Well, its been a while, but issue five is finally completed! From this
time forward, we will be completing an issue every two weeks, so keep your
Serin calendar marked and be on the look out for issue 6. As you can see,
we have a new segment titled 'The Taste Bud Survival Guide, by Danside the
Connoisseur of the Palate' which outlines many wonderful dining experiences
available in Serin. Also, the Battles section has been removed since many
of the reported battles were not recent enough to be interesting, and
because we have received so few reports on interesting battles.

The sections you can 'look' at in the Serin Mystique are:

We hope that the voices of the past will guide your future journeys.

My fellow Serins, in this time of grave danger and serious matters, I
must bring to your attention another problem of that nature. It has come to
my attention that as of late there has been a marked rise in a very
disturbing phenomenon that plagues our streets, even as I write. Recent
reports show that gnome fatalities are caused primarily by drunken
adventurers misstepping, or swinging their weapons from their dizziness or
disorientation. Gnome advocacy groups have been screaming foul at this
alarming trend, but it appears no one will hear them, probably because no
one is able, given their diminutiveness. I have brought this matter to the
general populace with a plea: should you choose to imbibe large quantities
of alcohol, please, observe the gnome crossing signs.

Hail Fellow Serins, greetings from Ravarin Canton bard extraordinaire! In
my grand return to the realms, and it is grand indeed I have, with the help
of a certain halfling drunk, uncovered a vast and somewhat horrifying
conspiracy. It seems that a band of vicious gnomish taskmasters have set up
a sweatshop deep in the sewers of Seringale. This syndicate has more or
less imprisoned druids and are exploiting their skills to blend certain
drugs and/or bootleg alcohol that can be sold cheaply and the effects of
which tend to cause consumers to become addicted. These mixtures are then
sold to certain establishments such as The Three Crowns, and The Wicked Ale,
both found in Seringale. I uncovered this heinous act when a pair of
hardened gnomes approached Talelai who stated she had enough business from
Keeb to keep her around a while. This once secret organization is led by a
mysterious and obese halfling who claims to be nothing more than a humble
purveyor of religious relics. This unfortunately is all the information I
have, due to unforeseen interferences with a rabid donkey named Herman.
Fear not Serins, I will get to the bottom of this conundrum.

Bad tidings come today, as news from the front has confirmed that Phaleg
Dragonsbane the Shepherd of the Weak has been captured by the Fell. It is
reported that Phaleg had jumped in front of a small village that was about
to be pillaged and fought the Fell back as long as his strength could... We
will miss him dearly.

Lately I have been witnessing more and more activity from the fell. Just a
few days ago they came out in force, Kedran, Iakhovas and Jerhyn (a traitor)
came upon the conservatory and stole out item. One immortal I cannot say
who for they kept themselves cloaked ordered a few of us to band together.
Although in itself this is not odd it was who this one ordered together was
the odd part, myself, Keedara and Lyph were ordered to band together to stop
these brigands. We fought many battles chasing each other across the realms
for many days, we fought with the aid of a young justice also Ilrodqurst who
would ensnare them and aid us with his special guard as well for these three
were wanted as well. In the end my companions and I ended up losing for
Keedara fell and would not commit to it anymore. Me and Lyph tried our best
to hunt them down with just us but they were to many and to strong we were
driven back. I believe it was the differences between the Knight Lyph and
Keedara that brought our downfall in this battle.

It seems that the fell and their traitorous allies have become quite
overactive of late, they are recruiting our forces into theirs in numbers
unknown in the past. As I have been watching many of my old friends even
have joined them in their evil ways and I will speak with a few of them
hopefully to figure out why they join with the emperor. I spoke with an old
friend of mine Chnyl who has joined the traitors and there seems to be no
reason for their joining with the other side besides outright boredom from
what he says. I will speak with more of their kind and figure out the
reason for this and write to you as soon as I am finished.

[LEGION]

After a plea for applications by Lord Resatimm, a new generation of
Legionnaires took up the task of spreading Darkness around the realms. The
Legion swiftly proved itself to be a strong force, capable of standing up to
the stalwart Knights of Valour, but the unexplained departure of Straielus,
their newest leader, and Tian, a strong fighter has left their force in
disarray. It remains to be seen whether the Legion can once more rebound.



[KNIGHT]

The Castle remains strong and steady, with old faces leading the way, those
being Naydra, Lourn, Aeldan, Deusrey and Jijit. The Knights recently bade
their friend and comrade Lyph a final farewell, but followed this sad event
with a slew of squirings and the induction of an invoker and a ranger of
elfkind, Avendin and Tinth. The Castle remains open for further
applications.

[MYSTIC]

The Ivory Tower has fallen from its prime, with its traitorous actions
making few eager to join them and instantly become an enemy to many. A lack
of activity peppered with short bursts of joining with the strongest of the
Fell to fight Serins seems to be order of business for remaining members,
notably Nauglamir and Fizen.

[JUSTICE]

The Halls of Law bustle with activity, with new members Hilemal, Ilrodqurst
and Azelinesti. The central towns, especially Seringale have seen an
increase in the level of criminals caught thanks to the vigilance of the
Justices. Vaargus, dubbed the Guardian of the Iron Fist now leads the
cabal. Talasia, once dismissed for reasons unknown has been reinstated.
The Justice cabal is no longer looking for new Law-keepers.

[WARLORD]

The Warlords of Serin have been rather quiet as late, and their hierarchy
has changed with some frequency. Ardoryn has taken over as Divine leader,
with a mandate to return the Warlords to the glory of days past. Ryoma,
Tobekn, Allanon, Garrai, Corgath, Tergore, Manroug are among the members of
the Halls of War.

[HERALD]

The Heralds once more make a plea for those inclined to any talent in
entertaining and writing to send a scroll for consideration for entrance.
Those who can commit to steady and consistent work, and those showing
loyalty and determination will be welcomed. The Heralds would also like to
remind Serins that they need your notes and messages to publish this paper,
and the frequency and quality of publication would be improved were everyone
to make a conscious effort to this end.

[ASSASSIN]

The Assassins cabal has been going through a period of strength, with their
listed members well over a dozen. Obfuscate, the nom de guerre of the most
effective assassin, still leads the way with well over three million gold
pieces of bounty collected. Cabal business can be done through Vinnie the
Shopkeeper in Seringale.

NOTE: Because of the constant flux of the Cabals of Serin, please inform the
Heralds of any and all inaccuracies or omissions. In addition, the Heralds
can not be held accountable for the accuracy of these reports, as it is only
a collection of the information they were able to collect from the general
populace.

The History of the White Queen

The White King's Queen was born into a magnificent family composed of great
after her grandmother. She was the youngest of two, her brother being a
struggling warrior called Seymour. These nobles resided in a land known for
it's lush over-use of diamonds. As a result, many called it the Province of
Diamonds, for it was literally composed of them.

Several years after this time, tension was forming between the Province of
Diamonds and their neighbor, the White Kingdom. Great unrest was stirring
as trade policies between them were argued over until early hours of the
mornings. By this time, Risa had grown to become a beautiful young woman
with an attachment to her jewelry, as most young women have. She was the
leading beauty in the Province of Diamonds and all would come to bask in her
presence. It was no surprise to her that she was promised to the Grand
Prince of White, in order to form closer ties with the adjoining kingdom.
This indeed caused much hardship within Risa, for a marriage without love,
is equivalent to a lifetime in a cold, dark dungeon.

Many years after, the Prince of White became the grand White King, and Risa
became the beautiful Queen of White. Much prosperity came to their kingdom,
but she was still in great pain and suffering. Eventually, she attempted to
escape with the help of her brother Seymour. During the night, she would
meet him outside the grand castle of White and run off to seek her own life.
Overhearing her plans, the White King banished Risa to her chambers. He
called upon the powerful white sorcerer to grant an enchantment on her, that
she may never leave or become summoned away by any who came to her rescue.
The wizard placed a curse on a sauce pan - a symbol of her lifetime
banishment in her home - and gave it to her as a reminder of her punishment.


To this day, the White King's Queen sits in her chambers - awaiting the day
when she can escape her husbands clutches over her. Seymour, a bit dense,
sits in his throne, enjoying his prosperity and basking in the knowledge
that he, above all kings, has the most beautiful queen to live in Serin.

The History of Gorgwath Sindagalad

The tale of Gorgwath Sindagalad, ex-Executor of Valour begins shortly after
the Alliance forces recaptured the elven stronghold Greginsham. His father
was a marble block merchant who supplied his wares to rebuild the grand city
free. Such was the magnitude of the peoples' gratitude that their family
was granted a position of nobility. As a young boy, Gorgwath spent time in
the great palace of Greginsham, roaming the halls freely. However, on one
such occasion, Gorgwath found himself in a place he had never been before,
the holy altar. Feeling the presence of another he could not see, Gorgwath
was frightened. Suddenly, a voice called out to him and told him he was to
undertake a grand quest. First running away, then returning, Gorgwath asked
the Voice if she would tell him what his quest was to be. The Voice did not
reply.

Each day following, Gorgwath returned to the altar room and meditated upon
the Divine Will which he knew the Voice to be. Gorgwath's father found
about his ritual, and sent him to Timaran. There, the Will instructed him
to join the paladin guild. Still, lacking knowledge of the outside world,
Gorgwath's emotions controlled his early actions. Because of simple
appearances, Gorgwath would charge into battle. Matters came to a head when
he and two other paladins raided a drow village. Such was the magnitude of
the destruction that upon the following night, he dreamt of the Voice once
more. He was instructed to seek the teachings of the mind and to learn true
divinity. Thus, he applied to the Knights for this purpose.

Accepted soon as a squire and then a Disciple of Valour, Gorgwath had
achieved his goal. Still, Gorgwath's road to true Knighthood was long and
arduous as he had still not learnt the meaning of true divinity.
Furthermore, he had no guidance as there were no other Knights to help and
teach him. Once more, a critical turning point came in a battle with
darkness. Fighting a corrupted avian, Gorgwath battled him to within a blow
of death, but hesitated. As he saw the light in his foes eyes, Gorgwath
sheathed his sword and aided his mortal enemy to his feet. Thus, he had
finally learnt that his sword was not the answer to all questions and had
achieved understanding of true divinity. Lord Soluminus knew now that
Gorgwath was ready for Knighthood and thus granted him that title. From
then on, Gorgwath's path to self-improvement was that of learning the
paladin arts and physical and mental combat. In a great fight against the
forces of the Ivory Tower and the Legion of Darkness, Gorgwath proved his
worth to lead the Knights. Thus, Gorgwath became the Executor of Valour,
leading the forces of the light with both courage and compassion.

Question One:

Well here is what (Troubled Out Of His Intelligent Mind) wrote...

Dear Keeb,

Mr. Keeb... I was a bit skeptical about your little section in the Serin
Mystique, claiming that you can help with people's problems and what not, so
I decided to give it a try. Couldn't hurt anything... At least not that I
know of. Anyways, I am really curious on my habits of learning. You see, I
am a stubborn Drow at times, and it appalled me that being one of the most
intelligent species in this land, my habits of becoming any better in my
specialties is quite tedious and dreary. I have noticed that the decreasing
sagacity within me is diminishing, or at least I think such, but that should
not hinder my learning capabilities, correct? Am I just getting dumber or
is there another force that shrinks my knowledge which causes many days of
hard and constant training (and back pain, mind you) that seems as if I'm
just wasting my existence in solitude. I beg of you, Mr. Keeb sir, please
solve my problem. Why and what is causing this preposterous amount of time
it is taking me to become extremely proficient in my skills?

Sincerely, Troubled Out Of His Intelligent Mind

P. S. And why can't I seem to find much gold? I rarely travel to the
legendary brothel, and the only thing I spend money on are mechanisms of
flying. Now why is it that I have a shortage of money and the tax
collectors keep banging on my door? Is it because some bastard thief be
pinching a penny or two from my lovely bank or what?

Answer One:

I don't think this will take long to explain as it is a fairly straight
forward question. Training is one of the fundamental parts of an
adventurer's life and as such an adventurer can be severely disconcerted
when it consumes more time than one would like. The basicality ( a new
non-word word) is that there are many ways to enhance ones training
experience but none of them can really make training truly easy. After all
if training were truly easy then it wouldn't be a big deal. I think all I
can truly tell you is to keep working and eventually mastery will come.
Encouragement is about all I have to offer here. Oh and about gold if you
want more I believe in the last issue four that is of the Mystique I said
something about getting some gold quickly.

Good Luck,
Keeb Miedo the Grandmaster of Assassins

Question Two:

I received a hard to answer question from Vandrien and as always here it
is...

How many times can I slay Aeva in a day without immortals interfering?

Answer Two: Well lets see, technically I have no way of having a correct
answer unless of course I got Vandrien to try it out. So instead of trying
and giving an answer that makes one of these fine specimens of undead want
my head, which they could probably rip off fairly easily. I'm going to
introduce our opponents and allow them to figure this out on their own time.
So here we go, our first contestant is a real blood sucker, shunned of
light, both the light of day and the metaphor for good. Once a human with a
terminal illness he sought vampirism as a cure. Please welcome Vandrien the
only vampire currently in Serin. Our second contestant is a thief and the
only undead halfling. A member of the once secretive and now dissolved
Covenant and now the only one left. Please welcome Aeva the Last of
Covenant. Now if you would give our contestants a round of applause and
wish them good luck they can figure out the answer whenever they feel they
are ready.

Good Luck to both of you, Keeb Miedo

Question Three:

Here is a problem from Rhastam that most of us will never experience...

Keeb,

For the last few moons, I have noticed that every single zombie that I
manage to raise has some sort of discharge from their bowel. It is a very
the guildmaster Quazark can't stand it when trails of goo lead inside onto
the examination table. Aside from using old cheese to plug up the hole, can
you render any suggestions as to how to combat this very stinky problem?

Answer Three:

I can't really speak from personal experience considering I am not from the
undead magehall as Rhastam puts it but I can on the other hand give you some
more general advice that might help. Ok, lets see what one would do about
such a problem. I doubt it is possible for you to simply leave them outside
so I won't even think of suggesting it. Oops too late oh well. In any case
I can see how this could be quite a problem. No one wants undead bowel goo
all over and not only because its unsanitary. Walla! I have it! Make your
undead diapers. I've seen it before on young children. That way all the
mess is caught and you don't have to worry about tracking it around your
guildhall and across town and everywhere else you might go. Of course this
may make your undead a bit more work if it's a lot of flow from the bowels
but otherwise you can probably just let the drip go the duration of their
existence. Well Rhastam problem averted no more leaky undead bowel goo.

Good Luck,
Keeb Miedo

The Dining and Beverage Experience of Seringale

In all the fast paced movement that we all experience these days, it is
sometimes hard to sit down and enjoy good food or good beverages. Because
of this, I have started a series of the establishments around Serin so that
you may find these fine items and enjoy them without spending that time in
search of them. I will begin with the city that every frequents the most,
Seringale.

The dining experience of Seringale can be somewhat limited, most people
ration themselves to plain pieces of meat or bread, completely oblivious to
the possibilities that lie within the Drunken Scribe. But I'm getting ahead
of myself, lets begin with the various shops that lay within the city limits
of Seringale. As I previously said, the dining establishments are fairly
limited, but there are plenty of places to pick up our own food to make your
own meal. The shops that sell food products are, the bakery, the butcher,
and the fruit grove. Don't forget the spice shop though, if you wish to add
a bit of zest to your meats, or sweeten up that fruit.

Let's begin with the that brings in the highest amount of revenue, the
butcher. The butcher sells the following items, whole roasted ducks, sides
of pork, chicken legs, and slabs of beef. To those not interested in the
culinary arts, or don't have the time to prepare something more exotic, I
recommend going somewhere else, because this food is quite plain and bland
when eaten alone. However, for those who enjoy preparing their own fancy
feasts, this is the perfect place to start. Find your meat of choice to
begin your meal, and be creative. The butcher chooses only the finest cuts
of meat, which raises the price a bit, but it is definitely well worth it.
Of all the places to obtain food directly within the city, the butcher has
the highest quality, but remember, vary your food! The butcher goes through
hundreds of cows a day because of the popularity of the beef, and people
don't even realize that the other products are just as good!

The next place, is my personal favorite in Seringale. The bakery has long
been the one of the best providers of fresh baked breads and other goods.
Perhaps it's just me, but the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven is one
of the most divine scents you can find anywhere. The bakery sells the
following items, bowls of rice, stinky pieces of cheese, bread with raisins,
cream pies, and soft fluffy biscuits. Now, perhaps the cheese is a bit
unappetizing at first, but give it a try on a biscuit, it can end up being
quite a treat. And of course, if you are just not a fan of cheese, try some
meat from the butcher, or some fruit from the fruit grove. The bread with
raisins the bakery sells is some of the finest tasting bread I have ever
had. It's great for a quick breakfast, or a snack. If you are really in a
hurry, it's great for lunch or dinner as well. The rice, for those of you
who prefer to eat grains, is affordable and tasty as well, give it a try
sometime. Perhaps try mixing it up with a little beef and vegetables, or
other things, get creative with it. We cannot forget the dessert! The
cream pies are absolutely delicious, the perfect way to end any meal. Time
and time again I keep coming back to the bakery just for the pies. The
bakery is definitely a place you must try everything from, at least
sometime.

The final place that sells food within Seringale is the fruit grove. For
those of you who love fresh fruit, this place is truly a treat for you.
Here, you can buy fresh watermelons, peaches, bananas, oranges, and apples.
These are great snacks, or can add a little bit of sweetness to any meal.
Fruit is a great topping on cream pies, something you absolutely must try at
some time. Almost all the fruit you can buy here, with the exception of the
watermelons, are lightweight, tasty, and great for people constantly on the
move. I would definitely recommend the fruit grove to everyone as well.

The Dining and Beverage Experience of Seringale

In all the fast paced movement that we all experience these days, it is
sometimes hard to sit down and enjoy good food or good beverages. Because
of this, I have started a series of the establishments around Serin so that
you may find these fine items and enjoy them without spending that time in
search of them. I will begin with the city that every frequents the most,
Seringale.

The dining experience of Seringale can be somewhat limited, most people
ration themselves to plain pieces of meat or bread, completely oblivious to
the possibilities that lie within the Drunken Scribe. But I'm getting ahead
of myself, let's begin with the various shops that lay within the city limits
of Seringale. As I previously said, the dining establishments are fairly
limited, but there are plenty of places to pick up our own food to make your
own meal. The shops that sell food products are, the bakery, the butcher,
and the fruit grove. Don't forget the spice shop though, if you wish to add
a bit of zest to your meats, or sweeten up that fruit.

Lets begin with the that brings in the highest amount of revenue, the
butcher. The butcher sells the following items, whole roasted ducks, sides
of pork, chicken legs, and slabs of beef. To those not interested in the
culinary arts, or don't have the time to prepare something more exotic, I
recommend going somewhere else, because this food is quite plain and bland
when eaten alone. However, for those who enjoy preparing their own fancy
feasts, this is the perfect place to start. Find your meat of choice to
begin your meal, and be creative. The butcher chooses only the finest cuts
of meat, which raises the price a bit, but it is definitely well worth it.
Of all the places to obtain food directly within the city, the butcher has
the highest quality, but remember, vary your food! The butcher goes through
hundreds of cows a day because of the popularity of the beef, and people
don't even realize that the other products are just as good!

The next place, is my personal favorite in Seringale. The bakery has long
been the one of the best providers of fresh baked breads and other goods.
Perhaps it's just me, but the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven is one
of the most divine scents you can find anywhere. The bakery sells the
following items, bowls of rice, stinky pieces of cheese, bread with raisins,
cream pies, and soft fluffy biscuits. Now, perhaps the cheese is a bit
unappetizing at first, but give it a try on a biscuit, it can end up being
quite a treat. And of course, if you are just not a fan of cheese, try some
meat from the butcher, or some fruit from the fruit grove. The bread with
raisins the bakery sells is some of the finest tasting bread I have ever
had. It's great for a quick breakfast, or a snack. If you are really in a
hurry, it is great for lunch or dinner as well. The rice, for those of you
who prefer to eat grains, is affordable and tasty as well, give it a try
sometime. Perhaps try mixing it up with a little beef and vegetables, or
other things, get creative with it. We cannot forget the dessert! The
cream pies are absolutely delicious, the perfect way to end any meal. Time
and time again I keep coming back to the bakery just for the pies. The
bakery is definitely a place you must try everything from, at least
sometime.

The final place that sells food within Seringale is the fruit grove. For
those of you who love fresh fruit, this place is truly a treat for you.
Here, you can buy fresh watermelons, peaches, bananas, oranges, and apples.
These are great snacks, or can add a little bit of sweetness to any meal.
Fruit is a great topping on cream pies, something you absolutely must try at
some time. Almost all the fruit you can buy here, with the exception of the
watermelons, are lightweight, tasty, and great for people constantly on the
move. I would definitely recommend the fruit grove to everyone as well.

For many people, these few establishments are more than enough, but if
you're like me, you desire full meals, and not just parts of them. I do
enjoy making my own, but I enjoy even more then social aspect of dining out.
Well, luckily we don't have to go too far at all for true dining
experiences. Thanks to the construction of the Drunken Scribe earlier in
the Second Age, we have the ability to sit down and enjoy complete meals.
The lounge of the Drunken Scribe is a great place to sit down, eat, have a
drink, smoke a cigar, and relax. While still somewhat limited in what you
can buy to eat, it is still quite the step up from the products sold within
Seringale. At the lounge, you can buy yourself steaks and potatoes, a
veggie dinner, or a noodle dinner. Depending on your taste, they are
absolutely splendid. If you prefer meats, they've got you covered, or the
vegetable lovers have theirs as well. Then you've got the noodle dinner, a
little bit different than what is found in most other places of Serin, but
delicious. The atmosphere of the Drunken Scribe really adds something to
the food. It may sound crazy, but it is absolutely true. The friendliness
of the staff, the laid back feeling, and the fact that you and a group of
friends can just lounge, and enjoy your food, is a major part of the dining
experience at the Drunken Scribe. Another favorite of mine is the cigars.
After dinner, while enjoying a nice bottle of some of the fine wines they
have, or other drinks, from their two bars, relaxing with a nice hand rolled
cigar is the perfect way to finish off any evening or meal.

But what would a meal be without drink? Well, that will have to wait for
another time. In the next edition, I shall go through the pubs, bars, and
taverns of Seringale. Good eating!

Danside the Connoisseur of the Palate


Cooking with Keeb, Culinary Secrets of Serin - an addition to our first
Dining edition!

The average adventurer consumes... Ok I don't have any exact statistics but
lets say a whole lot of beef a few ducks maybe lots of bread and many body
parts of many strange and exotic animals and or creatures. Most likely some
mushrooms, of the magic variety as well. Well that's just fine and dandy
but I am here to tell you that there are many nuances to being more than
just a casual diner in Serin. I'm not going to talk about store bought food
as that would most likely bore you no? I am going to tell you what
creatures are good eating (if you kill them first), I suppose you could eat
them alive. It might be a bit more difficult however. There are a few
general rules when killing for food the first being not everything is
something you want to eat. Here is a short list of the non-edible bits:

Entrails ( Don't look too tasty to begin with ), Tails ( Whip your friends
with them instead?) , Horns and Fangs ( A bit hard wouldn't you say?) ,
Wings ( Fun for flying not enough meat though...)

Ok, now that we know what not to eat let's see what is good. First of all if
you can round one up bring along a ranger or druid on your culinary
excursion. They will help you chop that beast up into nice easily eaten
steaks if your prey doesn't drop anything edible. We are going to start small
then go to the more exotic foods. A note though it may be ok to eat
sentient beings of another species I will not discuss this as it may anger
someone. Though I have heard Illithid is squishy and sweet. Ok after
thinking it over some more we are just going to jump into the more exotic
foods as there isn't much in between. Here are two dishes I believe to be
absolutely superb. Firstly shark steak boiled in redberry sauce and
marinated in brandy. Its flavor has a unique tang to it while at the same
time being sweet and somewhat alcoholic, and of course that makes it better
no? I think the preparation is fairly straight forward get some shark steak
boil it in redberry and marinate in fine brandy. The last dish I am going
to describe is dragon slow roasted dipped in curry and eaten with rye bread.
It may not be alcoholic but it has plenty of kick. In fact it has been known
to knock out dwarves and we all know what they say about dwarves... In any
case this is a very spicy dish as dragon is a naturally spicy meat.