Date: Sunday, 20 Jun 1993 18:40:37 EDT From: Michael Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Message-ID: <93171.184037344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [BBD] A Quiet Morning Meal [ADMIN: Thanks to the entire group for input into this.. We're finally getting rolling! ] Lancos entered the inn and headed for the table containing his group. He sighed as he saw that he was the last to arrive -- even Arienne was here, conversing and eating with them as if she knew them well. Only Kaalzic did not have a plate in front of him at present, but the warrior guessed the painter had already had his fill. Lancos almost reaches the table, before he realized Bast was still upstairs, and he'd need to fetch her. He changed direction to head for the stairs, trying to make the zag look planned, and trying not to blush in embarrassment at his forgetfulness. When he reached his room, he found it in partial disarray, though nothing like he might have feared. Bast was sitting on the end of the bed, and stared at him with menace. Lancos grinned "Oh, angry at me, are we? Well, I'm sure a good meal and some attention will cure that." He picked her up, and stroked softly under her chin, a move that made her look diminish, if not go away. He carried her back down the stairs, and to the table. As the warrior sat down, Darvos stated, "Ah, finally, the last of us. Fortunately, there is some substenance left, so that I can repay you for your earlier meal purchase." And what an array of food was present! Even though the warrior could tell that some of the spread had been devoured, plates filled the table, each usually completely covered with meat, bread, or fruits. Both Darvos and the staff of the Dragon's Inn had obviously put much effort into this, and with magnificent results. "Heh, this is _far_ more than I would have conceived. In fact, now I probably owe _you_. And not just an apology for my lateness." "Personally, I couldn't hold a grudge against you." Arienne answered. "Besides, if these people didn't mind me barging in -- so to speak --, I'm sure they could forgive such a minor thing." "Well, fortunately, Darvos also knows you." Lancos smiled suddenly. "Though if he hadn't, I'm not sure that would have stopped you.". Arienne only smiled back at that, while the warrior continued. "But anyway, please catch me up on what's been found, while Bast and I do the same as far as food." He started grabbing food, and passed some of it down to the cat. A few silent moments passed, before Kryalla decided to put her attention towards the statement. "Oh, I suppose it falls to me, then. Makes sense, I suppose, since we shall be following my directions." If Lancos could have talked with his mouth full, he would have asked for more information. As it was, his expression did a fair job of showing that sentiment, and Kryalla had expected such a reaction anyhow. "Rescue mission. Easy enough. The rest can wait." As if to emphasize her point, she grabbed an apple and began to munch on it. And all could tell that the Shrouded One hid more than her face right now. But some sense led them all to not inquire further, inwardly knowing that the final word had been said on the subject. They finished the meal, any conversation switching to the matter of getting to know one another a little better. And even _that_ was minimal, a silence that some might have found uncomfortable prevailing. But this group found it more ... familiar than unusual. And words were largely unnecessary, for, when you came down to it, they were like enough in their ways to know each other as they knew themselves. Each had worked with groups, but above all, had strode through life as an individual. Each had tales involving their solo excursions; each had secrets that even their best friend or spouse would never gain access to; each knew pain as well as joy, anger as well as happiness, loss as well as victory, but kept most if not all of those emotions to themselves. Thus, it was perhaps not so strange that these six were together. Something beyond fate or coincidence had linked them, something that was perhaps a companion to the lone wolf spirit. As they ate together, they also bonded together, and together would meet whatever lie ahead. They packed up a few remnants of what they could not finish, and tipped and thanked Littlefair and his crew one final time for their hospitality and service. Then they exited the inn and stepped upon Dragon's Lane. And either unseen or dismissed by all of them, an elf rose up from another corner and followed them out. Once outside, he took off at a run, soon passing the group to their right, and continuing along his way. He soon arrived at the door to a warehouse, and knocked in a pattern -- twice, pause, three times, pause, twice again, pause, once. A Thurlan opened the door, and Parsephulas stood nearby. The warrior smiled when he saw who it was. The elf immediately strode up to Pars, and whispered in his ear, the words serving to widen the man's smile. Finally, the elf departed, leaving Pars to distribute the news. "Today." he said. "Today they come. Be ready.". And even before the final words were out, daemons -- and the Gutt Man -- started setting up in their positions, eagerly anticipating what might come today. * * ** Compared to what had occurred in the Inn, the time on the road was so quiet, it was as if the group were passing through a tomb. Darvos led, having been given the appropriate navigation by Kryallla earlier in the day. Instead of walking with them, the Shrouded One was in her raven form, overseeing what occurred. Meanwhile, the rest of them trodded on close behind the mage, the only sound they made -- to add to the slight howling of the wind and the murmur as businesses operated -- being the scraping of their boots on the cobbled path. Eventually, they came upon the front door of a warehourse. Kryalla landed nearby, and shifted back to human form, while Darvos magically inspected the door. "Locked, but not trapped." he said. "No problem." Arienne smiled, and set to work quickly. In a few seconds, a slight snap was heard as the tumblers gave way. "Easy. _Too_ easy, some might say, though _I_ certainly never find anything that way." Even though there was humor behind the words, the others correctly took it as a warning sign, and prepared themselves for anything. Then, carefully, with as much silence as possible, they opened the door. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu AKA Lancos Erredan SAQ:"Nothing easy is ever simple"-Plucky Duck, _Tiny Toon Adventures_