From: slybz@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [KQ] Mother of all Battles 1.7 [Azzar] Captain and Azzar meet the Shamb
Date: 15 Oct 92 15:17:17 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1bhb3fINNfsv@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>, albert@bcm.tmc.edu (Rick Jones) writes:
> 	A few seconds passed as the party stood stunned at what they saw.
> A rumbling emaniated from the center of the mass of protoplasm that was
> the She-Goat of One Thousand Faces.  Bubbles appeared on the edges of Her
> form, that slowly resolved into a number of forms.   From the top, burst
> a winged creature, wailing with the screams of the damned.  The rest
> climbed the stairs out of the well holding the Great Mother, training
> pulsing umbilici behind them.

	Azzar stood in the entryway, spellbound by the sheer monstrousity of 
the bubbling mass of protoplasm.  In all her adventures, she had never seen 
anything to compare with the unnaturalness and evilness of this being.

> 	"Lock and load crime stoppers.  The mage is mine," shouted 'Raelf,
> bringing his staff up to a defensive position.  Galvanized, the group
> warily advanced on the Spawn of the Great Mother.

	She gritted her teeth and drew her sword and started to advance with
the others.  She took one, maybe two, steps as if struggling and eventually
stopped by an unseen force.  Sweat poured down her face, though she was not
moving.  Effort twisted the normally pleasing features of her face.

	/WeWarnedYouNotToCome!/ A voice spoke in her head.

	/TheKnightThinksHeHasUndoneTheProgramming..
	WhatWasOnceDoneCanAlwaysBeRe-Done!/

	/NowYouWillRemainAllYourDaysAsALoveSlaveToServeThoseWhoWouldServeUs!/

	Somehow the wards 'Raelf had put up were just enough to allow her to 
resist the tremendous pressure to subcumb.  Her resistance took all her 
strength, drawing on energy reserves she didn't know she had, but soon would be
gone.  Her inner struggles went unnoticed by the others in the general mayhem
which ensued.

	/WillYouNotLearn!  ItIsFutileToResistUs!/

	But she knew if she did not resist, nothing would save her from that 
mindless state which was the antithesis of all she strove to be.  She could
feel her mental resolve weakening; she struggled to maintain it.

	The mental pressure ease ever so slightly, and somehow she knew that
the creature could not afford to concentrate all its energies on her.  If she
could only keep it up until the others broke through Great Mother's defenses!

	She heard a scream reverberate through the chamber, though it barely
registered.  Suddenly, the pressure was gone.  Azzar stumbled forward barely
keeping herself upright.  Just as suddenly, the pressure came back, though not
nearly at the strength it was before.

	/WeHaveNoTimeToDealWithYouNow.../ 

	/OurMinionsWillWearYouDownAndThenWeWillHaveYouInSpiteOfYourFriends!/

	/YouWillBeOurs!/

	All but the slightest mental pressure eased, the remainder left as a
reminder of her fate.  She knew somehow that if she relaxed or got hurt badly
enough, she would be at the mercy of Great Mother.

	She looked around, strengthening her resolve, trying to judge the 
scope of the melee about her, when a finely honed sense of danger earned 
through many battles urged her to turn.

	She turned, raising her sword barely in time to parry the attack of
a group of shambling corpses.  They effectively sealed off whatever exit the
group may have had.  Her mental struggle had badly drained her and she
lethargically defended herself, only just keeping ahead of the shambling
corpses, not even able to muster an attack.

	Just as she thought all was lost for her and the last of her strength
reserves were just about gone, Captain came from nowhere to join the melee.  
He said nothing, grimly slicing up the corpses as they stepped within range of
Lightbringer.  This gave Azzar enough respite to regain some of her strength.
Together, the two of them held off the shambling corpses and prevented their
further entry into the room for now...
                                                         

----------------

Lady Azzar of Bloodstone
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn