Characters

Jaz Mirastar - a female half-elf

You grew up in the small town of Michawaka, just north of Elkton. You never had a father and, for some reason, this caused other people in the town to ostracize you and your mother. You remember being a very bright child, and by the age of six you had read all of the books in the town library. Things for mother, Elaina, were not going so well. She was shut out of most, if not all, social functions. You could hear her crying herself to sleep almost every night. She worried about you also, the children in town could be quite mean, but mother didn't seem to realize how tough you were; you could take it.

As a child, you were always into something new; nothing could hold your attention for very long. After studying something for a short while, you would either learn most everything about it, or learn enough to realize that the subject was going to be boring.

Shortly after your ninth birthday, a man came to visit your mother. She sent you to your room, and the man and mother talked for a couple of hours. Your mother then came to your room. She sat on your bed to talk with you, and you could tell that she had been crying, but presently she seemed calm and collected.

"That man," mother said, "was your father. He is an elf. He was never here because elves never stay in one place for long. He said that he loves us, but to elves that means something different than it does to us. His name is Miradon Quist, and he had to leave again, some adventure to rescue Vell. He did give me a lot of money. We can now start over, perhaps in Elkton. I can also send to you to a school where you won't be so bored, and you'll be away from these mean children."

She leaned over and gave you a big hug and that was that. The next day, you left your small home, and mother took you to the School of Thoth. The priests of Thoth, the god of knowledge and wisdom, were renowned for their excellent schooling. The priests gave you a test to take and you finished fairly quickly; it was pretty easy. The priests looked surprised. An elder priest, Master Corinar, told your mother that you had passed the scholarship exam and that payment would be unnecessary. Another priest, Philo Beckwith, made a prophecy concerning you.

"One day this child will be in a position to save the entire world", he declared.

The school was fairly exciting; most of the teachers and students were fairly smart. One student who was pretty much your equal was Perdinan Gophett. Perdinan was one of the top students in the school, and one of the few people who could engage you in interesting conversation. There were other friends too: Hans Evenruud, the class clown; Elton Vermathian, a nerdy kid who was always wiping his nose on his sleeve; Harvey Klingler, the kid who really liked bugs; and Hemathese Aliston, who was always taking notes and writing down everything anybody said and continually asking if it was going to be on a test. Master Corinar was always down on you, but you sensed he really liked you. School was going well and you learned quite a bit, but after a while the thought of being a priestess of Thoth for the rest of your life didn't really seem 'you'. You thought there were new experiences out there waiting for you.

It was with this questing heart that, on the summer break between your junior and senior years, you found something new. You were having lunch in a diner when Northside Willy, the famous musician and singer, came up to you and asked if you could sing. You gave an impromptu audition, and did well enough for him to offer you a job singing with his band. At first you declined the offer.

"Singing doesn't really seem that interesting. I think I can come up with something better to do than just stand in the background and sing", you said.

Northside sat there completely flabbergasted. You guessed that nobody had ever turned him down before. The keyboard player, Ticklin' Tommy Jantz, convinced you to join the band.

"Stand there and just sing?!" he argued. "If you're looking for a challenge, come with us, my dear. First, there's the challenge of learning to play these instruments. If that doesn't get your fingers in a knot, try playing in front of a crowd of people and entertaining them to the point that they leave wanting more. Then there's the whole business and logistics side. And let me tell you, if you can deal with agents, theater managers, the light casting crew union and promoters, you've learned a thing or two about psychology! Then there's the travel. New cities, people and ideas!"

You traveled with them for a while and learned quite a lot. The instruments were quite difficult, but you became fairly adequate at most of them. Gaining a 'stage presence' took a bit of fine-tuning. The hardest thing to learn was dealing with the agents and promoters. You eventually learned the ins-and-outs of those politics such that, for a while, you were spokesperson for the band. The travel was most exciting. The sights, sounds and smells of each new city invigorated you.

Soon enough, however, you began to tire of life in a traveling band. Sure, entertaining people was an important job, but you were positive that there were other important jobs out there, and you couldn't wait to try them.

You met an interesting fellow after a gig one night. He said his name was Dingle-Doo Deedle Deedle Blatz, and that he was a social worker.

"A social worker", you asked. "What does that mean?"

"Well, I help the less fortunate", he replied. "I work for a better society."

"A better society... that sounds quite noble. How do I join?" was your response.

"Well..." he said as he eyed you up and down, "you seem a decent enough sort to me."

As it turned out, Dingle-Doo's form of social work wasn't sanctioned by any governmental bureaucracy that you knew of. He would seek out tax collectors and other officials who would abuse the political offices they held to take advantage of those who couldn't defend themselves. The officials grew rich and fat by overtaxing (essentially stealing from) the poor and downtrodden. Dingle-Doo and his band would retrieve the "tax surplus" and redistribute it amongst those who needed it.

These were exciting times. The adrenaline rush of breaking into a rich tax collector's castle, and taking back what rightfully belonged to the people, all the while hoping you wouldn't get caught, was only surpassed by the joy you felt when you saw the poor people's faces when they realized they could now feed their children.

Soon enough, however, you began to think there must be a better way to help these people. You never actually removed the source of the problems, the officials would always return to tax the people again. In order to effectively change society, you had to be more powerful than the problem. You knew that wizards were powerful individuals and, since magic had always interested you, you decided to enroll in Rensselaer Polymagical Institute (RPI).

RPI had a no nonsense approach to the study of magic. It was all very interesting and you excelled in your studies. The school was so single-mindedly devoted to the study of magic, however, that there wasn't anything else to do, and after a while you started to feel almost trapped. With no other entertaining outlets (even the other students devoted all their 'free time' to study), your mind again began to wander.

What were you doing here? You knew you wanted to become a powerful wizard so you could "save the world", but you didn't know what that meant. You knew there was plenty of injustice in the world, but there was injustice long before you were born, and it would probably exist long after you were gone. You began to realize that you didn't really know what you wanted. You had been wandering around all this time trying to convince yourself you knew what you were doing and where you were going. You decided that you needed to figure out exactly what you it was you wanted in life. You figured college was a good place to do that, but not RPI. This school was obviously for people who already knew what they wanted. You needed to go to a large university with a large diversity of learning opportunities, and a large student body. You had always had relationships with people who were doing the same things as you were. You needed to surround yourself with as many different ideas and people as possible. Eventually, you would find what you wanted.

So, after only one semester at RPI, you transferred to East Lansing University. You had thought about going to East Lansing State, but you didn't like their nickname, the Spartans, or their mascot, a three-foot tall green golem named Sparty Spewhead.

You started as a psychology major. Studying how peoples' minds worked seemed quite interesting. One day you heard several other students talking. They were sociology majors. That sounded interesting. At the end of the semester you would change your major to sociology. You were determined to get a taste of all the different learning you could. When you went to the administration building, you were told that changing majors, due to extremely strict matriculation rules, meant that previous classes would not be counted as credits towards your new major. You shrugged your shoulders. Diversity of learning was much more important right now than college credits.

This chain of events would happen on quite a regular basis. You would find something interesting and throw yourself into a studying frenzy only to find something more interesting later on. You changed majors almost every semester, and with those ridiculous credit matriculation rules, you continued to be classified as a freshman. You couldn't even remember all the different majors you've had. There was psychology, sociology, philosophy, history, music education, physical education, drama, geology and many others. You started to become known as "the world's oldest freshman". You knew you had to find some direction for your life soon. The money your mother left you for your education was beginning to run low, even though you augmented it by tutoring (you were apparently an excellent tutor, many people tried to obtain your services).

It was in a Planar Mechanics class that you finally found your destiny. The professor was Perigar Adanac. He was a slim man, graying at the temples that walked with a slight limp. At the end of class, Professor Adanac asked to see you in his office. The class was very challenging, but you were passing your exams, so you had no idea why he wanted to see you.

"Please, sit down", he said as you entered his office. "I suppose you're wondering why I've asked to see you."

"Actually, yes", you replied.

"Well, I'd just like to say that you're one of the most brilliant people I've ever met. You do, however, seem to lack direction. I'm head of a group called NO-DOPE, the New Order for the Dispersal Of Planar Energies. It is our assertion that the ambient magical energies radiating from the items kept in the confined space of the Great Vault is imminently dangerous to the entire universe."

The Great Vault is where all of the magical items retrieved from all of the previous Great Hunts are stored. There have been ninety-seven Hunts, so the items stored there must number in the thousands.

You talked with Perigar late into the night. He explained all of his formulae. They all made sense. If the items in the Vault were not dispersed, and event of world destroying power would take place. It might not be today, tomorrow or ten years from now, but it would surely happen. You made it your goal to stop this menace.

The next semester you changed your major (for what you thought for sure would be the last time) to Planar Mechanics. You also tried to recruit new members for NO-DOPE and make people aware of its goals. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of Blood Bowl season, and the East Lansing University Wolverines had recruited a new 'star quarterback'. Everyone was so excited about Blood Bowl and the rivalry with the cross-town East Lansing State Spartans that no one seemed to care about anything else.

Apparently, however, the new 'star' wasn't so hot and midway into the season the Wolverines weren't doing so well. The excitement died down and many of the 'students' who you tutored became involved with NO-DOPE, and the awareness of the dangers of the Vault slowly grew. This trend continued through the spring semester.

When the next fall semester came, you were still a Planar Mechanics major, and also a sophomore. The clerks in the administration building thought there was a typographical error. People were still excited about the Wolverines. They found another 'star' or something.

One day, the 'star quarterback' showed up at your dorm room door. It seemed the mighty Dakota Hotspur needed some help with some classes so he could stay on the team. Jocks really bothered you. All they seemed to care about was doing the bare minimum so they could play their precious sports. You told him to take his sports... and... you slammed the door right in his face. You told Perigar about it at the next NO-DOPE meeting.

"You what?" he exclaimed.

"Slammed the door in his face", you calmly replied.

"I didn't know you were such a judgmental person. Just because he's a gifted athlete doesn't mean he's not a person. He's still deserving of help, especially if he was smart enough to know he needed it."

Perigar was right. Just because he played sports didn't mean he was less of a person, so the next time he asked for your help, you agreed. To your surprise, however, he had a fairly difficult course load (for a jock), and as you helped tutor him you not only found him a quick learner, but someone who was genuinely interested in learning.

After Blood Bowl season was over, Dakota went and brought another 'jock' student to your dorm room door.

"Hey Jaz", said Dakota, "this is Oglethorpe, our new star offensive lineman. You've got to help him with his studies."

You looked at the creature that stood next to Dakota. It was over eight feet tall and had horns and claws and fangs. He also had a calm, friendly look in his eyes. You agreed to take on the new pupil and gave Dakota a list of books to pick up for Oglethorpe at the school bookstore.

Oglethorpe was very interesting. As large and as gruesome as he was on the outside, was as kind and as gentle as he was on the inside. He was also quite intelligent and had a genuine thirst to learn.

One day, about midway through the spring semester, Oglethorpe had come to see you. He was very upset. He had just come from a physical exam that the athletic department regularly conducted on the athletes.

"Jaz", he began quite solemnly, "I'm a monster."

He explained that he grew up in a tower owned by a crazy wizard and that the crazy wizard created him from parts of other creatures, trolls and minotaurs, and combined those parts with human parts.

"That", he said at last, "is why I'm a freakish creature. That is why I'm hideous."

You took Oglethorpe's massive hand in your hands and told him about your own childhood. You told him how other kids teased you because you had an elven father who left you and your mother behind.

"Life is what you make it, not what it makes you", you said. "Don't let your past bury you, let it be a foundation for a better future."

Oglethorpe thought for a while, when a resolute look came into his eyes.

"You're right", he declared. "I can't change what's been done to me, but I can change the future. You know magic is quite dangerous, especially when wielded irresponsibly. I wish I could do something about that."

"You can do something", you said. "Magical energies left unsupervised are extremely dangerous."

You took Oglethorpe to meet Perigar and the other members of NO-DOPE. Perigar explained NO-DOPE's goals and Oglethorpe became an enthusiastic member. You and Oglethorpe spent a good deal of time together putting up posters and handing out NO-DOPE flyers. Interest in NO-DOPE amongst the student body, however, was still very low.

"The dangers are great, but nobody has really taken us seriously yet", said Perigar at a meeting. "What we need is a famous spokesman."

"Dakota is quite popular", said Oglethorpe. "If we could get him to talk to people, they would listen."

"I don't know", you said. "He's so busy with sports. I don't think he even knows this group exists."

Perigar, not listening to you, exclaimed, "I like it! Jaz, see if he won't give us a hand. Bring him down to the next meeting."

The next time you were tutoring Dakota, you were busy thinking of a way to bring up the subject of NO-DOPE.

"Hey, Jaz", Dakota said. "How come we get along so well, but we hardly see each other?"

This opening could not be missed.

"Well", you replied slyly, "I'm quite busy with a student organization, NO-DOPE. Maybe you've heard of them? I spend a lot of time helping that group out. Perhaps you could come down and help out also."

What you said had the desired effect and Dakota showed up at the next meeting.

Perigar spent some time with Dakota and eventually asked him to give a speech at a rally that was being planned. Dakota said he would have to think about it. You and Oglethorpe took him out to the First and Ten, an off-campus diner, for some coffee and longthorpes, and eventually convinced him to give a speech.

You and Perigar worked hard on the speech and when the student newspaper printed an ad that the Wolverines quarterback was giving a speech in the quad, almost every student showed up. The crowd really seemed to like it and the next day the school paper had a big front page article "Blood Bowl Star Takes Anti-Vault Stance". No-DOPE now had the attention of the entire school and new members poured in. Unfortunately, both Oglethorpe and Dakota were kept so busy with sports they didn't even have a chance to talk to you until after the Wolverines won the Blood Bowl championship the next season. You had never seen a game before, but you were excited for them.

In the mean time, Perigar had big plans for NO-DOPE. With the expanding membership, rallies were held all over the city. Even East Lansing State started a chapter. Big time newspapers started writing about the group, even the East Lansing Gazette. Even with all of this, Perigar still seemed upset.

"We're getting a lot of acknowledgement", Perigar said, "but the Pooh-bah and the Council of Six just don't seem to be paying any attention to us."

The Pooh-bah is the highest-ranking political figure in all of East Lansing. He heads up the Splendiferously Excellent Council of Six. Any changes in policy regarding the Vault would have to be done by the Pooh-bah. Perigar started scheming.

Not long into the fall semester of your junior year, amidst all the hoopla of the Wolverines victories, Perigar told you his plan.

"If I become Pooh-bah", he explained, "I could surely get rid of the Vault."

"Become Pooh-bah?" you asked. "Won't you have to enter a team in the Great Hunt? Who could you get?"

"Well, I have these three adventuring buddies who would help. You would also be perfect."

"Me?!"

"Yes, you. First, you're a genius with a great deal of knowledge. Second, you're not a bad wizard yourself. That RPI training has stuck with you. Lastly, you're in great physical shape. You can handle it."

"Well... uh... don't you need seven Hunters though?" you asked searching for an out.

"Yes", Perigar said. "Seven is the maximum number of Hunters. I'm thinking of Oglethorpe and Dakota also."

"Oglethorpe? Dakota?" you said. "What can they do? All they do is play Blood Bowl!"

"You've never actually seen what they do, have you?" Perigar asked. "They will be great, don't worry. I'll talk to Oglethorpe, you talk to Dakota, he'll listen to you."

"Okay", you replied, "but what about lucky number seven? Who will that be?"

"Well, it's a secret", Perigar said mysteriously.

Soon after the Wolverines won the championship, you asked Dakota over for some coffee.

"Dakota", you asked. "How important are the goals of NO-DOPE to you?"

Dakota looked a little surprised, but after a long conversation, Dakota said he was excited to be a Hunter for Perigar.

"Saving the world from the dangers of the Vault is the greatest gift you can ever give", you told him.

Perigar seemed very excited; the Hunt team was set. There were three of Perigar's old friends, a dwarf named Baltak Bigfist, some human priest of Thoth named Secros Herminides and a human wizard named Tyric Saxondell. You thought you recognized that last name as a professor that taught some class you had, maybe it was 'Advanced Calculytic Theories of Planar Momentum'. You, Oglethorpe and Dakota were ready to meet those three as well as the mysterious seventh.