Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: wolvie@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (christopher motherway) Subject: [Raoh]->[AU][Housestorming] Returning home...or what's left of it Message-ID: Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1993 17:13:22 GMT ADMIN: Okay, the [Raoh] string ends here. To all involved, thanks. You've done phenom. Now, it has been a little under two months since the team left. The [Storm] has passed, and the team are just about to arrive back at Generica to pursue their own lives again.... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "...And so Rustan showed up and help the prisoners out of the city, and Firecat and I ran to help you, chopping some underlings along the way." The team listened to Garol talking of his adventure getting the prisoners out of the Tower Dungeon of Kassandra. Only Lance was not listening with a full ear; he was busy composing "The Conquering of a Conqueror" on his mandolin. This was the first time he had to write a song for a good while; the last one he wrote was a love song to Blaze. "It will certainly be great to get back to Generica again." said Firecat. "I suggest a tankard of drinks to all of us once we return to the Dragon's Inn!" All agreed, even Lance. The Murduk Whiskers in Specifica of Cod could not compare to the one Littlefair mixed. "Well," said Brycur, "I want to check on my store first. I haven't been away from it this long for quite some time." Lance re-slung his mandolin across his back and said, "Gentlemen, again I want to say thank you for assisting us. Your rewards were well deserved and you have my gratitude fore..." The last word stuck in his throat. The team had arrived at the valley on the north edge of Generica. Looking down, they saw the city. It was a mess. Rustan said, "What happened here?!?" Lance replied, "I do not know, but we had better find out!" The team raced, at full gallop, to the North Gate. The gaurd outside halted them. "Hold, adventures. Why the hurry?" Lance said, "Forgive me, sir, but we saw damage from the hill up there. We have been away a while. What has happened?" The gaurd looked more carefully and said, "Oh, yeah! You guys went to kill that Raoh character. Well, anyway, a vicious hurricane-type storm hit here about a week or two ago. Trashed a lot of buildings, but the overall damage was not that bad." As soon as Blaze heard the word "storm", she started weeping a little. "Oh, Lance," she cried, "this could have been the after-effect of my reviving you." Lance quickly replied, "No, Blaze! If it were, Generica would not be here at all. This is not your fault, beloved. Believe me. I can feel a little evil in the air, and if I know anything, it is that you are definitely not evil." Blaze wiped her tears and said, "I..I suppose you are right, my love. I also feel the evil." "Oh, it was an evil one, all right." said the guard. "Speculation said it could have been a wizard storm, but, then again, no one is absolutely sure." Lance turned to the group and said, "Go where you must, my friends. Blaze and I are headed for the Dragon's Inn...it IS still standing, I hope." "Oh, sure it is. Like I said, t'wasn't any major damage." With that the gaurd allowed them to proceed into the city. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lance and Blaze arrived at the Dragon's Inn. Littlefair noticed the two immediately. "Sir Lance! Blaze! You're alive!" All the patrons turned to see the twosome enter the inn-proper. Some remembered that day Lance sung about Raoh and announced that he would go after him. These folks cheered as they approached the bar. Serene, hearing the racket, came out from the kitchen and, seeing Blaze, expressed her relief to her. Littlefair hand Lance back his will and said, "Another day or two and I would have sent it. Do not worry, friend, I didn't open it these past two months." Lance replied, "Thank you, Littlefair." He turned to Serena and said, "How did Shadehaven survive the storm?" Serene told the story of how the house was saved by Luthor's gem. "But don't think that Blaze's blessing didn't have anything to do with it." she added. "Those winds and rains were fierce, but, after it all, there was barely a scratch on the house." Blaze smiled as Serene went to another customer. Littlefair then told about the storm and how the Inn faired in it; how it was changed into a sort of hospitial/shelter for whoever stumbled to it. "If not for Andrea, the Inn would look have looked far worse." "Andrea?" said Lance. "Oh, yes, you HAVE been gone long, haven't you? Andrea's this nice kid, about 20 or so. Came in here about a month-and-a-half ago. Don't know much about her story but...hey, there she is now. Hey, Andrea could you come here a sec. And bring Sheryl, too." Lance and Blaze turned to see the young woman, smile on her face, as Little fair introduced them. Then Blaze looked at the creature by her side, and started to cry again. She knelt down to the animal and said, "I..I don't believe it... Lance, it is a...a...a unicorn! A true unicorn!" Andrea said, "Well, sort of..." Lance was amazed as well. He had always thought of unicorns as fables. Even when Blaze tole her of a time her father claimed to have played chess with such a creature and even had a painting to prove it (The painting was never recovered)! Then he asked, "Sort of? What is `sort of' a unicorn?" Andrea said, "This is my sister, Sheryl. She was changed into a unicorn by Raykor, a powerful wizard." Lance replied, "I know of powerful wizards. I just returned from destroying probably the meanest of them all: Raoh the Conqueror!" Andrea's eyes lit up. "You...you killed Raoh?!?" "Yes." She walked to him and squeezed him tight, saying, "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lance was wincing because her head was pushing against his scar. He politely pushed her back and said, "Hold on. A _group_ of us killed him. I believe Tarkyn was the one who actually slew him. Why are you so happy about this?" "Because that bastard killed my family! And Raykor was a minion of Raoh who controlled our city after Raoh left!" Andrea relayed the story of when Raoh visited, how Raykor changed Sheryl, how she became a thief. Blaze petted Sheryl and said, "Such a pity; to be transformed into such a creature that all would hunt her. That is truly evil!" Andrea said, "Sheryl doesn't mind. In fact, 'Raelf is already working on a curse lifter. She'll still be a unicorn, but, at least, the curse is off her back." Sheryl whinnied and nodded in agreement. Lance looked at Blaze, but Blaze said, "No, beloved, I cannot lift curses. I have never learned." Andrea was about to ask, but, by the way Sheryl was almost attracted to Blaze, she knew Blaze was some sort of magician. Just then, she had an idea. "Hey, I just bought this house which seems to be haunted. Perhaps you two could join me in `de-haunting' it!" Lance and Blaze looked at each other. Then they looked back and Lance said, "M'lady, we would be honored. After all, we have something in common...er, rather, HAD something in common: hatred for Raoh. Littlefair? Two Murduk Whiskers and whatever drink Andrea wants." After a pause, he added, "And...and in a small salad for Sheryl." Sheryl neighed in delight, having not have eaten for a while. Blaze said, "Whenever you want to get going, head up to room 13A. One of us is bound to be there, and we will join you." = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADMIN: I didn't elaborate at first to give SOME sense of suspense. I will join the [AU][Housestorming] string until the house is `de-haunted'. Chris Wolvie ------------------------------------- "The only good dragon is.....a GOLDEN dragon!" -Eric the Cavalier DUNGEONS & DRAGONS