--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 1, The start of something note + note + It was an eary evening sunset in courwood today. As i sat against the statuette note + of an eagle in the heart of courwood, sipping what little water remained in my note + precious canteen, i watched the storm clouds gather and start to block what note + remainded of the beautiful sun. The clouds quickly took over the entire sky, note + and before long the first rain drops could be felt. This was not uncommon in note + the area, but was a moving experience none the less. I stood up after noticing note + an unusually dark cloud looming. It moved with great power, parting the clouds note + infront and causing huge gusts of wind. It moved as if it had intentions, as if note + it was being controlled by a being, as if it had life. note + note + And before you had time to blink in utter disbelief, the darkening cloud produced note + the loudest crack of lightning that could of been heard anywhere in the realm. The note + window fronts of the local shops cracked from the vibrations of the deafening note + sound. This took the attention of everyone in the square, and everybody soon had note + turned their heads to stare at the storm. This was no ordinary storm, this was note + a storm with meaning. There was something about the event that left you with a note + shiver down the spine. It was moving. It gave a great sense of power. It gave note + motivation. This is exactly what I had been looking for, something to show that note + there was such great power to be had. I was stuck in a gaze, staring at the cloud note + , picturing myself controlling power like the thing before me. But before too note + long the cloud was gone as quickly as it came. As the cloud left, the nighttime note + sky came, and was filled with 1000's of stars. I quickly snapped out of my gaze, note + took the last sip out of my canteen, and prepared to venture. I had proof that note + great power could be obtained, now all i had to do is find it. note + note + Journal Entry of Mikoden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 2, The enstad chapter note + note + After a month-long stay in enstad, I have decided to move on. I thank the citizens note + and guards of enstad for welcoming me and protecting me in times of need, but it is note + time for me to continue forward. I have decided to continue my studies in the fine note + city of critwall where i hope to increase my power even more. With my journey to note + find my true self continuing strongly, i am hoping aquiring new skills will allow note + me to venture to parts i have never seen. I have also recieved notice that the note + staff i require does exist, but is hidden deep within an unknown area. Venturing note + to this area will require much mental and physical power, so until i am stronger, note + the staff i require will have to wait... note + note + The time will come when my dreams are reached, and i will be one of the most note + powerful mages ever seen. note + note + Journal Entry of Mikoden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 3, That little girl note + note + As I sat beside the flower stand, reciting spells from my spellbook, a young girl note + came up to me. She was no taller than 4 foot, and had a strange charm to her. She note + had long dark black hair, and dark blue eyes. She was neatly dressed in a dark note + colored robe which looked to be made out of tiger skin from the nearby forest. She note + said nothing as she stared into my eyes, as if caught in a gaze. I said hello to note + her, and she quickly snapped out of her gaze, and appeared frightened. The girl note + took a few steps backward, very slowly as if she was being approached by evil. note + She would of been about three metres away when she grabbed a pouch from her side. note + The girl opened the pouch carefully and revealed a old piece of paper, rolled into note + a scroll. She threw the paper across the room to me, and i rose my hand and caught note + it. Once again, the young girl stared at me for atleast 10 seconds, nodded as if note + she was confirming something with herself, and ran away. I got up and tried to note + chase her, but before i had a chance she was gone. I sat back down, and looked at note + the scroll. It was stained with water and burnt from fire. It had obviously note + travelled through several sets of hands and been across the country side. note + note + I carefully untied the small piece of twine that was holding the scroll in place, note + and unrolled the paper. The paper was completely blank except for 2 words scribbled note + in the centre. 'Gortak Mux'. I stared at the paper for a few minutes, but new what note + this meant. I must continue on... note + note + *Mikoden quickly tied the brownish scroll up and added it to his backpack. He stood note + up, checked his equipment, and then stared at the sky. It was night-time, and a note + storm was looming. He stared for a minute, contimplating waiting till daylight. "No" note + he said to himself, "i must continue". He drew his hood over his head and boarded note + the boat to gnarly forest* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 4, A goblin and me note + note + Infront of me sat an orc and goblin. One, the leader of the greatest military note + force known, the other, a magi with power that could challange anybody. They note + were seated at a grand table, discussing each others concerns. I carefully note + peaked me head around the corner into the room not wanting to interupt the note + conversation. It seemed safe to enter the room, but I did so cautiously. Even note + though the men had not moved since i had arrived, they knew i was there. I note + took the scroll presented to me out of my backpack, and made my way toward the note + table. As soon as i entered the room formally, the two stopped talking. They note + rotated their chairs to face me, and stared. This wasn't a welcoming look, but note + a 'what do you want' look. Knowing i only had limited time with the two men, i note + stepped up to the table and dropped the scroll in the centre. Both men looked note + at each other, knowing what the scroll meant. The military leader nodded his note + head in recognition to Mux, stood up, and left the room. Mux stood up, looked note + at me again, and said "So you are the one who seeks it". note + note + "The power you seek is great. It is not easy to get to what you want" Mux said note + "It is what I need. Without it i am a mere nobody. With it, i can become note + the force i seek to be. I must have it" I replied. note + "Merely getting this power will not be enough, you realise? With power comes note + great responsibility, and with this power, the responsibility will be none note + short of great" said Mux. note + "It is a sacrifice i am willing to make. I will become the magi the staff seeks note + to be held by. I will become strong and willing. I will become the true note + neutral entity within the realm" I said with a certain urge in my voice. note + note + "Very well. I see great potential in you, young one. One day you shall be note + a feared force. There are three more steps you are required to complete to note + recieve your power. Firstly, you must recover a gemstone hidden within note + the celene region. This gemstone will allow you to forge your power. Secondly, note + you must find the key to unlock the doors to the dungeon where your power hides note + . And finally, you must defeat the beasts the lurk within the dungeon to note + demonstrate your ability to possess power. Once these three tasks have been note + completed, you will be rewarded". note + note + "We have been waiting for you." Mux said finally. With thoose words, he sat back note + down and began to read his book. Shocked, but sensing a need to react, I replied note + "Thank you", bowed, and left the room. I went back to the entryway and sat in note + deep thought for a few hours. I knew i was close to completing my goals... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 5, (The search for the missing pieces: Gemstone) note + note + It was a beautiful few days in Celene. The skies were bright blue and the sun note + was blazing down upon everything. I had been searching the lands for a couple note + of days now and without much luck. The clues given to me had been broad and note + would require much effort to find what i needed. It was only on my way back note + to enstad after another long day searching the area that i had struck luck. As note + I walked along the heavily used road, i noticed a hairfoot creature jogging off note + track. I watched as he ran up to a stone and place his hand on an engraved note + handprint. Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared and he was gone. This was note + interesting, and i decided that i would try the same thing. I follow the same note + steps he did, and before long, i was within a hidden cave. It was a magnificant note + cave, with carved hallways. I had only walked down one hallway before i stumbled note + across what i was looking for. I peeked into the kitchen, and there it lay, in note + the middle of a roaring fire, a bright green gemstone. The first missing piece. note + note + Now this may seem like an easy recovery, but getting a hot stone out of a fire note + is not easy. Luckily this previous Hot-Potato winner had the dexterity to note + quickly whip the stone out of the first and into a pot of cold water. The water note + fizzled for a few seconds before finally all evaporating. And there layed, the note + stone i needed. I reached my hand into the pot and held it in my hand. The stone note + emitted a slight green glow when i picked it upand i knew it was something special. note + "The first piece" I muttered to myself as i stared at the magical gemstone. As i note + stared at the stone, i started to notice something engraved on it. As i looked note + closer, i noticed a blue 'N' engraved on the rock. Amazed, I slowly put the stone note + into my backpack and closed the flap. This was one item i wasn't going to let go note + of. With my work in the celene now done, it was time to find the next piece. Rest note + in enstad for tonight, tommorow i shall continue onward... note + note + *Mikoden walked out of the room with a spring in his step. He was on his way to note + his dreams. After touching the rock once more, he was teleported back to the note + hillside. The hairfoot around him stood and stared, as he walked back down the note + road and into the city of enstad.* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 6 (The search for the missing pieces: Key) note + note + Weeks of fast-paced action have lead me to end up in my hometown once again. It has note + been quite some time since i have been here, but nothing much has changed. The busy note + city is still what it has always been. But i did not turn up here for a grand note + reunion with the city, I had tasks to finish. I was in search of a key with unique note + traits that would allow me to unlock the dungeon i must seek out. I have been all note + over Oerth already. Enstad, Stonehiem, Greysmere, Grottelsgrottel, Junre, Courwood, note + and many more. From these cities I had already recovered quite a few keys that note + could possibly open the doors. Greyhawk was the last stop for me before i went note + looking for that set of doors. And I already knew where my key was. You see, when note + I was training in greyhawk long ago, I had been approached by a stranger who had note + offered to trade me a key he had for the mighty mare i once rode. He said the key note + would bare great importance to me later in life, but i did not understand what he note + meant. Hesantly i accepted the offer as i watched him ride off on my beautiful note + mare. I was left standing in the middle of Greyhawk with a simple key in my hand. note + note + I didn't know what to do with this key, so i hid it in the sewers so that i could note + retrieve it when i felt i needed it. And now, i needed it. It was a simple note + recovery, and after spending only a few minutes in the sewers i had found the key note + once again. I quickly made my way back to the fountain and sorted my keys. Seven note + in total, i knew one of these must be the one i needed. I attached my newest find note + to the side of my belt and headed toward the western gates. Midnight was note + approaching, but rest was not an option now. Being so close to my power I couldnt note + stop now. I must continue forward. But where to? I had to find a clue towards the note + whereabouts of the dungeon, as simply looking off knowledge could take years. note + note + *Mikoden has a flashback to when he was sitting outside the room where he met note + Mux. He remembers just about leaving the hallway when Mux came back out to see note + him* note + "If you should ever need help, go to the great magi hall that is in enstad. The note + magi that reside there are very knowledgable and may be able to help you" Mux said note + I nodded in recognition to him and ran off. note + *Mikoden snaps out of his flashback, and heads out the western gate of greyhawk* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 7, (The search for the missing pieces: Dungeon) note + note + It was an unusual enterance to the Hall of the Guild of Magicians in enstad. The note + hallway was small and lit by magicial torches. It gave you an immediate feeling note + that you were in a the presence of very powerful people. The enterance hallway note + was no longer than a few metres, but worked very well. Once inside, i was note + greated by a very old magician. He had been in several major battles over the note + years, defending his kingdom. He stood in the room, reading spellbooks, motionless note + It was as if he didn't need to move anyone, just by looking at him you knew of his note + great powers and great accomplishments. I approached the great man and started the note + conversation by saying hello. He turned to me with a 'what do you want?' look. It note + was time to explain... note + note + After an hour or so of talking i had explained what i had been doing lately. note + "I see, and that has lead you to me?" The mage replied note + "Yes. And now i need your help to let me find the last piece in the puzzle" I said note + "Well...now that you mention it...there is one place i came across long ago when note + i was a young fello battling the orcs at stonehiem" the mage said slowly. note + "One day when i was returning to camp from a hard battle i stumbled across a tomb note + on the roads near highport. It was very hard to see, and i believe the only way note + i saw it was because i have better seeing abilities because i am elf. I only note + ventured a little way in when i had found valuable treasures within. I would of note + gone further, but i had run out of time and the dark monsters that lurked would note + of surely killed me. I haven't seen a place like it ever since, so i do believe note + there is something special down there." said the mage. note + "Interesting. I will investigate this place, but first i will have to find someone note + who is capable of detecting the hidden areas. It sounds like this is what i have note + been looking for. Thank you very much" I replied. note + "The pleasure is mine, and please do tell me how your journey finishes" he said. note + "I promise you I will..." note + note + *And on that note Mikoden waved goodbye to the grand old magi and left the note + magnificant guild hall. He walked to the fountain where he met his age old friend note + Amilar, the gray ranger. After explaining yet again what was happening, Amilar note + happily agreed to help Mikoden find this dungeon. With a partner now found, the note + pair headed to the local and bought up supplies of food, drink and potions for the note + epic journey about to be had. Mikoden drew his hood, and walked out the northern note + gate, onto what could only be the power he had been seeking* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 8, The beginning of the end note + note + *After only a few short moments in the area with amilar, we had quickly found the note + enterance to the dungeon. I was amazed at how quickly the grey elf could find note + such a deeply hidden enterance. It was a pitch black night time sky with barely note + any stars visible. The moon shone just brightly enough to light the pathways. I note + looked up into the sky to pray to the gods, and noticed a Crimson Red star in the note + sky. I stared at it for a while, before amilar nudged me and reminded me where we note + were. We would of been about 5 minutes walk outside of highport.* note + note + "The only true way to move forward is to take a few steps backward" Mordenkainen, note + the Archmage, one of the greatest mages ever who happened to be the guard note + standing outside the dungeon said moments before knocking me unconsence. He had note + a good point, but was that the way he had to put it? I guess it was a sign of note + things to come. My death was apparantly a sacrifice to the gods to allow me to note + enter the dungeon. With that over, and Amilar hesitant to sacrifice himself to note + enter the dungeon aswell, I was on my own. Torch lit and dagger gripped like I note + was hanging off a cliff, i entered... note + note + The cavern was cramped at first, but slowly opened up into a reasonably sized room. note + The walls were covered with miniture bats and rats crawled around the floor. I note + slowly creeped throughout the dungeon, looking for the doors i seeked. I looked note + for what seemed like forever for some sort of sign. I started to wish Amilar was note + here. Finally, i found a room covered with deep red blood from previous battles. It note + was a small room compared to the others, but possessed what i needed. Doors into the note + tomb. Scribbled above the doors was writing that said 'Neutrality'. This was my place note + note + I thumbled as i rushed to try to get my keys out of my backpack. Neverously, I note + placed the keys one by one into the lock. No luck on the first 4. *click*. The key note + from greyhawk worked. I unlocked the doors and it appeared to be even darker within note + . I threw a few light arrows around which illuminated a magnificant dungeon. The note + walls were lined with treasures from all across Oerth. As i looked around the room, note + I noticed a small chest up against the far wall. I started to wander across the room note + , looking side to side. As i swung my head back from the left side i immediately note + noticed a rather large troll standing inbetween myself and the chest. note + "Mez chezzd. Youb diez nowb" He slurred out. note + "So you would think stupid troll" I replied and started to utter my spells... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- note + The Journey of Mikoden, Part 9, Staff of the Crimson Star, Guardian of Neutrality note + note + Although a tough battle, the troll was still no match for me. Thanks to the newly note + aquired spell 'bigbys clenched fist' I was able to beat the troll senseless. Even note + though i was required to retreat a couple of times, the troll never was able to note + heal as quickly as i could memorize my spells. Uttering 'otilukes freezing sphere' note + for the last time, i smashed the troll right in the body. His body froze over, and note + then began to crack. He slowly developed large cracks, and then suddenly shattered note + into thousands of pieces. The troll was defeated. The chest was mine. note + note + I walked up to the chest and looked at it carefully. It was about two metres long note + and was made out of IPT wood. There was no way to open the chest as it was sealed note + completely. On the top laid a small recession where a small rock could be placed. note + I retrieved the small gemstone from my backpack and held it in my hand. This would note + be it, this would be the final step. After all this time, I would finally recieve note + my prize. I started to get flashbacks of everything that had happened over this note + Journey. Courwood, the little girl, Mux, everything started jumping back into my note + head. I placed the gemstone into the recession and it was a perfect fit. Suddenly, note + a bright light was emitted from the gemstone before the whole chest started shaking note + and glowed a bright red color. An image of a Bright star emerged from the light, and note + then a shadowy figure of an unknown magi appears. note + note + "You have done very well young one. I see you have completed the task at hand and note + are ready for your reward. You have demonstrated great patience, mental and note + physical power, and above all, i care for the neutrality within Oerth. It is my note + greatest pleasure to unlock the chest for you" *click* note + note + The Chest slowly stopped glowing and settled back into plast. A high pitch noise note + was heard as the chest cracked in half and displayed the magificant staff. It was note + glowing a bright green color and was floating inside the chest by itself. I leaned note + over the chest and picked up the staff with my free hand. Immediately i felt note + strong vibes running from my hand throughout my body. I had picked up a new power, note + I was now a true mage of neutrality. Staff in hand, I walked out of the dungeon note + and met back up with Amilar. Impressed, Amilar showed his gratitude and I displayed note + my new staff to him. I spent a few moments explaining the events that I had just note + seen, and then we were off. note + note + "If you touch a neutral entity, you will now be touching me" I exclaimed to Amilar. note + "Amen to that. The faith of the neutral parties lies in good hands with you. Let us note + hope the councils future is as strong as yours" he replied. note + note + *Amilar and Mikoden walked off into a bright orange sunset in a scene that could only note + be described as magically. On their way back to enstad to celebrate, the pair had note + renewed their friendship, and were back to their best.* note + note + Mikoden, note + Guardian Mage of Neutrality