From: CHM173S@vma.smsu.edu.Ext (Chris Meadows) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [AU] [Inn] The walrus said to talk... [Repost] Date: Tue, 23 Mar 93 08:18:17 CST Message-ID: <16B9A74CA.CHM173S@vma.smsu.edu.Ext> Keywords: [AU] [Inn] 'Raelf ar'Elya Andrea Sheryl unicorn ADMIN: This is a repost of a repost; the first repost apparently did not get through. This repost is because I don't think the original post didn't get everwhere, since it never showed up at my site. This takes place immediately before "Off to See the Wizards..." ----------begin Steve Hutchison's post---------- ~Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: ibeam!hutch ~From: hutch@ibeam.intel.com (Steve Hutchison) ~Subject: [AU][Inn]'Raelf,ar'Elya,Andrea,Unicorn: the walrus said to talk... Message-ID: Organization: Intel Corp., Hillsboro, Oregon ~Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1993 08:36:07 GMT [the time has come, the walrus said to talk, of many things]... "I'd be happier if it felt like things were settling down, Raye." (click) "'Raelf, there's nothing you can do about it from here-and-now." "I found the keel and the transitor and four partially blasted runes." (clack. clack) "So what does it mean to us?" (click. Click, click) "I can't really say. There's so much happening, and I still can't see any of the branch around the Mage Guild." "Who was he, anyway. You didn't really say." "Well, the others all called him `silken' and LittleFair said he was another one of the dark-corners crowd. He's not from Nexus, really. I tried to follow his traces from a few months back, saw him in action. Very competent cat-burglar, semicompetent psychic - couldn't ever tell when he was going to be idiot or savant. Had the usual array of magic unbeatable weapons and stuff. Stereotype of the jack of all trades." (clack) "Oh? Into archetypes, you say?" "I think he dabbled in everything, but never stayed with anything." (click) "Why would he choose to dabble in vampirism?" (clack) "Who knows? He made noises like he didn't want to be, but he sure seemed to enjoy using the weedy. Anyway, I hope the safety field stayed on long enough to kick him back into reality." "What ruined the board?" (tap, tap, tap, tap. clunk.) "Combination of things. I think he either got hit by the Sorc's wards, or he actually caught his attention and got blasted. The protections should have held it off, but then I didn't expect the local gods to start dying out of turn. Weakened it. Then the turbulence has been so much worse lately, and it's rippling backtimewards. Board probably blew along the discriminator array." "Are you bored?" "Yes. This game is no fun. Can I burn it?" (clatter, clatter, click) "Sure." <> FOOOMF - the board and tiles exploded in flames, infernal but contained above the marble tabletop. A wisp of white smoke rose, drifting on the wind over the garden, and across the lighthouse wall. "Why did you think that game would be fun, 'Raelf?" "I thought it was different. Chinese Scrabble, who'd expect them to do it in their own alphabet?" "I guess. Hey, I'm hungry. Free Lunch?" ar'Elya flickered briefly between her two more athletic base-roles, before settling on the Amazon form of A'ree, with the requisite wolf appearing from nowhere. "How we gonna get there? I don't want to use the gate." "Could race. Could skate." "Yah! Come on!" 'Raelf sprinted towards the tower where their gear was stored. After a ten minute mostly-invisible race across the skies above the Low City the air in front of the Inn flashed with faint blue flames as three figures emerged into the street. The two human figures looked dubiously at the third; a wolf wearing inline skates, even modified for canine feet, looks very odd. "You could have been a Hawk, Critter. Raye, why wasn't he a hawk?" "Why weren't you a hummingbird? Cut some slack, jack." They helped the lupine to dismount the skates, and approached the door. "Careful, guys. Alita's got the door boobytrapped." "Right." The warm air from the Inn washed over them, causing the wolf to sneeze. <> "This IS the Dragon's Inn, Critter. Strange is a way of life here." Rowan smiled as 'Raelf approached the bar. "Here to get your free lunches?" "Yah. Raye's being polite, decided to be daintier today. So you don't have to put another cow on the grill." "I'm relieved, lad. Say, do you know anything about thiii... What's your wolf doing?" "Uh, Raye?" In response, she looked over and whistled. The wolf had gone over to the table 'Raelf usually took, one by the small fireplace near the front door, but instead of sitting, he was very carefully whiffling at the heels of something that 'Raelf could have sworn was the kiester-end of a Unicorn. ar'Elya went over to speak to the human who was sharing a table with it. "Rowan, is that a for-real Unicorn sitting, er, standing, in my usual spot?" "I believe so. She's been drinking milk." "Oh. Uh, what was your question?" "Why have I had four people appear in here from Ak-Ir-Neg, and why have I had people calling me `LittleTrill', and why did one of them tell me to ask you about it?" "Uh, right. You remember Alita, the blue-lady who went off to hunt for the shrunken-giant's dragon with us?" "Yes. Be careful of her, I suspect she's a succubus." "That would be almost correct. Anyway, she's living over flipside now. She's opened a bar there, exact spot as here, but it's cursed to violence instead of blessed to peace. She and a friend of hers decided to `help' you out, by creating a correspondence-gate between their inn and yours. She does a wicked good impression of you, by the way." Rowan scowled, thinking of the damage to his reputation and his clients. "And this gate takes people who are peaceful and boring there, and shunts them over here, and sends violent people over there." "Right, sort of, when it really works right. I'm almost sure the Knight and his Lady Blaze got sent there once by mistake, for instance." "Well. I'm not sure I want my clients being snatched away." "I'll see what I can do about it." "Give it a week, lad. I might decide I like the arrangement." "Whatever. Hey, could you be out of Catamount Porter today? I think Raye's having flashbacks from the stuff." "Well, normally no, but I DO happen to be out of the Cat today." "Way cool. See ya." 'Raelf went over to the table and joined Raye, who was apologizing to the young dark-haired, dark-skinned woman at the table. "He doesn't usually get this fresh, ma'am." The young lady in question continued to glance nervously at the wolf. There was a small dagger within easy reach on the table, but she didn't appear to be too predisposed toward using it, which seemed to be a good sign. The small unicorn had turned and was peering curiously toward this creature that was sniffing at her, though she didn't seem too wor- ried. "Well, Sheryl doesn't seem to mind," the woman said at last. "May we join you here for lunch? Our usual table is occupied," ar'Elya nodded, indicating the place where the Unicorn was standing. The dark-clothed woman shrugged. "If you like." Then, sensing that perhaps introductions were in order, she added, "My name is Andrea, and my...friend here is Sheryl." "I'm ar'Elya. This blond fellow here is 'Raelf, my housepet. The wolf is Critter, and if he doesn't behave himself I'm going to skin him for a coat, got it, Critter?" She drew a dagger threateningly. 'Raelf bowed greetings, and grinned at Andrea's cautious expression. "Ignore her, please, she's not herself today. She'd sooner skin her own self as cut into her Critter. Or skin me." "That's not funny. When's the food showing up, we're starved." The wolf growl-whined in agreement. "Just here," Mary LittleFair said, delivering a big bowl of crisply fried potatoes to the center of the table, and setting down a mug of blackjack cider. "The meat'll be here as soon as it hits blood temperature." "Great. Oh, hey, Andrea, would you like to share lunch with us? Tell a few stories, we can find out what a nice 'corn like this is doing in a place like this. Hey, you better be careful here, there's parts of town where they'd mug you, chop the horn off your friend, and sell the two of you off to the Rameshanders in half-a-second." Andrea nodded, in a manner which suggested that she knew all about places like that. "Yes, I've had that experience." 'Raelf tasted one of the fried potato sticks and looked around the table, searching for something missing. "Where's the ketchup and salt?" Andrea picked up the dagger and made it disappear with some impressive sleight of hand that seemed to come naturally to her. She stroked Sheryl's neck gently. "This may sound like an...odd question, but what is this place? The city, I mean, not just the pub." 'Raelf looked up from the unsatisfactory fries and said, "It's called Generica." At this, Andrea looked up. "Generica..." she murmured. "At last. What a long, strange trip it's been." Sheryl perked up too, at mention of the name. "So, what brings you to this town?" 'Raelf asked. "Oh, just a little problem I need to solve. Nothing, really." Andrea sighed. "Do you know if there is anywhere around here that I could find a room for the night?" 'Raelf toyed with the fried potato sticks and said, "I believe Rowan Littlefair has some rooms for rent. Or you can look for something on the bulletin board over there." He pointed to a space on the wall of the staircase, by the door. It was plastered with a few dozen notices, some quite new, others tattered and fading. "Thanks." Andrea got up. "Save my seat, Sheryl." The little unicorn nickered an affirmative, and hopped up onto the bench seat vacated by Andrea. She tucked her legs under her and lay down, looking so pleased with herself that it elicited a chuckle from 'Raelf and ar'Elya. Andrea almost smiled, then walked over to the bulletin board. It was filled with notices of all sorts--quests unfinished, help wanted, rooms to let, etc. Then one fairly new announcement caught her eye, and her eyes widened. "Raoh..." she breathed. She reached out and pulled it down, then carried it back to the table. She walked as if dazed, and her eyes betrayed the inner turmoil she was feeling. While Andrea had been reading the board, someone had apparently brought some ketchup and salt by; 'Raelf had been raising a red-tipped potato fry to his mouth when Andrea sat back down, looking like she was under a spell. "Hey, are you all right?" he asked, the fry forgotten. "Raoh..." she murmured, staring at the notice gripped within her hand. "That bastard..." She let the notice fall to the table, and suddenly a dagger appeared through the center of it with a THONK! that startled everyone at the table, Sheryl included. Now that the note was on the table, 'Raelf and ar'Elya could see that it was the poster advertising for adventurers to seek out and destroy the tyrant Raoh, who supposedly had the power to raze entire towns with a wave of his hand. "Andrea..." 'Raelf said gently. "Andrea?" Sheryl looked concerned. Andrea wasn't listening. She was in her own world, her eyes betraying the agony she was feeling inside. She reached down the front of her tunic and brought out a silver locket. She flipped it open, looked at whatever was inside, and the tears started to flow. "Oh, Sheryl..." she half-sobbed, and the small unicorn nuzzled her gently. She lowered her head to the table and sat there crying silently, the force of the sobs shaking her body. 'Raelf looked embarrassed, and would have moved to comfort her but ar'Elya stopped him. "No," she said. "Look at her. Combat fatigue. Survivor syndrome, she's been hiding something from herself for too long. Let her cry it out." Reluctantly, 'Raelf agreed, and Andrea's sobs gradually subsided, until she was silent. "She's fallen asleep," ar'Elya observed. 'Raelf got up, and walked over to Littlefair. "Got a crash pad? Lady needs to sleep." He tossed him a gold piece. "Of course," Littlefair said, indicating the place. "Right through there, second doorway on the right." "Thanks." 'Raelf walked back over to the table and gently picked the sleeping thief up. Sheryl moved as if to stop him, but he said, "Don't worry, little 'corn, I'm not going to harm her." He carried her to the room, Sheryl trailing behind him. As he laid her on the bed and pulled the cover up over her, he noticed that she was still clutching the locket. Curious, he gently disengaged her hand from the necklace and examined it. The locket had two small drawings in it, rendered in color by some skilled artist--probably done at some travelling carnival for a few copper pieces, he reflected. On the left was a picture of a young teenaged girl who had to be Andrea ten years or more ago. She certainly looked happy, nothing like the world-weary woman whose neck the locket hung around. In the other side was a younger blonde-haired girl, perhaps about 8 or 10 years of age. 'Raelf snapped the locket shut and tucked it back inside Andrea's collar before pulling the covers up to her neck. "Pleasant dreams," he said before walking out, leaving a small unicorn standing sentinel at the foot of the bed. -- [ADMIN] This is a joint post, by Chris Meadows and me. If you want to comment to Chris, send mail to one of CHM173S@SMSVMA.BITNET CHM173S@VMA.SMSU.EDU CMEADOWS@NYX.CS.DU.EDU The characters: "Silken" is owned by Mithrandir (TKelly) and is slandered here without explicit permission. "Andrea" and "Sheryl" are owned by Chris Meadows and appear here by special arrangement. "Raoh" is a guest villain owned by Chris (Wolvie) Motherway and appears in cameo by special arrangement. 'Raelf and ar'Elya are mine, all rights reserved, etc. ------------end Steve Hutchison's post------------ Well, that's it...hope you like it, and I hope this lessens any confusion. Heck, just blame it on the timestream thing. If you want to join the thread or have the character make an appearance in your thread, just email me for permission, as per the admin note at the end of "Off to See the Wizards"...I like getting email, especially about something I've written. Later! -- Chris Meadows || Kaiser Bill went up the hill CHM173S@SMSVMA.BITNET || To see the War advance. CHM173S@VMA.SMSU.EDU || Kaiser Bill came down the hill CMEADOWS@NYX.CS.DU.EDU || With bullets in his pants!