From: aaron@helios (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [DB] Blades In The Night
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 13:49:40 GMT

Posted on behalf of Morgan 'The Dreamer' Broman...<mabr@sweden.hp.com>

[DB]	Dalan had hardly knocked on the door when it was swung open and he was
	bowled over by...an imp ?

	-Excuse me, the imp pipes as he passes by...then flies down the stairs
	and out the door.

	"Oh man, he was in quite a hurry...well never mind..."

	He turns around towards the now open door...he carefully peeks inside

	"Gee...what a place..."

	-Hello, is anybody home..? he calls after having waited for a minute
	or two. There is no answer so Dalan enters. He listens carefully...

	"No sound..?? There has to be someone here..."

	-Hellooo..., he calls a little louder.
	-Yes, there comes a tired voice from the next room, in here.

	Dalan moves on into the next room. It's an office with a desk and some
	chairs. On the other side of the desk there is a man who looks rather
	tired...

	-I'm Moriarty, he says, what can I do for you ?
	-I'm Dalan, servant to Verden, third Merchant of Generica. I have a
	 message from my Master, with this he hands over the letter from Verden
	to Moriarty, my Master is expecting an answer immediately.

	-Well..., Moriarty looks at the letters seal and then at Dalan, we will
	 see about that...do you know the contents of this letter?
	-No, I received it just a short time ago from my Master, and I went
	 straight here from the Hill, Dalan answers. Moriarty does not answer
	as he is reading the letter....

	---

	As Trace leaves the Net & Trident and moves towards Low City, he re-
	lizes that he is beeing followed. Prentending that he does not have
	a clue to whats going on he walks down a dark alley. As soon as he 
	turns around the corner he slides into a dark entrance. Footsteps can
	be heard approaching fast...they turn around the corner and stops. Two
	figures can be silhuetted by the moonlight...

	-Damn him, where did he go..? a voice says.
	-I dont know, another answers, let's go he cant have gone far. The Boss
	 will not be happy if we loose him. We need to know where they are hi-
	 ding...come on...

	The two dark shadows silently run past the entrance where Trace is hi-
	ding...

	"Damn it...who where they ? Why did they track me...I'd better follow
	 and find out..."

	Trace quickly and quietly follow the two men down into Low City...

	After a short while they stop again...Trace slides into a dark recess.
	-Damn we lost him, one shadow says, the Demons wont be happy...

	"The Demons...what does he mean...? I have to find out..."

	Trace slides his throwing dagger from its scabbard and throws it at the
	second shadow. There is a gurgling sound and the man slips to the
	ground.

	-What the..., the second man whirls around as he hears Trace approach.
	The man pulls out a scimitar and just barely blocks the low thrust to
	his belly. Trace sidesteps the clumsy riposte and slides his knife in
	under the mans ribs. The man drops his scimitar and looks down at the
	dagger...there is no blood coming out, but he can feel the dagger in-
	side his body...

	-Soo.., says Trace still holding the dagger, lets talk...!
	-Whaat ddo you want, the man asks not daring to move, who are you...?
	-Who I am makes no difference, Trace answers with a cynical smile, and
	 I, not you, will ask the questions here. Who are you, what do you want
	 and who are the Demons..??

	The man looks Trace in the eyes, Trace can see the fear of death behind
	the eyes...and something else...

	-Well..., Trace asks and twitches the dagger a little, the man vinces.
	-I'm Krill, hitman for the Boss..., he vinces again, we work for...for
	 the Demon Spiders, a...a Low City gang. Th..they are very powerful...

	"Demon Spiders...hm...have to remember to tell Draoi about this...it
	 could mean trouble..." Trace looks down at the man, who hasn't moved
	 at all...

	-So why were you two following me ? he asks.
	-The Demons are looking for allies all over the place...and enemies, 
	the man answers.
	-What else ?
	-I..I don't know, he answers looking pleadingly at Trace, please don't
	 kill me...

	"Hm...we need to know more...time to find Teela and report to Draoi..."

	He thoughtfully cleans the dagger and retrieves his throwing knife from
	the other mans throat...

	"A shame that...to spend people like that...the Boss must have a lot of
	 them...but lousy quality..."

	It has never occured to Trace that his own skill makes the opponents 
	look clumsy in comparison. He hums softly as he moves into Low City.

	"Teela could be anywhere...lets get back to base..."

	---

	Teela looks around the inn...

	"More strange people than ever...and the place looks different...so
	 many dark corners...hm...got to be magic sideeffect of some kind..."

	She shrugs and mingles with the people around the bar...

	"No good pickings here tonight...lets have a drink..."

	-A beer please, she shouts to the bartender to be heard over the noise.

	She finds a high chair by the bar and starts to talk with the people
	around her...

	---

	Draoi sits back in the chair, he has just dismissed Trace...

	"Demon Spiders...I wonder...the Spider Queen...could it be...I'll have
	 to ask Shaheera, she would know..."

	He walks over to a door in the back of the hall and softly knocks...

	-Who is it, comes a soft voice from the inside.
	-It's me Draoi, he answers and opens the door. Inside is a fairly large
	room with black and purple cloth covering the walls. The floor is bare
	and covered with runes in intricate patterns.
	-What do you want, the female drow looks at him with a small smile, you
	 know this is dangerous for us both...?

	Draoi shrugs, it was a long time since he was scared, and looks at the
	beautiful woman...

	-Who are the Demon Spiders ? Do they have Her support ? he asks trying
	not to let his hunger for her shine through.
	-The Spiders are a ambitious city gang...they have support from some-
	 one powerful within the City, she answers immediately.
	-So, Draoi looks thoughtful, as long as they don't interfere with our
	 plans we do not have to worry about them...hm...thanks my lady...

	"As beautiful as she is dangerous...got to watch her carefully..."

	He smiles to himself....

	"Really beautiful..."

--
HP   : Morgan "the Dreamer" Broman			mabr@sweden.hp.com
SCA  : Morgan deGrey
APD-I: Shade
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
	What is life, but a sequence of fragments of time put
	together in a random fashion, to create eternity...

	[R] Shade
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing stated here is an official statement by the Hewlett-Packard Corp.
--
HP   : Morgan "the Dreamer" Broman			mabr@sweden.hp.com
SCA  : Morgan deGrey
APD-I: Shade
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
	What is life, but a sequence of fragments of time put
	together in a random fashion, to create eternity...

	[R] Shade
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing stated here is an official statement by the Hewlett-Packard Corp.


--
---Alfvaen(Canadian SF Quasi-Activist)
"I'm a few bricks short of a load, but a full load always hurt my back."
Current Album--Emerald Web:Manatee Dreams of Neptune
Current Read--Nicole Luiken:Running On Instinct