Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
From: rigler@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Michael Rigler)
Subject: Thk [Low City] Slashed, then joins the fight at Ratty's
Message-ID: <1992Jun20.183825.6062@news.Hawaii.Edu>
Keywords: Thk, Kron and Co., Captain, Wasters
References: <1992Jun19.183659.13425@sequent.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1992 18:38:25 GMT

Thk clomps his clumsy way around the side of Ratty's Tavern towards
the back alley from which he had heard Kron's name spoken, or rather
hissed.  It has been an exceptionally eventful week for the lizardman,
what with thawing from ice, being chased by Guardsmen, getting stabbed,
beaten and poisoned, receiving a stern lecture from the Sea God's minion,
and finally, falling in love with a human female.  But now that he has 
heard Kron's name, the hypnotic commands left in his simple reptilian 
mind by Panarchus push to the fore.  He must find this Kron -- butcher
of his people -- and somehow manage to lure him deeper into to the Low 
City to let justice be served.  Thk's ability to manipulate others has 
always been his strongest suite.  He knows he will find a way.

As he sweeps around the corner, he is presented with a strange tableau:  
a motley array of humans (?) are facing off and drawing weapons.  As
he emerges behind one of the two groups -- a group of three -- his tail 
knocks over a barrel and they turn their heads in surprise.  Behind them,
one of the others calles out his name, but he keeps his attention on the
three nearest. Thk has a keen eye for battle tactics, and he quickly notes 
that one of them can stretch his body, another appears to be abnormally 
strong, and the third raises its hands at him as though to cast a spell!

                       ---> Oh-oh! <----

Instinctively, Thk raises his hands and shapes his mouth to form the
all-purpose defensive spell that is available to every Shaman of his 
line who attains the Fifth Baptization:  * Dispel Magic *  Like an old
western gunfight, it boils down to who can get his spell off first, and 
Thk winces because he knows that this human spellcaster has the drop on 
him.

But neither has a chance to caste, for precisely at that moment, the 
Captain leaps around the corner behind Thk with a whooping war cry and 
slices a nasty cut in the lizardman's abdomen with his saber!  Then the 
berserker sailor charges straight at the Wasters!  The fight is on!!!

During the opening moments of this historic battle, Thk is distracted 
by the lobe of intestine which protrudes from his gut.  Not again!
Why does this keep happening to him?  He places both hands upon his 
belly, hisses the proper words, and the wound knits instantly.

Now, he wonders, striding into the confusing melee, which of these 
combatants is Kron, and on whose side should I fight?  The latter decision
is quickly made when he spots Colin, the human who helped free him from 
the block of ice.  He leaps to the Ranger's side to give aid.

                  "Ssstand fassst, Colin!"
-------
Rigler   (aka 'Thk')
--