Author: Nosferum; April, 1999
This explains not only how we got the Helm of Lear (at the end), but the roleplay ceremony that accompanied it later. This all took place shortly after the game's release.
Crowning of the Chief
In celebration of Tormod being elected Chief we all met in McQuaid's Dark Stout
(a tavern in Halas), where Shatara stood on a table and honored the new chief with an appropriate poem.
In the dark stormy night the wind does howl.After the poetry, we began buying each other ale, whiskey and beer. Not only did we get drunk, but we got really drunk. The situation really began to go down hill after the first 6 drinks or so. Daran, the clan gnome, started a brawl with Ikar (Daran's pretty barbaric for a gnome - that's why we like him). This caused McQuaid, the bar owner to get very pissed and he proceeded to beat the living snot out of Daran. That was the first time the little guy died. We all cried over Daran's corpse but were too drunk to stay sad for long. Unfortunately, after becoming so smashed that we could no longer make it through the door without hitting the door post we decided to go outside. Too bad for us, the Halas well is positioned right outside the door of McQuaid's so most of our drunken band wound up in the water.
The driven snow is blinding and the cold is mighty foul.
From across the frozen tundra comes the sound of battle.
Brave sons and daughters of Halas showing their mettle.
Weapons clash and sparks fly.
Magic crackles and lights up the sky.
The mighty and the strong wage their war for all of us.
Hail to them! Hail to thee! Hail to Halas!
- Shatara, Poet of MacLear
Daran had returned to us by this time and died a second and a third time by drowning in the well (swimming and grain alcohol do not mix well). Nosferum, Ikar, and even our new chief nearly drowned as well but fortunately sobered up enough to climb out of the well at the last minute. For the poor drunk sods trapped in the well, it was a terrifying experience. For those smart enough not to fall in it was absolutely hilarious entertainment!
After everyone had either climbed out or been fished out of the well we went to the Pit of Doom for the ceremonial crowning of the chief - Daran calling Tormod up to face the onlookers. To everyone's amazement Daran presented Tormod with the "Helm of Lear" that, according to Legend, has been passed down through the generations from Lord Lear himself. Congratulations, Chief Tormod! All Hail MacLear! All Hail the Chief of MacLears!
[ed; - The story of attaining the crown was actually my favorite part, but it was never mentioned before. Back in very early release, Tormod was quite a purist for roleplay. He rarely said anything out of character-- even in private /tells. He contacted Kahlan and me (Nosferum) asking our assistance in avenging Lord Lear. Of course, we were honored. The three of us met at the West Gate of Freeport and he gave us the plan. "See tha' guard in there? 'e was part of the group that stole Lord Lear's Helm. You lure 'im, Nos, and Kahlan and I will kill 'im." Now, we were each levels 13, 11 and 11, so picking out a single guard from the gates of Freeport was suicide. Also, at that time, no one had ever imagined killing a guard of any sort-- particularly a Freeport guard. Well, I died, but we killed him. you see, at that time the guards of Freeport dropped a helm called a "Cracked Helm" that looked like a Bronze Helm. That early in the game the only players that had Bronze looking armor were the small races, so it was quite an achievement, visually. Thast screenshot at the end of the story was taken by Kahlan almost immediately after Tormod first donned the helm, upon attaining it in Freeport. The location is outside the gates, in the newbie area of West Freeeport.]