Name: Noelle Remington
Age: 32
Position: Chief Scientist
Rank: Civilian
Gender: Female

Appearance: Noelle is a woman of average height and normal build. Her blonde hair is thick and curly and she usually wears it down, tucked behind an ear. For formal occasions she’ll put it up. Her eyes are a deep grey-blue and her face is soft and rounded. At work she always wears comfortable, yet presentable clothing and her white labcoat. She wears glasses but will also wear contacts from time to time.

Occupation: scientific research, astrophysics

Personality: Noelle is bubbly, but very naive when it comes to “street sense”. She’s somewhat bitter to people she doesn’t know well that rub her the wrong way. She’s ambitious, but not power-hungry, open to her friends and family, but she always seems to be at a bit of a distance for others. She’s very intelligent, and frequently catches things that other people miss, including important details, bits of conversations that may be important, and other various things. She’s witty, intelligent, and fun natured around friends. She’s a loyal friend and has a small, close knit circle of friends.

Character history: Noelle grew up in the town of Edinburough, Scotland–out in the countryside, she loved walking through the green meadows, and she loved going to the coast with her family when she was younger. She moved to the United States when she was 18 to attend University in Washington State.

After college, having a degree in Astrophysics, she joined the US Air Force. While in the Air Force, she studied Deep Space Telemetry and more advanced Astrophysics. When she was 25, two years after she joined the Air Force, she was approached by two USAF officers and was offered to come work for a secret operations on a small Carribbean island of Morada. She took the offer and immediately moved. She is now the Chief Scientist at the Aerospace center on the Moradian Military Base.

Bethsani left Grimmith quickly after being with him most of the day at Zen’s request. Zen always treated her like a child needing protection, but Grimmith took her out for some sword practice.

She was suprised by his unexpected goodbye kiss. it was more than just a friendly goodbye. Each of the brothers had their qualities, each in their own way loved her, but her loyalties were to their friend Magmuus with whom they shared the keep, they had to be. She had no choice, and no way out. In an odd way, she did love him, but it was more from fear and duty than romantic love. It did make her happy to please him. He always made a fuss over her when she did so, and that made her feel good. But she feared the times when she did not. She always tried hard to please him. She owed that much too him for saving her life all those years before and taking her in.

Her heart raced as she hurried toward her home keep. Magmuus would be home soon and she needed to prepare the house for him. He was very particuliar that way, and would be very angry if it were not just so.

Bethsani approached the keep at early dusk. The night had begun to fall and the shadows filled the courtyard. She had a few hours to set things out and prepare herself for his return. She dropped her equipment in the battlements of the courtyard accept for the small bronze dagger that Zen had given her, which she always kept near her. The door to the kitchen creeked as she opened it to enter. The room was dark ‘cept for the fading dim light from the window in the far corner of the room.

As she entered, she let out a startle. A lone figure, dressed in fine robes sat without movement in the dim light at the kitchen table. His hands were folded in front of him and on the table was a glass with water in it.

Bethsani’s heart began to beat erratically and her breathing quickened in nervousness. He was home….

“Enter”, he said. A simple word.. spoken quietly in his deep whispered tone. Beth took a breath, and stood shivering. She trembled, feeling something between fear.. and anticipation.

And she took a step forward….

Bethsani took a deep breath as she stepped forward to him. He never looked up at her, but starred straight ahead toward the window as he spoke quietly.

I have been waiting…, he said displeased. Bethsani dropped to her knees by his side. “I am sorry, Sire”, she began to babble. “I was helping Grimmith with some household tasks and I lost all track of time”. “It will not happen again”.

Magmuus nodded. “I see” he retorted. He rose from his seat slowly and turned to face her.

“Bethsani…”, he spoke as he grabbed her elbow tightly forcing her to raise to a standing position. Her heart raced.

Magmuus sighed. “You not only disobeyed my requests for the house, but you lie about where you have been to me”.

“You have been out learning those foolish ways of the shadows again, haven’t ye?” He asked in a monotonous tone.

Bethsani nodded. “Aye Sire” she replied to him stiffling herself from beginning to cry for displeasing him so.

Magmuus’ eyes began to glare as he looked away from her in disgust.

“With Zen?”, he asks angrily

She shook her head. No, Sire, Zen bade me tae go with Grimmith this eve”, she spoke under her breath and she began to sob.

“Zen…bade ye…?

Magmuus clenched teeth as his anger seered about to explode in rage.

He took in a deep breath, closed his eyes and exhaled, taking control of his emotions once more.

“Listen to me…” he commanded in an eerie whisper. “Go upstairs, take off that bloodied tunic you are wearing, kneel in the center of the room and wait for me”, Do you understand?” He asked.

She merely nodded in reply. And she went upstairs to follow his order.

Magmuus remained seated for a moment and took a long draw from his flask of wine. How had she become so bold as to tell him of her taking orders from another? ” I am her master, NONE other shall take that from me” he told himself.

He was tired from his long trip that day, but he must resolve this rebelliousness within her before it got out of hand. Slowly he rose and made his way to the staircase and ascended to the room above.

As he entered she simply held her eyes to the floor, knowing what he intended, and Magmuus paused as he reached her side. Her bare skin glistened in the candlelight and he studied every pleasing inch of it before reaching down to take her by the wrist.

” We have been through this before Bethsani, and you know it pains me each time you are punished, but I am your master, and you shall take your orders from me and me alone.”

” Yes master” she replied with her eyes still locked on the floor, and he felt a slight trembling escape her.

He led her to the bed, where he stood behind her and firmly pushed her upper body forward onto it, leaving her naked backside exposed to him. He drew his crop from beneath his robes and touched it to her bare skin, and she began to shiver.

” I do this because i care for you my love, and if it is not done you may forget your place” he said as he lifted the crop high to the side and brought it down squarely across both side of her bare arse. Her head raised and she released a muffled cry as the sting of his whip shot through her. Again he brought it down upon her, this time slightly harder then the last.

She had felt this treatment many times before but something was different. He brought the whip down upon her again, and again, and again, and she felt a lump begin to well up in her throat. This was not like Magmuus. He was being unusually harsh and she could feel the pain searing her tender backside. He seemed driven by something more then displeasure, and she could not help but to let slip a plea to him.

” Please master” she sighed, and then gripped the bed tightly in fear that it may anger him and warrant yet another lashing from him.

Magmuus paused, and as the blows quit coming, he saw her body loosen and collapse onto the bed. What had he done? He could see the bright red welts on her skin beaming out to him telling him he had went too far. He threw the crop onto the floor and knelt beside her fragile body on the bed. Her face was buried in the fabric, but he could hear her muffled cries as she hid her face from him.

” Forgive me my love ” he whispered to her as he gently ran his hands across her inflammed bottom trying to sooth some of her pain. As always, the softness of her skin was enough to bestill his breath, and he cursed himself inside for having gotten carried away. He slowly stroked the back of her head caringly, then took her wrist and lifted it to encourage her to look at him.

She slowly raised her head to face him. Tears welling up in her eyes told him she was hurt, and she said not a word, but simply gazed into his eyes in silence. Again he cursed himself beneath his breath, and pulled her naked body close to his, resting her head tight against his chest.

He always made it a point to tell her what she had done wrong in the past, but at this moment he felt words were not fitting. He would merely hold her and give her his affection until her pain had resided. With a kiss to her forehead he wrapped his arms around her hoping to comfort her, and simply held her……………

Zen had returned from his trip that morning and sent word for her to meet him in the clearing by the lake near on the outskirts of the keep.

Still sore from her punishment the night before, determined to go, Bethsani set out to meet Zen.

She did not know why she was so drawn to Zen. He had a gentle strength about him. Strong and handsome yet gentle and tender in his mannerisms. She had practically grown up with him since Magmuus had found her at deaths door so many years ago. Magmuus had taken her in and nursed her back to health. He was so much different now than he was then. He had grown maddened with is possession of her. That scared Bethsani most of all and she was torn between her love and loyalty for him, and the aches in her heart to be with Zen.

She was not sure of Zen’s feelings towards her, but she sensed he felt the same, but was as afraid as she was to reveal them to her.

She made her way through thick of the forest along the dirt path that Zen had shown her before and she saw him in the distance, practicing his defensive moves on the rocks near the edge of the water. Just seeing him move with such grace and strength gave her goosebumps.

She approached him and he seemed unusually startled to see her.

“I did not think ye would show”, Zen said as his eyes brightened at the sight of her.

“I am here., she replied.

“Well then, lets get started.”, Zen said in a serious tone.

Bethsani nodded

Meanwhile, Magmuus had followed Bethsani as she left the house. As she approached the clearing the sight of Zen in the distance made it obvious to him what she was doing. She was meeting him again against his wishes. What was his hold over her? Why does he betray their friendship? He sat back in the shadows and merely observed them.

“Have ye been working on the defensive stances that I showed ye last time”, Zen asked Beth.

“Aye, I have been working on them”, she responded.

“Very well, let me see what you have mastered”, he said as he motioned for her to take stage on the grassy clearing.

Zen turned his head to look over his shoulder as his attention drew to the forest behind him as she prepared herself. A twig snapped in the distance and his instincts caught him. But he was too distracted by her, and he soon dismissed the sound and returned his attention towards her.

Bethsani drew her daggers and assumed the first defensive position. She bent her knees, feet shoulder length apart and daggers rose at the ready.

“Very nice”, he said, “But you need to raise yer right arm a bit more. Here, let me show you”.

Zen came up behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist. The other he gently placed over her right hand as she grasped the dagger. Bethsani could feel him pull her towards him as he pressed his body against her back and she winced in pain.

Zen, pressed in closer to her, took in a deep breath. His mind lingered with the rose petal smell of her hair. He loved being this close to her. Taken back by her wince he pulled back form her.

“Are you all right”? he asked.

She nodded and responded “Aye, just a little sore”

His hand rose instinctively again to fix the position of her arms, when she recoiled from his touch. Alarmed that something was not right he asked her directly.

“Beth, show me your back”, he commanded in a stern and concerned voice.

Beth held her breath, cornered, but did as he asked, revealing the deep purple of the fresh bruises.

He sat there for a stuttered moment in awe of what he had seen as she turned around, embarrassed to face him.

“Did Magmuus do this to you?”, he stammered

Her eyes beginning to well up with tears as she merely nodded.

Zen’s anger got the best of him as he began to rant about the sanity of his mage friend.

“What is he thinking?”, he exclaimed. “How could he do this to you?”

“If he does this to you again, I’ll…I’ll…”

Bethsani began to sob and the sight of her tears melted him. He reached for her and cuddled her into his chest as she sobbed. He reached his hand up to affectionately caress her hair.

“Shh, there, there. I’m here now, yer safe, love”, he whispered. Zen began to choke back his own sorrow as he held her tight. They stood for a long moment in that tender embrace.

“I love you”, excaped without thought off his lips. At hearing those words, Bethsani looked up to meet Zen’s eyes.

Zen exhailed as if all the tension in his body had released. He had held that secret for so many years, unable to tell her because he did not want to hurt his best friend, Magmuus. He took her face in his hands and wiped away a lone tear as it dropped. He gently pulled her towards him and kissed her softly on the lips. It seemed so natural and they seemed free.

Right there, in the grassy clearing near the lake, they let their passion take them away from all that was past. She melted in his arms and he made love to her over and over.

Magmuus’ anger and jealousy began to seeth as he sat in those shadows watching. He watched them for hours while he drew on his silver flask for feigned wisdom to his questions.

By the time he was ready to depart, he was in a drunken stooper. He watched until their love making made his blood boil and he turned to stammer off home….

How could you do this to me?” Magmuus shouted as he approached Bethsani upon her entrance.” I was there and I saw you together! What have i done to deserve this?”

” I’m sorry master, I..I..I love him! He is kind and caring and he makes me feel like I am speci….” Before she could finish her thought, she was sent reeling across the room by a blow from the back of his hand.

” You have betrayed me! I have given you the world and you throw it all away because a scoundrel has professed that he loves you?” Magmuus bore down upon her as she pulled herself from the floor.

“HE IS NO SCOUNDREL!” she shouted back, and again found herself falling backwards under the weight of yet another blow. Quickly he was upon her, grabbing the front of her tunic in a clenched fist and pulling her up from the floor. She winced away as he prepared to strike her again, and she closed her eyes.

Suddenly she heard a gasp for breath and heard something hit the floor, and realized Magmuus had released his grasp from her tunic. She opened her eyes startled to see the mage down on one knee clutching at his back, Zen’s shadowed figure looming behind him.

“Go now Bethsani. Gather your things quickly and wait outside. I must end this” she heard Zen speak to her in a stern voice. She paused briefly unsure how to feel, then slipped around the corner and up the stairs, afraid of what she would see if she stayed.

“You had the world at your fingertips, and you chose to abuse it and treat it as a lowly dog.” came Zen’s enraged voice. ” Never again will you lay a hand on her” he professed, and with a quick motion Magmuus lay at his feet lifeless.

Without a sound he made his way back outside to survey the area. Bethsani soon emerged from the door and he quickly approached her, startling her with his soft voice. “We must go now. Never look back from this day forward….you are safe now!”

They disappeared together into the shadows and the night fell silent.

This was my Valentines Day card to John..my love, my partner, my roleplaying partner..my everything.

Happy Valentines Day, Baby

Bethshaya wandered out of Camelot dazed as she headed home to Forsaken Keep.

“I just can’t tell Grimm, we had so much planned still to do,” she thought to herself. But she knew she had to tell him, even if it did affect their future together. They had been through so much together and weathered every storm, but could they handle this?

Still confused she made her way inside the keep and back to her room. She cleaned up and went in search of Grimm. She knew, no matter how he took it, they would go through it together. It was God’s will, even if their plans were cut short.

She knocked on Grimm’s office door where he sat behind his desk going over last minute reports. “Come in, he replied as she opened the door. She wandered in and smiled nervously and approached his desk.

“Ello love”, he smiled warmly.

‘Uh, I need to talk to you love, Beth nervously blurted out.

Owoen poked his head into the office and said “Sir, role call in two minutes in the courtyard.” Amalgrimm nodded, Aye Owoen, be right there”

“Love, can this wait till later, I’m late already”. Grimm asked as he made his way to the door.
Bethshaya stammered, “Uh, yeah, sure hun”. As he hurried out the door down to the courtyard, and Bethshaya followed.

She knew she had to tell him, but she just couldn’t get the courage up to do it. His days were spent busily preparing for events to come. She had so many things yet to do, it was too soon for this. She couldn’t bear the disappointment that it would be to him. Their plans together in life cut so short.

Grimm, already in bed was snuggled in, exhausted from the days activities. Beth slid in beside him and laid down, still going over what she was going to tell him in her head.

‘Love…she asked

“Hmm, he moaned, half asleep”

“I need to talk”, she whispered

Grimm didn’t respond, so she asked again, “Love…”. Still no response. She glanced over, and he was fast asleep.

Not wanting to disturb him, she rolled over, turned out the light and put her head on the pillow. In the middle of the night, the trumpets from the Keep Guards sounded signaling a Call to Arms. Beth and Amalgrimm jumped up, dressed and made their way out to the courtyard to stage to move with the troops. Amalgrimm bellowed his orders and all filed out to the frontier to confront the incoming Midgards in battle.

Reports said there were more than a hundred of them at the Midgard wall in Hadrians, so they assembled there and prepared for battle.

Michalene cast her blessings upon the troops as Silenx and Seith prepared to position themselves for lookout.

They took form at the wall and prepared for the call to charge.

On signal from the Alliance, Amalgrimm gave the call and all charged the wall. The battle that ensued was fierce. A blanket of Mids filtered through the gates and all Guardsmen engaged in battle.

Bethshaya did they best she could to heal those in need as her head was spinning with guilt and frustration. Thoughts distracted her as she healed and often missed her queues.
Amalgrimm would often flash a smile to her as he fought. He was so comfortable in his role; strong and fluid in his movements. Never missing a beat. She was so proud of him and what he had accomplished and the guilt rang through her for not telling him as she watched him.
Her head began to spin as a Mid charged her. She mezzed and engaged, and overtook her, but the strain was too much for Beth. As the lifeless body of the Mid stood at her feet, Bethshaya began to lose consciousness and she fell to the ground.

Amalgrimm looked back again and saw her, he yelled for Michalene as he ran the last Mid through. He ran to her side as Michalene attempted to heal her.

Amalgrimm, frustrated, ordered, “Get her up!”

I cant, Michalene, responded

‘Why not”, Amal questioned as he began to become concerned.

I can’t heal her, Michalene said with a slight smirk on her face.

‘You have to, Mich, try again, he responded

“I wont!”, Michalene said as she giggled

‘You won’t??!”

“No, I won’t” she said, matter of factly.

“Why!?” Amalgrimm demanded as he started to become angry

Michalene laughed

“Because she’s not sick or hurt, she fainted.”

Fainted? Amalgrimm questioned.

“Grimm…” Michalene smirked, “You’re going to be a father, she’s a few months along already”
“What?, Grimm looked at Michalene puzzled. “She would’ve told me if that was true. Then it hit him…she had been trying to talk to him for days, but he had always been so busy and never had the chance to speak to her.

He dropped to his knees beside her. Beth, love, are you all right”, he called to her, trying to rouse her. Beth rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up some. “uh huh”, what happened? she asked.

You fainted love. You’ve been trying to talk to me all day, is there something you need to tell me?

Bethshaya looked around at the circle of friends gathered about her. Beth sighed, knowing this was her chance to tell him. The timing was bad, but she knew she had to say something before something else interrupted her….

Grimm helped Bethshaya onto her feet. He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned against him as they walked back towards the wall. They walked a little ways and all the things still left unsaid began bothered Grimm. He stopped and turned her to face him.

“I know you need to talk to me, now is a good a time as any…out with it”, Grimm whispered to her.

Bethshaya looked at him and began to sob. He reached out to pull her closer to him and held her, stroking her hair in an attempt to calm her, but to no avail.

She began to babble…

“I’m sorry Grimm, I know you had so much planned, and I ruined it all. You’ve been so busy lately trying to get things in order. I just don’t know what we are going to do. I’m sorry…”
“Beth, slow down, what are you talking about?” Grimm asked

She sniffled and stopped her babbling momentarily. Beth looked to him with concern and said, “I’m pregnant…”

Early in the morning, as the sun rose over the battlements and cast its faint pink rays on the lands, Bethshaya made her way up the stairs to the top and merely sat quietly reflecting.

As dawn gave way to day, she reflected on the past few weeks, longing to steal just one gaze upon her love, Amalgrimm. He had left her weeks before to train. As a Captain in the Guard, it was his duty to prepare the troops and keep abreast of the latest happenings of the land.

She struggled, torn between the greater good of the guild and her own selfishness of wanting him to herself.

She sighed, mumbling to herself, “Love comes like sunshine after the rain”. She tried to remember, love endures all and that she would see her love again.

Her hand reached inside her backpack and pulled out her journal, ink well and a quill.

In the stillness, she focused and began to write to her love.

“My Dearest, your brothers have been a great asset to me as they are always there for me to talk to. Grimmith especially has been helpful. I hope things are going well for you and that you shall return to me shortly, for my heart cries for every minute I am away from you.

Today I begin to understand what love must be, if it exists. When we are parted, we each feel the lack of the other half of ourselves. We are incomplete like a book in two volumes of which the first has been lost. That is what I imagine love to be: incompleteness in absence. Hurry back to me, my love, for it is you, that complete me.

I must write you of the happenings of the Keep as of late. There have been a few new editions to our Forsaken family. A strange little blue man named Zombicius. Odd lil fellow, as are all these newly found lil Iconnu creatures. He has a strange fascination with the dead, but to each his own, I guess. I cant quite put my finger on it though, but I do not trust him in particular. Perhaps it is me just being weary of what I do not know. But he vexes me.

Otherwise, things are well here, some of us are busily preparing for our Lords Birth celebrations and festivities. Should be a grand holiday this year with so many of us together at the Keep.

There are rumors of war with the Midgards as they possess our precious relics. I know you are hard at work planning the defense of our realm with the others. My prayers are with your for a speedy and successful plan.

Hurry back to me love, for I miss thee much.

Love always,

Bethshaya

After a while, Forsaken Keep began to stir, so she packed up her things. She sealed the letter and summoned for a messenger to deliver the message. She stood, cleaned herself off and made herself presentable again and then made her way back to her room to prepare for the day at hand.

Bethshaya made her way through the halls of the Keep and made her way to the kitchen for something to eat. The lights were dim, as the early morning sun began its burst through the windows in its struggle to overcome the night.

As she passed the rooms of the other members, she felt an odd presence watching her. She turned around, but there was no one there. She continued on and rounded the corner to another wing, and then an eerie giggle traveled through the hall.

Again, she turned, but no one was there.

She made her way to the kitchen and rummaged the cupboards for a morsel to eat. She gathered her finding and sat at the table to eat, when to her surprise an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table, began to rise. And she heard that giggle once more.

“Who’s there!” she exclaimed

And another giggle emitted through the air.

“Show yourself,” she demanded

Silence. The apple poised itself in mid air, and then dropped onto the table with a thud.

In nervousness, she gathered up her things and hurried out the door to the hallway, almost knocking over Sofirth as he entered. She let out a scream as he caught her in equal startle.

Easy, there, easy there, Sofirth exclaimed. “Where ya goin’ in such a hurry?”

Bethshaya stammered over her words, “Uh, uh, sorry,…. no where, something is, uh, following me…er..you just startled me, that’s all”

Bethshaya tried to regain her composure as the others in the keep began to make their way out their doors.

Seith appeared in his lipstick print boxer shorts, “What’s all the commotion out here, everyone ok?” apparently unaware of his scantily dressed situation.

Bethshaya looked at him, blushed and nodded. “Yes we’re fine”, she responded.

The others also sleepily emerged from their rooms, inquiring of the noise: Jykler, Owamyr, Laralyn, Anser, and Semeris.

They all went back into the kitchen and started their morning routines. Still shaken, Bethshaya excused herself and retired to her room, still feeling the eerie presence watching her.

As she entered her room, upon her pillow, was a single, black rose. She reached for it, thinking to herself, “What an odd choice for a rose for Amalgrimm to send me”. She picked up the rose from her pillow, and quickly pulled her hand away as a thorn pricked her finger and drew blood.

“Owe!”, she exclaimed as she stared at her wound. When all of the sudden the room began to spin, and her vision became fuzzy….and she fell to the floor.

In the meantime, somewhere on the Albion frontier, Cascia, Kawshon, Amalgrimm, Quin, Mith and the other officers gathered with officers from the Genesis Alliance to discuss plans for realm defense. A messenger entered and handed two notes to Amalgrimm, one written on a plain white sealed parchment, and the other on a tattered and worn piece of scratch.

Amalgrimm nodded to the messenger as he handed him the two letters. Half listening to the Alliances’ conversation as he sat at the Round Table discussion at the Strategy meeting he pondered the two letters.

He chose the old tattered piece of scratch, as it looked an odd thing to pass along to an officer.

His hands steady, he opened it and began to read:

“Capt’n Amalgrimm of Forsaken Guard:

As you are reading this, several of our best have infiltrated the main keeps of the Albion forces. We have stricken one of your own with a rare poison. Only we possess the antidote. Time now grows short. Be prepared to hand over Kawshon and yourself in exchange for the antidote tomorrow eve, midnight in Odins Gate.

Thrax – Commander, Shadowblade of Midgard”

Amalgrimm crumpled the note tightly in his grasp and gestured to Kawshon. The two excused themselves from the table.

“Everything well, Amalgrimm?, Ravus asked

Amalgrimm simply stared at him for a quick moment, waved him off and continued out the door with Kawshon.

What…what is it, Kawshon asked as they closed the door. Without a word, Amalgrimm simply handed him the crumpled letter.

Earlier that evening, back at Forsaken Keep…

The afternoon had passed, and Bethshaylah did not appear at lunch, and again, did not appear for dinner.

Sofirth, worried about her comments that morning, made his way to her room and knocked on her door. There was no answer. He knocked again, this time a bit more forceful.

“Beth…are you well?, he inquired. Still no answer.

He tried the door handle and the door opened. There on the floor, lay the motionless body of Bethshaylah.

“Kira!, Sofirth yelled, summoning the cleric.

Kira came running into the room as did the others upon hearing the commotion. After surveying the situation, Kira whispered to Sofirth. I think you better get Amalgrimm, there is nothing I can do for her. This is not normal, it has all the signs of strong majik, and whatever this majik is, is too strong for me to cure.

Sofirth nodded and quickly made his way to the stable. He readied his horse, gathered a few rations and made haste toward the Albion frontier where the Alliance was meeting.

He arrived within a few hours, but was stopped at the door by a guard.

“I am Sofirth, of Forsaken Guard, need to see Capt’n Amalgrimm at once, tis important! he bellowed at the guard.

The guard nodded, “Aye sir” and led him toward the meeting room.

As they turned the corner, Sofirth laid eyes on Amalgrimm and Kawshon talking outside the doorway. They made eye contact and Amalgrimm motioned for him to come forward.

Sir!…Sofirth started

“We know”, Amalgrimm interrupted. “Who is it?”, he asked

Sofirth paused for a moment, and lowering his tone, whispered,

“Bethshaya, Sir…..”

Immediately, rage exploded in his eyes. He turned and looked briefly at Kawshon through hate filled eyes, and bolted through the doorway heading towards the stables. Kawshon and Sofirth had not even time to make their way to the doorway before he was far down the road, riding like the wind carried him.

Amalgrimm spurred on his horse and rode as he had never rode before. “how could this have happened” he repeatedly questioned himself, and tried to visualize the events that had taken place. He released a scream of rage so loud that it startled his horse and it momentarily lost step. He again spurred the horse not wanting to lose a moments time. “Thrax, you will see death at my hands personally. This i vow to you!”

The ride back to Forsaken Keep was a long one, and as he rode his rage turned to dispair. He prayed continually that his lord would keep his beloved long enough that she could be treated. Only days before had he professed his undying love for her, and already something had gone majorly wrong. He began to curse himself for leaving her side, not being there to care for her. He had duties to his guild and his realm, but should they have come before his duty to his beloved wife? “Please lord, keep her safe. Let her live to know how much i truly do love her, and i will never leave her side again.” As he completed the thought he could see the keep slowly appearing on the horizon, and he spurred the horse even faster.

As he approached the gates he let out a yell loud enough that it scared the guard in the tower right out of his chair, and woke half of those who were sleeping inside the keep. Looking through the small window in the stone battlements and seeing it was his captain, the guard quickly made his way out and released the barring holding the keep doors closed, just in time for Amalgrimm to fly through unhindered. He directed the horse right to the front door of their housing quarters and dismounted before the horse came to a halt, almost throwing himself to the ground as his feet hit, but he managed to hold his balanced and continued forward towards the door.

Edonnon and Kirajah met him at the door, prepared to explain to him the happenings while he was away, but he quickly pushed them aside as he raced towards Bethshaya’s quarters. When he arrived at her room the door was already open and he quickly made his way in, ripping his helm from his head and throwing it hastily into a corner. Beth had been placed on her bed and he knelt beside her, taking her lifeless hand in his and bowed his head in shame. “Forgive me my love, for i have failed you. I pray to our lord above that this is not the end for us, we had so much more to share. I vow to you that those responsible for this will be dealt with swiftly and painfully.”

With that he pulled himself from the floor and took her limp body into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. He looked up, and through clouded eyes he could see Kirajah standing in the doorway. “Please leave us” he softly uttered, and as the door closed he gently kissed her cheek, and wept.

Amalgrimm lost track of all time as he held her close and struggled within himself with questions.

In a hoarse and quivering voice he whispered to her, “I will not let you go” as a tear fell to his cheek.

Bethshaya’s eyes began to flutter as she came to consciousness. Her eyes did not open, but in a labored and whispered breath she said, “He…. spoke to me”

‘Beth”… he spoke in an inquisitive tone as he wiped the tear from his cheek.

And she said it again somewhat clearer. “He..spoke to me”.

“Who did love?”. Amalgrimm asked

“The Lord”, she responded in a rhaspy voice.

“Rest, love, rest, you are tired” he said as he let her lie back once more.

She spoke again in a labored breath..

He said..Be still and know that I am God and the vows you made as man and wife are dear tae my heart. Neither man, nor prince of thieves shall ravage that bond. Tis not yer time, tis not yer war. My own have been encamped about ye. He comes like a thief in the night tae kill, steal and destroy what I have created.”

‘Aye love, Amalgrimm patronized” Rest.

“The one that bound, strengthens, he seeks you out for I have revealed all these things unto him”

Amalgrimm brought his fingers to her lips, Shh love, save your strength.

She nodded and closed her eyes once more as a knock came upon the door.

Amalgrimm, still kneeling by her side, responded to come in. It was Shaydon. “Sir”, he said “You have a visitor downstairs”

Please, Shay, tell them that I cannot take visitors at the moment.

“It is Malohaut, Sir, he says you know why he is here” Shay responded.

And then Amalgrimm, smiling at Bethshaya as she slept, understood and nodded, “Send him up”.

While waiting, Malohaut set down his pack and wandered about the room. It was brightly lit with the warm sun shining its rays through the nearby windows. There were flowers and murials and even a colorful troll-skin mat in the room’s center. There, on a corner table, lay some scrolls that piqued his curiosity. A closer examination revealed them to be historical documents and letters of various times and occurrances. But what made Malo smile was the realization that these scrolls all had a common theme. They all spoke of God’s love for His people, and the things He had done for them out of that love, and sometimes out of anger or jealousy. If he had the time, Malohaut would have gotten lost in one of the tales of long ago, but a motion from across the room caught his attention.

“Sir Malohaut.” beckoned Shay.

“Oh come now. Just Malohaut will do.” he replied with a grin.

“Very well sir. You may go on up.”

He chuckled to himself as he reached down for his pack. But instead of picking up the entire thing, he only pulled out a thin vial. Then, whistling “How Great Thou Art”, he headed up the stairs.

“Malohaut!” shouted a much-relieved Amalgrimm as the wizard hobbled into the room. “I’m so glad to see you. I’m very sorry we couldn’t have met under better circumstances.”

“Bah. Worry not my friend. I’m sure we’ll have better meetings in the future..” The old wizard headed over to kneel next to the bed, where lie the beautiful Bethshaya. “Last night I had a dream.” he started as he tried to rouse her a little from her sleep.

“Oh?” questioned Amal. “Did God speak to you in your dream about what happened to Beth?”

“No no. Nothing like that.” Malohaut felt her forehead and then her cheek. She was pale, yet holding on with every ounce of strength she had. “I had a dream that we were all chickens and that we were trying to get into a giant cave, but a tree walked up and started to yell at us.”

“And then what happened?”

“And then I woke up. It sure was wierd though.”

For a moment, there was silence. Amal tried to make sense of what Malo said or even why he mentioned the dream. But then he figured that such is the way with wizards: wierd. “So how did you find out about Beth?”

Malohaut popped the cork off the vial and slowly poured the liquid down her throat. “Well, an apothecary friend of mine came to visit me. I hadn’t seen Li in a very long time and was glad to see him. But he seemed to be in a hurry and handed me this vial.” When the vial was emptied, Beth smiled a little as if she had just tasted a grand dessert, but soon, she was deep in slumber. “He explained to me that God wanted me to deliver it to Beth, who will be stricken by a very powerful poison.” The wizard pocketed the empty vial and looked over to Amal. “Then we caught up on old times for a bit before he had to go.”

Amalgrimm had to hold his nose as a foul stench passed through the room, apparently from the vial. Realizing this, Malo quickly corked it. “What was in that stuff anyway?”

“Hmm. Let me see. I think he said there was calabar beans, nightshade, monkshood, hemlock, blood albumen, and a few other things I can’t remember.” Amalgrimm froze and looked at the wizard in shock. “Why are you looking at me in that tone of voice?” asked Malo

“Aren’t those ingredients to make poisons??”

Malo just chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. Li Mu Bai told me it was an old trick. You fight poison with poison.” Malohaut turned to look at Beth; she was still pale.

“And this will cure her?”

“Hmm. I don’t know. Chances are, all it will do is checkmate the poison that’s already in her system. Li told me that it was you who had to get the antidote. I’ll stay here and pray for her strength to hold.”

A fist flung angrily into the wall that startled the wizard. “I NEVER should have left her side! I never should have been apart from her even for a moment. I wish this had never happened!!”

Malohaut stood and walked over to his friend. “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. Things happen whether we are there are not and we cannot blame ourselves or change past events. All we can do is make do with the time we have left.”

Amal turned; his face softened up a little then put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Very well. I shall do my best to get that antidote. Thank you for what you have done.”

“No need to thank me, for it is what God does. He helps all who call upon him. Now go, and may the Lord be with you.”

“And also with you.”

With that, the two separated, Amal out the door, and Malo to the bedside, on his knees, in prayer.

At the age of 18 months, Ceejay Martin was watching television with her family when suddenly the sound went off. Confused as to what was happening, her parents put her to bed. The next morning, when she did not respond to voices, they realized something was horribly wrong. They rushed her to their family doctor in Fairfield, CT. The news was jarring: their only baby girl had suffered a loss of hearing. Ceejay was profoundly deaf.

Despite various operations and experimental treatments, nothing could restore the hearing loss. Ceejay’s parents made a life-time vow: “We will do whatever we can, absolutely everything in our power, to enable you to become as much a part of the ‘hearing world’ as possible.”

They enrolled her in the Fairfield Hearing and Speech Center. Ceejay began to learn the process of speaking “by imitating the vibrations I felt when I put my hands on the therapist’s throat, and by looking in the mirror to shape my mouth the way she formed hers”.

Later came endless hours with voice and drama coaches, as well as trumpet and piano lessons. “I’ve never heard a mistake I’ve made yet,” quips Ceejay, who is trained as a classical pianist.
When Ceejay mastered the art of lip reading and speaking, she entered public elementary school and was assigned a seat on the front row from where she could see the teacher’s lips. Her struggle to learn was difficult (when the teacher turned to face the blackboard, all communication ended).

Learning was made difficult, as well, due to constant ridicule from fellow students making fun of her speech patterns. To escape their teasing and taunting, Ceejay spent more and more time at a nearby skating rink. With the help of a determined coach, Ceejay began to skate by keeping an eve on her coach who, like a conductor, marked the beat of the music. At age seven, Ceejay became the youngest Ohio State Champion free-style skater in skating history. “It really saved my life. Why? I might have talked awful funny. And I might have been that class dummy.

But there wasn’t one kid in my school, not one of them, who had a bigger trophy than I did!” Ceejay’s parents continued to encourage her.

“Mother had a painting of Jesus hanging in my bedroom. She explained that with God’s help, there was absolutely nothing in my life I couldn’t do.”

That inspiration, instilled at an early age, eventually led Ceejay to enroll in Springfield College in Springfield, MA. In 1976, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in political science and international relations. Graduate work followed at the University of Connecticut. “I’ve worked all my life to function in the hearing world,” she says, noting that her hard work finally paid off when she was hired by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC. At first, she helped start a program to train deaf people to classify fingerprints. However, due to her superb
ability to read lips, she was approached by agents who had videotaped an investigation, only to find the camera’s sound mechanism had failed.

“They asked if I could read the people’s lips and tell what was being said.” Her successful completion of that high profile case led to work in undercover surveillance. “It was no problem for me to stand across a room in, say, an airport where a deal was going down, and take verbatim notes on what the suspects were saying!”

Despite her success with the FBI, invitations to gala parties and widespread esteem in the nation’s capitol, Ceejay was not satisfied. She’d met and exceeded her family’s highest dreams for her and had, indeed, become a successfully functioning member of the ‘hearing world’. “But I began to think there must be something more for me than this,” she says.

Ceejay travelled to the tropical island of Morada on a case and is currently searching for that “something more” while using her skills to solve crime.

Liz Larson, the daughter of millionaire Edward Larson, never thought of herself as privledged. She’s sweet and naive, but she’ll energetically charge ahead despite a run of bad luck and unfortunately, no one’s luck is worse than Liz’s.

Liz was about to marry her longtime fianceé Tom Massick. She is not aware that her “best” friend Paige Richards is cheating with him. Liz and Tom travel to the island of Morada to a summer home that her father owns, to prepare for the wedding, but she finds a bracelet among her wedding presents, that reads “to Bunny from Tom”.

Furious, still not knowing who “Bunny” is, Liz throws Tom out. Tom gets one of his friends to lie for him and tells Liz that it was a prank. Liz buys it for awhile until Paige hires a girl to pretend to be “Bunny”. Liz throws Tom out…again and finds out from a friend that Tom had stolen the trust fund money that her parents left her.

The next day, Tom is found dead on a shore, and the police think it’s suicide at first, but the autopsy reveals there was sand in Tom’ lungs, making it murder, not suicide. Liz is now suspect. Liz is introduced to Tony, daddy’s new business partner and it isn’t long before she is turning to him for comfort.

As events unfold on the island of Morada, Paige’s mother will watch her former boss pay for a lifetime of lies and with the death of Tom Massick, the biggest mystery of all is about to be reopened. Because the man who was to marry Liz, the man who was having an affair with Paige, the man everyone saw dead and buried, has stepped out of the shadows. And life in Cape Marassas will never be the same. Morada’s darkest secrets will be revealed.

The most obvious thing to say but also the most forgotten sentence in the history of RPGing is: You play the game to have fun. There, I’ve said it. Now I feel better. With all the work that a GM puts into the game and all the time and energy players expend to make characters, having fun can sometimes be forgotten as the reason behind it all. If for any reason you are not having fun playing, then you should identify why and do something about it. If the reason cannot be resolved, then you should stop playing. There is no point in doing something you are not enjoying.

Player burn-out is something that can make the game stop being fun. Burn-out is a term that is used to describe when players have basically become sick of playing, either through an intense gaming schedule or unusually long game (the term is used in other ways, but this is the most common usage of the phrase). Avoiding burn-out is the responsibility of not just the GM but the players too. A few quick tips to make sure burn-out doesn’t hit you are:

• Insist to your GM that you take regular breaks during the game and make sure he is aware of your preferred length of game (see Commandment 7).
• Don’t play too often. Once or twice a week is enough for most players.
• Switch games systems once in a while, or change existing characters for a new party in an ongoing campaign. A change can be as good as a rest.

Avoid playing when you’re really stressed-out or angry about something.
Player burn-out can also be caused by frustration with the game in some way. To avoid causing others frustration, always remember Commandment 6, and to avoid misunderstandings always use Commandment 7. Make sure that you are playing a game that suits you, look forward to playing, and heed the commandments above. This will give you a much better chance at having fun.

My final piece of advice is: Relax. As you are here to have fun there is nothing to get stressed about. Is that game ruling annoying you? Relax. It’s only a game. Has the evil overlord foiled your well-laid plans? Relax. It’s supposed to be a bit of fun. The moment you get stressed about something is the moment the game stops being fun. Most RPG gamers hate their hobby to be called ‘just a game’ but at the end of it all, no matter which way you look at it, a game is exactly what it is.

This commandment may seem strange to you because, after all, by playing the game you are involved with it. Just sitting down and participating in a game isn’t really enough. To really enjoy yourself and make a real roleplaying game of it you must actively try to involve yourself whenever you can. Don’t just sit there and wait for your GM to wade through a page of text and then ask, “What do you want to do?” Use your character whenever the opportunity arises.

After all, the emphasis is on ROLEPLAY, isn’t it? If you take charge of your character and use it whenever the opportunity presents itself, it will set an example to the other players. You will find that they, too, will start to roleplay their characters more during the game, adding to the feeling of immersion in the game world for all involved.

Actively involving yourself can be done outside your character as well as in-character during a game. GMs have an awful lot of work to do to make the game run smoothly, and any help you can give your GM will be very much appreciated. Offer to help with the bookkeeping, organization, map-making and other game-related tasks whenever you feel you can help, and always give your GM ideas for races, adventures, character classes and types, professions, skills, spells and anything else you think of (see Commandment 7).

Everything you involve yourself in and help with is something less for the GM to do, and will help speed things up. The less your GM has to concentrate on, the more time he’ll have for creating wonderful adventures for you to get your teeth into.

The GM is there to arbitrate your game. GMs have to make all the decisions that aren’t made by your characters. They control everything in the game world that isn’t your character. They also create and run the scenarios that your characters find themselves in. With all that it’s no wonder that the words that issue from the GM’s mouth are important.

There are two main reasons why should heed the GM’s words:

1) The GM gives information about what’s going on in the game ALL of the time. GMs will slip small clues into ‘flavour text’ and characterizations into NPC dialogue. An attentive player can use these tid-bits to solve puzzles, gain advantages and otherwise get his character through the game more successfully. Players that don’t listen to what’s going on will find that they quickly lose grasp on what’s going on, miss clues, and struggle to keep up, thus slowing the game down for all. Commandment 5 gives a reason as to why this is unacceptable.

2) The GM handles all of the ‘behind the scenes’ calculations and rules. If the GM says something, it goes. Players who do not accede to the GM’s rulings will cause arguments, slowdown, and a loss of fun for all. Again, see Commandment 5. It is worth noting that while it is perfectly okay to challenge the GM over rulings (while heeding Commandments 4 and 7), it is not okay to continue to challenge him once he has put his foot down. Just accept the GM’s ruling and get on with the game. Keep playing, life’s too short.