From alt.pub.dragons-inn Thu Feb 10 07:36:14 1994 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!koriel!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!paperboy.amoco.com!hawkings!apctrc!msc.edu!news.gac.edu!news.gac.edu!usenet From: Thorr-kan, the White Minotaur, and Horde Father-Confessor Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: REPOST [Roaming] First Contact Date: 9 Feb 1994 20:54:27 GMT Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College Lines: 142 Distribution: world Message-ID: <2jbii3INNmmo@news.gac.edu> Reply-To: mcutter@nic.gac.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: perdita.gac.edu Dawn comes slowly to the foothills of the Mysty Mountains. From the western slopes, it first appears as a brightening beyond the peaks. The gloom thins, and shadows fade towards the mountains. Bit by bit, light creeps up the mountainsides, flowing into hidden nooks and crannies. Cold seeps out of the earth, replaced by warmth from the sun. With the cold goes the mists that give the mountains their name. All sorts of creatures disappear with the mists, some fair and some foul. But occasionally, something remains. A creature of the night who has business in the daylight world... ----- 'Dawn,' thought Thaddius Farsinger. 'Finally, something is going my way.' The half-elf crouched in the roots of a fallen tree. His concealment was welcomed. Remembering the events of the previous night, Thad was quite happy to still be breathing. *** He had been hoping for a confrontation at dawn, perhaps a wary meeting with whoever was trailing him. Instead, around midnight, something had gone barreling through his northern perimeter, something large. It had set off two snares and barely avoided a dead-fall. Thaddius had investigated. But he learned no more from his examination than from yesterday's. The creature was large, strong, and cunning. How cunning became immediately apparent. A hand closed about Thaddius's neck. Startled, he somersaulted forward and spun around. Green eyes narrowed at the sight before him: an ogre. It regarded him for an instant, sneering a little. Thad tightened the grip on his staff and waited. "What do you want?" asked Thaddius. It slapped the side of its club. "Dinner," said the ogre. "Elf trespass; elf DINNER!" Thaddius met the charge squarely. The underbrush and terrain left little or no room for maneuver. He parried the club's first descent, then cracked the ogre's knee. Howling in pain, the creature backhanded the half-elf. He landed a good 15 feet away and came to rest against a rotting stump. Shaking his head and attempting to get his bearings, Thaddius staggered to his feet. A sharp whistle and a "SKQWAAAARRR!" sent him diving for cover again. When he looked up, Thad saw his hawk companion hovering over an ogre-sized hole in the underbrush. The sound of running ogre floated back on the morning air. 'Enough,' thought the half-elf. 'One I can handle. But I know at least four are around. Time to depart.' Thad turned and bolted towards his camp. Along the way, he retrieved his pack, dropped when he left to investigate. Now would be a good time to leave, but several items remained at the main site. Thaddius burst into his campsite. A quick glance around, and he burst out. Two more ogres were going through his food and bedroll. Now was the time for distance. For several minutes Thaddius ran on, barely bothering with direction or destination. Then he slowed, catching his breath and listening. Nothing seemed to be following him. 'I'll cover a bit more distance, then go to ground,' Thad thought. After being up all night, then this mornings excitement, some rest was truly needed. So for the next half an hour, the half-elf made his way northwest towards the river. When he felt safe, Thaddius found himself a hiding spot and settled down. *** The sound of snapping brush awoke Thaddius from his memories. Peering through the roots about him, he saw a an ogre stalking along the edge of the clearing. Nothing else disturbed the land about them. This presented a wonderful opportunity to even the odds. Reaching into a pouch, Thad withdrew a sling and bullet. He stood carefully and readied himself. The sling began twirling. Just as the bullet was released the ogre turned to the sound. The creature only had time to look puzzled before impact. Its entire face imploded under the bullet, and the body fell flopping to the ground. Nodding in satisfaction, Thaddius scurried away. Another hour of cat-and-mouse followed. Thaddius would sneak through an area; the ogres would try to herd him towards one another. Eventually, exhaustion and numbers became to great. The half-elf was skirting the edge of another dry ravine when his luck ran out. Beneath him, the bank gave way, and Thad tumbled and slid down its bank. He skidded to a stop right on top of another ogre. There was barely time for Thaddius to ready his staff before the creature leapt. Flat on his back, Thad managed to catch this ogre in the ribs and flip it behind himself. Scrambling to his feet, Thaddius brought the staff down on the ogre's head, vaulted the beast, and sprinted down the ravine. The ogre did nothing to stop him. As Thaddius cleared the end of the ravine, he saw why. The last two ogres stood with clubs readied about 25 feet away. Upon seeing the fleeing half-elf, they charged. Frustration and exhaustion had finally taken there toll on Thaddius. He had tried talking; he had tried running. Now, there was nothing left to do but fight. "Chan-Da'all!" came Thad's cry for aid. His goddess answered and Thaddius felt her power flow through him. He gestured; an ogre stopped, paralyzed. With the instant left, Thaddius directed the last of the divine energy into his staff. The ogre wound up with a small stump of a club. Thaddius parried the blow, the struck the weapon hand. It shattered, causing the ogre to howl in agony. While it was distracted, Thad struck again, smashing ribs. He shifted his attack, trying to get behind the ogre. Several seconds later, it lay dead at the half-elf's feet. A cry from the far end of the clearing. The paralyzed ogre was stirring, but had been unable to act because of the attacking hawk. Enraged at the bird, the ogre failed to notice its companion's death. Chan-Da'all's power exhausted, Thaddius reached inside himself instead. Calling his ally away, he pointed a hand at the remaining ogre and chanted. A spray of rainbows burst forth. They raced towards the ogre, knocking it senseless. As his last opponent fell, Thaddius dropped to a knee, exhausted. Closing his eyes, all he desired was rest. But Fate had other plans. The whistle was his only warning. Thad spun, raising his staff to block the descending blow. But it was futile. The blow drove him to his knees. A second snapped his staff and struck a glancing blow. Out of breath, drained of energy, Thaddius could only flinch as he dodged into a kick of the ogre from the ravine. As darkness descended, Thaddius Farsinger's last thought was: 'I have too much to live for...!' -Thaddius Farsinger "Death and love are a lot alike. Both will completely remake a person you thought you knew." ****************************************************************************** Sometimes, those you love most are the ones you have to leave behind. Matt Cutter, e-mail to mcutter@nic.gac.edu OR mcutter@vax2.gac.edu Gustavus couldn't afford my opinions if they wanted them! ******************************************************************************