Here lies the account of the gathering of the forming of the Companions of the Labyrinth. Here is the beginning of the initial adventure of some of Leshdoria's most famous adventurers. This is the tale of their quest into a maze of perils. They never quite finished their quest here, but it opened many doors for them nonetheless. Most of the characters in this chapter will be elves. There shall also be a cat and a half-elf.

Initial

Character descriptions-

Cakorax is a friend of Zaxyl's. He insulted the high priestesses and had to flee the city with Zaxyl. He has a brother named Cazzorax and a father named Callorax. His mother was a drow commoner who died during childbirth with Cazzorax. Cakorax is a rogue with a strong sense of morals, and he usually acts more like a paladin. He goes back and forth between many alliances. He is somewhat of an aimless drifter.

Drynn is Zaxyl's "pet cat". Drynn is controlled by a small orb called 'Drynn's leash'. The cat gains strength from the sun and must bask in it at least an hour each day or turn into a tiny statue until it can bask again. Zaxyl first found Drynn in statue form in an Illithid shrine in the underdark, Drynn can run at speeds up to sixty miles per hour, and maintain such speeds for long distances. When powerful enough from the sun, Drynn can even carry Zaxyl on it's back!

Lenner is a wood elf from the forest of Alethor. Because of the position of Alethor, it is always besieged by orcs and drow. Lenner holds a special hatred for these two races, but has learned to accept Zaxyl and Cakorax. He is a skilled ranger and a good friend of Moredhel's

Moredhel is Lenner's friend and a fellow wood elf. He is more of a wanderer and much more lighthearted than the grim Lenner, and doesn't hate drow nearly as much, though he has an unbridled hatred for anything orcish. Also from Alethor, Moredhel is more of a novice at adventuring, and seems more like a bard than the ranger he is.

Zaxyl is a renegade drow from the city of Zul'Aman. Once firstboy of House Sindac'Zula, He fled the city, along with Cakorax, and fled south across the tundra to arrive in Greymist, a moon elf city known for it's open arms to strangers. There he and Cakorax settled, each with his own home, and they parted ways for a while, though meeting often and allying on their adventures. Zaxyl is a 3rd level rogue at the beginning of this story.

It was a quiet night in the woods of Greymist. Zaxyl sat in the chair, watching as Cakorax and Moredhel practiced their swordplay. Drynn lay at his feet, warming itself by the fire. Lenner was whittling a new flute from across the room. All was warm in Cakorax's cabin, with his drow and wood elf companions, but outside, it was dark and rainy.

Aust crawled on, as he had been doing all night. He was finaly out of that god-forsaken Labyrinth, but at what cost? His true love was gone.

He saw a light. He crawled towards it. Closer and closer. He heard voices and felt the texture of hard wood under him. He crawled up the steps and opened the door.

Standing up, Aust looked upon the scene. All was quiet. A wood elf was sitting on a bench a yard away, carving a wooden flute. A dark elf was sitting near the fire, a large black hunting cat at his feet. In the middle of the room, a drow and a wood elf were locked in a duel, frozen in place, watching as the weary half-elf came through the door.

"D-d-drow!!", stuttered the confused bard, drawing a long, slender rapier.

"Wait! We mean you no harm!" replied Cakorax in a rushed voice.

Aust lunged forward, stumbled, and collapsed from exhaustion.

He awoke in the morning. "Had a good sleep, half-elf? ", said a grave and serious voice. "You took a tumble and fainted."

Aust looked up and saw the face of a wood elf, leaning over him. He had highly defined features, looking savage and noble. He wore feathers in his hair, and his face was decorated with complex patterns of warpaint. His eyes were deep green, and his hair was deep brown with streaks of black.

"My name is Lenner. It would seem my friends gave you a shock. Tell me: how did you come by this house?"

The bard began: "My name is Aust Galanodel. Me and my lover, Anastriana Amastacia, were exploring a vast underground cave not far from here. We were in a tunnel.. and.." he stopped

"And what?" pressed Lenner

"There was a cloaked figure", continued Aust, choking back tears. "We heard some hissing, and, the figure took off her hood, and"-The half-elf sobbed- "I looked away, and w-wh-when I looked back, Anastriana w-was stone!"

"Stone?!?" questioned a puzzled drow, coming into the room.

The drow had a cunning gaze in his eyes and silver-white hair. He was thin and tall, wearing black leather armor and carrying a rapier at his side and daggers in his boots. Following him was a large black hunting cat.

"Ah. I suppose I should introduce myself.", said the drow in lightly accented elvish. "My name is Zaxyl This is my friend Drynn", he said, pointing to the cat. "Your name I already know. Go on with the story."

The half-elf continued, "The cloaked figure had revealed her face, and her eyes were painful to look into. I tried to stay and fight, but I felt myself becoming slower and heardening to rock. I struggled and ran, but Anastriana.... was left... behind..."

"What did the figure look like?" inquired Lenner

"She had bright eyes... and scales and claws.. and.... snakes for hair..."

"Medusa.", remarked Zaxyl knowingly.

"Please, you have to help me", pleaded the bard. "Anastriana and I were to be married in the spring... and... I must rescue her."

"You can't." reasoned Lenner, "It's too dangerous. Your lucky you escaped with your life as it is!"

"I have to go back. I can't live without Anastriana. I must find her and free her of her stone prison."

"You can't do this alone!" argued Lenner.

"I must do this!"

"And we're helping." Interrupted a voice. Cakorax stood in the doorway, followed by Moredhel. Cakorax was savage looking, with dead white hair and gleaming bright red eyes. He was shorter than Zaxyl, and stockier. At his side he wore a Katana. Moredhel had wild black hair and grey eyes. He was short and slim. His hands constantly fingered his bow or his swords.

"I cannot allow it!" replied Aust "This is my duty!"

"We're not just going to let you wander into a medusa's lair and wind up stone soup, you know", joked the lighthearted Moredhel, "Besides, you look a lot better as flesh than rock."

"We're coming with you", said Cakorax. "Whether you like it or not"

"But I-"began Aust

"But I don't care!", shouted Cakorax, "Now bring us there!"

"But-"

"Besides," laughed Moredhel, "We can't let YOU take all the glory!"

"But I-"Aust realized it was no use. "Very well. I'll take you tommorow"

And so it was that the Companions of the Labyrinth was formed. In the next few chapters, You will learn more of their quest and of the new member s that will soon join them.