Subj: A Hauntingly Good Time 1/1
Date: 96-10-09 11:12:03 EDT
From: Exegete

The Guildmasters of KORT were famous the wonderful costumed Halloween bashes
they threw each year. The variety of foods and delicacies from all parts of
the Realms and beyond alone made the night a joyful treat. Anyone at all
associated with the Knights of the Round Table were invited and encouraged to
attend and partake of the generosity of the officers council of the Guild.
And all of that says nothing of the variety glorious and imaginative costumes
that were perhaps the best part of the evening. That was actually one of the
big drawing points of the evening, the semi- official competition for best
costume presented. The affair was entirely catered by an outside agency and
even the very guards on the walls of Camelot and walking the various guard
posts were from other, friendly guilds so that not one of the members and
friends of KORT would be unable to attend. The night promised to be glorious
and exciting.
The Great Banqueting Hall was festooned with the bright colors of fall and
there were a host of the usual and unusual tokens of the harvest and the end
of summer present everywhere. As the hour of the party grew near, the level
of activity increased as the food began to appear on the buffet tables and
the several bars opened and began preparing the evening's libations. At the
appointed hour most of the Squires and Pages were present already, talking
and laughing, admiring one another's costumes and speculating on what the
various Knights and Ladies would wear as they entered, each trying for
fashionable lateness. Lord Dagron had won the unofficial prize last year by
entering dressed as a complete Bakery window complete with various pastries
for snacking and sampling by any and all. Everyone was looking forward to
seeing what he would do to improve on that this year. The Lady Allfaire had
run a close second the year before by plying herself extremely thickly with
bright colored make-up and then having a number of the pages run around
wearing T-shirts with the same colors smeared in the vague shape of her face
with the caption "I ran into Allsfaire in Neverwinter square" emblazoned
below. Tuvor, Exegete, and Ganzelle had taken honorable mention by
constructing themselves as a detailed, scale replica of the three- story Main
Courthouse in Neverwinter Square. Many thought they would won, had the second
story not had a date that he refused to miss.
All in all, everyone was looking forward to what promised to be a thoroughly
enjoyable evening and so it was understandable there was a sense of
excitement and anticipation that grew in intensity as the hour of the party's
start arrived. When the great clocked solemnly chimed the hour there were
already some 75 people in the great hall, all squires, pages and their
guests. The food and beverage tables had already taken some serious hits and
everyone was feeling happy and loose. Several of the Squires (Names withheld
to protect the "innocent") were busy with a betting pool of which of the
Knights would take the unofficial prize for best costume. So far, there were
a variety of responses with no clear leader emerging.

Continued in 1/2Subj: A Hauntingly Good Time 1/2
Date: 96-10-09 11:12:41 EDT
From: Exegete

The thick smoke and the intense smell of sulphur spread quickly from its
starting point near the dessert section of the south buffet tables. A lancet
of flame and thunderous boom capped the effect and the Vampire spun himself
in a circle, flinging his black cape in a wide circle (whisking more than one
dessert to the floor in the process). He came to a stop and took in the scene
and caught several of the Pages and Squires by eye, his brows narrowed in
sinister concentration, his eyes almost glowing that stimulated in several of
the recipients a strong, tho mysterious desire to go buy some garlic. His
head was framed by the high collar to the cloak he wore. Underneath was a
formal tuxedo, Black coat and trousers, white shirt and black tie. A golden
medallion hung from his neck by an ornate red ribbon. His skin was a pale
greenish white, his eyebrows a very dark black standing in stark contrast. He
smiled a dark smile, revealing sharp, dangerous looking fangs and a very red
tongue. He cast his hungry gaze around the room, threw back his head and
laughed a horrible, mirthless, evil laugh. Then, he turned to the beverage
buffet and selected a thick, viscous red drink in a crystal goblet that one
of the watching Squires thought looked remarkably like a Sloe Gin Fizz. The
Vampire downed the drink in single gulp, some of the drink dribbling down the
corners of his mouth enhancing his sinister appearance and, taking another of
the beverages, stalked haughtily to a far, dark corner, cape swirling in his
wake.

Continued in 1/3Subj: A Hauntingly Good Time 1/3
Date: 96-10-09 11:13:11 EDT
From: Exegete

The Iron Golem succeeded in startling everyone, including the Vampire, when
he appeared. Of course, coming through a wall is a good way to do that. Arms
flailing and legs kicking, he strode through the rubble of the wall and
stood, as if daring any of the assembled Squires and Pages to oppose him. He
stood a full 12 feet tall and was a dazzling blue in color from head to foot.
He held no weapon of course, but the definition of his muscles told everyone
that there was no need for such crutches. He exuded battle and sheer martial
danger. After a moment, he strode to the buffet tables and seized an entire
steamship round of beef along with a keg of chilly mead and stalked over to
where the Vampire was standing in the shadows, nursing his drink. The room
shoo with each step and the crowd parted quickly in his path, closing in as
he passed. The Vampire gave a short nod as the Golem took up a place next to
him and munched on the round of beef. Alternating with squirts from the keg
of Chilly Mead. After a moment the Vampire spoke in a low voice. "You know,
Nal's gonna be pissed about that wall." he said in Windgrey's voice.
"Couldn't be helped." the Akumu-Golem replied casually. "I forget to think
about how to get something this big into the Hall" he continued
conspiratorially. "I got here with no way in" he said with a guilty smile.
"Had to do something." he continued. "The wall'll fix" he finished.
The Vampire laughed in genuine amusement. "Gotta admit tho," he said "It was
a great entrance." He looked around the hall. "Looks like we're the first
here." he went on. "Ah well," he sighed "It'll give us a good look at how
everyone else arrives."

Continued in chapter 2


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I'll Edit Chapter 2 in here when [if |;x] I find it.