Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: taz@media.mit.edu (Brian Shea) Subject: [Roger] Walk this way. Message-ID: <1993Jun18.125217.17447@news.media.mit.edu> References: <1vnk8j$nuv@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU> Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1993 12:52:17 GMT Roger started to get bored after a while, and examined his room. There was a simple bed, another pitcher and basin upon the dresser, a nightstand, and a chair. All of the furniture was wooden and simple, but well built. It looked like a working man's room. There was a nice rug on the floor and there was a pastoral scene with nymphs and satyrs painted above the headboard of the bed. Roger was pacing when the door finally opened again, and Endo entered the room. "It was decided that since I was familiar to you, I would give you a tour of the palace." Endo smiled. "It also might have helped that I asked to be the one to give it." Endo paused, and examined Roger. "Are you human?" Endo finally asked. Roger laughed, finally realizing that the elves had been showing extreme stoicism in not asking something like that. They had all been wondering not only about his seeming knowledge of the 'Way', but also about his eyes. "Yes, I'm human. At least, most of me is. My eyes are replacements. They aren't human eyes, they are artificial devices that allow me to see with a lower amount of light, to see farther and sharper, and to block out sudden bright flashes. The skull and crossbones is just my trademark, they make me unique." Endo finally dropped all pretense, and stared at Roger's eyes, wondering at the human who had eyes with white skull and crossbone irises and dead black pupils. "I have the feeling you would be unique even without these magical eyes. You move so quickly, faster than most of the masters, even. If you had kept going for much longer, we would not have been able to maintain the center." "I don't understand," asked Roger. It was now Endo's turn to laugh. "No one, not even an elf, can move that fast normally. One of the disciplines of the Way is to find the center. Then, we can move much faster than normal, reacting before the enemy consciously thinks what he is going to do. An uncentered opponent has no chance against one who is centered, he will be dead before he realizes what is happen. Come, you must know this." Roger nodded, "On my world, magicians can be have a focus. Some only deal with spirits, others with enchantments, and some focus their magic into the body. I am one of the physical adepts. My magic allows me to act as if centered, to put it in your terms. But even among physical adepts back home, I am one of the better ones," Roger said, allowing a note of pride to creep into his voice. "Come, we can talk as I show you the palace," said Endo. Roger examined Endo more closely as they left. He was about 5' 6'', tall for an elf, and Roger knew from experience that he was strong and agile for his lithe frame, like most elves. His skin was light green, and his hair was mostly white with a tinge of green. The tour was quick, Roger really wasn't surprised by anything now that he knew about the Oriental influences. What Roger was interested in was the elves and their culture. How did they get the Oriental influence? "Endo, how did you come to know the forms? Who introduced them?" "The Way is actually quite recent, it was introduced about a dozen generations ago. To you, that would be about 2500 years, but to us it is recent. An elderly human was found by a border patrol, wandering among the outskirts. The patrol tried to take him in, but he resisted. A fight broke out, but he taught them a lesson. After defeating the patrol of six, he asked to be taken to see our leader. During his remaining years, he taught a small sect the forms and the Way. This sect eventually came to power, and the influence of the Way spread. It became vogue to copy the style of the things the Master had recreated, to remind him of his home on another world." "Endo, I think your Master was from Earth." "Well of course he was! I imagine Earth is much changed," Endo said. "Yes, very much changed outwardly. But things like the Way still have a place. And, unfortunately, so do the forms." Endo smiled and teasingly said, "Humans." Roger laughed back. "I like you, Endo." "And I you, Roger." Roger felt the beginnings of a friendship and was glad. ------ The Jolly Roger aka Brian Shea aka taz@athena.mit.edu Comments welcome, and thanks for the ones already sent.