From: Mike Whitaker <MIKEW@SDL.MDCBBS.COM>
Subject: STORY: Midnight's Bane - part 11
Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 21:44:24 GMT

	Even as dawn sent it's first probing shafts of light through his
window, Drax was dressing for the day. After dressing and tidying up his room,
he took a seat cross-legged on the bed, spellbook in hand, and proceeded to
clear his mind. Having spent much of the night considering what the morning's
meeting with the High Priestess might portend, he wondered if they might not be
in over their heads. The previous day's research at the library had yielded
slightly more information than he had disclosed to his comrades, but it was of
such a dire nature that he had intentionally withheld it, rather than further
worry them. Certainly it was nothing that they were going to be able to do
anything about in the immediate future, and there was always the hope that the
church would be able to provide some assistance/advice to offset the potential
threat of ..., demons. Summoning up the images he had seen the prior day, he
shivered in his skin, remembering that each demon had a favorite method of
torture, even the least of which made Drax determined to avoid capture at all
costs.
	Unable to clear the thoughts from his mind, he stood and went to the
window just in time to see Hawk make his way up the relatively empty street.
Noting the ranger's determined stride and his air of confidence helped Drax to
firm his own resolve. Once more taking a seat on the bed, he picked up his
spellbook and considered which spells he ought to memorize for the day. After
a few moments, he opted for Invisibility, Mirror Image, and Unseen Servant to
go along with his everpresent Magic Missile and Detect Magic. Midway through
his final spell, he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Without taking his
eyes from the grimoire, Drax pointed at the door, rapidly flexing his
forefinger, which caused the bolt to jump back, and called "Enter".
	Hearing the bolt thrown back followed by the invitation to enter, Anya
opened the door and walked in. Noting that the mage was still seated on his
bed, seemingly deep in study, she immediately looked behind the door. Seeing
only cobwebs and dust, she let out a slight sigh followed by a shrug. One
never knew what to expect from a wizard, being the quirky lot that they were.
Rather than interrupt, Anya quietly closed the door and softly strode over to
where the window sash was thrown open. Curiously peering around the room, she
was disappointed to see that there were no potions, powders, pentagrams or any
other sort of magical apparatus in the room. In fact, the room was no
different from her own except for the view from the window (which was much
better from her own room). Taking a seat on the window ledge, she looked out
at the relatively empty streets, absently humming a tune.
	After several moments, Drax closed his spellbook, closed his eyes and
took a deep breath. Then, as if seeing her for the first time, he greeted
Anya. "Good morning, singer-of-great-deeds. I trust you slept well?"
	"Oh, I slept fine." she cheerily replied. "I was wondering though, if
you had seen Hawk? I checked his room on the way here and he wasn't in."
	Returning his spellbook to his sack, Drax was just about to place it
under the bed when Anya spoke. "You're going to leave it there?!", she asked,
sounding slightly amazed.
	"Well, yeah.", Drax began haltingly, "Why?"
	Getting up from her place on the window ledge, she circled the room,
carefully testing each step she made. Finally, she found a squeaky board and,
unsheathing a dagger, she knelt down and pried up the loose board. Turning it
over, she knocked the nails from the board, then asked for Drax's bag. As he
mutely passed her the bag, he realized that there was much more to this dark-
skinned vixen than met the eye. As she continued to work, replacing the board,
Drax drew on his boots and fastened his belt about his waist. "In answer to
your question, yes, I have seen Hawk. He left about an hour ago headed for who
knows where." After replacing the board, Anya got up and stepped on the
board, checking for sound. When it squeaked a little, she strode back over to
the window and knocked a chip of wood from the sash, which she then went back
and stuffed into the space between the boards, then tested her weight on it
again. Satisfied with her work, she looked at Drax, "Well, whaddya say we go
downstairs and get some breakfast?", she said, heading for the door.
"Actually", Drax began, "I was thinking about heading over to the library to
pick up the material that scribe should have for me, before our meeting this
morning. Care to join me?", he asked. "I know a little bakery on the way
that serves fried dough with honey", he cajoled, closing the door on the way
out. "Done.", Anya said.
	When they reached the street, they were met by Selram Honest, who was
busy haggling with a produce vendor over the price of his melons. Slipping
past them, Drax and Anya continued up the street, headed toward the library.
When they rounded the corner at the next block, both simultaneously noticed the
aroma of fresh bakery goods, causing their mouths to water, and their step to
quicken. Located between a leathersmith and an imports shop seemed to be a
most incongruous location for a bakery, but even at this early hour, there were
customers leaving the shop with fresh goods. When they stepped inside, both
Drax and Anya were nearly overcome by the rich cornucopia of aromas. After
long minutes contemplating everything on the shelves, Drax bought a hunk of
fried dough coated with honey, and a bar of chewy, nutty grain and spices,
while Anya went with just the fried dough with honey.
	Back out on the street, both continued to head for the library at a
more leisurely pace, enjoying the sweet, sticky pastries. By the time they
arrived at the library, both had finished their fried dough and Drax had
wrapped his pastry bar and put it in his pouch for later. As they climbed the
steps to the library of Tal, they noted the pair of guards, both of the Order
of Paladins - one in the sky-blue of Tal, and the other wearing the black of
Sarak, standing in front of the library door.
	As they approached the door, the paladin of Tal stepped forward, with a
frown on his face, "I'm sorry, but the library is shut until further notice.",
he said, almost sounding apologetic.
	"Might one ask why?" enquired Drax. "Surely Tal's knowledge is free to
all who seek it." Seeing Anya looking curiously at the other guard, Drax noted
that he was a she. A female paladin in the Order of Sarek? Not that that was
so unusual, but together they certainly made an unlikely pair.
	"There are two reasons." explained the Tal. "Firstly, all the priests
within are engaged on research of great import for the high Priestess.
Secondly, we have been warned that there are people within the city who seek to
steal or destroy information contained in the library ere the next Darkmoon."
Looking back at his female companion, who sadly shook her head then looked
away, the Tal said "I'm sorry, but that's all I can tell you."
	Clucking his tongue sympathetically, Drax said, "That's OK. I know
you're just doing your job. Thanks for your help just the same." Turning to
Anya, he said "Well, my dear. Looks like we'll have to try back again later,"
indicating with a nod of his head that they should leave.
	As they were descending the steps, Drax cursed once in a language Anya
had never heard before, then barked out a short laugh. Looking curiously at
the mage, Anya said, "You don't seem very upset about it. How come? And what
language was that?"
	"Elven", replied Drax. "And I'm not very upset because it seems that
the high Priestess has someone doing the research for us." he said, then
quickly added, "At least I *hope* it's for us."
	"You hope what's for us?" boomed Hawk's voice. Looking toward their
left, they saw the ranger leaning against a lamp-post eating a chunk of melon
off the end of his knife. As he fell in step with them and began to retrace
their way back toward the library and the temple, Anya and Drax took turns
relaying what they had found at the library. When they were through with their
story, Anya looked quizzically at Hawk and asked, "So where did you run off to
so early?"
	"I didn't sleep very well last night and thought I'd get out and see
some of the city while most still slept," Hawk said. "It's about the only way
I can stand cities at all," he grumbled. "Oh, by the way, I might need your
help later straightening out a problem", he said. Seeing the curious looks on
their faces, he told them about the woman he had met, and of the abduction of
her son. It was apparent to both Anya and Drax that it was the fact that a
young child was involved that strongly motivated Hawk. Nodding their heads,
both reassured Hawk that they would indeed help out.
	As they passed in front of the library, Hawk noted the unlikely duo
guarding the doors. Continuing on and up the steps to the temple of Mikannan,
another guard dressed in sky-blue stepped forward to challenge them in front of
the looming temple doors. After the guard examined their scrolls, he ushered
them into a small, well-furnished waiting room with four chairs, then left
them, with instructions that someone would be with them shortly.
--
This story is a compilation of a PBeM campaign, by:

	Mark Little ...................	Hawk
	Janet Huss .................... Anya
	Rob Holden .................... Drax

	Mike Whitaker ................. GM and temple muscle

Back episodes of Midnight's Bane are available by anonymous ftp from:
Machine name: 		quayle.mu.wvnet.edu	
Internet address:  	129.71.32.151