From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue Apr 25 08:26:52 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8372 Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!imagen!rpal.rockwell.com!news.Stanford.EDU!not-for-mail From: tolsen@leland.Stanford.EDU (Tanya Ann Olsen) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [CB][Rath] Rathan Lends a Hand Date: 24 Apr 1995 22:51:21 -0700 Organization: Stanford University, CA 94305, USA Lines: 335 Message-ID: <3ni2kp$hhs@elaine19.Stanford.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: elaine19.stanford.edu #14 Rathan Lends a Hand As they made their way through the commons area, Cernborn sought out Littlefair who was standing behind the bar. "Is there a problem?" asked Littlefair as he saw Cernborn and Athorbalo approaching. "Yes, but it is none of thy doing," Cernborn replied. Littlefair frowned. Part of his reputation was built on the fact that the inn was a safe haven for adventurers; no one was to provoke trouble here. "What happened?" He needed to know so that he could prepare against such problems in the future. "A man posing as one of thy staff tried to poison me. It was my own fault; I should have been more wary. Please, tell thy staff not to enter Athorbalo's room until further notice; I must ensure that no traces of the poison linger. I did not mean to cause trouble here. In partial compensation, I wish to provide my services to thee and thy patrons, without charge whenever I am in Generica. Thou mayst keep what I have paid for the week. I will be leaving tonight; I will send word of where I can be found should my services be required." "Yes, my lord, thank you," replied Littlefair. "But it is not necessary for you to leave." "Yes, 'tis," said Cernborn. "Unfortunately, my troubles have followed me here. I do not wish to cause further problems in thy fine establishment." Littlefair nodded. He watched as Cernborn headed toward the bulletin board, making note of what Cernborn had pledged. Bob had told him what had happened to Athorbalo this morning and what Cernborn had done to heal her. And there she was, as if nothing had happened to her at all just a few short hours earlier. Even her scars were missing! His own, in-house healer. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a lot of call for this kind of service lately, but then, this _was_ an adventurer's inn. Littlefair noticed that Cernborn appeared to be looking for a specific message. One seemed to catch his attention. This one was well familiar to Rowan; it said: ________________________________ | Need Information? | | Call: | | Rathan | | Barbar | | Information Procurer | | Specialist | | | | Burn card to summon | -------------------------------- Cernborn muttered to himself, "Burn card to summon? Interesting way to communicate." He started to remove the notice from the board, when Littlefair tapped him lightly on the shoulder and cleared his throat. "Ahem, my lord?" Cernborn spun around, obviously startled. Littlefair continued, "I'm sorry to bother you, but if you're considering Rath's services, you don't need to burn the card. He came in a little while ago. He's seated over there, in front of the fire in that gaudy cloak of his." Cernborn looked where Littlefair was pointing: a man sat back, feet up, enjoying some ale. He wore a bright red and yellow cloak which made him very hard to miss in a room where most had black or dark cloaks. "Thank thee. Yes, I was considering hiring him. I take it he is a regular at thy inn?" Littlefair responded, "Yes, though sometimes we don't see him for quite a while but he always seem to be back eventually. Quite a reliable sort actually." Cernborn turned back to Athorbalo, "I will be but a moment. At this time, I do not want to spare our resources to deal with this assassin. Hopefully, this 'information procurer' can help us out." He started to head toward the table where Rathan sat. Littlefair grabbed his arm. "If you really need the services of one such as Rathan, you'd best not be headed out to talk to him in public like this." "Then how dost thou suggest I contact him? Thou hast prevented me from burning his card," countered Cernborn. "If you and the lady here take a seat, I'll let him know that you're interested in talking with him. He'll contact you in his own way," Rowan replied rather cryptically. Cernborn looked at Athorbalo then back at the figure that Rowan had pointed out to him. He shrugged, "I guess we should do as the good innkeeper suggests." He led Athorbalo to an empty table and pulled out a chair for her, then sat down himself. They watched as the innkeeper made his way over to Rathan's table and whispered something in his ear. *** Azurecon sat with his back against the wall, and his feet up on the table. Unbeknownst to Cernborn, he was watching his every move. He contemplated the many ways the poor fool was vulnerable at this very second, yet, at the time, he was somewhat powerless to act on his thoughts without drawing attention to himself. Slowly and deliberately he drew from his pocket two items: a match and a small cigar. He struck the match against his finger and lit the cigar and watched through the smoke. Cernborn would die, he re-avowed; there would be no mistake on that. He continued to watch. *** Athorbalo and Cernborn also continued to watch Rowan and Rathan. They did not so much as glance in their direction and eventually, Rowan returned to the bar. "Dost thou think anything will come of this?" he asked. "The innkeeper is quite right. If this assassin is any good, he's probably watching us right now. It is best to be discrete about matters such as this. If this other fellow is any good, he'll contact you and I probably won't even know when it happens," Athorbalo replied. *** Rathan discretely studied the one that Rowan had pointed out to him. He actually had some questions for him. As an 'information procurer', he made a point of finding out everything he could about everything, and this one seemed to have a few new things up his sleeve. *** Suddenly, a voice spoke in Cernborn's ear, "Don't be startled. This is easier than some other methods I can use to avoid being eavesdropped on. You may speak freely. Now tell me, why do you wish to hire me? And for what purposes will you use any information I provide?" Only a brief flicker of surprise crossed Cernborn's face as he managed to keep his composure. "There is a price on my head, and, it appears, an assassin eager to collect it. Right now, I would rather deal with the one who put the price on my head. Your task would be to locate this assassin, find out what you can about him, as well as anything you can about how he means to attack me next and let me know so that I can adequately counter his attacks." "Do you have anything belonging to the assassin on you?" Cernborn pulled out the card that Azurecon had left on the poisoned tray. Rathan examined the card with his psychic awareness. The residual amount of psyche gave Rathan a series of images. "Lord Cernborn, do you still have the silver tray?" This time, Cernborn did not manage to hide his surprise, "I do not believe I told you my name or what happened." Rathan said nothing. "Er..yes. The silver tray is still up in the room," he finally answered the question while wondering how this person already knew so much. "Then before we proceed any further, there are two matters we need to discuss. First, how discreetly should I proceed? Is secrecy so important that I shouldn't continue if I am at risk of being discovered?" Cernborn thought a moment before replying, "You should be quite discreet. I would rather this assassin not know that you are helping me. If you are at risk of being discovered, discontinue, and report back to me as soon as possible. Depending on what you think is at stake, I may ask you to go back, even if you might be discovered. Is this acceptable?" "Yes. Possibly, but we must first speak of my payment. For the actual information I provide to you, I will charge based upon the difficulty and personal risk I went through to gather it." "That is fine; money is no object." "However, to retain my services, I need an initial payment, in information." Cernborn had started to reach down for a money pouch, but stopped as Rathan finished his statement. "Information? What kind of information?" "Namely, how do you come to be walking about on two legs on dry land instead of swimming with a tail?" Cernborn was stunned. How could he know that? he wondered, "Is there anything you do not already know about me?" He looked at the man Rowan had pointed out to him, but no one would know that he was holding a conversation by the way he acted. "Very well," he continued after a long silence as Rathan once again refused to reply, "I will tell you what I know of it and hope it will be enough. The merfolk simply call it 'the Boon.' It is an ability granted directly by Poseidon. While one is on dry land, one has two legs instead of a tail." "Interesting," commented Rathan. "But, why does one of the sea wear the symbol of presumably Mielikki, a 'goddess' of the forest, and yet still get such an ability from Poseidon?" "Perhaps I can still keep a few secrets?" Cernborn gave a sardonic smile. "Alright, I will satisfy your curiousity. I can see why you call yourself an information procurer. I have only been one of the merfolk a few months now. While pursuing a quest, I encountered some merfolk who wished to keep me from leaving their kingdom. They have an artifact, an arch which Poseidon gave them when their kingdom was swallowed by the sea to turn them into merfolk. Anyone who passes through that arch will also be transformed. "At first I thought it was simply some sort of polymorph spell, but I learned soon enough that it was not. The only way for me to become truly human again is through Poseidon's intervention; I am a merman in all respects, just as if I were born a merman. However, I made a deal with Poseidon. I convinced him, that if I were allowed to finish the task Mielikki set before me, it would benefit his peoples as well. Up until the time the task is completed, I have his Boon, at which time he will turn me fully human once again. If I fail in the quest, he will revoke his Boon, and I must return to the sea and aid the merfolk. Anything else you wish to know?" Rathan paused for a moment before responding, "Yes, but a detailed examination of you can wait till another time. Your house history can wait as well. I would also want to find this 'Arch'. It will prove interesting to see if Poseidon really built it or if he got in trade from some of my other employers." "Now, before you leave to prepare for your party tonight, you should be aware of a few things. Two others have been attempting to listen in our conversation. You really should be more careful about what you say in public. You never know who might be listening. I, or rather my associate has misled them into believing that you decided not to approach me after all. You should tell your other associates also that you have changed your mind. When you return to your room, leave a window open. I prefer not to have to wreck Rowan's wards when I enter your room. Also, should I reveal myself to your companions when I enter?" "No. It would be best if they did not realize you are actually involved. I shall leave a window open and also reset my own wards so that you may enter." "One final thing: You might want to consider 'breaking a leg'. Crutches or a wheel chair should help you keep your mobility should you get wet again." "Wheel chair? What a novel idea," Cernborn mused. "It is an excellent thought, however it would not work. Why would I, a healer, not heal myself? I do have other means of countering wetness when I need to." "I see your hand is regenerating nicely. You could always pretend to have severed a foot as your hand was. Anyway, no matter. You've somehow managed to make it this far without my help." "Yes, I have, thanks to Mielikki. Until I hear from you then?" Rathan affirmed and Cernborn knew that the link had been broken. *** Athorbalo was speaking to him as Cernborn's attention came back to her, "So, you don't think he's interested, eh?" It took Cernborn a minute to fully comprehend her question, and what Rathan's associate must have done. "Ehh.. no," he finally stammered, "look at him. He does not even act like Rowan told him of my request. If this Azurecon has the temerity to try again, perhaps then I will seek other help. In the meantime, we have Marque with which to deal." Athorbalo looked at him strangely, but said nothing as he got up to head back to the room, following him quietly. *** Azurecon watched as Cernborn and Athorbalo left without talking to anyone but the innkeeper. Listening very intently, he had been able to hear most of their conversation. Cernborn had talked about him to Athorbalo, thinking of hiring some spy to find out what he could about him. Luckily, no one in this city knew what he looked like or for that matter him. He had watched as Rowan made his way over to another man in the commons, but they did not seem interested in Cernborn, though Cernborn kept glancing that way. Then, when Cernborn finally decided against hiring a spy, Azurecon could hardly contain his mirth. He abruptly stood up, went to the bar, paid his tab, and left. Once in the street, he burst out in hysterical laughter, startling the passerbys. "I love this!" he shouts. "I can take no more! Oh this is just too rich!" He walked off down through the street laughing. Happening upon a begger asking for money, Azurecon smiled and produced a few gold coins from his pouch. "Here you go, sir. Have a nice day." He pressed the coins into the beggar's hand and walked off. Less than ten minutes later, the beggar keeled over, dead. But Azurecon had vanished into the crowd. He went back to his room and thought about how best to carry out the next stage of his plan. Something had to be done. He sat down at his desk and started to formulate a strategy. ***** Athorbalo followed Cernborn up the stairs into the room, wondering what had gone on while they were in the commons room. She again detected from Cernborn's demeanor that he wasn't telling her the truth in its entirety. Cernborn stopped at the door and knocked, announcing himself. The door cracked open and Gyles peered out. When he saw Cernborn, he let the door swing open. Gyles sheathed his sword and let them pass. -------------- Lord Captain Cernborn tolsen@leland.stanford.edu Athorbalo hilanse@wkuvx1.wku.edu Gyles Dormani virtuesr@gps1.laafb.af.mil Mi'cha Ning'ra jmc@ataxia.confusion.net Rathan Barbar swv3752@ritvax.isc.rit.edu Azurecon jimmoore@eden.rutgers.edu