Editing Driving for the Boots

{{H|Gem|hero_link=Gem (Sorceress)|image=Gem (Sorceress)|0=}}: I begin my quest for the last item [[Sandro]] needs - the [[Dead Man's Boots]].  Unlike the other artifacts, these may actually be inside [[Deyja]], for the borders are in dispute.  One thing is certain: there will be several Deyjan Border Lords in the area, and they will not like me being there.  This is going to be a tough fight, but it will be worth it.  Important things are never free.

{{TErow| 1 |Intro|Getting the Dead Man's Boots is not going to be easy.  From what my Elven scouts tell me, there are at least two Deyjan Border Lords in this area.  They are likely to react strongly to my presence this close to Deyja.<p>I need to avoid being distracted by the Border Lords and keep driving for the Boots.<p>Of course, it would be perfect if I can destroy some Deyjan troops and get the Boots at the same time.}}

{{TErow| 4 |Scrying the Boots|I tried to scry the location of the Dead Man's Boots but could not divine anything useful.  My scrying abilities are more closely tied to living things.  However, according to Sandro, the Boots are in the possession of a Wizard south of here.}}

{{TErow| 12 |Black Grip|I am in my sixty-first year as a Sorceress.  Over time you learn to protect yourself and your troops from ill magic.  Every morning as the sun rises; I spend a few minutes scrying my troops for malignant magics.}}

{{TErow| 12 |Black Grip (cont)|This morning I discovered half my troops had been afflicted with a spell.  It looked like a variation on a Necromancer spell I saw five years ago called Black Grip.  The spell rots its victims from the inside out.  Fortunately, I was able to remove the spell before we broke camp.}}

{{TErow| 20 |Another old Druid visit|I had a surprise visitor this morning: the old druid I had spoken to a while ago.  Over breakfast he asked me to think about becoming a Druid.<p>I was stunned for a moment, but then I shook my head and told him I was a Sorceress.  The old druid calmly took another bite and told me, from what he knew, being a Sorceress didn't necessarily prevent me from also being a Druid.  He left after breakfast, but before departing he gave me a book that he said would help me understand what being a Druid meant.}}

{{TErow| 31 |Book II|I finished reading the Druid Book last night.  I have been reading it slowly and thinking about what it says, and also what it does not say.  While there are differences in specifics, the core philosophies are virtually identical.}}

{{TErow| 34 |Manda's Reassurance|I dreamed of Amanda last night and was happy to see her.  I told her everything about the Old Druid, his surprising offer and my conclusions after reading his book.  Amanda asked me what I felt about the Druid's offer.  "Honored," I said after a pause.}}

{{TErow| 34 |Manda's Reassurance (cont)|"Gem," Amanda replied, "if our two philosophies are as similar as you say, it may be a good idea to join them."  I told her I couldn't.  I would feel so disloyal to her and my sister Sorceresses.  Amanda shook her head and told me to find out what type of oaths they would require before I made any decisions.}}

{{TErow| 37 |Decision|I've been thinking about the old Druid's offer and what Amanda said.  I think I will ask what oaths are involved.  If there are no conflicting oaths then I will join the Druids, making a new home for myself here in Antagarich.  I'll send the old Druid a message today asking for a meeting where we can discuss what type of vows are required of Druids.}}

{{TErow| 45 |Druid Meeting|I met with the old Druid this morning over breakfast.  I was honest with him.  I told him I was considering his offer to join the Druids, but I had deep concerns over the oaths required of me.}}

{{TErow| 45 |Druid Meeting (cont)|He explained that each Druid wrote their own oaths, and by lunch we had worked out a set of oaths I was happy with.  Knowing what Amanda had said, I felt confident to allow the Old Druid to submit my oaths to the Druid High Council.}}

{{TErow| 48 |Manda Approval|Amanda was in my dreams last night.  After we greeted each other I told her of my meeting with the old Druid and how I was able to work my old oaths into my new life here.  A part of me will always be a Sorceress, but I have evolved into a Druid, finally finding a new life for myself in Antagarich.  I asked Amanda to petition the other Sorcerers for dispensation to become a Druid.}}

{{TErow| 51 |Petition Approval/Closure|Amanda appeared last night and told me my sister Sorcerers had approved my petition to join the Druids.  She hugged me and told me she thought this would be the "New Beginning" she had hoped I would find in Antagarich.}}

{{TErow| 52 |Message to Old Druid|I sent the revised oath to the Old Druid this morning.  I told him there were some nuances in the revision I preferred.  I also told him I would like to finish this last quest for the Boots as a Sorcerer.  After that, if the Druid High Council has approved my vows, I would swear them on the next full moon.  I felt my heart lighten.  Soon I would be an AvLee hero and a Druid soon.  But first I had to get the Boots to Sandro.}}

| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | In the middle of a small mountain glade sits a pair of Dead Man's Boots.  The hair rises on the back of your neck.  A gentle breeze carries the faint odor of decay.  Do you wish to pick up the Boots?<p><center>'''Guardians:''' 35 {{Cn|Power Lich}}es, 30 {{Cn|Dread Knight}}s, 30 {{Cn|Vampire Lord}}s, 25 {{Cn|Ghost Dragon}}s, 30 {{Cn|Vampire Lord}}s, 30 {{Cn|Dread Knight}}s,  35 {{Cn|Power Lich}}es</center></p>

{{H|Gem|hero_link=Gem (Sorceress)|image=Gem (Sorceress)|0=}}: [[Sandro]] has tricked me!  But to what purpose?  Why would he run off with the [[Dead Man's Boots]] without paying me?  Did he keep the money for himself?  Did he give [[Ethric]] the other artifacts?  He certainly couldn't have been an agent for [[Deyja]] - the undead troops I destroyed to get the artifacts were worth more than the artifacts themselves.  None of this makes sense!  I will have to write to Ethric in [[Bracada]] and tell [[Lord Fayette]] about this immediately.