Lufkin and Jupiter (see 1998-08-22 game)
by Rich Lotz
Lufkin and Jupiter are two lesser Paramane guardians trying to get their wings. The following story is how one did.
Jupiter sat on the stone altar in the grotto watching the small waterfall drain into the large pool of water. Suddenly out of the corner of his eye appeared a ten-foot diameter silvery portal. Curious, Jupiter went to investigate. The membrane gave way slightly to his touch. He walked through the portal, and found himself in a strange Abyss.
The marble floor had faces imprisoned in it, writhing in pain. The edges and walkways were just a thick grey fog. Jupiter sensed something bad about to happen. He wandered this Abysmal maze until he came upon another portal that seemed to take him deeper into the web pits. On this particular level he met up with strange giant spiders and creatures half spider, half man or woman.
After hours of wandering and strange encounters, he seemed to locate the source of his distress. Beyond several doors he ventured until he came upon a large room with freshly killed corpses. He witnessed a black elf imprison a thrall in a crytstal ball.
Jupiter knew immediately what to do. He leapt upon one black elf, and before the elf knew what hit him, his right shoulder was cleaved off in a mighty blow from Jupiter's sword. He wheeled around to face the other two elves, his sword crackling with silver fire. The fight was over quickly and the elves lay dead.
Jupiter took the crystal ball and put it in his pocket. He then gathered up the bones of the other two fallen heroes and hastily made his way out of the abyss and through the portal from whence he came. This turn of events made the ruler of that plane of the abyss very angry and she vowed vengeance.
Jupiter laid the bones of the heroes upon the soft grass in the grotto. He then placed the crystal ball in the center of the stone altar and to either side a large bag. One contained female clothing and the other male. Jupiter then proceeded to do a lengthy ceremony that lasted for several hours.
When the two heroes looked upon nature once again with a new flame of life burning within them, the first thing they saw was a tall silvery man with charismatic features standing behind a stone altar. Right before their eyes, he grew beautifully magnificent silvery white wings. For Jupiter had earned them. He smiled and faded away.
Jupiter has become a greater Guardian and still looks out for Ulthar, Windrush, and Karnov. He is not in as close a contact as Lufkin, who wants to help them in their world so that he may also get his wings.
Lufkin will appear to the individuals in many guises and will help them in many ways. He is not jealous in any way of Jupiter and congratulates him on his insight and accomplishment. He would just like to get his wings also.
So, the group have two guardian angels watching over them as they adventure in their new world of Talislanta. They also have one very angry demon princess out for their blood for escaping her Demonweb Pits.