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Internet Message Format | 1994-08-03 | 52KB

Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!reuter.cse.ogi.edu!psgrain!library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!jussieu.fr!univ-lyon1.fr!swidir.switch.ch!newsfeed.ACO.net!Austria.EU.net!EU.net!uunet!not-for-mail From: tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu (Thomas Miller) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives Subject: STORY: Adventurers 200 Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc Date: 2 Aug 1994 09:42:44 -0400 Organization: UUNET Technologies Inc, Falls Church, VA, USA Lines: 1248 Sender: smm@uunet.uu.net Approved: smm@uunet.uu.net Message-ID: <31ligk$nuf@rodan.UU.NET> NNTP-Posting-Host: rodan.uu.net + + + + + + + + + + + + + + THE ADVENTURERS + + + + Epic II + + + + + + + + + + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + The various characters contained in these writings are + + copyright 1994 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to any + + persons or characters either real or fictional is utterly + + coincidental. Copying and/or distribution of these tales + + is permissible only under the sole condition that no part + + of them will be used or sold for profit. In that case, I + + hope you enjoy them... + + + + Thomas Miller + + tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + THE PARTY: + + + + Alindyar 15th level dark elven mage (N) + + Arnold 11th level human warrior (NG) + + Belphanior 12th/14th/14th level high elven w/m/t (CN) + + small immaterial wispy thing + + Ged 14th/14th level grey elf priest/mage (NG) + + Lyra 12th level female dark elven mage (N) + + Mongo 16th level dwarven warrior (CG) + + Peldor 18th level human thief (N) + + Bosco 8th level halfling thief (CN) + + Rillen 16th level human warrior (N) + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Date: unknown + + Time: nighttime + + Place: unknown + + Climate: moderately cold + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + "The more I know, the less I understand." + + - variously attributed + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CC. A Brave New World After exploring a strange tower within the City of the Gods, the adventurers were caught in a magical explosion which catapulted them (well, most of them) through time and space. They have appeared in a darkened alley near a busy street, in some unknown world; from where they lay scattered, the adventurers could see numerous demon-like figures, of every color and disposition, roaming the streets freely. From somewhere nearby emanated loud, ominous music, and the ground trembled beneath the feet of the bewildered party. On the horizon could be seen the barest outlines of unbelievably high towers, most of them square, some of them made from glass! Fierce, oversized heads and strange plumages became visible as the demons in the street peered into the dark alleyway, apparently curious. Peldor: What the hell's going on?!? Ged: (looks around, then quickly casts a healing spell on Alindyar) Quickly, we must heal the wounded! Alindyar: (stirs) Uh... Mongo: Yeah! (whips out his healing rod and taps Bosco on the forehead) Live, Bosco! Bosco: (sits up) But I wasn't dead! Mongo: (muttering something about why he even bothers) Lyra: (fed a potion of healing by Alindyar, she gets to her feet) Argh...I need rest... Belphanior: As do we all. Alindyar: (looking around, he wonders what's going on) Methinks I- strangely-garbed demon-thing: (takes a tentative step into the alley, toward the party) Rillen: Look! Demons! Mongo: (points his hammer at one of the strange demons) Here they come! Alindyar: (trying to initiate spellcasting) Hmm, what spell would be best suited in this situation...? Bosco: (squinting) Hey! (he scuttles forth, barreling into the legs of the nearest demon) Peldor: Hey! Lyra: What bravery! Rillen: What foolishness... Ged: Wait! Look there! As the costumed demon fell, its huge head cracked in half, revealing...a terrified human face? Alindyar: Eh? Mongo: Huh? Peldor: Costume! It's a costume! Bosco: (standing proudly, he bows) All of 'em are. I saw it with my x-ray vision. costumed man: (flees in panic, as do most of the other "demons") Mongo: Hey, he was just a peasant! Belphanior: (lowers his sword) Yeah, I thought something was unusual about those...demons. Arnold: But...if they're not dembons, what are they? Alindyar: A good question... Rillen: (counting heads) Where are Gorin and the others? Bosco: (shrugs) Ged: Another question: Who or what was that demon, and what did it want with the Runes? Lyra: I don't know for sure, but we'd better find a place to take cover, while we figure it all out. (she points to the street opening, where those who remain gape in shock, yelling wildly) Those spectators don't seem too happy. Alindyar: (spellcasting) Aye. Bosco: (searching for treasure inside the shattered head- mask) Well, whaddya know? It's plaster! wispy thing: (floats into the split head-shell) Sss? Bosco: (waves his tiny arms defensively) Hey, I found it first! Arnold: (looking around, confused) Aaa. Mongo: (watching some kind of huge procession, complete with enormous wagons, go by behind the spectators) This place is weird. Alindyar: Very little is not weird. (he completes his Phantasmal Force, and an illusion of a blank alleyway appears before the spectators, as the adventurers head deeper into the alley) spectator: (rubbing his eyes) Whoa! other spectator: Didja see that? third spectator: Yeah...(he looks at a bottle in his hand) Soon, the nine adventurers (plus the wispy thing, which surely counted for something) had made their way deep into a maze of dark alleys, which wound through and between old buildings. When they were sure that they had moved far from their arrival site, they ducked into a huge, broken- down building, and quickly disappeared into its depths. Arnold: It's dark in here. Rillen: Too dark. Peldor: (gets out his magical green torch, which lights the darkened hallways and roooms with a pale green light) Let there be light. Bosco: Neat-o! Rillen: That's one way to put it. Mongo: Bah. Belphanior: That's another. They explored the place carefully, wary of possible monsters or other hostile beings, but the huge building (or was it a series of adjoning buildings?) was devoid of other life. The adventurers entered a large, empty chamber, where they pulled up old crates to use as chairs while they rested for a time. Belphanior: I sense no souls here. Nada. Ged: Whew. We should rest, and recuperate, and get our bearings. Rillen: And take care of other matters. Alindyar: (looks around) Aye. Lyra: I'd say the first order of business is healing... (she looks expectantly at Ged) Ged: Oh, yeah. I guess we all have a few little nicks and bruises. Mongo: And burns... Peldor: (gets out his healing bell) I'm ready. Bosco: Say, what's that bell for? Peldor: It augments any healing magic used while it's ringing. Ged: (casting a healing spell) Yea. A useful item. Unworthy of a thief, if you ask me. Belphanior: We didn't. Alindyar: Hmm, I suppose I _am_ still somewhat fatigued from the battle with the demon. Soon, all the wounded were back to prime health, and the adventurers were able to get down to the important business at hand. Ged: Time to find out just where we are...(he casts a Commune spell) Hmm, that's odd. Mongo: What? Ged: The spirit of Boccob is faint...very faint... Peldor: (smirks) Bosco: Maybe- Ged: Quiet! I must now ask Boccob questions, and get answers...Peldor, kindly put that torch out. Peldor: (covers his torch, cloaking its glow) Gotcha. A faint purple glow limned the room, and everyone shut up as Ged began asking questions. Ged: (to no one in particular) Are we anywhere on Oerth? disembodied voice: NO. Ged: Are we on an Outer Plane? disembodied voice: NO. Alindyar: Is the Time Rune in the possession of those who wish to unite the Runes? disembodied voice: NO. Lyra: (feels the Water Rune's weight in her belt pouch) Ged: (to Alindyar) Hey, you interrupted me! Alindyar: We simply must find out about the Runes. Ged: Hmph. (addresses nobody again) Is the Time Rune still on Oerth? disembodied voice: NO. Ged: Hmm. Is it on the plane we're on now? disembodied voice: NO. Ged: I see. Peldor: Where the hell could it be...? Ged: Are our other companions alive and well? disembodied voice: YES. Rillen: Are they still on Oerth? disembodied voice: YES. Ged: Well, that's good. Mongo: Yeah. Gorin... Bosco: (wondering why Gorin got to stay on Oerth while he was transported here with the others) Are we ever gonna get home again? disembodied voice: (doesn't answer) Ged: You little fool! You've just wasted a question! Bosco: (puts on an innocent face) Not me. Peldor: Here, Bosco, why don't you have a look around? See what you can dig up. Bosco: Okay. (cheerfully roams away to explore a nearby passage) Ged: Hmph. (looks up again) Is this place we're in a realm of demons? disembodied voice: NO. Ged: A realm of humans, then? disembodied voice: YES. Ged: Is it safe for us to walk the streets here? disembodied voice: YES. Mongo: Hmm, kinda thought so. Lyra: (to Ged) Ask about getting home. Ged: Why? Lyra: Just a hunch. Ged: Hmm...(loudly) Can we return to Oerth at will? disembodied voice: NO. Ged: Boccob! Alindyar: This may present...problems. Rillen: Agreed. Ged: Yea. Hmm...can we return to Oerth at all? disembodied voice: YES. Ged: (knowing that, sometimes, he can get one answer a bit more useful than a simple "yes" or "no") The final question, then: when and how will we be able to return to Oerth? The disembodied voice didn't have an answer, and then the purple glow vanished, leaving the adventurers in the darkened room. Lyra: Hmm. Peldor: Bah. (he holds up his green torch, which fills the room with a pale green glow) Boccob can't even make a full sentence. Why should we listen to him? Arnold: Aaa. Ged: I don't understand why we can't go back. Maybe I should cast a Plane Shift...nah, there's too many of us. Belphanior: I've got it. (he gets out his well of many worlds and begins to open it) Alindyar: Aie. Ged: Hey! Where'd you get that?!? Belphanior: Never you mind. (he opens the well) This should give us a way out of this dimension... Strangely enough, instead of the normal (?) pattern of swirling mists and such that the well usually contained, there was nothing this time - the magical well appeared to be a common cloth sack! Arnold: (drily) Looks like id's broken. Ged: Way to go... Belphanior: Aie! I don't understand! It can't be broken! Alindyar: Perhaps it is an astrological phenomenon. Belphanior: (stares at Alindyar as if he was crazy) Lyra: Whatever...hmm, we know that a Teleport won't take us across planes. Mongo: Yeah. (to Peldor) I have no idea what they're talking about. wispy thing: (hovering near a strange, unmoving four- bladed fan that hangs from the ceiling) Pfffs? Ged: Maybe an Astral Spell...? Alindyar: A worthy idea, to be sure. Ged: Yea, but I'm not sure it would work. I suppose we should try, through. Bosco: Yeah! Rillen: (glares at the halfling) Mongo: (yawns) Lyra: I wonder just how far removed from Oerth our current plane is...? Ged: Hmm...the Time Rune...I don't know what the energy field was, but the Time Rune hit it, which knocked us here... Alindyar: I follow...perhaps everything that has happened derives from time-flows...this dimension, our coming here, everything. Hmm, come to think of it, the others, those who were not transported here with us - they were all farther from the point of impact. Belphanior: Yeah, you're right! Halbarad and Peyote, and that tiger, and the elemental- Mongo: And Gorin. Belphanior: Yeah! They were all at the rear edge of the big spherical room. Ged: Out of range, in effect. Alindyar: 'Twould seem so. Lyra: But what else has happened? Belphanior: No telling...at least not yet, anyway. Ged: Time to go astral. (he begins spellcasting) This'll take a while, guys. You might as well make yourselves comfortable. Mongo: (lies down on the floor, despite its hardness, and dozes off) Zzz... Belphanior: (gazes into a closet) This place is _dead_. Rillen: At least we're not. Peldor: (as Ged is preoccupied, he begins searching for useful items, in nearby chambers and halls) Bosco: (follows his boss around) Yeah! Peldor: Shh. Rillen: (eyeing the thieves suspiciously) Ged: (about the time he realizes that he can only take seven others with the spell, he realizes something else as well) Boccob! Aie! Alindyar: What is it? Ged: The gateway to the Astral Plane's not opening! Lyra: What do you mean, it's not opening? Ged: I mean just that! I can't get through to the Astral Plane. It's just...not working! Alindyar: Truly, this bodes ill. Arnold: Aaa. Peldor: What about items? Ged: (babbling to himself) Items...hey! (he grabs his amulet of the planes and begins muttering command words) Lyra: Hey, you can't go alone! What about the rest of us? Ged: Boccob! (he tosses the amulet away in disgust) My amulet's not working, either! Bosco: (picks the item up) Hey, if you don't want this- Arnold: (plucks the amulet from the halfling's hands) He will...evendually. Ged: (slumps onto a crate) Well, that does it. None of our spells or items will get us back. Alindyar: Apparently. Ged: Well, yea, that's one way to look at it. Mongo: (wakes up from his short nap) Huh? We're stuck on this world? Lyra: Looks that way. Arnold: (looks around sadly) Aaa. They spent the next half-hour figuring out which items worked and which ones didn't. Bags and pouches of holding still functioned normally, as did mundane magical effects, such as flying and healing magic. Belphanior's magical compass wouldn't function when asked to locate something that was on Oerth (such as Greyhawk City, or Halbarad) but it worked just fine when asked about things in this dimension, such as Mongo. None of the plane-shifting or teleporting items worked at all, nor did spells with such effects. Ged's golden lions were still able to be called, from their statuette form, and Lightbringer was still sentient. Lightbringer: (almost sadly) I sense _no_ undead here. Ged: Don't sweat it, that's probably a good sign. Mongo's girdle, hammer, et al still seemed to work, as did his ring of regeneration; his orb of fate, however, refused to function at all. Peldor's and Rillen's items all appeared to work fine as well. Alindyar: 'Twould seem that only those spells and items pertaining to interdimensional travel have ceased to function. Ged: Yea, we figured that out too. Arnold: Aaa. Lyra: So, let's review what we know for sure. One: we have no apparent way of getting back to Oerth. Ged: Though there is some way. Belphanior: Two: all of our other magic seems to work okay. Peldor: (TK-ing a crate across the room) Yep. (he sets the thing down behind him and takes a seat) Alindyar: Three: the Water Rune, perhaps also the Time Rune, is not on Oerth; thus, the ill effects we were working to prevent never occurred. Ged: Four: we know that the others are alive and well. Rillen: Although one must wonder what happened to them... Lyra: Hmm, if we combine three and four, we could conclude that we're not really pressed for time, as far as getting back to Oerth. Alindyar: A good thing - it may well take heavy research for us to find a way to return. Ged: Yea. Bosco: Five: this place has a lot of neat stuff. everyone else: (turns to regard the halfling) They got to their feet again, and went deeper into the building. Mongo: (examining the stones of the structure's floor and walls) This is shitty architecture. Whoever built this ought to be kicked in the head. There's no harmony in this construction. It's as if they had no respect for the earth and stone...(he looks at his hammer sadly) Alindyar: Whatever are you going on about? Peldor: Yeah, really. It's just stone. Mongo: Hr-mph. Rillen: I don't mean to interrupt, but shouldn't we be looking for a way out of here? Peldor: Aren't we? Belphanior: (looks around) I guess so. (he snaps his head around suddenly) Whoa! Mongo: What? Belphanior: Souls! Quickly, follow me! And be quiet about it! (he dashes off) Peldor: (he and Bosco follow the elf) Ged: I guess the rest of us are just too slow...(he watches Rillen pass by) Hmm. Rillen: Come along, people. They all followed Belphanior and the other thieves deeper still into the mazelike building. Before long, the lead adventurers had found a room ahead, a room from which bright light poured forth. Inside this room, which was lit by some kind of magical light-disk, were several strangely-garbed, heavy-set men, who were busy ransacking the place. One of the fellows was busy slapping a young girl around; the child, no more than a waif really, was dressed in rags, and her face was covered in soot and grime. The four men with her seemed quite angry. thug#1: Come on, you little shit! We know you stole the money...what, did you think you could get away and come here to hide? thug#2: (looks around) Home sweet home... thug#3: Not for much longer. Heh heh. waif: (screams shrilly as she kicks and struggles) thug#4: Come on, where'd you stash our money? waif-girl: (bites thug#1 in the hand, and breaks free) thug#1: (whips out a long knife) No more games, honey. Now you tell us- Huh? waif-girl: (stands to one side, surprised) Belphanior: (strides into the room, sword in hand, his eye glowing menacingly) Why don't you pick on someone your own size? thug#2: Who the fuck are you?!? Belphanior: No one you want to know. (he points Blackrazor at the nearest thug) I'd tell you to get out of here, but you probably wouldn't listen, would you? thug#3: (brandishes two knives, one in each hand) Gonna carve you up like a turkey, man...(he charges Belphanior) Belphanior: Didn't think so...(he sidesteps the attacks and neatly impales the thug on his sword) thug#3: (gurgles up blood) Glug... thug#4: Hey! He killed Johnny! Belphanior: (looks up, grinning) Oops. Peldor: (bursts into the room) What the- Oh, no, we were supposed to stay out of trouble... Belphanior: What fun would _that_ be? (he kicks the body of the thug away) Okay, who's next? Bosco: (enters the room, sword ready) Okay, everybody relax, I'm here. thug#1: Get 'em! (they all charge, swinging knives or metal bars) Bosco: (darts forth, ducking a charging foe, and spins, stabbing the man in the rear) Ha! thug#4: Argh! (he falls, his crowbar sailing away) Peldor: (TKs the crowbar, holding it aloft in the air, spinning) Whoa...better watch it with that, pal...some- body could get hurt... thug#2: (charges Peldor) Rillen: (leaps into the room, foot-first, and takes out thug#2) Hai! thug#2: Whoooulf! (he sails backward, teeth and blood flying everywhere, and falls to the floor, unmoving) Rillen: Chew on that. (points at thug#1) And you're next. thug#4: (gets to his feet, holding his bleeding butt) Aie! (he turns to thug#1) He stabbed me! That little white dude stabbed me! thug#1: Get a grip on yourself, Ringo! Ringo: Yeah...yeah...(he pulls out a strange, dull metal object) I'll get 'im! Peldor: Uh-oh. (he TKs the spinning crowbar into Ringo's head) Ringo: <bonk> Urgh...(he falls to the ground, dropping the strange metallic item he had brandished) Peldor: Hah. Mongo: (bursts into the room, knocking aside some crates, and ends up facing thug#1) What the hell's going on? (he raises his hammer) thug#1: (now brandishing a short metal staff of some kind) kind) Nice hammer...ha ha... Mongo: (raises his hammer, preparing to throw) Hey, go- thug#1: Die! (he points the strange staff at Mongo and yells) There was a rather loud, thunderous sound, and a blast of flame and smoke, and Mongo was knocked back about ten feet, where he crashed to the ground heavily. Rillen: Aie. Bosco: He killed Mongo! thug#1: Ha! Let 'im have it with both barrels- Belphanior: (discreetly slices the man's throat) Quiet, you. thug#1: (gurgles and falls) Rillen: And stay down. Ged: (enters the room, followed by the other) We heard a thunderclap...Mongo! The dwarf was staggering to his feet, obviously dazed. The front of his armor was now filled with dozens of tiny dents, and a few drops of blood came from the dwarf's mouth. Mongo: Ugh...that _hurt_! Belphanior: I bet it did...(he holds up the smoking metal staff, examining it) Smells good. Rillen: Watch where you point that thing. Lyra: A thunder stick... Belphanior: Yep. (try as he might, the thief can't get the strange weapon to function again) Hmm, maybe it's broken. Rillen: Doubtful. If there's a way to make it work again, you'll find it. Peldor: This is true...(begins checking the punks to see what items they might have be carrying) Hey- thug#2: (now crouching, drooling teeth and blood, and pointing an unusual metallic object in random directions) I'll get you! Ged: Boccob! He's got some kind of magical weapon! Belphanior: Hmm, we must be getting old. (he backhandedly stabs the thug in the throat) Ah well, these problems are easily rectified. Peldor: Well, make that _no_ survivors... waif-girl: (watching from the sidelines) You killed them. Belphanior: (looking around, he holds one finger up) This is true. waif-girl: (looking rather distressed) Look, I don't know who you guys are, but I wasn't with those others...heck, I didn't mean to steal the money...I didn't know how much there was...(she looks like she's about to bolt into a darkened passage) Bosco: Err... Ged: Relax, girl, we mean you no harm- waif-girl: Aie! (she flees suddenly) Bosco: (nearby, he dives, tackling the girl) Whouuulf! girl: (fighting desperately, she kicks and claws) Bosco: (punched in the face, he reels back) Ow! Heeeeelp! Rillen: (approaches, and pulls the girl off of Bosco) girl: (still fighting) I hope you gang-people all kill each other! Rillen: (uses a nerve-pinch to silence the girl) Lyra: Gang? Belphanior: She was probably referring to those gentlemen whom we dispatched. Mongo: (regarding the limp form in Rillen's arms) Surely you didn't...? Rillen: She's unconscious for now. Peldor: Hey, look! These bozos had all kinds of stuff! Shortly, the adventurers had collected a number of useful things. In addition to a number of crude, cheap-looking knives, they recovered one whose blade both appeared and disappeared at the touch of a metal button. Belphanior in particular seemed duly fascinated by this weapon. Besides the "thunder-stick", they also found a pair of small metal devices, that seemed fashioned to fit in one's hand... Ged: That's what those guys were aiming at us... Mongo: Bah. Rillen: (holding one of the metallic things) Hmm- There was a loud crack, though not nearly as loud as the booming sound made by the thunder-stick; and a metal can that was leaning against a wall toppled over with a loud "clang", a small smoking hole in its rusted side. Rillen: Whoa. Lyra: Another thunder weapon! Belphanior: Albeit a lesser one... Alindyar: Let me see that. (he takes the thing from Rillen and carefully examines it) Ouch! The end here is hot... and smoke doth issue from this hole...hmm. (he points the smoke-hole at a wall and begins manipulating buttons and levers on the item) Rillen: Be careful- Alindyar: I know what I'm doing- There was another loud cracking sound, and a chunk of old plaster exploded from the wall. For his part, Alindyar was knocked back, falling to the ground. Alindyar: Ouch. Rillen: I warned you. That item has a rather powerful... kick. Lyra: Not to mention a deafening effect. Mongo: Bah. Sorcerous weapons, all. I'll take my hammer any day of the week. Belphanior: (eyeing the thunder weapons, and the large dent in Mongo's armor) I wouldn't... Peldor: (holding up other items found on the punks) What about this stuff? Besides the mentioned weapons, the adventurers had also found a number of other things: some small, lightweight coins, wrapped in illustrated green paper; a small, clear vial of some kind, filled with translucent liquid; some unusual-looking keys; a thin piece of metal, too oddly- shaped to be a knife; and last, various small cylinders of metal and, in some cases, a soft, lightweight substance. These things were stashed away, and the adventurers next pondered the little waif-girl, who rested on the ground nearby. Lyra: Hmm, she seems so young...so innocent... Peldor: Yeah. She also seems homeless. I've seen enough urchins in the streets of Oerth. Belphanior: Hear, hear. Bosco: (suddenly feeling sorry for the waif-girl) Aww. Rillen: I hated to have to knock her out, but she might have hurt Bosco. Bosco: (rubbing his jaw) Yeah...but still... Alindyar: Perhaps the child can guide us about, in her world. Mongo: First we've got to get her to trust us. Hell, she probably thinks we mean to kill her. Belphanior: (cleaning his blade) Can't say I blame her... Alindyar: A simple spell could- Ged: No. We must do this honestly. Peldor: Hmm. wispy thing: (hovering nearby, it examines a wall) Sss. Arnold: (digging about in a nearby crate, he finds some rotted clothes) Aaa. Guess we won't find a disbuise in here. waif-girl: (stirs) Ohhh... Ged: (trying to think of something appropriate to say, so as not to scare the child) Bosco: (strolls forth) Hi! girl: Eek! Bosco: Don't be afraid. (he reaches behind the girl's ear and produces a silver coin) Here, what's this I found? girl: Eh? Bosco: See there! (he hands the shining coin to the girl) What's your name, kid? girl: (looking rather confused) Y-you're not going to kill me? Bosco: Heavens, no! We just wandered into this place when those turkeys were trying to get you. girl: Oh. Bosco: I'm Bosco! What's your name? girl: Paula. Lyra: Is this your home, Paula? Paula: Yeah...kind of. It's deserted, mostly. Belphanior: Except for the urchins. Peldor: And the starfish! Rillen: Clam up. Paula: And the bums...but I always avoid them, 'cause they never wander much in these back halls. Even if they do, all my stuff is hidden. (she jumps up, and pulls away a loose floorboard) Peldor: (looks at Belphanior, alarmed) Belphanior: (looks at Bosco) Bosco: (looks to his right, but no one's there) Oh. Paula: (produces a black case, fashioned from some sort of hide) Look, this's the money they were after. I stole it. (she beams, and begins opening the case) Peldor: Uh...shouldn't you check that for traps? Paula: Huh? Ged: So, who were those people, anyway? Paula: Moneyrunners, I guess...I don't know, really. One of 'em was dozing off against a car, and I kinda snatched it and ran... Alindyar: (assumes that a "car" is some kind of building) I see. Paula: (pops open the case, revealing numerous stacks of green papers) Whoa! Belphanior: That's the same stuff those punks had...but there's more here... Bosco: These green wrappers...they pass for money? Paula: Pass? They _are_ money. (she regards the party strangely) Ged: What about these? (he holds up some of the thin, lightweight coins that the thugs were carrying in their pockets) Surely these must have some value? Mongo: Yeah, though they're neither gold nor silver... Lyra: They're fairly puny, as coins go. Paula: Geez, you people aren't from around here, are you? Rillen: No. Within minutes, the waif Paula explained the concept of paper money to the adventurers, who accepted it with varying degrees of comprehension. Mongo: That's _ridiculous_! Paper's good for burning, not money. Peldor: (busy counting the green papers, which seem to have denominations ranging from one to a hundred) Ah, even on this new world, Peldor is rich... Alindyar: What prevents someone from simply inscribing more of this paper money...these "dollars"? Paula: Hey, I wouldn't know about that stuff. I wasn't in school that long. But someone takes care of all that. Ged: It's an economic issue...capital. (he and Alindyar begin discussing economics) Lyra: Some people worry about too many things...(she looks at Paula) You need a bath. Paula: Hah. That's a joke. Lyra: Now that we have all this money, maybe we can find a real inn to stay in. Arnold: Inn? Paula: Inn? Oh, you mean a hotel...hey! Mongo: (alarmed by the loudness in the tiny girl's voice) What? Paula: We can't stay here! Those gang guys...more'll be on the way, to get their money...they've gotta know where I am. We've got to get out of here! Belphanior: Why not lie in wait, and simply slay them when they show up? Paula: 'Cause we just _can't_. C'mon! (she gathers up a few personal possessions) Let's split! (she heads into a passageway) Bosco: (immediately heads after the girl) Hey, careful, it's dark in there. Lemme make sure no harm befalls you...(he vanishes into the darkness) Mongo: Hmm. (he follows, muttering something about a child leading the way) Ged: This is madness- Lyra: (grabs Alindyar and follows the young girl) Come. Alindyar: (his economic debate interrupted) But- Lyra: She's the only guide we have. We should follow her. Rillen: Aye. (he follows Paula as well) Belphanior: (perhaps seeking further thugs to slay, he goes after the others, whistling in a low tone) Ged: Boccob! Insanity rules the day! For some time, they roamed the passages and rooms of the huge old warehouse, following the girl Paula, who seemed to know where she was going. More than once, they passed winos and bums, most of whom had passed out in the musty building. Belphanior: (looking around as they continue onward) This place virtually teems with souls. Ged: Let's hope they're just harmless ones. (he gestures to a drunken bum lying amidst some boxes) Like him. Bosco: (considers picking the fellow's pockets, but then catches a whiff of the man) Phew! wispy thing: (orbits the wino's head) Pffft! wino: Eh? (he looks carefully at his half-empty bottle) Ged: You there! What are you doing in that condition? You ought to be ashamed- Peldor: Hey, I remember being in that condition...many a time... Arnold: Yah. Bosco: (kicks a can as the adventurers walk away) wino: (muttering drunkenly) Hmph. Weirdos...(he promptly falls asleep) As they continued, the darkness seemed to recede a bit, as if they were approaching a well-lighted face of the huge building. Paula: That'd be the main drag... Ged: Good. I was beginning to think we were lost. Belphanior: Nonsense. I'm never lost. Ged: Only misguided. Belphanior: Bah. Bosco: (whistling merrily) Paula: You people need to lighten up. wispy thing: (nods at the adventurers, grinning) Belphanior: Quiet, you. Shortly, the group approached a wall full of windows, through which bright light poured in from the outside. Paula: Whoa. What the heck's going on- Suddenly, there was a tremendous crash, and an entire section of wall was knocked inward. A huge, rounded head, plated with iron or some other metal, smashed its way into the building; beyond the head was a long neck, and a strange body, also of metallic composition. The thing was making weird, loud grinding sounds as it tore its way into the old warehouse. Behind it was an intensely bright light, which half-blinded the adventurers as they gaped in awe. Ged: Boccob! Paula: (screaming) Mongo: A dragon! (he hefts his hammer) Belphanior: To arms! (he charges to one side) Arnold: Ah-nold! (he draws his huge sword and sallies forth) Peldor: C'mon, Bosco! (they both charge, and then Peldor goes invisible) Bosco: Yeah! Alindyar: Er... Paula: (stops her screeching) Where are _they_ going? Ged: Why, to slay the dragon! Paula: Dragon? Lyra: (regarding the dragon strangely) Hmm. Meanwhile, the warriors pressed their attack bravely... Mongo: (hurls Stormcrest at the thing's head, and a loud thunderclap is heard) Die! There was a tremendous CLANG, and the dragon's head then exploded, littering the ground with chunks of grey metal! Belphanior: Way to go! You killed it! Mongo: Maybe not! It's still moving toward us, and it's still roaring and stomping! (he catches his hammer) Arnold: (finds himself facing a large black foot of some kind, and he hacks at it) A loud POP ensued, followed by a steady hissing sound. Arnold: Aaa? Belphanior: (leaps atop the dragon's neck, and begins climbing up toward the main body) Hah! (the neck tilts skyward) Whoa...uh-oh...(he scrambles for a grip) Peldor: (backstabs the massive dragon, but his sword is deflected harmlessly by its thick hide) <clang> Bosco: (realizes that he's too small to make any difference here, and backs up a bit) Err... They waited for the monster to make its attack, but it didn't. In fact, all that really happened was that a crowd of people, now visible behind the huge metallic form, turned and fled in terror. Peldor: Hah! We've freed the dragon's slaves! Mongo: Yeah! (he hurls his hammer again, striking the thing with enough force to nearly topple it) Yeah! Belphanior: (dangling from the neck above) Uh-oh... Just then, several things happened. Ged, the drow, and the waif Paula began running toward the others, shouting. Belphanior, lifted into the air by the dragon's neck, lost his grip and fell a good forty feet to the ground, landing squarely between the other warriors and a group of blue- garbed men in hats, who were pointing thunder sticks and other such devices at him and yelling. Belphanior: (wobbles to his feet) Oh, I love stoneskins... Paula: (she and the magi reach the warriors and thieves, who are watching Belphanior, who is watching the blue- garbed ones) Oh, no! The cops! Ged: What's this? Rillen: Some kind of city guardsmen, perhaps? Lyra: How'd you know that? Rillen: Just a feeling... Paula: Belphanior...oh, please tell me he isn't going to smart off to them...(she looks pleadingly at the others) Ged: Well, I could say that, but I'd probably be lying... blue-garbed one: They said these guys blew up the crane. We'd better be careful...they're probably terrorists. other blue-garbed one: You! In the red! Put down that... sword and get on the ground! Belphanior: (looking around) Me? third blue-garbed one: NOW! Belphanior: (waving his sword around) Now hold on one- fourth blue-garbed one: Take him down! All of the guardsmen, or whatever they were, began firing their thunder weapons at the elf. Belphanior: (his stoneskins being worn away rapidly) Ow. Ouch! Argh! Uh-oh. With that, the elf began staggering as the weapons' fiery discharges tore into him. Blood and guts sprayed everywhere as the elf was knocked backwards by the force of the arcane weapons. Ged: Boccob! They're killing him! Paula: (to Lyra) Please listen! We've got to get out of here. Now! Or we're all gonna get wasted. PLEASE believe me. Lyra: (to Alindyar) Hear that? Alindyar: Aye...(he begins spellcasting) Mongo: What's going on? Ged: Strategic withdrawal. Peldor: Surely you aren't going to leave him? (he points to the shredded form of Belphanior, about fifty feet away where it fell to the ground, sword still in hand) Bosco: Ugh. What a way to go. Lyra: We'll come back for him later. Now, we must escape. Alindyar: (still spellcasting) Aye. Peldor: (turns away angrily) Ged: Don't worry, I can bring him back to life later. But I've got to be alive to do it, you see. wispy thing: (orbiting in the air above the carnage) Sss? Lyra: Quickly! Everyone link hands! Ged: Damn, I hate to do this, but we can't sit here and get torn to bits... Mongo: No! I'm not leaving! (he prepares to hurl his hammer at the blue-garbed ones) Rillen: (grabs the dwarf's shoulder) You have to come with us. As the blue-garbed ones ran around Belphanior's body toward the others, pointing their weapons and shouting, the adventurers, and Paula with them, just vanished into thin air. cop: Whoa! other cop: Huh? third cop: Where'd they go?!? fourth cop: (narrowly avoids stepping in what's left of Belphanior) Ugh. other official-looking fellow: At least we got one of 'em. We've got this building surrounded - I want a sweep of the place, pronto! We'll find those terrorists, wherever they've holed up. They've got to be in there somewhere. other cops: (hasten to follow orders) ambulance driver: (having just arrived, he looks at the shredded body of Belphanior) Think this one'll make it? (he slaps his thigh) Ha ha! random cop: Man, you're sick. Elsewhere, the adventurers blinked into existence in the midst of a dark alley, one much like the one they had first appeared in. Paula: (looking around incredulously) YIKES!!! Lyra: What is it, child? Paula: We were there...now we're not...whoa. Alindyar: (unable to stifle a grin) Arnold: Aaa. I hope Belphandior's okay... Rillen: Doubtful. Mongo: We'll avenge him! (he glares angrily at Rillen) Paula: He saved your life, Mongo. Those cops would have shot ALL of us to bits, before we had time to run away. Ged: We'll go back and find him... Bosco: (looking around) Hey, where's Peldor? Lyra: Yes, where IS Peldor? Mongo: Hmm... Bosco: He's not answering. Do you suppose he got nailed by those "cops"? Rillen: I'd gamble that he stayed behind... Ged: (slaps his forehead) Oh, wonderful. This is all we need. Paula: No it's not. They'll be looking for us - all of us. We need to get you guys some real clothes. You can't walk around in that...armor? Hey! Arnold: (looking down upon the girl) Whaaat? Paula: You're really NOT from around here, are you? Ged: Nope. Paula: Oh man...man oh man... Bosco: Lost your train of thought, kid? Paula: (looking dazed) Lyra: Clothes? Paula: Clothes...yeah, you'll be needing to blend in with the crowds... Alindyar: An illusion, perhaps...? Lyra: Let's see what she has in mind. The girl led them through a few other alleys, eventually stopping across one alleyway from a run-down little store nestled between two huge buildings. Paula: Stay here - we don't want any of you to be seen. (she takes a wad of the green paper money from the case she stole earlier, and dashes across the street) Alindyar: (regards the small niche that they're all crammed into) Hmm. (he begins spellcasting) About ten minutes later, Paula emerged from the store, lugging a brown box behind her. After crossing the alley, she looked around in confusion, trying to find the small niche where she had left her new friends. As she looked around, unsuccessfully, a muscled black arm appeared from the air and grabbed her, pulling her...out of sight? Paula: (squeaks as she finds herself in the small niche) Rillen: (quickly drags the box in after her) Paula: (looking more than a little frightened) What...? Lyra: Never fear, child. We simply masked ourselves from the outside world. Paula: (finds that she is able to see the alley, and the used clothes store she just left) You mean... Alindyar: Indeed. They cannot see us in here. Bosco: Neat, huh? (he begins rummaging through the box) Clothes? You got clothes for us! Paula: Err...yeah. I did the best I could. (she holds up the wad of money she has left) Well, for this part of town, anyway...I sure hope you can all find something that fits you. Mongo: (regarding his armor) You want me to take my armor off? (he looks rather upset at the notion) Paula: Look, you can't walk around here in that stuff. (she raps on the plate mail with her knuckles) You'll get caught within hours. Trust me - if you guys look normal like everyone else here, you'll be perfectly safe. Ged: I guess we just have to give it a try. Here, we can put all the armor, shields, and weapons into the portable hole. Bosco: (fingering a dagger) Only the BIG weapons...no one'll ever notice our smaller ones... Rillen: You sound like...Belphanior. Hmm. Mongo: (grumbling) Paula: If you really think finding his remains will help you out, fine. But you've gotta look normal, instead of like such dorks. Arnold: (eyes the waif evilly) About fifteen minutes later, the adventurers re-emerged into the alley, rather drastically changed. In fact, the grizzled old man attending the portable beer stand thought he was having some kind of hallucination. Old Bill gaped in awe as the group of strange people headed his way. In his more than two dozen years of Mardi Gras celebrations, old Bill had seen a lot of weird people come and go, but these ranked up there with the best of them. The two big guys, of course, stood out; they were two of the biggest men old Bill had ever seen. The big white guy was wearing gym shorts and a tank top, which wasn't quite big enough to accomodate his massive physique. The big black guy was dressed in some kind of spandex outfit, which was, not at all surprisingly, also too small. Old Bill found himself wondering if the two were with the Saints. All the others were dwarfed by the pair; one was a skinny man, but this one was a lot shorter than either of the other two, maybe five-one. More noticeably, he had gold hair - must have been dyed or something. This one was wearing some kind of toga, and it didn't take old Bill long to decide that he was one of those transvestites from Hollywood. They always seemed to show up for Mardi Gras, from all corners of the earth, no doubt. Next to the pale, goofy guy in the toga was a short but quite stocky bearded man. He kinda looked like a cross between one of the members of ZZ Top and a Hell's Angel, old Bill thought to himself. The guy's old, beaten biker jacket and tattered jeans were complemented by the heavy riding boots he wore. Behind these four were a pair of odd-looking black folks with long white hair. The guy was dressed fairly nicely, in black silk clothes; old Bill decided that he was some kind of pimp. His girlfriend, though, was hot - she had on one of the shortest, tightest miniskirts that poor old Bill had ever laid eyes upon, and she filled it well. Walking alongside the chick was a young urchin girl, one who old Bill thought he might actually have seen before. She alone of this group seemed to belong here, and Bill found himself wondering what she was doing mixed up with these others. Oh, well, you just never knew... As the group of weirdos approached, old Bill noticed a young lad running along happily behind them. The little guy wasn't even three feet tall, and here he was running around the streets and parades in pajamas! Maybe he was with the other ones...yep, old Bill decided as the imp began shouting at them in a shrill voice. Bosco: Look! Beeeeer! old Bill: (rubs his eyes as the adventurers approach) Geez, what is it this time? Arnold: (cheerfully) Beer! old Bill: Huh? Mongo: You heard him. A round of your finest beers. old Bill: Huh? (he regards Bosco, thinks about carding him, looks at the others, and thinks better of it) What kind? Bosco: What've you got? old Bill: Not much...lessee here...Bud, Bud Lite, Michelob, uh...Schaeffer's. Mongo: Bud? old Bill: You got it. (he gets eight bottles from his cart and hands them to the strange people) That'll be twenty bucks. Bosco: (regards the "Bud", confused) Paula: But I'm too young to- Rillen: (claps his hand over the girl's mouth) Ahem. old Bill: You folks got any money? Ged: Pardon? old Bill: Twenty bucks, friend. Beer ain't free, you know. Ged: Bucks? (digs out a silver piece) Will this do? old Bill: (gapes in wonder, takes the coin, and stares at it) What's this? Arnold: Money? old Bill: Eh, hmm, I guess it is. (he turns the coin over and over) Hmm, this must be _really_ old. Doesn't even have a date. Lyra: You wouldn't believe us if we told you... old Bill: Hmm...no, I've gotta have cash, fellas. Paula: (hands the old man a twenty) Here you go, pal. old Bill: Gotcha. Paula: (hands her beer back to old Bill) Here, I'm too young to drink. Treat yourself to one. old Bill: (eyes Bosco) Don't mind if I do. Paula: Good. Arnold: (beams at the girl) Thandks. Bosco: (cheerfully, to old Bill) Seeya! old Bill: Err...right. As the adventurers headed toward the busier streets, trying to figure out how to open their bottles, they discussed issues of importance. Ged: Well, now that we've got "bud", I think we'd better figure out how to get Belphanior back... Mongo: Or at least his body. Paula: (rather sarcastically) Good plan. Lyra: You've never seen the dead raised, have you, child? Paula: Nope. What the heck are you talking about? Dead is dead, you know? Lyra: Err, nevermind. Bosco: (getting angry at his sealed beer bottle) Grr. Arnold: (having torn the metal cap from his bottle, he takes a long swig) Mmm...good. Mongo: (likewise) Ahh...this hits the spot, even though it tastes like cheap beer to me... Ged: (figures out that it's a screw top, and presently follows Arnold in a drink) Here's to a brave new world. Bosco: (holds up his bottle) I can't- Arnold: (rips the cap from the halfling's bottle) There you go, Bodsco. Bosco: (drinks) Thanks! Paula: Good. Now that you have decent clothes and are calmed down...we can see about checking the town for your friend...or what's left of him. Alindyar: Search? Paula: Yep. Mongo: What about the people...the parades? Paula: Ah...let me try and explain Mardi Gras to you... Meanwhile, in another part of the city entirely, an invisible form glided amongst the unsuspecting mobs in the streets. Peldor: (efficiently dodging passers-by as he follows the strange metal chariot which Belphanior's body was loaded into) Hmm. little boy: (looking around as he hears the muttering) Huh? Peldor: (drops a gold coin into the lad's pocket, then continues about his way) Fortunately for the thief, the metal chariot's progress through the streets was delayed by numbers of other, similar chariots. Peldor found himself able to keep up with, and indeed catch up to, the thing. Peldor: (walks up to the ambulance, which is stuck in traffic, and peers through the back window, where the body bag rests, along with a bored-looking attendant) Hmm...(he eyes the vehicle's door handle and reaches out) Suddenly, there was a wildly flashing red light, and a loud wailing noise, and the strange metal chariot rolled away! The other chariots were apparently affected by its magic, for they made way, allowing it to pass by. Peldor was quickly left behind, for even he couldn't run that fast. Peldor: (out of breath, he stops running, and recites the words that he read from the back of the ambulance) "Memorial Hospital"...guess I'll have to go there...(he eyes the various metallic chariots around him, realizing that they are in fact operated by people) Hmm... Thus it was that the adventurers' first day on Earth came to an end; as some of the party rested and planned their next move, others were on their own, or out of it entirely. next time : more of the same! ftp site : ftp.cs.pdx.edu in /pub/frp/stories/adventurers notes : I don't know what to say...I guess first and foremost, you should know that this episode has taken FAR too long to write, maybe seven weeks. That's a new record, and not the good kind. During this time, I've switched roommates, run the Peachtree road race, gotten my first raise, dealt with an air conditioner that stayed broken for 6 days, watched 20 days go by during which rain fell (!)...but chiefly, I've been occupied chasing this woman I'm after. It was a close thing, but I triumphed in the end, and now I've got the girlfriend (maybe more, at the rate things are going!) I really want(ed)... Needless to say, during the past weeks, I haven't been in much of a mood to do any writing. Apathy ruled for most of June and part of July. I finally broke out of it, once I was happy, and what you're reading is the result. It was once 39K long and unfinished, during the worst depths of my apathy; I actually demolished that work, and started fresh from scratch! I was actually that unhappy with what I had written to that point... A story set on our Earth is a difficult undertaking, one which I vastly underestimated. I hope you like the result of my efforts...of course, since you're reading this, you know that I opted to make the Earth-story a multi-parter. This was 50K when I got to a logical breaking point, and I didn't believe I was even half- done. I think posting a 100K episode 200 is a bit much. Thus, I've split it. Heck, as I write these words, I don't even know what the exact outcome of this plotline will be...and 201+ haven't even been written. I'm taking the first week in August off, to go to the beach; I wanted to post this before I left. Just to let the world know I hadn't died, you understand... On a side note, you may be interested to know that I've gotten rid of my roommate of 1.5 years, making way for none other than Peldor himself to be my roommate until December. Guess I have an extra proofreader now... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -- Thomas Miller tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu Systems Support Specialist II Georgia Tech Network Services fame: chiefly a matter of dying at the right moment.