From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Oct 26 08:55:56 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7822 Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!spool.mu.edu!caen!malgudi.oar.net!sun!vax.cns.muskingum.edu!hsexauer From: hsexauer@muskingum.edu (Rapunzel) Subject: [KCA]-[JOI] 'Through the fog it came' Message-ID: <1994Oct20.095816.1@muskingum.edu> Lines: 69 Sender: root@sun.cns.muskingum.edu (Operator) Organization: Muskingum College Date: Thu, 20 Oct 1994 13:58:16 GMT The weather was growing slowly colder now, as the seasons turned and autumn took hold of the world. This close to the ocean, a thick fog bank frequently dominated the mornings, before the sun had the chance to burn it away with its golden heat. It was just such a morning two days after Kyar, Coltren, and Alarond had departed Varhamir that the three travellers turned away from the shore and directed their course toward the towering mountains that were the spine of the continent. Leaving the gentle terrain of the coastal lowlands behind them, the three entered rugged foothills covered by thick forests. Alarond shivered and drew his woolen cape closer about his body. The damp chill affected him particularly because his newly healed body was still fragile and susceptible to such things. Nevertheless, he followed where the tall Lyorn warrior led without a word of complaint. There were sacrifices one was willing to make when the life of one's friend was on the line. And as Coltren himself had seemed deeply disturbed, it must be something grave because the sprite hadn't yet seen a Lyorn (all two that he has known) who became worried by trivialities. For his part, Coltren had pressed his companions and their horses as far as he was able in order to make better time. He fretted silently, berating himself for Aleric's plight because he'd allowed Tevore to handle his rather hasty education. Coltren felt he would have been far better suited to explain the situation to his kinsman, since the fire still ran quick in his veins and his other sight allowed him to experience such events as had his ancestors, including the revered duana Rialeth. Kyar whistled up to the Lyorn from his place at the rear. Coltren turned his head and reined in his mount from the canter they'd been in on the downside of this particular hill. The Phadran brought his horse to an uneasy halt near the Lyorn's, both horses shying and snorting nervously. "Can you feel it?" Kyar asked, eyes searching the ridge ahead of them and sliding over the trees rising like ghostly spectres from the fog. Coltren paused, and sent his awareness out in the direction Kyar indicated. At first touch, he noticed nothing out of the ordinary, and started to shake his head in response to Kyar's question. Then he realized the lack of sensation was a little too thorough. He nodded. "You do then. A blankness in that stand of trees to our right," Kyar confirmed. There wasn't just a lack of creatures there, there was a total absence of any sense at all-- like a vacuum. "What do you think it is?" The Lyorn frowned, concentrating. "Nothing good, that's for certain. And if it's trying that hard to be unnoticeable, it really doesn't want us to see it." Alarond cast his gaze into the forest, trying to pick out the place the warriors were talking about. "Dangerous to us do you think?" Kyar shrugged. "Who knows. But if we can avoid it, I think we should try. Coltren?" The other nodded his agreement. "Is there another way up into the mountains from here?" "Several actually. I chose this because it was the most direct route," he replied. "I'll take us around another way, and see if it follows. If it does, we aren't likely to get to the Vale without encountering it sometime." -- hsexauer@muskingum.edu DIPLOMACY: The ability to tell someone to go to Hell so that they'll look forward to making the trip.