From: bdavis@cray.com (Brent G Davis)
Subject: Sea Watch, Part1  (Introducing Ezrin U'Tharnus)
Summary: Tales of a Seaguard Marestasi
Organization: Cray Research Inc., Chippewa Falls, WI
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:41:01 CDT

ADMIN:

New PC Introduction:

Ezrin U'Tharnus recently joined the Seaguard of Generica as a Marestasi.
As a new recruit, he's been assigned to the nightwatch in Leviathan Tower.
He's about 6 feet tall in his early twenties, but appears much older due
to his short, thinning (and graying) black hair and moustache.  Due to lack
of exercise, Ezrin is badly out-of-shape.  He isn't fat, but has a few
unsightly bulges and very weak muscles.  This is a major concern to the
other Seaguard, who tease Ezrin about being a wimp not fitting their elite
image.  If not for the fact that Ezrin set a new high score (completely
blowing away the competition) on the Marestasi entrance exam, there's no
way he would have been accepted into their ranks.

New NPC's introduced in this article:

  Jolriq, night shift Seaguard supervisor stationed in Leviathan Tower
  Grav, night shift Seaguard stationed in Leviathan Tower
  Aylerus, first mate of the Seaguard vessel, Capricorn

Existing NPC referenced in this article:

  The Wyeriun, Seaguard Marestasi 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Sea Watch, Part 1

Time:  About 3 am
Place: The Hall of Nautica inside Leviathan Tower
Scene: A single blue-robed figure sits slumping face down at the display of
       the magical Chart of Sea Watch.

   'My soul for a pillow!', thought Ezrin.  Less than half-way through
the watch, he was already dosing off, and he had to struggle to keep those
slits for eyes focused on the Chart.  'Why did I ever want to be a damned
Marestasi?' was the question he kept asking himself night after night.
'Where was the glory?  Where was the enjoyment?  Where were all the babes
that the other Seaguards attracted without effort?'  These sleepless days
and restless nights certainly weren't worth the empty results so far.
The white flash on the map went unnoticed; Ezrin's eyes fell closed.

   "Wake-up!," interrupted Jolriq.  Ezrin snapped upright and turned to look
at the shift leader.  His eyes took a few seconds to adjust to the familiar
features of his supervisor standing in the doorway.  "You'll have to get
more sleep during the day, Ezrin.  I know it's a tough shift, but you've
got to stay alert.  I'll get Grav to keep you company.  That should help to
keep you from drifting off".  Jolriq passed through the Hall and up the
stairs to Leviathan's tower wall.

   'Oh Great!'  Grav was one of the most arrogant Seaguards, and he always
hassled Ezrin.  This was yet another reason for hating his shift.

   The next flash on the map caught Ezrin's eye.  His mind began to race.  
'Sea creature?  No, wrong color.  Magic spell?  Doubtful, since no ships
were in the vaccinity.  Lightning strike?  Maybe, but the weather conditions
weren't right for an electrical storm.  Oh well, maybe it's just an anomaly.
Hmmm...  It's got to have an explanation.  Better check the book.'

   Ezrin headed toward the huge shelves just as Grav started down the steps.
"So how's the little sleeper," joked Grav.  "Sprouted legs I see."  Ezrin
just shrugged at the comment and pulled the heavy volume from the stacks.
He headed back only to find that Grav had taken his chair.  'Oh well
standing will help get the blood circulating.  Let's see, if I remember
right it should be in chapter 6 around page 3670.'

   Ezrin began to flip through the pages while Grav just sat there 
tapping his fingers on the Chart surface.  The map flashed again, this
time changing colors from white to blue.  "What the devil was that?,"
exclaimed Grav.  He jumped up and reached for the book, pushing Ezrin aside.

   "That's what I WAS TRYING to find out," shouted Ezrin.  Grav fumbled
for the index, losing Ezrin's place in the book.  "Fine!  I was almost
there," yelled Ezrin.

   "OK hotshot.  Find it yourself!"  Grav stepped back from the book and
glared at Ezrin with an ill-tempered grimace.  "Let's see Mr. Know-It-All
in action."

   In less than 5 seconds, Ezrin had found the page he sought, Chart 
Interpretations: Special Cases, but after a few more seconds of scanning, 
it was obvious that the current symptoms were not listed.  The map flashed 
again, this time changing from white to blue to green.

   "It's not recorded!"  Ezrin slid the book towards Grav, and then returned
to the Chart.  The spot on the map flashed brightly cycling from white to red.
A red marker denoting the Capricorn, a Seaguard vessel, was the closest
object to the flashing point.  "Grav, I'm going to contact the Capricorn.
Keep an eye on this and tell me if anything changes."  Grav just nodded as
Ezrin headed for the TeleMirrors.

   "Link with Capricorn.  This is Watchman Ezrin of Leviathan Tower," Ezrin
spoke while touching the silver surface of a TeleMirror.  The image clouded
briefly and then cleared revealing a bronzed face, its features highlighted
by a swaying oil lamp.

   "This 'ere's Aylerus, First Mate o' the Capricorn.  Go a'ead Leviathan."

   "Mate Aylerus, we've spotted something on the Chart about 3 miles
northwest of your current location.  Have you noticed anything unusual
tonight?"

   "One o' the crew said 'e saw some glowing lights off to the west, but
'e 'ad a few too many swigs o' rum to be reliable.  I trust the crowman's
eyes, and 'e ain't seen nothin.  If you'd like we can investigate fer ya.
Tis been a slow night."

   "Please do so and resume this link if you find anything." 

   "It's flashing steady, Ezrin.  You better get in here."  Grav's voice
actually sounded concerned for a change.  'This must be serious!'

   Ezrin peered at the Chart.  White-Blue-Green-Red-repeat.  Nothing
remotely like this had never happened before.  Even more ominous was
the fact that the size of the flash was increasing.  "This is critical.
I'm going to summon The Wyeriun." Ezrin headed back to the mirror room.  

   "What!?  You're gonna wake up the Prime Marestasi in the middle of his
precious sleep because there's a little spot blinking on your map? Sure this
is serious.  There's probably a glitch in this stupid Chart." Grav paused
briefly and then realized his words were falling on deaf ears.  "Well, go
ahead.  It's your butt that'll get chewed, not mine."

   Grav's response didn't phase Ezrin, who expected the protest.  For
Ezrin there was nothing to lose; either he was doing the right thing,
and he might get some credit for his swift action, or he was way out of
line and would likely receive a swift boot from the Seaguard.  Both
provided an opportunity for leaving this dread shift.

-- 
 /  bdavis@romulus.cray.com     Cray Research Inc.    Chippewa Falls, WI  \
(  Just another Engineer/Musician/AD&D'er multiclass with Internet access  )
 \ "I`m a zombie in the a.m., when it's just too early to wake the dead." /