From: scavanag@neumann.une.edu.au (Steven Cavanagh)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [T&R]4.8: THE CHAMBER OF AK'LSHH.
Date: 17 Nov 92 03:46:13 GMT


>	"This might also prove useful" Timelord added, opening the other
>object, a plain-loking scroll case. "It's a map of this level of the complex
>showing the armoury, this library, and the main chamber of Ak'lssh."
>	"Superbly done, my friend" Rollik praised. "Where is it?"
>Timelord paused briefly.
>	"It's...er..next door." 

Guard duty was boring.

Standing there all day with sore feet, leaning on an awl pike, bearing the
uncomfortable weight of your armour, and trying to look attentive when
somebody of importance came along.(and trying not to think of what was through
that door behind you).
	Still, there were good points. The pay was good, less chance of
failing the boss and getting slaughtered, the wenches, and of course 
getting to pick on the lesser scum such as the begger that limped toward the
guards, cloaked and hooded to hide its deformity. Sheesh, not another leper,
you don't have to cut them to make bits fall off.
	Before the guard could move, a slim blade whipped from the depths of
the cloak and stopped at his throat.

	"Arms for the poor?" said Rollik, relieving the guard of his weapon.

The swashbuckler then gave a strong hilt-punch with the cup-and-stirrup hilt,
and the guard dropped to the floor. Rollik looked over to the other guard,
whom Timelord had been heading for from the shadows. The guard was now on
the floor with his companion.
	Minus his head.
Rollik grinned at his friend's varied tactics, then removed the cloak. They
now wore their usual clothes, dry (but somewhat wrinkled, Rollik lamented with
a twinge of sorrow). It felt good to have his rapier in his hand again. He
raised it to the air, and the light glinted from his family's emblem set into
the ornate quillions, that of the silver sunburst. Timelord stepped up to the
door, his face grim, katana in hand. Rollik's expression grew stern at finally
seeing the one they had come through so much to face, the one who had caused
so many so much suffering. The one who had caused the deaths of many like
themselves who had tried to kill him.

At Timelords firm hand the door opened, and they stepped through.

The room inside was massive, and could only be compared to two dramatic
theatres joined together. The door they had come through opened to the
second story of split-level balconies that ran the perimeter of the
giant room, with many levels and staircases. Adornment was everywhere along
these, from the thick golden hanging ropes and tapestries to the beautiful
plants set in expensive pots. Guards dotted this network of platforms at regular
intervals, not noticing them yet as they stared at what was in the middle of the
room.
	It was a circle of carved runes set into the floor, some fifteen feet
in diameter. Around it stood ten motionless figures, robed in the garb of
powerful magi. The air near them hummed with arcane energy, eminating from 
their bodies and the glowing, pulsing orb in the center. Above them floated a
dark, misty figure, indistinct and shifting. As the two took in the scene it
all came together in Rollik's head in a blast of awe.
	Ak'lssh was a composite mind.
That was why there were two copies when the diary was started, as the two
mages' minds were enmeshed. That was why the others started at a later date,
as more were joined to the one. 
	That was why Ak'lssh was so powerful.
	But it din't explain why the entries ended fifty years ago.
	No matter. The mages would die.
"Two-way assault" said Timelord calmly.
"Yes" agreed Rollik. "As usual, I'll cause the diversion, and y.."
"No." said Timelord, his eyes glaring hatred at the magi. "We both hit hard,
but from different directions. I'm going straight at ..it, floor level. And
you?"
Rollik's eyes swept the room, searching for possibilities. His eyes were
irresistibly drawn to the far side of the room, where a giant decorative rope
was tied to the third story and stretched to the ceiling far above.
"I guess I'll just have to wing it" he said. 


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                                |
Steven Cavanagh                 | The force, y'know, It's got a lot of
(Cav)                           | power.
                                |                      -Michael Jackson.   
scavanag@neumann.une.oz.au      |
                                |
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