From: CHM173S@vma.smsu.edu.Ext (Chris Meadows) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Storm] [Jiri] [AU] The Storm Continues Date: Wed, 07 Apr 93 00:06:47 CDT Message-ID: <16BA9197.CHM173S@vma.smsu.edu.Ext> Keywords: [Storm] [Jiri] [AU] Andrea Jiriku Kyhra Sheryl unicorn ~Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1993 23:48:03 -0400 ~From: Kalhad the Blackk To: ~Subject: [Storm][Jiri][Au]:The Storm Builds... In article <16BA712ED5.CHM173S@vma.smsu.edu.Ext> CHM173S@vma.smsu.edu.Ext (Chris > "Pile those sandbags!" the supervisor bawled out over the >thunder and rising wind. "The storm's almost here--we don't have >much time!" > Obediently, Kyhra put his back into it. The elevated level >of the city made the seawall four feet high here, though the sea >itself was about thirty feet below it on the other side. During >normal times, anyway. Right now, the wind was whipping it into a >violent frenzy and it was lapping in, breaking against the wall >about halfway up it and sometimes slopping over the side. > Kyhra lifted sandbag after sandbag, piling them atop the >seawall with other workers. It soon became apparent that he was >the most capable worker there, for his mighty thews could lift >the bags of sand like humans lifted sacks of flour. > The storm crept closer and closer... > > < Lightning strikes start fires in the dockside > warehouses, and other buildings are pummelled by hail > or torn apart by the wind. Many shanties in the Low > City collapse, and heavy waves sweep over the dockside > areas. However, the sandbag barriers continue to hold > back the water from the other areas of the city--though > for how long is anybody's guess.>> > Kyhra swore as he wiped the water and wet fur from his eyes once more. Without pausing even for breath he took up another sand bag, then another as soon as the first was piled. The wall had already broke in many spots, and the men piling the sandbags had already been ordered to withdraw. Some did, but not he. The Kalnarian now worked at the spot that had fallen several times, despite constant attention. Most of the workers had abandonned it already, but six others stayed to help the catman. They piled bag after bag, and every time their part of the wall broke, they began a new, not seeming to notice how futile their task was. Kyhra had lost count of the number of bags he had piled long ago, as well as the number of hours he had been piling them. Kyhra looked up briefly to see how the rest of the workers were doing, then let out a horrible oath upon seeing that besides he and his six fellows, there were very few men left at the wall. Further down, there was a larger knot of men who also still worked. A merchant dumped flour out his sacks and filled them wil sand, watching his profits wash away in the rain without a second thought. It was there that the mage with the stone had fused the falling sand earlier, Kyhra recollected. Suddenly, his attention was snapped back to the task at hand when a huge crash split the storms noisy air. The wall of sandbags in front of him began to bulge, then burst inwards as a wave hit it with a furious force. The unnamed man ahead of him yelled. The cry was cut short as the water of the retreating wave gathered him in it's wake and pulled him under. Venting a battle cry of his home people, Kyhra dove towards the wall and the man that even now was being pulled over it. "Vrie-ahh! To me! To me!" Kyhra's massive paws cut through the retreating water and latched onto the man's collar an impossible instant after he had begun his leap. It would not be the only time that the feline's speed would save another that day. Growling in fury and pain, the Kalnarian began to heave the choking man back up over the breach in the sand bags. He was weary beyond measure, but he would not give in. Almost there... Fear showed in Kyhra's eyes for the first time that day as he saw the wave coming back for a second try at the victim that it had lost. Kyhra knew that it would take two in return for it's spoiled first attempt. Still he didn't give up, as he looked death in the eye and gave a last mighty pull. He wasn't going to make it, he knew, but he would not drop another into the pits of hell to save his own skin... {meanwhile, back at the ranch... er, Inn...} > "Let's see..." she muttered. "Is it 'Tuar Nigma Sharlocht,' >or 'Tuar Naga Sherlicht'? It's hard to tell in this light..." > Then Andrea saw Sheryl look at something behind her, and she >quickly shut the book and put it away in her knapsack. It was >Jiri. "Greetings," she said. > He nodded in return, going around behind the bar and >appropriating some drink in much the same fashion as Andrea had, >then came over to her table. "Mind if I sit down?" > "Go right ahead," Andrea said, taking a long pull at the >bottle. She eyed the Wolfmage curiously as he took his seat. >"So, you think you can handle the storm's casualties?" > He shrugged. "I hope so. I can, of course, use all the >help I can get." He looked over at Sheryl, who was currently >sniffing at the crack in the door. "She's right..." he mused. > "What?" Andrea asked. > "Sheryl knows it too," Jiri said. "This is no ordinary >storm." > "What do you mean?" Andrea asked. > "It's all--WRONG. I don't know if I can explain it to a >human, but all natural weather has a certain scent, a certain >FEEL. This storm has an entirely DIFFERENT feel--a malign >sensation, like something dead. There is evil at work here, I am >sure of it." > Andrea shrugged. "Hopefully it will pass." > Jiri nodded. "Oh, it will pass all right," he said. "I >just hope that Generica will still be here after it does." >-- >Chris Meadows || "The Zetons look like beautiful >CHM173S@SMSVMA.BITNET || women, but their tissues are made >CHM173S@VMA.SMSU.EDU || of paper, so they burn, like paper." >CMEADOWS@NYX.CS.DU.EDU || --Captain Harlock, Ziv's lame-o dub. >. >. Andrea look sharply at Jiriku, then her eyes relaxed a little and she shiverred. "You could at least be a little more optimistic, Jiriku." "I _am_ being optimistic Andrea- and honest. I'm not sure what you think of this storm, but frankly, it scares me. I didn't have the chance to tell you earlier what it was that I saw in the Dreamlands. It was terrible. I should have been walking the 'Paths for another two days or so, but shortly after I arrived I felt a malevolence in the 'Forest. I came across a black and crooked path, and I followed it. Long did I walk through a diseased and twisted forest ere coming to the sea." Jiriku paused to take a pull from his ale bottle while trying to decide how to explain a Dream to a mortal. "The sea was... well, WRONG. It was black, and pulsating. I can only describe the sights to you that a mortal would see, but it wasn't just what I saw. As I said before about the storm, the scent was wrong, and the _feel_. I felt a terrible foreboding as the black sea heaved and moaned. It was almost like a giant black slug, and something rose out of the sea in the distance. It reeked of death, and it was as if the sea _had_ become a beast, though much more evil and powerful than any mere slug, no matter what the size. Now you must know why I ran back into the 'Forest and broke out of my Sleep. The Dreams told me what was coming- death upon a black sea, in the wake of a storm, and I had to come warn Kyhra. And you, and the rest of Generica." The Wolfmage fell silent and took another long drink. Andrea just stared at him, fear beginning to creep into her own face now. She shook her head and tried to clear the thoughts from her head, but the image of a black beast rising from the water- of the water- would not leave her. The wind howled and distant crashes could be heard- well some of them actually weren't distant enough for Andrea's liking. The two sat there for some time in silence, drinking their ale. "Actually Andrea, it's 'Tuar Naga Sharlocht, if I remember correctly. What is that that you were reading anyways? I don't mean to pry, but I did recognize you're mumblings, and can't place them exactly. Are you trying to learn a bit of simple magic?" The Wolfmage raised his eyebrows as he studied Andrea's reaction. "No, I'm NOT trying to learn magic, not that it's any of your business." Her face had turned wuite red, but Jiri thought it was more from embarassment than anger. Anyways, it was obvious that she didn't want to talk about it. He shrugged then quietly added "I could help you out if you wanted. Once this is over..." Andrea didn't seem to hear him, but he thought she did. Suddenly the elf smiled and a brighter look crossed his face as he change the subject. "Andrea, this waiting is awful, and I'm worrying too much about Kyhra. I think maybe a song might be of help. It would ease the tensions all around, and I think I saw Listener head down below with the others. Would you care to join us for a tune?" Andrea just grunted as she finished her ale, but Sheryl suddenly appeared from nowhere, as did Carson, both with gleaming excited eyes. Jiriku produced a small silver lute almost from nowhere and tuned it as he turned and walked towards the cellar entrance humming a cheery tune, the unicorn and the cat happily following him. Andrea shrugged and set the empty bottle down, then got up to follow as well. [NOTE] This was posted for the author of the [Jiri] thread. His address is at the top of the article. As always, if you want your characters to bump into our characters, all you gotta do is ask! -- Chris Meadows || NOTE: I will be at home for Easter CHM173S@SMSVMA.BITNET || from Wednesday April 7 evening to CHM173S@VMA.SMSU.EDU || Monday April 12 morning. Sorry for CMEADOWS@NYX.CS.DU.EDU || any inconvenience this may cause...