November 7, 2000

Why are they doing this? Jenavere whispered. Below their treetop lookout, the mosswart tribe was scattering in dismay. The attacking undead patrol toppled the mossies' chubby statue with a mighty shove. The emerald sclavus accompanying them hissed fiercely. The tribe, and their ragged human captive, disappeared into the creaking underbrush of the rainforest, hooting angrily.

Hendac handed a small piece of parchment to her. Bored? it said. He shrugged, rustling the fronds.

We should have been able to rescue that man, she hissed. Where are all these undead coming from? Since venturing through an uncharted portal yesterday, they had spent most of their time avoiding the undead, sclavus, and unfamiliar beasts infesting the steaming jungle. Below, the undead muttered in their guttural tongue. A whisper of it floated across her mind: Silly beasts. . . no gods. . . Great Ones. . . reborn. They wandered off, laughing.

Oi! You up there! Jena blinked, and looked down. Four suspicious-looking men glared up at them, pointing spears. They were clothed in rags and reeds, faces smeared with mud. Watcher doin' here, eh? their Aluvian leader asked. Didjer escape the Olthoi too?

Jenavere glanced at Hendac. The queen is dead, boys, she called down.

They looked at each other uncertainly. One mouthed: liar. The leader squinted at her in open disbelief.

. . . And it's cold on this limb, she continued, unperturbed. Put those sticks away and let us come down. I have a story to tell you. . .

November 14, 2000

The world of Dereth has grown. While adventurers have been ever persistent in exploring the wild, the more they search, the more they only seem to uncover. Another of Dereth's far-flung corners has been found -- a chain of islands, each one more dangerous than the next. The islands have proven inhabited, both with two creatures never before encountered -- the fierce moarsmen and serpentine slithis -- as well as unseen varieties of monsters previously known to Dereth. Then there are the islands' mysterious refugees. Long lost since the days of Olthoi rule, the refugees apparently survived these many years within their settlements of Kryst and MacNiall's Freehold. What other secrets these islands might hold, none can say. Only, that they promise much for heroes holding all levels of experience.

In addition to this island chain, explorers have stumbled across numerous uncharted dungeon entrances throughout the rest of Dereth -- including one to the mosswarts' deadly labyrinths. Upon the landscape above, certain monsters also continue gathering into training camps, threatening to organize into deadly legions. The beasts of Dereth have been busy, it would seem, establishing themselves in hidden lairs dark and deep. Again, aid from all levels of heroes has been requested to help clear these dungeon halls.

Yet surely such danger cannot be without its reward. Rumors often spread of powerful treasures carefully hidden away. One of the most recent treasures spoken of: a weapon, a spear of legendary renown.

Dereth has indeed undergone tremendous changes. What's more, its history begins a new, and quite terrifying chapter. Several months ago, the Shadows invaded, their Spires eerily traversing across the land. However, the heroes of Dereth responded. Braving the Spires, gathering mystic keys, they delved deep into hidden Vestibules to combat the crystalline entities stored within. This month, history continues. Heroes will come to face a very grave evil in Dereth -- one primordial to the world itself!