Chmeorl was pleased with himself. He had assisted the party when it was in need again. The shamaness needed assistance to overcome the formian taskmaster. HE had provided that assistance. HE had led the shamaness to the next member of the Champion party. It had felt so good to taste battle again. Looking down, Chmeorl flexed his muscles. Yeah, he was good.

"CHMEORL!"

With a jump, Chmeorl jumped and spun completely around in midair. He stared into the angry face of the Green Man. While the grimalkin was musing about his recent life, the meeting circle had appeared around him. The Green Man was sitting upon a GIGANTIC wooden throne. "Yes, Master?"

"CHMEORL! YOU HAVE FAILED ME!" the Green Man said. "You deliberately disobeyed my wishes. You failed the Champions. You "The green man pointed with a huge oaken finger "are the cause of the loss of the Monk to the party."

Chmeorl hung his head. He was confused. How was he the cause of the Monk leaving the party. How could Chmeorl be the one that created that situation. The monk had left of his own choice. "How Master?"

"Grimalkin, " began the angry Green Man. He had none of the normal kindness in his voice. His voice was as hard as ironwood. "I told you to prepare the party for the coming of the next member. You did not. You did not prepare them at all. Because of this, the Monk, whose life has been full of reverence and honor, does not understand that his friend is TRULY gone from this world."

So that was why the Monk left. He thought his friend was still there. The shamaness had moved on, understanding that the dead who choose to move on, do so. The wolfen is a replacement, yet the monk, in his own way, refuses to believe that the Furry truly was gone.

"Chmeorl, you have worked to the negativity of the Champions." the graveness of the tone did not bode well for the grimalkin. "You shall not be allowed to continue without punishment. " Oh NO!!! Last time the Green Man locked him in a form for a week. The shame that brought, not being able to change. It was like being only half a being.

Chmeorls feet began to tingle, he looked down. His feet were fading from view.

"Chmeorl, " the Green Man said gravely, "For a period of unspecified time. You will exhist as insubstantial as mist."

Chmeorl looked at the Green Man with HORROR. He was to have NO shape!!!! How horrible!!!

Even as he looked the Green Man faded from view. Chmeorl watched as his body faded into the mist that he was to become.



For an unspecified time.

She watched as the ghost monk in his new body, that of the female orc, opened the door to the next room. He quickly shut the door, turned and left the room. He began searching through the Orc's camp looking for something. They had already searched the camp and collected anything of value. She wondered what could be left that he could want. She asked him what was on the other side of the door, why he had closed it so quickly and backed into another room. Was it something so horrid that he would run from it? He was acting odd. He told her "Go and check for yourself". He had never left her to advance into possible battle alone before. She realized that the fluffy one's death had struck the ghost monk hard. He had told her that the fluffy one had called out to him in spirit form, recognising his presence at last, just before his spirit moved on. She could no longer sense the fluffy one's spirit near them anywhere. He had died and gone to be with his Gods. She did not understand why the ghost monk was so concerned about the fluffy one's body. It was now just an empty shell. It was no longer of any use to the fluffy one's departed spirit. It was not like the fluffy one would be able to use anything he had in life. The ghost monk chose to stay, his spirit refused to leave his body. Because he was a ghost, he was still connected to his items. But the fluffy one had gone.

She started to fear that in loosing the fluffy one, she had lost the ghost monk too. He had never really liked her anyway. He always blamed her for the changes Obad Hai had granted him. As many times that she tried to enlighten him and the fluffy one about these gifts, they always blamed her. Called her witch, healer, matchstick...not once did they care to know who she was.

She found herself once more charged with this quest alone. The spelltheif, the sorcerous, the fighter, the ranger, and the samauri had all quit and left her. The wizard was asleep more than he was awake, or would run off and come back only to run off again. She was the only one that was charged with the quest in the begining that was still there. The only one who did not quit. The fluffy one died a valiant death, in battle for good and in service of the Gods. He would always hold a special place in her heart. He never quit. He died trying to help her. For that, he would never be forgotten.

She stepped up to the door, braced herself, and opened it to face whatever fight there was on the other side. At first glance, she saw white fur, claws, and a wolf-like face. He stood on hind legs, at almost twice her height, in a humanoid stance. He looked down at her and called her by her name. This caused her to pause. "How do you know my name?" she asked of this new beast. He went on to explain that he knew everything about our quest, he knew of Meatwall (which is what he called the fluffy one) and of Dakanon (which is what he called the ghost monk) and about all of the others that had helped her. He told her that God had sent him to help her in succeeding with this quest. He had all of the fluffy one's memories. There was something about this one that was familiar to her, yet at the same time completely different. He did not attack her, and it was not in her nature to attack unprovoked. He was large like the wolf she and the fluffy one had hunted with so many moons ago. In some ways he reminded her of him. But this one was more like a cross between that wise wolven elder and the fluffy one. It was not like her to just take what someone tells her as truth. But for some reason, this time she knew it was the truth. This wolven creature was sent to help her. He called himself Metawallus. He would need supplies. There were several items in the wagon that could be used by him. She thought the fluffy one would want his axes to keep fighting for the quest and it somehow felt fitting that Metawallus receive them. She went to the larger room to enlarge the wagon and retrieve some items for him. The ghost monk, in his orc body, looked up at her. He asked if she had taken care of the beast. She said yes and he is right here. Pointing over her shoulder at Metawallus. The ghost monk seemed angry that she had not killed it. She reached down and grasped the axes. The ghost monk yelled at her about those belonging to the fluffy one and to leave them alone. She could see the ghost monk's anger in the orc's eyes. She tried to explain to him that Metawallus had been sent to help. He was to be the fluffy one's replacement and needed supplies. The ghost monk just continued to get more and more angry. She tried to tell him about Metawallus being our brother in this....that he was the fluffy one's brother too. He just yelled about Metawallus being a liar and a theif. She turned to give the axes to Metawallus and the ghost monk tried to grab her and missed. He tried to trip her and it didn't work. She handed off the axes to Metawallus and turned to see the orc become aware of her surroundings. The ghost monk had left her body and was trying to attack Metawallus. When he could not move into Metawallus, he left the room. The ghost monk returned to hurl the orc's sword at the wagon. Then his body floated out of the wagon and left the room. She shrunk the wagon once again and moved on to the next door.

It turned out to be a gnome's shop. She sorted through and sold off all the items that had been building up in the wagon. All the profits were placed in the chest that had been holding the coins they had found. She made arrangements for Paulus to be taken care of. It was doing him no good staying in the wagon. There was no way for his body to heal and for him to move on with his chosen path doing that. The gnome promised him safe bording and care for a small price, and he would be there when they came back. The gnome had the Heart of Cold, but needed a Stone of Heat in trade before he would hand it over. It seemed like an even trade, and one not too difficult to accomplish. They had taken several detours on this quest thus far. One more to get what they needed wouldn't hurt too much. The gnome tried to convince her that the ghost monk wanted some fancy gloves he called "ghost touch" but she did not believe him. The ghost monk had not wanted anything as far as items, coin or treasure since leaving his body. He spoke of coin as being worthless to him. He didn't want what he couldn't touch. Why would he want some gloves? She told the gnome to have the ghost monk manifest and tell her himself first. Apparently, the ghost monk had not really wanted them, as he would have manifested to tell her himself. When the gnome placed the door to the destination on the floor, she opened it and looked down. It was a 6 foot drop, not too far. She figured it was as good a time as any to get started. She was this close to the second item. She wanted it.

Metawallus followed her down through the door, and it slammed shut above them. They continued down the hall and came to face 4 ant-like creatures. These were unlike any others she had seen before, but didn't seem to be much of a threat to her. She walked forward and they refused to let her pass. She tried to step around them and they blocked her path again. Metawallus tried to get them to move too, again they refused to move and instead attacked him. She was tired, and really not able to use her magics. She struck one over and over with her oak staff while Metawallus took out the others. He then finished the last. They moved on down the hall around the corner. She would have to rest soon. She could not sense the ghost monk anywhere around her. Perhaps he too had quit on her, leaving her once again to go on her own. Hopefully this new Champion would stick with her. She had no guarantee, they all quit or die see.....and she refused to do either.

Chmeorl watched in astonishment as an arguent began between the monk and the shamaness. What was going on? They were fighting over the axes of the fluffy one. Evidently, the monk felt a certain amount of loyalty to the dead companion, and the shamaness was intent upon letting the newest member of the party use them.

The new member. Now there was a striking individual. He was similar in temperment to the fluffy one. In fact, he was as fluffy as the one he replaced. He hails from a nomadic tribe of humanoid wolf people. As feral as the wolves, but intelligent as the humans. This was a very dangerous individual. His white fur and large teeth were indeed scary. He was a wolf, and wolfs are dogs. Chmeorl did not care for this individual.

Apparently, the Green Man had been feeding dreams to this wolfen to prepare him for this quest. Not all in the party was ready to accept this replacement.

Chmeorl watched with interest as the monk (in the guise of a female orc) fought to keep the axes from the waiting hands of the wolfen, and the shamaness was intent upon allowing the usage of the axes. Finally, the monk gave up.

Apparently, this still angered the monk, as he levitated his body (heretofore stored in the wagon) to the room to the south. The monk was definately angry.

Strangely enough, what was beyond the door was a shop. The proprietor, being a gnome of no small power, had almost anything the group could want. He even offered to cast a "True Resurrection" spell for the monk. The monk could have a body again!!! Yet the monk turned it down.

Chmeorl, upon hearing this, grew very concerned. Why would the monk not wish to be alive again? Surely being a ghost had its disadvantages. Why not become whole, so that he could be a great boon to the party? Concerned, Chmeorl watched with great trepidation.

The party agreed to go on a small quest in order to obtain the heart of cold. They were even shown the item. The gnome had no more use for it, however, he wanted an item of equal or greater value in trade. He wanted the source of heat. He even provided a way to get to the area.

After a short interval of haggling and selling/buying, the party left on their way.

Shortly after departing, the party ran into some formians. The ant people would not allow the party to pass. Their stoic stances guarding the passageway silently.

True to the nature of the replaced, the wolfen struck first. Not being as experienced as MeatWhal, Meta Whalus (a taken name in honor of the fallen Champion), did not dispatch the enemies as quickly. The shamaness took her normal invisible attacking, yet the ghost hung back. He neither interfered nor assisted in the combat.

As the battle ended, Chmeorl felt the summons. He was not sure how to report this to the master. The only thing he was sure of, was that the Green Man would be concerned about the monk ghost.

As the grimalkin began to leave, he glanced back at the party. He saw the ghost's face clearly. There was a war there, all within his mind and heart. Chmeorl did not understand the source of the turmoil, but he did understand that the biggest battle thus far on this quest, was being fought right now, inside the soul of the ghost.

The grimalkin moved quietly in the guise of a common housecat. The small form and low light vision of the cat form was the best for the job. He needed to find the party, though the tell tale signs of battle were not coming to him. Either the party were not in battle as often, or they were beyond the range of his hearing.

Chmeorl came to an open doorway. He walked quietly to the door, and stole a glance in. Inside was a very angry ogre mage. He was packing all his various items, while complaining about "stoopid ghosts" and "wicked things". Once last quick glance around his room, a quick mutter, and he disappeared with a soft pop.

Apparently, the party had been here, and the Ogre Mage was harrassed by the ghost, in what form, Jeremy had no clue. This party could annoy any creature, should they choose. They had endless possibilities to do harm/good, and they generally chose to annoy/harrass. Jeremy smiled, this was his kind of party.

A quick spell, one given to Jeremy by The Green Man for use in his job, revealed that the party was moving generally south. Jeremy bound south, further south than the party, in an effort to head off the party. He would meet with them nearer their goal.

Quietly and quickly, the grimalkin shifted to a rat, to get past the orc barbarian to get into the entry hall that the party had to pass. There he would again watch the party, for this, was the entry hall to the gnomish inventor that had the Heart of Cold.

It happened again! Now what was she to do...Monk was a ghost, she was a shaman, and now she had lost yet another companion. The fluffy one fought hard and strong. He was always protecting her in his own strange way. Who would protect her now? They had entered the room like any other in this dark dank place...She was growing to really hate being under ground. Things always died there. Once the fluffy one had moved into the room, she had seen the monstrous bears. They towered over her short form, staring at the party with hunger in their eyes. The fluffy one immediately started in on one of them as he usually had when faced with being something's dinner. The monk ghost tried to move into a couple of them as he did other creatures in this place, but for some reason could not. She at first took the mask of the fey to hide her from the bears' sight. But once she was actually moving amongst them, they could somehow still sense where she was. Did she smell that bad? The fluffy one had never said anything about her stinking and he could smell really well. But that bear still tried to hit her. She decided there was no sense in hiding from something that could find her anyway. So she took the opposite approach. She took on the Body of the Sun and gave the brute a hug. She had to work on staying on the thing's leg for a while. It kept trying to throw her off. No creature likes having a 4'9'" body of fire latched on to it. But she held on well, and eventually starting climbing up the bear's leg burning him with her flames the entire way. The fluffy one had taken off it's other fore-leg with an axe and moved away in battle with another. So much happened in such little time. By the time she had noticed the fluffy one flopped over on the ground, his fur soaking through with blood once again, it was too late. She walked over and with her nature sense could tell he was dying. She thought to heal him, but realized there was nothing she could do for him. Even if the body of the sun had burned out, which took time, more then had passed, there wasn't anything she could do. It was too late. Too many had died that day. One too many. She turned her nature sense on the bear that she currently sat apon and saw that he was too hurt to outlive his wounds. She took his life and released him of the pain his body was suffering. She glanced over to the other bears. One lay dead, the last work of the fluffy one. The other cowered in the corner, fear in it's heart and pain from it's severly damaged eyes...but it would survive. If these things could find her when she was invisible to them, she could find food and live a good life. She chose to leave it be. The monk ghost took solid form and pointed out some treasures he had found in the room. She collected them and put them into the enlarged wagon. The monk ghost somehow managed to place the fluffy ones body and belongings into the wagon as well. Paulis, when he finally woke, would find himself between the bodies of the two lost party members. She put the wagon back into it's box, tucked it into her pack and moved on out of the room. She still had to find the Heart of Cold that was supposed to be down here somewhere...but right now, she just needed to find somewhere to sit and rest. She was tired. Tired from the fight with the bears, tired from yet another death in the party, tired of being in this dark place....She found a quiet safe place and tried to sleep. Laying there she spoke out to the monk ghost, hoping he would hear her..."I need to rest. Please watch over me."

Chmeorl sat waiting. Trouble showed in the feline face as he waited patiently for his master. This is the first time he had called the Green Man instead of being called by the Green Man. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and sent another summons.

When he opened his eyes, the circle was forming. The rocks were silently raising from the ground. A central peace emanated from the circle. Jeremy welcomed the feeling. The calmness that could combat the sorrow in his soul.

"What is so important that you would summon me?" came the expected voice. It held curiosity, and concern.

"Master," the grimalkin began. "Another has died. He did not stay, he has passed on." His head hung low in sorrow, he waited for a reply before he continued.

At last, the answer came. "Go on, tell me what happened, and how you know he has truly passed on."

"Master," openly weeping now, Chmeorl had to wait a while before he could speak. "The ghost gave the body back to the hairy one. I saw him depart from the body. There was a short period of confusion, in which the hairy one tried to regain his location inside the area. When he finally did, they pressed on, looking for the Heart of Cold.
"They came to a door, the hairy one, who has become very violent, broke the door down. Inside were three dire bears. They were huge. He just ran in! The other party member tried to help. The shamaness used her fey mask spell, but the bears saw right through it. The ghost tried to possess, but he couldn't. The fighter took a beating, he got hit five times, and died.
"Master, I saw him pass on."

The Green Man took all this stoically. He showed no signs of any emotion. Chmeorl thought he could see all this information being mulled around inside. "Chmeorl, Meatwhal has led a very interesting life. He has done well. I had hoped that he would see the end of his quest, but that was not to be. I have prepared another to be in his stead. Prepare the party."

This pronouncement startled him. Another had been prepared? He had no idea. Chmeorl glanced up in wonderment, just to see the Green Man fade from view.

The grimalkin was left with his thoughts, both sorrowful and hopefull. Another was to come and take the Furry ones place in the party.

Groon D'Tari

"So i sez....." the goblin screwed up his face in thought. "I sez to her... Da old Man is 'sposed to be wize... an da young one is sposed to be ... umm... not wize. She then sez it again. She sez 'Youse a goblin.'" Chmeorl rolled his eyes dramatically. Despite the problems inherent in the foul race, this goblin was actually moderately respectable. He kept himself clean, always fidgetting with some dirt speck upon his clothing, combing his hair, or straitening out his flag (which was on his quarter staff/walking stick). "She just could not see the real you, could she?" "I was standin rite thar, right thar befor her." Groon D'Tari could not grasp the nuance of what the large cat said. He was a truly simple minded creature. "She was jes lookin at me. Likes she didnt care fer the story. Dat was when it happened. I tripped. Like dis." He got up and fell down dramatically. "Only, dee ground didnt ketch me. I kepts fallin. I think Fharlanghn mad at me. I tolds the storee wrong. I couldnt walk. I was punished." The memory still traumatized the goblin. He began to sob uncontrollably. Chmeorl put a paw on the goblins shoulder to console him. While the goblins tribe had rejected him, Chmeorl wouldnt. The sobs that wracked his body subsided after a short while. "I falled into da hole. Den those others founded me. They lifted me from da hole. I know nots how or who.... I just floated up. So i hugged dem both." Back to being excited, he hugged the grimalkin, just to show how he did. "Oh, Chmeorl, it seems as if you have made a friend." The goblin jumped, squeeked, then spun to face the new voice. He waved his staff/flag menacingly at the new person. "Youse leave JEREMY alone!" He evidently felt that Chmeorl was a trusted friend, and needed to be defended from the Green Man. "Youse keep going. Keep walking. We talking alone." Chmeorl put a paw on the goblin to calm him down. "Master, I was interviewing Groon D`Tari, this goblin, on his recent interraction with the Champions." He then turned to Groon, who was staring at him incredulously. "He was telling me how his God, Fharlanghn, the wanderer, was punishing him for telling a parable wrong to a little girl." "YOUSE TELLED ME YOUSE NAME IS JEREMY!!!!!" Groon shouted "YOUSE LIED!!" Chmeorl hung his head. He had told the name to the goblin that the Champions had called him. He LIKED the name, he did not at first, but he did now. "Groon, it is the name that the Champions gave me. I like it." "YOUSE LIED TO ME!!! I ASK'ED YOUSE NAME, YOU SEZ 'JEREMY'!!!! YOUSE MASTER SEZ CHMORLE." Outraged at this turn of events, Groon was shaking with rage. He was waving his staff menacingly, not at anything in particular, just waving it. Chmeorl looked at his master, then at the goblin. It took all his self control not to smile at the angry goblin. The goblin was angry, but in his anger, he was comical. "Groon," the Green Man said gently. "The Walk keeps going." That stopped the goblin immediately. He eyed the green man critically "You'se know Fharlanghn?" Chmeorl almost jumped for joy. The perfect thing to say. Fharlanghn, the wanderer, catered to traveling, never-ending journeys. The Green Man nodded sagely, "Sit, I want to tell you something that I heard long ago. I once knew an old man who was traveling with his young neighbor. They were going to the next towns market to buy a turkey for dinner that night." The goblin was now starry eyed. He slowly walked to sit before the Green Man, just as a little child sitting before Granpa on story night. "When they got to the market, they found a bird seller. He was a confused seller. He tried to sell them a turkey, claiming it was a duck. He tried to sell them a chicken, claiming it was a goose. He tried to sell them a baby pheasant, claiming it was a turkey. "The old man bought his duck, and the young man bought a turkey. That night, the old man had a large turkey to eat and his belly full, and the young man had a little baby pheasant to eat, and had not sleep for hunger." The Green Man sat back and waited for his story to sink into the goblins mind. The goblin thought for a while, then resolutely walked to the grimalkin. "You'se wanna be Jeremy, You'se Jeremy to me." He patted the cat on the head twice, then sat beside the Grimalkin. "So the furry one sez to me that he's dead. I sez back that he's not dead. He sez he is, and points to dead in the wagon. The other one sez he is, but.... "At this point, the goblins confusion shows. He just cannot grasp that the Ghost Monk had possessed the Fighter. "They look around for a while. I tries to understand, I does. They make no sense. The other one, he just looks around alot. Not the girl or the furry one, there was another. He was lookign around alot. Not talk to me much. "So, I sez to myself, I sez, They help me, so I can walk again. What can I do to help them. I asked. They sez they look for 'heart of cold'. I sez a prayer, and Fharlanghn points the way. I points for them." Droon points off to the west. "I points that direction. They march off that direction. I follows for a while, to make sure they can make it. "They opens a room, and goes in. Right away, I feel it. There was something BAAAAAAAAAD "(Dramatic eye roll, arms moved out wide for emphasis)" in there. They fights for a while, I tried to let them, they need to learn how you know. But I cant stands it for long. They help me, I help them. I sez 'Fharlanghn, help me' and run in. I swatted the monstar. I did. I didnt kill it, the furry one did." He sat back, immensely pleased with his role in the encounter. "Groon, what type of monster was it?" The Green Man tilted his head in curiosity. "Was not a happy monster. The monster had a monster in its belly. Looked like zombie, but with another zombie in its belly. It felt bad." Evidently this creature was of no concern. A casual wave of his hand dismissed the subject. "I follows the other two for a while," he lowered his voice conspiratorily "Fharlanghn tought me to see without being there," then raising his voice to normal telling volume, "they met a gnome who didnt want to be met, then I left them. The third one followed me, he is lost I think. I sure he be fine. Then you find me here." Evidently this was the end of his tale. He waited patiently and expectantly. "You have done well, little Groon D'Tari. May your walk be long." The green man dismissed the Groon. At this statement, Groon stood up, hugged the Grimalkin and the Green Man. "I walk now, Its a good Road." He walked like a traveler away from the assemblage. "Chmeorl, your walk is about to begin again too." The laughter in the Green Mans eyes was unmistakable. "Go watch the Champions, thier walk may not be so good." He stepped back into the stone walls. Chmeorl grinned mischeviously, and walked toward his charges.