Muralla had spent days locked in her room.  She had dedicated
the past few weeks to preparing and executing the Squire Program.  It had
been all that she had concentrated and done.  Finally, she felt that the
program was well underway.  Rubbing her eyes and stretching, her blue eyes
looked out the window.  Darkness was all that she saw. A low rumbling from
her belly told her that she had been neglecting it of late.  It was time to
go find some food to settle it down.

As she stepped into the hallway, she sensed that the castle seemed to be
more awake than usual.  Footfalls could be heard downstairs, as if some of
the castle occupants were hurrying about.  Furrowing her brow, Mura crossed
the hallway and knocked on Giant's door.  There was no answer.  She knocked
again, thinking that he may be in a deep sleep.  Again, only silence greeted
her.

Carefully, she turned the doorknob and quietly opened the door to his
room.  Unexpectedly, light from the lamps in his room poured across her
feet.  She peered around the door to see if she could find him.  Her eyes
fell upon the papers on his desk, left scattered.  Opening the door
completely, Mura realized that Giant was definitely not in his quarters.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, as her eyes noticed that not only
was Giant missing... but so was Freedom.

Shutting the door, Mura quickly headed down the hallway towards the
Great Hall.  With determined footsteps, she made her way through the Great
Hall and out into the Courtyard.  Motioning to the nearest guard, she asked,
"What has transpired here?"

Posted by: Lothar Kesh
                 On: 05/01/00 07:28 PM

The small wagon train pulled out from the thick edge of the forest. Three
covered wagons with four-armed guard per wagon bounced roughly onto the
almost overgrown path. Three days ago the treasure held in these wagons were
uncovered in the ancient ruins north of Winterbrook, their destination, a
very wealthy merchant in a small but well known town of Kiezverith on the
southern tip of Winterbrook. The sun slowly sank down behind the canopy of
the forest painting the sky in deep reds, bright oranges and cool purples.
Not one cloud scared the beautiful sky and all of the guards and drives pause
to take in the moment.

“I can not wait to be home again, it’s nice to get away for a couple of days
but I’m getting to old for this.” The commander of the mission sighed. “If the
weather turned my bones would throb for days.” He stood and pointed ahead,
there the trail split. “Listen up all, we will head east for half the night
and make camp. I think it will be shorter to go this way and more secluded.
I want no chance of any highway men to over run us in the night.”

Two hours after sun set the wagon train lurked over huge holes and plowed
over small saplings. The lantern on the front of each wagon jumped and
swung; making the light they gave off bounce over the dark and quite forest.
Twice now they had to stop and repair a busted wheel but for the most part
the nighttime ride was pleasant. The cool night time breeze lightly touched
the guards faces on top of the wagon and gave them the impression that this
deep into the forest no bandits would threaten them so weapons were at their
sides and crossbows laying across their laps.

“Sir, look!” One of the guards whispered. The commander stood on top of the
wagon and looked up ahead at a sight he had never seen before. A thick gray
mist poured onto the over grown path like flood waters dumping onto a small
street. A chill touched the men, making them shiver to the bone. “Sir I do
not like this one bit.”

The commander stopped the train and gripped his two handed-sword giving
orders for his guards to do the same. One lone horseman rode out of the mist
with a huge black two-handed axe. His rusty armor making no sound as his
beast of a war horse stopped. “Stand and be recognized!” The commander
shouted. After what seemed like forever the commander repeated his request
but now his voice shook slightly. Fear seemed to seep into his very marrow
just by looking at the horseman. Something about the horse and the man didn’t
seem right, the horse was thinner, as far as the commander could make out
and the armored warrior seemed……just not right to him. The horseman dismounted
and slowly walked up the path, causing the mist to swirl around his legs and
making his feet almost disappear. The commander jumped down and stood his
ground, ready to face this man.

“Four more to the right, sir! In the tree line!” The commander heard. “Two
from behind, sir!” Another voice bellowed at the same time two other voices
shouted. “It’s an ambush!” and “ Four to the left in the tree!! Stand our
ground!!”

Moments later the last body flopped on the first of two carts being pushed
by black cloaked skeletons and disappeared into the mist. Lothar Kesh turned
back from the carts and broke open yet another lock off a chest…this time
finding what he was looking for, an old tome with ancient runes covering it.
Had the humans known what these runes meant they would have run to the
nearest town and called for an armed escort. It was the tome of the undead
plague. A spell meant to raise anything dead in a two square mile area. The
very tome he was looking for.

Lothar Kesh stood on top of a wagon and sent forth a mental link to his
master….

…”Master, I know your business is one that can not be disturbed but I have
found the tome……tell me where to meet “her” and I shall be there"....

Posted by: Felena Laorte, Lady of Tannisbury
            On: 05/01/00 10:28 PM

Felena kept her face emotionless as her son spoke. Though her
thoughts churned as a cyclone, her eyes remained unreadable. The magical aura
surrounding both of them was very strong...too strong for her to penetrate
with her senses. She took one step forward as her son finished speaking. He
knelt before her, vowing his fealty to her, Winterbrook, and to Ian, yet how
could she be absolutely sure he was sincere.

Reaching down, she cupped his chin in her hand and lifted his face to gaze
into his eyes. There, in the depths she saw... uncertainty? or was it
something else? It seemed he had inherited his mother's ablility to keep
others from reading his thoughts through his eyes.

Releasing his chin, she took a step back and bid him rise. "You are, of
course, welcome in Tannisbury, as is your companion," she said in an even
tone. "Your entourage will be lodged in town. I am certain enough rooms will
be found between the inns there. I would expect you, and your lady to remain
here as our guests." There was no warmth in her words, nor was there any
trace of hostility. Quiet calm was all that could be seen in her actions. Too
much had happened to allow her guard to drop. There was much to discuss...and
much to be seen before mere words would convince her of her son's sincerity.

She nodded to the escort leader and he approached. "See that Lord Mallagant,
and the lady..." She stopped, realizing the woman had not been introduced by
name. Turning to Vilessa, she said softly, "Do you have a name dear?"

Her son's companion smiled and nodded her head in respect. "Yes, milady," she
answered. "I am called Vilessa."

Felena smiled then turned back to the escort leader and said "See that Lord
Mallagant and the Lady Vilessa are afforded all the comforts Tannisbury has
to offer." Turning back to Mal and Vilessa, Felena added. "I am certain you
will not find your lodgings lacking." That said, the escort leader stepped
aside, waiting until Mal had bid his mother good night, then led them toward
their quarters.

Once the doors had closed, Felena nearly stumbled backwards onto her throne,
hands shaking visibly as she raised them to push the hair away from her eyes.
It was some time before she was able to speak to Erdrick and GK.

Posted by: Mallagant MacRorie
                     On: 05/02/00 02:15 PM

“I thank you for your understanding mother, I’m sure in time this ackward feeling between
us will dissipate and we will be a family once more. Do not worry about housing my escorts,
they shall return when I am ready to depart.  I do not wish to burden your further.”

Mallagant bowed deeply once more to his mother and her advisors, Vilessa doing
the same as the guards entered to escort the pair to their lodgings. Traveling the
long hallways to their room, Mallagant and his consort entered and found the
luxurious furnishings more than adequate, his mother had spared no expense to his
comfort during his stay. Vilessa disappeared into the room as Mallagant turned to
the lead guard.

“Do tell my mother that I would be honored for her to join me for breakfast in the
morning, perhaps she could arrange a tour of this grand castle.  We will also
require a bottle of your finest wine and a tray of your best cooked meats, we have
been traveling for some time and my lady wishes to eat.”

The guard nodded, bowing low as he and his fellow guards left to take care of
Mallagant’s requests. As Mallagant entered his room, he noticed several articles of
Vilessa’s clothing strewn about, leading towards the large plush bed. With a grin,
the door was shut and he joined her to..relax.