Chapter #566
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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: 4/16/577 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: morning +
+ Place: Lord Kilroy's immense mansion, near Greyhawk +
+ Climate: pleasant +
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+ "They could never catch you...no matter what you did." +
+ "Sooner or later, they get everyone." +
+ - from _Escape From L.A._ +
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DLXVI. Change of Fortune
Yesterday, Bosco was the victor in Lord Kilroy's great Dragon-Deck
tournament. Today, he and his friends prepare to depart the mansion
of their host, prize money in hand...
Bosco: (trying and failing to lift a sack of gold coins)
servant: (scuttles over and helps out, hefting the sack up onto
Bosco's pony)
pony: Nhrr.
Bosco: Hey, watch it there. That's my gold.
servant: Of course, sir.
Lord Kilroy: (shakes Bosco's hand) Well done, sir. You have won
the respect of all who attended this contest, not to mention all
who will surely hear of it. And, having heard you boast, I am
sure that this number will be impressive...
Bosco: It was my pleasure - and remember, next time you have a
tournament, be sure to let me know.
Lord Kilroy: Indeed I will...indeed I will.
They rode away, leaving the nobleman and his estate behind. No
one talked right away, but after they'd left Kilroy's domain, Bosco
asked the question that was on his mind.
Bosco: So where _were_ you two during the tournament?
Peldor: Oh, nowhere.
Bosco: I simply must know.
Tanya: Well, if you must know, we were wandering Lord Kilroy's
manor.
Peldor: Liberating certain of his riches.
Felicia: (looks shocked) You didn't!
Peldor: (shrugs)
Felicia: (incredulous) You robbed our host?
Tanya: (shrugs)
Bosco: (slams his fist into is palm) I knew it!
Felicia: I didn't...in fact, I never suspected.
Peldor: What do you expect? I'm Peldor.
Tanya: (nods at Peldor) He is.
Bosco: Heh.
Peldor: We didn't really _rob_ him - just made off with a few
knicks and knacks.
Tanya: Nothing major, really.
Peldor: Nothing he'll miss, I'm sure.
Tanya: After all, even we senior thieves have to keep our skills
sharp.
Felicia: I guess you do.
Peldor: Speaking of which...Bosco, that was an amazing finish!
How in the hell did you get such a great hand?
Bosco: (grins) I'm Bosco! The luck of the gods is mine!
Tanya: (sighs)
They headed back to Greyhawk, enjoying the pleasant spring day.
Everyone, especially Bosco, was in a good mood as they rode through
the city gates. However, when they reached the Green Dragon Inn,
they were surprised to find the Guildmaster of Lawyers and Scribes
waiting there for them.
Sir Anton Palmirian: Greetings, Guildmaster of Thieves.
Peldor: (takes his fellow Oligarch aside) You look troubled...is
something amiss?
Sir Anton: Actually, yes. We have...a problem.
Peldor: My problem?
Sir Anton: Not really, but your input is important.
Peldor: What's the deal?
Sir Anton: We have representatives in town - officials from a distant
land. They are tracking a mass murderer, and have been for quite
some time.
Peldor: A mass murderer?!
Sir Anton: (nods) And they have found the vile one...right here in
the Free City!
Peldor: Wow. (he ponders) So?
Sir Anton: So, our city government is basically obligated to turn
this fugitive over.
Peldor: Hmm. Well, that certainly sounds like the right thing to
do.
Peldor didn't like this man - he never had, since the inquiry after
Org Nenshen's death. Sir Anton, in Peldor's opinion, was a shifty
and completely worthless bastard. He never offered solutions, only
complaints and criticisms. Even before he'd become Guildmaster and
an Oligarch, Peldor had realized that Sir Anton was one of a small
clique within Greyhawk's ruling body - a clique that would never
admit a newcomer or an outsider.
Sir Anton: There is, of course, no need for the Oligarchy to meet
or vote on this matter.
Peldor: (irritated) Of course not. Now if you'll excuse me, I've
got a lot of things to do.
Sir Anton: (bows) Very well, then. Good day. (he wanders away)
Shortly, inside the inn...
Tanya: What was that all about?
Peldor: I'm not sure. I guess they sent him to get my opinion on
some matter. Still, he seemed awfully smug...
Tanya: Maybe he's got something up his sleeve.
Peldor: It could be. (he sighs) It's unfortunate that I can't
just kill anyone who gets in my way, like Belphanior can.
Tanya: There is something to be said for that capability.
Peldor: Hmm. (he looks around) Where's Bosco?
Tanya: He went to his room, dragging that sack of gold and saying
something about a safe.
Peldor: And Felicia?
Tanya: Already in the storeroom, cataloging today's foodstuff
shipment.
Peldor: She's a hard worker.
Tanya: And she deserves more than this...working for us in the inn
here. She asked me about spellcasting the other day, you know.
Peldor: Oh?
Tanya: Yep. I talked with Lyra about it, and she's willing to
teach Felicia, if that's what she wants.
Peldor: Is it?
Tanya: I don't rightly know. I don't even think she knows.
Peldor: Well, she'll figure it out. She's young yet.
Vinnie: (from across the room) Boss.
Peldor: What?
Vinnie: We've got trouble.
Sir Anton strode into the building, flanked by four fully-armed
Greyhawk city guards. Behind them were four other soldiers whose
regalia was unfamiliar. With these others was a tall, rotund older
man in fine clothes.
Tanya: (checks a window) There are about a dozen more outside.
Peldor: (walking toward the newcomers) What's going on?
Sir Anton: (points to the large man) This is Pompa-Peyvur. He
represents the Pasha of Tusmit, His Exalted Splendor Jadhim.
Peldor: So?
Pompa-Peyvur: (to Sir Anton) Allow me, if I may. (he steps
forward, addressing Peldor) Greetings, O exalted nobleman of
this great state of grandeur, the gem of the Flanaess, Greyhawk.
Peldor: (glances at Tanya)
Tanya: (smirks, ever so slightly)
Peldor: You're here for lunch? We can seat large parties, though
we generally prefer some advance notice.
Sir Anton: We're not here for lunch-
Pompa-Peyvur: (glares at the man)
Sir Anton: (stops talking)
Pompa-Peyvur: There will be no feasting, at least not until we are
back in our beloved Tusmit with the object of our mission here.
Peldor: Eh?
Pompa-Peyvur: (clears his throat) Almost six years ago, two of
our outlying towns suffered a great deal at the hands of a vicious
mass murderer. I'm sure you remember, since witnesses have placed
you there as well.
Tanya: What's this?
Pompa-Peyvur: Perhaps you recall the towns...Lud and Targ.
Peldor: (sighs unhappily)
Pompa-Peyvur: For more than five years, we have endeavored to track
the blood-trail of this vicious murderer. Now, at long last, we
have found him, and are prepared to take him back to stand trial...
and then be executed, as is the punishment for murderers in our
land.
Peldor: Now, wait just one-
Sir Anton: No, _you_ wait! (he shakes an accusing finger at Peldor)
This is a political matter, and the city's needs overrule anything
else. It has already been decided by the Oligarchy; these people
will get their man, and he will return to Tusmit with them. End of
discussion. After all, the Free City can't condone murderers and
let them roam free, now can it?
Peldor: (fuming)
Tanya: (rather upset, she turns to Peldor) Who are they talking
about?!? What does this have to do with us?
Bosco: (prances down the stairs) Hey, what's going on?
next: futile argument, and then they leave for Tusmit
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notes: Okay. The home run pace is getting ridiculuous. As
I started this, McGwire and Sosa both had 55 home runs. Now, as
I finish it, McGwire has 60 and is about to play today's game
(it's the Sunday before Labor Day Monday) and Sosa has 58 but
has already played his game today.
You will read this episode in October, which means they will
both have hit 61 by then. I guess putting current events in
these note sections isn't a good thing if the lead-time until
readers get the stories is so long.
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