Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: aaron@gsb007.cs.ualberta.ca (Humphrey Aaron V) Subject: [MI] Stopover at Headquarters Message-ID: Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1993 20:15:24 GMT Alfvaen and Azpiazu(the latter in the guise of a stunningly beautiful grey elf named Leaathal)left ShadeHaven and made their way to Dragon's Lane and thence the Arcade of Unforgotten Heroes. Leaathal's form engendered more than a few wolf-whistles on these main drags, which she riposted easily with cutting remarks that left the would-be wolves sputtering ineffectually. As they turned into the mazelike streets of Generica's southeastern quarter, Alfvaen recalled the first time he'd found Azipazu's temple, walking these very streets. "It's not always around here," Azpiazu said. "The temple, that is. It is, in fact, generally located in either the last place one would expect to look for it, or in the place one is when one has no idea of one's location. The latter place can sometimes be reached by mirrors, but it's risky. Someone once called those kind of places 'Soft Places'." Alfvaen sighed. "I've been in places that were far, far too soft in my time. The City of the Dead comes to mind." Azpiazu nodded enthusiastically, which did interesting things to Leaathal's form, momentarily distracting Alfvaen's attention. "Why do you think that was where you found my amulet? The place where Lassiviren found it was similarly mushy, deep in the caverns of his home." They reached Cor Caroli Lane and the inconspicuous entrance to Moriarty Investigations, rendered somewhat more conspicuous by strategically placed signs and, if necessary, guides. Without knocking, they walked up the stairs to the main office. "Perdition..." Moriarty muttered as Alfvaen and Leaathal entered the office. "Where in the Hells have you been, boy? It's been months! Q and I have been running this place short-handed..." He momentarily halted as he appraised Leaathal. "And who may this be?" he asked, some of the gruffness leaving his voice. "It's a long story," Alfvaen said. "The two are not unrelated, though." Leaathal/Azpiazu cast a warning glance at Alfvaen and said, "It's not really important. My name is Leaathal, and I got Alfie here out of the rut he'd gotten himself into in the last little while; in return, he brought me to someone who could help me with my little problem." "I'm all ears," Moriarty said, grinning and sitting back in his chair. Leaathal sat down in the other chair, leaving Alfvaen to stand. "It's very simple. There is an object I want found and destroyed. I will be able to recognize it if I see it, and will become aware of it if I come into fairly close proximity with it--say, if I'm in the same building. I know how it can be destroyed, but I may need your help with that as well. How's that?" "Vague," Moriarty replied promptly. "If you can't give any more details than that, I'm afraid that we can't help you--you could go try Faraway, and see if he's more desperate. If you can give more details, and won't, then go try him anyway; maybe he's feeling suicidal." Moriarty grinned at that, as at a private joke. "If you want us to do anything for you, then perhaps you better tell us more about this 'object'." Leaathal sighed. "Well, it was worth a try. I am, among other things, a priestess of Erevan Ilesere. You may know him by other names, but let's just call him the God of Mischief. He's not the most powerful god around, but he's not the least either. Another god--or goddess, in this case--has placed some kind of an object--and I really can't be more specific about what kind, although I _will_ know when I see or sense it--to block my patron's energies from coming into this plane. It has to be located at a strategic nexus point, which means somewhere in this city. Is that detailed enough for you?" "Almost," Moriarty replied. "Who's the goddess?" Leaathal was silent for a moment, then sighed again. "The Demon Queen of Spiders." "Bloody hell," Moriarty said. "Which means the Demon Spiders gang, most likely. I don't imagine Alfvaen's too keen to tangle with them again, and I know I'm certainly not. And this whole metaphysical extraplanar stuff--well, I never was too good at it. I can summon creatures from wherever you please, but don't ask me how it happens or why they come. And getting in hot water with Demon Queens just isn't worth whatever amount of money you're willing to pay for it." "Moriarty--" Alfvaen broke in. "No buts," Moriarty said, cutting him off. "You've been gone a few months. We've been getting a few contracts in that time--nothing glamorous, but they're not paying too bad. We've got a couple that pay well that are getting a bit riskier--I can tell you more about them when your friend's gone. So I think we can pick and choose a bit, here. Like I said, go check Faraway. Or--wait. What was that guy's name." He searched through the papers on his desk, then opened a drawer and started searching in there. He pulled out a file labelled "Mage Guild". "'Raelf, that's the guy. The Mage Guild contracted him for something, and I was going to check him out on this one case sometime. But he sounds right up your alley--he's into that high-power kinda stuff. He might not be too scared to piss off a Demon Queen." "Where does this 'Raelf live?" Leaathal inquired. "Down near the docks, I think. Says something about a lighthouse. If nothing else, you can go to the Guild and ask around." "I met this 'Raelf guy once or twice," Alfvaen added. "He seemed pretty powerful. Might be just your ticket." "Wonderful. Well, thanks for your help," Leaathal said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "C'mon, Alfie, let's go." "What?" Moriarty protested. "Hey, we could use you here, guy. Especially on this Mage Guild thing." "Sorry, boss," Alfvaen said. "I told you, a long story. I have to go with her for now. See you later." "Wait! Crikey, at least let me give you a message for this 'Raelf guy. Hold on." He scribbled something on a nearby sheet of paper, folded it, sealed it with wax and a rune-stamper, and handed it to Alfvaen. "There. Don't open it--that rune's not too smart. Now--go. Maybe you'll still have a job when you get back." Watching the pair leave(paying particular attention to Leaathal), Moriarty sighed. He sure could use some help. Finding whoever it was that cloned ...sage was turning out to be a bugger of a case. -- --Alfvaen(Editor of Communique) Current Album--Eric Clapton:August Current Read--IASFM July '90 "Have a picture of Queen Victoria?" "No thank you, I'm trying to quit."