From: scott@athena.mit.edu (Scott D Bradburn)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Re: Someone New
Message-ID: <1992Oct7.174643.642@athena.mit.edu>
Date: 7 Oct 92 17:46:43 GMT
References: <1992Oct4.144233.12900@athena.mit.edu> <92280.154129ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu>

In article <92280.154129ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu>, ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
|>      E'Karam walked over to the Gnome and tapped his shoulder to get his
|> attention.  "I know what you mean.  We Halflings have the same problem.
|> I was thinking of building my own bar called 'Under the Hill' for us
|> short folk, but I have no money."  The Illithid said looking down at the
|> Gnome.
|>      "Mind if I join you?"  he asked waiting patiently for a reply.
|> 
|>      Love and Peace and Strawberries,
|>              -The Dreamer-

The gnome looks up at the illithid, and frowns, as if he's just decided
that E'Karam is up to something.  Then, suddenly, a look of comprehension
and a bright smile come across his face.

"Yes, please join me.  I'm, umm... Firgun, yes, that's right, I'm Firgun.  If I
might ask, do you consider yourself an average halfling?"  Not waiting for
a response, "I suppose you're wondering why I ask that.  Well, I've never
actually seen a halfling before, but I've studied them, as well as many
other creatures.  At many times, on actually encountering a being for the
first time, they turn out to be marginally different from the text book
description.  But, I must say, YOU are probably the single-most, incredible
error I have encountered.  Now, we could both probably make an astonishing
sum if I were to write the definitive work on halflings, based on an
interview with you.  I could title it, 'Icomm...'  How do you spell that?
Anyway, 'Acrum the Halfling' and sell it as an educational text on halflings.
You would, of course, receive an appropriate royalty, and get your name on
the title.  It could dispell all the mistaken myths about halflings that
are currently taught.  You would be a credit to your people, and a celebrity."

After that, Firgun takes off his hat, and reaches in.  In fact, he seems to have
stuck his arm in far deeper then the hat is tall.  After rummaging around for
a while, he pulls his arm out and drops a pile of stuff onto the table top.
Anyone who can see it and looks, sees four strangely marked playing cards,
two silver coins, a clear gemstone, a small glass ball, and large ball of lint.
Moving the gem and coins to one side, and placing the glass ball back into his
hat, he replaces the hat on his head, and then brushes the lint off the table
onto the floor.  Upon hitting the floor, the lint explodes with a small bang
and a brilliant flash of light.  Anyone who looks at the floor where the lint
hit will a small scrap of slick, heavy paper with an image of the Inn, as seen
from the floor by the gnome's table, on it.

"I'll even buy you drinks while we discuss the book.  I've made quite a
tidy sum as an alchemist near Shannapartisville.  Perhaps with the money
we make from publication, we could open that 'Beside a Mound' bar
you wanted."

"Order any drink you like," says Firgun, as his cider arrives.  "and,
tell me, are you interested in forming the basis for my study on halflings?"


					-Scott