From: hebert@ucbeh.san.uc.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Welcome] Tupker: Missed Supper
Message-ID: <1993Aug14.134304.4301@ucbeh.san.uc.edu>
Date: 14 Aug 93 13:43:04 EDT

    The collection of people gathered around the good-natured half-
elf's table had grown to include many of the most interesting
people that were in the pub that night.  More stories were told
than Tupker suspected would be, and he sat relaxed and interested
on his stool off to one side.  It was his first evening in Generica
that was reasonably pleasant, and he soaked up every moment.

    This crowd seemed not to mind his appearance too much, and he
found himself in a good humor for the first time in ages.  Why not
relax a little, he asked himself.  He had been on the run for a
long time, and it was taking its toll on him.  His initial, tense
suspicion was easing.  These powerful people didn't act like scouts
or hunters on the trail.  Oh, he was certainly convinced that
several of them were, in fact, mercenaries, but they didn't seem to
be functioning as such this evening.  His gamble appeared to be
paying off; perhaps he would finally find some help after all.  Or
better yet, perhaps the hound had finally given up.  He chuckled
openly and returned to his mug.

    He was practically laughing aloud at the conclusion of Bakr's
first tale.  Tupker had witnessed behavior such as the fat mage
described, but he had never heard it related to others in such an
entertaining way.  The story brought to mind an inexperienced
fellow he had known himself, who also wielded a dreaded "Bed-
Slayer" sword [which had occasionally confused its mission with
that of the "Crate's Bane" when a bed was not at hand], and he
nearly choked on his drink.  Bakr's next tale was equally engaging,
and the time seemed to fly by.

    Approximately at the moment Tupker realized he was quite hungry
[could it be that late already?], Luthor made an addendum to his
initial offer: for a tale with a *happy* or sufficiently cunning
ending, a meal would be granted.  Tupker's mouth literally watered
at the suggestion.  He glanced at a table nearby where the
occupants were already enjoying the evening's fare.  This was too
tempting to pass up.  He had a few moments to pour over the events
of his many years of wandering as the chatter sifted away, making
room for another yet story-teller.