From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Feb 16 17:26:25 1994 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!pa.dec.com!jac.zko.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!caen!spool.mu.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: [Roaming] Finale Date: 14 Feb 1994 22:57:45 GMT Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College Lines: 167 Distribution: world Message-ID: <2jovl9INNkvv@news.gac.edu> Reply-To: mcutter@nic.gac.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: dion.gac.edu "I have been watching with interest your approach. You have provided endless amusement." It is midnight, midway between the Great Forest and the city of Generica. Thaddius Farsinger, bard and priest of Chan-Da'all, the Seeker, stands facing a creature out of nightmare. The vampire-treant Thorne has finally deigned to face Thad himself. The half-elf had been expecting the confrontation, even looking forward to it. But now, he is filled with dread. In his heart, Thaddius Farsinger knows he is facing his doom. Thorne speaks again: "Come, now, half-elf. You have fought well, but you are not part of this feud." He smiles benignly. "Go. Leave my Sister to Me. Come here, and I will send you forth from Nexus. You have nothing to fear from me." The words have a certain soothing rhythm to them. But Thad is not enthralled. He is part elf, and therefore has some resistance to the creatures charms. Additionally, he had devices that aid him in such conflicts. He smiles himself and makes his strongest play. "In the Name of Chan-Da'all, the Seeker, Lifes'breath, I command thee, Thorne, undead abomination, to be gone, for now and always." It is the strongest warding the half-elf knows. With it, he hopes to win the day. But it is the vampire's turn to smile. Thad's goddess has little or no influence on Nexus. "You cannot dispell me, worm. Your pathetic goddess holds no power over me." Thad shrugs in return. It had been a slight hope. He rocks back on his heels, seemingly forlorn as Thorne speaks up, "Good, I see the terror beginning. Now, what....OOOFFFF!" Thad explodes into action, gesturing at the vampire and trying to duck into cover. Points of light race into Thorne's chest, burning into him. He scowls in pain and anger and them calls upon his own magic. A host of vermin gather, swarming the hill Thad uses for cover. Only to rebound off of his wards. But dispelling them drains the last of the wards' power. Sprinting to the north, the half-elf tries to close again. Behind him, the hilltop disappears under a blast of frigid air and snow. Thad glances about him, trying to get his bearings. Seeing the vampire, he looses another spell. A greenish ball speeds forth, enveloping Thorne in its sticky embrace. But the vampire fades to mist, escaping. Thad crouches down, scanning the area near him. He strikes out with the staff, gratified to hear a gasp of pain. Thorne appears and reels away, stumbling to the ground. Encouraged, Thad jumps forth to press his advantage. Several blows strike the vampire, but he shrugs them off with minimal damage. For a second, the two grapple. Then Thorne heaves Thad up and flings him into the snow. The half-elf manages to twist in mid-air, coming down on his feet. Before Thorne can press his advantage, several more points of light burst forth and strike him. But he returns the attack, knocking Thaddius to the ground and slowly squeezing him in a ghostly hand. *** To the north, Lady Ellen and Marty ride hard. Foam coats the mouths and flanks of their horses, but neither notices. Ellen tried to warn Thad of their arrival, but she has lost all contact. Both the kender and the human fear the worst: they will arrive to late to save their friend. Marty mourns the lose of a companion; Ellen cries out for lost love. *** The hand slowly drives Thad to his knees. Focussing his fading consciousness, Thad lets loose with his final gasp of Power. A bolt of acid slams forth into Thorne. The vampire reels; his ghostly had is dispelled. Thad falls to his stomach, choking and retching. When he regains his senses, the vampire is no where to be seen. Suddenly, a ball of fire erupts from behind him. Blown head over heels, Thad screams in pain from burns, then again from the steam. Quickly he forces down the pain, trying not to give himself away. He reaches for a weapon, but his staff was lost in the fall. Fog billows around him as he listens for his enemy. Only the hissing melting snow echoes in his ears. Thad whirls, feeling a touch on his shoulder. Nothing is there. Then a hand closes about his throat. The vampire appears, smiling. "You did better than I expected, worm. You hurt me. For that, I will kill you with my bear hands." And his hand closes, crushing the breath from Thad. The half-elf struggles, of course. But it is to no avail. He fully expected this to be the end. Thad makes peace with himself as the darkness closes in. At the last moment he gives himself over to it. Nothing happens for an undeterminable period. Then, air rushes into his lungs. Move, half-elf, something commands him. Slowly, he begins to pull himself away. *** Thorne suddenly had other problems. An axe had somehow found its way into his back. Reeling from the unexpected shock, he releases the half-elf and turns to face his attacker. Behind him, he senses holy power of incredible proportions. but it is focussed on his victim. A small being confronted him. "Whatsamatter with you, you overgrown wormfood, can't make it in your own league, gotta pick on us grunts?!" yells Marty. He winds up again, determined to buy Ellen the time she needed. Thorne curses and moves in on the kender. *** Meanwhile Ellen cradled Thad, crying and praying all at once. His body is barely able to house his spirit, so great is the damage. It took all over her Power simply to let Thad return. The rest was beyond her control. Turning to the sounds of battle behind her, Ellen sees Marty make a final stand before Thorne. The mage smashes the kender to the ground with a mighty blow and a flash. Ellen can smell the ozone twenty feet away. Slowly, Thorne gives her his full attention. Rising to her feet, the paladin yanks Breathtaker from its sheathe. Holding it two-handed, she moves between Thad and the vampire. "You will not have him while I live," she states with grim determination. Thorne nods in return. He would have it no other way. Slowly the two close. Behind the vampire, Marty raises a bloody and bruised head. Pulling bracelet forth, he whispers brokenly, "Your Excellency, smash mission and evac, this location, now." A white spot appears, widening into a circle eight feet across. From it steps help. *** Ellen stands, waiting for Thorne. Both fail to notice Marty's actions until a lightning bolt impacts on the vampire. Ellen skips out of the way o the flying body, gathering up Thad and running towards Marty. She does not understand her fortune, but takes advantage of it. Thorne struggles to his feet, growling incoherently. Today has caused him more pain than any other day in millennia. He is determined to have vengeance. Slowly, he casts forth his thoughts, summoning his creatures and his legions. Undead begin approaching the area, and Thorne's natural followers also begin filtering in. But their way is blocked. A human in plate and another half-elf in scale stand between them and the portal. Justinian, the human steps forth while Elrond lowers his katana and begins a spell. Behind them, an elf in black chain helps Marty through the portal. Ellen and Thad were nowhere to be seen. Then Fletch also turns to face the vampire. Justinian speaks up. "We will leave now, vampire, and trouble you no more." Elrond steps through followed by Fletch. Justinian backs through quickly, with the portal closing to fast for Thorne to react. Suddenly, the vampire stands alone on the plain, without anyone to vent his fury on. Needless to say, he is not happy. The Roamer Companion's had brought their wayward leader to safety. -Thaddius Farsinger "Love conquers all." ****************************************************************************** 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! ******************************************************************************