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Story Hour
Meepo's Story Hour [NEWS! 6-19-02]
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<blockquote data-quote="Samnell" data-source="post: 1217" data-attributes="member: 130"><p><strong>IX-Meepo and Burble's Midnight Adventure</strong></p><p></p><p>Wherein our hero does not make nice.</p><p></p><p>Meepo stepped into the inn behind Burble and looked at the patrons sitting inside. He was thrilled to be out of the sun and away from Sir Thurston. The half-light that filled the common room was a welcome relief from the insufferably hot and bright sun. The sun was stupid. All it could do was be hot and bright. Meepo could think of more things to do with rat dung, even excepting sneaking it into Worthless Dung Druid's food to see how much he really liked it.</p><p></p><p>Now that was an idea. Maybe Meepo would see about doing that later. Burble might help. Meepo allowed himself a moment to fantasize about covert expeditions into the ravine to gather rat dung and seeing Worthless Druid doubled over sick with fever and at his mercy. That was a good thought. Meepo smiled to himself at the thought of making Worthless Druid beg for a cure. Then Meepo would finally give him something that would only make him even more ill. He might even die from the disease. A smile crept over Meepo's face.</p><p></p><p>Lorn flitted in and began flirting with the human women, oblivious to the hard stares. Meepo didn't know why he expected more from the human, he was clearly loved by the human gods for his incredible stupidity. He was thinking with his loins too. Meepo'd seen it in the ruins with Rhea, but here it was even worse. He'd heard the humans had a god of sex too, and with what he'd seen of Lorn the warrior must be a devout follower. Maybe he was even some kind of adept of the sex god. Meepo remembered him calling out to Heironeous just before doing stupid things before. That must be the sex god's name.</p><p></p><p>The others were still yammering on about Thurston and whether or not he should be trusted. He was going on and on about perfidity and blinding lights. Meepo made a note that he was indeed one of the humans dumb enough to worship their stupid sun. He must hate Meepo because the sun was jealous of kobolds. That was the only reason it hurt them. Like it's worshippers, though, the sun was stupid and didn't know kobolds lived underground where it couldn't reach them. Then he tried to tune out the paladin for a while. Pleasant thoughts of blinding the paladin with a burning wood poker floated through his mind. Meepo would like to hear his opinion of blinding lights then.</p><p></p><p>Burble suggested that if Thurston was so obsessed with fighting evil he go to Rauxes and fight it there, to leave the rest of the world in peace. Then he quietly added that he and Meepo might arrange just such a trip for Sir Thurston. Meepo responded with a yapping laugh. He didn't know where Rauxes was, but he knew that Burble wouldn't wish that the paladin went to anywhere pleasant.</p><p></p><p>Now the innkeeper found his voice. His brow furrowed and he jabbed a finger at Meepo and spoke gratingly, "I care not if you stay under my roof, halfling. That one and his kind aren't welcome here." Meepo and Burble walked out. Meepo was already thinking of revenge. A quick trip into the town at night and he'd show that innkeeper the kobold way. Swift, stealthy, painful revenge would make Kurtulmak proud and maybe he would lift the curse that had saddled Meepo with these humans.</p><p></p><p>The two found the party mostly healed of the wounds they'd taken from the wood things that attacked them in their sleep. Thurston had offered healing, and they must have accepted. Meepo saw that Jaryth's eyes still had that empty, idiotic look that sent chills down Meepo's spine. The boy had never been bright before, but Thurston must be leeching away his wits faster and faster. He was looking up at the human with fawning adoration.</p><p></p><p>Who would be next? Rowland's wounds were gone. He must have let Thurston heal him, which could only mean that the human's magic was inside him now too. How long before both human whelps were fawning at Thurston's feet? What if it was as Meepo suspected earlier, and just hearing the human's words could slowly turn you into a mindless slave of his human god?</p><p></p><p>On some level, Meepo was impressed. He could admit that the thought of being turned into something like Jaryth was becoming scared him more than being left at Yusdrayl's tender mercies. She might kill him, but Thurston would keep him alive and judging from the look on Jaryth's face make him love every second of his slavery to the sun god the paladin followed. Thoughts of staring up happily into the sun until his eyes burned out filled Meepo's mind. Meepo was surprised Kurtulmak didn't grant such awful powers to kobolds.</p><p></p><p>No … what if that was the first step on the road to becoming one of Thurston's Pholtus-kissing sun lovers? Meepo had just doubted Kurtulmak. He had dared question the supreme kobold, and he hadn't even realized he'd been doing it. Was that how it happened? You started thinking god-kissing thoughts before you even knew it? Meepo looked directly up at the sun and nearly screamed at the white-hot daggers of agony that tore into his eyes. That was a relief.</p><p></p><p>He hastily lowered them once more so the pain receded to the now-familiar dull ache that he'd known coming from the ravine to the human town. Meepo was reassured for the moment. The humans could stare at their stupid kobold-hating sun without pain. They might have somehow infected him with their sick stupidity, but thank Kurtulmak he was still a kobold! As long as the sun was still jealous enough of him to hurt his eyes then all was as right as it could be while traipsing around with humans and their holy death wishes. Meepo tried not to think about how little that really said for his situation.</p><p></p><p>There was more discussion, and Jaryth clung to Thurston like he was the last human left to catch arrows for him on a goblin firing range. His slack-wit adoration only seemed to grow. Even with his reassurance that the sun still saw him as a superior kobold and not one of its own idiotic worshippers the boy's devotion still left Meepo deeply uneasy. He stuck close to Burble. He felt safer near the halfling.</p><p></p><p>That was stupid too. No kobold should ever trust anything that breathed, especially not a sun-dweller. But Burble would make a good kobold. A smart kobold trusted nothing less than another kobold. Meepo shook his head and gave in to the stupidity of it all. It was done. He was lost. He trusted Burble, even with his life. No matter how hard the kobold tried he couldn't shake it. Burble was his friend.</p><p></p><p>All hope given up, Meepo suddenly felt perversely happy and content. A revolting warm feeling filled him and a stupid grin sneaked on his face for a moment before he could suppress it. Something was deeply and profoundly wrong with him. He was losing his mind and displaying stupidity on the level only normally associated with humans. Despite himself, he liked it. He wondered if he'd feel even warmer inside once he'd killed Rowland and drank his dragonblood to gain the magic that was his birthright.</p><p></p><p>Except for Jaryth, everyone in the group agreed to camp outside the town. Burble would do it for Meepo, and the rest didn't want to pay the innkeeper's high prices. Night came after a long afternoon of painful light and as usual Meepo and Burble shared a watch. Meepo spent some of the time early in the watch with his mind on slitting Embrill's throat and gutting Riki while the wolf slept. Mates should die together.</p><p></p><p>But then Burble motioned for him to see that the others were sleeping soundly. Meepo smiled and together he and the halfling ensured all the humans were well into their dreams of sun and sex gods. Meepo couldn't keep the smile off his face. He knew what was coming. Burble hadn't said a word, but Meepo knew murder when he saw it in his friend's eyes. That dark glimmer of malevolence would well befit a kobold.</p><p></p><p>Moving with careful stealth the two checked and double-checked the humans. Meepo lingered over Embrill and Riki. They were vulnerable, defenseless. He was so close that he could kill both before they could raise an alarm. Meepo was sure of it. He could see dark red blood sliding across his blade and hear the wolf and his lover sigh their death rattles. The sound would be music to him and stay a fond memory in his mind for all his days.</p><p></p><p>Meepo's hand drifted down to his sword. Scaly kobold fingers closed on the steel hilt and the worn leather wrappings around it. The metal felt good in his hands and his fingers clenched tight. He could feel that wild bloodlust beginning to slowly wake in the back of his mind as his heart pounded and blood rushed and roared in his ears. One quick stroke and it would be over. His and Burble's main enemies would be dead. Dung-sniffer and the wolf dead at his feet … it was a wonderful thought. If there was killing to be done this night, let it begin here.</p><p></p><p>No. Meepo's caution reasserted itself. The other humans might forgive killing Thurston. It would be a public service and as a civic-minded kobold Meepo was happy to oblige. Killing one of their own probably wouldn't be taken in stride. They might not like Embrill, but they probably liked Meepo even less. With a quiet sigh he kept his sword in its scabbard.</p><p></p><p>Off Meepo and Burble went. They left the group without guards and defenseless in the night. Meepo hoped some of those wooden things would come upon them and kill Embrill and Riki for him. It would be a fine thing indeed to return to find the two dead, but of course than any survivors would know that their guards had abandoned them. If any lived through the killing, Meepo probably wouldn't.</p><p></p><p>The town was quiet and dark as the two friends stalked into it under two waning moons. They avoided the streets and stuck to the backs of buildings despite not seeing a single light anywhere in the darkness. Just because they didn't have candles or torches lit didn't mean no one was about. Now would be just the time for some stupid dwarf to blunder on them in the dark and raise the alarm. It was bad enough that Burble was carrying a lit candle to see by. The pinpoint of light screamed to any watching that they should come quick and ready to kill.</p><p></p><p>They reached the back of the inn, where the stables were. What horses were inside were quiet and as blind in the dark as their human riders. Three windows looked out from the back of the inn. Burble pointed up and indicated that he knew Thurston must be sleeping beyond one of those. Meepo didn't question Burble's knowledge. The halfling had himself slept inside the inn before.</p><p></p><p>Burble drew out his grappling hook and made sure a rope was strongly tied to the end of it. Meepo didn't like that, but Burble knew more about breaking into buildings than Meepo did. The halfling cast the grapple aloft and it lodged with a loud bump on the roof of the stables. Meepo scurried up it without being told. Burble would need to bring his candle, and the light shining into any of the windows might wake a human. He peered into the nearest window to find some human sleeping within, but it was too small to be Thurston. Meepo considered killing him anyway to rid the world of one more stupid human, but didn't want to take the time away from seeing the sun-lover dead.</p><p></p><p>Burble climbed up and with both now atop the stables, Meepo whispered quietly, "Meepo only see one inside, not see boy."</p><p></p><p>"Is the man the paladin?" Burble quietly whispered back.</p><p></p><p>"Meepo thinks too short for stupid warrior," Meepo replied. His heart was pounding. He was so close to the kill, yet the risk of discovery was so high. Perversely, he was enjoying the excitement.</p><p></p><p>"Do you see his armor?"</p><p></p><p>"Meepo see no armor."</p><p></p><p>"Ok, stay here Meepo. Or can you make it to the next window?"</p><p></p><p>"Meepo can." Meepo had no idea if he could or not, but he wasn't missing his chance to see Thurston dead. Nothing would brighten his day like killing the paladin, besides killing Embrill and Riki.</p><p></p><p>"Ok, then move carefully and quietly, my friend." Meepo didn't have to be told, he moved as quiet as he could manage off the roof of the stable and on a small ledge that ran under the windows. Ten feet of empty air stood between him and the ground. Meepo clung desperately to the ledge, but still slipped once and nearly fell, only saving himself with a wild grab for a windowsill.</p><p></p><p>Burble had to quench his candle to climb effectively. Meepo was his eyes now. He peered into the next window, "Meepo see stupid warrior on floor, boy in bed. Stupid warrior's armor by wall, with sword."</p><p></p><p>"Good, damn the kid for being in here, but we have to do this. Let me go in first and try to knock out the boy and then we will kill the stupid warrior."</p><p></p><p>"Meepo think boy sleeping. Stupid warrior too."</p><p></p><p>"Ok, but I want to make sure the kid stays sleeping"</p><p></p><p>This was it. Meepo had found Thurston and Jaryth. Both were sleeping and defenseless. Their throats were faintly lit by moonlight, begging to be cut. Burble made short and quiet work of the window's lock and they were inside.</p><p></p><p>Thurston lay like a sleeping bear in the middle of the floor and Meepo had to step carefully and mind his tale to keep from blundering into the sleeping human. He wanted to finish Thurston right then, but Burble had other plans. He drew out a stitched leather bag full of sand and hefted it in his hand as he stood over Jaryth, sleeping quietly in the bed.</p><p></p><p>The boy looked so peaceful and innocent in the bed. All of his slack-jawed, fawning idiocy was hardly evident from the faint smile that he kept even when sleeping. His breathing was smooth and steady, without a worry in the world. Burble's hand flew up and brought the sap down stunningly hard on Jaryth's head. Meepo almost jumped at the thump, but Thurston slept on. The kobold could see Jaryth's head had been thrown halfway across the pillow by Burble's sudden blow. That wiped the smile off his face. Meepo nearly laughed and considered taking his sword to the boy.</p><p></p><p>But Thurston was more important, and if the humans might be upset about him killing Embrill they'd probably be even more upset about Meepo killing Jaryth. He was one of their young, and humans had a stupid fondness for whelps.</p><p></p><p>Meepo drew out his spear and drew it back to plunge it through Thurston's chest. Burble stepped over and silently strung his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming for Thurston's forehead. When he was ready he nodded at Meepo and the two struck together. Spear burst through Thurston's chest with a satisfying crunch while arrow tore through his brain. The weapons had hardly touched the paladin when Meepo began to see blood flow. He quickly jerked his spear out of the wound so it would bleed more freely. Then he carefully put it back in and twisted it around some. Thurston was already dead, and without even a gurgle, but it made Meepo feel better to torture his corpse a bit more.</p><p></p><p>The spear came back out and Meepo licked a bit of blood from it. Humans might be stupid sun-lovers, but their blood didn't taste all that bad. He wondered if age made a difference. Would Thurston's aged blood taste better or worse than Jaryth's? He supposed he'd have to wait to find out. To console himself he quickly seized the paladin's hand and ripped a gold ring off Thurston's finger.</p><p></p><p>Meepo gestured to the backpack and the sword. He and Burble quickly tore into the backpack. They found Thurston fairly dripping with coin and ended up pouring his wealth into anything they could find. Burble grabbed the sword as well. Also in Thurston's backpack they found four steel vials and Meepo knew they must be magic waters. He stowed them away in his backpack while Burble was finding a way to carry the sword, the newfound wealth, and still climb out the window. The halfling paused only to pull his arrow from Thurston's wound.</p><p></p><p>Smiling happily at each other, Burble and Meepo silently hurried off down to the ground, took up grapple and rope, and rushed back to camp. They returned with barely any time left to their watch. Druid and wolf alike were both still disappointingly alive, but Meepo had killed once this night and was for the moment content. He and Burble hid the extra coin and sword on Burble's mule. The halfling said a prayer and pronounced Thurston's ring, sword, and the contents of his vials all magical.</p><p></p><p>The sword was hidden away; to be given to Sal when the time was right. He favored longswords and a magical one in his hands would make him an even more effective weapon against any foes the group might meet. He was Burble's friend too, so it wasn't likely the sword would be turned against them. The vials, healing potions Burble thought, were split between him and Meepo. Burble also insisted half the coin they'd taken from Thurston was Meepo's by right, though Meepo was happy to let him carry the heavy stuff rather than drag it around himself.</p><p></p><p>Meepo barely had time to lick clean his spear after all the gold and magic was divided before it was time to rouse the next watch and drift off into pleasant dreams of dead paladins, wolves and druids in torture chambers, and the agonized screams of both.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Samnell, post: 1217, member: 130"] [b]IX-Meepo and Burble's Midnight Adventure[/b] Wherein our hero does not make nice. Meepo stepped into the inn behind Burble and looked at the patrons sitting inside. He was thrilled to be out of the sun and away from Sir Thurston. The half-light that filled the common room was a welcome relief from the insufferably hot and bright sun. The sun was stupid. All it could do was be hot and bright. Meepo could think of more things to do with rat dung, even excepting sneaking it into Worthless Dung Druid's food to see how much he really liked it. Now that was an idea. Maybe Meepo would see about doing that later. Burble might help. Meepo allowed himself a moment to fantasize about covert expeditions into the ravine to gather rat dung and seeing Worthless Druid doubled over sick with fever and at his mercy. That was a good thought. Meepo smiled to himself at the thought of making Worthless Druid beg for a cure. Then Meepo would finally give him something that would only make him even more ill. He might even die from the disease. A smile crept over Meepo's face. Lorn flitted in and began flirting with the human women, oblivious to the hard stares. Meepo didn't know why he expected more from the human, he was clearly loved by the human gods for his incredible stupidity. He was thinking with his loins too. Meepo'd seen it in the ruins with Rhea, but here it was even worse. He'd heard the humans had a god of sex too, and with what he'd seen of Lorn the warrior must be a devout follower. Maybe he was even some kind of adept of the sex god. Meepo remembered him calling out to Heironeous just before doing stupid things before. That must be the sex god's name. The others were still yammering on about Thurston and whether or not he should be trusted. He was going on and on about perfidity and blinding lights. Meepo made a note that he was indeed one of the humans dumb enough to worship their stupid sun. He must hate Meepo because the sun was jealous of kobolds. That was the only reason it hurt them. Like it's worshippers, though, the sun was stupid and didn't know kobolds lived underground where it couldn't reach them. Then he tried to tune out the paladin for a while. Pleasant thoughts of blinding the paladin with a burning wood poker floated through his mind. Meepo would like to hear his opinion of blinding lights then. Burble suggested that if Thurston was so obsessed with fighting evil he go to Rauxes and fight it there, to leave the rest of the world in peace. Then he quietly added that he and Meepo might arrange just such a trip for Sir Thurston. Meepo responded with a yapping laugh. He didn't know where Rauxes was, but he knew that Burble wouldn't wish that the paladin went to anywhere pleasant. Now the innkeeper found his voice. His brow furrowed and he jabbed a finger at Meepo and spoke gratingly, "I care not if you stay under my roof, halfling. That one and his kind aren't welcome here." Meepo and Burble walked out. Meepo was already thinking of revenge. A quick trip into the town at night and he'd show that innkeeper the kobold way. Swift, stealthy, painful revenge would make Kurtulmak proud and maybe he would lift the curse that had saddled Meepo with these humans. The two found the party mostly healed of the wounds they'd taken from the wood things that attacked them in their sleep. Thurston had offered healing, and they must have accepted. Meepo saw that Jaryth's eyes still had that empty, idiotic look that sent chills down Meepo's spine. The boy had never been bright before, but Thurston must be leeching away his wits faster and faster. He was looking up at the human with fawning adoration. Who would be next? Rowland's wounds were gone. He must have let Thurston heal him, which could only mean that the human's magic was inside him now too. How long before both human whelps were fawning at Thurston's feet? What if it was as Meepo suspected earlier, and just hearing the human's words could slowly turn you into a mindless slave of his human god? On some level, Meepo was impressed. He could admit that the thought of being turned into something like Jaryth was becoming scared him more than being left at Yusdrayl's tender mercies. She might kill him, but Thurston would keep him alive and judging from the look on Jaryth's face make him love every second of his slavery to the sun god the paladin followed. Thoughts of staring up happily into the sun until his eyes burned out filled Meepo's mind. Meepo was surprised Kurtulmak didn't grant such awful powers to kobolds. No … what if that was the first step on the road to becoming one of Thurston's Pholtus-kissing sun lovers? Meepo had just doubted Kurtulmak. He had dared question the supreme kobold, and he hadn't even realized he'd been doing it. Was that how it happened? You started thinking god-kissing thoughts before you even knew it? Meepo looked directly up at the sun and nearly screamed at the white-hot daggers of agony that tore into his eyes. That was a relief. He hastily lowered them once more so the pain receded to the now-familiar dull ache that he'd known coming from the ravine to the human town. Meepo was reassured for the moment. The humans could stare at their stupid kobold-hating sun without pain. They might have somehow infected him with their sick stupidity, but thank Kurtulmak he was still a kobold! As long as the sun was still jealous enough of him to hurt his eyes then all was as right as it could be while traipsing around with humans and their holy death wishes. Meepo tried not to think about how little that really said for his situation. There was more discussion, and Jaryth clung to Thurston like he was the last human left to catch arrows for him on a goblin firing range. His slack-wit adoration only seemed to grow. Even with his reassurance that the sun still saw him as a superior kobold and not one of its own idiotic worshippers the boy's devotion still left Meepo deeply uneasy. He stuck close to Burble. He felt safer near the halfling. That was stupid too. No kobold should ever trust anything that breathed, especially not a sun-dweller. But Burble would make a good kobold. A smart kobold trusted nothing less than another kobold. Meepo shook his head and gave in to the stupidity of it all. It was done. He was lost. He trusted Burble, even with his life. No matter how hard the kobold tried he couldn't shake it. Burble was his friend. All hope given up, Meepo suddenly felt perversely happy and content. A revolting warm feeling filled him and a stupid grin sneaked on his face for a moment before he could suppress it. Something was deeply and profoundly wrong with him. He was losing his mind and displaying stupidity on the level only normally associated with humans. Despite himself, he liked it. He wondered if he'd feel even warmer inside once he'd killed Rowland and drank his dragonblood to gain the magic that was his birthright. Except for Jaryth, everyone in the group agreed to camp outside the town. Burble would do it for Meepo, and the rest didn't want to pay the innkeeper's high prices. Night came after a long afternoon of painful light and as usual Meepo and Burble shared a watch. Meepo spent some of the time early in the watch with his mind on slitting Embrill's throat and gutting Riki while the wolf slept. Mates should die together. But then Burble motioned for him to see that the others were sleeping soundly. Meepo smiled and together he and the halfling ensured all the humans were well into their dreams of sun and sex gods. Meepo couldn't keep the smile off his face. He knew what was coming. Burble hadn't said a word, but Meepo knew murder when he saw it in his friend's eyes. That dark glimmer of malevolence would well befit a kobold. Moving with careful stealth the two checked and double-checked the humans. Meepo lingered over Embrill and Riki. They were vulnerable, defenseless. He was so close that he could kill both before they could raise an alarm. Meepo was sure of it. He could see dark red blood sliding across his blade and hear the wolf and his lover sigh their death rattles. The sound would be music to him and stay a fond memory in his mind for all his days. Meepo's hand drifted down to his sword. Scaly kobold fingers closed on the steel hilt and the worn leather wrappings around it. The metal felt good in his hands and his fingers clenched tight. He could feel that wild bloodlust beginning to slowly wake in the back of his mind as his heart pounded and blood rushed and roared in his ears. One quick stroke and it would be over. His and Burble's main enemies would be dead. Dung-sniffer and the wolf dead at his feet … it was a wonderful thought. If there was killing to be done this night, let it begin here. No. Meepo's caution reasserted itself. The other humans might forgive killing Thurston. It would be a public service and as a civic-minded kobold Meepo was happy to oblige. Killing one of their own probably wouldn't be taken in stride. They might not like Embrill, but they probably liked Meepo even less. With a quiet sigh he kept his sword in its scabbard. Off Meepo and Burble went. They left the group without guards and defenseless in the night. Meepo hoped some of those wooden things would come upon them and kill Embrill and Riki for him. It would be a fine thing indeed to return to find the two dead, but of course than any survivors would know that their guards had abandoned them. If any lived through the killing, Meepo probably wouldn't. The town was quiet and dark as the two friends stalked into it under two waning moons. They avoided the streets and stuck to the backs of buildings despite not seeing a single light anywhere in the darkness. Just because they didn't have candles or torches lit didn't mean no one was about. Now would be just the time for some stupid dwarf to blunder on them in the dark and raise the alarm. It was bad enough that Burble was carrying a lit candle to see by. The pinpoint of light screamed to any watching that they should come quick and ready to kill. They reached the back of the inn, where the stables were. What horses were inside were quiet and as blind in the dark as their human riders. Three windows looked out from the back of the inn. Burble pointed up and indicated that he knew Thurston must be sleeping beyond one of those. Meepo didn't question Burble's knowledge. The halfling had himself slept inside the inn before. Burble drew out his grappling hook and made sure a rope was strongly tied to the end of it. Meepo didn't like that, but Burble knew more about breaking into buildings than Meepo did. The halfling cast the grapple aloft and it lodged with a loud bump on the roof of the stables. Meepo scurried up it without being told. Burble would need to bring his candle, and the light shining into any of the windows might wake a human. He peered into the nearest window to find some human sleeping within, but it was too small to be Thurston. Meepo considered killing him anyway to rid the world of one more stupid human, but didn't want to take the time away from seeing the sun-lover dead. Burble climbed up and with both now atop the stables, Meepo whispered quietly, "Meepo only see one inside, not see boy." "Is the man the paladin?" Burble quietly whispered back. "Meepo thinks too short for stupid warrior," Meepo replied. His heart was pounding. He was so close to the kill, yet the risk of discovery was so high. Perversely, he was enjoying the excitement. "Do you see his armor?" "Meepo see no armor." "Ok, stay here Meepo. Or can you make it to the next window?" "Meepo can." Meepo had no idea if he could or not, but he wasn't missing his chance to see Thurston dead. Nothing would brighten his day like killing the paladin, besides killing Embrill and Riki. "Ok, then move carefully and quietly, my friend." Meepo didn't have to be told, he moved as quiet as he could manage off the roof of the stable and on a small ledge that ran under the windows. Ten feet of empty air stood between him and the ground. Meepo clung desperately to the ledge, but still slipped once and nearly fell, only saving himself with a wild grab for a windowsill. Burble had to quench his candle to climb effectively. Meepo was his eyes now. He peered into the next window, "Meepo see stupid warrior on floor, boy in bed. Stupid warrior's armor by wall, with sword." "Good, damn the kid for being in here, but we have to do this. Let me go in first and try to knock out the boy and then we will kill the stupid warrior." "Meepo think boy sleeping. Stupid warrior too." "Ok, but I want to make sure the kid stays sleeping" This was it. Meepo had found Thurston and Jaryth. Both were sleeping and defenseless. Their throats were faintly lit by moonlight, begging to be cut. Burble made short and quiet work of the window's lock and they were inside. Thurston lay like a sleeping bear in the middle of the floor and Meepo had to step carefully and mind his tale to keep from blundering into the sleeping human. He wanted to finish Thurston right then, but Burble had other plans. He drew out a stitched leather bag full of sand and hefted it in his hand as he stood over Jaryth, sleeping quietly in the bed. The boy looked so peaceful and innocent in the bed. All of his slack-jawed, fawning idiocy was hardly evident from the faint smile that he kept even when sleeping. His breathing was smooth and steady, without a worry in the world. Burble's hand flew up and brought the sap down stunningly hard on Jaryth's head. Meepo almost jumped at the thump, but Thurston slept on. The kobold could see Jaryth's head had been thrown halfway across the pillow by Burble's sudden blow. That wiped the smile off his face. Meepo nearly laughed and considered taking his sword to the boy. But Thurston was more important, and if the humans might be upset about him killing Embrill they'd probably be even more upset about Meepo killing Jaryth. He was one of their young, and humans had a stupid fondness for whelps. Meepo drew out his spear and drew it back to plunge it through Thurston's chest. Burble stepped over and silently strung his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming for Thurston's forehead. When he was ready he nodded at Meepo and the two struck together. Spear burst through Thurston's chest with a satisfying crunch while arrow tore through his brain. The weapons had hardly touched the paladin when Meepo began to see blood flow. He quickly jerked his spear out of the wound so it would bleed more freely. Then he carefully put it back in and twisted it around some. Thurston was already dead, and without even a gurgle, but it made Meepo feel better to torture his corpse a bit more. The spear came back out and Meepo licked a bit of blood from it. Humans might be stupid sun-lovers, but their blood didn't taste all that bad. He wondered if age made a difference. Would Thurston's aged blood taste better or worse than Jaryth's? He supposed he'd have to wait to find out. To console himself he quickly seized the paladin's hand and ripped a gold ring off Thurston's finger. Meepo gestured to the backpack and the sword. He and Burble quickly tore into the backpack. They found Thurston fairly dripping with coin and ended up pouring his wealth into anything they could find. Burble grabbed the sword as well. Also in Thurston's backpack they found four steel vials and Meepo knew they must be magic waters. He stowed them away in his backpack while Burble was finding a way to carry the sword, the newfound wealth, and still climb out the window. The halfling paused only to pull his arrow from Thurston's wound. Smiling happily at each other, Burble and Meepo silently hurried off down to the ground, took up grapple and rope, and rushed back to camp. They returned with barely any time left to their watch. Druid and wolf alike were both still disappointingly alive, but Meepo had killed once this night and was for the moment content. He and Burble hid the extra coin and sword on Burble's mule. The halfling said a prayer and pronounced Thurston's ring, sword, and the contents of his vials all magical. The sword was hidden away; to be given to Sal when the time was right. He favored longswords and a magical one in his hands would make him an even more effective weapon against any foes the group might meet. He was Burble's friend too, so it wasn't likely the sword would be turned against them. The vials, healing potions Burble thought, were split between him and Meepo. Burble also insisted half the coin they'd taken from Thurston was Meepo's by right, though Meepo was happy to let him carry the heavy stuff rather than drag it around himself. Meepo barely had time to lick clean his spear after all the gold and magic was divided before it was time to rouse the next watch and drift off into pleasant dreams of dead paladins, wolves and druids in torture chambers, and the agonized screams of both. [/QUOTE]
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Meepo's Story Hour [NEWS! 6-19-02]
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