From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue Apr 25 08:26:53 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8373 Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!warwick!news.shef.ac.uk!newsmaster@sheffield From: E.A.Laycock@shef.ac.uk (Liz) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: elf hazard #3 Date: 25 Apr 1995 06:55:34 GMT Organization: Earth Sciences Unit (gl), University of Sheffield , UK Lines: 64 Message-ID: <3ni6d6$85i@hippo.shef.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: pc041120.shef.ac.uk X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.92.1 > Valgard The Alchemists Apprentice , > >The elves James Moore > >The gnomes Liz > >(copyright D.Morgan, K.Riekstins, E.Laycock,I.Walker, 1995) > > > > The gnomes were well set up, suddenly life had become almost > unbearably interesting, there was so much to find out!! Curiosity > burned in all of their eyes, as they crowded around the rapidly > fading (and, it smelt, decomposing) figure. The mercenary still held > the woman tightly. Tem looked on a bit jealously, but his servivices > as healer had been refused, firmly but politely. He kicked one of > the myriad pub cats out of spite. They turned almost as one, and > stated a volley of questions on the dark-robed figure, "who are > you?","where do you come from?","what's that?","do you want a drink?" > "beer?","what did you mean?","have you travelled far?","where are you > going?". They stand roung expectantly, waiting for answers. Mellie, > relucantly sidles over to the bar for drinks, and the newcomer is > hustled into a corner for friendly interrogation. "Silence!!" the dark robed figure shouted. swordsman you must bind that women tightly, she may become violent and for her own sake she would be better off tied. Looking around the hooded man scanned the floor as if in search of something, however as if to find nothing he again redirected his gaze onto the little pack of gnomes. I suppose none of you found a small metal or powder strip on the floor near the body ? Well alas, it does not matter now as the decomposed body has all but disappeared. Moving back to his table and again perching himself up on a stool he began... My name is Valgard, Apprentice to the high alchemist Thrun. I have travelled far across this continent with my master and since his demise have been wandering ever since. We ran across this strange occurence only once. In the Loren forest to the north, I can remember seeing an images of a person dear to my masters heart, and a close friend to me. He seemed to perish in the same way and we were both very distraught over the incident. However when we had entered a local town we had found the same individual burning at the stake. The locals said they saw two faces of Zurn and believed it was demonic witchcraft. When they confronted him he became violent and ill tempered. Damn them, for they had no idea that it was not Zurn (the man on the stake) who had cast this imagery, it was another, one of his enemies. We had seen Zurn die twice and I wepted for his soul, he was a good man and deserved more. after that my master told me to go to Tavits and wait for him there. I knew he was going for vengence for his old friend, I begged to go with him, however he did not let me. I did as he had commanded and waited in Tavits, some months went by and I knew he was not coming back. Since then I have travelled the land gaining more and more knowledge of my masters trade, and it looks as if I will get a chance to use it against my masters enemies. I am avenged by the Gods for they give me this opportunity. After his long story Valgard slid back in his chair and ordered a cup of mead. As the glass came he slowly sipped it, and sat queitly as if going over the facts again in his mind to see if he had forgotten anything. With a nod he again spoke. Swordsman I may need your services as a guide and experienced fighter, it will be dangerous to go after this murderer, but I have much gold and will pay handsomely. The decision is ultimately up to you... With that Valgard took another sip of his mead and gazed at the swordsman.