From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Feb 9 09:06:23 1994 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!apple!kaleida.com!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!destroyer!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.ans.net!malgudi.oar.net!news.ysu.edu!psuvm!jge103 Organization: Penn State University Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 16:04:53 EST From: JOHN EGGER , Penn State University Message-ID: <94038.160453JGE103@psuvm.psu.edu> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [VampQ] Billy meets...who else? Lines: 139 [VAMPQ] Billy Meets...who else? Admin [The cast of characters for the [VampQ] thread: Character Created/Managed by --------------------------------------------------------- Ja'nis arsmith@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Alan Smith) Bluestar Dreamer (in absentia) Gemini (Feline familiar of Bluestar Dreamer) Moria Runecaster Master Hawk Rathan Barbar Morning Reaper Ah (Blood spider created by Rathan) Turion "Mr. Sinister..." a salamander (Turion's Travelling Companion) Billy the Torch JGE103@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Matte Kudasai Matt Hebert Tomonobu Fujiwara rudnick@cfatrw.harvard.edu (Bret R. Rudnick) Synopsis: After retrieving specimens of the Vampire Orchid, the object of their quest, the group are forced to journey through Hell to get to the Gate back to Generica.] Admin [As always, comments/questions welcome.] ============================================================ > Matte took a deep breath. "From what I know of these > things, this path should eventually get us back to Nexus. > But if we go through other dimensions of Hell first, it could > be rough going. There's no telling what we might run into. > You shouldn't trust all your senses. The important thing to > remember is to keep moving forward." > Rathan spoke ominously. "One more thing of importance: > We will be traveling through many Shadows, uh Dimensions, > of Hell. If you stop along the way you may wind up lost and > therefore stuck in Hell forever. And I don't know if we > will be able to find you again." > "There is little sense in waiting," Tomonobu said, "soon > enough those persons will be done with Pericles, and I doubt we > would be able to draw them away again." He walked up to the > Gate and, without flinching, stepped in. > Slowly, one by one, the rest of the party did the same, and > strode into the realms of Hell. "I sure didn't count on this when I joined the party!" thought Billy, while nervously hoping the cloud of mist he was engulfed in at the moment would lift. [- Behind him in the fog a shadow followed, flitting here and there. Eyes glowed from somewhere on the shoulder of the shadow, a thread of flame issued between them.-] The thought of journeying through hell was not an appealing one to Billy in any way. He was used to conventional threats, and even those gave him occasional fits. How was he to confront these, the haunting visions he was destined to encounter in the very near future? At least he would not have to go it alone. The others would be there to bail him out. He had become accustomed to having the security that only a group of such skilled swordsmen (and women) could bring. Abruptly, the fog lifted. A sweeping glance revealed a startling fact: Billy was alone... in hell. "Tomonobu! Matte! Can you hear me...me...me..." his voice echoed nervously through the apparent night air. Just where was he? He could hear crickets chirping and an occasional owl whooting. This must be a forest of sorts. "I thought hell was a firey inferno. This doesn't resemble anything too threatening." THUMP! The loud noise jarred him out of his thoughts. "What the hell-" -THUMP! Billy scanned the surroundings to find the source of the racket. "Curse this darkness for hindering my sight!" Billy shouted, as, frustrated, he couldn't discern where the noise was coming from. -THUMP! He was down-right scared now. Billy started to run. He didn't have clue where to go, he just knew he had to run. -THUMP! "No matter where I go, this noise gets no farther away! What manner of enemy is this, that stalks me so?" The question was answered, much to the dismay of Billy. "Ha Ha Ha! Me get you now! You caught in hell with no way out!" "NO! Not here! Not possible! You may be able to follow me to other planes, but not to hell! Face me, you vile imposter, for you cannot be Rommel Ogre!" -THUMP! CRASH! The noise was much louder this time, as trees exploded in a firey splendor, and a very real looking Ogre burst into view. Billy was begining to regret calling this bluff. Flames shot out of his nose, and his skin seemed to be smoking. It all served to confirm the beast's general attitude: here was one truely irritated creature. "Me going to smash you to little bits! You no stand chance!" The ogre shouted, and then lunged. In one swift motion, Billy had rolled aside, and donned his bracelet. It appeared to function, even in these demenses. Something struck him as being odd. "That last comment!" Billy proclaimed, "It was not in rhyme! You cannot be Rommel ogre, for he always speaks in rhyme!" This seemed to give Billy a great sense of relief, although there still loomed a very large monster here, ready to smash him in an instant. At that moment, his bracelet rolled off, revealing his location. The orge raised his mammoth club as if to smash him, and then froze. "Phase one, completed. Prepare for phase two initiation in three...two ...one...now." A voice bellowed from an undiscernable source. "What manner of entity-" Billy blurted, and then was cut off by the opening of a trap door beneath his feet. He was now sliding to a new and unknown fate in yet another level of this place called hell. [- From high above Turion witnessed this and sighed. Then turning his gaze elsewhere floated off on a little cloud into another trap door that opened in the dark sky.-] =====================================================================