From: cgirard@neumann.une.edu.au (The Blade of Malchrntyne)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [T&R] 4.6: Books, books, and more weapons
Date: 8 Nov 92 12:29:50 GMT


>	The library, as to be expected, was large and filled with books. Some
>of them were of great age, and Rollik strolled down the aisles noting with 
>interest titles such as "torture techniques for the left handed" and
>"organised crime as a way of life". Suddenly Timelord's voice interrupted his
>musings.
>
>"Over here. I've found something."

	Rollik moved over to where Timelord stood, passing as he did so a 
large, ornate tapestry that hung on one wall.  Timelord was examining a 
bookshelf that extended across half of the back wall of the library.
	Timelord motioned to Rollik, and they bent over, examining the floor.
Very faintly engraved on the flagstones were semicircular scratch marks,
starting from the corner of the bookshelf and ending after travelling in
an arc of about two metres.
	"It looks like this bookshelf is concealing some secret passage,"
Timelord said.  Rollik nodded.  A quick search of the rest of the framework
revealed the timber near the floor and the ceiling was worn and chipped,
as if the secret door had seen much use.
	Timelord and Rollik then began a systematic search of the bookcase
for concealed levers, hidden switches, anything that would enable them to 
open the door.  When they found nothing, they turned their attention to the
other shelves, but all they discovered was dust and a few lonely spiders 
in the dark recesses.
	"Could it be perhaps opened by some voice command?" queried Rollik
as they stared at the obstinate door.
	"There's nothing as useless as a lock with a voice-print," replied
Timelord, "unless of course you are the only one permitted in there."
	"Hmmm," mumbled Rollik, rubbing his chin as he considered the 
problem.
	Timelord moved away from the secret door, looking with mild interest
at the tapestry.  It was quiet large, and depicted an army of steel-clad
knights attacking a large red dragon.  Fire spurted from the dragon's mouth,
roasting several knights, while a mounted patrol prepared to charge, their
lances at the ready.  In the background stood a large castle, it's 
drawbridge lowered and relief troops riding to aid their fellow knights.
	As his eyes roamed over the tapestry, Timelord noticed something a
little odd about the picture.
	The dragon was belching forth red fire from its mouth, and this 
partly obscured the front part of the castle in the tapestry.  However, there
seemed to be a tiny red blodge, not much bigger than a fly, on the side of
the castle far from the dragon's breath.  It was somewhat indistinct, so
Timelord stepped closer to get a better view.  He bent forward.
	A red door.
	The words of Hyala's deity suddenly flashed back into his mind: "seek
the red door."  With a sudden surety, Timelord reached out and pressed the
small woven red door firmly.
	With a quiet click the bookcase swung outwards slightly as the hidden
catch released.
	"A most salubrious effort, my friend," Rollik congratulated Timelord.
"How on Generica did you do it?"
	Timelord smiled.  
	"I found that red door Hyala's deity told us of," he replied.  "It
was woven into the tapestry."
	"Well, without further ado," said Rollik grandly, and reached over
to the door, swinging it wide.
	The doorway led into a much smaller chamber, one that held but a 
few dozen books, and all of them obviously quite old.  A small doorway
led off to the right, and it was that Timelord entered while Rollik searched
the second library.
	The second chamber was a trophy room, filled with a diverse array
of weapons and armour, as well as a few locked chests.  Timelord glanced
around the room, and his eyes fell upon a finely crafted rapier, leaning
against the far wall, next to an ornate katana and wakizashi.
	Timelord smiled.
	"Rollik," he called out, "think of your rapier."
	"OK," came the muffled reply, "but I don't see what....YOIKS!" he
cried, as the rapier disappeared in front of Timelord's eyes.
	Timelord picked up his weapons, noting that they had been well
oiled and cared for.  He also picked up Rollik's daggers, and left the room.
	Rollik was staring at a row of books on one of the shelves on the
left wall.  As Timelord moved over to his side, Rollik wordlessly pointed
to one of the titles.  Timelord read it, and his blood ran cold.
	"The Diary of Ak'lssh."


	ADMIN:  anyone else out there a fan of Dr. Who?  Recognise the quote?


 The Blade of Malchrntyne (CJ)| There comes a time when the jewels cease to
 Drummond College A100        | sparkle, and the gold loses its lustre, and
 x 3069                       | the throne room becomes a prison - and all
 There can be only one.       | that remains is a father's love for his child