[Hey, people who probably don't recognize me anymore. I'm still unable to play PlaneShift (anyone feel like donating a new graphics card?) but that can't stop me from writing about it I actually wrote this a couple months ago, and only just found it again. That's been happening a lot recently...

Anyway, considering that yesterday was the three-year-anniversary of my first time playing PlaneShift, I figured it would be fitting to post this. It's a story about Jjairr's first day in Hydlaa. I hope you all enjoy it.

Oh, and, to the two other characters mentioned in this story, I hope you're okay with my portrayal of you. I *may* have taken some creative liberties... But it's nothing bad .]


[NEW VERSION - Edited 8/13/09. The above is no longer true; I can play PS again ]

------

A Shortcut To Mushrooms
by Jjairr Wolfhound

Candles and a smoldering fire proved the only sources of light in Kada-El’s Tavern. The great carved doors were closed, owing to the rain drenching the city outside. Murmuring voices could be heard in the corners of the tavern, making business propositions or discussing the prices of gold.

Upstairs on the second floor balcony, a single figure perched. She, unlike the better part of the Hydlaan population, didn't mind the rain. In fact, she loved it - the way it smelled, the way it felt, and especially the way everyone else seemed to complain about it. The figure was in fact Jjairr Wolfhound, a sixteen-year-old enkidukai that no one in Hydlaa had ever heard of and that no one seemed to notice.

An average-sized enkidukai, Jjairr had long ginger fur striped with black. She wore a pair of long, loose brown trousers held up with a scarred leather belt and a dusty red tunic that clashed horribly with her fur. A canvas haversack lied abandoned nearby, underneath an awning. A pair of golden falchions rested on top of the haversack, dangling from a second belt.

Twirling on her bare feet, Jjairr turned her face to the sky, laughing and blinking rain drops from her hazel eyes. She heard a creak and stopped, glancing around to see where it had come from. Finding nothing, she was about to continue her dance, when she heard a voice.

"Up here."

Jjairr glanced up and found herself gazing at the face of a rugged, blonde-haired Ylian balanced on the wooden beams spiderwebbing out from the tavern structure. His brown eyes were filled with laughter as he smiled at her. His rain-soaked white shirt and gray trousers dangled off his lanky frame.

"Hello," Jjairr said, flicking raindrops off her tail. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

The Ylian smiled again. "Not at all. It's good to see youth enjoying life so much."

He slid off the beam, landed on his feet beside Jjairr, and extended his hand. "Shalieso," he said.

"Jjairr Wolfhound,” Jjairr said, gripping the man’s hand with her own.  “Nice to meet you."

The rain began to lessen, causing them both to look at the sky and sigh. Jjairr lowered her gaze back to the Ylian and began to search for a topic of conversation. Her thoughts settled on the wooden beams, and she asked, "How did you get up there, anyway?"

"I jumped off the roof,” Shalieso said.  “It's simple - I'll show you sometime. You just have to watch where you step.”

 Shalieso laughed as Jjairr tried and failed to suppress a shiver. "Let's get inside and dry off," he suggested.

Jjairr agreed, scooping up her things and following her new friend inside. He led her down the stairs and into the main room of the tavern, taking a seat in front of the fire.

"Have you been in Hydlaa long?" Shalieso asked as Jjairr placed her things on the bench beside her.

Jjairr shook her head. "I only arrived yesterday," she said.

"Where are you from originally?" Shalieso asked, wringing a bit of water from his shirt to add to the puddle already accumulating by his feet.

"Russyrius,” Jjairr said. “It's a little town on the second level."

"Why did you leave?"

"I was sick of the small-town life," Jjairr said.

Shalieso nodded. The pair looked up as the tavern doors opened and a small group of Ynnwn wearing cloaks strode inside. From her limited view of the doors, Jjairr could see that the rain had stopped and the clouds had begun to disperse. She looked back down and found Shalieso watching her.

"How about you?" Jjairr inquired to break the silence. "Where are you from?"

"Here," Shalieso said. "I was born in Hydlaa."

"What's it like here?" Jjairr asked, watching the Ynnwn get drinks at the bar.

"Well, the people are weird as hell, but it's a good place to live," Shalieso said. "High crime and mortality rates, but strong economy and not a bad education system.

"Oh.” Jjairr blinked, Shalieso’s words having directed her attention back to him. “That’s… Good.”

There was another awkward pause as neither individual met the other's eyes. Then Shalieso asked, "Want to go mushroom hunting with me?"

Jjairr looked up, an incredulous smile playing on her lips. But Shalieso’s face displayed no jesting.

"Yeah, okay," she said, getting to her feet and buckling on her falchions. Shalieso stood also, making his way to the door, and Jjairr followed him, swinging her pack over her shoulder.

Shalieso said nothing as he led his companion to Hydlaa's main gate.  Respectful of Shalieso's silence, Jjairr remained quiet as they passed the Windowless Tower and headed into the forest.

Jjairr blinked at the sudden darkness. "I didn't realize these trees were so thick," she said, looking upward and seeing a roof of leaves and branches arching over the wide forest path.

Shalieso didn't respond. Jjairr looked around and spotted him kneeling at the base of a gnarled tree.

 "Look, Jjairr,” he said. “Here's what we're after." He straightened up and turned, a three-tiered purple mushroom clutched in his hand. He offered it to Jjairr with a smile.

"Cheers," Jjairr said with a grin, dropping the mushroom into her haversack.

The pair continued along the path, coming across a stray mushroom every now and then and adding it to their growing stock. After a few minutes, they emerged from the forest into a wide valley bordered with steep rock walls. They turned the corner, revealing a path in the form of a wide dirt track that wound its way off through the hills. Instead of following this path, however, Shalieso turned right, cresting a short hill. Jjairr hurried to catch up with him.

"Hey!" she called, as the Ylian disappeared over a second hill. "Where are we going? The path's that way!"

As she reached the top of the second hill, Jjairr's foot caught on an exposed rock, causing her to overbalance. She tipped forward, swearing as she tumbled down the slope. When she opened her eyes, she found that she had come to rest at Shalieso's feet. He was grinning at her.

"I have never heard those words used in that context before," he said, offering his hand.

Jjairr scowled at him as she took the proffered limb and pulled herself to her feet. "Yeah, well..."

"And," he interrupted, watching her brush grass off of her clothes, "we're taking a shortcut."

Jjairr stopped her primping and glanced at him, her head tilted. "A shortcut to mushrooms?"

"That's right," Shalieso said. "Now come on. They're just over this hill."

Still smarting, the enkidukai followed her companion up yet another hill. Upon hitting the summit, Shalieso spread his arms wide and announced, "Welcome to the mushroom fields."

Jjairr was conscious of her jaw hanging open and made a conscious effort to close it, her eyes wide. Laid out before her were hundreds upon hundreds of three-tiered, purple mushrooms. They coated the sides and floor of the wide valley - and the multiple mushroom-covered mounds dotted around the area convinced her that they grew on the rocks, as well.

"What in Talad's name makes them grow like this?" Jjairr asked, following Shalieso through the mushroom sea.

"Blood," Shalieso answered without hesitation.

"Blood?" Jjairr echoed, depositing a few fresh fungi into her bag. "What do you mean?"

"This is an ulbernaut graveyard,” Shalieso said. “They come here to die."

Jjairr wrinkled her nose. “Well, that explains the smell.” She looked at the mushroom-covered mounds with a new light in her eyes. “So those are…”

“Corpses,” Shalieso said with an affirming nod.

Jjairr nudged a huge, curving claw aside with her foot. “Don’t people buy ulbernaut claws?” she asked. “We could make a fortune.”

Shalieso stopped walking. "Jjairr..." he said in a strange tone.

“What?” Jjairr asked, kneeling next to the bone. “It’s not like they need them. And the way I view it, it’s better to take them now than kill them for them.”

"No - Jjairr!"

Jjairr turned around, and swore. A giant Consumer was headed straight for them, going as fast as his six legs could handle. From what Jjairr could tell, he looked angry - but as Consumers have very little facial expression, he could've been bored for all she knew.

"RUN!" she shouted, whipping around and tearing past her companion. He seemed to snap out of his temporary hypnosis as she passed, and joined her sprinting through the mushroom field. The fact that Jjairr was leading and had no idea where she was going didn't seem to occur to either of them, as they ran full-out down the valley.

They finally stopped, panting hard, next to the base of a humongous stalagmite. Leaning on each other for support, the two gazed around the landscape, trying to establish a heading.

"I think the road is that way," Jjairr said between breaths, pointing.

Shalieso didn't reply. His face had gone pale, and Jjairr could feel him shaking. She gave him a moment to recover on the pretext of checking the horizon for their pursuer.

"I agree," he said after several moments, still breathing hard.

"Shall we head that way then?" she asked. "We can walk," she added at the look on his face. He nodded, and they set off again.

Twenty minutes later found them still hopelessly lost.

"All right," Jjairr said as they stopped once more. "It's starting to get dark and I really don't want to have to deal with the wilderness at night. Any ideas?"

Shalieso glanced around, deep in thought. After a moment, he swore so badly that even Jjairr blushed.

"What's the matter?" she asked, turning to look at him.

His response was to point. The Consumer was less than 200 feet away, on the crest of a nearby hill. It paused, nose in the air, then abruptly turned and headed their way.

"Good gods, that thing doesn't give up!" Jjairr said, exasperated.

"Only one thing for it," Shalieso said.

Jjairr looked at him, expectant.

"Split up," he suggested.

"You're crazy," Jjairr said. She placed a paw on one of her falchions and made as though to draw it. “We’ll make a stand!”

"Don't argue,” Shalieso said. He grabbed her wrist to prevent her from drawing her weapon. “And don’t be stupid. Head towards that big stalagmite, and I'll draw it off."

"Draw it off?" Jjairr asked. "I can run faster than you, and you haven't got a weapon."

"Who says?" Shalieso asked with a grin, pulling a small glyph from his shirt pocket. "Now go!"

The Consumer made its way steadily up the hill. Jjairr took one look at it and made up her mind. She could hear Shalieso chanting in a foreign language as she sprinted toward the stalagmite - and hopefully, the road.

--

Sure enough, less than an hour later found Jjairr resting in Hydlaa plaza. She lounged down at the base of the statue, feet resting in the cool water. A mug of lemonade sat close at hand, next to a tray piled high with purple mushrooms bearing a sign that read, "Mushrooms - Two Tria Each".

Jjairr smiled, waving as a white fenki approached her.

"Hey Kiirani," she said by way of greeting.

"Hey," the fenki returned, seating herself next to Jjairr. "How was your second day in Hydlaa?"

Jjairr smiled ruefully, glancing at the mushrooms next to her. "Eventful," she said, taking a sip of lemonade.

All right. After a few days of internet problems, I attempted to log on to PS and was greeted by a lovely shout: You are not running the correct version of PlaneShift.

So I updated, and was greeted with this at the beginning loading screen (the one with the enkidukai, dermorian, kran and ylian heads) in the upper left corner: http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/97/ohshitca5.png

Ignoring that, I attempted to log on anyway, and wham: http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5484/shot12zo3.jpg

I uninstalled, reinstalled, and was told to update again. I did, same thing happened.

Umm... System... Right...

Windows XP
Pentium 4 CPU, 3.00 GHz
2.99 GHz, 256 MB of RAM

I don't know how to check my video and sound card thingies... If you need that stuff, someone wanna tell me how to find them out?

Help would be fantastic :3

So my friend showed me this test earlier... And, truth be told, I would -love- to see some people\'s scores...

What you do is, take one of your characters (in this case, of course, a PlaneShift character) and answer the questions concerning them. For example, I tested Jjairr (of course!) and on the first question it would be (i) - a really unusual sounding name that I made up myself.

Oh, here\'s a quick definition as to what a Mary Sue is ... (And for guys it\'s a Gary Stu, evidently)...


***
Who Is Mary Sue and Why Does She Have to Die?

I honestly wish I\'d kept a copy of the first essay I read about Mary Sueism. It was well-done, and I don\'t think I can do the subject half the justice the original did. However, I\'ll give it my best shot.
You already know Mary Sue. Mary Sue is the perky, bright, helpful sixteen-year-old ensign who beams about the ship. Everyone on the ship likes Mary Sue, because Mary Sue is good at everything. Mary Sue is an engineer, a doctor in training, a good leader, an excellent cook, and is usually a beautiful singer. Mary Sue often has mental powers that may manifest themselves as telepathy, precognition, or magic. Her past is tragic, more so than any other character on the series. (Many Mary Sues have a backstory that reads like a V.C. Andrews novel. This is a clue.) If Mary Sue is very young, she is often the offspring of one or two already established characters. If she\'s a little older, she will probably end up sleeping with the author\'s favorite character. Sometimes, she fills both roles. Her name is often the author\'s name, be it a net.name, a favored nickname, or the author\'s middle name (this is seen in the most famous Mary Sue of all time, Wesley Crusher, who was named after Trek creator Eugene Wesley Roddenbery). By the end of the story, Mary Sue will be in bed with the desired character, will have beamed away amid cheers from all the regulars, or will be dead, usually accompanied by heavy mourning from the cast. The reader, on the other hand, will be celebrating. BTW, Mary Sue\'s twin brother can often be identified by his brooding, solitary behaviour, matched by his maverick disregard for authority (for a great example, see the very beginning of TNG\'s \"Hollow Pursuits\" alias Barclay, Part One).

by: Merlin Missy
Copyright 1996, 2005

***

So basically, it\'s the perfect person who we hate with a passion but would love to be, and because we can\'t be said perfect person, we make an RP character to do it for us.

LINK! -> http://www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysue.htm

Right then! Take the test - it\'s lengthy, I warn you - and answer it TRUTHFULLY! Then post your score. Unless you\'re to embarassed. XD There\'s a box with your score in it and a scale at the bottom of the page.

Jjairr\'s a 39, by the way.

(So, I\'m posting all the chapters at once.. Just throw something at me if that isn\'t allowed. But not something to painful, or nasty. Like a spider... *Twitchshiver* And, Darkmoon, buddy old chum... Don\'t hate me if I totally botched your character. I only had two or three conversations to go by. O.o)


Chapter One-

 
Jjairr Wolfhound sat close to the fire in the Kada El?s Tavern, silently nursing her half full beer mug, lost in her thoughts. Her close friend, Ralas, had been discussing with her the mysteries of the Laanx Temple, the Dungeon, and the fabled Death Realm, when he had been called away suddenly by one of his other friends, leaving Jjairr to grapple the mysteries on her own. The young enkidukai?s brow was furrowed in concentration, the heat of the fire causing beads of sweat to appear beneath her auburn braid and darken her tawny fur.
 
Staring thoughtfully at the hem of her crimson tunic, Jjairr found her mind beginning to wander. She was in the process of setting her mug down on a sturdy wooden table when a voice sounded in her ear.
   
?It?s a prison,? the voice murmured quietly, causing Jjairr to jump and slop beer over her baggy chocolate brown pants. Jjairr cast her frightened hazel eyes all around the dark room, but could see no one.
   
?Wh? Wha? What?? stammered the enkidukai, the hair on the back of her neck prickling uncomfortably.
 
?It?s a prison,? repeated the voice, with a hint of humor. To Jjairr it sounded distinctly male. ?The head in the Death Realm, of which you and your friend were speaking. It is a prison, containing the tortured souls of those considered unworthy to return to the world of the living.?
   
Jjairr continued to look about the room, peering into the shadowed corners, searching for the owner of the mysterious voice. ?I don?t see you,? she said, glancing toward the ceiling?s thick wooden rafters. ?Where are you??
 
There was a small chuckle. ?I am here? and yet, not here,? said the voice softly. Dark and mysterious, it continued, ?Few people notice the snakes decorating the Laanx temple, like you were telling your friend about.? There was a thoughtful pause, and then it added, ?You would make a decent Explorer.?
 
Jjairr gulped. Something about this voice made her nervous. The fact that it appeared to have originated from no visible body didn?t help it much. She looked to her left, where the voice appeared to have come from.
 
?I am Jjairr Wolfhound, of the Feline?s Lair. Who are you??
 
Silence. Jjairr waited patiently for an answer, her booted foot tapping a quiet beat against the floor. Finally, she heard the quiet whisper.
   
?Darkmoon.?
 
Jjairr heard a creak of footsteps. The voice?s owner was heading slowly toward the door. Jjairr stood, still trying to catch a glimpse of this mysterious man.
 
?Wait!? the young enkidukai called. ?There is more I would ask of you!?
 
The footsteps paused. ?Take this dagger,? said the voice. ?It is late. We will talk another time.?
 
Jjairr gaped at the dagger that had appeared out of no where on the table a few feet in front of her. She shook her head as if to clear it and asked quietly, ?How will I find y-?
 
The voice interrupted her kindly. ?I will find you,? it assured her.
   
Jjairr continued to question. ?But why do I need this dagger??
 
?Trust me.?
 
Jjairr was quiet for a moment, but then nodded. She reached forward to pick up the dagger and tucked it safely into her belt. The absolute silence confirmed her thoughts ? she was alone in the bar again.

 
It was an uncharacteristically quiet Jjairr that climbed the wooden steps of the tavern, heading to the third floor for room 04. Tossing her weapons onto the desk, the young enkidukai sank down wearily onto the soft, downy mattress of her bed. Closing her eyes, Jjairr sighed, and gratefully immersed herself in the peaceful land of slumber.

)(Okay, yesh... Last night I told this story in first person to a flippin\' tavernful of people, and I\'ve decided that I\'ll just post that on the forums instead. It\'s been edited - All doublesays were removed and any ooc comments... But it hasn\'t been uberproofread sooo... If it doesn\'t seem like it flows very well, DEAL WITH IT! I\'ll edit it later. Ahem, now, I present to you - again, only now completed- my still untitled story.

(21:40:00) Jjairr snags three mugs and fills them full of various drinks before taking them back to the fire.
(21:40:22) Garek says: its nice at the fire
(21:40:33) Rilar nods to Garek \"yes it is\"
(21:40:34) Netrhys says: Yeah...
(21:41:06) Jjairr hands everyone their mugs. \"Ale for you, Ralas, and here\'s a mug for you, Netrhys, and one for me.\"
(21:41:37) Netrhys takes the mug and takes some gulps off it \"Thankies!\"
(21:41:46) Jjairr nods. \" You\'re welcome.\"
(21:42:03) Ralas says: thanks Jjairr!
(21:48:01) Netrhys drinks some more off her mug
(21:48:17) Ralas takes a large gulp of his ale
(21:48:31) Rilar pulls out araga and feeds her with a piece of apple
(21:48:48) Ralas grins at the mouse
(21:49:09) Netrhys eyes that \"Hmmm... a... mouse?\"
(21:49:33) Rilar frowns at Netrhys \"yes, any problems with that?\"
(21:49:48) Netrhys frowns and swears \"What if?\"
(21:50:29) Rilar frowns back \"then i would leave\"
(21:51:11) Netrhys says: But just so you freaking know, no, I don\'t care. *glares* Was _just_ a freaking question. *swears*
(21:52:02) Elian says: hello
(21:52:05) Elian says: Ralas
(21:52:10) Ralas says: greetings Elian
(21:52:42) Elian says: do you know anyone who would be interested in buying a dark short sword
(21:52:59) Ralas says: hm, not offhand...
(21:53:16) Rilar palms araga and puts her on the floor to train her to come by calling her name
(21:53:25) Elian says: hehehe, my second favorites
(21:53:28) Rilar says: araga... araga..
(21:53:55) Netrhys turns her gaze off Rilar eventually
(21:54:12) Jjairr says: So, Ralas.. What prompted you to sell your sabres?
(21:54:27) Ralas says: well...
(21:54:40) Elian drinks my ale in silence
(21:54:42) Ralas says: I did not wish to be armed in case I am under teh control of soe dark mage
(21:54:58) Netrhys frowns
(21:55:07) Jjairr says: And what makes you think you\'re being controlled by a dark mage?
(21:55:14) Rilar tries to catch aragas attention by an old meat
(21:55:21) Ralas says: perhaps just the paranoia of my friends
(21:55:28) Ralas says: but...you never know
(21:55:36) Ralas says: also...
(21:55:45) Ralas says: many would have me believe that thare are dark things going on
(21:55:55) Ralas says: they would have me take a side: i\'ve no wish to do so
(21:56:04) Ralas says: weapons breed violece and I want no part
(21:56:12) Jjairr \'s ears perk up. \"What dark things?\"
(21:56:12) Netrhys says: mrf.
(21:56:31) Ralas shrugs \"I dont really know...I just feel safer this way\"
(21:56:36) Rilar takes araga back on his hand and palms her
(21:57:12) Jjairr frowns. \"If it\'s war, you really don\'t have a choice... War affects everyone.\"
(21:57:30) Ralas says: I think it will be avoided
(21:57:35) Netrhys says: Yeah, but you can flee, thus not take sides.
(21:57:44) Elian murmers, \"like I told him\".
(21:57:48) Ralas says: it seems to center around my involvement
(21:57:56) Ralas says: so as I am unarmed it cannot occur
(21:57:58) Jjairr says: Hmm... How so?
(21:58:46) Ralas says: i\'m not sure
(21:59:08) Ralas says: but who would hurt a simple miner?
(21:59:24) Elian says: anyone who wants to
(21:59:34) Ralas says: and who would want to?
(21:59:35) Netrhys eyes Elian
(21:59:39) Elian goes back to sippin the ale
(21:59:47) Elian says: sorry
(21:59:54) Jjairr picks up her mug from where she left it and takes a drink as well.
(22:00:06) Netrhys says: . . .
(22:00:07) Ralas follows suit on the drink front
(22:00:26) Rilar doesnt notice whats happening
(22:01:45) Jjairr takes another drink of ale and murmurs, \"It\'s too quiet in here.\"
(22:01:57) Rilar looks up at Jjairr \"hm?\"
(22:01:59) Netrhys shrugs
(22:02:12) Ralas is now silent
(22:02:17) Netrhys says: What would you talk about?
(22:03:15) Jjairr sighs. \"It matters not to me.\"
(22:03:37) Rilar looks down again at araga
(22:03:49) Netrhys says: Hmmm...
(22:05:16) Ralas says: yeah...
(22:05:22) Ralas takes a large gulp of his ale
(22:05:38) Rilar looks up \"eh.. why are you so silent?\"
(22:05:44) Netrhys sighs and finishes her mug
(22:06:03) Ralas says: it\'s been a long week
(22:06:21) Netrhys says: Yeah.
(22:06:25) Ralas says: I think were all...kind of worn out. I know I am
(22:06:28) Rilar grins weakly \"you can say that\"
(22:06:52) Netrhys nods \"Seriously.\"
(22:07:07) Jjairr looks around her. \"I haven\'t had a long week. Not really.\"
(22:07:44) Ralas says: well? what have you been up to?
(22:07:45) Rilar sighs and palms araga \"i did\"
(22:07:46) Netrhys says: You should enjoy while you can. Crap will come to you. It always does.
(22:07:56) Jjairr shrugs. \"Crap happens.\"
(22:08:00) Ralas smiles darkly at Netrhys\' comment
(22:08:17) Netrhys shrugs
(22:09:46) Netrhys says: So, what have you done, anyway? *eyes Jjairr*
(22:10:33) Jjairr says: Hmm... I got lost in the sewers, did a bit of roof hopping, got into a ... err... spat... and somehow still managed to not get drunk..
(22:11:10) Netrhys grins \"Yeah, the sewers...\"
(22:11:41) Rilar eyes Netrhys \"the sewers..\"
(22:11:43) Netrhys says: Not the nicest place, but one that is likely to have you in it for longer than you planned.
(22:11:54) Ralas says: I _always_ get lost in there
(22:12:02) Jjairr nods. \"Yes, indeed... I think the rogue population is multiplying down there.\"
(22:12:16) Netrhys says: That, too.
(22:15:56) Jjairr says: So...
(22:17:19) Jjairr says: Well.... Aherm...
(22:17:50) Rilar hums a little tune
(22:17:56) Jjairr takes another gulp of ale to clear her throat and sings, \"In heaven there is no beer, that\'s why we drink it here, and when we\'re gone from here, all our friends will be drinkin\' all our beer!\"
(22:18:21) Netrhys frowns and then chuckles
(22:18:28) Jjairr bows.
(22:18:40) Netrhys says: You\'re a minstrel?
(22:18:43) Netrhys grins
(22:19:00) Jjairr shakes her head. \"No, no, far from it.\"
(22:19:05) Elian says: duty calls
(22:19:12) Ralas says: farewell then Elian
(22:19:24) Jjairr sneezes.
(22:19:25) Netrhys says: hmm
(22:19:34) Ralas shrugs
(22:19:36) Jjairr says: \'Scuse me.
(22:19:50) Netrhys shrugs
(22:20:11) Ralas says: strange guy...
(22:21:42) Jjairr chugs down the rest of her ale and sways woozily. \"I say. I wonder if I could get drunk today.\"
(22:23:04) Jjairr goes to get another beer.
(22:24:49) Ralas is still working on his first ale, of which he takes a large glup
(22:26:05) Jjairr says: So... How\'s life treating you, Netrhys?
(22:27:04) Netrhys says: Erm... huh?
(22:27:16) Jjairr laughs. \"How are you?\"
(22:27:40) Netrhys says: Yeah, I understood that... just wondered...
(22:28:18) Netrhys says: Well, how would it... *shrugs* I\'m still alive, that is something, I guess.
(22:28:19) Jjairr sighs.
(22:28:29) Rilar grins slightly
(22:29:55) Ralas says: er
(22:30:50) Jjairr takes out her favorite dagger and sharpens it busily.
(22:31:05) Rilar strokes araga
(22:31:05) Netrhys watches that
(22:31:51) Jjairr looks around.
(22:31:55) Jjairr says: Anyone have a story to tell?
(22:31:58) Ralas takes a large glup of his ale and stares at the fire
(22:32:11) Rilar purrs at araga
(22:32:14) Ralas says: ...
(22:32:20) Netrhys says: hmmm...
(22:35:54) Jjairr says: Well, I suppose I might have a story to share.
(22:36:04) Rilar smiles
(22:36:17) Ralas sits back and listens
(22:36:21) Netrhys can\'t help a chuckle
(22:36:40) Jjairr blinks and looks around nervously. \"It\'s the first time I\'ve ever told this to anyone... I had always wanted to write it down first, but this is just a good a time as any...\"
(22:37:55) Netrhys says: . . . write down?
(22:38:09) Jjairr nods. \"So I wouldn\'t forget it.\"
(22:38:46) Netrhys says: Hmmm...
(22:38:53) Jjairr takes a drink of ale and leans back against the wall. \"Are we all ready?\"
(22:39:15) Rilar looks at Jjairr and leans back \"sure\"
(22:39:29) Ralas takes a large gulp of ale and nods
(22:39:53) Netrhys shrugs \"Yeah, I suppose?\"
(22:40:15) Jjairr says: All right... Well, it must\'ve been three or four weeks ago now that this began...
(22:41:18) Jjairr says: I was sitting here, in this very spot, talking to Ralas as we do on many occasions. We were discussing our thoughts on the Laanx temple and the Laanx dungeon and other such things, when I heard a voice in my ear.
(22:42:44) Jjairr gives an involuntary shudder. \"It was unexpected, and I assure you, I was frightened. The voice told me that the head in the Death Realm that Ralas and I had been discussing was actually a prison, containing the tortured souls of those unworthy of returning to the world of the living.\"
(22:43:11) Alifax says: hi
(22:43:32) Ralas says: ...greetings
(22:43:33) Zlorfik says: hi
(22:43:41) Talamir says: \"hi\" nice break in dramatic effect there.
(22:43:42) Netrhys says: hmm... *frowns*
(22:44:08) Jjairr says: During a lull in the conversation I quietly whispered back - to the darkness, of course, where else would one whisper to an unknown voice?- I asked him, for the voice sounded male, why I couldn\'t see him.
(22:44:43) Jjairr says: To which he replied \"I am here, and yet, not here.\"
(22:45:24) Rilar frowns
(22:45:50) Jjairr says: We spoke no more, until Ralas had departed and left me to my own devices. Whereas then I had worked up enough courage to ask the voice, \"Who are you?\"
(22:46:03) Netrhys says: . . .
(22:46:16) Rilar raises an eyebrow
(22:46:20) Netrhys frowns
(22:46:24) Jjairr says: He told me his name was Darkmoon, and to ask the Explorers, as they would know of him...
(22:46:36) Jjairr eyes them over her ale mug. \"Is there something wrong?\"
(22:47:03) Rilar frowns \"darkmoon.. never heard of that name\"
(22:47:23) Netrhys says: I have, in fact.
(22:47:40) Jjairr nods. \"He said he was hard to miss.\"
(22:47:50) Ralas says: ...I have not
(22:48:47) Jjairr says: Anyway, after that there was silence once more, and I knew he had departed. I slept in a room in the tavern, then, and the next morning awoke and spent the day poking around Jayose\'s library. I heard no more of this \"Darkmoon\" until I returned to the tavern late that evening...
(22:50:06) Jjairr says: Unfortunately, a rather rowdy bunch of drunk dwarves had taken up residence here and I for the life of me could not hear myself think. I had to snag a plate of food from the kitchen and eat up on the roof, where it was -thankfully- quiet.
(22:50:58) Netrhys says: hmmm...
(22:51:06) Jjairr says: I had finished when my neck fur began to prickle... And I knew that feeling - I was being watched. Remembering my encounter with Darkmoon the previous evening I questioned, \"Darkmoon?\"
(22:52:06) Jjairr says: His answer came back, sounding close to my ear... \"Yes?\"
(22:52:08) Rilar gets excited
(22:53:00) Jjairr says: I nearly screamed, so frightened was I, but managed not to, and asked him in a strained voice, \"where are you? i still cannot see you.\"
(22:53:34) Netrhys nods \"Sounds reasonable, indeed.\"
(22:54:03) Shooree says: Hello there, friends.
(22:54:21) Netrhys says: . . .
(22:54:27) Rilar narrows his eyes at Talamir
(22:54:31) Netrhys says: And who the crap aould you be?
(22:54:36) Rilar says: be quiet
(22:54:38) Jjairr says: I was looking all over the roof, of course, but could see nothing - not a single shimmer or disturbance in the air. Finally, he said, \"I am right beside you\", so I turned and, much to my fright, there he was.
(22:54:58) Netrhys says: What?
(22:55:06) Ralas says: Darkmoon?
(22:55:15) Shooree listens carefully, obviously very interested
(22:56:41) Jjairr nods. \"Aye, Darkmoon. he appeared in the form of a middle-aged Ylian.\"
(22:57:10) Rilar keeps quiet but looks excited at Jjairr
(22:57:12) Netrhys says: . . . You sure he wasn\'t just playing mind tricks with you?
(22:57:41) Jjairr says: I was frightened, of course... Who wouldn\'t be frightened of a mysterious strange who can make himself invisible?
(22:57:53) Shooree says: Darkmoon, eh? Hmmm I think I recall something being said about it in that book my mother hid from me... pray tell more, dear Jjairr
(22:57:58) Netrhys says: Yeah... then again...
(22:58:44) Shooree takes out his papyrus and scribbles some words
(22:59:47) Jjairr says: He smiled, and looked friendly, though I was still wary of him. Curious, I asked him how he had managed to make himself invisible. \"A little spell called the Shroud of Darkness. Handy, isn\'t it?\"
(23:01:19) Jjairr says: I could only nod. A short time had elapsed before I questioned him again. \"Darkmoon.. You have a strange name. Does it mean anything in particular?\"
(23:02:59) Jjairr says: He turned serious at this. \"Its a nickname, really... No one living knows my real name.\" I stared at him, hard, until he added, \"Someone who knows your real name has power over you. Complete power.\"
(23:03:38) Netrhys frowns \"That\'s just dumb...\"
(23:04:16) Jjairr says: At this I gave a nervous laugh. \"I\'m in deep, then. Many, many people know my name.\" He shook his head slowly. \"Jjairr Wolfhound is not your real name. Only one group of people would know your true name, and your parents are most likely not one of them.\"
(23:04:40) Netrhys says: . . .
(23:04:55) Netrhys says: one group of people, huh?
(23:05:08) Shooree scribbles something down hastily \"...hmmm..so it figures...\"
(23:05:23) Jjairr says: Being me, I questioned curiously, \"Who would know, then?\" He looked at me. \"A Master of the Crystal way.\"
(23:06:21) Jjairr says: Seeing his obvious power with glyphs, I asked excitedly, \"Are you a Master of the Crystal Way?\" He laughed at this. \"No. I dabble here and there, but I\'m no Master.\"
(23:06:26) Netrhys swears
(23:06:45) Netrhys says: Crystal way?
(23:07:03) Jjairr nods. \"Aye, that\'s what he said.\"
(23:08:24) Jjairr says: Not to be put out, I continued to question him. \"Where would I find a Crystal Master, then?\"
(23:09:23) Jjairr says: He was silent for a moment before responding, \"In someplace secluded, magical, and hard to get to. Crystal Masters never were noted for their originality.\"
(23:11:16) Jjairr says: He stood as if to leave, and as he had spiked my curiosity, I tried to stop him. \"Wait! There is more I would ask of you!\" He said nothing for a moment, and then gave me a small dagger. \"Take this\" he said. \"We will talk some other time.\"
(23:11:44) Jjairr unsheaths a small blade from her belt. \"This is the very dagger he presented me with.\"
(23:11:58) Shooree takes a closer look
(23:12:01) Ralas gasps
(23:12:31) Ralas says: ...that\'s exactly like...
(23:12:33) Shooree sighs \"...so it happens again...\"
(23:12:40) Jjairr returns it to her belt. \"Like what..?!\"
(23:12:50) Ralas says: like the one that Valorel gave me
(23:12:59) Ralas says: and...then used to kill himself
(23:13:18) Shooree mumbles a curse \"Master Mordon must hear of this!\"
(23:13:37) Jjairr flinches. \"Shooree?\"
(23:13:52) Shooree says: yes, dear child?
(23:14:02) Jjairr says: Shooree..? What\'s going on?
(23:15:10) Ganinos sets a keg on the table of dwarven ale & refills his mug. Drinks it all down in one go then refills his mug again.
(23:15:17) Shooree snaps out of his thoughts \"Oh, sorry for my attitude...It\'s nothing!\"
(23:15:44) Jjairr \'s tail flicks nervously. \"It\'s never nothing... Never, ever just nothing...\"
(23:15:52) Ralas says: ...
(23:16:10) Jjairr says: Aeherm, maybe I should just continue on with the story, then...?
(23:16:35) Verrliit sneaks up behind Gan and pinches his behind...
(23:16:41) Shooree smiles \"yes... do continue, dear kin!\"
(23:16:56) Ralas nods
(23:17:07) Ganinos ohh then downs all his ale & refills his mug again.
(23:17:30) Jjairr says: Well.. Um, yes. After he gave me the dagger, he left, and I returned to my room downstairs to get some rest...
(23:17:44) Verrliit whips out her mug and fills it.
(23:18:22) Jjairr says: The next morning when I awoke, I sat on my bed for near an hour, listing all the remotely magical, remote, and hard to get to places I could think of.
(23:19:08) Talamir says: I\'m guessing the list wasnt all too long
(23:19:10) Jjairr says: Of course, I could narrow down the list quiet easily, as I had been to most of them once or twice before... Finally, I was down to two options - the Ruins and the Laanx Temple Tower.
(23:19:12) Talamir laughs
(23:19:39) Ralas says: ...
(23:20:43) Shooree nods \"and your conclusions were...?\"
(23:21:43) Jjairr says: I spent many minutes wondering how to find out if the ruins were indeed the place. Finally, I realized - Ayshe. She had told me before that she visited the ruins every time the chance revealed itself, so I reasoned that there could be no one better to ask.
(23:22:10) Shooree nods in approval
(23:23:11) Jjairr says: After grabbing a quick bite of breakfast here at the tavern, I ran as fast as I possibly could to the Guild House, hoping with each fibre of my being that Ayshe would be there. To my luck - she was.
(23:24:31) Talamir says: I beleive I have found a conclusion to this mystery!

[ Edited for language. --Karyuu ]