Author:	Zog the Fishmonger
Date/Time:	6/9/2004 12:42:20 PM
Subject:	The Valley of Death
A Paxlair Thor's Day Night Adventure Tale - There I was, enjoying my favorite pastime - fishing and swilling down ale, when I suddenly realized that yet another Thor's Day Night Adventure was due to begin! Fishing is easy when you have undead fish fishing for living fish at your beck and call (erm...?). Alas! My cheap gold-farming had to end that I might serve the Keeper and any and all adventurers who might be arriving in Paxlair. Arriving in Paxlair, I found the Gatekeeper taking names and noting them in what it referred to as 'the Underworld Scrolls'. Just this past day, I did check the Underworld structure in Paxlair, and sure enough, those names are noted in a tome hidden there. These names we scrawled in blood within the book: Winmere, Nanoc, Kara, Harne, Kanani, Yanni, KrissyZM, Shyann, John McBain, Belial, and Cara. The Gatekeeper started to wail and moan about two locations it desired the present adventurers to investigate. The hints given included a lake of fire, near the Gargoyle City, and an area where Lich Lords and Titans controlled a region near a river crossing. The adventurers were somewhat confused, as usual - but even more so this time. Not only was the Spirit attempting to convey the locations, but it was also insistent that the adventurers split into two parties - warriors to advance to the Lich Lord Region, and mages to Gate to the lake of fire. The parties formed, and set forth on the paths destined for them. I travelled with the mages, and therefore can relay our tale, but some other may wish to share the lore regarding the warrior band. Gating to Ilshenar, the mages found a mountain of fire near the Gargoyle realm. A lake of lava at its base, the mountain had a pathway leading to its summit. The pathway to the top was broken by a river of molten rock, and defended by Earth Elementals and Imps. The mages were forced to teleport across the river. Upon reaching the peak, we realized the mountain was actually a volcano. Yet another large lake of lava was discovered, with small islands that a talented mage could teleport too. Moving from one to another, it was possible to cross the lava pool, drop down to a ledge, and discover a hidden opening leading to a cavern within the mountain. In this dreadful and dangerous place, we found Fire Elementals, the typical minions that serve them, and the merciless Ancient Wyrm. Commanded by the spirit to dispatch several of these creatures, the party set forth to bring ruin upon the Wyrms. Ruin, however, did find the party members vanquished themselves, on several occassions! Eventually, our task completed, the spirit demanded that we set forth to the Paladin's Tower outside Delucia. It was there that I became gravely concerned. Standing there, full of his typical cynical wrath, stood a man, hooded in black robes. Again, it seemed Valtos the Void had somehow escaped from his last battle with the Keeper and its servants! Valtos cackled maniacally about his new army of minions, which now included the Ancient Wyrms of Sosaria! Distressed that we had set forth to diminish his minions, directed by the Gatekeeper, Valtos warned the adventurers that nothing, as usual, would stop his plans. He spoke of Lord Mentor, an ally, that ruled a city near the Chaos Gate of Ilshenar. Strangely, Valtos spoke of the city as if it existed in the present, and that Lord Mentor was known to all as its demonic ruler. I did not understand it completely, but the ruins I know of near the Chaos Gate have been abandoned for years, and I know of no living being named Mentor who rules there. Perhaps Mentor and Valtos are linked by some strange timeline I cannot understand, or perhaps Mentor is a powerful spirit that has somehow allied or beguiled the insane Valtos. All I can say is - I do not understand the workings of the Void, or the mysteries of the Underworld. For now, I suppose I must grapple with the dim understanding a mere mortal possesses. The party regrouped, and challenged the Chaos Gate. Many were slain, yet many more minions of Valtos and Mentor met their destiny in the Void. Mayor Minsk herself, having joined the group, had to be ressurected on several occassions! The Ministry needs to be more careful regarding our courageous, but often rash, Mayor. The Gatekeeper's instructions relayed that we must assault the ruins, beyond the Gate, and travel to a valley west of the haunted city. I thought I eyed the shade of Mentor on one occassion, and shortly thereafter Succubi arrived to block the passage of the party. Yet we gained passage, prevailed, and found ourselves at the foot of the passageway leading to the Ancient Wyrms lair. We had come to the Valley of Death! It was here that the being we call the Gatekeeper required us to reduce our numbers to parties of four. No more than four could challenge the creatures in their Lair, and the combatants were told they could not exit the Valley. They must be victorious, or perish in the attempt. They could, however, be ressurected by Healers outside the Valley. The Wyrms had terrible minions protecting it, and the challenge was immense. As the first team of stalwarts entered the Valley, I could hear the Gatekeeper lamenting about the folly of humans -something about 'never using their heads, but following their pride'. John McBain, Jerky, Jezabelle, and Kara set forth. Soon, their spirits journeyed back out of the Valley! Their next attempts were more successful, however, and before we knew it, the Gatekeeper demanded another band to take on the challenge. Winmere, Jezabelle, Kara, and KrissyZM set forth to meet the Keeper's strange demands. Death, successes, the Keeper constantly demanding more battle! I think it wished to impress a lesson on Valtos and Mentor, for I ken no other reason that the Keeper's servants would be subjected to such pain and torment. Perhaps it seeks to train the Paxlair Adventurers for some greater task? I know this though - it is my hope that the peasants and craftsmen of Sosaria can fully appreciate their quiet lives, even as warriors and magi die defending them from the machinations of such entities as Valtos and Mentor. As the last band of fighters emerged from the Valley of Death, the Gatekeepers visible manifestation began to fade. As the ethereal winds of temporal vortex took it back to the Underworld, a faint Mantra echoed within our minds. TRUR... TRUR