Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!swrinde!emory!darwin.sura.net!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!not-for-mail From: guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de (guido roessling) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives Subject: STORY: Qelrik part 23 Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc Date: 28 Mar 1994 08:03:14 -0500 Organization: UUNET Technologies, Inc. Lines: 136 Sender: smm@uunet.uu.net Approved: smm@uunet.uu.net Message-ID: <2n6kii$rv@rodan.UU.NET> NNTP-Posting-Host: rodan.uu.net *************************************************************************** This story is a collaboration of seven people: one German, two Canadians and four Americans. Comments about particular characters should be forwarded to their character's "owners": Finn Ambrose - Sheryl Ann Galchutt* - fi48@sol.acs.unt.edu Gernodt - Guido Roessling - guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de Dahlarin - Brent Hughes - bhughes@student.business.uwo.ca Kyle - J.E. Mason - jempci@borg.cis.rit.edu Fox - Barbara French - bcfrench@mailbox.syr.edu Will appear in future chapters: Gladrial - Jennifer Immel - bhughes@julian.uwo.ca Sir Percy - Bret Rudnick - rudnick@cfatrw.harvard.edu For missing chapters etc., send a mail to guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de *************************************************************************** Reunion ======= Gernodt was already on his way to the inn when he noticed someone near the well. Since he still had some time until the meeting, he went to investigate. Reaching the well, he saw Dahlarin lying near it, sleeping soundly. "Seems like he took a nap after his studying... Well, I'll just have to wake him up, gently of course.." he mused, approaching. He was not quite prepared for the effect his approach had, however. A slight tingling spread over his skin when he was about 5' away, and Dahlarin's eyes snapped open as if he had just been rudely awakened. A few seconds later, the tingling stopped and Gernodt was able to approach Dahlarin, who had just propped himself up on the well. At the same moment, however, the wolf began to produce a slight growl deep in his throat. "Oh, do be still, my dear", Gernodt said admonishingly. "Can't you see it's only a friend you're growling at ? Well, probably you can't..." and, saying that, he stooped down. Stroking the wolf's neck and shoulders with a gentle hand, he calmed him a little. Still, when Dahlarin approached, the wolf seemed uneasy. "Quite a nice growler you got there", Dahlarin said, smilingly. "A Growler he is, right - and I think that's a fitting name for him, as well." Gernodt replied. Hugging Growler, he whispered to him "Well, you've got you a name now - whenever anyone talks about Growler, they mean you !" "I nearly forgot - I got three flasks of holy water in my backpack, and you still get some change from me !" Gernodt added as an afterthought. Together, the three turned to the inn, chatting about the day's events... As they approached the inn, Growler grew more and more uneasy. All of the people around him made him extremely jumpy. It was obvious that Growler was torn between his new-found loyalty and his instinct to run away. Gernodt and Dahlarin approached the door to the inn, only to find Growler was no longer with them. Turning around, they saw the wolf standing thirty paces behind them looking at Gernodt intently, as if trying to say something to him. "I understand, friend" Gernodt spoke softly to the wolf, "I cannot expect you to follow me in here. Wait for me, I will be back out soon." Surprisingly, the wolf seemed to understand, and after retreating further from the inn, lay down and began to wait. Dahlarin gave Gernodt a puzzled glance, but Gernodt simply shrugged and entered the inn. Once inside, they were greeted with the sight of the familiar patrons of the inn. Finding an empty table, Dahlarin hailed the barkeep and ordered a couple of mugs of ale for them, to aid them in the wait. Once seated, Gernodt handed Dahlarin his share of the holy water and his change. Both then tried to find places to stow the holy water, where Finn was not likely to find them. Sipping their ale, both began the traditional adventurer's pastime of swapping exaggerated tales of previous adventures... Time passed, and a growl in Dahlarin's stomach reminded him that he had not eaten since this morning. Giving Gernodt a sly smile, he proceeded to order a large dinner for them both. "My turn to buy." He said simply, and dug in heartily. It never ceased to amaze Dahlarin how fast time flew when in pleasant company, and it was not long until daylight began to fade. "Finn should be here shortly," he noted, and Gernodt nodded in agreement. Within minutes after the sun had set, Finn silently descended the stairs. "Looks like she's an early riser for her kind", Gernodt commented. Giving the inn a quick glance, Finn soon spied Dahlarin and Gernodt carefully watching her. The night had day had passed in an eyeblink for her, but she wondered what had gone on with her two new companions during their long day. Their looks portrayed anticipation of the adventure, and of what she might do next. "Good evening, gentlemen." she said as she approached their table. She gracefully sat down, and folded her hands, resting them on the table. She momentarily looked at each of them. Dahlarin was smiling, but he looked a little uncomfortable as she locked eyes with him. Turning to Gernodt, she saw suspicious acceptance in his eyes. "Well," she said, "It appears as though you've decided to let me join." She looked from one to the other, awaiting confirmation of this statement. She watched carefully as the two men looked at each other, and Dahlarin spoke. "Yes, we had come to that decision. I must admit we were both sceptical about you, after all" he added hastily, "vampires are known to be... detrimental to human health, and a predator-prey relationship never seemed to work for me." A smile touched Finn's lips. He was certainly honest about it. She found she rather liked that. Any others she had tried to befriend had covered their fear with such extraordinary lies as to make any hint of a friendship impossible. She found herself thinking that this might work after all. "I understand your mistrust." she stated, "I am somewhat different from what you would normally think of my kind. I assure you I have no intention of making you my prey." Dahlarin smiled warmly, and even Gernodt seemed slightly more at ease. "Well, enough of small talk." Finn said suddenly, "I believe we have business to attend to..." *************************************************************************** Next Time : A brief interlude at a farm.... ***************************************************************************