From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Feb 23 10:26:16 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7049 Path: netcom.com!csus.edu!wupost!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.cac.psu.edu!news.cac.psu.edu!psuvm!asg102 Organization: Penn State University Date: Mon, 21 Feb 1994 21:00:13 EST From: The Dreamer Message-ID: <94052.210013ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Kidnap] Backroom Talks Lines: 105 Kim, Trawm, the woman and I filed into a back room. And between the raw smell of Grakma and the presence of Trawm, I knew we'd certainly have our privacy. Keeping the aggressiveness I had earlier, I said, "Well, like I asked before, what's the job?" "Yeah kid, spill it," Trawm added. "I gots ta know who we is gonna snatch an' who dey got fer friends." I tried not to show my surprise. A kidnapping? No wonder thing have been kept quiet -- the people behind this might not think I would want to do this, but apparently needed my help. And with Trawm around, I'd be rather forced to go along with everything, or risk becoming only another stain on the floor. As I recovered from my shock, I noticed that Kim had begun unpacking a few things. The rest of us gathered around to see what they were. To my dismay, there was very little there, just a few scraps of paper with some loose instructions scribbled on them. I groaned to myself. Trawm must have felt the same way; he slumped back in his chair and put a misshapen hand to his lumpy forehead. But Kim showed no signs of worry as he answered our looks of doubt. "We're supposed to kidnap a kid named Demmy Chi, son of Leonar Dodovan Chi, who lives on Merchant Hill. We're not to harm him if possible, and we're to bring him to a designated spot here in Low City. And we've got a little under two weeks to do it. That should take care of things to start with -- we just have to work out the details." "Minor things like how you are going to get in and out," Trawm's mate snapped. I was glad someone had said it, though the use of the word 'you' had me wondering. "Aren't you coming?" I asked her curiously. "Er ... no, it's just you three. I'm mainly here to support Trawmmykins. Isn't that right, snarllips?" "Sure is, Shannon my sweets." Trawm made a motion that I could only guess was him blowing a kiss. Kim rolled his eyes and said a little too loud, "I think I'm going to be sick." Trawm turned to him and smiled wickedly, "Good, there will be plenty of Grakma tonight!" He then grabbed a bucket from a corner where it was collecting the leakage from a dripping roof, dumped the water on the floor, and handed it to Kim. "Anyway," I interrupted, though at least now I knew his girlfriend's name, "As far as getting us in and out, I think that's what I'm here for. After all, I'm familiar with all of Merchant Hill, having guarded there often enough. So, if I were to guard that particular house a certain night, any 'friends' could pass by without trouble." "Ok. But I wanna also check out otter ways, like maybe da sewer, just in case." Trawm stated. "After all, I kinda know 'bout dat area anyway." I tried not to look discouraged, or think about why he would be familiar with the sewers. I didn't much care for travelling through that kind of environment, but it was hard to argue with Trawm, especially since he had a good point. "Great, you can check that out, Trawm -- the more we can learn about the place, the better. I'll do what I can in Glorshanned Keep, and Kim can try to find out what the Guild knows." "Yeah, like why dey want dis kid, an' what dey know 'bout what da family can do. 'Specially if dey know any fire majik or anytin'." I was pleased Trawm said that, although I was probably going to check my own sources as well. Still, it made me think that Trawm was not as stupid as his hulking form and scarred face suggested. "All right." Kim nodded. "We can meet back here tomorrow, exchange what we know, and plan what we'll do from there." Trawm and I each gave a nod of approval, and seconds later the three of us left the back room to carry out our assigned tasks. Before I could get out the door however, Trawm pulled me off to the side. "Wait. Have somethin' ta drink ta keep da chill off yer bones," he said. Now, since Trawm isn't exactly known for his chairty, I figured that he either needed to talk to me about something important or he was about to poison me for hitting on his girlfriend. Probably both. He leaned on the counter as he poured the drink and said in low tones, "Dis job stinks like Creft's corpse. Da guild ain't inta kidnappin'. Runnin' a few cuddlecribs ain't gonna get no one too mad, but you swipe someone's kid an' dey yell bloody murder. None a us is in da guild 'cept Kim, but he's just a kid. Alla dis got me worryin'. I don't like it." "So why don't you get out?" I asked taking a small swig of my drink. I had hoped to be able to taste any poison, but the stuff was so awful that it wouldn't have mattered; one mug of this swill would kill me, poison or not. I tried to hide my discomfort, but I couldn't help but spit the stuff on the floor. Trawm's laugh boomed around the tavern, "Drink up son. It'll put hair on yer eyelids." Once my coughing had subsided, he continued, "I don't wanna get outa da job 'cause it looks like dere is gonna be a few nogs ta crack an' I'm just da troll ta do it." Trawm smiled showing his rows of sharp teeth which pointed in all the wrong directions. Love and Peace and Bloody Murder, -The Dreamer-