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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dangerous jack" data-source="post: 1744224" data-attributes="member: 23654">I ran into the trouble as has been mentioned before with not being able to send my submission via express mail to a P.O. box the day before the deadline.  A lesson learned I guess, and next time I won't keep making edits at the last minute.But good luck to those that did enter, and I'm having fun reading the submissions on this thread and looking forward to eventually reading the winning entry.For what it's worth, I've included the synopsis of my submission, titled The Neglected Outpost...Argentus is an old elf that has fought for more than two centuries, serving eighty years of the Last War in the employ of the Aundarian army.  He rose to be a general, but in the year 989 he grew tired of fighting and retired in the middle of a campaign to the Monastery of Orla-un.A rakshasa from the Demon Reaches seeks to release a rajah that was imprisoned in a town named Delen's Rise to the north-west of Merylsward in the Eldeen Reaches.  A demonic seer tells it of a silver haired elf that will cause great problems to its plans.  After finding Argentus and several failed attempts at assassinating him, manipulates certain high up members of the Aundairian military to have him disgraced and imprisoned.  He raises a small army of barbarians and prompts them to attack southward towards the town, not telling them of their true purpose.Caryn d'Kundarak is a fighter, spirit shaman, and aspiring dwarven defender.  With her badger companion Rogo at her side, she investigates contracts that have been lost since the end of the war.  She discovers that Delen's Rise was fortified by a garrison under the supervision of House Deneith and House Kundarak during the Last War, but since the Treaty of Thronehold the contract has not been renewed by any power in the Eldeen Reaches.The story begins as Caryn is finishing her research at the libraries in Fairhaven, and she is frustrated that her requests for information from her own house are denied.  She is traveling back to Varna to discuss the situation with the Wardens of the Wood.  On the lightning rail between Fairhaven and Passage, she is attacked by a disguised zakya and discovers its true form after defeating it.  As she reaches Passage, Argentus is released from prison and banished from Aundair.  Caryn learns of Argentus' disgrace and hears of his near legendary exploits as a soldier and pursues him as he walks to the Eldeen Reaches.After meeting up with him, she eventually convinces him to defend the town.  But not before they are attacked by a group of warforged soldiers that seek to kill the traitor.  Among these warforged is a veteran barbarian named Feneter, who once served under Argentus and once admired him enough to etch and paint his head to resemble a skull in homage to the fighting mask that the elf once wore.  Argentus manages to convince the warforged and himself that there are greater things worth fighting for.A discussion with the Wardens of the Wood grants Caryn the services of a ranger named Bader, a cliffwalk shifter ranger.  When they arrive in the Delen's Rise they search around, and it is Bader that discovers the seal part of the way up a steep trail to a watchtower.Argentus takes command of the small town's defenses and organizes its men and women into a force that can defend it.  The small army attacks the town and while the battle rages the rakshasa sneaks in and attempts to break the seal.  Caryn is notified by her Alarm powers granted by the Mark of Warding and with the help of Bader drives the surprised rakshasa away, although all three are severely wounded.  The barbarians are routed and withdraw with little of their strength left.The seal has been weakened and the rakshasa contacts an ally within the Lords of Dust for further help, but sensing its weakness the ally refuses assistance.  It grows angry and impatient and attacks Delen's Rise again, this time sneaking into the town before using its true form and magic to attack Argentus directly, cursing the elf for the failure of its plan.  Argentus slowly loses the battle and is captured and dragged by the rakshasa to the seal, which is finally breached.  Caryn again learns of the rakshasa's presence, and with Feneter and Bader chases after the demon into the chamber beyond the seal.Argentus is about to be sacrificed to release the final bonds on the rajah when his allies arrive.  While they battle the rakshasa he drags himself to the magic circle that binds the rajah and channels the spirit of the coatl that originally captured it.  After a physical and magical battle, he and his allies triumph and the seal is pledged to be re-built and guarded.</blockquote>

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