Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"So what now?" I exclaimed. The elven lord seemed to be going catatonic, probably due to much of a previous heavy night, his dwarf friend just about the same.

"Allow me some room", I asked the others. I opened both their mouths, and dropped in from a small vial. Then I poured some of the water that was given by the Gardener.

Both of them writhed a bit, but were soon back to reality.

"What's going on?", were the dwarf's first words, going for his axe.

"Calm down", I replied,"you were poisoned. Probably at the Inn."

The Kender looked me up, as monty did, but Drago said:

"Ok, you two. Gives us some answers. How are we supposed to get into that?"

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

[This message has been edited by VampiricDread (edited 08 June 2001).]

[This message has been edited by VampiricDread (edited 08 June 2001).]

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

The Kender jumps up and says "with my skills , I will find a way, there's not lock that can't keep me out and no trap that can be set that I can't disarm, so lets stop thinking about and lets get on with it."



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Wth a little help from my frieds , we can make this the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"It is not mayan. I had it inspected by a few linguists. It is an unknown language not from my home planet. Perhaps the elven lord recognizes it?" Drago replies.


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"My soul to nothingness: but I will strive against all doubtings, and will keep alive..." ~ John Keats's Sleep and Poetry

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

" I think we all understand your... huh... special skills, Tom. But I'm more worried about the tennants in there," I said.

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

The elven lord replies, "Yes, I recognize that language on your watch. It's mordor."
Drago smiles and thanks the elven lord for helping him.

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"My soul to nothingness: but I will strive against all doubtings, and will keep alive..." ~ John Keats's Sleep and Poetry

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

**********************************

Plot note

**********************************

Argh, where are you? You started this, but if you don't give your input soon, we'll surely go on (like Dread's counter poison failing, the Elven lord and the Dwarf getting hauled back to the Inn, and the rest of us going to storm the place, or trekking the long way).

********************************

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

The elf tried to respond to VampiricDread's question, but he started to cough and pains racked his body.*Cough* "We," *Cough* "Ugh!" He said no more as he doubled over in pain. The dwarf faired little better. His dwarvish constitution obviously helped him escape much of the poison's effects, but he was still not up to fighting.

"we have yet to meet the enemy and already two of us are down!" VampiricDread said, the heat of anger rising the level of his voice.

The groundscreature tended to the elf-lord and dwarf while the rest of the party tried to come up with some way to get inside the manor.

The party examines the manor house for signs of what is going on inside. All they can tell from the small hut's window is that all the entrances are guarded day and night. The guard looked fairly strong, with at least one of them weilding a magical weapon. Downunder Tom saw a humanoid creature fly overhead and land in an open window of the highest tower one night.
Other than that, nothing could be seen. No one had entered or left the manor since they arrived. The party would have to go on a search of the surrounding area in order to find a way in, or try to overwhelm a pair of gaurds and break in quickly.

"What can you tell us of who is inside?" VampiricDread asked the groundscreature.

The groundscreature, mute though he was, managed to convey through hand gestures, scawled sand sigils and reenactments that most of the previous dwellers in the manor had been killed when the new owners took over. Their bodies had been dumped on the front lawn and he had buried them in the Manor's cemetary.

The party got the impression that all sorts of foul creatures had moved into the manor, though the new owner was a large furry being, possibly from the North.

"Perhaps, This person has come from where the tomb is." Drago spoke up.

"Perhaps," the elf-lord whispered. he was still feeling the after-effects of the poison.

Monty had an idea. "Hey, why don't we send Downunder Tom and our host on a reconn mission? See if they can find us a way in? They are the sneakiest pair here."

[This message has been edited by monty (edited 16 June 2001).]

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Downunder Tom agreed to having a look around for another way in, lots of these big manors had ways for the lord to get away while the other keeped the enemy busy.

But he says "After what happened, I would rather someone who could warn me could also come. if something was going to happen, nothing against our host of course, He must have been silenced for a reason but he might remember if there is a way in."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Downunder Tom agreed to having a look around for another way in, lots of these big manors had ways for the lord to get away while the other keeped the enemy busy.

But he says "After what happened, I would rather someone who could warn me could also come. if something was going to happen, nothing against our host of course, He must have been silenced for a reason but he might remember if there is a way in."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"I will go along with you old friend," Drago replied. He went into his backpack to retrieve some necessary materials for reconaissance. He handed off his backpack, cloak, and hat to Monty for safe keeping.


------------------
"My soul to nothingness: but I will strive against all doubtings, and will keep alive..." ~ John Keats's Sleep and Poetry

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Ok, you two. Take care, and take this", Vampiric Dread said, while presenting Drago with a small, 2-inch, greenish, carved box.
"This is an artifact from the Elves. You hold it so, press here, and it shows a dim beacon of diffuse light. You press here again, and the light is off. I would appreciate you returning it to me, after your reconnoitering".

Tom eyes flashed of envy at this new toy, and wondered what the grim human raised by elves was packing with him.

"We'll look after our friends and wait for your return", he said, while producing a pouch of mithelbas leaves, a rare medicin plant, and giving each of the sick a leaf each to chew or suck, as well as they could.

To monty, Vampiric Dread said: "That's my Last and most potent attempt to counter the poison, without going into magic. I don't think we want to expend runes and reveal ourselves. They are stabilized, but depending on the poison, it could take some days before they recover".

"Why were they poisoned, Dread?"

"They brought the quest, didn't they? I think there are more interested parties than I was ready to accept. The tale of the EverLasting Gems is not strange to me, but I will not tell you what the Elven Lord chose to undisclose. Not yet, at least. Trust me on this, my friend. I have reasons for not speaking more now, or until the need is at hand".

Tom and Drago left with stealth. The rest of us went to waiting, taking care of the poisoned, and attempting to keep shifts...

[This message has been edited by VampiricDread (edited 16 June 2001).]

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

****** Call to arms *****

Please post your character description on the appropriate thread, my friends. It will help run this adventure forward.

Thank you.


*************************

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Was What I said when I first joind enough of a character discription?

To Continue back in character .....

After Picking up his hoopak Downuner Tom and his new friends depart to look around the area, checking for grass sections that might be false, rocks that move, trees and there stumps that are not tress at all, and just old plain holes that have been covered to hide them, Ofcourse also checking that who ever now lives in the manor has set no traps to capture or kill unwanted guests

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

After searching for hours for a way into the manor Tom cries out, "I think the rocks on the side of this wall are loose." Drago runs over to inspect the wall. He sees an outline of a door in the wall. He tells Tom to help him pry it open. "It must be a secret entrance to the manor. Come on Tom put your back into it it's not that heavy," Drago says.
They are able to open the massive dry-stone door revealing a tunnel entrance. The lining of the walls are very damp. The floor is covered with rat excrement. The odor is simply revolting. The tunnel is lit by a few small torches with silver handles. Tom takes one out of it's holder to light the way as they continue their journey.

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"My soul to nothingness: but I will strive against all doubtings, and will keep alive..." ~ John Keats's Sleep and Poetry

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

While Drago and Tom where out, monty and I were doing our best for our poisoned friends.

The poison was not the same, of course, but we had no clue. All we had was to hope for some recovery, until the moment we had to use some magic, and expose ourselves. The leaves, I kept dissolving in hot water next to them, but we had to come out to the starry night.

"Do you think they'll recover, Dread?"

"I don't know. They're stable, from what I can see, but not knowing the two poisons used is like facing two daggers from the dark". I shook my head in disbelief."I never expected we would be attacked this way, though I antecipated some action when the Elven Lord mentioned what was, or what I thought was, a kept secret".

"Will you tell me about it?"

"Not yet, my friend. All that there was to be known is out in the open, and the Elven Lord should have never discussed it openly".

"Do you think him a traitor, or a Dark Elf?"

"No, unless he was recruiting to get rid of the opposition, but that's difficult to conceive, when he had a Dwarf beside him. I'm sure he's sincere. Careless, maybe light-hearthed, but sincere."

We strolled back together in silence and tended to our friends in need. I only hoped they would recover soon...


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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

At the same momment in outside a dark damp cave....

Tom and friends get ready to enter this dark , damp cave, They get there weapons ready and use any magic protection they have to give them extre defence and any other magic they have to give them attack advantages they can.

They don't know what horrors the new owners might have sent down to protect the caves and any dungeons that might be down here.

They enter the dark cave slowly, tom checking for any traps that might be set to stop them, He also looks for hidden entrances that might lead off in any direction. The party looks for places that might be safe to return to if they need to camp and regroup later.



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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Tom and Drago continue walking slowly through until they come upon a separation in the tunnel. "Should we go left or right?" Drago asks.

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"My soul to nothingness: but I will strive against all doubtings, and will keep alive..." ~ John Keats's Sleep and Poetry

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Lets ask our host, he might remember which was is the best to go.



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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

The groundscreature motions to the left, making motions like it's the way up or at least towards the tower.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Monty reaches into his backpack and pulls out a tattoo needle, some ink, and an old bone (It is a bone that is carved into the shape of a bone). He begins to tattoo a design on the side of it.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

******************************************

Side note:

Argh,

We all know you're back. Do you want to continue with this? Please post your decision. Thanks.

*******************************************



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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

We continue down the left checking the walls to see if there is anything hidden, the is a lighted area ahead, Downunder Tom grabs some ammo to load the hoopak ready....

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Drago continues walking with Tom. He unsheathes his sword. He is prepared for battle, but hopes it will not be necessary. There has been too much death in his recent travels. May fate guide them in their endeavors.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Deeply concerned, I see the poison is probably stronger than my puny attempts at countering it. My companion is not happy with the situation, and wants to use Rune Magic.

"If we use magic now, we might trigger a warning that may kill Drago and Tom", I said.

"If we don't, these two will die, Dread."

"Ok. I cannot argue you that. Are you able to do it by yourself, or do you need my help? Time's running short for these two."

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"I can do it," Monty says. "There's a couple of different ways. Give me a minute to come up with the best." Monty slipped into his backpack and went to work looking for away to save his companions...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Meanwile back in the cave...

The 3 friends enter the lighted area, it seems to be some sort of storage room, there are rats everywhere and what was in the crates, boxes and sacks have been long ago destroyed by the rats.



------------------
With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

I picked up my other lantern. I saw the Kender and Drago finding their way in, but moments later, it was blank, either to magic or loss.

Anyway, this showed that using magic to help our poisoned companions was not barred to us, since I was not getting to them.

"We can use magic, monty, without fear of detection."

Monty eyed me slantly, and kept on whatever he was doing... I thought not to interrupt him any further.

I longed to get outside, into the open.

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

[This message has been edited by VampiricDread (edited 28 June 2001).]

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

((INSIDE the Manor))

Checking a door in the opposite wall, Tom heard many iron footsteps beyond. Sounded like many men dressed in heavy armor. A few stopped right outside the door.

"You hear something?" an authoritative voice said from the hall. "Sampers, check that door."

As quietly as they could (which is very quiet for a kender, not so much for the other two) Tom, Drago and the groundscreature hid amongst the boxes. The rats disguised much of the noise.

The door opened, and the three could see a man armed with a crossbow and dressed in light armor come into the room. Three other stood in the hall behind him.

"It's a storeroom. Rats." Sampers said.

"Get on in there and check it out. We don't want any more suprises."

Shaking his head, Sampers entered further and looked around. As he made his way around the storeroom, it was clear that he would soon be able to see the groundscreature...

((OUTSIDE the Manor))
Monty, assured by VampircDread that magic was allright, decided to use a nature-based magical approach anyways, so anyone who picked up on what was happening might think that the groundscreature was doing something.
As prepared as time allowed, Monty started with the elf, who was the easier of the two. Taking a good hard look at the poison in the elf's body, Monty determined that it was a magical poison, designed with elven physiology in mind. He also saw that it could not be easily rid of, it had to be in a host, or the one who made it would know what was happening.
Might not be as harmful to a human, Monty thought. Wasting no more time, Monty swept the poison from the elf's body from head to toe. The poison could be seen, as it became more and more concentrated, as a large black swelling. Monty directed the poison to the elf's left foot. Gathered in one place, the poison began to rot and destroy the foot. Monty quickly cut a slit in the elf's foot and sucked the deadly poison into his own body.
As ready as he was, there was still much pain. But he did not die. And there was more to do. Convulsing slightly, Monty transfered a liitle of the poison from his mouth to a small plant that Dread had picked earlier. With a touch or two of magic and a drop of elven blood, the plant was made into a simularucum of the elf lord. The plant wilted and died immediately. Hopefully that will convince anyone that an elf was killed from the poison, Monty thought. The elven lord would be OK. His left foot was black, swollen and bleeding, but he would live.
After he stopped shaking and sweating, Monty turned to the dwarf.
Looking closely at the poison, Monty sighed heavily, this one wasn't so easy. This poison was very deadly to anyone. But it was not like the other poison. It could be removed from the dwarf. Monty began to tend to the dwarf, but he could not do it, his strength was gone for the moment and he collapsed.
"Dread...you must...assist me. I.. cannot..."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"Nice," I thought. Instead of two poisoned persons, I now had three in different stages of distress. To monty, I put another leaf in his mouth, and let it restore his tired body from the strain.

I attended the foot of the elf to the best I could, then turned to the dwarf. He would be naturally resistant to my magic, so I had no hopes there.

I had to do something, and fast.

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Monty rolled around, trying to shake off the poison. He knew that something had to be done with the dwarf and soon.
Monty stood up, although rather shakily and with the help of Dread. "I'm all right." Monty said. Dread wasn't convinced.
He went over to the dwarf and suggested to dread that together they might be able to heal the dwarf some.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Monty asked Dread to get a lot of firewood. "We can burn the poison out of him. Dwarves can take a lot of heat, but I bet the poison can't. It will break down and become inert, hopefully before the dwarf does. We can take turns tending him, watching for signs and ensuring that we don't kill him in the process."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"Won't it scorch his beard?" I said as I wnt out to get the firewood.

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Monty giggled weakly. "A hairless chin is the least of his worries."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Drago, Tom and the grounds creature huddled together silently. "Be very, very quiet" Drago whispered. "I have the ability to make myself and those in proximity to me invisible" the grounds creature replied. "Well why don't you go ahead and do that already then" Tom states emphatically.
He removes a few runes ftom a small bag he is carrying and begins chanting. He finishes just before the guard appears. He looks straight at them and sees nothing. Sampers calls out, "No one here captain. All is well."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

I packed the fireplace to the limit, and kept a good amount of logs nearby. Under monty's instructions, I dragged the dwarf near by the scorching heat, after throwing a bucketfull of water on him. I had him placed along the fire, and I kept water by.

"Use the water only when you see him burn, Dread."

"Can I use it on me, as well?", I said as I got drenched in a bucket.

"Why don't you take you cloak, Dread?"

I came to him, staring in the eyes a few inches apart. "You wouldn't want me to take off my cloak, monty. Trust me."

The smell of burning hair got me back to my job in no time. It was like working a furnace: keep the fire hot, and avoiding too much burn on the roasting dwarf.

After some time (it seemed hours), something oily started to drip from the dwarf's fingers. I got a casserole to catch it, but it burned it through, and the stone below.

Before I could get a glass container it had ceased, and the dwarf was giving out life signs again.

"Get him away!", monty shouted.

I picked up a bucket of water, poured it on him, and rolled him away.

Monty got up and looked him over.

"The poison's gone. Good. Dread, can you tend to his burns? I still need to recover."

"Sure thing."

I got a flask of Midael's unguent and started applying to his burns. Midael's unguent is a rather useful thing, when dealing with burns, though it has a drawback: your subject usually wakes up in need of some alcohol, and more often than not, a few pints of strong beer...

That meant sending the 2 back to the pub, which we managed. I asked some forest help to get them closely guarded, and we waited back for our two adventuring scouts...
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I wish I had more time to adventure...

[This message has been edited by VampiricDread (edited 01 July 2001).]

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

After the clanking sound of armor dissapears in the distance, Downunder Tom says its safe to continue now, we don't need to worry about the guards we ere after who is in charge.



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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Drago and the party continue walking. They pass by the kitchen of the manor. "I am very hungry" the grounds creature says. Tom and Drago agree with him to get a quick bite to eat. There are several pasties and assorted meats in the kitchen. The food is tantalizing.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"I can use the lantern I gave them to talk to them, monty. But I'm afraid we could put those 2, plus the minion in danger. What do you think?"

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"what do you want to tell them?" Monty said to VampiricDread. "The great news that we now are less than we were?" Monty walked over to the only window of the hut. "Don't get them down. Let them have their fun and find out when they get back." "You know what, we might want to join them. Look outside, Dread. The clouds are moving in..."

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Tom looks around and notices some small cooking devices that have been created by the new owners, he goes to pick them up, but he is told to leave them as they don't want them finding missing items and knowing that some has entered the manor until there ready too. They do pickup a little extra food for later as there is enough to feed a army in this kitchen and it won't be missed.

In a big pot on the stove there is some kind of thick soup or stew that smells awlfull, Draco finds some powder that he is carrying and pours it into the mix and stirs it in, he says that will take care of them.They will either be too sick or too sleepy to worry about us. It won't reaaly hurt them, will Last long enough for us to to what we have to and they won't be able to work out what was the cause and there is no cure that they have.


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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

The group leaves the kitchen and continues exploring the manor. They come upon two massive golden doors. The doors are decorated with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. There are two platinum colored letters on the left door. They are C.D.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Tom checkes the door for traps, then he listens but can hear nothing due to them being so thick. He asks the others shall we knock or just barge right in...

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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"Barge right in" Drago says.

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"My soul to nothingness: but I will strive against all doubtings, and will keep alive..." ~ John Keats's Sleep and Poetry

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Finding the door open they slowly enter, to find that this is a small entry type room where people wait to be anounced before entering the main meeting room. It is sparsly furnished with an old painting, which we are told was the original owner, there's a small table and a couple of chairs as well.



------------------
With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

"What if we try to follow their tracks, monty?", I said. "The quest is significant, and I'm sure some of the Vampire Lords are behind it. Our friends are secured at the Inn, and I've placed surve..."

"aha! So you admit to having your own spies!" monty snapped.

"No, not spies. You must understand that Elves commune with Nature, and I was grown by them. Mind you, this is not an issue I like to talk about lightly, so assume I have friends in the Nature around us who may provide assistance."

I saw that monty was not convinced, but there was nothing I could do.

"Well? What's your decision?" I finally said, cutting the silence.

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I wish I had more time to adventure...

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

We decied to get ready for the big battle, checking our weapons but keeping a good look out for guards the might be coming to report to there master, Tom decied to get a breath of fresh air and spoted some movement out side from where we started and says "it lloks like out friends have healed the other and are comming to help, we better wait for them."

SideNote :

Is everyone to busy testing runesword to contine this story?, it hadn't been touched for 5 days and I did'nt want it to llok like I'm taking over!

Tom


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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

side note: sorry Tom. I am a little busy. Give me a couple of days. leaving for germnay on monday and am getting ready for that.
I was thinking it would be cool to have a run and fight all the way to the cloud gate! Jumping aboard at the Last minute. hat do you think?

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

To Heven or to Hell this is the question, My thought that therse new owners are so evil I was going down not up.....

If I open the doors to the main room it was going to be filled will all sort of horrr with a big opening in the floor with this depp red glow coming from below......

Well that was my thought.

Tom


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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Side-note continued:
that's some good thinking, but I was thinking that we weren't really interested in getting rid of the new owners, more concerned with the bigger quest for the gems. Thought it would be better to keep on that trail by going through the gate than getting tied up here.

Re: The Boar\'s Head Pub
 

Thats OK , maybe if you like my direction...

The Devil has stolen the gems to take ove the worked not being happy to the just rge Never Regions but wants it all.... we could when se enter the room hasve the choice of both direction and we can explore one then other?. who says it is where it first was taken anymore the trail could go for as long as we want.

Tom


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With a little help from my friends , we can make Runesword the best RPG ever.