Organization: Penn State University
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 16:38:03 EDT
From: <ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [L] To the Rescue...

ADMIN:  Here is what is going on for those of you who have just joined the
        group:
     The Luthor Questors (Luthor, Brycur, Bakr, and Salamander) are returning
to Generica.  On their way, they run across another group of beings who have
recently been captured by a horde of lizardmen.  Luthor and Company have
decided to rescue this group out of the goodness of their hearts :-)
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     Some of the lizardmen were erecting a wooden statue of an extra large
lizardman.  It had its arms crossed, holding a spear in one hand, a fish in
the other.  A lizardman wearing a reed costume and a wooden fish mask,
probably a shaman or a priest, hissed instructions.  Little lizardmen were
jumping around and shouting "SHAFUFASHAK!  SHAFUFASHAK!"

     The Luthor Questors decided on a signal.  When the signal was given,
the prisoners below along with Bakr and Luthor, would run like Hell away
from the campsite.  Their escape would be covered by Salamander and Bakr.
Then, should all things go well, they would ride off to Generica with their
new friends.

     Bakr and Luthor left the others and worked their way to where Luthor had
seen the captives in the midst of a Lizardman campground.  Bakr's form was
convincing - he could only disguise the room taken by his body and what he
was carrying, so he had a branch tied to his hips to simulate the tail -
but even better was the smell component that was added to the visual illusion.
The smell was a cross between dead fish and old tar, but a lizardman had to
SMELL like a lizardman or the disguise would not be complete.

     Luthor himself was almost completely invisible as his Cloak of Shadows
blended perfectly with the flickering lights of the camp's bonfire.  He watched
Bakr's scaly face for a sign that he was nervous, but none was outwardly
present.  Despite Bakr's low opinion of his abilities, Luthor admired him.
Even without a fighter's training, thief's stealth, or powerful spells, Bakr
would risk his life for the good of the others.  If anything, Bakr's lack
of magical skill made his bravery seem even more pronounced.

     The lizardman density was far too high for Bakr to feel comfortable.
Every second or so, "This one will try to chat with me" shot through
his head.  But they ignored him.  It seemed to help that he had chosen the
disguise of one of the lizards back in the farm where he had recognized Mat,
instead of one of their lot.  They probably didn't know each one of their
colleagues.

     They were almost to the prisoners now.  Bakr was approached by a lizardman
who hissed at him and pointed to the fire.  Bakr simply nodded his head and
moved on.  Luthor could feel Bakr's relief.  He stepped out of the shadows
briefly and pointed to the captives.  Using hand signals, he conveyed that
he would free the elf woman while Bakr was to untie the human.  Then
Bakr would free the gnome while Luthor searched for others.

     Up on the hill over the campsite, the other Luthor Questors waited
anxiously for the signal.

     Love and Peace and Impatience,
             -The Dreamer-