Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!torn!nott!cunews!freenet.carleton.ca!Freenet.carleton.ca!ac559 From: ac559@Freenet.carleton.ca (Ian Clysdale) Subject: [JOI] Finally, a departure! Message-ID: Sender: news@freenet.carleton.ca (News Administrator) Reply-To: ac559@Freenet.carleton.ca (Ian Clysdale) Organization: The National Capital Freenet Date: Sat, 16 Oct 1993 21:04:49 GMT Lines: 72 Elanon bowed towards Alarond upon his return, then spoke. "I have just spoken with Shortfellow, and he says that the crew have repaired the ship. We can leave now, and I plan to do just that. If Segoi wishes to find us, I do not think he will have a hard time," he said ironically. Then, bowing towards Peregrine and looking rather strangely towards the form that was Taylor, he continued. "The newcomers who have appeared out of the ethereal mists are welcome to join us too. I believe that I have explained our quest roughly in the past, it is time to continue now. Each moment wasted here is another moment my people live under tyranny and anger, and we have wasted far too many moments." He turned around and strode towards the ship, leaving the others looking slightly dumbfounded. Eventually, one by one, they followed him to the ship. The next morning, Elanon was up early talking with the captain. "It's no use," said the captain. "When we were wrecked on the island, after the accursed battle, we lost the charts you had given us. We can keep going, hoping to find land, but I can guarantee nothing." Elanon screwed up his face, looked slightly pained, and then continued to speak. "There is something I can do. Merely follow the direction that my arm is pointing." He sat down, focused, and began to reach out. He felt the waves of the people around him flowing in uncoordinated form, like radio waves; bouncing off his skin -- the sweet melody of the Wanderer; the dirge of Quaeros; the aharmonics of this creature from the depths of the Earth. But these were not what he was searching for. Instead, he focused on a mind that he knew very well, far better than he had wished to, trying to feel the individual waves of the mind from him. A strong feeling of hate crossed his mind, but he pushed it aside, knowing that it would only interfere with his work. He focused on the areas where the most waves came from, where there must be the most people, and eventually reached a mental mainland, where people were close together instead of scattered. Then, he searched for the man he knew would be in Qar'Tima. Suddenly, he found it. A force of pure evil, darkness radiating from all around it. Elanon winced, but forced himself to focus on it. Then he linked his body into his mind, and focused his body on the waves also. Thus he spent his time. While Elanon was sitting comatose, the ship was following the path he marked, the direct route and efficient one. Eventually they reached within sight of the city, and Elanon rose again. He gathered together his companions, and began another last speech. "I think that they may know I am coming. Therefore, I'm going to ask you all to jump off the ship now, and swim to shore. I must stay here, for if they are searching for me, and do not find me, they will search and find all of us. If they find me, that will leave you to continue what must be done. Farewell." After silencing a fair bit of argument from the original companions, and explaining a bit more of the situation to the newly joined, he finally forced them to leave the ship, giving them the address of an in in Qar'Tima he would meet them at if he was not caught. Ten minutes later, the ship docked, and three men in black robes boarded it. Elanon stepped forwards. "Greetings, Ertran. I expected you." "Elanon, are you even more of a fool than I thought? You have lost!" "Only the Gods will determine that. Take me now, I will not resist." He was taken, blindfolded, and left in a small cell. It was not an unpleasant cell, but it was not beautiful, it was small, and, most importantly, it was spelled against any use of magic. Elanon sat down, and began the long, painful process of his death. Elanon the Grey Late of Qar'Tima -- Ian Clysdale /\ Elanon the Grey ^ ^ The Fool beholds the city's wrecks; Student /am\ at Bell High ^ ^ Remorse attacks and tears his soul. Unix Moron /just\ Freenet Moron ^ ^ He wonders what he'll ruin next, A Fool and/myself\ a Joker ^ ^ Since grief and tears his laughter stole.