Today me look all over for Kate. No find. Kill goblins, trolls, rockmans, orcs, but no Kates. Maybe someone else kill her first.
Me find out that chain mail itches and makes it hard to swing, so me take it off. Feel much better with studs, since me one anyway. <coarse laughter>
Shortsword too short. Want bigger blade, so me learn Longsword like Zig. Practice hard. Trainer refuse to train me because I forgot to hold sword by hilt, tells me to practice even more before he consider training. Wiz say thats Prej Adiss, but me know not Prej.
I watch Orc swinging longsword and figure out how to swing back. Tried to thank Orc, but he hit me, so I hit back. Now Orc dead. Maybe Kate is Orc? After paying trainer to train me, me go kill all Orcs I could find in hopes of killing Kate. Then me go swim back to teacher to tell him.
He happy I kill Orcs, so teach me how to swing faster. Now chop Goblin heads in one blow. Lots of fun. Someone tell me Ogres are good to kill, and live down second stairway. Me have strange vision of big metal vroom vroom object on battlefield, then decide to find second stairway to go kill them...
Last night I ran across Dum sitting down in front of Doc's house, moaning over the fact that he can't find Ogres to kill. He's a bit difficult to have learned discourse with, but I finally determined that he can't find the way down to Nork -2. I told him I'd scout the way and show him it after I did. (Zig hasn't been seen for a while, otherwise I'd have foisted the whole thing on him, knowing he's been there...)
Now, I've already visited -2 before, but I figured I'd explore a bit further this time. Using the now well established technique of mentally blasting any creature before it could possibly hit me, I crashed through the first level like a twister in tight quarters. Truly, I could feel the energy coursing through me.
With strong confidence, I proceeded down to -2, and continued my one man demolition spree. It was when I was some distance into the area that I suffered my first rude awakening - While fighting two Ogres and a Troglodyte (Nasty smelly creatures...), one of the ogres and the trog both hit me whilst I was blasting the first ogre. While I did manage to dispatch all three creatures, this encounter awakened me to my danger - while singly I was a match for nearly everything in the area, in groups, they could still overwhelm me. I resolved to be more cautious in the future.
Another revelation was when I ran low on my energy points. I had discovered and picked up a twig, in poor condition, containing a few remaining charges of the Energy Missile discipline. It proved to be an excellent means of providing protection (the best defense, of course, being a good offense) while my psionic energy recovered itself. And to think that Zgwortz, that fool, has sold several such twigs without realizing their usefulness. I'm going to have harsh words with him on that matter.
It was my new resolve to be cautious that pulled me up short when I discovered a stairway downwards. Given the nature of the creatures on the current level, and remembering a comment from Zig about the fire and frost using creatures on -3, I decided that the prudent thing to do was to return to Nork to train some more and prepare before proceeding further, so, having fortuitously packed a scroll of SUCCOR, formed a Twig at the staircase, then used a previously prepared twig to return to Nork.
My mentor was pleased with my progress, both in learning how to be cautious and how to better utilize my abilities, and so therefore taught me a new discipline, that of protection from fire, which should be useful indeed when I proceed down to -3.
Today was singularly uneventful. Having discovered the ENMISS twig on -2, I decided to see if I could find any more such twigs in that area while practicing my mental disciplines upon the hapless denizens of the region. Unfortunately, my search was fruitless. Perhaps I'll have better luck tomorrow.
Well, NOW I've gone and done it. Frankly, I'm not all that certain it was a good idea, and I have no idea how the others will take to it, but it's done and there's no turning back now.
It all started when I was exploring an area of the underground which is known locally as Ratburrow. There I was, exploring, fighting Gnolls, Alligators, Sanquin, and other equally vile creatures, when one of them hit me, hard, and I was once again dead.
Ah, the agony, the humiliation, the loss of health once again. This was particularly bad this time - when I was restored to life, I felt old and worn out, no longer the peak of physical health I once was accustomed to. And my wounds would no longer heal quite so quickly, either. I was beginning to doubt my ability to go on, when a shadowy figure whispered my name from the shadows.
"Psst... Yeah, you, Zgwortz, I'm talkin to ya..." the figure whispered, beckoning me to lean close. "Ya look worn out, used up. How'd ya like to get a brand new take on life?"
Naturally, I was intrigued, but wary. I offered the man a drink and we retired to a corner of the Steel Flower tavern. He turned out to be a very old wizard, unwilling to reveal his name, only his initials: S.A.S. He told me that for many years now he specialized in literally rebuilding the physical body of adventurers who have squandered their health in unprofitible enterprises. He used the term "rerolling" for this proceedure.
He didn't want money, either. Apparently, he lived upon the memories and experiences of those who he assisted in this fashion. From their point of view, they'd lose their skills and have to rebuild them from the start, but their memory of training in those skills would remain, and thus relearning them would be easier the second time around.
This didn't seem like a bad tradeoff. I'd lose my Paladinhood until I could once again prove myself worthy, but I was certain it would be only a short time before I could accomplish that. After considering the offer for several days, I decided to go through with it. The thought of a young healthy body again was more tempting than I would have believed.
I liquidated my assets and placed the money into the bank, who had handled this type of changeover before. I stored my armor and magic items into my locker, to which nobody else has the combination, so that I would have them again when I returned in my new body.
I then sought out S.A.S. in the tavern and told him I'd go through with it. He made a gesture and I was suddenly *elsewhere*. Parading in front of me were a series of men of different races, some short, some tall, some weak, some strong, some healthy, some sick. I knew without being told, that I must choose the body which I wanted.
It took some time, before I saw him - a Mountain Dweller, short and stout, but endowed with enormous strength and health. Well endowed in other areas as well, which might serve me well should I run across the lovely Lady A. again... Mentally, I made the choice, and everything went black.
When I awoke, I found myself back in Nork wearing my new body! And not much else. I scrambled to my locker to put on proper clothing again, and made my way to the Fighter trainer to rededicate myself to the cause of Fighting. He accepted me, and after a short discussion, I took a break and rested for a while. As I did so, I could feel myself getting tougher again and recalling some of the power that once was mine. My reflexes, however, were sadly out of shape, and I could barely swing a longsword. The knowledge was all there, but the muscles needed work.
I've just gotten back out of the dungeon after slicing a few dozen orcs and goblins to pieces, and I'm beginning to feel a lot more comfortable swinging my sword, although I can tell it will take more practice still to get back to where I used to be. Still, time for a break, a bit of carousing, and perhaps some play with a pretty barmaid, now that I don't have to worry about Paladinly vows, at least for a short while...
I don't believe it. I walked into the Steel Flower tavern last night, and this mountain dweller is drinking and flirting with the barmaids, and claim's *he* is Zgwortz! Well, I'll let you know I didn't believe it for a moment, but then he started telling me all kinds of things that only Zig would have known, and that shook me. I roped in Doc and he tried asking a few questions of his own, and this guy answered every one right. He claims he was offered a new body by some mysterious wizard and this is how he turned out.
So now what? I'm reserving judgement for now as to whether he's the real Zgwortz or not. The original Zig hasn't been seen for a bit, so just *maybe* this one is telling the truth, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
To take my mind off this turn of events, I went back down to -2 to practice my mental skills some more. Perhaps it was reckless of me, but I decided to take a quick run down the stairs to -3 and see what is waiting. To my utter surprise, while several creatures were waiting down there, I had little trouble dispatching them. I decided to remain down for a while, with one hand curled protectively around my Nork twig. While I had some protection against fire, I was hit once or twice by a Sanquin spewing freezing cold air - I'm obviously in need of protection from cold as well as fire.
I slipped back up to Nork to train a bit, and while my trainer did teach me new disciplines, neither one was protection from cold. I can't *wait* to try out a Fireball, however...
Back down to -3. Again, the need for protection from cold raised itself. It occurred to me that perhaps the skin of the Sanquin might be turned into a robe or something, so I brought one up to the Tanner in town. He informed me that while the skin wasn't suited for a robe, it was quite suitable for making a suit of Scale armor, that would protect at least as well as chain from attack, and might also offer some protection against cold. I told him I'd give it a try.
Donning the Sanquin armor, I went back to -3. While it did offer some protection against the cold, it wasn't perfect. Neither was my PROTFIRE discipline proof in all cases against the flames which the various Lizardmen in the area kept throwing. Fortunately, I had packed both normal healing potions and Instant heals for just such a contingency.
When I returned to the surface, I spoke with Zig the mountain dweller (who may or may not be the real Zgwortz, but *does* have a few gems of good advice...), and he said that if the lizard men were giving me, as he put it, "...a hotfoot...," I should perhaps seek out their leader and make an example of him. He suggested talking to Sir Haldan about it. Perhaps I shall...
Well, I spoke with Sir Haldan. He directed me to a young lady who seemed to be the object of continual persecution by a self-proclamed Lizard King residing somewhere below. This Lizard King appeared to have some magical abilities, used to create a doll-like figurine of power to affect the young lady's family. Zig had defeated the previous holder of the position and returned the figurine to the lady, but his successor has made a new one. The young lady asked me kindly to take on the quest, Sir Haldan once again having failed in disgrace. I was, admittedly, more interested in the treasure to be found in the Lizard King's lair, but accepted anyway. She provided me with an enchantment which would allow me to approach the lair, and I proceeded apace. Really, I don't know where these various monster lords come from. Several well placed Energy Missiles and the Lizard King was utterly defeated. Upon looting the lair, I recovered not one, but several magical rings which provided protection from both fire and cold. Perhaps one of these would prove useful when next I decided to visit the third level.
I've spent quite a bit of time lately exploring the regions of the third level below the surface of Nork, with my new protection ring deflecting the worst of the Lizardmen's fire and the Sanquin's Ice. It's been quite a profitable experience, although somewhat frustrating at times.
First, it's significantly larger than I had thought based on a grey market map I had purchased in the marketplace from a fellow called Sting, and even from the descriptions which Zgwortz had previously related to me. There appear to be at least four major sections to the area, and possibly more.
The first area, being the most central and also containing the stairway upwards, corresponds directly to the map I had purchased. It extends a short distance eastwards and westwards from the stairway. It is inhabited by a plethora of Lizard Men who delight in throwing balls of fire, large scaled creatures called Sanquin, whose cold breath can cause hail and ice to condense out of thin air, Hobgoblins, much like their weaker brethren, and the ever ubiquitous Troll. Occationally, you might run into an Ogre or two. In fact, all of the areas seem to be overrun by this mixture of creatures, with one major exception which I will inform you of later. These creatures tend to congregate in certain areas, including the area immediately surrounding the stairway down, so those unprepared for fire and ice may find themselves in dire straits just by climbing down the stairs.
The second area is directly eastwards of this first area, and, while slightly more difficult to survive, appears to be more affluent than the first area. There is, in this second area, a locked room from which issues a putrid stink.
The third area, which Zgwortz had apparently never visited, is south of the first area, and is much like the second area in nature. One odd feature of this area is a lengthy corridor with many small rapid moving rodents, too small to cause any harm, but they tend to make one stumble repeatedly. I'm not certain whether this corridor is of any interest or not.
The fourth area I have not explored very much. If you go to the far southwest of the first area, you'll find a corridor heading eastwards. Some distance down you may see a door towards the south. At this point, as if you had stepped down a staircase, the area gets significantly more deadly. Amongst the creatures I have seen here (albeit briefly, since I was beating a hasty retreat...), are Mummies, very tough Ogres, a terrible thing known as a Thumper (which Zgwortz has already complained about), and an equally horrible monster which is called, appropriately, a Stunner. I found the area far too dangerous for one of my abilities to stay very long, especially since being stunned by Stunners is exceptionally deadly.
In addition to exploring this, I have also spent a short time exploring the area known as Ratburrow. Ratburrow (at least the portion closest to the stairway up to Nork) is somewhat more dangerous than the first three areas of -3, but not nearly as dangerous as the fourth area, since there is less of a tendency for the denizens to organize and group together, possibly due to significantly larger living space, and the more dangerous creatures such as Stunners and Thumpers appear to find this area not to their liking. I found it to be well within my abilities, but dissappointing in terms of acquiring money, something my trainer is insisting on more and more of. The individual creatures have perhaps somewhat better treasure than I have found in other areas, but since they are more spread out, it takes longer to find it.
Since right now my trainer is asking for more money than I am making, I'm going to be staying on -3 for now. Perhaps I'll get together with a group and we'll investigate the fourth area in more detail. With my recently acquired skill in generating ice storms of my own, it may become easier going.
It is most remarkable. Zgwortz has not only changed his appearance recently, but he has changed his entire race! It took me but a moment's work to discover the truth of the matter when this strange mountain dweller came up to me and claimed he was my cousin. Firstly, he knows things that only Zig and I would know. Secondly, the reaction of the townspeople around me confirms that he really is who he claims to be.
You see, I've noticed for some time that the people in this town appear to be able to tell who a person is related to. It's a most uncanny thing, this extra sense. It's especially noticeable should one member of a family attack or harm a townsperson, since that townsperson will become noticeably more hostile towards the entire family. I suppose that is due to the apparently close ties that natives to this town seem to form within their own family, as shown by the Merenor family for example, and thus they feel that the family should be responsible for it's members.
I'm going to have to have a talk with Wiz and make certain that we keep an eye on Dumbzgwortz - this whole barbarian thing has gone to his head, and he could easily make things difficult for the rest of us here in Nork. Fortunately, he seems to have given up on the idea that he needs to kill someone named Kate. But who knows what his little pea brain will come up with next.
After talking with Zig, I also inquired with this mysterious S.A.S. personage he mentioned. From discussions with him, it appears he can also make more subtle changes, basically the same as Zig had mentioned but without any outwardly noticeable change in appearance or race. My own health being somewhat lacking, and the wisdom of my choices lately being somewhat in question, I decided that it might not be a bad idea to try this myself, while my skills were still relatively new and easy to relearn. So I "rerolled", as S.A.S. puts it, with effects I'm somewhat pleased with.
Thus began the long, arduous task of retraining myself. This time, I spent significant effort in studying a more potent weapon, the Longsword. Being less proficient in this weapon than my native Shortsword provided me with ample opportunity to heal myself, and thus my Healing skills returned far more rapidly than they had been originally developed.
In fact, I decided to train equally in both skills, so that I could adequately defend myself in situations when my healing skill was insufficient. Once I had become familiar with the Longsword, both it and my Healing skills progressed at a similar pace, and I soon found myself better skilled than previously. My mental energy and general health was much better as well, so I'd have to say that rerolling was an excellent idea.
I've just gotten back from my mentor, who has taught me how to Blind a creature from a distance. This could prove most useful in keeping the more dangerous creatures at bay while defending against smaller creatures, but I shall experiment to see if there are other uses of similar potential.
Well, all the evidence seems to point to Zgwortz having be reincarnated in some fashion as the Mountain Dweller he now is. As an apology for doubting him, I made him a present of a slightly magical greatsword I had discovered on -3. He seemed willing to forgive me, especially when I took him for a round at the Steel Flower Inn. Unlike the Zgwortz of old, he seems to have an even fonder appreciation for the wine and the ladies, so I suspect he'll be far less likely to rejoin the Brotherhood of Paladins.
In the meantime, I've been continuing to collect a plethora of large emeralds from the seemingly endless hordes of creatures which inhabit the third level of the Norkian dungeon. It is remarkably slow going but I'm sure that will change.
Well, I must say Wiz has given me a most wondrous present, a magical greatsword. After trying it's heft, I've decided that longswords can't cut it anymore. Pun intended. It proved remarkably easy to learn the greatsword, possibly because it's magical enhancements made it easier to hit with the untrained blade. I spent quite a bit of time practicing with the sword down on -2, slicing ogres and troglodytes to teeny little bits. It was very satisfying, I must say.
Once that got boring, I recklessly decided to try my new strength down on -3. Wow, what a rush! There's nothing like charging into a raging fireball or storm of ice (or both at the same time...) to kill a lizardman or sanquin. Wearing one of the rings I had previously acquired which has resistance to fire and cold, and my sanquin scale armor, I ignored all the fire and ice and slew the unsuspecting critters.
It was early on while hunting the area west of the stairs that I found the helm. I had seen several which looked just like it before, but this was a helm with a difference - when I put it on, I felt as though wounds which had previously driven me to my knees would be easy to shrug off as just a flesh wound! A side effect was that those healing potions wouldn't quite do as well as before, but then each time I felt that I had entered a new level of experience, the healing potions would once again be less effective, possibly because I felt a similar toughening to when I put this helm upon.
Emboldened by my new toughness and magic weapon, and with nothing here able to touch me, I went into those areas Wiz had mentioned he had been hunting, with the emeralds strewn about like rocks in Dum's head.
It ought to be already obvious what happened. Stupid idiot that I was, I had been wandering about running through fire and ice, wearing only one (and the weaker one at that) of my protection rings. The other safely stored in my locker, and when I needed it most, when I encountered the more intense flame and ice of the critters in the southern and eastern sections of -3, they got the better of me and I died. Fortunately, a passer-by, with a CRITCURE scroll in hand, saw what happened and managed to rescue me from my plight, with barely a scratch suffered. I've taken to carrying a CRITCURE scroll around that I found myself, just in case I can return the favor to some other poor adventurer I may run across in the future. And never again will I forget which rings I am wearing.
I decided to take a break for a drink. While in the pub, I overheard a man named Rikko mentioning that he had left a couple of corpses laying about in some caves near Maeling. What I found interesting was he said they were wearing some yellow robes, which I had heard rumors about having some protective capability. I was a bit hesitant to go after them, for having wandered briefly around Maeling, I knew there were some dangerous critters about, but the drink made me a bit reckless, so I thought, "Hey, why not?"
With my Nork twig safely stored on my belt, I went through the Maeling portal, and gave a sigh of relief when the twig stayed glowing. (It had gone out once a while back, but I've heard the Mentalist guild had since fixed the problem - I'm glad to find it was true.)
Then a mad dash west to the caves. Actually, it wasn't all that bad. I found the robe mentioned and managed a quick glance before this obviously evil personage came up and attacked me. He was dusty and his clothes moldy, as if he lived *in* the caves. Well, I could have fought back, but not knowing how dangerous he was, I decided discretion was the better part of valor, and retreated. I'll be going back soon, I bet - the place doesn't look *too* dangerous (At least - I didn't see any thumpers...:), and he's high on the list for repeat encounters.
Me run around -1 recently, breaking scrolls. Some scrolls magic - me like breaking those best. Break some twigs too.
Wiz give me nice greatsword, looks just like Zig's, so I switch to use it. Practice killing, but things keep hitting me. Zig keeps saying to get better armor, but I no like metal armor stuff. Want a good fur.
People say yeti fur best fur to wear. But me can't find yeti. Someone say it on island. Me remember island, way up in sky, with hot stuff. Go through icky magic portals to get there. So I go there. But no yeti there.
Me stumble and fall off cliff. Fall in water. Swim around and find small building next to cliffs, but building has no door. Saw Mummy and said hi Mom, but she not answer. Swim along cliff till I find break. Lots of fire on ground. Go in break, there big red winged lizard there, but he not watching, so I run past him. Go up and down stairs. Finally find yeti! But yeti kill me - must be *real* good fur. Me remember to chant RESTORE, end up home in Nork. Can't wait to go back to kill yeti...
I almost choked in amazement when Dum claimed to simply walk past a big red winged lizard in a cavern filled with fire. It seems obvious to me that this is the infamous Red Dragon which I've heard many a sad tale about - one of the most deadly creatures known, and Dum saunters on by as if it were a deer in the woods. Someone had recently recounted their own attempts to do the same, ending in several very messy deaths.
I've tried to convince him that tempting fate again could be perhaps permanantly fatal, but he seems bent upon finding a Yeti fur to wear. Perhaps if the Yeti were not severely endangered on Yeti island, I'd send him there instead, but nobody has seen one there in a long time. Hopefully they're not entirely extinct.
Fortunately, his mind seems incapable of recalling the way he got there, so maybe he'll not be able to find the site again.
As a means of calming myself down, I went below to practice my ASSAULT discipline. The focus of thought needed to properly form healing disciplines is a wonderful means of calming onself.
While wandering down there, I encountered Genetta, a young lady I had seen there before, searching for her brother, who had, it appears, been once again abducted by the current Lord of the Goblins. That really annoys me. It's bad enough that the poor boy is constantly abducted, but when it continually puts his sister in danger, it's criminal. With no qualms, I confronted the Goblinlord, and when he didn't relent, it was almost a pleasure to ASSAULT him out of existance. I hope this puts an end to it.
I've lately gotten a letter from Chi. He's nearing the end of his training, and may soon come to join us here in Nork. I certainly hope so. Zig is insufferably involved in his drunken debauchery and brassy boasting, Wiz has gotten almost snobbish what with the money he's been finding on the lower levels, and Dum is, well, Dum. Chi might be at least good company - he's sober, modest, and calm, which will be a most welcome change from the madhouse our family has become in recent weeks...
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