From: wanderer1@why.net (wanderer1)
Let's see ... a dragon wolf? A deveel? Perhaps a dragon, a true dragon? What could make them sit up and take notice?
Subject: SRU: There and Back Again
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 07:25:56 -0600
All these thoughts ran through Eric's head as he softly murmured the chorus to "Sanpo", using it to set cadence for his steady, regular stride.
"Arukou, Arukou,
Watashi-wa genki.
Aruku no daisuki,
Don-Don ikou.
Kitsune mo. Tanuki mo. De te oide ... "
Lapsing into humming as his limited grasp of the anime theme song died out, he continued to wrack his brain for ideas. Being a gamemaster was getting harder by the day ... and the fact that his players happened to be the sort that never looked beyond the dice where their characters were concerned ... well, it tended to limit the level of imagination he could excite them to.
Suddenly, his humming died in his throat as his eyes fell upon a battered sign above a small shopfront. "Spells R' Us". Hmmm. A new magic store. A smile grew. Maybe an occult store. Wonder if they have something harmless I could use to draw people into the game?
Entering the door, he started briefly at the crystalline tinkle of the silver bell hung above the door. Pretty. Must be nice to have.
"Hello", called a voice from the back of the shop. "I'll be with you shortly. Please feel free to browse."
Pretty loose security, thought Eric with a worried frown. Hope nothing happens to him. Too much of that around here lately.
"Oh, and mind the guard dog. He's a bit ... ", the voice chuckled, "... overenthusiastic at times."
Guard dog? Nervously, he scanned the room for whatever breed of four-legged burglar alarm was the choice here.
It didn't take him long. There in the corner, apparently untethered, lay a magnificent wolfdog, a high percentage one from all appearances. It looked him over appraisingly, then settled its head on its paws.
But it never took its eyes off of him.
"Whoa", Eric murmured. "With you around, there must not be much shoplifting." He could've sworn the gray, rangy beast smiled at him briefly ... or was it just imagining how he'd taste?
"Oh, don't worry", said the voice, now visibly accompanied by an old man in a robe. "He doesn't eat customers ... usually.", he finished with a twinkle in his eye.
"That's almost a comforting thought", Eric replied. As the old man smiled, Eric looked the store over. Not much merchandise out, barring the books ... and text was what he was trying to get away from with this game. No, he needed to see if they had something with more visual appeal.
"Well, Eric, now that you've looked my show stock over, what would you like to know?"
"I ... hey, do I know you?"
"Hmmm ... I don't think so."
"Hm." With an effort, Eric dismissed the paradox from his mind. "Actually, I was looking for something with a little more ... flash. You see, I'm running a role-playing game ... "
"Ah, and you need something to put a bit more of the role into the playing, hm?"
Eric smiled at the choice of words. "Yeah, something like that. Anything you'd recommend?"
The old man rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm ... you know, I might have just the thing. A little visualization tool I picked up a while back. Would you like to see it?"
Eric shrugged. "Sure. Anything to keep those guys interested."
"Very well. If you would please wait here, I should only be a moment." With that, the old man disappeared into the back of the shop once more. Soon after, the sound of boxes being shuffled and dragged emanated from beyond the corner he had turned. While he waited, he kept a weather eye on the dog ... who seemed to smile at him.
"Ah, here we are!", the old man's voice called from the back room. Shortly, he emerged, carrying with him a small object that looked like a slate with several dials around its edges. "It was originally designed for use in theatres, but I'm sure that won't affect its operation any. Now, if you'd care to try it at your next game", he said with a friendly smile, "I'm willing to hold off on payment until you've decided whether you want it or not. Fair enough?"
Eric smiled. "Fair enough, I guess. What'll the security deposit be?"
The old man smiled through his white beard. "Ah, an honest young man. Too few of those around these days." He glanced sharply at the dog, who seemed to be panting strangely ... almost like he was laughing. "No, no security deposit. I'm certain you'll bring it back after your trial period is up. Now, isn't it about time you left for your game?"
Checking his watch, Eric saw that the old man was right. "Oop! Sorry to dash off, but ... " He shrugged expressively and ran out the door, which closed softly behind him.
The old man glared at the dog for a moment. "Nathan", he said, "You really need to work on keeping a straight face."
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"All right, guys, I've got something new tonight."
Groans emanated from all sides of the table. "Oh, no, not another sound effects tape!" "yeah, the last one was so lousy you couldn't tell what it was." "Or is it another oil lamp?" "Oh, joy, more singed dice."
"A-HEM!"
Silence descended slowly.
"No, it's nothing like that. According to the instructions", he said as he showed them the small device, "we just set up the dials acording to the game and character, put it on top of the character's name and characteristics, and press the button. It'll give you a picture of your character to look at while you play."
"Great, visual aids!"
Shooting a frown at the offending party, Eric decided to get underway. "Brad, we'll start with you. If you'll just get out Kurgrim's character sheet?"
"This won't hurt the sheet, will it?"
"That depends", Eric said, "On how often you interrupt the GM."
Laughter prevailed.
Now, we just set this dial marked 'Race' and see if they have anything like a Wolfen ... hey, here it is! Now we just set this dial to 'Male', this 'Occupation' dial to ... hey, Ranger's on here! Okay, let's see ... ", he said reading the instructions. "Now, you press the button."
"Me?"
"Hey, that's what it says. And I don't argue with the directions."
"Okay, okay", Brad grumbled.
As he pressed the button, reality seemed to twist around itself for a moment,a shimmering mobius loop forming in the air before dissipating.
"Whoa", said Brad. "What happened?"
"Beats me", said Brad with a shake of his head. Something felt strange somehow ... but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Did it give you the picture?"
"Well, yeah", said Brad slowly. "But I think something's wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just a picture of me. Or at least it sure looks like me."
"Let me see that." Taking the slip of paper from Brad, he studied it closely. Gray fur almost covered the blue eyes that peered out at him from the paper, while the teeth, bared in a snarl that somehow reminded him of the old man's watchdog, glistened wetly.
All in all, a perfect likeness of Brad. Right down to the cold, black nose. Handing it back to his tall friend's paw, he said, "Well, you might as well keep it. Let's see if it works for anyone else."
But it was all the same. No matter what, it never gave them anything but pictures of themselves.
---------------------------------
" ... with a roar of anger, the beast dragon flees before the True Dragon's might and magic, taking to the skies in a desperate flight to safety."
"Is he going after the beast dragon? The true dragon, I mean?", Brad queried.
"Nope. He's kinda busy with the gold." Groans almost drowned him out as the adventurers realized the likelihood of getting any more treasure out of this venture than they already had. Still, the party had enough gold and treasure (and magic) to run on for a while, plus some to sell ... and Jim's wizard character got extra points for picking up a sample of green slime to sell to an alchemist ... for a good many gold pieces, of course.
"Well, seeya, 'Ric. I've gotta get home.", Brad said as he unfolded his seven-foot-five frame from the chair, just narrowly missing the chandelier.
"Wait just a minute. There's one last thing I have to do."
With that, he reached over and shook the device firmly.
"What was that all about?", Brad asked him, reaching on tiptoe to steady the swinging chandelier.
"Just finishing the directions. I don't want that guy I got it from claiming it didn't work because I did something wrong."
"Oh", said Brad, wiping the Chee-to dust off of his hands ... on the tablecloth, unfortunately.
---------------------------------
"So", the old man said the next day, "Did you enjoy it?"
Grimly, Eric shook his head. "I couldn't get it to work. I think it might be broken."
"Really? I'll have to call the manufacturer. You're sure you followed all of the directions carefully?"
"To the letter."
"Ah, well", the old man sighed. "Too bad. Still, I trust you had a pleasant evening of gaming?"
Eric smiled faintly. "Believe it or not, yeah, we did. Everyone was just so much more ... in character, somehow."
"That's good", the old man said. "Imagination needs exercise, after all. Well, perhaps you'll stop in again sometime."
"Maybe."
As the boy left the shop, the wizard snickered, while the wolf just looked blank. "Oh, he'll remember, all right. In his dreams. And that's the best part of all."
The wolf cocked his head.
"Why, Nathan ... even an imagination needs fuel."
"And just think of the stories he'll come up with ... "
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Yours changeably,
The variable,
Wanderer****************'
