Newsgroups: rec.games.moria
Subject: REPOST: Exploits II: Part 3
From: mneylon@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu (Michael Neylon)
Date: 7 Jan 93 21:41:41 EST


'Master, there is a problem.'
The hooded one walked over to the cave enterance where the tracker was
looking around.  'Whats the matter?'
'Someones been here since I located the cave enterance.  Actaully, it
looks like two beings.  Both came up to the cave, but only one departs
from it.  No signs of battle.'
The hooded one signed deeply. 'Most likely the boy has already entered
the cave.  But who could be the other one...'
The tracker shock his head.  'No clues left.  However, I did have a hard
time finding the other's departing tracks.  Seems if the person knew what
he was doing.'
'Hmm...Unfortunately, I cannot delay any longer.  The King wants the
creature rampaging through the land before the next new moon.  However, I
can attempt to determine who it was...'.  The hooded one reached for the
amulet on his neck, waited for the slight heat to eminate from it, then
spoke into the air.  'Wait here.  If anyone comes, follow him and determine
his purpose here.  Report to me then.'.  As he released the amulet, a 
slight breeze blew the autumn leaves from nearby trees.
'Ok, all!' shouting to other milling bandits.  'Lets get moving.  Runt, you
can take the lead.'
The short one shuddened under bandages of past wounds, but knew better 
than to keep his master waiting.  Not needing a light source, he quickly
entered the caves, drawing a small axe from his belt.  The rest of the
bandits followed quickly, the leader near the end of the group.  Minutes
later, there was no sight of their precence by the cave.

* * * 

Nivolis had been exploring the dungeon for several days now.  Many of the
creatures were easy kills, and he always had his magic to back on.  He
had spent some of his rest periods learning new spells from the book Masem
had given him, and now knew a bit of offensive magic.  However, he was
still apt with the dagger, and conserved on power when he could.
He had thought several times back to his childhood, how his parents took
him on several excursions through caves near his home, how they almost
were preparing him for this quest.  Now that he knew that this was their
purpose, he had vowed to finish his quests for his parents.  He wondered 
if his parents were still alive, after his 'discovery' and flight into 
the countryside.  He never noticed any moods that his parents had that 
fateful night, and thought if they were safe once he had ridden from
the city.

Nivolis' adventures had yet to produce many helpful items.  He had collected
several potions and wands, but experimentation only showed them to have 
minor effects that what he was hoping for.  He still hadnt found any armor
left over from less-seasoned travellers, nor extra weapons.  However, he
located several viens of minerals in the cave walls, and using a shovel
he found, dug out the riches, storing them in a small sake to be sold
later.

Nivolis desended down a natural stairway, and found himself in a small
room.  No creatures were in site, and he felt hungry.  Pulling out a meal,
he prepared it for consumption.  After eating it, he decided to check in
with Masem to seem what the situation was.  Wielding the daggar, he
concentrated on Masem.  The diamond in the hilt glowed, and soon, the
image of the old King was present.

'So how goes the quest, Nivolis?' the image asked.
'Not too well.  Im not having a problem surviving, but I cant find any
items that can help me.'
'You must be patient.  The ungodly items are scattered far below you.  
Make sure you study your spell book.'
'Oh, Im doing that.  Do you know how much of a lead I have in front of
the bandits?'
'I returned to site the next day, and examined what I could.  I figure
that you have half a day, at the most.'
'Thats not much, is it?'
'Well, you must remember that they are a group, and will move a bit slower
than you.  You definitely have a good lead on them.'
'Ok, well, I best be continuing.  Its only been a few days, but each moment
I wait, the beast gets closer to the surface.'
'Good for you.  Contact me later then.'
'Thanks, Masem.  Goodbye for now.'
The image of Masem vanished, leaving Nivolis in the silence of the caves.
He felt lost and alone, and wished that he never had to do this quest.  
However, he knew that if he failed, the doom of the world will be released
upon the world.  Nivolis packed up his things, and continued exploring
the dungeon.

* * *

Masem put down the small gem that consisted of his end of the communication,
and placed it in his pocket.  The boy was doing quite well, and should
be able to get to the deep levels without incident.  He stood up, blew
out the candle that lit the room, and proceeded downstairs to the bar.  
He had to take up recidence in the inn where Masem and Nivolis first met.  
Fortunately, he had made the same deal with this innkeep as the other, and
although he explained what happened to the other inn, the keeper still took
him up on his offer.
Masem had to also explain to the families and friends of the people who
died in the inn.  He lied and told them that the bandits had come to 
murder and destroy a wealthy person who had stayed there, but they got
out of hand, and set the inn ablaze.  Fortunately, the fire was limited
only to the inn, and now days after the fire, the inn is already being
rebuilt.  The relatives to the murdered folks accepted his tale, and are
trying to rouse the town into a giant posse, ready to kill any bandit on
sight.  Although this is a little extreme, it would prevent the neuromancer
from having more men.
Masem stepped from the stairs into the bar, which still was emtpy midday.
He crossed to the bar, and began chatting with the keeper.  However, out
of the corner of his eye, he saw the hanging sign of the bar swing in
the afternoon breeze.  Although, for the life of him, he though that there
was no wind today.

* * *

'He's passed here, sir.  Look at these crumbs.'
'How long?'
'Oh, maybe a few hours at the most.'
The hooded one rubbed his hands together in glee.  The boy probably thought
that they were more than half a day behind him, but he had spurred the
group on, quickly passing though previously mapped sections of the dungeon.
They had now entered a room, small but large enough for the group of 10 
or so.  The tracker immediately saw the crumbs from Nivolis' meal, and
bent over to examine them.
A voice from the back of the group spoke up. 'There remains of magic here
as well, sir'
The leader couldnt see who spoke, but as he approached the group, they
made way, and revealed a average height, fair-haired man with telltale long
pointy ears.  The leader neared him and asked 'How can you tell?'
The elf just shrugged his shoulders.  'I'm an elf, we are attuned to magic.
I cant force or prevent myself from feeling with magic, its just that I 
know its there, just like I know you are here with me.'
The leader thought a bit.  'How long ago?'
'Cant really tell.  It was definitely powerful when it was used, but thats
it.'
'Do you think it was something he picked up in the dungeon?' 
'er...No, only because I havent felt any other magic until now.'
The leader paced the room for a bit while the tracker examined the crumbs
from Nivolis' meal.  The rest of the bandits stayed out of his way, knowing
that he was in a terrible mood.  Suddenly, he asked the tracker 'Is there
anything of the boy's, such as a hair or fingernail, in that stuff?'
'Actually, yes.  Here's what looks like his hair.'  The tracker stood
up and placed the lock in his master's hands.
The hooded one pointed to one of the younger members of the party.  The lad
quickly stepped forward, bowing at his master.  'Hand me your sword', the
leader commanded, and the bandit did so.  Placing the lock of hair in the
same hand as the sword, the hooded one rolled his eyes into the back of his
head, and spoke the words of magic.  Slowly, the sword began to glow.
The master handed to sword back to the lad. 'The sword will now help you
locate the boy.  Go ahead, and kill him.'  The lad looked scared at being
apart from the group, but quickly geared up and left into the darkness ahead.

The rest of the group began to gather their items as well when the master
suddenly stopped pacing, and stared out into the air.  His hand quickly
went for the amulet, and it seemed as though he were listening to something.
The others knew better than to bother him, so they continued with the 
packing.  They quickly stopped again as the hooded one screamed out 'MASEM!'
The leader beat his fist against a nearby wall, causing a few small pieces
to fall.  The group cowered on the other side of the room, waiting to see
who may die next.  But their master soon calmed down, and spoke once 
again into the air.  'Tell the others.  They must KILL him!  He has
gotten in my way once too often.'  A slight breeze blew the crumbs around,
but it stopped moments later.  The master commanded the group to continue,
almost booting Runt into the hallway.
-- 
Michael Neylon   aka Masem the Great and Almighty Thermodynamics GOD!
      //         | Senior, Chemical Engineering, Univ. of Toledo
  \\ // Only the |   Summer Intern, NASA Lewis Research Center
\  \X/   AMIGA!  |         mneylon@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu           /