The Adventures of Avery Dameron

This is the first complete psuedo-novel I ever wrote while in high school. I've been meaning to dust it off and rewrite it in a setting completely my own for possible publication. I am going to print it as it was written some 20+ years ago. Maybe you can give me your opinion on whether its worth the time to salvage or if I should scrap it and start over.

P.S. As I am editing this for publication here it has come to my attention that I seem to have written the Forrest Gump of Fantasy. I dont know if any of you have ever read the book Forrest Gump but I personally found it to be one of the worst books I've ever read. The film bares little resemblance to the book. I've always wondered how they were able to turn that book into an academy award winning movie but they did. So even though this isnt a great work it shows theres still hope for it.

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The Aventure's of Avery Dameron

Chapter 5
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The next day, Avery was up early. He quietly dressed, and then he kissed Nelil on the lips waking her. They kissed passionately and then he left.

Avery walked upstairs to gather his things. The two women quickly finished dressing as Avery entered. Totally uninhibited he changed in front of the women and then brought his things down to the taproom, followed by the two women. A few minutes later Urus joined them.

They ate, and then saddled up their mounts. Avery bought Thevila and Delynn horses, and then they rode out of town. On their way out, Avery stopped at the Tower and picked up Lady Shaerl's message, and then they left for Tilverton. A few days later the group entered Tilverton. Dark gray clouds covered the sky. It looked as if at any moment, they would erupt in violent showers. The town was surrounded by a large wall. They followed the road to The Market.

Avery rode ahead of the rest. He wore black boots, breeches, tunic, and gloves, with a white hooded cloak, vest, and sash that was tied around his waist. His elaborately carved, ivory, lions head katana hung off his right hip. He was playing, **The Prayer of Happiness**, on the flute, a prayer that he had heard his mother singing to Eilistraee when he was a child.

Behind him, Urus rode into town on one of the horses, while Delynn rode Carl the unicorn, to keep up appearances. Urus and Thevila wore their usual clothes, while Delynn wore black breeches and boots, with a low cut gray tunic over her coat of elven chain mail. Even though her long, dark hair was braided, it still almost came down to her waist. Her eyes were a beautiful bright blue. Her long sword was strapped to her saddle in ready position for combat.

Avery stopped playing to talk to some of the citizens, to find out the customs of the area, and a place to stay. An older human man, wearing an eye patch and simple brown clothing, gave Avery direction to The Windlord's Rest, an inn in the southwest part of town. He also told Avery that all swords must be tied with piece strings, while in the country of Cormyr. At a distance his three companions followed him to the inn.

Together they entered the inn, and each rented a room. They all brought their things, up to their rooms, and then Urus took everyone's except Avery's mounts to the stables.

Avery's room, like the others, was a nondescript ten by ten foot room, with a bed in one corner, and a dressing table in another. Avery pulled out his black velvet cloak, and his black, noble clothing. His noble clothing consisted of boots, breeches, a mantled tunic, and dress gauntlets, all made from the finest materials found on Malinta. Avery looked at the clasp on the black cloak, and noticed, that he could trade clasps with his other cloak, the clasp of which held his family's house symbol.

He then pulled out a thick necklace, made of small gold plates encrusted with several different kinds of jewels, made to sit on the shoulders. The front of the necklace held the holy symbol of Nom, an Ankh(Nom was the Deity that all of his childhood, human teachers and friends claimed to be the one true God. They steered Avery into the worshiping of him during his first year of their teaching.).

After that he pulled out a belt, that fastened in the back. It was an exact match for the necklace. He changed and then put away his other clothing. The only weapons he brought with him was his two knives hidden in his boots.

Avery opened his shudders, and looked out the window. He saw diagonally from his room a temple of one of Toril's Deity's. He had noticed the temple's of Tymora and Lathander, while in Shadowdale, but, neither looked like this one. Elminster had given him the basics on the Deities of the two temples during their talk, on the way to the Tower of Ashaba.

Avery shut the shudders, and then, he put on his cloak, and put the letter into his gauntlet sleeve, as he headed for the door. As he reached for the door he noticed that, in this out fit with the hood up, he would be almost completely undetectable in darkness. He smiled to himself, as he went out the door, and down the stairs.

His hood kept his face well hidden, so none of the few people sitting in the main room, were able to tell who it was. Avery quickly went outside, mounted up on Zared, and then headed back toward, The Market.

At The Market, Avery got directions to the place where he could find, the Lady Regent. From there he rode to the Council Hall.

The Council Hall, was a mid sized building made of stone, with wooden doors. Two men stood guard, both wore field plate armor, with the symbol of a purple dragon on their breast plates. They carried long swords, daggers, and both were armed with medium crossbows. They asked Avery his business, and then one knocked on the door. Another guard inside opened it and took the message, afterwards he closed the door, leaving Avery to wait. It wasn't long before the door opened again, and Avery was escorted inside.

The interior of the building, held few luxuries of sight. The hallway for the most part was bare, except for several portraits, two of which caught Avery's eye.

One was a portrait of a man wearing the clothes of a king, complete with crown. Even though you could see that he was middle-aged, he still sported the physique of a much younger man. His brown hair and beard, showed only hints of graying. The other portrait was of a beautiful woman, whom greatly resembled, Lady Shaerl Amcathra, of Shadowdale, but she was a few years older than the woman in the picture. She sported long russet hair, like her cousin, but her eyes were a brilliant green, that matched Avery's. She wore the court dress of a noble, accented with fabulous jewelry.

Avery was brought into a small, waiting room, that held seven chairs. Avery waited there for several minutes, before a guard entered.

"Her ladyship, will see you now."

Avery followed the guard to a large room, where the woman in the portrait, sat at a table, which sat at the top of three steps, reading a scroll. She wore a tan one-piece outfit, accented with brown leather boots, belt, and gloves. Since the portrait was painted, she has cut her hair, to a little longer than shoulder length. Her new, non-noble look was extremely attractive. She stood and walked over to Avery.

Avery knelt down on one knee. Alasalynn, put her hand on Avery's shoulder.

"Arise and well met, my good man. You don't need to show any ceremony with me."

As Avery rose, he pulled back his hood. She was close to eight inches shorter than Avery, but, held herself boldly as any one he had ever met. "I understand that you are a friend of my cousin, and her husband."

"Yes, milady. We met through a mutual friend by the name of Elminster."

"Ahh, so you know Elminster."

"Yes. Have you heard of him?." Avery look at her inquiringly.

"My dear sir, everyone has heard of the great Elminster."

Avery explained to her his situation, and then handed her the letter from her cousin. Alasalynn, put it on her table, and then offered to show Avery around the town. She called her assistant, who she had find them an escort.

Two of the guards accompanied them on their ride, through town. She showed Avery some of the most interesting sights in Tilverton, which included Tilver's Palace, and The Temple of Gond Wondermaker. She gave Avery a brief history of Tilverton. During their talk, she asked Avery if he would bring the answer to her cousin's letter to her tomorrow, and since he had no definite plans, he agreed. They talked and laughed their way through the town, until their last stop, the Windlord's Rest inn.

Avery and Alasalynn bid each other farewell, and agreed that they would see each other, the next day, after morning feast. Then Avery went to his room.

After changing he came downstairs, and joined his friends. He told them of his agreement to return to Shadowdale. He told them that, if they chose to go on, he wouldn't hold it against them, and if they ever crossed paths again maybe they could adventure together again. After some careful deliberation they decided not to break up the party, and to go with him.

As they deliberated, Avery spotted a very average looking man in the corner, drinking out of a golden goblet. The man wore a holy symbol, but no noticeable armor, Avery thought that maybe he was a priest of some kind. Avery walked over to the man and struck up a conversation.

"Well met, sir. My name is Avery Dameron, and I couldn't help but notice that you are a holy man. By chance, are you free to join a party in need of talents such as yours?"

"My friend I am more than willing. I am Guido del Confuso at your service."

Guido told Avery that a few days ago he was traveling in a nasty rainstorm. He saw what he thought was an area of shelter under a tree. As soon as he got to the tree though, he found himself a few miles from Tilverton. He has been here ever since.

After Guido told his story, Avery brought him over to meet the party. Guido showed even more interest when he met Thevila and Delynn. He flirted shamelessly with both of them. They spent the rest of the evening drinking and celebrating the entry of their new party member.

The next morning they met early to eat, and then, to decide where to go after Shadowdale. Delynn suggested that they head northeast from there this time. All agreed.

After their meal, the saddled up and rode to the Council Hall. There, Avery got the letter from, Lady Alasalynn, and then they rode out of town.

Their first night on the rode Guido cooked them one of the best meals they ever had, from then on the decided that they would make sure that Guido had all the ingredients that he needed to cook such wonderful meals.

Upon reaching Shadowdale, they were greeted by the bridge-guard, one of the guards, Captain Elassa Thintrel, recognized Avery from his visit to the Tower. She offered to escort them on their business, they readily agreed.

They stopped at the Tower so Avery could drop off the letter. He was escorted, by Captain Elassa, so there would be no delay. Avery and Lady Shaerl briefly talked, and she gave Avery a map of the Heartlands of Faerun, the main continent on Toril. Avery thanked her, and left. Captain Elassa, escorted them to the edge of town and then waved goodbye as they rode on.

They traveled through the forest off the main rode in a more direct route toward a town named, Yulash. They had been traveling for several hours, when they were confronted by another band of five adventurers.

The other group, was all human males, wearing leather or studded leather armor, and carrying both long and short swords. They drew their weapons and attacked.

Urus, Delynn, and Avery all dismounted and engaged their enemy. Urus shot one of them with the crossbow/arquebus, killing him instantly, he then unsheathed his khopesh and enter melee combat. Delynn attacked with her long sword, and shield, fighting side by side with Urus. Avery took on their leader. He was extremely coordinated with his short and long swords, parrying every one of Avery's blows.

Working together, with the help of Thevila's psychokinesis, Urus and Delynn were able to quickly dispatch the other three. Upon seeing his comrades fall their leader fled into the forest. Before he could get away, Avery swung at him slicing open his backpack, causing the contents to fall on the ground behind him. They thoroughly examined everything left by both the dead men, and their leader. The only thing found on the other men was a long sword that was exceptionally well balanced and incredibly sharp.

The stuff that had fallen out of their leader's pack contained several pages from a journal. The journal was from a group know as the Seekers. They had been searching for something called the Tear of Selune, and ended up being captured by an evil group named the Zhentarim. The final page was a plea for help. They were being held in Zhentil Keep, Avery spotted it on the map.

As the party rested they decided to help these people. Avery suggested that they returned to Shadowdale and find out all they could from Elminster on Zhentil Keep before riding into what could be a trap. They agreed and turned around and rode hard back to Shadowdale.

As the rest of the party stopped off at the Old Skull Inn, Avery rode on to Elminster's. Avery found Elminster by his pool smoking the same pipe, while another man stood knee deep in the pool washing clothes. The man was young, somewhere in his mid twenties, and possessed green eyes and pale brown hair. Elminster introduced the man, as Lhaeo, Elminster's personal assistant, and scribe.

Avery showed Elminster the four journal pages and asked him for help. Elminster agreed on the condition that only he and Avery go. Avery agreed and Elminster teleported them into one of the cells in Zhentil Keep.

The occupant was an attractive elf, with skin the color of snow and long blue-black hair. She was sleeping when they arrived. Both Avery and Elminster recognized her from the journal, as Esta Starchild, priestess of Selune.

Avery pulled out his lock picks and began working on the door as Elminster woke Esta and kept her quiet. After successfully unlocking the cell door, Avery opened it slightly and glanced down the hall, all was clear. He stuck his head out and looked the other way, it was also clear. They quietly opened the door, and then started down the corridor, looking for the rest of the party.

They found three of the other five members, one of them, Furian Arcanus, a male half-elven, mage-priest, said that he believed the other two died when they were captured. Along with Furian, they found the dwarven warrior, Lorrick, and the human ranger, Trothgar.

Elminster had everyone hold hands and then teleported them back to Shadowdale. Everyone thanked both Elminster, and Avery for rescuing them. Avery brought them all back to the Old Skull, to meet his friends.

Everyone celebrated that evening. During their celebration Esta and Furian asked everyone to help them get to Evermeet. They agreed to leave the next morning. Avery and Nelil spent some time together before he went up to his room for some needed sleep.

The next morning they left early, after gathering horses, weapons, and provisions for a long journey. They rode for several hours before coming upon a single, human female, fighting off one of three, samurai. Avery rode faster and engaged one of the samurai.

The young man was no matched for Avery, who chose to make him look foolish, rather than kill him. The other samurai, seeing his companion lose face as he had chose to attack Avery. After knocking the man unconscious, Avery took his katana and put it on Zared. He then turned and bowed to the woman who had already finished off her opponent. She in turn bowed to him.

Avery asked her if she had any other skills than fighting. She informed them that, her name was Mariko Bureshu, and that she was a wu jen, a mage from Kara-Tur. They invited her along as their official mage. She whole-heartily agreed and the rode away, after taking all of the samurai's katanas and wakizashis. That evening, as Avery lay looking up at the sky, trying to think of a name for their party, he noticed the moon, and then it came to him.

"I have come up with a name for our party, Urus."

"What is it?"

"It is up there." Avery pointed to the moon, which was all black except for a thin crescent. "Do you not see. The name is, Company of the Crescent Moon."

Everyone looked up and agreed, that Avery suggestion was an excellent one. Avery pulled out his journal and drew the company's emblem on the inside cover, he then updated it and then showed everyone their official symbol.