Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!xlink.net!rz.uni-karlsruhe.de!stepsun.uni-kl.de!sun.rhrk.uni-kl.de!physik.uni-kl.de!kring From: kring@physik.uni-kl.de (Thomas Kettenring) Subject: [Welcome] BT: Making A Plan Message-ID: <1993Sep27.005519.28010@rhrk.uni-kl.de> Sender: news@rhrk.uni-kl.de Organization: FB Physik, Universitaet Kaiserslautern, Germany Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1993 00:55:19 GMT Lines: 287 ADMIN: This follows "Getting To Know The Generality". Bakr and his three companions are waiting in the village of Eraton for the rest of the party to arrive so they can all go and fight the dragon in the woods. In the last few postings they met lots of people I won't describe here because I don't feel like it. So there. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bakr's Tales: Making A Plan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The days passed. Three of them. I learned First Aid, and everybody practiced fighting. Against humans and dwarves but not against dragons I fear. Preg occasionally joined us, when we were fighting or storytelling, but soon his father would appear and make him do some work. Magrondar recovered and disappeared into the woods; the villagers hadn't been very friendly to him, and some thought he wouldn't come back and join us. Some also thought that was fine. We didn't see the rest of the brigands either, or the hermit. We visited the mayor once more, and he showed us his doves and his weapon collection. Ormgwen was so bold to ask for a bow he liked, and Sundron actually gave it away, adding that he hoped that it would prove useful against the dragon. When we left the house, Tarik said, "I didn't know you can use a bow," to which Ormgwen responded, "I can't. But I want to learn it." - "In a few days?" - "I can try. But if not, I have a good bow to sell." He asked Preg, who always had a bow with him and knew how to use it, to go hunting with him. When they came back, Compass asked him, "Did you hit something?" "A tree." "Did you want to hit it?" "In a way. I wanted to hit a tree, and I hit one." "If I were you I'd leave the bow in the inn. It could get damaged when the dragon eats you." "I guess that's right." In the evenings stories would be told; Old Fulfur had one about a wizard who, confronted by a dozen skeletons, used an osteoporosis spell, which was quite effective... Ziemi the dwarf told about his home town Iggrgard, and of course Compass couldn't be prevented to revel in reminiscence of the forests of Moravod. Especially Thelma, the innkeeper's daughter, always listened in fascination. Mythreides didn't turn up again, which was a wise decision. Ziemi was especially training jumping over legs people put in his way. His falls steadily grew less violent and less frequent. But as soon as the set-up changed, he was back at step one, the bloody nose. In the evening of the second day Baros the smith came into the village with a heap of weapons he intended to take with him to the dragon. The next day we could see him in action. I was impressed, and Ormgwen's eyes shone when the smith dealt him mighty blows he could parry only with difficulty. In the evening of the third day, the rest of the party arrived. Almes, the village priest, was a stern-looking man with a short beard, short hair, and wrinkles around the mouth. The vertical variation, you know. He could use his eyes and eyebrows in a way that suggested that he was looking straight into you and read your upcoming fate out of your intestines. Sir Arni. How shall I describe him? He had long, blond, curly hair and a darker moustache cut in a isn't-that-a-nice-moustache way. Most of the time he looked as if he tried not only to keep his eyebrows and eyes as far away from each other as possible as long as possible but also his nose and upper lip. I see that some of you try to make a face like him, but you should also turn the lower lip inside out. And he tended to inclining his head, mostly to the right. He was not the type of person one would ever think of addressing with "hey buddy, how are ya?" But he instilled a desire in people to ask him what they should do next. He looked competent. He didn't speak Chryseian though, and his knave had to translate. Compass didn't like him from the start. The knave, Rhald, was short and stout. His head was shaved all around, but dark shadows were where hair was struggling desperately to the surface. His cheeks were second only to a hamster I once saw, and he had always several sorts of nuts with him on which he chewed. I suspected that he stored more in his cheeks, and when his pockets were empty he still could eat nuts for a day. He was a friendly fellow and generously spread the nuts among those present. From his pockets. The last one was Jelay Yelay, an old priest of Xan. He was gaunt and wrinkly, had white hair, red cheeks, and a white beard, and his blue eyes said, "Do I really see that? How dare the world!" He changed his expression constantly, but it never left that basic idea. ----- When they entered the inn, Baros, Jockel, Preg, Kalamatas, Mnogiatzes, Astron, Ziemi, Fulfur, and us four (Ormgwen, Compass, Tarik, and me) sat at the big table and talked. I'm sorry that there are so many people in this story, and I hope that you can still tell them apart. But that's how it was... Shortly after them the mayor appeared and greeted the knight warmly and eloquently. Rhald's translation was much shorter. After a bit of resting and eating and organization, all sat down together at the big table to make a plan. Sundron Kanthariol, Mayor of Eraton: "I want to thank you all for coming here and helping us with that menace, especially Sir Arni. I sincerely hope that your enterprise will be successful, and that this peaceful village can once more enjoy a period of moderate prosperity after the monster has been eliminated. We are not rich, and we cannot give you more than free board and lodging, but whatever the dragon has as a hoard the surviving alien heroes will share." Fulfur Worsegolf, rogue from Alba: "When will we go, and where will we go?" Sundron: "Has anybody objections to tomorrow morning? No? So that's clear. The hermit has described to location of the dragon's lair to me, and Almes and Jockel were present, so they will show you the way." Jockel Rytold, healer of Eraton: "I am sure the hermit will watch us, and if we go wrong, lead us the right way." Sir Arni, dragon specialist from Alba: "Who of all these people will go?" Sundron: "Everyone except me and my son Pregomachos here." Sir Arni: "Anyone else?" Sundron: "No." Jockel: "There is a brigand living in the woods who has been healed by me, and he promised he would help us. I don't know if he will turn up." Sundron: "He really shouldn't be allowed to come with you." Sir Arni: "The more the better. We shouldn't reject anybody." Tarik Radan, merchant from Eschar: "Right." Sir Arni: "I think everybody should now tell his name, profession, abilities, and experience with big monsters if there, so that we have a survey of our fighting strength. Priest, would you please take it down." Almes, priest from Eraton: "One moment." Sir Arni: "I'll start if you don't mind. I am Sir Arni, knight from Tidford. I am proficient in the use of several weapons such as long sword, crossbow, and several spears. I know about strategy and tactics, and I can fight on horseback if necessary." Jockel: "That won't be possible. There is no road leading to the cave on which a horse could go." Sir Arni: "Aha. As regards experience, I have slain two dragons already." (general murmuring) Rhald, knave from Alba: "I am Rhald, Sir Arni's knave, and I come from Beornanburgh. I fight mostly with a mace but I can also use a few other weapons." Ziemi Smeisebal, dwarven fighter from Dvarheim: "No dragon experience?" Rhald: "No. I joined my master after his last dragon. My predecessor was killed by it." Arasnastrar (Compass), ranger from Moravod: "Who else got killed?" Ormgwen, burglar from Fuardain: "I am Ormgwen from Fuardain. I use a two- handed sword and throwing stars, mainly." Rhald: "Everybody except my master." Compass: "Oh." Ormgwen (looks at the mayor) "And a bow." Pregomachos Kanthariol, messenger from Eraton: (looks at him doubtfully) Tarik: "And you can walk quite silently." Ormgwen: "Right." Tarik: "Tarik Radan, merchant from Elhaddar. Cutlass, throwing knife, dagger." Sir Arni: "I don't think that daggers will be of much use with a dragon." Bakr ibn Ja'far ibn Musa al Mekneshi, magician from Eschar: (fingers his dagger) "No? Hm. I am Bakr ibn Ja'far ibn Musa al Mekneshi, magician from Meknesh in Eschar. I can do First Aid, and I can control animals, generate the illusion of being something else, hear through walls, move remote things, detect living things, and control myself." Ormgwen: "And I am very strong." Kalamatas, peasant from Eraton: "Control yourself?" Bakr: "Hold my breath for hours, make my muscles rigid, things like that." Kalamatas: "I guess you can't control the dragon?" Bakr: "No. But I recently remembered this magic headband Ormgwen found and gave me, and I wonder if anybody can tell me what it is good for." Ormgwen: "And I have a heat protection pendant!" Sir Arni: "Heat protection! Very good!" Baros, smith from the road to Mythros: (examining the headband) "It's made by drow, by the looks of it." Jelay Yelay, priest from Alba: "Right. Drow work." (reads the inscription) "You can cast fireballs with that one. I can show you how to use it." Bakr: "Oh." Sir Arni: "Dragons, being creatures of fire, will be immune to that." Tarik: "Maybe it isn't a fire dragon?" Sir Arni: "What else?" Tarik: "Er, uh. We heard a ballad about you, in which you kill a yellow dragon, which doesn't breathe fire but acid." Sir Arni: "Nonsense. All dragons breathe fire. Especially every one I killed. Don't believe everything you hear from bards. They are big liars." Tarik: "I'm relieved to hear that, for we four got talismans against fire magic." Compass: "Caramon too! If we can continue with the self-description, then I am Arasnastrar, ranger from Moravod. I use a one-and-a-half-handed sword and a sling with lead balls. I can read tracks and so on. What rangers do. This is Caramon, my dog. He can bite." Sir Arni: "Who's next?" Jelay: "I am Jelay Yelay, a priest of the mighty Xan. With the power of my god I can cast spells too numerous to mention, among them fighting spells like fireballs, divine lightning, paralysis, pain, sleep, and weakness. I can heal wounds in several ways, I can instill nameless horror..." Sir Arni: "Which won't help against dragons, nor will the fireballs." Jelay: "...protect myself from heat, strengthen other persons, make them invisible, and cast a Golden Armor on them. I can fight with a club or without." Ormgwen: "Oh yes, I can fight without weapons too." Sir Arni: "That is very impressive indeed, and you are probably the most useful member of this party." Ormgwen: "Really?" Rhald: "He means Jelay." Ormgwen: "Oh." Almes: "I am Almes, priest of Wredelin. I can fight using a staff, and I can heal wounds and undo magic. I know a bit about animals, plants, and legends of old." Jockel: "I am Jockel Rytold, healer living in Eraton. Besides healing I can talk with animals, and I am proficient in alchimy." Baros: "I am Baros, smith from Telmos. I have been a soldier, and I know how to use a two-handed sword, a warhammer, a throwing hammer, and a heavy crossbow. I know a lot about traps." Ormgwen: "That's right." Ziemi: "Ziemi Smeisebal at your service. I can use a hand-axe and a light spear. I have sharp eyes too." Fulfur: "Fulfur Worsegolf of Wulfstead. Mace and throwing knifes. I struggled with a few big animals, but no dragon yet." Kalamatas: "Kalamatas, peasant. I can only use a mace, and not very good." Astron, peasant from Eraton: "Same here. My name is Astron." Mnogiatzes, peasant from Eraton: (takes off woollen cap, revealing a balding head) "Mnogiatzes, peasant. Battle-axe." Almes: "That makes fifteen." Sir Arni: "Plus that brigand, possibly. I will later work out the marching order. Can anybody describe the dragon?" Sundron: "It was about ten metres long, and looked like a big lizard. It was yellow." Sir Arni: "Aha. A young one." Jelay: "I wouldn't call that young. Ten metres?" Fulfur: (grins) Sir Arni: "We will see. How does the cave look? Surroundings, landscape?" Almes: "Only the hermit knows that." Sir Arni: "So we will have to improvise. But we will have to improvise anyway, for plans never work out with dragons. Of course the priests, the mage, and the healer will stay in the background, maybe behind rocks. Our strong friend with the heat protection pendant will be in the front... Ormgwen: "Ormgwen." Sir Arni: "and let's hope the dragon breathes on him instead of the others. The peasants will keep in his vicinity and be ready to jump away when it breathes. For the dragon will try to burn as many persons as possible, and we must make sure that it doesn't burn the wrong ones. peasants: (look at each other with big eyes) Sir Arni: "As soon as the dragon appears, Jelay will damage it with whatever seems most appropriate, and you all try to hit it with all your throwing- knifes and arrows and lead balls and whatever. After its first breath we fighters all charge it, for it will need time before the next one. But it will possibly fly then to prevent us from that. Therefore it is best if we never give it the chance to leave its cave. So if it is in there, Ormgwen should enter first, and when flames come out, we run after him." Ormgwen: "Good plan." Tarik: "Jelay could also make some of us invisible. What's a Golden Armor?" Sir Arni: "That's both ineffective. There will probably not enough time, and it costs valuable energy that could be better invested weakening the dragon or electrocuting it." Sir Arni: "The healer and Almes will concentrate on supporting Jelay. When he gets exhausted from his offensive spells, put your hands on him or whatever. But I don't know yet how to use the mage. Control animals, you say? Can you make the dog attack the dragon?" Bakr: "I can try." Sir Arni: "Very good. You can use it to divert the dragon's attention." Compass: (looks indignant) Sir Arni: "As a second option, you could do that yourself, magically disguised as a knight or something." Bakr: (makes strange noises in his throat) Ziemi: "I could do that too. Diverting attention I mean." (general astonished silence) Sir Arni: "You are needed as a fighter." Ziemi: (shows his wooden leg) Sir Arni: "Oh." Sundron: "You will need one day for the way to the cave." Sir Arni: "In which direction?" Almes: "West. West-southwest, rather." Sir Arni: "Is it possible that I don't return here but go further south from the cave? Can my horse, and that of my knave, be brought to a point south of here? I have things to do in the south, and that would save time." Sundron: "Certainly. My son Pregomachos will bring them to Baros's smithy and wait for you there." Preg: (gives him an unpleasant look) Baros: "Here are the keys, Preg!" Sir Arni: "But before we reach the cave someone should show me the way from there to the smithy." ----- Later Jelay explained the headband to me. One had to wear it and speak a certain keyword, then a fireball would appear, and one could, using the eyes, direct it where one wanted and then drop it to make it explode. It would also explode if one was disturbed. I didn't test it, for there was the possibility that it burnt out, and that would be a pity. It sounded simple enough. When we went to bed, Compass said with a dark face, "I have a feeling that he intends to be the only survivor again." -- Bakr ibn Ja'far ibn Musa al Mekneshi, apprentice mage aka Lifilis Kloote, conjurer and artist aka Thomas Kettenring