Chapter #467

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                                  +
                                +   +
                              +       +
                            +           +
                          +               +
                        +                   +
                      +                       +
                    +      THE ADVENTURERS      +
                      +                       +
                        +      Epic III     +
                          +               +
                            +           +
                              +       +
                                +   +
                                  +

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+    Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and      +
+  other terms used in these stories are the property of TSR, Inc.  +
+  However, this does not mean that TSR in any way endorses or      +
+  authorizes their use, and any such items contained within these  +
+  stories should not be considered representative of TSR in any    +
+  way, shape, or form.                                             +
+    The player characters contained in these writings are copy-    +
+  right 1991-6 by Thomas Miller.  Any resemblance to any persons   +
+  or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.  +
+  Copying and/or distribution of these tales is permissible only   +
+  under the sole condition that no part of them will be used or    +
+  sold for profit.  In that case, I hope you enjoy them...         +
+                                                                   +
+                                  Thomas Miller                    +
+                                  tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu   +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+  Ged          15th/14th level grey elven priest/mage         (NG) +
+    Deryck      8th level half-elven ranger                   (NG) +
+    Nenya       8th/9th level female elven warrior/mage       (NG) +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+  Date:        4/20/576 C.Y. (Common Year)                         +
+  Time:        midday                                              +
+  Place:       Ged's castle, west of the Free City of Greyhawk     +
+  Climate:     cool                                                +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+  "You don't know me - you just think you do."                     +
+                                             - from _Get Shorty_   +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++





                    CDLXVII.  Full Circle





  Nearly a week after Peldor's wedding, Ged busies himself in his
laboratory...

Ged:  (talking to himself)  -the last crucial element for the spell
  to work properly.
Endymion:  (pads out from behind a large barrel)  Meow?
Ged:  Oh, so I'm not talking to myself after all?
Endymion:  (purring as he licks his paws)

  To be sure, Ged's relationship with his familiar had been an odd
one.  Years before, when he had been only slightly younger and more
foolish, he had made the mystical pact that draws a familiar to its
master.  The result was Endymion, who granted the elf superior night
vision and keen hearing, but preferred chasing small wildlife over
adventuring with Ged.  Although the grey cat had been a liability at
times (even going so far as to die while Ged was away) it had also
been an entertaining and useful familiar.

Endymion:  (pounces upon a cockroach, knocking it senseless)
Ged:  (sighs)

  Since the feisty feline's death and subsequent resurrection, Ged had
learned that he and the cat had to stay close to one another.  Thus,
Endymion accompanied him on trips and quests, allowing it to remain
near Ged.

Endymion:  (begins batting the roach around, toying with it)
Ged:  Hmm.  (he stops watching these trials of life and resumes his
  study of the tome before him)

  The grey elf was just putting the finishing touches on his recently-
invented spell, the improved identify.  The enchantment could surely
be called a success, probably because Ged's patron deity, Boccob, was
the god of magic and knowledge.  Ged's research and testing had gone
remarkably well, and he was certain that his god's blessing had aided
his efforts.
  The elf had been busy in the last few days.  After Peldor and Tanya
departed Greyhawk in a fit of anger, most of the others hadn't stayed
around for long.  Mongo and Gorin left for the north with Rillen,
Songa, and the long-lost Halbarad and Peyote.  Belphanior had returned
to wherever it was he lived now.  Only Bosco and Arnold remained in
the area, and the former was busy with the Green Dragon Inn.  As for
Arnold, the huge barbarian was spending his time training, both alone
and with the castle guard.  Alindyar and Lyra were still in Greyhawk,
but they were staying busy too, occupied with myriad responsibilities
and committments.
  Ged smiled at the thought of his small but well-disciplined soldiery,
assembled and trained by Deryck.  Ged couldn't help but be amazed at
the accomplishments of the half-elf, as well as those of his wife (and
Ged's student) Nenya.  Between the two of them, they dealt with the
resident farmers and tradesmen, organized and drilled the troops, kept
track of politics with Greyhawk and Dyvers, and generally made sure
that nothing bad occurred and festered in Ged's lands.  Things had
been quiet for years now, and this was no mere coincidence; certain
people were hard at work behind the scenes.  In fact, without the
couple running the day-to-day affairs of the castle and surrounding
lands, Ged wouldn't ever have had the time to create a simple potion
of healing, much less a spell.
  It was just as well, though; he wasn't concerned with strategy and
warfare.  While he could more than hold his own in a fight, Ged tended
to harbor a general disinterest, even apathy, toward conflict and
responsibility for others.  Magic, in all its myriad forms and shapes,
held his interest - now and forever.  Being a high priest of Boccob
had helped this talent grow and flourish over the past decade, but
it had its price.  Ged would have been more suited to a position in
Greyhawk's Guild of Wizardry, or perhaps the College of Magic, and he
was beginning to realize this.  The impudent and somewhat carefree
days of his youth, long thought gone, were resurfacing, slowly but
surely.
  The endless affairs and problems of everyday people were not only
boring to Ged, but downright irritating.  He found himself lacking
the time and patience to deal with such things properly.  This had
been especially true in recent months, and the grey elf found himself
wishing for some excuse - any excuse - to get away from it all.
  Little did he know that such an event was on the horizon, though the
circumstances would be more than disagreeable...

  A short time later, Nenya and Deryck were in the castle's great hall
sorting out a land dispute between two adjacent farmers...

Nenya:  So we'll mark a boundary line between the two plots of land,
  and divide the strip right down the middle.
Deryck:  (to the first farmer)  Is this acceptable to you?
farmer Bob:  Yup.
Nenya:  (to the second farmer)  And to you?
farmer Joe:  Yep.
Deryck:  (nods)  It's settled, then.
Nenya:  We could even build an irrigation ditch along the line, which
  would benefit both of you in the long run.
farmer Bob:  Okay by me.
farmer Joe:  Me too.
Nenya:  Glad we could work this out-
Ged:  (storms into the hall)
Deryck:  (alarmed)  What's wrong?
Ged:  I have to go away for a while.
Nenya:  That won't be any problem-
Ged:  I may be gone for months.
Deryck:  Is something wrong?
Ged:  Quite wrong.
Nenya:  Well, we'll be able to handle things while you're away...
Ged:  I know, that's why I came to tell you.
Nenya:  ...but what's going on?
Deryck:  (watches the farmers as they exit the hall)
Ged:  I've got a long trip to embark on.
Nenya:  Long as in farther than Greyhawk?
Ged:  Longer.  I must return home.
Nenya:  Home?
Deryck:  (wondering why)
Ged:  (grimly)  The Isles of Lendore, far to the east.  It seems that
  my father is dying.





next:      away he goes
ftp:       ftp.digex.net in /pub/access/dpm/rpg/stories/adventurers
           ftp.nol.net in /pub/users/zac/rpg/adventurers/
           ftp.tas.gov.au/misc/stories
www:       http://www.access.digex.net/~dpm
           http://www3.hmc.edu/~kshobaki/adventurers
homepage:  http://www.gatech.edu/oit/oe/design/thomas/adv.html
mail:      tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu       (preferred)
           thomas.miller@oit.gatech.edu         (emergency)
notes:     There's a lot of crazy crap going on in the news...I
  thought about offering my opinions, but decided against it.  It's
  sad, but almost anything you say about anything these days gets
  turned around into a racist, sexist, religious, or political
  comment.  I've just given up.
    This is probably a sign of maturity, if not disgust.  In the old
  days of these stories, I tended to share my opinions as well as
  my stories.  Sometimes the former weren't called for, but what
  the hell.
    As I type this, the Braves just won game two of the first round
  of playoffs, against the Dodgers.  Whee.
    Anyway, on to something else:  specifics on Ged's new spell, long
  overdue:



Ged's Glorious Identification (Divination)

Level:  4
Range:  0
Components:  V,S,M
Duration:  Special
Casting Time:  Special
Area of Effect:  1 item
Saving Throw:  None

  This spell is much like the _identify_ spell with regard to
preparation and execution, save that it allows only a single
item to be scryed.  However, it virtually guarantees the caster
an understanding of that item.  Only on a roll of 96-100% will
the spell fail (artifacts add a -10% penalty.)
  The spellcaster gains a temporary empathy with the target item,
and this enables him to learn a great deal about it, including
its history, powers, and drawbacks.  The spell also allows a save
versus any adverse effects triggered by the empathy with the device,
at +1 per 1000 gp value of the pearl (rounding down, to a maximum
of +5 at 5000 gp value or more.)
  Note that intelligent items, particularly weapons, may stretch
the truth a bit, as they have personalities of their own and will
probably not remain quiet during the spellcasting.
  After the spell is complete, the caster must rest as per the
normal identify spell.  The material component for this spell is
a pearl of at least 500 gp value, and the rarity of such gems
makes this spell a rarely-cast enchantment.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


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