From: mmoss@csws17.ic.sunysb.edu (Matthew "The Mentor" Moss)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc,rec.games.frp
Subject: Journal of the Idiots, Chapter 2
Keywords: story, Rolemaster, idiots
Date: 11 Oct 92 09:55:18 GMT
Organization: State University of New York at Stony Brook
Originator: mmoss@csws17.ic.sunysb.edu


                           Journal of the Idiots
                                 Chapter 2

---------
 Players	(* = new player this session)
---------

	Noname,	a level 3 female Elven Mystic. Has incredible beauty. Has the
		ability to transform into hawk form at will. After being held
		captive for many years, she is travelling home to her father,
		the su'Fyd of Fydon Fey.

	Godzilla, a level 3 male Lizard Man Bashkar. Most of his diet is fish,
		and he spends quite a lot of time looking for good fish. He
		has an "accidental" gift of being able to breathe plasma, but
		not very well yet. He cannot communicate with anyone except
		Princess Noname.

	Kyo, a level 3 male half-Elven Chaotic Lord. Kyo is not very pretty,
		having mediocre health, white ears and white spots on his face,
		purple eyes, and a right forearm that constantly oozes some
		kind of slime.

	Kyato*, a level 4 male half-Elven High Warrior Monk. He is very fast,
		having trained at the School of the Quick Hand. He is scarred
		all over from what looks like fire burns. He sometimes speaks
		the Burning Tongue, normal speech spoken 20 times normal speed.

	Battia*, a level 2 female half-Elven Rogue. Quiet quite often, but
		sociable. Often coming and going without notice. Good friends
		with Kyato, but neither are from this area. She also speaks
		the Burning Tongue.

	Gamemaster, a kind and benevolent imaginary god. Runs the world, and
		sometimes mucks up the life of these idiots.


When we last left our idiots.....

==============================================================================


After leaving the house of Kyo's master, they spent the next couple of days
going to the capital, Fey.


All:		(sing) Going to the capital and we're...
		Going to get married...

Gamemaster:	Not again...


After the first day of travel across the flatlands, the reached the Ilon
River, which leads southwards towards the capital of Fydon Fey. Late into the
second day, they come close to the city, about five miles.


Gamemaster:	Fair players, I bid you welcome to Fey.

Noname:		It's only a model.

Godzilla:	Shh.


The capital is huge. The view of groundlevel houses and shops and roads is
blocked by two large fortification walls. However, many spires and towers arc
towards the sky. Even though the nation of Fydon Fey is extremely magical and
uses magic to the extreme, it is obvious that they still find need for some
arms and armor.

It is evening as they approach the main gate in the outer fortification wall.
Six guards, wearing light platemail and helms and carrying long pikes stand
guard near the gate.


Noname:		'Lo there!

Guard:		Halt! Who goes there?

Noname:		'Tis Princess Noname! Daughter of su'Fyd Fedon.

Guard:		(pauses, then) Who?!

Noname:		Princess Noname, daughter of su'Fyd Fedon.


The guards look confused, and begin looking at one another in question. The man
who steps forward is huge, obviously very strong, with a thick brown beard and
one eyebrow.


Leader:		Did you say... su'Fyd Fedon??

Noname:		That's right. And if you don't let me in soon, I'm going to
		have my father have your heads cut off!

		(pause, then to Gamemaster) Um.. no, I don't say that. That'd
		be rather obnoxious.

		(step back in time)

		That's right. Indeed I did, now let us pass.


The guards crowd together and begin talking, the adventurers unable to hear.
The leader turns back around.


Leader:		Fine. We shall escort you to the su'Fyd.

Noname:		Very well.


After opening the gate, the guards surround the players and lead them in, then
close the outer gate. All six guards continue to escort the group farther into
the city.


Noname:		Uh, excuse me, but shouldn't someone guard the gate?

Leader:		We're taking you to the su'Fyd. It's very important that
		you see him.

Noname:		(wondering) That... would be nice, yes, but I think I can
		find the way.

Leader:		Not to worry. We must take you to see the su'Fyd.


In between the two walls appears many shops, street tables, and the like, most
of which have closed up for the day. There are quite a number of beggars and
such wandering about, but they seem to keep away from the group and the guards.

They are brought up to the gate set in the inner wall. The leaders halts the
procession, and leaves to speak with six other guards near the inner wall. Four
of them run off towards the outer gate, while the other two stay. As the
leader returns back to the group, the gate is opened and they proceed trough.

They pass down several roads, past inns and taverns and stores and magic
shops. The castle can be seen near. Only a few minutes pass when they reach the
castle. The leader begins yelling something up to guards in a tower, but it
cannot be understood by the others.


Godzilla:	You daffy English kniggits! I told 'em we already got one.


The drawbridge is lowered, and they are brought into the front foyer.


Leader:		We must now blindfold all of you.

Noname:		Excuse me?

Leader:		It is the will of the su'Fyd that everyone be blindfolded.

Noname:		I.. I'm his daughter. I'm the princess.

Leader:		You WILL be blindfolded.

Noname:		There better be a good explanation for all of this.

Leader:		There is. You will be blindfolded though.

Godzilla:	Grrr....

Guard:		GRRR! (fingers a pike)

Kyo:		(as all are blindfolded) Hey, watch the ears!


They are led along several passages, and after a minute or so, they are pushed
through a door onto the floor, whereupon the door slams behind them.

As the adventurers remove their blindfolds, they begin examining where they
are. It seems to be some sort of informal meeting room, with a large table and
several chairs around it. The furnishings are quite elaborate. A simple throne
is near the opposite side of the room; upon it sits a man.


Noname:		Excuse me, sir. The guards seem to have made some mistake.
		I'm looking for my father.

Man:		(softly, slowly) Who is your father?

Noname:		My father is su'Fyd Fedon. I'm Princess Noname. I'm finally
		back.

Man:		(remembering) Princess Noname!


At this point, Noname recognizes who it is, by the cackle in his voice. He is
Dean Gordon, from the school of Necromancy. And as Noname remembers, he was
thrown in prison for the murder of another high magician. A life sentence.
However, he seems to have assumed the role of su'Fyd.


Noname:		Dean Gordon???

Gordon:		Hmm... su'Fyd Gordon, if you please.

Noname:		Now, tell me, Dean Gordon, what the hell are you doing on my
		father's throne? What the hell are you doing out of jail?

Gordon:		I never really belonged in jail. No. Never. It was your father
		who did. And... if hadn't declined and ran off...

Noname:		My father would not run off. Where's my father?

Gordon:		Oh, but he did. He did. We sent our some people to go after
		him, and kill him. He was a traitor to this great city.

Noname:		My father was no traitor! Where is my father?!?

Gordon:		I tell you the truth. (pause) And now, his daughter returns --
		Princess Noname. He was so disappointed when you...
		disappeared.

Noname:		(angered) Where's my father???

Gordon:		I have not the slightest idea. (chuckles)

Noname:		You said you sent men after him.

Gordon:		Yes, but we never really found him.

Noname:		What did you REALLY find?

Gordon:		Well, THAT is my little secret, and shall remain my little
		secret. (claps his hands twice)

Godzilla:	(sings) Clap on! Clap off! Clap on, clap off, the Clapper!

Noname:		My name is Princess Noname. You killed my father. Prepare to
		die!

GM:		Arg....


As Gordon claps his hands, the guards run into the room, grabbing the players.
Three grab Godzilla firmly, two Kyo, and one grabs Noname.


Noname:		What's the meaning of this!!?!?

Gordon:		As your father did, you too consort with demons.

Noname:		(yelling) My father NEVER consorted with demons!!!


The players think that this game may be infringing on copyright laws of Robin
Hood, but the Gamemaster insists that it will not.


Gordon:		Since your father.... like father, like daughter. You also
		consort with demons. I have seen it.

Noname:		My father's never consorted with demons! And you just met me;
		how could you say I consort with demons?

Gordon:		Oh, I have known you before. And I know you know me. And like
		your father, you will be placed in prison, with your trial
		held very soon. (to Guards) Guards! Put them away.....


The guards drag them out of the room very forcefully, and begin dragging the
three down the hall. It's very difficult for the players to resist. They are
moved down a set of stairs, along a couple of short passages, and are being
dragged down another set of stairs when the action begins happening.

The first thing that happens is Noname changing into a hawk, trying to escape.
However, although the transformation is fast, it is not instantaneous, and the
guard holding onto her is able to grab onto one leg of the hawk. At this point,
Kyo disappears, hoping for this distraction to let him escape. However, his
guards have a firm hold on him and won't let him go. They continue slowly
moving down the stairs.

Noname begins to try twisting free, pecking at the hand holding her. The
guard loses grasp of the leg, but at the same time has grabbed the other one,
preventing Noname from getting away. Kyo is also trying to break free, hoping
his invisibility would help, but it has not. They are almost near the bottom
of the stairs now.

Noname continues to flap, trying to break free. However, the guard gets lucky
and has hold of both legs. Kyo is also being restrained very well, and seems
a bit weakened. At this point, Noname and the guard holding her have reached
the bottom of the stairway. A short distance away lies the first pair of cells.

Noname decides at this moment to transform back into an elf. In doing so, she
can no longer fly, and she falls onto her face on the floor. The guard loses
his grip completely, and now it's a matter of whether or not he can grab the
elf before she can get up. Meanwhile, Kyo, seeing he is unable to move, begins
quietly chanting some spell.

Godzilla, having been quiet for some time, tries to let lose a cone of plasma
onto the person to his right. He gets only a sputter, and the guards grasp
even harder in bringing him down the stairs.

Noname, at this point, in an effort to get away quickly, has once more changed
back into a hawk and is preparing to fly away. NOT! The guard decides to fall
on top of the hawk, crushing her a bit and certainly stunning her. The guard
picks her up, carries her over to a cell and throws her in. Kyo is thrown into
the same cell right after her. That cell is locked by a guard.

Godzilla is being pushed into a cell, unable to stop in. In an effort to help
him, Kyo casts a spell on one of the guards. In seconds, the guard begins
screaming and writhing in pain. His head bulges in places, his face turns a
bright green color, and he starts sweating profusely. He stops and seems
paralyzed. At this point, Noname turns back into an elf.

Godzilla, sensing an opportunity, tries to resist and break free. He still
cannot, but the guards can no longer move him forward. In a further effort to
escape imprisonment, Godzilla tries to hit one of the guards in the head. He
misses, but the other guard smacks him hard in the back of the head. With this,
they are able to throw him into another cell, and lock the door on it.

Noname begins chanting some spell, as the guards prepare to leave. Using the
power within her mind, she is able to move the keys off the guard and through
the air, and into her cell. The guards do not notice. They grab their paralyzed
friend and begin to leave, when...


Noname:		(realizing she is now naked) Hey! Can I have my clothes back
		at least?!

Guard:		Shut up!


Godzilla gets up, shakes off the little pain, and then notices someone in his
cell with him. He is standing against the back wall, very quiet.


Godzilla:	(in a language the man can't possibly understand) Who are you?

Man:		(stares and smiles)


The man is about 6'3", half-elf, blue eyes, ragged light brown hair. He is
fairly slim, and appears itemless. Everyone else has also been stripped of
their equipment, except for a few small items.


Kyo:		(begins eyeing the now naked Noname -- he's never seen this
		 before)

Noname:		(stares back) Keep your hands off me! I'm busy -- I'm trying
		to get us out of here.

Kyo:		(continues staring)


Noname (via telekinesis) wanting to unlock the cell, tries to move a single
key into the keyhole, but cannot control it that well. She brings them back.
Having time on their hands, they begin to examine their situation.

The cells are mostly stone, having walls composed of large cut rocks. Steel
doors provide the exit (if they were unlocked). There is a window in the door,
covered with bars. After Kyo offers his cloak to Noname, and she wipes off as
much slime as possible, Noname sits down in the center of the floor and begins
to meditate. Meanwhile...


Godzilla:	(points to himself) Godzilla.

Man:		(stares and smiles)

Godzilla:	(again, points to himself) Godzilla.

Man:		(smiles and points to himself) Kyato.

Godzilla:	(points to Kyato) Kyato. (points to himself) Godzilla.

Kyato:		(again to himself) Kyato.


This continues for quite a while. How exciting... then:


Kyato:		(yelling to other cell) You! Can lizard say anything more than
		'Godzilla'?

Noname:		(meditates)

Kyo:		That's his name. He doesn't speak our language.

Kyato:		Oh. (bows to Godzilla)


Noname finishes his meditation and recasts Telekinesis on the keys to try
unlocking the door again, but it doesn't work. The players search for faults
in the prison cells, but find nothing. Godzilla, however, hears some sort of
scratching noise behind the back wall about where Kyato is standing.

Godzilla moves towards the wall to the right of Kyato, and bangs on the wall.
It sounds very solid. Godzilla is now sure that the sound is closer towards the
floor and behind the wall. Godzilla taps on the floor as well, but it is solid.

At this time, Kyato steps away from the wall, and a brick is pushed into the
cell. A female half-elf scuttles into the cell, then quickly backs away from
the lizard man. She begins speaking something unintelligible to Kyato for a
while, then crawls back out. Kyato stands for a while smiling, then he crawls
out.

Godzilla looks into the corridor, sees no one there, and begins speaking to
Noname.


Godzilla:	Uhh... someone helped my cellmate break out. I'm going to
		go with him, and definitely come back for you two.

Noname:		Okay.


Godzilla attempts to get out, but his large width and size prevents him from
getting out. He tries to move more bricks out, but cannot.


Godzilla:	Well, I'm a bit too big to fit through the hole, so I'm going
		to have to wait for them to come back.

Noname:		Where is the hole in your cell?

Godzilla:	It's near the floor in the center of the back wall.


Godzilla glances back, and is surprised to notice that the stone has been put
back, and a smiling Kyato is once again standing there. Noname tries to see if
a similar stone is in her cell, but to no avail.


Kyato:		(moves to cell door) You! What you here for?

Noname:		I'm not exactly sure why I'm down here.

Kyato:		Hmm... you work with demons, yes?

Noname:		No! But that's what Gordon accused us of.

Kyato:		Yes, many people like that. I accused of work with demons.
		I think he work with demons, and blame other people.

Noname:		Hmm... say, are you able to get out of here?

Kyato:		Yes, I have way. You want leave?

Noname:		Of course! Here's the keys to the cells (moves them over by
		telekinesis). Get us out!

Kyato:		Okay, kemosabe.


Kyato opens the hidden passage again, leaves, and brings back the female
half-elf again. She obviously knows these locks by heart, as she quickly
defeats the door lock. Both cells are unlocked.


Kyato:		Okay, you all follow me.

Noname:		Yup.


After a group effort to remove another block from the wall, they are able to
get everyone into the hidden crawlway, including Godzilla. It is an crudly
dug underground tunnel, leading away from that cell. After several minutes,
Kyato climbs into moonlight, and motions everyone to follow him down a back
alley. Halfway down, he enters a small house on the right. Everyone enters.

At this point, everyone introduces themselves to Kyato and Battia, the female
half-elf who helped them escape. They as well introduce themselves. And then,
they talk.
Godzilla:	(to Noname) All our equipment is back there. Grr....

Noname:		Yeah, but you can always get more weapons. My spellbook was
		back there, and I am powerless at the moment. (to Kyato) Is
		there some way we can get back in there to get our equipment?

Kyato:		No, we leave tomorrow. Get things you need somewhere else. Not
		safe here for criminals who work with demons.

Noname:		But my spellbook.....

Kyato:		We go another town. Get spells you need.

Noname:		That would be difficult.

Kyato:		Can you remember spell?

Noname:		Not many... not most of them.

Kyato:		Tough shit.

Kyo:		Excuse me...

Kyato:		Yes, oh slimy one.

Kyo:		I need my weapons.

Kyato:		I don't have weapons for you. You buy more.

Kyo:		I had a very special katana and spear.

Kyato:		You buy.

Kyo:		No, can't buy.

Kyato:		Tough shit.


Noname, remembering the castle, figures that all of their belongings are in a
storeroom nearby the cells. Usually, prisoners stuff was kept there until they
were let free or killed.


Noname:		(to all) I shall be back in the morning. If I'm not back by
		dawn, then leave without me.

Godzilla:	(to Noname) Fetch my sword if you can.

Noname:		(to Godzilla) I won't be able to carry that with me.

Kyo, Battia:	Let us go with you. Can we go with you?

Noname:		The only way I'm going to be able to get into the castle is to
		fly in.

Kyo:		I can go invisible.

Noname:		But how are you going to get through the gates?

Kyo:		(stumped)

Battia:		Yes, but I too can fly. (quickly demonstrates a special
		looking cloak that she is wearing)

Noname:		You can fly? Yes, however, that's not going to help, because
		you will be quite conspicuous. They won't notice me.

Battia:		Well, we could go through that hole to the prison...

Noname:		Let me do it by myself. I'll see what I can do. It's the
		easiest way for me to do it. I'll get as much as I can.
		Wait until dawn. Otherwise, forget about me.

Kyato:		Why? I no go nowhere.

Noname:		Oh. I thought you were going to get us out of the city.

Kyato:		I cannot get you out of city if you are not with me.

Noname:		Right. I'll be back before morning.


Noname takes off to retrieve her important spellbook. She changes into a hawk
and flies off to the castle. She approaches a landing near the top of the
castle, and lands near some pigeons. She flies off again, near the ground floor
around near one of the servant's entrances and enters. She turns back into and
elf, and casts invisibility. Meanwhile.....


Kyato:		You. Eat. (shoving bread into Godzilla's mouth)

Godzilla:	Grrr... (begins trying to mime fish)


Kyato and Battia are trying to serve their guests, and finally recognize what
Godzilla wants.


Battia:		Ah. I'll go out and get some. I'll go to 7-11. Want anything?
		Band-Aids?

Kyato:		Yes. Get variety pack of fish for green friend. And chocolate
		doughnuts.


Back in the castle, Noname heads down some passages, but encounters only one
guard, who doesn't notice the invisible Noname. She reaches the door she knows
as the prisoner's equipment closet. A guard is slumped next to the door,
drinking. Nearby is the stairs leading down to the prison cells, and another
passage leading towards and past the closet.


Noname:		(to Gamemaster) Okay. I cast Light Mirage on the door, of a
		closed 	door. Then I open the real one and go in.

Guard:		(slurp chug chug slurp)

Gamemaster:	No problem. The guard didn't even stop drinking.
		(thinking) I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than to
		have a frontalobotomy.


In the room is quite a bit of equipment, including all of their stuff. Noname
quickly examines all the backpacks in the rooms not belonging to them, but
doesn't find anything interesting. She grabs her backpack and leaves. After
getting outside, she transforms back into a hawk, grabs her pack in claws, and
flies back to where the others are.


Noname:		Well, I saw the stuff, but there's no way I could carry it.

Godzilla:	Were you able to get any money? In case we need to buy stuff.

Noname:		I got a couple of crowns.

Kyato:		Good. Others buy equipment tomorrow.

Kyo:		Excuse me...

Kyato:		Yes, oh slimy one?

Kyo:		Is there any way you can sneak me into the castle and out?
		Is there any other passageway?

Battia:		Not with that slime coming off your arm.

Kyato:		We sleep now.


---------------
 End Chapter 2
---------------
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew David Moss				mmoss@ic.sunysb.edu
	"Chaos is fun. Order is for those       mmoss@ccmail.sunysb.edu
         don't know where there things are."