Greek Women in The Odyssey :: Homer

The ladies in The Odyssey are a reasonable portrayal of ladies in old Greek culture. In his work, Homer delivers ladies of various glory. First there are the goddesses, at that point Penelope, and ultimately the hireling young ladies. Every one of the three groups frames a significant piece of The Odyssey and causes us investigate what ladies resembled in old Greece. The job that the housemaids play in The Odyssey is that of subjugation. They are relied upon to serve the admirers and set up with their inconsiderate attitude. Over the span of the ten years that the admirers are there, a large number of the housemaids lay down with them. After coming back to Ithica, and butchering the admirers, Odysseus makes the housemaids who laid down with the admirers tidy up their dead bodies. After this he drapes them by the neck, with this signal he by implication calls them â€Å"harlots†. This shows one of numerous emotions toward ladies of that time. At that point there is Odysseus’ spouse, Penelope. She is portrayed as a person. Homer causes her character to show up as extremely shrewd and furthermore faithful. Not even once during Odysseus twenty years of nonappearance does she remarry. She endures the admirers in her home for a long time however never picks, consistently with the expectation that her first spouse, Odysseus, will return. Homer likewise causes her to appear to be astute when she gets the entirety of the admirers to bring her blessings before she â€Å"chooses one† realizing that they are in a short gracefully of assets. In another occasion he depicts her as astute in the manner that she wards the admirer off by weaving the tunic for Odysseus and subtly dismantling it consistently. The job Penelope plays is significant on the grounds that she is viewed as an individual, not a belonging. At last, there are the goddesses. They speak to ladies in the entirety of their magnificence. They are extremely human-like in that they feel similar feelings like envy, outrage, pride, vengeance, energy, happiness, sympathy, and so forth. The special case being that they have heavenly powers. Homer even makes then human-like to the degree that they become hopelessly enamored with humans, for example Calypso.

Modernization Program Project Management

Modernization Program Project Management Interrelated obligations or errands executed inside a specific time in a fixed period on a specific expense with different restrictions following a specific procedure is known as undertaking (Dictionary.com (2016), once in a while these activities have been re-appropriated to a particular redistributing organizations which are spent significant time in venture the board, so as to expand their proficiency inside accessible assets. Being utilized by a consultancy firm, I have been given an assignment to finish a consultancy report so the organization can reemploy and execute its Modernization Program. The report will assist with recognizing and amend the best capacities being executed based on the nitty gritty arrangement of the undertakings clarified in this report. All the investigation and the assessment of the said program to cover all the parts of the execution will be given. The connection between the firm and Remploy will be reinforced by actualized the necessary changes. Reason The general target of this endeavor is to modernize Remploy handling plants that are being worked by weakened people to restrain operational expense. Another goal is to enlarge the general viability of all Remploy fabricating plants by lessening the dependence on people and constraining general bungles that may occur. The change must be caused in a way that the agents dont to feel obliged or weakened by this modernization. The degree must be done inside the given burning through plan.[G9][G10] Representatives must be worthy, moved and compensation must be given to the people who are not ready to recognize this change.[G11][G12] To ensure that Remploy and its delegates are content with the general execution of the program. This must be done tenderly. Degree Remploy is accountable for crafted by disabled people all through the Assembled Kingdom. This incorporates remarkable capacities with a particular ultimate objective to deal with crippled people and help their reintegration in the overall population. Remploy has been handy since the completion of World War II and starting now and into the foreseeable future they have been responsible for making and offering occupations to countless impeded people. Through this modernization program, Remploy intends to make more occupations and augmentation the quantity of people used while keeping the spending limited. This has been recalled and a Gantt outline has been made to meet the given time length of the venture.[G13][G14][G15] A comprehensive game plan has also been set up to ensure a smooth and basic move of Remploy to a progressively current workplace. This reintegration is helped by the given spending plan on which light will be shed additionally in this report. Destinations The program plan for this report charts the fundamental endeavors that will be required to begin, orchestrate and execute the program for Remploy. This will in like manner join a distinct structure of the orchestrating of the program which will be the dire bit of this program. All dates are all around thought and obviously named. Gantt Chart S. No Errand Number Errand Name Start Date End Date Span 1 1 Introduction of the program[G17] 2/1/2017 26/1/2017 20 days 2 1.1 Extension definition 2/1/2017 7/1/2017 6 days 3 1.2 Distinguishing proof of jobs 10/1/2017 15/1/2017 6 days 4 1.3 Conclusion and Gain of endorsement 17/1/2017 26/1/2017 8 days 5 2 Arranging of the task 27/1/2017 24/4/2017 62 days 6 2.1 Advancement of an arrangement 27/1/2017 16/3/2017 35 days 7 2.1.1 Work breakdown structure advancement 27/1/2017 7/2/2017 8 days 8 2.1.2 Program staffing plan 8/2/2017 16/2/2017 7 days 9 2.1.3 Program plan 17/2/2017 2/3/2017 10 days 10 2.1.4 Venture spending improvement 3/3/2017 16/3/2017 10 days 11 2.2 Venture Control Plan Development 17/3/2017 24/4/2017 27 days 12 2.2.1 Specialized help improvement 17/3/2017 28/3/2017 8 days 13 2.2.2 Quality administration plan 29/3/2017 6/4/2017 7 days 14 2.2.3 Possibility the board plan 7/4/2017 17/4/2017 7 days 15 2.3 Finish and Gain of endorsement 18/4/2017 24/4/2017 5 days 16 3 Execution of the Project 25/4/2017 25/4/2021 1044 days 17 3.1 Stage One 18 3.2 Stage Two 19 3.3 Stage Three The program plan for this report graphs the basic undertakings that will be required to begin, organize and execute the program for Remploy. This will in like manner fuse a low down plan of the orchestrating of the program which will be the basic bit of this program. All dates are all around thought and evidently stamped. The execution of the venture will be done in three essential stages that have been assessed to take around 3-4 years relying upon the quantity of working days and the productivity of execution. The stages are in accordance with the contextual analysis of Remploy which separates it to its center levels. The labor to be utilized has not been featured in the diagram because of its tremendous and colossal execution. This will require an all the more altogether believed arrangement to be finished during the arranging period of the program. The execution stages have been depicted underneath: Stage 1 Shutting of locales that have been chosen for the program Move of representatives and gear to another site Stage 2 Reintegration of representatives in the new condition Restarting business in the new locales utilizing moved gear and workers Stage 3 Help change the mentality of representatives and accelerate the advancement of business by helping them settle down in the new condition Guarantee that the business works seriously and productively with the market and all enactments are fulfilled COST ESTIMATION A far reaching spending plan furnishes the executives with a comprehension of how supports will be used and extended after some time for tasks or activities (Insightã‚â ®, 1997). [G18]The spending plan for the five-year plan has been set around 555[G19] million pounds by the branch of work and benefits. The Minister for debilitated individuals had set out this spending plan so as to decrease costs by modernization and helping incapacitated individuals contend with the serious market. The breakdown of this financial plan is demonstrated as follows. It ought to be remembered that Remploy is liable for 84 plants that should be modernized and workers migrated, along these lines, the execution of the task will undoubtedly utilize the greatest measure of [G20][G21]allotted cash. The measure of cash that remaining parts can be utilized to redress and compensate for any harm that might be acquired during the execution of the project.[G22] Errand No. Thing Cost (GBP) 1 Instatement of the venture 100,000 1.1 Recognizable proof and Development of work force 100,000 2 Arranging of the program[G23] 11,000,000 2.1 Advancement of an arrangement 500,000 2.2 Improvement of venture control plan 500,000 2.3 Conclusion of the program[G24] 100,000 3 Execution of the program[G25] 268,000,000 3.1 Stage one 168,000,000 3.2 Stage two 50,000,000 3.3 Stage three 50,000,000 Complete 279,100,000 Preferred position organization masterminds required to decide the points of interest that will be passed on by the utilization of an endeavor or a program (Benefit organization orchestrate design action, 2015). In this report, a concentrated preferred position organization mastermind has been made to ensure that the defining moments are indisputably outlined and recognized to ensure that the program is on target with its empowering. Without a points of interest organization program, this report would leave behind an incredible open door for one of the imperative components that ought to be recognized and fill in as a purpose behind the execution of the program. One such preferred position and urging to achievement have been spread out in the table underneath while using key execution pointer as an assistance screen the feasible utilization of achieving business goals (Inc, 2016).[G26] Advantage: Reduction in operational expense KPI: Liquidity and income improvement Measure Benchmark Worth (dd/mm/yyyy) Target Worth (dd/mm/yyyy) Between time target No Source Month to month cost Announcing Discussion Every other month report Start date Recurrence At regular intervals End date At the point when will revealing completion (dd/mm/yy)?[G27] Duty regarding revealing Name Position Processing plant administrator Association Remploy Threats are continually present when the use of another program is thought of. This peril must be envisioned and recognized by the endeavor organization gathering to ensure that the organization can deal with and moderate any threats without welcoming on any cash related weight. The risks recognized are normally administered by the firm all through the convenience of the firm which makes is less complex for them to be dealt with. As an authority, we are satisfied with our ability to get ready for time and manage the program at every movement of the arrangement.[G28][G29][G30] Hazard Hazard Level Probability Moderation Strategy Hours per individual High Certain An exhaustive administration approach must be applied Program Schedule High Certain Exacting arrangement of execution and additional days saved for deferrals and misfortunes Undertaking expectations Low Prone somewhat Expectations are obvious to all gatherings. Will be strengthened now and again Absence of duty Low Improbable Group is inspired to guarantee a smooth progress Media and Political weight Medium Questionable Consistent update and correspondence with partners and media work force Loss of people Low Improbable Maintenance and extra installments gave to key people to keep the

5 Stories of Plagiarism in 2017

5 Stories of Plagiarism in 2017 (1) You may think of plagiarism only as something that students do when they are writing papers for school assignments. But did you know that plagiarism can also happen in the professional world, and sometimes even happens to well-known people and celebrities? Here are 5 famous instances of plagiarism from this past year that should inspire you to always cite your sources. Rapper Sued for Copyright Infringement Earlier this year, jazz musician Abdul Wali Muhammad sued Chance the Rapper for copyright infringement. In the 8-page suit, Muhammad claims that Chance used his song, “Bridge Through Time,” without his permission in the track, “Windows,” from the rapper’s debut mixtape in 2012 (Tingley). The case is still pending decision at the time this article was written. Hillary Clinton’s Pastor Plagiarizes Material in his New Book Less than a month after its release, Strong for a Moment Like This, a book written by Hillary Clinton’s pastor, the Rev. Bill Shillady, had to be pulled from shelves. The book’s publisher Abingdon Press made the decision to cancel sales of the book after it was revealed that Shillady had copied and published a prayer in the book that had previously been credited to the Rev. Matt Deuel of Mission Point Community Church in Warsaw, Indiana. Clinton had previously said that the prayer had helped her through the days following her election loss to Donald Trump (Zauzmer). Author Accused of Using Spyware to Steal Book Material from Boyfriend  The former boyfriend of author Emma Cline alleges that Cline installed spyware on her computer before selling it to him in order to access his private email accounts. He further claims that she used the information in his email to plagiarize his writing for her eventual bestseller,  The Girls, the first installment in  a three-book Penguin Random House deal that reportedly  topped $2 million. The author is countersuing (Associated Press). Trump Nominee Accused of Plagiarizing Answers to Congress Kathleen Hartnett White, nominated by President Donald Trump to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is accused by congressional Democrats of stealing her answers to questions about her opinions on various science and policy issues. Some of the wording in her statements were found to be identical to those in prior submissions from nominees for other top EPA jobs (Geman). Artist and Museum Found Guilty of Copyright Infringement A French court ruled that American artist Jeff Koons copied work from a French photographer for one of his most celebrated sculptures, Naked. The judges upheld the claim made by the family of photographer Jean-François Bauret that the porcelain sculpture of two naked children had been copied from a 1975 postcard picture of his entitled Enfants. Koons and the Pompidou Centre in Paris had to pay the late photographer’s estate a sum of €40,000, roughly $50,000 (Abrams). Works Cited Create citations likes these below, which are in MLA Format, or even APA citations, and more with EasyBibs citation tools. Abrams, Amah-Rose. “Jeff Koons and Pompidou Lose Copyright Infringement Case.”  Artnet News, 10 Mar. 2017, news.artnet.com/art-world/jeff-koons-pompidou-lose-copyright-infringement-case-887324. Associated Press Staff. “Emma Cline Countersues after Ex Claims She Used Spyware to Plagiarise His Work.”  The Guardian, 30 Nov. 2017, www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/30/emma-cline-countersues-after-ex-claims-she-used-spyware-to-plagiarise-his-work. Geman, Ben. “Top White House Enviro Pick Rebuts Plagiarism Charges.”  Axios, 15 Dec. 2017, www.axios.com/top-white-house-enviro-pick-rebuts-plagiarism-charges-2517514736.html. Tingley, Anna. “Chance the Rapper Sued for Copyright Infringement.”  Billboard, 13 Sept. 2017, www.billboard.com/articles/news/7964711/chance-the-rapper-sued-copyright-infringement. Zauzmer, Julie. “Book by Hillary Clinton’s Pastor Will Be Pulled from Shelves Due to Extensive Plagiarism.”  The Washington Post, 5 Sept. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/09/05/book-by-hillary-clintons-pastor-will-be-pulled-from-shelves-due-to-extensive-plagiarism/?utm_term=.945e30023385.

How to Choose a Sure-fire Topic for Your Persuasive Speech

How to Choose a Sure-fire Topic for Your Persuasive Speech It goes without saying that the success of your persuasive speech depends hugely on the topic you opt for. This is the first thing that will either catch the attention of your audience or will doom you to miserable failure. Therefore, you shouldn’t treat this initial stage of your preparation light-heartedly and fix upon some random topic. To ensure that your persuasive speech produces a favourable impression, it is recommended to follow some basic guidelines while choosing its topic. Firstly, you can look for a topic by brainstorming the things you are passionate about. You have to be interested in the topic if you want to persuade your audience to feel in a particular way. For instance, you can focus on your hobbies, like music or sports. The next step would be to think of a controversial topic related to your area of interest. In case you are a fan of video games, you could give a speech on whether it makes teenagers more aggressive. However, research the opposite point of view, because your speech has to be argumentative and consider different opinions. Alternatively, you might concentrate on local events or hot issues at your campus, as those will really grasp the attention of your audience. At the same time try to avoid the topics that might hurt your listeners’ feelings, such as racist, anti-gay or other sensitive subjects. Moreover, it is not advisable to choose something that is too general or has already been discussed by students lots of times. I nstead, be creative and narrow down the topic, or bring up its up-to-date aspect. All in all, do not be afraid to experiment and try new approaches. Originality has always been held in high esteem, so take advantage of it!

Animals vs. Humans in Medical Experimentation Essay

For centuries mankind has experimented on animals for a number of different reasons. Early experimentation with animals was originally born out of curiosity but eventually became a necessity to find medicines to cure viruses and a myriad of illnesses. If not for the existence of animals, humans would be left to experiment on themselves at a high rate which would create a worldwide moral dilemma. Such a dilemma could be dictated based on the question of who should be chosen for experimentation; should it be a particular race or class of people? Animals commonly used in medical research are rats and chimpanzees. Over time these species have proven to be plentiful and they have exhibited the ability to sustain the various testing†¦show more content†¦Thanks to animal research, many diseases that once killed millions of people are now either treatable or curable. Animal testing has not only benefit humans, but animals as well. Some animal testing has lead to life saving and life extending treatments for many of the animals used for testing. A complete alternative to animal testing has yet to be discovered. The focus of animal research has been characterized by three criteria, The Three R’s. â€Å"’The Three Rs’ are reduction, replacement and refinement. Here in the US, research communities are committed to supporting techniques that reduce the number of higher species used, replace animals with other models wherever/whenever possible, and refine tests to ensure the most humane conditions possi ble.† (Trull 2). Scientists try to keep the animals from being harmed as much as possible. Every research laboratory is required to have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, consisting of research experts, licensed vets and members of the public. This committee is in charge of reviewing and accepting the use of animals. They are also in charge of watching the care and use of those animals by studying the laboratories, keeping track of the programs and responding to any additional concerns. Those opposed to animal testing assume that theShow MoreRelated Biomedical research on animals Essay1734 Words   |  7 Pagesbladder failure, and lack of medical cures are all very serious problems that are killing people today. How can doctors learn more about these medical difficulties? Through animal testing doctors can obtain valid results regarding these medical problems and create cures for people with many other medical difficulties. The progression of medicine and the day to day life styles of the general population rely on the ethical practice of animal testing. The alternatives to animal testing are not very validRead MoreEthical Dillemma Commonly Experiences in the Arts and Science1199 Words   |  5 Pagesvalid definition of ethics in order to determine the factors of a situation that relate. Ethics are in a way the ‘rules’ that define what is or isn’t acceptable in a society based upon core values and beliefs that the society holds to be true (Ethi cs vs Morals). Therefore, furthering to relate to the proposed question, an ethical judgment is simply a judgment based upon the ethics of a situation. The majority of ethical judgments that are well-known throughout society have come about when a ‘rule’Read MoreEssay on Should Animal Experimentation Ever Be Permitted?1926 Words   |  8 Pagesperformed vivisection on animals for hundreds of years, and nowadays animal testing remains an essential element of research in medicine and pharmacology. Animal experimentation has generated heated discussions among scientists, philosophers, and politicians. This issue is very controversial, since it involves ethical questions. While it is generally accepted that testing cosmetics on animals is unnecessary and immoral, there is a debate concerning the use of animals for medical purposes. Our societyRead MoreThe Moral Equality Of Animals Vs Humans1428 Words   |  6 PagesThe Moral Equality of Animals vs Humans The discretion between animal versus human equality has been a controversial subject for many years. Philosophers and activists have pushed this matter into debate among the general society in our culture. What exactly is moral equality for animals? Some say it is equal rights to animals, and others say it is equal consideration of the animal. To understand the scope of equality based on rights, one must unfold the determination of a right in itself. Carl CohenRead MoreAnimal Testing : No Harm, Only Benefits1710 Words   |  7 PagesPerales April 5, 2016 Animal Tests: No Harm, Only Benefits As the years have passed the human race has come across and discovered many different diseases. Many of the diseases were lethal due to the fact that there was no cure to be found. But as years went on our technology began to â€Å"evolve†, we found cures for what many would think are incurable. The practice of using animals in biomedical research has led to significant advances in the treatment of various diseases. Animals would be injected withRead MoreEssay on Animal Testing1728 Words   |  7 Pageswere captured by an unknown human. You start to rattle around your cage figuring out how to escape. About â€Å"twenty-five million and 30 million† animals are exploited in experiments; â€Å"half are only used through education† (Donna 7). â€Å"A 40% is applied in basic research, the 26% for drug development, a 20% are examined for products, and the 14% that is left is applied on education and miscellaneous† (Donna 5). The inhumane cruelty affects the innocent creatures. Animals should only be used for educationRead MoreThe Ethics of Cloning Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pagesgenetic malfunctions. DNA cloning is, perhaps, the oldest of the three types of cloning with it being around since the 1970’s (Cloning Fact Sheet, 2009). This form of cloning is the most widely accepted form since it does not cross into the realm of human cloning which is one of the largest debates that exists. One of the things that DNA cloning can accomplish is curing genetic malfunctions, by placing a cloned copy of the correct gene into the body via a virus that will replicate in the body and thereRead MoreMedical Research Experiments1848 Words   |  7 Pagestreatment of those diseases? In some cases, unethical medical experiments were conducted to figure out how diseases were transmitted and the symptoms that people would present if they were ill with that particular disease. This would then lead the physicians t o observe how the disease would progress from beginning to end without any medical interventions, which often involved letting the person die. Then physicians might intervene with several medical interventions at different stages of the disease,Read MoreAnimal Cruelty: The Bloody War Essay1479 Words   |  6 PagesAnimal Cruelty; the Bloody War Let the voiceless speak. Animals have roamed the harsh lands and glided through the rough waters for approximately 510 million years, while humans have only been around for an estimated 200,000 years (Cain/Ramel). The earth had been the Animal Kingdom for about 509 million years until Homo sapiens started appearing, growing as fast as bacteria. They became a part of the food chain, on top; their minds were far more complex than most of the animals. They were ableRead MoreThe Use Of Non Human Tests Subjects For Experimentation And Research Studies3837 Words   |  16 PagesDefinition Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, is the use of non-human test subjects for experimentation and research studies (2). This definition is very broad because it is used in numerous fields such as drug testing, brain functionality, effects of food additives, pesticides, DNA modification, xenotransplantation, cosmetic testing, cancer research, AIDs research and many more. Overall, animal testing is a professional conflict, but it can also be considered as a personal conflict

Streams of Silver 5. The Crags Free Essays

string(48) " a bit disheartened as he remembered the place\." Drizzt took the lead as the four companions jogged along the banks of the river Mirar, putting as much ground between themselves and Luskan as possible. Although they hadn’t slept in many hours, their encounters in the City of Sails had sent a burst of adrenaline through their veins and none of them was weary. Something magical hung in the air that night, a crispy tingling that would have made the most exhausted traveler lament closing his eyes to it. We will write a custom essay sample on Streams of Silver 5. The Crags or any similar topic only for you Order Now The river, rushing swiftly and high from the spring melt, sparkled in the evening glow, its whitecaps catching the starlight and throwing it back into the air in a spray of bejeweled droplets. Normally cautious, the friends could not help but let their guard down. They felt no danger lurking near, felt nothing but the sharp, refreshing chill of the spring night and the mysterious pull of the heavens. Bruenor lost himself in dreams of Mithril Hall; Regis in memories of Calimport; even Wulfgar, so despondent about his ill-fated encounter with civilization, felt his spirits soar. He thought of similar nights on the open tundra, when he had dreamed of what lay beyond the horizons of his world. Now, out beyond those horizons, Wulfgar found only one element missing. To his surprise, and against the adventuring instincts that denied such comfortable thoughts, he wished that Catti-brie, the woman he had grown to cherish, was with him now to share the beauty of this night. If the others had not been so preoccupied with their own enjoyment of the evening, they would have noticed an extra bounce in Drizzt Do’Urden’s graceful step as well. To the drow, these magical nights, when the heavenly dome reached down below the horizon, bolstered his confidence in the most important and difficult decision he had ever made, the choice to forsake his people and his homeland. No stars sparkled above Menzoberranzan, the dark city of the black elves. No unexplainable allure tugged at the heartstrings from the cold stone of the immense cavern’s lightless ceiling. â€Å"How much my people have lost by walking in darkness,† Drizzt whispered into the night. The pull of the mysteries of the endless sky carried the joy of his spirit beyond its normal boundaries and opened his mind to the unanswerable questions of the multiverse. He was an elf, and though his skin was black, there remained in his soul a semblance of the harmonic joy of his surface cousins. He wondered how general these feelings truly ran among his people. Did they remain in the hearts of all drow? Or had eons of sublimation extinguished the spiritual flames? To Drizzt’s reckoning, perhaps the greatest loss that his people had suffered when they retreated to the depths of the world was the loss of the ability to ponder the spirituality of existence simply for the sake of thought. The crystalline sheen of the Mirar gradually dulled as the lightening dawn dimmed the stars. It came as an unspoken disappointment to the friends as they set their camp in a sheltered spot near the banks of the river. â€Å"Be knowin’ that nights like that are few,† Bruenor observed as the first ray of light crept over the eastern horizon. A glimmer edged his eye, a hint of the wondrous fantasizing that the normally practical dwarf rarely enjoyed. Drizzt noted the dwarf’s dreamy glow and thought of the nights that he and Bruenor had spent on Bruenor’s Climb, their special meeting place, back in the dwarf’s valley in Ten-Towns. â€Å"Too few,† he agreed. With a resigned sigh, they set to work, Drizzt and Wulfgar starting breakfast while Bruenor and Regis examined the map they had obtained in Luskan. For all of his grumbling and teasing about the halfling, Bruenor had pressured him to come along for a very definite reason, aside from their friendship, and though the dwarf had masked his emotions well, he was truly overjoyed when Regis had come up huffing and puffing on the road out of Ten-Towns in a last-minute plea to join the quest. Regis knew the land south of the Spine of the World better than any of them. Bruenor himself hadn’t been out of Icewind Dale in nearly two centuries, and then he had been just an unbearded dwarf-child. Wulfgar had never left the dale, and Drizzt’s only trek across the world’s surface had been a nighttime adventure, skipping from shadow to shadow and avoiding many of the places the companions would need to search out, if they were ever to find Mithril Hall. Regis ran his fingers across the map, excitedly recalling to Bruenor his experiences in each of the places listed, particularly Mirabar, the mining city of great wealth to the north, and Waterdeep, true to its name as the City of Splendors, down the coast to the south. Bruenor slipped his finger across the map, studying the physical features of the terrain. â€Å"Mirabar’d be more to me liking,† he said at length, tapping the mark of the city tucked within the southern slopes of the Spine of the World. â€Å"Mithril Hall’s in mountains, that much I know, and not aside the sea.† Regis considered the dwarf’s observations for just a moment, then plunked his finger down on yet another spot, by the scale of the map a hundred miles and more inland from Luskan. â€Å"Longsaddle,† he said. â€Å"Halfway to Silverymoon, and halfway between Mirabar and Waterdeep. A good place to search out our course.† â€Å"A city?† Bruenor asked, for the mark on the map was no more than a small black dot. â€Å"A village,† Regis corrected. â€Å"There are not many people there, but a family of wizards, the Harpells, have lived there for many years and know the northland as well as any. They would be happy to help us.† Bruenor scratched his chin and nodded. â€Å"A fair hike. What might we be seeing along the way?† â€Å"The crags,† Regis admitted, a bit disheartened as he remembered the place. You read "Streams of Silver 5. The Crags" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Wild and orc-filled. I wish we had another road, but Longsaddle still seems the best choice.† â€Å"All roads in the north hold danger,† Bruenor reminded him. They continued their scrutiny of the map, Regis recalling more and more as they went. A series of unusual and unidentified markings – three in particular, running in an almost straight line due east of Luskan to the river network south of Lurkwood – caught Bruenor’s eye. â€Å"Ancestral mounds,† Regis explained. â€Å"Holy places of the Uthgardt.† â€Å"Uthgardt?† â€Å"Barbarians,† answered Regis grimly. â€Å"Like those in the dale. More wise to the ways of civilization, perhaps, but no less fierce. Their separate tribes are all about the northland, wandering the wilds. Bruenor groaned in understanding of the halfling’s dismay, all too familiar himself with the savage ways and fighting prowess of barbarians. Orcs would prove much less formidable foes. By the time the two had finished their discussion, Drizzt was stretching out in the cool shade of a tree overhanging the river and Wulfgar was halfway through his third helping of breakfast. â€Å"Yer jaw still dances for food, I see!† Bruenor called as he noted the meager portions left on the skillet. â€Å"A night filled with adventure,† Wulfgar replied gaily, and his friends were glad to observe that the brawl had apparently left no scars upon his attitude. â€Å"A fine meal and a fine sleep, and I shall be ready for the road once more!† â€Å"Well don’t ye get too comfortable yet!† Bruenor ordered. â€Å"Ye’ve a third of a watch to keep this day!† Regis looked about, perplexed, always quick to recognize an increase in his workload. â€Å"A third?† he asked. â€Å"Why not a fourth?† â€Å"The elf’s eyes are for the night,† Bruenor explained. â€Å"Let him be ready to find our way when the day’s flown.† â€Å"And where is our way?† Drizzt asked from his mossy bed. â€Å"Have you come to a decision for our next destination?† â€Å"Longsaddle,† Regis replied. â€Å"Two hundred miles east and south, around Neverwinter Wood and across the crags.† â€Å"The name is unknown to me,† Drizzt replied. â€Å"Home of the Harpells,† Regis explained. â€Å"A family of wizards renowned for their good-natured hospitality. I spent some time there on my way to Ten-Towns.† Wulfgar balked at the idea. The barbarians of Icewind Dale despised wizards, considering the black arts a power employed only by cowards. â€Å"I have no desire to view this place,† he stated flatly. â€Å"Who asked ye?† growled Bruenor, and Wulfgar found himself backing down from his resolve, like a son refusing to hold a stubborn argument in the face of a scolding by his father. â€Å"You will enjoy Longsaddle,† Regis assured him. â€Å"The Harpells have truly earned their hospitable reputation, and the wonders of Longsaddle will show you a side of magic you never expected. They will even accept†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He found his hand involuntarily pointing to Drizzt, and he cut short the statement in embarrassment. But the stoic drow just smiled. â€Å"Fear not, my friend,† he consoled Regis. â€Å"Your words ring of truth, and I have come to accept my station in your world.† He paused and looked individually into each uncomfortable stare that was upon him. â€Å"I know my friends, and I dismiss my enemies,† he stated with a finality that dismissed their worries. â€Å"With a blade, ye do,† Bruenor added with a soft chuckle, though Drizzt’s keen ears caught the whisper. â€Å"If I must,† the drow agreed, smiling. Then he rolled over to get some sleep, fully trusting in his friends’ abilities to keep him safe. They passed a lazy day in the shade beside the river. Late in the afternoon, Drizzt and Bruenor ate a meal and discussed their course, leaving Wulfgar and Regis soundly asleep, at least until they had eaten their own fill. â€Å"We’ll stay with the river for a night more,† Brueror said. â€Å"Then southeast across the open ground. That’d clear us of the wood and lay open a straight path ‘fore us.† â€Å"Perhaps it would be better if we traveled only by night for a few days,† Drizzt suggested. â€Å"We know not what eyes follow us out of the City of Sails.† â€Å"Agreed,† replied Bruenor. â€Å"Let’s be off, then. A long road before us, and a longer one after that!† â€Å"Too long,† murmured Regis, opening a lazy eye. Bruenor shot him a dangerous glare. He was nervous about this trek and about bringing his friends on a dangerous road, and in an emotional defense, he took all complaints about the adventure personally. â€Å"To walk, I mean,† Regis quickly explained. â€Å"There are farmhouses in this area, so there must be some horses about.† â€Å"Horses’d bring too a high price in these parts,† replied Bruenor. â€Å"Maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said the halfling slyly, and his friends could easily guess what he was thinking. Their frowns reflected a general disapproval. â€Å"The crags stand before us!† Regis argued. â€Å"Horses might outrun orcs, but without them, we shall surely fight for every mile of our hike! Besides, it would only be a loan. We could return the beasts when we were through with them.† Drizzt and Bruenor did not approve of the halfling’s proposed trickery, but could not refute his logic. Horses would certainly aid them at this point of the journey. â€Å"Wake the boy,† Bruenor growled. â€Å"And about my plan?† asked Regis. â€Å"We’ll make the choice when we find the opportunity!† Regis was contented, confident that his friends would opt for the horses. He ate his fill, then scraped together the supper’s meager remnants and went to wake Wulfgar. * * * They were on the trail again soon after, and a short time after that, they saw the lights of a small settlement in the distance. â€Å"Take us there,† Bruenor told Drizzt. â€Å"Mighten be that Rumblebelly’s plan’s worth a try.† Wulfgar, having missed the conversation at the camp, didn’t understand, but offered no argument, or even questioned the dwarf. After the disaster at the Cutlass, he had resigned himself to a more passive role on the trip, letting the other three decide which trails they were to take. He would follow without complaint, keeping his hammer ready for when it became needed. They moved inland away from the river for a few miles, then came upon several farms clustered together inside a stout wooden fence. â€Å"There are dogs about,† Drizzt noted, sensing them with his exceptional hearing. â€Å"Then Rumblebelly goes in alone,† said Bruenor. Wulfgar’s face twisted in confusion, especially since the halfling’s look indicated that he wasn’t thrilled with the idea. â€Å"That I cannot allow,† the barbarian spouted. â€Å"If any among us needs protection, it is the little one. I’ll not hide here in the dark while he walks alone into danger!† â€Å"He goes in alone,† Bruenor said again. â€Å"We’re here for no fight, boy. Rumblebelly’s to get us some horses.† Regis smiled helplessly, caught fully in the trap that Bruenor had clearly set for him. Bruenor would allow him to appropriate the horses, as Regis had insisted, but with the grudging permission came a measure of responsibility and bravery on his part. It was the dwarf’s way, of absolving himself of involvement in the trickery. Wulfgar remained steadfast in his determination to stand by the halfling, but Regis knew that the young warrior might inadvertently cause him problems in such delicate negotiations. â€Å"You stay with the others,† he explained to the barbarian. â€Å"I can handle this deal alone.† Mustering up his nerve, he pulled his belt over the hang of his belly and strode off toward the small settlement. The threatening snarls of several dogs greeted him as he approached the fence’s gate. He considered turning back – the ruby pendant probably wouldn’t do him much good against vicious dogs – but then he saw the silhouette of a man leave one of the farmhouses and start his way. â€Å"What do you want?† the farmer demanded, standing defiantly on the other side of the gate and clutching an antique pole arm, probably passed down through his family’s generations. â€Å"I am but a weary traveler,† Regis started to explain, trying to appear as pitiful as he could. It was a tale the farmer had heard far too often. â€Å"Go away!† he ordered. â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"Get you gone!† Over a ridge some distance away, the three companions watched the confrontation, though only Drizzt viewed the scene in the dim light well enough to understand what was happening. The drow could see the tenseness in the farmer by the way he gripped the halberd, and could judge the deep resolve in the man’s demands by the unbending scowl upon his face. But then Regis pulled something out from under his jacket, and the farmer relaxed his grip upon the weapon almost immediately. A moment later, the gate swung open and Regis walked in. The friends waited anxiously for several grueling hours with no further sign of Regis. They considered confronting the farmers themselves, worried that some foul treachery had befallen the halfling. Then finally, with the moon well past its peak, Regis emerged from the gate, leading two horses and two ponies. The farmers and their families waved good-bye to him as he left, making him promise to stop and visit if he ever passed their way again. â€Å"Amazing,† laughed Drizzt. Bruenor and Wulfgar just shook their heads in disbelief. For the first time since he had entered the settlement, Regis pondered that his delay might have caused his friends some distress. The farmer had insisted that he join in for supper before they sat down to discuss whatever business he had come about, and since Regis had to be polite (and since he had only eaten one supper that day) he agreed, though he kept the meal as short as possible and politely declined, when offered his fourth helping. Getting the horses proved easy enough after that. All he had to do was promise to leave them with the wizards in Longsaddle when he and his friends moved on from there. Regis felt certain that his friends could not stay mad at him for very long. He had kept them waiting and worrying for half the night, but his endeavor would save them many days on a dangerous road. After an hour or two of feeling the wind rushing past them as they rode, they would forget any anger they held for him, he knew. Even if they didn’t so easily forgive, a good meal was always worth a little inconvenience to Regis. Drizzt purposely kept the party moving more to the east than the southeast. He found no landmarks on Bruenor’s map that would let him approximate the straight course to Longsaddle. If he tried the direct route and missed the mark, no matter how slightly, they would come upon the main road from the northern city of Mirabar not knowing whether to turn north or south. By going directly east, the drow was assured that they would hit the road to the north of Longsaddle. His path would add a few miles, but perhaps save them several days of backtracking. Their ride was clear and easy for the next day and night, and after that, Bruenor decided that they were far enough from Luskan to assume a more normal traveling schedule. â€Å"We can go by day, now,† he announced early in the afternoon of their second day with the horses. â€Å"I prefer the night,† Drizzt said. He had just awakened and was brushing down his slender, well-muscled black stallion. â€Å"Not me,† argued Regis. â€Å"Nights are for sleeping, and the horses are all but blind to holes and rocks that could lame them up.† â€Å"The best for both then,† offered Wulfgar, stretching the last sleep out of his bones. â€Å"We can leave after the sun peaks, keeping it behind us for Drizzt, and ride long into the night.† â€Å"Good thinking, lad,† laughed Bruenor. â€Å"Seems to be afternoon now, in fact. On the horses, then! Time’s for going!† â€Å"You might have held your thoughts to yourself until after supper!† Regis grumbled at Wulfgar, reluctantly hoisting the saddle onto the back of the little white pony. Wulfgar moved to help his struggling friend. â€Å"But we would have lost half a day’s ride,† he replied. â€Å"A pity that would have been,† Regis retorted. * * * That day, the fourth since they had left Luskan, the companions came upon the crags, a narrow stretch of broken mounds and rolling hills. A rough, untamed beauty defined the place, an overpowering sense of wilderness that gave every traveler here a feeling of conquest, that he might be the first to gaze upon any particular spot. And, as was always the case in the wilds, with the adventurous excitement came a degree of danger. They had barely entered the first dell in the up-and-down terrain when Drizzt spotted tracks that he knew well: the trampling march of an orc band. â€Å"Less than a day old,† he told his concerned companions. â€Å"How many?† asked Bruenor. Drizzt shrugged. â€Å"A dozen at least, maybe twice that number.† â€Å"We’ll keep to our path,† the dwarf suggested. â€Å"They’re in front of us, and that’s better’n behind.† When sunset came, marking the halfway point of that day’s journey, the companions took a short break, letting the horses graze in a small meadow. The orc trail was still before them, but Wulfgar, taking up the rear of the troupe had his sights trained behind. â€Å"We are being followed,† he said to his friends’ inquiring faces. â€Å"Orcs?† Regis asked. The barbarian shook his head. â€Å"None like I have ever seen. By my reckoning, our pursuit is cunning and cautious.† â€Å"Might be that the orcs here are more wise to the ways of goodly folk than be the orcs of the dale,† said Bruenor, but he suspected something other than orcs, and he didn’t have to look at Regis to know that the halfling shared his concerns. The first map marking that Regis had identified as an ancestral mound could not be far from their present position. â€Å"Back to the horses,† Drizzt suggested. â€Å"A hard ride might do much to improve our position.† â€Å"Go till after moonset,† Bruenor agreed. â€Å"And stop when ye’ve found a place we can hold against attack. I’ve a feeling we’re to see some fighting ‘fore the dawn finds us!† They encountered no tangible signs during the ride, which took them nearly across the span of the crags. Even the orc trail faded off to the north, leaving the path before them apparently clear. Wulfgar was certain, though, that he caught several sounds behind them, and movements along the periphery of his vision. Drizzt would have liked to continue until the crags were fully behind them, but in the harsh terrain, the horses had reached the limit of their endurance. He pulled up into a small copse of fir trees set on top of a small rise, fully suspecting, like the others, that unfriendly eyes were watching them from more than one direction. Drizzt was up one of the trees before the others had even dismounted. They tethered the horses close together and set themselves around the beasts. Even Regis would find no sleep, for, though he trusted Drizzt’s night vision, his blood had already begun pumping in anticipation of what was to come. Bruenor, a veteran of a hundred fights, felt secure enough in his battle prowess. He propped himself calmly against a tree, his many-notched axe across his chest, one hand firmly in place upon its handle. Wulfgar, though, made other preparations. He began by gathering together broken sticks and branches and sharpening their points. Seeking every advantage, he set them in strategic positions around the area to provide the best layout for his stand, using their deadly points to cut down the routes of approach for his attackers. Other sticks he cunningly concealed in angles that would trip up and stick the orcs before they ever reached him. Regis, the most nervous of all, watched it all and noted the differences in his friends’ tactics. He felt that there was little he could do to prepare himself for such a fight, and he sought only to keep himself far enough out of the way so as not to hinder the efforts of his friends. Perhaps the opportunity would arise for him to make a surprise strike, but he didn’t even consider such possibilities at this point. Bravery came to the halfling spontaneously. It was certainly nothing he ever planned. With all of their diversions and preparations deflecting their nervous anticipation, it came as almost a relief when, barely an hour later, their anxiety became reality. Drizzt whispered down to them that there was movement on the fields below the copse. â€Å"How many?† Bruenor called back. â€Å"Four to one against us, and maybe more,† Drizzt replied. The dwarf turned to Wulfgar. â€Å"Ye ready, boy?† Wulfgar slapped his hammer out before him. â€Å"Four against one?† he laughed. Bruenor liked the young warrior’s confidence, though the dwarf realized that the odds might actually prove more lopsided, since Regis wouldn’t likely be out in the open fighting. â€Å"Let ’em in, or hit them out in the field?† Bruenor asked Drizzt. â€Å"Let them in,† the drow replied. â€Å"Their stealthy approach shows me that they believe surprise is with them.† â€Å"And a turned surprise is better’n a first blow from afar,† Bruenor finished. â€Å"Do what ye can with yer bow when it’s started, elf. We’ll be waitin’ fer ye!† Wulfgar imagined the fire seething in the drow’s lavender eyes, a deadly gleam that always belied Drizzt’s outward calm before a battle. The barbarian took comfort, for the drow’s lust for battle outweighed even his own, and he had never seen the whirring scimitars outdone by any foe. He slapped his hammer again and crouched in a hole beside the roots of one of the trees. Bruenor slipped between the bulky bodies of two of the horses, pulling his feet up into a stirrup on each, and Regis, after he had stuffed the bedrolls to give the appearance of sleeping bodies, scooted under the low-hanging boughs of one of the trees. The orcs approached the camp in a ring, obviously looking for an easy strike. Drizzt smiled in hope as he noted the gaps in their ring, open flanks that would prevent quick support to any isolated group. The whole band would hit the perimeter of the copse together, and Wulfgar, closest to the edge, would most likely launch the first strike. The orcs crept in, one group slipping toward the horses, another toward the bedrolls. Four of them passed Wulfgar, but he waited a second longer, allowing the others to get close enough to the horses for Bruenor to strike. Then the time for hiding had ended. Wulfgar sprang from his concealment, Aegis-fang, his magical warhammer, already in motion. â€Å"Tempus!† he cried to his god of battle, and his first blow crashed in, swatting two of the orcs to the ground. The other group rushed to get the horses free and out of the camp, hoping to cut off any escape route. But were greeted by the snarling dwarf and his ringing axe! As the surprised orcs leaped into the saddles, Bruenor clove one down the middle, and took a second one’s head clean from its shoulders before the remaining two even knew that they had been attacked. Drizzt picked as targets the orcs closest to the groups under attack, delaying the support against his friends for as long as possible. His bowstring twanged, once, twice, and a third time, and a like number of orcs fell to the earth, their eyes closed and their hands helplessly clenched upon the shafts of the killing arrows. The surprise strikes had cut deeply into the ranks of their enemies, and now the drow pulled his scimitars and dropped from his perch, confident that he and his companions could finish the rest off quickly. His smile was short-lived, though, for as he descended, he noticed more movement in the field. Drizzt had come down in the middle of three creatures, his blades in motion before his feet had even touched the ground. The orcs were not totally surprised – one had seen the drow dropping – but Drizzt had them off balance and swinging around to bring their weapons to bear. With the drow’s lightninglike strikes, any delay at all meant certain death, and Drizzt was the only one in the jumble of bodies under control. His scimitars slashed and thrust into orcan flesh with killing precision. Wulfgar’s fortunes were equally bright. He faced two of the creatures, and though they were vicious fighters, they could not match the giant barbarian’s power. One got its crude weapon up in time to block Wulfgar’s swing, but Aegis-fang blasted through the defense, shattering the weapon and then the unfortunate orc’s skull without even slowing for the effort. Bruenor fell into trouble first. His initial attacks went off perfectly, leaving him with only two standing opponents – odds that the dwarf liked. But in the excitement, the horses reared and bolted, tearing their tethers free from the branches. Bruenor tumbled to the ground, and before he could recover, was clipped in the head by the hoof of his own pony. One of the orcs was similarly thrown down, but the last one landed free of the commotion and rushed to finish off the stunned dwarf as the horses cleared the area. Luckily, one of those spontaneous moments of bravery came over Regis at that moment. He slipped out from under the tree, falling in silently behind the orc. It was tall for an orc, and even on the tips of his toes, Regis did not like the angle of a strike at its head. Shrugging resignedly, the halfling reversed his strategy. Before the orc could even begin to strike at Bruenor, the halfling’s mace came up between its knees and higher, driving into its groin and lifting it clear off the ground. The howling victim grasped at its injury, its eyes lolling about aimlessly, and dropped to the ground with no further ambitions for battle. It had all happened in an instant, but victory was not yet won. Another six orcs poured into the fray, two cutting off Drizzt’s attempt to get to Regis and Bruenor, three more going to the aid of their lone companion facing the giant barbarian. And one, creeping along the same line Regis had taken, closed on the unsuspecting halfling. At the same moment Regis made out the drow’s warning call, a club slammed between his shoulder blades, blasting the wind from his lungs and tossing him to the ground. Wulfgar was pressed on all four sides, and despite his boasts before the battle, he found that he didn’t care for the situation. He concentrated on parrying, hoping that the drow could get to him before his defenses broke down. He was too badly outnumbered. An orcan blade cut into a rib, another clipped his arm. Drizzt knew that he could defeat the two he now faced, but doubted that it would be in time for him to help his barbarian friend. Or the halfling. And there were still reinforcements on the field. Regis rolled onto his back to lay right beside Bruenor, and the dwarf’s groaning told him that the fight was over for both of them. Then the orc was above him, its club raised above its head, and an evil smile spread wide upon its ugly face. Regis closed his eyes, having no desire to watch the descent of the blow that would kill him. Then he heard the sound of impact†¦above him. Startled, he opened his eyes. A hatchet was embedded into his attacker’s chest. The orc looked down at it, stunned. The club dropped harmlessly behind the orc, and it, too, fell backward, quite dead. Regis didn’t understand. â€Å"Wulfgar?† he asked into the air. A huge form, nearly as large as Wulfgar’s, sprang over him and pounced upon the orc, savagely tearing the hatchet free. He was human, and wearing the furs of a barbarian, but unlike the tribes of Icewind Dale, this man’s hair was black. â€Å"Oh, no,† Regis groaned, remembering his own warnings to Bruenor about the Uthgardt barbarians. The man had saved his life, but knowing the savage reputation, Regis doubted that a friendship would grow out of the encounter. He started to sit up, wanting to express his sincere thanks and dispel any unfriendly notions the barbarian might have about him. He even considered using the ruby pendant to evoke some friendly feelings. But the big man, noting the movement, spun suddenly and kicked him in the face. And Regis fell backward into blackness. How to cite Streams of Silver 5. The Crags, Essay examples

Streams of Silver 5. The Crags Free Essays

string(48) " a bit disheartened as he remembered the place\." Drizzt took the lead as the four companions jogged along the banks of the river Mirar, putting as much ground between themselves and Luskan as possible. Although they hadn’t slept in many hours, their encounters in the City of Sails had sent a burst of adrenaline through their veins and none of them was weary. Something magical hung in the air that night, a crispy tingling that would have made the most exhausted traveler lament closing his eyes to it. We will write a custom essay sample on Streams of Silver 5. The Crags or any similar topic only for you Order Now The river, rushing swiftly and high from the spring melt, sparkled in the evening glow, its whitecaps catching the starlight and throwing it back into the air in a spray of bejeweled droplets. Normally cautious, the friends could not help but let their guard down. They felt no danger lurking near, felt nothing but the sharp, refreshing chill of the spring night and the mysterious pull of the heavens. Bruenor lost himself in dreams of Mithril Hall; Regis in memories of Calimport; even Wulfgar, so despondent about his ill-fated encounter with civilization, felt his spirits soar. He thought of similar nights on the open tundra, when he had dreamed of what lay beyond the horizons of his world. Now, out beyond those horizons, Wulfgar found only one element missing. To his surprise, and against the adventuring instincts that denied such comfortable thoughts, he wished that Catti-brie, the woman he had grown to cherish, was with him now to share the beauty of this night. If the others had not been so preoccupied with their own enjoyment of the evening, they would have noticed an extra bounce in Drizzt Do’Urden’s graceful step as well. To the drow, these magical nights, when the heavenly dome reached down below the horizon, bolstered his confidence in the most important and difficult decision he had ever made, the choice to forsake his people and his homeland. No stars sparkled above Menzoberranzan, the dark city of the black elves. No unexplainable allure tugged at the heartstrings from the cold stone of the immense cavern’s lightless ceiling. â€Å"How much my people have lost by walking in darkness,† Drizzt whispered into the night. The pull of the mysteries of the endless sky carried the joy of his spirit beyond its normal boundaries and opened his mind to the unanswerable questions of the multiverse. He was an elf, and though his skin was black, there remained in his soul a semblance of the harmonic joy of his surface cousins. He wondered how general these feelings truly ran among his people. Did they remain in the hearts of all drow? Or had eons of sublimation extinguished the spiritual flames? To Drizzt’s reckoning, perhaps the greatest loss that his people had suffered when they retreated to the depths of the world was the loss of the ability to ponder the spirituality of existence simply for the sake of thought. The crystalline sheen of the Mirar gradually dulled as the lightening dawn dimmed the stars. It came as an unspoken disappointment to the friends as they set their camp in a sheltered spot near the banks of the river. â€Å"Be knowin’ that nights like that are few,† Bruenor observed as the first ray of light crept over the eastern horizon. A glimmer edged his eye, a hint of the wondrous fantasizing that the normally practical dwarf rarely enjoyed. Drizzt noted the dwarf’s dreamy glow and thought of the nights that he and Bruenor had spent on Bruenor’s Climb, their special meeting place, back in the dwarf’s valley in Ten-Towns. â€Å"Too few,† he agreed. With a resigned sigh, they set to work, Drizzt and Wulfgar starting breakfast while Bruenor and Regis examined the map they had obtained in Luskan. For all of his grumbling and teasing about the halfling, Bruenor had pressured him to come along for a very definite reason, aside from their friendship, and though the dwarf had masked his emotions well, he was truly overjoyed when Regis had come up huffing and puffing on the road out of Ten-Towns in a last-minute plea to join the quest. Regis knew the land south of the Spine of the World better than any of them. Bruenor himself hadn’t been out of Icewind Dale in nearly two centuries, and then he had been just an unbearded dwarf-child. Wulfgar had never left the dale, and Drizzt’s only trek across the world’s surface had been a nighttime adventure, skipping from shadow to shadow and avoiding many of the places the companions would need to search out, if they were ever to find Mithril Hall. Regis ran his fingers across the map, excitedly recalling to Bruenor his experiences in each of the places listed, particularly Mirabar, the mining city of great wealth to the north, and Waterdeep, true to its name as the City of Splendors, down the coast to the south. Bruenor slipped his finger across the map, studying the physical features of the terrain. â€Å"Mirabar’d be more to me liking,† he said at length, tapping the mark of the city tucked within the southern slopes of the Spine of the World. â€Å"Mithril Hall’s in mountains, that much I know, and not aside the sea.† Regis considered the dwarf’s observations for just a moment, then plunked his finger down on yet another spot, by the scale of the map a hundred miles and more inland from Luskan. â€Å"Longsaddle,† he said. â€Å"Halfway to Silverymoon, and halfway between Mirabar and Waterdeep. A good place to search out our course.† â€Å"A city?† Bruenor asked, for the mark on the map was no more than a small black dot. â€Å"A village,† Regis corrected. â€Å"There are not many people there, but a family of wizards, the Harpells, have lived there for many years and know the northland as well as any. They would be happy to help us.† Bruenor scratched his chin and nodded. â€Å"A fair hike. What might we be seeing along the way?† â€Å"The crags,† Regis admitted, a bit disheartened as he remembered the place. You read "Streams of Silver 5. The Crags" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Wild and orc-filled. I wish we had another road, but Longsaddle still seems the best choice.† â€Å"All roads in the north hold danger,† Bruenor reminded him. They continued their scrutiny of the map, Regis recalling more and more as they went. A series of unusual and unidentified markings – three in particular, running in an almost straight line due east of Luskan to the river network south of Lurkwood – caught Bruenor’s eye. â€Å"Ancestral mounds,† Regis explained. â€Å"Holy places of the Uthgardt.† â€Å"Uthgardt?† â€Å"Barbarians,† answered Regis grimly. â€Å"Like those in the dale. More wise to the ways of civilization, perhaps, but no less fierce. Their separate tribes are all about the northland, wandering the wilds. Bruenor groaned in understanding of the halfling’s dismay, all too familiar himself with the savage ways and fighting prowess of barbarians. Orcs would prove much less formidable foes. By the time the two had finished their discussion, Drizzt was stretching out in the cool shade of a tree overhanging the river and Wulfgar was halfway through his third helping of breakfast. â€Å"Yer jaw still dances for food, I see!† Bruenor called as he noted the meager portions left on the skillet. â€Å"A night filled with adventure,† Wulfgar replied gaily, and his friends were glad to observe that the brawl had apparently left no scars upon his attitude. â€Å"A fine meal and a fine sleep, and I shall be ready for the road once more!† â€Å"Well don’t ye get too comfortable yet!† Bruenor ordered. â€Å"Ye’ve a third of a watch to keep this day!† Regis looked about, perplexed, always quick to recognize an increase in his workload. â€Å"A third?† he asked. â€Å"Why not a fourth?† â€Å"The elf’s eyes are for the night,† Bruenor explained. â€Å"Let him be ready to find our way when the day’s flown.† â€Å"And where is our way?† Drizzt asked from his mossy bed. â€Å"Have you come to a decision for our next destination?† â€Å"Longsaddle,† Regis replied. â€Å"Two hundred miles east and south, around Neverwinter Wood and across the crags.† â€Å"The name is unknown to me,† Drizzt replied. â€Å"Home of the Harpells,† Regis explained. â€Å"A family of wizards renowned for their good-natured hospitality. I spent some time there on my way to Ten-Towns.† Wulfgar balked at the idea. The barbarians of Icewind Dale despised wizards, considering the black arts a power employed only by cowards. â€Å"I have no desire to view this place,† he stated flatly. â€Å"Who asked ye?† growled Bruenor, and Wulfgar found himself backing down from his resolve, like a son refusing to hold a stubborn argument in the face of a scolding by his father. â€Å"You will enjoy Longsaddle,† Regis assured him. â€Å"The Harpells have truly earned their hospitable reputation, and the wonders of Longsaddle will show you a side of magic you never expected. They will even accept†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He found his hand involuntarily pointing to Drizzt, and he cut short the statement in embarrassment. But the stoic drow just smiled. â€Å"Fear not, my friend,† he consoled Regis. â€Å"Your words ring of truth, and I have come to accept my station in your world.† He paused and looked individually into each uncomfortable stare that was upon him. â€Å"I know my friends, and I dismiss my enemies,† he stated with a finality that dismissed their worries. â€Å"With a blade, ye do,† Bruenor added with a soft chuckle, though Drizzt’s keen ears caught the whisper. â€Å"If I must,† the drow agreed, smiling. Then he rolled over to get some sleep, fully trusting in his friends’ abilities to keep him safe. They passed a lazy day in the shade beside the river. Late in the afternoon, Drizzt and Bruenor ate a meal and discussed their course, leaving Wulfgar and Regis soundly asleep, at least until they had eaten their own fill. â€Å"We’ll stay with the river for a night more,† Brueror said. â€Å"Then southeast across the open ground. That’d clear us of the wood and lay open a straight path ‘fore us.† â€Å"Perhaps it would be better if we traveled only by night for a few days,† Drizzt suggested. â€Å"We know not what eyes follow us out of the City of Sails.† â€Å"Agreed,† replied Bruenor. â€Å"Let’s be off, then. A long road before us, and a longer one after that!† â€Å"Too long,† murmured Regis, opening a lazy eye. Bruenor shot him a dangerous glare. He was nervous about this trek and about bringing his friends on a dangerous road, and in an emotional defense, he took all complaints about the adventure personally. â€Å"To walk, I mean,† Regis quickly explained. â€Å"There are farmhouses in this area, so there must be some horses about.† â€Å"Horses’d bring too a high price in these parts,† replied Bruenor. â€Å"Maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said the halfling slyly, and his friends could easily guess what he was thinking. Their frowns reflected a general disapproval. â€Å"The crags stand before us!† Regis argued. â€Å"Horses might outrun orcs, but without them, we shall surely fight for every mile of our hike! Besides, it would only be a loan. We could return the beasts when we were through with them.† Drizzt and Bruenor did not approve of the halfling’s proposed trickery, but could not refute his logic. Horses would certainly aid them at this point of the journey. â€Å"Wake the boy,† Bruenor growled. â€Å"And about my plan?† asked Regis. â€Å"We’ll make the choice when we find the opportunity!† Regis was contented, confident that his friends would opt for the horses. He ate his fill, then scraped together the supper’s meager remnants and went to wake Wulfgar. * * * They were on the trail again soon after, and a short time after that, they saw the lights of a small settlement in the distance. â€Å"Take us there,† Bruenor told Drizzt. â€Å"Mighten be that Rumblebelly’s plan’s worth a try.† Wulfgar, having missed the conversation at the camp, didn’t understand, but offered no argument, or even questioned the dwarf. After the disaster at the Cutlass, he had resigned himself to a more passive role on the trip, letting the other three decide which trails they were to take. He would follow without complaint, keeping his hammer ready for when it became needed. They moved inland away from the river for a few miles, then came upon several farms clustered together inside a stout wooden fence. â€Å"There are dogs about,† Drizzt noted, sensing them with his exceptional hearing. â€Å"Then Rumblebelly goes in alone,† said Bruenor. Wulfgar’s face twisted in confusion, especially since the halfling’s look indicated that he wasn’t thrilled with the idea. â€Å"That I cannot allow,† the barbarian spouted. â€Å"If any among us needs protection, it is the little one. I’ll not hide here in the dark while he walks alone into danger!† â€Å"He goes in alone,† Bruenor said again. â€Å"We’re here for no fight, boy. Rumblebelly’s to get us some horses.† Regis smiled helplessly, caught fully in the trap that Bruenor had clearly set for him. Bruenor would allow him to appropriate the horses, as Regis had insisted, but with the grudging permission came a measure of responsibility and bravery on his part. It was the dwarf’s way, of absolving himself of involvement in the trickery. Wulfgar remained steadfast in his determination to stand by the halfling, but Regis knew that the young warrior might inadvertently cause him problems in such delicate negotiations. â€Å"You stay with the others,† he explained to the barbarian. â€Å"I can handle this deal alone.† Mustering up his nerve, he pulled his belt over the hang of his belly and strode off toward the small settlement. The threatening snarls of several dogs greeted him as he approached the fence’s gate. He considered turning back – the ruby pendant probably wouldn’t do him much good against vicious dogs – but then he saw the silhouette of a man leave one of the farmhouses and start his way. â€Å"What do you want?† the farmer demanded, standing defiantly on the other side of the gate and clutching an antique pole arm, probably passed down through his family’s generations. â€Å"I am but a weary traveler,† Regis started to explain, trying to appear as pitiful as he could. It was a tale the farmer had heard far too often. â€Å"Go away!† he ordered. â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"Get you gone!† Over a ridge some distance away, the three companions watched the confrontation, though only Drizzt viewed the scene in the dim light well enough to understand what was happening. The drow could see the tenseness in the farmer by the way he gripped the halberd, and could judge the deep resolve in the man’s demands by the unbending scowl upon his face. But then Regis pulled something out from under his jacket, and the farmer relaxed his grip upon the weapon almost immediately. A moment later, the gate swung open and Regis walked in. The friends waited anxiously for several grueling hours with no further sign of Regis. They considered confronting the farmers themselves, worried that some foul treachery had befallen the halfling. Then finally, with the moon well past its peak, Regis emerged from the gate, leading two horses and two ponies. The farmers and their families waved good-bye to him as he left, making him promise to stop and visit if he ever passed their way again. â€Å"Amazing,† laughed Drizzt. Bruenor and Wulfgar just shook their heads in disbelief. For the first time since he had entered the settlement, Regis pondered that his delay might have caused his friends some distress. The farmer had insisted that he join in for supper before they sat down to discuss whatever business he had come about, and since Regis had to be polite (and since he had only eaten one supper that day) he agreed, though he kept the meal as short as possible and politely declined, when offered his fourth helping. Getting the horses proved easy enough after that. All he had to do was promise to leave them with the wizards in Longsaddle when he and his friends moved on from there. Regis felt certain that his friends could not stay mad at him for very long. He had kept them waiting and worrying for half the night, but his endeavor would save them many days on a dangerous road. After an hour or two of feeling the wind rushing past them as they rode, they would forget any anger they held for him, he knew. Even if they didn’t so easily forgive, a good meal was always worth a little inconvenience to Regis. Drizzt purposely kept the party moving more to the east than the southeast. He found no landmarks on Bruenor’s map that would let him approximate the straight course to Longsaddle. If he tried the direct route and missed the mark, no matter how slightly, they would come upon the main road from the northern city of Mirabar not knowing whether to turn north or south. By going directly east, the drow was assured that they would hit the road to the north of Longsaddle. His path would add a few miles, but perhaps save them several days of backtracking. Their ride was clear and easy for the next day and night, and after that, Bruenor decided that they were far enough from Luskan to assume a more normal traveling schedule. â€Å"We can go by day, now,† he announced early in the afternoon of their second day with the horses. â€Å"I prefer the night,† Drizzt said. He had just awakened and was brushing down his slender, well-muscled black stallion. â€Å"Not me,† argued Regis. â€Å"Nights are for sleeping, and the horses are all but blind to holes and rocks that could lame them up.† â€Å"The best for both then,† offered Wulfgar, stretching the last sleep out of his bones. â€Å"We can leave after the sun peaks, keeping it behind us for Drizzt, and ride long into the night.† â€Å"Good thinking, lad,† laughed Bruenor. â€Å"Seems to be afternoon now, in fact. On the horses, then! Time’s for going!† â€Å"You might have held your thoughts to yourself until after supper!† Regis grumbled at Wulfgar, reluctantly hoisting the saddle onto the back of the little white pony. Wulfgar moved to help his struggling friend. â€Å"But we would have lost half a day’s ride,† he replied. â€Å"A pity that would have been,† Regis retorted. * * * That day, the fourth since they had left Luskan, the companions came upon the crags, a narrow stretch of broken mounds and rolling hills. A rough, untamed beauty defined the place, an overpowering sense of wilderness that gave every traveler here a feeling of conquest, that he might be the first to gaze upon any particular spot. And, as was always the case in the wilds, with the adventurous excitement came a degree of danger. They had barely entered the first dell in the up-and-down terrain when Drizzt spotted tracks that he knew well: the trampling march of an orc band. â€Å"Less than a day old,† he told his concerned companions. â€Å"How many?† asked Bruenor. Drizzt shrugged. â€Å"A dozen at least, maybe twice that number.† â€Å"We’ll keep to our path,† the dwarf suggested. â€Å"They’re in front of us, and that’s better’n behind.† When sunset came, marking the halfway point of that day’s journey, the companions took a short break, letting the horses graze in a small meadow. The orc trail was still before them, but Wulfgar, taking up the rear of the troupe had his sights trained behind. â€Å"We are being followed,† he said to his friends’ inquiring faces. â€Å"Orcs?† Regis asked. The barbarian shook his head. â€Å"None like I have ever seen. By my reckoning, our pursuit is cunning and cautious.† â€Å"Might be that the orcs here are more wise to the ways of goodly folk than be the orcs of the dale,† said Bruenor, but he suspected something other than orcs, and he didn’t have to look at Regis to know that the halfling shared his concerns. The first map marking that Regis had identified as an ancestral mound could not be far from their present position. â€Å"Back to the horses,† Drizzt suggested. â€Å"A hard ride might do much to improve our position.† â€Å"Go till after moonset,† Bruenor agreed. â€Å"And stop when ye’ve found a place we can hold against attack. I’ve a feeling we’re to see some fighting ‘fore the dawn finds us!† They encountered no tangible signs during the ride, which took them nearly across the span of the crags. Even the orc trail faded off to the north, leaving the path before them apparently clear. Wulfgar was certain, though, that he caught several sounds behind them, and movements along the periphery of his vision. Drizzt would have liked to continue until the crags were fully behind them, but in the harsh terrain, the horses had reached the limit of their endurance. He pulled up into a small copse of fir trees set on top of a small rise, fully suspecting, like the others, that unfriendly eyes were watching them from more than one direction. Drizzt was up one of the trees before the others had even dismounted. They tethered the horses close together and set themselves around the beasts. Even Regis would find no sleep, for, though he trusted Drizzt’s night vision, his blood had already begun pumping in anticipation of what was to come. Bruenor, a veteran of a hundred fights, felt secure enough in his battle prowess. He propped himself calmly against a tree, his many-notched axe across his chest, one hand firmly in place upon its handle. Wulfgar, though, made other preparations. He began by gathering together broken sticks and branches and sharpening their points. Seeking every advantage, he set them in strategic positions around the area to provide the best layout for his stand, using their deadly points to cut down the routes of approach for his attackers. Other sticks he cunningly concealed in angles that would trip up and stick the orcs before they ever reached him. Regis, the most nervous of all, watched it all and noted the differences in his friends’ tactics. He felt that there was little he could do to prepare himself for such a fight, and he sought only to keep himself far enough out of the way so as not to hinder the efforts of his friends. Perhaps the opportunity would arise for him to make a surprise strike, but he didn’t even consider such possibilities at this point. Bravery came to the halfling spontaneously. It was certainly nothing he ever planned. With all of their diversions and preparations deflecting their nervous anticipation, it came as almost a relief when, barely an hour later, their anxiety became reality. Drizzt whispered down to them that there was movement on the fields below the copse. â€Å"How many?† Bruenor called back. â€Å"Four to one against us, and maybe more,† Drizzt replied. The dwarf turned to Wulfgar. â€Å"Ye ready, boy?† Wulfgar slapped his hammer out before him. â€Å"Four against one?† he laughed. Bruenor liked the young warrior’s confidence, though the dwarf realized that the odds might actually prove more lopsided, since Regis wouldn’t likely be out in the open fighting. â€Å"Let ’em in, or hit them out in the field?† Bruenor asked Drizzt. â€Å"Let them in,† the drow replied. â€Å"Their stealthy approach shows me that they believe surprise is with them.† â€Å"And a turned surprise is better’n a first blow from afar,† Bruenor finished. â€Å"Do what ye can with yer bow when it’s started, elf. We’ll be waitin’ fer ye!† Wulfgar imagined the fire seething in the drow’s lavender eyes, a deadly gleam that always belied Drizzt’s outward calm before a battle. The barbarian took comfort, for the drow’s lust for battle outweighed even his own, and he had never seen the whirring scimitars outdone by any foe. He slapped his hammer again and crouched in a hole beside the roots of one of the trees. Bruenor slipped between the bulky bodies of two of the horses, pulling his feet up into a stirrup on each, and Regis, after he had stuffed the bedrolls to give the appearance of sleeping bodies, scooted under the low-hanging boughs of one of the trees. The orcs approached the camp in a ring, obviously looking for an easy strike. Drizzt smiled in hope as he noted the gaps in their ring, open flanks that would prevent quick support to any isolated group. The whole band would hit the perimeter of the copse together, and Wulfgar, closest to the edge, would most likely launch the first strike. The orcs crept in, one group slipping toward the horses, another toward the bedrolls. Four of them passed Wulfgar, but he waited a second longer, allowing the others to get close enough to the horses for Bruenor to strike. Then the time for hiding had ended. Wulfgar sprang from his concealment, Aegis-fang, his magical warhammer, already in motion. â€Å"Tempus!† he cried to his god of battle, and his first blow crashed in, swatting two of the orcs to the ground. The other group rushed to get the horses free and out of the camp, hoping to cut off any escape route. But were greeted by the snarling dwarf and his ringing axe! As the surprised orcs leaped into the saddles, Bruenor clove one down the middle, and took a second one’s head clean from its shoulders before the remaining two even knew that they had been attacked. Drizzt picked as targets the orcs closest to the groups under attack, delaying the support against his friends for as long as possible. His bowstring twanged, once, twice, and a third time, and a like number of orcs fell to the earth, their eyes closed and their hands helplessly clenched upon the shafts of the killing arrows. The surprise strikes had cut deeply into the ranks of their enemies, and now the drow pulled his scimitars and dropped from his perch, confident that he and his companions could finish the rest off quickly. His smile was short-lived, though, for as he descended, he noticed more movement in the field. Drizzt had come down in the middle of three creatures, his blades in motion before his feet had even touched the ground. The orcs were not totally surprised – one had seen the drow dropping – but Drizzt had them off balance and swinging around to bring their weapons to bear. With the drow’s lightninglike strikes, any delay at all meant certain death, and Drizzt was the only one in the jumble of bodies under control. His scimitars slashed and thrust into orcan flesh with killing precision. Wulfgar’s fortunes were equally bright. He faced two of the creatures, and though they were vicious fighters, they could not match the giant barbarian’s power. One got its crude weapon up in time to block Wulfgar’s swing, but Aegis-fang blasted through the defense, shattering the weapon and then the unfortunate orc’s skull without even slowing for the effort. Bruenor fell into trouble first. His initial attacks went off perfectly, leaving him with only two standing opponents – odds that the dwarf liked. But in the excitement, the horses reared and bolted, tearing their tethers free from the branches. Bruenor tumbled to the ground, and before he could recover, was clipped in the head by the hoof of his own pony. One of the orcs was similarly thrown down, but the last one landed free of the commotion and rushed to finish off the stunned dwarf as the horses cleared the area. Luckily, one of those spontaneous moments of bravery came over Regis at that moment. He slipped out from under the tree, falling in silently behind the orc. It was tall for an orc, and even on the tips of his toes, Regis did not like the angle of a strike at its head. Shrugging resignedly, the halfling reversed his strategy. Before the orc could even begin to strike at Bruenor, the halfling’s mace came up between its knees and higher, driving into its groin and lifting it clear off the ground. The howling victim grasped at its injury, its eyes lolling about aimlessly, and dropped to the ground with no further ambitions for battle. It had all happened in an instant, but victory was not yet won. Another six orcs poured into the fray, two cutting off Drizzt’s attempt to get to Regis and Bruenor, three more going to the aid of their lone companion facing the giant barbarian. And one, creeping along the same line Regis had taken, closed on the unsuspecting halfling. At the same moment Regis made out the drow’s warning call, a club slammed between his shoulder blades, blasting the wind from his lungs and tossing him to the ground. Wulfgar was pressed on all four sides, and despite his boasts before the battle, he found that he didn’t care for the situation. He concentrated on parrying, hoping that the drow could get to him before his defenses broke down. He was too badly outnumbered. An orcan blade cut into a rib, another clipped his arm. Drizzt knew that he could defeat the two he now faced, but doubted that it would be in time for him to help his barbarian friend. Or the halfling. And there were still reinforcements on the field. Regis rolled onto his back to lay right beside Bruenor, and the dwarf’s groaning told him that the fight was over for both of them. Then the orc was above him, its club raised above its head, and an evil smile spread wide upon its ugly face. Regis closed his eyes, having no desire to watch the descent of the blow that would kill him. Then he heard the sound of impact†¦above him. Startled, he opened his eyes. A hatchet was embedded into his attacker’s chest. The orc looked down at it, stunned. The club dropped harmlessly behind the orc, and it, too, fell backward, quite dead. Regis didn’t understand. â€Å"Wulfgar?† he asked into the air. A huge form, nearly as large as Wulfgar’s, sprang over him and pounced upon the orc, savagely tearing the hatchet free. He was human, and wearing the furs of a barbarian, but unlike the tribes of Icewind Dale, this man’s hair was black. â€Å"Oh, no,† Regis groaned, remembering his own warnings to Bruenor about the Uthgardt barbarians. The man had saved his life, but knowing the savage reputation, Regis doubted that a friendship would grow out of the encounter. He started to sit up, wanting to express his sincere thanks and dispel any unfriendly notions the barbarian might have about him. He even considered using the ruby pendant to evoke some friendly feelings. But the big man, noting the movement, spun suddenly and kicked him in the face. And Regis fell backward into blackness. How to cite Streams of Silver 5. The Crags, Essay examples