From: hsexauer@vax.cns.muskingum.edu (Rapunzel)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [JOI] Help! I'm not a merman!
Message-ID: <1993Apr12.202709.4993@vax.cns.muskingum.edu>
Date: 12 Apr 93 20:27:08 -0400


	[ADMIN: Well, it seems that Aleric is in a fix.  As far as I can
	        tell, Kyar left him on the deck of the Rhymand, but the
		others seem to think him lost at sea.  So I will go with
		that assumption with this...]

	Following Kyar's hand pointing at the Rhymand, Aleric saw that the
ship was pulling away from the sinking ship lest it be caught in the pull.
Aleric glanced around and saw that he was momentarily free of wraiths and able
to leave the black ship.  He turned and quickly leaped from the poopdeck to 
the lower decks and the rail.  Grabbing one rope still tying the ships
together, he slashed the line and swung out over the waters.  Unfortunately
for Aleric, just about the time he was midswing the mariners in the rigging
of the Rhymand cut their end of the rope, not knowing he was on the other end.
Aleric gave a surprised cry as the rope suddenly fell and he with it.  He 
splashed down into the waves and was tugged under them by the undertow.
	Holding his breath, Aleric flailed briefly before his head broke the
surface.  Quickly before he could lose it, he sheathed Xel-Ha and fastened it
tighter to his back.  He was doing all he could at the time to keep his head 
above water.  The storm continued to churn the waves making it difficult.  In
addition the death ship was still sinking and would soon pull him under to a
watery death if he didn't get out of the immediate vicinity.  Stroking with
all his might, Aleric pulled away from both ships into the relative safety of
the open waters.  Not five minutes later the death ship fragmented and
disappeared below the surface.  Of course Aleric was too busy staying afloat to
notice this.  The Rhymand continued to move away at a brisk pace.
	<Damn!> Aleric thought. <They won't be able to see me through the storm
and won't hear me shout.  I've got to follow the ship as best I can, as long
as it's in sight I'll be fine.>  Though his black shirt and jerkin clung to 
his body making swimming cumbersome, his strong arms held against the sea.
He tried to make to most use of the waves, letting them help carry him closer
to the ship.  He somehow managed to stay about a hundred yards behind the ship
as it forged through the deeps.  
	Aleric was tiring quickly, and his pace slowed.  He had already spent
much of the night fighting the undead wraiths, sapping his energy.  But it
was either continue or die.  When he was almost at the point where he could
swim no further, the Rhymand slowed and put down anchor.  Aleric felt his 
heart leap in hope. <They must have realized I am not with them!  If I can just
make it to the ship...>  The hope lent strength to his limbs and he continued
swimming for the ship.  By the time he reached the stern he was exhausted.
There was no way he could ever climb one of the heavy hawsers linked to the
rudder.  So Aleric simply wrapped one leg around the tough fibers of one rope, 
and floated on his back, using the last of his waning strength to keep his head
above water.  If the ship moved, it would drag him with it.  
	A sudden inspiration hit Aleric like a flash.  He fumbled within a
pocket on his jerkin and removed a cloth wrapped object.  He carefully
unwrapped the object to reveal a clear blue stone.  It shone with an inner
light, like a miniature star.  Aleric thrust the cloth back in his pocket.
<Never thought I would have much use for this little starstone.  About all it
was useful for was a dim light when I had nothing else.  Now, with any luck,
someone on the ship will notice it and see me.> he thought to himself.  He
held the starstone on his chest, directing its brightest glow upward.  
	Now he just had to wait, and hope....

	[ADMIN]  Okay guys, HELP!  Aleric is dead tired and can't do anything
		 else to save himself.  You put him there, now get him out.