Author

Author:	Augustus
Date/Time:	12/27/2002 5:18:12 PM

Subject:	The Young Summoner
SKARA BRAE, FELUCCA - "What do you want to do?" Phillip asked, eyes downcast, picking at his nails. He sat on a log and appeared disheveled after a long day tending to the family stable. "I dunno," sighed his brother Francis. "It depends what Dimitri wants to do." He looked over at their longtime friend. Dimitri, who was sitting on a bale of hay at the stable, looking absently at the horses, slowly revealed a smile across his teeth. He stood up slowly, revealing his great height despite his lanky adolescent frame. "What's a necromantic inheritance, gentlemen, if one cannot use it on occasion to raise some mischief?" The two stableboys sat motionless, looking at Dimitri, eyes vacant. "Um, Dimitri?" asked Phillip. "Yes, my besoiled friend?" "Um, the only word I got was 'mischief.'" "Oh, a thousand pardons, my good sirs. I had forgotten that the very terrestrial influences which make your bodies so rugged are less kindly to your contemplative powers." "Uh, you're welcome," answered Francis, wondering if that was the right thing to say. Phillip shot his brother a look, a silent reminder that Dimitri was the boy his parents insisted they be nice to, no matter how creepy he gets, for he was an orphan. Dimitri missed it. "Gentlemen, I propose a seance!" "You mean like the gypsies do to talk to dead people?" said Francis, ignoring his brother's scowl. "Yes, yes! Splendid Francis, you surprise me with your occasional sparks of mental acuity! We need a place dark though... the woods behind the stable!" With a speed unbecoming his seemingly anemic condition, Dimitri made for the woods. The brothers ran after him, if for no ther reason than to prevent the young mage from coming to harm by the sharp brambles. They sat in the woods and Dimitri taught them a chant. As they chanted, Dimitri pulled out a small dark tome, flipped it open, and intoned: "Darkling souls and shadows grey Speak to us this end of day Come to us to talk and play Show your will and lead the way" Suddenly, a horrible scream pierced the woods, and something huge crashed through cracking branches. Stumbling through the wilderness, a tall, fat man looked at them in disbelief for just a second, and then fell face-first into the center of their circle. A dagger was in his back, and on its hilt a strange symbol. Phillip and Francis jumped to their feet, revulsed by the awful sight. Dimitri, still seated, smiled broadly. "Ah, that symbol on the hilt. Stupendous!" "WHAT?!" both brothers demanded, looking at him in horror. Before Dimitri could answer, a shadow emerged from the wood. A dark cloak covered the two simple farm boys, and immediately became unbearably heavy, holding them to the ground so that they could see nothing. The dagger lifted out of the man's back and into the air, disappearing while Dimitri watched. A purse was cut from the dead man's side, and disappeared into thin air. Then Dimitri felt heat near his face. "You will be a great necromancer, youth. Thank you for bringing me back from the outer realms. You have the gratitude of the Compass and Dagger, as well as the United Sosarian Brotherhood." "You ... you are... no!" Dimitri tried to stand up, but couldn't overcome the invisible, weighty force on his own shoulders. "That's correct. My army rises again. You summoned the dark spirit of the Demon Rogue. And Paxlair shall fall once and for all." "Nooooooo!" A great wind kicked up, and the three boys were blown to the ground. At that moment, the heat went away too, as did the heavy cloak. And there was silence. No longer the least bit smug, but somehow paler than before, Dimitri sat up weeping. "No! NO! It was JUST a game! JUST a GAME!" Francis and Phillip walked over to the hysterical boy, took him by the arms and helped walk him home. http://www.message-realms.com/?ArmyOfThieves

Author:	Shakespeare
Date/Time:	12/27/2002 6:26:51 PM

Subject:	re: The Young Summoner
"Why are you stopping here, you foul horse?" Shakespeare knew the ethereal's fatigue matched his own even as he cursed it. "The house is close, worthless beast!” Shakespeare jammed his heels into the horse’s sides to no avail. The ethereal was not going to gallop until it had rested. Shakespeare jumped to the ground and ran. He had no time to waste letting the magical mount recover. A steady stream of curses poured from him between gasps from the unaccustomed exertion. Now more than ever he regretted allowing his rune book to run out of charges and from letting himself grow lazy through the use of magic. He had news for the prince that could not wait! Shakespeare stumbled into the house and slumped onto a chair, panting for breath. The prince and princess sat at the great table with many members of the Brotherhood. “My…Prince,” Shakespeare pushed the words out between gasps. “I…have...news! Au…gus…” “Yes, my friend, we already know,” Pawper smiled and turned his gaze to Dinsdale. The little assassin sneered at Shakespeare. Apparently Dinsdale hadn’t run out of recall reagents. “How can this be?” Angriff paced around the room, a feral cat waiting to strike. “Augustus is gone…the thief army is dissolved. I was there! I know!” “Are we certain this is the same man?” Theif asked, stroking his impressive orange beard. “Maybe it is a pretender – somebody trying to gain glory off the remnants of the compass and dagger. The thief army is still dreaded by many in this land.” “It’s him,” Shakespeare had regained his breath. “Or it is somebody exactly like him so what is the difference? What I want to know is - how will this affect the Brotherhood? Does the old alliance still stand?” Pawper stood as all eyes turned to him. “We have always upheld our end of the agreement,” he said. “Even after we thought the thief army had dissolved we honored the covenant. Angriff, you were Augustus’s lieutenant. Would you attempt to seek him out and arrange a meeting between him and me?” Angriff left the hall before Pawper finished the question. “Now, my brothers,” Pawper sat back on his orc-helm throne, “we wait and see. We wait and see.”

Author:	Lao Tzume
Date/Time:	12/27/2002 6:35:59 PM

Subject:	re: The Young Summoner
Lao Tzume just got home from a hard night of muggings. He had made out pretty well in the ways of loot. As he stepped into his tower he grabbed himself a bottle of ale and sat on the steps of his tower watching the moon reflect off the ocean by his home. He was enjoying his ale when in his mind he heard his friend Angriff. "Lao come to Shakesphere's ice house." With no hesitation he grabbed his gear which was still lying by his door. He then recalled to shakespeares house. What he saw surpirsed him. There were his friends, Deathwish, Angriff, Shakespeare and Raffles and......is that..... It was him! The rumors were true! Lao Tzume was speechless and at the same time overcomed with joy. Things were going to be getting very interesting from here on out.

Author:	Angriff
Date/Time:	12/27/2002 10:10:10 PM

Subject:	re: The Young Summoner
Angriff left his friends at the hall, striding out on his invisible mount into the dark winter night. He knew where his old friend would be - the one place that gave him solitude, the secret cave of the thief army. Angriff strode up to the small enchanted circle of power and said the magic word, he was instantly transported into the dark cave which his friends had deserted so long ago. He hopped down and approached the stone doors on foot, pushing them open with an unyielding arm. A light smile could be seen on his face, it was true, for there atop the throne in the small cave sat Augustus. The Rogue Lord was in a sleeplike state, no doubt much was on his mind. Angriff approached his long time friend; they both exchanged a knowing smile and friendly nod. The night seemed endless as the two got caught up, laughter and tears both filling the small cave for hours. Meanwhile, Prince Pawper paced along the floors of one of his many luxurious houses, excitement and nervousness filled his body. The few assembled rogues sat by the fire, their heads slumped out of boredom. "It's nighttime," Pawper said. "What if he got eaten by a wolf! or strucken down by a plague beast...how will we ever find Augustus then." Shakespear chimed in, "We are talking about Angriff here Pawper...just relax, the two of them are probably approaching the house as we speak." Just then, the door opened quietly and two figures walked inside. Pawper grinned, so it WAS true, Augustus was back. The two exchanged greetings and Pawper led the old rogue into his office, for they had much talking to do. Angriff sat by the door throughout the night, knowing full well that the conversation between his two friends would go quite well. He smiled...and waited.