From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Dec 17 21:15:39 1993 Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!netcomsv!decwrl!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!psinntp!isc-newsserver!ritvax.isc.rit.edu!ABB6731 From: abb6731@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Mr. Sinister) Subject: [JOI] and on the morrow, forward!! Message-ID: <1993Dec16.153626.22648@ultb.isc.rit.edu> Sender: news@ultb.isc.rit.edu (USENET News System) Nntp-Posting-Host: vaxa-eth.isc.rit.edu Reply-To: abb6731@ritvax.isc.rit.edu Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 15:36:26 GMT Lines: 125 [JOI] More choices ADMIN[ This is a joint post by: Mr. Sinister -- Valeria, Aleric* Jacylyn Mondak -- Alarond Cameleon Bronwyn Boltwood-- Peregrine Wanderer Jason Rosenberger-- Kyar * Character property of Heather Sexauer and is used by her consent. Synopsis: Per and Kyar have returned with news confirming what Valeria had told them a few mornings ago. Now they must face fate and choose the road to follow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As they walked back to the inn where they left the others, Per pondered things, Kyar also looked pensive. They walked into the common room where the Company was seated around a table. "Good news for you, my friends. We have found some more information about where we must go and what we must do. Next we must find where lies the mountain of fire and water." A hubbub arose around Per and Kyar as they pulled up chairs. "Wait a moment and I will tell you what we know. Shh now." They listened, heads nodding, quiet whispers going back and forth. Valeria sat quietly next to Aleric and listened nodding at the similarities of the tale and they one she had told. The one she knew only too well to be the truth. It seemed this woman was wise indeed, but had forgotten the names of the first ones, a pity. As she listened and the tale drew to an end she brought a finger to her mouth and chewed pensively on it. There was something missing. "And what of the tablet left by Velisar, what did she say of that?" Valeria asked Per. Alarond too had unanswered questions. Was the Dragon that the old teller spoke of the same one that he had helped to chase out of his homeland-- the same one that had destroyed the greater part of his family? He had seen this creature die by the hands of their greatest elfin warrior, Raydelereth the Mighty. He pierced its thick armor. Yet he remebered the creature slinking off into the darkness; they had thought that he had surely perished in the depths of the great mountain of fire where he was born. Perhaps they had thought wrongly... "She did not mention one. Should we go back and ask her if recounts aught? Or perhaps you may tell us of it." "The tablet tells the name of he who was destined to come and claim the Scepter from Haberekyl. To this person the dragon must give up the Scepter, for it is the will of Velisar, and to disobey that would bring a wrath even the gods fear." Valeria stops and looks around the table. "Does any here think they can hold claim to this right?" "I do not think any of us believe to hold such a claim. But I do think that there is no choice for us but to try. We must quest to the mountain. I do assume the dragon can read? If so, no-one can deceive him in this. We must do our best. If we fail to retrieve the scepter, well, the purpose of the quest was either to kill us off, or to gain the Scepter or both. If they believe we have died, we can continue our search of a method to rescue Elanon. If we retrieve the Scepter, as completely unlikely as that is, then we shall go on from there and on the way back, find a way to twist the deal we have made to hasten the demise of the evil Lord of this city." "Do you take Haberekyl lightly?" Valeria's eyes flashed in anger, "I do not think you see the danger here! This dragon has lived since the first ages of the world. He is wise beyond comprehension and has in himself the power to level mountains!" "Does anyone have any more information? If any of us do, we could truly use it. It may be a long quest, but will be longer the less we know of where to go and what to do. Does anyone know anything? Another version of that old legend, perhaps? Recount any aspect of the tale from their own knowledge?" "In the days when I still resided my homeland, there was a dragon such as the one that you speak of. He lived in the the great mountains that overshadowed us from the north and had left us in peace for many a year until he decided that our craft (the working of silver and gold) had become worthy of his hoard. He began to demand tribute from my people. This was in order to escape his mighty wrath--not only from his fire and the wind of his wings, but also of some secret hidden power, of which he would never speak. We lived in fear of him, until my brother--who was next in line for the throne--challanged him who had terrorized our people for so many a year. Many were killed in that battle, but so too was that Bane (that was his name, Bancalereth in the tongue of my people) by the hand of our greatest warrior Raydelereth. However, none verified the kill--we were all nursing the wounded and mourning the dead; we didn't care--so as I hear of this evil dragon, I wonder if it is not the same that wounded my people so long ago and caused me to leave my beloved homeland..." With that, a obviously agitated and somewhat frightened Alarond sat back down in order to compose himself and to take a sip of ale to get the evil taste of the Name out his mouth. "Fear not friend Alarond," Valeria smiled, "It was not Haberekyl that attacked your people, for bound he is by oath never to leave the mountain, although...it may have been one of his ofspring. But we have stayed too long! Tomorrow we must gather what we need and depart!" A cold laughter was heard, evil and drunken. A shadow wobbled from the a corner seat, a drink in one hand, the other on his sword. Leberenth brought the glass to his lips and drained it. "I dought any here would give you what you need wench!" he spat as he said this, "How I curse you all for coming here! Now it seems the Lord has seen fit to send me with you on his little quest. I despise you all." here he grabbed the table for support. "but I digress...at noon be ready to leave, make all arangements by then!" He turned, somewhat unsteady, and stumbled away through the door. The Companions were left to think on his words, and ponder the morrow. ________________________________________________________________________________ Merry Christmas from all the JOIers to alt.p.d-i!!!!