From: Thorr-kan, the White Minotaur, and Horde Father-Confessor
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Games] Resolution
Date: 15 Jun 1993 13:04:26 GMT
Message-ID: <1vkhcqINN5fs@news.gac.edu>

In a certain glade, Black faces White over a chessboard.  Their pieces are the  
mortal servants of other Powers.  These have been taken and used without the  
consent of either;  this is how the Elders get there amusement.

In the realms of the gods, an argument rages.  A bison-headed figure is arguing  
his case before the Highgod.  Far away (or perhaps near-by), a land of  
blissfulness is disturbed.  Its master senses a wrongness about him.

In an arena, a minotaur and a human face off.  One is the servant of a god, the  
other is a vessel for divine power.  They do battle for the amusement of the  
Elders.

***Gods' Realm***

Kiri-Jolith sums up his arguments.  "These Elders must be disposed of.  They  
have no regard for the mortals; they lack any respect for their equals.  For to  
long, these two have meddled and interfered in business beyond their bounds.   
It is time for this to end!"

The Highgod is silent for a moment.  Then he speaks.  "So why have you done  
nothing before now?"

"I gave my word.  They would not molest my servant; I would not disrupt their  
games.  But their word has been broken.  Even now, my servant is in direct  
conflict with a human they have Powered.

"He cannot hope to win, but fights on regardless.  He hopes to draw my  
attention with his sacrifice, to buy me time to rectify this situation.  My  
Lord, we MUST deal with it, now!"

Slowly, the Highgod nods.  "Others have expressed concern.  You are correct, my  
son.  It is time for a resolution."

***Arena***

Chanting echoes throughout the arean, and a spell bursts forth from the human.   
The minotaur roars with fury.  His halberd, burning white, descends onto his  
former comrade.  Barely, the killing blow is deflected.  Instead, it simply  
maims.

The human slashed out with a sword.  Fire lances across the minotaur's chest as  
he misses the parry.  The butt of his halberd strikes the human's knee,  
dropping him.  Slowly, the minotaur backs away.

And the human, filled with Power, rises to do battle again.

***Gods' Realm***

In a island of blissfullness, a deity observes the corruption of his servant.   
A call to council has been issued across the realm.  There is a problem that  
must be dealt with, permanently.

This deity nods.  The sacrfices of his servant will not be in vain.

***Glade***

White looks apprehensively at Black.  The Game has turned against him.  White's  
piece is on the defensive before the emPowered piece of Black.  Time and again,  
Black's piece has fallen, only to rise and renew the conflict.  Worse, White's  
piece refuses to open itself to such emPowering.

***Arena***

The minotaur hits the ground, HARD.  Dazed, he would be an easy target if the  
human could strike.  But the human has other problems.  A small reptile has  
appeared behind him and injected some type of poison that burns through the  
human's veins.

Shaking his head the minotaur rises and lunges into battle again.  The human  
turns and begins his attacks once more.

***Gods' Realm***

"So it is decided.  The Elders have over-stepped their bounds and must be dealt  
with.  Do we have any volunteers?"

The deity from the garden steps forward.  The Highgod turns to him and says,  
"Thank you, cousin.  I, too, am bound by my son's oath.  It is right that the  
other of us with a stake in this takes the action."

"Indeed," says the deity.  "The time has come.  I go forth to deal justice..."

***Arena***

The combat has reached an unholy pace.  Neither combatant will stop short of  
death now.  Neither is allowed to.

A sword thrusts between ribs.

Claws lash out, shredding an eye.

Fire envelopes a body, but is shed like water.

A flash of light catches the blade of a halberd as it slices through flesh.

A horn falls, cleaved in two.

A dagger becomes stuck in a muscular thigh.

A knee breaks from the blow of a halberd's haft.

Fluttering to the ground, a small reptile is mortally wounded.

Chanting resonates across the battlefield.

A spearpoint catches a bicep.

Another dagger lodges between ribs.

Minotaur faces human.  Raising his halberd, the minotaur howls his battle cry  
and brings his glowing weapon down of the human.  The human smiles, strikes out  
with his sword.

There is an explosion.

And then...

Silence...

-Thorr-kan, the White Minotaur

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Peace through strength!                          Victory through annihilation!
Matt Cutter, e-mail to mcutter@nic.gac.edu OR mcutter@vax2.gac.edu
Gustavus couldn't afford my opinions if they wanted them!
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