From: pcalvert@economics.adelaide.edu.au
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [R] Karl [Moorglade]  Karl, et. al, in Specifica
Date: 17 Aug 92 00:38:46 GMT
Organization: Economics, University of Adelaide


Being posted on behalf of Dennis Brennan (djb6@midway.uchicago.edu)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Smiling cheerfully to himself, Karl relaxed and sat back on a low
bench beside a grassy promenade.  Evening was falling and the sound
of insects buzzing in the marsh reeds made him drowsy.  Nearby, Helios
stamped and puffed impatiently, as if something invisible was irritating him.
Radan, too, seemed a little jittery.  But Karl was content to rest
his weary bones for a few moments before making his way back to
the _Moorglade_.

The sun sank below the Western horizon, its orange orb gleaming as the disc
seemed to make contact with the sea.  Karl often wondered what strange
lands lay on the other side of that sea... a dark continent, he had
heard it once said- where primitives roamed amongst the ruined
splendor of a fallen civilization of titans... perhaps a seaman's
myth.

Gradually, Karl became aware that something seemed amiss- the drone
of the insects was gone, or virtually subdued by the sound of rippling
water and tall grasses being trampled underfoot.  Perhaps the sugar-
laborers were returning from the plantations...

..but surely the peasants would not be firing flaming arrows over
the water!  An arc of fire soared over Karl's startled head,
plunging into the thatched roof of a building on stilts.

"Helios!  Radan!  Back to the boat!"  Karl bellowed, coming to his feet
with considerable effort in the slippery grass.  Looking back
over his shoulder across the waters of the Kirender River Karl
could make out several long canoes swiftly paddling toward Specifica.
Lizardmen sat or stood in them, dipping arrows or javelins ijn pitch
and igniting them, loosing them on the city.

On the civilized bank of the river, humans and lizardmen alike scurried
about, wondering where to hide or fight.  Even the women pulled
bamboo rods out of the walls of their homes to use as makeshift
quarterstaves.  In the confusion, a band of lizardmen who were
loyal to the city were set upon by a frenzy of humans who were
too angry and frightened to be able to tell the difference between friend
and foe.

Karl felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck.  He recalled turning
around to spot a short man or dwarf in a black cloak conceal
something under his garment, then he fell to the ground unconscious.


Karl awoke, groggy and confused, on the deck of the _Moorglade_
He tasted something bitter on his tongue and spat it out.
Radan, who he now saw had been hovering over him with a damp cloth, beamed.
"My herbs have brought you around, friend.  It was fortunate
that I carried the antidote for this poison."
"Poison?  What... where..."  Karl tried to stand up, but was restrainded.
"Sit, old man.  You must rest."  Radan smiled wryly, touching the
back of Karl's neck.  "Blowgun dart.  Not lizardman stuff, unless they've
been importing their venoms from the Far South."
Killian's eyes flashed.  "The potter dragged you back to the boat
from the middle of town.  You could say you owe him your life."
The weretiger looked up at the healer "What in the world did happen
back there?  I jump in the wqter for one minute and all hell breaks loose!"
Radan replied "Lizardman raid.  Looted and pillaged the southwest
corner of town.  I don't know whether they were driven back or not...
Helios is missing."
"I gathered.  How does one misplace a centaur?"
"A rush of people- chaos.  Karl was injured, we had to get him back
on the boat and away from this place.  I called to Helios to carry
Karl back to the docks, but he was gone.  I didn't see a thing."
"Damn."  Karl spoke again.  "We have lost a valuable friend.  A pity
there is no time to go back to look for him.  And we... where the
hell are we, anyway?"
"A day's sail south of Specifica, crossing the gulf en route to Pashar,"
replied Gover, looking morose as ever.
"Then I hope I have fully recovered by  the time we arrive."

ADMIN: Who would like to do the honors of landfall at Rameshan?

Dennis Brennan
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn