From: hebert@ucbeh.san.uc.edu (Matt Hebert)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [VampQ] Matte Kudasai Joins the Ranks
Message-ID: <1993Sep15.135937.4600@ucbeh>
Date: 15 Sep 93 13:59:36 EDT

[Admin: This post was written by Matt Hebert and Bret Rudnick.  
  The characters and material are the result of our work.  Thanks
  for not borrowing them.]


    "Hi, Littlefair.  Can I have a drink?  Something strong 
would be nice this time."

    The large man behind the bar smiled at the familiar young
lady.  She always drank at the bar and chatted pleasantly with
Littlefair whenever she came in; she was one of the more
enjoyable customers to have around.  Still, though, she was
barely tall enough put an elbow on the bartop, and she always
looked a little odd, almost silly, to him standing there.  She
took his sometimes open laughter well, though, cocking an eyebrow
at him and continuing to pull at her beer.

    His reaction was justified, however.  She was not only 
short, but had a tendency to be plump and rarely wore anything on
her feet.  She was not quite the picture of femininity,  but
there was also something appealingly cute about her.  It had
something to do with the way the delicate, upturned ears combined
with her bright, blue eyes.  Some of her soft, dark curls escaped
the large scarf she always wore over them, and this also added to
the pleasing image she sometimes projected.

    As she threw down the small glass of dark alcohol, she
absently wriggled the toes on a large, hairy foot that rested on
the rail near the floor.  "Oo, that was good.  Thanks,
Littlefair.  Now I'll have my usual."  She slipped a coin over to
him across the bar, and hopped up onto a seat.

    "What's that on your face, Matte?"  Littlefair touched his
own face just under his left eye as he poured the brew.

    Repeating his gesture, the young lady touched under her left
eye.  A slimy, grayish substance came off on her finger.  "Oh,
dear.   I should've checked a mirror before I went out in
public."  She rubbed the stuff between two fingers.

    "It's a kind of residue that's left over when something 
gates here from one of the spirit planes.  I just finished with a
rather messy possession this afternoon, and there were things
gating in and out fairly hastily.  A lot of this stuff got flown
around, but I thought I'd cleaned it all up."  She took a
cloth and a small mirror from a pocket and removed the last of
it.

    She smiled brightly as she put the things away again.  "All
better!"

    As she tried to return to the refreshment of her beer, she
noticed a tall, rather sad looking fellow walk up to the bar and
stand next to her.  He waved at Littlefair agitatedly, but the
barman didn't respond.  Matte frowned with compassion as she
watched him reach for her mug.  His hand passed through the glass
without upsetting it in the least.  He tried several more times
to take her mug, but with no more success.  With an inaudible
sigh and more than a little anguish, he walked away from the bar.

    Matte wished she could help all the ghosts she saw walking
around her, but hauntings are very tricky things.  While she had
helped a few go beyond the material world, she rarely took cases
like those anymore.  It hurts the ghost terribly to be ejected
from this plane before it's ready to go.  Dispelling ghosts is
just a simple matter of magic, but to actually convince one to
pass on of their own volition is very time consuming and tiring.

    While it is a very rewarding experience, personally, it is
not very lucrative.  Ghosts don't pay you with gold.  She had
decided long ago to stick to dispelling evil creatures.  Whatever
pain they experienced from the ejection was due them, she
figured.  And there were always living people involved who were
usually more than happy to pay her price to get rid of the
spirit.

    Finally, Matte brought the beer to her lips and drank half
the mug.  Littlefair was off tending to the rest of the busy bar,
and she finished the remainder of her drink slowly and in
silence.  

    "You see them." a man said simply as he came up to her and
sat down beside her.

    Matte was a bit startled, but she could tell that at least
this visitor was living; the sparkling net of lights that raced
around him proved that.  His lights were larger and more numerous
than most, but a bit fuzzier at the same time.  He was obviously
an experienced soul, but had some living yet to do before they
became the sharp diamonds of brilliance they promised to be.

    "Forgive my rudeness," he said.  "My name is Tomonobu
Fujiwara.  I am a traveller from a far place and my business has
brought me to Generica."

    "Oh please, join me!  It's always a pleasure meeting new
people at the Inn.  I'm Matte Kudasai.  Let me get you a drink."

    "I noticed the look on your face a moment ago.  I have seen
that look in others before.  You can see them, can't you?"

    Matte paused.  This topic had gotten her into trouble before. 
But this fellow looked so seriously at her, she allowed her hopes
to rise just a bit and admitted her "secret."  "If you're talking
about those from the spirit world, then yes, I can."  Matte
brightened a little more at the hope of finally finding a kindred
spirit.  "Can you?"

    Tomonobu smiled and looked down at the swords tucked into
his belt.  "In battle, when my blades are in my hand, I can, but
my experiences with ghosts and other Undead have not been
pleasant ones."  The conversation made him aware of the dullness
in his left leg.  Still numb after all these years, he thought.

    He related the tale of his encounter with the wizard.
(Admin: See "[Vampq] Starting the Quest" for full text)

    "Your assistance on this quest would be invaluable," Tomonobu
continued.  "Would you be interested?  There will be a meeting
here to discuss it later."

    Staring at her new, unexpected companion, the young woman's
mouth dropped open slightly, and her motions slowed to a gradual
stop.  The story seemed only too real, and she couldn't help but
believe the stranger.  Finally, Littlefair cleared his throat in
an attempt to get her to finish paying him for the drinks. 
Coming back to herself, she gave the barkeep the coins and turned
back to Tomonobu.

    "Well, of course I'll go.  I haven't traveled extensively in
another plane in quite some time.  As it happens I don't have 
anything lined up for the next couple weeks, and I could use a 
vacation.  A little botanical expedition might be just what I 
need."  She smiled broadly and raised her cup to him.  "I'll be 
at the meeting; nice to have met you, Mr. Fujiwara.  Very nice, 
indeed."

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