From alt.pub.dragons-inn Thu Mar 3 08:30:22 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7081 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!koriel!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!nmr1!fogelinc From: fogelinc@pt.Cyanamid.COM (Carl Fogelin) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [ERROL] Sightings... Date: 3 Mar 1994 01:19:56 GMT Organization: American Cyanamid Company Lines: 136 Distribution: world Message-ID: <2l3dvt$i1c@c3po.jvnc.net> Reply-To: fogelinc@pt.Cyanamid.COM NNTP-Posting-Host: nmr1.pt.cyanamid.com [ ADMIN: This post may seem distant from the old ERROL posts, since the ] [ characters mentioned in it are all new and seemingly unrelated to the ] [ previous posts. Be that as it may...] No one is quite sure when the first sightings were encountered, or Sightings as they were being called now, but the personal accounts were growing daily. Some believe it started around Founder's Day, although the number of reported incidents were much higher since the meteor strike. Other than a few scared children and higher increase in temple attendance most people weren't too concerned. The real question was what did it all mean? ***** Alusinus was where he always seemed to be these days, bent over an old tome in some back corner of the Great Library. And, as was normal, he was muttering under his breath for more references. Chester, his imp assistant was dashing hither and to carrying various works back and forth to his master. The library assistants had long ago given up on helping Alusinus; his subject referential directions were completely unfathomable. ...Sage had long ago told the people in the library to leave Alusinus alone, which they did, pre- ferring to help those who were a bit predictable. Chester, carrying three large leather-bound books rounded a corner and almost ran directly into "IT". IT was this thing, more like a shape, wispy, glowing shape. Yah, maybe humanoid, or ummm, well... a shape. He almost dropped the books. "Boss!" he said. Alusinus, head buried in yet another anscient tome never heard him. Carefully, Chester tried to skirt the... Thing! Whatever..., his spiny back rubbing against the close confines of the bookcase, etching little streaks in the books' bindings. He was careful not to touch it. Hell no, there was no way he was going to touch THAT! Scooting past, he ran towards Alusinus and almost tripped over his foot. In- stead he smacked into Alusinus' leg. "Hey! Watch where you're going Chester" grouched Alusinus. "Umm, Boss!" "Hmmm?" Grabbing Alusinus' robe and tugging, "BOSS!!!" Sighing, Alusinus looked at Chester and said "What??? Oh, you got those trea- tises I asked for..." "No Boss!" "... well put them on the stack over there and get me..." Chester kicked Alusinus in the shin. "... the History of... OUCH! What did you do that for, you worthless imp?" Chester ignored the barb. Hooking his thumb over his sholder, Chester said "What's that?" "Oh, umm" said Alusinus as he removed his reading spectacles and looked in the direction Chester was pointing. "Hmm, let's see. Ah, you mean that glowing wispy thing? Hmm, I don't know, maybe a ghost..." "Nope, that ain't no ghost, nor any other denizen from the underworld" "... an apparation then..." "Eh, eh" "Spectral projection?" "I think not" "Phased intradimentional creature" said Alusinus, a touch of frustration creeping into his voice. "Umm... Noooo, I don't think so." "Paratemporal entity.." "What? Oh, no, not that either." Then, in an exasperated tone, "A... Thing!" "Hmm, Ok, we're in agreement there." Suddenly the Thing! drifted over towards the pair. Alusinus looked fasci- nated and Chester hid behind Alusinus' chair. The Thing! stopped and bent over the works spread out in front of Alusinus. Puzzled, Alusinus looked at the creature, and then at his work, and shrugged. Picking up the last tome he had been looking through, Alusinus said "I'm researching the O'reti'zze Enclave, trying to find proof that it existed. I'm stumped by this reference..." Alusinus pointed to a small text fragment in the tome "... to Ezzor and whatever this is suppose to be..." The shape shimmered briefly, then passed through the table, through the stacks of books and out of sight. "I wonder what that was all about..." muttered Alusinus. "I'm just glad it's gone. It gave me the creeps." Alusinus chuckled, "Imagine that, an unnerved Imp." "It's not funny" said Chester, defensively. "Oh, no" said Alusinus in a mocking tone. Suddenly the Thing! reappeared, a ghostly tome floating near its body. "Yipes" exclaimed Chester, as he dove behind Alusinus again. The Thing! opened the ghostly tome and pointed a wispy, boney finger towards an area of the page. Putting his reading glasses on again, Alusinus peered to- wards the pointed area. At first it was hard to read, then, out loud, Alusinus read ... "... Elthinto, whom the dragonkind called Murcoir, and Ibishitok founded the village of Kalor, in the Valley of Fruition. This was later called the Enclave when Ezzor Drrnkak ruled..." Dropping his spectacles, Alusinus shouted "Eureka! That's the link I needed. Thank y..", but the thing had disappeared. Turning around, Alusinus said "Chester, isn't that wonderful? We now have one of the missing..." and stopped in mid-sentence. There was Chester, passed out on the floor. Alusinus "Hrrmphed." Who had ever heard of an imp passing out? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carl Fogelin (fogelinc@pt.cyanamid.com) "All opinions are strictly mine" Up the long ladder and down the short rope, To Hell with King Billy and God bless the Pope. -- traditional