The date for Argadon's coronation feast was set; it was to be during the spring camping trip. As the night of the ceremony approached, Argadon grew more pensive; apparently he was worried about someone interfering...

The feast was splended. There was roast beef, Cornish Game hens, wee potatoes, fresh fruit, cheeses, breads and wine (Well, grape juice)

After the meal, there was a round of cards before the ceremony. As the sun was setting, we gathered in a circle around our soon to be king. Argadon said that it had been a long four years, but that he was pleased he was finally able to stand there in front of us. The sun had set. Our campsite was now lit only by a single lantern.

The chancelor said a few words, placed a circlet of silver upon Argadon's brow, and pronounced him king. We kneeled in reverence before our new soviergn. Suddenly, the lantern began to dim. We looked over to find what had caused this, but there was no one near it. As the last light from the lantern faded, someone asked if we should use our magical torches, but Argadon replied, "Nay, no magical torches tonight my friends." So we stood there in the gathering darkness. There was a long silence which grew more uncomfortable as it lengthened. The silence was broken by the loud sound of someone running from the camp.

When we finally managed to get the lantern re-lit, Argadon was no where to be found. The circlet of silver lay on the ground. The Arm's Master muttered, "Argadon told me something like this might happen. He said that someone might try to kidnap him. Argadon said that there is an entity named...."

"...Darkwind," the voice echoed from the dark forest surrounding our campsite, "Yes, I am Darkwind." A shadowy figure approched from the trees. His skin was pale; like death. He was dressed in formal clothes, a black cape hanging down his back. In his hands he caried two swords...the king's swords. Again he spoke, "I have taken your king. By dawn he shall be dead. Then I will rule this petty kingdom, and you shall all bow down to me."

"Back you foul beast!" cried the healer. He drew forth his holy symbol and pointed it at Darkwind who hissed and drew back, "We will find our king, and we shall destroy you!"

"Puney mortals! You are foolish to think that you can stop me." Darkwind's hollow laughter echoed through the trees and he disapeared down the road. We ran after him. As we rounded a bend in the road, Darkwind was gone. There was movement off to the side of the road. We turned, drawing our weapons. From the darkness emerged a figure. It was the Arm's Master. He said that he had been trying to cut off Darkwind's escape.

We regrouped. It was explained that Darkwind was a Vampire. During the day, he slept in a tear-drop-shaped crypt. Most likely Argadon was imprisoned there. The healer could keep Darkwind at bay with his holy symbol, but the only way to kill him was by plunging a stake (Green only dagger) through his heart and then cutting off his head.

We gathered our supplies.

The under brush was very thick in that region of the land. There were only two entrances into the campsite, one from the road, and one from the back, leading from the forest. We decided to stay together as a group at all costs. (Ultimately, this is probably what saved us. Darkwind would have picked us off, one by one, had we split up.) Earlier, while searching for firewood, we had discovered an animal track which ran along the road, some 50 yards from it. We backed down the road and found the track, planning on following it up to just behind our campsite, hopefully surprising Darkwind from the rear.

We marched along the track for nearly an hour, our swords drawn, ready to fight. The dark forest offered many shadowy shapes for our imaginations to run away with. After an hour of traveling, it was decided that we had passed by our campsite, we doubled back. Finally we saw the light from our camp lantern.

When we returned, the maiden who had remained told us that darkwind had indeed returned. He was quite surprised to find that we were not there. He had been waiting in the outskirt of our camp to catch us by surprise. We returned to the forest to search for Darkwind, our tourches lighting the way. We scanned the under-brush for any sign of him or his crypt.

Tallendar, who was point, saw Darkwind first. He had been crouched behind a tree, lying in wait. As the light from our torches shown on his pale, white, face he began to stand. When Darkwind saw the rest of our heavily armed party approching, his fierce expression turned to one of panic. He ran off into the forest away from the group; we persued him deeper into the forest. Attacking those in front; the healer's holy symbol was knocked from his hand. He killed the Arm's Master and one of the other fighters. He was now right in the midst of the party. We began hacking at him. Darkwind fell to the ground, someone managed to plunge a stake into his chest.

He screamed! Flesh fell from bone, turning to dust, scattered by the wind.

It was over, Darkwind had been defeated.

We returned to look for the bodies of our fallen comrads, but they were no where to be found. After ten minutes of searching, THEY found us...

. . .


All the vampires were dead. Some of us had actuauly managed to surive the night. We retrned to our campsite to sleep...

I awoke late the following morning, it had been a long night for me. It was an even longer night for Argadon who had spent it trapped in Darkwind's crypt; it wasn't untill the morning that Gandar and Elric found the crypt and freed him.

Vonkar of Aerostoren