Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
From: kinsman@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Aphoriel/Kinsman)
Subject: Re: [Kal&Co]: Inn-satiable
Message-ID: <1993Feb19.223640.25519@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca>
References: <1993Feb19.101642.20262@walter.cray.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1993 22:36:40 GMT

Brent Davis writes....
>
>   "Were it not for powers that bind me, I would slay all of you, little
>ones!"  The hag cackled an evil laugh.  "Oh Sisters, how can I contain
>myself.  Seeing this prime flesh is almost overwhelming."  She reached out
>and stroked Kevin's cheek with one of her claws.  "It is not too late to
>turn away; we are not known for our loyalty."  She squeezed Kevin's arm,
>as if testing it.  "Let me eat this one sisters, and I'll bring the rest
>back for you to feast upon."
>
>   She stopped momentarily, and closed her eyes.  Then with a noticeable
>jerk, she released Kevin's arm and walked over to the bed.  As she surveyed
>the nude body of Kalendraf, she poked one of her deadly claws into her own
>hand, drawing blood.  "Qevax guvf, phefrq bar," she instructed and placed
>her bleeding hand over Kal's mouth.
>

[A short ritual occurs.]

>   "You can all understand me now.  Yes, even you Earthling."  She gazed
>into Kevin's eyes, deepening the fear that was already there.  "There is
>little time for this message, so it needs be brief.  Kalendraf, you must
>regain the item that brought you here.  Only after that will you be able
>to free yourself of its curse upon you.  It feeds on the water in your
>body, and it blanks your mind to conceal itself.  This charm I have given
>you will prevent the mind-blanking, but you must still supply it the water
>it seeks.  Try bathing or swimming often, as it can absorb the liquid
>through your skin just as easily and far less noticeably."
>

Denner was paralyzed with hear from this horrifying sea hag, but it didn't
stop him from thinking....

(Ah ha!) Denner thought to himself. (An artifact which displaces the water
from Kalendraf!  Now, is that an alchemic process or a physical-magic 
process?  Good question...)

>   "That explains it," muttered Kalendraf finally realizing the connection
>between all of his blackouts.  "Then I shall ask the Wyeriun to return the
>horn to me."
>
Denner was surprised by Kalendraf's intelligent speech, then berated himself
for his foolishness: likely he was an intelligent man in his own language,
and especially considering that no ordinary fool would get himself in a
situation as serious-seeming as this....

A horn from the.. Wyerium?

>   The hag wheeled and stared at Kalendraf.  She spoke with an even
>angrier tone, "The task is much more difficult.  Your foolish generosity
>has seen to that, little one."  She raised a hand as if to strike Kalendraf,
>and then merely relaxed.  "The new bearer seeks to unleash its powers, but
>the horn has instead placed even darker curses upon him.  In time he will
>lose himself to it, and his paranoia will turn to madness.  I tell you
>this, because already he and others seek to destroy you, Kalendraf."
>

(Uh oh.) Denner pondered. (Curses. We do have to go see Ivy now; if this is
an alchemic artifact, we'd need her help just to keep ourselves alive if
this bearer wished to strike against us.)

>   She moved toward the window, and gently creaked open the shutter.
>"Even now forces are gathering just outside this very Inn to capture you."
>She turned and faced Denner and Meran.  "To cover their tracks, it is likely
>you all will suffer the same fate."
>   
>   "uh...we're just innocent bystanders, really."  Denner was once again
>attempting to use his diplomatic skills, but obviously, they needed honing.
>
>   "Fates have strange ways of paying their dues, death dealer.  Perhaps
>this is how you will pay yours for your poisonous trade."  The witch's
>warted nose nearly touched Denner's face, and just the thought made his
>skin twitch. 
>
Denner sighed inwardly.  Whether is was a town guard, a figure in the corner,
or a supernatural sea hag, it seemed *nobody* had any true understanding of
the function he served...

********************************************************

[I sense... something magical...]

Outside of the Inn, the hooded dark figure suddenly straightened at stared
upward at the second floor window.

"What is it... sir?" The mischevious young man whispered.

[WE MUST STORM THE BUILDING! OUR CRIMINALS ARE SUMMONING MYSTICAL BEINGS
 TO AID THEM IN THEIR DARK DEEDS!]

"Eh?" One guard said.

"Whazzat?" The guard's captain queried.

The hooded figure sighed.  Obviously his hushed tone wasn't ringing quite
clear.  He shuffled over to the guard's captain and repeated his statement
in a more dignified volume.

"Think you so?  Hmmm.. Well, I'll trust you on that.  Ok men, raid the 
building and pluck them right from their room!"

The contingent of guards cheered and ran for the entrance, storming into
the bar and a group of very surprised Inn patrons, including one *very*
surprised Littlefair and one *extremely* surprised Listener...

"What are you all doing?" Littlefair demanded.

"Off to capture some criminals!" The guard captain yelled as he ran by and
up the stairs.

Littlefair and Listener looked at each other as the dust tracks of the
guardsmen settled.

"That's it, those people are *never* coming back to this Inn again...."

>   "What more must I tell them, Sisters?  My hunger grows as I look upon 
>these tender morsels.  Soon it must be satiated."  Again she closed her eyes
>and appeared to meditate.  Slowly, the aura of fear surrounding her seemed
>to lessen.
>
>   Outside the room, came the sounds of heavy feet trudging up the stairs.
>The handle of the door wiggled, but the bolt held it secure.  Loud voices
>were followed by strong echoing blows against the door.
>
>   "We're trapped!"  E'Karam quickly pointed out.  "Let me defend you,
>my darling," he offered, boldly stepping between the door and the hag.
>
>   Quicksilver transferred most of his conscience back to his form in the
>room, then moved to the closed window, and thrust it open.  Below he could
>make out several huddling figures, attempting to remain in the shadows,
>along with a small dog wagging its tail.  "She was right.  We're surrounded
>by armed men."  'I should know', he thought; 'One of them just petted me.'
>

"Cute little doggie.  Have I got a bone for you?"  The mischevious young
man dug around in his tunic.

[Pay attention! These dark magicians might be busting out of that inn any
minute now! I don't trust these guards to capture them so easily...]

"Yeah, yeah, ok... (Cute doggie...)"

>   Kalendraf, just now noticing his nakedness, grabbed some garments setting
>on a night stand and began to don them.  Even wearing them, he still felt
>naked without a blade.  "Would there happen to be an extra sword or dagger
>handy?"
>
>   Denner and Kevin teamed up, sliding a large dresser to block the door.
>Within a few moments, the others joined them in piling every available object
>behind the door. 
>
>   Meanwhile, the guards were making serious progress in battering down
>the door.  With a few more tries they would break through.  Suddenly,
>the hag awoke from her trance.  "Leave now, before my sisters release me.
>Save yourselves!," she shouted.
>
>   "But...how?," Denner asked.  The rest of the members muttered words to
>the same affect, and they all turned to the hag with bewildered looks.
>
>   "The narrowness of the humanoid mind never ceases to amaze me.  Why do
>you always limit your thinking to two dimensions?"  With her powerful claws,
>she reached up and ripped a sizable hole in the ceiling, showering the
>room with dust and debris.
>
>--
> / bdavis@cray.com     | T | Given that 6 x 9 = 42, \
>(  Cray Research, Inc. | 3 | then the Universe must  )
> \ Chippewa Falls, WI  | D | be a base 13 function. /