From: spider@zk3.dec.com (Spider Boardman)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Jac/Selna] Slumming
Date: 19 Aug 1993 05:49:37 GMT
Message-ID: <SPIDER.93Aug19014937@web.zk3.dec.com>
References: <1993Aug6.174831.1245@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>

[ADMIN:	This happens after the tales for the [Welcome] thread die down.
	No attempt is being made to cut anyone off--it's just that Jac
	doesn't feel like telling more stories that night.  He's having
	too much fun listening, but I wanted to write.  So....
]

Things were finally winding down in the common room of the Inn.  Jac
yawned widely, excused himself, and headed up the stairs to his room.
He let himself in, then locked it back up behind him.  He checked that
all was as he had left it, and then disappeared.

[[Hey!]] M'arrella scolded.  [[I thought we were going to enjoy a nap!
Why are we floating around disembodied in the Void again?]]

<<Because the Low City is bustling with gangs and such at night.  If
there's anywhere in this city where I might be needed, it'll probably be
there.>>

[[All right, hotshot, so we're hunting instead of napping.  Why haven't
we landed yet if that's all the farther we're going?]]

<<There's almost as much competition for shadows in alleyways as there
is for dark corners in the Inn.  Aha!  Finally found a spot where we
won't be noticed for a bit.>>  Jac reappeared crouched down in the
shadows between the refuse bins behind a tavern at the edge of the Low
City.  <<OK.  Now, I need to look like a victim for the various
predators here tonight.  Who should I be this time?>>

[[Is this a trick question?  Anybody you want to be, maybe?]]

<<Consider that this town is replete with adventurers, has that mage's
guild we saw this afternoon, and what appears to be a resident eldritch
horror.>>

[[Mmm....]]

<<Whatever filth and corruption is thriving here is likely to come in
two categories--that which is beneath many people's notice, and that
which is truly dangerous.>>

[[Nhhnn....]]

<<If we run into the latter, I could lose.  It would be embarrassing to
revert to my usual shape when I hadn't wanted to do so.>>

[[Remind me to tell your soon-to-be mate that you've been out looking
for trouble again.]]

<<Hey, this is _me_ we're talking about!  She already _knows_ that!>>

[[Phfft!  All right, then.  You need to stick to one of your learned
forms that you don't need to maintain, and you want to look like a
victim for the local nasties.  Well, _you're_ too musclebound, even when
you shrink.  Similar problem for Luke and the sergeant.  Danny looks too
competent, even though he isn't as much of a body-builder.  Your
esoteric forms are right out.  I think we're down to Billy and Selna.
Do I win any prizes yet?]]

<<Sure!  You get to pick which one.>>

[[You do Billy too much.  He's getting boring.  It's Selna's turn.]]

The skulking form changed suddenly.  Instead of a huge well-dressed
human male, the shadows now hid an elf-maid in much-tattered clothing.
<Let's see now, how do I look.  Hmm.  Too clean.  Too well-armed.  Have
to fix that.>  The greatsword over her right shoulder disappeared.  She
repositioned the longsword for an underhanded draw from behind her back,
hiding the sword's presence with her cloak.  She placed a dagger at her
belt and brought out her staff.  She then spent a few minutes with muck
and garbage, until she was satisfied that she looked sufficiently
destitute.

Those lurking in shadows along that street saw a lone female elf emerge
from the alley.  She seemed to be stooped with weariness, leaning on an
old staff that had seen better days.  She was somewhat taller than human
average, with pale skin and dark straight hair.  Her clothes were mere
tatters held together by patches which had themselves been mended many
times.  Even her feet could boast no better covering than having been
wrapped in rags.  The things she wore weren't quite her size.  They hung
loosely about her wiry frame, but still managed to be just a bit short
at the wrists and ankles.

Selna stood for a moment at the mouth of the alley, looking about
warily.  She shook her head dejectedly, and started trudging down the
street to her left.  As she limped along, she prayed and kept her senses
extended in watch for possible dangers.

Among those watching her progress were some young toughs from the small
gang known as "Bailey's boys".  She was coming their way, and they were
wondering what they should do about it.

"'Ey, Rufe, whatya make of dis?"

"Whatya gots, Hal--Oh.  Lookat dis."  The other boys waited to hear what
their leader thought of this opportunity.  Rufe considered what he saw.
"She gots no money."

"How ya figger?"

"See, dem clothes has been sewed a bunch by someone what knowed how.
But dey doesn't fit her.  So, dey was sewed fer somebody else.  Somebody
gived 'em ta her later.  She ain't dirty 'nough ta have been eating from
da garbage and livin' in da streets for more'n a coupla days, neither."

"What's dat got ta do wif her money?"

"'Cause, ya dumnog, she didn't even have no clothes afore someone gived
'em to her.  Den dey done give her dose rags, and a cheap knife what'll
prob'ly break if she even has ta eat wif it.  She didn't have nuffin'
den, and dey didn' give her no money, 'cause dey didn' give her nuffin'
else what's worth anyfing."

"Den she ain't got nuffin' we wants?"

"I didn't say dat!  Dere's other uses we can find for a woman."

"Ain't she had enough already?"  Bry regretted his question as soon as
he had asked it, and wilted under Rufe's withering stare.

"She's still here in da Low City, so she ain't had 'nough yet!"  Rufe spat.

"Uh, I guess so."

"Good.  You go distrack her.  Da rest of us'll take her from behind."

Bry nodded and sidled up the street a bit to wait for her.  He didn't
like what was being planned, but he didn't dare take the chance of
getting kicked out of the gang.  They were his only protection.  Almost
even his only family.  On his own, he'd be just another victim.

When she had almost come even with him, Bry stepped out into her path.
"Hi dere."  He stopped, speechless.  He thought she was the most
beautiful vision he had ever seen.  Her violet eyes were looking at
him.  There was calm and gentleness in her eyes.  He wanted to warn her,
but he didn't dare.  He swallowed, and asked "What's your name?"

"Selna.  What's yours?"

Suddenly, she looked behind her.  Rufe froze in his tracks just before
reaching her.  Hal also froze.  Bat ducked between them, only to be
dropped by a quick move of her hand along the side of his neck.  Lem
dove for her, but somehow he seemed to flow past her.  He had a run-in
with her staff, and landed with a sickening crunch.  She looked about,
glanced reproachfully at Bry, and knelt down by Lem.  She ran her hand
around his head without ever quite touching him.  "He did choose this
lifestyle," she said.  She seemed to consider a moment, and then she
sighed softly.  "Still, he can't learn from his mistakes if he never
wakes up again."  She mumbled something softly.  It seemed to be in a
strange language.  Then she stood up and turned back toward Bry.

Bry felt ashamed of his part in what had happened, but her presence
seemed somehow more comforting than threatening.  "I-I-I'm s-sorry,
l-lady," he finally managed to stammer.

She smiled at him.  "I know you are."  She waved her hand at his friends
who were still frozen in place.  "Those three will start moving again in
about half an hour.  That one," she pointed at Bat, "will come to in about
ten minutes."  She tapped her staff by Lem.  "This one in about twenty."

Bry was lost in her eyes until she spoke again.  "I know that you boys
need to band together for protection.  However, you don't need to prey
on other people to be safe.  You can protect yourselves better by
helping others instead."  She smiled again.  "Do try to talk some sense
into your friends, won't you?  For now, I think they need you to keep an
eye on them until they come to."  She shuffled off along the street once
more.  Bry watched her go, lost in wonder.
--
Spider Boardman					spider@zk3.dec.com
DEC OSF/1 development				...!decvax!spider
I don't speak for DEC, and vice versa.