Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: andsol@arcadien.owlnet.rice.edu (Andrew J. Solberg) Subject: Kron: [Low City]: Arms and the Man Message-ID: <1992Jun22.220906.10877@rice.edu> Keywords: Kron, Creft, Cheyenne, Slythe, murder Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1992 22:09:06 GMT Scorpion has issued his challenge. He is not terribly surprised to see that Kron's companions will not give him up without a fight. So much for an easy day, he thinks, and puts a small silver whistle to his lips. He blows, but no noise comes out. No noise that humans can hear, that is. However, a gang of orc-dogs penned up a block away can hear the whistle very well, and they bark like raw hell. And under the streets, luminescent eyes peer upwards and heave their reptilian forms toward nearby storm drains and gratings..... ADMIN: You want reinforcements? Voila'! **************************************************************************** Kron's in another world. Corporal Kron of Gorgon Squadron rushes the low stand of brush edging the dry embankment of the river. Arrow shafts whizz all around him, but he knows that to stop or flee is to die. He dives into the brush, sword first, and comes face to face with a vicious, tattoed lizardman archer. It snarls, exposing its filed teeth, and exchanges bow for spear in one fluid motion. Kron watches the point carefully as it weaves in front of him..... ....in a sinuous pattern. Clearly, the elastic-armed one is attempting to confuse him with its two-weaponed, quick-thrust style. Kron compensates as he charges by going into a roll and coming up quickly under Slythe's belly. He thrusts with his short sword, but his adversary is no longer where he was..... ......for one spring of his powerful reptilian tail has carried him out of harm's way. Now it hovers yards away from the enraged soldier. It knows that it has the longer reach, and it has some idea of Kron's attacking strategy, so it can sit back and wait until he makes a mistake. In a short time reinforcements will arrive, and then Kron will be mincemeat. Kron knows this, and presses the attack. He edges close to the reptilian warrior; then, as the spear point jabs warningly towards him, Kron strikes it just above the head on the weak point of the shaft. There is a snap! as..... ......the blade of Slythe's left sword shatters. However, even unarmed, Slythe is a deadly opponent. Loops of the free arm fall around Kron's shoulders and neck, drawing tightly about him. Kron curses his foolishness as he realises the terrible mistake he made in..... ......ignoring the lizard people's ability to befriend other reptiles. Now, the terrible python has dropped from above and is squeezing the life out of him. Further, the vicious warrior is moving in for the kill with another spear at the ready. As the edges of his vision start to blacken, Kron reflects that this is no way for a good soldier to die..... There is a flash of redness and pain. Kron picks himself up from the ground. Highflyer's spell seems to have scorched the hell out of his back, but it has knocked him free from Slythe's strangulating coils. It has also restored his wits. Grimly, but more sensibly, Kron readies his sword and prepares to join the fight once again... -- Andrew Solberg |"Moving faster than a speeding bullet isn't andsol@owlnet.rice.edu | much use if you and it are headed straight Phone:713-529-8627 | for each other." John Brunner bridge-sleep-eat-sex-bridge-sleep-eat-sex-bridge-sleep-I'M STUCK!!!!