From: tim@mik.uky.edu (timothy c huesman) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [KN] the Sad Mage hears a cry Keywords: kidnapped Alicia Beyn Message-ID: Date: 30 Oct 92 07:10:02 GMT > Alicia began frantically wriggling in her bonds, struggling to remain >awake all the while. Taking as deep a breath as possible given the >circumstances, she screamed for help. "HHHHEEEELLLLPPPHHH!!!!" >ADMIN: As might be guessed, Alicia had the misfortune to be the closest > person to the energy-draining Sad Mage.... It is said that there are some sounds that will wake the dead. Beyn was not dead but then again in a sleep-state not far from it. A frantic half-elf can now be added to that list of wakeful noises, for as Alicia was quite close to him, it did the trick. Beyn came out of the sleep as usual, chilled to the bone, sucking air as though it were his last breath, and aware. Near death experiences heighten one's soulstuff and Beyn's soul felt now the source of his feeding and the nature of the weakened spirit. Very evil persons had very evil drives and Beyn, when taking those drives into himself, knew those drives as well. This was not one, but rather it was a strong spirit and one that very much wanted to live. Beyn began rolling his benumbed body away so that despair not take this person. At the same time he tried to speak through his bond a warning that sounded much like, "MmpphaTH...Lchay mmphath!!" He hoped they could heed his warning to stay back. But it dawned on him that now that others were conscious, he did have an option open to him. The Sad Mage concentrated briefly on the surface his body had rolled into. It was incredibly dusty. The mage wrestled himself to where he could feel a fairly undisturbed layer of the filth. Frantically working his fingers he spelled out 'vampire' in a language common to the several planes he had visited. While the message was not entirely true, it was not entirely false. He then positioned himself close to the writing and hoped the screaming someone either had a light source or could see the writing before the warmth left by his fingers faded from the view of any who could see in the dark. But then maybe there was light in here. Beyn could smell smoke as that which emanates from a burning wick. Ahhh, best to wait and see what happens. A now awake Beyn lay near a dusty scrawl and occassionally tapped his feet to the ground next to the message he hoped would save a friend and not get him a wooden stake in his heart. -- Doc Pan tim@mik.uky.edu Tim Huesman