From alt.pub.dragons-inn Thu Nov  2 07:42:20 1995
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From: wearp@primenet.com (W_Earp)
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Subject: New Character
Date: Thu, 02 Nov 1995 01:49:31 GMT
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[admin side]
Hmm... well, I don't know how long I can participate, nor how
frequent... but here's a short story with a character of mine. Have
fun, and I'll try to do all the interaction I can! 

[story]
Somewhere in the inn, around a table crowded with people, a quiet
voice speaks as she is pressed to tell her story.

        
        "My name is Selena Arrianne. I am the only daughter of Lord
Arrianne, may my father rest in peace. My childehood was a simple one,
for even though a title has run in my family for generations, droughts
and disasters have reduced our holdings to a mere farmstead. So I grew
up as a simple farmer's daughter. Simple, yes, but that was to change
quickly. One night, I saw a strange encounter... It appeared that my
father was speaking to himself. I caught fragments of conversation,
but they were indeed enough to send a chill in through my hear and
send me running to my mother in terror. 'Yes milord' I heard my father
say to noone in particular. '... the deal is consumated, I will
deliver what I say else minself be forfiet...' ...

        Weeks passed and the incident retreated to the back of my
mind, for a new hope seemed to fill the household. It seemed that our
land had reaped a bounty in wealth. While digging a new well, my
father had struck an enourmous vein of gold, and his findings enabled
him to move to the city and provide for our family new prosperity. A
private tutor was hired for me, and although it pained my to leave my
dear friends, this tutor taught to me a love of learning that has
stayed with me for mine life. The arts of dancing and painting I was
instructed in, an' the lore of the lands I learned with ease. Other
tutors taught me skill in the harp, and an appreciation of the opera I
did aquire. My father was also concerned about mine safety, so private
lessons I was given in the arts of war. I aqquired skill with the bow,
and many bruises and bumps taught me exotic ways to disable men with
nary a blow. A swordsmaster taught me how to fence with a light rapier
as well.

        Alas, our prosperity was not to last. My mother was striken
ill by some strange illness, and our monies were spent like water to
try to find some cure for her affliction. Soon, painfully she passed
away, but that seemed just the start of our troubles. My father was
dissappeared for many moons as he claimed the press of business, and I
was left alone to fend for the household. I slowly learned the
desperate state of business our family had entered. Loans that had
been dependent on the future of the gold strike came due, an' as the
strike had not been as extensive as had been figuired, we were sorely
in debt. Without money our holdings, indeed our very home was
forclosed upon and confiscated to pay off our debts. I was left to
fend for myself.

        I apprenticed mineself to an old merchant as a scribe and
accountant. The education I had recieved allowed me to do reasonably
well at that role. Slowly, however, I saw that this merchant was more
than he seemed. I inquired, an thus began my knowledge of the stranger
arts of magick. Quickly I picked up what he would teach of his skills,
and other rogueish arts as well. I discovered his true identity as an
adventurer who traveled the world in search of knowledge, aquiring
knowledge and magickal artifacts whether the owner wished it or not,
and I satisfied myself in mine new lifestyle.

        One day... passing near what had once been mine old
homestead.... I felt the presence of strange forces at work in the
woods. I begged permission from the merchant to investigae. He refused
to allow me to go, but I snuck out of his wagon and went anyways.
Sneaking up to what I knew was an old clearing... I felt an odd
presence. A pentacle was carved into the hard earth, an' it was
inscribed into a circle. Standing in the middle was a man who looked
strangely familiar. around him were candles floating in midair, and a
slab of stone was suspended in the air. Lying atop the slab was an
unconcious girl, barely into her teens. The man removed a dagger from
his waistband... and removed the hood from his cloak to reveal the
familiar face of... my father. 'NO!' I screamed as I ran forward to
stop this sacrafice. My father turned around. 'Selena, away! You do
not want any part of this ... of what I must do!' I replied 'I must.
By your deeds you have already involved our family. Please do not do
this father, please!' I begged on my knees. 'If it must be done,
sacrifice me instead. Spare the innocent her life...'. Tears streamed
from my eyes as I waited his knife. ... 'No.. Selena I know what I
must do to redeam myself for this... disgrace.' 'NOOOO!!!!' I screamed
as he slowly plunged his dagger into his heart. I ran to try to help
him... it was too late. Already I could see the light of life fading
from his eyes. 'Selena, promise me this' he gasped. 'Remember the evil
that hath made me done this... remember!' With a finality of motion he
thrust a coin into my hands, then collasped into the ground. The coin
was of some metal, yellow in color but as light as paper. It felt of
some evil, as if it was the key to discovering some dark secret. I
encased it in a magickal barrier of containment... and made the
container into an amulet to wear around mine neck.

        I slowely revived the unconcious girl and headed back to the
wagon of the merchant. What I found grieved me even more. The merchant
laid dying by his wagon, the horses slain, an' the wagon burning.
'Selena, you should not have gone' he said. 'If it is too late, you
must' ... he choked ... 'you must pledge yourself of ridding the evil
your father set into motion.'

        I found myself wandering aimlessly after the twin tragedies of
that day, trying to find meaning back into my life. Perhaps I could
find some good out of all this evil." Selena took another drink of her
ale. "But that is my story. My will is strong, and I may find a
solution yet. I do realize however, that that day may be far in the
future, an' I be yet unskilled in all but the basics of the art the
old trader taught me. So I now sit here, hoping for some companions to
help me find my way into that future." Selena took another sip of her
ale and tossed her silvery blonde hair back. She set her slim body
back into the chair and watched as the rest of her companions started
their stories, her grey blue eyes intent on the next speaker.

        Selena Arrianne, Adventurer


story copyright wayne lau 1994 (just in case I want to ever publish
this in a short story =) Distribution is unlimited, as long as text is
unaltered.