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Date: Wed, 4 Jan 1995 19:00:52 -0800
From: logos@cathay.esd.sgi.com (Jed Hartman)
Message-Id: <199501050300.TAA06833@cathay.esd.sgi.com>
To: aaron@cs.swarthmore.edu
Subject: game.txt (95K)
Status: RO

[This is a reconstruction of two files (now concatenated together) from the
old PR1ME computer system at Swarthmore College, created by SWILfolk in 1988
or so.  This file was reconstructed from a set of five MacWrite (or possibly
text) files which contained most but not all of the text; missing segments
were typed in from hardcopy by Jed Hartman '90.  For completeness' sake, the
breaks between files in the five-file format are indicated by rows of
asterisks in this file.]


There's lots of space here now, so I'm going to start a game.  It's a lot
like a cross between a costory and D&D.  I'm the DM; you are the
players.  If you want, post a short description of yourself before your
first action.  I will tell you about your surroundings and actions of
NPC's.  Feel free to make up a character and join in!
               --The Supreme Being (TSB)

Your party is walking along a dusty road.  It's been three days since
you last saw any sign of civilization; that was when you left the
peasant's hovel in southern Klept and crossed the border into Paran.
One of you is wanted by the Kleptan police for miscellaneous
acts of larceny, robbery, burglary, murder, grand theft horsecart,
slovenliness, loitering, indecent exposure, and mopery with intent to
gawk.  That one knows who (s)he is; I don't have to remind you.  The
others are all unsure why they're accompanying each other, but the
basic idea seems to be to get far away from Klept.

There is a young man in a dark brown hooded cloak standing by the
wayside.  He glances up as you draw near and hails you:  "Kind
travelers, do you have any water that a poor pilgrim might quench his
thirst with?"

[Adrian the Oblique is dressed in his usual faded blue cloak,
 scarred studded leather armor, grey pants, and mauve tunic.
 he has a fluorescent blue necktie with orange polka dots tied around
 his head Rambo-style.  he has a dagger sticking out of his boot and a
 hand-and-a-half sword on his belt.  not to mention sundry concealed
 weapons.  his cloak pin has a cloisonne design of what appears to be
 a container marked "Yoplait" at an angle.]
 Adrian the Oblique looks at the man in the dark brown hooded cloak and
keeping one hand on his sword, swings down his backpack and says
in a slightly amused tone of voice, "Gin, vodka, Evian, or Vichy?"

[Adrian's brother Hadrian is/was obviously a noble of some sort.  His
 clothes are not in the best condition but of much better quality than
 Adrian's.  His mithril chain mail is well-kept and the long sword on his belt
has a strange, angular design traced in platinum on its scabbard. He is
quiet, yet commanding with short hair and grey eyes.]
 Hadrian stops short and abruptly asks in a soft but somehow tense
voice, "You aren't one of those Kleptoes, are you?"

The stranger glances at Hadrian, then turns to Adrian and asks hesitantly,
"Um, you wouldn't happen to have a bottle of Chateau d'Line '67 about,
would you?"  His strange grey eyes have a wistful, hopeful look about
them, as though he hasn't tasted the vintage in years.

[Smith-Barney, a Halfling from East Klept, is wearing his usual attire
of a Klept U. sweat-shirt and faded green golf pants that, despite
Smith-Barney's size still fall far short of covering dirty ankles and
unkempt foot-hair.  Swinging idly from his belt is the umbrella he
keeps as a reminder of better days]
  "Poor fellow" Smith-Barney drawls, "it is obvious that you have
suffered.  Due to that currently sad state of my own finances I am
unfortunately unable to provide you with any of the delicate drink of
which you crave, however feel free to join us so that when my fortunes
return to their normal state I could indulge you of this pleasure and
make up for my unavoidable impropriety."

[Sarah-Sue Simmons is a tall, slim, stately, regal, adjective-ridden,
haunting-eyed young human woman.  Her worn travelling cloak belies her
obviously royal background.  She speaks with a distinct upper-class
British accent.]
   "_I_ don't think we should trust him," Sarah-Sue declares haughtily
to the rest of the party.  "He looks too...common."  The word is the
worst insult she knows, obviously.  "A common beggar, that's all he is.
Leave him.  Let us continue."  This last is said in the commanding
voice of one used to being obeyed.  She doesn't wait for a reply, but
turns and starts to continue slowly along the road.

[Adrian and Hadrian's sister Adrienne the Suppletive is an elvish
woman in early middle age (for an elf) with the look of one given to
_la_vie_nomadique_.  Although she travels light, her backpack and belt
pouches contain almost all her possessions.  She is wearing a cloak and
hood over a suit of leather armor which has clearly been of great use
to her on many occasions, and carrying a vicious-looking longsword at
her belt.]  Adrienne remains impassive, watching the others intently.

  Hadrian, realizing that the stranger has snubbed him, steps back and
lets Adrian and Smith-Barney do the talking.  Keeping an eye on
Sarah-Sue Simmons, he consults Adrienne in hushed tones.

  Adrian mournfully shakes his head.  "I was in a hurry to leave, if
you know what I mean, and barely managed to pack these bare essentials.
But the load limits on these roadways prohibit me from carrying much
anyway.  Have you ever had the good fortune to taste a burgandy from
that incredible vinyard of Arles?"

The stranger closes his eyes blissfully and murmurs, "Exquisite!"
He stands, enraptured, for a moment; then his eyes snap open and he
mumbles, "Never mind that.  Do you have any water?  I haven't had a
drink in days.  I'm dying of thirst!"
[note from TSB: Adrian and Hadrian should bear in mind that they are
elves, unless Adrienne meant "sister" in a metaphorical or religious
sense.]

   Sarah-Sue, about 8 meters away by now, realizes suddenly that nobody
is following her.  She swivels gracefully on her well-bred left leg and
angrily demands, "Well?  What are you waiting for?  Let us be on our
way!"

Smith-Barney looks at the stranger with detached sympathy, slowly turns
to Sarah-Sue and firmly says "You may go ahead if you must, but it must
be remembered that looks can be deceiving.  I think that this stranger
is well worthy of our note and despite our impoverished state we should
begrudge him nothing.  There is much cruelty in the hearts of the
unfeeling."  So saying, Smith-Barney pulls his wineskin from beneath
his sweatshirt and offers it to the stranger.

   Hadrian turns and gives Sarah-Sue a piercing look.  "Wealth and
prestige does not guarantee that a person will be worthy of respect."
It is obvious that he does not think very much of the
noblewoman.  he turns back and eyes the hooded man suspiciously.  "Nor
is the converse true."

   "no, plain water is much better for slaking thirst," interupts
Adrian.  he reaches into his pack and flips the Stranger a small,
opaque container marked "Evian".  "we aren't exactly in the middle of a
desert, oh mysterious one.  do you lack initiative or what?"

The stranger grabs at the opaque container, opens it, and takes a long
draught from it.  "Aaah.  That was good," he declares.  Turning to
Adrian, he smiles, "Many thanks, kind sir; you may well have saved my
life.  No, this area is hardly a desert, but the water is undrinkable.
It contains some kind of strong magic; any humanoid who drinks it
begins to lose the power of speech, and it is said that worse things
happen to those who continue to drink it."  He pauses, then, with a
start, says, "My apologies.  In my thirst, I seem to have forgotten to
introduce myself.  My name is Wenzit; my occupation, traveling."
[note from TSB: I have no idea what Evian is.  I assume it's water?]

   [note from Adrian:  yes Evian is the brand name of a french mineral
water.  It's very pure and very good and comes in little opaque plastic
containers with tear-off foil tops.]  "eliminates the power of speech,
hmm?" muses Adrian.  "(perhaps we should have Sarah-Sue Simmons drink
some)" he adds under his breath.  he narrows his eyes.   "But what
inspired you to tour this land?  i imagine the scenery is splendid and
the noise pollution is minimal..."

   Sarah-Sue interrupts Adrian's probing query.  "Very well," she sniffs.
/The commoner may join us if he wishes.  But let us be on our way, and
soon!  We should be able to get another ten miles from Klept before
dark."  She does not deign to introduce herself, but gestures
peremptorily for the party to get a move on.

"If what you say is true, Wenzit, then we are hardly equipped to
venture far into Paran." states Smith-Barney seriously, "However it
appears that we have few other options.  Three weeks ago my two
sisters, Smith-Wesson and Smith-Corona, ventured this way in order to
set up shop in Paran while I finished off business in Klept.  They must
be in serious trouble by now."

The mysterious hooded man frowns grimly.  "I'm afraid you may be
right, good sir.  Though not all of Paran is thus afflicted.  What
region did your sisters travel to?"  He doesn't seem to have heard
Adrian's question.

Nervously fiddling with his umbrella, Smith-Barney looks worriedly at
the stranger and manages to say "I believe they were headed toward Sole
Bay in East Paran where it was rumored that others of my kind resided.
But I guarantee you not that they arrived, for I have received no word
from them since they left."  So saying, and seeing that the stranger has
quenched his thirst, Smith-Barney takes a long draught from his
wineskin and returns it to its pouch in the sweatshirt.

   Adrian realizes his query is irrelevant, and also realizes the
gravity of Wenzit's information.  he turns to consult with Hadrian and
Adrienne, trusting in the better judgement of his elders.

   Hadrian speaks up:  "While Sarah-Sue is certainly correct that
moving away from Klept is important, Wenzit's news forces us to
reconsider Paran as a worthwhile place of refuge.  However, since
Smith-Barney has relatives in Paran who might well be in danger, is it
our responsibility to risk our own mission to save them?"

Adrienne, knowing full well the REAL reason behind Hadrian's sudden
bout of wanderlust, snickers behind his back at that word "mission".
"Considering that our 'mission' is merely to stay out of Klept until
the statute of limitations has run, I don't see how we'd risk it by
going to Paran."  She is quite clearly in this for the adventure, and
Smith-Barney seems to be offering some.

   Adrian laughs, "Yeah Hadrian, considering that in order to reach
any other political asylum we'd have to go back through Klept, Paran
doesn't seem too bad.  You always did like to dodge trouble -- hey
Adrienne, remember when Dad was away for the weekend and Hadrian
"borrowed" the command chariot and razed Carthage?  boy he was out of
town for quite a few days after that..."
   [Note from Adrian:  If Adrienne is only on this trip for the
adventure, Hadrian's reason for leaving must have suggested that his
presence would attract possible danger which means that Hadrian's
existence alone offered adventure.  So clearly Adrienne is rather
amoral as well.  Adrian on the other hand is an all-around swell guy.]

Wenzit carefully deposits the now-empty Evian container in his belt
pouch as he speaks to Smith-Barney.  "I believe that Sole Bay is beyond
the eastern edge of this contaminated-water region; however, the area
is spreading.  And the main roads from Klept are all in the central and
western area.  Unless your sisters knew of a pass through the
mountains, I'm afraid they must have passed through here."  He turns to
Adrian.  "And you are right in your assertion that you'd have to pass
back through Klept to avoid Paran.  The way west from here, the way you
would have to go to get to Dys, passes through the center of the
enchanted-water area.  And it's a long way south across Paran."

    Hadrian's nostrils flare with anger.  "_I_ dodge trouble?  What
about the time Dad told you to conquer Sicily and you got lost and
conquered Sri Lanka instead?  how come you moved out so quickly after
that?!  and as for Klept, the next time we come this way we're sacking
it!  Ok, Wenzit, how do you suggest we traverse Paran?"

   "QUIET!" commands Sarah-Sue.  "Let us depart.  Now!"  And she turns
and begins walking away again, her long golden tresses glittering
quietly in the breeze.

   There is an ever-so-soft "zzzzzing!" as Adrian whips his bastard
sword from the scabbard and lunges toward Sarah-Sue's back in order to
plunge it into her slim, supple, body.  When he is halfway there he
suddenly appears to reconsider this move and collapses onto the road
with a thoughtful expression on his face.  He sheathes the sword and
straightens his tie/headband and leaning his head back, glares at the
shapely, golden-haired aristocrat with unmasked upside-down loathing
mixed with tolerance.

   Hadrian appears to have missed Adrian's abortive assassination; he
is deep in thought and is following Sarah-Sue at a distance while
drawing strange diagrams in the road and talking quietly to himself.
he seems to be saying things along the line of, "If I muster a
battalion of unicorn calvary we can storm the garrison while
strategically gaining control of the main thoroughfares... a squad of
elite infantry should be enough to take out each gate... I wonder what
I should engrave on my triumphal arch.... Hadrian the Acute?  hmmmm"

"Before I wander further, I would like to know what the stranger thinks
we should do, and more importantly where we will next be able to find
clean water." announces Smith-Barney balancing his umbrella impatiently
on his index finger.  "I get distinct pleasure out of the fine art of
word play, and would be extremely distraught, not to mention mostly
helpless without my voice." So saying Smith-Barney leans on the
umbrella and waits for the stranger to respond.

"Well," begins Wenzit, stepping out after Hadrian and Sarah-Sue, "actually,
I was hoping that you kind folk might be able to help me to rid the
water of its curse.  All that my sources have been able to gather is
that there is a powerful enchantress in the region who believes in
simplicity above all and wishes people to return to beastlike savagery.
She must, of course, be stopped at all costs.  I was on my way to Klept
to try to convince someone of the danger when you chanced along.  And a
good thing you did; I'm all out of water, as I said before.  Would you
consider aiding me in a noble and worthwhile venture for a good cause?
I assure you," he adds, addressing Smith-Barney specifically, "that I
will do everything in my power to find out what has become of your
sisters."

   Adrian picks himself up and matches strides with Wenzit.  When he
hears the phrase "might be able to help me to rid the water of its
curse", he cocks his head and looks expectantly at Sarah-Sue.  Then
switches over to Smith-Barney.  then looks back at Sarah-Sue.

"I would be delighted to be of assistance." announces Smith-Barney,
"but do we really have the necessary water to get the job done without
dying of thirst?"  In order to keep up with Wenzit, Smith-Barney breaks
into a jog.

   Sarah-Sue smiles softly to herself as her sharp ears pick up the
unmistakeable but slight sound of a halfling breaking into a jog.  She
pauses, waiting for the rest of the party to catch up now that they're
following, and removes a grey crystal flask from the folds of her
traveling cloak.  She drinks from the flask, then replaces it
carefully.

   "It appears that in order to traverse Paran it will be necessary to
defeat this enchantress, or at least coerce her into changing her
mind," muses Hadrian.  "Does the party agree that our best option seems
to be assisting Wenzit?"

"I agree", agrees Adrienne, with an intense sidelong glance at
Sarah-Sue.  "This enchantress has got to be stopped.  I vote we go.
Anybody else?"

Wenzit worriedly answers Smith-Barney.  "I certainly hope so.  How much
water do you folk have?  And, if I may be so bold as to ask, what is
your name, good halfling?"

   [did Sarah-Sue do her bit with the flask in full view?  if so,
Adrian, with an interested look on his face, takes careful note of
where it rests within the folds of her traveling cloak.]  Adrian moves
to the side of the road and uses his sword to obtain himself a sizable
staff.  He carefully shaves it until smoothe with his hunting knife and
gives it a whirl or two to check if the balance is right.

   [though Sarah-Sue was attempting to be surreptitious about it, she
wasn't trying very hard, so anyone who was looking probably saw her]

"Ah yes, my fine sir, forgive me for being so forgetful.  I am
Smith-Barney, of the East Klept branch of the Smiths.  My heritage is
long and honored, it is merely the evilness of one of my employees who
embezzled my fortune that I stand before you appearing so bedraggled."
proudly announces Smith-Barney, taking a second off from jogging to
complete a full bow.  "Unfortunately, due to my situation, I carry but
two wine flasks, which are secured to the inside of my sweatshirt for
safety."

   "Well, I've got plenty of liquid refreshment, but I'm a little short
on edibles," says Adrian.  "Has the food been affected at all?"

  Suddenly, few feet ahead, a small figure crawls onto the path.  It
appears to be a young elven child.  He or she (the child is too small
and emaciated to tell gender just yet) has barely made it to the road,
seems to be suffering from severe thirst and is as terrified as his/her
weakness permits.

   Sarah-Sue rushes forward.  "Oh, you poor thing!" she coos in a
well-bred but maternal voice.  "Whatever can be the matter?  Here, are
you thirsty?"  She again removes the flask from the cryptic folds of
her cloak and attempts to pour some liquid into the child's mouth.

Wenzit and the others arrive at the spot moments later.  Wenzit has
explained to Adrian that the local plant and animal life seems to be
suffering no ill effects; nor are people who eat them.  He commiserates
with Smith-Barney on the state of his finances and liquid refreshment.
As the party reaches Sarah-Sue and the elven child, he glances down and
registers astonishment, apparently at the child's appearance and at
Sarah-Sue's reaction.

   With a typically indecipherable smirk, Adrian says, "How kind of
them to send a spy for us to unmercifully torture and interrogate."  He
moves toward the couple with staff at the ready.

"Well, what have we here?" quickly states Smith-Barney, interposing
himself between Adrian and the child.  "I suggest that Adrian might
serve as watch because the child appears to have been chased, and we
must not be surprised while tending to the child's needs."

   Adrian's voiceless reply is to move on up the road a little ways,
scouting the roadside for villainous elfchild-molesters.

   Hadrian likewise draws his sword and moves towards the place where
the child crawled out from.

**********

Wenzit bends over the child.  "Who are you, young one?  What has
happened to you?" he queries, urgently.

   Sarah-Sue tenderly holds the child and tries to pour more of the liquid
(it looks like water) in her flask into its mouth.  "There, there," she
says gently, in her normal upper-class British accent.

   After glancing back at Sarah-Sue being patronizing and undignified,
Adrian makes retching noises and says, "(Bleah!  Bleah!)" as he
searches for foul fiends to fiercely fight.

Adrienne rushes up to the child and tries gently to take it from Sarah-
Sue.  "Excuse me, but I think that as an elf myself, and a mother of
two, I should handle this matter."  She unhooks a small flask from her
belt and opens it, saying to Sarah-Sue, "You can't give an elvish child
in this state _water_!", and to the child, "Now, here.  I've got a
cordial for you.  Here, drink this.  You're going to be all right."
She offers it the flask [which (note to TSB) does in fact contain some
elvish brew or other generally thought to be wholesome, nourishing,
etc.]

"Indeed, indeed, this does indeed seem to be a foul situation where
even children are not exempt from the terrible curse of the land.  This
child may not even be able to speak to us and tell us what has
happened." notes Smith-Barney, nervously looking from the child to
Adrian's efforts to kill the shrubbery.

The child, who had apparently passed out under Sarah-Sue's
administrations, now awakens, looking straight up into Adrienne's
face.  The child begins to scream in terror and fights feebly to escape
Adrienne's hold.  It appears to be crying, "askreebuk, askreebuk!"
[note to TSB et al. -- this word is in a language that none in the
party recognize, but the negative connotations of it are clear.]

[Note from Adrian -- TO TSB?  implying that this child is not an NPC
but yet another player character?]  Adrian looks sharply at the child,
with a seemingly offended-and-dangerous look.

Wenzit looks grim.  "Something has obviously happened to her," he
declares, "but apparently she has not been drinking the enchanted
water.  Do any of you understand what she's saying?"  Not waiting for a
reply, he lowers himself to one knee and places a gentle palm on the
child's forehead.  He closes his eyes and concentrates.  The child
begins to calm down.

[note to Adrian -- so, I joined late!]  The child stops screaming and
begins to calm down.  Then it suddenly pulls away from Wenzit and looks
at him suspiciously, shaking its head as if to clear it.  With a
fearful glance at both Wenzit and Adrienne, the child walks unsteadily
away form them.  It sees Adrian, goes to him and wraps its thin arms around
his knees, clinging tightly for protection and making softer, comforted
sounds which sound like, "lamoo, weerah lamoo."

   Hadrian has a very amused look on his face.

Adrian is suspicious, bewildered, and at a loss for what to do or say
(a rare situation indeed!).

Adrienne recorks her flask and puts it away with an emphatic "Hmph!",
as if to say, "This is one kid that I'm not making brownies for for a
long while."  "Suffer the little children," she admonishes Adrian.

"As long as you do not make the little children suffer," adds Wenzit
mysteriously.  "She seems to have suffered a great deal.  I have relieved
some of her pain, but she seems to be in no condition to travel.  On
the other hand, it might be well-night impossible to return to Klept
with her."  He ponders the situation grimly, then approaches the child
again.  "Can you speak to us, little one?  We shall not harm you."

"I wonder whether the kid's one of those Paranoids," says Adrienne,
finally understanding it all.

The child looks at Wenzit curiously.  It is much more relaxed now that
it is with Adrian.  It seems to realize that Wenzit is addressing it,
but does not understand what he said.  "Trayu fih qweelisss?"  it asks
Wenzit, rubbing its head affectionately against Adrian's leg.  It tugs
at Adrian's arm and demands, "Yipnahr!  Lamoo, yip-heg-nahr!"  It seems
to want to be picked up.

"Well, this looks much more encouraging." chuckles Smith-Barney,
comming out of a long deep thought.  "Although the child has suffered
considerably, by caring for it we may gain a valuable ally in this
inhospitable land, but this indeed does put quite a strain on our water
situation.  Also, the child seems to know something about Adrian the
rest of us do not.  Why don't you carry the waif, Adrian, so that we may be
on our way without further delay."

   In a state of shock, Adrian carefully picks up the youth and carries
him/her with his left arm, leaving his staff arm free.

"That's nice.  I never thought you had it in you.  Perhaps I've
misjudged you, my good person." beams Smith-Barney, turning and walking
up the road happily whistling to himself.

The child wraps its arms around Adrian's neck, nuzzles his cheek
affectionately to thank him, and falls asleep.

   "Let us continue, then!" admonishes Sarah-Sue irritably.  "The longer
we wait, the more likely we are to run out of water."  So saying, she
rotates upon one boot-clad foot and follows Smith-Barney.

Wenzit comments, "Indeed," and joins her.  But his brow is lined in
though, and he pays little attention to his surroundings.

Hadrian brings up the rear of the party, sword drawn.  He gives his
brother a look of grim amusement before resuming his careful scan of
the surrounding countryside.  [Wenzit has brown lines?]

Now that things seem to be back to their relative normal, Smith-Barney
takes the time to really observe his surrounding while proceding along
the road so as to remember them should he pass by this way again.
Although, he thinks to himself wistfully, the chances of that are slim.
(Could TSB give us a general description of where we are walking
toward/through?)

[notes from TSB: Wenzit has a lined brow.  Sorry about the typo.  It's
fixed now.  The countryside is relatively open, despite bushes and
small trees lining the side of the dirt road.  The day is bright and clear,
and somewhat hot (though not overly so).  The party is journeying
through slight rolling foothills.  Beyond the vegetation by the
roadside is mostly grassland, with trees sparsely placed here and
there.  In the distance ahead, the trees grow thicker together; the
road goes through the middle of the woods.  This road is relatively
little-traveled, and there seem to be few animals about.  It's early
afternoon.  (you stopped for lunch an hour or so before meeting Wenzit)
You don't really know where you're going to, but Wenzit seems to think
this is the right direction, so you continue.]

There is the thump of running feet on grass.  A human is rapidly moving
(read:  running like all hell) towards the lovely Sarah-Sue Simmons.
He/she is humanoid, and his/her drawn scimitar seems to indicate an
intention of rending a large and gaping wound in Sarah-Sue's abdominal
region as well as her seductively scented neck.

   Curiously enough, Adrian doesn't seem to notice the newcomer at all.

[another quick note from TSB: in the distance behind you are the
mountains along the Klept/Paran border.  Just thought you'd like to
know.  Is this new arrival a human or a humanoid?]

Having drawn closer to the party, the new arrival is seen to be a
rather dark looking human with very white teeth and hair tied back in a
ponytail.  The edge on the scimitar looks quite keen, almost spiffy.

Smith-Barney quickly opens his umbrella, and, using it as a shield,
advances slowly toward the newcomer saying "We mean you no harm, but we
can not allow you to harm a party member.  Please put the scimitar
away.  Thank you!"

The rather uncouth-looking aggressor doesn't seem to hear
Smith-Barney's request.  He/she is within 15 feet of Sarah-Sue now.

Hadrian is moving towards the Moorish fellow.  Reluctantly, but he's
getting there.

Adrienne's blood is up.  She draws her longsword and rushes to
interpose herself between this newcomer and Sarah-Sue.  [Question to
TSB and/or Sarah-Sue:  What the hell is Sarah-Sue doing about this?]

   Sarah-Sue has turned even paler than her normally pale hue.  She seems
to be muttering something under her breath.  She waves her right arm in
a broad sweeping motion, and there is a bright flash of light behind
the newcomer.  "I missed!" she gasps in disbelief.  She begins to
mumble to herself again.

Adrienne smirks, having suspected something of the sort for a long
time, but continues moving in between the two.

The agile fellow with the ponytail engages Adrienne in furious
swordplay.  [note for combat purposes(?) he/she is an above average
swordsman, but Adrienne is expected to be equal if not better.  is this
a wrong assumption?]  However, he/she is edging to the left towards
Sarah-Sue, perhaps in order to suddenly lash out with a wicked blow to
the midriff?  naaaah, couldn't be.

The child doesn't even wake up.

Feeling very helpless, Smith-Barney vainly looks over to Wenzit to see
if he could possibly offer a way out of the current situation that
would avoid bloodshed.  He is muttering to himself, and wiping his brow
as he watches the furious swordplay.

[Note to TSB:  Adrienne has been quite dextrous since birth, and has
now been swinging weapons of one sort or another for nigh onto four
hundred years, so she is probably at least the equal of this mysterious
interloper.  However, she is somewhat encumbered by her backpack, which
she has not had time to discard.]  She tries to keep the spiffy
stranger occupied until someone else in the party DOES SOMETHING [hint
hint].

   Hadrian moves to Adrienne's left after leaving his gear with
Smith-Barney (my, trusting, aren't I).  "Do you really want to take on
both of us at once?"  he asks.  [Hadrian, is very combat-experienced
and a very decent swordsman]  Not waiting for an answer, he lunges in,
attempting to disarm or knock out the stranger (blows with the flat of
the blade, hooking the blade with the quillions (sp?), etc).

   Suddenly, one very hard green apple, hurled with deadly precision
from behind a roadside shrub, catches the scimitar-weilding naughty
person in the temple, with the obvious intent of rendering him
unconscious.  A second later the apple is followed by its hurler, a
tall, lithe fellow in minstrel garb of loose multi-colored silks, with
blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail to reveal a fine, oval face with
high cheekbones and a beautiful smile.  His only obvious possesion is a
lute, strapped to his back.  If the attacker has been rendered
unconscious, he will take advantage of the confusion to make a
pantomime bow, shake several hands and look everyone up and down.  With
Sarah-Sue he will spend a little too long on the 'up'.  Finally,
turning to Adrienne, he will bow again, produce an apple from thin air,
and offer it to her, saying, "Pippin?"
   [If you want to refer to this individual, you may call him 'Pip' or
'Candle-ends']

   The child wakes up and reaches towards Pip, or rather, towards the
apple.

   After the child gets an apple (if Candle-head was kind enough to
give one to him/her), Adrian sidles over to Wenzit.  "If these apples
are real, we may have a solution to the water problem," he says quietly.
"The apples have more than enough water in them and you said that food
has not been affected.  Of course, some people will probably complain
about a monotonous diet..."

    "I don't think I can feed an army," says Pip, surveying the ranks
again, "But I have a few more tricks up the sleeve ... By the way,
where are we going?"

[note from the attacker-type person: have I been rendered unconcious or
what's the deal here?]

[note from TSB: yes, you've been rendered unconscious by an apple to
the noggin.  Good throw, Pip.]

   Hadrian quickly and efficiently disarms, searches, and binds the
unconcious bladesman.  Anything interesting?

[TSB says: Adrienne has only taken minor damage (a small bruise on her
left upper arm and a scratch on her cheek where the unknown assailant
almost got very lucky).  The swarthy young stranger is suffering from
several minor lacerations (Adrienne and Hadrian got rather unlucky and
did not manage to damage him (?) severely).  It's up to the stranger to
tell Hadrian what he finds (he finds anything not hidden quite well, as
unconscious people frequently have difficulty in concealing things).]
Wenzit has taken an instant dislike to Pip.  He looks thoughtful,
concerned, and mysterious, all at once (expressions are his forte).  He
replies to Adrian, "Yes, I believe apples may be the solution to our
water problem.  Perhaps there are more in the trees hereabout.  Good
Sir," he calls, suddenly directing his piercing gaze toward Pip, "from
whence came those apples?  Are there fruit-bearing trees in the area?"

   Sarah-Sue is shaken; her ill-aimed spell (if such it was) has cost
her energy and confidence.  She removes the flask from the inner recesses
of her traveling cloak and drinks from it.  After catching her breath,
she reluctantly turns to Adrienne and Hadrian and says, "Many thanks.
You may have saved my life."  It obviously costs her much to admit it.

Smith-Barney heaves a sigh of relief and sits down gently on Hadrian's
gear, while waiting for the situation to clarify.  "Don't be so hard on
the chap, Wenzit.  He may be our answer to quite a few questions.  As
for you, dear Pippin, it is indeed fortunate that you wandered by at
this moment and prevented serious bloodshed.  We are headed toward
Paran, but seem to be constantly interupted by interlopers, small
children, minstrels and the like."  says Smith-Barney, answering the stranger
with a note of sarcasm.

   The unconcious one has food rations, water, basic survival gear,
a silver pendant of strange design hanging from his neck (it is now
apparent that this person is male), a small opaque sphere, and a simple
scroll addressed to Sarah-Sue Simmons.

   [Irwhit is a small bird.]

   [Throckton is a Voodoo Groundhog.  He is about 8" stem to stern, and
naked save for wraparound shades]
   Throckton says,"The hab...," then collapses in a (very small) heap,
having suffered (apparently) a fatal heart attack.
   [Note to TSB:  terribly sorry about that last bit; it won`t happen
again.]

   Pip says, "I don`t really know the territory ... I got these from a
passing merchant.  So what`s  the water problem, anyway?  And who do I
have the pleasure of speaking with, since you know how I`m called ..."

   Sarah-Sue is slowly recovering.  "My name," she declares, somewhat
haughtily, "is Sarah-Sue Simmons.  You may call me Sarah-Sue if you
wish," she adds, in the tones of one granting a favor to an inferior.

   Adrian and the child examine the unfortunate Throckton.  "Hey MS.
Sarah-Sue," says Adrian in a faintly obsequious tone of voice.  "How
about reincarnating this groundhog?  He might have valuable information
or something."  He gives a start.  "Hmm, I wonder if these shades fit
you," he muses to the child.

   [Hey, where's this Irwhit character?  And isn't anyone going to read
the scroll since I've been incapacitated?  Why is Pip using the
backwards apostrophes?  How hot is it and what is the dehydration
rate?  Is this game getting out of control?]

Adrienne removes all weapons from the unconscious assailant and puts
them down well out of his reach.  If no one appears to be watching and
the scroll is not sealed, she will open and read it; otherwise, she
will lay it aside for the moment and proceed to examine the opaque
sphere and the pendant.

   [the scroll isn't sealed, just tied.]

There is a yellow-white glow from behind the bushes which recently
housed Pip.  You (plural) can clearly hear <THUMP> "Oooofff!  #@$*&!!!
Hey, Cutter, c'mon through!  It's safe.  Cutter? Hey, uh... uh-ohh..."
[To TSB: How big is this bush?]

[NOTE FROM TSB: Yes, the game is getting out of hand.  Irwhit and
Throckton were, I presume, jokes; that's fine, as long as it doesn't
interfere with play.  However, I'd really prefer not to have a
Wolfrider tribe gallivanting through the middle of the game.  I mean,
fun is fun, but this is NOT STORY3, and randomness has its place, but I
hope it won't take over entirely.  So far, just character interaction
has made the game go; if necessary, I'll step in more often and give
some direction.  Sarah-Sue, in case you were wondering, Throckton is a
Dead Voodoo Groundhog; he will NOT reincarnate no matter how hard you
try.  Note to Adrienne, just to be arbitrary: only you and Hadrian see
the scroll, since you're the only two seaching the body.  The day is
cooling as afternoon wears on, with very little humidity.  Don't worry
about dehydration just yet.  And in case anyone cares, the ONLY NPC at
the moment is Wenzit.]  Wenzit introduces himself to Pip and explains
the problem with the drinking water, then (unless other characters want
to introduce themselves as well, since Wenzit doesn't know half your
names) asks Pip where he's traveling from and how he happened to be
in the area.

**********

"Well ...," says Pip, unlimbering his lute and tuning it softly as he
speaks, "I suppose I can give you a brief account of myself while we
wait for this fellow to wake up ...  At any rate, it came to pass that
I was traveling through Klept with a performing troupe, when I had the
misfortune of getting into a ... disagreement ... with one of the more
promonent entertainers.  As he had quite a few friends in the area, I
soon found myself in ... legal ... difficulty ..."
(here he twangs a lute-string for effect, then pauses before going on)
"So I was forced to abandon the company of the troupe with just the little
food I could carry, and flee to Paran.  Once I was sure I was out of
reach of my enemies, I set down in the shade behind yon bush to rest and
figure my next move.  So, my dear what's-your-name, what does our ill-
mannered friend," indicating the unconscious man,"have to say for himself?"

[ To TSB and all else concerned:  There is NOT a Wolfrider pack
gallivanting ANYWHERE in this game.  Right now, there is merely a
single elf with a sinking feeling in his stomach looking out of the
bush at the party.  The uh-ohh was the elf (sans wolf, by the by)
noticing that he's somewhere he wasn't two minutes ago, and no friends
in sight.  I appreciate your concern (you being The Supreme Being and
all) but I wasn't trying to cause any more chaos than already exists.
If you want to hold off new arrivals, say so clearly and firmly.  Say
the word, and I'll back off.]

Smith-Barney glances around the party to see what they are all doing,
and then turns to Pip and slowly explains "I, again, am still
Smith-Barney, and my fortunes are not in the best of shape at the
moment either.  I would desperately like to see how my two sisters are
doing since they are apparently in quite a bit of danger due to the
local water situation.  Unfortunately, the region seems to be bursting
at the seems with wanders in legal trouble, and the like.  I am
beginning to wonder if we will ever reach Paran at all, although, I
admit, I am curious why the mysterious attacker was carrying such an
odd assortment of gear."  Smith-Barney stays firmly seated on Hadrian's
gear, and overlooks the situation with an air of great annoyance mixed
with pathetic regret that the story line hasn't gotten farther along.

  "A good point, oh active one!" says Adrian.  "Pardon me, but my
charming companion and I have a road to follow."  Without further
conversation, he (still carrying the child) strides briskly on along
the thoroughfare, humming some arcane lyrics about yellow brick roads.

   To Adrienne and Hadrian:  taking some personal initiative, I shall
describe my possessions.  The opaque sphere is very dense, totally
smooth, and seems to warm quickly to the touch.  The pendant is a
symmetrical arcane curlicue and appears to be solid silver.  The back
has the word "Rendef" engraved on it.   The scroll is written upon in
fine, angular script:
   Dearest Sarah-Sue,
It really has been SO long since we last saw each other, yet I remember
that encounter with such clarity.  The fact that you are reading this
means that my messenger was disabled -- probably by your traveling
companions since undoubtedly you still hate to do your own work.  I
really would like to see you again, darling, which is why I shall be
coming your way very soon.  If Roaky was still alive he would wish to
see you too, but alas, I must carry his belated greetings.  Don't stay up too
late waiting for us, and don't bake a chocolate cake.
                                    Sincere love, Dernard

[note from TSB: OK, Wolfrider, do your stuff.  But for now, could we have
no other new characters?  The bush is just big enough to hide one
wolfrider-sized elf.  The current situation seems to be: Adrian and the
elf-child are walking down the road toward the forest in the distance.
Sarah-Sue seems to be sitting around doing nothing.  Smith-Barney is
sitting on Hadrian's gear talking to Pip and Wenzit; he has seen
Adrienne and Hadrian sorting through the attacker's things and reading
the scroll (though he can't tell it's addressed to Sarah-Sue.)  So far,
only Hadrian and Adrienne know what the scroll says.  The attacker is
slowly regaining consciousness, but not enough to talk yet.  Could this
Dernard person, if he's not here yet, hold off his arrival?]  Wenzit's
jaw suddenly drops.  "Of course!" he whispers.  "It's HIM!  No wonder
there's so much disorder here!  I had hoped -- but never mind."  He
addresses the entire party, apparently not hearing the sounds in the
bush.  "We had best hurry.  If it is indeed he, we must move quickly or
our venture may be disrupted.  We seem to be low on water.  I believe
we should get as far as possible before nightfall."


[Note TO TSB:  Hey, Irwhit WAS NOT a joke!!!  What's wrong... are birds
not welcome here?  Irwhit would really like to do something, and not be
consigned forever to a state of limbo.  Since it (Irwhit) has already entered
the game, could it please continue?  Or, must it be considered a 'new
character' (even though it joined before your 'no one else to prevent
chaos' decree), and leave?  Irwhit is distressed.]  Irwhit [assuming it
still exists] rises very rapidly into the air and begins flying in wide
circles at a tremendous altitude.  It scans the terrain below,
searching particularly for apple trees.

   Sarah-Sue is NOT just sitting around.  She is puzzled as to why this
stranger seemed to be attacking her, but now she breaks off wondering
to comment to Wenzit, "That is precisely what I've been suggesting all
along.  Let us depart."  But this time, oddly enough, she doesn't
immediately follow Adrian; she merely looks after him and the child
wistfully.

Smith-Barney stands slowly and hands Hadrian's stuff back to him,
assuming he will take it, and procedes down the road after Adrian, not
looking back and paying no attention to the rest of the party.

[from TSB: Okay, Irwhit still exists.  But it's a low-intelligence
creature (from drinking the water hereabouts) and probably can't
communicate with the party.  It also has no connection with them
and can't (unless there's something really special about it)
understand what's just been said, so I don't see why it's searching
for apple trees.]

Pip will wait a minute or two for A. and H. to get a move on, then (if
nothing else interesting happens) lose interest and carry on after
Adrian and Smith-Barney, in hopes of getting the story moving.  If Mr.
Grouchy wakes up, however, Pip will stay around to see what happens.

Irwhit, who is NOT a 'low-intelligence creature', for some reason feels
strangely attracted to this particular adventuring party and continues
to circle far above their heads.  (If the party gets too spread out to
remain in the vicinity of all of them at once, Irwhit will give
particular attention to  keeping Sarah-Sue in sight.)  Having heard
(AND UNDERSTOOD) their most recent discussion of the water problem,
Irwhit is more than ever relieved that it requires so little of that
substance.  Irwhit gets all the water it needs from early-morning dew
(and WILL have the grace to feel like a fool if dew is also affected!
But Irwhit is a stranger to these parts --a native desert bird-- and
had only been in the region for about a day before encountering Wenzit
et al.)  Henceforth Irwhit will attempt to keep its water intake to a
minimum, minimizing need by riding thermals wherever possible instead
of flapping its wings.  It continues to look for apple trees while
moping about its inability to speak intelligibly.

  At this point, a pointy-eared face with tousled brown hair pokes out
of the bush, wearing a full-blown gonzo confused expression.  The face
is shortly followed by a body dressed in soft deerskin.  The 4' person
carries a dagger and two halves of a bow.  He says, to no-one in
particular, "Uh, hello?  Uh, where am I?  Who are you folks?"  He
appears to be in early adulthood (for an elf).

Wenzit, in the process of stalking over to Adrienne and Hadrian to tell
them to get a move on, stops and stares in shocked surprise at the new,
tiny elf.

Hadrian quickly wraps up the scroll and conducts a furtive discussion
of motives and consequences with Adrienne (whose judgement and opinion
he has very good faith in).

Smith-Barney continues to walk down the road.

Pippin will follow after Smith-Barney, taking up a walking-song as he
goes.

   Sarah-Sue, failing to notice the new arrival, follows a few steps
after Pippin, listening to his song for awhile, then softly joining in
in a high, clear voice with no trace of her normal accent.

   The child hears the song and wakes up (good hearing).  It begins to
whistle a remarkably complex countermelody.

Smith-Barney clears his throat and in a soft tenor, joins in with a
harmony.

   Hadrian slaps the prisoner-type person awake and after retrieving
his gear marches him after the others.  He doesn't sing but remains
his vigilant, aware self.

Irwhit descends to the ground a few feet in front of Sarah-Sue, looks
up at her, runs ahead a few feet more, and then stops and looks up at
her again.  It does the best its avian face can possibly manage to look
friendly and communicative.  If Sarah-Sue will allow it, Irwhit will
fly up and perch on her shoulder.  [Note to TSB:  DID I see any apple
trees while flying around?]

[Notes from TSB: no, sorry, no apple trees.  And the dew isn't
affected, yet.  Hadrian has vigilantly missed noticing the new elf,
apparently.  Did he or Adrienne tie up the prisoner before awakening
him?  Irwhit should know that it is very special in some way.  Normal
animals around here are NOT intelligent.  Everyone now seems to be on
the move, except Wenzit, the elf, and Adrienne.]  Wenzit is beginning
to look harried.  "Who are you?" he demands of the new elf.  "And what
are you doing hiding there in that bush?"

   Sarah-Sue, surprisingly, stops singing to whistle at Irwhit
questioningly with her head cocked to one side, then drops to one
knee to pick it up and place it on her shoulder.[what kind of bird
is Irwhit?  How big is it?]

[Yes, a few paragraphs ago Hadrian tied up the spiffy one before
searching him.  He expects Adrienne to handle the elf since obviously
the prisoner is dangerous and should be watched.]

Adrienne, whose ability to take a hint is semi-legendary, rouses the
bound elf to his feet and begins to march him after the rest of the
party.

[No no no!  The elf isn't bound; he's the one Wenzit is talking to.
Adrienne was supposed to check HIM out.  The one who was wielding the
scimitar is bound and Hadrian is marching him along.]

    Irwhit, who is a VERY small bird (from beak to tail-tip, about the
size of Sarah-Sue's clasped hands), chirps experimentally two or three
times and then breaks into happy song, very quietly into Sarah-Sue's
ear.  [Type of bird is not yet clear.  At the moment, Irwhit's feathers
are a shiny purplish-blue, with maybe just a hint of green.
It's wings are clearly made more for gliding than for flapping.]

The elf glances at Wenzit's hands, counts, and mutters, "Puckernuts..."
Then, gathering himself up to his full 4' 1", says "They call me
Tracker.  And I wasn't "hiding" anywhere, five-fingers.  I was
investigating an old tree we'd found, seeing if it was habitable.  I
went in a ways, then fell into a hole or something.  Next thing I know,
here I am.  Wherever that is."  he looks around briefly, then says,
"Uh, are there any other elves around here?"

Wenzit frowns.  "This just won't do, won't do at all," he says to
himself.  To Tracker, he says, "You are an elf?  Rather small, aren't
you?"  [note to whoever tried: sorry, wrong time.  try again later.]

Smith-Barney looks over at the bird perched on Sarah-Sue's shoulder,
smiles warmly, and continues to walk down the road, although at
hobbit-speed he really isn't all that far away.  Trying very hard to
get the party moving he breaks off singing just long enough to say
loudly and in the general direction of the few members of the party who
have remained behind "Well, gee, that looks like a patrol from the
city.  I wonder who they're looking for?"

   Tracker says to Wenzit, "Tell me about this place as we travel; your
friends look like they're in a hurry."  With that, he turns and trots
up to the halfling.  [Note to TSB: Heard tell someone tried to
eradicate me.  What happened?]

Wenzit frowns even more deeply, lines of worry creasing his face.  He
motions to Adrienne to join him and together (assuming Adrienne comes
along, as seems likely since she tried to move already) they follow
Tracker.  As they reach Tracker, Wenzit declares, "My young friend, you
are not of this place, are you?  From whence do you hail, and what
brings you to these stricken lands?"  He fails totally to introduce
himself.  [note: Finally on the move!  But the sky is imperceptibly
darkening toward evening.  The problem with this many characters is
that it's hard to keep the game moving.  However, I did tell Tracker's
player that he or she could join, so killing Tracker is not a
solution.  At the moment, the party is very spread out, considering
that Adrian left with the child several minutes before Wenzit did.
But the stragglers should be catching up quickly (and Adrian is
apparently close enough to hear Pip's song).]

Smith-Barney turns to Wenzit and says "Not at all what you had planned,
eh?  It never seems to be.  I guess we won't be able to use the 'look
inconspicuous' method, because a more conspicuous group I've never
seen.  Should be interesting though."

   Sarah-Sue smiles warmly to nobody in particular and stops singing again,
listening to Irwhit.

[Pippin's song starts something like this:

     I once knew a luckless lad who lived in Darny-town;
     So bitter was his lot in life he always wore a frown:
     He had so many wives, poor man, he couldn't keep them straight,
     And owned so many kettles that he very seldom ate.

 ... and continues in a list of the various tribulations of the poor
man from Darny.  It also has a refrain (Join in if you know the words!)
Which deals with the hardships of the singer's life:

     We have traveled far, Dear Sir,
     And we have travelled long,
     We have traveled far, Dear Sir,
     To bless you with our song,
     To tell you of the troubles
     Of the journey we have led,
     So let me catch my breath, Dear Sir,
     And rest my weary head.

At the end of each refrain, Pip pauses for a second, as if catching his
breath as the song says, or else making up the next verse, before continuing
in his fine, strong, high-tenor/contralto voice. ]
That was a long-winded way of saying Pip keeps walking until someone suggests
we stop and camp for the night.

Smith-Barney suggests that they stop soon after sunset, while the sky
is still light so that those members of the party who can't see in the
dark can help make camp.

[Question to TSB:  Who in the party CAN see in the dark?]

[Elves can see pretty well in the dark, so that's the siblings and
probably Tracker.  I don't know if Irwhit or Smith-Barney can.
Sarah-Sue and the barbarian and Pip can't unless they say they can.]

Hadrian prods the spiffy one along so he can catch up with Adrian.

[Smith-Barney has limited infravision (out to about 45')]

[Irwhit is almost completely night-blind.]
[Tracker doesn't have infravision, but does have amazingly good
nocturnal-predator-type nightsight.]

[As Wenzit waits for a reply to his question from Tracker, he and the
rest of the party are continuing to walk.  It's late afternoon now, and
the forest is getting closer.  It looks like you'll reach the edge of
the forest a while before sunset.  Do you want to stop before entering
it?  The trees don't get thick very fast; there's still light in among
them.]  If Tracker doesn't answer, Wenzit starts to get impatient.  He
wants to know what's going on.  He hasn't noticed Irwhit yet.
[Also, the bound attacker is now fully conscious, Hadrian, in case you
want to question him as you go.]

Tracker replies to Wenzit, "I told you - I don't know HOW I got here.
I'm from The Holt - there used to be another Holt, but that got burned
by humans (he spits the word, as if it were synonymous with 'worm')
before I was born."

"And what is the matter with humans, little one?" asks Wenzit, slightly
ominously.

Adrian switches his song to "Some of my Best Friends were Humans".

[The child has excellent night vision, for what it's worth.]

   Tracker nearly explodes at Wenzit's question.  "What <<isn't>> wrong
with humans?" he exclaims.  "They burn down the entire forest, call us
demons, try to hunt us down, then claim WE started everything!  They're
worse than trolls!"  He looks at Wenzit curiously.  "But... you're a
human, aren't you?  You're not a troll, not an elf, but you don't look
like any human I've ever seen."  He ponders this for awhile, working
out the ramifications.  "I have heard of humans who aren't that bad,"
he finally admits, grudgingly.

   Sarah-Sue seems to be enjoying herself more and more as the party
progresses.  She looks around at the scenery and listens to Irwhit as
though trying to understand its language.  She is also listening to
Pip's song, though not as carefully, and enjoying that too.

  Hadrian falls back to where Sarah-Sue is.  "Excuse me, but do you
recognize this fellow?  Apparently he knows you," he says, gesturing
towards his unwilling walking companion.

**********

   "Knows me?" queries Sarah-Sue, startled out of her reverie.  "I've
never seen him before he came charging at me with that, that awful [she
pauses to shudder] scimitar!  Why do you say he knows me?"  She looks
closer at the bound [and gagged?] assailant.

   "Well he obviously knew exactly who he was supposed to do away
with," replies Hadrian.  He hands her the scroll (which he and Adrienne
have committed to memory).  "Perhaps this will shed some light on the
matter.  An old college pal, maybe?"

   Sarah-Sue takes the scroll and reads it.  Her face turns ashen.
"Damn.  He's found me." she exclaims uncharacteristically.  As she
reads the end, she turns even paler.  "Roaky is dead?" she whispers,
unbelievingly.  She stops walking for a moment, eyes closed.  Then she
shakes her head violently as if to clear it and closely examines the
signature.  She walks quickly for a moment to catch up with Hadrian and
his captive; then furiously shouts at the bound one, "Where did you get
this letter?  Who are you?  What are you doing here?"

   The captive shrugs.  "A high-standing member of the Society for
Preservation of Anguished Ziggarauts (SPAZ).  Rank of solothrash acting
under direct orders of the President.  Priority directive with personal
safety considered negligible."  His accent is different, but his
command of the language is not at all stilted.  "The letter is from
the President.  My orders are confidential."

   Sarah-Sue is shaking now.  A tear trickles gently down one cheek.
"DAMN you!" she manages, through clenched teeth.  She slaps the
foreigner across the face.

   Adrian stops when he catches the name of the organization.  A
concerned look crosses his face.  "Wenzit?" he asks.  "I think we
should hurry and get into the relative safety of the woods."

   Tracker brightens at Adrian's suggestion.  "Forest!" he exclaims,
noticing it for the first time.  He quickens his pace, and catches up
to whoever is in front. [Note: Who is?]

   Sarah-Sue wheels and stalks away along the road, hands covering her face
(she had stopped to confront the captive).  She stumbles a couple of
times but manages to move pretty quickly anyway.

[I thought Adrian and the child were in front, but it seems the whole
party is pretty much together at the moment]  Wenzit, looking even
grimmer than before, agrees grimly with Adrian.  He looks concernedly
at Sarah-Sue but makes no effort to catch up to her.

  Adrian resumes his movement towards the woods.  He seems worried by
the mention of the Ziggaraut society.

   Hadrian talks as he escorts his unwilling companion.  "So, why
didn't you pick her off from a distance?  Do you ziggaraut people have
something against missile fire?"

[ziggaraut = ziggurat?]

[nitpicking.  it's the concept that counts.  Besides, Adrian can tell
you why the spelling doesn't matter.]

Irwhit's song becomes first softer and sympathetic, and then gradually
brightens to be cheerful and confident.  Irwhit stays with Sarah-Sue
through the encounter with the captive and for fifteen or twenty
minutes afterward, and then with a parting chirp, flies back to hover
in front of Tracker humming-bid style, watching him and possibly trying
to communicate something.

  Tracker looks at the bird curiously and says "What is it?  You want
something?  Speak up."

[Pip, now trailing slightly behind and to the side of Sarah-Sue,
 and watching her out of the corner of his eye, sings:

 I once knew a lady who would sweep you off your feet,
 As roses was she beautiful, as sherry  was she sweet,
 The very leaves of grass, I swear, would part to let her pass,
 And the blossoms on the trees would try to drop upon her . . . head. ]

   Sarah-Sue, distraught, seems not even to notice Pip's song.

Irwhit flies up and toward the forest.

The child, still in Adrian's arms, begins to laugh.

[Unless anybody has anything else to do or say, the party continues
without further incident, in general silence or singing, until you
reach the edge of the woods.  It's now late afternoon fading into
evening.  The sun is setting.]

Irwhit returns to Sarah-Sue's shoulder, now that the whole party has
had the sense (in this small bird's rather biased opinion) to enter
[HAVE we actually ENTERED the woods, yet?] a place closer to nature.

Tracker, at least, HAS entered the woods, tho still within sight of the
rest of the party.

   Sarah-Sue entered the woods, being a little ahead of most of the
party, and found a small clearing just off the path, where she has sat
down to rest.

Adrienne has by this time begun looking for a place to spend the night.
How does this clearing look?

Wenzit declares, as he and the rest arrive at the clearing, "This looks
like a good place to make camp.  I wouldn't want to travel through
these woods at night."  So saying, he begins to clear an area for a
fire.

Tracker looks curiously at Wenzit.  "What do you mean, you wouldn't
want to travel through woods at night?  That's the best time!"  tracker
then realizes what Wenzit's actions mean.  "Wait!!!  You're not
building a FIRE !?!?!"  His hand drops to his dagger.

   Adrian looks bemusedly at Tracker.  "I think he'll make excellent
fodder for those SPAZ clowns.  What say we keep him for just a little
while."  He tells a joke about short people to the child.

  The child looks at him, confused.  It is clearly trying (and failing)
to understand what he says.  Either it doesn't understand his language,
or just doesn't think the joke is funny.  It is hard to tell which.

  Hadrian makes a rude gesture behind Adrian's back in an attempt to
tell the child exactly what he thinks of his brother's mental
capabilities.  It is not too complimentary.

Irwhit starts singing very loudly.

   Sarah-Sue just sits where she is, hands covering her face.  She
doesn't move at all for a long time.

Wenzit looks piercingly at Tracker.  "Yes, I am building a fire.  The
night beasts are fierce in these parts, and we may want light."  He
proceeds to set up and light a small cooking/campfire, unless someone
tries to stop him.

Irwhit, trying to make something exciting happen, tries to stop him by
perching in the middle of the canpfire before (at least, that's the
idea) he gets it lit, and refuses to budge.

Someone DOES try to stop Wenzit.  Tracker (as if you didn't guess)
steps closer to Wenzit, and says, "No.  You are NOT going to make fire.
That stuff is too dangerous.  Besides, there's no forest animal I know
that will attack nine healthy people.  Forest animals aren't that
dumb."  His tone clearly implies a corollary of "Humans, on the other
hand..."

   Adrian gives a chilling laugh.  "True, one animal knows the odds.
However, so does a pack of twenty or so Krill hounds.  However,
Tracker's authoritative analysis of the situation has _me_ convinced.
I know that he'll make a fine guard while we all get some sleep.
Sarah-Sue should turn in real soon; she's looking very bad."

[Is anyone carrying a bow?  It should be obvious; they're a little
tough to hide...]

   [Tracker is still carrying his two broken halves of one.  Don't know
about anyone else.]  Tracker shoots a contemptuous yet suspicious look
at Adrian.  "You _must_ be part human.  Fine, go to sleep.  One more
thing - what's a Krill hound?"

   "Are you kidding?  This kid might suddenly do something rude."  says
Adrian.  "And speaking of elves, you're not exactly an ideal one.  The
only possible use for that broken bow is for kindling, since any elf
knows that bows can't be repaired.  Maybe your mother was into gnomes
or something."  Adrian sits with his back to a tree after putting his
pack up in the boughs.  His weapons are at the ready.

    Hadrian snickers.  "Wolfriders?  More like Pigriders."  He binds
the captive to a tree and sitsback to a tree, facing him.

    The child, apparently dropped by Adrian, wanders towards the
campfire, curiously looking at the flames (assuming the fire is safely
started).  It shows no discomfort or fear of the heat, and cheerfully
whistles a remarkable imitation of Irwhit's song.

   [hey, Adrian did NOT drop the child.  He may be rude, but he's not
careless.  However, if the child wants to go look at the fire, Adrian
lets him, keeping a sharp eye on him.]

Irwhit perches in a tree and goes to sleep.

Wenzit considers what Tracker said about the fire.  "I respect what you
have to say," he finally declares, "but I think it is very important at
the moment that we have a fire.  Among other things, it may get very
cold, and I doubt that you've ever tried to fight off a pack of Krill
hounds without fire to aid you.  And they are not the only wild beasts
who roam these woods at night.  Also, as you seem to be from a distant
land, you may be inexperienced in the ways of fire; the rest of us,
however, have used it all our lives.  True, it can be unpredictable,
but I plan only to build a small campfire.  We will obliterate all
traces of it in the morning."  So saying, and despite any non-physical
objections Tracker may have, he lights the fire (which is small and
surrounded by stones) that the child seems to already be frolicking by.

  Tracker tenses as the fire is lit, visibly restraining himself from
doing anything rash.  When it appears that the fire is not going to
spread beyond its small boundaries, he relaxes, though keeping a VERY
watchful eye on it, the child, and Adrian.

  The child is delighted by the fire (it THOUGHT something interesting
was going to appear in that ring of stones), and tries (without much
success) to catch one of the pretty flickering flames.  It is still not
frightened by the heat of the fire; in fact, it seems oblivious to it.

Pip, quiet until now, thoughtfully points out that if Tracker objects
to fires on the ground, Pip would be glad to set one atop his head (the
perfect level, adds Pip, to warm one's hands at).

   Sarah-Sue doesn't even look up at this feeble attempt at a jest.
She still sits, disconsolate, where she placed herself on first arrival
in this glade.

   The child sits on one of the stones surrounding the fire and pokes
playfully at a burning stick, putting part the fire out with its
finger, then removing the finger to let the flames reclaim the stick,
then touching the stick again.  As always, it is oblivious to the heat
and does not seem to be frying in any way.

   Tracker gapes in disbelief, and is too astounded at the child's
invulnerability to do or say much worthwhile for a few minutes.

Adrienne, observing that the sky is rapidly growing dark, dumps her
stuff a short distance from the fire and announces to anyone interested
that she is willing to take first watch, unless someone else wants it.
[Question to TSB:  How much do elves need to sleep?]

   Since there is nothing worthwhile to be said about the child's
invulnerablity, the invulnerability gives up and goes away.  The child
bursts into flames and begins to scream ("Lamoo, da trunkin, rek nid ma!"),
hoping desperately someone will notice.

The child's screams awaken Irwhit, who flies down and desperately tries
to attract Sarah-Sue's attention (I guess that this is in the unlikely
event that it hasn't been attracted yet!) by flying around her in close
circles, squawking furiously, and then repeatedly landing in front of
her and running a few steps toward the child.

Adrienne removes her cape and hastens to wrap it around the child in
order to smother the flames.

The prisoner falls asleep amidst the noise and confusion.

Irwhit stops running in circles, and quietly glides (although almost at
ground level) over to stand next to the child.  Irwhit gazes at the
child, intending to look curious, concerned, and friendly.

[note to all: elves need almost as much sleep as humans.  But Adrienne
can have first watch anyway if she wants it.]  Wenzit concernedly stops
clearing off a sleeping area and rushes to the child's side.  He helps
Adrienne smother the flames and try to soothe the child.  He also calls
Adrian over to assist.

   Sarah-Sue is shaken out of her trancelike state by the child's
screams.  Her eyes wide, she too moves to the fire to help any way she
can.

   Tracker shouts something unintelligible, though obviously profane,
and grabs for the nearest waterskin.

  the child, having been extinguished by Adrienne and Wenzit, lays on
the ground and moans, "xreeta, mu klif minrih," which seems to mean,
"please, somebody heal me immediately."

  Tracker begins looking for wackroot. [To TSB:  It's a painkiller.  Any
to be found hereabouts?]

Adrienne, as a warrior and a mother, must know SOMETHING about first
aid, and proceeds to attend to the child's wounds, unless a real medic
intervenes.

Wenzit closes his eyes and concentrates, placing his hands on the
child's temples.  After a few moments, the child's moans subside.  Its
flesh is still obviously burned, though.  He hasn't totally healed it.

Adrian is stunned, bewildered, and not a great deal of help.  His
nerves appear to be rather frayed.  He glares at Sarah-Sue as if it
were all her fault.  Then he cuts off a lock of his own hair.

  the child looks up at wenzit and says softly, "yeegah, gah neb
yeegah."  it looks at adrian and murmurs, "lamoo, dorah trunkin!"  and
passes out/goes to sleep.

To clarify: Wenzit just calmed the child and eased its pain slightly.
He didn't really heal the burns.  He is still holding his hands on its
head.  [note to Tracker: there doesn't seem to be any wackroot.  In
fact, most of the plants here look vaguely odd, now that you notice it.
None of them are quite the ones you're used to.]

   "Do any of you have any kind of salve?  Are any of you healers?"
asks Sarah-Sue, as she watches Wenzit.

Seeing that she is useless here, Adrienne begins walking around the
perimeter of the camp, peering into the bushes for suspicious-looking
demons.  As she bamfs along, she hums to herself an old Elvish folk
song about small children and Pop Rocks.

Wenzit stops, looking tired.  "I cannot heal the young one," he
declares.  "I can only ease the pain a little.  We shall have to find a
doctor, and soon."  [note to Adrienne: you're probably the most
experienced at healing in the party.  Far from useless.  Growing in
among the bushes are several kinds of herbs that you recognize if
you've had the out-in-the-open experience you should have by now.]

[Well, then!  Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?]
Noticing the profusion of medicinal plants hereabouts, Adrienne gathers
some of anything that looks as though it may be of benefit to the child.
"Hey, could somebody get a pot of water going on the fire?" she yells
to the party at large.

Tracker, disconcerted by the WEIRD plants around here, begins scouting
for a small stream or something, not knowing what a pot is or why one
would choose to put water in it.

Irwhit, also confused about the scenery, flies after Tracker and
attempts to land on his shoulder.

[TRACKER couldn't recognize the plants.  Adrienne could, being, I
believe, from this world.]

Hadrian stokes the fire.  "I don't think we have a pot." he says
helpfully.  "Hey Adrian, get a hold of yourself."  He rummages through
Adrian's pack and pulls out a flask of ice-blue cordial or something,
which he slaps on his brothers face and neck.

[QUESTION from Bewildered Players:  Who is still with the party at this
point?  It's nice to hear from Hadrian again; how about Pippin, the
bound captive, Smith-Barney, and everybody else?]

[FURTHER QUESTION from Bewildered Players:  If it becomes apparent that
a character has been abandoned by its player, can enterprising BPs
SALVAGE (pronounced "take over") it?]

[hey i'm not abandoning my character by choice.  it's just that i'm not
planning to call long distance and update my character.  so what
exactly is going to happen?  will the original players be usurped, or
will the characters in question just drop out of the game?]

**********

[BPS:  NO!  We don't mean OVER THE SUMMER.  It's just that a lot of
people haven't entered moves in a LONG time.  Where are they?]

[what about over the summer?  can we do a quick role call of which
players will still be here?  Beardsley will be open 8:30-4:30 for
summer folk to make their moves.]

[i'll be here --the child]

[I can arrange to be here maybe twice a month.  Maybe.  The Holt is a
long way off, you know.  --Tracker]

[Irwhit wil be here...  But a lot of other characters probably won't.
Why don't we put this game on hold until next semester, and maybe start
a new one for the summer?]

[Adrienne is still with the party.]

[Note from TSB:  this would be a good place to go on hold for the
summer, unless anyone has any large objections.  So as soon as everyone
is comfortably bedded down and asleep, we'll stop.]

[gee, thanks for leaving me in a coma with 3rd degree burns for the next
3 mos.  i'll remember you all very fondly, i'm sure.  -- the kid]

and then...

[Pip has gone to sleep.]

Tracker is wide awake, tho' still puzzled by the strange vegetation and
even stranger people.  He can't understand why these folk are stopping
_now_, just when traveling conditions are getting good, and rather
rudely says so to the group at large.

Sarah-Sue says to Adrienne, "Go ahead and get some sleep.  I'll take
the first watch."  She seems calmer than before [assuming the child is
allright?]

Adrian yawns in the pigrider's face and pours himself a small nightcap.

Hadrian contendly lies in the midst of a deep and meaningful dream.

The spiffy (and not completely inept) stranger works his hands free,
being an accomplished escape artist.

Adrienne, after making one last sweep of the perimeter, turns the watch
over to Sarah-Sue and takes Adrian aside to examine the pendant and
sphere in privacy.

[TSB says: let's assume Wenzit and Adrienne, together, manage to soothe
the child's wounds and get it to sleep.  Wenzit then lays his cloak on
some evergreen-type needles on the ground, lies down, and instantly
goes to sleep.  He does not snore.]

Irwhit flies up to a middle-height branch and starts singing itself to
sleep.

the stranger unties his legs and looks around for a convenient thing to
bash with.  he rubs his ankles to restore circulation.

"What do you suppose RENDEF means?" says Adrian.  He pokes
absent-mindedly at the sphere.

Sarah-Sue alertly patrols the clearing, glancing askancely at Adrian
and Adrienne now and then.  [do I notice the stranger getting loose?]

[TSB: What are my odds of noticing? --Tracker]

[Tracker, being generally a noticing kind of guy, turns around just in
time to watch the stranger rub his ankles.  Sarah-Sue doesn't see.
So says TSB.]

Tracker leaves his busted bow on the ground, draws his dagger and
swiftly moves to a point just out of the stranger's reach.  He says in
a growl, "Slow and easy, roundears.  Get those paws up in the air.
Now, what's your story?"  [Note: Tracker did not do this in such a way
as to deliberately attract attention to the fact that the stranger is
loose, tho' he wasn't hiding in shadows or anything.]

[note from TSB: unless they specifically look up (players' choice),
Adrienne and Adrian don't notice, nor does Sarah-Sue.  Everyone else
(presumably, even Smith-Barney) is asleep.]

The stranger gives Tracker a calm, even look.  He puts his hands on the
ground, palms spread.

"I said UP, troll-spawn."  Tracker then realizes that the stranger may
not speak the Universal Language that the rest of the party speaks.
"Nod twice if you understand me."

The stranger nods twice and snaps his hands out, flinging dirt into
Tracker's eyes.  He quickly jumps to his feet.

Whether or not she notices what's going on, Sarah-Sue has been
summoning all her resources and preparing some sort of spell.  Though
this fact is not obvious.

Tracker drops his dagger and throws himself at the stranger, hoping to
grab a knee or something, anything to slow the guy down and stop him
from running off.

The stranger lunges for the dagger, hoping to kick the hopefully
blinded elf in the face en route.

Irwhit has by this time ceased singing and drifted off to  sleep.

Sarah-Sue, standing by the side of the clearing, now faces the entire
group (if she can) and whispers "Somnus Brahms," motioning gently with
her right hand.  This is a sleep spell, intended to put anyone still
awake to sleep [whether or not she actually notices that Tracker and
the stranger are fighting.]

[note from TSB: amazing.  All four of the others failed their saving
throws.  Adrienne, Adrian, the stranger, and Tracker (the latter two
still wrestling for possession of the dagger) all fall instantly into a
sound and dreamless sleep.  What's up, Sarah-Sue?]

[Is Hadrian allowed to wake up?]

Sarah-Sue writes a note on a slip of paper, slips it into Pip's
belongings (or cloak, or whatever), and disappears into the darkness.
[to TSB: she reads a teleport spell from a scroll if that's OK]

[note from TSB:  Okay, fine.  Sarah-Sue is gone.  The rest of the party
(anyone who wants to, that is -- the rest can just stay asleep)
wakes up, slowly, about two hours later.  Fortunately, no krill hounds
have attacked in the meantime.  I'm sorry for the arbitrariness of the
above -- believe me, it was necessary.]

[What time of day is it now?  Is it light out?]

[it's almost midnight.  Unless you all stay asleep, in which case it's
morning.]

[it's morning, right guys/Adrienne?  left!]

Hadrian wakes with a start and slashes at a brightly chirping bird.
Then he curses and runs over to tie up the thrasher again.

Sarah-Sue suddenly falls out of the sky into the dying embers of the
campfire with a rather ungraceful <<sploink>>.   "Damn!" she belches.
Her clothes begin to smolder.  She whips around, face
ashen (so to speak).  Seeing Pip asleep still she is somewhat calmer.
She waves her hands around in a somewhat spastic gesture and begins to
rise into the air again, smoke trailing sort of like it does at the
Blue Angels shows.

Tracker wakes up in time to see S-S fly off.  He picks up his dagger
and sheathes it, silently vowing that someone is going to become cold
cuts if this sort of thing keeps happening.  He helps Hadrian retie the
spiffy stranger, with the stranger's hands above his head but behind
the tree.  He then posts himself as guard, watching the stranger like
the proverbial hawk.

Adrian yawns contentedly and changes his tie.  Now he's wearing a gray
and white diagonally striped one.  He glances at the stranger witha
thoughtful expression.

[note from TSB: let's call that appearance of Sarah-Sue a post-sleep
hallucination of Tracker's, shall we?  It's now morning.  Three of you
are awake.  Anyone else?]  Wenzit slowly sits up.  His hair isn't even
the slightest little bit mussed.

Irwhit wakes up and starts flying around looking for breakfast and
acting generally birdlike.

[so Tracker was dipping into the peyote again, eh?  What would Nancy
Reagan think of this amoral, violence-prone, long-haired hawk?]
Hadrian asks Wenzit where the party is headed.

Adrian picks up the sphere.  He feints a throw at the stranger's face
and rolls it down the back of his arm.  [Is this thing ever going to
manifest its power?  or is it a pointless distraction?]

[Post-_sleep_, not post-peyote, Hadrian.  And hardly amoral.]  Tracker
listens in on Wenzit's reply, expecting finally to get some clue to
what's happening in this truly warped world.

Wenzit gathers himself, stands up, begins to do stretching exercises in
a firm, methodical way.  He says, "ONE-two-three-we have to continue
south-four, ONE-two-three-to find the Simplist-four, ONE-two-anyone
know where Sarah-Sue is?-four..." and so on.

The child wakes up and yawns and stretches, rubbing its eyes in typical
childlike fashion.  It's burns are completely healed, somehow.  It
looks at Irwhit and holds up its hands, whistling an invitation.

[Well it all depends on one's interpretation of sleep.  Which means
that Tracker wasn't doing anything immoral.  or amoral.  Unless that
was why Sarah-Sue left...]  "What's the Simplist?  a new registration
of all the simps in Paran?" Hadrian looks rather lost.

Tracker goes over and starts talking to the kid, hoping that the child
will make more sense.

Irwhit flies happily down and perches on the child's left thumb.  It
starts singing to the child, glancing curiously around at the child and
at Tracker and at the rest of the party.

The child looks at Tracker for a moment, then at Irwhit, and clearly
decides the bird's sounds make more sense.  It whistles a response,
hopefully launching into a deep discussion with the bird.

Adrienne starts repacking her sleeping gear, pausing only to stomp a
spider that scurries out of her sleeping bag.  She examines the
squashed specimen with critical interest.  "Yep, looks like we're in
for a mighty cold winter."

Tracker, on the watch for anything which might give him a clue to this
world's nature, glances up and says intelligently, "Huh?"

[note from TSB: as Tracker glances up, he notices that the area which
had held Smith-Barney's sleeping form is now empty.  He, too,
apparently vanished in the night.]  Wenzit finishes his limbering
exercises and proceeds to the fire, or what's left of it, attempting to
restart it.  "The Simplist," he cogently explains, "is the sorceress we
must defeat.  Why did no one awaken me for a watch during the night?
And where has Sarah-Sue got to?"  He fails to notice Smith-Barney's
absence, though he does make sure the child goes nowhere near the fire.
He hopes that it's true that a burned child fears the fire.

Adrian sidles up to Wenzit.  "There's a nasty rumor that Charlotte's on
the way," he mumbles.  "Is this true?"  He grips his sword nervously.

Throwing on his gear with incredible rapidity, Hadrian screams, "Off
and away then, fearless comrades!  Slay this chickpea-loving wench!"
He dashes off into the forest.   And circles back around waving his
arms and trying to rouse the party into battle fervor.

"So I heard", responds a despondent Wenzit.  "But I'm not going to
worry about it.  I've got my helmet on."

Tracker walks over to where the hairy-footed person used to be and
looks around for prints, signs of a scuffle, etc.  If he finds any kind
of trail, he'll follow it.

[Who is Charlotte?  Tracker sees no signs of anything; S-B is just
gone.  -TSB]

Irwhit's song increases in enthusiasm and intricacy every time the
child's head turns to the left.

Hadrian turns his head to the left.

The child turns to the left, rises, and walks in the direction that
seems to excite the bird.  [what does it find?]

Wenzit has prepared a small but uninteresting breakfast.  He invites
everyone to have some (it seems to be some kind of meat).

[Cooked or raw?]

[Cooked, now.  But there's still some raw.]

Irwhit flies back and forth between the child and Hadrian, landing on
each of them in turn and repeatedly increasing or decreasing the
intensity of its song. If the child is still heading to the left, it
will be approaching a medium-height, gnarled tree.  If so, Irwhit's
song keeps getting more enthusistic.  Same if Hadrian is moving in that
direction.  [Are you?]  Irwhit seems IMMENSELY excited!

Hadrian runs to the tree.  He makes like to tear it apart.

Irwhit flies to a point on the tree trunk slightly above Hadrian's head, and
disappears.  [It's a little too high to jump up to, and the tree does
not seem climbable.]

Adrienne, whose ability to ignore hints (even from the Supreme Being)
is semi-legendary, drops her gear and tries to climb the tree anyway.

The child pulls at Hadrian, speaking excitedly.  When yet another
person seems unable to understand it's simple requests, it sighs and in
blatant gestures indicates that he should lift the child up to where it
can see what Irwhit's so excited about.

Tracker growls irritatedly and decides to put an end to this nonsense
once and for all.  He takes a short approach run, and springs up to the
spot where the bird did its vanishing act.  Since he is able to leap
higher than your average five-fingered lout, he accomplishes this with
relative ease.  [Or, he _should_ be able to.  Do you say differently,
TSB?]

[To Tracker: What do you do when you get there?  Do you grab onto the
tree, or do you just jump up, take a quick look, and land again?  If
the latter, you see two small round things and three fuzzy yellow
things.]

[To TSB: The spot is just barely low enough that Tracker should be able
to jump up to it.  Is Adrienne able to climb it?]

Tracker grabs wildly at a small branch and barely manages to hold on;
if anyone heavier had tried, it would have broken.  [Adrienne and
Hadrian can only climb there if they use pitons or other equipment.]
Wenzit is ignoring all of this activity.  He is in a full lotus position,
eyes unfocused, apparently contemplating the meaning of the universe.  What
happened to everyone else?

   Pip slowly wakes up and wanders over to the remains of the fire,
where he makes a very good-smelling porridge-like substance.  As it
cooks, he picks up a few small rocks and starts juggling them,
apparently for his own amusement.

  Tracker inspects the small round things (eggs, maybe?) and fuzzy
yellow things (hatched chicks?)  What is Irwhit doing, now that someone
is up here?

Adrienne, who has no pitons, goes back to the fire and begins to
prepare a tasty yet low-cholesterol breakfast.

The child, very frustrated, tries climbing up Hadrian (since Hadrian
doesn't seem about to lift it).  This doesn't seem to work very well,
so the child goes directly to the tree, places it's hands on the trunk,
and closes its eyes for a moment.  It then opens them, and climbs up
the trunk, its hands somehow sticking to the bark.

Wow!  Yes, the fuzzy yellow things have two legs (each) and tiny sharp
beaks.  They are basically very small and very cuddly.  They have by
now recovered from their initial fright (at having something with eyes
almost bigger than their faces emerge in their front window), and all
three seem immensely attracted to Tracker.  One, in particular, has settled
down in the crook of his elbow (assuming you're sitting in some
position that permits this), and is rumbling softly.

A second chick is staring out of the tree, off into space.  The third
starts running back and forth between the child's hands, yirping
excitedly.  It pauses and makes a wide variety of sounds, and then
starts running again.

Meanwhile Irwhit is walking around and around the hollow, preening and
looking immensely proud.

Adrian starts to pray to the Supreme Being.  Then he remembers he is an
atheist.  Horrified with himself he runs to his sister and bursts into
agonized howls as he realizes that the game is beyond any rational
influence and is undoubtedly doomed to a drawn out, non-violent death.
Then he asks what's for breakfast.

Adrienne, agreeing completely with her brother, scoops a handfull of
ashes out of yesterday's fire and daubs them on her face.  Then she
tells him what's for breakfast.

The child whistles to the chicks and Irwhit for a moment, then suddenly
freezes, listening to something.  It looks off into the distance, then
gives a yelp of surprise.  It jumps down from the tree and runs into
the forest, yelling.  It is hard to tell whether the child is excited
or terrified.

Wenzit stands, a look of utter exasperation on his face.  "HALT!" he
commands.  Suddenly, all of you feel as though you're moving through a
combination of molasses and quicksand (though you can still breathe
normally).  If the child is out of hearing range already, it's
unaffected.  Out of the dense trees straight ahead of Wenzit, a
brown-cloaked, mauve-hooded apparition materializes.  It looks humanoid
in shape, though its exact shape is hidden by the cloak.  Two off-green
lights glow in the darkness under the hood, about where eyes should be.
A mocking laugh splits the morning air, and a reedy voice declaims,
"I am Bic pen Tameter."  The stranger laughs again, hollowly, and fades
away.  There is total stillness for a moment.  Wenzit's face is as
white as a shirt that's just been washed with Tide.  He looks really
annoyed.  As though deciding something, he announces to the party at
large, "Come.  Let us leave.  Time grows short.  Bird, you may join us
or not, as you wish.  Sir assassin, you may accompany us or die, as you
wish."  A cruel-looking dagger sprouts from his right hand.  "Sarah-Sue
and Smith-Barney will no longer be travelling with us," he remarks as
he advances threateningly on the assassin.

Being unarmed and unsure of the danger this person represents (and
besides who can fight well in quicksand?), the spiffy assassin
proclaims his willingness to accompany the party.  "Besides," he says,
"Having flubbed this job I won't be paid for a while so I might as well
become mercenary again."

Irwhit, when it can move again, picks up one chick gently in its feet
and flies as rapidly as possible after the child, squawking loudly.
First, though, it cocks its head at Wenzit, looks at the other two
chicks and the two eggs, and gazes imploringly at Tracker.  It repeats
this sequence several times, chirps tentatatively a few times, and then
when possible flies off after the child.

Adrienne elegantly wolfs down her breakfast and, having repacked her
gear, trudges wearily off with the party.

Tracker, a bit shaken by the power Wenzit just casually threw around,
covers the eggs and one chick with moss, leaves, etc. to keep them
warm.  With silent apologies to Irwhit for not being able to do more
for thon's kids, he takes the remaining chick and places it on his
shoulder and climbs down the tree.  He mutters something incoherent
about bird-riders and being a bird-ridee, and follows the party - at a
suitably suspicious distance.

Adrian, glad to be moving on again, picks up the child and joins Wenzit.
"Do all you sorcerer types have terrible puns for names?" he asks,
munching on a slightly underripe pear.

Hadrian sighs something about short elves with small hands.  However,
he leaves without rescuing the remaining fuzzy thingies.  He walks
behind and to the right of the assassin, keeping a malicious eye on
him.  His noble background brings him to mutter, "You hippie commie
pervert punk -- do you feel LUCKY?"

The child struggles a little in Adrian's arms, whining, "Lamoo, du hara
klip meech."  Failing to wriggle free, it settles down.

If the child doesn't seem to want to travel with Adrian, he puts it
down, a little wistfully.  Then he becomes rational again and continues
asking Wenzit probing questions.

Wenzit sweeps his belongings together and somehow hides everything in
and under his cloak.  With a last glance around the campground to be
sure no untoward litter is being left, he leads the way out of the
clearing, gesturing peremptorily to anyone who shows the slightest sign
of slowness.  He ignores Adrian's first probing question, though he
seems to be listening for more.

Pip, whistling a melancholy marching tune to himself and putting the
rocks he was juggling into a pocket, discovers the slip of paper there,
which he surreptitiously reads as he follows Wenzit.

The child, confused at having been set down after it had SETTLED DOWN
TO BE CARRIED, runs back to the tree for the remaining chick and eggs.
It can barely carry the, and so tries to give one each to Pip, Wenzit,
and Adrienne (If any/all fo these refuse the chick/eggs, the child
tries Hadrian and the assasin, until it finds carriers for all Irwhit's
offspring.)  It then returns to Adrian, looks up hopefully and says,
"Lamoo, misoh.  ja meech klip ja, Lamoo."  (It looks VERY willing to be
carried, Adrian.)

At a loss for what else to do, Adrian picks up the child again.

The child licks Adrian's cheek and says, "Ja hagu, lamoo."

Irwhit returns to the party, still carrying one
now-very-bedraggled-looking chick.  It flies once around the child and
Adrian, chirping what might very well be a 'thank-you' at the child,
repeats this toward anyone elae who seems to be carrying a chick or an
egg, and then flies over to Tracker.  Irwhit hops chirping in front of
Tracker, and then, if he does not seem to object, parks the second
chick on his other shoulder.  Irwhit then goes and nuzzles the first
chick for a moment.  Then it returns to the one it was carrying,
settles down on Tracker's shoulder, and scoops the chick onto its
-- as if to reassure Tracker that he doesn't need to worry
about this one.  Irwhit does the best it can to seem immensely friendly
and grateful and to stay out of Tracker's way (as much as that's
possible when you're riding on someone's shoulder.  Sorry!)

   Tracker thinks for a bit, then says, "Bird, can you understand me?"

   The child laughs, quite loudly and suddenly, for no apparent reason.
..

Irwhit bobs its head up and down and chatters (birdily, though)
uproarously.  In the process, it knocks the second chick off its feet
and onto the ground.  While Irwhit is rescuing the unfortunate abused
small one, the first chick (the one on Tracker's other shoulder) quite
comprehensibly mimics 'bir, can oo?'

Adrienne falls to her knees and prays fervently that the Supreme Being
get off its behind and DO something.

Tracker, nearly giving himself whiplash, turns his head to look at the
chick.  "You talked!" he manages to say, with a firm grasp of the
obvious.  He lapses into silence, pondering how this might affect the
plot line.

The chick pauses, rubs an itchy spot on its head against Tracker's ear,
sneezes, and then repeats 'talked', in various degrees of tone, pitch,
number of syllables, and comprehensibility, about ten times.  It does
not ponder the plot line, being unaware of the existence of such.

Irwhit looks on, caught somewhere between tentative pride and utter
bemusement.  It pokes the other chick, but gets no response except for
a sort of non-mind-present stare.  Finally, as if feeling a sense of
duty, Irwhit flies back (carying this chick) to check on the third
chick.  [Who's got it?  What's it been doing?  --I haven't been keeping
track.]

[I believe the child has one chick, and the eggs are being carried by
Pip and Wenzit, I think.]

[TSB doesn't blame the chick for failing to notice any plot line.  TSB
often has the same problem.]  Well, the party is on the march again.
Assuming you all follow Wenzit, you're walking down a somewhat
pleasant, if vaguely ominous-looking, forest road.  The forest looks a
lot like a forest, but you can't see much of it for the trees.  Wenzit
is doing his best to keep up a grim expression.  He's been doing this
continuously since the mysterious visitor appeared, so his facial
muscles are beginning to get tired, but he refuses to stop.  Wenzit is
not carrying an egg, but please lets assume that someone has them and
not spend a long time trying to figure out who.  We seem to be down to
five active party members; what are Adrian and Hadrian and the assassin
doing?

Pip: the note says,
Dear Pippin,
   I sincerely apologize for leaving.  It's something I must do.  If
you ever get to Masia, in Eastern Paran, look me up.  Good luck.
                                (signed)
                                Sarah-Sue Simmons

Hadrian gets the hint and shuts up.  sort of.  Giving the assassin
baleful looks every so often he contemplates how one goes about
attacking a sorceress.  "Certainly NOT by frontal assault," he muses.
Eyeing the assassin again, he puts forth to Wenzit the idea of using
someone to catch the fireball oops make that be a decoy. . .

Adrian gives up on ever having a pleasant conversation with Wenzit and
amuses himself by tracing obscene words in the dirt as he walks.

The assassin ponders his present situation:  no equipment, no weapons,
no friends, and nothing much to do.  He considers the possibility of
becoming a Tarim's Witness.

The long, dusty road winds on into the wilderness.  Well, not exactly
wilderness, but not what you'd call civilized, either.  The party
manages to stay somewhat together, if you can call that together, for
the next four hours or so, while Wenzit alternately broods and rages
silently, as is obvious from his expressions.  Some of you sing or
converse to pass the time, which passes quite quickly in only a
paragraph or so.  The road has left the small wooded copse where you
spent the night and is now meandering over low rolling hills.  Grass
and trees make up most of the local vegetation.  Animals are generally
scared into silence by the approach of such a large group of mostly
humanoids.  Finally, Wenzit breaks the monotony by calling a halt for
lunch as he leads the party off the road.  Assuming everyone shrugs off
packs and relaxes on the grass, Wenzit grimaces and begins to speak.
"We need, as Hadrian so astutely pointed out some time ago, a plan of
action to face the Simplist."  To any blank stares, he responds: "The
Simplist is what the sorceress polluting the local water supply calls
herself.  She claims to be 'simplifying' humanity by returning them to
the carefree state of the beasts.  We must stop her.  However, her
abilities are largely unknown to me.  She is aided and masked by one
who rivals even my power: that hated one who appeared to us at our
campground.  While I know not her precise powers, I can feel her
presence; we are nearing her demesnes.  Before we reach them, we must
decide how best to approach this matter.  Are there any suggestions?"

Tracker is not convinced.  He feels humans might be better off were
they raised to the status of forest animals.  "Carefree humans" sounds
like a pretty good idea to him, and he says as much.

"Ahhhhhm, well it depends of course how the Simplist is holed up
<cough> <sputter> I mean situated," says Hadrian.  "As a group we
aren't too big, so we'll probably have to stay fairly close together
unless her encampment is small.  Why not try the old drugged wine
trick, Wenzit?  We straight fighter-types aren't going to have
much of a chance against what sounds like really potent magik."

Adrian puts forth a brilliant idea:  "We can use the spiffy dude as an
expendable diversion and lob vodka grenades into he place and strom in
amidst the confusion!  whaddaya think, kid?"

Adrienne, who has never quite recovered after Edward Kennedy went
rockabilly, cringes meticulously.

[Hi there, Supreme Being!  Been a while, hasn't it?]

Yes, it has.  I assumed everyone had stopped reading this.  Was I
wrong?  Role call!  [TSB]

Wenzit here.

Owooooooooooo... (Guess who)

Adrienne the Suppletive, at her own service.  [SHE knows what Wenzit's
doing here.]

What about Adrian, Hadrian, Pip, et al.?

[Looks like it's just you and me, kid.]

[and it doesn't even seem to be me.  A good idea while it lasted.]