[Taocow PBEM] Chapter IX - The King Of The River

[Aaron Clausen]

> > [GM]
> > The King sighs.  "It seems to me that I have but two choices here; to
> > let you go and hope that you get killed off by any number of dangers
> > besides an avenging demon, or, on the other hand, to keep you here
> > until I can be sure you cannot cause us any trouble.  You have
> > committed no crime that I am aware of, and I am nothing if not a man
> > who believes in the law.  Still, the law must at times take a second
> > place to the public good."
> >
> > "This is my judgement then." the King says finally.  "You may spend a
> > day and a night here.  You may replenish your supplies as you see fit
> > from the market.  Tomorrow morning at dawn you will board a boat, and
> > will leave the kingdom.  The Cyberknight may stay if he wishes, for
> > his order are well-beloved here, and he is an old man, and I will not
> > have it said that I put out an old man to die.  To keep an eye on you,
> > I will send someone whose loyalty I trust."
> > [/GM]

> > [Osiris]
> > Osiris bows.  "I thank you, Your Highness, but old and crippled as I
> > may be, my place is with my friends."
> > [/Osiris]

> [Alex]
> "I am really glad you are coming with us," comments the scout.
> [/Alex]

[Osiris]
Osiris laughs.  "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Alex.  Let you guys
go off and have all the fun?  I think not."
[/Osiris]

> > [GM]
> > "As you wish." the King says.  He presses a button on his desk.
> > "Please send Major Pournelle and Father Kurtis in."
> >
> > The Major and the priest walk back into the room.  "Major Pournelle,
> > these people wish to see the city.  You will escort them."
> >
> > Major Pournelle bows.  "Yes, Your Highness."
> >
> > The King then turns to the priest  "Father Kurtis, you and I have
> > things to discuss.  The rest of you are dismissed."
> >
> > Major Pournelle urges the company to bow, and then leads them outside.
> > Well, you're not in jail, which was what the Prince thought might
> > happen, so you should be happy.  So tell me, where would you all like
> > to go?"
> > [/GM]

> [Ted]
> "From what I have heard, it would only help."
> [/Ted]

[GM]
Major Pournelle laughs.  "I find that a rifle with a fully-charged
E-clip serves me better."
[/GM]

> [Carlos]
> "Isn't it obvious - we need weapons - firepower. Cute lookss nd nice smiles
> won't get us anywhere when we face these baddies."
> [/Carlos]

> [Alister]
> "I could do with addiing to my repertoire as well, and building supplies." said in a
> wistful tone, then Alister sighs "I think there may come a time shortly that I
> may need to do some quick and dirty building, and it's better to have extra odds
> and ends with which to use"
> [/Alister]

> [Alex]
> "I could use some repair on my body armor. I wish I could get one of
> those fancy Naruni force fields so it stops being damaged. Either that
> or one of those fancy magical ones. Don't happen to have a techno-wizard
> that might be willing to help with something like that. I could use a
> recharge and some replacement grenades and pump pistol ammo"
> Alex shrugs. She is not sure that jail would not be safer at the moment
> [/Alex]

> [Talas]
> "Some bigger guns and a new spell or two would be usful.  And that Force
> field thing sounds real nice as well."
> [/Talas]

> [Alex]
> "While in the CS, using either techno-wizard enchantments or Naruni
> products would result in severe punishments. Still, I heard stories of
> some special forces who used them. At home, magic was never the concern
> it is with the main cities," Alex adds
> [/Alex]

[GM]
"We do have a couple of armorers in town." Major Pournelle says.  "I
would recommend Ugul the Smith.  He's a dwarf master craftsman, and
for friends of the king he usually gives a good rate.  As to
Technowizards, the only is old Ballymoor Haglin.  He's pricey, but
good.  Maybe if you're very lucky, Ugul might have some Naruni stuff,
though I would imagine it would cost you a lot of money.  The bulk of
stuff we get here is from the Coalition and its neighbors, though some
Triax gear makes it here, and I heard word a few weeks ago that Ugul
got a shipment of Kittani and other Atlantean gear, some of it in
pretty good shape."
[/GM]

> [Ted]
> "Some weapons and armor would be nice. I suppose there is no way to get them
> without money, though. Right?"
> [/Ted]

> [Alex]
> "I have a bit of jewelry which I found a while back. I don't know if it
> is work very much but maybe it will help for some trade," Alex responds
> [/Alex]

> [Ted]
> "Are you sure? I have no idea how I would make it up to you?"
> [/Ted]

> [Alex]
> The scout shrugs, "It could be worth nothing and I have my own needs as
> well. I don't really wear jewelry so I don't really know how valuable?"
> [/Alex]

> [Ted]
> The lizard man chuckles. "Me, too." He looks around and then adds, "Perhaps
> Amanda might know, although her knowledge of these things is probably from
> another time."
> [/Ted]

[Amanda Connors]
"I can't tell you how much they're worth now, but jewelry with
valuable metals and gems, was quite valuable." Amanda says.
[/Amanda Connors]

[Osiris]
"Well, I've got a bit of money and some other stuff." Osiris says.
"I'm sure we can get enough together to re-equip ourselves."
[/Osiris]

[GM]
Major Pournelle looks at the company for a moment.  "Very well, to the
market it is.  If you follow me."

The Major leads the company out of the keep and down the road.  Now
walking, the company gets a better look at Poughkeepsie.  It is a busy
town, filled with houses, shops, pubs, an arena, a number of small
temples and churches and even a museum, which Bongo mutters that he'd
love to see, if it wasn't for saving the world and all.  As they pass
the Temple of the House of Wyrm, even more smoke billows forth from
its opened doors.

The market itself is like a miniature version of bazaars found in
bigger cities.  There is a whole section of two dozen stalls selling
everything from clothing from "distant, ancient Japan" to pre-Rifts
artifacts like baseball cards and compact discs featuring such giants
of ancient music as Britney Spears and the Spice Girls.  The company's
mouths water at the smell of cooking both familiar and strange.

Finally they reach a part of the road lined with two storey buildings,
containing various shops.  One is named "Ballymoor's Floating Tours
and Magic Devices and Repair - 89 PA".  Another, a few doors down, is
called "Ugul's Weapons and Armor".

"Well," Major Pournelle says, "here we are.  Once your done with that,
we should find you a place to spend the night."
[/GM]

-- 
Aaron Clausen   mightymartianca at gmail.com