From: mdm@PREMISE.PRIME.COM (Michael McAfee)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: introduction and picnic
Date: 6 Apr 92 18:06:44 GMT


		After a busy weekend, the intrepid dark elf returns
	to Callahan's.  He wears a rumpled school sweater (Boston
	University College of Sorcery, Class of '91), jeans that 
	haven't faded quite yet, and sneakers that have.  His hair
	is caught up simply in a slipknot.

		Before he has even gotten to the bar, he is greeted by
	Kitten ("Thank you.  I hope to come by as often as I can."),
	the Dowager ("Thank you.  My apologies if I confused you."),
	Ignatz Mouse ("Thank you.  That's the first time I've ever
	been shelled by peanuts."), Didi-Sprite ("Thank you.  I'll be
	there soon."), and Nicki ("Thank you.  I do what I can.")

		All right, first things first. Having lurked a little,
	the elf now thinks he understands some of the traditions here,
	so he orders a hot chocolate in a six-ounce paper cup.  He then
	goes up to the chalk line and raises the cup in a toast.  "To
	the variety of beginnings, and vice versa."  He then downs the
	drink.  Holding the cup in his hands, he concentrates on the 
	nature of the cup, magically bringing the kindling point down to
	room temperature.  He breathes hotly on the cup then quickly 
	tosses it into the fireplace as it catches alight.  When it hits 
	the back, it splinters into several fiery fragments, thus 
	"breaking."

		"Um, hi folks.  My name is Michael, and I'm from the
	Boston area.  As you can see, magic is possible in my world, as 
	it seems to be on others.  I'm not sure what else I should tell,
	so I'll tell as the need arises."

		Over to the chalkboard.  Name: Michael, birthday: July 
	14 (Bastille Day), favorite drink: well-proportioned hot 
	chocolate (winter) or soft drink on the rocks (summer).

		"And a happy birthday to Danger Mouse, whom I haven't
	met but deserves a happy birthday nonetheless.  Let's see, I know
	a little illusioncraft..."  He concentrates to form the image
	of a birthday cake with fireworks going off around it.  The scene
	fades as the elf wipes the sweat from his brow.

		Having been invited, he wanders over to the picnic
	area.  Very impressive spellwork, this doorway.  God knows,
	dimension-based magic is tricky, to say the least.  But it 
	seems safe, so in he goes.  Ah, warm sunshine.  He waves hi to 
 	everyone present, rethanking Didi-Sprite for the invitation.
	She points him towards an unused basket (standard cubic set-up
	with handles and flip-top).  From within he pulls out a cheesy
	red-and-white tablecloth which he unfolds and sets on the
	ground.  Next comes a wooden dining set (plate, bowl, cup, etc.)
	and a fairly large white napkin.  Lunch consists of some
	fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy, with a two-liter
	bottle of soda to wash it down.

		After eating, he settles back to rest, breathing in the 
	glade-scented air.  Perhaps if others care to hear, he'll tell
	a small story.

		"This recent string of electricity puns reminds me of
	what one of my sorcery professors back in college.  A quaint
	fellow.  He always called sorcery 'the Art,' an anitquated term
	from the turn of the century.  He taught elemental theory, one
	of the elements being electricity.  He would remark on how 
	electricity was the easiest of all the magical elements to work
	with, since you could direct it along wires.  But he always
	tried to impress upon us the use of physical elements, such as
	resistors, in our magical circuits.  In fact, using the right
	resistance often causes magical effects like lights shining or
	sounds amplifying.  So important was this fact that he would
	tell us over and over...

		"Ohm is where the Art is."

		The elf then starts casting air spells to deflect 
	incoming snowballs.     
Newsgroups: alt.callahans