Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: arsmith@nyx.cs.du.edu (Alan Smith) Subject: [NTY] What!? Message-ID: <1993Jun18.210719.10889@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> Date: Fri, 18 Jun 93 21:07:19 GMT It was two weeks after the hunt. Andir and Thelli Wellen had gotten off at Specifica of the Furs long ago. Ashran was recovered enough to eat with what Gunther called "The Quality" for the first time at dinner. "Good meal." Palandun said, standing up after eating and striding to the door. "I'm gonna take a look around." "I'll come with you." Gunther said, and they both strode out along the gunwales of the riverboat. The boat was tied up along the shore, the foothills of the Mysty mountains looming to the east, large purple shapes in the dusk. "That was a good thing you did for Ashran." Gunther said after they had admired the view for a while. "A very good thing." "My training took over. I'm not disagreeing with you, but the person you should congratulate is my instructor in healing, back in bismania." "I've seen people trained a lot more than you falter and break under less pressure. You're a truly good person, Palandun Paladin." Palandun grumbled under his breath at the name. "I just wish..." "Wish what?" Palandun asked automatically, not really wishing to be let in on his host's most intimite desires. "Remember that for everything there are extenuating circumstances." Gunther said, and left, leaving Palandun to ponder on what the snark that was supposed to mean. He was still pondering the mysteries of his host when he walked into his room, unstrapped his sword, and- Palandun awoke on dry land to the sight of an orc drooling on his shoes. "Hiya." He said, reminding himself that a persons race or appearance was no indicator of what was on the inside. "Up." The orc said, "March." And, by way of demonstration, picked up Palandun and shoved him in the direction he was supposed to go. Palandun joined a stream of people heading towards a central reception area. It was while being picked up that Palandun discovered the chains binding his hands and feet together. Finally he reached the head table, where a pair of orc-captains and a few corprals were processing all the surplus riders on Gunther's boat. "Name." The orc-captain asked without looking up. "Palandun Lintesul." "Ah! You're the one. Mr. Toodie says I should give you special treatment. So, you you get your choice. You can work in the mines or help build the dock, then work in the mines." "That's a tough choice." Palandun replied. "I'll take the second one." "Fair enough. Garstak! Take this one to plot B. Enjoy your stay in Specifica of the Gems." Specifica of the Gems (Palandun learned, during lectures between building sessions) Was not one of the three specificas founded by Generica, but an underground fortress ruled by the dragon Dawg. He was considered the greatest of dragons (at least by the orcs) not because of physical prowess, but because of his insight: "Why maim and kill for riches that are probably going to get destroyed while I capture them when I can enter a partnership with a human and have him trade slaves for my gems, which I then dig up with the slaves?" Palandun had to admit, as dragon's plans went, this was much better than the average maim and kill, then sleep for a hundred years or so. It was gunther's wife, also among the slaves, who explained Gunther's motives. "He provides a service, both ways," she explained, "In generica, he gets rid of the Undesirables, sending those you want to get rid of away, while here he provides a scource of labor in return for gems." "And you defend him?" Another slave asked. "Why you're-" "Lay off." Palandun said, intervening, "She has more problems than we do." "How so? We're all in chains." "Yeah, but she knew what was coming." Telki Barnstormer said. "We get to settle some scores when we get out of here, she doesn't. I'm curious, why did you do it, dear?" "He asked me to." And then she started to cry. Palandun went over to talk to Thelki. "How long can you keep their spirits up?" He asked. "A month, maybe two. The orcs are working hard and the mines won't be fun. Why?" "By my calculations, I should be able to escape when we drive piles tomorrow. I want to know if I should try freeing you all or send for help." "What kind of help?" "Bismanian I corps. I intend destroying that fortress." "How far away are they?" "A month out, a month for the vote, a month back." "Too long. I've got it! The halls of King Gorrin." "Who?" "A dwarven king. He lives north of us in the Mystys, ah, heck, you're an Islander, I forgot. You'd never survive the march." "I'll have you know I grew up at 8,000 feet on the side of a volcano. I'm better off in the mountains than you are. How do I get there?" The next day found Palandun standing atop a boat swinging a sledgehammer. A large tree trunk was slowly imbeding itself in the mud. Suddenly he screamed "Aaaaaa!" and fell in the water, weighted down by his chains. I have remarked before on how Gynsoo was named for it's ability to cut nearly anything.