Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: The Quest for Raoh Begins Message-ID: From: wolvie@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (christopher motherway) Date: 26 Feb 93 17:17:56 GMT The Dragon's Inn was rather quiet this evening. Littletrill was happy that it was, considering only last week the place was essentially trashed thanks to Lance Wolf putting drinks on the house until high moon. Lance and Blaze Gethsah were sitting at a table, eating probably the most scrumptious meal ever put before them. They had complimented the chef on more than one occasion. The gentile tunes of Listener were playing fromt the corner, and all patrons were just relaxing, enjoy the light fog that had set over Generica. Suddenly, a young man came charging through the door of the Inn, causing everyone's head to turn. He was a small lad, couldn't be any more than eleven years of age. He was human, the bangs of his red hair were so long it covered his right eye entirely. His clothes were a wreck; shredded, dirty and otherwise thrashed. He gave the appearence that he had lived through a vicious war. "HELP ME, PLEASE!!" screamed the boy, as soon as he entered the Inn. "SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!" Littletrill came up to the boy and asked, "Slow down, lad. What's the matter?" He had certainly never seen this lad before in Generica. "Will you help me?" said the boy. "If I can, I'll try. But what's wrong?" "I need to find someone...someone to help stop the scourge going through my city." "What city, lad?" "Kassandra. I just rode all the way from there, not stopping until I hit this town. I don't even know how far I've travelled, but Kassandra is dead north from here." "Never heard of the place before, lad. But what is this 'scourge' you rant about? A plague?" "No! It's far WORSE than ANY plague! It's Raoh!" "Ra-Raul?" "No, Raoh! Raoh the Conqueror! The most vicious man I have ever seen!" At this, some of the patrons were murmuring to themselves about this Raoh character, not knowing what to make of it. A few others screamed at Littletrill to toss the kid out. At the first mention of Raoh, Lance's eyes opened wide. "Who is this...Raoh?" asked Littletrill. "I...I...I can't describe him well, but he killed my family and my sister Lynn as well! Someone MUST come with me and help me please!!!!" The murmur grew, the others screamed loader, even offering to toss him out themselves. Just then, Lance got up on a nearby empty table and yelled, "HOLD!" The Inn got quiet as Lance spoke again. "I KNOW of this Raoh. A wandering bard told me of this man a few years ago, although the man was not known as a 'Conqueror' then. The bard told me of him in song. He then grabbed his mandolin (he was planning to try to duet with Listener after dinner), and went to the stage where Listener was. He asked the Inn's bard for a minute or two, which Listener gladly obliged. Lance then started strumming and singing: A man has not known such a man of sheer power A man has not seen him and lived past the hour The one they call Raoh is that vicious a man... For he destroys towns by a wave of his hand. (As this point, the air above the Inn crackled and all heads looked up to see sort of a hole in the air, surrounded by smoke. Images were forming inside the hole.) No weapons he carries, the Arts he knows not But through his bright aura his gets what he's got The power within him no mortal can stand The power to level by waving his hand. (The image of a man on a blake horse appeared. This Raoh character at least LOOKED formidable: human, at LEAST eight feet tall, a cemented growl on his face. Then, the images showed a red aura around Raoh and the horse. Raoh then lifted his hand and, with a grimace, titled it toward a small village. Three seconds later, the town was leveled; not a SINGLE building was left standing!) Of magic and power this man has combined To make his fist tough with the cost of his mind His entire family, though full of strentgh grand... Were all just destroyed by a wave of his hand. With him, his leiutenant, Ugyar is his name. His mastering of whips is his claim to fame His cats-o-nine-tails is his pride and his brand He kills who don't fall when Raoh waves his hand. (The image of Ugyar formed. This guy was about TEN feet tall. His whips he pulled out of his _HELMET_, chopping down anyone left in the destroyed town) No man has yet to put down these two men And I would suggest you not try it, my friend For if Ugyar don't stop you, then Raoh sure can And you'll be put to death by a wave..of..his..hand! (The images ceased. The hole sealed.) All the patrons were dumfounded, albeit more by how Lance made the images than by the images of the story of Raoh. Lance then left the stage and walked over to the young man. Blaze got up and joined Lance by his side. Lance knelt down and said, "I will help you if I can, son. What is your name?" The lad, who was a little frightened at this man's magic, said "B-B-Baff." Lance said, "Do not be afraid, Baff, I will not hurt you. I will help, but I need some time to get provisions together, and perhaps a group to help. Give me a week or so. You may stay with Blaze and I if you wish. All right?" The boy simply nodded. Lance then got up and addressed the Inn. "I will be leaving in a week's time to go after Raoh. This boy shall lead me to Kassandra so that Raoh may be vanquished. But I do not believe even _I_ can do it alone. I ask of anyone in this Inn tonight who wishes to join me in this quest to let me know before the week is up. We shall set off at dawn a week from tomorrow. Do not rush headlong into this, I beg of you; this is not going to be an easy fight. I shall leave a note on the bulliten board for those not here who wish to join me. Please let me know if you wish to join." Lance then coaxed Baff up to his quarters with Blaze walking behind. ************************************************************************** Later that night, the note was posted: WANTED Brave Adventurers Wishing to help bring down the man called RAOH THE CONQUEROR of Kassandra Inquire to: Sir Lance Room 13A Dragon's Inn WARNING: This man is vicious and bloodthirsty Victory is NOT gaurenteed and neither is your personal safety! Lance and Blaze had taken some comforters and laid on the floor of their room while Baff slept in the bed. The twosome were accustomed to sleeping of floors; they had done it many a time while travelling before settling in Generica. Blaze spoke while Lance was settling in. "Why," she asked, "did you not tell ME of this Raoh before?" Lance said, "Because, beloved, I thought it a trifle. I did not even know if the bard was saying the truth. But, by the way Baff described him, it HAD to be him. Did you not see how frightened he was when those images of Raoh appeared? I did not know before, but I do know now, and THAT is why I must stop him. If he is as vicious as said, he must NOT be allowed to live!" Blaze sighed, saying, "I suppose you are right, my love, but I do not think you shall be going alone. _I_ will join you if no one else will." Lance said, "But,...I did not think you would wish to, after the story about how..." "But I DO wish to join you. We have been together all this time, Lance. Why not this time? Certainly, Raoh is a powerful man, but we have faced powerful beings before and we have emerged victorious. Besides,...you never know when you might need a wizard around." "Very well, my dear. You shall join me. But cursed be Raoh if he does anything to you." "Beloved, do not worry for me. Worry for Baff. And for Kassandra. Good night." "Good night, Blaze." Their traditional long kiss completed, Lance and Blaze nodded quickly off to sleep, even through Baff's incredible snoring.