From: mdm@sparc2.prime.com (Michael D. McAfee)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [MH] First Kill
Date: 5 Oct 92 04:14:37 GMT
Organization: Computervision


		(ADMIN:  Sorry this is late.  To sum up, the dark elf has
	recruited Hubarak the ranger (having failed to find a thief) to 
	break into the house of a missing mage.  They have just found a
	secret door in the basement.)


		The dark elf traced along the border of the paneling,
	until he found a place he could grip.  He pulled, and the section
	of the wall swung open, letting a swath of light shine into the
	den.

		"A light.  Mayhap," Hubarak unsheathed his axe, "someone
	is still within?"

		A snurffling sound came from within.

		"Or," gulped the elf, "something?"

		Hubarak entered the room first.  The elf followed.  They'd
	entered a lab, the walls lined with shelves containing books, a 
	table in the middle covered with beakers and other equipment, a
	workbench in back.  Glowglobes on the ceiling provided
	illumination.  The table blocked view of whatever was making
	the noises, which now turned to growls.

		The two walked carefully around the table.  Two bodies came
	into view.  One lay face down in a dry pool of blood.  The other,
	a lean grey wolf, crouched next to the former, teeth bared, a 
	crazed menace in its eyes.

		Hubarak spoke to the elf without looking back.  "Hast thou
	a spell which may contain the creature?  'twould certes save much
	suffering."

		"Maybe."  The elf considered the items at hand.  There
	wasn't enough water or earth at hand to work with.  He really
	didn't feel like starting a fire in the lab.  That left air.
	"Okay, let's give this a try."

		He went into a standing meditative state.  He felt the air
	and the body of the wolf.  He made at bringing the air closer,
	skipping the liquid phase and going right to solid.  Crystals began
	clinging to the fur.  He could feel muscles starting to shiver, 
	then tense, then move.

		Hubarak saw the animal crouch in confusion, watched its
	expression change to fright as it prepared to act, and so was
	ready for it to leap at him.  He moved the axe blade into its path,
	holding steady as the creature's momentum hit.  The wolf twisted,
	fell on the edge of the table and scrambled to bite at its
	opponents.

		Hubarak swung back with the axe.  It caught the wolf in
	the side, but the beast nipped at his boots.  It caught hold, and
	worked its head back and forth, trying to rip through the leather.
	The ranger tried to find a place to aim for, but the wolf wriggled
	too much for him to do so.

		A flash of silver went by and sunk into the wolf's head.
	The beast stopped, a hilt protruding from the wound, the dark elf's
	shaking hand grasping it.

		"Well struck," said Hubarak.  The elf still grasps the
	hilt.  "Michael..."  The ranger looks in the elf's eyes, which
	appear in a state of shock.  "Michael, it's okay."  He grabs
	the elf's wrist.  "'tis your first kill, is it not?  Look, lad,
	the wolf was most likely mad, depending on what your mage friend
	was doing to it."  The elf's features started to relax.

		"Pax, elf," said Hubarak, "let us complete our mission."

		The elf let go of the knife with a jerk.  After a few
	heavy breaths, he nodded his head and turned to the other dead
	body.

	Michael, the Chaotic 
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn