By Nysa

I woke up shivering on the cold, wooden pier where Icebreaker docks. Pulling my Cloak of the Ice Bear tighter around my shoulders and thankful for its heavy fur, I stood and stretched aching limbs. I was weary of fear-kiting the cougars in this frozen, barren land. It took a good bit of time to find one far away enough from the pack to pull - and more than once already I'd been killed by a wandering cougar that had joined the fight. I pulled out my fishing pole and decided to wait for Icebreaker. Surely, I thought, there were better lands that I could fear-kite in and, no doubt, they were much warmer!

After catching nothing but a few tattered sandals, Icebreaker pulled up to the docks. The massive, wooden ship never ceased to amaze me with its huge barrel paddles. It looked like something constructed by tinkering Gnomes. The sky was a brilliant mix of pale violet and midnight blue as I rode to the small island occupied by only Joshel the Large. I'd just dozed off on the cool sand, the slightly warmer air already pleasant to my skin, when Joshel called out that the raft was here. I rode back to the Northern Desert of Ro. The desert heat was a welcome change and my skin thawed even this late in the evening. I made the quick run to Freeport and found the book portal.

I breathed deeply the sweet, warm air of the Plane of Knowledge. It truly is a beautiful, lush place. Unsure where to go next, I decided to check out the library. Surely it would contain a hunting guide for Rangers somewhere in its depths. I was only there a short time when I came across just what I was looking for. The olive and forest green colored book was titled in an ornate, gold script: Interealms - The Ranger's Glade. I took the book out to my favorite gnarled, old tree and set myself high in its branches. It was a wealth of information about my class, in general, but finally I came upon what I'd been seeking. A guide on where to hunt by level of experience. There were a few choices, which I liked, but one stuck out to me more than the rest. Dawnshroud Peaks. The guide stated that zelniaks could be pulled and fear-kited at any of the entrances to this land all the way up to an experience level of around 40. Perfect! I didn't even know what a zelniak was, but I made my way to the Bank to prepare for a trip to hunt them.

I pulled out my map book, an alligator-hide-bound tome holding all the maps I'd copied from the fat, soft leather book everyone referenced in the library, The Atlas. One was not allowed to take the invaluable book from the hallowed halls itself - the hundreds of carefully drawn maps done by a man known only as Muse some long time ago were the only such reference to be found. There were other map books, but none done with such precision. Nysa had spent many long hours copying by hand the maps she desired and hoped someday to use. When the Moon of Luclin had been discovered, she'd copied all of the maps for it - eager to check out the new lands. Before that, everyone had said the maps of the Luclin Moon were the fancies of the Muse; it was a pleasant shock to realize they were real.

Getting to Dawnshroud was going to be easier than I first thought. A quick run through the Netherbian Lair, where Cen and I had hunted at lower levels, and an even shorter run through Marus Serus would take me to the city of Sanctus Seru, which I'd never visited. From there was the entrance to Dawnshroud Peaks. It took little time to get to Sanctus Seru, but always curious to visit a new city, I took a peak in before finishing my journey. It was beautiful! I lost myself in its marbled recesses for a good hour - spending some time chatting with some Seru citizens in the remarkable arena.

Dawnshroud, at least what I could see from the gates of Sanctus Seru was a lush and attractive land full of strange vegetation. The sky turned shades of pale gray to light pink, but it was never truly light or dark as was always the case on the Moon. I right away began tracking my first zelniak. If you've never seen these creatures, they are hard to explain. My best guess was that they appeared to be a part hyena and part raptor. They were tough creatures, but I took few hits as I was fear-kiting them. They were more plentiful than the cougars and I never had problems with add ons.

It was happy hunting when I got a message from Cen. Last time I had talked to him, he, too, had been stuck on Erud's Crossing.

"I'm making my way off the island now," he said, sounding happy. "The boats are working again. Where are you?"

"Hunting zelniaks in Dawnshroud Peaks."

"Hunting what where? I'm on my way."

To Cen, like myself, new lands and new creatures were just as exciting as gaining experience. I explained to him how to make the short trip and medded while waiting for him. We grouped and immediately started the hunt again. With Panic Animal being cast, Cen told me he would do all the melee work himself so that I could practice my archery. I was excited to reach a Master level with it not long into our group.

After I ran out of arrows, I asked Cen if he'd like me to show him Sanctus Seru. We made the jaunt, but he was most impressed - as I knew he would be - with the arena.

"Let's duel!" he said.

We did so - with arrows only - but when I got close to dying, he stopped and came to bandage me back up. On making the run back to Dawnshroud, Cen fell into a large scrying pool. Actually, and I didn't tell him at the time, I made him fall in. He was following me, and I ran close to the pool on purpose - as a joke just so he'd get all wet. I didn't mean for him to get stuck! I cast Enduring Breath on him and kept his stamina up with my Invigor spell. Ten minutes later we had to, with chagrin, send a message to a GM to get him out.

By that time I was tired - as always Cen could've kept going for hours more. I told him I was making camp in the comfortable city after having a few drinks in one of the friendly bars. All in all, a splendid evening. I plan to keep on with the zelniaks until I reach 40.

By Nysa

It was a lovely, dusky evening as I made my way to the Skyfire entrance in The Overthere. It was one of those laid back days - I hoped to find a group, and maybe level - maybe not. I was sitting at the Skyfire entrance, watching a colorful group gang up on sabertooth tigers and the lanky, lava-skinned Sarnaks. Enjoying the scene and not ready to run out and fight yet, I decided to make some arrows. The cool stone that made up the Skyfire entrance was soothing to sit on, and I had a perfect view out over the plains of The Overthere and of the setting sun.

I got so into my arrow-making, that I forgot to pay attention to my surroundings. The next thing I knew, I was being hit. I jumped up, throwing down my things and began to run for Skyfire itself - hoping to leave my attackers behind. As I stood, I caught a glimpse of my killer - a dratted Dragoon. I was already half-dead by time I stood and barely got two steps in before he felled me. Luckily, a kind Cleric standing nearby saw the spectacle, and offered to resurrect me; thank Karana.

As I was recovering and gathering my things back off of my corpse, another Ranger sent me a telepathic message. We started a nice little chat, and she toldme that, with my current level of experience, I should be "fear-kiting" cougars in Iceclad Ocean. I had heard of fear-kiting before, and had just recently realized what it was - and how to do it. There had not yet been a real chance to put it to use, but I had other Rangers claiming it was the "way to go" if you wanted to solo. Not being a people person, I like to solo as much as possible (unless it's with Cenalorn). I decided to make the trek to this dock she spoke of and try it out. I had never been to Velious, and any time I get a chance to explore a new land - I'm there.

It didn't take long before I found myself at the dock in the Iceclad Ocean, dotted with tiny gnomes. I was delighted to find a Soulbinder standing right there - but he wouldn't speak to me. I'll admit, my first few tries - well, they sucked. I died once - screaming for the Soulbinder as my last breath left me. He answered me that time - but it was too late. I made my way back - this time taking the raft from the small dock in the Oasis of Marr. It only took about four kills before I had my fear-kiting down to a fine art. I gained back the experience I'd lost and gained even more before, tired from the day's excursions, made camp on the cold dock.

Cen is planning to meet me in Iceclad this evening so that we may hunt together here. Running through the zone, I was able to track a plethora of creatures that would be a challenge, but not impossible, for the two of us. After gaining a level or so, we plan to run over to Rathe Mountains and make some money. Borum, my close Troll Beastlord friend, told us he made 800 pp in two hours killing Hill Giants! New lands - plentiful money = a trip from Nysa & Cenalorn! I'll let you know how it all goes.

By Nysa

This island is damn buggy! I found myself sitting in Qeynos, bored off my rump, when I remembered a faction-upping quest that Cen had told me about. Helping out Nerissa Clothspinner would up our faction with the Steel Warriors - and allow us to complete the infamous Hero Bracer quest we'd started on the other night.

I was just making my over to Nerissa when a voice rang through my head, "How are you doing?" A telepathic message from someone I didn't know. Odd. I sent back that I was okay, and the mysterious fellow spoke once more, "How would you like to make some extra money, Ranger?" Well, I'm all about the plat. I asked what he had in mind. I'd been looking forward to an evening alone doing a simple quest - but money is an enticing diversion.

"Seahorse Roe" he told me. "It's found on Erud's Crossing. I'll give you 600 plat for a stack."

"I'm on my way," I sent back. I wasn't sure I'd be able to forage a stack in one evening. Cen and I had been on the Crossing for around three hours the other night, and I'd only foraged one in that entire time. Still, it couldn't hurt to try - not for 600 platinum!

He asked me to let him know when I had a stack and we'd arrange a meeting. I ran through the streets of Qeynos, and over to Translocator Sedina once more. She whisked me away to Erud's Crossing. I was the only person there.

Remembering that the guard had taken the key to pen #7 last time I'd try to do that quest, I hunted down Nomala and killed him as I tried to forage Seahorse Roe. Of course, no key. I spent a lot of time fishing and decided to try and kill seahorses - who else would have Seahorse Roe on them? (I did not know at the time that spiders and snakes on the island dropped it as well).

I was soon joined by another Ranger - a happy, little fellow who told me he was searching for Seahorse Roe.

"A man is paying me 600 plat for it," he said with a big grin.

Realizing we had the same benefactor, we laughed. He eventually took over the killing of seahorses when I ran over to kill Nomala (who had spawned again after two hours). Jackpot - Key #7. I was tempted to go and kill undead sailors - the zombie skins sell very well in the Bazaar - but decided it was enough for one night. After three hours of killing and foraging, I'd only found 9 Seahorse Roes.

The ship had been going straight through the island all night once again. Not surprisngly, the Translocator wasn't there either. I realized, as the ship went through the island, it had grabbed him and drug him halfway across it. This must've bothered him a good deal, because he refused to talk or translocate anything after that. Drat! I was stuck on the island again. I sent out a telepathic plea for help - but was ignored. They probably remembered my getting stuck their last night and thought, "Why'd you go back, idiot?"

I just set up a camp on the beach, and went to sleep.