(TFT) Lurker's copy, Solo-Quest pbem Turn-2

["Mack Brewer" <mbrewer@psphalifax.ns.ca>]

>
>Solo-Quest Turn-02 results
>August 31, 1999.
>
>358 ATL, month of Planting, day 6th & 7th
>
>    You quickly catch Panem's attention and with a wave of your hand
>send him rushing out of the Inn in pursuit of the shadowy figure.
>Hopefully he can catch him/her(?) and find out what they wanted. Time
>passes slowly as you await his return. After 10 minutes you decide to
>take a look for yourself and exit the inn, glancing left and right for
>some sign of them. You ask the stable boy if he's seen the bard, Panem,
>and he says he went into the stables a few minutes ago. Tossing him a
>copper for his trouble, you go left and check out the attached stables
>only to find Panem lying unconscious (or worse) just inside the door.
>    Quickly you scan the dimly lit stables for his assailant, then bend
>down to examine him. He's just knocked out, thank Garda! He has a rather
>small round "goose egg" on the back of his head but it's barely a tap and
>you treat it with your Physicker skill and bring him around with some
>smelling salts from your kit. You ask him if he remembers what happened and
>he says:
>    "I was just coming out the door of the Inn and barely managed to spot a
>shadowy figure duck into the stables. I figured it must be the one who just
>left the Inn so I followed him. I listened at the stable door for a few
>seconds and didn't hear anything so I went in, knowing
>it connected with the back of the Inn and not wanting him to circle
>around to escape out the back. I stepped in and to the side, letting the
>door close behind me, but before my eyes could adjust to the dark something
>hit me from behind. He must have been waiting for me just behind the door.
>Sorry, Lar, I let you down. I know you wanted to ask
>him what he wanted."
>
>    Panem seems to shrink in on himself as he wrestles with his feelings
>of guilt and inadequacy. You, however, are too wrapped up in your thoughts
>to notice. You're pretty sure from your studies as a healer that that tiny
>little bump couldn't possibly have been strong enough to knock him
>unconscious. Either Panem is a lot weaker than you thought or
>something else clobbered him. You take him outside and examine his bump
>more thoroughly but find no punctures or traces of poison anywhere and
>he's sure nothing else hit him, he'd remember that. Not so much as a
>bee sting until "Wham!" the lights went out!
>
>    Hhmm? Contact poison?  Magic?  Gas?  Bad luck?
>
>   You steer Panem back into the Inn where you sit and sip ale while he
>recovers his wits. You decide to put thoughts of the stranger onto the
>back burner for now as the two of you discuss today's possible recruits.
>Panem definitely thinks you should recruit all three women, even if they
>couldn't fight, and it looks like they could. You think Panem wants them
>along for entirely the wrong reasons but you agree that they "look"
>promising and should be given the chance to prove themselves. Guard Capt.
>Verron himself vouched for the twins ability as archers and Circe
>was most impressive with the way she could go invisible. You've heard
>that's not one of the easier spells to learn and she did mention that she'd
>worked as a mercenary and had been directed to you by Sven BloodAxe. (and
>she was most stunningly beautiful, too, you think to yourself! But you
won't
>admit that to Panem.)
>    Yes, they could definitely add some much needed combat support for
>the front line.
>
>    Speaking of the front line, Volkan and Kerras were just the type of
>warriors you were hoping would apply, you think, and Panem agrees. They
>certainly seem strong and tough enough for the shock of battle.
>
>    Kwai Chang would definitely help out as another healer would really
>come in handy and he seems to know a bit more than he lets on, and it
>would be interesting to hear what he may let slip about his Order and
>his master, Sensei Yoshi, that enigmatic seer or mind-reader.
>
>    Eric "The Green" is a god-send in that of all the things to forget you
>forgot to specifically inquire about a trained scout! Thank Garda
>for watching out and lending a hand there.
>
>    Now, if you could only come up with another battle mage or maybe
>another scout, you think to yourself, you'd be sure you were ready.
>Your thoughts keep coming back to the shadowy figure who ducked out
>and then clobbered Panem when he followed him. Who is he and why did he
>do that? What does he want? Is he afraid of you or something? At least
>he didn't really hurt Panem, just subdued him, which probably means
>something but you aren't sure what.
>
>    You look up from your thoughts to see a confused Panem discussing his
>bill with the Innkeeper. Seems that someone paid his bill for him
>while you were talking and planning and left a short message for him
>with the barmaid. "Sorry, but I figured you had a hard enough head!",
>is written on a small scrap of papyrus.
>    Curiouser and curiouser you think!
>
>    When the recruits come that night, you and Panem sit them down for a
>large and well-lubricated feast to welcome them before you go into your
well
>rehearsed speech.
>
>    "I am Lar Axelrod, a warrior-priest of the Knights Templar of Garda the
>Protector and the All-Knowing One.  I have been sent here to open the way
>for Garda's enlightenment of the world through justice and knowledge.  I am
>recruiting a band to go on the mission of opening the roads south.  The
only
>thing I can offer you is a cut of anything we find and anything the Duke
>offers in our quest to open the roads south.  Garda has told me that in
>doing this you will all gain riches beyond reward.  Come join and destroy
>the foul creatures and men who keep us apart to gain the fruits of justice.
>    Will you join me as I accept everyone of you in the fulfillment of the
>Lord Garda's wish?"
>
>    Unanimously, they accept your offer without hesitation. They
>seem inclined to do it for the adventure alone and because it needs doing,
>as Volkan states quite loudly, although good-naturedly, a time
>or two. They seem to be quite an eager bunch and you hope their high
>spirits will last through the virtually guaranteed rough times to come.
>
>    You explain all about the audience with Duke Verron the next day and
>pass them each a "writ of passage" that Guard Captain Verron supplied you
>with just that afternoon. The writs will allow you and your companions to
be
>fully dressed in your armor and weapons when you meet the Duke tomorrow.
>Seems that part of the purpose behind the audience is so the Duke may
>inspect your equipment and decide if you are well prepared enough to give
>him good service. You can tell a lot about
>a person by the quality of their weapons and armor and how well they
>maintain them. You have no fear of your own gear passing muster and quietly
>offer a prayer to Garda that your new companions don't embarrass
>either themselves or you.
>
>    They seem impressed by the Duke's insightful planning and a bit
>thoughtful as you answer their questions about your own noble Order and
>it's devotion to justice and protecting the weak and downtrodden. Circe
>especially seems taken by the idea of "The strong protecting the weak"
>and so on. Still excitedly discussing tomorrow's audience and their part
>in this grande new adventure, they leave, promising to meet you before  the
>Duke's audience hall tomorrow. They seem to be buzzing about something and
>coax Panem to tag along with the lot of them for the rest
>of the evening.
>
>    You awaken, refreshed and eager, the next morning and set out early
>for the Duke's hall after a modest breakfast "on the house" for good luck.
>"Must be Garda's blessing", you think, to part an Innkeeper from his money
>so readily. When you get to the hall to announce your arrival
>to the captain of the guard, you are temporarily stunned, and speechless
>to see all your companions already there and awaiting you, and all wearing
>the crossed Hammer & Plow of Garda on their tunics!
>    Panem steps forward and says,
>
>"Lar Axelrod, Warrior-Priest of Garda 'The Protector', on behalf of all
>of us, I ask you to accept us into your Order as lay members, that we may
>serve Garda alongside you, and in so doing, spread justice and peace
>in his name. None of us are priests, as you well know, but you said that
>your Order accepts all warriors who uphold the good and help to spread
>peace and justice in the land. We are all warriors, in our own way, and
>ask for Garda's blessing before we meet the Duke."
>
>    At that, they all kneel down on one knee and look at you, ...waiting.
>
>   Overcome with pride (but in a good way) you smile wider than you thought
>possible and draw your Warhammer, swearing them all to "his"
>service and declaring them brothers and sisters in spirit. Thus emboldened,
>you await you audience.
>
>   You don't wait long.
>
>    On the day of the audience, with the band behind you, you step forward
>and state to the Duke:
>
>(Bow) "Your eminence, my name is Lar Axelrod, Warrior-Priest of Garda.
>I am here in front of you on behalf of my order, The Templar Knights of
>Garda the Protector.  I have been sent here to do the bidding of my Lord
and
>Protector, the Great and Beneficent Garda, Guardian of the weak, Champion
of
>the poor, Lord of Paladins, and the All-knowing One.  I have been sent here
>to do service for you, my pontiff, and my Lord master.  I have been sent to
>offer my services to you to assist you in expanding your great realm
>southward.  To assist you in opening up a port on the South Bay.  In this
>way, you will be able to assist my order in their quest to destroy the foul
>creatures that assail us and prevent you from easier trade with the South.
>
>    I present to you my sworn companions, in Garda's service:
>
>Panem, Bard and adventurer! Our chronicler and morale leader.
>
>Kwai Chang, Healer and adventurer! Our conscience, I believe.
>
>Volkan and Kerras, mighty Warriors! Our Mace and Shield in battle.
>
>Erik "The Green", Ranger and Scout! Our keen eyes and ears.
>
>Circe Dar'Keel, Wizard and adventurer! Our heavy artillery.
>
>Anne and Anna, Archers and adventurers! They guard our backs.
>
>and myself, Lar Axelrod, Warrior-Priest and party leader.
>
>    A more competent and well balanced group you shall never find,
>in my own humble opinion.
>
>    The only thing I ask directly from you my lord is to sustain my
brothers
>here with me with both physical and economic means.  As for me, I only
>require the physical.  We are at your will, O lord."
>
>    "What say ye?" (bowing)
>
>    The Duke looks everyone over quite carefully and it is obvious that
>he's impressed with the caliber of your group and it's equipment. He
>has a hurried discussion with the captain and gives you his decision.
>
>"Lar Axelrod, Warrior-Priest of Garda, and companions. Know you that I
>am most impressed by your turnout this day and that you seem more than
>qualified to enter my service. In fact, Master Fenolan, Sven Bloodaxe,
>Sensei Yoshi, and my own cousin Guard Captain Nathan Verron here have
>all spoken highly of your group. It is remarkable to find such a quick
>joining of companions go so smoothly and so well.
>
>    I offer you each initially, the rate of $100 per week, with Lar
>as your leader at a rate of $200 per week. In time we shall divine
>your true worth and compensate you commensurately. For now, my clerk
>will provide you each with one month's wages for any expenses you may have,
>or any items you feel you may require. Your room and board is
>henceforth assured in the militia barracks with your own rooms set
>aside together on the second floor. Please feel free to advise Capt.
>Verron of any special needs you may have.
>
>   It is my intention to use your band as my "trouble shooters" and
>allow you some flexibility in operations. I will have Captain Verron
>brief you on several problems that have arisen of late and see what
>you can make of them. I shall see you all again in three days to see
>what decisions you have made.
>
>Welcome to my service!"
>
>with that, he has Capt. Verron show you out and you find two clerks
>already waiting for you with your "signing bonus" all prepared.
>$400 per person and an even more impressive $800 for you! You assure
>Capt. Verron, even as your companions eagerly examine their new wealth,
>that it will be well spent to improve their gear even further.
>
>    He leads you to your private area on the second floor or the barracks
>and tells you he'll be by later with some reports and maps
>for your perusal. Duke Verron has already provided a meal and wine
>for your celebration.
>
>----------------< end turn 02 >-------------------
>
>Game On! (reports to follow)
>
>Mack


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