From: Mike Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Date: Tuesday, 11 Aug 1992 14:37:42 EDT Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [DQ] Week 4 : Krastin Killsst [ADMIN: We'll see about that --it's Patrick's title. Hope you enjoy this, considering it's somewhat rushed. I'm so bad off, I can't even quote myself! Below's a good enough representation of what I said.] >Krastin pushed Lancos into the Inn, causing Lancos' head to hit the wall >with a nasty thump. Lancos slowly slips down the wall of the Inn... An onlooking figure cringed. She had been watching the red-haired man she considered a Ranger since he entered Low City. Always on the lookout for cash, she had been disappointed that the previous encounter between these two had produced nothing for her. And if the man died --especially this close to the inn-- she could expect nothing again. Krastin, standing a short distance away from Lancos, stopped briefly to survey the situation. He eminated something that sounded like a cross of a snarl and a gasp {a snasp? :-)!}. He wasn't surprised to see lots of bodies on the ground, but was flabbergasted to find that nearly all of them were the gargoyles he'd brought with him. Not that things were good for the other side --the dwarf was down, that mage was nowhere to be seen [ADMIN: 'Raelf is still in Air Elemental mode], that other fighter (Valgar) was busy, leaving only the mysterious figure (Kadrys) to be dealt with immediately. Suddenly Lancos' head rose up. Glad to see that Krastin's attention was diverted, he charged. The onlooker involuntarily let out a gasp at seeing this event. Hearing an unusual sound, Krastin turned around just in time to see Lancos put a blade into each of his legs just below the knee, with only Krastin's speed and reflexes preventing further injury. Krastin was starting to feel tinges of worry, although he refused to let his face show any signs of it, keeping its dark grin in place. Surpringly, after a few more exchanges of words and blows, Lancos --somewhat mockingly-- returned the grin. By this time, the battle had moved to the right corner of the Inn. Out of the blue, Krastin swept his blade low at Lancos' legs. Lancos jumped up and back to avoid it, aiming his weapons where Krastin's head currently was. 'Currently' proved to be the operative word as Krastin ducked and followed his blade by rolling to the left. The combination of moves placed the combatants on different sides of the Inn. The onlooker smiled. 'Now the ranger can flee --either to the inn or into the crowd-- and get help and healing! That's what I'D do versus a foe like that.' she thought [ADMIN: Small nod to Patrick for the 'inspiration' here]. But she could not know that it wasn't Lancos style. Could not feel the concern Lancos had for what his foe would do if unchecked, even if only for a little while. Could not see Lancos' body tense as if anticipation of the next move. Krastin started to round the shadowy corner but pulled up short. The thought of a waiting Lancos caused him to rethink his plan. Instead, he would just jump onto the building and jump down again on Lancos' backside. >From the darkness, Lancos saw Krastin tense to jump, dropped his weapons and move to tackle his adversary. However, Krastin was partially in the air by then, and Lancos only managed to grab a leg. Krastin lost the grip on his sword --and watched it scatter away-- but regained his composure in time to free himself from Lancos' hold and tumble away without any damage. Krastin was no stranger to fistfights, and so his smirk did not dissipate --until his first punch went right through Lancos, causing nothing more than a flinch. Krastin was not so lucky, as Lancos' metallic fist struck his jaw. Krastin made a mad rush for his weapon, but Lancos --having a shorted distance to travel-- cut him off, and delivered another punch, this one to the kidneys. Krastin immediately went on the defensive. The situation looked nearly hopeless. Here he was parted from his weapon by a man he could not hit, with most of the gargoyles dead, and reinforcements likely soon to show up for Lancos. Only one option remained --retreat. How was HE supposed to know that handling these adventures would be so difficult? Besides, the Dark Master was bound to have other plans. "I'll get you yet, Lancos! You can count on that, you !" [ADMIN: Whew! Glad I got rid of him--I was running out of synonyms for "shortly" and "opponent" (;-)!) ! Anyone who thought Lancos & Krastin would try to exchange fists, raise your hand. Put those hands down --you lie! ( :-)!, I hope!).] Lancos watched Krastin leap onto the building, but entertained no thoughts of following. Instead, he picked up his weapons and kicked Krastin's blade down a nearby alley as a last sign of spite. 'Great!', the onlooker thought, 'The LEAST he could do is kick it near me! Undoubtedly, someone else will get it NOW. Still, it's worth a try!'. And with that, she was on her way. But by the time she got there, her prediction came true --the weapon was gone. Cursing her luck, she turned back to watch the remainder of events. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu AKA Lancos Erredan SAQ (My favorite curse?): "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!"-_Monty Phyton's Holy Grail_