From: tim@mik.uky.edu (timothy c huesman)
Subject: New Character  meets Cathal [Inn]
Keywords: New PC, NPC, Cathal, Littlefair, Serene, Inn
Summary: Doc Pan shows up at the Inn
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 05:54:54 GMT

    Nightfall, and Generica begins its shift from the sunlit merchant
 city to a claustrophobic collage of closing shadows having no apparent
 end.  Night settles on this civilised, albeit questionably, city
 as a mutating fog.  The denizens of the dark change places with the 
 occupants of the light as the skilled, the hard-working and the
 careful are replaced by the skilled, the hard-hearted and the survivors.
 Movement is felt among the murkiness of the night and if its cause is
 seen at all it quickly dissipates into the womb of welcoming shadow.
    The merchants of the night carry on their business as do the day
 merchants, some making rounds to preferred customers and offering 
 wares for a fee.  One such abandons Mother Darkness to appear as if
 newly created amid the glow of a lit doorway.  He passes through the
 door and vanishes again.
    Hercli appears at the doorway of the Dragon's Inn.  His eyes scan 
 the room for his usual customers and see scant pickings -- he hopes
 his brother Agoust is doing better in the other taverns.  E'en with
 his regular clients away, he still manages to keep his cool, he can't
 let his brother make more than he tonight... he makes his rounds
 through the room, cocking an ear to conversations not only to see if
 his information is already common knowledge but also to catch the
 drift of new information as it spills from unwary lips to very wary
 ears.  
    As he makes his rounds his eyes will make contact with those he 
 has seen before and with a brief exchange he will 'tease' these
 potential buyers of his wares with minor news.  He makes his circuit,
 occassionally stopping to sip a brew with a customer and money and
 more passes between them.  As he leaves, all have heard pieces of the
 gossip he knew few had yet heard yet seemed too inconsequential to
 sell.  Among such tidbits were that an arachnid of monstrous
 proportions appeared in the GateWay, left the curious cargo of
 a human and a bird and then disappeared again, nothing noteworthy.  
    An hour or so later, the door again opens and eager members of the
 city guard escort a portly gentleman into the warmth of the inn.

ADMIN   Thus enters a new character and his NPC.

    The gentleman rubs his hands together briskly and exclaims loudly,
 "I hope this chill is caused by the cold season on this world, I'd 
 hate to think of this as high summer!"  He turns his head to view 
 the bird snuggled against his collar.  "Prill, If you would...."
 As the gentleman moves into brighter lighting one sees him to be 
 in his 30's, a human 5'9" and carrying more weight than one in need
 of speed.  It is evident that his hands as well are those of one who
 favors delicate tasks.  He is dressed in a blue and crimson doublet,
 breeks tucked into silken hose, and silver-buckled shoes.  At his side a
 shoulder-slung courier's bag rests.  He wears a baldric with a rapier
 appended and on his broad belt is a scabbard with main gauche & rolled
 tool-skins in two pouches.  His eyes are a deep green and his brown 
 hair is graying at the temples.  As the bird leaves his shoulder he
 slaps a guard on the back.  He makes a jest and laughs at his joke and
 a metallic doll on a tight chain about his neck bobs up and down.
    The bird leaving the safety of his collar resembles more than
 anything a mockingbird.  It beats it's wings rapidly and increases
 in size as in moments it is transformed into the semblance of a human
 woman.  She differs from humanity in that she has stiff hairs at the
 crown of her head, at her elbows and 'feathering' back from her temples.
 Upon her upper arms a lack of pigmentation gives the appearance of 
 chevrons.  Her light-brown hair shot with grey is close-cropped.  Wide
 spaced eyes take on a piercing stare.  While dressed in a gauzy fabric
 that leaves her arms and legs bare the many layers of the snug, brown
 cloth conceal her torso entirely.  She moves quickly to the bar and
 asks for Master Littlefair.  Petite to the point of fragile, she rests
 against the bar until the owner makes his appearance.  At his arrival
 the 'woman' draws up her 4' 10" frame and in a lilting voice of near
 magical timbre introduces the gentleman to him, "Master Littlefair, 
 please meet Doctor Panacea of Benis."
    The gentleman steps up and blusters out, "Umm yes, well met, Sir.
 I will be running a tab."   A signet ring of ruby agleam on his hand,
 Doc Pan slowly reaches into his doublet and pulls out a bag bearing   
 the symbol of the Gypsy Moneychangers.  He hands the bag to the
 proprietor and spotting a table with Cathal scribbling on parchment,
 gestures towards it.  Addressing the owner again he asks politely,
 "If one of your staff would care to bring three dinners to that table
 and three of whatever he is drinking?  Umm but first I think these
 thirsty gentlemen require a stout ale to warm them before they return
 to their night duties, eh?"  Doc Pan gestures to the city guard who
 heartily assent to having free drink.  
    The Doc moves to Cathal's table and exchanges brief greetings and
 asks if he and Prill may join him.  Cathal, hesitates in shock at
 being disturbed at his PRIVATE table, but rallies to action as he
 spies Serene bringing Double Dragon Ale to the table.  Protecting his
 parchment, Cathal hastily puts it away.  Doc Pan introduces himself
 and Prill to the loner and as Prill is introduced, the sing-song
 quality of her voice lightens the mood considerably.  Her face devoid
 of emotion, the warmth of her voice conveys thanks, "How kind of you
 accomodate us, Sir."
   Doc Pan adds, "Yes... kind of you... but then one should never dine
 alone."  The Doc gestures to Serene as she carries over three heaping
 bowls of steaming stew(what speedy service, eh?)  Doc Pan sips at his
 ale and gives it a measuring look, "Woof! this brew is as strong as
 port!"  Laughter fills the table as the three set about the Inn's fare.

 ADMIN --     For those who can read auras, Doc Pan is devoid of any,
       -- the amulet at his neck has one, but is too small to read.
       --     For those who are PSI sensitive, Doc Pan puts off a slightly
       -- disturbing buzz at a distance of about five feet.

 Tim
--

  tim                 mik.uky.edu          Tim  Huesman

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