From: sri4495@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Mystfo gets himself in trouble.
Reply-To: sri4495@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 20:45:58 GMT

	Josh sat, contemplating the pile of coins before him.
	`Wonderful.  There is no way I can get these out of here, 'cause the
minute I try, those goons will jump me.'
	`Heck, there's no way _I_ can get out of here.  They'll jump me no
matter what.  So all I can do is...'
	`Lesse, I could fight, run, or stay here.'
	`Fight... right.  Good luck.'
	`Run... with a bag full of gold on my back?  After feeling the weight
of these things, I think that I have no chance of carting these things off, and
even less chance of running with them.  Less than nothing equals diddly
-squat.'
	`My options are rapidly decreasing.'
	`Stay here...Well, I can pay for room and board...for now. What happens
when this money runs out?  And do I really want to spend the rest of my life
sitting in this inn?'
	`And I thought it would be fun in this place.  Some fantasy world!'
	`What would a fantasy wizard do?'
	`Blow 'em away with a spell.  That doesn't help.'
	`Actually, I guess if I was in a fantasy roleplaying game, I'd be a
thief.  I got my high dex, my juggling, slight-of-hand, which could be pick
pockets... yep, I'm a thief all right!'
	`So, now that I'm a thief, how would a thief get out of this?'
	`Try to sneak past them.'
	`But a thief would have a contingency plan, in case they noticed him.'
	`What else, fight 'em.'
	`So.  I'll try and sneak past them, and fight 'em if I have to.'
	`How?'
	Josh pondered, and decided to start by getting ready to fight.  He took
a handful of coins, and approached the proprieter of the inn.
	"Excuse me, sir?"
	Littlefair looked him up and down.  Not as worn or as obviously
experienced as most of his clients, but he had money, so it was all the same to
him.  "Yes?  Can I help you?"
	"Yes, please.  Would it be possible for you to hold in safe keeping my
money for me, while I am gone?"
	Littlefair considered.  "Well, I think you would want a bank for that
sort of thing.  While I do keep small items for my customers, I generally do not
hold money for them."
	"I see.  But could you hold it for a short period of time?  A few
hours, at most.  I am willing to pay for the service."
	"Very well, but only for a few hours."  Littlefair sighed.  A few hours
here translated to five weeks, two years, and eight millennia in other
locations.  Or two seconds, depending upon the mood of the gods.  Or how
perverse they were feeling.
	"Thank you very much.  Umm... one other thing... I need to get my hands
on a foil, but I cannot seem to be able to leave the inn at the moment... could
you suggest a manner of me obtaining one?"
	Littlefair looked at the poor chap, and remembered the fight scene that
had almost erupted over the card game Josh had won.  "Yes, I guess those goons
are waiting for you to leave..."  Littlefair suddenly had an idea.  "Here,
here's what I can do.  I'll send my son over to Throckton's, just across the
square, with enough money to buy a foil.  He can wrap it up, and bring it back
here for you.  They won't bother him, since he's my son and he always goes on
errands for me.  Will that be sufficient?"
	Josh almost collapsed in relief.   "That would be wonderful!  Here, how
much money would be needed?"
	Littlefair took enough money to pay for one of Throckton's good foils,
and a little extra for his son.  (The boy has to pay for college!=)  "This
should be enough.  Now, if you'll bring the money you want me to keep over
here, I can store it away.  While you do that, though, I'll send off my son.
	Josh went to get the remainder of the pile of gold, and carefully
lugged it back to the bar.  There, Littlefair stored it away, and Josh sat down
to wait.
	`I hope I don't need to use that foil.  I don't think It'll be much
use, seeing as I haven't used one since I took those classes in college, but
it's better than nothing!  I just hope that...'
	Littlefair's son returned from his mission, obviously very excited,
having just performed a possibly Dangerous Mission for a Hero who was Besieged
By Evil Doers.  He breathlessly presented the foil to Josh, who examined it
carefully.  The major thing he noticed about it was it's point.  It was
designed to kill things.  `No points here.  Just dead and alive.'  Josh got the
distinct feeling that if he started thinking about that, he would probably just
curl up into a little ball and stay in the inn...
	"Right!  Thank you very much.  Let's hope I don't have to use this. 
Now, is there a back exit from this inn?"
	Littlefair pointed the way, and wished him good luck.  `your going to
need it' he did not add, even if he did think it.  Josh walked towards the
door.
	When he got there, he removed his heavy stage cloak which was
embroidered heavily, and reversed it so that the rayon lining with his may
hidden pockets was exposed.  It now looked like a black silk cloak with many
pockets.  Taking some rags from a dustbin pile by the door, he stuffed them
into the pockets, until he looked like he was wearing a cloak of rags.  He
then coated his face with soot and grime, as well as his hands, and finally
any part of his body that could be seen.  Then, strapping his foil to his
belt, he threw the cloak over him, hunched over his shoulders, and walked
out the door.
	There, watching the back door, was one of the card players.
	Josh tried to keep from facing him, and kept hunching forward.
`pleasedontlethimnoticemepleasedontlethimnoticemeimjustascummybeggerdontlookat
me'
	Josh sneaked a look over his shoulder to glance at the card player...
	He was looking at the bottom of his cloak.
	Josh looked down, and saw... his foil sticking out from beneath his
cloak.
`ohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*timgonnadieimgonnadie'
	Josh kept walking, hoping that all scummy beggars here carried foils.
	Actually, if beggars go into that Dragon Inn place, they should. 
Every one in there was armed to the teeth.  `Maybe I'll get away after all!'
	"Hey!  You!"
	Josh bolted.  He didn't know where he was running, he just ran, trying
to get away from the person behind him.  All the while, behind him he heard the
card player chasing him.
	After a series of turns, until he didn't know where he was anymore, He
burst out from an alleyway to see...
	Gnosh.  The big card player.  With his buddies.  They all seemed to be
watching a doorway.  Josh quick glanced at the door and groaned.  He had pulled
it off.
	"THE DRAGONS-INN"
	He had come full circle.
	Gnosh and his buddies turned to see what was behind them, and grinned
when they saw who had arrived.
	Josh hoped someone inside was feeling heroic, 'cause he sure wasn't.

	(.....To be continued)
	(ADMIN: PS:  If anyone feels like helping him out of the mess he got
himself in, fine and dandy!  Other wise, I guess I'll have to come up with
something....  Still, if you feel like being heroic, be my guest!)
  
--
Life is like a REALLY BIIIG rutabaga./-----\   Shawn, the very,very,very,VERY
I think.                        |    | * * |   eclectic. And God of The Funky
At least, it tastes like one.  -+-   | \_/ |   Hat. And the weirdo wannabe.
Especially with yogurt on top.  |    \_____/   SRI4495@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Except for strawberry.          | (3:16 of the NT)