The Masterwork Darkwood Longbow (Frances' Tale).

The Well-Made Darkwood Longbow.


Rumours were that very limited supply of very rare wood was found by Norwick's Crafters' Union, the Darkwood.

i think Druids were not so happy when they cut it down, but Crafter's Union also plants wood & cares - so they let them be.

A while ago heard from Kessmiah, ex-slave of Oscuran Kursk Family that famous, best bowmaker in Narfell - Ginger B. Tealeaf - soon will be selling bows made from this wood.

Made some arrangements, wrote letters to the Ginger & Z of Norwick's Crafting hall, in an attempt to buy one of very limited supply of this bow.

Today got a letter from Master Z that there's one available in Norwick's Crafting hall, it's price 20 000 gold pieces - very high, but well worth in this case.

It's unarguably one of the best bows in the land, despite it's nonmagical nature.

Not thinking much went to Bank, withdrew all of my coins, sold all my gems & most of my scrolls to Hemrod, barely reached that amount.

After a nervous boat trip south arrived in Norwick.

They still had the bow, now i am happy owner of it.

-- Frances Darkhaven, an Archer Adventuress & a Witch of Kossuth & Siamorphe.

Kobolds & Equipment (Isendir's Tale).

Dressed for Sneaking at Night.


i've found out that it pays much better to hunt kobolds instead of goblins.

Acquired coin for some of my new equipment - for a Dark Cloak & for one Chameleon Ring.

Kobold Fanatics occasionally use well-made sickles, found one & planning to use for a while instead of my short sword.

During a fight with kobolds, however, got a bit drained by a Stirge.

-- Isendir.




Dark Cloak.




Chameleon Ring.




A well-made Sickle.




Fighting Kobolds.

Meager Spoils of the Rawlinswood (Isendir's Tale).

After Hunt.


... after buying some equipment, my coinpurse was too light.

Went goblin-hunt, occasional wolves posed a little threat as well.

They have low quality equipment that sells for a small amount of coin, occasinally gold pieces or gems as well - i'll turn these to money in Peltarch - at Hemrod's - when convenient.

The food found on goblins looks suspicious, especially 'mystery meat' - i prefer to sell instead of eating.

A small amount of apples however, i keep.

In peltarch there is more of equipment to be bought - i am especially interrested in Dark Cloak & Chameleon Rings for sneaking, as well as in an Elven Bow.

-- Isendir.

Isendir Nain (Character Description).

Character Description:

Fairly tall & lean, this Moon Elf walks in a quiet & agile way in his worg-fur leathers, with a longsword at hip, and a longbow of bone & sinew on his back, along with a large shield.

Carefree, yet not eager to talk much nor close distance with strangers.

Has a wary expression of warning to not come too close 'written' on his face.

Perhaps he has seen too much of the world to be friendly or open.


Character's Concept:

Elven mercenary, scout, solid archer & rogue. Escort for scouts, when needed.

Shy, greedy & opportunistic, yet not without feelings - especially toward other elves.

He has basic ethics, shaped by his mercenary & adventuring life, by elven upbringing & service to Elven God Corellon Larethian, by shady world of rogues he moves in as well as by his shy introvert personality.

He doesn't know very much about sailing and really dislikes sailing, even if he keeps going by a boat occasionally - when convenient or needed.


Currently he serves false god, Myrkul's aspirant minor incarnation, Telinus Razzenk. His Greed overtook sentiment for Corellon, as well as need for hope. He pretends to serve Corellon still, being insidious & opportunistic - as many of law & heroes consider serving Myrkul High Crime, punishable by banishment and/or death. Occasionally he yields to Corellon still because of sentiment & need for hope, but his greed usually prevails.

He wields Drow Longbow, Longbone, made of Bone & Sinew ... he bought it from Drow Elves, Subterranean Dark Elves, Evil Traitorous & Deadly Brother-Enemies of Surface Elves ruled by Female Clerics of Lolth, Spider Godess of Drow. He survived encounter with overwhelming Drow forces by caution, hiding, staying polite, modest & quiet, in strong company, and by paying them for Longbone. Visit was short, he was lucky & cautious so he survived - otherwise he would be enslaved, killed, mutilated by spell, turned to undead or half-spider probably. He's no friend of Drow, not only because of sentiment to Corellon, but mostly because drow consider Surface Elves, especially male - lowest pariahs & enemies. He prefers to shoot & fight drow treacherously, best in company - for they are even more treacherous, intelligent & trained in murder than him. Most dangerous humanoid race in narfell are Drow Elves. Practically there are no good drow in narfell, they are absolute legends, not to meet during one life time.



((In Narfell, Drow are mythic for their deadliness, rarity, evilness, smarts. Player-run Drow are rarer than nobles - 1 or few, and only 1 is active, and very rarely - Elendel Baenre. Baenre is name of the Most Powerful Noble House in Drow City Menzzoberranzan - but there are other Drow cities with different power ratings. In 15 years of narfell server there are about 10-15 noble characters in total, even fewer noble-born. Frances Darkhaven being the most active. Active noble characters are 1-4, usually 1 or less. Absolutely no good drow player characters are allowed in narfell, ever.

Isendir's Longbone is very prestigious item, rarer than Frances' bow - even if weaker. Occasioally drow equipment is rewarded to player characters, but it's still rare. This bow is powerful in Isendir's hands, and well fitting him. It attracts attention, and brings prestige & troubles. Suspicion of forces of good, and evil. Drow would probably consider him stealer or unworthy to have it, would kill or confiscate at high probability. Occasioally Drow prefer to parley, to get information or keep low profile by not attracting reaction to murders, or to gain advantage other way. In such case, he might use arguments that he earned it by paing and being appropriate in Drow City - perhaps these arguments might be accepted excuse if Drow prefer to not engage against him.)).


   

Statistics.




Well-made Drow Longbow made of Bone & Sinew.




... a loot,
'Dark Cult Rapier',

... can be wielded with finesse, with or without shield.




Hammer,

Useful in melee against Skeletons.




Shield,

Sturdy & Light.




Dagger.

A sidearm & an animal skinning tool.




'Careless Whisper'.

Excellent Armour for Combat & Scouting.




Huntmaster's Gloves.

For combat & agile feats.




a Belt of Agility,

For combat & other uses.




-=- The Cursed Boots. -=-

-=- For dodging, especially outsiders. -=-

-=- Can hasten wearer, but weaken the mind, unfortunately, however. -=-




Plated boots,

For combat.




Padded boots,

Good for sneaking quietly.




Elven Choker.

Enchanted to protect against spells, traps & other threats.




Amulet of Will +2.




Black Cloak.

Good for hiding at night.




Black Cloak.

Good for Combat.




Helm of the Eagle.

For Scouting.




Gypsy Camp's Romani Scout Ring.




Enchanted Ring for Scouting.




Ring of Chameleon.

Good for hiding and sneaking quietly.




For knowledge-insight, as well as for items' identifications.




Tinkerer's Gloves.

For roguework.




Thieves' Tools.

For opening locks, etc.




Night-time tunic.




Scathing Scabbard.




'Winston 2000',

Masterwork - Well Made - Fishing Rod.


   

Trap-kits to set-up.




Equipped items.




Potions, Arrows & Berries.




Scrolls & other.




Weapons & Tools.


Build Plan's bits & pieces.

+1 str at level 12,
+3 str from items.

... to fully utilize +4 mighty bows, to melee when needed, to carry things.

Death's Reminiscence & Affirmations (Anheim's Tale).

A while ago something happened that i didn't mention as of yet.

i was foolish enough to adventure with adventurers who were largely unknown by locals.

They fought well together, but cared nothing of others who were with them.

During a fight with Bugbear - i think it was Berzerker Bugbear - they let him slip and reach me, i died & ended up in a fugue plane.

They cared not to pay for Raise Dead spell, nor to carry my body to the local Temple for that.

i spent a while in Land of Mists, in Fugue Plane - slowly sinking into oblivion, in losing interrest to return.

After unknown time (later i learned it was months) - i heard a faint voice:

'Brave Warrior of Tempus, heed the call of thy God. Return to life, think of those whom You left in the Mortal Realms'.


A faint thought of the woman i love, of Chea Allin appeared ... my soul followed the guiding light that appeared before me.

After a while i was again in my body, awakening in the Temple of Tempus near Peltarch.

There was an unknown cleric of my faith, explaining that he saw Tempus' insignia on my body, that he found my frozen body under ice in the Bugbear Caves - and asked if i died honourably.

i barely remembered anything at this moment, save for fighting with Bugbear.

He said i owe him nothing for the raise, except that he wills me to praise the Tempus, to spread the word about our God's Glory.

i agreed & left, my equipment was still with me - but gold was lost.

Then my meditations, thinking and a decision to simplify my Way to Yogic meditation & Martial Arts occured.


...

i feel stronger now, i feel i can make the difference when Chea or our friends are endangered.

Chea is really skilled with her magic - i'll leave casting spells for her, focusing on Martial Arts & Meditation instead.

She can cast Mage Armour, Endure Elements, Cat's Grace, Owl's Wisdom, Improved Invisibility & more. Together we are strong force against most of threats. i can fight enemies, stun or trip them them with my Martial Art skills while Chea saves her magickal energies for tougher opponents, or Holds them immobile, or attack with Illusions or Fire.

Both Chea as well as i can sneak, none of us easily seen or heard by most of enemies.

She also mentioned that if Frances Darkhaven joins our party, we'll have her fine bow & arrows, a spell-enhanced Shadow Mastiff to engage more enemies in melee, Magic Missles & Fireballs to damage enemies & disperse their formations, Haste for our spell-casting, archery & melee combat, Eagle's Splendour for Chea & perhaps Frances too, Bull's Strength for Frances & me, as well as Flame Weapon on my gauntlets & Frances' arrows.

i can also stall the fight with defensive expertise, so they can shoot & cast, so our enemies' enhancement spells wear off with time.

...

i feel needed again, it's good to be alive.

... and i won't trust adventurers with unknown reputation ever again - consequences are too dire.

-- Anheim, Yogin & a Martial Artist.

Old Way, New Way (Anheim's Tale).

i've meditated and came to conclusion that i am too unfocused.

Martial Arts & Yogin's Way seems more efficient than diversity with Warrior's Path & Arcanist's.

i've meditated & discarded what's unneccessary to my progress, i am no longer a warrior & arcanist.

i trained long-forgotten Kata movements, practiced more advanced Martial Arts' tricks ... my body adjusted well.

Unnatural Charisma left me with Arcane power, i do not need to talk so much anymore.

i've sold arcane scrolls & unneeded equipment, but i still keep my Katana Sword - for sentiments' sake, mostly.

Since now i'll focus on meditation & martial arts - that way i'll be able to protect Chea & our friends much better.

-- Anheim, Yogin & a Martial Artist.

Leather Goods for Enchanting (Frances' Tale).

Tanning & Sewing.


i've spent some more time hunting for small animals, then did participate in some crafting lessons as well.

Mostly Tanning, but also Bowyering, Fletchery & Woodcutting.

Then finally, managed to make leather goods of enough quality to be worthwhile for enchanting - Gloves, as well as a Belt - both made from a Rats' Skins.

-- Frances, an Adventuress & a beginner Tanner.


   

Tanning Leather (Frances' Tale).

i've been in Norwick, hunting badgers & hawks - for meat & leather.

After spending some time at the Norwick fire, cooking meat with the salt, spices, onions, garlic, herbs & fat, i took a boat to Peltarch.

i've packaged this food well, so it should last for a while - and is certainly more tasty than dry adventuring rations as well.

At the crafting hall i did manage finally to cure some leather, but crafting gloves is still beyond me.

After i get some practice with the Tanning work, i plan to make myself gloves for enchanting, as well as a belt & some bags.

These items have to be of exceptional quality to fulfill the enchanting needs, there's still a lot of time & work before me to accomplish that.

i plan to enchant the Archery Gloves & the Archery Belt - crafted with my own hands as well.

-- Frances Darkhaven, an Adventuress & a beginning Tanner.


P.S. i heard that Tanning is extremely expensive - as these tanning oils & other tools cost a lot. So far i did spend about 200 gold pieces on these. Rumours are that people usually settle for simplest of items & bags - not caring to progress further. i'll see how i'll look in my case, as it's enjoyable - even if expensive - hobby, so far.