~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   
   The characters contained in these writings and the writings themselves
   are copyright 1995 by Fraser MacKenzie.  Any resemblance to any persons
   or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.  Copying
   and/or distribution of these tales is permissible only under the sole
   condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit and that
   they will not be altered in any way.

   I wish to thank Eric Lindsey, Seng Ann Mah, Ron Trimmer, Max
   Bullock, Charlotte Ashley, Tom DeSanctus, Bob Grob, Michael Clair
   Haflidi Jonsson, and Drew Lahaise for their immense input without
   which, there would be no story at all. ;)

   Enjoy!

                                  Fraser MacKenzie
                                  fraserm@rondaksportal.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Introducing the characters:

  Name      Race     Type
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
E'tharn  Elven      Warrior




                              Fate's Fellowship
                                  Chapter 2
                                To the Rescue


With the blessing of his father, E'tharn leaves the safety of his forest 
home in pursuit of adventure and to fight evil wherever he should find it.  He
marks as his destination the port city of Burkden, situated on the frontier of
the realm.  It is rumored to be a troubled town, plagued by humanoid raids from
the wilderness regions and other evils of more mysterious nature.  Even the
human and demi-humans inhabiting the place are said to work treachery amongst
themselves, making it a hive of lawlessness and villainy.  The forces of good
are hard pressed to maintain a hold against evil and there is a constant call
for brave adventurers such as he to aid in the struggle.

So, with his trusted weapons, elven chain mail, and a generous gift of 120gp
from his father, he sets out on the journey to Burkden.  The first several days
are uneventful as he makes his way to the eastern edge of the Aglorond forest.
On the seventh day he emerges from the forest and begins traveling across the
plains of the frontier.  Near dusk he reaches the Wilderness Road which leads
directly to Burkden.  As he approaches the poorly kept roadway, he detects the
sounds of fighting.

With his keen eyesight, he makes out two figures on horseback surrounded by a 
band of six orcs.  The lead rider, a male elf, appears to be hurt.  His
companion, a human female, valiantly wields a staff to keep off their attackers.
Though one orc is lying on the ground, it is apparent they are outnumbered and
will soon be overwhelmed.  No other help seems to be available to the two as
Burkden is still a good day's travel to the east.

Moving stealthily through the tall grass, E'tharn gets close enough to the road
for a good shot at the attackers.  His first shot is wide of its mark flying
unnoticed over an orc's head.  His second gets their attention, striking one in
the back.  He reacts with pain, but then turns to see where the arrow came from
as do two of the others.  They spot E'tharn, quickly dropping their flails to
raise crossbows, while the other two continue to harass the riders.

Before they have time to load their bows, E'tharn gets another arrow off,
striking the same orc again causing him to go down, unmoving.  As E'tharn
notches another arrow, he hears a whiz overhead from a passing crossbow bolt, 
followed closely by a sharp pain in his side.  The second bolt strikes him and
though his chain mail protects him from most of the damage, his ribs are
painfully bruised(3hp).  Still, he manages to fire a second arrow which downs 
another orc!

One of the remaining orcs gives a shout and they break off their attack, moving
quickly off the road in the opposite direction from him.  They are careful to
keep the riders between themselves and him, so he cannot get a clear shot at
them.  They loose a few crossbow bolts at the riders during their retreat, but
these bolts veer harmlessly away.

E'tharn reaches the two strangers as the woman dismounts and moves to her 
companion.  She eases him from his saddle and rests him on the ground.  Looking
south, E'tharn sees the retreating orcs disappear behind a hill.  Turning back
to the strangers, he sees that the elf has a crossbow bolt protruding from his
right shoulder and is losing a lot of blood.  The human female, who is
attractive for her kind, smiles at E'tharn weakly and says "Thank you for
helping us, we owe you a debt of gratitude.  Goldenmeadow will be alright,"
indicating her companion "but I'm afraid to move him far tonight.  Won't you
please stay with us in case they decide to return?  My name is Genna."

As the sun sets and darkness falls, there appears to be no other traffic on the
road.  Burkden is about a days journey away and the bodies of the three dead
orcs lie sprawled on the ground around the group.

Convinced that the two strangers are indeed simply innocent travelers waylaid by
thieving orcs, E'tharn says, "My lady, it would be my pleasure to spend the
night with you and your companion Goldenmeadow.  I have been on the trail for
several days and could use some company."

Thinking about the orcs that just disappeared over the hill, E'tharn mentions,
"Mayhaps we should move GoldenMeadow from the road for safety sake because they
may be back.  I don't think that a small move would hurt.  Also, let me have a
look at those wounds on both of you."

Genna thinks that E'tharn's suggestion to move away from the road is a good one
and together they carefully carry the wounded Goldenmeadow to a likely campsite.
E'tharn does what he can to ease everyone's wounds, including his own, and
manages to stop the flow of blood from Goldenmeadow's shoulder.

Moving back to the orcs, he finds that all 3 wear chainmail, and were armed with
crossbows and flails.  After a thorough search of the bodies,  E'tharn finds
that each was carrying 13 gp, but nothing else of interest.

E'tharn returns to the campsite and ask Genna if she'd like him to hunt for 
food.  She declines saying she's more than happy to share some of their rations
with him and she'd prefer that he stay close.  Gathering wood from a nearby
grove of trees, they are soon sharing a meal over a small fire.

After the meal, as E'tharn monitors Goldenmeadow's condition, conversation turns
to how each of them came to be here.  The following is what he learns from
Genna.  She and Goldenmeadow are students from the Academy of Magic on Modrake's
Isle.  They have not yet completed their training and know only the fundamentals
of the mystic arts.  They left their studies in order to come search for the
whereabouts of the Mistress of their School, Lycira Modrake, who disappeared
about two weeks ago on a trip to the city of Burkden.  There was another student
travelling with Lycira, by the name of Zanzibar Longstaff, who is a close friend
of theirs.  Genna is deeply concerned about both Lycira and Zanzibar and, now
that Goldenmeadow is hurt, fears she will not be able to find them on her own.

E'tharn mentions to Genna "We should set a guard tonight.  If you are feeling
up to it we can do it in six hour shifts until the morning.  I will start first
so you can get some rest."

Eventually, the conversation wanes as they both grow tired from the day's 
events.  Genna agrees to E'tharn's proposal of setting guard and thanks him 
again for helping them.  Before turning in, she gives him a map of the 
city of Burkden in case he would like to look over it on his shift. 

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                         |
|           \ \                                              ______       |
|            \ \           O______o_____O      |~ |         / /----       |
|             |1|          |            |      | ~|        /1/            |
|        o----O-O----------o  [2]   [3] |o_____O_o_0______O_O____o        |
|       /  __     [6]    [5]     ___            \~ \   [6]    [7]|        |
|     /   |4_|    [6]           [_8_]            | ~|  [4]       |        |
|   /         [9] [6]     [10]               [11]|~ |  [6] [12]  |        |
|  O  [13]     [14]              [15]            | ~|            |        |
|  |                    [16]  [4]          [17]   \~ \     [18]  |        |
|  |      [19]                     [20]            | ~|          |        |
|  |                 21     [22]               [23]|__|    [24]  |        |
|  |    [25]                          [26]         |--|          |        |
|  o           [27]            [28]                |~ |  [29]    O--      |
|  |   [30]         o---o-o---o           [31]     | ~|     [32]/ ~       |
|  |          [33]  | [6]  [6]|     [34]       [35]|~ |  [36]  / ~        |
|  |  ___[37]       \[4]__[38]|         [39]       | ~|   [40]|== ~       |
|  | / ~ ~|| ~\______O/ |||___O\       [41]   [42] |~ |   [43]|==~        |
|__O/~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|| ~|| ~ \_[44]__   [45]   |~=|[46]  /~ ~ ~       |
|~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ // ~ || ~ ~ ~||~ ~\[47] [48]\= ~\ [49]|==~ ~       |
| ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \[50] [51]\= ~\_[52]\~ ~        |
|~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ || ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  \___[53]_/ ~ ~ ||~ ~ ~ ~       |
| ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~/--o||o----\o___~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|| ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~        |
|~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~/ ___  [54] ____ o~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~       |
| ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~/ [55_]      |56|  |~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  N  ~ ~        |
|~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~o    [57]   [58]    | ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ W< >E ~ ~       |
| ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \___o________o_____o~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   S ~ ~ ~       |
|~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~        |
|~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~        |
|                                                                         |
|                                                                         |
|                                                                         |
| 1. Gateways                        2. The Circled Star Inn              |
| 3. Cooper                          4. Stables                           |
| 5. Cartwright                      6. Army Barracks                     |
| 7. Ardrey's Leather Shop           8. Fighter's Guild                   |
| 9. Customs House                  10. The Griffin's Lair (adv. hangout) |
|11. The Jackpot (Gambling House)   12. Customs house                     |
|13. Ardath's Armory                14. Sid's Leather Works               |
|15. Temple of Selena               16. Drax the Gemcutter                |
|17. Alchemist's Shop (burnt down)  18. Tarcell's Tavern                  |
|19. Garrik's Weaving               20. Mrs. Weatherwax's                 |
|21. Market Square                  22. The King's Garden                 |
|23. The Cresent Moon Inn           24. The Silver Dice                   |
|25. Fabron's Temple (H of Justice) 26. The Ink Well                      |
|27. The Silver Blade               28. City Jail                         |
|29. Kryalla's Herbs & Spices       30. The Sea Dragon Tavern             |
|31. Miggin's Magic Shop            32. Abandoned Mansion                 |
|33. The Castle Inn                 34. Throcken's Armory                 |
|35. Imreaell's Mansion             36. Temple of Mortimer                |
|37. Merchants of Mystery           38. Warden's Home (of Burkden)        |
|39. Nurin's Pet Shop               40. Colossus Lumber Co.               |
|41. The Merry Warlock              42. Temple of Merlock                 |
|43. Invincible Armor Co.           44. City Dock                         |
|45. Wizard's Guild                 46. Merchant's Guild                  |
|47. Perk the Bowyer                48. Elcadar Jewel Importers           |
|49. Keepers of the Cloth           50. Reswald & Reswald Distillery      |
|51. Trustworth Suppliers           52. The Strong Corporation            |
|53. The Finest in Wines            54. Citadel Garrison House            |
|55. Embassy and Treasure House     56. Palace                            |
|57. Storehouse                     58. Peltar's Tower                    |
|                                                                         |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

She says that she acquired it in the city of Lamyth, but can't attest to its
accuracy.  

The six hours of E'tharn's watch pass uneventfully so he wakes Genna for her 
turn and then gets some sleep.  Her watch proves uneventful also and she 
awakens E'tharn at first light.  After a quick breakfast they break camp and
mount up.  Goldenmeadow is more alert this morning, but still very weak so  
E'tharn agrees to ride with him to be sure he doesn't fall from the saddle.  
Together, the three of them head east, to Burkden.

The day passes without incident and at dusk they arrive at the Northwest 
gate of the city.  Enterng under the scrutiny of the city guards, they 
proceed to the Temple of Selena, goddess of healing.  After seeing that 
Goldenmeadow is cared for, Genna comes to E'tharn and says "Thank you again 
friend E'tharn for saving us from those orcs.  I wish I had something 
more to offer by way of appreciation, but I thought you might find this 
map of Burkden useful."  She gives him the map from last night to keep, 
explaining "I made a copy for myself during my watch.  I dare not make claim 
to any more of your time, but I do hope that we will meet again.  For now I must
stay with Goldenmeadow until he recovers."  The priests say that they will allow
Genna to stay but that they don't have room for E'tharn.

Before E'tharn leaves Genna says that he would like to help them find Lycira
Modrake and their friend Zanzibar Longstaff and that he is going out to find a
room and will be back later.

Genna expresses her gratitude at E'tharn's offer to help find her mentor and 
friend.  She assures him that Lycira is a generous woman and will reward him
handsomely once she is found.  He then leaves Genna at the temple and heads for
the Crescent Moon Inn to get a room for a few days.

Situated on the West river bank, just before the bridge, The Crescent Moon is
an elaborate two story building.  To E'tharn's pleasant surprise, he discovers
that the proprietor is a high elf by the name of Averell.  He welcomes E'tharn
and says he has plenty of rooms available.  He announces proudly "The Crescent
Moon is one of the finest inns in town, but that means our prices are little
more than most adventurers want to pay.  I tell you what, we don't see many
other elven faces in these parts, so I'll halve our usual charge just for you.
That means just 1gp per night for one of the best rooms in the city.  What do
you say?"  Coming in from the sea of humans out on the street and persuaded by
Averell's friendliness, E'tharn readily agrees.  Averell calls one of his son's
to take E'tharn up to his room.

Before leaving the inn in the afternoon, E'tharn asks Averell about the location
of the temple of Silvanus Oakfather.  Avrerell tells him that there is not one
inside the city, but there is a shrine about three miles north in grove known as
The Silver Glade.

As the last of the daylight fades, E'tharn makes his way to the Bowyer's shop.
He catches Perk, a halfling, just as he is locking up.  After a brief expression
of irritation, Perk warms up to E'tharn, recognizing his appreciation for Perk's
craft.  Perk says he can have 24 silver arrows ready for E'tharn in two days,
for 14gp.  E'tharn agrees to Perk's price, knowing that there is nobody else in
town to provide him with arrows and that the price is reasonble.

E'tharn then heads back to the temple and informs Genna where he is staying.  
The two of them make plans to meet tomorrow for lunch at the Griffin's Lair.  
She is going to go the the Magic User's Guild in the morning to find out what 
she can there, while he spends some time tonight and tomorrow trying to gather
information from the local 'hot spots'.  He bids her good night and then makes
his way back to the Inn, where he orders dinner and calls it a night.

In the morning, after breakfast, E'tharn begins making his rounds of the local
taverns asking questions about Lycira's disappearance and manages to learn the
following:

Across the river at Tarcell's Tavern, a young dark haired youth suggests 
maybe the monsters in the sewers got the people E'tharn is looking for, as he
tells E'tharn "You got to watch out for those sewer monsters."  He also tells
E'tharn the master of the thieve's guild was recently assassinated and there is
now bad blood between that guild and the assassin's guild.

At the Merry Warlock, a robed wizard, on his way to inebriation even at this
early hour, tells E'tharn that perhaps he should consult Mrs. Weatherwax.  "She
may be a little strange, but she does have power" he says.  He also asks if
E'tharn has heard anything about the ghostship haunting the sea lanes.

At the Sea Dragon, a human sailor who reeks of the sea tells E'tharn that if
Lycira and Zanzibar came to Burkden by boat, they probably fell prey to the
ghostship that has been attacking boats along the sea lanes.  

Finally, E'tharn heads to the Griffin's lair a little early for his meeting with
Genna.  There, the barkeep tells him that disapperances are not uncommon in and
around Burkden.  Rumor has it that a cult of the god of death operates somewhere
in the area and is always looking for victims.  He suggests E'tharn give him a
reward notice which he will post on the bulletin board outside for 5sp. 

While waiting for Genna, E'tharn meets a human female warrior willing to talk.
She tells him that she has heard of a band of brigands, led by a man of hideous
appearance, roaming the countryside kidnapping travelers.  They are said to be
working for an evil wizard of some power.

He hears many other tidbits about the goings on in Burkden, such as: The Duke is
in league with the humanoids attacking from the marshes.  The head of the
wizard's guild is really a demon in human form.  Imreaell the merchant has a
treasure trove in his basement guarded by a living statue but nobody mentions
anything else of real value to him.

Many of the conversations focus on reports of recent ghostship sightings and 
attacks made on seagoing vessels.      

The midday crowd arrives and E'tharn spots Genna entering the tavern.  
Signalling to her, he moves to a table and orders lunch.  As they eat, he tells
her what he has heard and she shares her information with him.  She has heard
many of the things you have, but his conversation with the female warrior
interests her.  She says "I have found out that there is an old enemy of
Lycira's operating in the area.  He is a wizard named Haldane Zelgman who uses
humans for his arcane experiments.  But no one knows where he is operating
from."  They then sit, discussing a possible course of action.

After hearing what Genna has to tell him, E'tharn believes that it is probably
her mentor's old enemy that is to blame.  He then lets Genna know that they
cannot begin the search outside of town for two days because he is waiting for
his arrows to be ready.  As well, E'tharn mentions that he must also go and
visit The Silver Glade to pay tribute to his god, Silvanus Oakfather.  

E'tharn then questions Genna as to whether her mentor travelled by sea or by
land because this would hopefully narrow the path of the search.  Genna
apologizes for not telling him sooner that her teacher and friend travelled over
land to reach Burkden.  She knows for a fact that they disappeared somewhere on
the road between Lamyth and Burkden.  She agrees with him that her mentor's old
enemy deserves investigation.  She also says his idea that the cult of death
might be a cover for his activities is very clever.  Genna then suggests, if he
will see about where people have been disappearing, she will return to the mages
guild and see what more she can find out.  The guildmaster, who is a friend of
Lycira's, was away before but is expected back sometime today and she hopes
perhaps he will help.  She suggests that the two meet again here, tomorrow, at
the same time.

After she leaves, E'tharn looks around the tavern to find the warrior woman 
he spoke to before.  She is still present and he asks to join her at her 
table.  She says 'have a seat' and introduces herself as Vidonia.  She 
immediately launches into a conversation about the recent exploits of she and
her companions in the Great Marsh.  Her tale consists mainly of detailed
descriptions of encounters with bands of orcs and other loathsome denizens of
the swamp.  After half an hour of this she finally breaks long enough for him to
get a question in about the disappearances she spoke of earlier.  She tells
E'tharn, there are reports of kidnappings by the bandits from as far north as
Aglorond Forest.  Generally, they seem to keep to well traveled roadways,
ambushing caravans as well as individual travelers.  Little is known about their
method of attack, as there has been none to escape from them.  Neither has there
been any ransom demands for those taken and the location of their lair remains a
mystery.

After the rest of the mornings activities and his conversation with Vidonia,
E'tharn begins to feel the need to get away from the confines of the city.  He
decides that now would be a good time to see about visiting Silvanus' Shrine in
the Silver Glade.  He returns to the inn to get more detailed directions from
Averell.

On the way, he makes a short stop at the Alchemist's Shop.  Entering the small
building, E'tharn finds an old man seated behind a counter pouring different
colored liquids from vial to vial.  The smell of chemicals lie heavily in the
air and he hears the tinkle of glass from an open doorway leading to the
workshop at the back of the building.  Seeing E'tharn enter, the man stops his
mixing and asks, "Can I help you?"  E'tharn asks the old man, "Could you make me
some sleep poison and how much would it cost if you could?"  After hearing what
E'tharn wants, the old man mutters "Poisons, poisons, all anybody wants is
poison.  Now sleep, that's a new twist.  I can fix you up with what you want for
200gp.  That will coat about fifty arrows with enough poison to knock out an
Ogre.  I'll take 50gp off the price if you'll test a potion for me that I can't
quite identify.  You might want to give me the name of your next of kin so I'll
know who to send the money to in case anything unfortunate happens."  E'tharn
replies that he will have to think about it and that once he does so, he will be
back.

Returning to the inn, E'tharn finds Averell more than happy to provide him with
detailed directions to the silver glade.  Following those directions, E'tharn
leaves the city by the east gate and travels north about 3 miles.  Turning off
the road at this point, he moves east toward a small forest.  Entering the glade
he sees the trees are mostly white oak, mingled with a few beech and elm.  There
is an abundance of wildlife; a raccoon even approaches you begging for food.
Moving further into the glade he comes upon a small treeless knoll.  Atop the
knoll stands a stone building, approximately 50x50x18 high.  It has six large
open windows and a wooden door that also stands open.  Above the door hangs a
silver oak tree, the symbol of Silvanus Oakfather.

Entering the building, E'tharn finds a large outer service room.  A silver water
font stands against the left wall and to the right is wooden lecturn with an
open book resting on top of it.  Directly ahead, against the back wall, is a 
round dias supporting an altar.  Behind the altar stands a middle aged man, with
brown hair and a beard, wearing dark green robes embroidered with silver leaves
along the edges.  He raises his hands motioning E'tharn forward and says
"Welcome, my son, in the name of the Oakfather.  My name is father Tercell, I
have been waiting for you.  I am here to receive your tribute to Silvanus and
serve you as I can." 

E'tharn replies, "Father, I have come to pay tribute to Silvanus, what is it
that he would have of me?  A service, gold, a rare herb.  You but must name it
and I will do his bidding as always."

In response to E'tharn's question, Father Tercell says "Our Oakfather demands
only that you honor him with your deeds.  By coming to seek his guidance, you
have found favor in his sight and will receive a boon ere you leave.  Now he
is ready to hear your prayer, afterward we shall talk."  The priest then moves
away and allows E'tharn to approach the altar to pray.

E'tharn approaches the altar and kneels in front of it.  He asks Silvanus for
guidance in his quest to find Lycira and Zanzibar and to help all people in
need.  He begs the Oakfather's indulgence for deeds he may do and ask his
forgives for the times that he has strayed from the path.  After praying, he
rises and turns to speak with Father Tercell.  He tells the father about his
travels and how he frightened off the orcs upon attacking Genna and
Goldenmeadow.  As well, he tells him about the disappearance of Lycira and
Zanzibar and the rumors going around town.  E'tharn then asks Father Tercell
about any rumors that he, in his wisdom, may have heard.

When E'tharn finishes, Father Tercell speaks "You did well to come to the
travellers aid, such attacks are all too common on the roads to and from
Burkden.  Of such disappearances as the woman you rescued spoke of, I know.
In fact, a few acolytes of this temple fell prey to these kidnappers not long
ago.  The Oakfather would look with great favor upon anyone who put a stop to
the vanishings and restored the freedom of his followers.  As for who is 
behind these disappearances, I have heard only rumors of bandits lead by 
a ruthless man of hideous appearance."

Of other things in the city, the father knows little.  He does share a couple
of pieces of information with E'tharn that are new, concerning areas nearby.  He
says "There have been reports of prowling bands of wolves attacking woodsmen and
travelers near Dweomer Forest.  Some say they are actually manwolves seeking to
increase their numbers.  Also, there have been reports of activity near the old
cemetary.  Tombs have been found empty and figures seen moving about the place
at night."

E'tharn then asks what Father Tercell might have heard about the death cult.
He replies "I have heard rumors of their activities, but they have as yet to
stretch their grasp beyond the city walls.  Within the city, however, their
influence is said to extend from the lowest to the highest levels.  I fear
their power grows and with it their threat."

E'tharn prepares to leave, having learned what he could from father Tercell.
In farewell, the father says "Go with the blessing of Silvanus'".  He then
begins chanting and after a few minutes lays his hands on E'tharn.  E'tharn
feels a sense of peace sweep through him and as the father removes his hands
E'tharn becomes 'aware' that he now has the ability to heal himself one time.
Father Tercell says "Use what Silvanus has given you wisely.  He will guide and
protect you through the challenges that lie ahead.  Return when you have used
his gift and if your actions continue to do him merit, as I'm sure they will, he
will again reward you."  Thanking the father, E'tharn then leaves the temple and
heads back to the city.  On his way out of the glade he stops to share a bit of
his bread with the raccoons.

E'tharn decides that his next act should be to return to the alchemist's shop
to let him know that he cannot afford the sleep poison but will try the potion
if the alchemist will lower the price to 100gp.

E'tharn arrives back at city gate near twilight.  He heads to the alchemist's 
shop before it closes to bargain with the alchemist.  E'tharn arrives to find
the alchemist sitting at his desk still pouring liquids from one flask to 
another.  Engrossed in his work, he doesn't seem to notice E'tharn at first 
until he comes up beside the alchemist.  The alchemist then sets aside his work,
though acting somewhat distracted, and says "Ah, yes the young man for the sleep
poison, I have it right here."  E'tharn quickly explains to the alchemist that
he is unable to afford 150gp for the poison but if the alchemist will let him
have it at 100gp, he will be more than happy to test the potion.  The alchemist
agreeing to E'tharns terms, pulls out a vial of blue liquid from beneath the
counter, along with another vial.  "I'll have you know I'm taking a loss on
this, but I must know what this potion is."  He hands E'tharn the second vial,
filled with a strange liquid that seems to swirl in multicolors, to taste.
Unstoppering the container, E'tharn takes a sip.  As the cold, sweet liquid
slides down his throat, a tingling sensation spreads through his head.
Suddenly, he hears the voice of the alchemist though his lips didn't move.  "If
they find out what I've done they'll kill me."  This is accompanied by a strong
sense of worry and the image of some man's face.  Abruptly, the feeling ends
and the alchemist looks at you expectantly, asking "Well, what did you feel?"
E'tharn replies, "I could hear your voice although your lips weren't moving.  As
well I could tell that you are worried about something, and I saw a man's image.
You said that if they found out what you did, they will kill you."

After E'tharn tells the Alchemist what he heard from sipping the potion, the
alchemist stammers "You.. you.. must be mistaken, my boy.  Perhaps the potion 
addled your wits, or maybe it was someone else you heard.  Yes, yes that must
be it.  No one's looking to kill me, no, I don't have a care in the world.  Now
it's time I was closing shop.  Here's your poison, use it in good health." he
hands E'tharn the vial after taking his gold.  "I'll just put this other one up,
wouldn't want someone to drink it and hear more nonsense.  Thanks for your
business, come back soon."  With these words he hustles E'tharn out the door
into the street and returns inside where he waves from the window before closing
the curtains.

Shrugging, E'tharn moves toward the Griffin's Lair for dinner.  Though the place
is filling with a rowdy evening crowd he manages to find a table to himself and
order a meal.  As he eats, he overhears the conversation of a group of guardsmen
from the nearby table.  "O'le Thornwalden got back to town today.  Said he'd
been rescued from a group of bandits by a wild looking man from up north who was
with him.  They brought five of the bandits back with them and locked em' up in
jail."

At another table two men and a woman are talking about another ghostship 
sighting today.

Finishing his meal, E'tharn begins circulating about the room trying to find out
something about the death cult.  Most people he asks just look at him funny and
say "don't know nothin".  However, he happens upon a young man who urges him to
talk quitely and says "You got to be careful, they have ears everywhere and they
don't like people discussing their affairs.  It's said their membership includes
city officials, maybe even Haermond himself.  You got to watch out who you talk
to."  He keeps looking around, over his shoulder and E'tharns, as he speaks, but
has little else to say. 

After about two hours E'tharn gets no more new information and decides to call 
it a night.  Leaving the tavern, on a sudden impulse, he heads back to his 
Inn by way of the Alchemist's shop.  As he nears the street where the shop is
located he hears shouts.  Approaching the shop, E'tharn sees smoke coming from
the windows and the open door.  A young boy runs up to you and cries "They set
it on fire and master Alkus is still inside."  Through the front window you see
flickering flames.  A movement at the back of the building catches E'tharn's eye
and he sees two figures detach themselves from the wall and move east.  Beside
him the boy tugs at his vest and says "Please mister, please, help Master
Alkus." 

As the boy looks at E'tharn expectantly, he asks the boy to follow those men 
without getting caught.  The boy looks in the direction that E'tharn points,
then back at E'tharn and says "What men?  I don't see anyone."  Realizing that
the boy can't see them due to the darkness, E'tharn says "Please guard my stuff.
I will go in and save Master Alkus."  Removing his bow and quiver, he leaves
them with the boy and heads for the shop window.  He quickly scans the area for
a source of water to dampen his cloak to prevent it from catching fire. 
Unfortunately, there is no nearby source of water but he does cover his face
with his cloak anyways in a futile attempt to keep from breathing the thick,
dark smoke. 

Crashing through the window, billowing clouds of oily black smoke cloud E'tharns
vision.  He is in the outer shop and can see flames in the back room through an
open door.  The chemical fumes are overpowering, but he presses forward through
the door seeing no sign of the alchemist out here.  The back room is a lab
filled with long tables that are cluttered with a variety of ceramic and glass
containers.  The liquids in many of the containers are boiling over in the heat
and their fumes mingle with the smoke.  The back wall of the lab is consumed by
flames, slowly licking their way across the ceiling to the front of the shop.  

Lying face up on the floor near the center of the room is the alchemist.  Moving
to him, E'tharn discovers a knife protruding from his left shoulder.  There is a
lot of blood on the floor, but the alchemist is still alive.  E'tharn notices
that the pommel of the knife is a silver skull.  Carefully lifting the alchemist
to his shoulder, E'tharn hears the sound of breaking glass and sizzleing liquids
as flames engulf one of the back tables. 

Racing to the front of the shop, E'tharn just makes it out the window when a
loud explosion shakes the building.  A wall of flame shoots from the back room
knocking him to the street.  Somewhat dazed, he picks himself up and moves over
to the alchemist who was knocked from his grasp.  As he approaches, the
alchemist moans and his eyes flutter open.  Coughing painfully he mutters "Seems
I should have trusted you when I had the chance."  He then grabs E'tharn's hand
and places something in it, saying "This is what they were after, you mustn't
let them get it."  He is suddenly seized by another fit of painful coughing,
after which his eyes close, forever.  Looking down at his hand, E'tharn finds a
small gem of deep purple.

Standing, he scans the area for the boy he left his bow with.  Suddenly, E'tharn
hears someone shout from up the street "HEY YOU, what have you done to Old
Alkus?  Stand where you are."  Looking in the direction of the voice, he sees a
band of five city guardsmen headed his way with angry expressions.  There is no
sign of the boy or his bow and the shop behind him is now a mass of flames.  The
guardsmen are still a good distance away and E'tharn is fairly confident that he
can outrun them.  He realizes that the situation might not look too good to them
and he might have trouble convincing them of his actions without a witness. 

Removing the dagger from the Alchemist's body, E'tharn makes a run for it as the
guardsmen approach.  They give chase, but with his speed and night vision, he
has no trouble losing them.  Doing his best to look inconspicuous, he then takes
a roundabout route back to the Crescent Inn.  As he enters and passes the front
desk, Averell asks "Have you heard about the fire at the alchemist's shop
tonight?  They say old Alkus was murdered."  Replying "Yes, I've heard." E'tharn
moves quickly up to his room hoping Averell didn't notice the scorch marks on
his clothes.

Exhausted by the day's events, E'tharn reaches his room and secures the door 
behind him.  He falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow having a night
filled with nightmares about the fire.

The next morning he wakes refreshed, even after a sleep filled with nightmares.
After breakfast, E'tharn does what he can to disguise himself and then heads to
the wizard's guild to leave a message for Genna.  That done, he decides to head
back to the 'scene of the crime' to look around before leaving the city for the
safty of the Silver Glade.

Arriving at the shop, he discovers that it has burned to the ground. The
buildings on either side of it suffered damage as well, but for the most part
the fire was contained.  There is no sign of the alchemist's body, though
E'tharn sees the stain of blood where he fell in the street.  Life goes on as
usual, however, the street being filled with pedestrians.  Hoping to locate the
boy who took your bow, E'tharn asks a few of the nearby shopkeepers if they know
if the boy who worked for Alkus survived the fire.  A nearby merchant says "Oh,
you mean Marcus, the Cooper's son.  Yeah I saw him last night after the fire."

E'tharn then moves to the back of the burnt building to see if he can find any 
sign of the two men he saw leaving the shop before the fire.  After a careful
search, he finds a small splattering of blood on the ground that is recent;
Alkus must have gotten one of them before they got him.  Trying not to be too
conspicuous E'tharn begins tracking the men's trail.

The trail of blood leads east to the river's edge, then turns south following
the river to the bridge.  Paying the toll to cross the bridge, it takes E'tharn
a few minutes to pick up the trail again.  Following it about half-a-mile more,
he comes to the gate of an abandoned mansion just north of the east city docks.

The mansion stands atop a small hill surrounded by a tall stone wall.  The large
yard, including an area of shore line, is overgrown with weeds and filled with
trees growing wild from lack of care.  The house itself has a barren look about
it, and looms like a dark sentinel at the head of a small roadway leading up
from the gate.  The gate is rusted over, but very sturdy, and stands slightly
ajar.  The trail of blood leads through the gate and up the roadway to the
mansion.  Looking in that direction, E'tharn briefly catches sight of movement
through one of the windows, but then it is gone.