Cupbearer of the Titans: Redmane's Race July 16 (10 Apr 2003) Lady Redmane faces the perils of a monster-infested obstacle course, as a champion for Lord Explorer Thomas.

Somewhere in Ainigton, in the back yard of Harcourt Manor, there is an odd little path marked off with poles and yarn, a bucket of water at one end, and an empty bucket at the other. Along the way, there is a sawhorse blocking the path, then it widens - on one side, a border of the path is formed by a shed, with a ladder leaning against it ... whereas the area outside the ladder is apparently vulnerable to the reach of a grinning girl with a paper crown on her head that says, "MONSTER," and a pile of old cushions.

Beyond that, there is an obstacle course of open boxes and fallen tires, though a narrow path skirts around the side - again within reach of the "MONSTER" - then a straightaway to the empty bucket at the far end.

But this isn't there. No, this is elsewhere. Mists obscure the vision, then slowly part, to reveal the interior of a stone room roughly hewn out from cavern walls. A gargantuan keg is propped up against one wall, and shelves hold a multitude of mismatched chalices and goblets, some of them spilling out onto the floor.

An opening in one wall reveals a narrow tunnel beyond, and a huge hairy beast is sprawled across the floor; its tusks and snout and hooves suggest that it is an overgrown boar, but the spikes sticking out from its head and along its back suggest something more fearsome than a mere wild pig; with some care, it might be possible to leap over, without waking the thing. Beyond that, a narrow fissure can be seen leading into some narrower tunnel, while the wider path is crusted with frost - a hole to one side hints at the lair of a dreaded ice drake!

Beyond that, some rubble can be seen strewn about. There's a clear way to the right ... but it draws perilously close to a pool that churns as if something violent is lurking in its depths. Much further beyond, there is a light at the end of the tunnel - and the silhouette of a gargantuan hand clasping a chalice, holding it, as if waiting for it to be filled.

A disembodied voice comes from the still-parting mists, and a scrap of parchment is visible upon the cavern floor:

"Behold, on the Mountain of Monsters, the Titans are having a feast! But the Cupbearer has fallen ill; who shall fill the chalice of the King of the Titans, lest he become wroth, and create terrible storms in his fury? Lo, it is thee!

"Thou shalt fill the chalice of the Titan King with wine, but beware, the way to his side is full of peril, for there are many monsters about in the caverns. You must fill up your cup with wine, and carry it swiftly to the Titan King, and fill his goblet. But one trip will not be enough, for the chalice of a Titan is much larger than that of a mere man!

"Here is a map of the way, showing the perils you may face along the course. There are alternative paths to take, to avoid some of the monsters, but they each present their own risks, and may take thee more time. Safety or speed? That is thy choice at each juncture - and how fast wilt thou run?"

The cavern seems to be unnaturally still, as if waiting for ... something to begin.

A red-haired warrior appears next to the keg, and plucks up one of the goblets. Redmane then fills it from the tap, and places her free hand over its mouth to help prevent spillage. Holding it close against her chest, she starts her run towards the sleeping beast, preparing to vault over it.

With a powerful leap, Redmane clears the spines of the beast, and lands without losing her balance. Hunching over to protect her goblet of water, she picks up speed as she tries to run past the Ice Drake before it can react to her.

There is a terrifying screech, as a head covered in white scales shoots out, breathing a haze of white crystals. But Lady Redmane is too fast, and gets by before it can focus its terrible breath upon her! Now, ahead, there is an ominously churning pool ... or else there is a way to the left, though made uneven by broken rubble.

Rather than try her luck against two monsters in a row, Redmane veers left towards the rubble-strewn side of the passage, slowing her pace considerably in order to negotiate it.

Lady Redmane deftly navigates the tumble of broken stones, treacherous though the footing may be, without dropping so much as a swallow of wine. Now, all that remains is an open straightaway and then the waiting - oversized - chalice of the Titan.

Without any obvious obstacles in the way, the knight speeds up until she's running again.

A stumble! So well she was doing, but she spills a bit of the wine. But as she reaches the waiting, oversized chalice ... well, at least her cup is not entirely empty. (Though now her hand is wet and will no doubt get sticky once the wine dries.)

Redmane pours the wine into the chalice, grumbling at herself for stumbling at the easiest part! Once her goblet is empty, she turns and starts running back towards the keg for a refill. Without anything to spill, she runs all out this time.

She makes it past the pool, hearing only a stirring of the waters in her wake. The ice wyrm roars at her as she shoots past it, but it is too slow. Up ahead, however, there is still that slumbering beast....

First slowing to a more controllable pace, the girl makes her leap!

... and she makes it, only lightly brushing the beast. It snorts and shifts a bit, but does not otherwise move from its position or so much as open an eye. And so Lady Redmane is back at the keg, with an empty goblet to fill.

After filling the goblet at the tap once more, she covers it with her hand and jogs towards the slumbering monster, making her leap at a slower speed this time.

She manages to leap over ... but she lands hard on the other side. SPLASH The contents of the wine splash out ... leaving the chalice practically empty.

Cursing and flicking wine from the palm of her hand, Redmane turns around and heads back towards the keg, making another leap over the beast.

This time, not a single drop is spilled. The beast grunts sleepily, but does not stir.

Holding the goblet close and protecting it with her body, the knight makes another all-out dash past the Ice Drake.

SPLASH! Lady Redmane skillfully avoids the breath of the ice wyrm, but the ground is slippery from frost, and she spills perhaps half of the contents of her goblet. But it is not empty....

Determined to make up in time what she's lost in wine, she continues on her dash past the pool.

SPLASH! But this is the pool, not Redmane's goblet. A great gaping, toothy maw comes out of the pool, flanked by two bulging eyes - but Redmane is too fast! She stumbles on the wet floor ... but not enough to spill any. (If the goblet had been full to the brim, that would have been another matter.) Now ... the straightaway remains ahead.

Shaken by the near miss, she jogs the rest of the way toward the chalice rather than risk another stumble.

So close! SO CLOSE! But Redmane slips on a puddle of water that wasn't there before. She manages to recover some of the wine. There's still a little - a third, perhaps - to pour on in.

"I have to do better than this!" she vows, and dashes back the way she came once the goblet is empty.

And so she makes it back, past the troublesome monsters, and leaping nimbly over the slumbering beast. (It doesn't even notice that it has a bit of wine spilled on its coat. Not with all the other mess that stains its hair.)

While refilling the goblet, Redmane notes the others laying nearby. "Why not?" she thinks, and fills up a second goblet to carry as well. Thus armed, she approaches the beast with a quick, if not speedy, pace.

This time, she's ready. She makes it over the beast quickly. She wobbles a bit ... but spills not a drop. Now, will the rest of the way be as easy...?

Turning sideways, Redmane chooses the fissure path this time, stepping carefully into the narrow passage.

It's a tight fit in here. If she'd tried this any faster, she would most certainly be very wet, and her goblets very empty. But, no, she makes it through - and not a single drop spilled!

Not wanting to break her lucky streak, she makes her way through the jumble of debris at the same careful pace, determined to make this her last trip to the chalice.

With careful steps, she makes her way, still not spilling even a little.

Picking up her pace slightly, Redmane tackles the final stretch -- wary now of the hazards posed by her previous spills.

She has it now. She avoids any puddles or pebbles, quite aware of their locations now. And there ... is the large goblet, just waiting for her! And she hasn't spilled anything!

Letting out a sigh of relief, Redmane pours the wine into the Titan King's chalice, until both goblets are empty.

And, the goblet is full! The Titan, finally, raises his mighty hand, and brings the goblet to his mouth. With a single draught, he empties the contents. "Good, good," he says. And then ... the mists close about Lady Redmane's feet, as her surroundings become less distinct.

As her surroundings begin to fade, Redmane mutters, "Well, after this I should be able to get a job waiting tables if peace breaks out..."

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