1

From: Robert
Date: Tue Dec 7, 1999 12:25pm
Subject: RE:
Sephiroth- T8, Journey, A804
Gwen responds with a shadowy, mesmerising tale of the
siren of Lake Bellora who drew Kron's son into a
deadly embrace on his twentieth birthday, in revenge
for all the blood Kron had spilt into her crystal
waters.
Kaceubel grins, vastly amused at the end of the tale.  "Kron had a son?  I 
don't remember Kron ever having a son,  He was quite ugly you know."
Gwen gives him raw meat and says she hopes he likes it
rare.
Kaceubel waves his hand over the meat, mutters a few words and pops the now 
steaming chunks of meat into his mouth complimenting Gwen on the cut. 
 "it's not that I can't cook, it's just that people are so concerned about 
food poisoning right now and I did not want to risk giving somebody another 
bout of flue.  Even dwarves" this with a glance at Balron "have threatened 
bodily harm if I cooked them another meal."

2

From: Rachel 
Date: Tue Dec 7, 1999 2:32pm
Subject: Re:
RE: Sephiroth- T8, Journey, A804
> Gwen responds with a shadowy, mesmerising tale of the
> siren of Lake Bellora who drew Kron's son into a
> deadly embrace on his twentieth birthday, in revenge
> for all the blood Kron had spilt into her crystal
> waters.

> Kaceubel grins, vastly amused at the end of the tale.  "Kron had a son? 

> don't remember Kron ever having a son,  He was quite ugly you know."
The ranger lifts a brow and fixes a steady look upon the elf.  "I didn't
think the 'Rape of Ilaria' was a fitting tale for a plesant evening around
a fire."
> Gwen gives him raw meat and says she hopes he likes it
> rare. 
> Kaceubel waves his hand over the meat, mutters a few words and pops the
now 
> steaming chunks of meat into his mouth complimenting Gwen on the cut. 
>  "it's not that I can't cook, it's just that people are so concerned
about 
> food poisoning right now and I did not want to risk giving somebody
another 
> bout of flue.  Even dwarves" this with a glance at Balron "have
threatened 
> bodily harm if I cooked them another meal."
Gwen smiles.  "And here I was thinking you were refusing to cook in the
expectation that we were to wait upon you.  Astonishing."  She turns back
to sharpening her skinning blade, humming faintly.
 

3

From: Robert
Date: Tue Dec 7, 1999 3:22pm
Subject: RE:
RE: Sephiroth- T8, Journey, A804
> Gwen responds with a shadowy, mesmerising tale of the
> siren of Lake Bellora who drew Kron's son into a
> deadly embrace on his twentieth birthday, in revenge
> for all the blood Kron had spilt into her crystal
> waters.
> Kaceubel grins, vastly amused at the end of the tale. "Kron had a
son?
I
> don't remember Kron ever having a son, He was quite ugly you know."
The ranger lifts a brow and fixes a steady look upon the elf. "I didn't
think the 'Rape of Ilaria' was a fitting tale for a plesant evening
around
a fire."
"Yes, well the Rape of Ilaria is a fairly explicit tale and not one
that I, 
for one, would like on my mind while traipsing through some trackless 
wilderness on my way to a dungeon crawling with insanely evil monsters
with 
nothing better to do than plot our destruction."
The elf adopts a sober expression "However the legends of Kron stray

great deal from the facts of the situation thanks in no small part
to 
myself. The people who originally built the wall were long dead before 
most of those legends sprang up and it was only because Kron's symbol
was 
carved into many of the stone blocks that people continued to call
it 
Kron's wall."
> Gwen gives him raw meat and says she hopes he likes it
> rare.
> Kaceubel waves his hand over the meat, mutters a few words and pops
the
now
> steaming chunks of meat into his mouth complimenting Gwen on the
cut.
> "it's not that I can't cook, it's just that people are so concerned
about
> food poisoning right now and I did not want to risk giving somebody
another
> bout of flue. Even dwarves" this with a glance at Balron "have
threatened
> bodily harm if I cooked them another meal."
Gwen smiles. "And here I was thinking you were refusing to cook in the
expectation that we were to wait upon you. Astonishing." She turns
back
to sharpening her skinning blade, humming faintly.
"No, after several hundred years of badgering I finally understood that
my 
cooking was making people ill. I don't like to think I'm slow on the 
uptake so I usually don't mention it to people." This with a broad
smile

14

From: Rachel 
Date: Wed Dec 8, 1999 2:16am
Subject: Re:
RE: Sephiroth- T8, Journey, A804
> The ranger lifts a brow and fixes a steady look upon the elf.  "I didn't
> think the 'Rape of Ilaria' was a fitting tale for a plesant evening
around
> a fire."

> "Yes, well the Rape of Ilaria is a fairly explicit tale and not one that
I, 
> for one, would like on my mind while traipsing through some trackless 
> wilderness on my way to a dungeon crawling with insanely evil monsters
with 
> nothing better to do than plot our destruction."
"Well, that too I suppose," murmurs the ranger, giving the mage an odd
look.

> The elf adopts a sober expression "However the legends of Kron stray a 
> great deal from the facts of the situation thanks in no small part to 
> myself.  The people who originally built the wall were long dead before 
> most of those legends sprang up and it was only because Kron's symbol was
> carved into many of the stone blocks that people continued to call it 
> Kron's wall."
The ranger pauses in her fiddling with damaged black and white fletching
and looks up, frowning.  "Are you telling me you've doctored history?  A
little presumtuous wouldn't you say?

> > Gwen gives him raw meat and says she hopes he likes it
> > rare 
> Gwen smiles.  "And here I was thinking you were refusing to cook in the
> expectation that we were to wait upon you.  Astonishing."  She turns back
> to sharpening her skinning blade, humming faintly.

> "No, after several hundred years of badgering I finally understood that
my 
> cooking was making people ill.  I don't like to think I'm slow on the 
> uptake so I usually don't mention it to people."  This with a broad smile
Gwen laughs, "I too am a murder of broths from Skirk to Talark.  Its a good
thing we can stomach our own chow, even if others can't." 


5

From: Robert
Date: Wed Dec 8, 1999 10:14am
Subject: RE:
RE: Sephiroth- T8, Journey, A804
> The elf adopts a sober expression "However the legends of Kron stray a
> great deal from the facts of the situation thanks in no small part to
> myself.  The people who originally built the wall were long dead before
> most of those legends sprang up and it was only because Kron's symbol was
> carved into many of the stone blocks that people continued to call it
> Kron's wall."
The ranger pauses in her fiddling with damaged black and white fletching
and looks up, frowning.  "Are you telling me you've doctored history?  A
little presumtuous wouldn't you say?
Kaceubel laughs, "No, Kron's wall is very old.  The most recent crop of 
legends started "Kaceubel pauses, obviously counting in his head "only 800 
years ago or thereabouts.  I didn't add to them for a hundred years after 
that on my last outing to see the western shores.  Over the last " another 
longer pause, Kaceubel now wearing a puzzled expression.  "Uh, since the 
wall was finished anyway there have been something like half a dozen sets 
of major legends to explain its existence and none of them come close to 
the truth of the matter."
Kaceubel sits back and starts scratching numbers in the dirt and muttering 
occasional words can be made out  "...third dynasty ... before the war of 
... and Stormshaven was before ... and that was 9 before bigtop... so that 
would make it.  Ahah.  Which would make me ..."  Kaceubel stops talking and 
just stares at his scratchings.
Gwen laughs, "I too am a murder of broths from Skirk to Talark.  Its a good
thing we can stomach our own chow, even if others can't."
Kaceubel grins at Gwen.  "Indeed, it is good to know that I am not alone in 
the murdering of broths.  I wonder if any here can cook?  I have often 
thought that most adventurers have a taste for fine food and an inability 
to make it themselves."  He grins as looks around the campfire to assure 
that he is merely jesting.

6

From: Rachel 
Date: Mon Dec 13, 1999 11:50pm
Subject: Re:
RE: Sephiroth- T8, Journey, A804
One morning, Balron, Ari and Kaceubel awake to find Nadia, who was
on
watch, quite absent from her position. Dawn has come and the three
have
over-slept fractionally, but further examination proves that the Ranger
has
certainly been up with the birds. She too is missing.
Both women's bed rolls remain. Nadia's is tidily closed to stop the
dew
from dampening her blankets whilst she was taking the last watch, Gwen's
is
rumpled, open, and still warm.
Balron humphs knowingly, stretches and begins packing his belongings.
Ari
stares off into the trees, his keen eyes spying the trail of two slender,
booted feet striking out amongst the trees. Further examination shows
one
set vanishing with commendable woodcraft, Nadia's tracks remaining
visible
with a legacy of scaped moss and disturbed undergrowth. No unusual
sounds
disturb the morning's crisp air. Even Kaceubel seems unable to trace
their
whereabouts, his brow furrowing slightly as he stands, one foot upon
a log,
eating delicately his breakfast of fruit.
The horse stands calm and docile near where it was hobbled last night,
munching the damp grass lazily.
Minutes pass. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty - then the cleric's horse starts
and
neighs, looking to the east, and a few moments later, Gwen steps forth,
Nadia close behind. The ranger is pale and an anger rests in her lovely
eyes. When she stoops to her bed roll with barely a glance at the others,
she wobbles slightly and pauses a moment to steady herself with a hand
upon
the ground. None of the party has ever seen their ranger look even
for a
moment off-balance since leaving Derisnospewn. But the way Gwen snatches
her belongings of the earth and wipes her hands upon her breeches as
if
revolted by everything around her is certainly familiar. Thsi morning
she
looks sickened by the earth beneath her feet.
Nadia murmurs good mornings, her eyes straying worriedly to Gwen now
and
then. She seems a little haunted as she moves to stoke the fire for
the
morning ritual of water boiling and medicine ingestion. She offers
no
apology or excuse for her absence at dawn.
Soon, all has been tidied and packs shouldered. Gwen and Nadia meet
beside
the horse which the ranger seems to be checking with perculiar
thoroughness. Nadia touches the ranger's tall shoulder and Gwen
immediately relents and ignoring the stares of Balron, Ari and Kaceubel,
pulls Naida's lean frame into her arms for a fierce hug.
"It doesn't matter," is all that can be overheard as Gwen whispers into
the
cleric's ear. Nadia presses her face into the sun-warmed braids of
the
half-elf, then draws back, smiling faintly. It's as if her heart has
swum
forth to her eyes. Her compassion is lovely to behold. Gwen, chewing
her
lip, pronounces the horse fit, then gathers up her bow and veritably
lopes
out of camp. For the rest of the day she is barely seen as she scouts
and
roams to their flanks and far to the front of the party. After that
day,
the ranger refuses to eat any of the flesh of the animals she shoots
for
the benefit of the others in the team. When asked why, she responds
that
as a servant of the Mother, she cannot take sustenance from land in
pain. 
Nothing more can be drawn from her.
Every night after that morning of absense, Gwen and Nadia lay their
blankets out side by side and sleep comfortably in the bliss of each
other's warmth, snuggled together like children defying the nighttime
terrors of a strange room. Living on rations, Gwen begins to look thinner,
but utters no word of complaint and cannot be convinced to break from
her
vow not to eat from the land around them. Any roots or wild vegetables
she
finds she picks at sparingly and boils furiously before touching. Needless
to say, her attitude does little for the appetites of some. Nonetheless,
her merry stories still come at night, she still bickers with Kaceubel
in
elvish and comon, plays tricks on Ari and goads Balron to unnerving
stares
with bouts of mischevious teasing. The dwarf's temper seems to become
an
object of fascination and a favourite diversion - next to Nadia who
receives positively 9/10ths of the half-elf's attention. That there
is
something considerable between them grows more apparent with every
day they
come closer to the dungeon. When the two women finally look upon the
maw
of their destination, their faces are bleached with more than simple
trepedation. At the end of their trek, Gwen sighs, turns her back upon
the
dungeon and lights her pipe, filling the air with the sweet smoke of
her
narcotic. Dimly, her comment can be heard by all. With a heart-felt
exhalation, the ranger says, "Dammit all" and puffs intently, her eyes
downcast.

7

From: Peter
Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999 10:45am
Subject: A901
- The Gates
There is a large under-grassed area in front you. 
Bare dirt showing the signs of being trampled by many
feet.  Nearby trees are sparse, withered and warped
unnaturally.
The Black River wells from the ground to one side,
like blood seeping from a wound.  It could perhaps
lead into the dungeon itself, but that would involve
swimming underwater for a considerable time.  It could
be loosely defined as water.  More accurately as
effluent.
The cliff face bulges forth here.  Its weathered face
covered in small growths of moss.  
There are three doors set into the towering mountain.
Each one is twice as tall as the tallest elf.  Their
stone faces flush with the surrounding rock.
There is a large symbolic tree carved into the face of
each door.  Reminiscent of the painting in the tavern.
 At the base of each door is a different symbol,
however...
The left appears to have an 'a', the middle a three
pronged 'i' and the right an upside down 'u'.
A mist drifts cloyingly around the base of the
mountain.  A sickly yellow-green in colour.
Kaceubel takes two steps forward before the group
going to one knee and bringing his pack around before
him.  "Before we attempt to enter Sephiroth I have a
toast to propose."  Kaceubel opens his pack and draws
out a small wooden case which he carefully places in
front of him, it's centre aligning precisely with the
centre of the great [arch, doorway, door whatever]. 
Kaceubel works quickly though without haste.  He opens
the case and carefully arranges five small crystal
goblets in a pentagonal pattern on the inside cover of
the case.  "I have been saving this for a special
occasion, it is the last bottle of my favourite
vintage."  The mage reverently brings forth a velvet
wrapped bottle.  "This bottle is older than Kron's
wall, originally I had a whole case."  Carefully
Kaceubel flips away the covering cloth drawing forth a
small, plain bottle of golden fluid.  "The people who
made this saw it as a sacred duty to brew the wine. 
In fact they had a war over which kind of grapes to
use in the process."  Carefully he places the bottle
exactly between the goblets and sits back on his heels
studying the arrangement for flaws.
"Now if I remember correctly ... "  Kaceubel sings
quietly in archaic Elvish and sketches the symbols for
Life, minor Growth and inverted Decay in air over the
bottle.  The ornate seal on the bottle glows briefly
before silvery light flows around and down the bottle
to its base.  Spreading from the base to the goblets
in five streams.  There is a slight flash as lines
suddenly connect the goblets and the top pops off the
bottle with a sigh.  The glow fades leaving the
goblets subtly different.
Kaceubel leans forward and, picking up the bottle,
carefully pours the golden wine equally into the five
goblets leaving the bottle empty.  Replacing the
bottle Kaceubel looks over to Gwen.  "Do not worry,
the spell is merely a preservative, this wine has no
magical side effects it is simply the best you will
ever taste.  Unless you prefer reds, I know of a
bottle or two of similar vintage lying about
somewhere."  The mage gestures towards the glasses,
gather round and propose your toasts, tradition
demands that we each toast to something, preferably
something positive.  We all propose our toasts and
then we drink the wine in one shot  I shall start." 
He pauses in thought.  "To life and liberty." 
Kaceubel looks to Nadia expectabtly.
The early morning sun gleams off his goblet.
=====
Peter Cobcroft

8

From: Peter
Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999 11:36am
Subject: Update
to Onelist site
The symbols on the gate are now in the 'Files'
section.
And I've added links to related information on
Sephiroth for any player interested.  Please note that
most (if not all) characters in the game do not know
about Sephiroth as it is a Lizardman cult (the
Lizardmen are the equivalent of Semites - that is
Arabs and Jews)
=====
Peter Cobcroft

9

From: Rachel 
Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999 4:30pm
Subject: Re:
A901 - The Gates
> There is a large under-grassed area in front you. 
> Bare dirt showing the signs of being trampled by many
> feet. Nearby trees are sparse, withered and warped
> unnaturally.
Silver pipe in hand, a thin plume of smoke playing from her sculpted
nostrils, Gwen leiusurely scans the clearing, her eyes drifting from
tree
tops, to scrub, working back over the scarred land until her consideration
focuses on the earth before her. She begins to move then, stepping
carefully, effortlessly over what seems to be a pre-selected area of
land. 
Her gaze follows the tracks left in such abundance, examining, identifying
and separating one group from another - one man or beast from its fellow
until she has travelled a simple, thorough grid. Once, she pauses by
the
Black River's point of emergence and counches for a moment watching
the
contaminated rush before scowling and stepping away in disgust, an
exhalation of limia smoke in her wake. Gwen's search pattern finally
concludes some six yards from the three doors set in the rock face. 
Chewing her lip, the ranger places her hands on her hips and stares
at the
ground thoughtfully, identifying something of significance in the tracks
left by others whilst her eyes drift without comprehension over the
symbols
engraved above. The sun beats down on her tall, admirable form with
gilded
jealously, seeming to want nothing more than to tangle its rays in
her
ice-pale braids and heat her honey-rich skin. Contemplation of the
darkness lying beyond the three doors sits in Gwen's heart like the
black
promise of a nightmare. She draws a heavy breath and rubs her eyes.
> Kaceubel takes two steps forward before the group
> going to one knee and bringing his pack around before
> him. "Before we attempt to enter Sephiroth I have a
> toast to propose." Kaceubel opens his pack and draws
> out a small wooden case which he carefully places in
> front of him, it's centre aligning precisely with the
> centre of the great [arch, doorway, door whatever]. 
Gwen turns around, a brow lifting. "A toast, forest-brother? Do you
think
this is an appropriate moment? I mean - what'll be left to do when
we
finally get out of here? Dance?" She smiles as the elf's deft hands
continue to scamper over his mysterious box and moves over to Balron's
side. "You reckon it'll be to your palate, Sir Token Fighter?"
> Kaceubel works quickly though without haste. He opens
> the case and carefully arranges five small crystal
> goblets in a pentagonal pattern on the inside cover of
> the case. "I have been saving this for a special
> occasion, it is the last bottle of my favourite
> vintage." The mage reverently brings forth a velvet
> wrapped bottle. "This bottle is older than Kron's
> wall, originally I had a whole case." Carefully
> Kaceubel flips away the covering cloth drawing forth a
> small, plain bottle of golden fluid. "The people who
> made this saw it as a sacred duty to brew the wine. 
> In fact they had a war over which kind of grapes to
> use in the process." Carefully he places the bottle
> exactly between the goblets and sits back on his heels
> studying the arrangement for flaws.
Gwen chuckles. "I think you forgot the black candles."

> "Now if I remember correctly ... " Kaceubel sings
> quietly in archaic Elvish and sketches the symbols for
> Life, minor Growth and inverted Decay in air over the
> bottle. The ornate seal on the bottle glows briefly
> before silvery light flows around and down the bottle
> to its base. Spreading from the base to the goblets
> in five streams. There is a slight flash as lines
> suddenly connect the goblets and the top pops off the
> bottle with a sigh. The glow fades leaving the
> goblets subtly different.
Gwen shifts uncomfortably. Even the small display of magic seems to
have
her hackles up. She rubs at her left temple and frowns faintly.
> Kaceubel leans forward and, picking up the bottle,
> carefully pours the golden wine equally into the five
> goblets leaving the bottle empty. Replacing the
> bottle Kaceubel looks over to Gwen. "Do not worry,
> the spell is merely a preservative, this wine has no
> magical side effects it is simply the best you will
> ever taste. Unless you prefer reds, I know of a
> bottle or two of similar vintage lying about
> somewhere." The mage gestures towards the glasses,
> gather round and propose your toasts, tradition
> demands that we each toast to something, preferably
> something positive. We all propose our toasts and
> then we drink the wine in one shot I shall start." 
> He pauses in thought. "To life and liberty." 
> Kaceubel looks to Nadia expectabtly.

> The early morning sun gleams off his goblet.
Gwen looks towards the sable-haired human woman, her eyes unreadable,
then
draws her pipe to her lips, head bowed as she waits.

10

From: Peter
Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999 6:44pm
Subject: Re:
A901 - The Gates
>   The sun beats down on her tall, admirable form with gilded
> jealously, seeming to want nothing more than to tangle its rays in her
> ice-pale braids and heat her honey-rich skin.  Contemplation of the
> darkness lying beyond the three doors sits in Gwen's heart like the black
> promise of a nightmare.  She draws a heavy breath and rubs her eyes.
Balron watches with interest, trying to determine what it is that she sees that
captivates her so.  A step puts him next to her, his gaze tracing her path.
> > Kaceubel takes two steps forward before the group
> > going to one knee and bringing his pack around before
> > him.  "Before we attempt to enter Sephiroth I have a
> > toast to propose."  Kaceubel opens his pack and draws
> > out a small wooden case which he carefully places in
> > front of him, it's centre aligning precisely with the
> > centre of the great [arch, doorway, door whatever].
> Gwen turns around, a brow lifting.  "A toast, forest-brother?  Do you think
> this is an appropriate moment?  I mean - what'll be left to do when we
> finally get out of here? Dance?"  She smiles as the elf's deft hands
> continue to scamper over his mysterious box and moves over to Balron's
> side.  "You reckon it'll be to your palate, Sir Token Fighter?"
Balron tips his head slightly, gazing up from beneath his bushy eyebrows,
considering.  After a long look one shoulder rises slowly, light cascading off
the silvered steel of his armour.  "I'm yet to find one that did, lass.  Wines
like that are of the air, wind caught in a bottle and infused in a liquid.
Fairy things, to bring out the morning and the noon and lift the head.  One of
my ilk prefers a different kind, of fire and earth, of blood and toil.  A drink
should be all things that you savour.  This is not it."
> > Kaceubel works quickly though without haste.  He opens
> >... goblets subtly different.
>  then we drink the wine in one shot  I shall start."
> > He pauses in thought.  "To life and liberty."
> > Kaceubel looks to Nadia expectabtly.
> > The early morning sun gleams off his goblet.
> Gwen looks towards the sable-haired human woman, her eyes unreadable, then
> draws her pipe to her lips, head bowed as she waits.
Balron lifts his glass, gazing deep into the wine.  He steps back beside Gwen
and joins the mage in watching Nadia.

11

From: Peter
Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999 11:41pm
Subject: A902
- The Gates Shimmer
As you watch, the symbols on the surface melt and fade
away from the doors, leaving behind a simple message
written in the common Human tongue:-
[if attachement doesn't work, try URL below]
="http://www.onelist.com/files/dungeonsephiroth/Gates.jpg" target="_top">http://www.onelist.com/files/dungeonsephiroth/Gates.jpg
=====
Peter Cobcroft

12

From:  
Date: Tue Dec 14, 1999 11:59pm
Subject: New
Survey
Hello,
There is a new survey for the dungeonsephiroth community. 
What do you think could be added to the PBeM to improve it?
----
Possible answers are:
o More Humour
o Less Humour
o More Horror
o Less Horror
o More Religion/Mystery
o Less Religion/Mystery
o Logical Puzzles
o More Combat
o Less Combat
o More NPC's
o Less NPC's
o Graphics
o Text Only
o More Players
o Other
          
To vote, please visit the following web page:
="http://www.onelist.com/surveys/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top">http://www.onelist.com/surveys/dungeonsephiroth
Note: Please do not reply to this message. Survey votes are not collected 
via email. To vote, you must go to the ONElist website.
Thanks!
dungeonsephiroth Owner

13

From: Rachel 
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 2:12am
Subject: Re:
A901 - The Gates
> >   The sun beats down on her tall, admirable form with gilded
> > jealously, seeming to want nothing more than to tangle its rays in her
> > ice-pale braids and heat her honey-rich skin.  Contemplation of the
> > darkness lying beyond the three doors sits in Gwen's heart like the
black
> > promise of a nightmare.  She draws a heavy breath and rubs her eyes.

> Balron watches with interest, trying to determine what it is that she
sees that
> captivates her so.  A step puts him next to her, his gaze tracing her
path.
Gwen nods at the dwarf and extends a finger idly, tracing an arc of
strange, narrow scrapings in the dirt and some lumpish scorings
accompianied by scuffed boot marks that could easily be the marks of great
hams tossed side by side upon the earth.  Her look indicates the tracks are
widespread and lead every which-way from all three doors and beyond the
very clearing.  She doesn't look happy.  "Four days old, no more.  Were
talking - and don't ask me how - orcs, boots - human and otherwise - plus
walking skeletons, unshod horses, a few different carts ..."  she sniffs
and waves a hands.  "A few campsites from adventurers and the like, one
night stays.  As for the beasties, they've used every door and their
track-patterns suggest they were involved in search and raiding parties,
probably against settlors or caravans, judging by the numbers.  Others I
would guess, considering by the direction they went, were scroungers or
hunters.  Looks like the tenant of this here place has a good army of
lackies."  She sneers faintly as she looks about her surrounds once again. 
Some small, poor coins clink in her palm, obviously found in her recent
examinations.  "Low rent cockroach," murmurs the ranger frostily.
 
> > > Kaceubel takes two steps forward before the group
> > > going to one knee and bringing his pack around before
> > > him.  "Before we attempt to enter Sephiroth I have a
> > > toast to propose." 
> > Gwen turns around, a brow lifting.  "A toast, forest-brother?  Do you
think
> > this is an appropriate moment?  I mean - what'll be left to do when we
> > finally get out of here? Dance?"  She smiles as the elf's deft hands
> > continue to scamper over his mysterious box and moves over to Balron's
> > side.  "You reckon it'll be to your palate, Sir Token Fighter?"

> Balron tips his head slightly, gazing up from beneath his bushy eyebrows,
> considering.  After a long look one shoulder rises slowly, light
cascading off
> the silvered steel of his armour.  "I'm yet to find one that did, lass. 
Wines
> like that are of the air, wind caught in a bottle and infused in a
liquid.
> Fairy things, to bring out the morning and the noon and lift the head. 
One of
> my ilk prefers a different kind, of fire and earth, of blood and toil.  A
drink
> should be all things that you savour.  This is not it."
Gwen smiles, her eyes lit with some new found regard for the usually
taciturn dwarf.  "Your eloquence does you credit, friend," compliments the
half-elf with easy warmth.  "Fire, earth, blood and toil.  I hear the
articulation of a soul wise enough to study itself before it attempts the
examination of others.  But as for a drink that supplies all we need and
savour - well that's a rare thing indeed, Balron, and you know what they
say about beggars."

> > > Kaceubel works quickly though without haste.  He opens
> > >... goblets subtly different.

> >  then we drink the wine in one shot  I shall start."
> > > He pauses in thought.  "To life and liberty."
> > > Kaceubel looks to Nadia expectabtly.
> > > The early morning sun gleams off his goblet.
> > Gwen looks towards the sable-haired human woman, her eyes unreadable,
then draws her pipe to her lips, head bowed as she waits.

> Balron lifts his glass, gazing deep into the wine.  He steps back beside
Gwen
> and joins the mage in watching Nadia.


14

From: Peter
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 2:25pm
Subject: A903
- The Gates Shimmer
Gwen starts, staring like a spooked horse as the
glyphs upon the doors.
She reads them, blinks, then in a blur, leaps forward,
wraps a hand in the hobbit's jerkin about his throat
and drags him forward, striking at the centremost door
with her shoulder and the entirety of the thief's
squirming body.  One solid, sickening *thunk*
resounds, especially from Ari's head.  
Gwen's spare hand snakes down and whips the blade of
her vicious skinning knife into a deadly hold
against the hobbit's carotid and ignoring the voices
of those behind her, she leans into the thief's form,
fingers white with the force of her hold. 
"ARImansis!" cries the half-elf with a half-demented,
frightenly alien look in her eyes.  A trickle of
blood etches its way along the blue-steel length of
her well-oiled knife. 
"Now if I believed in coincidence, you hairy
sneak-thief, I'd have been played a fool long since!".
 
=====
Peter Cobcroft

15

From: Robert
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 3:34pm
Subject: RE:
A903 - The Gates Shimmer
Gwen starts, staring like a spooked horse as the
glyphs upon the doors.
She reads them, blinks, then in a blur, leaps forward,
wraps a hand in the hobbit's jerkin about his throat
and drags him forward, striking at the centremost door
with her shoulder and the entirety of the thief's
squirming body. One solid, sickening *thunk*
resounds, especially from Ari's head.
Gwen's spare hand snakes down and whips the blade of
her vicious skinning knife into a deadly hold
against the hobbit's carotid and ignoring the voices
of those behind her, she leans into the thief's form,
fingers white with the force of her hold.
"ARImansis!" cries the half-elf with a half-demented,
frightenly alien look in her eyes. A trickle of
blood etches its way along the blue-steel length of
her well-oiled knife.
"Now if I believed in coincidence, you hairy
sneak-thief, I'd have been played a fool long since!".
Kaceubel speaks, loudly in a tone of authority unheard from him previously 
"Gwendellheil Bright-Eye of the Lofty Mountains put that thief down
this 
instant." Kaceubel raises his left hand and it starts glowing blue.
"We 
are not going to start off by killing one another if I have to spank
each 
and every one of you."
The mage looks around, a terrible look in his eyes. "We are here to
save 
this world, we all have a place in it." He looks contempuously at Gwen. 
"Which some of us seem to have forgotten."
Kaceubels voice softens, compelling attention to his words. "This is

place of evil, another thing some of you may have forgotten. Evil likes
to 
get others to do its dirty work for it. This dungeon will test us in
every 
way and we must stand strong and together. Individually we will fall.
One 
of us is the Avatar, we don't know which one as knowing would only
endanger 
us all. We can not afford to let even one of us fall by the wayside."

16

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 4:28pm
Subject: RE: A903 - The Gates Shimmer



 
MjL
Above all; Mock


From: Robert Barbetti ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=189166091185082233170218065148147241071026057192209079013" >tarnish@o...

Gwen starts, staring like a spooked horse as the
glyphs upon the doors.

She reads them, blinks, then in a blur, leaps forward,
wraps a hand in the hobbit's jerkin about his throat
and drags him forward, striking at the centremost door
with her shoulder and the entirety of the thief's
squirming body. One solid, sickening *thunk*
resounds, especially from Ari's head.
Gwen's spare hand snakes down and whips the blade of
her vicious skinning knife into a deadly hold
against the hobbit's carotid and ignoring the voices
of those behind her, she leans into the thief's form,
fingers white with the force of her hold.
"ARImansis!" cries the half-elf with a half-demented,
frightenly alien look in her eyes. A trickle of
blood etches its way along the blue-steel length of
her well-oiled knife.
"Now if I believed in coincidence, you hairy
sneak-thief, I'd have been played a fool long since!".

The cleric moves in towards the action, her surprise at this sudden
violence momentarily apparent upon her features.

Kaceubel speaks, loudly in a tone of authority unheard from him previously
"Gwendellheil Bright-Eye of the Lofty Mountains put that thief down this
instant." Kaceubel raises his left hand and it starts glowing blue. "We
are not going to start off by killing one another if I have to spank each
and every one of you."

Nadia is moving easily, apparently completely relaxed, the only sign of any
tension the one hand on the still-sheathed sword's hilt. She is just close
enough to interfere and moving closer to the doors where the ranger holds
Ari. She turns her head quickly as she almost stalks forward. Almost
snarling.
"Oh, I agree 'mage', but it will serve you poorly to threaten me or mine."

The mage looks around, a terrible look in his eyes. "We are here to save
this world, we all have a place in it." He looks contempuously at Gwen.
"Which some of us seem to have forgotten."

Kaceubels voice softens, compelling attention to his words. "This is a
place of evil, another thing some of you may have forgotten. Evil likes to

get others to do its dirty work for it. This dungeon will test us in every

way and we must stand strong and together. Individually we will fall. One

of us is the Avatar, we don't know which one as knowing would only endanger

us all. We can not afford to let even one of us fall by the wayside."

Ignoring the platitudes, the cleric slows her steps stopping, just out of
arms length of the struggle.
Trying to hold Gwen's eyes with her own, she merely holds out one hand,
releasing any touch upon weaponry, turning her back upon everyone else and
paying even no attention to the hobbit. Seeing the ranger's eyes, she
carefully doesn't flinch, holding her eyes with some difficulty to concern
and trust.
"Gwen, listen to me," Stepping slowly forward, she places her outstretched
hand ever so gently upon the ranger's shoulder, her voice dropping, gentle,
"Don't do something you will regret. We will most likely need him, Gwen,"
gently caressing her name, "and we, I need you."

17

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 5:38pm
Subject: Re: A903 - The Gates Shimmer, tempers flare



 
> Gwen starts, staring like a spooked horse as the
> glyphs upon the doors begin to shift.
>
> She reads them, blinks, then in a blur, leaps forward,
> wraps a hand in the hobbit's jerkin about his throat
> and drags him forward, striking at the centremost door
> with her shoulder and the entirety of the thief's
> squirming body. One solid, sickening *thunk*
> resounds, especially from Ari's head.
> Gwen's spare hand snakes down and whips the blade of
> her vicious skinning knife into a deadly hold
> against the hobbit's carotid and ignoring the voices
> of those behind her, she leans into the thief's form,
> fingers white with the force of her hold.
> "ARImansis!" cries the half-elf with a half-demented,
> frightenly alien look in her eyes. A trickle of
> blood etches its way along the blue-steel length of
> her well-oiled knife.
> "Now if I believed in coincidence, you hairy
> sneak-thief, I'd have been played a fool long since!".
>
> Kaceubel speaks, loudly in a tone of authority unheard from him
previously
> "Gwendellheil Bright-Eye of the Lofty Mountains put that thief down this
> instant." Kaceubel raises his left hand and it starts glowing blue. "We
> are not going to start off by killing one another if I have to spank each
> and every one of you."

Gwen turns her head partially towards the elf, but does not relinquish her
hold upon the hobbit. Something in the tilt of her jaw suggests she has
just heard more than she can stomach from Kaceubel. Ari, in her grasp is
the only one who sees the terrible cold welling in her amythest eyes as
nightmares coil up to take their hold upon her reason. Fury drains her
face of all colour.

> The mage looks around, a terrible look in his eyes. "We are here to save
> this world, we all have a place in it." He looks contempuously at Gwen.
> "Which some of us seem to have forgotten."

"Forgotton?" the ranger growls, loathing seeping into her tones. "You are
so out of touch with reality, _archivist_ that I doubt you even understand
what it is the rest of perceive as 'our world'. I, for one, am so soaked
in
the lies, violence and subterfuge served up by all around me that I am not
about to obliviously stroll into the den of a sorcerer with him -" she
shakes Ari angrilly "- the master of this place, strolling contendedly by
my side! I never beleived anyone could walk unscathed from this place.
How convenient all your companions died. No one to gainsay your bullshit,
eh, Arimansis?" Gwen twists her blide, forcing Ari' jaw up, forcing him to
look into her eyes. "I think it's time someone here had a closer look at
our recalcitrant little friend. Nadia. Think you could detect a "Lord of
Death?"

> Kaceubels voice softens, compelling attention to his words. "This is a
> place of evil, another thing some of you may have forgotten. Evil likes
to get others to do its dirty work for it. This dungeon will test us in
every way and we must stand strong and together. Individually we will
fall.
One of us is the Avatar, we don't know which one as knowing would only
endanger us all. We can not afford to let even one of us fall by the
wayside."

Gwen's hand has begun to shake, she looks strung-out, but every accented
word from the elf's lips seems to only increase her resolve. "I think we
all know what bait dragged your ego-centric hide from its ivory tower,
Kaceubel," she snaps fiercely. "Yes, we are all prophesised to enter the
Dungeon. Fine. I'll go along with that. But first I want to know if our
talented 'guide' has a more intimate association with this place than we
realise! A reasonable request, I would have thought, considering his
history and name. What do you think, Balron? Nadia? How bout we have a
vote?"

18

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 6:53pm
Subject: Re: Re: A903 - The Gates Shimmer, tempers flare



 
> > Gwen starts, staring like a spooked horse as the
> > glyphs upon the doors begin to shift.
> >
> > She reads them, blinks, then in a blur, leaps forward,
> > wraps a hand in the hobbit's jerkin about his throat
> > and drags him forward, striking at the centremost door
> > with her shoulder and the entirety of the thief's
> > squirming body. One solid, sickening *thunk*
> > resounds, especially from Ari's head.
> > Gwen's spare hand snakes down and whips the blade of
> > her vicious skinning knife into a deadly hold
> > against the hobbit's carotid and ignoring the voices
> > of those behind her, she leans into the thief's form,
> > fingers white with the force of her hold.
> > "ARImansis!" cries the half-elf with a half-demented,
> > frightenly alien look in her eyes. A trickle of
> > blood etches its way along the blue-steel length of
> > her well-oiled knife.
> > "Now if I believed in coincidence, you hairy
> > sneak-thief, I'd have been played a fool long since!".
> >
> > Kaceubel speaks, loudly in a tone of authority unheard from him
> previously
> > "Gwendellheil Bright-Eye of the Lofty Mountains put that thief down this
> > instant." Kaceubel raises his left hand and it starts glowing blue. "We
> > are not going to start off by killing one another if I have to spank each
> > and every one of you."

Balron turns his dark gaze on the mage, the blue light from Kaceubels hand
striking his face and sinking into the blackness beneath his brows. The
screams as his Axe springs to guard, his shield dropping smoothly to settle on
his left forearm.

>
>
> Gwen turns her head partially towards the elf, but does not relinquish her
> hold upon the hobbit. Something in the tilt of her jaw suggests she has
> just heard more than she can stomach from Kaceubel. Ari, in her grasp is
> the only one who sees the terrible cold welling in her amythest eyes as
> nightmares coil up to take their hold upon her reason. Fury drains her
> face of all colour.
>
> > The mage looks around, a terrible look in his eyes. "We are here to save
> > this world, we all have a place in it." He looks contempuously at Gwen.
> > "Which some of us seem to have forgotten."
>
> "Forgotton?" the ranger growls, loathing seeping into her tones. "You are
> so out of touch with reality, _archivist_ that I doubt you even understand
> what it is the rest of perceive as 'our world'. I, for one, am so soaked
> in
> the lies, violence and subterfuge served up by all around me that I am not
> about to obliviously stroll into the den of a sorcerer with him -" she
> shakes Ari angrilly "- the master of this place, strolling contendedly by
> my side! I never beleived anyone could walk unscathed from this place.
> How convenient all your companions died. No one to gainsay your bullshit,
> eh, Arimansis?" Gwen twists her blide, forcing Ari' jaw up, forcing him to
> look into her eyes. "I think it's time someone here had a closer look at
> our recalcitrant little friend. Nadia. Think you could detect a "Lord of
> Death?"
>
> > Kaceubels voice softens, compelling attention to his words. "This is a
> > place of evil, another thing some of you may have forgotten. Evil likes
> to get others to do its dirty work for it. This dungeon will test us in
> every way and we must stand strong and together. Individually we will
> fall.
> One of us is the Avatar, we don't know which one as knowing would only
> endanger us all. We can not afford to let even one of us fall by the
> wayside."
>
> Gwen's hand has begun to shake, she looks strung-out, but every accented
> word from the elf's lips seems to only increase her resolve. "I think we
> all know what bait dragged your ego-centric hide from its ivory tower,
> Kaceubel," she snaps fiercely. "Yes, we are all prophesised to enter the
> Dungeon. Fine. I'll go along with that. But first I want to know if our
> talented 'guide' has a more intimate association with this place than we
> realise! A reasonable request, I would have thought, considering his
> history and name. What do you think, Balron? Nadia? How bout we have a
> vote?"

"CEASE!" bellows Balron, his basso voice drowning out all sound. Into the
ringing silence that follows he speaks, quietly but with sure authority gained
by years of command. "The Dwarven realms are not a democracy. There will be
no vote. You," he glares at Kaceubel, shifting his grip on his Axe.
"Extinguish that hand before I take it to stick on a pole as a torch." He
turns to Gwen. "Gwen lass, drop the hobbit and before your shaking hand guts
him like a fish. Ari, come here and start talking." He starts to idly spin
his axe, reseating his grip every three to four turns. "Know, Ari, that I can
throw this faster then you can possibly imagine. You will not run. You will
impress me with your memory and recite every detail of your former
undertaking." His eyes start to gleam and his bearded face moves into what may
be, tentatively, called a smile. "Make me proud, lad." He glances at Nadia.
"Would ye mind starting a fire, lass. I think this is going to take some
time."

19

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 7:03pm
Subject: RE: Re: A903 - Combined and updated.



 
> > Gwen starts, staring like a spooked horse as the
> > glyphs upon the doors begin to shift.
> >
> > She reads them, blinks, then in a blur, leaps forward,
> > wraps a hand in the hobbit's jerkin about his throat
> > and drags him forward, striking at the centremost door
> > with her shoulder and the entirety of the thief's
> > squirming body. One solid, sickening *thunk*
> > resounds, especially from Ari's head.
> > Gwen's spare hand snakes down and whips the blade of
> > her vicious skinning knife into a deadly hold
> > against the hobbit's carotid and ignoring the voices
> > of those behind her, she leans into the thief's form,
> > fingers white with the force of her hold.
> > "ARImansis!" cries the half-elf with a half-demented,
> > frightenly alien look in her eyes. A trickle of
> > blood etches its way along the blue-steel length of
> > her well-oiled knife.
> > "Now if I believed in coincidence, you hairy
> > sneak-thief, I'd have been played a fool long since!".
* >
The cleric moves in towards the action, her surprise at this sudden
violence momentarily apparent upon her features.
*
> > Kaceubel speaks, loudly in a tone of authority unheard from him
> previously
> > "Gwendellheil Bright-Eye of the Lofty Mountains put that thief down
this
> > instant." Kaceubel raises his left hand and it starts glowing blue.
"We
> > are not going to start off by killing one another if I have to spank
each
* > and every one of you."
*
Nadia is moving easily, apparently completely relaxed, the only sign of any
tension the one hand on the still-sheathed sword's hilt. She is just close
enough to interfere and moving closer to the doors where the ranger holds
Ari. She turns her head quickly as she almost stalks forward. Almost
snarling.

Balron turns his dark gaze on the mage, the blue light from Kaceubels hand
striking his face and sinking into the blackness beneath his brows. The
screams as his Axe springs to guard, his shield dropping smoothly to settle
on
his left forearm.
>
> Gwen turns her head partially towards the elf, but does not relinquish
her
> hold upon the hobbit. Something in the tilt of her jaw suggests she has
> just heard more than she can stomach from Kaceubel. Ari, in her grasp is
> the only one who sees the terrible cold welling in her amythest eyes as
> nightmares coil up to take their hold upon her reason. Fury drains her
* face of all colour.

NADIA: "Oh, I agree 'mage', but it will serve you poorly to threaten me or
mine."
>
> > The mage looks around, a terrible look in his eyes. "We are here to
save
> > this world, we all have a place in it." He looks contempuously at
Gwen.
> > "Which some of us seem to have forgotten."
>
> "Forgotton?" the ranger growls, loathing seeping into her tones. "You
are
> so out of touch with reality, _archivist_ that I doubt you even
understand
> what it is the rest of perceive as 'our world'. I, for one, am so soaked
> in
> the lies, violence and subterfuge served up by all around me that I am
not
> about to obliviously stroll into the den of a sorcerer with him -" she
> shakes Ari angrilly "- the master of this place, strolling contendedly by
> my side! I never beleived anyone could walk unscathed from this place.
> How convenient all your companions died. No one to gainsay your
bullshit,
> eh, Arimansis?" Gwen twists her blide, forcing Ari' jaw up, forcing him
to
> look into her eyes. "I think it's time someone here had a closer look at
> our recalcitrant little friend. Nadia. Think you could detect a "Lord
of
* Death?"
*
Ignoring the platitudes, the cleric slows her steps stopping, just out of
arms length of the struggle.
>
> > Kaceubels voice softens, compelling attention to his words. "This is
a
> > place of evil, another thing some of you may have forgotten. Evil
likes
> to get others to do its dirty work for it. This dungeon will test us in
> every way and we must stand strong and together. Individually we will
> fall.
> One of us is the Avatar, we don't know which one as knowing would only
> endanger us all. We can not afford to let even one of us fall by the
> wayside."
>
> Gwen's hand has begun to shake, she looks strung-out, but every accented
> word from the elf's lips seems to only increase her resolve. "I think we
> all know what bait dragged your ego-centric hide from its ivory tower,
> Kaceubel," she snaps fiercely. "Yes, we are all prophesised to enter the
> Dungeon. Fine. I'll go along with that. But first I want to know if
our
> talented 'guide' has a more intimate association with this place than we
> realise! A reasonable request, I would have thought, considering his
> history and name. What do you think, Balron? Nadia? How bout we have a
> vote?"
Trying to hold Gwen's eyes with her own, she merely holds out one hand,
releasing any touch upon weaponry, turning her back upon everyone else and
paying even no attention to the hobbit. Seeing the ranger's eyes, she
carefully doesn't flinch, holding her eyes with some difficulty to concern
and trust.
"Gwen, listen to me," Stepping slowly forward, she places her outstretched
hand ever so gently upon the ranger's shoulder, her voice dropping, gentle,
"Don't do something you will regret. We will most likely need him, Gwen,"
gently caressing her name, "and we, I need you."

"CEASE!" bellows Balron, his basso voice drowning out all sound. Into the
ringing silence that follows he speaks, quietly but with sure authority
gained
by years of command. "The Dwarven realms are not a democracy. There will
be
no vote. You," he glares at Kaceubel, shifting his grip on his Axe.
"Extinguish that hand before I take it to stick on a pole as a torch." He
turns to Gwen. "Gwen lass, drop the hobbit and before your shaking hand
guts
him like a fish. Ari, come here and start talking." He starts to idly
spin
his axe, reseating his grip every three to four turns. "Know, Ari, that I
can
throw this faster then you can possibly imagine. You will not run. You
will
impress me with your memory and recite every detail of your former
undertaking." His eyes start to gleam and his bearded face moves into what
may
be, tentatively, called a smile. "Make me proud, lad." He glances at
Nadia.
"Would ye mind starting a fire, lass. I think this is going to take some
time."

KACEUBEL: "I shall extinguish this spell when she "nodding to gwen
"releases the hobbit and not before." Strain is obvious in his voice as he
takes a step back to distance himself from the confrontation.

20

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 6:06pm
Subject: Re: A903 - The Gates Shimmer, tempers flare in more detail ;-)



 
> Kaceubel speaks, loudly in a tone of authority unheard from him
previously
> "Gwendellheil Bright-Eye of the Lofty Mountains put that thief down this
> instant." Kaceubel raises his left hand and it starts glowing blue. "We
> are not going to start off by killing one another if I have to spank each
> and every one of you."
>
> Nadia is moving easily, apparently completely relaxed, the only sign of
any
> tension the one hand on the still-sheathed sword's hilt. She is just
close
> enough to interfere and moving closer to the doors where the ranger holds
> Ari. She turns her head quickly as she almost stalks forward. Almost
> snarling. "Oh, I agree 'mage', but it will serve you poorly to threaten
me or mine."

Gwen turns her head partially towards the elf, but does not relinquish her
hold upon the hobbit. Something in the tilt of her jaw suggests she has
just heard more than she can stomach from Kaceubel. Ari, in her grasp is
the only one who sees the terrible cold welling in her amythest eyes as
nightmares coil up to take their hold upon her reason. Fury drains her
face of all colour.

> The mage looks around, a terrible look in his eyes. "We are here to save
> this world, we all have a place in it." He looks contempuously at Gwen.
> "Which some of us seem to have forgotten."

"Forgotton?" the ranger growls, loathing seeping into her tones. "You are
so out of touch with reality, _archivist_ that I doubt you even understand
what it is the rest of perceive as 'our world'. I, for one, am so soaked
in the lies, violence and subterfuge served up by all around me that I am
not
about to obliviously stroll into the den of a sorcerer with him -" she
shakes Ari angrilly "- the master of this place, strolling contendedly by
my side! I never beleived anyone could walk unscathed from this place.
How convenient all your companions died. No one to gainsay your bullshit,
eh, Arimansis?" Gwen twists her blide, forcing Ari' jaw up, forcing him to
look into her eyes. "I think it's time someone here had a closer look at
our recalcitrant little friend. Nadia. Think you could detect a "Lord of
Death?"

> Kaceubels voice softens, compelling attention to his words. "This is a
> place of evil, another thing some of you may have forgotten. Evil likes
to
> get others to do its dirty work for it. This dungeon will test us in
every
> way and we must stand strong and together. Individually we will fall.
One
> of us is the Avatar, we don't know which one as knowing would only
endanger
> us all. We can not afford to let even one of us fall by the wayside."

Ignoring the platitudes, the cleric slows her steps stopping, just out of
arms length of the struggle.

Gwen's hand has begun to shake, she looks strung-out, but every accented
word from the elf's lips seems to only increase her resolve. "I think we
all know what bait dragged your ego-centric hide from its ivory tower,
Kaceubel," she snaps fiercely.

> Trying to hold Gwen's eyes with her own, she merely holds out one hand,
> releasing any touch upon weaponry, turning her back upon everyone else
and
> paying even no attention to the hobbit. Seeing the ranger's eyes, she
> carefully doesn't flinch, holding her eyes with some difficulty to
concern
> and trust.
> "Gwen, listen to me," Stepping slowly forward, she places her
outstretched
> hand ever so gently upon the ranger's shoulder, her voice dropping,
gentle,
> "Don't do something you will regret. We will most likely need him,
Gwen,"
> gently caressing her name, "and we, I need you."

Gwen shivers at the touch and her eyes turn to Nadia. The half-elf looks
distraught. She looks back at Ari with tear-glazed eyes and twists her
hold another notch tighter on his jerkin as if she can't make herslef let
go.

"Yes, we are all prophesised to enter the Dungeon," says the ranger in a
hollow tone, answering Kaceubel, reminding herself and all present that she
remembers and understands how they're all linked. "Fine. I'll go along
with that. But first I want to know if our talented 'guide' has a more
intimate association with this place than we realise! A reasonable
request, I would have thought, considering his history and name. What do
you think, Balron? Nadia? How bout we have a vote?"

Gwen draws a heavy breath. "I don't want any more regrets in my life,
which is why this needs to be cleared up now." To Nadia she whispers
raggedly, "I will not allow any danger to you slither so close ever again."

>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

21

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 7:35pm
Subject: Re: Re: A903 - Combined and updated.



 
ooc - Wow - lets just move on before tangle ourselves up <chuckle>

----------

> "CEASE!" bellows Balron, his basso voice drowning out all sound. Into
the
> ringing silence that follows he speaks, quietly but with sure authority
> gained by years of command. "The Dwarven realms are not a democracy.
There will be no vote. You," he glares at Kaceubel, shifting his grip on
his Axe.
> "Extinguish that hand before I take it to stick on a pole as a torch."
He
> turns to Gwen. "Gwen lass, drop the hobbit and before your shaking hand
> guts him like a fish. Ari, come here and start talking." He starts to
idly
> spin his axe, reseating his grip every three to four turns. "Know, Ari,
that I
> can throw this faster then you can possibly imagine. You will not run.
You
> will impress me with your memory and recite every detail of your former
> undertaking." His eyes start to gleam and his bearded face moves into
what
> may be, tentatively, called a smile. "Make me proud, lad." He glances
at
> Nadia."Would ye mind starting a fire, lass. I think this is going to
take some
> time."
> KACEUBEL: "I shall extinguish this spell when she "nodding to gwen
> "releases the hobbit and not before." Strain is obvious in his voice as
he
> takes a step back to distance himself from the confrontation.

Gwen stares at Ari as if her very glare can sear his hide from his bones.
The trickle of blood on the blade touches her thumb and she abruptly
becomes very still. A moment passes in complete silence, the half-elf
draws a wavering breath, then withdraws her knife, holding it's bloodied
grip in a white hand. Her other hand still ensures Ari has a continuing
connection with the central door to the dungeon. "I don't care how well he
remembers his falsehoods, Balron. I want someone to ascertain where the
lies end and the truth begins." With a final shove, she steps away,
turning her back on Ari, trusting the dwarf to keep and eye on him. She
looks to Nadia and her eyes drop, pained, and she begins to clean her
skinning knife with automatic discipline.
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

22

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 7:52pm
Subject: RE: Re: A903 - Combined and updated.



 
> "CEASE!" bellows Balron, his basso voice drowning out all sound. Into
the
> ringing silence that follows he speaks, quietly but with sure authority
> gained by years of command. "The Dwarven realms are not a democracy.
There will be no vote. You," he glares at Kaceubel, shifting his grip on
his Axe.
> "Extinguish that hand before I take it to stick on a pole as a torch."
He
> turns to Gwen. "Gwen lass, drop the hobbit and before your shaking hand
> guts him like a fish. Ari, come here and start talking." He starts to
idly
> spin his axe, reseating his grip every three to four turns. "Know, Ari,
that I
> can throw this faster then you can possibly imagine. You will not run.
You
> will impress me with your memory and recite every detail of your former
> undertaking." His eyes start to gleam and his bearded face moves into
what
> may be, tentatively, called a smile. "Make me proud, lad." He glances
at
> Nadia."Would ye mind starting a fire, lass. I think this is going to
take some
> time."
> KACEUBEL: "I shall extinguish this spell when she "nodding to gwen
> "releases the hobbit and not before." Strain is obvious in his voice as
he
> takes a step back to distance himself from the confrontation.

Gwen stares at Ari as if her very glare can sear his hide from his bones.
The trickle of blood on the blade touches her thumb and she abruptly
becomes very still. A moment passes in complete silence, the half-elf
draws a wavering breath, then withdraws her knife, holding it's bloodied
grip in a white hand. Her other hand still ensures Ari has a continuing
connection with the central door to the dungeon. "I don't care how well he
remembers his falsehoods, Balron. I want someone to ascertain where the
lies end and the truth begins." With a final shove, she steps away,
turning her back on Ari, trusting the dwarf to keep and eye on him. She
looks to Nadia and her eyes drop, pained, and she begins to clean her
skinning knife with automatic discipline.

Kaceubel closes his hand on the light extinguishing it. Looks pale and
sits down rapidly. He shakes his head muttering to himself again "I hate
breaking the rules like that."

He shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "I can determine falsehood,
however it is not definitive, it can be fooled by a sufficiently skilled
sorceror. Between us," here indicating Nadia, " we should be able to tell
if he tries to foil the divination."

"Just give me a minute to recover." The elf draws himself into a lotus
position clasping his hands together and bowing his head.

23

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 11:22pm
Subject: Re: Re: A903 - Combined and updated.



 
> > "CEASE!" bellows Balron, his basso voice drowning out all sound. Into
> the
> > ringing silence that follows he speaks, quietly but with sure authority
> > gained by years of command. "The Dwarven realms are not a democracy.
> There will be no vote. You," he glares at Kaceubel, shifting his grip on
> his Axe.
> > "Extinguish that hand before I take it to stick on a pole as a torch."
> He
> > turns to Gwen. "Gwen lass, drop the hobbit and before your shaking hand
> > guts him like a fish. Ari, come here and start talking." He starts to
> idly
> > spin his axe, reseating his grip every three to four turns. "Know, Ari,
> that I
> > can throw this faster then you can possibly imagine. You will not run.
> You
> > will impress me with your memory and recite every detail of your former
> > undertaking." His eyes start to gleam and his bearded face moves into
> what
> > may be, tentatively, called a smile. "Make me proud, lad." He glances
> at
> > Nadia."Would ye mind starting a fire, lass. I think this is going to
> take some
> > time."
> > KACEUBEL: "I shall extinguish this spell when she "nodding to gwen
> > "releases the hobbit and not before." Strain is obvious in his voice as
> he
> > takes a step back to distance himself from the confrontation.
>
> Gwen stares at Ari as if her very glare can sear his hide from his bones.
> The trickle of blood on the blade touches her thumb and she abruptly
> becomes very still. A moment passes in complete silence, the half-elf
> draws a wavering breath, then withdraws her knife, holding it's bloodied
> grip in a white hand. Her other hand still ensures Ari has a continuing
> connection with the central door to the dungeon. "I don't care how well he
> remembers his falsehoods, Balron. I want someone to ascertain where the
> lies end and the truth begins." With a final shove, she steps away,
> turning her back on Ari, trusting the dwarf to keep and eye on him. She
> looks to Nadia and her eyes drop, pained, and she begins to clean her
> skinning knife with automatic discipline.
>
> Kaceubel closes his hand on the light extinguishing it. Looks pale and
> sits down rapidly. He shakes his head muttering to himself again "I hate
> breaking the rules like that."

Balron leans closer to Kaceubel. "Defy me not, my sorcerous friend, for know
this - I never threaten. I say now that I will stand as Gwen's surety, just as
I will stand as your's to them. None shall break this circle, for to do so
will mean I stand against them and none here could survive that." He stands,
turning to each of them. "You shall hear. I stand with all. Those who break
faith with one break faith with me. It would not be wise."

> He shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "I can determine falsehood,
> however it is not definitive, it can be fooled by a sufficiently skilled
> sorceror. Between us," here indicating Nadia, " we should be able to tell
> if he tries to foil the divination."

"Ari. Before they enact any spell, speak your peace, knowing you shall repeat
it under Truthsight. A truth spoken freely is a bond between the orator and
his audience." Balron walks to Gwen, touching her elbow lightly. "Come, lass,
sit and hear. It shall come out in time." He indicates a log fallen hear the
path, away from the doors.

> "Just give me a minute to recover." The elf draws himself into a lotus
> position clasping his hands together and bowing his head.

24

From: Rachel  <="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 00:51am
Subject: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
"I don't care how well he
> > remembers his falsehoods, Balron. I want someone to ascertain where
the
> > lies end and the truth begins." With a final shove, she steps away,
> > turning her back on Ari, trusting the dwarf to keep and eye on him.
She
> > looks to Nadia and her eyes drop, pained, and she begins to clean her
> > skinning knife with automatic discipline.
> >
> > Kaceubel closes his hand on the light extinguishing it. Looks pale and
> > sits down rapidly. He shakes his head muttering to himself again "I
hate
> > breaking the rules like that."
>
> Balron leans closer to Kaceubel. "Defy me not, my sorcerous friend, for
know
> this - I never threaten. I say now that I will stand as Gwen's surety,
just as
> I will stand as your's to them. None shall break this circle, for to do
so
> will mean I stand against them and none here could survive that." He
stands,
> turning to each of them. "You shall hear. I stand with all. Those who
break
> faith with one break faith with me. It would not be wise."
>
> > He shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "I can determine
falsehood,
> > however it is not definitive, it can be fooled by a sufficiently
skilled
> > sorceror. Between us," here indicating Nadia, " we should be able to
tell
> > if he tries to foil the divination."
>
> "Ari. Before they enact any spell, speak your peace, knowing you shall
repeat
> it under Truthsight. A truth spoken freely is a bond between the orator
and
> his audience." Balron walks to Gwen, touching her elbow lightly. "Come,
lass,
> sit and hear. It shall come out in time." He indicates a log fallen
hear the
> path, away from the doors.

Gwen looks up numbly, turns cold, suspicious look upon Ari then slides her
now clean knife into the sheath beside the much broader and heavier
jointing-blade with its sinister bone handle. Her other hip bears her
hunting blade and rosewood handled silver dagger. It's now apparent that
she knows all too well how to use each tool, not to mention the hatchet
hidden in her pack ... or the longsword and bow. Gwen nods and follows
Balron's gesture towards the log. She sits down with long-legged grace and
jerks irritably at the lacings on her shirt. She looks at Nadia, discovers
a rueful smile which turns into a sigh. The half elf scrubs at her eyes,
then unstraps her pack and dumping it on the ground, digs out a leather
pouch. As she begins to pull off her battered jacket, she scowls at Ari
again. "Well, get on with it, 'thief' and make it good."
>
> > "Just give me a minute to recover." The elf draws himself into a lotus
> > position clasping his hands together and bowing his head.

Gwen snorts, shakes out her coat and opens the pouch. Inside are steel
plates. She begins to insert them one by one into hidden compartments
within the leather foresting jacket. Each plate is inscribed with an
elvish warding glyph. "I'm sure the skeletons won't come out while we're
chatting. Take your time, mage. And Balron," her lovely eyes lift to the
dwarf's stern visage, "you may not threaten, but you do intimidate. As
long as the job gets done, however ..." she shrugs, and her eyes stray to
Nadia. "I'm sorry," she says across the dusty distance bewteen them, her
hands remaining busy with her coat, "I guess I learned to voice my
suspicions the Brondhiem clansmen way. Not subtle, but always to the
point. I don't apologise for my concerns, however. Last thing we need is
our enemy walking by our sides in the darkness." Gwen sighs again and her
hands rest. "Catch me on a good day, my fond one, and I promise not to do
anything overt for at least 12 hours." She smiles turns back to her work.
By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari.
The five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be dealt
with.

> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

25

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 10:26am
Subject: Re: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
MjL
Above all; Mock


From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...

"I don't care how well he
> > remembers his falsehoods, Balron. I want someone to ascertain where
the
> > lies end and the truth begins." With a final shove, she steps away,
> > turning her back on Ari, trusting the dwarf to keep and eye on him.
She
> > looks to Nadia and her eyes drop, pained, and she begins to clean her
> > skinning knife with automatic discipline.
> >
> > Kaceubel closes his hand on the light extinguishing it. Looks pale and
> > sits down rapidly. He shakes his head muttering to himself again "I
hate
> > breaking the rules like that."
>
> Balron leans closer to Kaceubel. "Defy me not, my sorcerous friend, for
know
> this - I never threaten. I say now that I will stand as Gwen's surety,
just as
> I will stand as your's to them. None shall break this circle, for to do
so
> will mean I stand against them and none here could survive that." He
stands,
> turning to each of them. "You shall hear. I stand with all. Those who
break
> faith with one break faith with me. It would not be wise."
>
> > He shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "I can determine
falsehood,
> > however it is not definitive, it can be fooled by a sufficiently
skilled
> > sorceror. Between us," here indicating Nadia, " we should be able to
tell
> > if he tries to foil the divination."
>
> "Ari. Before they enact any spell, speak your peace, knowing you shall
repeat
> it under Truthsight. A truth spoken freely is a bond between the orator
and
> his audience." Balron walks to Gwen, touching her elbow lightly. "Come,
lass,
> sit and hear. It shall come out in time." He indicates a log fallen
hear the
> path, away from the doors.

Gwen looks up numbly, turns cold, suspicious look upon Ari then slides her
now clean knife into the sheath beside the much broader and heavier
jointing-blade with its sinister bone handle. Her other hip bears her
hunting blade and rosewood handled silver dagger. It's now apparent that
she knows all too well how to use each tool, not to mention the hatchet
hidden in her pack ... or the longsword and bow. Gwen nods and follows
Balron's gesture towards the log. She sits down with long-legged grace and
jerks irritably at the lacings on her shirt. She looks at Nadia, discovers
a rueful smile which turns into a sigh. The half elf scrubs at her eyes,
then unstraps her pack and dumping it on the ground, digs out a leather
pouch. As she begins to pull off her battered jacket, she scowls at Ari
again. "Well, get on with it, 'thief' and make it good."
>
> > "Just give me a minute to recover." The elf draws himself into a lotus
> > position clasping his hands together and bowing his head.

Gwen snorts, shakes out her coat and opens the pouch. Inside are steel
plates. She begins to insert them one by one into hidden compartments
within the leather foresting jacket. Each plate is inscribed with an
elvish warding glyph. "I'm sure the skeletons won't come out while we're
chatting. Take your time, mage. And Balron," her lovely eyes lift to the
dwarf's stern visage, "you may not threaten, but you do intimidate. As
long as the job gets done, however ..." she shrugs, and her eyes stray to
Nadia. "I'm sorry," she says across the dusty distance bewteen them, her
hands remaining busy with her coat, "I guess I learned to voice my
suspicions the Brondhiem clansmen way. Not subtle, but always to the
point. I don't apologise for my concerns, however. Last thing we need is
our enemy walking by our sides in the darkness." Gwen sighs again and her
hands rest. "Catch me on a good day, my fond one, and I promise not to do
anything overt for at least 12 hours." She smiles turns back to her work.
*****
Nadia says nothing, returns the smile and runs one finger along just below
her left eye, as if wiping something clear. She seems mildly amused by
something, possibly whatever caused her to earlier murmur, 'faster than he
can imagine'.
She moves silently over to the log, smirking perhaps the slightest little
bit as she passes the contorted and meditating mage. She sits on the
ground, groaning exxageratedly at the pain in her joints, old and tired.
After a moment of shifting, trying to get comfortable, she half lifts
herself, moving to the side and leaning her back against the log, rests her
side and head against Gwen's leg, pushing a corner of the leather coat out
of the way, ignoring the oh-so-dangerous knives sitting just above and
behind her, claiming her position and sighing in contentment.
After a moment, she looks at Balron, still silent, but obviously prepared
to take a lead from the forceful warrior.
*****
By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari.
The five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be dealt
with.

26

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 10:54am
Subject: Ari dropped out



 
Unfortunately he chose a very pivotal moment to quit
the PBeM. Until I get another player to do him, I'll
be running him as an NPC (Chris, you get dibbs if you
want to play him as you have been following the
story).

Ari will speak soon...

Sorry for any inconvenience.


=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

27

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 11:18am
Subject: A904 - Ari accused



 
> "I don't care how well he
> > > remembers his falsehoods, Balron. I want
> someone to ascertain where
> the
> > > lies end and the truth begins." With a final
> shove, she steps away,
> > > turning her back on Ari, trusting the dwarf to
> keep and eye on him.
> She
> > > looks to Nadia and her eyes drop, pained, and
> she begins to clean her
> > > skinning knife with automatic discipline.

Ari backs away frightened. Unsure of himself.

> > > Kaceubel closes his hand on the light
> extinguishing it. Looks pale and
> > > sits down rapidly. He shakes his head muttering
> to himself again "I
> hate
> > > breaking the rules like that."
> >
> > Balron leans closer to Kaceubel. "Defy me not, my
> sorcerous friend, for
> know
> > this - I never threaten. I say now that I will
> stand as Gwen's surety,
> just as
> > I will stand as your's to them. None shall break
> this circle, for to do
> so
> > will mean I stand against them and none here could
> survive that." He
> stands,
> > turning to each of them. "You shall hear. I
> stand with all. Those who
> break
> > faith with one break faith with me. It would not
> be wise."
> >
> > > He shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "I
> can determine
> falsehood,
> > > however it is not definitive, it can be fooled
> by a sufficiently
> skilled
> > > sorceror. Between us," here indicating Nadia, "
> we should be able to
> tell
> > > if he tries to foil the divination."
> >
> > "Ari. Before they enact any spell, speak your
> peace, knowing you shall
> repeat
> > it under Truthsight. A truth spoken freely is a
> bond between the orator
> and
> > his audience." Balron walks to Gwen, touching her
> elbow lightly. "Come,
> lass,
> > sit and hear. It shall come out in time." He
> indicates a log fallen

[snip]

> *****
> By the time all the plates have vanished into the
> body of her jacket,
> Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes
> turn towards Ari.
> The five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting
> this matter to be dealt
> with.
>

Backed against the wall, the Hobbit glances nervously
around. He gulps once nervously, "I, I think the, uh
the guy who owns the dungeon is playing with us."
"Look what he's done just by changing the words on the
door."
"Last time I was here, do you think it had this name
on it?"
He gathers his courage, stops cowering and stands
straight.
"But, I can understand you not trusting me, I'm used
to it. Nobody trusts us Hobbits."
"I may not have been entirely truthful when I told you
guys how I escaped..."
"I reckon the owner likes visitors, and, and he makes
sure one person gets back, just so's he can get more
people to come. "
"Anyway, you can find your own way I guess - good luck
with the doors, took me ages last time."
He sidles around you to his pack before picking it up.
"I'll be off if you don't want me - I got other
business I can do with safer companions - there's a
mountain with a dragon in it, I hear.."
He looks at you enquiringly.



=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

28

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 11:35am
Subject: RE: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
OOC: Ari dropping out. Goddamn and here we are hanging on his every word.
Oh well I'll put in a little more build up (just like the sound of my own
typing I guess).

*****
By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari. The
five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be dealt
with.
"I may not have been entirely truthful when I told you guys how I
escaped..." "I reckon the owner likes visitors, and, and he makes sure one
person gets back, just so's he can get more people to come. " "Anyway, you
can find your own way I guess - good luck with the doors, took me ages last
time."
He sidles around you to his pack before picking it up. "I'll be off if you
don't want me - I got other business I can do with safer companions -
there's a mountain with a dragon in it, I hear.."
He looks at you enquiringly.

Kaceubel speaks his eyes still closed. "Stay right there Ari. If you
leave without answering our questions it will go poorly for you."

The elf stirs and looks over at the goblets. He sighs "no rush, the magic
there is a simple preservative." He turns to look at Ari and gives him a
long considering look.

"Ari this is how it's going to work." The mage pauses struck by a
thought." You know Nadia, this is going to work better if we both do it."
He turns back to Ari. "Ok on my end you will be surrounded by a cloud of
glowing dust, blue for truth, red for lies. Very simple everyone here
should be able to understand how it works. Right. Any questions before we
start?"

29

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 12:16pm
Subject: Re: Ari dropped out



 
SIGH!

----------
> From: Peter Cobcroft curufea@y...
> To: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]; Christopher Stevenson
="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=219015091009099134112147046077172165134237057008209123173238172199025" >christopher@a...
> Subject: [dungeonsephiroth] Ari dropped out
> Date: Thursday, 16 December 1999 10:54
>
> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> Unfortunately he chose a very pivotal moment to quit
> the PBeM. Until I get another player to do him, I'll
> be running him as an NPC (Chris, you get dibbs if you
> want to play him as you have been following the
> story).
>
> Ari will speak soon...
>
> Sorry for any inconvenience.
>
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

30

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 1:12pm
Subject: RE: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari. The
five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be dealt
with.
"I may not have been entirely truthful when I told you guys how I
escaped..." "I reckon the owner likes visitors, and, and he makes sure one
person gets back, just so's he can get more people to come. " "Anyway, you
can find your own way I guess - good luck with the doors, took me ages last
time."
He sidles around you to his pack before picking it up. "I'll be off if you
don't want me - I got other business I can do with safer companions -
there's a mountain with a dragon in it, I hear.."
He looks at you enquiringly.

Kaceubel speaks his eyes still closed. "Stay right there Ari. If you
leave without answering our questions it will go poorly for you."

The elf stirs and looks over at the goblets. He sighs "no rush, the magic
there is a simple preservative." He turns to look at Ari and gives him a
long considering look.

"Ari this is how it's going to work." The mage pauses struck by a
thought." You know Nadia, this is going to work better if we both do it."
He turns back to Ari. "Ok on my end you will be surrounded by a cloud of
glowing dust, blue for truth, red for lies. Very simple everyone here
should be able to understand how it works. Right. Any questions before we
start?"

Kaceubel opens his pack again and rumages through it for a few minutes
before triumphantly pulling out another leather wrapped bundle. Untying
the leather strap he unfolds it on the ground in front of him. Packed away
neatly inside is a full scribe kit complete with many of the raw
ingredients used for creating the more interesting inks. Removing a small
wooden bowl from his tunic Kaceubel starts flipping through the many
pouches, chanting softly the while. After only a few minutes Kaceubel has
finished mixing together a variety of powders into a purple dust.

Having finished his preparations Kaceubel turns again to Ari and grins at
him. "This will probably tingle a little while the spell settles so stay
calm. The rest of you, this will take a lot of concentration so if you
could ask the questions I can stay focused and not waste energy."

The mage picks up his bowl and rotates it thrice chanting melodiously in
Archaic Tauriqendi. Closing his eye he tosses the dust into the air where
it hangs, fluorescing blue. The elf makes a sidehand throwing gesture
towards Ari and the glowing cloud darts towards Ari. Ari steps back in
fear and squirms as the cloud takes up station about him and gets into his
clothes. After a moment the glow settles down to a steady pale blue.

Kaceubel speaks quietly from his lotus position, almost absently his eyes
still closed. "You may proceed."

OOC: Send in your questions, Peter will send responses to me and I will
'flavour' them.
It's good to be the mage.


From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 1:20pm
Subject: Re: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
> Nadia moves silently over to the log, smirking perhaps the slightest
little
> bit as she passes the contorted and meditating mage. She sits on the
> ground, groaning exxageratedly at the pain in her joints, old and tired.

Gwen smiles down, knowing exactly how the cleric feels and touches her dark
hair briefly, fondly.

> After a moment of shifting, trying to get comfortable, she half lifts
> herself, moving to the side and leaning her back against the log, rests
her
> side and head against Gwen's leg, pushing a corner of the leather coat
out
> of the way, ignoring the oh-so-dangerous knives sitting just above and
> behind her, claiming her position and sighing in contentment.

"Nice to know I can be of service," says Gwen with a grin, the brightness
returning to her manner at this small but powerful gesture of
companionship. She shifts to ensure Nadia is as comfortable as possible
and reaches down, passing the human woman her skin of pure water.

> After a moment, she looks at Balron, still silent, but obviously prepared
> to take a lead from the forceful warrior.

> By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
> Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari.
> The five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be
dealt
> with.

"I may not have been entirely truthful when I told you guys how I
escaped..."

Gwen's eyes harden. "I'm amazed and astonished."

"I reckon the owner likes visitors, and, and he makes sure one
person gets back, just so's he can get more people to come. " "Anyway, you
can find your own way I guess - good luck with the doors, took me ages last

time." He sidles around you to his pack before picking it up.

Nadia feels Gwen's leg tense. "I have a mind to get properly angry with
this manipulative thief," she mutters.

"I'll be off if you don't want me - I got other business I can do with
safer companions - there's a mountain with a dragon in it, I hear.." He
looks at you enquiringly.

Kaceubel speaks his eyes still closed. "Stay right there Ari. If you
leave without answering our questions it will go poorly for you."

For once, Gwen seems to approve of Kaceubel's attitude.

The elf stirs and looks over at the goblets. He sighs "no rush, the magic
there is a simple preservative." He turns to look at Ari and gives him a
long considering look.

"Ari this is how it's going to work." The mage pauses struck by a
thought." You know Nadia, this is going to work better if we both do it."
He turns back to Ari. "Ok on my end you will be surrounded by a cloud of
glowing dust, blue for truth, red for lies. Very simple everyone here
should be able to understand how it works. Right. Any questions before we

start?"

"With two of you working on it, the results will be fair," says Gwen
resting her hands on Nadia's shoulders, working them unconsciously in what
looks to be a superbly talented massage - the kind you just want to line up
for. "And if we all come up with a few questions to ask our self-confessed
liar, we should get a good feel of whether or not we can trust him. And,"
Gwen pauses and looks directly at Ari, "Whatever the result, you _will_ be
opening the doors for us, and, because the prophecy stipulates it must be
so - you will _also_ be coming inside. I'd like to think of this upcoming
test of veracity as a form of scouting out the terrain. I suppose it will
determine, Ari, whether you come with us hog-tied or upon your own two
feet." Gwen considers the Hobbit an moment longer, then leans down, her
cheek brushing Nadia's hair. "Will you help, my beloved?"

--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------

32

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 1:42pm
Subject: Re: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
> *****
> By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
> Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari. The
> five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be dealt
> with.
> "I may not have been entirely truthful when I told you guys how I
> escaped..." "I reckon the owner likes visitors, and, and he makes sure one
> person gets back, just so's he can get more people to come. " "Anyway, you
> can find your own way I guess - good luck with the doors, took me ages last
> time."
> He sidles around you to his pack before picking it up. "I'll be off if you
> don't want me - I got other business I can do with safer companions -
> there's a mountain with a dragon in it, I hear.."
> He looks at you enquiringly.

> Kaceubel speaks his eyes still closed. "Stay right there Ari. If you
> leave without answering our questions it will go poorly for you."

Balron rumbling chuckle wanders through Kaceubel's voice. "Ari my lad, don't
consider leaving. If you're innocent I want you with me as a valued
companion. If not, I want you where I can see you."

> The elf stirs and looks over at the goblets. He sighs "no rush, the magic
> there is a simple preservative." He turns to look at Ari and gives him a
> long considering look.
>
> "Ari this is how it's going to work." The mage pauses struck by a
> thought." You know Nadia, this is going to work better if we both do it."
> He turns back to Ari. "Ok on my end you will be surrounded by a cloud of
> glowing dust, blue for truth, red for lies. Very simple everyone here
> should be able to understand how it works. Right. Any questions before we
> start?"

"Yes." Balron turns from Ari to face his companions. "If Ari is the Power of
Sephiroth do you believe your magic can work against him, here, at the very
gates of that domain? And another to ponder - if he is behind this does that
invalidate his presence in the prophecy? I think not. Nor is he the only one
here with secrets." He returns his gaze to Ari. "Come lad, details. What
happened, every word, sound deed, smell. It is all important."

33

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 1:46pm
Subject: Re: Ari dropped out



 
And it was just starting to get really interesting too...

Peter Cobcroft wrote:

> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> Unfortunately he chose a very pivotal moment to quit
> the PBeM. Until I get another player to do him, I'll
> be running him as an NPC (Chris, you get dibbs if you
> want to play him as you have been following the
> story).

34

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 1:47pm
Subject: RE: Re: A903 -waiting for Ari(mansis) to speak ;-)



 
<snip>
> should be able to understand how it works. Right. Any questions before
we
> start?"

"Yes." Balron turns from Ari to face his companions. "If Ari is the Power
of
Sephiroth do you believe your magic can work against him, here, at the very
gates of that domain? And another to ponder - if he is behind this does
that
invalidate his presence in the prophecy? I think not. Nor is he the only
one
here with secrets." He returns his gaze to Ari. "Come lad, details. What
happened, every word, sound deed, smell. It is all important."

"Even if he is the power behind sephiroth we should be able to detect
interference. I will taken certain safeguards to ensure that we are not
being fooled. To answer your second question I think not. The prophecy is
perhaps a little less specific than one would like. It just says we will
challenge Sephiroth, who dies, who helps and who betrays remains unclear.
Certainly he is not the only one here with secrets, I even have some my
self."

35

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 3:44pm
Subject: Re: Ari dropped out



 
I know.
But it ain't over yet.

I'm going to have to re-read all Ari's background
however, whcih may take awhile..

--- Peter Wass ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197015139003099219036057061026172239071179066034209079013" >phw@s... wrote:
> And it was just starting to get really interesting
> too...
>
> Peter Cobcroft wrote:
>
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> curufea@y...
> >
> > Unfortunately he chose a very pivotal moment to
> quit
> > the PBeM. Until I get another player to do him,
> I'll
> > be running him as an NPC (Chris, you get dibbs if
> you
> > want to play him as you have been following the
> > story).
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>


=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

36

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 1999 4:30pm
Subject: Re: Re: A903 -questions soon



 
MjL
Above all; Mock


From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...


> Nadia moves silently over to the log, smirking perhaps the slightest
little
> bit as she passes the contorted and meditating mage. She sits on the
> ground, groaning exxageratedly at the pain in her joints, old and tired.

Gwen smiles down, knowing exactly how the cleric feels and touches her dark
hair briefly, fondly.

> After a moment of shifting, trying to get comfortable, she half lifts
> herself, moving to the side and leaning her back against the log, rests
her
> side and head against Gwen's leg, pushing a corner of the leather coat
out
> of the way, ignoring the oh-so-dangerous knives sitting just above and
> behind her, claiming her position and sighing in contentment.

"Nice to know I can be of service," says Gwen with a grin, the brightness
returning to her manner at this small but powerful gesture of
companionship. She shifts to ensure Nadia is as comfortable as possible
and reaches down, passing the human woman her skin of pure water.

> After a moment, she looks at Balron, still silent, but obviously prepared
> to take a lead from the forceful warrior.

> By the time all the plates have vanished into the body of her jacket,
> Kaceubel has completed his meditation and all eyes turn towards Ari.
> The five goblets sit in stoic abandonment, awaiting this matter to be
dealt
> with.

"I may not have been entirely truthful when I told you guys how I
escaped..."

Gwen's eyes harden. "I'm amazed and astonished."
******
The cleric chuckles.
******
"I reckon the owner likes visitors, and, and he makes sure one
person gets back, just so's he can get more people to come. " "Anyway, you
can find your own way I guess - good luck with the doors, took me ages last
time." He sidles around you to his pack before picking it up.

Nadia feels Gwen's leg tense. "I have a mind to get properly angry with
this manipulative thief," she mutters.
******
Curling her arm behind the leg against which she is leaning, Nadia taps her
hand against the ranger's knee in a slightly admonishing manner.
Very quietly, so probably only Gwen can hear it, she murmurs, "Relax love,
the anger isn't worth it." Pauses for a beat. "Besides, you're not half
as comfortable when you're so tensed up."
******
"I'll be off if you don't want me - I got other business I can do with
safer companions - there's a mountain with a dragon in it, I hear.." He
looks at you enquiringly.

Kaceubel speaks his eyes still closed. "Stay right there Ari. If you
leave without answering our questions it will go poorly for you."

For once, Gwen seems to approve of Kaceubel's attitude.

The elf stirs and looks over at the goblets. He sighs "no rush, the magic
there is a simple preservative." He turns to look at Ari and gives him a
long considering look.

"Ari this is how it's going to work." The mage pauses struck by a
thought." You know Nadia, this is going to work better if we both do it."
He turns back to Ari. "Ok on my end you will be surrounded by a cloud of
glowing dust, blue for truth, red for lies. Very simple everyone here
should be able to understand how it works. Right. Any questions before we
start?"

"With two of you working on it, the results will be fair," says Gwen
resting her hands on Nadia's shoulders, working them unconsciously in what
looks to be a superbly talented massage - the kind you just want to line up
for.
******
Not that lining up will get any of them a massage. "Ooooaaooah."
******
"And if we all come up with a few questions to ask our self-confessed
liar, we should get a good feel of whether or not we can trust him. And,"
Gwen pauses and looks directly at Ari, "Whatever the result, you _will_ be
opening the doors for us, and, because the prophecy stipulates it must be
so - you will _also_ be coming inside. I'd like to think of this upcoming
test of veracity as a form of scouting out the terrain. I suppose it will
determine, Ari, whether you come with us hog-tied or upon your own two
feet." Gwen considers the Hobbit an moment longer, then leans down, her
cheek brushing Nadia's hair. "Will you help, my beloved?"
******
Smiling slightly, the cleric asks very softly, "Hogtieing the thief, or...
Of course."
Leaning forward slightly, necessarily breaking the contact, she murmurs
some quiet words under her breath and dipping a languid hand into the
clear, pure water handed her, flicks a little in the general direction of
Ari, making certain only that a little reaches him.
Raising her voice to address the hobbit, her voice stern and warning, "This
won't hurt _too_ much, Ari." Kind of shrugs in apology and then resumes
her quiet murmuring, now adding in a couple of somatic elements to the
request. There are no obvious special effects, although perhaps the drops
sitting on the hobbits skin, glint oilily for a moment. It only becomes
clear that the cleric has finished her task when she has sat back for a
couple of moments, wriggling a little to settle herself in the most
comfortable positions and wrapping one arm back around the ranger's leg.
"Done. I'll know something of his intent as he speaks." Quietly, but
clearly.
******

37

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 17, 1999 00:56am
Subject: Re: Re: A903 -questioning Ari



 
> "With two of you working on it, the results will be fair," says Gwen
> resting her hands on Nadia's shoulders, working them unconsciously in
what
> looks to be a superbly talented massage - the kind you just want to line
up
> for.
> ******
> Not that lining up will get any of them a massage. "Ooooaaooah."
> ******
> "And if we all come up with a few questions to ask our self-confessed
> liar, we should get a good feel of whether or not we can trust him.
And,"
> Gwen pauses and looks directly at Ari, "Whatever the result, you _will_
be
> opening the doors for us, and, because the prophecy stipulates it must be
> so - you will _also_ be coming inside. I'd like to think of this
upcoming
> test of veracity as a form of scouting out the terrain. I suppose it
will
> determine, Ari, whether you come with us hog-tied or upon your own two
> feet." Gwen considers the Hobbit an moment longer, then leans down, her
> cheek brushing Nadia's hair. "Will you help, my beloved?"
> ******
> Smiling slightly, the cleric asks very softly, "Hogtieing the thief,
or...
> Of course."
> Leaning forward slightly, necessarily breaking the contact, she murmurs
> some quiet words under her breath and dipping a languid hand into the
> clear, pure water handed her, flicks a little in the general direction of
> Ari, making certain only that a little reaches him.
> Raising her voice to address the hobbit, her voice stern and warning,
"This
> won't hurt _too_ much, Ari." Kind of shrugs in apology and then resumes
> her quiet murmuring, now adding in a couple of somatic elements to the
> request. There are no obvious special effects, although perhaps the
drops
> sitting on the hobbits skin, glint oilily for a moment. It only becomes
> clear that the cleric has finished her task when she has sat back for a
> couple of moments, wriggling a little to settle herself in the most
> comfortable positions and wrapping one arm back around the ranger's leg.
> "Done. I'll know something of his intent as he speaks." Quietly, but
> clearly.

"Good enough." Gwen smiles admiringly downwards, twines a tendril of
Nadia's hair about her finger then looks up at the rather disconcerted Ari.

She begins with some simple questions, pausing after each for an answer
monitered by both cleric and mage:

"Do you, or have you ever, gone by the name of Arimansis?"
"Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the Dead?"
"Do you consider yourself to be the master of this Dungeon?"
"Can you wield magic?"
"Have you been within the dungeon more than once?"
"Do you serve a god?"
If yes - "Do you serve or revere Chaos?"
"Do you serve or revere Evil?"
"Do you serve or revere Good?"
"Do you serve or revere Mammon?"
"Do you serve or revere Balance?"
etc

"Did you murder any of your prior adventuring companions?"
"Do you intend to harm or kill any of us?"
"Do you believe that you are a potential avatar?"
"Do you believe you are more than an Avatar?"
......

38

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999 3:34pm
Subject: A1001 - The Door



 
"Good enough." Gwen smiles admiringly downwards,
twines a tendril of Nadia's hair about her finger
then looks up at the rather disconcerted Ari. She
begins with some simple questions, pausing after each
for an answer monitered by both cleric and mage: There
is a strange tension in the air.

"Do you, or have you ever, gone by the name of
Arimansis?" "Who, me?", Ari shrugs perplexed. With a
broad grin, he admits - "Well, yeah, I guess that
used to be my name, haven't heard it used in awhile."
The dust cloud glows bright cyan, clearly visible.
"Don't know how the writer found out my full name." At
this the cloud turns deep red and Ari jumps,
momentarily stung. The mage speaks almost absently,
"Sorry, forgot to mention that you get a mild sting
when you lie."

There is a resounding thud - as of a heavy weight
settling. There is a drift of dust wafting out from
the middle doors. The doors at which Ari had been
forcefully shoved.

The glow around Ari settles back into a baleful red
glow slowly paling as Gwen asks her next question.
"Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the
Dead?" "Of course, you think I prefer picking the
pockets of the living? Don't take this the wrong way,
but I really much prefer the safe job of hanging
around battlefields after it's all over, than
adventuring and doing traps and other things - can get
you killed, you know..."

Now glowing a steady blue, almost benevolently.

Looking up at the door, it seems as if the symbols are
slightly askew. The middle spider-like symbol is
definitely no longer aligned for some reason. "Do you
consider yourself to be the master of this Dungeon?"
"I sure as hell am not responsible for this Dungeon!
As if I could be bothered looking after this
monstrosity! I have better things to do! Huh!" The
glow stays blue and actually intensifies as Ari
speaks.

There is an ominous crunching noise - as if sand were
being ground under a very heavy weight.

"Can you wield magic?"
"No more than you! I can't believe you continue to
insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate magic
at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled job of
theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
before coming back more faintly.

The elf seems not to notice the crunching noise.

The right hand side of the door teeters for a second,
tilts slightly too far forward, and with a sudden
whump of air, it falls to the ground - shattering
into millions of pieces. Ari jumps - startled and
frightened. The magic of the moment broken by the
suddenness of the events. He turns around quickly and
is very surprised to see that one half of the double
doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' . It's
inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose by
the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
revealed surface looks surprising like the first
illusion.

Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
maintaining his lotus position and keeping his eyes
closed.





=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

39

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999 4:27pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door



 
MjL
Above all; Mock


"Good enough." Gwen smiles admiringly downwards,
twines a tendril of Nadia's hair about her finger
then looks up at the rather disconcerted Ari. She
begins with some simple questions, pausing after each
for an answer monitered by both cleric and mage: There
is a strange tension in the air.

"Do you, or have you ever, gone by the name of
Arimansis?" "Who, me?", Ari shrugs perplexed. With a
broad grin, he admits - "Well, yeah, I guess that
used to be my name, haven't heard it used in awhile."
The dust cloud glows bright cyan, clearly visible.
"Don't know how the writer found out my full name." At
this the cloud turns deep red and Ari jumps,
momentarily stung. The mage speaks almost absently,
"Sorry, forgot to mention that you get a mild sting
when you lie."

There is a resounding thud - as of a heavy weight
settling. There is a drift of dust wafting out from
the middle doors. The doors at which Ari had been
forcefully shoved.

The glow around Ari settles back into a baleful red
glow slowly paling as Gwen asks her next question.
"Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the
Dead?" "Of course, you think I prefer picking the
pockets of the living? Don't take this the wrong way,
but I really much prefer the safe job of hanging
around battlefields after it's all over, than
adventuring and doing traps and other things - can get
you killed, you know..."

Now glowing a steady blue, almost benevolently.

Looking up at the door, it seems as if the symbols are
slightly askew. The middle spider-like symbol is
definitely no longer aligned for some reason. "Do you
consider yourself to be the master of this Dungeon?"
"I sure as hell am not responsible for this Dungeon!
As if I could be bothered looking after this
monstrosity! I have better things to do! Huh!" The
glow stays blue and actually intensifies as Ari
speaks.

There is an ominous crunching noise - as if sand were
being ground under a very heavy weight.

"Can you wield magic?"
"No more than you! I can't believe you continue to
insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate magic
at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled job of
theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
before coming back more faintly.
******
From where Nadia half reclines against the log, she remained quiet,
enjoying the
"Well, how about that. Our thief if also a magic-user.
******
The elf seems not to notice the crunching noise.

The right hand side of the door teeters for a second,
tilts slightly too far forward, and with a sudden
whump of air, it falls to the ground - shattering
into millions of pieces. Ari jumps - startled and
frightened. The magic of the moment broken by the
suddenness of the events. He turns around quickly and
is very surprised to see that one half of the double
doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' . It's
inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose by
the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
revealed surface looks surprising like the first
illusion.

Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
maintaining his lotus position and keeping his eyes
closed.





=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

Community email addresses:
Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]

Shortcut URL to this page:
="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

40

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999 6:05pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door



 
> "Can you wield magic?"
> "No more than you! I can't believe you continue to
> insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
> band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate magic
> at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled job of
> theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
> before coming back more faintly.
> ******
> >From where Nadia half reclines against the log, she remained quiet,
> enjoying the
> "Well, how about that. Our thief if also a magic-user.
> ******

"Well, he wields more then Gwen. How much that is remains to be seen."

41

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999 5:55pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door - cleric



 
Please ignore previous proof that cats can indeed send email.

MjL
Above all; Mock


"Good enough." Gwen smiles admiringly downwards,
twines a tendril of Nadia's hair about her finger
then looks up at the rather disconcerted Ari. She
begins with some simple questions, pausing after each
for an answer monitered by both cleric and mage: There
is a strange tension in the air.

"Do you, or have you ever, gone by the name of
Arimansis?" "Who, me?", Ari shrugs perplexed. With a
broad grin, he admits - "Well, yeah, I guess that
used to be my name, haven't heard it used in awhile."
The dust cloud glows bright cyan, clearly visible.
"Don't know how the writer found out my full name." At
this the cloud turns deep red and Ari jumps,
momentarily stung. The mage speaks almost absently,
"Sorry, forgot to mention that you get a mild sting
when you lie."

There is a resounding thud - as of a heavy weight
settling. There is a drift of dust wafting out from
the middle doors. The doors at which Ari had been
forcefully shoved.

The glow around Ari settles back into a baleful red
glow slowly paling as Gwen asks her next question.
"Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the
Dead?" "Of course, you think I prefer picking the
pockets of the living? Don't take this the wrong way,
but I really much prefer the safe job of hanging
around battlefields after it's all over, than
adventuring and doing traps and other things - can get
you killed, you know..."

Now glowing a steady blue, almost benevolently.

Looking up at the door, it seems as if the symbols are
slightly askew. The middle spider-like symbol is
definitely no longer aligned for some reason. "Do you
consider yourself to be the master of this Dungeon?"
"I sure as hell am not responsible for this Dungeon!
As if I could be bothered looking after this
monstrosity! I have better things to do! Huh!" The
glow stays blue and actually intensifies as Ari
speaks.

There is an ominous crunching noise - as if sand were
being ground under a very heavy weight.

"Can you wield magic?"
"No more than you! I can't believe you continue to
insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate magic
at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled job of
theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
before coming back more faintly.
******
From where Nadia half reclines against the log, she has remained quiet, at
most nodding in agreement to the response indicated by the showy cloud. Or
at least not disagreeing. The only other movement is an occasional glance
up at the creaking doors, as if disquieted by something, something more
than just the sounds of cracking.
At this however, she chuckles slightly. Still with one arm locked somewhat
protectively around the ranger's legs she half-twists, turning and looking
upwards, she murmurs, "Appears our thief's a magic slinger too. Who'd a
figured?"
******
The elf seems not to notice the crunching noise.

The right hand side of the door teeters for a second,
tilts slightly too far forward, and with a sudden
whump of air, it falls to the ground - shattering
into millions of pieces. Ari jumps - startled and
frightened. The magic of the moment broken by the
suddenness of the events. He turns around quickly and
is very surprised to see that one half of the double
doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' . It's
inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose by
the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
revealed surface looks surprising like the first
illusion.

Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
maintaining his lotus position and keeping his eyes
closed.
******
The cleric jumps excessively at this last, practically leaping into orbit
from her sitting position.
When nothing else happens for a moment, she relaxes and releases the death
grip she had on Rusalka, looking around and down, conciously attempting to
reduce the rate of her breathing.
******

42

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999 6:26pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door



 
> "Do you, or have you ever, gone by the name of
> Arimansis?" "Who, me?", Ari shrugs perplexed. With a
> broad grin, he admits - "Well, yeah, I guess that
> used to be my name, haven't heard it used in awhile."
> The dust cloud glows bright cyan, clearly visible.
> "Don't know how the writer found out my full name." At
> this the cloud turns deep red and Ari jumps,
> momentarily stung.

Gwen snorts. "I think we need to ask how 'he' did find out."

The mage speaks almost absently,
> "Sorry, forgot to mention that you get a mild sting
> when you lie."
>
> There is a resounding thud - as of a heavy weight
> settling. There is a drift of dust wafting out from
> the middle doors. The doors at which Ari had been
> forcefully shoved.

Gwen glances to the door warily, "Is something banging on that damn thing?"
Her eyes dart to Arimansis. "You better not be up to anything, you little
creep."

> The glow around Ari settles back into a baleful red
> glow slowly paling as Gwen asks her next question.
> "Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the
> Dead?" "Of course, you think I prefer picking the
> pockets of the living? Don't take this the wrong way,
> but I really much prefer the safe job of hanging
> around battlefields after it's all over, than
> adventuring and doing traps and other things - can get
> you killed, you know..."

"Convenient answer. So you are Arimansis and you _are_ the Lord of the
Dead. These are specific questions, Hobbit, and your prevarication isn't
making any headway with me."
>
> Now glowing a steady blue, almost benevolently.
>
> Looking up at the door, it seems as if the symbols are
> slightly askew. The middle spider-like symbol is
> definitely no longer aligned for some reason. "Do you
> consider yourself to be the master of this Dungeon?"
> "I sure as hell am not responsible for this Dungeon!
> As if I could be bothered looking after this
> monstrosity! I have better things to do! Huh!" The
> glow stays blue and actually intensifies as Ari
> speaks.
>
> There is an ominous crunching noise - as if sand were
> being ground under a very heavy weight.
>
> "Can you wield magic?"
> "No more than you! I can't believe you continue to
> insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
> band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate magic
> at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled job of
> theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
> before coming back more faintly.
> ******
> >From where Nadia half reclines against the log, she remained quiet,
> enjoying the sun
> "Well, how about that. Our thief if also a magic-user."
> ******

The ranger nods in agreement, a new uneasiness apparent in her attitude.
"So it seems. I reckon we need to be asking Arimansis if he is using magic
at this moment and if he's responsible for the bloody door altering before
our eyes"

> The elf seems not to notice the crunching noise.
>
> The right hand side of the door teeters for a second,
> tilts slightly too far forward, and with a sudden
> whump of air, it falls to the ground - shattering
> into millions of pieces. Ari jumps - startled and
> frightened.

Gwen surges to her feet, regretably disturbing Nadia and reaches for her
bow. "Right. I've had enough." One limb of the bow is quickly braced
against her foot, she leans into the yew, watching the darkly stained wood
flex and strings the powerful bow in one fluid movement. With the grip in
her left hand, she reaches to her shoulder and draws forth a black and
white four-fletched arrow and nocks it with its broadhead tip aligned in
the man-killer position for puncturing horizontally lain ribs. She steps
forward, glowering at Ari with fierce determination. The bow is not as yet
drawn, but her strong tanned fingers have found the string.

The magic of the moment broken by the
> suddenness of the events. Ari turns around quickly and
> is very surprised to see that one half of the double
> doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' . It's
> inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose by
> the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
> patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
> revealed surface looks surprising like the first
> illusion.
>
> Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
> maintaining his lotus position and keeping his eyes
> closed.

Gwen boots stir a drift of curling, powdered dust. Her left hip is angled
slightly towards the Hobbit. With her head held high and the superb bow
resting like an old friend in her hands, she has never looked more calm or
more deadly. She stares down upon Ari as if he has been transformed into
something utterly repugnant. Distrust infuses her attitude.

"Balron, there's rope by my pack. Would you be so good as to tie it around
our new magic user, aka 'Lord of the Dead', in such a fashion that he might
remain useful to us whilst being, let us say, tethered. I have heard more
than enough despite this amusing interruption - many truths which should
have been spoken before we even set out. Arimansis here shall open this
dungeon and will aid us as a 'thief' and guide should, considering that his
life is now our insurance. Maybe, friend dwarf, you should also see that
he is disarmed and Arimansis - should you attempt anything, I _will_ shoot
you dead and since my arrows are crafted from rowan and sanctified by the
Mother's Tears, I fear your sorcery will have little effect upon their
flight. As for the rest of my questions, I believe I would like an answer
too them too. The critical ones were left untested." Gwen draws a breath,
her eyes never leaving Ari's hunched form, but her next words are addressed
to Nadia. "No threats to you shall walk unfettered, my love. Do you trust
me in this? I would not wish to do anything which may offend you."

43

From:   <="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 2:48pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door



 
I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...

MjL
Above all; Mock


From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...

> "Do you, or have you ever, gone by the name of
> Arimansis?" "Who, me?", Ari shrugs perplexed. With a
> broad grin, he admits - "Well, yeah, I guess that
> used to be my name, haven't heard it used in awhile."
> The dust cloud glows bright cyan, clearly visible.
> "Don't know how the writer found out my full name." At
> this the cloud turns deep red and Ari jumps,
> momentarily stung.

Gwen snorts. "I think we need to ask how 'he' did find out."

The mage speaks almost absently,
> "Sorry, forgot to mention that you get a mild sting
> when you lie."
>
> There is a resounding thud - as of a heavy weight
> settling. There is a drift of dust wafting out from
> the middle doors. The doors at which Ari had been
> forcefully shoved.

Gwen glances to the door warily, "Is something banging on that damn thing?"
Her eyes dart to Arimansis. "You better not be up to anything, you little
creep."

> The glow around Ari settles back into a baleful red
> glow slowly paling as Gwen asks her next question.
> "Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the
> Dead?" "Of course, you think I prefer picking the
> pockets of the living? Don't take this the wrong way,
> but I really much prefer the safe job of hanging
> around battlefields after it's all over, than
> adventuring and doing traps and other things - can get
> you killed, you know..."

"Convenient answer. So you are Arimansis and you _are_ the Lord of the
Dead. These are specific questions, Hobbit, and your prevarication isn't
making any headway with me."
>
> Now glowing a steady blue, almost benevolently.
>
> Looking up at the door, it seems as if the symbols are
> slightly askew. The middle spider-like symbol is
> definitely no longer aligned for some reason. "Do you
> consider yourself to be the master of this Dungeon?"
> "I sure as hell am not responsible for this Dungeon!
> As if I could be bothered looking after this
> monstrosity! I have better things to do! Huh!" The
> glow stays blue and actually intensifies as Ari
> speaks.
>
> There is an ominous crunching noise - as if sand were
> being ground under a very heavy weight.
>
> "Can you wield magic?"
> "No more than you! I can't believe you continue to
> insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
> band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate magic
> at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled job of
> theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
> before coming back more faintly.
******
From where Nadia half reclines against the log, she has remained quiet, at
most nodding in agreement to the response indicated by the showy cloud. Or
at least not disagreeing. The only other movement is an occasional glance
up at the creaking doors, as if disquieted by something, something more
than just the sounds of cracking.
At this however, she chuckles slightly. Still with one arm locked somewhat
protectively around the ranger's legs she half-twists, turning and looking
upwards, she murmurs, "Appears our thief's a magic slinger too. Who'd a
figured?"
******
The ranger nods in agreement, a new uneasiness apparent in her attitude.
"So it seems. I reckon we need to be asking Arimansis if he is using magic
at this moment and if he's responsible for the bloody door altering before
our eyes"

> The elf seems not to notice the crunching noise.
>
> The right hand side of the door teeters for a second,
> tilts slightly too far forward, and with a sudden
> whump of air, it falls to the ground - shattering
> into millions of pieces. Ari jumps - startled and
> frightened.

******
The cleric jumps excessively at this last, practically leaping into orbit
from her sitting position.
When nothing else happens for a moment, she relaxes and releases the death
grip she had on Rusalka, looking around and down, conciously attempting to
reduce the rate of her breathing.
******

Gwen surges to her feet, regretably disturbing Nadia and reaches for her
bow. "Right. I've had enough." One limb of the bow is quickly braced
against her foot, she leans into the yew, watching the darkly stained wood
flex and strings the powerful bow in one fluid movement. With the grip in
her left hand, she reaches to her shoulder and draws forth a black and
white four-fletched arrow and nocks it with its broadhead tip aligned in
the man-killer position for puncturing horizontally lain ribs. She steps
forward, glowering at Ari with fierce determination. The bow is not as yet
drawn, but her strong tanned fingers have found the string.

The magic of the moment broken by the
> suddenness of the events. Ari turns around quickly and
> is very surprised to see that one half of the double
> doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' . It's
> inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose by
> the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
> patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
> revealed surface looks surprising like the first
> illusion.
>
> Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
> maintaining his lotus position and keeping his eyes
> closed.

Gwen boots stir a drift of curling, powdered dust. Her left hip is angled
slightly towards the Hobbit. With her head held high and the superb bow
resting like an old friend in her hands, she has never looked more calm or
more deadly. She stares down upon Ari as if he has been transformed into
something utterly repugnant. Distrust infuses her attitude.

"Balron, there's rope by my pack. Would you be so good as to tie it around
our new magic user, aka 'Lord of the Dead', in such a fashion that he might
remain useful to us whilst being, let us say, tethered. I have heard more
than enough despite this amusing interruption - many truths which should
have been spoken before we even set out. Arimansis here shall open this
dungeon and will aid us as a 'thief' and guide should, considering that his
life is now our insurance. Maybe, friend dwarf, you should also see that
he is disarmed and Arimansis - should you attempt anything, I _will_ shoot
you dead and since my arrows are crafted from rowan and sanctified by the
Mother's Tears, I fear your sorcery will have little effect upon their
flight. As for the rest of my questions, I believe I would like an answer
too them too. The critical ones were left untested." Gwen draws a breath,
her eyes never leaving Ari's hunched form, but her next words are addressed
to Nadia. "No threats to you shall walk unfettered, my love. Do you trust
me in this? I would not wish to do anything which may offend you."
******
Nadia has partially relaxed, her attention unavoidably drawn from the doors
and the dungeon brooding beyond them to the crisis threatening to destroy
the group's chances of success barely before they have begun. She has
released the normally strong control she keeps on her expression and her
distress is evident. She lays a hand, gently, upon the ranger's wrist,
just short of where her hand grips the wood of the beautiful bow, putting
only a little downward pressure upon it, encouraging, not forcing, never
forcing, Gwen to lower the deadly shaft. The touch is easily light enough
that if the ranger wished to fire, there would be no interference with the
shaft.
"Please beloved, relax. Ari will never willingly assist us if tied and
short of some form of mental control, duress would work poorly. And I felt
nothing from him to say he was any more aware of the door's collapsing than
were we. I would trust him more if he had answered your questions more
straightforwardly, but we have to believe there is a reason we are all
here. Else this will not work at all." She has moved so she is standing
mostly behind the ranger, their forms separated by millimetres, her voice
dropping as she speaks, her arm sitting just outside the ranger's out
towards the still targetting bow. "We are all on edge here, my heart is
still pounding after the door's collapse. And my chair disappearing. But
whatever waits, waits inside. Not, I think, out here." Her voice drops
still further as she whispers one final thing into the ranger's ear and
then steps back, removing her hand from the ranger's wrist, leaving her
room to move, or fire as desired. Calm, collected.
******

44

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 4:24pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door



 
--- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
>
> I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
>
Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having must
watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
You all be invited, yes, all.
Is time good? Place mine, yes.

=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

45

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 4:32pm
Subject: A1001 - The Tapes



 
As in accordance with scriptures, most probably so.
And proof that our work firewall is soooooo slow.

--- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
>
> --- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
> >
> > I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
> >
> Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having
> must
> watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
> When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
> asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
> You all be invited, yes, all.
> Is time good? Place mine, yes.
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 4:41pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Tapes



 
Ah! The One speaks. The One has tapes. Wise is the
One.

--- Nadia Toitovna ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=230015212098018198218056141248100253094145066046167121181" >fh_cleric@y... wrote:
> As in accordance with scriptures, most probably so.
> And proof that our work firewall is soooooo slow.
>
> --- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> >
> > --- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
> > >
> > > I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
> > >
> > Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having
> > must
> > watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
> > When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
> > asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
> > You all be invited, yes, all.
> > Is time good? Place mine, yes.
> >
> > =====
> > Peter Cobcroft
> > curufea@y...
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in
> one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>


=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

47

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 4:51pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Tapes II



 
Of course there ain't just a couple, so maybe a fuller day depending upon
peoples availability, kinda thingy.

MjL
Above all; Mock


--- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
>
> I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
>
Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having must
watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
You all be invited, yes, all.
Is time good? Place mine, yes.

=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...

48

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 4:55pm
Subject: More A1001 - The Tapes - so OT is ain't funny



 
I just love the result when one has two attachments to a single mailing
list. The temptation to talk to the most interesting person around
[thpppppth] is nigh irresistable.
Fortunately, I shall resist.
I can worship Nadia from afar...

God, I'm easily amused.

MjL
Above all; Mock


As in accordance with scriptures, most probably so.
And proof that our work firewall is soooooo slow.

--- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
>
> --- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
> >
> > I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
> >
> Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having
> must
> watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
> When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
> asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
> You all be invited, yes, all.
> Is time good? Place mine, yes.
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...

49

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 5:27pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door



 
Sorry - already booked...

Peter Cobcroft wrote:

> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> --- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
> >
> > I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
> >
> Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having must
> watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
> When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
> asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
> You all be invited, yes, all.
> Is time good? Place mine, yes.
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

50

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 5:28pm
Subject: Re: More A1001 - The Tapes - so OT is ain't funny



 
or something....

="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:

> From: ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d...
>
> I just love the result when one has two attachments to a single mailing
> list. The temptation to talk to the most interesting person around
> [thpppppth] is nigh irresistable.
> Fortunately, I shall resist.
> I can worship Nadia from afar...
>
> God, I'm easily amused.

51

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 6:28pm
Subject: Re: Tapes



 
Vant to see tapes!! But cannot on Vednesday - after that hovever - I have
nothink to do till Xmas. ;-p

-R

ps - what is goingk on vith the dungeon? Vill no one else kick Ari? Vil
anyone ever tie the little bugger up? More brutality! More paranoia! More
ansvers to my questions, please!

52

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 6:33pm
Subject: Re: Re: Tapes



 
This two was in scriptures.
'Yea, and verily two will not come and speaketh the
One to the multitudes,
"Oh, fair enough, when then?"
"Specifically, like."
And the multitudes responded thus...'

--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
>
> Vant to see tapes!! But cannot on Vednesday - after
> that hovever - I have
> nothink to do till Xmas. ;-p
>
> -R
>
> ps - what is goingk on vith the dungeon? Vill no
> one else kick Ari? Vil
> anyone ever tie the little bugger up? More
> brutality! More paranoia! More
> ansvers to my questions, please!
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

53

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 6:58pm
Subject: Re: Re: Tapes



 
I am having a thick day - took me two readings to figure that out ;-)

OK - any evening or any day except Xmas and this wednesday and I can make
it. I am being vague so that you people with jobs etc can figure out when
you're free. I have nothing to do till uni starts again in march so ....
;-p
-R

> This two was in scriptures.
> 'Yea, and verily two will not come and speaketh the
> One to the multitudes,
> "Oh, fair enough, when then?"
> "Specifically, like."
> And the multitudes responded thus...'
>
> --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> > From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
> >
> > Vant to see tapes!! But cannot on Vednesday - after
> > that hovever - I have
> > nothink to do till Xmas. ;-p
> >
> > -R
> >
> > ps - what is goingk on vith the dungeon? Vill no
> > one else kick Ari? Vil
> > anyone ever tie the little bugger up? More
> > brutality! More paranoia! More
> > ansvers to my questions, please!
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

54

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 8:21pm
Subject: Re: Re: Tapes



 
Wheels fall off wednesday - so sad.
Thursday, Friday, Boxing day?
Can do those.

--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> I am having a thick day - took me two readings to
> figure that out ;-)
>
> OK - any evening or any day except Xmas and this
> wednesday and I can make
> it. I am being vague so that you people with jobs
> etc can figure out when
> you're free. I have nothing to do till uni starts
> again in march so ....
> ;-p
> -R
>
> > This two was in scriptures.
> > 'Yea, and verily two will not come and speaketh
> the
> > One to the multitudes,
> > "Oh, fair enough, when then?"
> > "Specifically, like."
> > And the multitudes responded thus...'
> >
> > --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> > > From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
> > >
> > > Vant to see tapes!! But cannot on Vednesday -
> after
> > > that hovever - I have
> > > nothink to do till Xmas. ;-p
> > >
> > > -R
> > >
> > > ps - what is goingk on vith the dungeon? Vill
> no
> > > one else kick Ari? Vil
> > > anyone ever tie the little bugger up? More
> > > brutality! More paranoia! More
> > > ansvers to my questions, please!
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All
> in one place.
> > Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
> >
> > > Community email addresses:
> > Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> >
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>


=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

55

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 1999 10:15pm
Subject: Re: Re: Tapes



 
Can do Thrusday, not friday, boxing day ok

Peter Cobcroft wrote:

> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> Wheels fall off wednesday - so sad.
> Thursday, Friday, Boxing day?
> Can do those.
>
> --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> > I am having a thick day - took me two readings to
> > figure that out ;-)
> >
> > OK - any evening or any day except Xmas and this
> > wednesday and I can make
> > it. I am being vague so that you people with jobs
> > etc can figure out when
> > you're free. I have nothing to do till uni starts
> > again in march so ....
> > ;-p
> > -R
> >
> > > This two was in scriptures.
> > > 'Yea, and verily two will not come and speaketh
> > the
> > > One to the multitudes,
> > > "Oh, fair enough, when then?"
> > > "Specifically, like."
> > > And the multitudes responded thus...'
> > >
> > > --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> > > > From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
> > > >
> > > > Vant to see tapes!! But cannot on Vednesday -
> > after
> > > > that hovever - I have
> > > > nothink to do till Xmas. ;-p
> > > >
> > > > -R
> > > >
> > > > ps - what is goingk on vith the dungeon? Vill
> > no
> > > > one else kick Ari? Vil
> > > > anyone ever tie the little bugger up? More
> > > > brutality! More paranoia! More
> > > > ansvers to my questions, please!
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All
> > in one place.
> > > Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
> > >
> > > > Community email addresses:
> > > Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > > Subscribe:
> > ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > > Unsubscribe:
> > ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > > List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > >
> > > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > >
> > ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
> >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Community email addresses:
> > Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Subscribe:
> > ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Unsubscribe:
> > ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
> >
> <HR>
> <html>
> >
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

56

From: Robert Barbetti  <="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=189166091185082233170218065148147241071026057192209079013" >[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 7:25am
Subject: RE: A1001 - The Door



 
Done and done.

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Cobcroft [SMTP:curufea@y...]
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 1999 3:25 PM
To: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Subject: Re: [dungeonsephiroth] A1001 - The Door

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...



--- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
>
> I have some Buffy / Angel tapes...
>
Wanting, must need. Needing, must have. Having must
watch. This is wrong time. Never during day.
When you ares arriving, yes. Wednesday night one
asks. Does Zathras? Yes Zathras does.
You all be invited, yes, all.
Is time good? Place mine, yes.

=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

Community email addresses:
Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]

Shortcut URL to this page:
="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

57

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 9:05am
Subject: Angel Tapes



 
I'm leaning more towards Boxing Day for the Vids.
Usually no one does anything that day anyway.
Plus Phil poiinted out how apt it would be..


=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

58

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 9:27am
Subject: A1001 - The Door



 
> Gwen glances to the door warily, "Is something
> banging on that damn thing?"
> Her eyes dart to Arimansis. "You better not be up
> to anything, you little
> creep."

Ari's eyes widen in surprise at the accusation.

> > The glow around Ari settles back into a baleful
> red
> > glow slowly paling as Gwen asks her next
> question.
> > "Have you ever referred to yourself as Lord of the
> > Dead?" "Of course, you think I prefer picking the
> > pockets of the living? Don't take this the wrong
> way,
> > but I really much prefer the safe job of hanging
> > around battlefields after it's all over, than
> > adventuring and doing traps and other things - can
> get
> > you killed, you know..."
>
> "Convenient answer. So you are Arimansis and you
> _are_ the Lord of the
> Dead. These are specific questions, Hobbit, and
> your prevarication isn't
> making any headway with me."
> >
> > Now glowing a steady blue, almost benevolently.
> >
> > Looking up at the door, it seems as if the symbols
> are
> > slightly askew. The middle spider-like symbol is
> > definitely no longer aligned for some reason. "Do
> you
> > consider yourself to be the master of this
> Dungeon?"
> > "I sure as hell am not responsible for this
> Dungeon!
> > As if I could be bothered looking after this
> > monstrosity! I have better things to do! Huh!" The
> > glow stays blue and actually intensifies as Ari
> > speaks.
> >
> > There is an ominous crunching noise - as if sand
> were
> > being ground under a very heavy weight.
> >
> > "Can you wield magic?"
> > "No more than you! I can't believe you continue
> to
> > insult me - Glow goes scarlet, shot through with a
> > band of blue as Ari shifts uncomortably. I hate
> magic
> > at least as much as you! Spoils many a skilled
> job of
> > theft.." The blue streak disappears momentarily
> > before coming back more faintly.
> ******
> From where Nadia half reclines against the log, she
> has remained quiet, at
> most nodding in agreement to the response indicated
> by the showy cloud. Or
> at least not disagreeing. The only other movement
> is an occasional glance
> up at the creaking doors, as if disquieted by
> something, something more
> than just the sounds of cracking.
> At this however, she chuckles slightly. Still with
> one arm locked somewhat
> protectively around the ranger's legs she
> half-twists, turning and looking
> upwards, she murmurs, "Appears our thief's a magic
> slinger too. Who'd a
> figured?"
> ******
> The ranger nods in agreement, a new uneasiness
> apparent in her attitude.
> "So it seems. I reckon we need to be asking
> Arimansis if he is using magic
> at this moment and if he's responsible for the
> bloody door altering before
> our eyes"
>
> > The elf seems not to notice the crunching noise.
> >
> > The right hand side of the door teeters for a
> second,
> > tilts slightly too far forward, and with a sudden
> > whump of air, it falls to the ground - shattering
> > into millions of pieces. Ari jumps - startled and
> > frightened.
>
> ******
> The cleric jumps excessively at this last,
> practically leaping into orbit
> from her sitting position.
> When nothing else happens for a moment, she relaxes
> and releases the death
> grip she had on Rusalka, looking around and down,
> conciously attempting to
> reduce the rate of her breathing.
> ******
>
> Gwen surges to her feet, regretably disturbing Nadia
> and reaches for her
> bow. "Right. I've had enough." One limb of the
> bow is quickly braced
> against her foot, she leans into the yew, watching
> the darkly stained wood
> flex and strings the powerful bow in one fluid
> movement. With the grip in
> her left hand, she reaches to her shoulder and draws
> forth a black and
> white four-fletched arrow and nocks it with its
> broadhead tip aligned in
> the man-killer position for puncturing horizontally
> lain ribs. She steps
> forward, glowering at Ari with fierce determination.
> The bow is not as yet
> drawn, but her strong tanned fingers have found the
> string.
>
> The magic of the moment broken by the
> > suddenness of the events. Ari turns around quickly
> and
> > is very surprised to see that one half of the
> double
> > doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' .
> It's
> > inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose
> by
> > the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
> > patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
> > revealed surface looks surprising like the first
> > illusion.
> >
> > Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
> > maintaining his lotus position and keeping his
> eyes
> > closed.
>
> Gwen boots stir a drift of curling, powdered dust.
> Her left hip is angled
> slightly towards the Hobbit. With her head held
> high and the superb bow
> resting like an old friend in her hands, she has
> never looked more calm or
> more deadly. She stares down upon Ari as if he has
> been transformed into
> something utterly repugnant. Distrust infuses her
> attitude.
>
> "Balron, there's rope by my pack. Would you be so
> good as to tie it around
> our new magic user, aka 'Lord of the Dead', in such
> a fashion that he might
> remain useful to us whilst being, let us say,
> tethered. I have heard more
> than enough despite this amusing interruption - many
> truths which should
> have been spoken before we even set out. Arimansis
> here shall open this
> dungeon and will aid us as a 'thief' and guide
> should, considering that his
> life is now our insurance. Maybe, friend dwarf, you
> should also see that
> he is disarmed and Arimansis - should you attempt
> anything, I _will_ shoot
> you dead and since my arrows are crafted from rowan
> and sanctified by the
> Mother's Tears, I fear your sorcery will have little
> effect upon their
> flight. As for the rest of my questions, I believe
> I would like an answer
> too them too. The critical ones were left
> untested." Gwen draws a breath,
> her eyes never leaving Ari's hunched form, but her
> next words are addressed
> to Nadia. "No threats to you shall walk unfettered,
> my love. Do you trust
> me in this? I would not wish to do anything which
> may offend you."
> ******
> Nadia has partially relaxed, her attention
> unavoidably drawn from the doors
> and the dungeon brooding beyond them to the crisis
> threatening to destroy
> the group's chances of success barely before they
> have begun. She has
> released the normally strong control she keeps on
> her expression and her
> distress is evident. She lays a hand, gently, upon
> the ranger's wrist,
> just short of where her hand grips the wood of the
> beautiful bow, putting
> only a little downward pressure upon it,
> encouraging, not forcing, never
> forcing, Gwen to lower the deadly shaft. The touch
> is easily light enough
> that if the ranger wished to fire, there would be no
> interference with the
> shaft.
> "Please beloved, relax. Ari will never willingly
> assist us if tied and
> short of some form of mental control, duress would

Ari nods vigourously in agreement.

> work poorly. And I felt
> nothing from him to say he was any more aware of the
> door's collapsing than
> were we. I would trust him more if he had answered
> your questions more
> straightforwardly, but we have to believe there is a
> reason we are all
> here. Else this will not work at all." She has
> moved so she is standing
> mostly behind the ranger, their forms separated by
> millimetres, her voice
> dropping as she speaks, her arm sitting just outside
> the ranger's out
> towards the still targetting bow. "We are all on
> edge here, my heart is
> still pounding after the door's collapse. And my
> chair disappearing. But
> whatever waits, waits inside. Not, I think, out
> here." Her voice drops
> still further as she whispers one final thing into
> the ranger's ear and
> then steps back, removing her hand from the ranger's
> wrist, leaving her
> room to move, or fire as desired. Calm, collected.
> ******

"You all malign me, but I don't hold it against you."
Ari looks over the group, assessing the mood.
"I DO NOT work for ANY 'God' - they are all
presumptious, arrogant, fickle, selfish beings - and I
have no idea what this 'prophecy' of yours is. I'm
here for treasure. Pure and simple."
His thumbs loop into his belt as he puffs his chest
out, standing up straight.
"I ain't going to let this dungeon defeat me, even if
I have to find another group of adventurers who aren't
afraid of a door."
"Maybe you should just give up now, or something."

=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

59

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 10:23am
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes



 
I still vote for Thursady - Boxing day is my traditional vege and watch
cricket day or just vege and watch ants walk on footpath etc etc - I could
be convinced to forego the pleasures of such inactivity - but would
nonetheless prefer Thursday.

Cheers -R

----------
> I'm leaning more towards Boxing Day for the Vids.
> Usually no one does anything that day anyway.
> Plus Phil poiinted out how apt it would be..
>
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

60

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 10:57am
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes



 
We can do that.
Mind you I get to leave early Friday too (12pm! First
time in 10 years our section complies with the rest of
the library!)

So let's say Thursday night then, plus I may try and
convince people to get togethor Friday or Sunday for
my own devious purposes... (probably vids or
Roborally)


--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> I still vote for Thursady - Boxing day is my
> traditional vege and watch
> cricket day or just vege and watch ants walk on
> footpath etc etc - I could
> be convinced to forego the pleasures of such
> inactivity - but would
> nonetheless prefer Thursday.
>
> Cheers -R
>
> ----------
> > I'm leaning more towards Boxing Day for the Vids.
> > Usually no one does anything that day anyway.
> > Plus Phil poiinted out how apt it would be..
> >
> >
> > =====
> > Peter Cobcroft
> >

61

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 2:32pm
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes
 
And lo, did the people speak, and the day chosen was neither Wodan's day, nor was it the day of Frigg, but instead it lay between them. And once again did the One speak. "Good thing I can make Thursday then, hey." "But hoo boy, I ain't touching that line" And it was good.
What time do people like?   The earlier we begin, the more we fit in.
MjL
Above all; Mock

Peter
Cobcroft To: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
curufea@yaho cc:
o.com> Subject: Re: [dungeonsephiroth] Angel Tapes

12/22/99
10:57 AM
Please
respond to
dungeonsephir
oth


From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
We can do that.
Mind you I get to leave early Friday too (12pm! First time in 10 years our section complies with the rest of the library!)
So let's say Thursday night then, plus I may try and convince people to get togethor Friday or Sunday for my own devious purposes... (probably vids or Roborally)
--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
 I still vote for Thursady - Boxing day is my traditional vege and watch cricket day or just vege and watch ants walk on footpath etc etc - I could be convinced to forego the pleasures of such inactivity - but would nonetheless prefer Thursday.
Cheers -R
----------
 I'm leaning more towards Boxing Day for the Vids. Usually no one does anything that day anyway. Plus Phil poiinted out how apt it would be..
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y... Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
 AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores.   Millions of Products.   All in one place.
 Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
 Community email addresses: Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected] Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
 Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
 List owner:   ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Shortcut URL to this page:
="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

 Community email addresses: Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected] Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected] Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected] List owner:   ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Shortcut URL to this page:
="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
<HR>
<html>
 
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y... Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores.   Millions of Products.   All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
Community email addresses:
Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
Shortcut URL to this page:
   ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

62

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 3:09pm
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes
 
> What time do people like? The earlier we begin, the more we fit in.
Well it's Peter's house ... how early can you get home, P?

63

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 3:28pm
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes
 
I'm on Fast Track which finishes at 5pm (normally) -
takes me about an hour to bus home.
I'll see if I can get an early mark on Thor's day. If
so, I can leave at 3 and be home at 4...
--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
>
> > What time do people like? The earlier we begin,
> the more we fit in.
>
> Well it's Peter's house ... how early can you get
> home, P?
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

64

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 5:49pm
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes
 
K - either email me at work (="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197056114056127091028098000219114115078219196046113121042150077211" >peter.wass@d...) or call my mobile 0412
25 25 22 and let me know what's going on.
Peter Cobcroft wrote:
> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> I'm on Fast Track which finishes at 5pm (normally) -
> takes me about an hour to bus home.
> I'll see if I can get an early mark on Thor's day. If
> so, I can leave at 3 and be home at 4...
>
> --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> >
> > > What time do people like? The earlier we begin,
> > the more we fit in.
> >
> > Well it's Peter's house ... how early can you get
> > home, P?
> >
> >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Community email addresses:
> > Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Subscribe:
> > ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Unsubscribe:
> > ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
> >
> <HR>
> <html>
> >
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

65

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 10:26pm
Subject: Tapes and the like
 
Ye gods my version of the list is stuffed. I got all the messages (finally
around 10pm after I went to Peter's to watch some good biffo) but they're
all mixed up.
I sent in my "done and done' at about 8am this morning to indicate I could
make it Wednesday night. Thurs is problematical. Will have to consult
with Xole and AS who are supposed to turn up for food and buffy (9:30 for
those who missed it). Will get back to people tomorrow after I have talked
to the Xole.
Rob.

66

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999 10:13am
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes
 
I'll be there about 6 most likely. Plan on catching
the 244 from work. I can probably leave work earlier
if everyone _really_ wants to start early/early.
MjL
--- Peter Wass ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197015139003099219036057061026172239071179066034209079013" >phw@s... wrote:
> From: Peter Wass ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197015139003099219036057061026172239071179066034209079013" >phw@s...
>
> K - either email me at work (="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197056114056127091028098000219114115078219196046113121042150077211" >peter.wass@d...)
> or call my mobile 0412
> 25 25 22 and let me know what's going on.
>
> Peter Cobcroft wrote:
>
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> curufea@y...
> >
> > I'm on Fast Track which finishes at 5pm (normally)
> -
> > takes me about an hour to bus home.
> > I'll see if I can get an early mark on Thor's day.
> If
> > so, I can leave at 3 and be home at 4...
> >
> > --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> > >
> > > > What time do people like? The earlier we
> begin, the more we fit in.
> > >
> > > Well it's Peter's house ... how early can you
> get home, P?
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

67

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999 10:30am
Subject: Re: Angel Tapes
 
I'm planning on paying a bill and buying my last bit
of jesusservice shopping, so I will be leaving early
today (convinced my boss to let me). If people want
to turn up before 6, I'll be home (probably attempting
to show you gnarly animations made by other people).
--- Nadia Toitovna ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=230015212098018198218056141248100253094145066046167121181" >fh_cleric@y... wrote:
> I'll be there about 6 most likely. Plan on catching
> the 244 from work. I can probably leave work
> earlier
> if everyone _really_ wants to start early/early.
> MjL
>
> --- Peter Wass ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197015139003099219036057061026172239071179066034209079013" >phw@s... wrote:
> > From: Peter Wass ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197015139003099219036057061026172239071179066034209079013" >phw@s...
> >
> > K - either email me at work
> (="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197056114056127091028098000219114115078219196046113121042150077211" >peter.wass@d...)
> > or call my mobile 0412
> > 25 25 22 and let me know what's going on.
> >
> > Peter Cobcroft wrote:
> >
> > > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> > curufea@y...
> > >
> > > I'm on Fast Track which finishes at 5pm
> (normally)
> > -
> > > takes me about an hour to bus home.
> > > I'll see if I can get an early mark on Thor's
> day.
> > If
> > > so, I can leave at 3 and be home at 4...
> > >
> > > --- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > What time do people like? The earlier we
> > begin, the more we fit in.
> > > >
> > > > Well it's Peter's house ... how early can you
> > get home, P?
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in
> one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

68

From:   <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999 12:52pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door has collapsed
 
After a moment, Nadia pivots, sand grinding underneath the soles of her
boots, looking away from the dungeon as well as towards it, one hand
resting gently upon her sword's pommel, the other clutching the omnipresent
bow-case, not longing paying sole attention to the thief, obviously
trusting the others to protect her back should anything happen. The
raising of one eyebrow implies she does still, however, hear his rather
rash words. Her head is slightly tilted, as one often does when listening.
Her acute vision peering into the corners and shadows formed by the rock
formations and what little vegetation still survives in this place.
Are there still crunching/banging noises or somesuch coming from the
doorway? Or indeed anywhere else?
Or anything else, visual, new/odd smells, etc?
MjL
Above all; Mock
>
> Gwen surges to her feet, regretably disturbing Nadia
> and reaches for her
> bow. "Right. I've had enough." One limb of the
> bow is quickly braced
> against her foot, she leans into the yew, watching
> the darkly stained wood
> flex and strings the powerful bow in one fluid
> movement. With the grip in
> her left hand, she reaches to her shoulder and draws
> forth a black and
> white four-fletched arrow and nocks it with its
> broadhead tip aligned in
> the man-killer position for puncturing horizontally
> lain ribs. She steps
> forward, glowering at Ari with fierce determination.
> The bow is not as yet
> drawn, but her strong tanned fingers have found the
> string.
>
> The magic of the moment broken by the
> > suddenness of the events. Ari turns around quickly
> and
> > is very surprised to see that one half of the
> double
> > doors no longer shows the 'damning evidence' .
> It's
> > inch-thick slate covering having been jarred loose
> by
> > the Ranger's earlier violence. Apart from large
> > patches of what looks like desiccated resin, the
> > revealed surface looks surprising like the first
> > illusion.
> >
> > Kaceubel does not react to the falling rock,
> > maintaining his lotus position and keeping his
> eyes
> > closed.
>
> Gwen boots stir a drift of curling, powdered dust.
> Her left hip is angled
> slightly towards the Hobbit. With her head held
> high and the superb bow
> resting like an old friend in her hands, she has
> never looked more calm or
> more deadly. She stares down upon Ari as if he has
> been transformed into
> something utterly repugnant. Distrust infuses her
> attitude.
>
> "Balron, there's rope by my pack. Would you be so
> good as to tie it around
> our new magic user, aka 'Lord of the Dead', in such
> a fashion that he might
> remain useful to us whilst being, let us say,
> tethered. I have heard more
> than enough despite this amusing interruption - many
> truths which should
> have been spoken before we even set out. Arimansis
> here shall open this
> dungeon and will aid us as a 'thief' and guide
> should, considering that his
> life is now our insurance. Maybe, friend dwarf, you
> should also see that
> he is disarmed and Arimansis - should you attempt
> anything, I _will_ shoot
> you dead and since my arrows are crafted from rowan
> and sanctified by the
> Mother's Tears, I fear your sorcery will have little
> effect upon their
> flight. As for the rest of my questions, I believe
> I would like an answer
> too them too. The critical ones were left
> untested." Gwen draws a breath,
> her eyes never leaving Ari's hunched form, but her
> next words are addressed
> to Nadia. "No threats to you shall walk unfettered,
> my love. Do you trust
> me in this? I would not wish to do anything which
> may offend you."
> ******
> Nadia has partially relaxed, her attention
> unavoidably drawn from the doors
> and the dungeon brooding beyond them to the crisis
> threatening to destroy
> the group's chances of success barely before they
> have begun. She has
> released the normally strong control she keeps on
> her expression and her
> distress is evident. She lays a hand, gently, upon
> the ranger's wrist,
> just short of where her hand grips the wood of the
> beautiful bow, putting
> only a little downward pressure upon it,
> encouraging, not forcing, never
> forcing, Gwen to lower the deadly shaft. The touch
> is easily light enough
> that if the ranger wished to fire, there would be no
> interference with the
> shaft.
> "Please beloved, relax. Ari will never willingly
> assist us if tied and
> short of some form of mental control, duress would
Ari nods vigourously in agreement.
> work poorly. And I felt
> nothing from him to say he was any more aware of the
> door's collapsing than
> were we. I would trust him more if he had answered
> your questions more
> straightforwardly, but we have to believe there is a
> reason we are all
> here. Else this will not work at all." She has
> moved so she is standing
> mostly behind the ranger, their forms separated by
> millimetres, her voice
> dropping as she speaks, her arm sitting just outside
> the ranger's out
> towards the still targetting bow. "We are all on
> edge here, my heart is
> still pounding after the door's collapse. And my
> chair disappearing. But
> whatever waits, waits inside. Not, I think, out
> here." Her voice drops
> still further as she whispers one final thing into
> the ranger's ear and
> then steps back, removing her hand from the ranger's
> wrist, leaving her
> room to move, or fire as desired. Calm, collected.
> ******
"You all malign me, but I don't hold it against you."
Ari looks over the group, assessing the mood.
"I DO NOT work for ANY 'God' - they are all
presumptious, arrogant, fickle, selfish beings - and I
have no idea what this 'prophecy' of yours is. I'm
here for treasure. Pure and simple."
His thumbs loop into his belt as he puffs his chest
out, standing up straight.
"I ain't going to let this dungeon defeat me, even if
I have to find another group of adventurers who aren't
afraid of a door."
"Maybe you should just give up now, or something."

69

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999 1:05pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door
 
.... As for the rest of my questions, I believe I would like an answer
> too them too. The critical ones were left untested." Gwen draws a
breath,
> her eyes never leaving Ari's hunched form, but her next words are
addressed
> to Nadia. "No threats to you shall walk unfettered, my love. Do you
trust
> me in this? I would not wish to do anything which may offend you."
> ******
> Nadia has partially relaxed, her attention unavoidably drawn from the
doors
> and the dungeon brooding beyond them to the crisis threatening to
destroy
> the group's chances of success barely before they have begun. She has
> released the normally strong control she keeps on her expression and her
> distress is evident. She lays a hand, gently, upon the ranger's wrist,
> just short of where her hand grips the wood of the beautiful bow,
putting
> only a little downward pressure upon it, encouraging, not forcing, never
> forcing, Gwen to lower the deadly shaft. The touch is easily light
enough
> that if the ranger wished to fire, there would be no interference with
the
> shaft.
For the moment, Gwen's rigid hand trembles faintly but remains resolute.
> "Please beloved, relax. Ari will never willingly assist us if tied and
short of > some form of mental control, duress would
Ari nods vigourously in agreement.

> work poorly. And I felt nothing from him to say he was any more aware of
the
> door's collapsing than were we. I would trust him more if he had
answered
> your questions more straightforwardly, but we have to believe there is a
> reason we are all here. Else this will not work at all." She has moved
so she > is standing mostly behind the ranger, their forms separated by
millimetres, her > voice dropping as she speaks, her arm sitting just
outside the ranger's out
> towards the still targetting bow. "We are all on edge here, my heart is
> still pounding after the door's collapse. And my chair disappearing.
But
> whatever waits, waits inside. Not, I think, out here." Her voice drops
> still further as she whispers one final thing into the ranger's ear and
then steps back, removing her hand from the ranger's wrist, leaving her
room to move, or fire as desired. Calm, collected.
Gwen stares at Arimansis for a moment more, her eyes revealing nothing of
how she feels about him, though one would be a fool not to see some promise
in the way her strong fingers flex on the grip of the bow before she lowers
it to her side. The ranger glances at Kaceubel, assessing his serene
poise, then looks to Balron and finally at the doors. "Inside," the
half-elf mutters to herself then plants the tip of her bow in the ground
and leans on it's considerable length wearily. "So the granite facade of
the doors has fallen off. Chance or cheap theatrics - I spose it doesn't
matter much. Yes - we do need to get inside, but I admit I am not happy
about leaving this matter with Ari as it stands now. He is an unredeemed
liar."
"You all malign me, but I don't hold it against you." Ari looks over the
group, assessing the mood. "I DO NOT work for ANY 'God' - they are all
presumptious, arrogant, fickle, selfish beings -
Gwen's cheeks flush dangerously -
- and I have no idea what this 'prophecy' of yours is. I'm here for
treasure. Pure and simple." His thumbs loop into his belt as he puffs his
chest out, standing up straight. "I ain't going to let this dungeon defeat
me, even if I have to find another group of adventurers who aren't afraid
of a door."
"Maybe you should just give up now, or something."
The ranger laughs at that and takes a step forward, leveling a finger at
Ari's chest.
"He has confessed to being a mage. He has been here before. His entire
party perished. This stone fall probably stuffed Kaceubel's concentration
and came conveniently before our little friend's outburst against the gods.
Sweet Mother, I don't know how any of you can rest easy at this point.
But fine. Stuff it. We won't trust him, but we'll go ahead. Right? Ok
Ari - we're game, we'll enter your dungeon and we'll punch our way through
to the treasure room or whatever, then we'll see what the Gods deliver into
our hands - or in your case - you'll filch the jewel's outta some statues
eyes and steal the dungeonmaster's silver whilst we witness the outcome of
the prophecy. You may be a blight upon the dignity and nobility which this
venture intially possessed - you may even corrupt the Mother's sweet voice
in my ears - but I'll be damned if I shall allow you to define and distort
the meaning and significance of these days! No get your stolen crud
together and tell us how you intend to open these doors. I suggest we eat
and rest, then get moving. Agreed?"

70

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999 2:10pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door has collapsed
 
[just a quick clarification - the inch thick front
facing of one side of the door fell off, leaving the
original door surface exposed. Both sides of the
middles set of double doors are still closed, but the
right hand part shows a different pattern to the left]
--- ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=029166114165042198028082001140229222136100105009043130241055052205109101" >matthew.last@d... wrote:
>
> After a moment, Nadia pivots, sand grinding
> underneath the soles of her
> boots, looking away from the dungeon as well as
> towards it, one hand
> resting gently upon her sword's pommel, the other
> clutching the omnipresent
> bow-case, not longing paying sole attention to the
> thief, obviously
> trusting the others to protect her back should
> anything happen. The
> raising of one eyebrow implies she does still,
> however, hear his rather
> rash words. Her head is slightly tilted, as one
> often does when listening.
> Her acute vision peering into the corners and
> shadows formed by the rock
> formations and what little vegetation still survives
> in this place.
>
> Are there still crunching/banging noises or somesuch
> coming from the
> doorway? Or indeed anywhere else?
> Or anything else, visual, new/odd smells, etc?
All is still and quiet. There is the dry smell of
dust and resin in the air. Next to the closed door is
an ancient inscription :-
"Not door, vessel"
Carved deeply in human lettering.
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: ="http://shopping.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://shopping.yahoo.com

71

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 9:06am
Subject: Next tape session
 
Zathras, brother of Zathras is being the organiser of
watchings, yes. Is burden, but still Zatrhas manages.
Day of moons is good for peoples, yes?
And am hopings for the borrowings of more machines.
Durings the day of the twenty sixth, will be watchings
next tapes.
The One comes, the One brings tapes.
We watch for the One, we watch with the One.
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

72

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 9:29am
Subject: Re: Next tape session
 
Thought it was the 27th.
--- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> curufea@y...
>
> Zathras, brother of Zathras is being the organiser
> of
> watchings, yes. Is burden, but still Zatrhas
> manages.
> Day of moons is good for peoples, yes?
> And am hopings for the borrowings of more machines.
> Durings the day of the twenty sixth, will be
> watchings
> next tapes.
> The One comes, the One brings tapes.
> We watch for the One, we watch with the One.
>
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main:
> ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
>
_________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at
> ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com
>
> --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor
> ----------------------------
>
> GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE
> TYPING FOR YOU!
> Tired of filling out forms and remembering
> passwords? Gator fills in
> forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with
> $50 in free coupons!
> <a href=" ="http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4" target="_top" >http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4
> ">Click Here</a>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

73

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 9:29am
Subject: Re: Next tape session
 
Thought it was the 27th
--- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> Zathras, brother of Zathras is being the organiser
> of
> watchings, yes. Is burden, but still Zatrhas
> manages.
> Day of moons is good for peoples, yes?
> And am hopings for the borrowings of more machines.
> Durings the day of the twenty sixth, will be
> watchings
> next tapes.
> The One comes, the One brings tapes.
> We watch for the One, we watch with the One.
>
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main:
> ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
>
_________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at
> ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com
>
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

74

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 10:29am
Subject: Re: Next tape session
 
Zathras is mistaken.
Twenty seventh it is, yes.
--- Nadia Toitovna ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=230015212098018198218056141248100253094145066046167121181" >fh_cleric@y... wrote:
> Thought it was the 27th
>
> --- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> > Zathras, brother of Zathras is being the organiser
> > of
> > watchings, yes. Is burden, but still Zatrhas
> > manages.
> > Day of moons is good for peoples, yes?
> > And am hopings for the borrowings of more
> machines.
> > Durings the day of the twenty sixth, will be
> > watchings
> > next tapes.
> > The One comes, the One brings tapes.
> > We watch for the One, we watch with the One.
> >
> >
> > =====
> > Peter Cobcroft
> > curufea@y...
> > Main:
> >
> ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> > AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> > Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> > Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> >
>
_________________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Get your free @yahoo.com address at
> > ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com
> >
>
>
_________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at
> ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com
>
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

75

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 10:47am
Subject: Re: Re: Next tape session
 
Any calls for specific times.
--- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> curufea@y...
>
> Zathras is mistaken.
> Twenty seventh it is, yes.
>
> --- Nadia Toitovna ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=230015212098018198218056141248100253094145066046167121181" >fh_cleric@y... wrote:
> > Thought it was the 27th
> >
> > --- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> > > Zathras, brother of Zathras is being the
> organiser
> > > of
> > > watchings, yes. Is burden, but still Zatrhas
> > > manages.
> > > Day of moons is good for peoples, yes?
> > > And am hopings for the borrowings of more
> > machines.
> > > Durings the day of the twenty sixth, will be
> > > watchings
> > > next tapes.
> > > The One comes, the One brings tapes.
> > > We watch for the One, we watch with the One.
> > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > Peter Cobcroft

76

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 10:59am
Subject: RE: A1001 - The Door
 
> Nadia has partially relaxed, her attention unavoidably drawn from the
doors
> and the dungeon brooding beyond them to the crisis threatening to
destroy
> the group's chances of success barely before they have begun. She has
> released the normally strong control she keeps on her expression and her
> distress is evident. She lays a hand, gently, upon the ranger's wrist,
> just short of where her hand grips the wood of the beautiful bow,
putting
> only a little downward pressure upon it, encouraging, not forcing, never
> forcing, Gwen to lower the deadly shaft. The touch is easily light
enough
> that if the ranger wished to fire, there would be no interference with
the
> shaft.
For the moment, Gwen's rigid hand trembles faintly but remains resolute.
> "Please beloved, relax. Ari will never willingly assist us if tied and
short of > some form of mental control, duress would
Ari nods vigourously in agreement.
> work poorly. And I felt nothing from him to say he was any more aware of
the
> door's collapsing than were we. I would trust him more if he had
answered
> your questions more straightforwardly, but we have to believe there is a
> reason we are all here. Else this will not work at all." She has moved
so she > is standing mostly behind the ranger, their forms separated by
millimetres, her > voice dropping as she speaks, her arm sitting just
outside the ranger's out
> towards the still targetting bow. "We are all on edge here, my heart is
> still pounding after the door's collapse. And my chair disappearing.
But
> whatever waits, waits inside. Not, I think, out here." Her voice drops
> still further as she whispers one final thing into the ranger's ear and
then steps back, removing her hand from the ranger's wrist, leaving her
room to move, or fire as desired. Calm, collected.
Kaceubel, looks up and over at the door, doing a double take and shaking
his head a little before returning his attention to Ari.
Gwen stares at Arimansis for a moment more, her eyes revealing nothing of
how she feels about him, though one would be a fool not to see some promise
in the way her strong fingers flex on the grip of the bow before she lowers
it to her side. The ranger glances at Kaceubel, assessing his serene
poise, then looks to Balron and finally at the doors. "Inside," the
half-elf mutters to herself then plants the tip of her bow in the ground
and leans on it's considerable length wearily. "So the granite facade of
the doors has fallen off. Chance or cheap theatrics - I spose it doesn't
matter much. Yes - we do need to get inside, but I admit I am not happy
about leaving this matter with Ari as it stands now. He is an unredeemed
liar."
"You all malign me, but I don't hold it against you."
The glow stays a steady blue.
Ari looks over the group, assessing the mood. "I DO NOT work for ANY 'God'
- they are all
presumptious, arrogant, fickle, selfish beings -
The cloud is bright blue with a broad streak of orange through it.
Gwen's cheeks flush dangerously -
Kaceubel breaks his silence. "Only because mortals make them so."
- and I have no idea what this 'prophecy' of yours is. I'm here for
treasure. Pure and simple." His thumbs loop into his belt as he puffs his
hest out, standing up straight. "I ain't going to let this dungeon defeat
me, even if I have to find another group of adventurers who aren't afraid
of a door."
Orange becomes dominant before settling down to steady blue
"Maybe you should just give up now, or something."
The ranger laughs at that and takes a step forward, leveling a finger at
Ari's chest.
"He has confessed to being a mage. He has been here before. His entire
party perished. This stone fall probably stuffed Kaceubel's concentration
and came conveniently before our little friend's outburst against the gods.
Sweet Mother, I don't know how any of you can rest easy at this point.
But fine. Stuff it. We won't trust him, but we'll go ahead. Right? Ok
Ari - we're game, we'll enter your dungeon and we'll punch our way through
to the treasure room or whatever, then we'll see what the Gods deliver into
our hands - or in your case - you'll filch the jewel's outta some statues
eyes and steal the dungeonmaster's silver whilst we witness the outcome of
the prophecy. You may be a blight upon the dignity and nobility which this
venture intially possessed - you may even corrupt the Mother's sweet voice
in my ears - but I'll be damned if I shall allow you to define and distort
the meaning and significance of these days! No get your stolen crud
together and tell us how you intend to open these doors. I suggest we eat
and rest, then get moving. Agreed?"
Kaceubel speaks again still staring at Ari. "This spell is not an easy one
for me and I'm not sure when I would be capable of casting it again. Do
you think you could ask your questions and get it over with. I don't
particularly want to cast this one again. Also on the magic point, he has
not confessed. As far as I can understand he believes that you, Gwen, have
more magic than he does and that he is not without magic, I am unable to
determine the extent of his abilities. Also we are being magically
observed by something from within the Dungeon."
K.

77

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 11:07am
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door more
 
--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
>
>
> > Nadia has partially relaxed, her attention
> unavoidably drawn from the
> doors
> > and the dungeon brooding beyond them to the
> crisis threatening to
> destroy
> > the group's chances of success barely before they
> have begun. She has
> > released the normally strong control she keeps on
> her expression and her
> > distress is evident. She lays a hand, gently,
> upon the ranger's wrist,
> > just short of where her hand grips the wood of
> the beautiful bow,
> putting
> > only a little downward pressure upon it,
> encouraging, not forcing, never
> > forcing, Gwen to lower the deadly shaft. The
> touch is easily light
> enough
> > that if the ranger wished to fire, there would be
> no interference with
> the
> > shaft.
>
> For the moment, Gwen's rigid hand trembles faintly
> but remains resolute.
>
> > "Please beloved, relax. Ari will never willingly
> assist us if tied and
> short of > some form of mental control, duress
> would
>
> Ari nods vigourously in agreement.
>
> > work poorly. And I felt nothing from him to say
> he was any more aware of
> the
> > door's collapsing than were we. I would trust him
> more if he had
> answered
> > your questions more straightforwardly, but we have
> to believe there is a
> > reason we are all here. Else this will not work
> at all." She has moved
> so she > is standing mostly behind the ranger,
> their forms separated by
> millimetres, her > voice dropping as she speaks,
> her arm sitting just
> outside the ranger's out
> > towards the still targetting bow. "We are all on
> edge here, my heart is
> > still pounding after the door's collapse. And my
> chair disappearing.
> But
> > whatever waits, waits inside. Not, I think, out
> here." Her voice drops
> > still further as she whispers one final thing into
> the ranger's ear and
> then steps back, removing her hand from the
> ranger's wrist, leaving her
> room to move, or fire as desired. Calm, collected.
>
> Gwen stares at Arimansis for a moment more, her eyes
> revealing nothing of
> how she feels about him, though one would be a fool
> not to see some promise
> in the way her strong fingers flex on the grip of
> the bow before she lowers
> it to her side. The ranger glances at Kaceubel,
> assessing his serene
> poise, then looks to Balron and finally at the
> doors. "Inside," the
> half-elf mutters to herself then plants the tip of
> her bow in the ground
> and leans on it's considerable length wearily. "So
> the granite facade of
> the doors has fallen off. Chance or cheap theatrics
> - I spose it doesn't
> matter much. Yes - we do need to get inside, but I
> admit I am not happy
> about leaving this matter with Ari as it stands now.
> He is an unredeemed
> liar."
>
> "You all malign me, but I don't hold it against
> you." Ari looks over the
> group, assessing the mood. "I DO NOT work for ANY
> 'God' - they are all
> presumptious, arrogant, fickle, selfish beings -
>
> Gwen's cheeks flush dangerously -
>
> - and I have no idea what this 'prophecy' of yours
> is. I'm here for
> treasure. Pure and simple." His thumbs loop into
> his belt as he puffs his
> chest out, standing up straight. "I ain't going to
> let this dungeon defeat
> me, even if I have to find another group of
> adventurers who aren't afraid
> of a door."
> "Maybe you should just give up now, or something."
>
> The ranger laughs at that and takes a step forward,
> leveling a finger at
> Ari's chest.
> "He has confessed to being a mage. He has been here
> before. His entire
> party perished. This stone fall probably stuffed
> Kaceubel's concentration
> and came conveniently before our little friend's
> outburst against the gods.
> Sweet Mother, I don't know how any of you can rest
> easy at this point.
> But fine. Stuff it. We won't trust him, but we'll
> go ahead. Right? Ok
> Ari - we're game, we'll enter your dungeon and we'll
> punch our way through
> to the treasure room or whatever, then we'll see
> what the Gods deliver into
> our hands - or in your case - you'll filch the
> jewel's outta some statues
> eyes and steal the dungeonmaster's silver whilst we
> witness the outcome of
> the prophecy. You may be a blight upon the dignity
> and nobility which this
> venture intially possessed - you may even corrupt
> the Mother's sweet voice
> in my ears - but I'll be damned if I shall allow you
> to define and distort
> the meaning and significance of these days! Now get
> your stolen crud
> together and tell us how you intend to open these
> doors. I suggest we eat
> and rest, then get moving. Agreed?"
>
"We still have some questions. Ari. And if, as seems
apparent, Kaceubel has maintained his little spell, we
may discover more from your foolish little rant than
was meant. I would truly recommend you speak a little
more carefully within your next group of answers. I
mean, I wouldn't actually hurt you myself," pauses,
her eyes flick sideways, "well probably, but I do not
know how much I would mourn your death. Speak truth,
and do not malign, well, anyone really."
Nadia returns to the log against which she rested
earlier, although her shifting does seem to indicate
it is far less comfortable sitting on, as opposed to
against, it. Apparently ignoring the new message upon
the door, she returns her attention to our previous
little altercation, quickly glancing at the
concentrating mage, ensuring he is still ready for
this.
"Gwen," rather peremptorily, although the glance
toward the ranger is still soft, "I believe you had
some further questions." Softly. "Please." Asking
for more than just the questions, her eyes and body
language beseeching Gwen's presence by her.
"Thankyou. You have our attention, Ari. Now, play
nice." A glare belying her earlier words. Maybe,
just maybe, there is pain promised within the flat,
pale gaze.
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

78

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 11:51am
Subject: Re: Re: Next tape session
 
Lets say 11am and bring something for lunch (unless
people can't make it that early). We'll do a pot-luck
and make a day of it.
I'm off home now (12pm), so won't see email till later
this arvo/night.
Just in case :-
Merry Christmas, and a Pippin New Year!
--- Nadia Toitovna ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=230015212098018198218056141248100253094145066046167121181" >fh_cleric@y... wrote:
> Any calls for specific times.
>
> --- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> > curufea@y...
> >
> > Zathras is mistaken.
> > Twenty seventh it is, yes.
> >
> > --- Nadia Toitovna ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=230015212098018198218056141248100253094145066046167121181" >fh_cleric@y... wrote:
> > > Thought it was the 27th
> > >
> > > --- Peter Cobcroft curufea@y... wrote:
> > > > Zathras, brother of Zathras is being the
> > organiser
> > > > of
> > > > watchings, yes. Is burden, but still Zatrhas
> > > > manages.
> > > > Day of moons is good for peoples, yes?
> > > > And am hopings for the borrowings of more
> > > machines.
> > > > Durings the day of the twenty sixth, will be
> > > > watchings
> > > > next tapes.
> > > > The One comes, the One brings tapes.
> > > > We watch for the One, we watch with the One.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > =====
> > > > Peter Cobcroft
> > > > curufea@y...
> > > > Main:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> > > > AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> > > > Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> > > > Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
>
> >
>
>
_________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at
> ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

79

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 12:29pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door
 
Kaceubel speaks again still staring at Ari. "This spell is not an easy one
for me and I'm not sure when I would be capable of casting it again. Do
you think you could ask your questions and get it over with. I don't
particularly want to cast this one again."
"We still have some questions. Ari. And if, as seems
apparent, Kaceubel has maintained his little spell, we
may discover more from your foolish little rant than
was meant. I would truly recommend you speak a little
more carefully within your next group of answers. I
mean, I wouldn't actually hurt you myself," pauses,
her eyes flick sideways, "well probably, but I do not
know how much I would mourn your death. Speak truth,
and do not malign, well, anyone really."
"Also on the magic point, he has not confessed. As far as I can understand
he believes that you, Gwen, have more magic than he does and that he is not
without magic, I am unable to determine the extent of his abilities." says
Kaceubel.
Gwen makes a face. "It's like talking to a city toll-taker's scribe," she
mourns, "How much ridiculous 'ifs' and 'buts' and 'in comparisons to' must
I wade through here? How about some bloody yes and no answers, eh?"
Nadia returns to the log against which she rested
earlier, although her shifting does seem to indicate
it is far less comfortable sitting on, as opposed to
against, it. Apparently ignoring the new message upon
the door, she returns her attention to our previous
little altercation, quickly glancing at the
concentrating mage, ensuring he is still ready for
this.
"Gwen," rather peremptorily, although the glance
toward the ranger is still soft, "I believe you had
some further questions." Softly. "Please." Asking
for more than just the questions, her eyes and body
language beseeching Gwen's presence by her.
The ranger pauses a moment, her eyes shifting from newly revealed carvings
to the cleric. It's apparent her gaze becomes immediately, hopelessly
fixed upon the tall human woman. The half-elf smiles, the taughtness in
her stance melting and with a deft twist, returns her bow to a horizontal
position and carries it over to the log where she lithely finds a perch
beside Nadia. The leather of her breeches stretches tantalisingly over her
long legs as she straddles the log and tucks one knee under her chin. She
raises a brow towards the cleric as if to say 'what next?'
"Thankyou. You have our attention, Ari. Now, play
nice." A glare belying her earlier words. Maybe,
just maybe, there is pain promised within the flat,
pale gaze.
"Also we are being magically observed by something from within the
Dungeon." Notes the mage.
"Great. Unexpected? Hardly. At least it seems there is _someone_ in
there to peer out." Gwen sighs. "Questions. Don't you guys have any to
ask too? Well, here are some more from me. Ummm;
"Ari - Are you a mage?
"Have you cast spells without the aid of heretical magical artefacts?
"Are you intending to become an Avatar?
"Are you here to hinder another from becoming Avatar?
"Has a God ever spoken to you?
"Did you kill any of your prior adventuring companions in this dungeon?
"Do you have anything to do with the painting in Malkhut's common room?
"Have you met the master of this dungeon?
"Do you serve the master of this dungeon?
"Have you always been a Hobbit?
"When did you first learn about the prophecy?
"Are you, to your knowledge, an agent for a god?
"If so, which one? Balance? Good? Evil? Chaos? Mammon {etc}?
"Is that enough? - let's see what we get. Either way - we ALL have to go
in there sooner or later."

80

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 1999 2:44pm
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door
 
OOC: Well, that's that. A little couple of comments.
Last person in the building here practically.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to y'all.
C sum of u next week.
Oh, and of course my email access is going to be quite
truly dismal.
MjL
Above all: Mock
0411 157 986 (mob)
6251 8586 (h)
6261 2453 (w)
--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> Kaceubel speaks again still staring at Ari. "This
> spell is not an easy one
>
> for me and I'm not sure when I would be capable of
> casting it again. Do
> you think you could ask your questions and get it
> over with. I don't
> particularly want to cast this one again."
>
> "We still have some questions. Ari. And if, as
> seems
> apparent, Kaceubel has maintained his little spell,
> we
> may discover more from your foolish little rant than
> was meant. I would truly recommend you speak a
> little
> more carefully within your next group of answers. I
> mean, I wouldn't actually hurt you myself," pauses,
> her eyes flick sideways, "well probably, but I do
> not
> know how much I would mourn your death. Speak
> truth,
> and do not malign, well, anyone really."
>
> "Also on the magic point, he has not confessed. As
> far as I can understand
> he believes that you, Gwen, have more magic than he
> does and that he is not
> without magic, I am unable to determine the extent
> of his abilities." says
> Kaceubel.
>
> Gwen makes a face. "It's like talking to a city
> toll-taker's scribe," she
> mourns, "How much ridiculous 'ifs' and 'buts' and
> 'in comparisons to' must
> I wade through here? How about some bloody yes and
> no answers, eh?"
>
> Nadia returns to the log against which she rested
> earlier, although her shifting does seem to indicate
> it is far less comfortable sitting on, as opposed to
> against, it. Apparently ignoring the new message
> upon
> the door, she returns her attention to our previous
> little altercation, quickly glancing at the
> concentrating mage, ensuring he is still ready for
> this.
> "Gwen," rather peremptorily, although the glance
> toward the ranger is still soft, "I believe you had
> some further questions." Softly. "Please." Asking
> for more than just the questions, her eyes and body
> language beseeching Gwen's presence by her.
>
> The ranger pauses a moment, her eyes shifting from
> newly revealed carvings
> to the cleric. It's apparent her gaze becomes
> immediately, hopelessly
> fixed upon the tall human woman. The half-elf
> smiles, the taughtness in
> her stance melting and with a deft twist, returns
> her bow to a horizontal
> position and carries it over to the log where she
> lithely finds a perch
> beside Nadia. The leather of her breeches stretches
> tantalisingly over her
> long legs as she straddles the log and tucks one
> knee under her chin. She
> raises a brow towards the cleric as if to say 'what
> next?'
>
> "Thankyou. You have our attention, Ari. Now, play
> nice." A glare belying her earlier words. Maybe,
> just maybe, there is pain promised within the flat,
> pale gaze.
******
The promise within those eyes fades, or rather
changes, the experssion in her eyes shading to longing
as her gaze returns to the ranger, after taking a
short detour via that nearly too-tantalizing leather.
******
>
> "Also we are being magically observed by something
> from within the
> Dungeon." Notes the mage.
******
A nod. No surprise. Perhaps even a little relief as
someone else is confirming a fear.
******
>
> "Great. Unexpected? Hardly. At least it seems
> there is _someone_ in
> there to peer out." Gwen sighs. "Questions. Don't
> you guys have any to
> ask too? Well, here are some more from me. Ummm;
> "Ari - Are you a mage?
> "Have you cast spells without the aid of heretical
> magical artefacts?
******
A slight look of confusion.
******
> "Are you intending to become an Avatar?
> "Are you here to hinder another from becoming
> Avatar?
> "Has a God ever spoken to you?
> "Did you kill any of your prior adventuring
> companions in this dungeon?
> "Do you have anything to do with the painting in
> Malkhut's common room?
> "Have you met the master of this dungeon?
******
"And is that why you're name is known?"
******
> "Do you serve the master of this dungeon?
> "Have you always been a Hobbit?
******
A sideways look at the ranger.
******
> "When did you first learn about the prophecy?
> "Are you, to your knowledge, an agent for a god?
> "If so, which one? Balance? Good? Evil? Chaos?
> Mammon {etc}?
>
> "Is that enough? - let's see what we get. Either
> way - we ALL have to go
> in there sooner or later."
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

81

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Sun Dec 26, 1999 6:47am
Subject: Re: A1001 - The Door
 
> "Great. Unexpected? Hardly. At least it seems there is _someone_ in
> there to peer out."
Balron stares at the doors, as if his gaze could penetrate the rock and see
their foe. As Gwen asks her questions he stumps up to the door, his finger
tracing the design, considering. He inspects the two others, gently caressing
their surface, seeming to listen to the rock.
> Gwen sighs. "Questions. Don't you guys have any to
> ask too? Well, here are some more from me. Ummm;
> "Ari - Are you a mage?
> "Have you cast spells without the aid of heretical magical artefacts?
> "Are you intending to become an Avatar?
> "Are you here to hinder another from becoming Avatar?
> "Has a God ever spoken to you?
> "Did you kill any of your prior adventuring companions in this dungeon?
> "Do you have anything to do with the painting in Malkhut's common room?
> "Have you met the master of this dungeon?
> "Do you serve the master of this dungeon?
> "Have you always been a Hobbit?
> "When did you first learn about the prophecy?
> "Are you, to your knowledge, an agent for a god?
> "If so, which one? Balance? Good? Evil? Chaos? Mammon {etc}?
"Aye, I have another. Was your last group here to fulfill this prophecy as
well, Ari? And further, how closely does the interior of this place resemble
this diagram?" He smiles at Gwen. "Practical questions lass. Dwarves are
ever a practical people." He turns back to Ari. "Which door did your group
enter by? Do they all open in the same place? How deeply did you penetrate
the dungeon? Do you know where within the dungeon the master usually resides?
Can you draw us a map of the interior that you remember? Where there many
traps or did you face mostly live obstacles? Was there anything that required
special circumstances to kill, for example silver weapons? Do you have any
artifacts or items that you previously bought out of the dungeon? Do you know
how this thing is watching us now?" He glances at the doors. "I think that's
enough to go on with at this time."
>
>
> "Is that enough? - let's see what we get. Either way - we ALL have to go
> in there sooner or later."

82

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 27, 1999 8:54am
Subject: Angel tapes remider
 
Just a quick reminder for those interested...
11am, my place (1 Eaves St Holt), today (monday)
Less than 4hours worth of tape to watch.
Board games if interested.
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

83

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 27, 1999 8:58am
Subject: Ari's 20 questions
 
> "Great. Unexpected? Hardly. At least it seems
there is _someone_
in
> there to peer out."
Balron stares at the doors, as if his gaze could
penetrate the rock and
see
their foe. As Gwen asks her questions he stumps up to
the door, his
finger
tracing the design, considering. He inspects the two
others, gently
caressing
their surface, seeming to listen to the rock.
> Gwen sighs. "Questions. Don't you guys have any to
> ask too? Well, here are some more from me. Ummm;
> "Ari - Are you a mage?
"I am a grave robber. I steal magic items and
treasures. I prefer taking things from the long dead
than adventuring - It makes more sense to wait for
more competent adventurer types to come by, and then
for me to accompany them and help out in non-combat
situations. I'm not a fighter."
The cloud around Ari glows a strong, steady blue.
> "Have you cast spells without the aid of heretical
magical artefacts?
"I don't find magical artefacts heretical at all! "
The cloud continues to glow blue.
Kaceubel ventures a question of his own. "Have you
cast spells without
the
necessity of aid from an artefact of some kind?"
> "Are you intending to become an Avatar?
"No, and I don't even know what one is."
No change in the glowing cloud.
> "Are you here to hinder another from becoming
Avatar?
"You seem really obsessed with this avatar thing."
Glow becomes a brighter blue and steadies there.
> "Has a God ever spoken to you?
"Not that I know of, or care about."
Still blue
> "Did you kill any of your prior adventuring
companions in this
dungeon?
"No."
Glary blue, settling down to a paler steady blue.
> "Do you have anything to do with the painting in
Malkhut's common
room?
"No. What a weird question."
Still blue.
> "Have you met the master of this dungeon?
"Not that I know of."
Blue but now with a strong dash of Red.
Kaceubel speaks again, interpreting the glow. "He has
but he is not
aware
of it."
> "Do you serve the master of this dungeon?
"Yes. I do, sorry I'm going to have to kill you all
now - the voices in my head said so. Sheesh."
Now strong red with a stronger dash of Blue fading to
a steady red.
"Fascinating and theoretically impossible." Kaceubel
seems almost
startled
by Ari's statement.
> "Have you always been a Hobbit?
"Usually I'm a Half-Elf, I'm just feeling under the
weather."
Steady red glow.
> "When did you first learn about the prophecy?
"When that pompous mage of yours spouted out about it
in the Inn."
Now Blue, strong and steady.
> "Are you, to your knowledge, an agent for a god?
"I would never work for a sodding god."
Still blue, but brighter now.
> "If so, which one? Balance? Good? Evil? Chaos?
Mammon {etc}?
"The sensible, logic, brainy one of course - shame
that he hasn't been invented yet eh?"
Straight to a steady orange.
"Aye, I have another. Was your last group here to
fulfill this
prophecy as
well, Ari? And further, how closely does the interior
of this place
resemble
this diagram?" He smiles at Gwen. "Practical
questions lass. Dwarves
are
ever a practical people." He turns back to Ari.
"Which door did your
group
enter by? Do they all open in the same place? How
deeply did you
penetrate
the dungeon? Do you know where within the dungeon the
master usually
resides?
Can you draw us a map of the interior that you
remember? Where there
many
traps or did you face mostly live obstacles? Was
there anything that
required
special circumstances to kill, for example silver
weapons? Do you have
any
artifacts or items that you previously bought out of
the dungeon? Do
you know
how this thing is watching us now?" He glances at the
doors. "I think
that's
enough to go on with at this time."
>
>
> "Is that enough? - let's see what we get. Either
way - we ALL have
to go
> in there sooner or later."
Ari sighs at these further paranoid meanderings and
wonders if he will ever see the interior.
"No, somewhat, this one, not far, yes, probably, both,
yes, I left without any treasures, what thing is
watching us?"
Steady blue, no flickers at the last fading to orange.
"Actually, I don't feel as though I'm being watched -
and I can't see any spy holes that thieves might
employ... Why do you think we are being watched?"
Then back to steady blue.
The mage stirs a little, "I think we are being watched
because I can
feel
its regard and amusement. It does not bother to hide
itself, it knows
we
are here and it knows that we know that it is watching
us and is merely
amused by it. At the moment I do not believe it poses
an immediate
threat,
it waits for us to attack its puzzles so that it might
gain more
amusement.
I do not care for it."
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at ="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://mail.yahoo.com

84

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Mon Dec 27, 1999 9:28am
Subject: Re: Ari's 20 questions
 
> Then back to steady blue.
> The mage stirs a little, "I think we are being watched
> because I can
> feel
> its regard and amusement. It does not bother to hide
> itself, it knows
> we
> are here and it knows that we know that it is watching
> us and is merely
>
> amused by it. At the moment I do not believe it poses
> an immediate
> threat,
> it waits for us to attack its puzzles so that it might
> gain more
> amusement.
> I do not care for it."
"Right. Time to get ready then." Balron sweeps his gaze across the group
"Everyone remember to go before we leave." Picking up his axe he moves off
into the trees, emerging again a little while later adjusting his weapon
belt. ((ooc: :) )).

85

From: Rachel  <="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 28, 1999 00:08am
Subject: Re: Done with Ari's questions.
 
> > "Have you cast spells without the aid of heretical
> magical artefacts?
> "I don't find magical artefacts heretical at all! "
> The cloud continues to glow blue.
Gwen looks like she could briefly throttle the little evasive f**cking
Hobbit then buries her head in the crook of her arm where it rests upon her
knee. She refuses to look up for the rest of the Q&A.
> Kaceubel ventures a question of his own. "Have you
> cast spells without the necessity of aid from an artefact of some kind?"
~
~
> > "Do you serve the master of this dungeon?
> "Yes. I do, sorry I'm going to have to kill you all now - the voices in
my head said so. Sheesh."
> Now strong red with a stronger dash of Blue fading to a steady red.
Fascinating > and theoretically impossible." Kaceubel seems almost
startled by Ari's > statement.
Gwen peeks, her bright eyes hazed. "Ok - so he's a freak. Unusual
readings, strangely enough, inspire my distrust to sink to new dismal
levels." She buries her head again.
~
> > "Are you, to your knowledge, an agent for a god?
> "I would never work for a sodding god."
> Still blue, but brighter now.
> > "If so, which one? Balance? Good? Evil? Chaos? Mammon {etc}?
> "The sensible, logic, brainy one of course - shame that he hasn't been
invented yet eh?"
Gwen gives a muffled growl and mumbles something emphatic but incoherant
into her arm.
> Straight to a steady orange.
>
> "Aye, I have another. Was your last group here to fulfill this prophecy
as
> well, Ari? And further, how closely does the interior of this place
resemble
> this diagram?" He smiles at Gwen. "Practical questions lass. Dwarves
> are ever a practical people." He turns back to Ari. "Which door did your
> group enter by? Do they all open in the same place? How deeply did you
> penetrate the dungeon? Do you know where within the dungeon the master
usually resides? Can you draw us a map of the interior that you remember?
Where there many traps or did you face mostly live obstacles? Was there
anything that required special circumstances to kill, for example silver
weapons? Do you have any artifacts or items that you previously bought out
ofthe dungeon? Do you know how this thing is watching us now?" He glances
at the doors. "I think that's enough to go on with at this time."
> Ari sighs at these further paranoid meanderings and wonders if he will
ever see the interior. "No, somewhat, this one, not far, yes, probably,
both, yes, I left without any treasures, what thing is watching us?"
>
> Steady blue, no flickers at the last fading to orange.
>
> "Actually, I don't feel as though I'm being watched - and I can't see any
spy holes that thieves might employ... Why do you think we are being
watched?"
>
> Then back to steady blue. The mage stirs a little, "I think we are being
watched
> because I can feel its regard and amusement. It does not bother to hide
> itself, it knows we are here and it knows that we know that it is
watching
> us and is merely amused by it. At the moment I do not believe it poses
> an immediate threat, it waits for us to attack its puzzles so that it
might
> gain more amusement. I do not care for it."
"Right. Time to get ready then." Balron sweeps his gaze across the group
"Everyone remember to go before we leave." Picking up his axe he moves off
into the trees, emerging again a little while later adjusting his weapon
belt.
Gwen heaves a weary breath and lifts her head. Soft tendrils of pale hair
weave gently across her cheeks in the morning air. She looks fed-up. With
a pause to squeeze the cleric's knee, she rises from the log and begins
tightly lacing up the front of her jacket. As she draws the left collar
over to cover the potential point of vulnerability along the jacket's seal,
she reveals a faded crest worked proudly into the old leather. A white
stag stands brow to kingly brow with an ebon-black twin, their anters
locked like naked claws and deep chests almost touching below proudly
arched necks. The symmetry is perfect, the detail lovingly worked. A
royal coronet surmounts both animals like a corona of divinity, light
dancing down from its curve even as it flitters from the eyes of the
magnificent animals. As old as the representations are and as well-worn as
the jacket is, the crest remains a lovely work. It curves over
Gwendellheil's heart in a perfect, fitted embrace.
With a final careful tug, the half-elf secures the high, slightly
reinforced collar about her throat and stoops gracefully to gather up her
superb bow. The black and white fletching on her arrows now finds
companion colour in her crest. The proud set of her shoulders seems to
take on a whole new light of ingrained authority. Her amythest eyes are
hard. "I say we stop doing parlour tricks for the half-wit inside and get
our act together. Sorry for the rough treatment Ari. I don't pretend to
be a woman born in times of peace, but I do propose a new deal. Open the
door, help us as far as you're able and to the best of your abilities
within this dungeon and when we get out of here, you not only can have my
dratted cut of any treasure found, but I'll write you a bill of debt for
services rendered as a 'specialist guide.' Does 50 gold Sohlin sound fair,
mercenary?" She askes, lifting a brow as she awaits an answer, her usual
easy smile so far from her lovely lips that she looks to be something
beyond patience and humour. There is not a glimmer upon her visage to hint
that she is any way fazed by her offer of this obscene amount of ancient
Gvaarwald luck-gold. In fact, she looks completely done with all facades.
Her stance is as perfectly balanced as the crest over her heart. The black
bow sits like an old friend in her hand.

86

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 28, 1999 9:10am
Subject: Turn Delay
 
Next turn will be delayed until Thursday week (6th
January) due to email availability of some of the
players.
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

87

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Tue Dec 28, 1999 9:02pm
Subject: Re: Turn Delay
 
Gaddammit!
----------
> From: Peter Cobcroft curufea@y...
> To: Dungeon Sephiroth ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subject: [dungeonsephiroth] Turn Delay
> Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999 9:10
>
> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> Next turn will be delayed until Thursday week (6th
> January) due to email availability of some of the
> players.
>
>
>
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
> ="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

88

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 29, 1999 8:51am
Subject: Re: Turn Delay
 
<chuckle>
Say to oneself thirty times.
"I will survive"
--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
>
> Gaddammit!
>
> ----------
> > From: Peter Cobcroft curufea@y...
> > To: Dungeon Sephiroth
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Subject: [dungeonsephiroth] Turn Delay
> > Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999 9:10
> >
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> curufea@y...
> >
> > Next turn will be delayed until Thursday week (6th
> > January) due to email availability of some of the
> > players.
> >
> >
> > =====
> > Peter Cobcroft
> > curufea@y...
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

89

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 29, 1999 9:01am
Subject: Re: Done with Ari's questions.
 
--- Rachel ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i... wrote:
> From: "Rachel" ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >aspect@i...
>
> > > "Have you cast spells without the aid of
> heretical
> > magical artefacts?
> > "I don't find magical artefacts heretical at all!
> "
> > The cloud continues to glow blue.
>
> Gwen looks like she could briefly throttle the
> little evasive f**cking
> Hobbit then buries her head in the crook of her arm
> where it rests upon her
> knee. She refuses to look up for the rest of the
> Q&A.
******
Nadia gently rests one hand upon the ranger's
shoulders. Comforting, empathising.
******
>
> > Kaceubel ventures a question of his own. "Have
> you
> > cast spells without the necessity of aid from an
> artefact of some kind?"
> ~
> ~
> > > "Do you serve the master of this dungeon?
> > "Yes. I do, sorry I'm going to have to kill you
> all now - the voices in
> my head said so. Sheesh."
> > Now strong red with a stronger dash of Blue fading
> to a steady red.
> Fascinating > and theoretically impossible."
> Kaceubel seems almost
> startled by Ari's > statement.
>
> Gwen peeks, her bright eyes hazed. "Ok - so he's a
> freak. Unusual
> readings, strangely enough, inspire my distrust to
> sink to new dismal
> levels." She buries her head again.
> ~
> > > "Are you, to your knowledge, an agent for a god?
> > "I would never work for a sodding god."
> > Still blue, but brighter now.
> > > "If so, which one? Balance? Good? Evil?
> Chaos? Mammon {etc}?
> > "The sensible, logic, brainy one of course - shame
> that he hasn't been
> invented yet eh?"
>
> Gwen gives a muffled growl and mumbles something
> emphatic but incoherant
> into her arm.
******
Tense, pat the shoulders a touch.
******
>
> > Straight to a steady orange.
> >
> > "Aye, I have another. Was your last group here to
> fulfill this prophecy
> as
> > well, Ari? And further, how closely does the
> interior of this place
> resemble
> > this diagram?" He smiles at Gwen. "Practical
> questions lass. Dwarves
> > are ever a practical people." He turns back to
> Ari. "Which door did your
> > group enter by? Do they all open in the same
> place? How deeply did you
> > penetrate the dungeon? Do you know where within
> the dungeon the master
> usually resides? Can you draw us a map of the
> interior that you remember?
> Where there many traps or did you face mostly live
> obstacles? Was there
> anything that required special circumstances to
> kill, for example silver
> weapons? Do you have any artifacts or items that
> you previously bought out
> ofthe dungeon? Do you know how this thing is
> watching us now?" He glances
> at the doors. "I think that's enough to go on with
> at this time."
>
> > Ari sighs at these further paranoid meanderings
> and wonders if he will
> ever see the interior. "No, somewhat, this one, not
> far, yes, probably,
> both, yes, I left without any treasures, what thing
> is watching us?"
> >
> > Steady blue, no flickers at the last fading to
> orange.
> >
> > "Actually, I don't feel as though I'm being
> watched - and I can't see any
> spy holes that thieves might employ... Why do you
> think we are being
> watched?"
> >
> > Then back to steady blue. The mage stirs a little,
> "I think we are being
> watched
> > because I can feel its regard and amusement. It
> does not bother to hide
> > itself, it knows we are here and it knows that we
> know that it is
> watching
> > us and is merely amused by it. At the moment I do
> not believe it poses
> > an immediate threat, it waits for us to attack
> its puzzles so that it
> might
> > gain more amusement. I do not care for it."
>
> "Right. Time to get ready then." Balron sweeps his
> gaze across the group
> "Everyone remember to go before we leave." Picking
> up his axe he moves off
> into the trees, emerging again a little while later
> adjusting his weapon
> belt.
>
> Gwen heaves a weary breath and lifts her head. Soft
> tendrils of pale hair
> weave gently across her cheeks in the morning air.
> She looks fed-up. With
> a pause to squeeze the cleric's knee, she rises from
> the log and begins
> tightly lacing up the front of her jacket. As she
> draws the left collar
> over to cover the potential point of vulnerability
> along the jacket's seal,
> she reveals a faded crest worked proudly into the
> old leather. A white
> stag stands brow to kingly brow with an ebon-black
> twin, their anters
> locked like naked claws and deep chests almost
> touching below proudly
> arched necks. The symmetry is perfect, the detail
> lovingly worked. A
> royal coronet surmounts both animals like a corona
> of divinity, light
> dancing down from its curve even as it flitters from
> the eyes of the
> magnificent animals. As old as the representations
> are and as well-worn as
> the jacket is, the crest remains a lovely work. It
> curves over
> Gwendellheil's heart in a perfect, fitted embrace.
>
> With a final careful tug, the half-elf secures the
> high, slightly
> reinforced collar about her throat and stoops
> gracefully to gather up her
> superb bow. The black and white fletching on her
> arrows now finds
> companion colour in her crest. The proud set of her
> shoulders seems to
> take on a whole new light of ingrained authority.
> Her amythest eyes are
> hard. "I say we stop doing parlour tricks for the
> half-wit inside and get
> our act together. Sorry for the rough treatment
> Ari. I don't pretend to
> be a woman born in times of peace, but I do propose
> a new deal. Open the
> door, help us as far as you're able and to the best
> of your abilities
> within this dungeon and when we get out of here, you
> not only can have my
> dratted cut of any treasure found, but I'll write
> you a bill of debt for
> services rendered as a 'specialist guide.' Does 50
> gold Sohlin sound fair,
> mercenary?" She askes, lifting a brow as she
> awaits an answer, her usual
> easy smile so far from her lovely lips that she
> looks to be something
> beyond patience and humour. There is not a glimmer
> upon her visage to hint
> that she is any way fazed by her offer of this
> obscene amount of ancient
> Gvaarwald luck-gold. In fact, she looks completely
> done with all facades.
> Her stance is as perfectly balanced as the crest
> over her heart. The black
> bow sits like an old friend in her hand.
The cleric's eyes go wide. And one eyebrow queries.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

90

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Dec 29, 1999 5:25pm
Subject: RE: Done with Ari's questions.
 
> "Right. Time to get ready then." Balron sweeps his
> gaze across the group
> "Everyone remember to go before we leave." Picking
> up his axe he moves off
> into the trees, emerging again a little while later
> adjusting his weapon
> belt.
The mage makes a cutting gesture with his left hand and the glowing cloud
around Ari collapses to the ground and winks out.
> Gwen heaves a weary breath and lifts her head. Soft
> tendrils of pale hair
> weave gently across her cheeks in the morning air.
> She looks fed-up. With
> a pause to squeeze the cleric's knee, she rises from
> the log and begins
> tightly lacing up the front of her jacket. As she
> draws the left collar
> over to cover the potential point of vulnerability
> along the jacket's seal,
> she reveals a faded crest worked proudly into the
> old leather. A white
> stag stands brow to kingly brow with an ebon-black
> twin, their anters
> locked like naked claws and deep chests almost
> touching below proudly
> arched necks. The symmetry is perfect, the detail
> lovingly worked. A
> royal coronet surmounts both animals like a corona
> of divinity, light
> dancing down from its curve even as it flitters from
> the eyes of the
> magnificent animals. As old as the representations
> are and as well-worn as
> the jacket is, the crest remains a lovely work. It
> curves over
> Gwendellheil's heart in a perfect, fitted embrace.
>
> With a final careful tug, the half-elf secures the
> high, slightly
> reinforced collar about her throat and stoops
> gracefully to gather up her
> superb bow. The black and white fletching on her
> arrows now finds
> companion colour in her crest. The proud set of her
> shoulders seems to
> take on a whole new light of ingrained authority.
> Her amythest eyes are
> hard. "I say we stop doing parlour tricks for the
> half-wit inside and get
> our act together. Sorry for the rough treatment
> Ari. I don't pretend to
> be a woman born in times of peace, but I do propose
> a new deal. Open the
> door, help us as far as you're able and to the best
> of your abilities
> within this dungeon and when we get out of here, you
> not only can have my
> dratted cut of any treasure found, but I'll write
> you a bill of debt for
> services rendered as a 'specialist guide.' Does 50
> gold Sohlin sound fair,
> mercenary?" She askes, lifting a brow as she
> awaits an answer, her usual
> easy smile so far from her lovely lips that she
> looks to be something
> beyond patience and humour. There is not a glimmer
> upon her visage to hint
> that she is any way fazed by her offer of this
> obscene amount of ancient
> Gvaarwald luck-gold. In fact, she looks completely
> done with all facades.
> Her stance is as perfectly balanced as the crest
> over her heart. The black
> bow sits like an old friend in her hand.
The cleric's eyes go wide. And one eyebrow queries.
Kaceubel watches all this calmly before rising and stretching, in one
smooth movement.
The elf carefully packs up his supplies and rises again shrugging his pack
onto his shoulder. "Well I'm ready now. Don't expect anything spectacular
for at least a couple of hours though." Pausing he digs into a pouch and
pulls out some wooden coins." The rest of you should be carrying magically
tagged currency, it will mask us and to some degree protect us from magical
effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin to Gwen, Nadia, Balron and Ari.
Kaceubel continues. "Before we open the door and enter the dungeon there a
few things we should discuss. Marching order, general tactics, code danger
words and the like. In short we should have a plan. Also it would be nice
if we could finish with the toasts and drink this wine before somebody
kicks dirt into. It's been waiting for millennia, it would be a shame to
waste it now."
K.


91

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 10:20am
Subject: Current time
 
> BTW: What time is it? In the game, when these
> people
> are planning to head into the dungeon?
When Kaceubel first proposed the toast - "the early
morning sun glinted off his goblet"
The questioning would have taken about half an hour or
so. I would hazard a guess at it being about 11 am.
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

92

From: Nadia Toitovna  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 10:56am
Subject: RE: Done with Ari's questions.
 
> > Gwen heaves a weary breath and lifts her head.
> Soft
> > tendrils of pale hair
> > weave gently across her cheeks in the morning air.
> > She looks fed-up. With
> > a pause to squeeze the cleric's knee, she rises
> from
> > the log and begins
> > tightly lacing up the front of her jacket. As she
> > draws the left collar
> > over to cover the potential point of vulnerability
> > along the jacket's seal,
> > she reveals a faded crest worked proudly into the
> > old leather. A white
> > stag stands brow to kingly brow with an ebon-black
> > twin, their anters
> > locked like naked claws and deep chests almost
> > touching below proudly
> > arched necks. The symmetry is perfect, the detail
> > lovingly worked. A
> > royal coronet surmounts both animals like a corona
> > of divinity, light
> > dancing down from its curve even as it flitters
> from
> > the eyes of the
> > magnificent animals. As old as the
> representations
> > are and as well-worn as
> > the jacket is, the crest remains a lovely work.
> It
> > curves over
> > Gwendellheil's heart in a perfect, fitted embrace.
> >
> > With a final careful tug, the half-elf secures the
> > high, slightly
> > reinforced collar about her throat and stoops
> > gracefully to gather up her
> > superb bow. The black and white fletching on her
> > arrows now finds
> > companion colour in her crest. The proud set of
> her
> > shoulders seems to
> > take on a whole new light of ingrained authority.
> > Her amythest eyes are
> > hard. "I say we stop doing parlour tricks for the
> > half-wit inside and get
> > our act together. Sorry for the rough treatment
> > Ari. I don't pretend to
> > be a woman born in times of peace, but I do
> propose
> > a new deal. Open the
> > door, help us as far as you're able and to the
> best
> > of your abilities
> > within this dungeon and when we get out of here,
> you
> > not only can have my
> > dratted cut of any treasure found, but I'll write
> > you a bill of debt for
> > services rendered as a 'specialist guide.' Does
> 50
> > gold Sohlin sound fair,
> > mercenary?" She askes, lifting a brow as she
> > awaits an answer, her usual
> > easy smile so far from her lovely lips that she
> > looks to be something
> > beyond patience and humour. There is not a
> glimmer
> > upon her visage to hint
> > that she is any way fazed by her offer of this
> > obscene amount of ancient
> > Gvaarwald luck-gold. In fact, she looks
> completely
> > done with all facades.
> > Her stance is as perfectly balanced as the crest
> > over her heart. The black
> > bow sits like an old friend in her hand.
>
> The cleric's eyes go wide. And one eyebrow queries.
>
> Kaceubel watches all this calmly before rising and
> stretching, in one
> smooth movement.
>
> The elf carefully packs up his supplies and rises
> again shrugging his pack
> onto his shoulder. "Well I'm ready now. Don't
> expect anything spectacular
> for at least a couple of hours though." Pausing he
> digs into a pouch and
> pulls out some wooden coins." The rest of you
> should be carrying magically
> tagged currency, it will mask us and to some degree
> protect us from magical
> effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin to Gwen, Nadia,
> Balron and Ari.
******
Nadia bats the coin thrown to her straight back at the
mage, the somewhat offended expression probably
implying that there were already a couple in her belt
pouch.
******
> Kaceubel continues. "Before we open the door and
> enter the dungeon there a
> few things we should discuss. Marching order,
> general tactics, code danger
> words and the like. In short we should have a plan.
> Also it would be nice
> if we could finish with the toasts and drink this
> wine before somebody
> kicks dirt into. It's been waiting for millennia,
> it would be a shame to
> waste it now."
>
> K.
>
******
"Hmmm. Perhaps. Umm"
The cleric is obviously controlling a blush with
difficulty. Very slowly and carefully.
"I have to perform a ritual, a purification and prayer
to my god before we enter this place. And it will
take something in the region of, well, at least half
an hour.
"Generally in privacy."
Nadia heads over to her horse, grabbs a large sack
that has remained unopened to this point and a skin of
water and then heads off into the woods with a
determined step. And then another determined step.
And so on.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

93

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 3:33pm
Subject: Re: Pre-entry system check
 
> Kaceubel watches all this calmly before rising and stretching, in one
> smooth movement. The elf carefully packs up his supplies and rises again
shrugging his pack onto his shoulder. "Well I'm ready now. Don't expect
anything spectacular for at least a couple of hours though."
"_You_ can do spectacular?" interjects Gwen, turning to look at the mage
with a slightly acidic, entirely cynical glint in her eyes. "From my
experience, I would say that forest-brothers lean entirely towards the ...
conventional end of the spectrum." She smiles and tips her head towards to
morning sunlight, relishing its fresh glow. "But your recovery time seems
sadly typical," the half-elf adds as a michevious after-thought, the edges
of her eyes crinkling charmingly as she laughs to herself.
> Pausing he digs into a pouch and pulls out some wooden coins." The rest
of you should be carrying magically tagged currency, it will mask us and to
some degree protect us from magical effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin to
Gwen, Nadia, Balron and Ari.
******
Nadia bats the coin thrown to her straight back at the mage, the somewhat
offended expression probably implying that there were already a couple in
her belt
pouch.
******
Gwen looks down just in time to deftly catch the coin with her right hand.
Her brow furrows as she examines the carvings on either side of the wooden
disc.
> Kaceubel continues. "Before we open the door and enter the dungeon there
a
> few things we should discuss. Marching order, general tactics, code
danger
> words and the like. In short we should have a plan. Also it would be
nice
> if we could finish with the toasts and drink this wine before somebody
kicks dirt > into. It's been waiting for millennia, it would be a shame to
waste it now."
*****
"Hmmm. Perhaps. Umm" The cleric is obviously controlling a blush with
difficulty.
Gwen grins at her, as if nothing were more lovely this morning than the
sight of the cleric's rose-tinged cheeks.
Very slowly and carefully. "I have to perform a ritual, a purification and
prayer to my god before we enter this place. And it will take something in
the region of, well, at least half an hour. "Generally in privacy."
The ranger sighs and flicks the coin casually, catching it again.
Nadia heads over to her horse, grabbs a large sack that has remained
unopened to this point and a skin of water and then heads off into the
woods with a
determined step. And then another determined step. And so on.
~~~
Gwen watches the human woman retreat, her eyes scanning the surrounding
tree-line carefully, nerves ajingle with protective instincts that are
entirely out of proportion when one takes account of Nadia's definite
competence. Knowing she's already been over the place five times, and that
the tracks are old and the forest is resting peacefully, Gwen finally draws
a heavy breath and shifts her gaze reluctantly to the others - including a
sharp glare at Ari who still hasn't accepted her offer. The disc makes
another revolution between her fingers and Gwen looks thoughtfully at
Kaceubel standing expectantly by his goblets.
"Marching order? I need room for my bow and my longsword. Nadia needs
space for her weapon of choice. Balron, I reckon, can make a mess up close
and personal, so I say him and Ari up the front - Ari to get traps and
doors, our handsome fighter to take care of the stupid charging-type
monsters who like to pop around corners. I don't see no armour on you, K,
so you get to use us as your shields - surprise surprise - I can shoot over
Balron's head, so I'll need a position behind him - you need clear shots
too, eh, K? Nadia I reckon would be very strong either up front or behind.
A cleric's sense of bad-juju can be damn useful. How about you and I
together, K, unless circumstances require I draw a sword, in which case,
you just get out of my way. If attack is from the front, having B and N
there would present our strongest line of offense or defence. I'm sure Ari
will find a crack to hide in. As for code words - I suggest if we see
danger, we say, "danger" or "whoa" and if we see the bad guy, someone say
"kill 'em." If you have time to sprout codes whilst in combat, mage, then
you're not working hard or fast enough - is my thinking." Gwen steps close
and places the coin on the make-shift table beside the goblet meant for
her. "As for coins cloaking us - I haven't heard so much crap since my
grandfather tried to tell me my mother was a eddy-life slut. You can keep
your money and your drink. I have fought mages before, K, and
rest-assured, whether they've known I was coming or not, they've always
died." Her lips twist into a harsh smile. "No offense."
With that, the half-elf straightens, heavy pale braids sliding over her
leather clad shoulders as she turns. With soft footfalls that barely
leave a trace in the dusty soil of the ravaged clearing, she heads to Ari
over whom she veritably looms.
"I think our small friend here shall accept my fair offer and enable us to
expediate our plan. Unfortunately, with our enemy inside spying upon us, a
precise plan would be a rather dangerous thing to talk about out here
before his front door. I doubt we could trek out of his 'hearing' range,
so lets just use our heads and go with the flow. Essentially, the less
damage or trouble we encounter, the better condition we'll be in at the
end. I suggest Ari take this stick," she nudges one with her toe, "and
draws what he knows, marking the sites of interest as mentioned by our
thorough friend, Balron. The rest of the show is up to those of you who
bear the blessing of a god. As a witness for the timeless cycle and
renewal of nature, I cannot meddle - nor to I fully understand - what shall
pass once we reach the point of destiny's convergence. The pressure of the
Mother's Breath, however, suggests we enter before the sun reaches the
meridian. So hurry the hell up."

94

From: Robert Barbetti  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 4:43pm
Subject: RE: Pre-entry system check
 
> Kaceubel watches all this calmly before rising and stretching, in one
> smooth movement. The elf carefully packs up his supplies and rises again
shrugging his pack onto his shoulder. "Well I'm ready now. Don't expect
anything spectacular for at least a couple of hours though."
"_You_ can do spectacular?" interjects Gwen, turning to look at the mage
with a slightly acidic, entirely cynical glint in her eyes. "From my
experience, I would say that forest-brothers lean entirely towards the ...
conventional end of the spectrum." She smiles and tips her head towards to
morning sunlight, relishing its fresh glow. "But your recovery time seems
sadly typical," the half-elf adds as a michevious after-thought, the edges
of her eyes crinkling charmingly as she laughs to herself.
Kaceubel raises an eyebrow. "Spectacular? Spectacular is easy, just
expensive. It's the more subtle things that are difficult and time
consuming. I don't want do anything large soon because I like to pace
myself. I could toss spells around like there was no tomorrow, only if I
did that then for me there wouldn't be a tomorrow because I would be
sleeping through it. I pushed myself to the limit once, it almost killed
me and laid me up in some dank cave with the smell of rotting wood for
twelve years, not an experience I want to repeat. Still, it did give an
appreciation for sunlight and open places."
> Pausing he digs into a pouch and pulls out some wooden coins." The rest
of you should be carrying magically tagged currency, it will mask us and to
some degree protect us from magical effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin to
Gwen, Nadia, Balron and Ari.
******
Nadia bats the coin thrown to her straight back at the mage, the somewhat
offended expression probably implying that there were already a couple in
her belt
pouch.
******
Gwen looks down just in time to deftly catch the coin with her right hand.
Her brow furrows as she examines the carvings on either side of the wooden
disc.
> Kaceubel continues. "Before we open the door and enter the dungeon there
a
> few things we should discuss. Marching order, general tactics, code
danger
> words and the like. In short we should have a plan. Also it would be
nice
> if we could finish with the toasts and drink this wine before somebody
kicks dirt > into. It's been waiting for millennia, it would be a shame to
waste it now."
*****
"Hmmm. Perhaps. Umm" The cleric is obviously controlling a blush with
difficulty.
Gwen grins at her, as if nothing were more lovely this morning than the
sight of the cleric's rose-tinged cheeks.
Very slowly and carefully. "I have to perform a ritual, a purification and
prayer to my god before we enter this place. And it will take something in
the region of, well, at least half an hour. "Generally in privacy."
The ranger sighs and flicks the coin casually, catching it again.
Nadia heads over to her horse, grabbs a large sack that has remained
unopened to this point and a skin of water and then heads off into the
woods with a
determined step. And then another determined step. And so on.
~~~
Gwen watches the human woman retreat, her eyes scanning the surrounding
tree-line carefully, nerves ajingle with protective instincts that are
entirely out of proportion when one takes account of Nadia's definite
competence. Knowing she's already been over the place five times, and that
the tracks are old and the forest is resting peacefully, Gwen finally draws
a heavy breath and shifts her gaze reluctantly to the others - including a
sharp glare at Ari who still hasn't accepted her offer. The disc makes
another revolution between her fingers and Gwen looks thoughtfully at
Kaceubel standing expectantly by his goblets.
"Marching order? I need room for my bow and my longsword. Nadia needs
space for her weapon of choice. Balron, I reckon, can make a mess up close
and personal, so I say him and Ari up the front - Ari to get traps and
doors, our handsome fighter to take care of the stupid charging-type
monsters who like to pop around corners. I don't see no armour on you, K,
so you get to use us as your shields - surprise surprise - I can shoot over
Balron's head, so I'll need a position behind him - you need clear shots
too, eh, K? Nadia I reckon would be very strong either up front or behind.
A cleric's sense of bad-juju can be damn useful. How about you and I
together, K, unless circumstances require I draw a sword, in which case,
you just get out of my way. If attack is from the front, having B and N
there would present our strongest line of offense or defence. I'm sure Ari
will find a crack to hide in. As for code words - I suggest if we see
danger, we say, "danger" or "whoa" and if we see the bad guy, someone say
"kill 'em." If you have time to sprout codes whilst in combat, mage, then
you're not working hard or fast enough - is my thinking." Gwen steps close
and places the coin on the make-shift table beside the goblet meant for
her. "As for coins cloaking us - I haven't heard so much crap since my
grandfather tried to tell me my mother was a eddy-life slut. You can keep
your money and your drink. I have fought mages before, K, and
rest-assured, whether they've known I was coming or not, they've always
died." Her lips twist into a harsh smile. "No offense."
Kaceubel responds with a smile and a quiet mutter. "Yeah but did they stay
dead." Then more loudly.. "None taken. Sounds like a reasonable plan of
action to me. In the mean time somebody wake me when Nadia gets back." So
saying Kaceubel kicks off a few rocks and wraps himself in his cloak,
settling down with his pack under his head and closing his eyes. Rasing
his head again Kaceubel looks over at the goblets mutters a few words and
makes a strange contorted sign with his right hand before settling down
again to sleep. Momentarily visible a small dome forms over the goblets
and bottle, golden green in colour.
With that, the half-elf straightens, heavy pale braids sliding over her
leather clad shoulders as she turns. With soft footfalls that barely
leave a trace in the dusty soil of the ravaged clearing, she heads to Ari
over whom she veritably looms.
"I think our small friend here shall accept my fair offer and enable us to
expediate our plan. Unfortunately, with our enemy inside spying upon us, a
precise plan would be a rather dangerous thing to talk about out here
before his front door. I doubt we could trek out of his 'hearing' range,
so lets just use our heads and go with the flow. Essentially, the less
damage or trouble we encounter, the better condition we'll be in at the
end. I suggest Ari take this stick," she nudges one with her toe, "and
draws what he knows, marking the sites of interest as mentioned by our
thorough friend, Balron. The rest of the show is up to those of you who
bear the blessing of a god. As a witness for the timeless cycle and
renewal of nature, I cannot meddle - nor to I fully understand - what shall
pass once we reach the point of destiny's convergence. The pressure of the
Mother's Breath, however, suggests we enter before the sun reaches the
meridian. So hurry the hell up."

95

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 7:12pm
Subject: Pre-entry system check
 
[snip]
> > not only can have my
> > dratted cut of any treasure found, but I'll write
> > you a bill of debt for
> > services rendered as a 'specialist guide.' Does
> 50
> > gold Sohlin sound fair,
> > mercenary?" She askes, lifting a brow as she
> > awaits an answer, her usual
> > easy smile so far from her lovely lips that she
> > looks to be something
Ari stares straight up at Gwen's nostrils. "I'll have
you know madam, that I am not a mercenary. I am a
Burglar. And, furthermore, I'm in this for magical
items - which are easier to carry than large sums of
money."
He squats to the ground and rummages around in his
backpack.
[snip]
> effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin to Gwen, Nadia,
> Balron and Ari.
******
>Nadia bats the coin thrown to her straight back at
the
>mage, the somewhat offended expression probably
>implying that there were already a couple in her belt
>pouch.
The coin hits Ari on the shoulder and falls to the
ground, momentarily distracting him from his quest.
He glances down, snatches up the coin and pockets it.
[snip]
> if we could finish with the toasts and drink this
wine before somebody kicks dirt
> into. It's been waiting for millennia, it would be
a
shame to waste it now."
*****
>"Hmmm. Perhaps. Umm" The cleric is obviously
>controlling a blush with
>difficulty.
>Gwen grins at her, as if nothing were more lovely
this morning than the
>sight of the cleric's rose-tinged cheeks
Ari rolls his eyes emphatically before turning back to
his pack and pullling something out with a gleam in
his eye. A gleam of triumph.
A leatherbound notebook.
He grins, "My notes".
> Very slowly and carefully. "I have to perform a
> ritual, a purification and
> prayer to my god before we enter this place. And it
> will take something in
> the region of, well, at least half an hour.
> "Generally in privacy."
>
> The ranger sighs and flicks the coin casually,
> catching it again.
Ari opens his leather bound notebook and quickly finds
what he is looking for. He wanders over to Kaceubel.
> Nadia heads over to her horse, grabbs a large sack
> that has remained
> unopened to this point and a skin of water and then
> heads off into the
> woods with a
> determined step. And then another determined step.
> And so on.
> ~~~
> Gwen watches the human woman retreat, her eyes
> scanning the surrounding
> tree-line carefully, nerves ajingle with protective
> instincts that are
> entirely out of proportion when one takes account of
> Nadia's definite
> competence. Knowing she's already been over the
> place five times, and that
> the tracks are old and the forest is resting
> peacefully, Gwen finally draws
> a heavy breath and shifts her gaze reluctantly to
> the others - including a
> sharp glare at Ari who still hasn't accepted her
> offer. The disc makes
> another revolution between her fingers and Gwen
> looks thoughtfully at
> Kaceubel standing expectantly by his goblets.
Ari grabs a goblet. "Cheers!", he noisily quaffs the
contents before handing it back up to the Elf.
> "Marching order? I need room for my bow and my
> longsword. Nadia needs
> space for her weapon of choice. Balron, I reckon,
> can make a mess up close
> and personal, so I say him and Ari up the front -
> Ari to get traps and
> doors, our handsome fighter to take care of the
Ari begins to protest, but stops himself.
> stupid charging-type
> monsters who like to pop around corners. I don't
> see no armour on you, K,
> so you get to use us as your shields - surprise
> surprise - I can shoot over
> Balron's head, so I'll need a position behind him -
> you need clear shots
> too, eh, K? Nadia I reckon would be very strong
> either up front or behind.
> A cleric's sense of bad-juju can be damn useful.
> How about you and I
> together, K, unless circumstances require I draw a
> sword, in which case,
> you just get out of my way. If attack is from the
> front, having B and N
> there would present our strongest line of offense or
> defence. I'm sure Ari
> will find a crack to hide in. As for code words - I
> suggest if we see
> danger, we say, "danger" or "whoa" and if we see the
> bad guy, someone say
> "kill 'em." If you have time to sprout codes whilst
> in combat, mage, then
> you're not working hard or fast enough - is my
> thinking." Gwen steps close
> and places the coin on the make-shift table beside
> the goblet meant for
> her. "As for coins cloaking us - I haven't heard so
> much crap since my
> grandfather tried to tell me my mother was a
> eddy-life slut. You can keep
> your money and your drink. I have fought mages
> before, K, and
> rest-assured, whether they've known I was coming or
> not, they've always
> died." Her lips twist into a harsh smile. "No
> offense."
Ari writes some notes down to keep track of it all.
> Kaceubel responds with a smile and a quiet mutter.
> "Yeah but did they stay
> dead." Then more loudly.. "None taken. Sounds
> like a reasonable plan of
> action to me. In the mean time somebody wake me
> when Nadia gets back." So
> saying Kaceubel kicks off a few rocks and wraps
> himself in his cloak,
> settling down with his pack under his head and
> closing his eyes. Rasing
> his head again Kaceubel looks over at the goblets
> mutters a few words and
> makes a strange contorted sign with his right hand
> before settling down
> again to sleep. Momentarily visible a small dome
> forms over the goblets
> and bottle, golden green in colour.
>
> With that, the half-elf straightens, heavy pale
> braids sliding over her
> leather clad shoulders as she turns. With soft
> footfalls that barely
> leave a trace in the dusty soil of the ravaged
> clearing, she heads to Ari
> over whom she veritably looms.
> "I think our small friend here shall accept my fair
> offer and enable us to
> expediate our plan. Unfortunately, with our enemy
> inside spying upon us, a
> precise plan would be a rather dangerous thing to
> talk about out here
> before his front door. I doubt we could trek out of
> his 'hearing' range,
> so lets just use our heads and go with the flow.
> Essentially, the less
> damage or trouble we encounter, the better condition
> we'll be in at the
> end. I suggest Ari take this stick," she nudges one
> with her toe, "and
> draws what he knows, marking the sites of interest
> as mentioned by our
> thorough friend, Balron. The rest of the show is up
> to those of you who
> bear the blessing of a god. As a witness for the
> timeless cycle and
> renewal of nature, I cannot meddle - nor to I fully
> understand - what shall
> pass once we reach the point of destiny's
> convergence. The pressure of the
> Mother's Breath, however, suggests we enter before
> the sun reaches the
> meridian. So hurry the hell up."
Ari wanders over to the Ranger, taking the stick from
her. "Thanks luv." He smiles and draws a diagram on
the sand. It's clearly the same as that on the door.
"These three doors lead to the bottom circle, here",
he pokes it. "Which is some sort of temple area".
"To the left are giant bees, which lead up to the
Gnome City, and above that, the Bone Well."
"That's as far as we got. Sorry. Reckon there are
prisons and mazes and stuff too. The guy in charge
should be in the topmost circle."
"There's some traps, lots of monsters and lots of
riddles, like this here one on the door."
He glances at his book again.
"Our previous mage had researched it and reckoned it
had something to do with Sage Wenisadore. I just
pointed out it's a writing mistake and a simple riddle
for a Hobbit.", He grins smugly.
Looping his thumbs into his belt once more he glances
at Gwen.
"Won't say any more until we wants to go in - it
listens to us and we don't want it opening just yet,
eh?"
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

96

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 9:30pm
Subject: Re: Pre-entry system check
 
[snip]
> Kaceubel raises an eyebrow. "Spectacular? Spectacular is easy, just
> expensive. It's the more subtle things that are difficult and time
> consuming. I don't want do anything large soon because I like to pace
> myself. I could toss spells around like there was no tomorrow, only if I
> did that then for me there wouldn't be a tomorrow because I would be
> sleeping through it. I pushed myself to the limit once, it almost killed
> me and laid me up in some dank cave with the smell of rotting wood for
> twelve years, not an experience I want to repeat. Still, it did give an
> appreciation for sunlight and open places."
Balron looks back at the elf. "Twelve years?" He considers the thin frame,
the movements, and nods "Aye," he mutters to himself. "Power without
stamina. You see it often." He turns back to his pack. "But not for long."
> > Pausing he digs into a pouch and pulls out some wooden coins." The rest
> of you should be carrying magically tagged currency, it will mask us and to
> some degree protect us from magical effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin to
> Gwen, Nadia, Balron and Ari.
> ******
> Nadia bats the coin thrown to her straight back at the mage, the somewhat
> offended expression probably implying that there were already a couple in
> her belt
> pouch.
> ******
> Gwen looks down just in time to deftly catch the coin with her right hand.
> Her brow furrows as she examines the carvings on either side of the wooden
> disc.
Balron goes to one knee to rearrange things in his pack, the coin sailing
straight over his head. It rolls to a stop in the dust before him, leaving a
closed spiral pattern. Balron stares at it intently and then nods. "Dwarves
are not fond of magic. It tends to be unreliable for us." His mailed hand
smears the pattern and he pushes to his feet, hefting his pack. "Keep your
coin, mage, and your drink. I need to warm up." He walks into the clearing,
some distance from the others and begins stretching.
> > Kaceubel continues. "Before we open the door and enter the dungeon there
> a
> > few things we should discuss. Marching order, general tactics, code
> danger
> > words and the like. In short we should have a plan. Also it would be
> nice
> > if we could finish with the toasts and drink this wine before somebody
> kicks dirt > into. It's been waiting for millennia, it would be a shame to
> waste it now."
[snip]
> "Marching order? I need room for my bow and my longsword. Nadia needs
> space for her weapon of choice. Balron, I reckon, can make a mess up close
> and personal, so I say him and Ari up the front - Ari to get traps and
> doors, our handsome fighter to take care of the stupid charging-type
> monsters who like to pop around corners.
Balron calls over his shoulder. "Aye lass. Unless we march backwards, I'll be
at the front. But unless we're in a large room I will fight in a rank all by
myself. There will not be room for more. Just make sure any I leave behind
don't rise." His boot slides under his axe, flicking it into his hand.
Sunlight sprays across the clearing as it sweeps a glittering arc before him.
"Warn me if you need a clear field of fire or I'm liable to be amonst them."
The axe suddenly sweeps up and around, forming into a glittering, screaming
wall of steel in front of him and for several feet on each side. His body and
legs are completely still, the axe guided only by the sweep of his arms and
flicks of his powerful wrists.
[snip]
> As for code words
Balron snorts.
> - I suggest if we see
> danger, we say, "danger" or "whoa" and if we see the bad guy, someone say
> "kill 'em." If you have time to sprout codes whilst in combat, mage, then
> you're not working hard or fast enough - is my thinking."
Balron laughs as his axe stills held vertically before him. A sudden silence
descends on the clearing as the sound of tortured air is momentarily stilled.
"How about," the axe starts to fall, weaving both behind and before him, a
circle of steel it would be suicidal to enter, "Watch Out they're dead!" He
laughs again.
> Gwen steps close
> and places the coin on the make-shift table beside the goblet meant for
> her. "As for coins cloaking us - I haven't heard so much crap since my
> grandfather tried to tell me my mother was a eddy-life slut. You can keep
> your money and your drink. I have fought mages before, K, and
> rest-assured, whether they've known I was coming or not, they've always
> died." Her lips twist into a harsh smile. "No offense."
>
[snip]
> renewal of nature, I cannot meddle - nor to I fully understand - what shall
> pass once we reach the point of destiny's convergence. The pressure of the
> Mother's Breath, however, suggests we enter before the sun reaches the
> meridian. So hurry the hell up."
The wall of steel slows and stops. Balron rests his axe on his shoulder and
turns. "I'm ready," he says, not even breathing hard

97

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Dec 30, 1999 9:34pm
Subject: Re: Pre-entry system check
 
> Ari wanders over to the Ranger, taking the stick from
> her. "Thanks luv." He smiles and draws a diagram on
> the sand. It's clearly the same as that on the door.
> "These three doors lead to the bottom circle, here",
> he pokes it. "Which is some sort of temple area".
> "To the left are giant bees, which lead up to the
> Gnome City, and above that, the Bone Well."
> "That's as far as we got. Sorry. Reckon there are
> prisons and mazes and stuff too. The guy in charge
> should be in the topmost circle."
> "There's some traps, lots of monsters and lots of
> riddles, like this here one on the door."
> He glances at his book again.
> "Our previous mage had researched it and reckoned it
> had something to do with Sage Wenisadore. I just
> pointed out it's a writing mistake and a simple riddle
> for a Hobbit.", He grins smugly.
> Looping his thumbs into his belt once more he glances
> at Gwen.
> "Won't say any more until we wants to go in - it
> listens to us and we don't want it opening just yet,
> eh?"
Balron squats next to him. "Gnome city? Bone well? Names or descriptions,
Ari?

98

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Fri Dec 31, 1999 10:21am
Subject: problems with onelist
 
Onelist is going down for maintenance for an hour or
two today - I recommend not using it until tomorrow.
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

99

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Sat Jan 1, 2000 4:50pm
Subject: Happy New Year
 
Hope you had a good night.
Just a quick note to let you know I'll be setting up a
homepage for Sephiroth soon.
I'm currently sorting through emails and getting them
in order.
As soon as I can find some way of using password
authorisation for GM stuff, I'll upload it and let you
know the site.
Meanwhile - have a good day!
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

100

From: Peter Wass  <[email protected]>
Date: Sat Jan 1, 2000 5:58pm
Subject: Re: Happy New Year
 
Anyone interested in seeing The World is Not Enough tonight at Centre Cinema
(9:15 it starts)? If so, send me an email or I'll see you there (I expect
most people to be asleep, but hey, everyone should know that at least one
person is up and cherpy, no? ;} ).
Peter Cobcroft wrote:
> From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?= curufea@y...
>
> Hope you had a good night.
>
> Just a quick note to let you know I'll be setting up a
> homepage for Sephiroth soon.
>
> I'm currently sorting through emails and getting them
> in order.
>
> As soon as I can find some way of using password
> authorisation for GM stuff, I'll upload it and let you
> know the site.
>
> Meanwhile - have a good day!
>
> =====
> Peter Cobcroft
> curufea@y...
> Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
> ="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

101

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Sat Jan 1, 2000 6:41pm
Subject: Re: Happy New Year
 
I've already seen it. I don't think it's worth seeing
a second time - thanks for the invite though.
Matt won't see this till Tuesday - so you may wish to
give him a ring on his mobile. He may already have
seen it too.
It's an average Bond.
--- Peter Wass ="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=197015139003099219036057061026172239071179066034209079013" >phw@s... wrote:
> Anyone interested in seeing The World is Not Enough
> tonight at Centre Cinema
> (9:15 it starts)? If so, send me an email or I'll
> see you there (I expect
> most people to be asleep, but hey, everyone should
> know that at least one
> person is up and cherpy, no? ;} ).
>
> Peter Cobcroft wrote:
>
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Peter=20Cobcroft?=
> curufea@y...
> >
> > Hope you had a good night.
> >
> > Just a quick note to let you know I'll be setting
> up a
> > homepage for Sephiroth soon.
> >
> > I'm currently sorting through emails and getting
> them
> > in order.
> >
> > As soon as I can find some way of using password
> > authorisation for GM stuff, I'll upload it and let
> you
> > know the site.
> >
> > Meanwhile - have a good day!
> >
> > =====
> > Peter Cobcroft
> > curufea@y...
> > Main:
> ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
> > AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
> > Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
> > Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
> > ="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com
> >
> > > Community email addresses:
> > Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> > List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> >
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe:
> ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth
>
<HR>
<html>
>
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html" target="_top" >http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3392/index.html
AVP Clan: ="http://users.bigpond.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.bigpond.com/curufea
Stars Anims: ="http://users.50megs.com/curufea" target="_top" >http://users.50megs.com/curufea
Fansite: ="http://come.to/Torra_Alta" target="_top" >http://come.to/Torra_Alta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

102

From: Rachel  <="/post/dungeonsephiroth?protectID=243059104056185134015056066056130012248102166189209171188199172199025" >[email protected]>
Date: Sun Jan 2, 2000 00:30am
Subject: Re: Pre-entry system check cont'd
 
> > Kaceubel raises an eyebrow. "Spectacular? Spectacular is easy, just
> > expensive. It's the more subtle things that are difficult and time
> > consuming. I don't want do anything large soon because I like to pace
> > myself.
Gwen makes a face which suggests that the elf has missed her point then
shrugs and shakes her head.
> > I could toss spells around like there was no tomorrow, only if I
> > did that then for me there wouldn't be a tomorrow because I would be
> > sleeping through it. I pushed myself to the limit once, it almost
killed
> > me and laid me up in some dank cave with the smell of rotting wood for
> > twelve years, not an experience I want to repeat. Still, it did give
an
> > appreciation for sunlight and open places."
>
> Balron looks back at the elf. "Twelve years?" He considers the thin
frame,
> the movements, and nods "Aye," he mutters to himself. "Power without
> stamina. You see it often." He turns back to his pack. "But not for
long."
The half elf smirks.

> > > Pausing he digs into a pouch and pulls out some wooden coins." The
rest
> > of you should be carrying magically tagged currency, it will mask us
and to
> > some degree protect us from magical effects." Kaceubel tosses a coin
to
> > Gwen, Nadia, Balron and Ari.
<snippy snip>

> Balron goes to one knee to rearrange things in his pack, the coin sailing
> straight over his head. It rolls to a stop in the dust before him,
leaving a
> closed spiral pattern. Balron stares at it intently and then nods.
"Dwarves
> are not fond of magic. It tends to be unreliable for us." His mailed
hand
> smears the pattern and he pushes to his feet, hefting his pack. "Keep
your
> coin, mage, and your drink. I need to warm up." He walks into the
clearing,
> some distance from the others and begins stretching.
>
> > > Kaceubel continues. "Before we open the door and enter the dungeon
there a few things we should discuss. Marching order, general tactics,
code
> > danger words and the like. In short we should have a plan. Also it
would be
> > nice if we could finish with the toasts and drink this wine before
somebody
> > kicks dirt into. It's been waiting for millennia, it would be a shame
to
> > waste it now."
>
> [snip]
>
> > "Marching order? I need room for my bow and my longsword. Nadia needs
> > space for her weapon of choice. Balron, I reckon, can make a mess up
close and personal, so I say him and Ari up the front - Ari to get traps
and
> > doors, our handsome fighter to take care of the stupid charging-type
> > monsters who like to pop around corners.
>
> Balron calls over his shoulder. "Aye lass. Unless we march backwards,
I'll be
> at the front. But unless we're in a large room I will fight in a rank
all by
> myself. There will not be room for more. Just make sure any I leave
behind
> don't rise." His boot slides under his axe, flicking it into his hand.
> Sunlight sprays across the clearing as it sweeps a glittering arc before
him.
> "Warn me if you need a clear field of fire or I'm liable to be amonst
them."
Gwen eyes glint and one finger idly taps the silver stem of her pipe lodged
presently behind her belt. "I have no doubt of that, my friend, but you'd
be mistaken if you thought I was in need of a target any larger than one of
Kaceubels' coins to pacify a foe. You won't be in my way. Keep your mind
on your work and rest-assured I won't be interfering with demads for you to
scoot a little to your left."
> The axe suddenly sweeps up and around, forming into a glittering,
screaming
> wall of steel in front of him and for several feet on each side. His
body and
> legs are completely still, the axe guided only by the sweep of his arms
and
> flicks of his powerful wrists.
>
> [snip]
>
> > As for code words
>
> Balron snorts.
>
> > - I suggest if we see
> > danger, we say, "danger" or "whoa" and if we see the bad guy, someone
say
> > "kill 'em." If you have time to sprout codes whilst in combat, mage,
then
> > you're not working hard or fast enough - is my thinking."
>
> Balron laughs as his axe stills held vertically before him. A sudden
silence
> descends on the clearing as the sound of tortured air is momentarily
stilled.
> "How about," the axe starts to fall, weaving both behind and before him,
a
> circle of steel it would be suicidal to enter, "Watch Out they're dead!"
He
> laughs again.
"Accurate - especially for those walking skeletons," murmurs the pale
haired woman ironically.
> > Gwen steps close and places the coin on the make-shift table beside
the goblet meant for her. "As for coins cloaking us - I haven't heard so
much crap since my grandfather tried to tell me my mother was a eddy-life
slut. You can keep your money and your drink. I have fought mages before,
K, and rest-assured, whether they've known I was coming or not, they've
always died." Her lips twist into a harsh smile. "No offense."
> [snip]
>
The pressure of the
> > Mother's Breath, however, suggests we enter before the sun reaches the
> > meridian. So hurry the hell up."
>
> The wall of steel slows and stops. Balron rests his axe on his shoulder
and
> turns. "I'm ready," he says, not even breathing hard
Gwen, who has begun pressing limia-steeped tobacco into her pipe, nods
appreciatively. She glances occassionally towards the tree line where
Nadia vanished a few minutes ago, her gaze searching, then shoulders her
bow and produces a flint and draws a dagger to light the pipe. It's an
involoved process, but one with which she seems familiar, and soon the
white smoke is making its sweet, beckoning presence felt. The ranger
audibly sighs and begins to hum as she digs in her pack one last time.
Obviously her preparation lies partly in the drug and partly in the
practical experience accumulated over the days spent on the trail - not to
mention the decades before that. She has the definite air of an old
campaigner about her. From out of the pack comes a leather wrapped wodge
of pale wax which she begins rubbing into the length of the taught
bowstring. This is re-wapped and stowed after only a few minutes. Next
comes a silver mirror. Gwen makes a wide-eyed fool's face at her
reflection before tucking a loosened braid behind her delicate ear and
stowing the gleaming tool in a jacket pocket. Some brass knuckles are
drawn out, considered with amusement before disappearing back in the pack.
She tucks some extra pouches in the larger purse at her belt then, puffing
happily, draws out a rumpled forest-green scarf of coarse silk. Setting
this across her knees, Gwen lifts her hands and splitting her many long
braids, wraps them in different directions about her skull. The scarf
follows then, securely binding and covering her hair elegantly in tight,
ritual order. No longer does it offer a hand-hold to foes or a risk of
entanglement with bow or companion. With the tail of the scarf ends wound
deftly about her lean throat, she looks for an exoctic moment, like one of
the nomads from the south, but the war-camouflage of the elves is
unmistakable. Another tug and nothing but her eyes would be uncovered.
Gwen seems unconcerned with such extremes, however, and begins to re-tie
her pack into a compact roll, the smoke cloud drifting from her weaving
dream figures in the morning air. Before heading over to examine Ari's
drawings and the doors more closely, she pulls a cord from within the
collar of her jacket and with a jerk, produces a blaze of gold which
immediately distracts the Hobbit. Smiling, Gwen lifts the cord over her
head. The heavy gold glow proves to be a substantial ring which the ranger
cups in a hand then raises to her lips. She closes her eyes a moment, as
if offering a prayer, then cuts the cord and slides the heavy signet onto
her right index finger. It seems to fit snuggly. Satisfied, the half-elf
shoulders her belongings and moves to the Hobbit then to the doors. She
pauses, then touches the centre-most one.
"Vessel. Not door. Hmmmm. Great. So we have 'Derisnospewn' and Ari's mate
- 'Wenisadore'. So when is a door, not a door? When it's a vessel? When
it's a window? When it's fire-wood? Anyone here actually like riddles?
Most of the time I hear riddles and decide to find a pub where folk are
drunk enough to actaully be some fun. Riddles! Next we'll have morris
dancing. How do we get in, Ari?"

103

From: Rachel  <[email protected]>
Date: Sun Jan 2, 2000 00:36am
Subject: Re: Ari's drawings
 
>
> > Ari wanders over to the Ranger, taking the stick from
> > her. "Thanks luv."
Gwen lets _this_ one go .... but next time ....
He smiles and draws a diagram on
> > the sand. It's clearly the same as that on the door.
> > "These three doors lead to the bottom circle, here",
> > he pokes it. "Which is some sort of temple area".
> > "To the left are giant bees, which lead up to the
> > Gnome City, and above that, the Bone Well."
> > "That's as far as we got. Sorry. Reckon there are
> > prisons and mazes and stuff too. The guy in charge
> > should be in the topmost circle."
> > "There's some traps, lots of monsters and lots of
> > riddles, like this here one on the door."
Gwen looks pained. "Tie a bow on me and call me your Joy Day Maiden. Pah."
> > He glances at his book again.
> > "Our previous mage had researched it and reckoned it
> > had something to do with Sage Wenisadore. I just
> > pointed out it's a writing mistake and a simple riddle
> > for a Hobbit.", He grins smugly.
> > Looping his thumbs into his belt once more he glances
> > at Gwen.
"And?" she prompts - hoping someone else here can deal with riddles.
> > "Won't say any more until we wants to go in - it
> > listens to us and we don't want it opening just yet,
> > eh?"
>
> Balron squats next to him. "Gnome city? Bone well? Names or
descriptions,
> Ari?
>
> > Community email addresses:
> Post message: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Subscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> Unsubscribe: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
> List owner: ="mailto:[email protected]" >[email protected]
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> ="http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth" target="_top" >http://www.onelist.com/community/dungeonsephiroth

104

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Sun Jan 2, 2000 00:30am
Subject: Webpage up - kinda
 
Bear with me, it's severely under construction.
="http://fade.to/sephiroth" target="_top" >http://fade.to/sephiroth
If by any chance, you have collated your own emails on
a turn-by-turn basis, I would be very interested in
getting them off you, rather than doing it myself....
(not that I'm lazy, just wishing to have the page up
properly quickly for easy reference)
=====
Peter Cobcroft
curufea@y...
Main: ="http://come.to/Curufea" target="_top" >http://come.to/Curufea
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
="http://messenger.yahoo.com" target="_top" >http://messenger.yahoo.com

105

From: Peter Cobcroft  <[email protected]>
Date: Sun Jan 2, 2000 00:46am
Subject: Re: Ari's drawings
 
[snip]
> > > He glances at his book again.
> > > "Our previous mage had researched it and
> reckoned it
> > > had something to do with Sage Wenisadore. I
> just
> > > pointed out it's a writing mistake and a simple
> riddle
> > > for a Hobbit.", He grins smugly.
> > > Looping his thumbs into his belt once more he
> glances
> > > at Gwen.
>
> "And?" she prompts - hoping someone else here can
> deal with riddles.
"And, Ma'am - it should read 'Say, When is a door...'
sad but true. That's the problem when those high and
mighty academic types..", Ari nods at Kaceubel.
"No offense."
"Translate writings of sounds - those phoney etick
things".

> > > "Won't say any more until we wants to go in - it
> > > listens to us and we don't want it opening just
> yet,
> > > eh?"
> >
> > Balron squats next to him. "Gnome city? Bone
> well? Names or
> descriptions,
> > Ari?
"Well, the Gnome city had Gnomes in it - true enough.
So that's pretty straight forward. And the Bone
Well..."
Ari shudders slightly, glancing to one side.
"Let's just say, it looked like a place to store
experiments... We ran."
=====
Peter Cobcroft