Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!yuma!lamar!arsmith From: arsmith@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Alan Smith) Subject: [NTY] Hello? Sender: news@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU (News Account) Message-ID: Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1993 00:37:08 GMT References: <1993Aug17.032834.13551@midway.uchicago.edu> <1993Aug17.093554.22984@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> Nntp-Posting-Host: lamar.acns.colostate.edu Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 Lines: 39 > Palandun waited patiently for the response... But none was forthcoming for the first minute, the next two, or quite some time. Palandun began gently shaking Gunther and calling his name, until somebody walked in and told him that Gunther was out for quite some time and nothing could be done to bring him back. Only he could bring him back, the legends said, if he could be brought back at all. "Well," Palandun said, "Don't I feel like an ass." He stalked off to his guests tent. A late-night meeting witht he Ramshander ambassador brought him some much needed information. "You requested my presence?" The ambassador asked, somehow managing to knock on the tent flap. "Yeah." Palandun replied, pulling out a chair and motioning him to sit. "I want to know what you're doing here." "I am empowered by the Shaheran to negotiate a peace with the barbarians." "Good, and what can you give away?" "I beg your pardon?" "People like the Il-Shar don't stop what they're doing just because somebody asked them nicely. You, me, he, and the Shaheran all know that. So what are you allowed to bribe him with?" "I'm afraid I still don't understand." Palandun knew he damn well *did* understand, but was covering his ass. This would bear a distinct resemblance to pulling teeth. "The Il-Shar wants Parahan, right?" "One presumes." "Can you give it to him?" "Surely you realize that Parahan is the domain of Rameshan?" "It is *now*, I want to know if you are empowered to transfer it to the Il-Shar." This went on for quite some time, the ambassador being one of the most adept evaders Palandun had seen on this continent, still he was able to conclude that the Shaheran really didn't care that much about Parahan, but he *did* care about the silk road, which is why they had Parahan in the first place. He also gathered that the Shaheran's ability to fight a protracted guerilla campain was questionable, but his troops would probably be a match for the barbarians in open battle. The interview ended with Palandun reminding the ambassador that he was living on borrowed honor among these people, and that Palandun wouldn't be able to protect him for long.