Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!portal.austin.ibm.com!awdprime.austin.ibm.com!clayton From: clayton@austin.ibm.com (Clay Colwell) Subject: Eski&Braddoc: Rescued! Originator: clayton@genz.austin.ibm.com Message-ID: Sender: clayton@austin.ibm.com (Clayton Colwell) Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1993 21:32:46 GMT Reply-To: archmage@vnet.ibm.com Organization: IBM Advanced Workstations & Systems Lines: 140 [ADMIN: Eski was in a catatonic state, replaying a blocked memory of slavery to a dragon and his attempt to save his brother's party from it] ------------------------------------------------------------ Eski's eyes fluttered, blinked twice, and slowly opened. In the weak light shining through a glass-paned window at his left, he saw himself in his linens, lying in a soft comfortable bed. Joyously, he realized that he was SEEING. He wept soft tears as he looked about, drinking in the contents of the room: the window, a stout rocking chair in the far corner, a sturdy chest at the foot of the bed, a long desk with an oil lamp and some writing materials at the far wall. He chirruped happily as he saw Granite, claws gripping the desk's edge, its beak dipping into a bowl of fresh fruit. Granite looked up, swiveled his head as if to say, "It's about time you woke up, you mooncalf," and bent its head once more to its dinner. Eski tried to sit up, but, in his weakness, barely managed to push the brightly-embroidered orange-and-green down coverlet off his chest. The slight pressure on his bandaged hands brought forth a groan. "Ssshh, Eski," came a soothing voice. "Just rest yourself. Are you hungry? Would you like to eat or drink something?" Eski's mouth watered as he became aware of a savory odor, redolent with the scent of chicken, garlic, and basil. He nodded eagerly, yet he felt cautious and curious at the same time. *Something* was niggling at the back of his mind -- the dragon! Where was the dragon??!! Fear washing through him, Eski began a spell of Seeing, but the pain erupting in his injured fingers brought a quick end to that activity. His anxiety grew, and he began to thrash his head against the pillow wildly. "Ssshh, ssshh, you're safe now. Sssshh. It's all right. There's nothing to fear here," came the voice again. Eski's thrashing subsided by a small degree. "That's better. Just rest. You've been through quite an ordeal, it seems, what with this raving about dragons and brothers and crystals. You won't want to be casting for a while. Here. Try eating some of this." At that last comment, the voice's owner arrived by the side of the bed, holding a tray carrying a steaming bowl of soup and a frosty tankard. Eski turned his head, squinting in the light. He saw a friendly-looking male elf, tall for his race, with long flowing blond hair held back in a silver clasp. The elf wore plain brown robes, cinched up with a black leather corded belt. A patterned silver circlet kept his hair bound off his face, open, smiling yet concerned, with the preternatural beauty inherent in the race. His violet eyes sparkled as he placed the tray on a small oaken table by the bed. He picked up the bowl and a wooden spoon beside it. "My name is Darius," he said, as he began to feed Eski the soup. "Being newly arrived in fair Generica, I was on my way to its famed Mages' Guild, where I hope to find training in the ways of magecraft." He smiled depreca- tively. "I have so much to learn. All I have is the knowledge of some few tricks and my inheritance." HIs face clouded briefly. "But enough of that. I saw you in the street near the Dragon's Inn, whose hospitality we are lucky to enjoy at this time. Some ruffians were about to relieve you of some burdensome wealth. I'm pleased that my minor skills were enough to dissuade them. Thieves are *so* easily frightened off, it seems. If they had seen through my trickery, we might not, even now, be enjoying this conversation." Darius chuckled. "Well, my *monologue*, more like. No, that's fine. You eat, I'll talk. You need your strength now. You've been in some sort of fit for the last week. Don't worry about that now. You're back again, and you need to recover. Quite an interesting sword you have, by the way. Oh, don't worry, it is quite safe; I have it stored in your clothing chest here. It appears to have ways of, er, *defending* itself." Darius smiled again, and looked at the bowl, now empty. "A healthy appetite. Good! Do you want a little wine, perhaps? Some weak ale?" Darius stopped talking as Eski's head settled back on the pillow, his eyes closing. He slept, not the tortured nightmares of the last week, but a peaceful, dreamless sleep. Darius reached over, tucked Eski in, picked up the tray, and quietly left the room, locking the door behind him. As he left, the soothing look on his face evaporated, replaced by a worried, hunted look. "What will I do *now*?" Braddoc thought, as he carried the tray toward the stairs leading down to the common room of the Dragon's Inn. "I thought I'd be able to make a fresh start in this plane. I *never* expected to find Eski here. Well, he's awake now, and doing better. Can I afford to let him know who I am? And this business with dragons: I just don't understand." Preoccupied with thought, Braddoc never noticed how he deftly carried the tray down the stairs, avoiding with alacrity a boisterous duo running up to their room, dodging gracefully the fresh puddle of spilt ale dripping from the table of some human who'd enjoyed too much and passed out, toppling his mug. Braddoc placed the tray on the counter and looked about, seeking a quiet corner. Seeing none, but suspicious, he removed a curious monocle from within his robes, polishing the surface of the lens on the cloth, and fitted it to his right eye. Aha! One of the Dark Corners was unoccupied after all; some bothersome mage had placed an illusion about it, probably trying to save it for later. Braddoc made his way to the corner, moving too gracefully. As he approached, he surreptitiously unwound a foot of fine gold chain from his left wrist. As the metal came in contact with the perimeter of the illusion, the glamour faded, and Braddoc sat down at the revealed table, back to the wall. He glowered at his hands, clasping them before him. "First it was Nikyha and Deerslayer. Then came Jason. Then came Dimitri. Karis. Lazarus. Cassandra." At the thought of that last name, Braddoc's lip curled, and his hand went unthinkingly to the dagger at his belt. "All *were* friends. All used me ill. Ah, Cassandra, if only I could find you unguarded *just* once...the temple of Mogush deserves so much better than you. Magus Primus? Bah! The ambition you have, you worthless piece of tarrasque feces! I'll make you pay for destroying me. I'll have your skull crushed by my own hand. I'll have your soul shredded by the foulest demon. Oh, to have you feel what *I* felt, the pain I endured, the nothingness you'd consigned me to with your dagger strike. A weapon! You who spat on those who wielded blades rather than magicks. And oh, what a dagger you stabbed me with! If I had the chance...if I had the chance..." His reverie was broken by the arrival of Serene, bearing a flagon of a rare Drow vintage. "To your health, Darius," she beamed. "I hope your friend is feeling better." Braddoc quickly composed himself, put a friendly smile on his face as he answered, "Yes, much better. He was able to eat today. Unable to enjoy the savor of your healing potion, but strengthened by the graces of your bounteous kitchen." Serene laughed. "Oh, I'm no mage; just happy enough to help in what little ways I can." She scooped up the coins Braddoc placed on the table in payment, and continued with her serving. "How did she *know* of this Drow liquor, let alone discern that it's one of my favorites?" Braddoc puzzled. "I'll have to watch myself more carefully. I've lost a Guild once to carelessness; I won't allow it to happen again." Carefully, almost a muscle at a time, he composed his features, smoothing the worried lines from his brow, crinkling his cheeks with laugh lines, dispelling his gloom and pasting on a jolly visage. He let his now-bright eyes scan the Inn, picking up information, points of interest, unusual people. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [ADMIN: Braddoc is now in the common room of the Dragon's Inn. Eski is convalescing in a room upstairs. Either would be most eager to join a thread if one is available (at least until I can get a storyline built for one or both). Apologies to Laurie (Serene's creator): if there's any problem with how I handled her, feel free to correct me. To any who may scan Braddoc/Darius: smudge/blot/gapinghole, as if he did not exist.] -- Clay Colwell "If homosexuality is a disease, then let's all call archmage@vnet.ibm.com in queer to work." - Robin Tyler IBM Austin, TX Disclaimer: This is *Clay* talkin', not IBM.