Chapter #428
previous chapter (#427)
next chapter (#429)
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+ THE ADVENTURERS +
+ +
+ 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 1991-6 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 +
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+ Peldor 20th level human thief (N) +
+ Tanya 5th/11th level female human fighter/thief (N) +
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+ Date: 4/20/576 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: late morning +
+ Place: the Free City of Dyvers +
+ Climate: pleasant +
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+ "I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will +
+ not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, +
+ or numbered. My life is my own." +
+ "Is it?" +
+ "Yes. You won't hold me." +
+ - from _The Prisoner_ pilot +
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CDXXVIII. Off And Running
After a couple of days in the Free City of Dyvers, west of Greyhawk,
the newlyweds are ready to move on...
Tanya: I'm glad you finally stopped complaining about this whole
Guildmaster business. It was starting to get on my nerves.
Peldor: Sorry about that. It won't happen again - I'm through even
thinking about it. The times are a-changing.
Tanya: Glad to hear it. Now, though ,we're faced with the question
of where to go next...
Peldor: Hmm. I was talking with a merchant who's heading out to
Hardby tomorrow.
Tanya: Never been there.
Peldor: Me neither. (he stretches) It's a possibility, for sure.
Tanya: I'm tired, and worn out, but at the same time, I'm ready to
go out into the world and have some fun...adventures...that sort of
thing. It's been too long. Far too long.
Peldor: I hear you.
Tanya: Hell, just this past couple of days has been a welcome break.
Indeed, it had been a pleasant couple of days in Dyvers. Away from
the daily pressures that had been associated with being the Master
Thief of Greyhawk's River Quarter, Peldor was already a changed man.
The dark circles under his eyes were gone, as was the rather unkempt
appearance he'd had for most of the recent weeks.
Peldor: And, of course, there's always the oldest - and best - means
of relieving stress-
Tanya: (kicks him lightly, under the table) Shh! Someone could be
listening!
Peldor: (smiles beatifically) Sleep, of course: what did you think
I meant?
They were enjoying breakfast at the tavern they'd been staying at.
Both adventurers found it enjoyable not to have to wake up early, open
the Green Dragon, tend bar, run a den of thieves, or whatever. Tanya,
too, was more radiant than ever.
Tanya: A good honeymoon, so far.
Peldor: (grins) It hasn't even begun.
Tanya: We'll likely see a lot more of the world, before returning
to Greyhawk, no?
Peldor: Absolutely. I _like_ this vacation. And as an independently
wealthy businessman, I'm able to finance it for as long as I want.
Tanya: You never could have done it without such a superb bartender,
though.
Peldor: (rubs his chin) Hmm, well, I don't know...there's always
Bosco.
They both erupted in peals of laughter, much to the confusion of
the other patrons nearby.
Tanya: So, did you ever figure out exactly what you lost, down in
the sewer explosion and cave-in?
Peldor: Besides an old friend?
Tanya: You know what I mean.
Peldor: (sighs) Yeah...actually, I didn't come out as bad as some
of the others. I only lost that little silver bell-
Tanya: The one that helps healing spells and potions?
Peldor: Yeah, and a scepter, and the glass dagger.
Tanya: Ouch. Wait, that's a lot to lose. You said...
Peldor: Well, Mongo lost that little golden cube that he's had forever
and ever, and a big potion-jug, and a whole sheaf of magic arrows.
Tanya: (frowns) That's too bad.
Peldor: And Bosco was missing a big, colorful gemstone, a boxful of
magical clothes, and that green torch.
Tanya: The one you gave him? That silly thing?
Peldor: Yep. That silly thing. A useful thing, though.
Tanya: Maybe, but you'd never be able to sneak up on people while
holding it.
Peldor: True. Anyway, I heard that Belphanior's friend Otto lost a
magical spear, plus a number of smaller items. Hell, it's a damned
miracle that he and I didn't lose _everything_, considering how we
were caught in that explosion.
Tanya: You didn't lose the one thing that really matters, though -
your life.
Peldor: Hey, a Peldor can't die this young!
Tanya: (smiles) Now that's the Peldor I fell in love with.
Peldor: Heh. I even came out of the whole thing with a good sword.
Tanya: Mongo's extra one...a fine blade, that.
Peldor: (nods) Forged by gods, maybe.
Tanya: Hmph.
Peldor: Wielded by gods, definitely. (he coughs several times)
Tanya: You okay?
Peldor: Just a little aftereffect of the sewers.
Tanya: Pardon? I'd noticed that you were sick, immediately after you
came out of there, but still...
Peldor: I'm okay. I had to get a healing spell cast on me - we all
did. Those stinking sewers are the ultimate breeding ground for any
and all diseases.
Tanya: I should have figured that.
Peldor: Even Mongo was ill, after that escapade, and you know he's as
tough as they come.
Tanya: Wow.
Peldor: Hell, Belphanior was coughing up blood, until he found some-
one to cure his disease.
Tanya: Not the same someone that you found, I take it?
Peldor: No. Belphanior probably wouldn't have had any luck at most
of the temples in Greyhawk. But he did something about it, because
at the bachelor party and wedding, he was as fit as ever.
Tanya: And you?
Peldor: I just had a little cold, probably brought on by the other
business. It's amazing how you can get a cold in the middle of the
spring or summer, isn't it?
Tanya: It sure is.
After breakfast, they went for a walk. Both had been to Dyvers
before - in fact, they'd visited the place together, managing to get
into a bit of roguish activity while in town. This time around, they
had already eaten at the city's best restaurants, seen its greatest
sights and sounds, and shopped at its finest markets.
Peldor: Not that we have much room to carry things we buy...
Tanya: I know, I know. Say, what did you do with all the money you
didn't bring along on this little jaunt?
Peldor: You mean my piles of gold, sacks of gems, and so forth? (he
winks at her)
Tanya: Yes, those very fortunes.
Peldor: Aah, they're safe and sound.
Tanya: The usual place?
Peldor: (nods cannily) Yep.
Tanya: You aren't afraid Bosco might find it all someday?
Peldor: Nope. He'd never look...there. Plus it's protected by all
kinds of traps and tricks. Plus...well, it's safe. Safer than the
Greyhawk vaults, I'd wager.
Tanya: You don't think Bosco'd even look?
Peldor: I doubt it. Besides, he'll never find the treasure. No one
will.
Tanya: I hope not. Others might come looking...the Guild, maybe, or
one of your enemies.
Peldor: Trust me, I've got it covered. As for enemies...I don't
have any.
Tanya: (instantly thinking of Belphanior and his "methods") How's
this?!?
Peldor: (spreads his hands) I'm not in Greyhawk...therefore, I don't
have enemies.
Tanya: Oh. (smiles)
Peldor: We're out here, on our own. Our only enemies - and friends -
for the next weeks or months are those we make along the way.
Tanya: Sounds like fun.
next: the open road
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: Let me clarify the magic item losses due to the sewer
fiasco, so they can be written off for all time. Peldor: bell
of healing, scepter of the winds, glass dagger. Bosco: green
torch, multicolored spherical gem, boxed set (1 eye, 1 gauntlet,
2 boots.) Mongo: hell cube, jug of extra-healing, 17 assorted
magical arrows. Otto: Zacharaiah's spear, potion of gaseous
form. Belphanior: none (yep, he just got lucky.)
The final fate of Darek Halfplow will be learned soon, as well.
And I'll put Victoria in the next set of adventurer stats.
I saw _Tales From the Crypt: Bordello of Blood_ last night.
Good - not as good as _Demon Knight_ but good nonetheless. And
the Braves' John Smoltz got his 20th win. And Eddie Murray hit
his 498th career home run. I'm anxiously waiting for #500 (hey,
his homer count is ahead of my writing count...but someday I'll
pass him, and hopefully Hank Aaron as well!)
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next chapter (#429)