From: Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:09:48 GMT Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [DQ] SunStorm: WEEK 2 (part 1) (FINALLY!) ========================================================== THE DRAGONQUEST: WEEK 2: When You Look at the Impossible, Many Things are Possible... Part one of two: Recap. The "Official" DragonQuest members: (join anytime!) * SunStorm, a dwarven-sized giant, * Lancos, a fiery-red haired fighter, * 'Raelf, a dimensionnal traveller, * Kadrys, a vampire thief, and * Valgar, an adventurer (sorry, but your PC description wasn't in the official list). ADMIN: No need to hit the panic button if I don't seem to "be" there: Sometimes a few days passes and I don't have the chance or time to post on the newsgroup. I'll post at least once a week. ========================================================== RECAP TIME: The previous (mob fight) night: * In the evening, the Group agreed to meet at dawn. * In the evening, SunStorm went to see a seer. * Lancos bought supplies and equipement for everybody. Among other things: a lightproof mask for Kadrys. Lancos also explored the city. * 'Raelf drank nearly to his death (see Zia DeathWatch thread). * 'Raelf and Kadrys disappeared for a few seconds, while SunStorm was sleeping... (see Zia DeathWatch thread). The first day: Dawn * Lancos prepared all the arrangements (what a great guy!). * SunStorm had trouble sleeping (nightmares...). * The conversations on the riddles took place (see below). * 'Raelf ate a lot (magic is hard work). * Everybody know that Kadrys is a vampire thief, but since he doesn't seem evil, nobody has a problem accepting him. * Valgar joined and washed (he really looked like a guy down on his luck). He also shaved in order to better hide from Deimos (see the Valgar thread). The first day: Morning * 'Ralef made magically a nice set of clothing to Valgar. What a nice guy! * SunStorm and Lancos went to see the Watch of the city * 'Raelf visited the city The first day: Late Afternoon/Evening * Lancos and SunStorm returns. * NOW! ...and a sudden departure. (see next post) CONVERSATIONS ON THE RIDDLES: * Here are the riddles: + SunStorm waited a moment to be sure the others were listening, and then + started to repeat what Denriqa had "divined"... + "A Book, a Rook, a Crook and a Nook, + A Cave, a Grave, a Grief and a Thief, + One contains a Secret, Steals it, Binds it, + And the Other contains only a Promise of Fear." + "When you look at the Impossible, many Things are Possible. + The Self Is Balance, and Balance is Change. + And Change is a Quest in itself, so that One may See. + And That is the Key: To Get to the Other Side." + "Beware the Vampyre. Alone one can't hope to survive against him. + Even one such as you. Because one can't kill what *IS* Death. + You need one who knows your Enemy because he Lived his Life, + You need one who knows the Way Out, and knows Magic also, + You need one much like you, because you'll protect each other, + You may need a few Others, like maybe One who Knows the Dark in Itself, + You'll need to Fear your Fear, and You'll be Betrayed by a Brother." + and finally: + "Time is of the Essence: Find the Presence, Lose the Balance. + The Dragon Is There, Already in the Dark. He Need and Will Help. + A Dark Armor wants Revenge, and Cast Into the Dark He Will. + Himself, Forever. You, for a Trial, and Everything, If You Fail." * Here is, in short, what each DragonQuester said: * 1st verse: -Kadrys may be the thief mentionned, or it's the person who stole TS. -'nook' could be the inn (18 corners) or any other obscure place. -The rest is very vague. -'grave' and 'grief' could be linked to Zia' death (unlikely), but could also mean that TS is in very bad shape. -'secret' could be considered another thievery reference. -the 'cave' will surely be visited. -'Raelf says that part is to make one curious. This part makes him "bafuzled". -'rook' could be a bird, a castle(?), a thief, or a piece from a playing game called 'chess'. * 2nd verse: -A wise man said "nothing is impossible", so Lancos has problems believing that part. -'Raelf says that part describe the quest, and could be true of any quest. * 3rd verse: -Nearly everybody agree that the second part means the DragonQuesters themselves, in order: Kadrys, 'Raelf, Lancos, and Valgar since he's the only one left. -It is suggested that maybe the "betrayal" is one from a brother-in-arms, and not a true brother (Valgar is a little bit paranoid, and thinks Kadrys could be the enemy "Vampyre"). Lancos is sure the first lines don't concern Kadrys. -'Raelf says that part talk about opponents and allies. * 4th verse: -very vague. Time seem to be important. -The 'presence' could be TS's, the enemy`s, or whatever. -There seem to be a contradiction with the 2nd riddle, about "balance". -Lots of dark (evil?) references, which some feel means the quest won't be easy. -The dark armor could be a haunted armor. -'Ralef says that part is "usual warnings and sheitz". * Other infos that we gathered: -There was no sign of any dragon in the riot/MOB battle. -Many things in the riddles could well be not real things but only "images", and should be taken symbolically. OTHER BITS OF DISCUSSIN': Kadrys: ...He pauses, and his expression darkens. "I find it deeply intriguing that one of my kind appears to be your foe, SunStorm. How have you crossed such a one in the past, that he would go to such lengths to avenge himself upon you?" He adds quickly, "Anything you can tell us about your enemy would help us all to help you." SunStorm: Well, I've never met a vampire before, believe me. I've met quite a few (minor) demons, and faced a dragon once, but that's it. As for knowledge of my enemy, if I knew it, I'd tell it to you... of that you can be sure. I'm not one to not give useful infos to fellow party members... I heard legends about vampires, but only humans fell prey to that sickness... er, state of being. (SunStorm looked toward Kadrys, hoping not to have offended him). In Titania, Giants don't become vampires... so these monst... er, beings are quite rare... I know some serve the DemonMother, but we never managed to find any. . . . SunStorm: Valgar sure seems a lot more good looking today! If you need anything, like armor, weapons, equipment, Lancos has already bought whatever is necessary. He even tought about an extra last-minute party member... ;-) Or you can ask 'Raelf. He can make nice looking threads... . . . "Great, a prophecy," Valgar thought to himself. If there was one thing Valgar hated more than slavery, it was prophecy. After all, wasn't it a prophecy that had led him into slavery in the first place? ADMIN: Slavery? That's *nothing* compared to what's gonna happen to you on this quest!!! (just joking!!!). . . . "Well," Valgar spoke up, momentarily startling the others, "Sun- Storm, you said that you had a half-brother, but he is deceased. The first part mentions a grave, and later on there is mention of a betrayal by a brother. What were the circumstances of his death, if I may inquire. Since we're dealing with a vampire, death is not a certainty. SunStorm: "Well, my half-brother was a traitor. He sided with the DemonHordes. Sad, really. It was him who led the demons to DiamondRise. My father -his father-, killed him, in fact they killed each other. I'll always remember this day. But somehow, I think this has nothing to do with our present quest. I mean, my brother was buried in a crypt near DiamondRise, which is regularly patrolled. And the patrols never detected anything wrong, and anyway I've been here for only a few days. And he couldn't betray me, since I already know on which side he stands. . . . The poem also mentions a suit of apparently haunted armor, perhaps another undead minion of this vampire we seek." SunStorm: Perhaps. I think, myself, that it could be that guy in a black armor, with a helm, I fought in the riot/MOB attack. Why? Well, he was in the nightmares I had this very night. OK, so it's not a good reason, but if it's not him, then I simply don't know. . . . "Maybe someone in the watch who was on-duty at the time might have seen something." Valgar rethought his statement. Damn! If they go to the watch, he might be recognized. He would be stretching out his throat and handing Deimos a knife. "On second thought, that might not be such a good idea..." The watch certainly had their hands full, and any information we'll get from them now would be unreliable at best. The riddle mentions a cave. Does anyone know of any caverns near here? It would be pretty hard to hide a dragon in the city. Maybe the dragonnappers took TrueSilver to a cave and are hiding him there." SunStorm: Hey, asking the watch is a very good idea! And finding nearby caves could also be useful. So we have three avenues of actions: the watch, the "underground" (i.e. asking for why the riot was there in the first place), and the local maps. Still, it isn't much... . . . Lancos: given enough time, I could probably interpret them (riddles) to mean that TrueSilver's just outside" He pauses to watch SunStorm fight off a brief urge to look outside. ADMIN: loved that one! ;-) . . . TIME: The morning after the night before. ADMIN: I love that one, too! ;-) . . . ======================================= ADMIN: WEEK 2 part 1 is intended as a good recap of everything everybody posted. The actual story, WEEK 2 part 2, is in the next posting. -- /---------------------------\ | Patrick "Paradak" Rannou. | | Rannou@info.polymtl.ca | \---------------------------/ From: Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:14:46 GMT Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [DQ] SunStorm: WEEK 2 (part 2/3) [inn] ============================================================== THE DRAGONQUEST: WEEK 2, part two of three. ADMIN: Sorry for the delay. Here goes... The start of it is quoted directly from Hutch's/'Raelf's last posting. - - - It was late morning when they were finished. SunStorm and Lancos had gone off to inquire of the guards what they could about the mob. They were not due back until later that day, with the group due to depart the next morn. 'Raelf sat at the table, twitching. Conversation was fine but inactivity. "I am hate this. Valgar, is not good I for sit still in dark bar all day. Is nice day out. I go get idea of what this burg looking like." He laid the board out flat on the floor and stood on it. The strange boots CLICKED and a rune glowed at heel and toe of each. More runes started to gleam, and the board rose to tabletop level, 'Raelf balancing on it. A sort of >kick< propelled him towards the door, and out, and with a sideways sort of slide, he started up into the air. The city shrank below. There was a good breeze going south, and he found the local earthline ... strange, it deviated away from that urban blight section ... Grab some sky and let's see what this place really looks like. North of the Dragon's Inn, a few blocks to the river. Lots of commerce, but only one permanent bridge, if you don't count the city wall to the east. A hill off towards the west, and north of the river, with fancy houses all along. Clearly high rent district. The town square, yeah, and some sort of city building on the other side of it to the east. There was the library to the north of the river, just west of the first of the fountains... There to the northern side of the city, a palace of sorts. Figures. This would have to be another feudal setup. Why do all these high-magic places have to be feudal? Oh well. Two main gates, one south and one east. Good harbor. Traces of strong water magic - centering around the buoys at the river mouth and ... hey, it's cool, I'm not gonna tamper, please don't get irate and zap me, mister hugely powerful mage ... Glad he didn't really figure out what was touching his spellfield. That must have been that city magus, the master of the Vortex, that ...sage had told him about. Something weird below. From the smell of it, a summoning, and supposedly in water, but wait ... a BEER elemental? Radical. Let us stay clear of that sort of thing. 'Raelf kicked off against a small drifting cloud. Any trace of dragonishness here? Call up the archetypes, FLICK a small glimmering rune of crystalline silver. Tarnishing, turned copper, then evaporating. Down below, a smallish draconian flying off to the hills, but far too small for TrueSilver, and besides, it was a copper anyway. Time to go back. Been up for an hour and a half. He carved the air, gradually spiralling over the city, getting his bearings before cutting in CAREFULLY towards the Dragon's Inn. Phasing at the last minute into Air, then back to reality behind Lancos and SunStorm as they walk into the Inn with their findings. - - - CUT TO: a few hours before... SunStorm: "OK, I thank you all for giving your ideas on those blasted riddles. Not that I think it helped a lot, it raising more questions than it solved, but anyway, here is what I propose. I'll go check, like Valgar proposed, with the city watch. Any who want to come with me can do so. If any of you can do some search of the reasons why the riot happened, then that would also help some. I know there are some risks involved with that task, since it requires contacting the underground. Someone who know the city well and doesn't fear the thieves guilds could take care of that part. Also, although it's less important, if anyone can do some bibliothecary search for maps of the local regions, preferably those with caves shown on it, well that could also help us. Any legends about books, caves, or just about anything which you think might help us would also be usueful, of course. We'll meet tonight, and if all goes well we'll be ready to go tomorrow. Don't despair: look what we've assembled in only one evening. I'm sure another full day will bring the clues we need to go find True Silver. OK, so I'm going to the Watch, now. Anyone wat to go with me?" Lancos: "I'll go with you, since I know the city better. If need be, I'll also try to take a look into Low City myself." SunStorm: "Good". Valgar: "Err, I think I'll pass. And I don't know the city that much anyway. Well, I'll try to amass some infos using... other ways." SunStorm: "No problem. Nobody forces you to do anything, here. Know only that the faster we find informations, the sooner we'll go. I assume each of you three will find a way to gather useful informations, se we'll be on our way and meet you tonight". After much discussion, SunStorm and Lancos went outside, toward the Watch Towers. 'Raelf decided to finish Valgar's new clothing, and then activated his board to make a small "reckon" of the city and the general area. ShockWave: "So, Kadrys, you really are a vampire, he? Strange, you don't look like those I've seen at all. Well, I suppose that it must really be so, for one such as you to join us on a quest like that. The only vampires I've ever met always tried to such my wielder's blood as soon as we met them. Not very talktative types, you know. I far prefer you to any of them. I mean, you seem like an OK guy, so hopefully you'll not share the same fate as those of your race I was forced to vanquish. I mean, it was them or us! I tell you: If you really are like them physically, then I'm glad you're with us on that quest. I mean, the few vampires I've met where far TOUGHER than the innumbrable demon fiends I've slayed. That should mean something... Well, anyway, how does it feel to be dead? - - - CUT TO: Outside. Lancos: "Here, we are nearly there." SunStorm: "Lucky that you're with me. I would never have found it so fast without you around. Heck, we came here so fast, I would have trouble returning to the inn!" Lancos: "Come on, don't be silly... The inn is at the junction of the two main roads of Generica..." SunStorm: "Oh, yeah. Anyway, I think I'll manage by my own now. Go see what you can learn in Low City, and I'll meet you back at the inn. See you!" Lancos promptly went his own way. They had much to do that day, and only one afternoon to do it... SunStorm entered the Watch Tower, into a stone room with a desk and a guard. The guard stopped writing in a book, and turned his attention to SunStorm: "I'm TurnBridge. How may I help you, Mr...?" "SunStorm. I came here for information, well, I lost someone yersterday in all the commotion and I wanted to know if anybody would have seen him." "Mr. SunStorm, that's very unlikely. As soon as the battle started yesterday, every man available went to help against the mob. We couldn't have seen anybody in particular..." "This one you may have seen..." "Then his appearance must be truly unique. And even then, with all the strange persons hanging around the dragons-inn, the guard got used to see bizarre looking individual, so I doubt I can help you here..." "Well, I believe you may have seen him, big as he is, he..." A sudden look of realization came over the guard. "OH! You mean the giant that many citizens spotted from their windows? I..." "Can you please let me FINISH? *I* am that giant... Before you talk again, I'll just stay that a mage recently reduced me, so forget about it. No, I am actually talking about a dragon, a silver dragon to be exact. Have any report has been made on this?" (baffled) "Uh, hmm, well, let me check things with my superior first..." - - - CUT TO: A few hours later... SunStorm had to wait and wait, to answer hundreds of questions, fill in forms, go from guard to guard, until finally he managed to learn that True Silver had *indeed* been sighted... SunStorm: "WHERE???" Jack the Guard: "Well, I was near the inn when it all started. I've been seeing that dragon sleep behind the inn, see, so I was a little nervous. But since it was a silver dragon, I said to myself that it's supposed to be a good dragon, so I didn't interfere or nothing. 'Specially considering all the wieird types hanging INSIDE that inn... Well, 'nyway, I heard about the commotion, and then ran toward the mob, doing me job alright. And boy do I deserve a raise. 'nyway, when I got past the inn, I saw all those fighter types scrambling out of it, but no sign of the dragon. I figured it must have flown to the fray, but if that was the case I wasn't able to see it, so I figured what a coward dragon, can't even help a city when it uses one, and exactly like I thought I looked SouthWard, and in the far sky I saw the a gleaming which drew my attention. Silver gleaming. I didn't take notice of it at the time, but now that I rethink about it, I'm sure it was that dragon, mebe a good mile south of the city, not too high inna sky. The gleaming didn't last, tough. It was more like when thunder rumbles and lightning lights the sky, lasted only for a moment. Mebe thass why I still remember it, 'cause at the time I really was having my hands full. Those dogs where tough, I tell ya!" SunStorm: "South, you say, Hmm? Can you really be sure about it?" Jack: "Well, no, of course. But ya wanted to know what I thought, so I toll 'ya! Now, you'll scuze me but I've gotta work ta do!" SunStorm tried gaining any other information, but no other guard had seen the dragon. Either True Silver was invisible, or it litteraly disappeared from sight, like if he was teleported or something, or he flew to the south so fast that only one guard managed to see him. SunStorm knew that True Silver was no coward, so whatever must have been drawing him outside the city must have been really important for him to not take the time to tell SunStorm. Also, the small giant knew that dragons have very keen vision, even in the dark of night, so whatever MIGHT have caused TS to fly there, a mile south the city, must have been really something which made him act fast. "Time is of the essence"... Hmmm... SunStorm then noticed that he was very hungry. Also, the sun was slowly coming down. Time to return to the inn again. - - - CUT TO: The evening On the way back, SunStorm met up with Lancos. He asked him what where the newws, but since they were nearly at the inn, they decided to wait until meeting with the others to actually say everything they'd done that day. When they got inside, Valgar, 'Raelf and Kadrys where there, too. SnStorm and Lancos went to the table, and Sunstorm told everybody about what he learned, which isn't much. Before asking the others for what THEY learned, he asked LittleFair for a good meal. The reduced giant was litteraly starving... ADMIN: INCLUDE HERE ANTHING NEW YOUR PC MIGHT HAVE "DISCOVERED". ADMIN: Also, I'll post this Week's section in three parts instead of two, so there's still another post coming right up... -- /---------------------------\ | Patrick "Paradak" Rannou. | | Rannou@info.polymtl.ca | \---------------------------/ From: Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:24:05 GMT Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [DQ] SunStorm: WEEK 2 (part 3/3) (BToBS) ========================================================== THE DRAGONQUEST: WEEK 2: When You Look at the Impossible, Many Things are Possible... Part three of three. The "Official" DragonQuest members: (join anytime!) * SunStorm, a dwarven-sized giant, * Lancos, a fiery-red haired fighter, * 'Raelf, a dimensionnal traveller, * Kadrys, a vampire thief, and * Valgar, an adventurer (sorry, but your PC description wasn't in the official list). ========================================================== ADMIN: INCLUDE HERE ANYTHING NEW YOUR PC MIGHT HAVE "DISCOVERED". - - - CUT TO: After all other discussion is finished ShockWave (suddenly shouting): "Wait! Can't you HEAR?" Nearby people at other tables suddenly fall silent and turn their attention to the DragonQuester's table. SunStorm (and some others): "What?" ShockWave: "What, what? You mean you don't hear him?" SunStorm: "Him who?" ShockWave: "TrueSilver! Who else?" SunStorm: "WHAT? You hear him? What does he say?" ShockWave: "Shut up!!! I'm trying to... gone!" A moment of silence fell upon the whole group. SunStorm: "Gone? Well, what DID he say?" ShockWave: "Not much. He repeated three words over and over." SunStorm (apparently not succeeding very well at keeping his nervosity in check): "*WHAT* words???" ShockWave: "'My Dark Master', over and over... I'm sure it was his voice. It seemed to go nearer and nearer, until it finally -and abruptly- stopped comptletely just when I was sure the 'voice' was going to 'feel` so near I could have touched it!" SunStorm: "How come only you heard it?" 'Raelf: "May something be magic!" ShockWave: "Yes, that's what I tought it was like: a magical vibration." And suddenly EVERYBODY heard it... "my dark master... My Drak Master..." SunStorm: "TrueSilver! It's *YOU*!?! Where are you?" The voice was beginning to become louder and louder (or maybe nearer and nearer), and it seemed to come from just outside the inn!!! "...My Dark Master... MY DARK MASTER... *MY* *DARK* *MASTER* !!!" SunStorm got up and ran toward the outside of the inn, completely oblivious to the other DragonQuesters. SunStorm: "TrueSilver?!? *WHO* are you, you who use his voice???" A sudden gust of wind scrambled SunStorm's hair just as he was getting outside. SunStorm damned himself for forgetting to put on his helm *again*. Strange lights were making the Plaza of Glittering Steel glimmer with an eerie glow. Something was really going on there. .....whoooooosh SunStorm: "*WHAT* is that???" A white sphere of light came instantly into existance just at the center of the plaza, causing the strange clapping sound. Just as the light receded, a geometrical shape appeared in it's center, still floating, just above the ground, at head level. It was pitch black, with a purple glow all over it. The shape was very strange looking. Light around the object seemed to bend as if to go around it, making the image of objects behind it seem completely distorted and mutliples. SunStorm stepped forward toward the incongruity in the very fabric of space, looking at it. SunStorm: "WHAT is that? It seems like a cube or something... no, it's diamond shaped... or maybe a pyramid.. it's... very....... s-t-r-a...n...g.........e....." To any onlooker, the object seems like a paradox, a shape that can't exist. Think about a cube that has as many sides as a pyramid, and that looks like a diamond, then reverts it inside-out, and maybe you`ll get the idea... One thing is certain: it is quite a fascinating thing, as can be plainly seen when one looks at SunStorm's reactions... ShockWave (still inside): "What's going on? WHAT is going ON? Someone, bring me OUTSIDE, NOW!" Other DragonQuesters, surely, were also outside at that time. Even some other patrons of the dragons-inn went outside to see the lightshow. Some of them, like SunStorm, looked at the thing. They all felt the same thing: Incredible Inexplicable Absolute and Total Fascination. Nothing else in the World mattered, even tough things were seeming to speed up fast, only the pyracubic diamond shaped object seeemed to matter, like the center of the world or somwething even more important... A discontinuity in thought, an object upon which one can only get lost into. ShockWave: "This looks like major trouble!!! SUNSTORM! WHATEVER IT IS, SNAP OUT OF IT!!! THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE! *ANYTHING*!!!" SunStorm: "W...........h...............a........................t ...............................a................................ .......................................s....................... .......................t...............................r...... ..........a..............................................n..... .....................................g.......................... ..................................................e.........." ... ADMIN: INCLUDE HERE (or before that) YOUR PC's ACTIONS... - - - And somewhere else, far far away, the Dark Master muttered to himself: "Damn, failed!" An his shadow on the wall replied "Well, not everything is lost." And the Dark Master seemed pleased. "Yes. They will come. Then we will use the Pentagram." ADMIN: Obviously, nobody except me can use the Dark Master (the guy who make the character list can add him up as a "new" villain...). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ADMIN: Depending on what your characters do here, MANY things can happen. If that post didn't caught you off-gaurd, then nothing will... ;-) Also, don't think that the first part (information gathering) isn't important. Whatever your PC succeeds at "scrapping" may affect the rest of the quest in a major way (or not!). Be there or be square (or is it pyracubic diamond?). BToBS: Be there of Be Square, of course! Like QotD: Quote of the Day, of course! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - QotD: "What do you mean, slow of mind?" (Groo, in just about every issue) -- /---------------------------\ | Patrick "Paradak" Rannou. | | Rannou@info.polymtl.ca | \---------------------------/