Lost Chapter #8
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* THE ADVENTURERS *
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* Lost Tales... *
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* Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and *
* other terms used in these stories are the property of TSR, Inc. *
* However, this does not mean that TSR in any way endorses or *
* authorizes their use, and any such items contained within these *
* stories should not be considered representative of TSR in any *
* way, shape, or form. *
* The player characters contained in these writings are copy- *
* right 1991-7 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to any persons *
* or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. *
* Copying and/or distribution of these tales is permissible only *
* under the sole condition that no part of them will be used or *
* sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them... *
* *
* Thomas Miller *
* tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu *
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* Eduardo 1st level human thief (N) *
* Felicia 2nd level female human thief (LN) *
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* Date: 6/22/576 C.Y. (Common Year) *
* Time: late afternoon *
* Place: the remote mountain town of Helgate *
* Climate: cool *
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* "I'm alone. I'm not lonely." *
* - Vincent Hanna, _Heat_ *
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VIII. Summer Vacation
En route to a most dangerous adventure, Peldor has arranged for
his and Tanya's ward, the teenaged girl Felicia, to stay in Helgate.
Peldor: Sorry to bother you with this.
Belphanior: It was no big deal, teleporting you in. I do have to
wonder, though - what will Tanya think of all this?
Peldor: Huh?
Belphanior: I doubt she'd approve.
Peldor: She'll get over it. I just don't think Greyhawk's a very
safe place right now, after all that business with the guild and
such. With us gone, and Alindyar and Lyra too, I think it's best
to tuck Felicia away somewhere that none of my enemies know about.
Belphanior: (nods) I see. Well, let me assure you, we've got just
the motley crew she needs to stay out of trouble.
Felicia: (around a nearby corner, she listens to their conversation)
Behind the spying girl, unseen and undetected, a wisp of smoke
hovered...
wispy thing: (regards Felicia with curiosity) Pffft?
Felicia: (the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly prickling, she
turns around, but doesn't quite see the immaterial wisp, given the
poor lighting conditions)
wispy thing: (flies away silently)
Felicia: (looks back toward Belphanior and Peldor, decides she's heard
enough, and chooses a corridor to explore, departing)
In truth, Felicia wasn't sure what to make of any of this. She had
a vague understanding of the circumstances leading to her trip here -
something about Greyhawk being too dangerous for Peldor's liking - but
she didn't know the specifics. What she did know was that she wasn't
at all comfortable in this castle...or this town, for that matter.
Though she'd grown up in the streets of Greyhawk, an urchin with a
tough childhood, Felicia had discovered in recent years that there was
something better and brighter in life. This dark, fog-filled town in
some forsaken mountain range was the last place she wanted to be.
Wrapped up in these thoughts, Felicia almost ran over the boy who
suddenly appeared in her path, an armload of scrolls piled high in his
arms. In this case, "almost" was enough, as the youth went sprawling
to the floor, dropping his scrolls everywhere.
boy: Ack! (he looks around sheepishly)
Felicia: Whoa, I'm so sorry...let me help you with those...
As she helped the boy gather up the tubes, Felicia sized him up.
He was somewhat shorter than she was, but looked lean and wiry; she
had little doubt that his teenage years would see him grow into a
strong man. The boy's skin was dark, a deep brown, and his black
hair was cropped short about his scalp. The youth's eyes gleamed
with intelligence, and he was sizing her up as well.
Felicia: Have you got a name?
boy: I'm Eduardo, nice to meet you.
Felicia: Eduardo...hmm. Do you work here or something?
Eduardo: (nods) I do...odd jobs for Mr. Belphanior and Mr. Otto.
Felicia: Mister?
Eduardo: (shrugs) And you are?
Felicia: Oh, me? I'm Felicia.
Eduardo: What's your story?
Felicia: Story?
Eduardo: Everybody has a story.
Felicia: Uh...I'm staying here for a while.
Eduardo: Why? On the run from someone? Hiding out for a while?
Felicia: What is this, twenty questions? I don't know.
Eduardo: (offhandedly) A lot of that happens in Helgate, you see.
People come here when they have nowhere else to go.
Felicia: And what about you, then?
Eduardo: Want to help me get these scrolls to the library?
Felicia: Um, sure.
After that small task was done, the two took a walk along the
upper ledge of the castle.
Felicia: Hell of a view...
Eduardo: You can see the whole town from up here...except when the
fog comes.
Felicia: Do you live here?
Eduardo: I have lots of homes. Some days, I stay in an empty house
in town. Other times, I sleep on the roof of some tavern.
Felicia: That seems dangerous...and spooky.
Eduardo: (shrugs, grinning) You just have to know who the spooks
are and when they come out.
Felicia: Don't Belphanior and Otto take care of you...you know,
give you a place to sleep?
Eduardo: Nobody _gives_ anyone anything.
Felicia: (frowns) I know what you mean. Hey, it sounds like you
grew up on the streets, too - an urchin?
Eduardo: A strange word, that. But I think I know what you mean.
Felicia: You know, I think we're going to get along just-
Belphanior: (he and Peldor show up) Ah, I see you two have already
met!
Peldor: (looks a bit worried as he sees the children on the ledge)
Um...having fun yet?
Felicia: Not really, but things seem to be looking up.
Peldor: Yeah, speaking of which, you should come down from that
ledge.
Felicia: It's no big deal-
Peldor: Now.
Felicia: (complies)
Eduardo: (hops down after her)
Belphanior: Eduardo, how'd you like to show Felicia the town?
Eduardo: No problem, boss.
Belphanior: Good, then. I'll get one of the marshals to keep an
eye on you.
Eduardo: Don't need 'em.
Peldor: Marshals?
Felicia: Let's go.
Eduardo: (takes her by the hand and leads her inside) Be back by
nightfall.
Peldor: (looks stunned) Is it safe...?
Belphanior: Usually. But just in case...
Shortly, the elf was communicating with a sultry, dark-haired
woman by means of a crystal ball in his study.
Aja: What?
Belphanior: I said, I want you to watch over them. I don't care
how you do it, just as long as you do it.
Aja: No problem.
Belphanior: If anything bad looks like it might happen, do whatever
you have to.
Aja: Understood.
Belphanior: (closes the connection with a wave of his hand) Those
kids'll be okay.
Peldor: Are your marshals trustworthy? I mean, Felicia _is_ a cute
young girl, and...well, I'd hate to see...
Belphanior: Don't worry about it. Nobody will harm one hair on her
head. Nobody would dare.
Peldor: But still...
Belphanior: Trust me. If nothing else, I trust Victoria to take
care of things while Otto and I are away. She's deadlier than
the rest of them all put together.
Peldor: (frowns)
Belphanior: And besides, I think Victoria's taken a shine to your
young ward. She gave her a magical dagger, you know.
Peldor: Eh?
Belphanior: Felicia was thrilled to death about that. (he claps
Peldor on the shoulder) Don't worry, everything's going to be
fine here.
Peldor: (muttering) It's just the outside world that we have to
worry about...
Meanwhile, Felicia and Eduardo were on their way down, into Helgate
proper. It was the first of many carriage rides, courtesy of the
gaunt, pale driver Incus, that they would take over the next few weeks.
The time seemed to fly by, and yet, Felicia found herself surprisingly
busy. She had many opportunities to learn various skills, ranging
from the mundane to the exciting. From the servant-sisters Daphne and
Phoebe, she gained lessons in cleaning and cooking chores. From the
scarred, grimacing Razor Charlie, she learned a bit about the throwing
of blades. Eduardo took her to listen to the colorful (and dubiously
wisdom-filled) tales of the cobbler Jamaine. Other times, he showed
her the workings of the town's monetary system, with or without the
co-operation of the gnomish banker Norman. The kids explored the
nooks and crannies - many of them secret - of the Raven's Nest Inn,
the Sword and Cup Tavern, and other such places.
Despite their age difference (Felicia was sixteen, while Eduardo
was a deceptive twelve) they got along well, and became more than
playmates - they became friends. Good friends. Perhaps best friends,
even. The summer had its highs (getting away with a pouch of gold
from a foreign merchant) and its lows (getting caught the following
week by another foreigner, this one a soldier, and having to be
rescued by the huge reptilian Ys) but above all, it was an eventful
summer. Felicia found that she was enjoying herself immensely.
next: Rillen, pre-Adventurers
ftp: ftp.myths.com in /pub/rpg/stories/adventurers
ftp.nol.net in /pub/users/zac/rpg/adventurers/
ftp.tas.gov.au/misc/stories
www: http://www.myths.com/pub/rpg/stories/adventurers
http://www.shobaki.org/adventurers
homepage: http://www.gatech.edu/oit/oe/design/thomas/adv/adv.html
mail: tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu (preferred)
thomas.miller@oit.gatech.edu (emergency)
notes: This tale occurs between episodes 477 (6/21/576) and 516
(8/22/576.)
Here are stats for Felicia and Eduardo:
Felicia
2nd level human thief
female, 5'2", 95 lbs, white skin, brown hair, hazel eyes
16 years old
homeland: the Free City of Greyhawk
patron diety: none
alignment: lawful neutral
STR 10
INT 15
WIS 13
DEX 16
CON 11
CHR 12
COM 14
ac 7/9 (normal clothing)
hp 8
thac0 19 (1-4/1-3 +1, dagger +1)
items:
dagger +1 (gift from Victoria)
characteristics: curious, diligent, quick learner
Eduardo
1st level human thief
male, 5'0", 100 lbs, tan skin, black hair, black eyes
12 years old
homeland: unknown
patron diety: none
alignment: neutral
STR 9
INT 15
WIS 12
DEX 16
CON 12
CHR 13
COM 11
ac 6/8 (normal clothing)
hp 5
thac0 20 (1-4/1-3, dagger)
items:
ring of protection +1 (stolen from a slain foreigner after a
barfight)
characteristics: attentive, quiet, nosy, adaptable
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