From alt.pub.dragons-inn Sat Feb 12 09:30:18 1994 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!olivea!sgigate.sgi.com!sgiblab!swrinde!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] Specifican Getdown Date: 11 Feb 1994 16:13:28 GMT Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College Lines: 166 Distribution: world Message-ID: <2jgar8INNmgq@news.gac.edu> Reply-To: mcutter@nic.gac.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: flash.gac.edu Excerpted from _Broam's Guide to the Known Lands_, Vol. III. "Specifica of the Furs. "Founded almost 400 years ago, this Specifica is a bastion of civilization among the wilds of the Great Forest. Here, the cultured races can meet the barbarian sub-races and deal with them from a position of force. It serves as a center of learning, an island of enlightenment, and a safe haven. "The city itself is about 10,000 inhabitants. As indicated by the name, their primary economic activities revolve about animal pelts. Some are trapped by locals; others are received by trade with the Forest's inhabitants. All are shipped downriver to Generica. From there, these items are exported throughout the known lands. "Town life is very..." From the logs of Pumice, master of the vessel _Gibraltar_, May 1990: "Notes of Specifica of the Furs: "Never be alone. Always watch your back. DO NOT make trouble for the Watch OR the gangs. They'll team up to fry you. "In the day I was alone in Specifica, I was roughed up at the gate, endured two muggings (to their eternal regret), got horribly swindled, and was sentenced to infinite damnation for my hobby. I doubt there is an honest sage in the city. The clergy seems more concerned with wealth and power than salvation. And a dwarf's enemies, the goblinoids, are perhaps the most well-behaved of the bunch. "From now on, I deal at Specifica only when necessary. I do so on my terms, with one hand on my dagger and all my defenses ready. May the Forger forgive any offenses I cause." ----- Surprisingly, Pumice would not let Thad disembark right away. At least, it was a surprise to Thad. Pheu expected it, even agreed to it. The goblin explained his reasoning thusly: "You think wilderness bad? Not last long in Spec'fa, Thads. Trouble all over place. We wait for morning, be safer; bigger nasties will have fled from sun." Thaddius reluctantly agreed. Morning arrived soon enough and brought a chance for Thad and Pheu to try their new rafting skills. Pumice wanted to dock; he thought there might be trade. So he had the two assist him while Bill and Ted prepared the cargo. The novices had learned their lessons well. Except for one mishap, docking went off without a hitch. Having nothing to do while Pumice battered, Pheu offered to show Thaddius "civilization." Afterwards, the half-elf always wondered how he let Pheu talk him into something so unusual. Maybe it was a lesson of Chan-Da'all. But the meaning escaped Thad. Specifica of the Furs had the feeling of a boom-town. Pheu led Thad by glittering mansions, witnesses to the wealth that could be tapped from the Great Forest. But he also took the half-elf through a slum wretched enough to tear a dictator's heart. "If this is your civilization," whispered Pheu, "me glad me goblin and live in woods. Not need this. Can barely survive as is." Thaddius had no good reply. *** The trouble started at lunch. Pheu had suggested a place in the Outlanders' Quarter; they would serve anyone, no questions, no trouble. The ranger spoke highly of the place, enough that Thad was willing to give it a try. The two entered and approached the bar. Pheu led the way, oblivious to the silence that fell when he and Thad entered. The bard noticed, but passed it off as the unusual spectacle of a goblin and a half-elf in peaceful company. He scanned the room and turned his attention to the conversation at the bar. The 'keep was being particularly annoying. "We don't serve your kind here, goblin!" "What you mean?" came Pheu's indignant reply. "Pheu eats here plenty." The goblin squinted, and pulled himself partway over the counter. "Whadahell... You NOT barkeep! Where you put Fred?" The barkeep smirked, "I killed him. Got something to say about that, runt?" Pheu started climbing over the bar. "Pheu gonna ring youse fat neck." A gloved hand pulled him back down and spun him around. "He said you were not welcome here, filth," came a whisper. "Now leave." Thad cursed silently. He had not even noticed the hooded figure standing nearby. He cursed again when a growl escaped Pheu. The goblin punched straight out, catching his assailant in the groin. As the assailant fell, he lost his cloak, revealing ebony skin, fair hair, and pointed ears. "Drow!" gasped Thaddius, completely flabbergasted. Pheu kicked the dark elf into unconsciousness. Thad recovered, readying his staff as the common room erupted into chaos. Bodies fled in every direction from a pair of drow started across the room. The 'keep ducked into the pantry and locked himself in. The crowd bought Thad valuable time to react. Shouting out to Cha-Da'all, he split her power into two channels. First, he empowered his staff, then shaped a shield about himself with the rest. A grim smile crossed the bard's face as he felt the thickening of his skin in response. He stepped forward. Thad parried the first drow easily. It had not cleared the crowd before trying to engage the half-elf. A flick of the wrist, and the longsword bit into the floor. The drow stabbed with a stiletto, getting a broken wrist for his troubles, followed by a split skull. But by now, the other drow had closed. This one wielded two short swords with deadly skill. For several seconds, Thad and the dark elf feinted and parried, the upper hand changing several times. But the half-elf managed to beat the drow back. A voice rang out from across the room, "Lloth, aid me now!" A female drow was beginning to attack. At the bar, Pheu, who had finally given up on getting the 'keep, turned. The goblin hefted an axe and pivoted, hurling it and diving off the bar. The female took it in the arm and fell, her concentration shattered. Taking advantage of his opponent's surprise, Thad chanted, blinding the drow, and then struck him in the groin. At the table, the cleric was rising with a bloody shoulder. Pheu reached out and caught his axe as it returned to him. Thad gestured again, sending several darts of light at her. They impacted, but had no visible effect. Again, she started to call on her goddess. Pheu was waving frantically from the stairs. "Lets go, Thads! We not able to match her." The goblin bolted up the stairs with Thad right behind him. Both burst onto the roof. Pheu stopped and tossed a flask down the stairs. "Insurance," he gasped and leapt to the next building. Behind him, the door exploded in flames. Thad followed close on his friend's feet. The two tumbled to a halt. "We gonna hafta hide," said the ranger. "Watch or gangs not gonna like this." "Indeed," replied the bard. "Lead the way. I, for one, do not wish to face the drow's irate comrades." Gathering themselves, both set out across the rooftops, hoping to outrun pursuit. *** From the journals of Thaddius Farsinger, of the Roaming Companions: "23 June 1993, World: Nexus, Location: Specifica of the Furs. "It has been three days since the escapade at the inn. Pumice is furious. We have not been linked to him, but he fears it is only a matter of time before some mage scries the connection. I have told him not to worry, but have not explained why. As he said, some secrets can wait. "Pheu, on the other hand, is ecstatic. It seems that drow destroyed his tribe some years ago. He has made it his personal mission to oppose them whenever possible. According to what we can learn, the inn we destroyed was a focal point for their espionage activities in the area. "As for myself, I am happy to escape with my life intact. Dark elves are not a race to be taken lightly. But that is behind us. Tomorrow we depart Specifica of the Furs. If I never set foot in this place again, it will be to soon." -Thaddius Farsinger "I don't mind watching your back. But next time, damnit, ASK first!" ****************************************************************************** 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! ******************************************************************************