Organization: Central Michigan University
Date: Monday, 23 Nov 1992 13:21:34 EST
From: Mike Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [DQ] Week 15: Preparations

Lancos stood rather stunned at the sight before him -- 'Raelf had returned.
The thoughts of the recent battle were overshadowed. The eagerness to show
his worth to the party again; the anger at seeing Krastin -- his old "sparring
partner" -- and not having the pleasure of finishing him off, the frustration
at not preventing Miro's death; the slight fear at seeing the golem bear down
on him. All that disappeared as quickly as his physical wound.

"'Raelf! Great to see _you_ return to normal too!" Lancos understates.

'Raelf nods, having knowledge of the DQers' ordeals from his remergence with
Miro, the elf apparantly always part of 'Raelf's consciousness.

"But I still have one question. What about the medallion? Miro had it..."

"Why?" Kadrys asks somewhat vehemently. "You don't want it BACK, do you?"

"Well, YES, for several reasons. Foremost is that I don't want 'Raelf to
get hurt by it or anything."

"I diddn't even remember I HAD the medallion until you mentioned it. Let me
check." 'Raelf replies. While he searches, he also decides to pull out some
of his Void marbles, to see how Lancos was affected by the loss of control.
"But I'm not sure if I should give it back anyways."

"You might not have a choice. A frontal attack won't work versus the Dark
Master -- we'll have to be subtle. You'll have to appear as the golem, and
Alita ... perhaps as Noira." Lancos responded.

"If you like that form better, love." Alita teased.

Lancos tried to take little notice, and continued. "And I'll have to wear the
medallion. No doubt the Dark Master has linked it with my earlier servitude,
and would expect me to wear it if I was under his control."

'Hmmm -- Truth held up under that -- still don't like the idea, though. Now
for the check-up. Ill Intent -- no trace; didn't think so, but had to check.
Sanct Germaine -- 100% normal physically; no duh, just healed.
Understandably upset mentally, but strong, with no effect on sanity. Magic
-- fair amount on the weapons, and a solid spark in a belt pouch. Strange
-- I wonder what THAT'S concealing. Karma -- down a quart. Ouch, his karma
ran over his dogma; he'll probably be able to look back at WORSE times.
Now -- keep Truth on Lancos, switch others to the medallion.'

Aloud, 'Raelf only said, "But what about the dangers?"

"I know about the medallion's hazards -- as well as its powers -- now. I've
been shown that things either it or time or plain fear made me think were
nightmares were actually the truth. I've taken steps to ensure I don't forget
again, and would take more to ensure it doesn't happen again. But right now I
want it for disguise purposes -- it doesn't have any hold on me."

The Truth marble vibrated slightly, but stayed overall intact.

'Obviously, despite Lancos feelings, the medallion's still -- and will
probably always be -- a part of him. As for the medallion: Ill Intent -- none
presently, but the future's unclear, and I doubt it has any GOOD intent
either. Sanct Germaine -- above normal physically, obviously some regenative
power; strong mental presence, linked to its own sense of sanity. Magic --
whoa, almost off the scale there, we're talking artifact level here. I wonder
how Lancos got a hold of this? Karma -- cold, neutral gray.' 'Raelf notes.

Finally, he announces, "All right, I'll return it, but first I'll set up
something to prevent it dominating you again. It's nothing permanent, but
it'll let you have its powers, and serve until we can give it to someone
better suited for it."

Lancos nods softly, resolved to agree.

What the others mainly saw was 'Raelf produce some sparkling, multi-faceted
objects, then touch the medallion, turn semi-intangible for a second, and
finally hand the medallion to Lancos, the entire process taking only moments.

"Hey, where's ShockWave" someone suddenly cried out.

"I thought YOU were watching him."

"Just a sec. Hmm -- he went off with Miro down the secret passage. I wonder
why though."

"Er, I think he said something about getting the DiamondSword back."

"Jeez, if he was too far from it, he must have been in pain. That's how a
soul-bond works, dudes."

"But he wouldn't have gone to it -- it was kept near the PCD, by BlackSilver."

"Oh merde -- we better get down there NOW."

* * * *

ShockWave made his way to the sword, "feeling" the correct directions more
than knowing them. The separation from his rightful body of the sword had
been painful, but he had kept that pain to himself, not letting the Dark
Master enjoy his suffering. But now he could end that pain, and nothing would
stop him.

He entered the opening of the PCD room, and saw the DiamondSword mounted on
a wall. Unfortunately, BlackSilver was nearby, and was sure to intercept him
before he could run to it. Fortunately, he didn't have to go to it -- he could
make it come to him. When BlackSilver's attention was fully away, a silent
call sent the sword off the wall, and towards his hands. However, it also
caused an alarm to sound, and the dragon refocused his attention.

"_You_! You should not be here! Submit before Lord Raven's power!" it yelled.

"Truesilver! You MUST remember me! You MUST remember your true feelings."

The dragon paused a second, as if reflecting. Then came a machine-like
response. "My name is BLACKSILVER. All I know is what my Dark Master has
given to me."

"NO -- look to your heart! You KNOW we are friends! Remember, dammit! For
SunStorm's sake, if not your own!"

But the dragon still advanced. Slowly, and with trepidation, but nevertheless
forward he moved, to capture the giant.

ShockWave prepared himself to fight his past friend, if he must. But
suddenly fate stepped in, as Noira, a golem and Lancos entered, carrying
Kadrys, William and Valgar as captives.

"Excellent!" Noira said. "We'll take it from here."

ShockWave was about to protest that statement, when a voice entered his mind.
"Dude -- this is 'Raelf. Just trust me, and 'surrender'. This set-up is all
fake -- part of a plan."

ShockWave knew the voice spoke the truth. He made a feint towards attacking
TrueSilver, then stopped, saying, "I... I just CAN'T!". For what was meant to
be an act, the words held much value. As the golem produced a rope and began
to tie, ShockWave noticed that the rope used were real, but the knots were
not -- they could be easily loosed by a proper shrug of the shoulders.

The group headed off to the Dark Master's chambers.

* * * *

Lord Raven stepped out of the room containing his prized pentagram, and into
his throne room. All was ready for the 'subjects'. 'And just in time, too.'
he realized as the alarm he'd set on the sword went off. The fools were so
predictable -- he knew they would go for that.

<<Scan.PCDRoom>>

The image shown to him was somewhat surprising -- Noira, her golem and
Lancos had apparantly beaten the others. 'Perhaps they aren't as powerful
as I'd thought' Lord Raven mused. But something was wrong. Maybe it was
the fact that Noira wasn't near her torture slaves. Maybe it was the way
Lancos appeared to waffle sides. Maybe it was because his minions SHOULDN'T
be that powerful. On a combination of a whim and a hunch, he ordered:

<<Scanner: Display.Full.TrueImage>>

There before him lie the answers. That wasn't Noira, it was that succubus.
And somehow, that #%$@ mage lived again, and controlled the golem. And
though the medallion was the real quantity, Lord Raven could tell that Lancos
was again in control of his fate. Even the ropes the 'prisoners' were carried
contained some deceit.

'Very well' the Dark Master decides, 'LET them come, then. I need them here
anyway, and it shall be amusing to see how FAR they continue this charade.
Almost as amusing as if they actually try to fight. I shall show THEM who
is in control around here!' Lord Raven finishes, smiling in grim
anticipation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu
AKA Lancos Erredan
SAQ "'Come into my parlor' said the spider to the fly"