Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
From: djb6@ellis.uchicago.edu (Dennis Brennan)
Subject: Re: Thorr-kan  Re: Karl's Response
Message-ID: <1992May19.045453.5606@midway.uchicago.edu>
References: <1992May18.190028.1450@gacvx2.gac.edu>
Date: Tue, 19 May 1992 04:54:53 GMT

>Rest assured, Karl.  When my mission is done, I
>and my friends shall return to aid in the avenging of your beloved and
>yourself.  It is the least I can do for one who has shown me such
>hospitality and honor in such a short time."
>
>This said, Thorr-kan settles the human gently in his seat.

Karl sighs deeply, gratefully accepting a medicinal Latan-tea from Serena.
"I apologize for my conduct.  The spirits were doing the talking.  It is
true, my wife Sirvia was kidnapped and later killed by the depraved sacrifice-
cult in Varande.  I attempted to penetrate their stronghold, imprudently
alone, to rescue her.  I was discovered by guards and we fought.  I was already
getting old and not as fast as in my prime, and they overcame me.  They dealt
this blow with one of their venomous scimitars [he indicates his severed
right leg, below the knee] and dragged me out with the garbage.  A priest of
Ilmater found me and dressed my wound.  He should have let me die, so great was
my despair.  
"I must try to dissuade you from your nobly offered but impossible task: that
stronghold withstood the full force of the Alasyrian army during the Scarlet
Wars twelve years ago.  Not all the minotaurs in Ansalon and Alasir could
breach those ebon walls.
"But my childish whimpering does neither me nor you any honor.  I bid you 
excuse me for the evening."

Karl staggers back to his cottage outside Glorshanned keep, weeping softly
as he kneels by his bedside with Drax's chest's crystal gripped between
his shaking hands.  At last, he sleeps, and after an overcursory inventory
of the Keep's grain stocks, he returns to the Dragons Inn...

ADMIN:  Feel free to use Karl as the quintessential "cranky old man".  His 
history is largely unwritten (even by me).  Just don't tamper with the
REALLY important facts like his relationship with Dougl, his wife, etc.
-- 
Dennis Brennan
djb6@midway.uchicago.edu