From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Sep 30 19:08:13 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7731 Path: netcom.com!csus.edu!wupost!gumby!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!decwrl!pa.dec.com!src.dec.com!crl.dec.com!jac.zko.dec.com!leggy.zk3.dec.com!orb!not-for-mail From: 94BWT@law.newcastle.edu.au ("Yahweh") Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [CIA] Good King Olaf must die! Date: 22 Sep 1994 00:30:56 -0000 Organization: Faculty of Law Lines: 90 Sender: news@Orb.Nashua.NH.US Message-ID: <22427BF5EAF@law.newcastle.edu.au> X-Confirm-Reading-To: "Yahweh" <94BWT@law.newcastle.edu.au> X-Pmrqc: 1 Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail/Windows (v1.20-pr2) > Subject: [CIA] Jones - Some Money! > To: apdi@Orb.Nashua.NH.US > The group had followed a circuitous route North, to > the relatively peaceful, distinctly backwards, but > notably properous Kingdom of Clarehill. There had > been a few minor encounters with troublesome people, > including some bandits who were a bit surprised > (but not for very long) when Saint Jones proved more > ruthless and bloodthirsty than they were... As the cart rolled its way through the backwoods just outside of Clarehill, Bodger (who is a card-carrying Commie) begins an extensive diatribe on the evils of kingship: "Clarehill is probably prosperous because Good King Olaf is oiling his kingdom with the blood of the workers!" he mutters, "Kings are all the same - fascist borgoise bully-boys they are! They stab, poison and 'disappear' their way to the top, then say they're king by "divine right and the choice of the people." I say we throw ol' Olaf (who I'd wager wears womans clothes, likes little boys and subscribes to a spanking magazine) to his people when we get there, and let them deal with him. I mean, a guy who has to call himself "Good King Olaf" can't be all that good . . ." BD listened to this with the eternal patience of dragonkind, then gave his 2 cents worth: "Humans, as far as I have observed them, lose all their principles when they have attained a position of high power and prestige. So you, " (he indicated the group with a sweep of his claw) "will have no problems adapting to Kingship, having no principles to begin with . . ." At the sound of approaching riders, BD quietly and quickly left the group to find somewhere suitable to hide ... > a small group of men-at-arms arrived, flying the > banner of Arnholt, Duke of Clarehill. The Duke dismounted > and walked up to Jones, leaving his men at arms well > out of earshot and looking at the assembled group > of mercenaries with a mixture of fear, distrust... > and eagerness. BD watched them from the shadowy recesses of a nearby cave, then with a flick of a talon returned to his "stinking-nag" disguise, and trotted over to the men at arms . . . > Arnholt signs the documents for Jones and > gestures to his escort to bring a small chest of silver > (equal to 500 SP for each party member), as well > as appropriate uniforms for each member. As the nag approached the men-at-arms, they were overcome by the stench and began to gag . . . > Jones smiles and says "A pleasure, majesty . . . BD casted a quick spell, and mist started spilling up around the men-at-arms' feet [Gee, mist comes up quickly in these parts, don't it?] Then, like a wolf into the fold he broke into a gallop towards the disorientated men . . . There is no scream, the attack is so instant and devestating ... then the mist disperses under a sudden gust of wind, and there is no longer any sign of the nag . . . and the men look at each other in confusion . . . > Arnholt leaves and the SP and uniforms are distributed > to the party... Bodger mutters to Grays, "Bet you ten bucks the Duke doesn't see out this adventure . . ." It is not until the Duke and his men-at-arms ride away that they suddenly notice that one of their number has mysteriously gone missing . . . "It's Narik, your Grace, " says one of the men "he's gone missing . . ." Some wise-acre in the ranks cracks, "He probably just went for a wiss somewhere - his horse's gone, too . . ." The Duke mutters in disgust, "If he comes back, tell him he's on report . . ." > Jones says to Rathan "Now, we'll get settled into the > town a bit, then perhaps Ah can send Olaf to the shadows, > if that's acceptable to you." > Jones says to the group "And for a short while, we'll > want to get along with the locals...build their trust... > earn their confidence. That way, we'll be able to > take control more easily." BD returns (in dragon form), and burps a pungent belch of horse and man-at-arms at the group. "Most delicious, " he says in admiration, "I think I'm going to like this kingdom . . ."