-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This item is published by MPG-Net under license from TSR, Inc. ("TSR") 
but is not authorized or endorsed by TSR.  The item is for personal use
only.  If the item is based on or derived from copyrighted material of TSR
or contains trademarks of TSR, it cannot be re-published or distributed
except by the author and only as authorized by TSR, Inc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------



					ELKWOOD MANOR
				   	HOUSE OF THE HAWK
					MERCENARY CO.
					BY JIM GRUNST
					JEGST17@PITT.CIS.EDU
BACK AROUND OCTOBER 1982, THE HOUSE OF THE HAWK CAMPAIGN PLAYERS DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A STRONGHOLD TO SERVE AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS AGAINST THE EVIL SLAVE LORDS OPERATING OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS TO THE NORTH OF THE RIVER AZURERAIN. CONSTRUCTION PROCEEDED AS THE 'COMPANY OF THE HAWK ADVANCED IN THE A-1 THROUGH A-3 SLAVE LORDS SERIES MODULES.BY THE TIME THE FINAL PART OF THE SERIES WAS COMPLETED, SO TOO WAS THE MANOR HOUSE. HOWEVER, NO ONE IN THE HOUSE OF THE HAWK REALISED THAT THEY HAD MADE SOME VERY POWERFUL ENEMIES-FOR THE CLERICS THAT WERE NUMBERED AMONG THE EVIL SLAVE LORDS FOLLOWED HIGHER AUTHORITIES AND NAME BEINGS, WHO WERE LIKEWISE OF AN EVIL NATURE. THESE CREATURES OF FOUL NATURES RESOLVED TO SEEK REVENGE AGAINST THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF THE HAWK .THE 'COMPANY BEGAN A LONG DECLINE INTO OBSCURITY ,FOLLOWING THAT FATEFUL DAY WHEN THE 'COMPANY WAS BEREFT OF TWO OF THE LEADERS, LORD GOLEM AND LADY GALAIN.
IT WAS A WARM DAY IN MAY,THE ANNOUNCEMENTS HAD DRAWN MANY PEOPLES OF THE REALM TO URILLOS ELOS AND ELKWOOD MANOR. GOLEM AND GALAIN WERE TO BE WED IN A GRAND CEREMONY, PRESIDED OVER BY NONE LESS THAN THE ARCH-PRIEST OF THE TARRANTINE CHURCH OF HANALEI SELENIAL. RUMORS ABOUNDED THAT EVEN KING ATAR THE LION AND HIS ENTOURAGE WOULD BE PRESENT.AS THE HOUR DREW NEAR,DARK CLOUDS BEGAN TO DRAW NEAR TO THE KEEP.STREAKS OF LIGHTNING COULD BE DISCERNED FROM WITHIN THE CLOUDS.AS THE CEREMONY BEGAN, A BOLT OF BLUE LIGHNING SHOT DOWN FROM THE CLOUDS, INSTANTLY TURNING THE HIGH PRIEST TO ASH! PANDEMONIUM AND CONFUSION BROKE OUT. THE CROWD SOUGHT COVER, SAVE FOR A FEW MEMBERS OF THE 'COMPANY OF THE HAWK. SUDDENLY, SEVERAL LARGE MIST-CLOUD LIKE BLOBS APPEARED AROUND THE DIAS WHERE GALAIN STOOD.THEN WITHOUT WARNING, THE SMALL CLOUDS COLLACED INTO SOLIDITY- AND THERE STOOD SEVEN HIDEOUS CREATURES, STRAIGHT FROM THE OUTER PLANES! ONE OF THE CREATURES HAD A STRANGE BLUE TINTED SKIN, AND HIS CLOTHING,OF AN OLD FASHIONED NATURE, LIKEWISE WAS BLUE, UP TO AND INCLUDING A BLUE TURBAN WITH A VERY LARGE BLUE SAPPHIRE SET INTO THE HEADBAND.THIS FELLOW APPEARED TO BE THE LEADER."I AM THE BLUE EFFRIT OF GONZIR-GALAD" HE STATED IN A LOUD BOOMING VOICE. "MY MASTERS HAVE BID ME TO PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THOU ON THIS HAPPY DAY".WITH THAT, A FIREBALL BURST AT THE FOOT OF THE DIAS. AS THE SMOKE SETTLED, BOTH THE BLUE EFFRIT AND THE LADY GALAIN HAD VANISHED, LEAVING BEHIND SIX EVIL ELEMENTAL MINIONS TO DO BATTLE WITH THE FEW 'COMPANY MEMBERS STILL STANDING AMIDST THE CARNAGE AND DESTRUCTION.DURING THE PITCHED AND DESPERATE BATTLE, THREE MEMBERS OF THE 'COMPANY FOUND THEIR DESTINY IN ETERNAL PEACE.THERE WAS MUCH MOURNING AT THE FUNERAL THE NEXT DAY, AS WE ALL BID FAREWELL TO OUR FALLEN COMRADES. THUS IT WAS THAT WITH HALF OF OUR HEAVY DUTY SPELL CASTING ABILITY MISSING, NAMELY GALAIN,LORD GOLEM SET ABOUT ORGANIZING THE 'COMPANY INTO A RESCUE MISSION TO THE FAR AWAY CITY OF GONZIR-GALAD.REPLACEMENT MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED,AS WELL AS SEVERAL PEOPLE NEW TO ADVENTURING. BACK NEAR TO FULL MEMBERSHIP, THO STILL SHORT ON MAGIC SPELLS, THE 'COMPANY SET FORTH ON THE 25TH DAY OF MAY.
