Steep slope. You are standing on a steep slope, leading upwards to the north. At the top, there levels out a plateau on the top of the rock which is this island. East is forest, south and west more wilderness. It is raining. Beating its enormous wings above you is an immense, fire-breathing dragon! Cultivated here is a curious herb. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The dragon says "They can be fast, but they're all puny, and oh so mortal.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The dragon says "Oh so many to choose from! Let me see, number one has to be failed dragon bashes. Number two is a close tie between toasting a high mage, pouncing on the steep slope, and standing at the fairy ring. It's such fun teasing the mortals.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". The dragon asks "The taste of coal! Goddamit! I can gracefully accept an achilles heel but does it have to taste so bad? How about a lethal lamb casserole for a change?". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The dragon says "Tease newbies by ogling their coal, rearrange the isle, compose Haikus.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The dragon says "Not sure actually, I'm pretty content. More regular outings to the mainland. My own personal barometer maybe.".

Inside alpine cottage. You are inside the doorway of a cosy, alpine cottage. Outside, to the south, lies thick snow, but here the bitter edge of the cold winds is not present, and you feel warm and snug. There are doorways to two other rooms, to the east and to the west. Propped up close by is a long, Alpine horn. Laura the peacelock is here. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". Laura the peacelock says "Sometimes I think I've wandered into a madhouse. (g)". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". Laura the peacelock says "I'm not sure what my absolute FAVOURITE event is, but I do enjoy Quest nights a great deal.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". Laura the peacelock says "It's a tossup between lag, PKs, and jerks who harass me in the tearoom. Oh, and the ts.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". Laura the peacelock says "I spend a lot of time reading.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". Laura the peacelock says "I'd put in a special magical item that changes giants into dwarfs, and vice versa. (g)".

Passage. You are in a narrow north-south passage. At the south end is a doorway, at the north an opening to a room. An exceptionally large goblin (goblin10) stands provocatively before you. The exceptionally large goblin10 is carrying a tapestry0 and a key2. The door is locked shut. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The exceptionally large goblin10 says "Me likesh them. They bring me treashure and fancy weaponsh. I alwaysh take them by shuprishe. .. Yesh jusht a little.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The exceptionally large goblin10 says "I likesh it when the rock shplitsh. Then my brothersh give them all a good hiding.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". The exceptionally large goblin10 asks "Arrogant magesh who think I want to shnooze all the time. I don't! Doesh thishtapeshtry look like a shleep over to you?". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The exceptionally large goblin10 says "I shharpen knivesh with brothersh, play with the locksh on the doorsh, and shometimesh add to our notebook.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The exceptionally large goblin10 says "I'd patch up the roof to the cavern. Shtuff'sh alwaysh falling on my head.".

Room in scriptorium. You are in a room inside an ancient scriptorium. There are archways respectively inscribed 'D' and 'K' to the west and southeast. A hideously-deformed hunchback scowls at you from the shadows. The hunchback is wearing a cowl, and is carrying a wafer55 and a ciborium. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The hunchback says "Ha, those young-uns. They're ok. They're always racing by, in a hurry. Sometimes they give me trouble, but more often than not I teach 'em a lesson.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The hunchback says "Doing my bit to help the vampire instil some discipline, that and divesting duos of their hard earned keep treasure. Same happened to me when I was a nipper. We have a long tradition here in The Land.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". The hunchback says "Oh, I can't complain. I guess being locked in without a key gets me down sometimes.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The hunchback says "I know it's childish, but finding routes in the scriptorium that spell out words. There are some good ones: class, egg, even a very dirty swear word. There's some latin in there too, but I forgotten in all with my years.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The hunchback says "I'd have my youth back. Tease the griffin with the maiden's cries for help, turn everyday objects into gold, swamp that crown multiple times, get a boat and stalk around invisible hassling the players, just like in the good old days.".

You are wandering in a pleasant maze of hedges. Rootling about happily by your feet is a small hedgehog. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The hedgehog whimpers "Help me I'm lost. Help me I'm lost.". The hedgehog suddenly transforms into a beautiful, spikey-haired woodnymph. She beams a joyful smile, waves her hand, and disappears in a green-hued pastel haze. Everything seems to look strangely different, unique in some way. You feel as if some gift of attunement to The Land has been bestowed upon you. The woodnymph says "Ok, ok, only kidding. Hmm. They're a sweet bunch mostly. I don't much mind getting kicked around. I think most of them realise I'm just testing them. Things have got to be worth working for after all, don't you think?". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The woodnymph says "I like it when people fight over me. It makes me feel special.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". The woodnymph says "People who swear blind I am tricking them, despite me quite clearly differentiating between a "small island" and a "north bank"". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The woodnymph says "I'm quite prone to colds, so I spend a lot of my time rootling around for truffles. Well, they are delicious too, I might add!". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The woodnymph says "I'd ask for a nice cosy blanket. I've seen enough bags, boats and boxes for a lifetime!".

[moglair] Ogre's lair. This is a large room used as a home by an ogre. The floor is littered with the bones of the dead, licked clean by the monster. A dark passage exits to the north, and there is a small opening to the south. The smell in the room is reminiscent of animals, and of the grave... The ogre is here, very large and very angry! The ogre is carrying a club. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The ogre says "Dey're small an' smelly .. very smelly dat is. Smell 'em a mile off I can.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The ogre says "Hittin' fings. Yeah. Bashin fings wiv mi club. I luv me club I do.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's annoys you most?". The ogre says "Wot's wiv da feef, eh? 'E knows i luvs me club. 'E comes 'ere. I 'as to bash im. 'Pose I done mind too much akchaly.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The ogre says "I 'it fings. Yeah. i'd bash dem vials if my club wunt sa big. Can't fit in der wiv it. I luvs me club!". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The ogre says "Geht a bigga club. Bash more fings. Dunno.".

Magical glade. You are in a magical glade, surrounded by forest. East and west it looks impenetrable, but in the northerly directions the trees are less dense. In the southerly directions, the trees are of soft pine, and through them to the southwest can be glimpsed a sundial. It is raining. Lurking close by is a tall, thin thief. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The thief says "Yes, the players, veritable gold mines. Gullible lot.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The thief says "A round of beers at the tavern, and a sneaky tipple of the malmsey.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". The thief says "Hang-overs, the vampire, invisible stealers, and people who disregard the descriptions: "his longsword", "his amulet", "his cape".". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The thief says "Pilfer objet d'art. I've looted a ruined house not so long ago. Quite a cache.". Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The thief says "I'd either disallow magic, or have it for myself. Nothing more annoying than sitting around crippled or being blind.".

North mountain. You are ascending the lower slopes of a majestic mountain, which forces its way through the clouds further to the north, above a rugged cliff beyond where the slopes end. The cliff curves round, and blocks your immediate passage to the west, although in other directions the comparatively gentle slopes lead down to the foothills. A mean-looking billy goat here scowls at you, disapprovingly. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you think of the players?". The billy goat bleats. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What's your favourite event?". The billy goat eats some grass. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What annoys you the most?". The billy goat has magically become female. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "What do you do in your spare time?". The nanny goat eats some grass. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "If you could change anything, what would it be?". The nanny goat is about to butt you. With singleminded determination, the nanny goat shrugs aside your premature, downward blow. You proficiently shun aside a premature lunge by the nanny goat. Merlyn the newshound sorcerer asks "Ahh.. okay.".

Credit for these interviews should also go to Lenne & Hawumph.