On a cold winters night

Elven dreams in the wilderness

It is difficult for anyone to sleep in the cold nights and harsh winds of a Bretonian winter, but Merlynar, priest of Willowstar, finds it especially hard. To the east the vast sprawling citadel – once the jewel of all Grayhawk – stands in the grip of a ferocious civil war. The deposed queen, Gundren, flees for her life in the company of his fellow travellers, wanderers beset by undead and evil.

It is a heavy burden for the fledgling priest on his first assignment, but duty and a love for what is right spurs him on. When sleep eventually comes he is troubled by the eyes of Ethari – eyes that his deadly bow puncture.

But on this night, colder than any other, a dream so vivid comes that Merlynar swears he is awake.

“It is Mohimas priest…forgive me but our code word was I am the wizard if memory serves me. I am captured, enslaved by a greater and darker sorcery than my own…this method of communication is unpredictable at best but it is the only way I can be sure that my words to you aren’t heard.

“The battle for Gran Breton is fierce and deadly…unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The struggle for power has pitted Korven and his cronies (Fallok the chancellor) against the other three noble houses. Bretonian butchers Bretonian in the street, the blood flows like rainwater in places. But my captor seems aloof from all the killing and goes to great lengths to avoid Korven and the Ethari…even now he prepares some exquisite torture for me…no doubt to prise whatever information he can.

“I have never felt such power! I swear the man’s will could turn back the ocean if he put his mind to it…you might have heard of him: it is Illeum Runesabre! Yet there is something about his demeanour that strikes me as odd, I have a gut feeling that he is not involved in any of this – not the civil war or the struggle for succession. It seems he is looking for something…or for someone. Perhaps he is after Gundren…I don’t know. By the look of his tools of torture I am in for an exciting afternoon!

“He is accompanied by a young woman…a very beautiful young woman who is on guard at the door. She might be a protégé of his although she wears a golden katana across her back…there is something elvish about her although I can’t see details I sense the blade has something to do with Willowstar…or at least the Elenorians.

“The Erenlander is in no mood for dialogue; he has paralysed me magically and restrained me physically…I can’t even talk.

“Before my capture I learnt that Korven is desperate to find and kill Gundren. He is increasingly frustrated that you and your companions keep slaying the Ethari – in and around the citadel they are proving devastating. Your descriptions have been widely circulated but the main effort has been directed to the east – he believes that Gundren will head back to her father in Rosengrad. That has bought you enough time to reach the Bretonian Peaks.

“When you hit the mountains you must search for a small village called Grunth where you will find a friend of mine called Dwiamar. The mountain passes will be closed now for the next couple of months but Dwiamar knows of several sheltered tracks that are navigable by an experienced tracker like him. He and I are good friends and I have informed him of your coming…if not the reasons for that coming. He is trustworthy and is one of only a handful of trackers that can get you into the Maldrick Forest.

“Go with great haste, Merlynar, and should you have a spare moment pray for my soul…I think I’m going to need it!”

Merlynar thrashes in his sleep. He's a    practical priest; praying for souls is all very well when there's nothing else left to try! Remembering that Mohimas is not native to Greyhawk, he shapes a Dismissal spell in his mind, and flings it across the link, hoping to precipitate Mohimas back to Necromedes and safety.

[If that fails] He strives to communicate through whatever magic Mohimas has used. ''Mohimas! Is there anyone who might rescue you? Someone on Necromedes? Give me their name and I will try to contact them!"

“I am stunned,” Mohimas says, “Dreamcasting is normally only possible by gods or the very best sorcerers…you have hidden talents priest. But not even the gods can cast through dreams, though I appreciate your endevour. I am beyond the aid of anyone for this sadistic sorcerer Runesabre wishes to pollute my blood and make me undead – a vassal that must serve him.

“Whilst I still have willpower you must hear me and take heed of my advice. The next time we meet the old Mohimas will be gone, replaced by a slave whose will is bent to oppose you…do not hesitate – strike me dead with all your power for it will not be me. However plausible or polite it will not be Mohimas – instead it will be a weapon steered to you by Illeum Runesabre.

“I am to be the tool to recover what he wants…at first I thought he was after Gundren, a hostage to hold sway over King Archibald, but I was mistaken. It is what she carries – the pretty woman let it slip during my capture – Runesabre knows what few Bretonians know about her. Runesabre and the young woman talked at length about it but I was not able to discern what it was.

“It has been nice knowing you priest. When we next meet show me no mercy and make sure you burn my body to ashes…

“Go in peace…”