From: andrea@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Andrea)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [DQ] Kadrys talks with SunStorm, and reacts to the charm spell.
Date: 30 Jul 92 01:09:10 GMT

> SunStorm: Well, I've never met a vampire before, believe me. I've met quite
> a few (minor) demons, and faced a dragon once, but that's it.
> As for knowledge of my enemy, if I knew it, I'd tell it to you...
> of that you can be sure. I'm not one to not give useful infos
> to fellow party members... I heard legends about vampires,
> but only humans fell prey to that sickness... er, state of being.
> (SunStorm looked toward Kadrys, hoping not to have offended him).
> In Titania, Giants don't become vampires... so these monst... er,
> beings are quite rare... I know some serve the DemonMother, but
> we never managed to find any.

Kadrys' only reaction to SunStorm's minor slips of the tongue is a slight
grin. He thinks: 'The poor fellow seems so embarrassed. Does he imagine I don't
know how the living think of vampires?' He nods interestedly at the news that
Giants of Titania are immune to vampirism. "Then it is clear that your brother
is not the vampire of the verses."

CUT TO: a few hours before. SunStorm speaks:

> If any of you can do some search of the reasons why the riot happened, then
> that would also help some. I know there are some risks involved with that
> task, since it requires contacting the underground. Someone who know the
> city well and doesn't fear the thieves guilds could take care of that part.

Kadrys nods grimly. "I have some ideas on that topic already. During the riot,
I held many of the looters with my gaze. During the contact, I felt that their
minds were full of normally-buried lust for destruction. I do not know whether
this may have been mob mentality at work, but I suspect that some external
force had roused them to violence. A force powerful enough to break down
longstanding mental barriers in so many people at once, could hardly be human.
Hardly the sort of thing one would expect from a thieves' guild. I know how
they operate. Were a guild responsible, the people would have been robbing,
not burning and destroying. Also, such large scale, open activity is hardly
guild technique. No, this mass psionic manipulation has the stink of magery.
But to what end, unless it was for sheer destruction's sake and perhaps the
destruction of the Inn in particular, I cannot guess."

> We'll meet tonight, and if all goes well we'll be ready to go tomorrow.

"I will stay here for the day. If, as I think, some sort of mage was
responsible for the riot, I will be of little assistance. Wizardry is not
among my skills. Besides, I am not deeply familiar with this realm or this
city. I journeyed here over long distances, driven by curiosity about this Inn.
I did not take the time to explore on the way here."

As the other questers leave to gather information, the bored ShockWave talks:

> ShockWave: "So, Kadrys, you really are a vampire, eh? Strange, you don't
> look like those I've seen at all. ...

And talks. Aaand talks.

> ...Well, anyway, how does it feel to be dead?

Kadrys chuckles at the sword's volubility. "Well, I can tell you, at the moment
the saying 'Rest In _Peace_' certainly does not apply!"

CUT TO: After all other discussion is finished

First ShockWave, then everyone, hears TrueSilver's voice, repeating the words
"My Dark Master" over and over.

Then a UFO (Unbelievably Freakish Object) appears in the Plaza outside the Inn.

Kadrys glances at the object and frowns ominously. 'Some sort of charm spell'
he thinks. Snarling with anxiety, he turns away from the object, as insensible
as a corpse to its bewitchment. Facing towards the Inn, he shouts "Charm! Don't
look outside!" His eyes flick toward SunStorm. Too late. The ex-giant is
staring with a rapt expression. The spell appears to work differently from
Kadrys' gaze. SunStorm seems to be lost in time, literally falling further and
further behind the world. His movements, his very voice slows, like an
exhausted clockwork toy. Kadrys grabs the frozen shoulders with a grip that
makes the joints grate, but there is no reaction. "'Raelf! We need some
charmbreaking out here!" he cries.