From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Nov 26 12:07:28 1993 Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!spool.mu.edu!torn!nott!cunews!freenet.carleton.ca!Freenet.carleton.ca!ae771 From: ae771@Freenet.carleton.ca (Bronwyn Boltwood) Subject: [JOI] Jeona the Taleteller Message-ID: Sender: news@freenet.carleton.ca Reply-To: ae771@Freenet.carleton.ca (Bronwyn Boltwood) Organization: The National Capital Freenet Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1993 11:06:33 GMT Lines: 125 For once this post is not co-authored! It's Per talking to you in the story, BTW. -------- Lebereth had left, along with his lord, and the Companions dispersed throughout the inn. "I'm worried, Kyar." I said. "I do not like the way in which they act, I doubt the deal I made. I fear that I have committed us to something we cannot or will not do, instead of buying time as I intended. Was I right to do as I did? Please, please answer me, I cannot let myself answer anymore." "I don't know if you did. They are evil, I know that, but I don't know the answer you need. At the least you are keeping us from despairing, and having us do something. Who knows what we will find on the quest? Perhaps we shall find the Scepter, perhaps we can skew the deal." "Does anyone know who the taleteller of this city is? Since we must do this, we shall do it well. I want to see what legends of this Scepter we can find, every piece of information. The old tales must have some truth in them for evil to heed them. We must find that truth. We need to find an idea of where it is hidden -- what use would it be to wander forever in the wilderness......" "Perhaps that is their scheme, to let us lose ourselves in the wilds." "All too likely. Thus it is even more important that we find where it is located, have good guides and the best maps. And we must not trust them or their associates. I will ask the innkeeper about the taleteller." I called out to the man. "Sir! Know you who is the taleteller of this city?" "Aye," came my answer, "'tis old Jeona. She be on the street of weavers. Thar's two streets down and one to the left." "Thank you sir!" Turning to Kyar, I said with a smile on my face, "It seems then, my friend, that we are off to the street of weavers." "Then let us be off." * * * We made our way through the busy and enticing streets where shops sold all that could be had, should one have enough coin. Finally we arrived at a small and bare looking shop, wherein sat an old lady weaving. Bent and gnarled by life and time, yet there was a magic and beauty about her, dignified as she bent to her work. I knocked softly, the door opened after my touch. An old and quiet voice drifted across the small room. "Who and what do you seek, strangers?" "My companion Kyar and I seek Jeona for we need hear the old legends." "I am Jeona, and 'tis rare to see the grown seeking tales. But I will tell them." "We thank you Mother. We must hear the tales for it is in them that we may find the truth we seek. We and our companions shall embark upon a quest to find the Scepter of Might. And we need know where it is, for otherwise we shall be forever lost in the wilderness." "Which is exactly as Lebereth wants." muttered Kyar, a hardness in his voice. "Lebereth sends you upon this quest? To abandon you, no less?" "Yes Mother." "Then I shall give you a weapon to fight with." Her voice took on a different quality, and then changed yet again, a tone that created, not demanded, silence. I tapped Jsy, as a signal to remember what was said. "Far, far ago in the mists of time, the great ones created this world. They were magnificent beings, these great ones. One of them, the Forger, wrought a mighty scepter. This is the Scepter of Might, which you quest for. With the Scepter he forged the world, with the scepter both hammer and anvil. But another great one envied the Forger's work and sought to steal and use it for his own glory. The Thief crept through the night to take for his own the mighty Scepter. But the Punisher knew of this, as he knows of all things. For the Thief's crime, the Thief must pay. The Thief was locked into a prison of the World's rock, and then the Punisher did cast the Scepter into the center of the World. The Thief has since found his freedom, but the Scepter remains locked still, though the Thief do ever seek it to use for his evil deeds. It is my belief that it is the Thief, or his greatest minion, who do rule now this sad city. But The Scepter remains still safely locked in its case of stone. Guarded by dragon and demon, it may be found beneath where fire and water meet in the mountain, where blue stone meets black stone. Deep in the earth, there be the Scepter. But to release it from the crystal that surrounds it is death to the doer. Once released, it may be touched safely, but the one who first takes hold shall die." "How may it be released, Mother?" "All one need do, is without evil thoughts or intents, grasp the Scepter. The crystal around it will shatter." "Do you know how we may pass the dragon and demon?" Kyar spoke. "Little is known of them, other than they are like all of their kind. The demon a strange creature loving the pleasures of the mind, and the dragon loves fine works of all sorts." "Anything else we need ask of, Peregrine?" "I do not recall anything right now. Thank you many times for your valuable knowledge. We shall take our leave." As we walk back to the inn where we left the others, I ponder things. Kyar also looks pensive. We walk into the common room where the Company is seated around a table. "Good news for you, my friends. We have found some more of where we must go and what we must do. Next to find where lies the mountain of fire and water." Hubbub rises around myself and Kyar as we pull up chairs. "Wait a moment and I will tell you what we know. Shh now." They listen, heads nodding, quiet whispers back and forth. The night was spent in plotting. ----------- BB!PW -- >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> > Bronwyn Boltwood, ae771@freenet.carleton.ca, near Ottawa Ontario Canada < > Light meets dark, hard meets soft, yin meets yang and thus is the world < >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:> O:) >:>