Echoes from the Caverns

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Echoes From the Caverns

Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

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* Release 61 Livestream Today* Elven, Obsidian, & Shogun Expire Today!* Login during R61 for free Respec!* 50% Items All Weekend & Final Friday for Crown Sale* Winter 2018 Items* Winter Recurring Items (now with Yule Hat)!* Automatic Redemption of Rewards Release 62* Upgrading Bundles with Crowns Ends Today!* Box Sales: Amazon $19! Signed Ends Today!* Caroling Livestream (YouTube)* Shroud of the Avatar Rewards Program* Upcoming Events Calendar

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* Community Event: Dance Party Playlists* Community Event: Advent Calendar 2018* Community Event: Blue Rose Isle – Yule Day Dance* Community Event: Daily Yule-Market at Dracheninsel* Community Event: Grinch’s December Pacu Fishing Adventure* Community Event: 3rd Annual Holiday Party for All!* Community Event: Novia Market R60 Grandmaster Bundles* Community Event: Novia Market 1st Annual Yuletide Giveaway* Community Event: Jade Dragons 4th annual New Years Eve Party* Community Event: Ark Angels Christmas and Gift Giving* Meretz: Win a Replenishing Fireworks Mega Set* Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant (items expire today!)* Project to Support: Avatars Radio* Resources: Players Helping Players

Echoes From the Caverns

Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

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* Play Release 61 Now!

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* Winter 2018 Items Appear

* Winter Recurring Items Return!

* Automatic Redemption of Rewards Release 62

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* Community Event: Release 61 Dance Party

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* Community Event: Grinch’s December Pacu Fishing Adventure

* Community Event: 3rd Annual Holiday Party for All!

* Community Event: Novia Market R60 Grandmaster Bundles

* Community Event: Novia Market 1st Annual Yuletide Giveaway

* Community Event: Jade Dragons 4th annual New Years Eve Party

* Community Event: Ark Angels Christmas and Gift Giving

* Community Event: Midvinterblot at Helheim in Kahli

* Meretz: Win a Replenishing Fireworks Mega Set

* Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant

* Project to Support: Avatars Radio

* Project to Support: Lore Finder

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Echoes From the Caverns

Chapter 6, “Ghosts of a Different Kind, Part 2”

A flutter of movement caught her eye as Cianna stepped onto

to the lighthouse platform.

She stood still, holding her dagger at the ready.

“Come on out,” she called. “I know you’re

there.”

Silence.

“You can’t go anywhere. Unless you want to jump. And

it’s a long way down. Come on out where I can see you.”

Another moment passed, then a figure came bounding around

the bend.

“Don’t move or I’ll shoot!” The voice was female.

She was dressed in clothes that seemed out of place, blue pants faded almost to

white, a shirt hanging long and loose. Her hair was cropped short. And she held

a bow.

Cianna laughed. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I

don’t mean to make fun of you. But if you try to shoot that arrow your bow will

fall apart in your hands. It’s seen better days, I’m afraid.”

“Don’t try to trick me,” the young woman said.

“I know how to use this.” Her words were fierce, but she looked

doubtfully at the bow in her hands.

“Up to you. But you might hurt yourself if you insist

on using that thing.”

The fair-haired woman looked back and forth between Cianna

and the bow. Finally, she threw it down in disgust.

“Fine. Go ahead and kill me. I’m tired of running and

I’m tired of hiding. Go ahead. Kill me.”

She stared defiantly at Cianna, though her hands were

shaking.

“I’m not going to kill you,” Cianna said.

“I’d like to help you, if I can.”

“Why would you want to help me?”

The voice was still guarded, but a bit of the tension had

gone out of her shoulders.

“I want to help you because you’re an Outlander,”

Cianna said softly.

“An Outlander?”

“People who come to this world from another

place.”

“You know that?” she said with a bit of fear in

her voice, as she looked around her. “How could you know that?”

“By your clothes, for one. By your hair, for

another.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with my hair?” The young woman

raked a hand through her matted, short crop of hair. “I mean, I know it’s

dirty, but….”

“The color, mostly,” Cianna laughed. “I don’t

think I’ve ever seen anyone with quite that shade of blonde before.”

The young woman grinned. “Well, yeah, I bleached it

myself, so it’s kind of…funky…I guess.”

Cianna looked her over more intently. “How long since

you left your home?”

The young woman’s smile faltered. “I’m not sure.

Several days, maybe a week.”

“How did you survive once you got here? Did you get

help?”

“Not much. I, uh, found some food and funny looking

coins. But the coins didn’t last long. Some jerk stole them later. I’ve been

sleeping in barns,

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* Community Event: Advent Calendar 2018* Community Event: Boogie Nights Christmas Style* Community Event: Daily Yule-Market at Dracheninsel* Community Event: Grinch’s December Pacu Fishing Adventure* Community Event: 3rd Annual Holiday Party for All!* Community Event: Novia Market R60 Grandmaster Bundles* Community Event: Novia Market 1st Annual Yuletide Giveaway* Community Event: Welcome Quest Release 60* Meretz: Win a Replenishing Fireworks Mega Set* Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant* Project to Support: Lore Finder* Resources: Players Helping Players

Echoes From the Caverns

Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

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* Release 60 Livestream Today (Cornucopia)

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* Spooky Expirations (Last Day!)

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* Winter 2018 Items Appear

* Winter Recurring Items Return!

* Automatic Redemption of Rewards Release 61

* Upgrading Bundles with Crowns (ends 12/21)

* Elven, Obsidian, & Shogun Expirations

* Shroud of the Avatar Boxed Editions $40 off Holiday Sale!

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* Weekend Sale: Patterns

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Community Updates

* Community Event: Grinch’s December Pacu Fishing Adventure

* Community Event: 3rd Annual Holiday Party for All!

* Community Event: Novia Market R60 Grandmaster Bundles

* Community Event: Novia Market 1st Annual Yuletide Giveaway

* Community Event: Welcome Quest Release 60

* Community Event: The Stone Dragon Player Quest

* Meretz: Win a Replenishing Fireworks Mega Set

* Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant

* Project to Support: Moustache of the Avatar

* Project to Support: Lore Finder

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with another chapter in this wonderful story from Cianna. It is entitled

They Call her Lady Warrior

Background music by Smartsound

 

Chapter 5, “Ghosts of a Different Kind, Part 1

The sea air was chilly as Cianna stepped out of her house in Aelasar’s Forest. The leaves in the trees gently swayed with a breeze that caressed her face, reminiscent of the way her grandmother used to caress her cheek when she was a child. She sighed.

“I miss you, Aelasar,” she whispered to her grandmother. “And you, Mother. Where are you both? They say you’re dead, but how can that be? You’re Outlanders. Outlanders don’t die, do they?” She shook her head. “But if you’re not dead, where are you? Why can’t I find you?”

Her gaze settled on the old lighthouse on the small island off the coast of Aelasar’s Forest. It had been a favorite place for her to visit in her childhood. She and Aelasar would spend hours at the telescope, watching ships go by or looking at the stars and strange planets that circled overhead. Life had been so simple then.

Cianna sighed again and then, on sudden impulse, started walking over the bridge to the small pier that would take her to the lighthouse. She hadn’t been there since she took over the care of the forest. The idea had been too painful. But now, she felt the need to relive those old memories.

As she passed the decaying mansion to the right of the pier, Cianna was startled to see the front door ajar. No one lived in the old place, not since her grandmother had lived in it when she first began visiting the Forest. After her grandfather had purchased the small hamlet and built a new summer home there for Aelasar, the place had gone into ruin. Aelasar could never bring herself to tear it down, though. And neither could Cianna.

She approached the decrepit building, warily eyeing the open door. Might just be an animal that’s gotten in, she thought. That door never hitched properly anyway. Still, she had to be careful. Her father’s people were looking for her, she knew. It’s possible they had tracked her to the Forest.

She pushed the door open slowly, drawing a small dagger from her belt as she did. The interior was dark and dank. Cobwebs covered the walls, and the musty smell of dust and decay made Cianna want to sneeze. She held her breath till the feeling passed, then cautiously moved forward to the main room on the first floor. She cursed the misfortune of not having a torch with her to light the way.

She jumped, rubbing her face with her free hand. “Damn cobwebs,” she muttered, the inevitable chill running down her back. Then she almost laughed out loud. You’ve killed men with your sword, she thought, yet you’re afraid of spiders. Some brave warrior you are!

Cianna listened deeply to the silence. It remained unbroken. She took a few more steps down the foyer to the living room. She knew there were hidden rooms in the house, but it was unlikely anyone else would know about them. If someone were on this floor, the living room is where they would be.

From the little bit of light coming through the dirty windows, she could see the old iron fireplace to one side. It had been beautiful once, she remembered. Her grandfather, Alron, had it restored when Aelasar first lived here. Sadly, time again had reduced it to a dusty relic. Its grate was cold to the touch. No recent fire, then, Cianna thought.

She peered around the room, squinting to see. Nothing looked out of place. No dust had been disturbed on the floor that she could see. There was still silence all around.

Cianna closed her eyes and went within, using her senses the way her grandmother taught her. “We are all one,” Aelasar said, “all of us, man and beast,

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Community Updates

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Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

News Announcements

* Play Release 60 Now!

* Beach Party & Fishing Contest Livestream Today!

* Release 60 Livestream Nov 30 (Cornucopia)

* Winter 2018 Items Appear

* Winter Recurring Items Return!

* Automatic Redemption of Rewards Release 61

* Upgrading Bundles with Crowns (ends 12/21)

* 50% Item Fridays & 20% Crown Weekends Holiday Sales

* Elven, Obsidian, & Shogun Expirations

* Viking & Kobold Expirations

* Shroud of the Avatar Boxed Editions $40 off Holiday Sale!

* Sandbox Roleplay Livestream (YouTube)

* Shroud of the Avatar Rewards Program

* Weekend Flash Sale: Harvest

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* Community Event: Release 60 Dance Party

* Community Event: Welcome Quest Release 60

* Community Event: The Stone Dragon Player Quest

* Meretz: Win a Circle of Stones Rift Dungeon Entrance

* Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant

* Project to Support: Dragons & Dragonkin – The Coloring Book!

* Project to Support: Moustache of the Avatar

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

News Announcements

* Release 60 on QA

* Sandbox Roleplay Livestream Today!

* Winter Recurring Items Return!

* Automatic Redemption of Rewards Release 61

* Upgrading Bundles with Crowns (ends 12/21)

* 50% Item Fridays & 20% Crown Weekends Holiday Sales

* Elven, Obsidian, & Shogun Expirations

* Viking & Kobold Expirations

* Shroud of the Avatar Boxed Editions $40 off Holiday Sale!

* R59 Livestream (YouTube)

* Shroud of the Avatar Rewards Program

* Weekend Flash Sale: Deeds!

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* Community Event: Put Up Yer Dukes! Get your fight on in Stormsong Vale!

* Community Event: The Stone Dragon Player Quest

* Community Event: Novia Market R59 Grandmaster Bundles

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* Meretz: Win a Circle of Stones Rift Dungeon Entrance

* Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant

* Project to Support: The Dreams in Gary’s Basement

* Project to Support: Dragons & Dragonkin – The Coloring Book!

* Resources: Players Helping Players