From alt.pub.dragons-inn Sun Dec 11 10:52:24 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7954 Path: netcom.com!csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newshub.sdsu.edu!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!olivea!uunet!pipex!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!caen!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!aaron From: aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca (Aaron V. Humphrey) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [SQ] The Eternal Return Date: 7 Dec 1994 04:57:13 GMT Organization: The Anna Amabiaca Fan Club Lines: 137 Message-ID: <3c3fb9$9n2@scapa.cs.ualberta.ca> Reply-To: aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca NNTP-Posting-Host: cab114.cs.ualberta.ca Originator: aaron@cab114.cs.ualberta.ca [SQ]--The Shade-Quest Thread Featuring: Timothy Vaughan, creator of Radan Tsran Morgan A. Broman, creator of Shade [in absentia(?)] Bruce Lapham, creator of Angus [in absentia] Aaron V. Humphrey, creator of everyone else :-) [ADMIN: The last time we had a several-month hiatus in this thread, we decided to just advance the plotline and do a bunch of flashbacks to cover the intervening time. Well, guess what...we're doing it again! Last time we looked in on the Crimson Mist(or was it Moon? :-), the freed(from prison)pirates Remi and Vanshar had led the rest of the crew in a mutiny against the adventurers. Bronwen, Angus and Mistletoe had been captured; the Kelsie had left earlier to avoid the threat of being forced into servitude by the monstrous Ceruputhon; Radan was still searching for Shade under the sea; and Maleiu had escaped only by leaping overboard. Now, a few weeks later...] They didn't expect a hero's welcome, and they didn't get it. The moment they knew they were spotted by the Seaguard, they ran up a flag of surrender and reefed their sails. They put up no resistance to the boarders, who were understandably suspicious. They were taken, under heavy guard, to the main Seaguard ship, where the 'Guard's mages kept a careful eye on them. After being searched from crowsnest to hold, the Crimson Moon was manned by a prize crew and the ships made their way back to the port of Generica. *** "I don't see why we should return to Generica at all," Suadra, the new first mate, grumbled. "It's all very well for ye to say yer willing to face your crimes, but why should _we_ have to face yer crimes with ye? We didn't bloody know what we were getting into when we signed on with ye. And we certainly didn't bloody mean to get taken over by pirates." Radan nodded. "I know, and I'm sorry. All I can say is that I will try to make it very clear that you were under my orders, and that you resisted the mutiny to the best of your efforts. Hopefully, no stigma will be attached to your name." "Yeah, but that ain't how it works," Suadra said, spitting on the floor. "Ye can never live down these kind'a things. There's a rumour ye once mutinied, nobody wants ye. Same if ye helped criminals ta escape. And sinkin' a Seaguard ship..." "Still, _I_ have to go back and take the punishment due me," Radan said. "And if I'm found fleeing--even if I claim to intend to return--that's a blot against me, as well. I can only hope that honesty will prevail in the courts of Generica. Besides, _you_ helped fight the mutineers. Arbelec and his friends are in the brig. All I need is for you and the others to go along with my story." Suadra sighed. "Aye. I don't know how many o' the men'll see it yer way, but I can try. They all respect ye, Master Radan, and if ye say ye can get 'em free, a fair few'll believe ye. I'll go talk to 'em, then." He left the cabin and disappeared belowdecks. "What about me?" Radan jumped as Shade spoke, and grinned as he stepped from the shadows. "What about you? Surely they can't accuse you of anything-- you were at the bottom of the ocean while we were breaking the law for you." "In the courts of--my homeland," Shade said, in a low, whispery voice, "that would be of no matter. If crimes were committed in one's name, in an attempt to free one from bondage, then one was guilty for those crimes oneself." "As long as they don't follow that kind of practice in Generica, we should be fine," Radan said. Shade laughed. "I hope you're not just an optimist, my friend. What about the others?" "Bronwen's still adamant that she's going to share Remi's fate, whatever that may be. Angus doesn't much care what happens to him at this point--he's withdrawn into himself, and I haven't heard a word from him in days. Maleiu says he's bound by his code of honour to make recompense, and Mistletoe's not about to leave _him_, either." Shade considered this for a moment, then said, "Perhaps it would be best were I not take with you. I am still not certain what my fate would be. If they do not know I was on board, then I could conceal myself, and possibly render aid to you if justice turns against you." Radan sighed. "Not _another_ jailbreak, I'd hope." He was silent for a moment, then said, "Very well. Perhaps that is a better idea." *** Shade was thankful that Seaguard mages were, by his country's standards, a bit primitive in their technique. It wasn't child's play to evade their scans, given their power level, but it was possible, through subtle deception techniques. From what he knew of Generica's Mage Guild by reputation, this wouldn't have fooled any of their top rank, though. He cast his mind into a trance and kept up his concealment while they brought the ship into port. *** The reception committee on the docks was equally impressive. "They probably don't trust us not to have something planned for when we dock," Mistletoe said. Maleiu nodded. He wasn't looking forward to their trial and probable incarceration. Slavery hadn't been a pleasant experience, and while Generica was largely slave-free, who knew how it dealt with its prisoners? Maleiu had encountered hypocrisy before. The Seaguard took them off the ship one at a time, each with three guards and a mage. Their docking area had been cleared and was surrounded by several capable-looking mages and warriors. When it became clear that the prisoners were, for the most part, as docile as they appeared, most were relieved(although a few disappointed). "Take them to the Hall of Justice," the captain in charge commanded. -- --Alfvaen(Web page:"http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~aaron/") Current Album--Jon Hassell:Power Spot Current Book--Cynthia Heimel:Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Good-bye!