FLUFF: Jammers: [Grp I] Turns 21, 22, & 23 Chapter 1 pt B

The Past Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

For me, one of the joys of PBEM gaming is the ability to revisit the
old adventures by reading the turn summaries. I think they make great
fan fiction.

This game has been going on since September, 1997. I thought folks
might enjoy reading the old turns in order, as fluff fiction. I know
I post the current turns as fluff as well, but the past turns were,
well, six years ago and new list members, as well as some old, may
still enjoy getting the old reads in their mailbox once per week. If
not, let me know and I'll stop sending them.

To give folks an idea of how much is still to come, the game is now
in Turn 33 of Chapter 7. Chapter 1 has 30 turns...

This Group included Radick, Leera, and Grigree
Note that Group III (Nilaroo and Jamila) join this group towards the end.

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:

<Continued from part A>

Radick looks up at Leera as she kneels beside him, through gritted teeth Radick
mumbles, "I can stand, if you'll be stepping back out of my way."

Leera smiles and moves out of his way. Then she says "Let me freshen up a
bit before we go..." She looks down at herself, shrugs, and undergoes a
transformation from a withered hag to an impressive female Giff. She calls
out "'Pon my word comrades... let's get the flock out of here!"

Radick grabs his battle axe and struggles to rise as he looks about the
area. Seeing Leera's shift to giff form, Grigree standing near the bar and
his other teammates in the room, he quickly searches the room with his eyes
and then swears under his breath. "What happened to them? One was down and
the damned half-orc was gut-slit. Don't tell me they got away."  Radick
looks right at Leera with a look of frustration combined with anger and all
covered with a definite attempt to hide a burning pain.

Seeing that Radick is not moving toward the door, Leera calls again "Axe!
They're gone... never mind how. Let's just get out of here before they come
back with twenty of their closest friends!" Moving (hopefully with Radick)
toward the door Leera (the Giff) says " 'Pon my word, I promise... when we
catch up with them you can skin the one that poisoned you..."

Radick looks about the room after hearing Leera's words, "Damn!"  Radick
then turns to leave, he pauses a moment and then reaches to open his
leather armor.  He reaches deep inside and pulls out a pouch. Pulling a
platinum piece from the pouch he tosses it to the barkeep, "Sorry about the
mess."  He then stumbles towards the door and moves out following his
companions.

Leera then says to Grigree (while exiting the tavern) "I'm sorry you were
caught in my spell. I didn't think you'd dive for them that way."

Grigree shrugs.  "No hard feelings.  Just glad it wasn't a fireball," he
says with a small smile.

Picking up her cutlass from where she placed in upon the table,  Jamila
follows as the others exit the tavern, and keeping an  eye out for anyone
that might try to follow.  She occasionally  glances to the roof tops of
the surrounding buildings in the off chance of catching a glimpse of any
watchers.

Once out of earshot of the tavern, Jamila says "Getting help for the Axe is
important, but would it be wise to go back to the Broken Tavern just now in
case someone follows?  We don't really want any reprisals hitting us just
now, specially where we are staying."

Radick who is lagging behind the others, states quietly. "Leera, go and get
me something for the poison if you can.  Meanwhile I will go to the office
of Gaspar's Reclamations.  Bring whatever you can find there.  The rest of
you can tail me, but leave space so as to not draw much attention to our
association."  Radick spits on the ground and smiles to himself, "I'm not
through yet, or else I'd be spitting either blood or black foulness."
Radick looks down upon his blade. "Looks like we might get through this one
after all."

Leera (still looking like a Giff) nods and asks "I suppose that our best
bet is that one of our healers, either Italipate or Raken, has returned to
the _Broken Tankard_. I don't know whether either of them has the means to
cure your poisoning, but I can't think of any other way." Looking glumly at
one of her pouches she says "I certainly can't buy an antidote... I used
all of my money to have you healed. Perhaps you could pay me back? If not,
I'll hope that one of our healers is at the Broken Tankard."

"Perhaps we may need to sacrifice the magic darts to barter for a
priest..." Nilaroo suggests as Leera moves to return to the Tankard.

Radick draws forth the pouch again as he leans against Grigree. He tosses
the whole pouch to her. "Just get moving."

After recovering her money from Radick, Leera starts to head off toward the
'Broken Tankard'.

"I'll make sure that none follow her back to our rooms."  With that,
Nilaroo sets off after the giff figure.

Radick then breaks away from the others and begins to walk directly towards
Gaspar's Reclamations.  He takes about four steps then suddenly doubles
over,  grasping his stomach as abdominal cramps ripple through his
midsection.  He struggles to stand straight, then collapses in an
unconcious heap.

Radick hits the ground hard, but he doesn't feel the pain of hitting the
ground, he is already unconscious.  As he lands his body covers most of the
battle axe, but the tip of the blade and the tip of the handle both are
visible.  His hands are to either side of his body, and each is partially
covered by a throwing axe from his waist.  He does not move, although his
signet ring seems to shine in the light of the day.

Leera (still looking like a Giff) leans over Radick, trying to determine
whether or not he's still breathing.  Looking up, she asks of Grigree and
Nilaroo "Can you carry him to the nearest temple? He's still alive."

"Yes."  Nilaroo responds tersely.  "Can your spell extend to him also, make
him into a rug or something?"

"Sorry, no." Leera says after a moments hesitation.  "She holds the back of
her hand above his lips, "At least his breath is steady."

Nilaroo hoists Radick as easily as if he were a small child,  then frowns.
"There temples are all further from us then the Broken Tankard,  indeed we
will pass close by on our way there.  Let's stop and see if one of our own
healers can help him, first."

In agreement,  the group quickly skirts the Great Market along Grand Street
then ducks into the alley leading to the Tankard shortly thereafter.

Date/time:  11:30 am  17th day of the 4th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com