From: cohen@spot.Colorado.EDU (Matt Cohen)
Subject: [MH] Searching the Mage's House, Hubarak's view
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 05:35:34 GMT

>		The dark elf watched the door split as Hubarak cleaved
>	it in two.  Well, that was one way.  Now he understood why the
>	Guild asked him to find someone who knew about _locks_.
>
>		"Right, well let's-"  He froze in his tracks as he
>	crossed the threshold.

	Hubarak looked at him a second. Damn! Is this elf so weak that 
such a simple spell has drained him?  Had he been of good health like myself,
mayhap he would have passed without hindrance, as I did.   "Art thou ill?  Has
some magic rendered thee-"

>		"I'm all right," answered the elf, "I'm just
>	concentrating.  I felt something when I walked through the
>	doorway."

	"What, pray tell?"  Hmm, I felt naught.  But I would think that his
dark senses would avail him better against magik.  I'll lay by my steel and
bow instead of his training, tho. 

	Michael spoke softly, keeping his face screwed in concentration. 
"Just a sec."  Hubarak kept his eyes scanning the room, while
waiting for his Drow companion to relate what his magical senses told him. 

>		"It's some sort of...enchantment?  But it's so small
>	and simple.  There's no way it could entrance someone."

	Hubarak realaxed a bit, and replied, "Well then, mayhap-DOWN! Down, I
say!"  Following his own warning, Hubarak bent down to avoid his opponent's 
attack, and only caught the bird's claws on his arm instead of across his
face.  Having a semi-stationary target, Hubarak took a swing with his axe,
narrowly missing the bird, but causing it to break its grip in order to 
avoid the Ranger's attack.

>		The bird landed a few yards away, its wings spread out in
>	challenge.  It might've been a falcon, or some other bird of prey.
>	Hubarak held his axe before him in a guarding position.

>		"If," he shouted so he would not have to turn his head,
>	"thou hast a spell to counter this enchantment, 'twould be most
>	appreciated!"

	By the Dragon's Breath! Hubarak thought for a moment, keeping himself
between the bird and his employer. This mage must be more than a mere
journeyman, if he has protectors like this.  Still, I should be able to 
dispatch this creature myself, if the Damned Dro- my new friend would give
me some room!

	As Hubarak was girding himself to leap at the bird and try to 
bring him down, or at least get in a good swing, his attention was drawn by
a large cat running between his legs and leaping up at his flying attacker.  The
bird (and indeed, Hubarak also) was startled for a moment by the arrival of
this new ally, but the Ranger recovered instantly, and took advantage of his
opponent's pause and swung his axe thru the bottom of the bird's left wing.

	The bird, confused and wounded but still able to fly, took to the air
in retreat, sailing out of the (permenantly) open door and into the evening
dusk.
	Figuring the elf to be responsible for the timely assist, he looked back
at the small elf with a new measure of respect.  His eyes caught the shakyness
of his friend's stance, but the success of his spell-weaving left the Ranger
with a feeling of confidence in him. 

>		The elf managed to find his tongue again.  "It was a
>	summons.  Probably triggered when the door was opened."

>		"Aye," replied Hubarak, "a trained pet, perhaps."  He
>	lowered his axe as the flying shape receded.  "My thanks for your
>	illusory feline's assistance."

>		The elf stood up again, checking to see if he'd dropped
>	anything from his pouch.  "No problem.  Don't mention it."

>		"Then let us continue from where we were interrupted, and
>	find your compatriot."  He gestured toward the house's interior.
>	"After you."

	With Hubarak following the young mage, the two of them slowly
but efficiently checked the remaining rooms, finding small figurines, strange
articles of clothing, statues and symbols made of strange material, but nothing
out of the ordinary for the house of a Guild Mage.

	In one of the rooms, a large study with a mini-library, they found a 
holy symbol and a number of resarch books on loan to a Robert Wagonfeld
(who Michael quickly remarked to be the Mage they were looking for) from the 
Temple of Ilmater, a local god of Healing.

	"This Mage's work", Michael explained to Hubarak, "dealt with the
easing of pain and suffering, and as such, he often recieved help from the
clerics at Ilmater's temple in Generica"

	"An' that it might have to do with his present absence?" Inquired 
Hubarak.   You never can tell what these crazy clerics will do

	"No, no. He was on good terms with all the workers in the Temple, so
I am told.  If he was abducted, I would assume it would have come from some
other source".

	Methodically they searched the remaining rooms, but they didn't find
anything else of interest. The only area left unchecked was the basement, which
had a heavy oak door set across the stairway entrance.  Hubarak checked the door
for any sounds on the other side, then stepped back with a small smile on his
face. 

	"I'll let you perform the honors, friend, whilst I cover you with an 
arrow nocked.  I wouldn't want to attract another guardian with my... unique 
manner of entrance!"


-- 
 Matthew Cohen  -+- a.k.a. Silver Sword!    : (Personality-indicitive quote) 
 Cohen@spot.colorado.edu - home machine     :  REALITY is for those people   
 1621 9th #6, Boulder CO 80302 -slow machine:    who can't handle FANTASY!   
          (303) 939-8068 -answering machine :                       -M.C.      
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