Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1992 09:42:58 EST From: The Dreamer Message-ID: <92308.094258ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [L] Luthor Is Told Of His Loss ADMIN: I have been rather busy with work as of late, plus my recent newsfeed problem, so I have not been able to post as often as I would have liked. The good news is that my newsfeed has made a miraculous recovery and work is slowing down :-) What Has Gone Before: Luthor, after being brain-fried in the street by Helen the Grey (half-doppleganger assassin), wondered into the inn. After talking briefly to Littlefair, Luthor was invited to sit with his old pal Firecat who he can't remember. "...So you see that many years have passed since your marriage to Rachel. Many things have changed since that happy time Luthor...many things," Firecat said. He was concerned for Luthor. This memory loss was very dangerous for him considering that he still had enemies about. Should they learn that Luthor is in a weakened state, they would make their move. "Tell me what has happened since my marriage. For instance, how long have I known you? Are you a new member of the Children of the Blue Star? What about my beloved wife, where is she? And the Queen?" Luthor's mind filled with a multitude of other questions. Try as he might, there was no memories to grasp onto. He had been drinking with friends one minute and the next, he was in Generica, Four and a Half Years Later!. "Luthor, I have only known you for a few weeks, but I have learned much of your life and your tragic history." Firecat could see that Luthor cringed at the word 'tragic', but he HAD to be told. "Luthor, I ask that you hold nothing against me for telling you what has happened. None of it is good. Your life has, until recently, been full of loss." Luthor braced himself for the worse. "I will hold nothing against you. I am sure that it is not your doing..." "First, know that your wife is dead," Firecat paused to let this sink in. A dark expression crossed Luthor's face. Darker than the BLACK cloak for which he was famous. Rachel meant everything to him. Tears welled in his eyes, but he did not break. "How did she die?" "Well, from what you have told me, you were set up. You attacked a man named Jarrad ...something. During the battle, your wife was killed...and all of the Children of the Blue Star. You are the last of them Luthor." Luthor's face twisted in grief. The Children had been his family for seven years. He had gone on countless missions for the Queen with them and now they were all gone. Tears flowed freely now. Serene, between trays of drinks and food, saw Luthor and gasped. His normally friendly smile was replaced with a vision of sorrow. She handed her tray to Mary Littlefair. "There is something I must take care of." "Luthor, what is the matter?" She asked him. Firecat answered the question. "Luthor has forgotten the last few years. I just told him about his wife...and his friends." Firecat felt strangely guilty. He had brought this noble man to his knees with his tragic news. It occurred to him that Luthor had time to deal with the deaths the first time around. Now they were all lumped together. "...I'm so sorry..." escaped his lips in barely more than a whisper. Luthor pulled himself together. "Have I avenged my wife's death?" "Yes actually. You just came back from your quest to do so. The Queen is dead and her son Permus is on the throne..." "WHAT? Who killed the Queen? Have I avenged her too?" anger rose in Luthor's voice. "Luthor, YOU killed the Queen. She set you up...she betrayed you. She was the one who had your son killed and then..." "What son? Oh Lathander, your brilliance has come with the dawn and all I see with your light is a field of corpses." Luthor fell silent. Serene saw an opportinity to improve things. "Luthor, once you told me that I should not be sad when you are gone. You will be dancing with your wife in the place where Elves go when they have left us. Your wife is there now, dancing with her ancestors...and your son. After their deaths, you avenged them and replaced an insane queen with a kindly king. Now an entire country has been saved by your deeds. Think of this during your grief." "If you two will excuse me, I must be alone for a while. I will me in my room.... I do have a room here, don't I?" Luthor sounded exhausted. "Yes. Room 12. Just go to the top of the steps, make a right. You'll find it." Serene smiled briefly. Her hand dropped instinctively to her swelling belly where her daughter was growing. Silently, she wished that nothing so tragic happen to her. Luthor bowed to them in thanks and slowly walked up the stairs. Love and Peace and Grief, -The Dreamer-