Chapter #562
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+ THE ADVENTURERS +
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+ Epic III +
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+ 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 1991-8 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 +
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+ Bosco 12th level halfling thief (CN) +
+ Felicia 2nd level female human thief (LN) +
+ Peldor 20th level human thief (N) +
+ Tanya 5th/11th level female human warrior/thief (LN) +
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+ Date: 4/12/577 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: morning +
+ Place: the Free City of Greyhawk +
+ Climate: pleasant +
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+ "Why don't you just grow up?" +
+ "Why should I? This is more fun!" +
+ - from _Streets of Fire_ +
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DLXII. Second Time Around
The morning had barely begun, and already Bosco knew it was going
to be a good day...
Bosco: (darts between two tables and leaps up onto the bar, doing
three somersaults before finally coming to rest) Yes!!!
Tanya: What's eating you, Bosco? Or should I say, what have you
eaten? You seem even bouncier than usual today.
Bosco: As well I should be! In three days, the greatest card game
in the land - no, the whole world - is happening! And I'm gonna
be there!
Peldor: How can it be?
Bosco: Well, when you're a winner like me, you get invited back to
play again.
Tanya: It's probably all the people you beat, conspiring to regain
their money from you.
Bosco: Well, then, they're about to lose at double or nothing.
Peldor: A regular card-shark, that's you.
Bosco: Yep, and in three days, I'll take all the bread home. (he
beams) The name of Bosco shall be associated with true greatness.
(he frowns) No, I take that back. It will be synonymous with
true greatness! I like the sound of that...! (he prances away
merrily)
Peldor: Hmm.
Tanya: Is it just me, or is he counting chickens that haven't even
been laid as eggs, much less hatched?
Peldor: It's in his nature...much as it is in mine. Well, was in
mine.
Tanya: There's nothing wrong with that, but sometimes he takes it
overboard.
Peldor: As did I, in days gone by. (he frowns) Sometimes, I yearn
for the old days.
Tanya: (frowns herself) You're not happy now?
Peldor: (hugs her) Oh, I'm happy now - more than happy. It's just
that sometimes, I feel like there's something I was supposed to do,
but didn't. (he looks at her) Have you ever gotten that feeling?
Tanya: Can't say that I have.
Peldor: Hmm. Well, I have - but whatever it is that's bugging me,
either it'll come to me, or I'll forget. No big deal, really.
Tanya: Where's Bosco's card game?
Peldor: Uh...(he thinks for a moment) I heard that they were going
to host it aboard a big ferryboat, originally-
Tanya: "They?"
Peldor: You know, them. The ones behind all of this sort of stuff.
Tanya: Ah.
Peldor: But anyway, there wasn't a boat big enough that they could
get fast enough. So now, the card tournament's going to be held in
the manor of a rich noble, Lord Kilroy.
Tanya: Kilroy, the reclusive old geezer who lives an hour's ride
outside of Greyhawk?
Peldor: That's the one.
Tanya: Why him? Why there?
Peldor: The Free City's tax laws - even the ones on gambling - don't
apply once you get a certain distance from the city's walls. By
hosting the tournament, Kilroy not only avoids the government's
regulations, he gets to keep the profits all for himself.
Tanya: Doesn't the city know about this, and can't it do anything?
Peldor: It could, but it's not worth their trouble. Kilroy's given
quite a sum to certain city officials, in the form of contributions
and charities.
Tanya: Whoa, now I'm really confused. How come we don't have to
deal with this gambling law here, in the Green Dragon's casino?
Peldor: Ah, but we do. We just pay a tax on our profits. If you
get down to it, making some profit is better than making none.
(he frowns) That's not why I really wanted a casino, though.
It's for the entertainment of our guests more than anything else.
Of course, Lord Kilroy has different reasons, probably.
Tanya: Yes...why _does_ he want to host this tournament?
Peldor: Prestige.
Tanya: Well, I can understand that.
Peldor: I'll say this for him - his plan's working. From what I
hear - and this doesn't even count Bosco's babbling - Kilroy's
attracted some of the best card-players who ever lived.
Tanya: Is there an entry fee? Could we play, or watch?
Peldor: We can't play...the contestants have already been chosen.
Hell, at a thousand gold crowns a player, we might not want to play.
Tanya: You're not getting cheap on me, are you?
Peldor: Nope. We have more than enough money to spare. But there
are so many better uses for a thousand crowns. Besides, we can just
watch for free.
Tanya: Let's do it, then. It sounds like fun, and we could use a
day off.
Peldor: Two days. The finals happen the day after the initial rounds
of play.
Tanya: Still no problem. We've got more than enough staff to cover
for us, and besides, we deserve a vacation.
Bosco: (prances back into the room, a card-deck clutched in his hands)
Did someone say vacation?
Peldor: We're coming to the card tournament with you. We figured you
could use a cheering section.
Bosco: (musing to himself) Bosco and Peldor...in the greatest card-
game...under one roof...think of the possibilities.
Peldor: We're just coming to watch. (he grins) And maybe place a bet
or two on the side.
Bosco: Now you're talking.
Tanya: Oh, dear. Now there's two of them.
Bosco: Not so - there's only one-
Peldor: Peldor!
Tanya: (shaking her head)
Peldor: When do we leave?
Bosco: I was going to head out the day after tomorrow. Kilroy's
hosting a big feast the night before the games begin, and I could
use a good feast.
Tanya: Don't you feast at every meal?
Bosco: Well, yeah, but this'll be different.
Peldor: We can all feast.
Felicia: (enters the bar area) Feast? When?
Bosco: It's more than a feast - it's a card tournament of epic
proportions.
Peldor: Maybe even greater-than-epic proportions.
Tanya: (sighs)
Felicia: A card tournament? Really? Can I go?
Tanya: Well-
Peldor: Sure!
Tanya: Uh...
Peldor: Oh, come on. It'll be good for her.
Bosco: Yeah.
Tanya: How is that possible?
Bosco: Card playing sharpens the old noodle. (taps his head) I'm
all the proof you need!
Tanya: (smirks) Are you sure?
Peldor: Absolutely. (he frowns) Of course, someone will have to
teach her the basics of Dragon-Deck - so she can understand what's
going on, mind you.
Felicia: (smiling) No problem - Bosco's been teaching me Dragon-
Deck for weeks now.
Tanya: Oh, he has, has he?
Bosco: (grins slyly) Well, it seemed only natural...she wanted to
learn...
Tanya: Great. Everyone's a gambler but me.
Peldor: Nonsense. You know the game as well as any of us. Besides,
Felicia needs a well-rounded education. (he gives Bosco an unseen
thumbs-up)
Felicia: When are we leaving?
Tanya: Two days - but make sure your chores are all done.
Felicia: Most of them already are. I've made the staff schedules for
next month, and all the non-perishable food has been ordered. Our
wine cellar is completely inventoried and I just finished balancing
the ledgers for the week.
Tanya: Oh.
Peldor: (grins at Bosco)
Bosco: (shuffling his deck of cards) Anyone up for a friendly practice
game?
next: to the manor of Kilroy they go
ftp: ftp.myths.com in /pub/rpg/stories/adventurers
ftp.intertex.net in /pub/users/zac/rpg/adventurers/
ftp.tas.gov.au/misc/stories
www: http://www.myths.com/pub/rpg/stories/adventurers
http://www.shobaki.org/adventurers
homepage: http://www.gatech.edu/oit/oe/design/thomas/adv/adv.html
email: tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu (preferred)
thomas.miller@oit.gatech.edu (emergency)
notes: For those who are keeping track, Tanya's alignment is now
lawful neutral. Not that I use every official rule and stat in
the books.
I won't drag this storyline out - the next episode will show them
traveling, and then the next will feature the pre-tournament feast,
and the one after that will feature the great tournament itself, in
its entirety. And after that, I plan to deliver one hell of a
surprise twist - one which will shock and thrill you.
I was at the 9/14/98 Braves game where they beat Philadelphia
to clinch the division championship. It was kind of an accident
(the tickets practically fell into my hands) but I'm sure not
complaining.
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