VARIOUS LOCATIONS - June 17, 1999 - Sir Zanthor

"Hail, visitor. Nice to see you," said the knight as he pulled out a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread.

I am Sir Zanthor, Knight of PaxLair, and you?

A small breeze blows through the mage tower.

Me? I am fine a bit tired I suppose, It has been a long couple of days. Why you ask?

A large grin is revealed as the man sets his helm down next to his dinner.

"Well, let me start at the beginning, I do love to tell stories.

Zanthor Meets The Forest Oracle

It all started quite some time ago, I had met the most beautiful woman and fallen in love. Only there was a small problem, you see, my love Aurora is a Dryad. And every now and then she must return to her tree. The problem was that this process caused her to lose her memory, including those of me. So I set out to seek the one person who could help, The Forest Oracle. I searched long and hard for weeks, without a sign. Then one day when I was in Corwyn, escorting Mayor Winfield, I was approached in secret by one of the Oracle's guardians. A meeting was set, and a few days later I met the Forest Oracle. Quite the lady she was, and she did indeed have a way to help me. You see the Forest Oracle's tears could cure my love's problem. There was a catch though, It would cause my lady great pain, to recall at once the many lifetimes she has lived through. After some time the bard Jhym, came to us with a message. The Decision was to be made that night."

The knight takes a long sip of wine and removes his gloves.

We gathered our friends and made the trip to the hedge maze where we were told the Oracle would be. There were complications though, we later learned someone had attempted to assassinate the Oracle. After some time the Forest Mother's Guardian appeared and led our party to a spot near Corwyn. Twas here that we met the Oracle again. M'love Aurora had decided to go through with the procedure, but the Oracle was reluctant to give us her tears, things had happened before with them, bad things.

The Knight shudders and then takes a bit of bread.

The Wraith's Tower

To prove my worthiness I had to pass a test, You see not long ago a great evil had taken over a tower in Corwyn, I believe it was the V*A tower. My job was simple, to enter the Tower alone and defeat one of the beings that dwelled within. My hands shook as I pushed open the door to that tower. An awful, awful place it is.

The Knights eyes glare over, he appears to be staring into nothingness.

I was met by a wraith who lead me up the stairs, I asked him where his leader was, and he asked me why I wished to meet him. I spoke bluntly, I wish to kill him. At this point the wraith quaffed several potions and picked up a shield. Not to be out done, I drank a potion of strength I had been saving. The Evil one spoke "You smell of the Forest" he said, his voice scratchy and distorted. And you smell of Evil I replied, throwing an explosion just behind him.

He ran straight at me, but I was prepared, He started to fall, when I was poisoned. Fortunately for me I had been carrying a greater cure potion made by a friend of mine. I did not miss a step. The beast ran up and down the Tower stairs until I cut him down.

Zanthor kills the Wraith

There were other things in that place, And I had no desire to stay. Quickly I removed the Head and ran back to the Oracle, and my friends. It is done I declared. And the forest Oracle proceeded to give us her magical tears.

The knight leans back in his chair and plays with a small ring on his hand, it appears to be made of amber.

Aurora decided it only proper for her to drink the tears at her tree, so we traveled with haste. She drank and she remembered. It was a happy day, yet I can't get that tower out of my mind. And I later found out, Wraiths have been sighted snooping around PaxLair. A great evil is among us I fear.

The sturdy man shakes his head a bit and a smile returns to his face

"Perhaps you would care for a bit of food?" he asks, extending a piece of bread.