ftp.ee.pdx.edu/2014.02.ftp.ee.pdx.edu.tar/ftp.ee.pdx.edu/pub/frp/stories/darkness/darkness.9

Internet Message Format | 1991-06-12 | 23KB

From [e-mail] Sun Apr 28 23:33:14 1991
From: [e-mail] (bruce.w.reisman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: STORY: Darkness Rising (part 9)
Keywords: long
Date: 27 Apr 91 18:24:33 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|            Copyright 1991, 1990 by B. W. Reisman & E. Wolfe.            |
|                           All rights reserved.                          |
| No part of this tale may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,   |
| or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying,  |
| recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the     |
| authors.                                                                |
|                                                                         |
| Permission is hereby granted, in so far as no fee or charge is made for |
| such publication, and that this notice is retained.                     |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+


THE ROAD TO PEGOR, AND BEYOND


    [Trun - Pegor]
    It is dawn on the 6th day of Low Summer in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    32
        sky:        light rain
        wind:        10 mph (gentle breeze)

For a time, the clouds remain parted, revealing blue sky.  The road is
muddy, however, and the going for our ponies is slower than we'd wish.
By lunchtime, the cold drizzle has returned, gradually seeping through
our clothes to chill our bones.  Maisie is able to prepare a hot meal
that revives our flagging spirits after Leia ignites a fire.

We resume our journey with Maisie and Felicia in the lead, followed by
Princess Leia and Todd, then Elured and Merle Lir with the three spare
ponies and our bulkier supplies.  Just after lunch, Elured's pony stumbles
and the lurch causes Elured to sever the tie to the pony he is leading.
(He has insisted on riding with a sword unsheathed in his hand.)  Elured
sheathes his sword, and turns the pony over to Merle Lir as well.

The drizzle continues to dampen our elation at finally being active again
as the weather remains fairly consistent through the first three days of
the journey.

Mid-morning on the third day, Leia's ring begins to glow bright red.
Elured has an uneasy feeling.  Todd becomes invisible, hands his reins
to Leia, and dismounts.  Merle Lir speaks some arcane incantation while
gesturing with her hands -- a barely perceptible shimmer radiates around
her, encompassing those nearest to her.

Elured reports that he has detected channeling-type magic off to the left.
Merle Lir begins to prepare another spell.  Leia bends over in response
to a tug on her sleeve, and the still invisible Todd whispers in her ear.
The princess dismounts and permits him to guide her, after frimly ordering
Elured, and the rest of us to stay where we are.  Very uneasily, we do.

Todd leads Leia to a glowing pavillion, like and unlike the one near
Muerse.  Leia steps inside.  Todd attempts to follow, but finds that he
is simply on the other side of the structure.  Leia finds herself within
Brigit's temple -- and yet somehow far away -- she prays briefly to Brigit
and leaves.  Todd asks what it was like inside, but she does not answer.

After Leia returns, Elured insists on having a turn.  Merle Lir follows
him, but passes through, like Todd, as Elured goes inside.  Elured offers
a large amber as a sacrifice and says, "Thank you, mighty Diancecht, for
all you've done for me in the past.  Please guide us in your service."
Like Leia, he feels like he is somehow far from where he ought to be, yet
the amber does vanish in a burst of golden light.

Meanwhile, Merle Lir returns to the group and Todd cancels his invisibility
and mounts his pony.  Someone finally thinks to ask Maisie what she knows
about this place and she tells us that it is a place of power, generally
avoided by most travelers, although it does not seem to be tied to chaos
or the dark path.  Elured rejoins us.  Merle Lir moves up next to Leia and
asks to speak with her privately.

Leia acquiesces and motions Todd away.  Merle Lir explains that she is
concerned that the party organize for safety in combat situations.  Leia
agrees and says she will deal with the situation....

Maisie is appalled that Leia would even ask about her leadership -- after
all, Leia is Princess of Trun and we are subject to her commands.  Elured
is obnoxious and uncooperative, which leaves Merle Lir extremely upset.

Late that night the temperature dips well below freezing, and we wake at
dawn to lightly falling snow that has already frosted the ground like icing
on a dessert.


    [Trun - Pegor]
    It is dawn on the 9th day of Low Summer in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    22
        sky:        light snow
        wind:        4 mph (slight breeze)

Undaunted, we mount up and continue our journey.  By mid-morning, the
rising temperature has turned the snow to a typically annoying drizzle.

Upon hearing a droning sound ahead, Maisie slows the pace.  Finally, we
stop.  Felicia draws her bow and dismounts.  Todd draws the "dagger of
death".  And Merle Lir pulls out her weaker shock bolt rod and bunches the
ponies she's leading more closely.  Felicia remounts and we move on.  We
pass two 2-foot long bees, off to our right.  Maisie warns us that they
always travel in threes.  Once we pass those two, she tells us to ride
hard.  We do, but the third bee is in front of us, heading up the road to
its companions.  Maisie abruptly reins in her pony and we follow suit.

Merle Lir turns around in her saddle with her rod ready, while still
holding tightly to the reins of the pack ponies.  Leia utters a prayer
and two small balls of fire leap from her outstretched to strike the
"third" bee -- its flaming carcass falls to the ground.  The bolt from
Merle Lir's rod fizzles without reaching its target and she calls for
help.  Elured's prayer concludes with a sudden explosion of light that
drops one of the remaining bees stunned to the ground.  Merle Lir's
second bolt hits the last bee and Felicia's arrow knocks it from the air
just short of the pack ponies.  They rear as it convulses in death, but
Merle Lir hangs on to them.

Todd approaches cautiously and stabs it the neck.  Elured, short sword
in hand, goes after the bee he had stunned.  He succeeds in cutting it
in half, but not before he is painfully stung in his arm.  His arm begins
to swell and he eventually goes up to Leia and asks for a potion to
neutralize the poison.  The princess recalls his near insubordination
and takes her sweet time in complying with his request, while taking the
opportunity to lecture Elured on his behavior again.  Elured claims to
relish the pain as he waits.

By the time we camp, the morning's snow is nearly forgotten -- the
temperature soared into the 90s during the afternoon.  Combined with the
steady drizzle, it was like traveling in a steam bath.


    [Trun - Pegor]
    It is dawn on the 10th day of Low Summer in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    59
        sky:        partly cloudy
        wind:        18 mph (moderate breeze)

Rain threatens throughout the morning, but the last day of journey proves
nearly free of the persistent precipitation.  Not until after lunch does
the drizzle resume, and it doesn't get nearly as hot as the preceeding
day.  By mid-afternoon we reach the gates of Pegor.  A massive tower over
four stories tall, overlooks the city and its environs at the far end of
the wall to our right.  In the hills behind Pegor, we can see the ruins of
the abandoned old city.  It must have been magnificent at one time, but
the towering spires have cracked and crumbled; domed buildings resemble
broken eggs; archways lie toppled, broken at the knees.  The guard at the
gate wants to collect a tarriff before we may pass.  Leia announces who
she is and says she's there to see Sheriff Roy Lench.  The guard is not
impressed.  The Princess then demands that the Sheriff be brought and
Felicia dismounts and starts to draw her battle axe.  She stops as a gong
rings and the sounds of boots running can be heard.

With the arrival of additional guards comes the suggestion that we all get
off our ponies and come along quietly.  Maisie, Elured, Leia and Todd
dismount, Merle Lir suggests that she'll stay with the ponies.  The guard
says, "No."  Leia says, "I'll go with you. {then turns to Merle Lir}  Stay
with the ponies."  The guards threaten Merle Lir with their swords and
Todd turns invisible during the distraction.  Leia insists that it is
sufficient that she be taken to see the Sheriff and that the guards had
better be more cooperative or they would have to pay the consequences.
So finally, Leia is led away by the guards (followed by Todd) and Merle
Lir, Elured, Maisie and Felicia stay with the ponies.  The guards soon
urge us to get the ponies and ourselves off to one side, so the traffic
can proceed through the gate.


    [Pegor]
    It is mid-afternoon on the 10th day of Low Summer in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    85
        sky:        drizzle
        wind:        7 mph (light breeze)

Merle Lir tries to keep the ponies milling about and off to one side to
conceal the fact that there's one too many saddled mounts.  An alert guard
notices and Merle Lir calmly asserts, "We have an extra in case we lose a
pony."  Elured can't keep quiet, though, and manages to convince the guard
that Merle Lir isn't being truthful.  He calls to another guard and shortly
another gong sounds.


Meanwhile, Leia is escorted through the narrow streets by several guards.
Todd tries to follow behind, but it's too much work avoiding pedestrians
while he's invisible.  He transforms into a cloud of mist and floats
(invisibly) over them.  As they enter the keep, the door closes behind
them.  Forgetting that it's no barrier in his current form, Todd rushes
in and makes it just before it closes.

They go through the great hall and enter a smaller room.  The guard chats
briefly with someone in colorful livery who then accompanies the guard and
Leia to a room with a big table.  Seated at the far end is a young man....


At the gate, a non-descript woman approaches and chats with the guards.
Then she climbs a stair that gives her access to the top of the city
wall....


Todd floats invisibly behind the man at the table, ready to take him
hostage if he should threaten Leia.  The Princess comes through the door,
and as she starts, he tries to interject, "Princess Leia!  Is it *you*!?"
But she does not hear him as she launches into a tirade about the
treatment she and her companions have received.  Finally, she flounces
into a chair.

The Sheriff of Pegor (for that's who the young man is) then says, "You
haven't heard about what's been going on here -- even the farmers leave
their homes, rather than remain outside the gates after night falls.

Leia: "There are indeed strange things happening about the country and
the Queen and King have sent my companions and I on a quest to find the
solution....  Have you heard that Knearn was destroyed?"

The Sheriff: "In that case, you are most welcome here."

Leia: "Then please send word to bring my party inside."

The Sheriff: "Certainly."  And he instructs the guard to do so.  They
continue to converse, and when Leia explains that they intend to go west
>from Pegor, the Sheriff is surprised, "There is *nothing* west of here!"

Leia tells him that if they are successful, the town's problems will
disappear; if not, nothing can save the town or its people.  When the
Sheriff reiterates that they'll do whatever they can to assist Leia and
her group, she asks about anyone who may have heard about the west.
Perhaps some of the older people in town?  He shakes his negatively, no
wise men or women, no sages -- but Delia, their harper, may know something.

Leia asks to speak with her.  He replies that he believes he heard a chime
summoning her someplace.  As soon as the guard returns with the others, he
will send someone to seek her.  Todd remains invisible, though he is no
longer a mist.


Glen, the guard sent by the Sheriff, arrives at the gate and talks briefly
with the guards there.  Then they come over to the group.  Glen says, "The
Sheriff has asked that you join him in the Keep."

Merle Lir says, "No way," but Elured instantly agrees to go.  This riles
her so that she casts a spell of suggestion on him to cause him to stay
with her and the others until Leia returns and says it's safe.  Sensing
an impasse, Maisie suggests that perhaps someone should go.  Eventually,
Felicia and Maisie go with Glen.  Merle Lir holds the reins of all the
ponies and pointedly ignores Elured....


Todd moves over next to Leia and whispers that he's there.  The Sheriff
asks who she's talking to; she says just mumbling to herself.  Roy (the
Sheriff) says, with a huge grin, "I still remember the 'apple picking
episode' ..."

Leia interrupts, "There's something I need to tell you ... sometime ago
I was in an accident and lost portions of my memory....  Frankly, I do
not remember much of our past."

Roy loses his grin, "Oh ... I'm terribly sorry.  How did it happen?"

Leia: "I don't remember ... no, actually it was a fall off a horse and
I've been assured it will come back."

Glen arrives with Felicia and Maisie.  Introductions are made and Maisie
leaves to get the rest, after Leia says she's too tired....


Merle Lir and Elured wait a quarter hour or so passes.  Maisie comes back
to the gate and says that Leia says it is safe.  Merle Lir stubbornly
refuses to believe her and says to extend her apologies to Princess Leia,
but she will not go until the Princess herself comes.  Maisie convinces
Merle Lir that it's not a good idea, so Merle Lir turns to Elured and
tells him that she thinks it's okay to go.

Maisie wants her saddlebags, but the guard says a porter will bring them.
She thanks him, but brings them anyway, as does Merle Lir.  After they get
the bags, they head off to the Keep, accompanied by Elured.  Having been
there once, Maisie already knows the way....


Leia makes the final introductions and Todd becomes visible.  Roy is
instantly on his feet and moments later begins to advance brandishing a
scimitar in his hand.  Leia asks if there's a problem and he gestures
toward Todd.  Leia looks, sees Todd has become visible and reassures the
Sheriff.  Still a little wary, he sheathes his blade and resumes his seat.

Merle Lir asks the Sheriff to forgive her, but he seems young to hold
such a position.  When he concurs, she asks if he will tell them his
story.  He politely declines.

Then Elured asks if there's any healing to be done.  Roy says he'll have
someone take Elured to the Healers' Guild.

Leia suggests that we clean up and rest before dinner.  We do, except
for Elured.  He spends some time at the Healers' Guild (they have no
customers) and then meditates to Diancecht.

We join Roy's table for dinner.  Lady Delia is there as well.  (There is
clearly something between Roy and Delia).  After dinner, over drinks, we
ask what stories, myths or whatever Delia can tell us about the west.

Delia: "I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I'm no lore-master.  What
I know of the west is little enough."

Leia: "Tell us anyway.  What do you know?"

Delia: "Beyond the mountains, there is a prarie.  Beyond that, no one
knows.  The paths in that direction are not much used, for nothing of
value -- not game nor treasure -- has ever been found."

Leia: "Have you heard anything about the times before history ... out to
the west?"

Delia: "No.  But of course there *is* the Old City, here....  No one goes
there either."

Leia: "Why not?"

Delia: "Because of the ghosts!"

Leia: "Ghosts?"

Delia: "It is said that they're ghosts of the elven warriors."

We look at each other, suddenly very interested.  Leia continues, "Of
those who claim to have met the ghosts, are there any you find credible?"

Delia: "No."

Leia: "Are there stories of these ghosts harming anyone?"

Delia: "It is said that those who enter the Old City after dark do not
return."

Merle Lir: "Discretion is the better part of valor."

Todd: "Maybe we can find and talk to these ghosts to find out about the
city we seek."

Delia: "It is said that there is much treasure."

Merle Lir: "I did not come along to hunt treasure."

A brief discussion between Elured and his staff attracts the Sheriff's
notice; he comments, "Neat staff!"

Delia: "What are you looking for?"

Merle Lir: "We're seeking an ancient elvish city in the west."

A lively discussion ensues: Todd and Elured think we should go in; Merle
Lir is assuredly not convinced.  Todd casts omens ... he interprets them
to say that the trip into the Old City will be profitable, but may entail
sacrifice ... he doesn't share the full reading, but recommends that we
should go into the ruins.  Merle Lir says no.  Maisie says that she will
not go.  Felicia thinks maybe.

Todd asks Roy whether the disappearances of villagers could be related to
the ruins.

Roy: "I think it unlikely, though I haven't ruled it out.  The Old City
has been here forever, but the dissappearances began abruptly ... two ...
maybe three months ago.  So it seems unlikely.  More recently there have
been disappearances inside as well.  So that's why the guards jump at
anything unusual and why we've begun to lock up the city at night."

Meanwhile, Leia has a distant look in her eyes; the gem on her ring glows
redly in the light of the fireplace.  Suddenly, her eyes focus on the group
and she turns to Delia, "Delia, I've been pondering our quest and it seems
that you might be of benefit to us.  Is there anything you can think of
that would help us?"

Delia: "Not that I can think of ..."

Todd returns to his seat after speaking quietly with Merle Lir, who asks
Delia, "What are your spell casting abilities?"

Instead of answering, Delia looks abruptly at Todd, and asks, "Why are you
trying to read my mind?"

Todd turns red and Merle Lir apologizes.

Leia tries to recruit Delia, who looks at Roy and then says, "I wish I
could think of something helpful."

Then Leia tries Roy, but he declines, "Not in this time of crisis."

After more discussion, we finally decide not to venture into the old city
and to leave for the west in the morning.


    [Pegor]
    The 11th day of Lo Summer in the year 6049
    temperature:    high 79 - low 52
    sky:        clear until early afternoon, then light rain until
            after midnight, when the skies clear again
    wind:        3-15 mph (slight-moderate breeze)

One of Elured's swords was transformed during the night.  Now it talks.
It tells Elured its name is 'Alfonse'.  When he asks if the sword is
intelligent, it replies, "Are you?"  Elured is not exactly pleased.  He
asks Todd to check it.  Todd concentrates and then rolls on the floor in
an uncontrollable fit of laughter.  He's concluded that Alfonse is a
'cheese slicer'!  Finally, he suggests to Elured that he sell the sword or
throw it in the river.  Alfonse slips from its sheath and tells Elured that
he refuses to be sold.  Elured asks his staff about the sword and it sagely
replies, "No opinion."

Over breakfast, Elured tells the rest of the group an unbelievable tale of
how the sword came into his possession.  Everyone is a little apprehensive
about Alfonse.

            *    *    *

We make good distance during the beautiful morning.  So, despite being
slowed by the rain in the afternoon, we make 16 miles this day.  We
settle on the protections for the campsite and watches.  Merle Lir casts
a spell that will produce sounds like the ringing of Westminster Abbey's
chimes should anything approach too near our camp.  Leia prays to Brigit
and suddenly we and all of our camp are moved to a different plane of
existance, thus preventing intrusion by normal means.  Just in case of
attack by demons or other wanderers between the planes, Merle Lir takes
a four hour watch with Felicia joining her for the first two hours and
Maisie for the last and Leia takes the second four hour watch, joined by
Elured and Todd for two hours each.


    [Pegor]
    The 12th day of Lo Summer in the year 6049
    temperature:    high 90 - low 55
    sky:        clear until mid-morning, then drizzle
    wind:        0-10 mph (calm - gentle breeze)

In the morning, Leia peeks magically before returning us to the prime
material plane.  Finding nothing, she terminates the spell.

The morning dawns clear, but by the time we reach the river it begins to
drizzle.  The river is too rapid and wide to cross here and, after some
discussion, we follow Maisie's advice and proceed downstream.

We camp without having found a ford.  Leia and Merle Lir set their
protections as the night before.  Felicia takes the first four hour
watch, accompanied by Merle Lir and then the Princess.  Maisie has
the second long watch, with Todd and then Elured for company.


    [Pegor]
    The 13th day of Lo Summer in the year 6049
    temperature:    high 95 - low 63
    sky:        drizzle finally ends early evening and skies clear
    wind:        1-14 mph (slight-gentle breeze)

At dawn, Leia checks, as the day before, and finds some carnivores drinking
at the river's edge.  She decides it wouldn't hurt to wait another fifteen
minutes.  We do, and when she checks again the animals have gone.  Just in
case, we make ready to defend ourselves before Leia ends her protective
spell.  Needlessly....  After the spell is terminated, we find nothing to
threaten us.

After we go another three or four miles, we reach a place where Maisie
feels we can cross.  Todd casts an incantation that permits him to fly,
and ferries our packs across so they do not get wet.  We manage to swim
the ponies across, with Merle Lir leading the pack ponies.

On the far side, we stop for lunch and repack the ponies.  Merle Lir
casts her spell to warn of approaching strangers while we eat.  It is
not triggered.  Elured checks his pack twice to be sure that Todd hasn't
removed anything.

We cover another dozen miles before camping.  Leia and Merle Lir set their
standard protections.  Merle Lir drapes some blankets for privacy, then
sets up her magical bath.  Everyone except Elured takes a turn.

The two four-hour watches are taken by Elured and Todd, respectively.  The
two hour watches are covered by Maisie, Merle Lir, Leia and Felicia, in
that order.
--
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      Bruce W. Reisman          AT&T  Bell Laboratories
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      908/957-6533              Middletown, NJ  07748-4801