Seline's Journal pg 4

Artur dismissed the acolyte, then turned to me..."You sure you wish to do this...you know ..you may never be able to return? he asks Yes, Lord Artur.I answered.."Well, then....Of you.. I know your loyalty to Her and the City are Unquestioned...your skill..altho not the best in either Spell or Sword is more so than most when combined.. so your chances of success are good...are your affairs in order? I was floored..."Now, you want me to go now.? but what of..well.. "You seem to hesitate...are you not sure this is what you wish to do" Artur said.I answered "I am ready..but just surprised that you would decide so quick" . Artur answered "The decision was made much earlier..the waiting was formalities...and proving it to the Others." If you are ready? I nodded and then he took a box from his desk, marked with the seal of the church but slightly different, altho I could not really see how because of the way he held it. "Come then" and he led me to a small alcove with a simple alter. He placed the box on the floor and muttered a few strange words...Suddenly it opened and a bright light flared from it shimmering before us. With Mystra's grace...If you are truely ready..step into the light..and good luck" were his parting words...and so I did... I awoke naked, on the floor of a chapel, with a cleric standing before me. Looking around, I spied some meager clothes and a trainer sword..quickly I put them on I found a young dwarf who told me 'Welcome to Mudschool" Directory is just north..."MudSchool"...what was this all about?" I wondered. Off I went to find answers.. Very quickly I found that the portal must have done something else to me besides transport ..Critters I had dispatched without thinking were beating the living daylights out of me.. and all but the most minor of spells..had slipped my mind....I knew them...just the how of casting them..I just couldn't do...like that poor fellow in the arena.. I determined to relearn all I could as fast as I could... muttering a prayer to Mystra, I devoted my time to spell and sword...

Seline's journal pg 3

Following Day...interviews.. After reviewing the daily reports from the day before..making sure the commander of the west and his fellows were in good hands..kept to busy to get any more silly ideas..I went to the interview.. and was told I would be sent for...really now...that clerk of his has some nerve...ahh well but he is only doing his job...least im close by.. Morning passed...had lunch...reviewed spell books..no notice from Artur.. Afternoon...left message with office squire I would be back in 2 hours and made rounds...returned..still no message from Artur...ahh well must have chosen someone else told squire I would be with Weaponsmaster, went down and vented a bit..broke 3 wooden swords, 1 shield and sent 4 to the infirmary...but felt better.. Returned to office...still no note..sigh.. Life goes on...guess it's back to normal for me..and hope the one that was chosen has Her blessing....hmm...haven't been there for a bit other than normal perhaps... went to the Soldiers Chapel, bit more private..less acolytes wandering about all the time...said a prayer asking for Her Blessings on the one chosen and decided to relax a bit. Dragondale, the Cornerstones,,my fellow officers...the dwarven miners..the rare visits by the elven ones...all these memories passed thru my mind. All this I would be giving up..and for what? To defend against some unnamed danger from a place even the Cornerstones don't know exist..? Yet, that is what I do..best...this office junk bores me..the last week of fighting made me feel alive again...ahh If only in Your Grace you might see it fit.. *a noise, behind and left* Standing and raising my sword as if for Her blessing I looked in the reflection from the blade..*just an acolyte* Muttering a quick "Thankyou" to Her, I turned and sheathed my sword. "Commander Seline, Artur will see you now"..He turned and led me to a Artur's main office and inside.

Seline's journal pg 3

After this day was over there were only 2 others that still wanted to go to the arena and try for Artur's mission...my plan had worked..My troops would renew their training, and no matter what happened the House of Mystra would be safe. Day of the Arena Contest..what a mess...children barely out of the crib to old senile soldiers trying for one last chance of personal redemption.. It must have been a good thing I had spoken to Artur...as I was escorted to an area with those near my skill..5 of them to be exact..First skill with sword was tested beat 3 lost to 1 one draw...both too tired to continue.. After a 3 hour break...back at it...combat spell only..lost to 2 of the ones that I had defeated before soundly thrashed one..and the the last was a tie..neither had any magic spells left.. one had dropped out..the third that I had thrashed in sword we were told to return the following day for the final test...spell and sword. After resting and preparing myself showed up bright and early to get the lay of how things looked...started against 5 ..down to 4 day before..hmmm Not too surprisingly only 3 showed...Later I was told our area looked like a Mystrian Holiday!...at the end..was one other fellow and myself..who were told to report to Artur for further interviewing I returned to the House and cleaned up..after a small celebration my officers threw for me..seems some of them had made a bundle betting and wanted to share thier fortunes..I left that party early as I knew I still had preparing to do

Seline's Journal pg 2

Returning to my quarters, I called for a meeting with my lead officers We discussed this situation and selected our most capable junior officers to have duty that day while those of us that desired went to the tryout I also convened a Senior Officer Training session - to give us that were going to attempt this mission a fighting chance, on the following day. Then dismissing my Officers to continue with their duties, and prepare I set about readying myself..My weapons I knew were ready but spell components..and spare items needed.. I spent most of the day - that I could gathering scrolls, and potions and reviewing my spellbooks. Day of our training session - Guess my weaponsmaster has a bit of training to do. As Leader I accepted the first challenge..and as my bragging commander of the West tripped over his tounge with his spells..I disarmed him and put my dagger to his throat. He gave up readily...but then as I let him go..he screamed NOW and 4 of his fellows on the west charged in. *guess the west guards are a bit bored, it is the safest side. will have to modify the rotation a bit* I slapped him hard with the side of my sword knocking him senseless and spun, flinging one dagger into the leg of the closest attacker. *nice hit disableing yet not killing* and then triggered a stored spell in one of my rings which mired them in webs of weave altho this did not stop them, it did give me the chance to select my strikes a bit easier. and soon after they were also disarmed and sent back to thier studies...

+ Seline's Journal pg1

This is the personal journal of Seline deMystra, Commander of the Temple Guard, House of Mystra, Dragondale. If any find it ..please return to the Church of Mystra, who is beseached to return it to Her House. Finally found a merchant who sold journals! Now to bring things up to date. 4527 DR 2nd of Tarksakh (Local) Artur Oakheart, High Lord of Mysteries, House of Mystra and Cornerstone of Dragondale posted notes throughout the town requesting assistance.in reguard to a concern of the Cornerstones and the House Mastery of Spell and Sword a must. Payment to be determined by capablity - Minimum 1000p per month stipend to family left behind. Tryouts to be preformed at Pythor's Arena The previous note came across my desk and since most of my senior officers were clamoring to go, I thought it wisest to see what this was all about. I sent for and recieved an appointment with High Lord Artur who infomed me that in response to a vision he had it was necessary to send someone thru a portal created by a device the Cornerstones had found. The problem...or reason they weren't going is there was no assurance of returning. and since the vision had indicated that there might be danger to Dragondale, something had to be done. Artur also indicated to me that Mastery of Spell and Sword by whomever was sent were a part of the vision since the dangers were so high. I offered my services, Since I have proven my skills time and time again, and since I was still single, I had none to mourn my passing, except for a few of my fellow officers and men. Artur considered my offer..and said even so, I also had to prove myself in the arena.

Creation of a Gift [Part 3]

He was sweating heavily, a stray thought of activating one of the controls crossed his mind. Suddenly, his hand gripped the side of the table, going white-knuckled. He went limp, knees buckling. Icehawk collapsed to the floor, drained. The intricate manipulation he had performed was something even a greater mage could not have stood for too long. The thump from the body was rewarded with the appearance of Tundra. /Ah slag, he did it again.../ Tundra quickly padded to a container on one of the tables, his tentacles softly opening it and withdrawing a glowing yellow crystal. Stalking back to Icehawk, Tundra places it in Icehawks open hand, laying limp on the floor. /Hey Ice, squeeze, will ya?/ Tundra waited. No response. He visibly sighed. Bending his head down, he wrapped his teeth around Icehawks arm. /Im going to regret this.../ he thought as he bit down. Icehawks hand closed and squeezed, followed by a yellowish flash. The light of the flash flowed up Icehawks arm and over the rest of his body, then slowly sunk into him, dissapating from view. His eyes fluttered open. Tundra released his arm and stepped back. /You did it again. I thought you said youd try not to do it so long this time./ "Ah, crap... Yeah, I tried, but it did take a lot of manipulation." /Yeah, and youre rewarded with that bump on your head./ "True, but its going to work..." 

Creation of a Gift [Part 2]

"Nice..." Icehawk set the spell crystal back into the holder. Its fusing had been a success, and he smiled as he begun the next part. Turning to the marked parts of his spell book and journal, he began to weave his hands again. As one hand wove the spell of empowering, the other completed the motions of the telepathy. Icehawk pulled the Weave about the crystal, giving it the power. A soft blue glow sunk into the crystal, the telepathy empowering complete. Icehawk wiped sweat from his forehead and reached to turn to another part of his spell book, the page marked The detecting of thoughts. Icehawk concentrated on it, eyes passing over the words for memorization. The quickness of his reading made it apparent he used the spell once or twice before. He gestured his hands again, reciting the first parts of the spell, building the magic energy needed and pulling the Weave with it. As he neared the end of the spell, he repeated the half-casting, using the empowering to bring the spell to the crystal. The soft glow again sank into the crystal. Both spells completed, no hitches so far. Next came the fine tuning, the tiring work. Icehawk wiped the sweat from his forehead again. True, he was a wizard, but spell casting drained him, he liked physical labor. The crystallization system he had devised had solved this problem, he could blow all his energy at one point, create a bunch of spell-empowered crystals, then rest and recuperate. He envied the powers of those wizards above his stature, but none of them could match the amount of spells he could sling using crystals. Icehawk reached his hands toward the crystal in the holder, weaving with his fingers and losing himself in the strings of the spells. He pondered the threads, puzzled at the twines, all analyzing what would serve his purpose. Finding his enlightenment he began tweaking the Weave about the spells. Plucking here, pushing there, severing and retying at yet another. Slowly, he refashioned the intricacies of the spell, bringing them to his desired result. Satisfied with his modification he withdrew, back away from the crystal.