From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Feb 11 12:27:47 1994
Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!olivea!charnel!rat!usc!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] Casting Off
Date: 10 Feb 1994 16:38:50 GMT
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College
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Message-ID: <2jdnuqINN6lf@news.gac.edu>
Reply-To: mcutter@nic.gac.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: jimbob.gac.edu

Morning awoke Thaddius from a very comfortable slumber.  The half-elf rolled  
over, prepared to roust the goblin.  But Pheu was no where to be seen.   
Concerned, Thad threw on his pack, grabbed his staff, and headed to the common  
room.

He need not have worried.  Pheu at the bar, talking to a rather tall and thin  
dwarf.  When the goblin saw him, he waved Thaddius over.  "Good morning, Thad.   
Pheu hopes you sleeped well."

The dwarf looked Thad up and down, then turned to Pheu.  "He looks a little  
worn around the edges, ranger.  Your taste in travelling companions is getting  
stranger all the time, Pheu."

Pheu smirked.  "None stranger than you, dwarf," he retorted.  "How many of mine  
kind can stands smell of foul dwarveses?"  The dwarf chuckled.  Pheu turned to  
the half-elf again.  "You needs sleep, so I not disturbs you.  But I get  
supplies from barkeep.  Best place in town to buy."

He gestured to the dwarf.  "This is our host for trip to Specifica of Furs.  He  
owns big raft and has crew.  We get to go along as protection and extras.   
Come, we go now.  City guard finds out a goblin is ins the town, cause trouble  
for sure."  With that Pheu slammed his drink and leapt to his feet.  The dwarf  
follows, drawing Thaddius along behind him.

"My name is Pumice," said the dwarf.  "I am a trader of sorts, making regular  
runs between Farreach, Specifica of the Furs, Generica, and all points in  
between.  I carry anything, anytime, for reasonable rates.  What about you,  
half-elf?"

Thad looked the dwarf over.  As he had noted earlier, Pumice was relatively  
thin and tall.  There was a different feeling about him than one usually gets  
from dwarves;  one was usually reminded of a mountain's solidness.  Pumice had  
a different feel, one of humor and fluidity.

Offering his hand, Thad introduced himself.  "I am Thaddius Farsinger, seeker  
of knowledge, protector of life.  I serve my goddess, Chan-Da'all in these  
pursuits.  At present, I am at...loose ends.  There are no commitments for me  
at home, so I decided to travel."

Pumice nodded sagely.  To himself, he thought there was more that this young  
half-elf was telling him.

The two continued towards the river slowly becoming acquainted.  The dwarf  
filled Thad in on the politics and history of Farreach while the half-elf  
parted with a few tales of his travels, carefully leaving out specific places.   
He was just getting going when Pheu popped up.

"Hey, Thad!  You tells him about woman troubles?" the goblin interrupted.   
Cackling maniacally at Thad's look of exasperation, Pheu filled Pumice in with  
a slightly altered version of Thaddius's Roaming and the battle with the ogres.   
Thaddius did his best to interject his account, too.  The verbal battle ended  
when Pheu decided to scamper ahead to the docks.

"What is this 'woman trouble'?" asked Pumice.  The dwarf reached over and  
grabbed the half-elf's wrist, searching for something.  After a moment, he  
grunted success and dropped the appendage.  "You are betrothed," he said.  "I  
recognize the bracelet.  Human fashion, but elven custom.  Why are you abroad  
with the wedding so close?"

Thad sighed and looked embarrassed.  "I do not know," he answered.  "There are  
only two months left.  I want this more than anything, but still, I find myself  
drawn away.  Wanderlust is stronger now than at any time in my past."

"Normal," replied Pumice. "You do not want to be tied down.  Simple bachelor  
yearning for freedom.  Don't trouble yourself; it will pass."  The dwarf spoke  
as if he were an authority.

Another sigh escaped the half-elf.  "Indeed," he said.  But inside Thad did not  
agree.  This argument seemed too pat, too easy.  He was about to say so out  
loud when the dwarf grabbed his elbow.

"There it is, friend.  My pride, joy, and livelihood.  Behold the _Gibraltar_!"

***

Thaddius was impressed.  He had seen many vessels in his day, but few compared  
to the sight before him.  It was only a raft, but the sheer size!  The logs  
making the base were at least sixty feet long.  And the raft itself was another  
forty feet across.

A tiller was raised on the middle of the back edge.  Braces for poles lined the  
sides and front.  In the very center rose a small building, obviously quarters.   
Atop that was a smaller structure with lines running to the tiller:  the helm.   
And on that rested a rather large ballista.

Thaddius did not think such a structure could support itself.  Muttering a few  
syllables, he took a closer look.  Lines of magical force threaded through the  
raft, binding it together and fortifying the physical links.  The half-elf  
nodded his admiration.  It was a very elegant piece of workmanship.

Pumice watched all this with a smile.  "A beauty, is it not?  Designed and  
built her myself.  Even developed the magical bracings."  Thad turned at this  
comment, a look of surprise evident.  The dwarf smiled, on of his secrets out.   
"I'll tell you about it some time."

Boarding, he yelled back, "Stow you gear and find Pheu.  Then come topside and  
I'll introduce you to my crew."

Thad took the advice and set his belongings in a small cabin that had no sign  
of occupancy.  A call from the front of the raft got his attention.  It was  
Pheu.

On the goblin's arm rested someone the Thaddius had forgotten about entirely.   
The goblin smiled.  "Friend of yours?"

Thad raised his hands.  The hawk flew over and landed on his shoulder.  "Thank  
you, friend," whispered Thad.  "I remember your vigilance and cunning in  
battle.  I apologize for neglecting you."

Pheu watched silently.  After re-introductions, the goblin sidled forward.   
"This," he gestured, "is Longflyer.  He is a tried and true companion.  Treat  
him well, and he will return it tenfold."

Turning, Thad asked, "Is he yours, Pheu?"

"Nope."  The goblin shook his head.  "We simply know each other.  Little flyer  
has choosed you.  Besides, I prefer his larger cousin."

"Cousin?"  Thad glance about in confusion.  No other avian was evident.

"Looks up, elveses," smirked the ranger.  "Meet my friend and mount,  
Swordbeak."  Thad followed Pheu's finger up.  Aloft above them was a golden  
roc.  Astonished, the half-elf looked down at his companion.  Eyes gleaming,  
Pheu nodded, "You in for interesting times, yah?" and departed.

The half-elf shook his head.  A sailor dwarf, who worked magic of all things!   
And a goblin ranger, who claimed to fly!  I am, indeed, in for an interesting   
time, Thaddius thought.  For the first time since starting this Roam, I am  
actually enjoying myself.  I wonder...

Thoughts fade as Pumice calls orders.  They are casting off.  Thad lets the  
hawk aloft and goes to see what help he can lend.

-Thaddius Farsinger
"There is something about the water that renews hope in a person, that  
refreshes them, that fills them with wonder and optimism.  I remember how I  
proposed, strictly on the spur of the moment, after a trip to the beach.  It  
was a whole year before I had planned on it.  Imagine my surprise when Princess  
said, '*YES*!'"
 
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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!
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