Subj:Entry

Date:96-07-19 14:37:14 EDT

From:      Gavanaxes

To:   Sir CORW1N

Stretching, Gavan yawned widely.   What a night!!  As was often his wont, he had been exploring the sewers.  Areleth constantly ridiculed, as a friend would, his preference in frequenting this dank and dismal place. 

"Squire!...you smell like the sewers," he jested.

"Page!!...nay my friend.  After awhile you don't smell anything," he laughed.

The two shared a private joke regarding who would stay in their current position longer ....Areleth a page...or Gavan a squire.  It was done without animosity and both knew it.

"Come to the inn Gavan," invited Areleth, "and I will drink you under the table."

Laughing delightedly he replied, "That is not possible my friend, for I am a recent graduate of the University of Str.  I graduated Magnum Cum Laude majoring in excessive intake."

Both laughed so hard their sides hurt.

Eyes twinkling, Areleth asked, "Really?  How long did it take?"

Still laughing, Gavan held his head and replied, "Only one night."

Both were now rolling on the floor now they were laughing so hard. 

Gavan grinned again recalling that other night as they had traveled to Westbridge.  Lady Nesha and Hakar had been with them.  Hakar had been wearing a robe...or a kilt as he had termed it and had asked his opinion regarding whose attire was more pleasing.

Clearing his throat, Gavan had quietly stated, "No offense Hakar, but I believe there is no contest between you and Lady Nesha.  I would have to say her attire is more pleasing to the eye."

"None taken my friend.  I am inclined to agree with you," grinned Hakar as he looked affectionately at Lady Nesha.

In the sewers, Gavan had met, purely by chance another paladin, Brohmast, brother to Ganzelle.  Greeting each other, Brohmast had invited him to join him as they fought the Holders in the southeast portion of the maze.  For some reason, the area was swarming with vilstraks and cloud giants and at times, they would finish one fight and fall into another without resting or tending their wounds. 

In one fight he had grinned exclaiming, "I have no more spells, we will have to do this the hard way.....the fun way...with my sword."  Standing back to back, the two had hacked away at the cloud giants surrounding them.

"Light, I enjoy doing this!!" he shouted as he dispatched yet another cloud giant.

"Aye, I know what you mean," Brohmast roared back finishing the fight.

"Now to the good fight," grinned Brohmast. "Prepare yourself."

Both cast blessings on the other as well as haste.  Into the fight they plunged.  Three holders protected by a screen of iron golems and banshees.  Brohmast pulled out his fine bow and started firing at the holders.  Entering the fight, Gavan had, to his shame started to quiver in fright uncontrollably.  It was all he could do to avoid indiscriminantly casting spells.

"I cannot help until I conquer this fear," he trembled.

"Don't worry about what you cannot help," replied Brohmast.  Grimacing he continued, "We may be in some trouble."

Suddenly four other fighters appeared.  Not much was said, but, as Brohmast quipped, "At least we will not die as quick."

Finishing the fight, they introduced themselves finding that their benefactors were from the Knights of Eternal Flame.

"Shall we do it again?" asked Brohmast.

Everyone enthusiastically nodded assent and plunged into the fight together.  Over and over they fought this fight, finding treasure and scrolls and magical weapons.

"I must leave," said Brohmast.

"My pack is full," grinned Gavan. "I enjoyed it.  We will have to do this again sometime."

Returning to the surface, Gavan made his way back to his room and scoured off the stench of the sewers and inspected his finds.  One +3 weapon, several +2, and a cloak of displacement.  He would have to find someone who needed these and distribute them.  He also thought about the holder fight.  He now knew how to waken the holders and he wanted to do the fight alone for that tested his abilities to the utmost.  No one would be there to help him if he made a mistake. 

"I will have to use my two handed sword and put aside my shield,"  he thought delightedly.  As much as he enjoyed swinging the one handed sword, there was nothing like holding the longer two handed blade.  The only reason he had used the shield was that he had been on the islands with Areleth and Lady Nesha earlier and had needed the shield.  It was important to dispatch the holders as quickly as possible and he could think of nothing that caused as much damage as the two handed sword. 

"I will also need to find a scroll with Dimension Door on it," he continued.

Lady Nesha had told him she had one she would give him.  With that he could get quickly past the defensive screen of golems and banshees to dance with the holders.  With what seemed like a good plan in his mind, Gavan lay down and fell quickly asleep.

Gavan

Squire to Lady Blackcoral