Micro #24 04 января 2000

Gray - Gray Human-Spy (Thief, Part Two).

                  Gray

               Part 2



  Rest ... And yet decided to move.
In my opinion it was the fear of the unknown ...
or fame. Eh, what for I was changing the water?
If it had moved - in the evening can
would be in the country! While NO. Horse
then podranena! She can not quickly cart
drag. The remaining third of the way to the village ...
The second night in the desert ... Without fire ... System
signaling is the same (only the new rope
: () ... VI Expressed their dissatisfaction
so that he could not sleep at Full Plate'e. I
invited him to his Leather Armor, those
periods when there will be a guard. Proceeding
decided to watch this in turn: I,
VI, Peter (Kolchak will go to sleep).

  At the same time expressed its dissatisfaction squandering 
Orochi skin, resulted in his arguments from the field of 
ethics, and insisted on to the next orochiy corpse was not lost 
in vain. Petka liked the idea nahvostnikov. Paladin agreed, but 
added that he would pray that the next fight was not with the 
orcs. "AND SO BE IT!" - Suddenly spread from heaven. (BOGI. .. 
or DM.) 


                  *

  I have risen up to the guardhouse. Alternately listen (Detect 
Noise), and listen, keeping ear to the ground - it helps to 
hear the riders. I hear it! Alarm!


  Occupy a defensive position. VI
Managed to put only Leggings! Yes, damn it! Two
Riders with a torch. Paladin reassured us
- Everything is normal (probably CLAIM EVIL [Detect
Evil], but did not find). Travelers stopped.
Introduced themselves to each other. Irmo - magician, his
Lou's wife - pristessa goddess of life. She immediately healed 
Peter's and the horse, as soon as I saw that they were injured. 
Peter thanked for healing and on behalf of us all invited

visitors to the camp - fully agree with him.

  Guests reported that profits from the eastern city to fight 
for balance, against the dark, having a strong influence on 
WHITE territory. Then they asked us about our goals, Peter 
asked me in a whisper, if we have the right to disclose them to 
I expressed my skepticism about the possibility of any 
conspiracy, and sent it to the VI There rose Kolchak (DM'u 
bothered to pull the rubber), said the goal of our expedition, 
and invited the family to join us. VI was angry, but restrained 
himself. To hide something has no reason, and We have told all. 
It looks like a group filled up ... at least temporarily. The 
night passed quietly ... 


                  *

  In the morning we went to the village. In place
were at dinner. The north side of the village could not
bore the evidence of the attack - the fence was intact, the 
entrance was guarded. Arrived to the Tavern. At the entrance 
hidden by Petya cart, so as not to attract attention. Paladin 
also had nothing to do with this conspicuous appearance. In 
general, for security reasons, we Irmo and Lou went to the 
exploration of the tavern: I - as an expert on mining info, 
Irmo - as an expert on networking / trouble-shooter conflicts, 
Lou - with Irmo. I captured and all cashier (31.07gp) - bummer 
is, if not enough for some trivia. Tavern called

Silver Rose (Silver Rose). Hoeyain approached us and asked what 
we want. We Reserve a table and lunch for three for 1.07gp

(REST = 30gp), prudently refused
of wine, my companions referred to the charge and asked for 
water, and I asked myself ;-) Orange juice. the owner gave us

courtesy joining us. Irmo
showed all his charm (not magic) to affect the host and his 
conversation, but when I started to gently ask him

Questions about the forest, etc., tavernschik depart from
response. Then, Irmo, citing the need, went outside and soon 
returned back, apparently, previously conjured, because the 
owner suddenly truly kindled his love (non-sexual). After that 
it was easy to extract from it all info. Here's what it was at 
least an a new to us:


  Many merchants ruined because of robbers.

  There are two strong bands:

  "Black Widow" - Dark Elves - Long'u worship - the god of luck 
- 

   (That's the roof!) - Territory - MIDDLE
part of a road

  "Tibia" - Humans - worship
Akarte - the goddess of death -

   (That's another roof!) - Territory -
distant part of the road.

  Orcs gather in small gangs and big
play no role.

  Gangs do not go out of the woods for many years.

  In addition, the Forest live MERCENARIES - Warriors Thieves. 
One of them, he recommended us - Karara Draconid, has excellent

With 2 scimitars, lives in the woods in a tent,
takes charge on the heads of slain enemies - and
told how to find it.

  We asked him about the recent raid of Orcs.

  Orcs came from the south, had only to destroy the wall. Prior 
to his tavern is not reached. To other Taberah also not reached 
because they all get stung (and not whether he helped them?)

and their owners went bankrupt. Now our dear Silver Rose (the 
name of an innkeeper. That is why the so-called tavern!) The 
owner is the only Taverns, Village chiefs, head of Conservation 
Villages The first and only merchant and Villages

etc. etc. (The main man village! A
how many like him ...? particularly devastated tavernschiki!?) 
Boss plaque is not happy - A lot of trouble / loss, but most 
likely raid case, though enemies, detractors

he has (the same NachSevGarn, for example).
Here Irmo asked whether the village magician.
There is, and how you think someone! - Our one and only great 
and foremost Silver Rose! Irmo asked to teach his new spell, to 
which the Great demonstrated one of them - so it's best

understandable!

  As I had not noticed that he was truly
A great and wise! [Influence of Cha = 20 approx.
originator] Yes this country is very, very
lucky with the ruler! "There is a cult, but there
and personality! "Yeah what else. Great to Irmo,
the latter's request, went to exchange
experience. We were sitting with Lou. I thought it would be 
nice to invite others, times Great so favorably to our 
concerns! I kept waiting for her husband Lou, and he went down 
the main street to the south, where he soon has found the wagon 
with VI, Petya and Kolchak. 

  We came into the tavern. Grand Met
us, we booked a room for 2gp per day
(REST = 28gp) - how can I bargain with the 
Grand-rendering-namvelikuyu-honor-your-favor?? Irmo and Lou 
have already taken a separate room. I asked the Great

where you can find the merchant, he pointed to the
their rights. Great and learned Kolchak
each other as fellow bards, and went
meeting to celebrate and learn new
ballads. Petya wanted to ale, I promised
him to buy. We walked down to the dealer, inquire about prices 
of goods: 

  Pork Skins - 1sp / / need to 10pc (3 * 3
Armor'a +1 on the little things).

  Studded Metal - 2sp / / VI asked Studded Leather

  Orcish LowQuality ShortSword - 3cp / 1cp
buying (fignya! low prices caused by abundant booty, I'm not an 
idiot and not so need money to sell at that price, I'd rather 
they bought 30 pieces - then can be sold anywhere on

normal price - 5gp)

  ShortSword (normal) - 1gp / / instead of the 10-and! must buy 
for Kolchak (Worthless squire paladin beat bad

sword), and I can not hurt.

  Yefim studs - 1sp / / on nahvostniki

  Ration Day - 1gp / / you can take pieces
8


  (Rent price smallish, but food of course - not dumping it?)

  (Hotya. .. STOP! Obvious that Rose is associated
forest - think Karara Draconids - maybe he is selling the loot 
the robbers from merchants ("That's the secret to low Price "), 
but then what he gave us information about them at the same 
time showing his awareness of this issue (even if under 
Charm'om)?). 

  I was ready to order, but VI
invited to go to the smithy, and we ordered
and so have time. Come on. Petya waited on the street. When we 
came out - asked about the ale. - Wai, I'm sorry, Peter, zybyl 
- back for ale - 1sp, renting seemed suspicious, looked closely 
- some coins are clipped from the edges. I went to a "merchant" 
(aka Right-Hand-Great) and show the coin,

he apologizes and gives normal. (REST = 27.9). I go out 
outside. Petya happy ale, VI Requests sip-taste ... 


                  *

  The Forge was close, but the usual swords
Blacksmith gave to implement the Great, and
he was selling only high quality [read a
prim.sostavitelya].
 Short +1 - 30gp
 Dagger +1 - 20gp

  This is certainly cool, but money is not enough.

  Paladin asked about the possibility of creating
clamp to the sword on his back Full Plate'a, and
Peter on changing his helmet to purchase them (Peter) 
opportunities to spit in bout without taking off his helmet. 
Smith said the first very time consuming, and the latter is 
quite real, and we decided to visit him later - tomorrow. 

  The night passed quietly, but Kolchak's only enough in the 
morning. Owner on the issue of Kolchak said in surprise, he 
thought - Kolchak with us, he climbed the stairs after they 
mark the meeting. Looked I'm at it - not that he is great, as

Yesterday it seemed. Irmo came out on top
first floor, we said hello and wished
each other good morning. I asked him about
Of Kolchak, he did not know but volunteered
help in the search. I decided to first make
all purchases, not to return after
searches, but VI Petya and I decided to go
on foot, leaving me with a cart and cargo.
Find ... where it may disappear, probably
drunk, and lies somewhere ... I ordered and
received the goods at last approved
list. (REST = 15.7)


             *

  [Author's attempt to use the colloquial
style, probably by Suvorov. ca. originator]

  I loaded up the purchase into the cart, sitting and waiting.
Here come Irmo with Lou, and say that
found someone who said that Kolchak
went outside, where he was stunned by a blow
head back and took a horse in a southerly direction. Paladin 
and Peter returned on foot and will soon come. ... And here 
they are. VI took his horse and rode to the southern edge of 
the village, talk to the guard. Irmo proposed

make me invisible, so I poryskal
for tavern-owner of suspicious words. I
porasprosil Irmo about this, most of invisibility
- How to use it as a yes from her leave, and agreed to it.


  I am invisible. I walked into the tavern. Host for
Stand no. Noise is strong. come to
Rack perelazhu quietly and cautiously opens the door. The owner 
is concentrated counts coins on the table (about 100gp) and did 
not react. Carefully slip at the door. Blanking. Zero 
attention. Says ... mutters ... Listen [Detect Noise] - Nice, 
said the deal ... and considers ... and said ... Eyeing the 
room: [Observation] Cool sword lies next to the master ... 
Beautiful ... Simple beautiful swords make no sense ... 
Suddenly separated from the master account and whispers ... 
quietly ... mouthed ... Well, I'm trying to parse [Read Lips]: 
"I wonder ... will ... black" - I wonder how much will the 
black? - For the Paladin - I understand. So you are, Reindeer!


  Carefully choose from the rooms. All
is successful. I go out to the vehicle. Basil
Ivanovic has already arrived. Angry. Well, I
presented. Petya egged me out of stealth - the voice of the 
emptiness of unnerving, but I flatly refused - see what end. VI 
I decided to go find out. Irmo persuaded him to wait until he 
(Irmo) no tackles PravoyRukoy. And understand

- Cast'anul something, yes pobazaril with him, and
then led him to walk on the street.

  Well Paladin went up to the door, and
is oblomany, looks back - angry.
Leaves. VI, what is it? - I ask - do not
see the evil in the room ... - Responsible - and
his henchman - the wicked. Here what I have realized (the 
rulers of their immediate environment can understand) - can not 
be so cool dude keep the service closest confidant and evil is 
not dogodyvatsya about it. Mean and evil itself. A Paladin that 
seamlessly - so that such magic can to be (you never know what 
she may be). Irmo started after questioning PravuyuRuku the 
tavern. Yes Petya heard the questioning and said - no

I know I do not think that can be NO EVIL
Draconids except me, and they are some of the Karara forests 
are hiring - they are EVIL! Here Irmo leaves and the door 
behind him and then closes. Well, said Paladin, what shall we 
do? Now let's go, come back after Al. Then

I shall come - Irmo said - I Spell'ov
more will be. No - I say - they noticed
something, if not now, then later
maybe.


                  *

  We decided to break. Well, I like the most invisible - first. 
Move away from the door - I say - I do not like this Bard 
Castano - Anything you can wait. So moved

we have from the door, opened it at the side of the Paladin - 
nothing. Include not want to - I'm afraid. Who door closed, and 
could arrange podlyanku! Well I'm trying to jump over the 
threshold as possible above, using the flip. Well, that although

invisible ... Land silently. Look around. Behind the counter 
Bard with a sword-beautiful, yes three men with crossbows door 
at gunpoint hold, but I do not see it. Other patrons huddled 
near the stairs on the second floor. What should I do? Cry-warn 
- in me the same boom and fly, attack - from my little help 
(with Dagger'ami) and do not want to boom in our flying. Yes! 
Try it! Throw the dagger the glass windows - and crossbowmen to 
distract and our alert. Throw. Opp. Ringing

glass. Everyone turned to the window, and one even shot there - 
nerves, you see, did not survive. Then the door flies Petka and 
with a swinging chop Espadonom one of the crossbowmen (of those 
that did not shoot). To my mind ready. VI comes in and says:

"Who would surrender now - survives."
Living crossbowmen thrown weapons (and have dropped dead, but 
it did not help). Bard zaskalzyvaet in her room and closes the 
door behind him. Irmo shouting from the street "Surround the 
house!" Peter flies into the street and surrounds the inn. Irmo 
is in the tavern. He picks up the crossbow, so people did not 
try to Rose to do something. I'm trying to open the door - 
locked! (When he had time?) Paladin to disperse the door and 
knocks enters the room. We see an open secret door (I that it 
had not noticed?). Behind the door is visible Rosa, he flees to 
wastelands and screaming "HELP!" KILL! ". For back Irmo hear 
the cry: "Stop him." I'm going to go out on the firing line for 
Barda - if there is something Cast'at - you can knock down

spell, but Paladin suddenly turns around, yells to me "hoisted 
me and throws through the door into the street, not letting me

withdraw to the positions. I have to wait until
He progrohochet past me. Damn, time
because he lost! Go for a position. Notice something sent from 
the hand of the Bard to the side, somewhere around the corner 
tavern. Throw ... at him, I slipped and loss of balance, a meta 
dagger awry. Restores the balance long enough. Preparing once 
again to throw daggers ... Notice STRONGLY PORTEPANOGO Petya 
ran up to Rose and brandishing Espadonom. Rose somehow standing 
still and not even stir [action Hold'a]. Petya beat

it Espadonom greatly hurt, but the blow by
apparently brings the Rose of the Odd
state - that much reeling from the blow
(As is he still alive? "- Is truly cool!)
but starts to move. I throw daggers.
Both hit! Irmo hear shouts: "Do not hit,
If you stop! "Clearly, a pancake ... ALREADY
understandable. Bard leads hands ... something
is about to happen ... Left in the Bard flies
dagger. Hit. Spell escaped.
Petya beat Rosa Espadona arm - wants
cut. The tramp of horses. Irmo again: "Stop The Silver Rose - 
criminals ..." (This is not us. Who? Probably so-what-to-horse 
...). Rear heard the clank steel on steel. Petya puts his hand 
to Shock and ... Bard disappears. Likely to be invisible! Damn! 
Throw on the spot where Bard was daggers - if the fall - vybyut

of invisibility. I hear the phrase: Irmo - "Stop - or will be 
destroyed," Another A voice - "Surrender or he will die" ...




                   Irmo



  We traveled at night, because in a hurry to
south. In the monastery, "nihilists" we were told the receipt 
of their vision of an oracle that The key to rebalancing the

this world of parity between white and dark
Empires is in the south, in the woods, known as the Bandit. 
According to them, there is a struggle between the gods for 
kotrol over the world, or part of it. All this in an 
interesting way consistent with the fact that Lou sent to the 
White Kingdom "to promote the cause of Orgy." (For the 
unknowing: Organization - Goddess of life, and my wife Lou - 
Priestess of the goddess).


  And so when we went and did not touch, there was a shout: 
"Stop!" Who goes there at night? "Or something like that. We 
obediently stopped, and I assessed the situation: the robbers 
would attack without warning there, they are conditional to 
anything. On the other hand, the hail came from the darkness 
just ahead on the road. Who would be able to sit there?


  In general, I shouted in reply:

  - What do you want from the peaceful travelers?

  - Do not! We ourselves are civilians.

  I chuckled quietly to himself, because
the word "peace" to us was
meaning "peaceful", not "innocent."

  - And you who and why is no light? - In
dialogue process, we slowly drove
closer, and I noticed a gleam of light of our
on the metal. Arms and armor - hence, the warriors. And, I 
figured on the fact that stood in the front, were the pants off 
the full armor ... oh yeah he's black! Curiously, I saw a 
Negro, but he himself with them, never communicate ... Hmm ... 
Negro in armor and ... Draconids! damn, that's who is in behind 
him! I handed back. 

  I'm generally not a racist, and could
communicate with anyone, but it so happened in
this world (and the rest, if you believe
rumors) that Draconids people do not respect and
as equals not perceive. They generally do not appreciate 
someone else's life. People pay their full reciprocate. So, 
with black knight armor and Draconid ... not grabanuli / 
grobanuli they some too credulous knight? 

  - Allow me to introduce myself: Vasily MacLeod Jr. - said in 
the meantime the Negro. He tried to bow, but metallic pants 
it's probably darn uncomfortable. Name him, of course, it seems 
that here in the White Kingdom, consider noble. At least about 
it is quite possible to break down the language. 

  - And I, I - Petya - climbed out of his
Back Draconid. It seems MacLeod tried
Draconids cover from prying eyes. Something is not right.

  And finally, from the carts around which
They camped, climbed two
the last member of their group. People, ordinary
normal people. Sometimes, very rarely, but I
miss rate.

  - My name is Grey, and that's all I can
say - to present one of them. He was
in a raincoat and a belt, I noticed the daggers.
By the way, Basil relied on hefty
two-handed sword, but mechuga Draconids exceeded all 
conceivable dimensions: he dragged it along the ground. 

  The other was holding a musical instrument, and was silent 
sleepy. 

  Here, it seems, the Negro could not stand our in
Overall, rude silence (we just nodded to everyone) and asked: - 
And who are you are you?


  - My name is Irmo, and my wife - Lu ...

  Suddenly Lou summed up his observations: - Yes you did 
wounded! - And, without thinking twice, podlechil Draconids 
Petka ... May seem like it would ruin her kindness, but it

not so: Lou just rabiraetsya in people, and I
- How they act. Now
and I noticed that too podranen Macleod, and
then considered all sorts of wacky glands.

  - You also heal?

  - Not me, but better than my horse ... I
somehow, and he healed.

  The horse, by the way, they had a great - a real battle. Do 
they it in the cart harness?


  - You can ask where and why
are you going? - Asked Gray.

  - May: we go to the south, to recover
Balance and save the innocent.

  - Then maybe you will join
us? Us along the way - offered Macleod.

  I looked at Lou, she shrugged:

  - Why not?

  We dismounted, tied their horses and went into
their camp, marked by a square is stretched
rope.


                  *


  - Your armor suggest noble birth, - I turned to Vassily 
Ivanovich. - Or is it a rude question? 

  - Most of the noble upbringing ...

  - This is especially important because the true
generosity is manifested in actions.

  - Yes, by the way, I - paladin and try to justify their 
confidence. 

  - A. .. and your companions?

  Knight shrugged .- You may have heard about the strange pair: 
black and Paladin Draconid traveling together?


  I nodded, because now everything is rising
in its place. Indeed, I am about this
heard, but deemed all just anekdotom.I where are you going now?

  - Well, I'm not sure that I have the right
disclose this information ...

  - We go to the south, clear timber Raider
of robbers, - wedged so far been silent citizen with a 
balalaika .- Orc war and so forth ... By the way, my name is 
Kolchak, and I ... 

  - My squire! .. A squire silent
put .- Paladin said grimly.

  - Come on, it seems we have common goals, stood up for 
Kolchak Gray .- And we can strive towards these goals together.


  - Why not? - I replied.

  At that decided to do.


                  *


  In the morning, waking up and memorized spells
We went to the south. By noon, the distance seemed a village.