From: 344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU (Mike Sander)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [DQ] Week 14: Eye of the Beholder
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:02:21 GMT
Organization: Central Michigan University

[ADMIN: Sorry about the post mix-up recently. There seem(ed?) to be problems
 around this site. Anyway, as far as order is concerned, they should be:
 1) The DQers memories of Week 13, with Alita's last 2) The proposal, and
 3) the Week 14 (makes sense that it's last) stuff. Hopefully, this will
 help clear up any problems. Anything else, just mail me.]

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>[Dark Master:] "Now you see how truly naive you were to think you could
>oppose me. But I shall give you one final chance to show some intelligence.
>Forget your 'noble' ideas and join with me -- the alternative will be
>ending up like your friend 'SunStorm'."

It had been a long time coming, but the moment was finally here. Even though
its magic would insure its version of life throughout the ages, the process
with this fighter had taken too long. Best to expliot such an opportunity as
this while it was available.

The intelligence within the medallion recalled its history with its current
"host":

It had started when its last possessor -- the druid for whom it had been
specifically created -- was killed by a Cleric of Death. The victor claimed
the spoils, but had no wont for wearing the amulet. Instead, the Cleric
"adjusted" as much as possible, and gave it to the fighter as an ends to
a means.

And it had worked perfectly -- the medallion had taken basically complete
control, replacing the good notions of the fighter with ones more of its
liking. He and his thief companion had killed the drow the cleric had
"ordered", along with any others that interfered with the fighters' chance
of survival.

All had ben fine until that <censored> cleric had attempted a spell that
would essentially transform the duo into his living slaves. The spell
worked versus the thief -- now technically an assassin --, but the warrior's
mind rebelled with a strange furiousity that not only denied the spell, but
gave the man back his control.

Since that time, the medallion had been largely underused. Fortunately, the
strange combination of magics and mind had distorted the memory, or else
there would have been no chance at all of the man using it. However, there
had been no chance at gaining any semblance of control back.

Until this recent adventure, that is. First the mob attack, where its use
helped to safely subdue the crowd. Then the first encounter with that evil
warrior, that aberration of nature that was contrary to what the medallion
wanted to touch. And the second encounter: the blow to the head that had
knocked its wearer briefly unconscious, until its will helped him to rise;
the accepatnce of the evil man's suggestion of working together, to insure
survival -- meaning nothing for the future. Entering this plane, which
allowed the medallion to be seen as a sort of lesser of two evils. The
meeting with the plane's entity, granting more powers and indirectly more
control to it. And finally, the recent battle which again reeled the man's
mind, and served as a layer of insurance.

At last, it could influence the events to come. This party had been soundly
defeated. The entity's protections hadn't been able to prevent either the
memory or the loss in battle. Plus, allowing the fighter to relive more of
his memories would only destroy what it had worked so hard to gain.

The man's mind resisted, but nevertheless the medallion's intelligence
took control over the man's body and speech.

* * * *

All anyone saw of this was Lancos seem to prepare to speak.

Slowly stepping forward, he eminates in an unusually gruff-sounding voice,
"Yes, my master, this man shall be your servant."

The Dark Master smiled widely and arrogantly at the sentence, as if he
had expected this very outcome.

The other DQers only showed various degrees of shock, looking towards
Lancos for an explanation.

"What's the matter -- its just fulfillment of pledge to Zia to make a
difference." Lancos announces, giving the DQers a look, his eyes strangely
gleaming. "It just never was clarified which SIDE was meant, that's all."

Lancos walks towards Lord Raven, the latter only giving an evil, approving
grin as a sign of reaction.
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Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu
SAQ: "Deceit/Deceive/Decide just what you believe"-Metallica
P.S. Anyone interested in the vote count? There weren't that many...
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn