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From: reaux@sequoia.cs.vt.edu (Ray A Reaux)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Erg] Teaching a Lesson
Date: 18 Jan 1995 22:38:31 GMT
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[Copyright 1995,  Ray Reaux, all rights reserved except for posting to 
[alt.pub.dragons-inn.]


	Orrin was a most unpleasant warrior, strong of arm, weak of 
sense. He also boasted that he was the best human arm wrestler in the city, which he was.  But what was even more annoying to Erg was that he bullied people, not that Erg really minded all that much, except that he did it 
when Erg was eating.  Erg hated being disturbed while he was eating, 
especially when he ate his favorite dish, Rock Lobster stew, at his favorite restaurant, the Firepot Inn.  Now Erg knew and liked the owners of the 
Firepot Inn, and he knew that they had on more than one occaision asked 
Orrin to leave when he had gotten too drunk and unruly, but like a hollow 
coin, he always returned, even drunker, to loudly challenge any one in the 
tavern to an arms wrestling match.  If an attractive woman was 
accompanied by a man, he would rudely challenge the man.  Now an honest 
and fair contest was OK, but broken glass on the table.  That was too much.  
Erg liked the occaisional raw steak, but he did not relish seeing raw meat almost every night.  Orrin had to be taught a lesson.  Besides, Erg thought.  Orrin seemed to always have plenty of money but did little work.  
In fact, the group of people he hung around with never seemed to do 
much work, although they did disappear every few months for weeks at a time.
	Erg went looking for a woman.  He needed the right kind of woman, 
not one of the whores that walked the city's streets.  He needed a woman 
with beauty and poise, and he knew just the woman, Shannon.  Shannon was a 
woman he had once helped out, and she would probably return the favor.
	The next day, Erg and Shannon came to the Firepot Inn.  She was 
dressed to attract the eye of everyone in the Inn, which she did.  Erg was dressed well, in clothes that would be appropriate to a moderately wealthy nobleman or a landed gentry.  Tastefully of course, not the foppish style 
that seemed to be in style these days.  But more importantly Erg borrowed the build of his friend the butcher, large but not too large, and less than 
Orrin by a good 30 pounds.
	They didn't have long to wait.  Orrin came in, drunk and belligerent 
as usual, and it did not take him long to notice Shannon, especially in her 
stylish soft blue gown which tastefully enhanced her already ample bosom.  
"Well now,"  Orrin slurred, "swaying to the minstrel's music and his own 
drunken rhythmn.  "What might a fine-looking woman like you be doing with a
milksop fop like him?"  Erg winced.  Did this man not have any imagination.  
He had used the exact same words four days ago.
	Shannon gave him her "I am not going to dignify that with an answer"
look, and Erg played his "outraged naive gentleman" role, with the end 
result that Orrin challenged him to an arm wrestling contest.  Erg 
agreed but under his terms.  Orrin of course wanted to do it then and there, 
but Erg, being the gentleman that he was supposed to be, disuaded him 
otherwise.  They would meet two days hence, in the town square, an hour 
after sun set, and they would contest for the lady's honor and incidently 
for the sparkle of gold. 
	"What," Erg exclaimed in outrage as Orrin named a fee, "The honor of 
my lady is worth much more than the paltry sum that you would put up, Why 
that would barely purchase a horse's ass.  Nay, my lady's honor is 
measured in thousands.  We contest for 10 thousand pieces of gold. Any less would bring us shame."  
	Erg could see caution and  greed war in Orrin's pig-like and 
blood-shot eyes. He obviously did not have that kind of money, but then 
again, he was sure that he would win.  Greed won.  
	"One more condition," Erg said.  "Since this is a matter
of honor, we will bring our gold and our seconds to the contest."  
Orrin hesitated, and Erg knew then that he did not have the gold.  
But if his hunch was right, Orrin's comrades would.  
	"Aye, I'll be there to accept your gold," Orrin blustered, 
"and perhaps to steal a kiss from such fine red lips."  The last was with 
a drunken leer as he stuck his face in front of Shannon's face.
Erg trembled, because he knew Shannon's temper.  Once aroused, Shannon 
would have no qualms about splitting such a blackheart in two.  Fortunately, 
he had persuaded her not to bring her sword.
	Erg had wanted the two days for several reasons.  First, it 
would give Orrin time to persuade his companions to put up his stake 
in the contest.  Secondly, it would give them time to bet heavily 
against him with the odds makers.   He made discreet inquiries, using 
his many aliases.  Yes, Orrin and his companions had overbooked, there 
was no way they could cover 60 thousand pieces of gold.  
	Erg had Jimmal the Ferret go to the contest early, to stall, 
because he wanted to give Orrin every chance he could get to get himself 
further out on the financial ledge, Erg waited in the large crowd that had 
gathered to see this spectacle.  He waited until the crowd began to get 
restless, and then ducked into the shop where Shannon was waiting.  With 
her on his arm, he stepped out into the torch lit town center.
	"Good evening," said to Orrin and his four companions.  He doffed 
his hat to the four odds makers who had come to take the bets, and then 
to the crowd. The crowd roared its approval.  "I take it you are ready 
for the contest?" he asked Orrin.
	"I've been ready," Orrin growled impatiently.  
	Good, Erg thought, he's already somewhat drunk. "Before we 
begin, I would like to make sure that you know everything is above board."	
	"What?"  Orrin blinked in surprise, then looked towards one 
of his companions nervously. "What do you mean. I trust you."
	"Ah, but some in the crowd may not,"  Erg made his voice just 
loud enough for the crowd to hear.  "I would not want our good spectators 
to perchance wonder." People in the crowd nodded their heads and shouted
their  agreements.  Two of the odds makers, Hiren and Elebrum, also 
shouted their approval, but not Allic the Fixer and Belam the Slick.  
I would remember that. "I suggest to you that we submit to a detection, 
to ensure that after the outcome of our contest, no matter what they may 
be, no one will question our efforts."  Again there were shouts of 
approval, and some volunteers from the crowd.
	"That makes sense,"  Allic the Fixer stepped forward.  "I know, 
how about guildsman Imannus?"  Allic pointed to one of Orrin's companions.
"He is a competent and honest mage." 
	"Aye, but is he impartial,"  asked Hiren.  He also looked askance 
at his fellow odds makers.  "I suggest we ask for guildman from the 
spectators as well."  He turned to the expectant crowd. "Well met,fellow citizens.  Is there a few guildsmen among you who would arbitrate this 
contest.
	Three likely fellows stepped forward. Hiren looked at me, and 
I nodded my approval, as did the other odds makers.  
	"All right, but give me a minute." Orrin agreed, although 
somewhat reluctantly, I thought.  He walked over to talk with his 
companions, and I noticed that they took counsel where torch light 
only dimly reached. I looked to Shannon who nodded her head.  Yes, 
they had tried to use magic, perhaps to enhance Orrin's strength, 
but it would be gone now.  I had blocked any chance of them using magic, 
but I, well I was a product of magic, and my strength was what I made 
it to be.  Once again I was glad that I had Milmanus's Stone of 
Nondetection, for otherwise, I would have been found out, or worse yet, 
my poor misguided bretherens would have found me and killed me years ago.
	Immanus and the two guildsmen mages scanned us both and signalled 
their approval, and we took our seats at the table that had been set up 
for us.  Orrin had had his way, and glass shards embedded the table top.  
Orrin made a flourish of tying up his sleeves, while I patiently waited.  
His hand was hot and heavy with sweat.  I smiled, and seeing my smile, 
his scowl deepened.  
	He was strong, no doubt of that.  Twice I had to adjust the 
muscles in my arm and shoulder to compensate for his stump pulling 
strength.  
The first time, he caught me by surprise by jerking with increased strength 
that would have broken an axe pole.  He did succeed in pinking me on the 
glass shard.  For half an hour we struggled, he on the offense, and I 
working to counteract his force, while the crowd shouted its excitement.  
Then he began to noticeably weaken, as did I.  My makers had given me great 
stamina and recuperative powers, but even they had not envisioned that I 
would put it to this use.  I had conserved my energy, and when I judged that 
my energy reserves were much greater than his.  I increased my strength, 
bending his arm like a lever under a milstone.  He struggled with increased 
fury, momentarily halting my advance, but only temporarily.  His veins 
bulged and sweat cascaded down his slick arms and forehead.  With a grunt 
of exertion, I threw all my strength into my arms, and Orrin's strength 
failed. He gasped in pain as the glass shards pierced his hands.  And I, trembling from my exhaustian, slumped back in my chair.  But Jimmal the 
Ferret was busy doing what I had instructed.
	Later, after the crowd had dispersed, and Orrin was preparing to 
leave, I threw him my final punch line. "Well Orrin,"  I said "I hope this 
isn't setting you too far back."
	"What's it to you?"  Orrin answered, very rudely. "You got your 
10,000."
	"I know, but what about my 60,000?"
	"What?"  Orrin and his friends stepped forward, perhaps thinking to
intimidate me. "What the hell are you talking about?  Our bet was for 
$10,000."
	"Ah, but your bets with the odds makers were for a lot more than 
that. I know since I bought your debts.  When they realized that you  
wouldn't be able to pay even half of that, they sold the notes to me.  
Now, what will it be, payment on my terms, or debtor's prison?"
	"What's your terms?" asked Immanus, interrupting his blustering 
friend.
	"Two years service to me, or until you can repay your notes to me?"
	"What makes you think we want to work for you?" asked Orrin.
	"Because you really have no choice, now do you.  I'll be in touch." 
With a tip of my hat and Shannon on my arm, I turned and walked away, 
whistling a sea chanty and thinking about how much I should tell my new 
employees about what the Grey Wizard had told me when he had contracted my 
services.  Not much, I concluded, after all, I wanted them to take the 
risks, but the profits were for me.