A Tunnels and Trolls® play-by-post adventure run by khara_khang
Jay continues his conversation with his Sphinx friend.
"That doesn't seem like such a wise thing to use, Jay."
"And you would know because... ?"
"I know because I am me," he replies bluntly. "I've come to Khazan to find you, master Jay, and to finish our quest for the Rune Sword of Tribune. You surely remember? It was lost somewhere in that valley of 'Skull Break.' Why else would I be here?"
"I seem to recall you not being on the best of terms with Leprechauns, or at least one of them."
The Sphinx turns his head slightly and feints facial angst at Jay's mention of Galabid the Leprechaun.
Jay runs like his tail-feathers were on fire, fleeing combat, running as hard as he can back up the main thoroughfare towards Pondskimmer and the Leprechaun, who is holding a small dirk. Jay yells as he runs: "Run away! Run away!"
Prince Thalion comes running up in great powerful leaps and bounds. He is careful to avoid the raised pit.
Bellowing in a long echoing sound, the Minotaur charges after the Sphinx. He still bleeds from the wounds Prince Thalion's claws inflicted.
The Sphinx slides to a stop and grabs the unprepared Leprechaun in his mouth in one motion. Shaking his head, he rips Galabid into shreds. The Leprechaun doesn't even have a chance to cry out; his death comes suddenly---too suddenly, thinks the Sphinx. Pondskimmer cries out in horror and flees down the hall. By then, Jay is out of the room, still running. Bolting out of the room, Prince Thalion easily catches up to the pair as they run. "Get on my back," he orders, speaking in common. Grabbing a handful of thick golden fur, Jay climbs onto the Sphinx's back as he continues to run. Catching Pondskimmer, he scoops her up easily in his bloody mouth and carries her unharmed as he makes his escape.
"I am not just anyone. I have my official invitation to dine with the Death Goddess." Jay withdraws the invitation and shows it to Prince Thalion as if he were proud of it.
The Sphinx eyes the invitation closely as he uses his innate magical abilities to identify its power. "Yes. It's quite devious. It implants memories in your head. If you were to get rid of it, then just maybe the memories would fade and you'd find out what really happened. The invitation is what I would call a 'memory-imprint time bomb.' When it 'detonated,' it gave you certain memories that will last as long as you carry it. This might be why the Palace Guards don't have any recollection of you."
Jay doesn't speak, his face fixed, his mouth open, all his muscles locked, shocked by the revelation. Jay stands numbly.
Prince Thalion grabs Jay up in his mouth like a child's toy and bounds away at great speed. Moments later, the great Sphinx leaps from an alley onto a roof, then a higher roof, and then another, before finally climbing through a large open window. The empty room holds nothing more than a bed. Prince Thalion drops Jay on the bed and puts one paw on his chest to hold him there.
"Sleep, my friend. I do not want any harm to come to you. I still have spells to teach you." Backing up, he sits down on the floor and closes his eyes.
Hours pass. What do you do?
Shipy's dresser is level again. For a Hobbit, it is the simple things like this which matter, not arcane magical straps or hidden books that do god knows what. After Bela leaves, he lies in bed watching a spider work its magic in the creation of a simple cobweb.
His eyes close for a while and then open again. A small ragged piece of paper hangs on the wall and displays words written in his native language. It is the one of the only things Shipy's mother ever gave him. He reads the paper again, just as he has a thousand times before:
Hobbits' First Rule: People can be made to believe any lie, either because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it's true.
Hobbits' Second Rule: The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.
Hobbits' Third Rule: Passion rules reason.
Hobbits' Fourth Rule: You will succeed in your goals if you believe. Help with your goals will come in the forgiveness you grant, and more so in the forgiveness you receive.
Hobbits' Fifth Rule: Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie.
Hobbits' Sixth Rule: The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason.
Hobbits' Seventh Rule: Life is the future, not the past.
Shipy thinks about the Hobbit rules and imagines his mother writing them, reading them to him and then tucking them into his pocket afterwards. He closes his eyes and falls asleep, lost in a dream.
Hours later when Shipy awakes, it is already well into the morning. Rubbing his eyes for a moment, he climbs out of bed and grabs the backpack he took from the Shu-Tzen temple. Then he heads downstairs to find the others. The Blue Frog Tavern never really closes, so he doesn't have to worry about anyone being locked out at any hour. There are times its doors are closed during cleanup days, but anyone could still enter if they chose to.
Climbing down the ladder, he peeks out of the storeroom below his loft to see Quickly, Jax, Taran, Bela, Jack, Ebony, and Olvarin all gathered at the same table. Lucky is behind the bar and Chereva is in her usual lusty stance near the door. A few other regulars are scattered around the room, but the place is for the most part empty. Shipy exits the storeroom and motions for a drink from Lucky as he walks over to the table. He climbs onto the chair beside Jax.
"Howdy y'all! Where's Jay? I sure wish he could have heard the fat lady sing earlier this morning." The Hobbit flashes a sarcastic grin. "At least this adventure ended well, don't y'all think?"
Lucky sits a drink in front of the Hobbit. "Hey! What kind of party is this? There's not much booze being drunk and only one hooker." Seeing the harsh glare from Ebony, Lucky takes the coin from Shipy for the drink and returns to his place behind the bar.
"Umm, it's like the boring peaceful kind with no looting or fireworks to burn down a few city blocks!" He winks. "And don't get me started on Santa. If I ever see him, I'm going to shove a chunk of coal so far up his stocking he'll be coughing up diamonds!"
"At least we can say we did our best and not many people died. Maybe at the feast we should make a toast to Megol and Ocullos."
Jealous, he adds, "I should be the one in a grave!"
"The backpack, Shipy?"
Shipy takes it off with a "Yes," and starts pulling all the contents out onto the middle of the table. He finally lets out a cry of triumph at the treasure it held. There are 7 rubies worth roughly 200 gold each, 5 emeralds worth approximately 150 gold each, 211 gold pieces and 18 silver pieces. The coins hold the marking of the City of Tiern: the Lord of Tiern the Dragon ruler on one side and the City of Tiern on the other. The coins hold the same value as Khazan coins. [See maps of Kaball here and here.]
There is also a small green bottle that holds a dark liquid. It has the power if imbibed of raising a character's attributes 4 points, with the 4 points used anyway s/he wants. Two spell scrolls hold the spells Protective Pentagram and Dear God. A small scarab which resembles a tiny shield gives the wearer 8 Armor Points, but can only be worn by someone not wearing any armor; if the 8 AP's are ever exceeded in battle, the scarab is destroyed.
"I'm going to vamoose. Give my share to Lucky for my bill."
"Right-o, half-pint." Curious, Jax keeps his eye on Shipy to see if he has missed something. He knows the Hobbit has rarely left, if ever, when treasure is being given out.
"Well, there you go. Good guys win for once. It's like having a child that you never knew of, what a surprise." He eyes the loot with a tusky sneer.
"We're beyond that now, don't you think? We're on our way to 'See Exhibits A and B.'"
"May the Goddess recognize the gentleness of our spirits, and guide us to the wealth we deserve."
"Now that, I understand. Man, do I understand." He ends with a grunt.
Shipy walks over the bar and climbs up on a stool to speak with Lucky privately.
"Nice sword you have there. I have never seen that before."
"Oh, and what a beautiful sword it is, the weapon I finally chose to hang at my side." He hides it with his cloak. "Shh!"
"Yes I see."
Shipy looks into a bowl on the bar. "Mix those mixed nuts! I see two almonds touching!"
"Aw nuts!" He mixes them. "Is there anything else?"
Shipy looks at Lucky. "What should I say to Chereva?"
"Start with a compliment. Tell her she looks thin."
Shipy calls across the room to Chereva. "You seem malnourished. Are you suffering from internal parasites?" She frowns at him.
"On second thought, give up while you're ahead."
Shipy sighs. Leaving Lucky, he climbs off the stool and heads toward Chereva at the door.
The busty bouncer notices Shipy eyeing her as he approaches. "How do I look today, Shipy?" she says, giving him another chance.
"Like a sexy French courtesan."
A little better, she muses. "French?" she pouts with mock disappointment.
"C'mon! C'mon! Chereva, how about a kiss for good luck before I leave?"
Chereva leans down and gives her friend a quick peck on the cheek.
"I meant tongue luck," he mumbles, disappointed. Happy nonetheless, the Hobbit smiles and heads out into the street. There will always be other adventures, other Chereva kisses, and there is still the big feast at noon. He'd never pass up a chance at free food. He silently recites a little poem his father used to tell him:
See the happy Hobbit,
No one gives a damn.
I wish I were a moron,
Oh Khazan, Perhaps I am!
What do you do?
As always, Adventure Points are given out for posting ability, continuity, staying in character and for staying with us the entire adventure, which was no easy feat seeing as this adventure started over 8 months ago.
[Everybody's together now (except Jay):
Quickly can't take his eyes off the scarab. An "Ooh! Shiny!" look suffuses his features. "The marvel! The craftsmanship! Whatever you deem my share is, I'd gladly trade it for this bauble!"
The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason.
But see Hobbits' Third Rule.
"I know because I am me," he replies bluntly.
"Of course."
"I've come to Khazan to find you, master Jay, and to finish our quest for the Rune Sword of Tribune. You surely remember? It was lost somewhere in that valley of 'Skull Break.'"
"Frankly, no. I don't remember that being a quest of mine. I do remember promising to help some captives though, so if one leads to the other, and my current business has reached a dead-end, I'm available."
"Why else would I be here?"
"All roads lead to Khazan?"
The Sphinx turns his head slightly and feints facial angst at Jay's mention of Galabid the Leprechaun.
<Shrug> Jay hasn't had been having terrific relationships with Leprechauns either.
Jay runs like his tail-feathers were on fire, fleeing combat, running as hard as he can....
What?!? It was a tactical regrouping in a most expeditious manner!
By then, Jay is out of the room, still running.
Leading the way---that's what it was!
Bolting out of the room, Prince Thalion easily catches up to the pair as they run. "Get on my back," he orders, speaking in common. Grabbing a handful of thick golden fur, Jay climbs onto the Sphinx's back as he continues to run. Catching Pondskimmer, he scoops her up easily in his bloody mouth and carries her unharmed as he makes his escape.
Jay counters with a flashback of his own:
Pondskimmer the Gremlim shouts, "Help me! My dear friend the great Leprechaun Galabid is trapped in a pit! And it tastes like shit!"
Jay doesn't ask why Pondskimmer's friend, a Leprechaun, doesn't just Wink-Wing out of the pit. There are other questions. "You eat shit?"
Jay wanders past all the pits, vowing to free everyone, except for those undead things that keep threatening to eat him. All the while, various captive animals, Prince Thalion, and a Leprechaun are shouting: "Help, help!"
"You will be free! Promise!" he says.
Sigh, those were optimistic and idealistic days.
Huh, this must be the lever to free things. Let's go with the Leprechaun and Sphinx first. <pull> "You're free!"
<thunk>
Hey, that's one of 'Ski's weapons. Is she trying to kill me or what?
<CHOP!>
Now what's going on? Gigantic axe! Minotaur from outta nowhere! Minotaur in axe range!!
"Run away! Run away!"
Hmmm, I guess I was fleeing. Oh well.
The Sphinx takes a swipe at the Minotaur, blooding it, before running like his tail is on fire, fleeing combat, running as hard as he can.
Huh, I'm only an absolute beginning mage with a head wound from that spear earlier---what's his excuse?
Wow, he's powerful, leaping over those pits like he can fly. Maybe he just ought to run around them; I'd hate to have to rescue him from the pits a second time.
The Sphinx stops to kill that totally unaware Leprechaun that Pondskimmer has been risking her life to free. Harsh. Oh well, at least I fulfilled my promise to 'Ski to free Galabid first.
Pondskimmer gets the hint and starts running. She probably thinks the Sphinx will be coming for her next.
I wouldn't be surprised. The guy's nuts.
The Sphinx catches up, telling Jay to hang on as it bites down on the Gremlin. Geez, what is it with this guy? Better 'Ski in the mouth than me though, and the Minotaur's coming. Jay climbs aboard.
Escaped!
The Sphinx is a lot more sedate now. The Gremlin and the Sphinx are arguing. Apparently he just killed her idol or hero or boyfriend or something. Thalion says something about hearing the Leprechaun torturing his friend to death in another pit or something, so he had a perfect right to kill him with no discussion, or trial. 'Ski's not really buying it. Jay doesn't either, but Thalion's apparently willing to kill out of hand, and it's really none of his affair anyway, so he doesn't press it. Besides, he's willing to come with Jay and 'Ski to go free the others in the pits.
"Let's go."
Prince Thalion mumbles, "I hope you have a plan, human."
Hmmm, I wonder if Thalion and 'Ski ever resolved that whole Galabid thing, or if he just killed her too. Wouldn't blame him if he did; I couldn't stand her either.
"I am not just anyone."
Sure I am. As stated earlier, Jay's fully prepared to be turned away, invitation or not. He does see himself as just anyone. The Orc Brothers are the Agents of the Lerotra'hh, which is why he keeps name-dropping them. ;)
"I have my official invitation to dine with the Death Goddess."
Not quite accurate. At this point, Jay already knows/thinks the dinner came and went, and this invitation is now just a nice souvenir of the meeting. Nevertheless, he is hoping that it is something that will get their attention so that they think he might have something to say, or so that they pass him along to higher-ups. Nothing more.
Jay withdraws the invitation and shows it to Prince Thalion as if he were proud of it.
Not exactly proud, either. Jay got the invite from a wishing well, not by any particular charm, skill, ability or deviousness of his own.
"This might be why the Palace Guards don't have any recollection of you."
Jay doesn't speak.
C'mon, Jay's always got a quip ready. Besides being a stinging offense, it's one of his defensive mechanisms.
"Might be. On the other hand, Lerotra'hh the Death Goddess just might have more than these few guards.
"It doesn't really matter though. I already know what really happened. A bum stole my shoes. Kinda sucked either way. So that's what it does, hey? That's no rutabaga. Geez, you'd think if they were going to implant memories, they'd implant them of things having actually gone better. Or at the very least, they'd have let me choose the Arena of Khazan to perform in. Anyway, if it's all the same to you, I'll keep the invitation for now."
Prince Thalion grabs Jay up in his mouth like a child's toy and bounds away at great speed.
"Ach, hey, whatever happened to climbing on?!?"
"Sleep, my friend. I do not want any harm to come to you. I still have spells to teach you."
While Jay had other plans if he got turned away from the castle (visiting the crime scene, then the Tavern, etc.), the fact is he has been up for a heckuva long time now. Once plopped into bed, he'd probably drop off no matter what he'd rather be doing.
Hours pass. What do you do?
Check to see if I still have my boots.
Otherwise, it depends. Anything new or changed since I was first brought here? Is Prince Thalion still here? Awake or asleep?
If nothing has changed, and if Thalion's here and awake, Jay will offer a morning (or afternoon) greeting, and see if he has anything new to say/add. If Thalion's not here or is sleeping, Jay'll leave a note behind saying where he's going (continuing his plans from yesterday; Jay hasn't realized the adventure is over yet) and leave (preferably through a door if there is one, or out the window with a spell if not.)
But if things have changed, it really depends on what the changes are.
Olvarin sits a bit subdued with his comrades. He spent last night passed out in a back alley, overcome with physical exhaustion and emotional fatique. Luckily nothing worse befell him, but some passerby did leave him a perfectly good pair of boots of Elvish make.
He slinked into the Blue Frog Tavern a couple hours after sunrise, and began drinking with what was left of his coins, as well as ordering a platter of fish and chips. The Elf politely returns Quickly's silver coin with a mumbled apology.
After a few cups of grog, Olvarin dares to steal a glance at Chereva. The filly is even more beautiful and desirable than he remembered. There she is, the pole star of his life, who inspired him to undertake the daring quest to save humanity from the Pirate Blade of Rahnian.
Ah, but there she is, magnificent in the morning sunshine that filters through the dirty windows. And here he is: dirty, smelly and a total failure of an adventurer. What treasures can he lay at her elegant hooves: a set of chains? Which tale can he sing to her glory: the one about being thrown in prison, or the one about being manacled to Taran and Shippy [sic] in the nude? His cheeks flush as his extreme low self-esteem offers, How about how you botched reading the Balrog book and almost destroyed civilazation as we know it?
No, he is not worthy to court the lovely Chereva. He is no hero; rather, he's just a simple Healer whose good intentions far outstrip his abilities. Draining his fifth cup of watery grog, Olvarin heaves a big sigh and rests his chin on the table.
Maybe this is for the best. Chereva certainly deserves better than he can provide. Better to worship her from afar, or aspire to become a real friend to her.... Yes, that would be....
About that time, Chereva begins a jaunty flirtation with Shippy [sic]. Then she leans over and kisses him. Olvarin's sanity snaps at the sight of his angel consorting with that nasty, untrustworthy, perverted, hairy-footed sentient wart, and he bolts upright, scattering his chair and drinks shrieking, "NOOOOOOO!!!" He screams and screams until his hair is shot with shocks of white, and bloodied spittle foams from his lips, and all the while he claws at the sides of his head, as if determined to remove the blasphemous image from his brain case. He feels the world reeling, and all goes black.
Olvarin's comrades thoughtfully move his body to the bit of floor where he is least likely to be stepped on by the help. Eventually he comes to, but lies on the floor, having reached a strange sort of Satori.
Next time he'd fall in love with a Bee-Woman! Or maybe a Harpy. A pretty one with a good sense of humor and really wonderful....
Luckily nothing worse befell him, but some passerby did leave him a perfectly good pair of boots of Elvish make.
Ouch! *L*
Next time he'd fall in love with a Bee-Woman!
Bar-Bee is too much woman for you.
The Elf politely returns Quickly's silver coin with a mumbled apology.
Quickly takes his eyes off the scarab only an instant to accept the proffered silver eagle in a distracted way.
"NOOOOOOO!!!"
When Olvarin has been settled to the side, Quickly sheepishly returns the silver eagle to Olvarin's pocket. "Had I only known it were so precious to you, I'd never have accepted it back! WHUPS!"
He flits back to the table. Settling down on his belly by the scarab with his chin resting on one arm, he playfully licks a finger, places it on the scarab, and sings out, "Tsuba Tsukaaaaaaata!" [Translation: "Dibs!" (literally: "My spit's on it!")]
Olvarin's sanity snaps at the sight of his angel consorting with that nasty, untrustworthy, perverted, hairy-footed sentient wart.
Hey! I am not "sentient"! So I'm no Frodo Baggins. I can still do a melodramatic delivery when needed! :P
Your fortune for today is: "You will become very old and bitter like Eric."
If you're reading this you can't see the angry Ent behind you.
[Insert link to fishing trip photo showing Sourone [sic], Sourman [sic], Jay and Olvarin, arm in arm, holding Hobbits by the ankles.]
Your fortune for today is: "You will become very old and bitter like Eric."
Who are you calling "very"?
...Sourone [sic], Sourman [sic], Jay and Olvarin, arm in arm, holding Hobbits by the ankles.
Don't touch me, I don't know where you've been.
Researching my next post, I ran across an interesting tidbit in the 5th edition T&T rules....
[And so begins a short interlude on the health benefits of Orcish blood in your veins: less is more! --ed.]
Go To:
PBPArchives
| Rahnian
| prev
| next
This page updated: Mon Jan 09 14:22:30 2006
All text Copyright ©1999-2006 PBPArchives.
