NRPG:
I would like to apologize for starting something and then dissapearing for an
extended weekend, but you-all got me to almost exactly where I wanted to be.
 So, without further ado...

>
> "Welcome, my friends," the man said with a dramatic flourish of his arms.
> "What is the problem that requires so many riders to gather in our humble
> village?"  Lyonnia wasn't sure, but she thought she noticed an emphasis on
> the word 'humble'.
>
> Her hand, involuntarilary, strayed up to her bow, gripping it slightly.  She
> didn't like the sound of his voice; too oily, too slick, to be sincere.
> Glancing around slightly, she noticed others doing the same as her, gripping
> swords or knives, while some stepped back a bit towards their dragons.  The
> dragons themselves started creeping slowly foward also, heading toward their
> prospective riders.
>
> The man's smile seemed to slip slightly, and he backed away slightly.  "This
> is a rare occurance," he continued, his gaze flicking often to the dragons.
> "We don't get many dragonriders here, especially not so many at one time."

H'nry eyed the gaudily dressed man warily.  His manner suggested that he could
be in league with the raiders.  H'nry felt, more than saw, M'rtin step up
behind him.  H'nry was about to speak when movement off to his right caught
his attention.

An old man shuffled out of one of the shacks.  He was followed closely by two
middle aged men, and two women, presuambly their wives.  The old man may have
been tall in his younger years, but age had stooped his back.  He walked with
slow, deliberate steps, supported by a staff and gnarled as his hands.

"Yes," the old man spoke, "we don't often get visits by dragon riders, or
anyone fer thet matter.  I'm afraid my young friend here doesn't git much
practice using 'is manners."  The old man swatted at the gaudily dressed
youngster, who easily avoided the blow.

The man looked at the dragon riders milling about and picked out H'nry
standing a bit advanced from the group.  He shuffled over toward H'nry, his
clear eyes locked on H'nry's face.  His entourage of two men and women
followed.

"State yer business dragon rider and be on yer way," he said to H'nry.

H'nry thought as fast as he could.  At tha moment he wished he had a tenth of
the diplomatic skills that Ophelia had.  He was stuck between confronting the
group of youngsters and talking with the old man.  He thought he'd get farther
with the old man.

"Hail and well met, friend," H'nry said, "we are looking for a fellow dragon
rider.  He calls himself the Shadow and rides a large green dragon.  We've
heard that he visits this village on occation."

"I'm not yer friend, youngster.  You'd do well to take yer golden tongue and
yer dragons and be gone from me village," the old man turned away from H'nry
and began to shuffle away.

The group of younger people could scarsely contain their mirth over the old
man's treatment of H'nry.  One of the men who had approoched with the old man
stayed as the rest walked with the shuffling old man.

"Please," he said to H'nry, "don't judge my father too harshly.  He has no
love for dragons or their riders."  The man looked around, especially at the
group of younger men.  "Walk with me," he said turning and starting toward the
woods.

H'nry started to follow and he could feel M'rtin with him.  H'nry stopped and
said to M'rtin softly, "No, you stay here with the others.  Fan out and poke
around the vilage.  You know what we're looking for, signs of the Shadow and
the raiders.  If they aren't here, then they're elsewhere and most likely up
to something."

"But," M'rtin started to protest.

H'nry cut him off with a wave, "I can take care of myself, besides I'll have
Lyonnia with me."

M'rtin frowned and returned to the others.  H'nry waved to Lyonnia and she
came trotting over with her bow in hand.  They then trotted together to catch
up to the man who had gotten well ahead of them.

As they ran, H'nry thought to Dalanth, *Ask that the others disperse and look
around for anythin that would indicate that the raiders use this village as a
base of operations.*

<Those are very specific instructions,> Dalanth replied wryly.

*I know, but all I've got is a hunch, nothing more.*

They caught up with the man.  His sandy blond hait looked much darker as he
walked in th shadow of the towering pine trees of the forest.  He looked at
H'nry and then at Lyonnia, "Can she be trusted?" he asked.

"I trust her with my life," H'nry replied.

The man sighed, "You'll have to forgive my father.  My mother was killed many
years ago in a wraith attack, and he blames dragon riders for her death.  He
lets his hatred cloud his judgement.  There was nothing that anyone could have
done to prevent my mothers death," he shook his head sadly, "I think my father
wasted years of his life steeped in his grief and hatred.

"Now, as for your question.  A man on a dragon calling himself the Shadow does
come here on occation.  There are some who live in the village who make their
living in a less than honest manner.  The Shadow meets with these people and
does business with them."

"Could you take me to these people?" H'nry asked.

"No, I can't.  They all left the village about a week ago.  I can show you
where they live, though."

"That would be good.  What about those youths in the village?"

"That swaggering bunch of idiots?  I think they'd like to join the men who
deal with the Shadow, but they're the sons of farmers for the most part.  I
think they fancy the life of a criminal as glamorous, but they haven't tried
it yet.  They swagger about like a bunch of cocks in a hen house, but they've
never proven themselves at anything.  They wouldn't know anything more about
the Shadow than I do."

H'nry looked at the man and nodded.  His eye caught movement in the woods as
he looked, and the glint of filtered sunlight off a small steel object.  His
arms shot out, one around the man and the other around Lyonnia.  He threw
himself and them on the ground as a cross bow bolt whizzed by.

H'nry heard the distinct sound of movement from the brush nearby and lept up
to pursue the attacker.  *Dalanth, I could use a hand.  Ask around, please.*

NRPG:

Like I said before, sorry for dissapearing.
Leah:  That was about the best set-up I could have asked for, thanks.

Anyway, to make a long story short, Beth (my wife) and I went to a renisance
fair this weekend and it was quite cool.  The last time I went to one I was
living in Indianapolis (about 12 years ago).

I got Kris's message about getting together in Indianapolis next year, but
don't think I'll be there (barring some miricle).  Next year's big vacation is
to California for a friend's wedding in April.

                            Respectfully submitted,
                                H'nry - Dalanth
                                 Telnor Warren
                                  Alton Reich

-- 
                                Alton J. Reich
                                areich@gdeb.com

		   "I may walk slowly, but I never walk back"
			       --Abraham Lincoln