Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: djb6@ellis.uchicago.edu (Dennis Brennan) Subject: Re: Karl: [chasing Dougl]:A Pit of Vipers Message-ID: <1992May26.034715.20757@midway.uchicago.edu> Keywords: Karl, Kron, Dougl, slavers References: <1992May25.235829.8963@rice.edu> Date: Tue, 26 May 1992 03:47:15 GMT >Cast of Characters: Kron, Karl, ...sage > >Kron, Karl, and the gift of a friendly mage move cautiously into the maw >of what those in the know call The Low City....... Karl stumbles as he is elbowed by an immensely fat man carrying a crate as he emerges from the alley. The old quartermaster gulps as he sees the representation of the viper on the swinging sign over the alley. But he manages to draw from a reservoir of courage untapped since his fated last adventure in Varande. Kron and Karl carefully make their way down the cobblestone alley, the shimmering outline of the enchanted servant following. The semi-visible magical construct speaks again, its words an unnatural whisper: "You may continue more hastily, I will see to the safety of your backs." Encouraged by the servant's words, the pair step around obvious brigands, cutthroats and assorted lowlifes entering and leaving the Low City. "Caution ahead, Karl." Kron speaks with experience. "That metal grate ahead is called the 'welcome mat' in these parts. I lost a good young man when he unwarily tried to chase a suspect into this vicinity, only to have the grate open underneath him. He plummeted to a fate I will not discuss." The guardsmen scowls, recalling the incident. Kron has carefully wrapped his cloak around him, concealing his guardsmens insignia. A ratlike man stares at the three as they emerge from the other end of the alley and gingerly step around the welcome mat. Kron indicates a lever beside the man to Karl: "That lever opens the mat. Be wary when you pass this place a second time." "We must hurry," Karl comments. "I know not when the next vessel leaves the port for Rameshan, or indeed, if his captors will bring him there." Kron nods in agreement. "We must get the assistance of the harbormaster." A scantily clad temptress begins an erotic dance in the middle of the street, gradually backing her way through a doorway bearing the sign, "Yirma's Brothel". Beyond that, a man is flung out of a doorway and into the street, followed by a shout from within, "No credit!" All around, dirty men and women smoke long pipes full of hallucinogenic drug. Yet despite the general lawlessness of the Low City, a strange kind of order prevails, as though it were all controlled by a single, powerful influence... A one-eyed man with a scraggly beard and a fierce looking monkey on his shoulder scuttles over to Karl and harshly whispers to him: "I see ye have the dark brown eyes and the narrow nose of a Vascondian. (*) Eh? A northerner in fair Generica! Ha!" The disgusting man cackles and slobbers. "Are ye in the Low City for, eh, business? You will come with me, then. And your friend too, as well as your pet," he derisively indicates Kron and the servant. "Pet? I think not!" the servant states, but is hushed by Kron. The one-eyed man continues: "I shall take you to the block? Yes?" He misinterprets Karl's look of confusion as an expression of contempt. "No? Then I shall please ye, yes I will. I shall take you to see Creft the Fence. Your grace, I am sure Creft will be interested in any transaction you wish to...transact." Karl turns to Kron questioningly. Kron responds, "Creft, eh? One of the more powerful criminal influences in Generica. I think if the Rameshanders are runningn o ally then -- Dennis Brennan djb6@midway.uchicago.edu