He smiles. "My name is Kreg, AVATAR."

"I am a monk here at the Abbey. I am working on an alchemical mixture."

"Ah! Found me out, didst thou? 'Tis too bad... for thee!" END

"Sadly, I am so involved with my studies that I have no time to visit the surrounding area or learn any new faces."

"Well, AVATAR, we here at the Abbey will soon be taking a vow of silence. However, it will take some time for all of us to become accustomed to the sound of silence. Therefore, I am creating a potion that enables the imbiber to become temporarily silent. The concept is very similar to a potion of invisibility."

"Well," he looks embarrassed, "after reading a book on how we compare to our predecessors, we learned that most people expect us to take a vow of silence.

"So," he shrugs, "we have chosen to do so, once I can make that potion. I realize that it sounds foolish, but I truly believe it will help us produce more wine."

"Surely thou knowest of what I speak? Meditation, silence, aesthetics, ascetics, and so forth."

"The monks' wine is renowned throughout all of Britannia, or so I thought." A puzzled look fills his face.

"Ah, well, that is no matter. Regardless, I sincerely recommend to thee to try some of our exquisite drink."

"As a matter of fact, my research has reached an impasse, for I cannot determine the nature of some critical reagents. What I need is a potion of invisibility to analyze. Then I could progress from there." He looks at you, hopefully. "Wouldst thou be willing to obtain a potion for my studies? It is likely that thou couldst find one easily at the mage, Nicodemus'."

"I will tell thee about Lord British, The Fellowship, or Buccaneer's Den if thou bringest me the potion of invisibility."

He takes the potion from you and quickly drinks it. "Thank thee, AVATAR, for helping in mine escape!" As he fades from view, his laughter fills your ears.*

"Thou dost not have a potion to give," he says sadly. "My research will again have to wait."

He nods farewell to you. END