A Hauntingly Good Time
Was Had By All!

Chapter One

The Guildmasters of KORT were famous the wonderful costumed Halloween bashes they threw each year. The variety of foods and delicacies from all parts of the Realms and beyond alone made the night a joyful treat. Anyone at all associated with the Knights of the Round Table were invited and encouraged to attend and partake of the generosity of the officers council of the Guild. And all of that says nothing of the variety glorious and imaginative costumes that were perhaps the best part of the evening. That was actually one of the big drawing points of the evening, the semi-official competition for best costume presented. The affair was entirely catered by an outside agency and even the very guards on the walls of Camelot and walking the various guard posts were from other, friendly guilds so that not one of the members and friends of KORT would be unable to attend. The night promised to be glorious and exciting.

The Great Banqueting Hall was festooned with the bright colors of fall and there were a host of the usual and unusual tokens of the harvest and the end of summer present everywhere. As the hour of the party grew near, the level of activity increased as the food began to appear on the buffet tables and the several bars opened and began preparing the evening's libations. At the appointed hour most of the Squires and Pages were present already, talking and laughing, admiring one another's costumes and speculating on what the various Knights and Ladies would wear as they entered, each trying for fashionable lateness. Lord Dagron had won the unofficial prize last year by entering dressed as a complete Bakery window complete with various pastries for snacking and sampling by any and all. Everyone was looking forward to seeing what he would do to improve on that this year. The Lady Allfaire had run a close second the year before by plying herself extremely thickly with bright colored make-up and then having a number of the pages run around wearing T-shirts with the same colors smeared in the vague shape of her face with the caption "I ran into Allsfaire in Neverwinter square" emblazoned below. Tuvor, Exegete, and Ganzelle had taken honorable mention by constructing themselves as a detailed, scale replica of the three-story Main Courthouse in Neverwinter Square. Many thought they would won, had the second story not had a date that he refused to miss.

All in all, everyone was looking forward to what promised to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening and so it was understandable there was a sense of excitement and anticipation that grew in intensity as the hour of the party's start arrived. When the great clocked solemnly chimed the hour there were already some 75 people in the great hall, all squires, pages and their guests. The food and beverage tables had already taken some serious hits and everyone was feeling happy and loose. Several of the Squires (Names withheld to protect the "innocent") were busy with a betting pool of which of the Knights would take the unofficial prize for best costume. So far, there were a variety of responses with no clear leader emerging.

The thick smoke and the intense smell of sulphur spread quickly from its starting point near the dessert section of the south buffet tables. A lancet of flame and thunderous boom capped the effect and the Vampire spun himself in a circle, flinging his black cape in a wide circle (whisking more than one dessert to the floor in the process). He came to a stop and took in the scene and caught several of the Pages and Squires by eye, his brows narrowed in sinister concentration, his eyes almost glowing that stimulated in several of the recipients a strong, tho mysterious desire to go buy some garlic. His head was framed by the high collar to the cloak he wore. Underneath was a formal tuxedo, Black coat and trousers, white shirt and black tie. A golden medallion hung from his neck by an ornate red ribbon. His skin was a pale greenish white, his eyebrows a very dark black standing in stark contrast. He smiled a dark smile, revealing sharp, dangerous looking fangs and a very red tongue. He cast his hungry gaze around the room, threw back his head and laughed a horrible, mirthless, evil laugh. Then, he turned to the beverage buffet and selected a thick, viscous red drink in a crystal goblet that one of the watching Squires thought looked remarkably like a Sloe Gin Fizz. The Vampire downed the drink in single gulp, some of the drink dribbling down the corners of his mouth enhancing his sinister appearance and, taking another of the beverages, stalked haughtily to a far, dark corner, cape swirling in his wake.

The Iron Golem succeeded in startling everyone, including the Vampire, when he appeared. Of course, coming through a wall is a good way to do that. Arms flailing and legs kicking, he strode through the rubble of the wall and stood, as if daring any of the assembled Squires and Pages to oppose him. He stood a full 12 feet tall and was a dazzling blue in color from head to foot. He held no weapon of course, but the definition of his muscles told everyone that there was no need for such crutches. He exuded battle and sheer martial danger. After a moment, he strode to the buffet tables and seized an entire steamship round of beef along with a keg of chilly mead and stalked over to where the Vampire was standing in the shadows, nursing his drink. The room shoo with each step and the crowd parted quickly in his path, closing in as he passed. The Vampire gave a short nod as the Golem took up a place next to him and munched on the round of beef. Alternating with squirts from the keg of Chilly Mead. After a moment the Vampire spoke in a low voice. "You know, Nal's gonna be pissed about that wall." he said in Windgrey's voice.

"Couldn't be helped." the Akumu-Golem replied casually. "I forget to think about how to get something this big into the Hall" he continued conspiratorially. "I got here with no way in" he said with a guilty smile. "Had to do something." he continued. "The wall'll fix" he finished.

The Vampire laughed in genuine amusement. "Gotta admit tho," he said "It was a great entrance." He looked around the hall. "Looks like we're the first here." he went on. "Ah well," he sighed "It'll give us a good look at how everyone else arrives."

Chapter Two

The Lord Tuvor adjusted his costume handlebar mustache for the umpteenth time since he had finished dressing. "I never should have allowed Exe to talk me into this" he muttered, looking to the glass and studying his reflection. He had chosen to dress as the Realms most legendary heroic & romantic figure, one "Bassanova". Bassanova was figure of history that every Neverwinter child learned of early in life. He was a gallant early example of the Knightly tradition, a fascinating character. Bassanova's prowess as warrior and fighter was inspirational. His prowess as a lover and romanticist was equally as legendary There were almost as many tales of his affairs with women and there were of his fights with the enemies of good. Exe had argued that he was a perfect character for Tuv to portray and had done a lot of research at the library to help make sure that Tuvie's costume would be accurate. An ancient engraving of Bassanova, found gods knew where, had provided the definitive information and Tuv was, in fact, the very image of the man in the illustration. "Uncanny" had been Exe's comment at the finished product just minutes ago before he hastened off to costume himself, a costume that he had refused to talk about.

Tuv was dressed in a formal suit of clothes, of the style in fashion at the time of Bassanova's life. Short, black, bulbous breeches, and purple stockings, black low-cut shoes with a brass buckle were complimented by a loose fitting white shirt with puffy sleeves and puffed, frilly front. He wore a long, black wig, styled in the fashion of gentlemen of that time. A wide-brimmed black hat with a colorful band and long feather was perched upon his head. He wore a long saber at his side, with no sheath, accompanied by a dagger on his opposite hip. A mid-length purple cape completed the ensemble, except for the long-stem rose he carried in his gloved hand. Exe had made the whole idea seem so good, he thought ruefully. Tuvie had never dreamed that it would involve a getup like this! "Ah well" he thought., it was a costume ball after all. He made one further attempt to adjust the mustache under the large, false nose that he had pasted in place, and turned to head for the party where he wold meet the lovely Jequelle who, like Exe, had insisted on keeping her costume a secret until the she appeared at the party. Tuv grinned in anticipation as he strode toward the steps leading down to the main floor of Camelot. It promised to be a great evening in spite of his costume.

He strolled into the Great Banquet Hall, still occasionally fiddling with his mustache. He looked with interest at the gaping hole in the wall where Akumu-Golem entered. He raised an eyebrow in evident interest and then turned his attention to the food buffet, but thought better of visiting at the moment, preferring to wait for his true love, the Lady Jequelle. He walked idly around the Hall taking in the costumes and acknowledging the various greetings and nods of the pages and Squires he passed, noting they all recognized the individual he was costumed as. He approached the Vampire and Akumu-Golem with a smile.

"Hiyas Tuv" the Vampire intoned between sips of is latest drink.

"Hey Tuvie!" Akumu-Golem said from high above. "Thought you were gonna come in costume?" he continued with a metallic grin." as he recognized the caricature Tuv was portraying.

Tuvor gave a him a sickly grin in response and was about to get off one of his snappy rejoinders when an uproar at one of the entrances caught his attention.

Artemis the Huntress stalked balefully in to the hall, Bow and Arrow at the ready, as if on another of her hunting trips. She was clad in the garb of an ancient Ranger, complete with sandals and straps that wound their way around he curvaceous calves to the knee. At her waist was a short, wicked looking sword and she wore a brazen breastplate with the face of her brother, Apollo, engraved on it. On her head was a helm of Curving Hart's horns and there was full quiver of arrow strapped to her back. However, as imposing a figure as she was, the huge Grizzly bear that stood next to her was even more imposing. He went a step or two ahead of her, growling menacingly and looking hungrily at the various Pages and Squires nearby, who back up quickly! She stepped further into the room and then, raising the curved rams horn to her lips, Blew a long and piercing blast that reverberated throughout the Hall. From her position several meters inside the door she had a clear view of everyone present and scanned the hall with an imperious eye. Momentarily, she spied her target and as quick as lightning, she let loose the arrow she had notched. It flew with the hiss of speed straight at Tuvor's now surprised face. Tuvor ducked madly to the floor to avoid impending impalement. The Huntress gave a snap of her fingers at the right moment and the arrow transformed itself into a shower of various flowers that cascaded to the floor around Tuvor's huddled form. A great shout went up from the onlookers and they applauded the Huntress loudly. With a rueful look, Tuvor raised himself to his feet and straightened his sagging mustache once again as the Huntress approached his side.

"Tuvor, my darling" the Huntress said in sultry tones. "You love flowers so, I thought I'd bring you some." she continued sweetly. Jequelle step very close to her husband and kissed him. "I do love your costume dearest." she finished, a smile on her face.

Tuvor smiled and was about to reply when his attention was seized by a ruckus near the buffet. "Umm" he began, gently turning Jequelle's attention to the scene. "I'm not sure that the table can take that much weight" he said with a laugh.

Jequelle gave a startled yelp and ran for the buffet shouting for the bear to get down.

"You could blame the hole in the wall on the bear" the Vampire said brightly to Akumu-Golem.

"Nah" the Golem replied, "he might take it personal and that'd ruin my buffing job".

A shiver of involuntary apprehension rippled through crowd near the door when the Werewolf entered the hall through a side door with a low, almost inaudible growl. No one saw him enter, but all nearby felt his presence. He stood for a moment taking in the scene and then with a vicious snarl bound speedily into the room haphazardly dashing around between the various clumps of Squires and Pages standing innocently with the variety of buffet delectables. The reaction was remarkable and predictable, as good natured and startled screams and shouts of alarm rose to mark his progress through the room.

He stood some six feet or more tall (no one wanted to get close enough to measure) and was the very soul of savage and violent intention. He was a huge gray wolf, or perhaps a timebr wolf, no one could be sure but it was evident that his clothing had seen better days, with many tears and gaping holes from hard use, fur poking through in thick tufts. His feet were unshod with sharp and dangerous looking talons clicking on the floor with each step. The arms of his ragged shirt ended near his shoulders and the muscular arms were left bare spoke of power and strength. His hands were twisted with sharp, needle-like claws extending a full inch and a half from the ends of each finger. All of this was really incidental however, as eyes were draw, almost against their will, to the head and face of the creature. In place of the "normal" head one would expect, there was a grinning, naked, animated wolf skull with huge, red burning eyes.

He dashed around the hall with a startling rapidity, thrusting himself into people's faces, jaws snapping millimeters from their noses, upsetting trays and sending servants scattering in his path. He finished up his tirade near the where the other four Knights had gathered and leapt up on a buffet table next to where they were standing. He threw back his head and let loose an unearthly howl of horror that sent shivers of apprehension down the spines of all who heard it. Well, almost all...

"Yer foot's in the vanilla pudding Bro" the Vampire said in low voice.

"Hiya Woodsman" the Akumu-Golem said with a metallic grin, greeting JWoodsman from almost eye-level. "Nice costume Bud"

"Were'd I put that training collar/" Tuvor-Bassanova said, searching his pockets.

"C'mere puppy, c'mere" the Huntress whistled, holding a morsel of meat high. "Off the table now".

The Werewolf leaped down lightly from the table with a sigh, shaking the vanilla pudding from his hairy foot with a sigh. "You know" J Woodsman said in a weary voice, "I'd like to be able to impress you guys just once in my life." He traded grins with his fellow Knights. "Nice look for you Jeq" he said to the Huntress admiringly, "Lookin a little pale there Windy" he added to the Vampire, receiving a close look at a very red tongue in return. "Fergot a way to get in to the hall, huh? He said to Akumu-Golem, indicating the hole in the room's wall with a jerk of his thumb. He worked his way around the small group person by person. "Hiya Tuvie" he said amicably, taking in Tuvor's costume and immediately recognizing the character he was portraying. "Thought you was gonna wear a costume." He finished with a grin.

Chapter 3

The Healer Iser took one last look at herself in the full-length looking glass in her quarters. She was extremely satisfied with the reflection that looked back at her and smiled to show that appreciation. She was wearing a slinky black dress that fit her attractive form snugly (to say the least). The dress was nearly floor length and was split on her right side to mid thigh. Her bow arm was bare in the time-honored way, with the other sleeve ending a half glove that covered her hand, but left her fingers bare.

"This oughta stimulate a little doctor-patient dialogue" she thought with a wicked grin. She had been feeling a bit taken for granted lately. She seemed to be almost the invisible woman in KORT, noticed and called for only when there was a wound or disease to be tended. She smiled again in satisfaction and adjusted the long black cape on her supple shoulders. The colorful feathers that rimmed the cape added a happy and carefree accent to the formalness of the rest of her outfit. She picked up the largish, brightly colored mask that was on the table next to her. It fit her head snugly, but comfortably. It also was basically black, but accented freely with brilliant red splashes of color and the entire mask was covered with glitter that gave it an almost three-dimensional effect. The mask covered her entire face, except for her mouth and chin and extended both above her head and to both sides in graceful curves. It fringed all around (except the bottom) with the same colorful feathers that her cape sported. Mask in place, she picked up the matching, feather-adorned caduceus and with another look in the glass, left her quarters to meet Coral, Allsfaire, and Nalika.

The Lady BlackCoral put the finishing touches on her own costume about the time that Iser was finishing hers. She was dressed as a Sea Nymph, a costume that was sure to turn more than a few heads. Her hair was colored pure white and was speckled liberally with glitter that appeared like sea foam. Several shells decorated her long hair doubling as combs to hold it in place. He exposed skin was colored a delicate, pale aquamarine tinge and there were various speckles of glitter dotting her skin in attractive, sea-like patterns. Her dress was a long, wispy veil-like affair that was, well, conversational to say the least! It managed to conceal what needed to be concealed (this is after all, a family story) but did all that was possible to accentuate Coral's considerable feminine charms. The dress fell to an uneven line at mid-calf, a perfect suggestion of the flowing waters of the sea. She picked up the mask she would use. It was a "token" mask, a darker turquoise than the rest of her outfit and shaped in the form of a wave flecked with foam and mounted on a half-meter long dowel etched with similar waves and foam. And topped with thin, brightly covered ribbons. She smiled to herself as she anticipated the fun that upcoming at the costume ball and hastened from her room to meet with the other three KORT ladies.

Allsfaire went over the word of the incantation once again and double checked to see that all of the ingredients necessary to the enchantment were laid out in order on the table before her. Satisfied that they were, she checked to see if the clothing portions of her costume were securely fastened about her and took a deep breath. The transformation incantation was new to her and she was more than a little leery of using it considering whom she had gotten it from. Illusions, she thought, were best left to illusionists! However, Exegete had made such a good case for this particular illusion, that she had been intrigue and, in the end, unable to resist. Another deep, cleansing breathe readied her for the process and began to murmur the lengthy incantation as she ingested some of the ingredients and threw the rest of them into the air over her head. A moment after she was done, she was seized with a violent convulsion and, grasping at her throat she, staggered from the table and reeled around the room gagging and retching. Her face contorted with pain and a strangled cry of pain escaped her lips. She staggered about the room struggling for consciousness as it increasingly whirled about her and finally, losing that battle, collapsed on the floor of her room in heap.

Lady Nalika, Guild Master of KORT made some finishing touches to her make-up as the agreed on time of meeting with Allsie, Iser and Coral approached. Petra purred loudly and wound herself repeatedly around Nal's legs, rubbing those legs affectionately. Nal looked sown at the Siamese Cat with amusement. "Are you confused m'dear?" she asked, her affection for the cat evident in her voice. "I'm awfully big to be another kitty, aren't I love?" Of course, she referred to the costume she was wearing; a slinky, form fitting replica of Petra's seal-point Siamese coat. Nal stooped down to scratch Petra un the chin. "I wanted the prettiest costume I could get" she said absently "and so I chose you!" she continued, standing and taking a last look in the glass. The colors of he suit melded nicely together and were accented by the short cape and the "over-the-head" mask she wore. Her eyes were clearly visible as were her nose, mouth, and chin. She had long "whiskers" pasted in place that competed the look. The outfit was contrasted nicely with a wide, colorful scarf that Nal had fastened about her waist She looked at it admiringly and twisted her body in front of the mirror to see it from several angles. "I'll have to get back to that shop" she thought to herself. "They definitely have some serious scarves!"

She took an experimental wiggle with her "kitty" ears, laying them back along her skull and then raising them up again half-way. They worked perfectly as she had known they would. It was a perfect mirror of the way Petra's ears functioned to convey mood. She looked at her finger and flexed them inside the fabric that covered them. She moved a muscle in the proepr way and ten bright, very sharp claws extended and glimmered in the light. "Go ahead" she murmured to an imaginary masher. "Go ahead, get fresh with me" she finished with a swipe of her now deadly fingers. She smiled and laughed lightly. "These are definitely handy to have" she said to Petra, now on the dressing table, tongue deftly cleaning an imagined dirty spot on her coat, still purring loudly. "Take care M'dear" Nalika said happily, heading for the door. "You're in charge 'til I get back" she called over her shoulder, glad to be shed of the burden of leading one of Neverwinter's largest guilds for at least one evening.

It was a good thing that unconsciousness had overtaken Allsfaire as the transformation was in its early stages. The changes in her features would certainly not have been pleasant to undergo while awake. Her legs and arms lengthened and her torso became more bulky and lengthy as well. Muscle ripped into shape where there had been shapely (tho deceptively strong) curves before. Her skull expanded and grew in all direction to nearly half again its former size. Fingers lengthened and curled as did feet and toes. What remained when the changes looked no more like Allsfaire than would Exegete's Guild portrait when she got hold of him later. Most interesting, and mysterious was the supply of licorice spears that shimmered into existence next to her as the spell wound its way down and finished. Her clothing now covered the fearsome features of A Gnoll warrior chieftain. With the exception of certain feminine jewelry additions to the costume, KORT's most experienced Knight would not have been able to tell Allsfaire from a Gnoll.

Iser stood chatting with the Sea Nymph and the Siamese just outside of the southern entrance of the Grand Banqueting Hall. They were all startled when a licorice spear imbedded itself in to the wall nearby. Well, it would have embedded itself had it been a real spear and not been made of licorice. As it was, it hit the wall and then flexed and fell to the floor near their feet. All three simultaneously looked at the licorice and then, together looked in the direction of it's approach. All three jumped for a moment as the thrill of fear hit them at the approach of Gnoll Chieftain. A moment later they relaxed as Allsfaire's voice came to them. "Think what I could do with chocolate" the Gnoll said with a very un-Gnoll-like giggle. The other three women joined in the giggle and together then entered the hall. The eyes of all nearby were drawn toward them and much about those eyes, particularly the male ones was, frankly, admiring, in a respectful kind of way of course. The four women were sparred any more of the "admiration" however by the loud ruckus that erupted near a hole in the wall on the far side of the hall.

Chapter Four

Sir Dagron Americus, Knight Count, Former GM, and Elder of KORT lighted his head and opened his mouth and let out a long stream of Fire that streaked far into the dark coolness of the early evening. He was particularly pleased with the transformation he had chosen for the evening, a startlingly realistic Red Dragon, complete with scales, wings, horns and breath weapon. He gave a very un-dragon-like giggle as stalked further across the main square in Neverwinter, his long tail accidently bashing in a few barrels and the occasional shop window as he went. The ground trembled with each step and his toe claws clacked noisily on the pavement as he proceeded rapidly towards the KORT Compound at Camelot. He had tried flying when he had first left his quarters, but that had resulted in a rather unfortunate incident with a now flattened cart and a very, very frightened farmer and his family resulting in Dagron's decision to walk the rest of the way. Fortunately the first of Nasher's guards he had encountered had been realistic enough to know that there had to be something more afoot and spread the word that the wasn't a "real" dragon stalking through Neverwinter. That had spared Dag the embarrassment of killing and possibly eating a significant portion of the evening shift, something he felt confident would not sit well either with Snowie, the guard commander, or with Nasher himself.

He made rapid progress, thanks to long dragon hind legs and was nearly through the gate to Southwall when a ruckus in an alleyway to his left caught his attention. He focused his gaze in that direction, fishing his spectacles from the small pouch around his neck (no pockets) and perched them on his nose. He dicked his long dragon neck to a lower, better vantage point and peered in the dimly lit alley behind the Inn. What he saw surprised him. A Lizard, large and menacing was in the process of trying to hold the back door to the inn closed, leaning on it with all of his strength while various thumpings and muted shoutings floated through the door itself.. The giant lizard stood some 6 and feet tall and was fairly massive. Dagron took a couple steps forward and ducked his head even lower, cleared his throat and spoke to the Lizard.

"Ahem!" He said "What's going on here?" he continued in a deep basso profundo that reverberated through the alleyway.

To say the lizard was startled was an understatement. Dag was startled himself when, at the sound of the voice the Lizard turned his head and, seeing Dag, screamed in fear and stumbled backwards. He left leg caught on a nail and the Lizard literally jumped out of its skin leaving a human figure, in red long underwear (complete with trap door) to stumble on and fall into the trash at the rear of the alleyway. Dagron blinked twice in surprise and looked closely at the figure, recognizing it as Ganzelle, Court Mage of KORT. Dag, forgetting he was a dragon, took another step forward just as the Inn door crashed open and several slightly tipsy figures rushed out into the alley brandishing weapons and looked him straight in the face. The first one tried to stop, but the crush of the rest of the ones following forced him forward virtually throwing him under Dag's feet. It took a second or two, but they all remarkably rapidly perceived, even in the midst of their drunken state, that they were confronted with more than a mere lizard. There was moment of awkward silence which Dagron, after a moment's thought, filled with a mighty dragon roar! The sound filled the alleyway and then refilled it, reverberating about the walls and shaking the windows and shutters on both sides. Three of the men fainted dead away, and the others began to climb over each other trying get back into the Inn. Several windows opened, and then quickly shut on the alley as the denizens of the various rooms and apartments looked out to see what was going on and then wisely decided it was none of their business. Moments later, the alley was clear, the door shut, and the only noise was Ganzelle's ragged breathing as he strove to remain invisible in the far corner of the alley.

Dagron took another Step towards Ganzelle and picked up the flaccid Lizard suit with one of his front claws, holding it out where he could examine it more closely. Ganzelle's breathing quieted noticeably as he noticed the reading glasses perched on the Dragon's nose. His eyes narrowed as he considered the sight before him. One of the unconscious forms heaped before the now closed Inn back door groaned and struggled to sit up. The Dragon cast a glance in his direction and thwapped him in the head with his tail, consigning him to unconsciousness once more. "Shaddap" was his only comment in the man's direction. Ganzelle's mind began to sort through the possibilities. He had the distinct impression that he had heard that voice before. He scratched his head as he struggled to his feet and took a tentative step towards the great, red beast. Dagron looked up from his examination of the lizard skin and addressed him.

"Nice job" he said. "You must have used up most of your potions and lotions getting this skin this supple". He went on. He rubbed the skin between two of his "fingers". "Really nice work" he murmured. He looked up at Ganzelle. "Lemme guess" he said, "Yer goin' as Ganzilla, Right?" He threw back his head and laughed uproariously. "I like it!" he finished and tossed the suit at Ganzelle, who was knocked to the ground under its impact. "Oooh" Dag said "Sorry about that he concluded, bending low and helping to remove the suit form on top of Ganzelle. "Jeez, Gan, you OK?"

"Dagron?" Ganzelle said in an incredulous voice as he emerged from under the costume. "Dagron?" he said again, an unbelieving tone in his voice. Ganz shook his head in disbelief and then laughed. "You're incredible" he went on as he looked at the place of the left leg of the costume where it had caught on the nail. He clucked his tongue and grimaced at the minor tear he found there. "I thought those goons were gonna end my evening" he said as he pulled a needle and thread from an inner pocket in the costume and began to sew the tear. "One of them stumbled into my room just as I was getting into costume. I hadn't buttoned up yet. The drunken fool thought I was a real Giant Lizard and called his equally drunken friends and the chase was on!" he finished.

Dagron chuckled. "Looks like they was kinda zealous" he said in an amused voice.

Ganzelle only nodded. "I tossed the first guy into the far corner of the room, and hid behind the door. His friends came and rushed over to his side, I ducked out the door and down the back stairs and out the back door. I was trying to get up a Wiz lock when you showed up." he finished as he snapped off the thread and finished the sewing job. He quickly donned the costume and buttoned up the back of the suit. "There!" he said, "Whaddya think?"

"I think these bozos endorsed ya already Bro!" Dag replied. "Shall we go?" Together, the Red Dragon and Ganzilla left the alleyway and made their way through the gate and onwards toward the party at Camelot.

Chapter Five

The Ninja was amusing yet another group of guests (Mostly female) at the party with an extremely complicated kata. His black-clad figure was a blur of graceful motion as he wove a intricate design with his whirling hands and feet. His eyes, the only part of him not covered by his deep black, form-fitting, outfit where indicative of the fierce concentration he had mustered as he moved into the last, and most difficult, part of his routine. Two sets of nunchuks appeared from no where and began speedy, whistling arcs and ovals, many coming alarmingly close to those who were watching. The waiting servant (looking a bit bored) tossed bits of fruit and vegetables in seeming random patterns more and more quickly. Impossibly, the Ninja successfully shattered each of them before they hit the ground. As quickly as they appeared, the nunchuks disappeared and the Ninja caught the ornate ceremonial spear the servant threw his way (none to gently either). The wonderfully detailed spear's carvings and castings disappeared as he spun it and performed a series of lunges and circles, the vicious point of the spear glinting in the lights as it flung itself in the weave of the Ninja's kata. The Kata finished with spear being cast high in the air and the Ninja performing a series of spin kicks and leaps before finishing, head bowed, on his knees, crouched over the floor, arms spread, palms downward. The was a collective holding of breath as the onlookers watched the spears descent, almost all breathing a sigh when the spear thudded heavily into the floor not two inches from his head. The applause was genuine and enthusiastic. The Ninja stood and acknowledged the applause with a silent and formal half-bow, each hand clapping once against its respective leg. After a moment he relaxed and his eyes conveyed the smile that was on his invisible lips to each onlooker. With his right hand, he grasped the ceremonial spear and wrest it from the floor, pausing to look at the hole it left in the antique Oaken floor of the banquet hall.

"That's not gonna make you a hero with the maintenance folks" Ganzilla said, having sidled into the on looking group and witnessed the end of the demonstration. "I'm pretty sure Nalika was hoping to keep the floors intact during the party" he finished.

"Occupational hazard" was Vinman's reply as he handed the spear to the waiting servant who rapidly disappeared. "Can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs" he continued happily. "Not a bad job, don't you think?" he asked hopefully, surveying Ganzelle's costume.

"Breaking a few eggs like this might result in Nal breaking a few legs" Tuvor offered as he joined the other two Knights. "Nice costume Ganz" he said. "You're Dag's mother-in-law - Right?" he finished with a grin.

Ganzelle just smiled in reply, looking Tuvie over, recognizing who he was portraying. "I thought you was gonna dress up too?" he asked in an innocent tone, raising an inquiring eyebrow.

Instead of the craftily designed and delivered riposte that Tuvor had been saving for the right moment, all that would come out was what sounded like a strangled giggle.

"What was that, didn't catch it" Ganzelle said in an amused voice.

"Suck what?" Vinman asked innocently.

Tuvor's only reply, in the midst of what was now obviously appreciative laughter, was to point to the doorway to Camelot's Main Banquet Hall at the largest, most sinister-looking Beholder anyone could ever remember seeing, at least that's what almost all said afterwards.

Of course, on closer inspection, the "sinister" factor of the Beholder was somewhat subdued by the multiple pairs of beer goggles that covered each and every pair of eye stalks. The beholder floated serenely through the doorway to the Hall and toward the buffet tables. The now crowded room parted in awe as the beast cruised toward the magnificent display of food. Once at the table, it rose above it and settled over some the more delectable offerings. There were some suspicious scuffling noises and one by one, a number of plates and other scraps flung themselves from the beast's gaping mouth. The onlookers watched with evident interest as the beast made it's way down the table, leaving a series of decimated plates and such in its wake. It took only a few moments for it to complete it's feasting and descend from the table. The mouth opened wide and all expected to hear some pronouncement of satisfaction, which was, at least in type, fulfilled by the booming burp that echoed through the hall, rattling empty dishes and glasses all over the nearby area. The Eye moved like a stately ship of the line amidst various disgusted looks and cries of "gross" and "disgusting" and the like toward the Ninja, Ganzilla, and Bassanova.

The trio of Knights watched the approach of the Beholder with grand amusement. It came to within a few paces of them an hovered, floating serenely in front of them, each eye stalk moving independently, appraising them in a fond kind of way.

"This is way closer than I ever really wanted to be to one of these things" Vinman observed casually.

"I take it back Ganz" Tuv said jokingly, "That's a much better representation of Dag's mother-in-law" he finished, pointing to the Beholder.

"There is a definite resemblance" Ganzelle observed dryly.

"Hey!" Corwin's voice said from the depths of the Beholder, "Let's not get personal now!" he went on in a voice surprisingly high pitched, seeing that it emanated from a creature that one would expect to speak in very, very low voice if it spoke at all.

"Hey Cor!" the Dagron/Dragon said amicably as he thumped up to the quartet. "Need a little Visine there bud" he observed. "Eye's looking a little swollen" he continued, munching on a side of pork he had snatched from a nearby roasting spit. He raised his head high and swallowed most of the Pork in a single swallow and then looked the remaining bone with evident disappointment. "Anyone up for a little countryside ravaging?" he asked, half seriously.

The clatter of hooves and baying of hounds prevented any of the others from answering.

Nalika, Iser, JeQuelle, Corel, and AllsFaire were enjoying some thoroughly marvelous conversation with several of the younger Squires and Pages. The adult beverages had been flowing freely, though not excessively and all present had begun to enjoy that pleasant, "all's well" glow. The conversation was witty and erudite and none of the four could remember when they had had such a marvelous time together at a party. The Windgray-Vampire, Woodsman-Werewolf, and Akumu-Golem had joined them and a good time was being had by all. That was what made the sudden intrusion so much of an annoyance when it occurred.

It started innocently enough. Just some baying of hounds from somewhere outside of the Hall, but the baying came closer and closer until most of the hall had stopped what they were doing and were looking in the direction of the Grand Entrance of the Hall, and looking at each other questioningly. Accompanying the mournful and threatening baying came an increasingly audible drumming of horses hooves growing louder and closer each second. An inexplicable sense of foreboding and even a bit of fear began to creep into the hearts of those in the hall, all of which were now looking about them and at the main doors, standing closed and appearing almost sinister in what appeared, to many, to be a darkening of the area around the doors. The lights in the hall dimmed slightly and suddenly the doors burst open and a foul smelling, extremely cold wind whistled throughout the hall., causing what light remained to flicker and great shadows to dance on the walls and ceiling and floor. The baying of the Hounds grew to crescendo proportions as six huge hounds of indiscriminate but unmistakably vicious demeanor burst through the doors and into the Hall. The spread out and stopped inside the door stood, snarling and snapping their jaws, lips lifted revealing hideous teeth, drool dripping liberally to the floor. Their heads ducked a bit as they regard the people in the room, clearly thinking of them in terms of prey and the hair on their great, muscular backs bristled with evil intention. The two groups, hounds and party guests, regarded each other for just a moment before the party goers minds were snapped back to the growing din of pounding horses hooves. A moment later a great, coal-black stallion burst into the room and paused to rear upon its hind legs just behind the line of hounds. Its iron-shod hooves casting sparks when they came into contact with the marble floor. It's eyes were wide with hate and its breath came as a great bellows, emitting belches of steam through its nose in clouds that rolled about in front of him.

Sitting astride the awesome beast was a headless man. Clad all in black with a long, flowing black cape, he seemed the embodiment of all that is dreadful and frightening. Many in the room involuntarily drew breaths as memories of childhood fears and nightmares rose like unwelcome specters in each mind. A shiver shook its way down many spines as they beheld the spectacle and redoubled as they heard the purely unearthly laugh that echoed through the hall. Flashes of lightning illuminated the room through the windows and accompanying claps of thunder boomed their way into the hall. The moment would stand etched into the minds of each of the witnesses for many, many years to come.

After a long moment, the inherent cynicism in many of the older Knights minds began to assert itself.

"Yer ride's here Tuvie" Ganzilla quipped after taking a deep breath.

"Izat one of yer bill collectors, Tuv?" Vinman the Ninja asked.

"Oooooo!" The Red Dragon said hungrily, "Seconds!"

On the other side of the room, the gathered Knights watched the Horse and rider with interest. Their minds began to whirl with thought. They'd been through moments like this before, at other parties at other times. A name rose to many minds, almost simultaneously expressed by numerous sets of lips. Exegete!

At that moment, the hounds, plunged into the crowd, baying in faces, and nipping and snapping at the heels and legs of the party goers who virtually fell over each other scrambling out of the way. The horse reared once again and then bolted into the crowd, dashing toward the middle of the hall, hooves clattering and showering all nearby with sparks. The horse and rider darted about the hall, hither and thither, causing chaos where ever they went. The hounds were indiscriminate with their attentions, furthering the chaos dramatically.

The group of Knights with Nalika watched all of this with growing annoyance. They were convinced of the riders identity and while they willing to allow some leeway for his somewhat eccentric sense of humor, they all grew more impatient and upset as the moments passed.

"Really now" AllsFaire said, breaking the silence first. "Enough is enough!" she went on stamping her foot.

"I agree entirely" Coral said, picking herself up from the latest passage of the hounds. "He's going entirely too far!"

"The hound's teeth are very realistic" Iser said, examining a tiny cut on her leg where a hound had nipped her. "He is being rather incautious this time" she went on, waving a hand over the cut, which promptly closed and then disappeared.

"Well, I can take care of the hounds" the Huntress/Jequelle said meaningfully drawing her bow and fitting an arrow, which she promptly let fly at the retreating hindquarters of the last of the hounds. The arrow caught up with hound and disappeared through it, continuing on and imbedding itself into the wall beyond. Jequelle blinked in disbelief. "They got real teeth" she said, "they should have real hynnies" she commented.

"Awright!" Nalika said in her GM voice. "Let's put a stop to this, he's had enough fun for one night. Spread out and snag him before he ruins the party!" she exclaimed.

The Akumu-Golem motioned to his tow brother Knights, the Werewolf and the Vampire and the three started out in the direction of the horse and rider, now causing pandemonium at the far end of the hall. "We'll head him off" he shouted back at Nalika over the growing din of voices in the hall.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the Great Hall, the Horseman was making life interesting for the other, smaller, group of Knights. Tuvor/Bassanova was trying to extricate himself from a pile of Page and Squires that had been trying to escape from the hounds and had run he and Ganzilla down in the process. Ganzilla, for his part, had taken to biting at various body parts of those on top of him in a vain attempt to get them off of him. Vinman the Ninja yelped in surprise and pain as Ganzilla's costume teeth found his leg and leaped to his feet, directly in the path of several of the onrushing hounds. He smiled and took a couple quick steps toward them and launched a vicious jump kick from an angle at the leading hound. His eyes widened in unbelief as he sailed through the hound and, unfortunately, into the Beholder/Corwin who, in turn, sailed rapidly, albeit gracefully directly into the Dagron/Dragon.

Dagron, surprised as any to see the Ninja sail right though a seemingly solid hound, was extra startled to see the giant Beholder sailing toward him at alarming speed. Forgetting his early try at flight in his haste, he attempted to leap into the air, unfurling his great wings in the process. He succeeded in rising several feet towards the ceiling, but, being inexperienced at such matters was not able to keep all of his appendages under control. He understandably concentrated on his wings, but only at the expense of his very long tail. He managed to hover some dozen feet above the spectacle below him and was giving serious consideration to letting loose a fireball at the rider whom he was now convinced was none other than KORT's own Lord Scribe and Jester, Exegete. He thoughts never grew to fruition, however, because while concentrating on hovering and trying to remember how to get a fireball to come out of his mouth instead of his fingers, he lost track of that long, long tail which, seemingly independent of any direction flicked far to close to the nearby chandelier and promptly caught fire. A Moment later, as the pain of the event caught up with his brain, Dagron screamed out an epithet, grabbed at his tail, forgot about flying or fireballs and promptly plunged into the midst of the buffet table below. He crashed into the table with mighty roar, spreading food and drink over the already chaotic scene, splattering all nearby liberally with various condiments and foodstuffs.

"Oh my god!" AllsFaire shrieked as she watched the great Dragon plunge to the floor. She, Iser, Jequelle and Coral began to rush towards the fallen Dagron who by now had his sore tail immersed in a huge bowl of Punch. Nalika tried to follow, but, upon turning around, was confronted by two hounds, eyes glowing as the stalked her. She was confused for a moment, but then realized that the cause for such "special" attention was her costume, painstakingly patterned after beloved cat. "Aw Jeez" she muttered and quickly called up the words to a hold spell only to see it fizzle, dampened by some anti-magic force. The hounds growled menacingly and advanced. Nal looked about her, but all of those who had been a part of the group who had only moments before been happily trading whoppers and laughing together had, by now, been scattered to the various corners of the Great Hall. The approach of the hounds was now making her situation desperate and, as she had no weapon, she did the only thing she could think, she sprinted the nearest wall and began to climb the wall hanging (the one that depicts one of KORT's great victory in the wars several years before. She managed, with some difficulty, to get far enough up the hanging to be out of range of the hounds jumps and snapping jaws. Hanging in a decidedly undignified position, she resolved then and there to find some exquisite torture to subject her Lord Scribe to pay him back for all of this. She thought about the matter further as she began to yell for help.

The horse and rider had so far eluded all attempts to corner and capture him, but it was only a matter of time as groups of Knights, Squires and Pages were converging on him from all points of the Hall. The great stallion rose to its hind legs once again and the headless horseman once more laughed his defiance at all who were present. He whistled (though having not head, not mention any lips, with what was not clear) a shrill and piercing whistle and the hounds turned from their prey and rushed to his side. Once they were near, from a secret pocket he took smallish device that looked like a jack-o-lantern and cast down some three meters in front of he and the hounds. It exploded into a cloud of dense smoke and a thunderous boom that rolled around the room. The onrushing Knights and others skidded to a stop in the smoke and coughing, waited several moments until the smoke cleared, revealing nothing but a blank wall where the horseman, horse and hounds had been. Several Knights stepped forward and touched the wall, which was as solid as it appeared. Detect Invis was cast (the "anti-magic" field now, apparently, having dissipated) but revealed nothing. The group murmured and talked amongst themselves the babble growing until the Lady Nalika, released from her perch, arrived in a huff.

She surveyed the now all but completely destroyed room. He faced clouded with anger and she spoke with a terrible, dread to her voice. "He should be horsewhipped, thoroughly horsewhipped!" she exclaimed.

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the assembled group, though there was some sentiment for a more severe punishment form the Akumu/Corwin/Tuvor quarter.

Nalika sighed and looked around her once again. "Well" she said, "Let's clean up a bit and see if we can't salvage some of the party" she finished resignedly.

The clean up went fairly rapidly and the Hall was beginning to look respectable once again when growing hum from above the working Knights, Squires and Pages grew and took their attention. A fluffy, white cloud formed and from it emerged several Herald's trumpets which promptly blew a grand, intricate and glorious fanfare in virtuoso fashion. They receded into the cloud and the cloud umbrellas appeared next to every person in the room. The cloud looked more and more rain-like and a voice echoed throughout the room, advising them to use them wisely and immediately. The assembled group looked at one another, and then as one hastened to put the umbrellas up! The last umbrella wasn't up a moment when the cloud opened and began to pour - Oreo cookies! The cookies fell until the floor was littered , in some places two inches deep. A fanfare similar to the first sounded once again, this time from the direction of the main door to the hall. With a flash of light and flourish of the trumpets, Sir Exegete de la Forge, Knight Errant and Lord Scribe of the Knights of the Round Table stepped into the hall. He dressed as a huge Oreo Cookie, and very delicious looking I might add. His smiling face poked out through a whole about halfway up the 12 foot tall cookie and he beamed with pleasure and evident affection at his assembled fellows.

"Sorry I'm late guys!" he piped cheerfully. "I had a hard time with the illusion and only just got it straight." he finished, faltering at the end of his sentence as he noticed the hostile looks that surrounded him. He looked at the Hall, much better in shape now, but still giving evidence of the chaos that had prevailed just a short time earlier. The crowd advanced upon him menacingly, the umbrellas now in mind for more than shelter from the weather. Exe took a step backward in self defense.

"Jeez, guys, If I'da known it was this important to be on time, I'da made sure I was earlier!" he said in a wounded tone.

The crowd advance slowly toward, their intentions becoming increasingly clear.

"Get 'Im" a voice shouted form the rear of the group and the group broke into a rush and charged Exe, now moving out of the hall fairly quickly himself.

The crowd ran after the retreating Oreo brandishing their weapons and hurling various epithets after the now sprinting Exegete, who was running as fast as any Oreo cookie you've ever seen.

Unseen by any, but there none the less, the headless horseman "looked" down from his high vantage point, looking in one of the skylight windows as the now hysterical mob chased Exe from the hall into the darkness beyond. His haunting laughter rolled once again over the quiet of the Neverwinter Square as he enjoyed the moment. As far as he was concerned, a hauntingly good time was had by all!