From: scavanag@neumann.une.edu.au (Steven Cavanagh)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [T&R]4.7: dear diary..
Date: 17 Nov 92 02:57:17 GMT


>	Rollik was staring at a row of books on one of the shelves on the
>left wall.  As Timelord moved over to his side, Rollik wordlessly pointed
>to one of the titles.  Timelord read it, and his blood ran cold.
>	"The Diary of Ak'lssh."


Rollik then indicated the whole ten books in the row. All had the same title,
indicating the age or love of writing of the unknown crime lord. He slid
the first heavy tome out carefully and placed it on the desk next to the 
bookshelf, then relocated his rapier's scabbard, parrying dagger and boot
dagger in their former places about his person. Timelord, realising the
possibility of someone entering the library, went to keep one watchful eye
on the door and the other on whatever else this place contained. Rollik blew
the dust from the diary to join the stuff on the desk, and lifted the cover.
	The script was very old and faded, with a distinctive style that
Rollik recognised from the note they had found in the bandit hideout. The
first entry was dated four hundred and twenty three years previously, and
read:

      I begin this volume to mark a new milestone of my power, as
      my theories have proven correct with today's use of the
      healerharmer. My former self was nothing, now I move toward
      what I was destined to be! 

The entries continued at weekly intervals, and as Rollik scanned through the
enourmous book he unfolded a tale of a crime lord's rise to supremacy, of an
evil person's ruthless lust for the authority to rule over many others, of
the establishing of networks of thieves, pimps, criminals of all descriptions.
The book contained a description of the complex being built (two hundred and
seventy eight years ago), and was also filled with the systematic killing of
anyone who stood in Ak'lssh's way, who opposed his neverending thirst for
power. Periodically Akl'ssh mentioned his power increasing, with another blurb
about his destiny. The entries ended with a passage telling of another 
experiment some fifty years ago, the description vague enough so that any 
intruding reader would be uncertain of its nature. Rollik sighed, and reached
for the next volume.
	It seemed as old as the first, the cover of a different style and bound
differently. The first entry of this one was dated four hundred and twenty
three years ago, and read:

       I begin this volume to mark a new milestone of my power, as
       my theories have proven correct...

Rollik blinked in surprise, then checked again. It was the same entry, an 
original, written in the same handwriting. A second copy? but why write it
all out again? the rest of the book was identical, finishing with the 
experiment half a century earlier.
	Rollik's suspicions of the third book seemed unfounded when the first
entry was only three hundred and seventy six years old, describing an increase
in power. From that point, however, the entries corresponded to the first and
second books, all written in the same hand. Another copy? but why miss the
first fifty-odd years? the swashbuckler had seen his share of mysteries, but 
this one was more intiguing than most. On impulse, he reached for the fourth
book.
	Just as he suspected, it started fewer years ago (three hundred and
forty one), and the entries from then were the same as in the other tomes.
	And so it continued for the rest of the ten volumes. Each one a copy
of the one before, but starting at a later date. Rollik was well and truly
puzzled by the time Timelord returned with the bag containing their normal
attire, and two more objects in his other hand.
	"I found this in a small niche in the other room" he said, holding
up a small hand carved of jade. "Could be worth something." Rollik studied
its exquisite perfection for a moment, then frowned.
	"Are you suggesting we steal, even from a thief among thieves?" he
said uncertainly.
	Timelord shrugged. "If we escape this place we deserve some
compensation" he pointed out. "Besides, you could always give your share
to another poor house".
	Taking from the rich and giving to the poor was something Rollik
could relate to very well. The hand disappeared into a pocket. 
	"This might also prove useful" Timelord added, opening the other
object, a plain-loking scroll case. "It's a map of this level of the complex
showing the armoury, this library, and the main chamber of Ak'lssh."
	"Superbly done, my friend" Rollik praised. "Where is it?"
Timelord paused briefly.
	"It's...er..next door." 


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                                |
Steven Cavanagh                 | The force, y'know, It's got a lot of
(Cav)                           | power.
                                |                      -Michael Jackson.   
scavanag@neumann.une.oz.au      |
                                |
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