Chapter #194

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                                +
                              +   +
                            +       +
                          +           +
                        +               +
                      +                   +
                    +                       +
                  +      THE ADVENTURERS      +
                    +                       +
                      +      Epic II      +
                        +               +
                          +           +
                            +       +
                              +   +
                                +



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+    The various characters contained in these writings are   +
+  copyright 1994 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.oit.gatech.edu  +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   THE PARTY:                                                +
+                                                             +
+   Alindyar      15th level dark elven mage              (N) +
+   Arnold        11th level human warrior               (NG) +
+   Belphanior    12th/14th/14th level high elven w/m/t  (CN) +
+      small immaterial wispy thing                           +
+   Lyra          12th level female dark elven mage       (N) +
+   Mongo         16th level dwarven warrior             (CG) +
+      Gorin       6th level dwarven warrior             (CG) +
+   Peldor        18th level human thief                  (N) +
+      Bosco       7th level halfling thief              (CN) +
+   Rillen        16th level human warrior                (N) +
+   Rob           15th level human priest                (LG) +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   Date:    12/11/573 C.Y. (Common Year)                     +
+   Time:    midday                                           +
+   Place:   east of the Dreadwood Forest                     +
+   Climate: cold                                             +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   "It is only possible to live happily ever after on a      +
+    day-to-day basis."                                       +
+                                     - Margaret Bonnano      +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++





                    CXCIV.  Farewells





  After meeting up with a group of pursuing adventurers, a
group which happened to include the long-lost Halbarad and
Peyote, the adventurers have made peace, and arrived at the
city of Gradsul, in Keoland.  Even now, they have sought,
and been granted, an audience with the city's mayor.

Rob:  I told you, my power is well-known in these parts.
Belphanior:  Sure.
Peyote:  Hush, you two!  Have you no respect for authority?
Mongo:  Hey, I for one don't see hide or hair of this mayor
  guy-
tall ranger-type:  (strides into the council room)
Rillen:  You don't look soft enough to be the mayor.
Rob:  (gaping)
Halbarad:  (also stares, in recognition)
tall guy:  That's because I'm not the mayor.
Belphanior:  Oh?  Then who the hell _are_ you?
Rob:  Uh...
short pudgy fellow:  (walks into the room)  I'm the mayor.
tall guy:  I am Kimbertos Skotti, the king of Keoland.
Belphanior:  King?  Oops.
Gorin:  King?  (he bows slightly)  Sire.
Peldor:  King?!?  (he thinks of the jewelled dagger that he
  just transferred from the wall to his pocket)  Oh, umm.
  Nice to meet you.  Heard alot about you.
Mongo:  King..._the_ king?
Kimbertos:  (shrugs)  There can be only one.
Mongo:  (to Peldor)  Maybe Rob really is powerful around
  these parts.  (gives a short bow as an afterthought)
Rob:  Err...well...
wispy thing:  pfffs.
Halbarad:  (embarrassed, and bowing deeply)
Rob:  (flustered, he nearly trips over his own robe)  They
  beg your forgiveness, O great lord.
Kimbertos:  Of course, of course.  Actually, I seriously
  doubt it, but still...
Rillen:  (feeling somewhat abashed)
Rob:  Err...what is one of your stature doing here, anyway?
  If I may ask?
Kimbertos:  Well, that's just it.  We heard the news, even
  in Niole Dra to the north, of the slave revolt.
Belphanior:  It wasn't a revolt...more of a liberation...
Crynwar:  (the mayor)  Yes, yes, we know.  The point is,
  the ruler of the Sea Princes' lands has sent an imperial
  envoy here.
Belphanior:  (coughs)  Really?
Kimbertos:  Indeed.
Belphanior:  I'm flattered.
Halbarad:  (kicks Belphanior)
Kimbertos:  You should be.  It's not every day that a land's
  ruler threatens his neighboring land with war, just for
  the sake of some freed slaves.
Halbarad:  We (gestures to Peyote, Proctor, and Gallant)
  weren't really in that area at the time...we just found
  these others afterwards.
Belphanior:  (stares daggers at the ranger)
Halbarad:  However, we have realized that their deeds were
  noble and humanitarian, and should not merit punishment.
Rob:  If he may be so bold...
Kimbertos:  Why stop now?
Peyote:  (not really paying close attention to this entire
  line of conversation, he finds a leaf in his ear)  Whoa.
Crynwar:  Anyhow, these royal envoys wait even now in the
  room below us.
Rob:  What will be done?  You surely can't give them back
  all those ex-slaves!
Kimbertos:  But I can.  I'm the king.  And to avoid war,
  I might.
Belphanior:  (starting to become upset)
Kimbertos:  However, we have tolerated their slavery for
  too long, and I have decided to take a stand on this
  issue once and for all.
Halbarad:  You have?
Kimbertos:  Someone has to do it, sometime...as far as I'm
  concerned, the slaves are free men, and you people are
  seeking political asylum.
Rillen:  But we can't stay here for long...they'd never
  accept that.
Peldor:  That's right - we're hardened criminals.
Crynwar:  Of course you are.  That's the general idea.
Bosco:  Yippee!
Kimbertos:  Oh, I don't intend for you to stay.  I simply
  forbid them to hunt for you in my land, just as I forbid
  them to seek out their ex-slaves here in Keoland.
Rob:  An excellent decision, one I'm sure Trithereon would
  heartily approve of.
Kimbertos:  No doubt.  I have heard of you, high priest,
  and in a favorable way.  I'm sure your diety helped the
  escape to a great extent.
Rob:  Well, yeah, he sure did.
Belphanior:  Begging your pardon, but what about the king
  of that land, and his wrath, and all that?
Kimbertos:  Bah.  He'll get over it...though a donation on
  your part, to cover the cost of his loss, would certainly
  be in order...
Rob:  Of course.  (he whirls)  Mongo, get all that loot out
  and let's leave it for the payment!
Mongo:  Sure...
Peldor:  (groaning)  Oh, that's all our treasure...
Belphanior:  You're sending all that money _back_ into the
  city of Westkeep?
Kimbertos:  (shrugs)  You can't have everything...
Mongo:  (glaring at Peldor)  Yeah.  It's just money.
Peldor:  Hey, if you're just gonna give it back, what'd I
  steal it for?
Lyra:  Well, it's not like they're gaining anything here.
Bosco:  (throwing his small body against the sack)  Wait!
  Can't we talk about this?
Peyote:  Dude, I mean King, this is a great and noble thing
  you're doing for us...and the slaves...
Kimbertos:  Indeed.  The risk of war is no light thing...
  you should consider yourselves fortunate that I am here
  to assist your cause.  My councilors say throw you to
  the wolves.
Rillen:  Indeed...but, as I said, we can't remain here for
  long.
Kimbertos:  No...I shall make sure that no one comes after
  you, while you ride through my lands, anyhow.
Alindyar:  (finally speaks up)  I will make certain that my
  friends trouble your lands no more, sire.  I can teleport
  us far from the reach of the Sea Princes.
Belphanior:  Hmm...(he looks around)  How many are going
  back to Greyhawk?
Kimbertos:  Hmm.  (he stares at the pile of coins that Mongo
  has made on his royal floor)  All of you, out!  I've got
  other business to attend to this day...
Halbarad:  You heard the man...out.  (he ushers everyone
  out)
Kimbertos:  (puts a hand on the ranger's shoulder)  Not you,
  old friend.
Halbarad:  Eh?
Crynwar:  (leaves, after all the adventurers, and shuts the
  door)
Kimbertos:  How long has it been now...three years?
Halbarad:  About.
Kimbertos:  So, how in the hells did you get mixed up in all
  this foolishness?
Halbarad:  Well, we were hired to find and stop them...and
  then we realized that we knew them...say, why are you so
  willing to go out on a limb like this for these slaves,
  and for my old companions?
Kimbertos:  That?  Hah!  Want to hear a political secret?
Halbarad:  Certainly.
Kimbertos:  The Sea Princes' king, Jeon, and I go back a
  ways...he doesn't really support slavery either, but he's
  under a lot of political pressure, and so...but both he
  and I know that this whole thing will blow over, once his
  nobles hear about how I couldn't let the hunt continue,
  for political reasons.  In fact, I doubt that he cares
  at all about getting those slaves back.
Halbarad:  Amazing!  And no one will ever know this truth!
Kimbertos:  Nope...

  In a nearby chamber, the others were discussing their next
plans.

Mongo:  Well, we all need to get back to Greyhawk.
Rob:  Not me.  I have work to do here, in Keoland.  I get
  the feeling that Kimbertos needs my help.  Or will, soon.
Peldor:  Good for him.
Proctor:  I would rather not travel to Greyhawk, thank you.
Turok:  Me neither.
Gallant:  I would be willing to go...if you have room.
Lyra:  Of course we do.  I'd have to cast my own Teleport
  spell anyway...there are too many of us...
Peyote:  Don't forget Blok, my elemental.
Bosco:  Yeah, where is he?
Peyote:  Outside the palace, of course.  He's too big to
  walk around in here.
Mongo:  Same for Halbarad's tiger, I guess.
Belphanior:  Hmm, perhaps some Reduce spells are in order.
  (he wipes beads of sweat from his brow)  Whew, it's hot
  in here.
Rob:  (wondering what Belphanior's sick with)
Rillen:  (to Peyote)  But are you coming to Greyhawk with
  us?
Peyote:  Uh...I'd have to confer with Halbarad, dude.
Halbarad:  (enters this antechamber)  Of course we'll go!
  In fact, we'd be glad to go.
Belphanior:  You would?

  Shortly, farewells were being exchanged, and the drow
prepared their teleportation spells.

Alindyar:  Good thing we were able to shrink some of our
  number.
Zephyr:  (currently the size of a rat, he growls)  grrrr.
Blok:  (also reduced in size, the elemental now hides in
  Peyote's pocket)
Bosco:  Hmm.  (considers picking that pocket)
Alindyar:  With those miniature ones, as well as all armor
  in the portable hole, we shall have no trouble taking
  all of you to Greyhawk.
Lyra:  Right.
Mongo:  (like the others, he is armorless)  This is kinda
  relaxing...
Arnold:  No way.
Rob:  (waving farewell, almost tearfully)  Take it easy,
  guys!
Alindyar:  The spell nears completion!
Lyra:  Mine too...link hands, and prepare...
Belphanior:  Well, off we go.
Bosco:  Boy, is Ged gonna be surprised!





next time :  a matter of some importance arises

ftp site  :  ftp.cs.pdx.edu in /pub/frp/stories/adventurers

notes     :  Believe me, the task of finding an appropriate
           adventure-plot to fuel my plans for episode #200
           isn't proving to be easy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


--
Thomas Miller                        tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu
Systems Support Specialist II          Georgia Tech Network Services

"What good is being a hammer when you can't find a deserving nail?"


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