As the sun sets for the evening you sit with your companions realising that something extraordinary is occurring. The familiar faces around you seem to be drifting away into sleep and you sense many large spirits orbiting your campfire. The irony of it is that you yourself feel the most acute exhaustion. Your eyelids droop wearily and as the last light of the sun disappears your eyes have closed.

Your eyes open suddenly and your companions, and the campfire, are gone. You stand alone in the midst of the plain of Stonefist. Chill arctic winds attack you. The exhaustion has disappeared. Your acute Ishiaki senses stretch out and you sense the approach of a vast spirit in the distance approaching slowly. Your keen eyes can just make out the man as he moves towards you. With horror you realise the Blade of Gaxx hangs loosely in his grasp, the great blade suffused with the familiar blackness of the Void. His manner and bearing are not those of a man who would attack you. His interest in your blade seems personal, somehow, and you feel that he is actually admiring the weapon. He has long black hair and sharp, intelligent eyes. There seems to be an ever-present grin on his handsome features.

"Do not be alarmed, Anstran," he says calmly, studying the blade carefully. "This is a truly magnificent weapon, my friend. You should know that tonight is a very special evening - for the Great Mother (Nature) has allowed my spirit through to talk to you. My name is Torren Whitearrow, although my friends called me Silk.

"I’m here to recount a story to you but first you must understand what is happening here. This night, the sixth night of the Bear, is a very special night - as will all of the subsequent nights in the future that have this date. Several years ago the present gods, Skarvik and Isulan, perpetrated a crime that Nature took offence at. They murdered Loramas whilst she slept. Not that killing an Archdemon is a particularly nasty crime, it was more in the manner in which they did it that upset Her. You see they conspired to bend a Law in order to achieve this. Nature has merely bent one back to compensate for their treachery and thus I am here to give you certain insights and advantages.

"What are this man’s credentials ? I hear you say. Well, my friend, I was an assassin and spent my time hunting and killing Black Hand killers. They were the most unpleasant kind of murderers who were able to tap into the very power of the Void itself and utilise it to wreak havoc in much the same way that you are. Hunting Black Hands is a very dangerous occupation and not for the weak-minded. During my time I discovered several things about the Void and it is this knowledge that I will impart to you.

"Firstly, there is not a creature on Greyhawk that does not fear the Void. This blade is one of the more disgusting manifestations of it that I have seen and it is not surprising that the gods wish to destroy you. Although I have never met these two gods I know what you must be going through, for my life went from one theological crisis to the next with frightening regularity. There are several methods which you could employ to help your survival and I shall come to those later. My initial thoughts concern this blade. I actually met Gaxx. He was an ancient wizard even then. His forte was Chaos. It was rumoured that one of his parents was a demon and that would in some way explain his rather deadly creations. I am sure that you are aware of his infamous ring, well it was the power of that which created your blade.

"Gaxx studied randomness. His particular expertise was the function of Chaos. His ring has many facets, which when turned produce various effects, effects which differ from wielder to wielder. I notice the moveable pommel upon this blade - that is his trademark. However, do not deny the blade it’s true power, Anstran. Despite Gaxx’s study of randomness each one of his items behaves in exactly the same way. I’m not suggesting that the ring should be used as a sword - but the usage and distribution of power is identical in each object. An example:- I once travelled with the Ring of Gaxx and it had the nasty habit of slyly stealing power from anyone around it. This was particularly noticeable when in combat, for power was being thrown about liberally and Gaxx would steal without ever being discovered. My point is this....the pommel of your blade will behave in exactly the same manner is the ring. Like I have said, it was Gaxx’s trademark.

"Your two-man crusade against the hordes of Skarvik’s warriors yesterday was a classic example of the jewel’s rape of power. As you destroyed the souls it would steal the choice power from them as they fell. The more destructive the death the easier the stealing. So, even as you rampage through your foes the jewel on the pommel is channelling away the loot, as it were, whilst you go on oblivious. Remember this, Anstran. The jewel has many facets and is almost certainly removable. It will have a kind of sentience but will always jump to the aid of a strong wielder. This is your advantage over the semi-intelligent pommel. The weapon is only as good as the wielder and Gaxx knows that - you should try to persuade it to share some of it with you. Your survival in the following days may depend upon it.

"If you know your history you will probably know that I was one of the first mortals to unleash the Void upon an unsuspecting Greyhawk. I recall the damage I did with a shudder and you should consider this - I am certain the gods are considering it - for with my limited knowledge of the Void I was able to carve a four mile trench, thirty feet deep, in the western lands. This blade contains several thousand times more power than I wielded so you should bear in mind the fear of the gods. Creatures that scared are likely to go to great lengths to try and stop you.

"I have said all that I came to say. May your quest for survival be successful, Lord Anstran. Go carefully, but above all, go with good humour..."

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