Dungeonmaster Past Episodes

EPISODE #7005
The Ultimate Chapter
by Michael Axelsen
and the Cast of Dungeon Master

If only HUDNUT had held on! All was resolved, the Plot of the great Evil was thwarted, The DEWEY family reunited - and the Tapestry would be returned to the fates. But no, HUDNUT Dropped the Tapestry as he and his rescuers traveled back to the Library, leaving the IT with XAN and the Two IMPS, IGNAT and BOSHA. If the TAPESTRY is not returned to the fates, who knows what evil will come for it? And if EVIL does find it…there will be no help for us all.

Episode #7004
Where In the World Is Hudnut Dewey
By Michael T. Coleman and The Cast of Dungeon Master

Weeks have past while various adventuring parties have tried unsuccessfully to locate Hudnut Dewey, the King's librarian who managed to get himself lost within his own library. Each attempt to find him has resulted in the discovery of more and more information that led to his disappearance. On the word of a self-fulfilling prophet, King Patrimus sent Hudnut to locate the famed Tapestry of Fate and Time, hoping that it could bring back his wife and son from the dead. In his search, Hudnut awakened a dark, evil entity that briefly trapped him. Through magic, Hudnut escaped into his own books, with the Darkness and its impish minions on his trail. Now, with Hudnut in possession of the Tapestry of Fate and on the run from evil, his only hope lay with his daughter, Pershing, and the King's agent, Xan. With Pershing now missing in the books, it is up to Xan to find the librarian…and his own secrets as well.

Episode #7002
A Real Page Turner
by Michael Axelsen and The Cast of Dungeon Master

XAN and PERSHING have both arrived at HUDNUT's Library at behest of king and kin, only to find a scattered array of books and no Hudnut. Through a Golem precariously controlled by the mercenary Phil-Line, they discern that the mercurial Hudnut has disappeared into the books. They will have to venture into the books as well, if they wish to rescue the absent Librarian, and for that matter, if they want to save the Realm. Only one question remains: How?

Episode #7001
Tapestry of Fate
by Michael T. Coleman
and the Cast of Dungeon Master

In the Kingdom of WISTONIA, young KING PATRIMUS enjoyed great popularity amongst his people. When his wife, QUEEN MERBEYLINA, gave birth to their son, SOLIMAIGNE, it was the only worthwhile news for a year. They loved their people and their people loved them. So it was that when tragedy struck, when the Queen and Prince mysteriously took ill and died, the entire Kingdom felt the King's great loss. PATRIMUS withdrew, seeking his own private council and the people granted him his seclusion. It has a been a week since the King's librarian, HUDNUT, went missing on an errand for the King. No one knows what he was searching for or what happened to him. Nor do they know the darkness he inadvertently awakened.

Of all of the places in his spindly tower, Hudnut Dewey's absolute favorite was his library. Within it was every tome, scroll, or artifact he and his father before him, and his father's father before him could get their grubby hands on. Packed methodically on a maze of shelves, reaching and teetering beyond sight were more books than any one could imagine. Every day, after his morning stroll though his gardens, Hudnut would precariously make his way up a rickety ladder seeking out whatever gem of knowledge he needed that day to further his research. Once he had acquired it, he would make his way back to his desk, amidst his dusty shelves and moldy tea-cups. Then he would immerse himself completely into his studies, until his wife, Letitia could coerce him to join her for the evening repast. Every day, for twenty-five years, like clock-work Hudnut entered his library in the early morning hours, only to emerge by candle-light. That is, until the day that he did not.

It is time to return to middle of the GREAT OCEAN and visit the ISLE OF WINDEN. Here the WIZARD'S COUNCIL sits, waiting for new supplicants to vie for the honor of being a GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME. The first challengers of the new world will soon arrive and ELLADONNA, leader of the COUNCIL, confers with fellow wizard MARCUS. Just what shall be done to create enough of a challenge. It will take time to find enough worthy adventurers to become GUARDIANS. Luckily for them, TIME is on their side.

Clarity. A clear mind is a powerful mind. But in SOUTH VOERLAND, the great KING OTTO THE YOUNGER has spent the past few years drifting in a haze. His sister, NATASHA, selflessly devoted herself to his care. Though she may once have been kind, she too had been transformed over the years. Through dark means, she has enslaved her brother's mind, transformed her apprentice into a living statue, and now essentially rules the Kingdom herself.

If only KING OTTO were able to regain his faculties. Who could save SOUTH VOERLAND? The PEASANT KING of AKRIT, to the SOUTH? DARTHANIEL, head of the MERCHANT GUILD in HOLDENSPAR, to the WEST? Or perhaps both hold the answer to the freedom of the entire region. All they need is Clarity.

It has grown worse. The countryside of South Voerland is now being ravaged with strange monsters, the likes of which have never been seen before. The monster seems to have been pouring in from Akrit. In Akrit, the situation is even more dire. The Farmers are no longer tending their fields, the wizards at the ORDER of the INCLINED are staying in their tower, and most good folks do not leave their homes. There is word of a PEASANT HERO in AKRIT, but it has done little to quell the Chaos. In short, it's a pretty good time to be a thief.

The MONSTERS are coming. While KING OTTO THE YOUNGER wallows in illness in the Kingdom of SOUTH VOERLAND, horrible things are taking place in the neighboring lands. In the province of AKRIT, to the South, things are markedly worse. Unlike their peaceful neighbors to the North, the people of AKRIT had only just begun recovering from years of internal warfare when they found themselves infested with ORCS, WERECREATURES, TROLLS, and the like.

For months, these mysterious hordes of MONSTERS have been laying waste to the farming communities. People are being killed wantonly and their fields razed. Many have been abducted and tortured by the foul beasts.With most of their soldiers and fighting men killed in the wars, AKRIT has been powerless to fight back. Something must be done soon before the terrors spread to SOUTH VOERLAND and beyond.

Ah, and what of poor KING OTTO and the medicinal herb that his sister, NATASHA, recently acquired to help save him…?

Although some who view upon Atoll see a new world, a young world, the realities show otherwise. Look upon the kingdom of SOUTH VOERLAND, for example. In days gone by, it had seen it’s share of glory and riches, heralded by a benevolent and much beloved king, KING OTTO THE ELDER. With his death, he passed his kingdom to his only son, OTTO THE YOUNGER. His subjects were loyal to their young, charismatic and kind king, honoring him with respect and their admiration. KING OTTO THE YOUNGER was just and fair, and no event too trivial to warrant his personal attention.

But these days are now far in the past, and the years have not been so kind to KING OTTO THE YOUNGER and SOUTH VOERLAND. He now rules from his virtually empty castle, and only with the help of his devoted sister, NATASHA. She has left her post at the ORDER OF THE INCLINED, to help nurse a fractured mind.

The years have not been kind to Atoll. The burning of the Druid's Forest at the hands of the EFREETI, ELAN. The dark armies of SOURI, SINESTRA, and SABLE laid waste to much of the land before they were stopped by their own treachery. For a time, even the FABRIC OF REALITY itself was weakened. And although, the ORB OF MAGIC was healed before it grew too unstable, magic users the world over have been more limited in their power. Through luck and the skills of brave adventurers, all crises were somehow averted Yet, the events of recent months have put a toll on the already fragile world of Atoll. Famine, Plague, Flood, and a damaged time stream could mean only one thing: The End Was Near. Only a handful know what can save all of Atoll from implosion...and now one of them plans to do something about it.

Episode #5098
Kingdom in Crisis
by Nick Neisler
Adapted by Michael T. Coleman

We travel now to the city of MAILOR in the KINGDOM OF GARTH. With the death of King League (and his sons), DARIUS THE SWORDSMAN rules as Regent Elect with the help of WILLA, THE MASTER OF ARMS and the love of the people. But a time of crisis is upon the kingdom. The GREAT FLOOD continues to wreck havoc in Atoll. Widespread famine, wandering undead, homeless refugees and looting all abound. Will heroes have a chance to do good before the end time is upon us? And we must not forget the GLENDAR RANGERS. COMMANDER RAND, their leader, has acquired the FINDING SWORD. Will he have his chance at justice before the end time comes? Only Time will tell.

The end is NIGH. For months now have the prophets foretold of disasters. And DISASTER has come. Plague. Famine. Destruction. The end of an age approaches. While all eyes were turned toward the search for the SHARDS and the GENESIS SWORD, or the coming of the DEMON, or the misguided ills of BISHOP MARTIN, an ancient EVIL was released from its prison. The EFREETI, ELAN, had mysteriously escaped and threatened to melt the CONTINENTAL GLACIER. Despite the timely intervention of JESSE the Mad Prophet and a band of ADVENTURERS, he did just that…and now a third of ATOLL has been claimed by the oceans. What of the SURVIVORS?

All the RELICS OF PEACE in the land of ATOLL are gone. Some in the hands of the mysterious WALKER, some held by PRIOR GRADY of WESTHELM, some held by the TEMPLE OF LIGHT, under the control of REVEREND MOTHER and some confiscated by BROCK. All claim to have knowledge of how to stop the GENESIS SWORD from wiping the land of ATOLL clean and beginning a NEW AGE. It is believed that only the SHIELD OF DAMASCUS can stand against the SWORD and that WALKER must control the SHIELD. The SHARDS of the SHATTERED SHIELD have been found, but are not all together. Disagreement and dissention plague the forces of LAW. But who is fighting for the SWORD?

If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, then superstition is an anathema. For with a little knowledge and even less understanding, our minds fall into confusion. Superstition breeds fear and fear is a strong emotion. Once fear has you in its grip, you are lost. But what can you do? It is useless to say don’t be afraid. We all know there are more things in this existence than we can dream of and they should be feared. PRIOR GRADY ruler of WESTHELM, is a man that lives in fear. He has heard the whispers of impending doom and has surrounded himself with all manner of psychics and fortune tellers hoping to forestall the hand of fate. He has closed the borders of WESTHELM and has hoarded all the MAGIC ITEMS and RELICS that he can find. RELICS that are needed elsewhere….

Episode #5094
The Hard Place
By Michael Coleman & Chris Gauntt
Based on ideas by Bruce A. Young

The GOBLINS have come. Time is running out for the poor inhabitants of HOPE. For days now, their town has been besieged by a Goblin army. It is only a matter of time before the Goblins overrun the town of orphans, beggars, and priests. Their only chance at rescue was a party of hapless mercenaries who took pity upon their plight. But that party has failed, due in large part to their own foolishness. Who will save them from the Goblins now?

The land is filled with unrest. Rumors are afoot. Dark rumors that speak of death, destruction, abandonment and despair. Chaos is coming and the leaders of the land seem powerless to stop it. To some the answer is to flee from the future, trying to outrun the past and escape the present. And if you cannot run? What are your options? Where would you find salvation? A small town north of PALISADE is dealing with issues such as these. In this town, let's call it HOPE, the people have been abandoned by their leaders. The patrols of the royal guard and GLENDAR RANGERS are a thing of the past, most of the able bodied men have departed with their families. All that remain are the poor and infirm. And the GOBLINS are coming, the GOBLINS are coming.

MEL and JEAN are two smugglers trying to make a living amongst the refugees of the WASTELANDS. For months now, people have been fleeing WESTHELM and the GLENDAR PLAINS...even the once great Glendar Rangers. Thanks to BISHOP MARTIN, famine has come and with it pestilence. Rumors of Shards and Demons and Magical Items don't bother MEL and JEAN much though. They just want their share of the looting. Even if it means venturing back through those forsaken lands once again.

Episode #4096
Challenge on Gold Mountain
PART I OF THE DARK GUARDIAN SERIES
by Gregory Crafts

The Folly of Pride is a double-edged sword. A proud warrior is strong. He stays fit, keeps his weapons and armor in pristine condition and is always at the ready. However, pride must be tempered by wisdom. Those who do not control their pride, let their hearts control them. The only thing more dangerous than an emotional warrior, is the enemy who knows how to use the warrior's own pride against them. Thus, begins our tale...

What is home? Is it a place? Is it a state of mind? Is it something that can even be defined or is it more of a feeling? Comfort. Security. Something that no one gives up willingly. And yet there will come a time to choose. To stay with what you’ve known or strike out for new frontiers. Who among us would leave their home for the unknown. You? Well that time has come. The land of Atoll is rushing headlong into the End of Days. Word is spreading. The cities are not safe. And so the time has come to find greener pastures, led by nothing more than the hand of Fate. Exodus.

The land of Atoll has never seen such a state before. Time is fluid and moveable, the wizards and Clerics are waging a not so subtle war, and the shards are being collected to once again be merged. The prophecy is out there, but only BROCK knows where. With all these troubles working the world, it’s the perfect time for an opportunistic young Adventurer to make a name for himself.

Episode #4093
A Fairy’s Tale
by Michael Coleman
with ideas from Doron Kipper, Spenser Flugum, and Brennan LaShever

Fairies are an odd lot. Sometimes they can seem very childlike and flighty, though they may be older than most mortal men. One such fairy is Belle. Long ago, she was quite happy living on her tiny little island within a small archipelago. Then one day, an evil wizard was imprisoned on one of the other islands. When a band of adventurers inadvertently freed him from his prison, the wizard escaped and Belle was free to roam. But now it appears she is missing something...something very valuable. And as is common with fairies, nothing is as it seems...

What makes a hero? What drives one to take up the life of an adventurer? To risk everything? Is it Honor? Glory? Loyalty? Could that be what makes a person aspire for greatness? Perhaps by accident? An unlikely hero thrust by circumstance... or fate, to the center of the stage, and yet instead of perishing, they rise to the challenge? Still yet, perhaps something darker... Tragedy. Vengeance. Hatred. With burning hearts, they too are known as heroes to some, unforgivable monsters to others. There are those whose names span the ages and whose stories reveal what moment, what extraordinary event transformed them from ordinary people, into the stuff of legend... and there are others whose past still remain concealed in shadow. What drives them? Many may guess, but does anyone truly know?

While dire events are playing out through Atoll, things in the kingdom of Calendar seemed to be looking up. The former Hali of the Elvish land of Vivalda, BURTON, was found to be behind the plot to enslave the kobold race. The Prince of Vivalda, ERJACK, delivered a writ of execution for BURTON along with a payment of jewels for restitution. Since then, the Temple of Light has distributed the added wealth to the people of Magalas, helping to squelch the recent rioting and discontent amongst the people. But not everything is well. The famine is spreading even to here, BURTON has yet to be captured and there is the missing body of Chancellor Huntley still out there. And as QUEEN THOREL said, there are plots within plots.

Truth. A coat of pale paint slapped upon a ramshackle shack of lies. We cannot handle truth. Our minds cannot fathom the vastness of truth. Where everything is stripped away and the universe likes naked before us. We cannot see it, so we make adjustments. Give it a new coat of paint. Something easier on the eyes. Truth. Is the soul crusher. Truth, is the world killer. Truth is Prophecy.

When did man fall from grace? When did evil gain sway over our souls? Is it possible to make amends for your faults and regain divine honor? Or must we forever bear the weight of our sins. Never finding solace. Never achieving Redemption.

We are in a thriving city, it could be anywhere, but it is in the land of Atoll and its name is FAIRWAY, in the Kingdom of BOLTON. FAIRWAY is known for its lush landscape and in particular it's FLOWERS. Nowhere in ATOLL, can a city attest to more beautiful flora and fauna. Now it may help that a colony of DRYADS have chosen to live with in your Kingdom, but that's a story for another day. For up until now FAIRWAY has thrived in peace, everyone conducting business in a cordial way and thereby providing wealth for all. That is until now. Now the VERDANTUM, a CLERICAL SECT from the TEMPLE OF LIGHT has set up shop. Some say they are here to spread peace, but others are not so sure. The BROTHERS OF VERDANTUM are working for no wages and by undercutting everyone's prices, threaten the stability of the MERCHANT CLASS. Something must be done!

Things are moving in the land of ATOLL. Things seen and unseen. Moving towards an uncertain destination. Moving along the paths of Fate. A juggernaut of destiny moving towards the inevitable end. The end of the road. The last stop on the journey. And when the end comes? Will we find welcome or rejection.

Goodness and Light. It is a myth. The darkness of people's souls will always win out. Though we desperately cling to the belief that the LIGHT will destroy the DARKNESS, we know in our hearts that it is the other way around. It is the DARKNESS that eats the LIGHT. That is the natural way of things. It is hard to withstand the harshness of LIGHT, to see oneself exposed, defenseless, nothing to hide behind. It is the DARKNESS that calls to our souls. So is it any surprise that a KINGDOM OF LIGHT cannot stand? Does kindness breed weakness? Or is the weakness always hiding within us, trying not to be revealed by the LIGHT?

WIZARDS are a lonely lot. People that crave power often suffer thus. Knowledge is the key. Behind every throne there is a WIZARD. It has been the way of things since man crawled from the caves. But the winds are changing. Things are in motion. Things of great import. TEMPLES are spreading across the face of the land like a plague. The TEMPLE OF LIGHT has never been stronger. And with that strength comes power. CLERICS now meddling where they don't belong. WIZARDS are being pushed out. One by one. Kingdom by Kingdom. It is only a matter of time before someone pushes back.

The DUNADAYS. Formerly EAST and WEST, ruled by two rival families. Now jointly ruled, held together by royal marriage. But the newlyweds are nowhere to be found. Driven to self-exile in order to find happiness. The two families still bitter enemies. Only the CUP OF ASHATA maintains the peace. But magic items have been disappearing from ATOLL. Especially items that are imbued with the power of peace. We all know that when peace is gone, conflict is on the horizon.

We are in the MIDLANDS. The tract of land smack dab in the middle of BAISLA; three provinces surrounding the GLENDAR PLAINS. Even though the RANGERS have been disbanded, roving groups of former GLENDARS still keep what patrols they can, but most of their time is spent in foraging for their own supplies. Singing for their supper you might say. With the exodus of hostile armies, the RANGERS are hardly missed and trade between the provinces thrives. MERCENARIES are now free to pursue other avenues to glory besides war, looting. Nothing compares to the thrill of the hunt, especially the treasure hunt. Just the rumor of an undiscovered horde is enough to start a stampede. Fortunately, there is never a shortage of rumors.

The gods of Atoll are frequently merciless when it comes to wayward adventurers. But do the gods really control the fate of those reckless few who seek to challenge them? Some say that the gods are actually part of some greater intelligent design, and tales of a mysterious dark cloaked figure with a loud clear voice has spread across the land, gaining favor among a fanatical few.

We take so many things for granted in our lives. The rising and setting of the sun, the air we breathe, our sight, sounds…all work together and create a comfort zone allowing us to live our daily lives without crippling fear. But deep down inside we know the world is a dangerous place. Where good does not always triumph, and evil has many disguises. Safety is but an illusion that can be stripped away at any time. We all know that. We know it.

WIZARD UNIVERSITY is in lockdown. The COUNCIL OF WIZARDS are furious! Six students lost while simply exploring the campus?! Unbelievable. The PROFESSOR warned them. He warned them all. But no one would listen to him. Now things have gotten out of control. Unless something can be done to find the lost students, heads will roll.

You've heard, of course, of RATATAT, leader of the rebellion in the CITY STATE of DENTROPOLIS in the NORTHERN BADLANDS? Remember; the MERCHANT, cursed with LYCANTHROPY, that the TEMPLE OF LIGHT could not heal? Well, it's all true. RATATAT controls all the RODENTS in the city and has raised a WERERAT ARMY, declaring himself to be KING. Somebody's got a huge rat problem.

Magic. It pervades the world of Atoll. Neither good nor evil, it is the stuff of adventure. Masters of the Art can destroy kingdoms or heal the sick, summon monsters or help those in love. Ever wonder where these purveyors of prestidigitation propagate? From what hidden well do young spell casters spring? How are the secrets of the arcane arts passed from Master to Apprentice? WIZARD UNIVERSITY. A private institution, not sanctioned by the WIZARD’S COUNCIL, where MAGIC USERS of all disciplines may freely come to teach and acolytes to learn the Art of the Wizard…

We are back in the Kingdom of CALENDAR ruled by the newly widowed QUEEN THOREL. Her Kingdom is in trouble, treachery surrounds her and she does not know whom to trust. CHANCELLOR HUNTLEY is dead, his head chopped off in a fit of rage by order of the QUEEN. Her people are on the brink of rebellion. They ignored their harvests in search of the easy money of the ELVES and now there is no food on the table and the storehouses are bare. Trouble is everywhere and one question rings loud in every ear. Who is to blame..

The GREY ELVES are rebuilding. After the devastation left by the wars QUEEN ADIELE seeks to lift her Kingdom to rival that of GLANDORIUM itself. The very ROCKS of ATOLL seem to obey the GREY ELVES command and the Kingdom they are creating is glorious indeed. CITIES and PALACES of LIVING ROCK, full of COLOR and SOUND. Of course all of this takes physical labor, something ELVES were never too keen on. And so a massive recruitment project has been put into action. Jobs are offered with promises of future wealth. And if they can't find a legal work force? Well, there are other ways..

In times of need there are certain people you turn to for help and support. Need a house built, call a contractor, want your crops to grow, seek a druid. A spiritual crisis might cry out for your local cleric. But if there's a mystery to be solved, a killer to be caught, a criminal to be brought to justice, you call BODAK.

There are many islands in the land of Atoll. MIDWAY ISLAND, DAGREB, WINDEN, in truth BAISLA and NAGREAL are nothing more than large islands. The entire civilization of Atoll rests safely within its island cradle. But what would happen if five new islands suddenly appeared from nowhere. What would this mean? The birth of a new world or the death of the old?

The battle between good and evil has raged eternally, but throughout it all, good has been saved by one simple fact . . . “Evil will always turn in upon itself.” There’s only room for one at the top, and those who harbor dark ambitions spend as much time fighting each other as they do the forces of good. What if that changed? What would the consequences be if those who turned towards darkness discovered the ability to work together?

Episode #4070
THE KINGDOM NEEDS HEROES
Story By Nick and Nathan Neisler
Adapted for the Stage by Mike Axelsen

King League lies is dying. The ranger Cobb and his party of adventurers have failed to bring back the bodies of Prince Jingo and Prince Hawkeye. Without the resurrection of these two princes, The Kingdom of Garth is in Danger of falling into a state of Civil war. The Kings Vizier has a plan to resolve all of the turmoil in the realm. However, in solving the problem of succession, is the Vizier stopping a civil war, or merely starting a new one?

We find ourselves in the Kingdom of CALENDAR, home to the WATCHMEN, a race of people whose sole purpose is to record the passing of man's time in the world. But unlike the haughty ELVES, the WATCHMEN are not above getting involved in the affairs of men. Over the centuries they have honed skills through breeding and rigorous training that allow them to aid in crop rotation, hunting patterns and are even used as a deterrent against injustice. For who among us can withstand the withering glare of our own ambition? The WATCHMEN are always there, waiting, watching. If evil were to have any chance of success here, they would first have to eliminate the WATCHMEN..

A true friend is a rare commodity. Someone to share secrets with and reveal your dreams. This deep type of friendship is usually shared by the same sex. But every so often men and women find this type of connection between each other. Love, some may call it, but as friends. True love is different from true friendship, and yet if the line is crossed does that mean you lose a friend? Ahh, but what does this have to do with current events? The KINGDOM of GARTH is in mourning. The sons of KING LEAGUE lie dead on MOUNT JACKSON and need to be returned home.

Once upon a time in the BANDIT KINGDOM of GARTH there lived a not so great KING. His name was LEAGUE. KING LEAGUE. This KING had two sons, JINGO and HAWKEYE that were always competing for their father's affection. And so it came to pass that in the XXIX SEASON OF WIND, KING LEAGUE was coming to the end of his days and had to choose a successor to his throne. But how to choose? Perhaps a competition..

It is time to return to middle of the GREAT OCEAN and visit the ISLE OF WINDEN. Here the WIZARD'S COUNCIL sits, waiting for new supplicants to vie for the honor of being a GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME. But before the quest can begin, there is business to be taken care of. With the disappearance of the benevolent COUNCIL LEADER, the WIZARD'S COUNCIL has been forced to go into exile. The last test was conducted outside of the TIME STREAM and was, shall we say, a curious undertaking. Well, now the COUNCIL has chosen to return, there are HEROES to be TESTED! There is still the problem of their missing LEADER.

Episode #2065
Knobby and the Chamber of Secrets
By Bob Chapin, Snug, and Bruce A. Young

Without a war to fight, what's a good mercenary to do? Swords into plowshares? I think no. Not our mercenaries. Since work has become scarce and evil more or less on the run, it is the perfect time to pillage weakened strongholds. The FORTRESS of DEVORE is one such stronghold. Exactly what is locked within its vaults is unknown, but that makes it all the more attractive to the aspiring looter. The only problem is the owner of the FORTRESS is the wizard MOLDEVORE and he is not one to let his treasures be taken easily. You see, he has found a new source for powerful allies. Monsters that will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.defend the treasures.

Episode #2064
From Blood to Dust
Volume II
By Mike Axelsen, Liz DeWet and Tim Ritenour

We have left eh MISTY VALLEY, where Grimjaw and Selene, have succeeded in thwarting a band of intrepid adventures, who through guile and cunning wound up dead. The Undead threat is inexplicably spreading to all corners of Atoll. What force can be controlling such a massive ARMY of the UNDEAD? We will travel south, to the tropical forests of Nagreal, and discover things no man has seen. No living man, anyway.

Episode #2063
From Blood to Dust
Volume I: The Shadows of Misty Valley
By Mike Axelsen, Liz DeWet and Tim Ritenour

There are those who live their entire lives in peace. Those who farm the rolling hillsides of Atoll; who are born, grow up, get married have children and die without ever picking up a sword. This is as it should be. However, there are those who find this unacceptable. These people will do anything they can to see that the normal people of the world suffer and die. They desire the world to be consumed by death, and they will go to almost any lengths to achieve their ends: Even if they have to go beyond death first.

In the KINGDOM OF NEVARR, a blessed event is about to take place amidst the neverending turmoil that exists in the land of ATOLL. KING LUCIOUS III is about to marry off his daughter PRISCILLA to the gallant PRIMUS HAWK - slayer of DRAGONS and UNDEFEATED CHAMPION IN BATTLE, ready to prove his love for the KING'S DAUGHTER by undertaking any quest the king should devise. Ah, but when is anything that simple in the land of ATOLL?

We return to CRUMFELD and the KINGDOM of the SOUTHERN ORCS led by that rascal NAGGLEFACE. His wife, FUSSBUDGET have been exiled and plots her revenge against her cheating husband. But the ORC ARMIES are strong and WAR is a game that is best played by professionals. Amateurs need not apply. Wait a minute. Game, amateurs, war, I think we have something here.

We walk a narrow path in this life towards the hope of salvation. Temptations to do the wrong thing assail our souls from every side. One misstep and we find ourselves no longer heading towards the light, but into everlasting darkness. One misstep. Hardly seems fair does it? That a life of righteousness can be thwarted by one act of evil. Even if that act was not of your own choosing. Who made these rules? Better to just embrace the Darkness. Forgo the injustice of the Light. Better to be a King in hell.. Better to be a King.

Episode #2058
Strange Bedfellows
Pt. II of The War of the Flame
By Gregory Crafts and Bruce A. Young

News is spreading out across the land. Spreading like wildfire. Like a flame. The BLACK FLAME. The news is spreading. Another GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME turned to evil. SARKY. Once hero, now nothing more than another mercenary, under the control of SABLE whose motives are unclear. QUEEN HEPHESTUS is dead and AGEUS is absent, leaving STEELWELL defenseless. And so the ships have set sail. SARKY leads the army of SABLE to capture FORTRESS STEELWELL. He will succeed, for who is there to stand against him? The forces of good have been noticeably silent and more importantly absent. For when a GUARDIAN can be turned to evil, what chance do ordinary heroes have? What chance do any of us have?

Our time on this earth is so short. It is duty to live life to its fullest. To walk the path least trodden. To take opportunity when it presents itself. To make a difference. To take a stand. To take. Above all, to take. Is that our calling? To view the world as one big swap meet. The more you cheat, the more you earn. Never show your true motives. In fact, never show your true face at all.

Ah, the thrill of competition, of pitting mind against mind, strength against strength. And the cheating! There are some who will resort to any means in order to win, even if those means aren't exactly fair. And so we learn to root for the underdog, for that is where the heart of a champion resides. Under trained, under funded, but talented none the less, the underdog strives in the face of all odds to succeed where others have said they will fail. So, let us visit the Kingdom of DUNADAY WEST where a wager is about to take place..

MOVENA is gone. Reports are sketchy about just what happened at her war camp. But some facts are clear. The threat of MOVENA is over. DAMAGO is missing or dead. There have been sightings of a few members of the ill-fated PARTY, but they are mostly rumor. So as with all things, the tale grows. Tales of PLUNDER to be had by those brave enough to go for it. Abandoned TEMPLES, forsaken TOWERS, unpillaged CASTLES, all just waiting. And we all know, good things come to those that wait..

When we last saw or heard of MOVENA, she had escaped the clutches of the DRUIDS and had disappeared-whereabouts unknown. In a desperate effort to make things right YARLO ordered the death of MARLOK (the GREAT DRUID) hoping to kill MOVENA in the process for she believed their life forces to be irrevocably linked. YARLO was wrong. MARLOK'S death did not destroy MOVENA, it gave her even greater power. Power that she used to steal MARLOK'S BODY before it could be destroyed, for that was her Achilles heel, a fact YARLO realized too late. For short of actually driving a STAKE through her BRAIN, only the destruction of MARLOK'S BODY can destroy MOVENA. With her newfound power MOVENA thinks herself invincible and now that she has hidden MARLOK'S BODY, she is immortal as well.

The power to foresee the future.it's a power men dream of, when greed fills their hearts. Perhaps that is why such power remains so elusive to the general masses; to protect the fragile balance between faith and desire. Or maybe it is merely to protect man himself. Our minds cannot grasp the infinite. Who knows what images assault the senses of a true prophet? Can they truly pluck truth out of the ether and dispense it with milk and cookies? Or does the "truth" so bombard the mind with thousands of what ifs and what might be that you are quite simply driven mad. Certainly there are those creatures that possess the power, but what demons plague their dreams? And man? Shunned by your fellows and left to rail at the heavens for justice and peace. Can one truly be called a prophet, if no one believes?

Gregarious is gone, and with him the knowledge of the whereabouts of the Orb of Power. There is one last hope: Capricious, brother of Gregarious, perhaps may shed some light on things. But time is running short. Spellcasters grow weary with the casting of every spell. Who knows how long the Orb will last and what the consequences will be if it fails? And so the quest continues, the search for Gregarious, the location of the Orb...

With the failure to promote any new GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME, the WIZARD'S COUNCIL is once again in turmoil. It appears the split over the last election ran deeper than would appear on the surface. Wizards are a fickle lot. The new COUNCIL LEADER, ELLADONNA, has her hands full trying to keep the many factions in check and yet continue to offer what assistance she can to the world of ATOLL. As if matters weren't bad enough there have been ripples in the FABRIC OF REALITY. The WEB OF MAGIC that binds all things has started to fray. That can mean only one thing-the ORB OF POWER has been damaged. ELLADONNA knows that now is the time to act, but without proof, the COUNCIL will never listen. She needs that proof.

It is time to return to middle of the GREAT OCEAN and visit the ISLE OF WINDEN. Here the WIZARD'S COUNCIL sits, waiting for new supplicants to vie for the honor of being a GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME. But before the quest can begin, there is business to be taken care of. With the disappearance of the benevolent COUNCIL LEADER, the WIZARD'S COUNCIL has been forced to go into exile. The last test was conducted outside of the TIME STREAM and was, shall we say, a curious undertaking. Well, now the COUNCIL has chosen to return, there are HEROES to be TESTED! There is still the problem of their missing LEADER.

The deaths of the DUKE and QUEEN ARDUN have caused a power struggle to erupt among the rich landowners of MARBELLA. Families have been uprooted and pushed out of the KINGDOM. Old fortunes lost and new fortunes made as old scores are settled with the pen, not the sword. They should have killed all the lawyers. But we are in the MIDLANDS, along the GREAT ROAD just outside of MARBELLA. Here, much is in disrepair from the wars that have ravaged the land and repairs are proceeding apace. There is always money to be made after war. In times like these some would think the rebuilding process would be one of cooperation and peace. But they would be naïve, for commerce serves but one master and woe be to those who stand in its way. Put simply--work along the GREAT ROAD is not going smoothly. There seems to be a few questions about land rights..

Long have the children of Ardun been at odds. DUKE ARDEN has even taken steps to magically change his form to escape the assassins of his sister, the Queen and now, in his own blind quest for revenge he seeks to overthrow her by war. For his allies he has chosen the remnants of SINESTRA'S army to march against his own people. Strange bedfellows indeed. And so the die is now cast and there is no turning back for when heirs battle over who shall rule, it is the Kingdom that bleeds.

In the land of Atoll there are many magic places. Lakes, mountains, caves, castles, rivers, roads, doors, floors, bridges, halls, walls, mirrors; the list goes on and on. Atoll is a very magical place, but in all of Atoll, there is no place more revered (and feared), than the MAGIC FOREST. That's what it's called, the MAGIC FOREST, for all within its boundaries are touched by MAGIC. Some powerful, some benign, but MAGIC nonetheless. It is to this FOREST that we go.

SINESTRA is dead. Words never hoped to be spoken in this land of ours, and yet true. Her lieutenant BLIXA has taken the vast armies at her command and spiraled into utter chaos. Without the iron will of SINESTRA, they are nothing more than roving bands of thugs scouring the countryside. The clean-up work is slow and dangerous. In desperation, some Kingdoms have sought to make deals with the devil. Kingdoms that once had no standing army of their own now see a cheap work force at their disposal. All that is required is a leader-there is a void to be filled. And in our world, there are always those waiting to fill such voids.

The tide seems to be turning. Where there was once evil on all sides, the goodly folk of Atoll have been granted a reprieve. With the apparent death of Sinestra, it seems only the endless one, and his avatar Sable, present an eminent threat to the two continents. However, this is no minor threat… When we last saw the Death Knight, he had procured a portion of a key. This key, when fully assembled, grants access to the orb of magic, the artifact from which most magic on Atoll stems. The everyday spells of common adventurers would vanish into shadow were it not for this powerful artifact. If one entity were to posses the orb, or shatter it, it would cause repercussions so grave that not even the great Sage Gregarious could prophesize what doom it could portend…

Episode #2018
A Winters Tale
By Bruce A. Young
(Loosely based on the work of William Shakespeare)

We find ourselves on the Isle of ALBION along the southern tip of NAGRAEL. The Kingdom is called TEES, ruled by the good KING LEON and his queen, HERMOINES. A royal festival is in progress in TEES attended by all the nobles of the southern region, but most notably KING PAUL of BOHEMIA. He and LEON are fast friends and ignore not a moment to party and make merry. But this time, something comes between their friendship, and the lesson to be learned is a hard one.

Once a year, in the city of Kristiansand, the world renown adventurer's convention Gem Con is held. Heroes from across the twin continents of Atoll gather to share war stories, magic tips and tall tales. This year, a young scholar named Ephraim Zoloft will be giving a speech reputed to change the way evil is fought in the new Post-Sinestra Age. But the forces of evil have gotten wind of this and realize the danger he poses to them. Horseshack, once favorite of the Endless One, would do anything to get back in the good graces of his master. Young Ephraim may just be the bargaining chip he needs.

In every world there are secrets-secret meetings, secret motives, secret wars. The life we see and the life we don't see. Forces are always hard at work behind the scenes that truly dictate the lives of the blissfully complacent masses. So focused on the daily routine of life that they are completely ignorant of the war being waged for their lives. History has taught us much, but memory fades and the voices of the prophets are reduced to words on faded paper. And so it goes. Whispers have been heard about the ENDLESS ONE, the LORD OF LIGHT once again strides the land and SINESTRA exalts in the evil she spreads, but this is what you know. What about the evil that lurks behind closed doors, and the hands of peace that seek to reveal them. Deeds done by man, to enslave their own. A never ending war, fought by those not unlike you and me.

A long, long time ago, when magic was all powerful and the world was young, the GNOMES OF ARDEMEA and the ELVES OF GLANDORIUM created a set of magical items that when used together, gave the bearer tremendous powers. Called the COTERIE OF GLANDOR, the set consisted of the RING OF RESSURECTION, the BRACERS OF PUISSANCE, the MEDALLION OF COGITATION, and the CROWN OF SIGHT. Each item had its own specific power and was bequeathed to a specific race. The BRACERS went to the DWARVES, the MEDALLION to the GNOMES, and the CROWN to the ELVES and the RING to the GIANTS. Once a year, the bearers all met to put the COTERIE to use. You see, when used in conjunction with each other, by persons of sufficient will, they produced almost godlike powers. The ability to see into the FUTURE, the power of MASS TELEPATHY, the power of UNLIMITED STRENGTH and the ability to CREATE LIFE. In the beginning, it was used to populate ATOLL with many of its wondrous creatures and virtually landscape the entire realm. Much of the FAIRY KINGDOM was created through the use of the COTERIE and harmony was maintained by allowing all minds to see as one. But as with any great power, there is the danger of misuse. In the end, it was greed and lust for control that led to ruin.

A DELVIN, by the name of SOURI became covetous of the COTERIE and one by one, stole them for his own. Together, these items were never meant to be wielded by one person and the result was disastrous. They perverted the desires of SOURI and from his will came the races of ORCS, GOBLINS, TROLLS and GNOLLS. By the time the deeds of SOURI had been discovered, it was too late. The COTERIE also changed the physical makeup of SOURI himself and thus the ENDLESS ONE was born. It took the combined might of the ELDER RACES to defeat the ENDLESS ONE. Yet his power was so great that though his BODY was destroyed his SPIRIT continued on, endlessly searching for the COTERIE in order to regain his true form and exact his revenge upon ATOLL. It is because of this that the COTERIE was separated but not before it was used one last time to create FOUR KNIGHTS. These KNIGHTS were charged to each take an item and secret it away, protecting its location from detection and their item from all hands.

People go missing every day, never to be seen or heard of again, especially in a world as dangerous as Atoll. It’s surprising people leave their houses at all, what with the death knight and emissary of the ENDLESS ONE, SABLE terrorizing the countryside, on top of the regular sordid monsters. SINESTRA’s armies of orks, goblins and undead are growing in numbers. It is not uncommon to see aimless zombies roaming at night. But once one is quested, they must venture out of doors, with not only their lives, but their honor on the line.

Goblins, perhaps the most miserable of creatures that live upon Atoll. Sniveling, cowardly, and dumb, they find strength only through the pack or from a strong master or mistress. They are fodder to be used and expended by the Delvins and other evils that roam this world. Yet they say that every race holds within it the potential for greatness. So if pushed in the right direction, who knows what dark promise lies within goblinkind?

We return to the Kingdom of Marbella, where once again it is time for the baddest of the bad to test their mettle in a race for their life. It is the Day of the Runner. Criminals and enemies of the state, convicted of their crimes, are given the opportunity once a year to clear their names. They are set loose in the Labyrinth, a diabolical dungeon and given the simple task of finding their way out alive. Any who achieve this impossible task are absolved of their crimes, and welcomed back into the kingdoms as heroes. Queen Ardun has thus kept control of her Kingdom by making sure any that oppose her are drafted into the run, for to be honest, the survival rate is not high. And that's what draws thousands from around the realm to witness this event. The stakes are high, life or death and the odds are in favor or the House of Ardun.

Ah, to return to the simple time in life. When neighbors looked after each other. The line between good and bad was very clearly drawn and to give one's word was tantamount to a solemn oath. A time when rainbows were still a mystery to be solved and the quest for happiness was a walk along a forest lane, not a ride down a paved highway. In that once upon a time stories were told to teach us values, but what if the stories were true?

Libraries, and therefore Librarians are the vestibules of knowledge. In the world of Atoll, the crown jewel of libraries rests in Glandorium, capital to the elves in their country of Oloroth. The custodian to this abundance of knowledge was known as Proculous, the wisest of elves. Alas! Poor Proculous! Where once she knew all, her mind was blanked in a futile plot ordered by King Gereth. And now, with the Delvins Sinestra and the Endless One regaining their evil powers, the knowledge of the realm would sure be useful in deciding on the side of good's strategy.

GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME, the Keepers of the Light, the authority that shows up when Heroes dial 911. Their sense of fair play is paramount, their dedication to duty is unparalleled, their thirst for justice is unquenchable. Why would anyone in their right mind want to take up this mantle? Once chosen, any chance at a normal life is forever forfeit. Constantly sought out by friend and foe alike, eternally challenged, immortally bound. For short of losing their head, can a GUARDIAN die? Is this a blessing, or a cruel curse? Small wonder then that the numbers who are chosen are few, and those turned away, many. And yet-the supplicants come. To challenge (or better yet) to argue, about their "right" to be that which few can claim: a GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME.

Death. Charon. The Grim Reaper. The Endless Sleep comes upon us all in time. Icy fingers on warm flesh signaling that our journey upon this mortal coil has reached its final destination. In Atoll Death is kept very busy. The constant border disputes, clan wars, territory battles, to say nothing of the eternal conflict between GOOD and EVIL keeps the path to the LAND OF SHADOW filled with weary pilgrims. One is rarely happy to see DEATH and the so-called adventurers of the Realm are constantly cheating DEATH, denying that DEATH can touch them, refusing to gently go into that goodnight; never thinking of the consequences that their actions might ultimately have. Even in the world of fantasy there are real laws. Every action has a corresponding reaction. And sometimes, those reactions aren't always what we expect.

Episode #2007
Immortal Soldiers
By Michael Coleman, Suki Lammers And Bruce A. Young

There is a constant battle that has been waged throughout time. Life vs. Death, Chaos vs. Order, Good vs. Evil. Call it what you will, the BATTLE is timeless and the warriors eternal. One IMMORTAL SOLDIER for each side, created to wage battle against the other until the end of time. A PAIR, inseparable and immortal, because even though one side may rule for a time, that time is fleeting. For Light cannot exist without Dark, there is no Joy without Sadness and so the battle must be waged until the VOID comes once again to reclaim all that is. But what if there was only one side. What if the balance were tipped and there was no weight to set it aright? What if the SOLDIERS were separated? What then? Would that spell the end of the world?

It's time to travel north on the isle of BAISLA. We find ourselves in the HIGHLANDS just southeast of the WASTELANDS. As you may recall, the HIGHLANDS aren't truly a Kingdom, but a loose collection of provinces and communities that eek out their existence in rough, mountainous terrain. Their commerce consists mainly of fishing, logging and farming. Their goods are transported by barges along the SNOWY RIVER to the INLAND SEA. They have a thriving trade with the HALFLINGS, the HIGH ELVES and other human habitations along the southern coast of the INLAND SEA. They suffer from constant raids by the OGRES and the DARK ORCS. The DARK ORCS are particularly troublesome since they like to ambush their barges as they travel along the river on the way to the INLAND SEA.

One of their most popular exports is ASHWOOD. This has not made them close friends with the DRUIDS, but with all of the problems going on with the ONE TREE and their leader MARLOK, the DRUIDS attention is now focused inward. A TREATY had been signed to discontinue the logging of the ASH, but treaties are made to be broken..

We return to the GREAT FOREST, home of the legendary DRUIDS. Things seem to be going well. The replanting is finished and with the magic of the DRUIDS, the FOREST is flourishing again. Most of this is due in great part to the leadership of MARLOK, the greatest DRUID in history. Even though he mourns the loss of RATHBONE and the madness of DECIDUOUS, he has managed to pull his people together and recover from the ravages of the GREAT WAR. The world can sleep in peace, or can it?

We are again in the land of PALISADE. After the defeat of the GOBLIN HORDE outside of HOPE, the heroes of the land took a well-needed rest. Even though REVILO had little to do with the entire affair, his kingdom basks in the warm glow of victory. In any war the home-fires must be kept burning and durties attended to, otherwise a soldier comes home a stranger. This is the story of one such soldier. A man who tried to do what was right and was forced to do the unthinkable. There is a reason revenge is always served cold...

Unrest is growing in the land of Atoll. Rumors are afoot. Dark rumors that speak of SINESTRA and THE ENDLESS ONE. They have not been defeated. Far from it. Though their ALLIANCE OF EVIL has been broken, each one separately still vies for power. Apart they are far more dangerous than together. Evil now seems to strike from within and the bitter taste of terror graces the palate of all who dine at the table of good. It is a dark time. Trust is a thing of the past and suspicion is the calling card of the day.

In a small town north of PALISADE things are not good. This town, let's call it HOPE, though there is little cause for that, is currently under siege. The GOBLINS, made bold by the lack of royal patrols, have taken it into their heads to destroy the town and without an army to rescue the hapless inhabitants, that's just what the GOBLINS will do.

The Realm is in turmoil. Many Kingdoms are still picking up the pieces from the great conflict with SOURI and SINESTRA. Even though their alliance has been split and the forces of good have for all intents and purposes triumphed, peace does not reign supreme. Everything is in a state of confusion and Kingdoms are closing their borders in order to keep the peace. This situation allows all sorts of opportunities for beings of evil persuasion. With all the old alliances under suspicion and in jeopardy, evil beings have been made bold. Feeling that their plots and designs will go unnoticed amid the confusion.

In the land of the DWARVES, on the isle of NAGRAEL, such evil is afoot. LORD DANNON of TABIR, is under siege. The PALANTIR OF KINGS has been stolen. It is believed that the evil wizard RANTON RE is behind this plot. Without the PALANTIR, the rule of DANNON is in jeopardy. It must be retrieved at all costs...

Episode #1051
Day of the Runner
By Bruce A. Young
based on an idea by Joe Adlesick

In the Kingdom of MARBELLA, there is a rather unique judicial system. Criminals and enemies of the state, convicted of their crimes, are given the opportunity once a year to race for their crimes. They are set loose in the LABRYNTH, a diabolical dungeon and given the simple task of finding their way out alive. Any who achieve this impossible task are absolved of their crimes, and welcomed back into the Kingdoms as heroes. In fact, the most elite fighting group of the Kingdom is made up of nothing but the winners of this brutal contest and is known as the RUNNERS. As the "good" KING ARDUN sees it, it's a win-win situation. Of course there have only been 25 survivors out of over 400 "applicants", so the elite group is not all that large. Over the years this annual event has turned into quite the celebration, with people coming from miles around to witness the carnage and bet on the outcome. It is called the DAY OF THE RUNNER, a race against death.

With the threat of immediate peril no longer upon them, the noble class can once again resume their lifestyle of utter excess. KING TOTTI of REGISTAAD is one such king, whose distinguished tastes threaten the very existence of a rare breed of PHOENIX. But with the approval of the king at stake, what can one do?

In every land in all the parallel worlds of the multi-verse, there is always that special day set aside to give thanks for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon you. In ATOLL, there is much to be thankful for. SINESTRA and SOURI are in hiding. They have not been completely defeated, but the fact that they have withdrawn from the realm is reason enough to rejoice. The GREAT FOREST has been replanted, and with the DRUIDS help, new trees are flourishing throughout the middle of BAISLA. Many heroes were lost, along with thousands of innocents, but for those that remain, the taste of life is that much sweeter. And so it comes to the DAY OF GRACE, a time for thanksgiving, traditionally it is celebrated by the cooking of the BENIDICTION TURKEY, but this year a shadow lurks. All of the turkeys throughout ATOLL have become infected with the rare THORAX VIRUS. The virus is perfectly safe for TURKEYS, but to humanoids, it is deadly and extremely contagious. And so, not only are the TURKEYS inedible, but they have begun to flourish in alarming numbers. Many believe that this was SINESTRA'S final CURSE. To remove all sense of joy from the hard fought victory. For what is the DAY OF GRACE, without a BENIDICTION TURKEY?

The only cure is to feed the animal the leaves of the CURROW TREE. This tree is extremely rare, the only one known to exist is in the GARDEN OF DEATH. Who will come forward to save the DAY OF GRACE and heal all the TURKEYS.

We find ourselves in the Kingdom of DAEDO, ruled with an iron fist by KING HAGALA. DAEDO lies on the far eastern shore of BAISLA, sheltered from the ravages of war by the THROWBACK MOUNTAINS. However the constant raiding by the MOUNTAIN GIANTS to the north and the KOBOLDS to the south, serve to keep his armies strong and the people in the outlands in constant fear for their lives. The MERCHANT class manages to do well off the toil and sweat of the COMMONERS and provide a healthy tax base for HAGALA. In such a climate of good will, mercy and compassion, it would not be surprising that an enterprising fellow (or fella) saw fit to seek their fortune where they could and if they could stick it to HAGALA in the process, so much the better. The only problem with that otherwise foolproof plan, would be arousing the ire of the King….

Many Kingdoms did not fare well in the war and fell into enemy hands. With the rulers in exile/hiding, it was a simple task to walk in and take control. One such city was the beloved KRISTIANSAND, in the Kingdom of PALISADE. It was taken over by an OGRE WARLORD named KINDARON and has become a refuge for all of the retreating ARMIES OF EVIL. The citizens are ruled by an iron grip of fear. Spies are everywhere, and anyone who speaks out against KINDARON, disappears and is never heard from again. If only KINDARON could be killed, perhaps the people would finally get up the courage to rebel. If only...

Remember the DRUIDS? Well, during the current crisis they have not been idle. All of their attention has been focused on keeping the ONE TREE safe from have and researching methods to restore the GREAT FOREST to its former glory. But research has not been going well and a key ingredient in their studies is missing and has eluded all efforts at location. Rumor has it that the one DRUID who knew the whole story was DECIDUOUS, but of course, he is crazy...

Everything has fallen into confusion once again. Betrayal strides the land at every turn. It seems that HORAK'S desire to have the blood of three Kings was only a ruse to cause them all to go into hiding. What he really required was their seats of power. SINESTRA thought she had the upper hand in her capture of REBOULET, but instead she merely discovered that she is a pawn as well. And so begins a strange alliance, if the rulers cannot be returned to their thrones within 24 hours then HORAK will be free to rain unspeakable horrors upon the land....

Well, well, well, it seems that fate has finally swung to the side of good. Due to the efforts of the DESERT RAIDERS and GREGARIOUS, the AXIS OF EVIL has been disrupted along the land bridge between BAISLA and NAGRAEL. This has thrown things into chaos for SINESTRA and SOURI. In fact, it is even rumored that the two lovers have had a falling out in the quest for power, weakening their hold on the land even further. But there is still the question of HORAK and the FIVE IMMORTAL SOLDIERS. If it is true that they have fallen into SINESTRA'S hands, then it is only a matter of time before she kidnaps the three sacrifices and has HORAK under her control. As to what plans the ENDLESS ONE is hatching, no one knows. And that is the most troubling of all...

With the loss of SANDRIDER, RITA and the DESERT RAIDERS have vowed revenge against the AXIS OF EVIL. But SANDRIDER'S death was not in vain. GREGARIOUS has recovered the GEM OF THE MAGI, the item that SINESTRA fears the most, and plans to use it to break up the force trying to break through into BAISLA from LISBON. This should give the ALLIANCE the reprieve it needs to destroy SINESTRA'S ARMY on the plains of GLENDAR. But danger looms in the future; the FIVE IMMORTAL SOLDIERS were left in the CAVE OF TRIUMPH and by now have certainly fallen into evil hands. And what of the mysterious process known as DEGARRA that the alchemist HORSHACK was working on? Who was he really working for? And where is the ENDLESS ONE...

GREGARIOUS has been missing for months. Ever since he went on a mission to save FENNUGREEK. WALKER is also unaccounted for. Another leader lost in the fight to stem the tides of darkness. The GLENDAR RANGERS have been pushed from the PLAINS and are nothing more than a guerilla force striking from the west. The ARMIES OF DARKNESS are now poised to strike from the south, through the BADLANDS. Only the BANDIT KINGDOM of LISBON stands in their way and there is little hope that they can do anything to stop them. But the LISBONITES are a hardy people, the mountain deserts that are their homes have made them a force to be reckoned with. If they could be organized, there could be hope...

Believe it or not, there are places in ATOLL where the war of LIGHT and DARK is but mere rumor. Where life goes on in relative tranquility and little notice is taken of the outside world. The ISLE OF DAGREB is one such place. Located far off the western coast of NAGRAEL, it is inhabited by HUMANS and HALF ORCS, with their own set of problems. There is no central leadership; the local PATRIARCH or MATRIARCH rules each settlement. We visit the settlement of ATHLON ruled by the PATRIARCH AUGUSTUS. He has dreams of sending his daughter, REMORA to the mainland and marrying above her station. He has sent away to HORMUND for a refined nobleman to come and marry his daughter. His name is BIJOU, but he has been unexpectedly delayed and things are not going well...

We are in the Kingdom of DUNADAY EAST. Years ago DUNADAY was one Kingdom, but feuds in the royal family split the land in two and ever since the Kingdoms have been bitter rivals. Many attempts have been made to bring peace to the land, but all have failed. Even now, with the ARMIES OF EVIL on the march once again, they cannot come to peace. There is talk of forming an ALLIANCE to stop the tide of darkness, but without the DUNADAY, the effort is sure to fail. MERCER, General and emissary from PALISADE have come to petition DUNADAY EAST and negotiations are going well. That is until now...

We are in the Kingdom of BOLTON and find that things are in turmoil. The KING is dead and the countryside has been overrun by the ARMIES OF EVIL. The people have fled into the mountains to hide and await their fate. The only city left standing is the fortified town of FENTON and is under the direction of CMDR. CLAYTON. He and his rag-tag band of guerillas have been trying to protect the refugees from the onslaught of UNDEAD, BUGBEARS and HOBGOBLINS that have developed a sudden taste for human flesh. The city is surrounded and it is only a matter of time before it falls. But CLAYTON has a plan. If the water supply supporting the MARAUDERS can be poisoned with a BLESSED OBJECT, it just might drive them away or at least weaken them enough that a counter-attack can be launched. There are a few problems with this plan. The only cleric known to be alive is somewhere hiding in the hills. That means a sneaking out of the city, crossing enemy lines, locating the cleric, reaching the spring, and contaminating the water; all without being discovered and killed....

Once again we return to the mysterious ISLE OF WINDEN, home of the WIZARD'S COUNCIL. The ISLE lies in the center of the GREAT OCEAN and has risen from the mists to test the mettle of the mercenaries of ATOLL. For in these dark times, the world needs the talents of the renowned GUARDIANS OFTHE FLAME more than ever. If the chosen adventurers can complete the tasks set before them, they will be bestowed with magical powers and sent forth into the land to combat the evil tide that threatens to drown them all. It is a test designed to discover the truth that lies within us all. It is a noble undertaking, one in which there is no shame in failure and humbleness in success. There is one problem, however, the COUNCIL LEADER is missing...

The plan has been set. The ARMIES OF EVIL march toward LISBON and the land bridge into the BADLANDS and BAISLA. SINESTRA'S plan seems foolproof. TAMELA can get no one to join her in the attempt to attack from behind. In fact, she finds herself isolated and her neighbors are now decided hostile. Some people have decided that this is the perfect time to make some changes in their lives, monetary changes. While the world is hooked on the brink of war, there are still treasure hunters out there that welcome the opportunity to strike. WADE is just one such individual. He knows of an ISLAND that is revealed only when the water table is this low. On this ISLE is the entrance to a CAVE reported to hold the riches of a KINGDOM. It is the reported stash of the infamous PIRATE ROBERTS. WADE wants that treasure, and just need a few good men to help him get it...

It seems that things are dire indeed. The DWARVEN KINGDOM of KORUTH has fallen and that means TABIR must have been taken as well. While the fates of DRUMAK and GRUM may be in question, there can be no doubt that they are in danger. The ARMIES OF EVIL are now flooding the ISLE OF NAGRAEL through the CHALMER PASS heading toward the land bridge that appears between the ISLES each year at this time between the BANDIT KINGDOM of LISBON and the BADLANDS. At present the BARBARIANS are under full attack and soon will fall. Unless some way is found to stop the ARMIES OF EVIL, the entire land will succumb to darkness.

We are back on the ISLE of NAGRAEL this week. Where and what have the DWARVES been doing all this time? No one has had any word from him or her for quite a while. Most people assume that they are just being DWARVES but the BARBARIAN KINGDOMS have decided to send an emissary to the court of KORUTH under the guise of offering aide, but really to try and spy on what exactly they are up to. A brilliant plan with only one hitch, the EMMISSARY never returned. Now this could mean many things, the EMISSARY was ambushed, the DWARVES decided to hold him for ransom or put him to death. But there has been no ransom note, no sign of the party has been found along the trail and his head has not arrived back on a platter. So, something else must have happened. And QUEEN TAMELA of CHANO wants to find out! All she needs is some volunteers....

What's been happening on the isle of NAGRAEL? The barbarian Kingdoms of INGSTAAD and OLANTH have been battling the GOBLINS to the north. NAGGLEFACE and the SOUTHLAND ORCS are performing guerilla raids throughout the BANDIT KINGDOMS, and the DWARVES are still holed up within their mountains. Yet, life goes on. Things are not as dire here as they are on BAISLA. But sometimes, when you pay too much attention to the big picture, you lose sight of the little details. And in a marriage, as in life, those little details can kill you...

GREGARIOUS is back from his travels. He went to seek FENNUGREEK, but was unable to find her. Then he was cut off by the ARMIES OF EVIL and unable to make it back home. So, while behind enemy lines he took the opportunity to do some spying, he found out a lot, none of it good. The ENDLESS ONE has almost taken corporeal form and soon will be free to stalk the land. In order to secure the energy he needs, SINESTRA has conjured up the STORMS OF CHAOS. The ROD OF LAW must be used to disrupt the STORM before the ENDLESS ONE gains too much energy and only the HIGH ELVES hold the ROD. But the borders of GLANDORIUM are still sealed to all unless of Elven descent. Any others caught in their woods are killed on sight....

KOBOLDS are a proud race. Constantly ridiculed for their avian features and small stature, they are the outcasts in the world of civilized races. They are routinely lumped with the likes of ORCS, GOBLINS and the like, but they are not evil. They are fiercely intelligent and follow their own code of ethics. And now with war raging across the land, they face conflict with their ancient rivals, the GNOMES. Well, the KOBOLDS have no intention of being treated like stepchildren. They see this war as a way of securing their place in history as heroes. They have a plan...

TEAGUE was finally able to make the crossing and with him the noble personage of BALDERDASH. But things just haven't snapped back to normal. There are still pockets of CHAOS throughout the land and the armies of the ENDLESS ONE have been seen amassing north of the INLAND SEA. The HIGHLANDERS are completely cut off and no one knows if they are alive or dead. The once GREAT FOREST is still a BLASTED WASTELAND, despite the best effort of the DRUIDS, which means that once the armies begin to march, nothing will stand between them and the heart of BAISLA. These are dark times indeed; dark times in need of light...

We are back in the land of GLANDORIUM and the royal city of the HIGH ELVES, OLOROTH. It is the FIFTH AGE and time for the oldest living members of the ELDER RACES to pass away. The circle of life is a thing of motion and forever creates itself anew; there comes a time where all things must pass into shadow in order to create light. This is the way the world was forged and this is the pact made with CHAOS to create ORDER. And so it goes. Certain beings from the race of ELVES, GNOMES, DWARVES, GIANTS and DRAGONS have been present in this world since the dawn of time. They have watched it grow and helped to shape its destiny, knowing the day would come when they would leave this plane. SPELL CASTERS are also part of this select club, for every magic-user knows the price for wielding such power. By tapping into, and manipulating the forces of nature, you become part of all that has gone before, and all that is yet to come.

TEAGUE, the wisest and oldest living member of the HIGH ELVES, knows that his time has come.