#!b%%!pÑ !  )19AI (Also known as "Hurin's Quest")
This comical story was written by Hurin, Felena's first squire.  He was later knighted, and served the Table well until the fall of Neverwinter.

As I sit at a table in Striders, drinking a glass of fine elfin wine, I think about my last quest. It was given to me by the Lady Capybarra to go to Nightsedge Caverns and find out what I may. I started my journey on a bright clear day, with hope and confidence. I met many an adventurer on the way and had a fairly safe journey thru the Wharves, and Floodblest. It was then my troubles began. First it rained and rained all thru Nightsedge, making my spells close to worthless. It was sword work all the way to the Inn, which was abandoned. As I dried out my belongings (with no fire) as best I could, another adventurer came in mumbling about Dragons and Mages!!! From him I learned somewhat the direction I should go to reach the caverns.

In the morning I started on what I hoped would be the last leg of my journey (how wrong I was). The march to the caverns was over quickly and as darkness came I entered the caverns (I was not to see the sun again for many days). I wondered around in the darkness for hours or was it days, I lost track of all time. Finally by sheer luck at a place that looked like a dead end I heard fighting on the other side of the wall!!! Gathering my courage I hurled myself thru the wall shouting KORT!!! When I went thru I came out in a battle with the Mages with two other adventurers, plunging into the fight as best I could (spells were flying all over the place). I soon found myself held and helpless. Then that sudden feeling you get right before you start picking wood out of your shoulders. I made camp and planned my next move (grin).

I started back.  Now knowing the way I went quickly to the secret door, prepped, then again I hurled myself thru the door shouting KORT!!! This time alone I did a little better, used all my spells, all my power,  and again,  felt that feeling. As I sat camped at the cavern door a man came running by. I stopped him and offered him food and warmth at my fire.  As he sat down (mumbling about dragons and mages) he began to calm down, said he was thru with these caverns and was going back to Neverwinter.

I asked him if he would deliver a message to Camelot for me, especially to Lady Felena (who I hoped would be glad to hear from me) or to Windgrey to give to her. I worded my message carefully (grin), telling her of my troubles and asking her if perhaps she would care to join me, but ending with "all's well" (hehe). The next day as he started back to NW, I went again to the secret door and again and again until getting a little closer each time to winning but never winning (sigh).As I again sat camped refusing to leave, I felt a stirring in my mind and a voice I knew well saying, "I am coming wait for me", somehow I knew my liege was coming and it was her voice that I had heard. I still had to try one more time so off I went determined to succeed this time and get past the Mages.

As I sat back at the entrance picking rock chips out of my shoulder I heard laughter and singing and there was M'lady Felena smiling, with a light that shone all around her, in the surrounding dark, guiding page Kyrych Kyl along. As she starts to pass me by she stops suddenly seeing me.."Oh Hurin, there you are." (smile) "What seems to be the trouble? Be quick, I have my duties at Camelot and my writing to tend to."  I stood up meaning to remain calm, but the excitement got the better of me and I blurted out about how dark it was and how fierce the Mages were. M'lady stood there listening (nodding) while suppressing a grin.."Yes, yes", she said, "I understand perfectly hmmm yes..well come along, you lead". I was sure of the way to the door (having been there several times) and was going to it when we were jumped by orcs.

As we readied for battle, up came a fellow adventurer with a deep laugh, and a witty tongue, shooting potent fire balls and routed the attacking orcs in no time. After the encounter the stranger asked us where we were bound and introduced himself as LordDaryth. I told him we were going thru the caverns to the mages and beyond.  He smiled, "That sounds like fun, may I join, and who's leading this dark and dangerous (suppressing a grin) quest?" M'lady nods to me..smiles sweetly and says, " Hurin is". I promptly ask this fine warrior to join us, which he does. In short time we reach the door leading to the Mages, and swish, boom, bang, were thru and the battles over.

We are all straightening up after the fight with M'lady (glaring at me)...she says sweetly, "Lead on Hurin". I lead on ready for anything now, except the maze of doors we entered.  After losing us completely I mumble something about being lost, while I hear Lord's teasing voice "Picked a good time to join this group". M'lady's stern glare is starting to make me nervous when Kyrych Kyl comes to my aid and says he's been thru the  maze before and he can lead from here (whew!). Kyl started us off and led us straight and true thru the maze of doors to the fight with the ugly women (who like to expose themselves when they fight) , (DOH!) right to the door where he said this is it. We all started prepping.  I wasn't sure of what was in there but knew we were a strong party and could handle anything (sigh).  It was then I felt a hand on my back.  M'lady was standing next to me (smiling sweetly) "Hurin", she says, "We need to talk."  I agreed (she was glaring again) "but first I think ye needs go first!".(smile)

As I started to disagree I was forcibly pushed thru the door only to find myself completely surrounded by the bluest and ugliest Dragons I have ever seen, with all of them looking at me (must have been a million of ‘em). Needless to say I went ballistic. I backed myself in a corner and started launching everything all at once.  LB,FB,CK,MM,HM and anything else that would launch. All my spells were gone and it was sword work with only one coming at me at a time. Hacking and slashing at a Dragon on top of me (the Dragon blood pouring out on me) with one of its legs slowly pinning me to the ground, I hear this sweet voice say, "NEED HELP?" (chuckle) I am trying to say yes as best I can (knowing I need it now or never) when the Dragon decides to put its other leg and claw right on top of my head so all that comes out is this muffled garble of words. Kyl again comes to my aid and states that he believes I need help! In the three of them come with Lord making jokes and M'lady humming to herself. It was almost over too quick, the Dragons slain, us coming out of the caverns and stopping by the door to Floodblest.

I had tried to read the notes about the slave trade that I kept finding but M'lady was in a hurry (even Dagron said he hates people who read the text) so all I know is there's a slave trade and I must tell Lord Nasher. After all was over and I had given many thanks to all, Lord and Kyl went of joking and laughing leaving me with M'lady Felena, who is standing there smoothing out a wrinkle in her dress."Well Hurin, I must be off", she says, "Do hurry back, there's firewood to chop, my armor needs cleaning and..yes the stables could use cleaning too.  Also you might consider studying your scrolls too (pointed smile). You will hurry won't you?" I stager up to my feet and say,"Yes M'lady", and she's gone (poof). I fall back down start to gather myself and my things, and start thinking about the long walk back and the duties that await me.