From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Aug 3 10:11:52 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7479 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!pacbell.com!well!barrnet.net!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!umn.edu!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: [Tales] Knight of Ash I Date: 1 Aug 1994 15:57:16 GMT Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College Lines: 103 Distribution: world Message-ID: <31j60sINNsnp@news.gac.edu> Reply-To: mcutter@nic.gac.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: shadow.gac.edu ADMIN: The new thread Tales is a forum for various characters and concepts I developed and wanted to try. These are mostly one-shots, with little or no interaction with the Inn. I simply am providing some outside NPC's and a little bit of local "color" of my own variety. Feel free to take the Tales heading for other such endeavors in the future. If you want use of any of my characters, e-mail me, and we can work something out. Otherwise, enjoy! ADMIN2: I know gaming talk isn't allowed, but this is relevant to Thorr-kan in a round-about way. The White Minotaur is a background character in a DragonLance campaign I am running this summer. Since he is also my first APDI character, I thought that it might be appopriate to expand on him. His history has already be covered in some detail (e-mail me if you want copies! :-) ). But this is a tale of the future, of a Krynn yet to come... The fire in the hearth crackles quietly, sending out heat and light over the crowd gathered around it. Several small shapes move, children, each clutching a steaming mug of some type. They cluster around an older women, human, who sits in a rocking chair. She pulls a shawl closer around herself, hunkering down away from the cold. A closer look reveals her to be elderly, but still possessing a stately elegance that commands attention. Her black eyes still sparkle with the wit and charm that captured the hearts of men across a continent. She surveys the gathering enemy with serenity, oblivious to any fear. She is Lady Starlight Hammer-hand. "Can I do something for you?" she asks the crowd quietly. "Story!" "Yes, tell us a story, Grandmother!" "Tell us about.." "No, I wanna hear the one..." "NONONO!! Tell my favorite..." "Grandchildren!" her voice rings out. "Be silent. I shall tell no stories tonight if certain people cannot behave themselves." The children got very quiet as Lady Hammer-hand looked over them. Sipping her tea, she smiles to herself. "Now, you want to hear a story?" she asks. Eager nods answer her. "Then let me tell you..." "Yes, Mother, tell us a story," rings out a deep bass voice. Lady Hammer-hand stops, surprised. She turns to face the speaker, then gasps in surprise. He is a giant, easily six and a half feet tall. As he removes his cloak, recognition crosses the Lady's face. "Fredrick!" she cries, running to him and hugging h im. The third son of House Hammer-hand grips his mother tightly back. "Hello, Mother," he whispers, obviously pleased with the greeting. "I mananged to finish up the business William asked me to attend. Eldest brother sends his love and wishes you a joyous spring." He turns to the door. "I also bring a companion." "Greetings, milady," rumbles a cloaked figure behind Fredrick. It removes the hood, revealing the visage of a minotaur. The Lady smiles and replies, "Hello, Thorr-kan. How are the gods treating you these days?" A smile crosses the White Minotuar's face. "Life is good. Sar-Ella and I are enjoying spoiling the youngest members of our clan. My eldest has come to terms with himself and begins his leadership duties this summer." He sighs. A closer look reveals o nce white fur now turning grey. Some spots of Thorr-kan's hide are smooth and bald, evidence to his age. But he is light of foot as ever and evidently glad to see his old friend. Fredrick takes his mother's hand and leads her back to the chair by the firelight. For once the grandchildren are silent. "You were about to tell us a story, Mother," Fredrick says as she settles into her rocking chair. "Please, continue." He and Thorr -kan seat themselves beyond the children, who only edge a little closer to their favorite "monsters." Lady Hammer-hand smiles at their antics. "Well," she says, seeming to be deep in thought, "since I was so rudely interrupted, and since you youngster were so unruly..." The grandchildren smile and giggle; they recognize a grandmother's put-on when they hear it. "A ghost story!" the lady continues, "complete with heroes, wicked sorcerors, and epic deeds. Let me tell you of Stanhild the Just, Knight of Ash." A chill seems to grip the room as children huddle closer, clutching their drinks eagerly. Fredrick smiles at his mother's choice and leans forward to hear the tale once more. Thorr-kan looks lost in thought, but the minotaur edges in. Starlight begins. "It was in the years just proceeding the Godswar. Ansalon was a dangerous place even then; perhaps more so than now because there were many more people. Stanhild was a Knight, of course. He was a member of the Order of the Crown, in good standing and popular with his comrades. His Circle was based in the Vingaard Mountains, in a large village beside a fertile valley... -Thorr-kan, the White Minotaur ********************************************************************* Peace through strength! Victory through annihilation! Matt Cutter, e-mail to mcutter@nic.gac.edu OR mcutter@vax2.gac.edu Gustavus couldn't afford my opinions if they wanted them! *********************************************************************