From: rigler@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Protean Godstuff) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1992 23:18:45 GMT Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [KQ/any] Sgt. Thorpe [Inn] Questions the patrons... [ADMIN: A detachment of City Guardsmen enter the Dragon's Inn to make an announcement and ask questions. Anyone whose character is currently in the Inn can feel free to interact with the Guardsmen.] The patrons of the Dragon's Inn look up from their midday meals and conver- sation at the sound of booted feet approaching. The doors swing open and in walks a detachment of the Generican City Guard. They are led by a muscular human female who steps forward into the room with hand on sword hilt, her dyed leather armor crackling smartly. Littlefair thanks the Gods he had the presence of mind to have the bodies of the assassins who just tried to kill Zebron dragged around to the back alley. He doubts that this tough-looking Sergeant could be bribed to over- look anything like that. She slowly turns, scanning the room and gazing into the eyes of its occupants one at a time. She frowns as her brain fumbles with the room's strange geometry. How many corners does this place have anyway? Fifteen? Eighteen? And, as always, each corner is filled by a table of suspicious looking characters, peering at her with shifty eyes, their dark cloaks bulging with what must be concealed daggers, or worse. And monsters! Is that a minotaur? She shudders at the sight of its bull-like face. It gazes back impassively, and she averts her eyes. Not yet brave enough to face down such a beast. This place has always given her the creeps. Full of weirdos and trouble- makers, yet nothing violent or illegal ever seems to happen on the premises. Nevertheless, she is convinced that this establishment serves as some sort of staging area, and she has overheard similar theories being discussed by her superiors at Glorshanned Keep. One of these days, Littlefair will slip up, and the ever-vigilant Guard will be there to step in and clean this place up so that decent citizens can sleep at night. But for now, there is nothing she can do. In her most professional, polite voice, she calls to Little- fair, who stands behind the bar, smiling at her politely, and...almost sympathetically? "Master Littlefair, we bear important news. May we hang an official poster on your bulletin board?" "Why yes of course, Sergeant." The tavern's owner smiles solicitiously, always glad to cooperate with Generica's finest. Several of the sweating Guardsmen lick their lips longingly as he draws ale into a tray full of tankards. "I'd offer you and your squad an ale on the house, but I know you're on duty." The Guardmen look disappointed. Sergeant Thorpe grins. "That's right. Now listen up. You will all be glad to know that the trio of beast men who terrorized the open bazaar a few days ago have been dealt with by your City Gaurd. The bird-man and lion-man were driven off, and their ring-leader, a renegade lizardman, was cornered and slain when he gave fight." At this news, several of the patrons gasp in surprise. At his customary table, the skinny man from the Guild of Pages blurts out "Nah, nah, that can't be true. Why I just saw--mpff " He is interrupted by the large man next to him who suddenly shoves a beer tankard into his mouth. "Have a beer, Cliffey! It's on me." " Gee uh...thanks Normey, but I was just informing the nice lady that-- mfpf " Sergeant Thorpe glares at the two men suspiciously. Littlefair clears his throat and asks. "Er...Sergeant, when, exactly, was the lizardman slain?" "Two days ago. Why?" Several patrons let out audible sighs of relief. Littlefair relaxes and smiles again. "Oh, no reason. No reason at all. I'm just glad that we can all rest easy now that the menace has been dealt with. I know *I'll* sleep like a babe tonight [knowing that the reptile is still alive to pay his tab...]" he adds under his breath. "Yes..." She stares at him for almost thirty seconds, then turns to speak to the entire room. "Very well. The lizardman may not have been working alone. They band together in tribes. Where there was one, there may be more. Naturally, if any of you spots another lizardman, you will consider it your duty as a citizen to inform your City Guard." She crosses to the poster and adds a line at the bottom, then continues, "We are offering ten gold pieces to anyone providing information leading to the capture of rogue lizardmen." Technically, as a lowly sergeant, she doesn't have the authority to offer a reward, but she is sure that Lt. Panarchus will approve. Especially when he learns that his lizardman is still alive and probably hiding at the Dragon's Inn. These people must think she is pretty stupid. The poster now reads: +----------------------------------------+ / o o / | ATTENTION CITIZENS OF GENERICA: | | | | The gang of renegade beast-men who | | created a disturbance at the bazaar | | has been broken. The leader, a savage | | lizardman has been slain. The streets | | are safe once again, thanks to the | | skill and bravery of your City Gaurd. | | There is a reward of ten gold pieces | | information leading to the capture | | of rogue lizardman and other monsters | | within city limits. -= Sgt. Thorpe =- | | o o | \ \ +----------------------------------------+ Around the room, the patrons grin at each other. Ten whole gold pieces? Ooooooooh. Most of these adventurers wouldn't even bend over to pick up ten gold pieces that they spotted in the street. She turns to Littlefair and says, "We will now make a routine inspection of the premises. For the safety of your patrons, of course. Your passkey?" A brief look of irritation crosses the owner's face, then he smiles and spreads his hands. "As you wish. But knock and announce yourselves before entering the rooms. My patrons pay well for their privacy and peace." He tosses her the passkey. [ADMIN: One half of the detachment of Guardsmen (8 total) now proceeds to move around the room, looking carefully at the people at each table, while the other half climbs the stairs and inspects the rooms. Everybody should feel free to incorporate this into your conversations or posts. Argue with them, ignore them, taunt them, you can even sell out Thk the Lizardman if you want to, but remember that no violence is permitted in this establish- ment. Eventually, after 1/2 hour or so, the detachment will leave. Have fun!] ---- Rigler (aka 'Thk') --