From: ssalter@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (-=[SLS]=-)
Subject: Return of the Feral Knight
Organization: OFSA
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 01:27:31 GMT

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	Nightbirds trill as they dart to and fro harvesting their
nightly meal among the high  branches of the trees. Rustlings in the
underbrush announce the presence of other nocturnal animals going
about their affairs. The gleaming orb of the moon casts it's silvery
rays over the drowsing forest while sparkling stars glitter coldly in
the sky.

	A solitary figure stands in a high, rocky place gazing down
at the forest below. He takes a deep breath and winces as sore muscles
protest the movement. Letting the air out in a hissing sigh, he tries
to relax. He is finished here now. Another world explored, more
lessons learned and time to go. He pauses and wonders where he will
appear next. Since he left the Land of Romance he has traveled through
many planes and seen both wondrous and terrible things. 

	His ability to %shift% virtual planes of existence within the
reality of the Net is a gift of the Goddess. He can orient on a
specific place to go or can just cast himself randomly on the currents
of probability and allow himself to be taken to some unknown land.
Since leaving Morgana and Trog near the Castle he has traveled through
uncounted lands. 

	One contained hissing fumaroles and wildly flaming geysers and
stank of sulfur and brimstone. It's inhabitants spat venom at each
other in a unique way of communication and fought madly among
themselves. Jame didn't stay there for long at all but he did learn
the value of silence.

	Another had been a land of tall mountains and glaciers where
lived a fun loving people who skied and skated and loved and lived
without fear of anything but the voracious wildlife that lurked in the
darkness. Strength and courage were highly prized there as well as an
constant sense of humor and acceptance. 

	Another land had been apparently a beauteous garden where
there was no war, no strife but only a quiet forest and lakes where
people walked about talking with each other. This was a land of
healing supposedly but Jame found that everyone talked but no one
listened to the other. He found no honesty or self appraisal but only
a veiled desperation to protect their warped inner selves. He
struggled for a time to reach some of these inhabitants but after
nearly being snared into self-pity and fantasy himself with elusive
webs of lies, he departed with aclarity. He learned the value of
self-honesty and trust from these poor souls.

	One land had been that of a parched, blazing desert where he
had found a strong people of vibrant thought and spirit. A people that
strived against the elements to survive and helped one another. The
family was a priceless thing here.

	Another world was a world of vast seas that were roved upon by
a race of sailors. Entire "cities" lived on vast floating rafts and
commerce between the cities was accomplished by a fleet of sailing
vessels. Jame learned a love of the sea from this place.

	Yet another plane of life was a bewildering place of
technology where people rushed about in metal shells on wheels and
communicated through boxes and killed one another with horrifying
weapons. The god that ruled this land was a capricious one that
cared little for it's worshippers. It routinely ignored and
alternately destroyed them. The people, as a result, were paranoid and
suspicious of all. Jame  had learned the value of self belief here.

	Myriad lands he had travelled to and through. He had to depend
only on himself and not on any magical abilities the Goddess had
granted him in ARC. Those powers were only good within the Land of
Romance with a few exceptions. He had nearly been overcome with
deadly depression in a dank, darkling land where none had hope. He had
been nearly killed innumerable times but had prevailed only through
his own innate abilities of mind and body, the trained reflexes and
his never ending sense of belief. He had even been elevated to Godhood
in a plane where he had been granted a mystical stone of power  but
found absolute power a deadly poison and rather boring, to tell the
truth.

	Jame sighed again and thought of this world. Here he had been
enslaved by the overlords of a bloodthirsty god and had suffered and
toiled with thousands of others. He and others had finally achived a
revolution and had cast down the overlords and had repulsed and
rejected the bloodthirsty god. But, after the former slaves had
achieved status and power, they had enslaved the former masters and
Jame had found the world horrifyingly similiar to what it had been
originally. He had learned the dangers of power and politics here. His
body was still sore from all the trials it had been subjected to and
his spirit downcast with the realization of human greed.

	Now, where should he travel? A vision floated into his mind as
it had repeatedly over his journeys. The oval face that was framed
with long dark hair and large, appealing eyes. The face of Brianna of
the Land of Romance. Jame had met many beautiful women during his
travels but had refrained from becoming entangled with any. Her face
and the sound of her voice haunted him. Perhaps it was time for him to
return. He ached to see his old friends again. He ached to speak with
Brianna again. Their friend, Harold the Cat, could magically pass
messages between them but only vague ones verifying the others health.
There was no real communication. 

	He was tired of wandering. He was sure now of himself and all
doubts expunged during his journeys. There was only joy at the thought
of returning to ARC....all the old shades from the past were gone or
at least quiescent. Jame %reached% inside himself and triggered the
Travel spell and faded from view....

	Sparkling lights surrounded him and a golden glow suffused him
as he blinked his eyes. A soft, voice caressed his mind while a vision
of undescribable beauty bathed his eyes with glory. 

	"So, my errant Chosen One has returned. Well come, Feral
Knight.", She spoke softly.

	Jame, the Feral Knight, smiled and bowed his head in worship
to the Goddess of Romance.
	"Yes, my Queen, I have learned and healed. I return to claim
my love, if she will have me"

	"Ahhh yes, the Lady Brianna. Your union will be blessed." she
smiled. "You are more certain and more complete than you ever have
been. Her compassion and healing ability combined with your own
compassion and strength will make a daunting combination".

	"I once again offer you my service and devotion, compassionate
One. I am a lover of peace, as you know, but I am willing to fight,
for I am a soldier of Love.".

	The Goddess of Love reached out and drew the man to her. She
smiled upon him and kissed him softly. He felt a surge of power and
love flood through him and all his aches and pains were gone. She told
him of the Land and then blessed him anew. A brilliant golden light
rose up once more to surround him and when it had faded, the Castle of
Romance bulked against the starry sky before him. The Feral Knight has
come home!

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