From: ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [L] Moving Right Along...
Date: 8 Sep 92 23:29:48 GMT
Organization: Penn State University


     After the caravan was assembled by Brycur, the Luthor Questors once again
turned their attention Northward, toward the Great Desert and the portal to
Nexus.  They had travelled a great distance in more ways than one.  They flew
many miles, crossed dimensions, and lost two friends on the way, but they also
saved a nation.  In the end, it had been worth it.
     With their pockets full gratitude (in the form of Permus's gold), they
began their journey.  They passed the time talking about what had happened
how, just 10 days ago, they had been in Generica planning their mission that
was now at an end.  The trip back would take three weeks now that they didn't
have a dragon to fly on, but they didn't mind.
     When the group set up camp for the night, Luthor taught Brycur how to use
his bow.  Luthor found Brycur to be a quick learner and his skill grew with
the passing days.
     As they approached the desert, Luthor began to feel a bit nostalgic for
the Realms.  True, it was where everyone who had meant anything to him had
died.  But it was also his homeland, his master's home, and the source of
his power.  It was then that he realized that if the portal between Nexus
and the Realms ever closed, he would be stranded there AND powerless.
Well, not quite powerless...he had been able to rescue the Gem of Chaos
from his old villa before fighting the Queen.  It was that which enabled
him to deflect so many of the Queen's spells, but still, on Nexus, it
wouldn't work quite so well.
     He looked at his companions.  They had only known each other for a
short time, but they were the only friends he had.  He would just have to
risk it and go through the portal.

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

  Bakr was not quite happy either.  He still had the feeling of being of not
much use.  He had felt that way in his home world Midgard, but travelling with
those formidable fighters and magicians intensified it.  He had done everything
wrong.  First he had saved Mat Hozolo from death by steering his horse away
from the fight, then there was that bush disaster at the portal.  On the realms
he couldn't cast spells without Luthor's help, and even if he didn't bungle
them, they didn't do much.  Next he had not exposed the traitor when he had
the chance to, and then the queen had seen through his carefully prepared
disguise.  Perhaps Murell could have lived if they had had the strategic
advantage...

  And for that poor performance he had got such an enormous amount of gold,
as if he had really done anything.  He felt guilty.  His companions were so
nice chaps.  Luthor, the most sympathetic and caring person he knew.  And
Brycur, who only needed a smile to make people like him.  Murell had been a
bit enigmatic, especially to the end, and Bakr didn't like unsolved riddles,
but what he knew of him he liked.  Salamander and Lathan, well, he had never
quite understood elven attitudes, but he admired Sal for his abilities and
Lathan for his courage and chivalry.

  When he noticed Luthor glancing at him, he asked, "Where can we get water
before entering the desert?"

  "I think that there is a small stream around here somewhere.  You guys stay
put and I'll scout it out," he said dismounting and then disappearing over
a hill.  A few minutes later, he came back with a worried look on his face.

  "Luthor, what's wrong?" asked Brycur, his hand instinctively dropping to
his sword.

  "Near the stream, I saw a tribe of Lizardmen.  It looks like they attacked
some people near the stream and captured them....the strange thing is that
one of the captives looks just like Rachel, my wife."  His voice became distant
with those last words.

  "It looks like we have some people to save."  Bakr would finally get the
chance to prove himself...or would he just fail again like before?
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Text by: Bakr and The Dreamer
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn