"XANDER, YOUR WERE RIGHT!" I yelled out with great jubilation from the top of the Eternal Realm Tower. I called out, and the brave and valiant responded. Did they ever respond. My summons for aid brought replies from all over the realm. The Knight's realm was the first marshalling area for the quest to save Jupiter. Aeritas, the Elder Ranger, Spencer and Elma, young but very valiant knights had just returned from a victorious campaign against the undead horde which had brought much destruction and desolation to the whole realm. Also, to my great surprise and greater joy, Alesha, The High Paladin, had also returned. I ran down the stairs of the tower to greet them at the door. They were still dressed in their battle armor. I could tell they had been battling long and hard. The armor was beaten up considerably, but the expressions on their faces revealed the outcome of adventures. I threw open the great doors of the Tower to let them come in to rest and re-equip. "Oni, looks like we made it just in time to join in your quest," quipped Aeritas. "Indeed you have, Old' Friend," I replied. "And I am very glad to see your have returned." "Aye, M'Lady. Twas a tough affair for a while, but we prevailed." The two young Knights just beamed with pride at having been able to serve under Alesha and Aeritas. They all began to remove their battered armor and threw it in a pile on the floor. "Jorge will be busy with this junk," I joked. "Aye, Oni," Alesha said laughingly as she removed her breastplate and threw it in the pile. The others were already sorting through the chests in the armory for new weapons and armor. I turned to see Hans coming up to the steps of the Tower. He was looking towards the west as he walked closer. "Riders coming in from the west, Oni," He said. "Can you tell who it is?" I asked. "Hard to tell, but one does look like the new Steward of Paws, Tomah. The others that follow him I do not know." We stood on the steps and waited for them to ride in. They looked well disciplined in their line of march, keeping good interval. "Hail," I cried out as they closed the distance to Hans and me. " Hail, Lady Oni", spoke out Tomah. "I have brought allies to come join in the quest to find Jupiter. They are from the realm of Project Sanctuary." The riders formed a straight line and presented arms. It was impressive. If nothing else, they were well-drilled. *The muster begins* "We have heard of the plight of the Grey One, and have come to lend our aid." I am Gen. Natalie, Icarium, Garet Jax and I have come to see the realm restored to order. 'I am honored to have you join in the Legend," I replied. The Knights had completed re-equipping and had joined in greeting the Project Sanctuary riders. Already, a sizeable force had assembled, and the muster had just begun. "Lady Oni, more are assembling at the Village of Paws. They have heard your appeal and are ready to ride," broke in Tomah. 'That is great news, Tomah," I replied gleefully as I turned my attention to Hans. "You better get going if you are to stay ahead of us," I whispered. Hans just winked. "Good to meet you all. Take care and be seeing you again sometime," he said as he turned and walked away, quickly. Hans was to be my advance scout to lay out the way we should travel indiscreetly as possible to the portal of oblivion. I know he will succeed in keeping us masked from the eye of the unholy trinity. "Oni, we should move out soon." Alesha had broken into my thoughts. "Indeed we should," I replied bringing myself back to the next task at hand. "Ww leave in five minutes and head for the Village of Paws," I continued. MOUNT UP! cried out Alesha. My chicken-brained ostard nearly jumped out of its skin. It is very skittish and does trust no one. I had to feed the silly thing a treat to trick it into letting me ride it. Little did I know this would be the last time I would get to trick the bird. As we formed up to leave, A rider in a brown robe came in from the north. I am glad I recognized him for the brown robe was causing the Knights to begin to stir a little . Hail, Hala," I cried out.. I knew I had to bring calmness quickly. "Hail, Lady Oni, he said as he jumped off his horse and bowed with a great flourish. "I would be honored to join you in your quest to find Jupiter. I believe my skills will come in handy." "No Halabinder, it is I that am greatly honored to have you join me. And yes, I foresee your worth and necessity on this long journey."` We rode south out of the Realm of the Knights along the river and towards the Headwater region, and turned east for the Village of Paws. As we came into view of the Wizard's Tower, we saw a group of riders already assembled. I began to recognize them as we got closer. Gareth of the Greycliffs had made the long trek from Stormhold and had brought the Healer, Eliore. I also recognized Athena, Free-Maiden of Paws. It was good to see her again. The legendary, mythological-looking warrior named Perseus had come. He seemed to be riding on air, and his movements seemed to suggest that he was always hunting something or someone. *Muster Continues "Hail all", I cried out. I am so glad you have come. Your aid in saving Jupiter is much appreciated. Hail, Lady Oni," Gareth proclaimed as he stepped forward. "Vlar wishes me to inform you he has sailed to the lands that forgot time, and will meet you at the location you had told him. He took some allied warriors with him." "Thank you , Gareth," I replied. I was beaming inside. I would, could not imagine such a turnout to my summons for aid to help a friend. And Vlar, My Friend, was going beyond to help me in my hour of need. My thoughts were again interrupted by the High Paladin. "Oni, we should set out soon. Time is of the essence. Hans will have made it through the tunnels, and made the way straight for us." Aye, he surely will have marked the path," I replied. I need of few moments of solitude. Pardon me." Alesha nodded. I walked over to the other side of the shrine to clear my thoughts and pray. I prayed hard.. *I felt a great peace come over me* TIME TO GO! II shouted out over all the clamour as everyone readied themselves. "I hope you are right, Xander," I whispered very quietly as I drew out the scroll he had given me. I said the words written on the scroll. IT WORKED. The blue gate simmered before me. Whether it was the scroll , the prayer or both, only the Master of Time knows. I stepped into the gate and was transported to the excavation site I had found the crumpled note from Jupiter. The valian group followed me in. The tunnel had been cleared by the workers. The dark tunnel carried us to the land that forgot about time. As we neared the end of the tunnel a strange site came into view. Catalin was sitting on an old chest. He seemed to stuck to it. i rode up to him. "What are you doing here," I asked. "I met Hans in Nujel'm, and He let me come along with him. But only to this spot." Stay here, on this chest and wait for Oni," he had said. "Me being tired of walking, I agreed with him. 'Fore I knew it, he was gone, vanished. I tried to get up but, Hans had put something on the chest to hold me. So here I sit, waitin' ' for ye.." "Here, drink this," I said as I handed him a potion of movement. "It will get you moving again.. "Did Hans leave you anything for me?" No, but i saw him put something in the ol' chest." I opened the chest . It held only one item. A scroll. I unrolled it. It was written in a speech few could speak, let alone read. tALITHA,OTADIOV EREMOSIS HYDATOS KERDOS PYLI LITHI. "Oni, what is it," asked Alesha as she rode up beside me. "A note from Hans. 'Has he made the way straight? Aye, he has. "Lead on, Oni. I turned to address the party. "We must traverse the Hopper's Bog, and make for the Khaldun region." "We go as Oni has said," Alesha broke in. "Everyone follow my lead. Stay together. Leave none alive. We do not want anything alerting the unholy trinity of our path. We set out across the infernal bog. All manner of swamp creature was present and prevalent. The valiant band cleared the way and left none alive. Alesha kept the party moving forward, and we cleared the bog without casualty. The grassy region just before the Kaldun region was a sight for sore eyes. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side. Alesha halted the band at a tent camp used by healers. Actually the healers were part of our stalwart band and were keeping the area secure. Their brown robes had fooled the unholy trinity, so far. "Everyone dismount and take refreshment," I said. "You will need it." "The cavern behind us holds the key to the finding of Jupiter." The party used the time wisely to get organized and set for battle. I readied myself also. The temptation for complacency could not be risked. Not at this time. Not ever. "Riders from the north,," the cry went up.I turned to look in that direction. It was Vlar, and he brought more riders. He had kept his word. I recognized the riders; Jackson Trawl, the undead hunter, Kahn, his brother, the indomitable Borin Drake,and the last human, Finn. I was very happy to see them. We were all set now. The party was complete. I was overwhelmed by the awesome show of solidarity and devotion to the request for aid I had sent out. These that had come were being called on to risk all and were not stepping back. The stage was set. The valiant band stood on the brink of Oblivion....
<insert some clever reason to explain why I was too lazy to create a forum account named "Squire of Catalin" to post these pictures> Some more depictions of this valiant march.
Thank you Squire of Catalin for the wonderful contribution. Should anyone else have 'memories' to include feel free to do so. This is the your legend also. I am merely a participant in this epic event just like you. You have made the legend.
It's the simple things that amuse me. For some reason I really like the shot where I got the system message, "you have left the protection of the town guards" as we entered the cave.
I am still mourning the loss of my poor horse YT. I left him in a cave full of undead and jumped through a portal at one point or other. When I returned he was a walking ghost himself...
