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From: laphamb3891@cobra.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: SCDOWN
Message-ID: <1993Oct5.124918.17607@cobra.uni.edu>
Date: 5 Oct 93 12:49:18 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa
Lines: 88

        Angus was standing on the deck of the crimson moon.  On the other side
he could see Radan preparing for his undersea journey.  Angus reached up and
felt the bruise on his cheek bone.  His eye was still swollen shut from that
fight.  As he felt the tender skin his mind travelled back to the Dragon's Pub.


        Angus sat in the Dragons Pub waiting for some signal that the ship was
ready.  He stared into his mug of Stout as the Capon sitting on the plate before
him grew cold.  The noise of the pub was to much for him to bear.  He stood up
and headed for the door, his drink still in his hand.  He made his way outside
and sat next to the Pub.  The noise began to lessen as he stared deaper into
the darkness of his drink.  It was relaxing.  The darkness swept over him,
enveloping him in its cool embrace.  He was being transported into another
world; a world where there was no pain, no fear, no death, and most of all no
voice.  It was his world where he often went to escape.
        As he settled into this reality he began to walk.  There was a crowd of
people gathering ahead of him.  It was strange.  There had never been people
here before.  No one else knew about this world.  Angus went forward and began
to work his way through the crowd.  He had to see what the crowd watched.
        As he emerged from the crowd he saw a man standing alone an a dais. 
The man was wearing a chain mail shirt over thin laether.  His boots were black
as tar and his hair shone silver.  His face was wrinkled with age and it soon
becam obvious that he was a wise man of a sort.
        "Angus," the man said.  "You have finally come to me.  Why have you
waited so long?  Why have you shunned me until know?"
        Something in the voice sounded familiar, almost soothing.  Angus looked
upon the man and replied, "Ah knew not that you were herre.  Ah had noo idea
that you existed.  Ah thought that oonly Ah knew wherre this worrld was."
        "Angus, you have known me for some time.  I have been trying to speak
with you, to show you the light."
        Suddenly Angus recognized the voice.  "Get oout!  Get Oout oh mye
head!"  Angus turned and ran, forcing his way through the crowd.  Running with
all his might, Angus broke free of the people and made for the entrance.
        "Wait you don't understand.  You have nothing to fear.  I am hear to
help you."

        The people on the streetbegan to gather in a crowd around Angus, silent
andmenacing.  He was obviously possesed.  No one
spoke with two voices.

        Angus ran for the entrance.  "Ya foul beastie, you'll never take my
soul."

        A man standing in the middle of the crowd began to move forward.  The
slender man next to him grabbed his arm.  "Don't do it.  He's just sick."
        "That's right," said the first man.  "He is sick, and I've got the
cure."  He walked over to where Angus sat.  Angus' arms flailed as he
cursed at the creature that was attempting to possess him.  The man raised hand 
and cast a look of determination back at his friend.

        As Angus reached the entrance the voice called out to him, "Wait! 
Don't leave or I will have to..."
        "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"  Angus felt a great pain surge into
his skull.  He found himself on the ground outside the Dragon's Pub.  The demon
must have used some magic on him.  Angus rolled onto his back and began to sit up. 
He blinked to gain his vision and when his eyes opened they were filled with
the heel of a boot.  His head pounded into the ground and a darkness started to
cloud his vision.  
        He saw the boot coming at him again and he quickly reached for it. 
Grasping the man's ankle he rolled to the side, tripping his attacker.
        It seemed as if the whole street was standing against him.  People were
raising staffs, rocks and sticks to beat upon him.  Angus had just one
solution.  He had to run for the door.  If he could get past them quickly he
could get into the pub and safety.
        Angus made a faint to the left and then dashed to the right and towards
the door.  He saw a club coming towards his head and he quickly side stepped
it.  He was close, another ten feet and he would be at the door.  Then suddenly
his back was exploding with pain.  Shards of wood worked their way into his
skin.  As he fell to the ground he felt another pain in his head.  Then a liquid
began to run over his eyes.  The stinging was to great.  He had to fight it. 
Then he felt ahand on his arm, pulling him up off the floor.  He tried to fight
it.  The ground seemed to be the best place for him now.
        "Stop fighting and let's get out of here!"
        The voice was familiar.  It was Misletoe.  Angus struggled to his feet
and followed the path he was lead down.  As they made it to the street
everything went blank.



        Angus leaned back against the railing of the Crimson Moon, cursing
himself for not being in control.  The lump on his head was to serve as a
reminder of his weakness.  Radan had tried to heal it but Angus would not allow
it.  He wanted to remember this for some time.
        Then Angus remembered Misletoe.  After all the commotion he had
forgotten to thank her.  She had saved him from certain death, or worse,
permamnent injury.  He would have to seek her out and let her know that he was
greatful.  But first, he had to watch over Radan, to make sure that his
departure, at least, was successful.