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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: 1219" data-attributes="member: 130"><p><strong>X-The Graceful Swan, Floating Lotus Death-Dive</strong></p><p></p><p>Wherein our hero enjoys the show.</p><p></p><p>Morning came swiftly and with it once more the humans' son. Meepo soon lost the warm afterglow of seeing Thurston's blood spilled. The warmth and contentment that had seen him through the night with a long procession of blissful dreams filled with screaming druids and dying wolves was banished by the cursed, jealous sun burning above. Burble rose to say his prayers and Meepo tried to keep as much of the foul light off himself as he could.</p><p></p><p>Not only the sun wished to torment Meepo this day, though. Jaryth came galloping into the camp just outside the humans' town astride Thurston's warhorse. As he rode in he screamed, "WHO DID IT?"</p><p></p><p>Meepo kept his head low. The slack-jawed, fawning human whelp had no proof, but with creatures so dumb as humans proof would hardly be needed to see him dead for the crime. They wouldn't be rational like reasonable kobolds. They wouldn't all agree that Thurston was a threat that needed to be eliminated. Meepo could still see the glimmer of fawning adoration in the whelp's empty eyes. He would bear watching.</p><p></p><p>Almost immediately the lackwit turned towards Burble and shrieked, "YOU? Did you do it?"</p><p></p><p>Meepo redoubled his conviction to keep an eye on Jaryth. Maybe his new god had put the knowledge in the whelp's mind. Even human gods must not be so stupid that they'd look down on the murder of their followers and send aid to those who would avenge them. Then Meepo remembered Lorn and realized that they must be just that stupid. The whelp must just be venting his hatred on whoever he saw first.</p><p></p><p>It would have been so easy to kill him. Burble hit him over the head instead. Maybe that knocked Jaryth's brain into working again, as much as any human brain did work? Stupid gods, slack-jawed whelps, or not Meepo would keep close watch on Jaryth. The kobold should have killed him when he had the chance. The other humans couldn't possibly miss him that much.</p><p></p><p>"To what are you referring, young squire?" Lorn asked. Of course he hadn't figured it out yet.</p><p></p><p>Burble was quick to react too, his hand going to his dagger as he took a step back. "What's wrong Jaryth? What are you referring to?" That's right. Burble and Meepo were here, keeping watch and sleeping. The whelp would be stupid enough to believe that. He'd believed Thurston, after all.</p><p></p><p>"IT! Thurston! HE'S DEAD! ONE OF YOU HAD TO HAVE DONE IT! WHICH ONE! COME ON! TELL ME!" How Jaryth imagined that it must be one of the group that killed Thurston instead of some intelligent human who the holy warrior had wronged escaped Meepo. A moment later he remembered that there was no such thing as an intelligent human and was forced to conclude that he, Burble, and Sal were the only likely suspects.</p><p></p><p>"Thruston is dead. He's been stabbed in the forehead and the heart. He's dead. In my room. He's dead. Not coming back. NOW WHY DID YOU DO IT? WHO DID IT AND WHY! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO IT! WHY COULDN'T I BE HAPPY?"</p><p></p><p>Meepo was tempted to reply that anyone so weak-willed and stupid enough to be enthralled by a human god or one of his servants deserved death instead of happiness. That way their idiocy couldn't survive for future generations to endure. That was how proper, civilized people handled these things. It was the kobold way.</p><p></p><p>Lorn, surprisingly, had a reply. "The eight of us were together all night, with two people on watch. None of us could have gotten away without someone noticing." Lorn was a useful idiot for the moment. Meepo would have to remember that a fool could make a good shield against blame. Deceive the fool and none would believe he had the wit to be lying so anything you told him would be taken as truth.</p><p></p><p>Burble was ready for this, he kept his distance as he answered Jaryth's charges. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I was here all night with Meepo, standing guard or sleeping. I have no idea why you would care if that ass lived or mot anyways. I mean he was just a braggart and a threat to me and my friend Meepo."</p><p></p><p>That was stupid. Now Jaryth was reminded of just why it was Burble and Meepo might want Thurston dead. Burble had been with humans too long and their habits were infecting him. Meepo was worried about his friend.</p><p></p><p>Jaryth sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. He was crying, just like a human whelp. No scheming revenge, no plotting against the killers… He was just crying. How did humans sleep at night when they raised children like this? Mewling, hopeless whelps… By now a kobold hatchling would be setting in motion revenge plans.</p><p></p><p>"You people were asleep… and it's not that hard to slink away from a group… especially if they're asleep. You're the only people who had anything against him. The townspeople wouldn't have done anything. WHY DID YOU DO THIS? WHY! I WAS HAPPY! He was going to make me his squire, and ... and ... and ..." Jaryth drifted off into quiet, whimpering sobs.</p><p></p><p>Rowland goggled and looked like an idiot. In a kobold tribe, he'd be killed quickly with reflexes like that, "I'd have no reason to kill someone who did me a kindness with no thought of payment." He held up his arm to show his healed wound. "And murder is an evil act, not one of which I'd be a part!" Jaryth only shrugged.</p><p></p><p>Bryant was as shocked as Rowland. Meepo remembered that even though the quieter human hadn't done anything spectacularly stupid lately, he was still a human. "He had this tendency to threaten anyone that didn't fit into his ideas, I'm sure he made plenty of enemies in town. Hell, maybe an old enemy caught up to him. But to be murdered in one's sleep while alone in his own room.... Perhaps getting an early start, I agree." Meepo was perversely satisfied that Bryant was unnerved by the killing.</p><p></p><p>"He wasn't alone," Jaryth said quietly, coldly. "I woke up, and found him dead on the floor."</p><p></p><p>Embrill only snorted in reply to Jaryth's accusations. Excellent, he exposed himself to suspicion. Meepo reaffirmed his faith in the Worthless Druid's idiocy.</p><p></p><p>"Just slow it up kid. You're obviously just shaken, but you really are a lot better off not being under that one's control. I am sorry that your hurting, but he would just have sent you off to be miserable and never could have accepted you as we have. If you do not want to be with us, then I will wish you well, but be warned, if you try to attack me, I will defend myself fully." Burble drew his dagger in defense, but didn't raise it. He looked to Meepo, "Meepo, get to the side as well, I have a bad feeling about this."</p><p></p><p>He had a bad feeling about this. An insane, dim-witted whelp was accusing him of murder, and he had a bad feeling about this. Meepo had a bad feeling about this too. They should have just killed Jaryth. Leave it to a human to blunder on those who wronged him and kill them by accident. The wild look in Jaryth's eyes didn't reassure Meepo at all.</p><p></p><p>"Why would I attack you, Burble? You've been nice to me. Thurston was mean to you, but that's because he didn't understand you. And why do you think I suspect you? I just want to know why you people had to hurt me, by killing my friend. After we finished this quest, he was going..."</p><p></p><p>Jaryth trailed off into silence. When next he looked up, his eyes were blank, and soulless. Meepo wondered how long it would be before he ceased his mewling entirely. "Well, he's dead. Nothing doing. I have everything I need. I suppose he's been stripped, so there's no need to search him. Let's get out of here. A dead paladin is bound to cause us trouble."</p><p></p><p>Meepo was struck by the unsettling thought that he was completely right. He was going to be venturing back into the ravine, into the teeth of rats and goblins, not to mention his own clan of kobolds with a stark, raving mad human whelp who could make Kurtulmak's blood scream sound in his head.</p><p></p><p>Kurtulmak hated him. It wasn't just that normal, spiteful sort of hate that a kobold might expect from his god. Nothing like Meepo was enduring was remotely on the order of what he might expect for something like showing mercy to a gnome…this was raw, personal hatred. Nothing else could explain being saddled with first humans, then stupid humans, then stupid human holy warriors and their stupid gods under their stupid sun, then insane stupid human whelps that were enthralled and rendered drooling, fawning fools by stupid human holy warriors.</p><p></p><p>"Jaryth, he would never have made you a squire only a slave to his God and his own temperament. if you truly want to be acquire, look to Lorn or another good hearted man. Thurston only wanted to think only as he would, not as you might like. Would you truly have been happy to be a servant and a lackey to someone like Thurston?" Burble said in the way of consolation. At least Burble had seen the effect Thruston had on the boy too. None of the humans had, of course.</p><p></p><p>Sal spoke up then, a rarity for the dwarf. "Jaryth, I don't mean to be insensitive here, but what makes you think it was one of us? With all of us here at the camp for the night, I really don't know how any one of us could have left the camp and gone up there to kill him. Was there something that makes you think it was one of us? I mean we had some words with him, but we've had words within the group and nobody's been killed. I know he was close to you, but even you can see how he could make some of the towns people angry enough to hurt him. I'm amazed that they'd have the fight in them, but sometimes words are more powerful than weapons."</p><p></p><p>"Sal, it's the only explanation that makes sense. Many of you didn't agree with him, others despised him. It's not that hard for people slip away at night when others are asleep. Especially, if someone has help." Jaryth was speaking flatly, indifferently. If he hadn't been showing signs of lunacy earlier Meepo might have admired his kobold-like indifference to the killing. He was right that it was easy to slip away as well, Meepo hoped no one dwelled on that thought too long.</p><p></p><p>Burble got back to thinking about important things. He put away his dagger and spoke once more, "Well again I am sorry that you were hurt Jaryth and that you seem so lost. I agree that we should make some tracks. We have a long journey to get to the rift as well as continue on our missions. I would say also that it is possible that the people of the village will try to blame this all on us, no matter who may be innocent. I will disagree with you on the threat that Thurston would have held to myself or even you, but I will not argue with you. Stay close to Lorn or Sal. They will watch over you. Sal is a good friend and I believe you can trust him."</p><p></p><p>"Why? There is no point. No point in anything. Everything dies. Everything crumbles. My father called it Entropy. Maybe Entropy will kill the gods. Maybe Entropy is a god… The only god, the other gods are just pretenders."</p><p></p><p>Burble spoke almost gently, "It is possible that in time all Gods will die, and that nothing can ever go on as we want or wish. I know my own experiences were not the best, and in fact, I have had doubts of faith. I found it for myself, but I know my way is not for all. The Laughing Rogue answered me when I fell, but you have to find your own belief, or lack thereof."</p><p></p><p>"You have had a severe shock here today, a disturbance that may well have set you off to a path of apathy. I stand ready to heal and ward you all I may be able to, and I will hope that we can work together. But I will be blunt Kid, yes, everything does indeed die, and there is no escaping that, best to try to live for the moment, and not get too attached to something that may die. I have my friendship with Sal and Meepo, but that is about it. You folks are companions, if reluctant in the matters of Embrill and Rhea."</p><p></p><p>"Thanks" Jaryth said blankly and began slowly riding toward the ravine.</p><p></p><p>Burble nodded to Meepo and made a calming motion before looking to the others. "Unless you all have any more comments, let's move on out."</p><p></p><p>Still gazing emptily into the distance, Jaryth agreed. "We should move out." Meepo decided that if this sudden, unthinking obedience was fruit of Jaryth's time in Thurston's thrall it couldn't be all that bad. He could see many openings to exploit this.</p><p></p><p>Meepo didn't like that Jaryth had suggested moving first, though. It could just be coincidence, but Jaryth's own sudden conversion and submission to Thurston's will weighed heavily on Meepo's mind. Was Thurston's god like a disease, infecting Jaryth and just now spreading to Burble? The thought sent chills down his spine. Either Meepo's friend was trying to assuage Jaryth's suspicions or he was falling under the sway of Thurston's stupid sun god.</p><p></p><p>As the group set out, Burble hung back and thus Meepo did as well. The halfling motioned Sal over and quietly passed him Thurston's long sword. Burble thought it was magical. Sal didn't seem happy to learn that Burble and Meepo had killed Thurston, but he wasn't especially upset about it either. Meepo considered his silence safely bought with the sword, which was nondescript enough that none should notice if it replaced Sal's old long sword.</p><p></p><p>Half the day again wore on before the party reached the ravine once more under the heavy bludgeon of the humans' cursed sunlight. Meepo thought it must be taking the murder of one of its servants personally. That was stupid, there were enough to spare with all the humans around.</p><p></p><p>Once at the ravine a discussion about whether or not it was wise to camp where the wood things at attacked before ensued. Sal suggested multiple watch fires to ward off more of the blighted saplings. Burble wanted to divide up all the group's supplies from his mule so they wouldn't have to leave most of it behind when they went back into the cool darkness. Sal and Lorn were to carry most of the weight.</p><p></p><p>At one point, Jaryth suggested sleeping in the trees. Rowland loved the idea. Sal had a succinct reason as to why not to do so. "Falling hurts!" Finally the group decided to take their supplies with them into the ravine. They'd handle campsites when they needed one.</p><p></p><p>Then Jaryth spoke up again, "Has it struck anyone how utterly STUPID it is to climb down a rope we didn't tie to enter a cavern that we really don't know what holds?"</p><p></p><p>"Yup, every damn time I do it. But since I've yet to find any other way to make a living ... " Bryant shrugged.</p><p></p><p>Yes, as a matter of fact it had occurred to Meepo. Meepo wanted to get out of the damned sun more than he wanted to find out the finer details of rope and ravine history. Out of nowhere, Jaryth chimed in once more. Maybe even if they hadn't killed him they could have cut out his voice box. Meepo wished he'd thought of that last night. "Horses are amazing things. Like all animals, they know the TRUTH. They don't falsify or hide it like people."</p><p></p><p>Meepo didn't like where this was going. Jaryth had been very possessive of that horse all day long. Meepo thought it was Thurston's, but didn't know for sure. It would make sense, though.</p><p></p><p>"Yeah, they are REAL smart. As for truth, give them some feed and they will accept you. and as for lies, you think someone has lied, tell them and move on. I would suggest that you not sit about stewing with your resentments." Burble replied testily.</p><p></p><p>"I have no resentments. I care about nothing," Jaryth replied flippantly. Meepo was thrilled. He wanted nothing more than an insane, suicidal human whelp. His life was now complete.</p><p></p><p>Burble shrugged. "So be it youngster and I will leave you be then." He walked over to the rope and got ready to climb down it. Meepo drifted over with him.</p><p></p><p>"Good," Jaryth's voice was hollow. Meepo didn't much care if he wanted to kill himself. The whelp could do that seven or eight times and Meepo would have enjoyed watching every one. Traveling with someone who had no regard for his own safety or anyone else's wasn't the kobold's idea of a perfect situation, though. Kurtulmak hated Meepo.</p><p></p><p>"Don't call me youngster." Jaryth sighed and rode up to Rowland. "Do you know any cantrips?"</p><p></p><p>"The rope and the handholds look just fine and so how about we stop jabbering and move out?" Burble asked.</p><p></p><p>"I'm coming, I'm coming," Jaryth snapped. He tied off his horse and walked over to the ravine. With a whooshing sound he leaped over the edge of the ravine and fell into the darkness. He didn't scream, or call out at all, as he fell. He landed with a sickening cracking thud.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Samnell, post: 1219, member: 130"] [b]X-The Graceful Swan, Floating Lotus Death-Dive[/b] Wherein our hero enjoys the show. Morning came swiftly and with it once more the humans' son. Meepo soon lost the warm afterglow of seeing Thurston's blood spilled. The warmth and contentment that had seen him through the night with a long procession of blissful dreams filled with screaming druids and dying wolves was banished by the cursed, jealous sun burning above. Burble rose to say his prayers and Meepo tried to keep as much of the foul light off himself as he could. Not only the sun wished to torment Meepo this day, though. Jaryth came galloping into the camp just outside the humans' town astride Thurston's warhorse. As he rode in he screamed, "WHO DID IT?" Meepo kept his head low. The slack-jawed, fawning human whelp had no proof, but with creatures so dumb as humans proof would hardly be needed to see him dead for the crime. They wouldn't be rational like reasonable kobolds. They wouldn't all agree that Thurston was a threat that needed to be eliminated. Meepo could still see the glimmer of fawning adoration in the whelp's empty eyes. He would bear watching. Almost immediately the lackwit turned towards Burble and shrieked, "YOU? Did you do it?" Meepo redoubled his conviction to keep an eye on Jaryth. Maybe his new god had put the knowledge in the whelp's mind. Even human gods must not be so stupid that they'd look down on the murder of their followers and send aid to those who would avenge them. Then Meepo remembered Lorn and realized that they must be just that stupid. The whelp must just be venting his hatred on whoever he saw first. It would have been so easy to kill him. Burble hit him over the head instead. Maybe that knocked Jaryth's brain into working again, as much as any human brain did work? Stupid gods, slack-jawed whelps, or not Meepo would keep close watch on Jaryth. The kobold should have killed him when he had the chance. The other humans couldn't possibly miss him that much. "To what are you referring, young squire?" Lorn asked. Of course he hadn't figured it out yet. Burble was quick to react too, his hand going to his dagger as he took a step back. "What's wrong Jaryth? What are you referring to?" That's right. Burble and Meepo were here, keeping watch and sleeping. The whelp would be stupid enough to believe that. He'd believed Thurston, after all. "IT! Thurston! HE'S DEAD! ONE OF YOU HAD TO HAVE DONE IT! WHICH ONE! COME ON! TELL ME!" How Jaryth imagined that it must be one of the group that killed Thurston instead of some intelligent human who the holy warrior had wronged escaped Meepo. A moment later he remembered that there was no such thing as an intelligent human and was forced to conclude that he, Burble, and Sal were the only likely suspects. "Thruston is dead. He's been stabbed in the forehead and the heart. He's dead. In my room. He's dead. Not coming back. NOW WHY DID YOU DO IT? WHO DID IT AND WHY! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO IT! WHY COULDN'T I BE HAPPY?" Meepo was tempted to reply that anyone so weak-willed and stupid enough to be enthralled by a human god or one of his servants deserved death instead of happiness. That way their idiocy couldn't survive for future generations to endure. That was how proper, civilized people handled these things. It was the kobold way. Lorn, surprisingly, had a reply. "The eight of us were together all night, with two people on watch. None of us could have gotten away without someone noticing." Lorn was a useful idiot for the moment. Meepo would have to remember that a fool could make a good shield against blame. Deceive the fool and none would believe he had the wit to be lying so anything you told him would be taken as truth. Burble was ready for this, he kept his distance as he answered Jaryth's charges. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I was here all night with Meepo, standing guard or sleeping. I have no idea why you would care if that ass lived or mot anyways. I mean he was just a braggart and a threat to me and my friend Meepo." That was stupid. Now Jaryth was reminded of just why it was Burble and Meepo might want Thurston dead. Burble had been with humans too long and their habits were infecting him. Meepo was worried about his friend. Jaryth sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. He was crying, just like a human whelp. No scheming revenge, no plotting against the killers… He was just crying. How did humans sleep at night when they raised children like this? Mewling, hopeless whelps… By now a kobold hatchling would be setting in motion revenge plans. "You people were asleep… and it's not that hard to slink away from a group… especially if they're asleep. You're the only people who had anything against him. The townspeople wouldn't have done anything. WHY DID YOU DO THIS? WHY! I WAS HAPPY! He was going to make me his squire, and ... and ... and ..." Jaryth drifted off into quiet, whimpering sobs. Rowland goggled and looked like an idiot. In a kobold tribe, he'd be killed quickly with reflexes like that, "I'd have no reason to kill someone who did me a kindness with no thought of payment." He held up his arm to show his healed wound. "And murder is an evil act, not one of which I'd be a part!" Jaryth only shrugged. Bryant was as shocked as Rowland. Meepo remembered that even though the quieter human hadn't done anything spectacularly stupid lately, he was still a human. "He had this tendency to threaten anyone that didn't fit into his ideas, I'm sure he made plenty of enemies in town. Hell, maybe an old enemy caught up to him. But to be murdered in one's sleep while alone in his own room.... Perhaps getting an early start, I agree." Meepo was perversely satisfied that Bryant was unnerved by the killing. "He wasn't alone," Jaryth said quietly, coldly. "I woke up, and found him dead on the floor." Embrill only snorted in reply to Jaryth's accusations. Excellent, he exposed himself to suspicion. Meepo reaffirmed his faith in the Worthless Druid's idiocy. "Just slow it up kid. You're obviously just shaken, but you really are a lot better off not being under that one's control. I am sorry that your hurting, but he would just have sent you off to be miserable and never could have accepted you as we have. If you do not want to be with us, then I will wish you well, but be warned, if you try to attack me, I will defend myself fully." Burble drew his dagger in defense, but didn't raise it. He looked to Meepo, "Meepo, get to the side as well, I have a bad feeling about this." He had a bad feeling about this. An insane, dim-witted whelp was accusing him of murder, and he had a bad feeling about this. Meepo had a bad feeling about this too. They should have just killed Jaryth. Leave it to a human to blunder on those who wronged him and kill them by accident. The wild look in Jaryth's eyes didn't reassure Meepo at all. "Why would I attack you, Burble? You've been nice to me. Thurston was mean to you, but that's because he didn't understand you. And why do you think I suspect you? I just want to know why you people had to hurt me, by killing my friend. After we finished this quest, he was going..." Jaryth trailed off into silence. When next he looked up, his eyes were blank, and soulless. Meepo wondered how long it would be before he ceased his mewling entirely. "Well, he's dead. Nothing doing. I have everything I need. I suppose he's been stripped, so there's no need to search him. Let's get out of here. A dead paladin is bound to cause us trouble." Meepo was struck by the unsettling thought that he was completely right. He was going to be venturing back into the ravine, into the teeth of rats and goblins, not to mention his own clan of kobolds with a stark, raving mad human whelp who could make Kurtulmak's blood scream sound in his head. Kurtulmak hated him. It wasn't just that normal, spiteful sort of hate that a kobold might expect from his god. Nothing like Meepo was enduring was remotely on the order of what he might expect for something like showing mercy to a gnome…this was raw, personal hatred. Nothing else could explain being saddled with first humans, then stupid humans, then stupid human holy warriors and their stupid gods under their stupid sun, then insane stupid human whelps that were enthralled and rendered drooling, fawning fools by stupid human holy warriors. "Jaryth, he would never have made you a squire only a slave to his God and his own temperament. if you truly want to be acquire, look to Lorn or another good hearted man. Thurston only wanted to think only as he would, not as you might like. Would you truly have been happy to be a servant and a lackey to someone like Thurston?" Burble said in the way of consolation. At least Burble had seen the effect Thruston had on the boy too. None of the humans had, of course. Sal spoke up then, a rarity for the dwarf. "Jaryth, I don't mean to be insensitive here, but what makes you think it was one of us? With all of us here at the camp for the night, I really don't know how any one of us could have left the camp and gone up there to kill him. Was there something that makes you think it was one of us? I mean we had some words with him, but we've had words within the group and nobody's been killed. I know he was close to you, but even you can see how he could make some of the towns people angry enough to hurt him. I'm amazed that they'd have the fight in them, but sometimes words are more powerful than weapons." "Sal, it's the only explanation that makes sense. Many of you didn't agree with him, others despised him. It's not that hard for people slip away at night when others are asleep. Especially, if someone has help." Jaryth was speaking flatly, indifferently. If he hadn't been showing signs of lunacy earlier Meepo might have admired his kobold-like indifference to the killing. He was right that it was easy to slip away as well, Meepo hoped no one dwelled on that thought too long. Burble got back to thinking about important things. He put away his dagger and spoke once more, "Well again I am sorry that you were hurt Jaryth and that you seem so lost. I agree that we should make some tracks. We have a long journey to get to the rift as well as continue on our missions. I would say also that it is possible that the people of the village will try to blame this all on us, no matter who may be innocent. I will disagree with you on the threat that Thurston would have held to myself or even you, but I will not argue with you. Stay close to Lorn or Sal. They will watch over you. Sal is a good friend and I believe you can trust him." "Why? There is no point. No point in anything. Everything dies. Everything crumbles. My father called it Entropy. Maybe Entropy will kill the gods. Maybe Entropy is a god… The only god, the other gods are just pretenders." Burble spoke almost gently, "It is possible that in time all Gods will die, and that nothing can ever go on as we want or wish. I know my own experiences were not the best, and in fact, I have had doubts of faith. I found it for myself, but I know my way is not for all. The Laughing Rogue answered me when I fell, but you have to find your own belief, or lack thereof." "You have had a severe shock here today, a disturbance that may well have set you off to a path of apathy. I stand ready to heal and ward you all I may be able to, and I will hope that we can work together. But I will be blunt Kid, yes, everything does indeed die, and there is no escaping that, best to try to live for the moment, and not get too attached to something that may die. I have my friendship with Sal and Meepo, but that is about it. You folks are companions, if reluctant in the matters of Embrill and Rhea." "Thanks" Jaryth said blankly and began slowly riding toward the ravine. Burble nodded to Meepo and made a calming motion before looking to the others. "Unless you all have any more comments, let's move on out." Still gazing emptily into the distance, Jaryth agreed. "We should move out." Meepo decided that if this sudden, unthinking obedience was fruit of Jaryth's time in Thurston's thrall it couldn't be all that bad. He could see many openings to exploit this. Meepo didn't like that Jaryth had suggested moving first, though. It could just be coincidence, but Jaryth's own sudden conversion and submission to Thurston's will weighed heavily on Meepo's mind. Was Thurston's god like a disease, infecting Jaryth and just now spreading to Burble? The thought sent chills down his spine. Either Meepo's friend was trying to assuage Jaryth's suspicions or he was falling under the sway of Thurston's stupid sun god. As the group set out, Burble hung back and thus Meepo did as well. The halfling motioned Sal over and quietly passed him Thurston's long sword. Burble thought it was magical. Sal didn't seem happy to learn that Burble and Meepo had killed Thurston, but he wasn't especially upset about it either. Meepo considered his silence safely bought with the sword, which was nondescript enough that none should notice if it replaced Sal's old long sword. Half the day again wore on before the party reached the ravine once more under the heavy bludgeon of the humans' cursed sunlight. Meepo thought it must be taking the murder of one of its servants personally. That was stupid, there were enough to spare with all the humans around. Once at the ravine a discussion about whether or not it was wise to camp where the wood things at attacked before ensued. Sal suggested multiple watch fires to ward off more of the blighted saplings. Burble wanted to divide up all the group's supplies from his mule so they wouldn't have to leave most of it behind when they went back into the cool darkness. Sal and Lorn were to carry most of the weight. At one point, Jaryth suggested sleeping in the trees. Rowland loved the idea. Sal had a succinct reason as to why not to do so. "Falling hurts!" Finally the group decided to take their supplies with them into the ravine. They'd handle campsites when they needed one. Then Jaryth spoke up again, "Has it struck anyone how utterly STUPID it is to climb down a rope we didn't tie to enter a cavern that we really don't know what holds?" "Yup, every damn time I do it. But since I've yet to find any other way to make a living ... " Bryant shrugged. Yes, as a matter of fact it had occurred to Meepo. Meepo wanted to get out of the damned sun more than he wanted to find out the finer details of rope and ravine history. Out of nowhere, Jaryth chimed in once more. Maybe even if they hadn't killed him they could have cut out his voice box. Meepo wished he'd thought of that last night. "Horses are amazing things. Like all animals, they know the TRUTH. They don't falsify or hide it like people." Meepo didn't like where this was going. Jaryth had been very possessive of that horse all day long. Meepo thought it was Thurston's, but didn't know for sure. It would make sense, though. "Yeah, they are REAL smart. As for truth, give them some feed and they will accept you. and as for lies, you think someone has lied, tell them and move on. I would suggest that you not sit about stewing with your resentments." Burble replied testily. "I have no resentments. I care about nothing," Jaryth replied flippantly. Meepo was thrilled. He wanted nothing more than an insane, suicidal human whelp. His life was now complete. Burble shrugged. "So be it youngster and I will leave you be then." He walked over to the rope and got ready to climb down it. Meepo drifted over with him. "Good," Jaryth's voice was hollow. Meepo didn't much care if he wanted to kill himself. The whelp could do that seven or eight times and Meepo would have enjoyed watching every one. Traveling with someone who had no regard for his own safety or anyone else's wasn't the kobold's idea of a perfect situation, though. Kurtulmak hated Meepo. "Don't call me youngster." Jaryth sighed and rode up to Rowland. "Do you know any cantrips?" "The rope and the handholds look just fine and so how about we stop jabbering and move out?" Burble asked. "I'm coming, I'm coming," Jaryth snapped. He tied off his horse and walked over to the ravine. With a whooshing sound he leaped over the edge of the ravine and fell into the darkness. He didn't scream, or call out at all, as he fell. He landed with a sickening cracking thud. [/QUOTE]
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Meepo's Story Hour [NEWS! 6-19-02]
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