Navero 24
From: dparsons@jarthur.claremont.edu (Daniel Parsons) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp Subject: Navero XXIV Keywords: Navero, of the Correct and Unalterable Way Message-ID: <3804@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Date: 17 Jan 90 03:31:50 GMT Sender: dparsons@jarthur.Claremont.EDU Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711 Lines: 231
We had some more Dragons to deal with...
- Dania, female 1/2-elf MU, 4th level
- Kortul, male human fighter, 3rd level
- Razuli, male human fighter, 3rd level
- Arlor, male dwarf thief, 3rd level
- Kory Silvertongue, male elf bard, 2nd level
- Topash Raycin, male elf druid, 3rd level
The dragons would probably not wake up anytime soon; so, there was no great hurry to go and see them. We spent some time around the body of the baby, securing teeth or scales or whatever else we thought might be worth something, and waded to the other side and walked to the Dragons' grove. We were quieter than usual - this was serious business - but Dragons do sleep heavily, and until we were actually entered the grove we had no doubt they would not hear us.
Razuli: "Hey Wizzerd, I saw you pulling some bits of things out of the boat. You thinking of getting Navero resurrected again?"
Dania: "It'd be a good idea. He's reliable."
Kory: (Stifles laughter) "Yes, indeed, you could sure rely on ol' Nav for some things."
Dania: "Well, we are at least going to try."
Razuli: "Whafor? Do you remember how much it COST last time? And they were being nice to us! Forget it. Not this time. If he gets himself killed this much, he just ain't worth having around. Besides, we got us another healing-type person right here, and one who can do something else, too. Besides blow it, I mean."
Topash: "It is only reasonable, Dania. May I call you Dania? All things are born, and die, each in their own time. It is the natural way of the world, which most priestly orders disrupt with these 'resurrections' they perform. Surely you appreciate that all things are only part of the endless cycles of birth and..."
Dania: "Look, we are going to try. Maybe it isn't time."
Razuli: "How are you gonna resurrect a bicuspid?"
Arlor: "I dunno. It'd cost a lotta money. We're strapped, yup."
Dania: "If I wanted your..."
Kortul: "Close enough for them to hear?"
Topash: "Why, I believe so, yes."
Kortul: "Good. Quiet."
We entered the grove, noting the tracks of the Baby Black, and the occasional larger track. This was more than enough to encourage silence and a light tread. After several minutes of careful travel, we came within sight of the pair. They were almost invisible, lying in a depression under some hanging boughs; they were both about the same size, each a bit smaller than the Red Dragon had been. We had no idea how old this made them. They were both fast asleep, their necks curled together, sleeping claw in claw.
Kory: "Awww, how sweet. I see a nice place for a fireball."
Topash: "I can call up a lightning bolt to strike the spot you point out quite nicely, and it would not be nearly so messy and destructive as the random blast of misguided magic you speak of. Besides, that way, the warriors can stand near it to strike them as they awaken."
Razuli: "Wait, wait, wait, what this about warriors being anywhere near those things? Don't scare me like that; that was in very poor taste!"
Kory: "You get the one on the left. Meanwhile, li'l ol' me will be in those trees over there, singing a battle song to encourage your efforts."
Kortul: "Need sword, not cheerleader. You go with him."
Kory: "WHAT?!"
Dania: (Smacks Kory with her staff) "Keep your voice down, you idiot!"
Kory: "I have been insulted! And assaulted! You think you're so tough, eh? Well, I challenge you! Kazoos at 20 paces!"
Topash: "Unless you have something constructive to say, I suggest a minimum of noise. How about this: Dania and myself in the bushes..."
Razuli: "Hey, why can't I get that part?"
Topash: "Because you are inappropriately armed."
Razuli: "How would you know?"
Dania: "Shut up. Topash over there, and call your lightning. Then, I'll be over here to magic missile them, and you all beat on them. Kory, sing your battle song, but only after they're awake."
Kortul: "Arlor, Razuli, get one on left. Looks weaker."
Razuli: "OK, I can live with that."
Kory: "You hope."
We moved into our positions; Topash silently moved to the left into some bushes and began to prepare a Call Lightning spell. Kortul went slowly and carefully over to the Dragon on the right, mindful not to make noise. Arlor and Razuli, less heavily armed and armored, moved more quickly into their positions by the leftmost one. Dania stayed put, and Kory went to the right and hid behind a tree. The bough-covered depression made hitting them while they were within an obviously ineffective approach; hopefully, the lightning would encourage them to quickly leave the hole. Clouds gathered slowly above; flashes of electricity began to spark; an odd smell rose and the air seemed to acquire a certain charge...
The lightning struck, flashing through the heads of the two sleeping dragons, making their great bodies stiffen in a paroxysm of pain. With a great snarling scream, two heads sprang up, followed by wings and claws. Kortul took one great swing at his dragon, his huge blade biting into it's forelimb. Razuli stabbed the other in the belly; Arlor stabbed nearer the base of the tail. Two magic missiles flew out, one to each beast. Kory's song burst out, rousing and enboldening and slightly off key.
Topash called on the boughs that had spread over the pit to hold the Dragon's down; he didn't expect much, but maybe it would buy crucial seconds. Dania cast a web over the neck and head of Razuli's dragon. Kortul swung twice; his first strike glanced off the Dragon's neck, but the second caught it full on the nose, making it bellow with pain. Razuli and Arlor stabbed again, Razuli drawing blood from it's flank. The Dragons exploded out of the pit together, snapping the restraining branches like toothpicks. One lashed out with it's claw at Razuli, ripping into his arm, while tearing away the webbing with it's other claw. The other turned to Kortul and spit; Kortul avoided the glob, but the stuff splashed and spattered him.
The two spread their great wings, and seemed about to take to the air; Topash called the humble creeping shrubbery of the swamp floor to hold them, which it did, for a time. More magic missiles streaked out of the bushes. Razuli got a lucky hit on his dragon and snapped one hollow wing bone; Arlor stabbed at it's underbelly, but the short sword did not enter. Kortul missed completely. Kortul's dragon tore it's feet loose and leaped to the skies, all the while keeping it's beady eyes fixed on Kortul. The other bellowed it's pain and frustration, and, howling, leaped full onto Razuli, clawing and biting and tearing at it's tiny tormentor. Razuli was barely able to preserve his own precious hide.
The airborne dragon looked to it's mate. It knocked Arlor away with it's tail, stunning him, and then tried to snatch Kortul up in it's claw; it missed. The other dragon lunged for Razuli, driving him to the ground and biting at him. A Web appeared on the airborne dragon's wings, so that it fell, nearly on top of Kortul. Kortul smashed it twice over the head, until it lay still.
Razuli ran away from the Dragon; it did not pursue, but instead turned toward the tree where Kory was still loudly playing. It never got the chance to do anything, however; Kortul stabbed it in the gut from behind, and with a final hiss, it expired.
Kory: "All right! We be bad!"
Razuli: "Medic!"
Kortul: (Sneers)
Arlor: "Money!"
Dania: "Is there any loot in that hole?"
Topash: "Yes, look. I shall see to our stricken companion's revivification."
Kortul: "Good pile. Coin, other stuff."
Dania: "Great. Sort through it, and see if there's enough to buy Navero a resurrection."
Topash: "I thought that issue had been settled."
Kory: "By no means! Let us all sit and argue about it for a longish while. I personally favor bringing back dear ol' darling Navero. What is money if you don't have someone to make fun of? I mean, lets be reasonable here."
Razuli: "C'mon, he was practically useless. But if you really want, I guess we can try. I hope they take teeth."
Dania: "You really shouldn't talk about getting rid of all the people who are useless, dear."
Topash: "I really must oppose this. This defiance of the cycle of nature runs rampant, but denying the natural course of birth and death is morally indefensible. I do not favor any sort of resurrection of the body; it should return to nature, the mother of all."
Razuli: "Look, kids, I'm not gonna end my life as fertilizer."
Dania: "You already are."
Kory: "Ah... I just love lively, well-reasoned debate."
Topash: "Perhaps we can compromise on this. It can be arranged to have him reincarnated, if you really want him back."
Dania: "Yeah, right. Have him come back as a beaver."
Kory: "Well, he likes water. Look how many times he fell out of the boat!"
Dania: "Oh, shut up. What's in the pile?"
The pile contained quite a bit of coin, broken pottery, shards of broken glass, colorful pebbles, and other bright shiny refuse; a mixture of the valuable and valueless, thrown together haphazardly. We set to work separating it; piles of gold stuff, silver, possibly-magical items, and old junk. We were in the midst of this when, right out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the earth nearby, with a great flash and cloud of smoke. The earth trembled as if a God had flicked it with his smallest finger, and we were all knocked off our feet and sprawled on the ground.
Awesome Reptilian Voice: "HHUMMANNSSS!!!"
Party: All weapons mysteriously find their way into our hands.
(Smoke clears, reveals Awesome Reptilian Bipedal Figure.)
Awesome Reptilian Voice: "I am Thor, favored of the Snake Lords Who Must Not Be Named!! You have been busily dissipating the Reptilian Lifeforce in this part of the world!! This will come to an End!!" (Raises Truly Awesome-looking War Hammer.)
Dania: "Oh shit, we're dead."
Dan Parsons
"Jeff, isn't your pet iguana named Thor?"
"Why, yes, he is. Why do you ask?"
