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1995-05-19
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Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!reuter.cse.ogi.edu!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!uunet!not-for-mail
From: vallow@l14h13.jsc.nasa.gov (Thomas Vallow)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: STORY: Counterparts #1
Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc
Date: 18 May 1995 14:46:43 -0400
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Greetings all,
What you are about to read is the first real attempt at story-writing for
me. I have been an avid reader of Thomas Miller's Adventurers series, and
it is through his writings that I have been inspired to try my own hand.
The writing is in a style similar to the Adventurers, simply because I like
that particular style of writing.
The characters here are a ficticious party of Ad&d characters (a gentle
blend of 1st and 2nd editions). This episode, and those to follow (should
there BE any more :) ), will chronicle the growth and adventures of this
party, loosely using Ad&d mechanics. This is NOT an account of an actual
game played---it is entirely a story, based in the Ad&d world. There are
no dice rolls or DM comments shown. The setting is the Greyhawk boxed set,
which is the copyright of TSR, Inc., as is Ad&d.
Two final comments: 1) This episode is dedicated to Thomas Miller for
his (unbeknownst to him) inspiration to give this a try (you may find one
particular character has a familiar feel to it; a kind of tribute, I
guess...) and 2) if you enjoy reading this, by all means send me feedback.
The whole reason for writing is so that others might enjoy it (and of
course, it _is_ fun to do....)
Regards,
Tom Vallow
vallow@L14h13.jsc.nasa.gov
P.S. The working title for this series is 'Counterparts.' Though if
anyone has any suggestions.....
COUNTERPARTS
by: Tom Vallow
vallow@L14h13.jsc.nasa.gov
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Variables ------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode I : The Start of Something New
Place: 30 miles north of Hochoch, Grand March of Bissel
Environment: Plains
Weather: Blistery cold
Date/Time: 17 December, 569 / Early evening
--------------------------------------------------------------------
It is nearing the end of the year in the Grand March of Bissel. There is
a light covering of snow on the ground, with more coming down all the time.
It is a cold time of year for anyone to be out travelling, particularly
alone. A campfire is lit at a small campsite, nestled in a grove of trees,
and two figures sit beside it.
half-elf: (dressed in dark green and brown, black hair, leather armor)
What brings one such as yourself out in this kind of weather. Surely
you are no woodsman, though you are dressed as one who travels.
human: (similarly clad, but no armour) Aye, that I am. Tavish
McVeigh is the name. I am a magician by trade. My mentor
travelled the world often, and I with him. This storm was, however,
the death of him. So, I have gathered me belongings and what little
he left me, and am off to seek other employment. What's your
name, friend?
Kron: Kron. Kron D'Naar. I am also seeking employment. Where
are you headed?
Tavish: Hochoch. I thought I would try me hand there.
Kron: Hmmm...the open road is no place for magicians alone.
Perhaps we might journey there together, for that is where I am
going as well.
Tavish: Much obliged, thank ye.
Kron: Not at all.
Just then, there was the sound of laughter from somewhere within the grove.
human#1: (dirty, wearing leather armour) Har, har, har! Good one,
runt!
gnome: (clad in grey, wearing chainmail) Runt? Who are you calling
runt, you slimy orcspawn!
human#2: (same as #1) Har har har! Joe is an orcspawn! But only
I can call him that, you grub! (swings his sword at the gnome,
missing)
gnome: Grub? Your mother! (swings his hammer, connecting well)
human#2: Owwww!
human#3: Hey! You cant dooo that! (swings at the gnome, hitting)
gnome: Aarrgghh! Piss off!!
At the fire....
Kron: (observing the battle) Three on one? Hardly what I call fair.
(draws his bow and moves closer, quietly)
Tavish: Aye, lad. Lets take a look-see. (follows Kron)
In the heat of battle....
gnome: (to human#1) Listen here, perversion --- I have HAD it with
you idiots! (swings his hammer hard, nearly decapitating Joe)
Joe: (falls, dead)
human#2: You killed Joe!! You die for that!
Tavish: Nay...I dont be thinking so. (casts Magic Missle at human#2)
Kron: Me either (fires two arrows at human#3, both of which hit)
human#2: Arrr! (hits the gnome again)
gnome: Rrrrrr...now I am _really_ pissed!
human#3: Ugh! (falls, unmoving)
Kron: (nocks another arrow)
gnome: (hits the remaining human with his hammer, killing him)
human#2: (expires)
The gnome now turned to face Kron and Tavish.
gnome: What, do you want some too?!! Come on then!
Tavish: Easy, lad, easy. We have no call for fisticuffs here!
Kron: We thought the odds were a bit long, and decided to
try and even the score a bit.
gnome: (slackens somewhat) Hmf! I can take care of myself! (dusts
himself off) But thanks for the assist. Name's Grael.
Kron: Kron D'Naar, at your service. (shakes the gnome's hand)
Tavish: Tavish McVeigh here. (also extends a hand)
Grael: (shakes both, warily) Are you two together?
Kron: For the moment. It looks as if they interrupted your camping
preparations. Why not come join our fire?
Tavish: Aye.
Grael: (thinks for a moment) What the hell.... (takes a swig of a
healing potion) That's the last of that anyway...might be safety
in numbers tonight.
The trio returned to the campfire and shared a meal after Kron had
retrieved one of his arrows (the other was broken). Unbeknownst to them, a
figure from the shadows who saw the whole thing searched the bodies of the
slain after the group's departure.
figure: (clad in grey and white, whispers to the bodies) Are you
using these fine purses? No? Please, allow me to take care of
them for you. (relieves the bodies of their valuables, then examines
the take) What, twelve gold? Puny, thats what you were! But
I will still hold onto these for you....(fades back into the shadows)
Back at the campfire...
Grael: So where are you two headed?
Kron: Hochoch. Yourself?
Grael: The same. Heard from a passing caravan that there might be
a need for some sturdy bodies, thought I would check it out and
maybe make a little coin along the way.
Tavish: Is that a fact? What sort of 'sturdy bodies?'
Grael: Mostly caravan guards. (shrugs) Not my idea of the ideal
job, but if it pays....
Kron: (cutting in) Caravan guards? For a particular destination?
Grael: Orlane, actually. Apparently, there have been one too many
disappearances of late, and the local caravans refuse to go unless
armed to the teeth. The few that _do_ go with a small number of
guards have dropped off the face of Oerth. There may also be a
commission available to get rid of this problem.
Kron: That sounds a good deal more promising.
Tavish: And dangerous, dont you know.
Grael: Yup...probably not the place for a mage.
Tavish: Oh, really? While I'm not the rough-an-tumble sort,
I do a bit of all-right in a pinch. Besides, spell support is
hardly a burden...
Grael: Yeah, but...
Kron: (sensing a possible confrontation, cuts in) Well, whatever
may lie between here and Orlane, it will not be solved this night.
My how the wind does bite! (shudders)
figure: (lurking in the shadows, shudders noislessly....)
With that, the three set a watch, with Tavish being first, and wiled
the night away. The figure found a nearby tree and climbed in to settle
for the night.
In the morning, after a brief meal, the three set out.
Kron: (to Grael) Since we all seem to be heading the same general
direction, it would not hurt to travel together. Will you join us?
Grael: Why not? Wouldnt mind the company myself.
Kron lead the party, setting a fast pace. The hope was to reach SOME sort
of accomodations by nightfall, regardless of the weather. It continued to
snow off and on all through the morning, with patches of fog here and
there. It is in one such patch of fog....
(in the distance): Hooooowwwwlllllll.....
(closer, as if in reply): Hoooowwwwllll.....
Grael: (muttering) Great. Just great. Idiots last night, wolves today.
Kron: (listening to the howls fade) They seem to be some distance off
yet.
Tavish: Oooch, I have no intention of becomin' food fer mutts!
Kron: Nor I. We must keep moving.
Ten minutes later, they were out of the fog, at the base of a small rise.
wolf#1: (approaches from the left, moves to circle) Grrrroooowlll.....
wolf#2: (likewise) Grrr......
wolf#3: (ditto) Grrrowl.....
wolf#4: (ditto) Grrr.....
Tavish: (already gesturing, casts Sleep) Sleep some, wargs! (#3 and
#4 fall asleep)
wolf#2: Yiiip??
wolf#1: (larger than its brethren, lunges for Grael, missing)
Sssnnnarl!!
Grael: Ugh!! Get off me, you smelly flee-bag! (drops his hammer as
a result of the attack, pounds the wolf with his fists)
Kron: (draws his longsword, hacks at the wolf mightily ) Leave him
be!!
Tavish: (circles with wolf#2, dagger in hand) Ooohhh my....
wolf#2: (circles for an opening) Snarl!
wolf#1: (maws Grael) Chomp!
Grael: Aargh...! (pounds the wolf with his fists)
Kron: Enough, dog-breath! (slices open the wolf, gutting it)
wolf#1: Yip.... (dies)
Grael: (gets up, picks up his hammer, and pounds the wolf several
more times) Take that, you magot-infested sloth!! And that! And
that!
Kron: (looks at Grael, shakes his head) Ugh....
wolf#2: (seeing that his brethren are beaten, retreats north) YIP!!
Tavish: (breathes a sigh of relief) Thaat was close, lads.
Kron: (watches the wolf retreat into the fog) Let us hope there
are no more of their kind around.
Grael: (having pulped the wolf, also looks north) If the sonofabitch
comes back, I am gonna kick its ass!
Suddenly, from within the fog.....
<YELP!>
Tavish: (turning around) Now what might that be?
Grael: (marching back towards the fog, hammer in hand) I dont
know, but I'm gonna find out!
Kron: (turning as well, longbow in hand) Wait!...(follows, nocking
an arrow)
Just then, emerging from the fog...
figure: (human,wearing grey and white, carrying the head of a dead
wolf) Typical. Pooches with no pouches. (to the head) Why couldnt
you have just carried a _little_ something....
Grael: (seeing the wolf head) Nice job, there. (stops about 10 feet
away)
figure: (to Grael) Damned thing came running at me from nowhere.
Kron: (un-nocks his arrow, but doesnt put the bow away) There
are more of those things (indicates the head) just ahead. But
they will not be a problem.
figure: (to Kron) Were his friends any better off than he?
Kron: No....(puts his bow away)
figure: (to himself) Damn....
Kron: (holding out a hand) The name's Kron. Kron D'Naar.
figure: (drops the wolf-head, bows, then shakes) Peter Quince, at
your service. Swordfighter extrordinaire, daring darling of....
Grael: (turns back towards the south) Yeah, yeah.
Kron: (to Quince) That one is called Grael. Where are you going?
Quince: _I_ go wherever I choose! But, in this instance, I am
going towards Hochoch.
Kron: As are we. Come. Four are better than three in such a
situation. You have proven your worth by the slaying of
that foul beast....
Quince: (cutting Kron off) And any with Peter Quince as their
companion need fear nothing!
Kron: (groans...)
Quince: (to Kron as they walk towards the others) Hey, nice
longsword there...
Kron: Do not even _think_ about it.
Quince: (innocently) Who, me...?
In short order, they catch up with Tavish and Grael. Tavish, it seems,
had not been idle while the others were gone, as was indicated by the slit
throats of the wolves.
Tavish: Can't have the beasties gettin' up and followin' us, now can
we? (looks at Quince) Who's this?
Quince: (checks the wolves for pockets, finding none)
Grael: His name's Quince...and you better keep an eye on your
pouches while he's around.
Quince: (to Grael) Heeeyy...I resemble that remark!
Tavish: Ahh....
Once again, they got under way. Kron again took the lead, followed by
Quince, who Grael didn't trust, followed by Tavish, who Grael thought
needed watching. The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, but they did
not reach Hochoch. They did, however, secure passage on the back of a hay
wagon bound for Hochoch the next day, so that the rest of the journey was
not made on foot. The following evening, they bid their ride fairwell as
they looked on the city gates.
Kron: (looking at the gates) Hochoch.
Tavish: A decent inn to soothe the aches and pains to be found
here I'll wager.
Quince: City of opprotunity! (pats a purse which he lifted from the
farmer)
Grael: Ale...I need an ale....
Soon enough, inside the gates at the Towering Ogre Inn...
Grael: Ahhhh...(takes a long pull on his ale)
Tavish: A question for ye, Grael.
Grael: (looks up) Yes?
Tavish: What did you do before now? I was an apprentice, Kron a
woodsman, its obvious what Quincey did....What did YOU do, besides
brain wolves?
Grael: Ohhh.... (grins, rumages through his pack, gets a parchment
with drawings on it) I was a gadget-man! I come from a long line of
inventors. You see.... (begins an engineering dissertation)
Quince: (looks on, pondering the worth of the drawings)
Kron: (to the air as he sips his ale) Well, what next?
------------------------------
Next time: Hochoch....
------------------------------
The Party....
Kron D'Naar, half-elven, ranger
Tavish McVeigh, human, mage
Grael, gnome, fighter?
Peter Quince, human, thief
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The player characters in this writing are copyright 1995 by Tom Vallow.
Any resemblance to person or persons real or fictional is entirely a
coincidence. Copying and distributing this story is allowed under the
condition that it not used or sold for profit.
Many locations, spells, non-player characters, as well as various terms
used in the writing of this story are copyrighted by TSR, Inc. This does
NOT mean or imply that TSR in any way, shape or form authorizes or endorses
their use, and any such items found within this story should in no way,
shape, or form be considered representative of TSR.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Thomas Vallow
Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Company
vallow@l14h13.jsc.nasa.gov
-------------------------------------------
"Its action, reaction, random interaction!"
- NP, RTB
-------------------------------------------