Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/A Gathering of Monsters
Original Link (now dead) - October 27, 2000
A Gathering of Monsters
Archibald bent to snatch the scrap of paper from the ground. Blown against him amidst a jumbled whirl of leaves, he'd almost missed its notice.
“What have you there?” his partner, Cuthbert, asked.
“A crudely written note. Here--“ he said, handing the paper over. “I admit, your appraisal skill occasionally proves a trifle better than my own. What do you make of it?”
“A crudely written note, barely legible.” Cuthbert squinted at the scribbled words. “Go to big tree place,” he quoted. “Get swamp-stinkers to follow you, make big wanga on humans! Written in banderling.”
In recent days, hints, and captured notes, and even occasional sightings tell of further danger in the lands. Certain creatures of Dereth have begun organizing into camps.
| Strong breeds of creatures have long been known to bully lesser ones. Consider the reed sharks many Tumeroks train as “guard dogs.” Banderlings, then, may have learned to do the very same. From somewhere in Osteth, reports have come of mosswarts gathered under the banner of banderling camp chieftains. | 
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Far more troubling may well be word of similar activities taking place on the Obsidian Plain. There, Virindi Masters are said to be marshalling hollow minions, tusker guards, and drudge raveners into fearsome legions. |
| One must wonder what sinister implications lie behind these reports, of stronger creatures training weaker. To better defend themselves. . . or to better assault humanity? Then, must not these training camps be stopped, at any cost? | 
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Those hunters looking for greater numbers of kills -- and resulting high rewards in experience -- would do well to seek out the monster training camps. The six currently in Osteth will surely prove a formidable task for any mid-level party of heroes. The four, far more dangerous camps in the Direlands, however, should not be faced by any but the most veteran of groups. While the dangers of these training camps continue to threaten the land, the work of such hunters is more in need than ever. To refuse the challenge is but to bring risk to all!
“How worrisome.” Archibald commented on the note.
“The suggestion that creatures now organize against us heroes?”