recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Drummond the Intergalactic Robotic Manservant

This is the second short story to feature William H. McGonagall.

**Plot**

William is now a Professor at Plimsil University on the Planet of Trefflemore.

His Aunt Godzilla sends him, in a crate, a Robot Manservant known as Drummond. William is hung over and does not like the intrusion of the crate and Miss Wittershall his next door neighbour. However he is much happier when Drummond rids him of both his hangover and Miss Wittershall.

Drummond soon becomes indespensible to William, organising his meetings and keeping the house clean and tidy.

The Dean finds William a job on Planet Galloseb of the Urusa System and Drummond gently suggests that William takes it, much to Williams chagrin.

One night Drummond wakes William with a cup of Yettersnatchen coffee and explains that the planet has been invaded by the Cremators, a race of Giant Killer Robots. Drummond and William escape into the forest where they witness the destruction of the Plimsil University.

After resting in a refugee centre Drummond then presuades William to go to the spaceport with him in order to make contact with the Illusians who are rumoured to have a secret base in the system.

They go to the spaceport, but on the way are followed and confronted by Miss Wittershall. Drummond then spins her a story about how William has a nano-virus on him from the Psuedo-Earth that the Illusians may be able to extract and use to defeat the Cremators.

Miss Wittershall agrees to lend them her small fast space ship (called the Nancy IV) and they make a daring escape from Trefflemore and later arrive at the Illusian base. The Base is home to three Illusians known as the Guild of Liars. The Base is known as the Liar's Lair. They are experimenting with a concept alien to them, namely - lying.

After a painful and bloody 'extraction' process William goes back to the Nancy IV to get his pipe and in inadvertently launched into space back towards the Cremator fleet. Under instruction from Drummond he examines the Illusian 'bomb' that Drummond had secreted on board.

Through bungling William scares off the Cremator fleet by using the bomb, which is a giant hologram projector. He appears before them as a burning bloody diety, cursing them and ordering them to go home.

He is then picked up by Drummond and Miss Wittershall and deciding to not go back to Trefflemore as it has strick laws about passing yourself off as a god they set a course for the Planet Galloseb.
Joilan's Sanatorium

Joilan's Sanatorium is in Gnarlwold on the border with Styke.

It was an old sanatorium that was built by a progressive earlier King of Gnarlwold (King Jolian VI) about 150 years ago.

As Gnarlwold is now almost totaly overrun with undead and demons now, it is not a suprise that this sanatorium is now the way it is.

King Bludwurm is the ruler of Gnarlwold now and a follower of his - Ratter, is now the custodian of Joilan's Sanatorium.

Ratter was once a royal paladin but was driven insane by a demon summoned by King Bludwurm. He has turned the Sanatorium into the headquarters of a blood-cult which terrorises the surrounding lands.
Avadeti

The old man that lives in the shacks by the Black Gate in the Plane of Shadow

..

His name was Avadeti and when they introduced themselves he asked, 'Are you intending to travel
through the black gate?'
'Perhaps,' answered Fenrir.
'Towards what purpose?'
Fenrir looked at Barrington, but the paladin shrugged.
'We were only told to find it,' he said. 'Then report back.'
'Well, if you do,' said Avadeti. 'Don't spend too much time in the Voidlands. Undead lurk in
the mists and even just breathing the fetid air will kill you after a while. No one can survive
long there, but sometimes, rarely, people come through the gate. Little flecks of habitiable land
still remain of our world. How to find them I have no idea. Also, it is a world of what the scholars
call Wild Magic. Spells will have strange effect unless you are a real master.'

The old man then went on to explain what had happened to his world.
'It is an infinite sorrow that I carry with me, the descruction of my world. We were a world of
great power and magic. My people walked the planes, they crafted many wonderous items, they researched
a thousand spells. But the arch mages grew too powerful, too bold and too proud. They attempted
to build a device that turn anything into a spell. Put a rabbit in and you got a shard (we used shards
to store our spells, they functioned in the same way as scrolls) and you got a spell that summoned
a rabbit. Point the device at an ocean and you get a spell that created water. You understand?
Well, the first time the device was used, it didn't turn something into a spell, it turned EVERYTHING
into a spell. It stripped the entire top layer of our world off and converted them into shards.
Only a few of us survived, I've no idea how. I can never return, I would be turned into a shard,
so here I wait.'
Gnarlwold

Gnarlwold is a nation in northern Nillamandor that has been completely over run with undead. The current King of Gnarlwold is an undead liche.

This causes great problems and concerns to the neighbouring lands of Styke, Enttland and Eask.

Gnarlwold is currently ruled by King Bloodwurm.

From IOD:

‘Very well.
Gnarlwold then.’

Roztov put
down his drink and rubbed his eyes. ‘Have you been to Gnarlwold, do you know
what’s happening there?’

‘Surely you
are now not going to argue that the undead are “just people too”…?’
Arahel

Arahel

Age : 9

**History**

Is recruited by Cavu as part of a squad he is planning to send to Kingsholm to carry on the Forgotten King quest arc.

She dies when the Singing Sword is attacked by mummys sent by Harrister Blatt's sinister new mistress.

She is later ressurected by Gertrude the White in the Temple to Illmater.

**The Sinister Spire**

She joins Veddic, Billi and Durz when they all travel to Homlett, enter the portal at the Moathouse and turn up at the Devil's Brew tavern.

They leave the tavern, in the wrong direction, are attacked by ogres and bears where Veddic dies. Arahel flies away holding Durz.

Later they meet up again and get directions from some orcs, one of which Durz marries.

They finally arrive at Kingsholm, where Cavu wants them to arrange him accomodation.

During their escapades in Kingsholm Billi is contacted by Erin Ja once more. Arahel scares her off by turning into a Beholder in the Corrinet and Cabbage. This gets them all arrested.

Arahel and the Spire Gang eventually work out all the goings on in the Kingsholm Cemetery and enter the Forgotten King's Barrow. From here they arrive at an underground Earth Node, fight some cockroaches then travel through the node to the Great Grotto. Here they meet Brurhwol Coalhauler, travel over the Oceanbridge and are attacked by Skum lead by an Aboleth.
Dynar

The Dynar were a race of tough elves that ones populated a large area of Nillimandor.

At one point it was known as the Marathon Empire.

When the Empire fell the Dynars disappeared.

Some of them went to Hannah on the island of Istoria

The Royal Family of Lalor have Dynarian blood.

Artifacts they left behind include Dynarian Wraithblades.
Gelly

Westgate

Tells the PCs this for 300gp:

I have the name of a being that describes herself as the leader of the Night Parade. There is a house on Fish street that everyone knows to be haunted. It is said by some that this is the dwelling of the last members of the Night Parade in Westgate. Her name is Bezebelle and she is said to be unspeakably evil.
However, I have heard from a usually trustworthy source that she knows the location of a Snake Gate.
How I don't know, I suppose you can ask her, but if I was to guess I would say that creatures that are essentially nightmares made flesh have skill in moving between Planes.

She is treated to some drinks by Fenrir who chats her up at the cottage.

Later

She leaves city, because of trouble with the Night Masks

Returns, and then hides out at Fenrir's house
Baroness Hook

Baroness Hook is the current ruler of the region of Styke known as the Hook Vale.

**Description**

Tall and plump, the Baroness Hook looks like she has come from a long line of northern raiders. She tries to fit into the opulent outfits of modern day court life, but it sets an odd juxtaposition against her Wagnerian physique.
The Baroness dresses herself and her court in an Enttish style and tries to adopt all the latest Entland fashions. If Timu ever thought she was going to try and actually move her Barony from Styke to Enttland, she would have the army down on her pretty quickly.
Still, she is a good natured soul, if a little misguided.

**Her Barony**

Her Barony is known as the Hook, and the castle is Hook Castle. The lands are carved directly out of the dangerous Tanglewood and is overlooked by the inhospitable cliffs of the Hook of Wolves.
Court of the Night King

The Court of the Night King.

All are vampires.

CENTRE - Orlak II "The Night King"

CENTRE RIGHT - Darklady Dahlia Vhammos - Blackguard of Shar

FAR RIGHT - Phultan Hammerwand - Wizard

FAR LEFT - Tebryn "Shadowstalker" Dalael - Half-elf Wizard/Thief

CENTRE LEFT - The Twilight Knight - Fighter

The Court of the Night King is in the Catacombs under the city of Westgate.

It contains several unique structures.
Gylefen River

Gylefen River is a river of Nillamandor, that flows from Enttland to the Diamond Sea.

The River flows through several long lakes including the Gyle in Styke.

**From the Portal of Returning:**

*... then book passage on a coastal trader which would take them all the way up the Gylefen River, right into the heart of Enttland.*

*The journey up the Gylefen River was safe, and apart from interesting midnight flights from police vessels, uneventful*
Hey Ya!

## Lyrics

**Sid:**

One, two, three!

My baby don't mess around

Because she loves me so

This I know fo sho!

But does she really wanna

But can't stand to see me walk out the door

Don't try to fight the feeling

Because the thought alone is killin' me right now

Thank God for Mom and Dad

For sticking to together

Like we don't know how

**Tammi and Carly with Wedding Guest:**

Hey ya! Hey ya!

Hey ya! Hey ya!

Hey ya! Hey ya!

Hey ya! Hey ya!

**Sid:**

You think you've got it

Oh, you think you've got it

But got it just don't get it when there's nothin' at all

We get together

Oh, we get together

But separate's always better when there's feelings involved

Nothing lasts forever!

**Sid (Tammi and Carly):**

Then what makes it, then (what makes it)

Then what makes it, then (what makes it)

Then what makes

**Tammi and Carly:**

love the exception?

**Sid:**

So why, oh, why, oh

Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh

Are we still in denial when we know we're not happy here

**Tammi and Carly with Wedding Guest (Sid):**

Hey ya! (y'all don't want to here me, ya just want to dance) Hey ya!

Don't want to meet your daddy (oh ohh), just want you in my caddy (oh ohh)

Hey ya! (oh, oh!) Hey ya! (oh, oh!)

Don't want to meet your momma, just want to make you cum-a (oh, oh!)

I'm (oh, oh) I'm (oh, oh) I'm just being honest! (oh, oh)

I'm just being honest!

**Sid:**

Hey! alright now! alright now, fellas!

**Guys:**

Yea?

**Sid:**

Now, what cooler than being cool?

**Guys:**

Ice cold!

**Sid:**

I can't hear ya! I say what's, what's cooler than being cool?

**Guys:**

Ice cold!

**Sid:**

Alright alright alright alright

alright alright alright alright

alright alright alright alright

alright alright alright alright!

Okay, now ladies!

**Ladies:**

Yea?

**Sid:**

Now we gonna break this thang down for just a few seconds,

Now don't have me break this thang down for nothin',

I want to see you on your badest behavior!

Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor!

Ah! Here we go now,

**Tammi and Carly with Wedding Guest (Sid):**

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it,

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it,

Shake it like a Polaroid picture! (**Carly:** Hey ya!)

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it,

Shake it, shake it (**Tammi:** shake it, suga!)

Shake it like a Polaroid picture!

(Now all the Beyonce's, and Lucy Liu's, and baby dolls)

(Get on tha floor get on tha floor!)

Shake it like a Polaroid picture!

(Oh, you! oh, you!)

Hey ya!(oh, oh) Hey ya!(oh, oh)

Hey ya!(oh, oh) Hey ya!(oh, oh)

Hey ya!(oh, oh) Hey ya!(oh, oh)
Ismark the Lesser

Brother of Ireena Kolyana

From my log:

Once I had recovered from all the fighting I went over and introduced myself to the nobleman.
His clothing was expensive looking but stained. He seemed pretty relaxed considering everything that was going on, or just drunk perhaps.
When he said he would talk to me, but that 'talking was thirsty work,' I resisted the urge to walk away and ordered more wine. He opened up and sighing he said,
'My name is Ismark the Lesser, my father was Kolyan the Burgomaster. His body now lies in the mansion. My sister is still there and refuses to leave the place. This all began in the church. It was Danovich.
Then the zombies came. Fendrik and Mathilder went to investigate the church... Strad, is in his castle. He is a devil! My father stood up to him, with a Holy Symbol of Ravenkind... But one morning father was found dead by poison and the Symbol no longer worked. Ireena, my sister, sits vigil on his body and will not leave the mansion...'
Julgia

Juglia is a country mentioned inthe Portal of Returning.

It is rulled by vampires.

One of them is Lord Rutven of Graz.

Julgia is small country in North East Nillamandor.

**Culture**

*Guards dressed in black, and wearing full-faced helms strutted around like lords.*

**Villages**

Graz

*It was a mountainous region, but still the first real country north of the Norob Forest, other than small collections of villages on its northern fringes. Evergreen forests creep up the mountain sides to the snow capped peaks. The towns and villages of this country cling to the steep slopes like black slugs. It seemed to be permanently raining, and somewhere in the distance, trapped in a valley somewhere, you could always hear the sound of a thunderstorm. The locals said that the region made its own weather. The first few villages we travel through were made up of strong sturdy mountain folk, with a pioneer's attitude, cutting a living from the wild forests. As we travelled further north, the atmosphere grew more oppressive, the citizens seemed tired and broken. Guards dressed in black, and wearing full-faced helms strutted around like lords. The guards were the strangest I had ever seen, they never revealed their faces, and were all very tall and muscular, and wore enough armour to put an Enttish knight to shame. They were arrogant and loud, and tormented the countries populace endlessly, like playground bullies. I almost longed for the trackless wilderness again.*

*It was difficult terrain to travel on as well, the roads wound there way up to a high mountain pass, then back down the other side into the next valley. As the crow flies we might travel just five miles on bad days. The horses were not used to such steep paths either, and even the malcontent Bessy seemed to prefer to keep her head down and not bite at the others, as if she also sensed the desolation in the area.*

*Each valley had a village, and each village had a castle nearby brooding over the deep v-shaped valleys like a vast stone vulture.*

*After over a week of this, we had all pretty much had enough, the conversation and banter had dried up, and each night we arrived at a village, soaking wet from the rain, and entered usually the only inn, invariably a cheerless place, with just a few stony-faced patrons, looking into their tankards and mumbling. It was quiet common to see runes and pentagrams carved into the wall to ward off evil spirits. The people in all of the villages we travelled through, had the same white, and drawn composure's, as if they were not getting enough vitamins in their diet. They looked warn out and shabby, and almost to a man, they had the same plodding way of walking, as if they had the weight of the world on their shoulders.*
Black Forest

The Black Forest is an area in the southern parts of the Angor Forest. It is so sinister and dangerous that not even the King dares to send troops there although this is actually true of half of Styke.

It is legaly a Barony in Styke, but this is only on paper.

The ruler of the Black Forest is the self styled sorceress Ellana, who describes herself as the 'Mistress of the Void', She is incredibly powerful and famously evil. She is also, nominally again, the Baroness of the region although King Woad would get rid of her if he could.
Casper Von Furter

Buried in the Graveyard at Timu and still a very active ghost!

This is the shade of Casper Von Furter, the last Lord of Murgot, the kingdom that was lost to sword and flame two hundred years ago, when Timu was just a village. He died on the lance of

   his own cousin, Indigo Von Furter who later became king of Styke.

Casper's ghost still thirsts for revenge.
Earth

Planet Earth is the home system of the FPSO.

**Laws**

The use of Robotic Manservants is outlawed on Planet Earth as William says to Miss Wittershall:

'*Old biddies a hundred years ago thought they were quite the thing, but well ... robots have rights now, their use is outlawed back on Earth'*

**Organisations**

Rights for Robots and the Anti-Servitor League are both organisations set up for the help and protection of robots.

There is also RAB, Robots Advice Bureau although some robots, such as Drummond considered that *"It is generally acknowledged that it deals with the lower end of robotic beings, appliances, factory workers and the like"*
Eno

Eno

First picked up by Corum and Fenrir on the way back to Waterdeep from Rhainford.

It looked like he was a poor fighter at the time and was armed with only a bread knife.

Some investigation by Corum revealed he had a sinister past and was infact a very adept Rogue.

It was Eno that killed some watchmen when it was revealed that the dopplegangers had replaced his girlfriend (and others) at the festhall. As a result Eno had a deep rooted hatred of the creatures.

Corum considers him to be insane and should be under arrest as he did kill some watchmen but that he was simply too poweful to take down easily and that he was at least doing good for the city.

While spying on the Brewery Gang (Corum, Fenrir etc) he would often dress as a harlequin or jester.

He befriended Raya and became a rat catcher.

***When Corum and Fenrir are nearly killed by dopplegangers he delivers this lecture:***

"You guys are really strange .... it is a miracle to me that you are still alive. You are pursuing a bunch of shape-shifters correct? That is what you have told me. So you could guess that they may get on your tracks and follow you, OK? And you take little to no precautions .... no secret hide-outs ... no security around your place .... not even a simple glass-filled bucket to make a racket? Do you have a death wish? What for do you think these guys have come for? To invite you for a nice cup of tea? They are here because they wanted to take you over! Lucky I watched this place and noticed them. You saved the life of my daughter ... so I saved yours. We are even!"
"There is a bunch of guys outside who will bust into this place within the next 5 minutes. I guess they would to discuss with you the recent street artwork which has been posted throughout Dockward. It is up to you if you want to negotiate your innocense .... if you want to make a stand and fight for your survival .... or if you want to run and hide!"
"You have kicked up a wasps hive with one foot and stamped into a scorpion nest with the other. Your call what you will do next."
Eight Ways Inn

A tavern at a major cross-roads of the Underdark not far from Westgate.

**The Inn**

From Rollo's Journal:

*And so we left the cavern and continued to follow the trail left by the troglodyte army. We arrived at a much smaller cavern that had a total of eight tunnels leading into it. There was a door in one corner and a gravestone in the other. On the stone were strange runes, but Fenrir could translate them and told us that they said;*

*Posterity will ne’er survey*

*Stop, traveller, and piss!*

 *Well, I wasn't going to, but Fenrir did. He said he felt a shiver run down his spine when he did so as some minor magical benefit was bestowed on him.*

*The door, meanwhile, was made from ironbound rock slabs. There was a hatch in it, but Fenrir used his ring of Knock. I listened at the door and could here something lurking within, so instead of just barging in Fenrir knocked.*

*The hatch opened and a crude earthen face looked at us, blinking in the light of our lanterns. 'Overworlders is it?' he said in Undercommon. 'What do you want?'*

*Well, it turned out this was an inn called the 'Eight Ways'. The man at the door was actually a 'slyth', a fairly gentle race native to the Underdark. He was the doorman, the place was run by an elderly dark elf couple. They didn't get much pass through trade, but today it was quite 'busy' apparently as there was another man in the common room and a group of five dwarves.*

During the time of Fenrir and Rollo's visit they met:

Veets the Spelunker

Five dwarves from a place called Boatmurdered.

**The Night of the Minotaur**

*We got rooms at the back and went to bed, but were all woken up when screaming could be heard coming from the main room. Fenrir, unusually cautious, had us all go into one room to wait and see what happened. There was the sound of crashes, roars, screams for mercy, that sort of thing. I was itching to go help, but Fenrir thought it safer to stay put and await developements. When it seemed clear that the rooms were not being targeted though we eventually did go down the tunnel to see what was going on, only to meet the minotaur coming charging the other direction in a berzerker rage.*

*It took a few swings at us, but Fenrir gave it some really powerful blasts and down it went. All the elves and the innkeepers wife were dead. Only the innkeeper was alive although he was utterly distraught. The main room was a blood bath and no one knew what exactly had happened to set off whatever had happened.*

**Afterwards**

The Eight Ways is currently not owned by anyone, but is used by passing travellers as a resting spot.

Through long tradition it is still a place where beings that would normally fight each other are at peace.
The Midpoint Island Gang

Rollo and his friends that went to Midpoint Island

*Myself, Sylvia, Corum, Jiggles and Irritator went up to the cave while Molly, Stephen, Lavinia and Rolanda stayed with the ship.*

Those that entered the caves:

Rollo

Corum

Sylvia

Jiggles

Irritator

And those that were rescued

Gharlie

Giselle

Humber Lavius

Molly
Ratu Dela

From the Middle Kingdom:

The
king's sister, Ratu Dela had had two daughters before she died, they had had a
governess called Api Topi, but her and the two royal princesses were nowhere in
evidence. Tikus had tried asking about them as the princesses were about her
age, but they were either hiding in their rooms somewhere or had left the
palace all together. They could have left the capital for all she knew.

The princesses are Makan and Minum.
Rowyn Kellani

Rowyn Kellani

Is one of the first major bad guys encountered by Rollo, Raz, Nobby and Shifty.

As the Lady Lotus Dragon she is the head of a theives' guild in Sasserine. She is defeated by the PCs but escapes.

She later appears on the Sea Wyvern as a stowaway and is killed by Shifty. Retzal then gutted her and threw her body over the side.

She then returnes as the Ghost of the Sea Wyvern.
Carole Dee

Gloves (Average Solo)

STATS
points 52

INT  [4]
REF  [6/4]
TECH [6]
COOL [6]
ATTR [5]
EMP  [5/3]
BODY [9]
MOVE [5]
LUCK [6]

SKILLS

Combat Sense......[3]

Awareness/Notice{I[3]

Weapons Tech....{T[4]

Stealth.........{R[7]

Athletics.......{R[5]

Wrestling.......{R[6]

Melee...........{R[7]

Handgun.........{R[7]

Rifle...........{R[6]

Submachinegun...{R[2]

WEAPONS          type skl  dmg  #/rof rly

Vampires          MLE  11 1d6/3+1

Big Knucks        BRL  10 1d6+3

Budget Arms Auto3  P   10 3d6    8/2   U

Militech Ronin    RIF  11 5d6   35/30  V
B-A

Light 20mm    HVY   4 4d10  10/1   V

CYBERWARE

 Basic Neural Processor

Boosterware - +1 to initative

Chipware Socket

 Enhanced Antibodies - +1/day to healing

ARMOR:

Experimental Bomb-disposal Sub Derm - 25 - and 'temp HP' of 20 - also regrows - does not 'take the 1' from penitration

Suit 10
Dana / Jade

Dana

One of the 'Forgotten King' band of Adventurers.

Age : 22 (24)

Monk of the Old Order

**History**

Meets Banjax, Bokk and ? on a wild and stormy night, while sheltering in an old barrow during a 'Storm peace'.

Carried out several adventures with the above in the village of Seawall Pass.

Later transported to the Moonsea by a Yuan-ti teleporter.

In Kingsholm very nearly thwarts the plans of the Vanguard of Sertrous.

Together with the others (add), buries the items (add) and returns to Waterdeep.

Two years later she works as a bodygaurd for (add). After a fight she is imprisoned in the Farwatch Tower and rescued by Oz.

Grateful for her release she gives her part of the clue to the location of the items.
Askbakar Mountains

Askbakar Mountains

The Askbakar Mountains are a range of mountains in central Styke. They are wild and inhospitable, full of undead and goblin tribes.

The Benbow Hills are to the south and Rhoneland to the west. The mountains go deep into Gnarlwold to the east and are considered a highway, of sorts, for undead entering Styke.

Places in the Askbakar Mountans:

The Tower of Cuther

Goblin Caverns

Daffodil Valley

Lavage Pass

Ice Claw Pass

Kazien Ridge

Lorosmalle

The Hook

The Hook of Wolves

Stonebridge
Cremator

The galactic nation of Desolation Space was introduced in Drummond the Intergalactic Robotic Manservant.

Desolation Space is inhabited by a race of Giant Killer Robots known as the Cremators. As recorded by William McGonagall they are located on the 'left hand side of the galaxy' and were planet eaters, using all the resources of a planet to create yet more Cremator robots.

They attack planets in giant fleets of warships and land ground forces of tanks and giant killer robots.

Quote below:

*One of those threats, well I'm not an astrophysicist or an astronomer or anything, but its marked on the left hand wibbly bit of the maps of the Milky Way that you see about spaceports and suchlike, as being called Desolation Space, where the giant killer robots came from. Most people called them the* Cremators*, because that's what they did to everything. They were planet eaters, taking all the resources from a planet, replicating more of themselves and then moving on to the next system like a galaxy wide virus. I knew Trefflemore was closer to Desolation Space than Earth but still well within the safe regions of the FPSO.*
Tabaldak

Orphaned since before he could remember, he knew not who both his parents were. Only that his mother was a human from the West and his father was an Orc of Thesk. He was raised by the Shaman of an Orcish tribe at their encampment in the Mountains of Thay, overlooking the vast steppes of Vassa. From an early age, he knew he did not belong.

The Orcs of the tribe also knew he didn't belong.

The Shaman's protection curtailed only a portion of his fellow Orcs brutishness and cruel though they were, they dared not bring any great harm to the child. A tough upbringing, to be sure, though it did serve him well. As he grew, he grew strong.

No longer a youngling, he yearned to be free of the tribe. Their sadistic cruelty towards other tribes and races repelled him. The Shaman, sensing this, knew there would be no place for him amongst the Orcs once he reached adulthood. In sadness, he bid him leave the mountains and find his way to the steppe plains of Vassa. Hoping, perhaps, that he could join with the humans there.

And so, not yet fully grown, Tabaldak descended to the vastness of the Hordelands.

Seeing no humans and only deserted lands, he knew he was on his own. Food and game were scarce.

To be fleshed out later...

In possession of a wooden figurine carved in the shape of a bearded man playing the flute. Belonged to his mother.

Gifted a Chessentian Falchion by the Shaman.

Shaman warned him to stay out of the land of Thay (Red Sorcerors)

Wandered the steppes for a year on his own. Living off the land and hunting by physical prowess. Only the fast eat.

Taken in by Gur Nomadic Human Tribe( Selûne's Children). Trained in the common tongue, bowmanship. (gifted a masterwork Composite Short Bow + 3 Str)

Never learned to ride horses - Didn't need one due to wandering the wastes on foot.

Tireless Regional feat.

Learned to worship Selune

Has grown tired of tribal squabbles and warfare. Decided travel to the free cities of the West in search of his Mother.

Will search for his father at some point? Thesk.
Persons encountered by DAW

Silderan - mad at Fenrir

The Gullway Witches

Dwarf and Owl - leaving. Killed while resisting arrest.

'Fred' who paid 15pp to leave

Devon Von Strone - powerful sorcerer with mount that can be anything (giant banana is a favourite)

Gelly - lying low at Fenrir's house

Captain Crispy

Dedre Cruncher            rides a giant 'Magnificent Silver Bird' (or Argentavis)
The Portal of Returning

The Portal of Returning

This is a fictional fantasy novel in which the main protagonists traverse the continent of Nillamandor from south to north.

The Portal of Returning is the first novel set in the world of Nillamandor.

It has not yet been formely published (and may never be) so not all of it is cannon.

**Plot**

The story is told in two parallel parts. Yarn tells a tale from a hospital bed in Edinburgh of his fantastical adventures in a fantasy world where he was known as Shiv.

Shiv's many adventures eventually lead him to the far north and a portal that returns him to the real world.

**Characters**

Shiv (Yarn)

Apic

Carab

Adea

Boris

Heather Lock

Tup

Zort

Mallonax

Temina

Dombaba
Jalangkung

Jalangkung is a central character in the Middle Kingdom novel.

He is the court necromancer in the court of King Racun IV and the power behind the throne.

He stages a coup against the king and turns him into a liche.

He burns down the palace of Jenan.

He is eventually slain by Roztov in a mighty magical battle in Rakasuul.

From the Middle Kingdom:

*The common people of Ju did not talk about Jalangkung if they could help it. The old ones remembered a time when necromancy had been outlawed in Ju, but now here was a king’s consul who openly consulted with and invoked the dead. He was a bogeyman to frighten children with. For those that did talk about him, it was thought that he was a half-draelk, a half breed child of a human and one of the pale skinned cave people that lived under Mount Binang. No other such union had ever been known of, as the draelk were a very shy and secretive race who never ventured to the surface. Others said that he was preserved by his magic and was over a thousand years old. Jalangkung's skin was white like milk. The people of Ju were paler skinned than those on the southern parts of Yaja, but they still tanned in the sun like anyone else, and most had light brown skin. Jalangkung was as pale as the moon, and his eyes were as black as coal. Such an appearance only added to the speculation of his origins.*

**Methods**

He used corpseroot on Prince Sial

He used pickling Barrels on the Shining Ones

He raised a squad of vampires called the Hounds of Jalangkung
Mummy attack on the Thunderstaff Villa

Fenrir and Giselle were present when the attack took place.

His mother, Ginerva and brother, Zoltan were killed (but later ressurected during the attack)

Also Shallerim was killed (but not by the mummies!)

**As described by Oz's familiar:**

*Well boss, I was on my little perch on the roof of the neighbours house. They*
are really nice people there, there is a little girl that likes to leave me the
crusts from her breakfast ... ahem!

*That's of no importance is it? Sorry boss,*
back to the point. I saw a cart rumble up the street at three in the morning. It
had three guys sat on the front and it looked like a brewers cart.

*The took the*
canvas covering off the back. Underneath was a bunch of big clay jars. Next the
three guys started casting spells and summoned what I think looked like Fiendish
Giant Wasps.

*The wasps then picked up the jars and flew up above the Thunderstaff*
villa dropped the jars and vanished. Well, I took to the air boss, flying in
amongst them all. I reckon there were at least two other cart loads of jars.
It was chaos, the jars landed on the roof and shattered, or went down through the
sky lights. Some landed in the gardens, in amongst the mercenaries.

*The jars,*
once shattered, contained very angry looking mummies! Well, there were people
running everywhere, mummies chasing them or on fire from the fire bombs people
were armed with. It was quite a scene, but I reckoned the best thing for me to
do was keep an eye on these carts.

I got an eye on one of them and followed it from the air through the streets. It
stopped outside this tavern, it had a sign in the front of a girl crying a single
tear. Two of the guys jumped off, the third then took the cart away. Thinking
quickly boss, I flew in through the open door into the busy tavern and roosted
in the rafters.

*The guys I had followed in crossed the main room to a door that*
lead upstairs I think. One of them turned and looked around the room then, I
swear, looked right at me.

He raised his hand and pointed right at me with his hand shaped like a crossbow
handle and made a 'pulling the trigger' gesture. I was so scared I accidentally
pooped into someone's stew!
He then turned and left. He was tall thin, hooked nose, with a big long white
beard. He had 'powerful wizard' written all over him.

I winged it, boss, after that, I don't mind telling you!
Stolypin Station

Stolypin Station is an space station in orbit over the planet Tulleeven.

From the Fossworld MUD:

The planet Tulleeven is the mineral rich fourth planet of the Vega system.
It has a trouble history but still trades with partners all over the galactic arm.
Tulleeven is balkanised and a war is currently raging in Peak City.
Vistors however might like to visit Wax World, which lies on the counter continent.

Peak City is the capital city of Pihly, high in the mountains.
The protagonists are the rebels of Peak City and the robotic armies of the Hadeen.
With the correct clearance, people can use the stations teleporter to go to Peak City.

[Not sure about the stuff below]

Wax world is a theme park on the Counter Continent.
Some parts of it are currently closed off but it is still open for business.
Purchase a ticket on the station to visit Wax World.

Teleportation to Wax World Theme Park! Come one, come all and Join the Fun!
Tickets can be obtained from the information desk.
(Tulleeven entrance visa required.)

In very small letters at the bottom :

(The Tulleeven World Council accept no responsibility for injuries aquired during your visit)

Teleportation to the Space Station Alpha. Be warned, this station has been over run
by hostile and very dangerous aliens. A bounty hunters permit is required to enter here.
North Nogs

The North Nogs were an exhiled group of nogs that arrived in Ertia in the years 950-955.

By 1095 they were a powerful political block and openly at war with the Southern Nogs.

Lead by Tup and Zort they raided and destroyed Usak. Later they killed the Usurper Chow, the leader of the Southern Nogs and breifly united both factions.

It was not to last and after the deaths of Tup and Zort the North Nogs retreated to the lands of Ertia and built a wall in the north to seal it off from the rest of Nillamandor.

**Army**

The army of 1095:

*The noggish love for heraldry was very obvious in the uniforms their soldiers wore. They were dressed in bright red tabards with gold piping over the chest and shoulders, underneath were worn tight starched shirts with stiff collars. On their legs they wore coarse looking baggy trousers, tucked into black leather boots. They all wore a black symbol of a dragon on their tabards and were armed either with long dangerous looking sabres or twelve-foot pikes.*
Orebro

Orebro is a thralldom in the kingdom of Vegas. It is an area of cool forests and salty marshes, thinly populated. The villages are surrounded by stockades.

There is at least one warlord in Orebro.

**Quotes**

From the Portal of Returning:

*From there we entered the thraldom of Orebro, an area of cool forests and salty marshes, sparsely populated by stockade surrounded villages. The people here were even hardier than the people of Lahtl, and had lighter complexions.*

**Trivia**

From the Portal of Returning:

Carab was to marry his cousin who was from Orebro,

'‘It seems I am to marry Gertine, my cousin, in Orebro, as was arranged at my birth.’
Dwerry Jantile

Dwerry

Appearance : Red hair, geen eyes, tall. Wears eye-glasses. Pretty, but shy.

Dwerry's parents moved to Waterdeep when she was young. When a group of
devil worshippers wanted 'angel blood' for some dark ritual they kidnapped
them and Dwerry never saw them again.

As she grew older and more powerful she made it her life's work to track down those responsible and punish them. Part of her hoped that her parents
may still be alive, but even if not she might be able to get a bit of them to
cast a resurrection spell more within her price range

She lead a secret life in South Ward using her magic to make a living. She does a great deal of reading. She changes her flat about once every six months to throw
devil worshippers off her trail.

Initially she wanted to talk to Nestoone about the Vanguard of Sertrous.She has been carefully gathered evidence that has lead her to believe that the devil worshipper group known as the 'Brotherhood of the Dark Eye' (BODE) are in
league with VOS somehow.

She recently found and killed a BODE member who suggested to her that although her parents were taken by them, they were handed over to VOS.

She had asked around about the attack on the 'Wathuss Villa' and the trail had lead to the OJB. She wanted desperately to help, if doing so would lead to finding
out what happened to her parents.

**The Sinister Spire Campaign**

She joins Veddic , Fenrir , Billi , Durz and Arahel when they are sent by Cavu to deal with the Forgotten King situation in Kingsholm . She is left behind in Kingsholm but soon joins them in Pedestal .

She arrives in Pedestal with Berum.

She joins the Buffalo Bunch on all their adventures in the city, including the delve into the Necromancer's Spike.

At the last fight in the Necromancer's Spike it turned out that Dwerry Jantile was Wathuss in disguise. Fenrir had known this, told to him by Cavu, but he had not fully acted on it.
Katheera "The Succubus" Urdo

Westgate Night Mask assassin.

A decadent, but darkly beautiful young noblewoman of the House Urdo. Katheera joined the Night Masks to indulge her depraved whims.

Known only as "the Succubus" to her fellow assassins, Katheera's preferred method of attack employs contact poison on her lips. She is immune to the poison and can kill her intended target with a single kiss.

   *Katheera was the scion of the noble House Urdo of Westgate and joined the Night Masks only to indulge in her depraved interests. Her fellow assassins knew her only as "the Succubus", because her preferred method of killing was to kiss her target with poisoned lips.*

..

Later she is kidnapped by forces unknown and taken to a haunted house some distance west of the city. Fenrir tracks her down, questions her and kills her.
Mu River

A large river in the Kingdom of Vegas. The capital city of Ixnay sits on its opening to the sea.

**From The Portal of Returning:**

*It lay on the banks of the Mu River, right on the coast. It was the largest port this far north, and it would be a while before the estuary froze over. Hundreds of sea vessels wintered here.*
The Firefiend Sisters

Not biological sisters, but two human women who have worked together for a number of years.

Belina is from Baldur's Gate, Jiey Due is from out east.

The work for the highest bidder, and currently that is the Night King.

They specialise in Surprise Teleport Attacks, Extractions and Assassinations.

They often hire fighters for extra muscle that they will happily abandon if required.
Nestoone

Nestoone

Nestoone is a part-time member of the Brewery Gang.

He is first introduced to Corum, Raya and Fenrir when they turn up at the Temple of Ogma looking for a 'fourth' man to join them.

He agrees in return for them solving some riddles, which they do.

From that point on he was involved with most of their adventures and becomes the owner of the Rat Catcher's guild and joint operator out of the Old Jock's Brewery along with Corum of the Dungsweeper's Guild.
Castle Cormaeril

What Nebulus the Rascal tells you:

The Fire Knives operate out of Castle Cormaeril, but by no means do they own it.
Tagreth Cormaeril just let's them use a bit of it and they operate with his blessing.

At any given time I should assume that there are about 30 household guards. 5 guard leaders
1 or 2 captains, 1 or 2 high level casters. About 40 servants and about 20 or 30
members of the noble family and guests.

The Fire Knives operate out of the castle, but their agents carry out their work in Cormyr.
By agreement with the Night Masks they do not work the Dragon Coast. I should imagine
at any given time they have about 10 regular members in the castle and 2 or 3 top level guys.

In an alert the castle will first try and handle the situation themselves. If they can't they
will summon the Mercenary Guild (on the assumption that if the castle guard can't handle things
then the Watch can't either!)

In terms of magical defenses, Tagrethcan can probably afford a fair bit. At the very least I know of
there will be a guard in the top tower (Stockhouse Tower) using a Gem of true seeing. There is one at the main gate
as well. The 'public' barbican has a market most days, the other barbican that faces the sea is
private.

Each tower of the castle has a ballista on it to guard against arial attack. Occasionally they
drill the crews (of three men) and fire bolts into the sea.

Westgate Adventures

On DAY 299, Fenrir, Veddic and Arahel try and fail to rescue Bwabazwards from the castle.

External link:

Tagreth Cormaeril
Marathon Empire

More correctly known as the Marawan Empire.
The Marathon Empire florished in North West Nillimandor and centred around the region that is now Tomsk and Styke,

The were builders and made the canals that are still in use in Syke today (year 1100).

The Marathon Empire grew out of what was left of Dynaria after if was invaded by Garumuda.

The Empire rose in the year 200 and fell in the year 700.

The elves had been pushed out by humans and goblins who were constantly fighting all over Nillamandor.

By the year 705 the last of the Marathon Empire set sail to the island of Istoria and founded the city of Hannah. (NO! It was the Dynar before them!!!)

**Symbols**

The Sun, an Oak tree and seven mountains, which depict the seven largest mountains of Dynaria are all symbols associated with the Marathon Empire.

Note

'The Learned Hobokken of Enttland' referres to the Marathon Empire as the Marawan Empire. This is more correct.
Nexelmode the Evil

Female Human(ish) Wizard(Necromancer)/Druid NE

Lives in the forests south east of Ferbone.

Beyond the bridge.

Has some knowledge of Necromancy.

When the Westgate Bunch arrive Nexelmode is delighted to meet Arahel and treats her lovingly.

She also cures her of 'Es Sarch's Ressurection Effects' with a Remove Curse and Break Enchantment spell.

The next day she wishes them to stay for lunch before they leave but they decide to run away instead (after talking to the goblins cheif)

Harvel blasts at Nexelmode as she chases after Arahel (in owl form). Nexelmode is in the form of a Dire Bat.

A fight then ensues.

xxx

Later Fenrir and Co go to see her to find the Pixies - which was the cave where Fayder the assassin was hiding in

xxx

Later still Fenrir has a dream that she is 6 months pregnant with his child!

Baby is born: DAY 561 (15th Eleint)(September)
Illusian - Terran War

The Illusian - Terran War forms the backdrop of the short story Tall Tales In Space.

**The Start of the War**

'So, explain to my why we are at war?'

Rewton shrugged. 'Simple,
you attacked us.'

'We attacked a base they you established on a barren moon
in a star system that we inhabit.'

'According to the 1414 treaty we had every right to be
there.'

'A treaty we know nothing about,’
replied Isaac.

**The End of the War**

The war ends when Rewton, a Terran, tricks the Illusians into thinking that humans have supernatural protectors known as Bertys.

*This information has made the Joint Committee for the Conduct of the War reconsider its strategy. We cannot conduct a war against*
beings that have a supernatural component in their makeup. It has been decided
that a cease fire will be offered to your military leaders and the terms of our surrender will be discussed.
Tasters

An alien race in Bill's Universe.

Formerly members of the United Planets.

Fought against, but finally merged with a human faction known as the Terrans. Eventually they became so disenfranchised in their own empire that they moved to a different part of the galaxy.

**Quote from Tall Tales in Space**

*And what had happened to the Tasters?
They had all vanished in a mass exodus four hundred years ago to the 'second arm', Terra, Kochab, even the Illusians, being in the third arm of the galaxy.*
Terrans

The Terrans are the humans of the United Planets.
Most adult Terrans smoke tobacco.

All Terrans are fitted with cybernetic implants and diagnostics at birth. This includes motion sensing and direction finding abilities.

***Author's Note:***

The Terrans are very much based on Science Fiction of the 1930s to 1960s, Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. So they all smoke, have moustaches and have old fasioned ideas.
Nerts

Nerts are a gnome sub-race that populate the Aternative Material Plane that is home to the city of Harmony

They are seperated into castes, with the colour of their skin largely dictacting what career path they take.

For instance:

Pink - Rogues, Merchants, Housekeepers, Moneylenders

Red - Rangers, Lumberjacks, Carpenters, Messengers

Orange - Warriors, Guards, Sellswords, Prizefighters
King Real

King Real is the ruler of Foona.

He is killed by Shiv, shot dead by 'The Regicide' a revolver made by Shiv in the dungeons.

*A man, who I presumed was King Real, lounged on the throne in an arrogant pose. He was a swarthy looking fellow, with very pale skin and dark hair. Two elderly gentlemen dressed in black robes and skullcaps stood either side of the throne. They could have been twins.
Light filtered in from tall arched windows that lined the length of the hall, cutting the room into alternate sections of light and dark. There was a smell of incense, and the smoke from burners that I couldn’t see, but must have been nearby, drifted in and out of the patches of light, giving the room a further feeling of richness if further were needed.
Armoured royal guards stood in rows down the hall, and although I couldn’t see, I suspected there was a lot more around than the ones within my field of vision. They didn’t wear the green livery of the road wardens, but chain mail and black tabards emblazoned with an eagle, the crest of the royal guard. The four that escorted us wore the same livery, and were so tall I had to stand on tiptoes to see what was going on.*
Mistwalkers

Mistwalkers are evil denizens of the Diamond Sea that inhabit the rugged coast line of west Nillamandor.

They are parasitic pirates that plague shipping between Tomsk, Styke, Bellavia and Tyra.

In Styke Mistwalkers are known as Fnerders.

**Appearance**

Mistwalkers are roughly the same size as a troll, but with longer arms and pale yellow skin. They have long shaggy heads of black hair and are born with one eye as often as with two.

They have long snout like noses and rows of sharp black teeth.

**Society**

They practice witchcraft and their communities are usually lead by shaman. They are cannibals and will eat almost anything or anyone.