial will be sadly missed by.... will be missed by.... Celestrial Storm's long career as a pillar of evil and thoroughly nasty fellow ended recently at the hands of fellow Renchuite Mace who now bears THE Shield of Renchu. Much of Celestrial's adventuring was carried out in the far east but it was not until his arrival in the north west that his fame and fortunes began to take off. After successfully recovering THE shield from Leetha'l Van Dal's corpse beneath the icy waters of Skeksis harbour he went on to complete a string of successful missions for the Renchu church, one of which will bear fruit in the coming months. Prime amongst his triumphs was the sealing of an alliance between the Comsak lizardmen and King Hesterus. He took considerable relish in obtaining (with friend Dritzz) the heads of Clanos Danor and Halvar Dangerous as part of the deal with the lizardking.
One who will not be sorry to see Celestrial go is Obaal, the king's champion. Had Celestrial made it back to Sigismund he was due to be made champion in Obaal's place.
At the last after turning the tide against the dwarves in their battle with Basherak's goblins in the Veydean he faced a Sahmen angel, discovered by the goblins roaming a nearby gorge. He and his companions decided to investigate the reports of a fiery beast and found themselves faced with a hugely powerful adversary. Celestrial was already quite badly injured from months of hard campaigning with little rest and was soon on the defensive.
On the advice of Renchu he retreated towards mount Sasbicand and Turshan's lair. Fading fast on the mountain's lower slopes he sought to buy time by promising the angel the location of THE sword of Sahmen. Unfortunately Mace took him seriously and, in an inspired attack, crushed the great man's skull with a single blow from his enchanted twohanded warhammer.
It is doubtful that any will be willing to challenge Mace for the shield since in a private arena tournament last year involving some of the region's most famed adventurers he came second only to Celestrial and above baronette Chevalier who came third!

Tenarka Nightshade (Died Turn 65): Tenarka has been adventuring across the face of Erythria for seven years to my sure knowledge and quite probably longer than that. He was founder member of the DRAGON, a righteous group formed to battle evil in Southern Erythria and one of the eight who ended foul Narcissus' reign of terror. His career encompassed several lengthy hiatuses but of late he had been hot on the trail of a certain item deemed essential to the future prosperity of Tulak. He died apart from his comrades in single combat with a powerful dark-elven sorceress. He would rather have been victorious but at least he went out slicing and burning evil.

Lilith the Loveless (Died Turn 20) Lilith never did find love, her journey into the wilderness with a young man ended in tragedy. Stranded at the Two Rivers trading post by the winter snows, Lilith teamed up with a large muscular man calling himself Darth and claiming to be an Orthian. The two of them accepted the owners' offer of gold for the slaying of a drac (large flying lizard) that had preyed on the post's stables for some years from its lair in the nearby Krite mountains. The man returned alone with the dracs head, Lilith's horse and money and a sad tale of her death in the drac's jaws.
When men from the post later went to skin the drac they found Lilith's corpse. The most recent wounds were a nasty sword cut to the shoulder, clawing to the chest and a neatly slit throat. The claw wounds were too small to be drac inflicted and with the Destu monastery at Asherak so close the men recognise the effects of a shadow claw spell when they see it. Post owner Badock surmised,
"He tried to cut her down, when she survived his surprise blow he cast his evil spell and knocked her senseless with it, then our "hero" cut her throat."
It seems like Lilith's killer was a Destuite but this in itself is strange since there is a traditional alliance between the servants of night and the followers of Drasci. If anything it should have been the Drasciite Lilith who was stealing from this "Darth"..." [Darth later discovered to be Mord]

Cadellin Silverbrow (Died Turn 80): Cadellin's long career ended in the ruins of Gagh-Arch. Finally over the broken leg that kept him out of the limelight for so long the Sahmenite came out of retirement and took up his tireless quest against evil once again. Ignoring the advice of his high priest (always a dubious idea) he left Tulak with only his faithful friend Grey Feather for company. They headed for Gagh-Arch, hoping to find more treasures there and in its rain lashed desolation found only death at the hands of a vengeful and invisible assailant. Thus ends an adventure that spanned more than seven years and a hundred turns. C'est la vie eh?

Vulture (Died Turn 37): The ghoul, Vulture, was sent to Renchu's kingdom permanently by Dragar Darksoul. Vulture had a long career, rising with the undead army to march on Darhan behind the banner of priest Reshnu. He spent some considerable time in the Sigismund catecombs after the battle before rising again on a quest for the temple. During this time he won the empathy of H.V the champ and later slew the Orthian. He is also thought to have killed H.V's companion Colob and Baronette Chevalier's man Tornston, both of whom did not return from the mission to avenge H.V, Dragar being the sole survivor.

Lady Diana Beanbag (Died Turn 105): Lady Diana was lost after falling into a bottomless chasm whilst adventuring on another world to free the messanger of the gods. Diana Beanbag was a Sahmenite warrior of huge experience, famed for her good deeds and hot temper. She died as she lived, leading from the front with little thought for herself. Her greatest achievement was her central role in the recovery of the sword of Sahmen and her greatest dissapointment, not being the chosen wielder. She had notable roles in the triumph over Narcissus and many other enemies of the empire and will be sorely missed by Sir Gerin, who idolised her.

Red Blaze (Died Turn 7): Red ended his short but flamboyant career as an Orthian berserker, dying in combat as befits one of his calling. A casulty of the battle in Balorn forest he reentered the fray against an earth elemental which had already flattened him and broken several of his ribs. Unfortunatly at that point Celestrial Storm, also fighting the elemental, withdrew to attend to command duties elsewhere on the battlefield and Red's head was pulped by a weighty punch.