From: Mike Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Date: Monday, 3 Aug 1992 00:46:30 EDT Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [DQ] Lancos: Week 2, part 3 reactions >ShockWave: "What's going on? WHAT is going ON? Get me OUTSIDE, NOW!" After grabbing SunStorm's helm and storing it in his backpack --which he hadn't even bothered to take off-- , Lancos decides to comply. Knowing that ShockWave won't be light, Lancos puts most of his concentration into the effort. And picks up the DiamondSword with more ease than expected. Turning around, he sees why as a smiling 'Raelf completes a spell. Lancos then rushs outside. He briefly heads towards SUnStorm, when suddenly his attention is diverted by an undescribable object. 'What IS that?', he thinks. But then his thoughts seem to slip away from his control... -- Lancos had slept as well as an earthquake [hope you like that original analogy] all night --the expected events to take place tomorrow weighed too heavily on his mind. Thus, he was slightly quicker than his companion to react when the door to their room --previously locked and partially barricaded-- opened to reveal... nothing!?! The two men inched towards their weapons and armor from different directions, wary despite the seeming need. Suddenly, a scream was issued from the side of the room opposite to Lancos. He had time to do nothing more than see the form of his friend fall to the ground, and another, darker figure appear, when a blade entered his arm. Shortly, another figure appeared before him, carrying a now blood-covered dagger. Lancos felt the poison enter his bloodstream, only to be instantly fought by his body's defenses. As his body raced to fight the poison, his mind raced to assess the situation. Outnumbered 2 to 1 versus what must be assassins, bleeding, with no weapons --besides his natural ones-- or armor, and cut off from the door, only one option seemed to remain --the window! Out the window and onto the street Lancos went, the sound of more glass breaking behind him signalling that the two attackers had chose to follow him. Quickly, Lancos took off, heading towards the closest source of help --the cleric of the party, sleeping near the town's main entrance. Although his pursuers couldn't know the town as well as he --allowing Lancos to lose them--, he didn't slow until he reached the cleric's door. Seeing a burnt body dressed in now-scrached black, he wisely decided that knocking would be best. Once inside, he would be safe. -- Outside the Dragon's Inn, Lancos let go of ShockWave with his left hand. SHockWave made no comment, only thinking that Lancos had to shift all the weight he was carrying. "Puny humans!", SHockWave thought to himself. -- Lancos could hear --and FEEL-- the room quiet as a knock came on the door of the room above. While this room was hidden, no one wanted to chance being discovered, and with good reason. THe invaders had been tougher than expected. Lancos' breaths came heavily and with some effort. He was forced to lie on his back to feel the least amount of pain. He had his head tilted back off the table he was lying upon, to prevent any more blood from the gash on his forehead from reaching his eyes. 'At least I won't have to worry about my HAIR!', Lancos thought, allowing himself as much humor as he could. 'Is this what happens when I try to help a local community I heard was being invaded? I get to lie here slowly dying while I and my friends depend on someone we've never met before today to ensure our survival? If you do that, Brent, I'll owe you more than you can ever know.' Suddenly, footsteps resounded on the stairs. Lancos welled up his strength and lifted himself from the table, prepared to meet the newcomers --in battle, if necessary--, despite his condition. The voice, obviously of the leader, said, "Sit down before your notion of bravery gets the best of you!". Lancos relaxed back on the table as he recognized the voice of his long-time travelling companion Sean McMillian. Lancos was surprised to see him here, but any questions would have to wait. Lancos would later find out that he had passed out for some time... -- The grip Lancos held on ShockWave loosened more, until the point of the DiamondSword struck the ground. ShockWave made some [probably better left] undistinguable remark... -- Lancos swiftly went to examine the form for signs of life, although inwardly he knew it was hopeless. Dead, then. Felria, the woman who everyone knew --although Lancos would occassionally jokingly disregard it-- was going to marry Lancos was dead. But that wasn't the worst part for Lancos. THe worst part was knowing there was nothing he could do about it. -- Lancos now gripped SHockWave by only two fingers. Anyone looking would think the hold was almost as impossible as the object in the sky. ShockWave was going to complain when suddenly Lancos' hand tightened around the hilt... -- "No!", Lancos thought to himself, disbelieving what he had almost done. "MAYBE this battle has worn you down, but that's no excuse to almost drop your weapon! Keep focused, dammit!'. All this occurring in the second or so that Lancos had to regroup before another opponent reached him. -- >ShockWave: "SUNSTORM!!! SNAP OUT OF IT!!! THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE!!! >*ANYTHING*!!! Still holding ShockWave, Lancos seems to react to the warning more, as his thoughts turn to a more recent event... -- "Here is what Delriqa divined...", SUnStorm said. ... "'When you look at the Impossible, Many things are Possible'" -- Lancos knew that the strange creature he faced was nearly dead. However, with the battle far from over, he didn't let that affect him, and instead put his blade through its neck. Briefly looking around, he saw that Theor was in trouble! It seemed that no one else could reach him in time... if only he could! Theor knew in his guts that he was dead. Although all the other creatures were killed --as evidenced by their eerie death cries-- all were either not close or not skilled enough to save him, he felt. Suddenly a magical bolt barely missed Theor only to hit the creature, sending it flying back a bit. Lancos had finally reached the area, but it was obvious the bolt had killed it. "I don't mean to seem unappreciative, but that was an impossible shot!" Theor proclaimed to the mage standing nearly directly behind him. "Nonsense!", the mage responded. "Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE! At worst, a situation is highly improbable! DOn't let perceived limitations stop you!" Although the advice had not been directed to Lancos, he nevertheless stored it for his own purposes. -- The two thoughts clashed in Lancos' mind. 'When you look at the impossible...' he thought. 'But nothing is impossible' came shortly behind. 'So which is right?', his mind wondered. 'Probably neither... but both are more right than THAT thing!' And suddenly Lancos knew he had broken free of the object's control. He quickly turned away, not willing to look at the thing again. After rubbing his head a bit, he said to ShockWave, "Guide me to SunStorm. Maybe if he's free, the situation will resolve.". And so it went, with Lancos slowly walking backwards until he was beside SUnStorm. Seeing 'Raelf and Kadrys also nearby, he placed ShockWave in SUnStorm's hands, and went off to try to help out Valgar. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu AKA Lancos Erredan, who was a good-sized headache now. SAQ: "Memories... from the corners of my mind..."