From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue Apr 25 15:37:51 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8376 Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.starnet.net!wupost!waikato!news.midland.co.nz!rvanl From: rvanl@midland.co.nz (Roel van Leeuwen) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Article 39] Walk on the Wild Side Date: Wed, 26 Apr 95 08:29:55 GMT Organization: Midland Internet Limited Networks, Hamilton, NZ Lines: 162 Message-ID: <3nl0a3$eqk_001@midland.co.nz> NNTP-Posting-Host: 202.20.65.214 X-Newsreader: News Xpress Version 1.0 Beta #3 -He had been reading and scribbling down the occassional note for -sometime when a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his -attention. One of the inhabitants was crossing over to him. -With calm haste he tidied up his notes, concealing them in the -process, and closed the book and covered it with some of the -others. He did this in a casual manor designed not to be rude, -but to (apparently) clear a space for the newcomer. As the -stranger approached the table Pegasus stood to greet them... ************************************** He looked vaguely familiar, but it wasn't until the man had reached his table that Pegasus Beale recoqnised him. An unremarkable face was perched on the body of a man who wore nondescript clothes. He could have been one of any thousands of merchants or tradesmen who make a comfortable living at their humble craft. "Iesu! Benigaris!" exclaimed Pegasus in surprise. "What an unexpected pleasure!" Benigaris sat down and quickly motioned Pegasus to be silent. "Pleasure to see you again too Pegasus. When they told me to meet a brother at the Dragon's Inn I never expected it to be you. I thought you were dead." "Nae, rumours of my death were greatly exaggerated old man, to which I am entirly greatful." Pegasus leaned back and pushed his glasses back up his nose, took another sip of his beer, and regarded Benigaris. He had grown older, but 15 years has a habit of doing that to people, and his garb was a little less ornate with the exchange of his Prelates robes for more functional tunic and breeks, but underneath it all, he was still the same Benigaris who had taught him Catechism and Philosophy. But man, what a surprise to find him here. Pegasus had a deep regard for his old tutor for he was one of the men responsible for his rapid elevation up through the Society. Pegasus counted him as a good friend as well. "What brings you here Bengaris." "If you need to ask such a plain question prehaps I had better send you back and ask for a bigger fish with a little more brain. You are here for a reason and I am to tell you that reason!" Well now, that was a surprise. Pegasus would hardly have thought Father Benigaris would have become a member of the Physicians of the Royal Arch, one of the most secret and powerful sub orders of the Lhankor Mhy Temple. The Physicians were the secret service, the eyes and ears of Lhankor Mhy, the Sage of Heaven. It was their calling to find and retrieve that which the great Temple-Libraries felt was under their jurisdiction. What fell under their jurisdiction was no less than the sum total of all the worlds knowledge! While there was no cast type for the members of the Royal Arch, Pegasus was surprised because he had always thought that Benigaris would have prefered to remain safely ensconsed in the bookish realm of the Lhankor Mhy Library than go out into the world and work for his living. The temple gives but minimal support to its field agents, since Temple policy decreed that Trades and Crafts were fields of knowledge no less important than Theology or Linguistics. Indeed Trades and Crafts could be counted more important because no one can eat an Imperfect Declension (try as they might) and ultimatly it is those people who work their trade which supports the bright Lantern of Knowledge and Understanding. "Quite simply I beleive that I know where another of the Great Books are, and this time it's not in the middle of a bloody great swamp." Benigaris smiled as Pegasus visibly winced at the reference. Four years ago, Pegasus and three others had been sent to recover the lost 'Sacred Magic of Abra Melin the Mage'. After wandering around for three weeks in a swamp, they had finally found the ruins in which the book resided - along with a Swamp-Wyrm. Pegasus lost two companions to the Wyrm, and the trek out seemed to take forever. When they finally made it out, thetwo survivors were *covered* in foot rot, bitten half to death, and both had contracted swamp fever. It had not been a high point in Pegasus' life. Benigaris continued. "It is in this city I believe, owned by one of the Underworld bosses who has a number of connections to the various councils, I'm not sure whom, but there can't be too many suspects that well connected." "Oh well, that's something. What is the book" "The 'Book of Speaking to the Dead at a Price', the dreaded 'Necrotelecomicon'" "Can I quit please?" "No." "Damn!" The Necrotelecomicon was a tome known to all scholors. It was reported to hold forbidden knowledge of beings that lived at right angles to this reality, beings who strode the space between the lights and ripped sleep off us puny mortals until only a mad husk was left. World destroyers. Star shatterers. Written by the mad Ayib, Abdul al Hazred, the book was a cursed and hated thing. Legends had it that the book was haunted by a nameless demon,a Night World beast bound to it by flame and Word. The book was powerful, oh so powerful, and the secrets it holds... Yes, Pegasus could see the sages of Lhankor Mhy's interest in it, and if any could control its awesome power, they could. But why did he have to find the damned book. He had no interest in being pursued by some nameless horror who wanted only to rip his face off. For the nine hundred and ninety-nineth time, he damned his sense of duty. His sense of duty had almost gotten him a place in the swampas fertilizer to foot rot. Pegasus took a deep taste of his beer and returned to the conversation. "I'm to act alone?" "No," Benigaris replied, "there is an orginazation called the 'Gentleman Apocatharies', a diverse and unusual order, who have, for their own reasons, put together a band to fight the gang bosses. They secret organization workoutside the law and would provide an ideal group to hide your operation in. However, they do not know your secret agenda, and it would be better that way. Less chance of them ruining everything if captured and tortured. They can be identified by this." Benigaris reached into his bag and retrieved an ornate morter, the kind that would be found in an apocathry, and handed it to Pegasus. "The rest of your companions are here now over at that table. One of them is a paladin so he should prove quite useful" Pegasus looked over at the indicated table and saw two men sitting at it. At first he thought he had the wrong table but then he spied a similar morter in the hands of one of the men. "He's a paladin? But I thought they had a minimum height, he looks a bit, well..., stunted. Mind you, he could look better when he gets out of his casual uniform..." Benigaris stood and said "I've got to go now, my business won't run itself. "I have a shop over on Short Street if you need me. Where can I find you?" Pegasus told him he had lodging at the 'Rose and Cross' and bid him farewell. As Benigaris left Pegasus Beale rolled the little morter around in his hands and wondered what it might bring him... ********************************************************* Roel van Leeuwen 1 Momma bought a Chicken Thought it was a Duck Put it on the table with it's leg sticking up (lets bottle up and go) -John Lee Hooker Thought it was a Duck Put it on the table with it's leg sticking up (lets bottle up and go) -John L