July 7, 2000

Lo Ma, Jeweler of Lin, smiled as he accepted the payment from Kouron. "Thank you," he said, with polished professional gratitude. "It's hard to make a living in a forest town - "

Lo Ma was cut short as the ground swayed; he stumbled, but Kouron, who was not only (in his own opinion) a masterful item enchanter but a fine archer as well, rode out the movement with ease. "Another one!"Lo Ma cried. "And the sky's turning colors, the air feels oppressive - "

"And there are golems in the mountains that I haven't seen since the last time I went to the Dires,"Kouron said, with a cool hunter's smile. "And I hear of drudge lurkers in the forests to the far north - what a pleasure that will be."

Lo Ma shook his head and muttered under his breath; Kouron's smile remained.

"Imagine!"To Za-I, Lin's Weaponsmith, stomped over, both irritation and wonder on her face. "Krau-Li! I haven't heard that name in years!"

Kouron shrugged, but Lo Ma exclaimed, "That old warrior with the fine jitte, said to be Ben Ten's rival! Has he been found?"

To Za-I shook her head. "I doubt it - I think he joined his ancestors long ago - only, some idiots are throwing the name around as if they had found him! But look at this."She held up a tiny cloth sack. "Lo Ma, you are a jeweler. You know metals as well as I do. I was given this today. What do you make of it?"

Lo Ma carefully opened the sack. Curious, Kouron casually reached out and touched the cool, gritty powder, letting it slide across his fingertips . . . and suddenly recoiled. "Oh no,"he muttered in alarm and distaste. The others stared at him in blank surprise. "I think - I think this metal . . . never mind! Who gave it to you?"

July 11, 2000

These days in Dereth have grown dark indeed, the sun's light filtering through motes of ash in the air. Along with these dark skies, the orange burning sun - threat of fresh danger fills the realm. High-level heroes have been seen staggering back to safer towns, claiming to have come from a hereto unseen land; their claims have been questioned, however, since none of these survivors seem able, or willing, to map this land's location. Instead, content to nurse soot-blackened faces and anoint searing burns, they vehemently warn all listeners against retracing their steps. Tis not a land for the novice, they warn. Tis a place sure to see bones of the mighty among us. According to their tales, new and stronger monstrous kin have surfaced in Dereth, include one unnamed horror of terrible strength. A beast worse than a veritable rain of fire! those heroes claiming to have faced it cry.

Whatever beast these men allude to, true evidence of fearsome monsters has surfaced just east of the Direlands. The straights leading in have become flooded with tougher creatures, apparently fleeing eastward from their old home, pushed out by the stronger forces appearing there last month.

Other strange new rumors have spread through the towns - rumors of a powerful new force effecting the magic of all of Dereth's adventurers. A force these rumors call: "anti-magic". The implications of this force are dire for some - already many magic shops have begun hiring guards and boarding their windows in fear, as if this "anti-magic" would march from the hillsides like an army of Olthoi soldiers. In addition, entirely new weapons, including strong variations of maces and spears, have been discovered - some weapons comprised of elements never before seen!