Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!reuter.cse.ogi.edu!hp-cv!hp-pcd!sdd.hp.com!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!nntp.msstate.edu!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!uunet!not-for-mail From: guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de (Guido Roessling) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives Subject: STORY: Qelrik part 37 Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc Date: 6 Sep 1994 17:03:21 -0400 Organization: UUNET Technologies Inc, Falls Church, VA, USA Lines: 123 Sender: smm@uunet.uu.net Approved: smm@uunet.uu.net Message-ID: <34ilep$rs1@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 - dida@pu.informatik.th-darmstadt.de Dahlarin - Brent Hughes - bhughes@student.business.uwo.ca Kyle - J.E. Mason - ** no current mail address ** 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 Look for QELRIK on the WWW -- http://rbhp62.rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de/~guido/qelrik.html *************************************************************************** Getting ready for the Test ========================== Dawn was little more than an hour away, and Kyle was growing tired. He hadn't expected that the group would travel *all* night, yet he also would not allow his fatique to show (especially in front of Finn and Gernodt, who were observing his every move). Kyle, who had been talkative in the beginning, pointing out various landmarks and telling short stories of his (limited) experience in the woods, had grown silent for the last hour. They were now entering into woods he had not been in before. He had travelled farther than this, surely, but their direction was taking them closer to orc territory than he would have liked to have been. Still, Impass creek was several leagues away and no orc could cross it. Nor human, for that matter. Kyle wondered if any adventurers that passed through town knew of the pact made between the Osgilite orcs and the villiage of Trehlam two generations ago, and what would happen if some unknowing traveller crossed the Impass into Orc lands. Recalling the stories of carnage during the last Orc/human wars, he shuddered involuntarily. "Cold?" Finn asked. "What?" was Kyle's reply. Then, having realized that he had shuddered, continued, "uh, no. I'm fine." Wearing so many travelling garmets, Kyle wondered briefly how she could have seen him shake. A short while after, Gernodt looked at Kyle. "Well, Kyle, now we are in the woods, and it is already quite late in the evening. So, what do you think about the two of us making our own journey through the woods now ? As you surely have noticed, Dahlarin needs a bit of rest, so this might be a good time for you to show me your skills as a guide..." Kyle did not reply at once. The moment he had dreaded seemed to have arrived. Now was his chance to prove his worth, and be accepted as a full member of this group, and perhaps earn Finn's respect. At this thought, he was quite glad that it was still dark, so that Gernodt's eyes were unlikely to notice his sudden blush. However, it could not be helped. He now had to face the possibility that, by acting not up to Gernodt's expectations, he might be rejected and sent home - an idea that he did not really want to think about too much. But, on the other hand, he knew that he could not shy away from this task forever, and that, although they might be friendly to him, the others were not likely to really accept him if he didn't prove his worth. Therefore, with a small gulp, he forced himself to say "Of course, if you think that now is a good time... Dahlarin might need a rest from his magic, which must have been very draining, but what about Finn ?" Noticing that Gernodt was looking strangely at him, he hastened to add, "Well, what will she do at this time ?" "Don't worry about me, Kyle, I have to take care of a...uh...*personal* matter right now." She smiled at him. "I'll stay here with Dahlarin and meet up with you later." She flashed a grin in Dahlarin's direction. Gernodt involuntarily rubbed his neck. "Now, if you're ready, let us be off before the day breaks; we only have a few hours left! Oh, yes, and Dahlarin, we'll meet you here after we've finished. Have a nice nap!" he said with a wink in Dahlarin's direction. Dahlarin seemed to be quite angry at this remark, since he abruptly turned his back to them and motioned for Finn to come to him, ignoring them completely. Gernodt set off at a light jog, with Growler at his side. Before Kyle started to follow, however, he cast a quick glance at his companions, and saw that Dahlarin was still sitting with his back to a massive tree, while Finn was sitting next to him. They seemed to talk about something that he couldn't make out, and that probably was also of no concern to him. Reassured that Finn was not alone, he set out to follow Gernodt, who, despite his rather easy pace, was still some distance away - if he had not carried a torch, it might already have been impossible to follow him. ******************************************************************************* Legal stuff about Qelrik All characters contained in this story are the sole and exclusive property of their authors. They are the copyrighted property of the authors, and may not be used for any reason without the express written permission of the authors. Qelrik is (c) 1993, 1994 Guido Resszling, Brent G. Hughes, John E. Mason, Barbara C. French, Jennifer Immel, and Bret Ryan Rudnick. Gernodt T'Slorung -- Guido Roessling Dahlarin -- Brent G. Hughes Growler --