From: rigler@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Aaron Evans)
Subject: [KQ] Thk [Gaps] Down in the Sewers (Part II)
Organization: Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 02:36:14 GMT

DOWN IN THE SEWERS:
------------------

> There is a submerged glow in the waters before them.  As they watch, the 
> glow moves towards the stairs.  Out climbs a reptillian form, dripping
> with sewer slime.  As it stands to its full height the two humans recognize
> the form of the largest lizardman they have ever seen.  It points its glowing 
> sword down at them.

> "You!"  Elstrek cries.

The lizardman grins terribly, and opens his mouth to hiss.

"Yesssss ME!  You were expecting the Fuller brussshhh man?"

Beneath a coating of slime, the monster's opulent shell armor gleams in 
the blue-green glow of its raised short sword.  Savage trinkets of bone,
amber, and carved stone adorn its chest.  Spidery red tatoos cover arms, neck,
face under a conical helmet that was once home to a deep-sea nautilus.  From
where they are standing, the two humans can smell the underlying stench of 
fish, brine and sewage rolling off the creature in nauseating waves.

"Ugh.  Kill it, Arvor."

Arvor hefts his longer blade and steps forward.  In response, a daggar to 
match the gleaming short sword swiftly appears in the lizardman's left hand.  
Arvor reacts by adjusting his grip and shifting his stance in the waist deep 
water.  The lizardman nods, approvingly, and says.

"Hold warrior, and hear me ssspeak."

"Speak."  says Elstrek.  Under the folds of his cloak he begins to ready 
his last remaining flask, fumbling with furtive fingers as he listens to 
the lizardman's words.

"Sss...I hold no grudge against you, humansss."

"But you helped to destroy my factory."

"Yesss.  We sssought information, which we have obtained.  But asss far 
asss I'm concerned, you may continue to indulge in your passstime.  Go ahead 
and poissson the Genericanss with your pillsss and powderssss.  Collect a 
mountain of metal coinsssss.  Leave a mountain of human corpssesss.  Live
long and die happy."

Elstrek frowns, and slowly uncorks the stopper on his flask.  "Get to the 
point.  What do you want?"

"Three more piecesss of information.  In exchange for your livesss."

"HAH!  And what makes you think you can beat my man?  He is undefeated.
I've seen him hack the heads off an ettin with one stroke!"

"Yesss, I have ssseen his ssswordplay.  He isss good.  But I am better." 

Arvor growls.  Elstrek places a restraining hand on his shoulder.  The
lizardman continues.

"Bessidess, I don't have to kill you with a sssword.  I could raisse the 
water and drown you like ratss, or sssummon a dozen giant leechessss
to drain you of your lifessss blood, or..."

At these threats, Arvor looks questioningly at Elstrek.  Elstrek passes
him the flask and nods.  The lizardman observes this exchange and continues.

"...But perhaps you are right.  Perhapssss I ssshould ssslay Arvor firssst,
and asssk you my quesstions afterwards, Elsstrek.  Very well.  Come Arvor."

"No wait, let's be reasonab--"

"Elstrek, don't you see it's toying with us.  You can't trust a forktongue.  
Now let me deal with this _my_ way.  That's what you pay me for."  <glug> 
<glug> <glug> <glip-glip-glip> * URP! *

The skull-faced warrior chooses the angle of his sword with care, and begins 
his advance.  The lizardman has the advantage of height and position on the 
stairs, but its blades are shorter.  It will have to lean down to attack...

"Heheheheheheh..."  The sound of the reptile's laughter is like sandpaper
on raw skin, or maybe more like nails being drawn across a chalkboard.  
"Ah-ah-ah, Arvor.  Your firssst misssstake.  Haven't you heard?  When you 
challenge me, you mussst fight on my termsss.  I control the gameboard."

To the astonishment of the humans present, the lizardman crouches and leaps
upwards,  higher into the air than either would have thought possible.  Arvor 
has barely enough time to duck out of the way, as the lizardman tucks tail
arms and legs inwards to execute a perfect cannonball in the center of the 
chamber.  The impact creates a minor tsunami which bowls both men over,
causing Elstrek to lose hold of his light flasks.  By the time Arvor heaves 
his armor-covered torso above the surface, the waters are calm again and the
lizardman is nowhere to be seen.

The situation ought to seem bleak, but Arvor realizes he is starting to feel 
good.  Reeeeaaalll good.  He glances at the label on the empty flask.  "Super-
heroism."  His muscles bulge as the power of ten men floods his system.  
Elstrek always delivers.

<snort> "Elstrek, make for the stairs!"  

"Where is the bloody thing?  Wait!  I see its glow!  By the wall there."

"Yeah."  Arvor reverses his grip for a killing downward thrust and surges
towards the waters above the glow.  <froth> <gnash>

Behind him, Elstrek edges towards the stairs.  At the top of the flight
he can barely make out the sunlight shining through a tiny grill.  Freedom 
from this madness!  If only he can reach it!  A scaled hand closes on the 
back of his neck and lifts him out of the water.

"SSSsss...okay, ssshall we resssume our chat?"

Arvor whirls, eyes smouldering with suppressed fury.  His foe has resumed 
his position on the staircase, only now the monster is holding up Elstrek 
by the scruff.  He looks back down into the water.  At his feet on the 
submerged floor of the chamber lay the glowing elvish blades.  A trick!
A sneaky forktongue trick!

"Quesstion number one:  How do I get out of here?"

Arvor growls and points up the stairway.

"Ah.  Quessstion number two:  Where iss your sssquid-faced friend?  He knows
where my Trident isss..."

Arvor shrugs.  Elstrek adds.  "When you find that treacherous bastard, kill
him and bring his books back to me.  I will reward you--"

"Quessstion number three:  Have you ssseen a lizardman down here?  I mean,
besssidesss me?"

"No.  And I'm sure I'd remember if I saw one.  Did you see one Arvor?"

"SSSssss..."

"Eh?!?  Speak up, man.  It's got me by the throat here..."

"I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't hiss?"

"No.  

"SSSssssss"

"Sshh! There it is again!"

The waters behind Arvor begin to stir.
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    \========C\                Rigler...
              \\ 
  <===========C ]==|[///////////////////]|==========|[////////////]D>
              //  
    /========C/                 ...Thk

--
                           A hunger for life that can no longer be denied.