CHAPTER THIRTY
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE ROCS 
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Date: 01/24/93; 1:34PM
From: Brass Orchid [3]

The Wrecker, surprised by Nightwatcher's 
unexpected recovery, takes a spill and lands unharmed, 
though somewhat disheveled and in a bit of a disarray. 
Glaring back at Nightwatcher, she does not see Flint 
coming until he is on top of her. He knocks the wind out 
of her and adds insult to her already injured dignity.
Flint, meanwhile, finding himself landing on The 
Wrecker, is filled with horror and revulsion. This is a 
dwarf's worst nightmare. Fortunately, his great battle 
axe, (Not The Wrecker. His OTHER battle axe!), falls 
harmlessly to one side.
Nightwatcher pauses at the wall and then passes 
through, to stand at the edge of a large crack in the 
rock beneath his feet. There appears to be a hollowed 
area below the crack, and the occasional screams come 
from there. The greenish glow is now intense enough that 
no other light source is needed.
Baldy is watching Flint attempt to remove himself 
from proximity to The Wrecker with Utmost Haste, as The 
Wrecker puts on an expression usually reserved for 
stepping into meadow muffins and curb cruellers.
L.S. Creetor goes around the tangled mess that is 
his companions and joins Nightwatcher beyond the wall.
The Love Bunny is keeping SilverSpur busy by 
playing patty-cakes with him. This is difficult because 
SilverSpur's contribution to the game consists of holding 
his hands up before him and drooling and smiling.
Your move...
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Date: 01/24/93; 3:59PM
From: Nightwatcher [1]

Will you two knock off the "Group Grope" back 
there. We have more important things to do than watch 
while you two are playing "Touch me, Feel me".
L.S., come over here won't you? I think that 
maybe if you pour some of that soup grenade down into 
this crack it may open up enough that we will fit thru. 
I want to get down there and find out what is going on.
Nightwatcher
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Date: 01/24/93; 5:16PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

ACK! Ptui! She touched me!!!! I'll QUICKLY 
follow NW through the wall before I actually realize WHAT 
I landed on... I already picked up Honor's Face, wiping 
it off before touching it though...
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Date: 01/24/93; 6:34PM
From: Sidney [167]

Ok Ok... Enough of your drooling Silverspur. 
Love Bunny's ready for some action.
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Date: 01/24/93; 8:19PM
From: The Wrecker [11]

And so am I!!! Wrecker follows the nasty group 
through the crevice, clearly glaring at one offending 
party after another... She zips up the front of her 
Jumpsuit... That somehow must have come undone in that 
messy struggle, and readies herself for what's ahead... 
Being throughly outdone in that last mess, she figures 
she can handle anything now, Including Nightwatcher when 
this messy adventure is over with! But for now she 
contents herself with glaring at him... Thinking that 
his idea of L.S. pouring his soup BOMB down the hole 
warrants some merit! She conceeds the lead to him for 
Now! She picks up a Rock however and is carefully honing 
her pocket blade to a sharper edge!
The Wrecker
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Date: 01/24/93; 10:10PM
From: Baldy [13]

I follow The Wrecker to catch up with the group. 
I think I shall keep a close eye on this one as she hones 
her pocket blade with that rock... while keeping an ear 
open, and keeping an eye on the group at the same time. 
Let's move on group. It's time to investigate the next 
leg of our journey...
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Date: 01/24/93; 10:53PM
From: Nightwatcher [1]

Promises, promises... Thats all I ever get...
Nightwatcher
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Date: 01/24/93; 11:46PM
From: L. S. Creetor [62]

Ok, open up and say ahhhh!
I'll pour the contents of the soup down the 
crack. And, I'd like to remind my companions that as 
this was not my idea and, as I am merely giving in to 
peer pressure here, that if this fails, and I waste my 
only supply of this concoction, I shall hold a grudge for 
eternity, or ninety days from the end of the world.
If it succeeds, however, I shall claim all the 
credit and be open to any congratulations and 
compliments, particularly relating to my genius and 
superior physical condition, that you feel the need to 
offer.
L.S. Creetor.
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Date: 01/25/93; 4:57AM
From: The Wrecker [11]

Some promises just take a little while to 
implement. That's all... Shall we see how the Soup bomb 
works?!
The Wrecker
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Date: 01/26/93; 11:20AM
From: Brass Orchid [3]

L.S. Creetor takes the jar of soup which, moments 
ago, had served as the focus of the reveries of himself 
and SilverSpur, and pours it down into the glowing crevice.
SilverSpur, mesmerized at the sight and the 
sounds from below, breaks free from The Love Bunny and 
stumbles forward, falling into the crack and 
disappearing. You do not hear his body hit bottom.
The Love Bunny rushes forward, but Nightwatcher 
and L.S. reach out and restrain her before she can get 
close enough to endanger herself. The Wrecker sees 
SilverSpur disappear and gets a mischievious glint in her 
eye, slyly glancing sideways at Flint, who is also 
watching, unaware of the attention that The Wrecker is 
now focusing on him.
Baldy is gathering his strength, and hoping that 
the Wight of Ize is not nearly as powerful as the Flying 
Sorceress, the memory of whom sends little tendrils of 
ice playing up and down his spine.
L.S. Creetor still has two jars of soup in his 
pack. The glow has gotten brighter, and shaded more 
toward blue since the soup was used. The screams from 
below have mellowed to grunts, groans, and whines, with 
the occasional sniffle thrown in.
Your move...
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Date: 01/26/93; 3:23PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

Well, I don't know about you people, but I have 
the strangest feeling that I was being watched by some 
terribly ugly "something"... After rummaging around in 
my WBLH I pull out a length of spelunking rope, (about 
100'), and some clasps. I pound a stake into a solid 
place on the floor of the tunnel and attach the rope to 
it.
"I'm going down to take a look... you guys can 
wait or follow me down..."
I push a button on the MPDD and the "RAPELL" 
light goes off and the "RADAR" light comes on. At the 
same time a blue screen slides out with the words 
"Aliens-(TM)" stamped on the top. I point the radar into 
the crack....
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Date: 01/26/93; 5:24PM
From: The Wrecker [11]

I then take my Pocketknife, honed by now to a 
nice sharp edge, and apply it to a spot on the rope that 
seems appropriate and cut it nicely! I look terribly 
innocent, as the rest of the party missed the whole 
affair because they were otherwise occupied, and having 
stashed the one piece of evidence I could be convicted 
on. L.S., do you think maybe we should spill some more 
of your soup down the hole now since it seems to have had 
a positive effect on the sounds and sights. The 
screaming is not so loud... Gee, I wonder where Flint 
got to?!
The Wrecker
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Date: 01/26/93; 10:23PM
From: L. S. Creetor [62]

"A-oooooo-who said that,
Baby how you been?
I might as well JUMP
(JUMP!)
Go ahead and JUMP!"
Okay. With that cast, I shall try and do a one 
and one-half somersault with a half twist into the 
crack. No, scratch that, the difficulty rating is too 
high. I shall merely jump into the crack and fold the 
corners of my newspaper to try and form a parachute of 
sorts. And, of course, I shall try to aim for SilverSpur 
to soften my landing.
L.S. Creetor.
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Date: 01/27/93; 9:05PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

Sorry Wrecky dear, this isn't normal rope. Its 
reinforced extra-soft-and-pliable steel cable. In either 
case, I have gadgets that will insure my safety if any 
"accidents" should occur...
Sensing a vibration in the cable, I call up "Nice 
try Wrecky. But I'm still here and I'll keep going.
(And going and going.. heh)
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Date: 01/28/93; 3:40AM
From: The Wrecker [11]

"Sorry Wrecky dear...?" Sensing a voice from the 
past... Wrecker feels a slight tinge of guilt, (slight, 
very slight) and looks over at the CUT (too late, Flinty) 
rope and then smiles a very big beautiful smile and ask 
Nightwatcher and L.S. what they want to do now!
The Wrecker
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Date: 01/30/93; 12:10AM
From: Baldy [13]

I sense an absence here... Have we lost one or 
two members of the group?
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Date: 01/30/93; 10:15PM
From: Baldy [13]

Is Flint with the group, or down the "hole"? It 
seems the group needs to know... Eh, Gamemaster?
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Date: 01/31/93; 7:36PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

Well, I'l climbing down the hole. Wrecker is 
having delusions of grandeur and imagining that she can 
cut the "rope". Doesn't matter though, since we really 
have nowhere else to go, and if you cut the rope you will 
merely be stranded where you are.
(Begins to hum a climbing song)
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Date: 02/01/93; 9:11PM
From: Sidney [167]

We crawled down the rope... We're all waiting 
for you guys to get down here too.
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Date: 02/01/93; 10:09PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

See? I even have a witness that says I'm still 
alive and well!
Anyway, it would be nice if I knew what was down 
here, Mr. GM
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Date: 02/01/93; 10:26PM
From: L. S. Creetor [62]

Bah! If you guys recall, *I* was the first one 
down 'cause I jumped into the breach.
L.S. Creetor.
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Date: 02/02/93; 3:57PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

Yes, but I followed you down... Only I climbed 
instead of jumped...
Hey MR. GM, what do we see?
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Date: 02/03/93; 11:59AM
From: Brass Orchid [3]

In actual fact, Flint is alive and well. 
Everyone is just fine, except that they will need to 
climb a bit to regain the surface.
When L.S. Creetor jumped into the crevice, the 
soup came close enough to be taken from him by its sole 
occupant through these long ages, the Wight of Ize. Now, 
as it happens, the Wight of Ize was actually an infant of 
a space-living species of bird-like intelligent beings, 
who lay their eggs in fresh planets. Their eggs are 
mostly magical energy, as are they themselves, and this 
particular egg was one which never quite reached the 
surface and hatched. The greenish glow was caused by the 
shell of magical energy which protected the infant 
Wight. Once the soup was given to the infant, it had the 
magical strength to break out of its shell and gain its 
freedom.
You now stand at the bottom of the shell. A blue 
glow suffuses the area and the green glow is completely 
overcome. You occupy an ovoid space with a rope hanging 
down one side. Above you, there is a disturbance in the 
air, like heat haze on a desert highway. It is the Wight 
of Ize. Having been fed and being free, it rises from the 
shell and opens the rock and earth above the shell to 
allow itself an exit. On its way out, it rips the rope 
free and attaches it to a rock outcropping on the 
surface, allowing you a means to leave the hole.
The destruction of the egg has removed a curse 
which has lain over the entire hemisphere since time 
began, due the the desperate hunger of the infant and the 
conflicting magical energies as it tried to break the 
shell. A new day is dawning as you climb to your freedom.
[*=- The End -=*]
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Date: 02/03/93; 7:44PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

BOO! HISS! A JIP!! I want my money back!!!
heh heh heh
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Date: 02/03/93; 9:32PM
From: Sidney [167]

Sniff, sniff... Is it really over? I think I'm 
gonna cry.
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Date: 02/03/93; 10:36PM
From: L. S. Creetor [62]

"So many faces in and out of my life,
Some will last, some are just for now and then.
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes,
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again.
Say goodbye to Hollywood.
Say goodbye my baby."
L.S. Creetor signing off.
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Date: 02/04/93; 4:07AM
From: The Wrecker [11]

Out in the background we hear a grown man 
screaming... The other members of the departing party 
are afraid to look... But one does... They look just in 
time to see Wrecker dragging a trussed up Nightwatcher 
away with a very evil grin on her face!
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Date: 02/04/93; 3:51PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

So long. I grab some of NW's food from his pack 
as I walk by on my way to further adventure...
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Date: 02/05/93; 8:12PM
From: Sidney [167]

Bye....I'll miss eating supper with all of you.
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Date: 02/06/93; 9:36PM
From: Baldy [13]

All's well that ends well. At least y'all 
survived... Maybe we shall meet again...
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Date: 02/06/93; 11:44PM
From: Nightwatcher [1]

Fortunately, I have anticipated just such a 
happening. The clone I sent in my stead will suffice you 
nicely. I've been sitting up a few levels having tea with 
the old man. Enjoy!!
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Date: 02/07/93; 9:36AM
From: The Wrecker [11]

Anticpating that Nightwatcher would pull his same 
old trick... Wrecker now being able to locate him via 
her PSI powers... Concentrates really hard and 
materializes next to him... "Having tea," she says... 
"Hmmmmm..." As she levels her new stun gun at him... 
Okay. You can finish it on our little trip... She grabs 
his shoulder and they dematerialize and Wrecker can be 
heard saying as they fade away, "I have this little 
pleasure planet in the next solar system I been wanting 
to aquaint you with..."
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Date: 02/07/93; 11:25AM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

Hey, that's the planet I went to... What a 
coinci-dance...
Anyway, seeing my work here is done, I contact 
the ship and beam aboard. Taking on a new name, Blake, I 
rename the ship as "The Liberator" and travel around the 
galaxy righting wrongs against the Evil Federation.
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Date: 02/07/93; 9:41PM
From: Nightwatcher [1]

Well! Its about time that you actually found me. 
I thought that I'd have to come and get you. Let's see 
just what you think you have in store for me out here!
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Date: 02/07/93; 10:18PM
From: L. S. Creetor [62]

Hey, homies, the ship ain't yours, and I think 
Love Bunny and I have a cruise through the scenic 
Magellan Clouds planned. It ought to take us about six 
years.
L.S. Creetor.
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Date: 02/08/93; 7:56AM
From: Sidney [167]

I'm ready anytime you are, L.S..
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Date: 02/08/93; 5:57PM
From: Flint Fireforge [159]

On the other hand, I have already left, and I 
have already rerouted all command functions and 
clearences. In effect, it is MY ship.
Au Revoir.
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Date: 02/08/93; 10:58PM
From: L. S. Creetor [62]

Eat photons, runt.
L.S. Creetor.
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Date: 02/09/93; 1:43PM
From: Brass Orchid [3]

Since The Love Bunny has full control of the ship 
by psionic link, her being amongst you only by virtue of 
her incredible abilities, while her actual conciousness 
is contained within the impossibly complex computer which 
makes up the control center of the ship and is many times 
more intelligent than yourselves, Flint is unable to take 
over the ship.
The Love Bunny does, however, scan the minds of 
her companions before she and L.S. Creetor disappear. We 
find ourselves aboard the ship, where The Love bunny has 
just materialized. She goes to refresh herself and water 
the plants, perhaps stopping for a snack and a lovely 
beverage.
The ship will materialize any adventurers willing 
to begin a new story and they will be able to post as 
they appear aboard the ship, as per The Love Bunny's 
instructions to the ship.
Your move...
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