--- Adventure 1 ---

Duro'than looked at the amulets.

"Secret you say? Don't want to be the one to ruin your fun, but if we are faced with a formidable foe shouldn't we know the full potential of these things? Staing alive is a priority, at least to me anyway."

"Fine , I will tell you then. They can create a protection field for their owners. It's true that the field isn't as strong as I would have expected to , but it's still better then nothing. At least , it will help attenuating the blows . I assure you , it won't harm you at all...."

*Darn it , they won't trust me....and these little things are a great help...*

Thorn seemed the only one skeptical. "I don't like this at all." he muttered more to himself, contemplating the tracks in the snow. "I happen to know exactly what I can and what I can't do. Helps one stay alive."

He turned to Drogo. "What about you, gawk?"

Drogo blushed. It seemed the only colours his face could take on were white and crimson. "Errrm... I think I could manage to stay unharmed a while by it's ice magics. And that's about it. I don't think I could pose any serious threat to it". He felt himself close to tears.

Thorn whistled quietly. Surprisingly, he winked at Drogo and gave him an encouraging pat on the back. "Good to know you know your limits. I'll be content with a decent protection against ice from you." He gave his fiendish grin again before adding. "IF you can cast some such spell, of course. Am not setting my hopes high."

Leaving the gnome in search for an adecquate reply, he turned his back on him and for the first time he drew the two blades across his back. They were almost twin blades and each would probably cost a fortune, as their blades were of pure mithril. They were engraved with silver runes from hilt to tip and two silver scarabs were to be seen on each face of the hilt. These little additions were what actually kept them apart. For on one sword, they gave of a pale blue glimmer, while on the other, they shone pale red.

For an instant, Thorn seemed to be tempted to join the two swords. Then he snorted and put the blue one back in its sheath on his back. He gave Rissa an apologetic smile, poiting to the silver runes. "Sorry about this one. I'll keep to the other side of the road." He paused for a few moments. "Though... they are fire runes..." He shook his head. "What a weird combination." He lowered the sword and his dagger glimmered in the other hand. He was ready to leave and look expectatively at the others.

Then, he seemed to remember something and turned to Ias with a grin. "So... about those arms. Back-growing or not?" He chuckled.

Rissa knew her powers well, yet she feared that whatever magics the creature had, they could harm her. For exemple, the fire started by sticks and magic, didn't to her any harm - they were sustained by sticks - yet if she had the certain fact that felix'kashas blades could not harm her, she would gladly confront the creature alone.

,,You have an interesting collection of weapons... but what use are such swords to a rogue?" she asked. "True, a sword is not quite an were's favourite weapon, wither, but merely half of the enemies can be reached by claws and theeth and jumping. What do you say, Ias?

"I find logical, since the felix'kasha isn't extra of any sort, to be harmed by our laws of nature. Yes, she can be hit by you axe, Duro'than - if you'll reach her head in time - and yes, these amulets are of some help - if used in time, and properly combined. And Thorn... no, the arms don't regenerate... though she only has 4. Thanks it's not an arqelei - you'd have to deal with 6 arms - and 6 thunder blades! Or a hydra, or chimaera... of course... who can stand multiple heads?"

,,What about the magics? The blades?"

,,It's certain that we're on her ground, though withouth either's will. Not magic is a felix'kashas strong part, but you can be sure that in lack of Water-based spellcaster (he looked at Drogo, and uncertain, he stopped saying anything more about these)... well, she'll use anyway whatever ice and snow and cold the nature may offer. Be carefull to blizzards, snow storms or avalanches, icicles falling, icebolts, anything like this. Might is more dangerous. She has incredible agility, and can strike more enemies at once, even bare-handed. It's a she, I can suspect a *he* might be near-by, but not necesarilly untill we get near our goal - that's another history. Fire magics may or may not work. Basic law: more water, fire has no chance. More heat: ice stand no chance. Air usually helps Water, rarely are some sub-elements from Air that do not. Beside Fire, try Earth and his sub-classes. Here, I may be able to help greatly with... *my* speciality. As a tip - never touch their paws, hand or legs, with your body: their are white for a reason, colder than ice, since the felix'kashas are in direct link with the plane of Ice from where they get their enchanted materials and powers. See the tracks - the snow has already cristalised in ice where she stepped. In open ground, these tracks are a real draw-back for them! Instead, aim for their knees with weapons or projectils - to reduce speed is a good trick - or at their belly. The head may be too much for the four-hand protection they have. "

,,Well, you do know many... but the weapons?"

,, A, yes, am I not intelligent?" Ias grinned, cudling his large black book under his left wings. "I am not sure what type of blades *these* felix'kashas carry. I supposed they are long-type, but the model can vary to straight from curve and spikes added for more pain. Are more than sure enchanted with ice - and other... I'm not familiar with weapon forgery - just beware of freezing, if hit. I've been thinking... they may not actually be the ones that slew Ronin. So, as an addition, don't forget the second type of tracks " ... it was unbelievable that Ias actually stopped.

Rissa was sure that *this* question was on everybody's mind. Yes, she knew the race herself, she identified it by it's tracks... but though she knew what it could do, Rissa could have never told that specifically what they're dealing with. >

,,How come you know so many things about a race that none of us have yet seen?" she asked.

,,Ah, just my little dark secret here... come, I'll show you if you want" Ias invited them grinning constantly.

"What use for a rogue? Hm... There's more than meets the eye.", smiled Thorn. "You don't find what I'm looking for in merchants' shops and noble's pockets. And even those have guards that require more than a dagger, fond as I may be of it." Ha paused thoughtfully. "Actually... I'm taking these blades home right now. They used to belong to a Blade Dancer of Shilmista", he added with a sad look upon his face.

"Ooooookay... watch for white parts, dodge whatever ice comes at you, watch for four arms and two blades... that should keep us fit." He grinned grimly and started walking next to tracks, careful not to actually step on them.

Ias took out his book and opened it, searching for a page. The pages were old and broken in places, yelloe or gray, and the writing was unreadable from distance. Pictures and maps could be seen. He finally stopped to a certain area, with the left page all written and the right one - with a vague bluish painting.

"My mistake" appologised Rissa "I should have known better you... you... tieflings." she smiled. "Phenyang, the one that raised me, knew also a good rogue - stealing from a rich and giving to the poor. I liked him a lot - he had such a beautifull long, blond hair... and was half-elven too! Too bad he was undead already..." Rissa sighed, like she remembered a pleasent dream that she would have liked to come true. "His horse remembers me of Ias, somewhat - the same dark nature. And by the way... let's see what this nekorrim has to show us, shall we?"

Ias waited for the others to approach the odd book tha the held open on both his wings.

"Mmmmmh. Quite a big cat, I'd say" Thorn grinned, looking sideways at Angy.

She saw the elf's look. In one way or another , she blushed softly.... maybe with anger...or....

"Myeah , it is " she added without any motion , sniffing.

"Here it is" Ias showed the bluish paint on the book. "However, it's not the cat we're dealing with. This is ... an undead felix'kasha. See the black smoke around it's paws? We have to be carefull not to touch the white one... of the living specimen we have here."

Rissa looked at the weird picture on the old book. It was frightening, in deed.

"And I suppose here are listed the atributes of undead felix'kashas?"

"Yes, you are right, but also the foster ones - the living."

She was thankfull that their enemy was living, for the moment. Atleast from what she could read in the left page, nobody was yet ready to face a true undead felix'kasha.

,,So you have there details about all undead things?" Rissa asked, but Ias remained silent, re-reading the atributes of the dark creature...

*Ugly looking creature. Perhaps we should get a mirror. Its reflection is bound to at least stun her" said Duro'than jokingly.

Humor was his way of dealing with most things. He couldn't get to serious about anything. He treasured his nerves and didn't want to make a big deal out of anything.