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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2 ************************* INSTALLED: 2 FEB 86 **********************
3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator
4 ************************************************************
5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned
8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
18 ************************************************************
19
20 ####################################################################
21 Coughing I stumbled and fell through the open gate. In a moment
22 I recovered. Stepping back I tried to find the gate, My eyes streaming
23 from the gas. I had to get out of this atmosphere fast. But the gate was
24 gone, nothing was there. I was starting to panic. I *had* to get out of
25 here!
26 I couldn't see my eyes were watering so. I was stumbling around
27 blindly. I couldn't tell where I was going. I had to find a way out.
28 A root or something caught my foot and I tripped and fell to the
29 ground. I must have caused a touch response to occur, because the next
30 thing I knew something swooped down and grabbed me. As I passed out from
31 the gasses and lack if oxygen, I realized that I was inside something.
32 What a way to die I thought, to be eaten alive on some unknown planet in
33 some unknown demension by some unknown creature.
34 ######################## The Innkeeper ##############################
35
36 enterr
37 off
38 help
39 lost
40
41 done
42 "Gentlemen. Fellow travelers. Please. I have something to say." The noxious gas had captured the attention of the guests
43 and no one seemed to hear the shaky voice from the table at the back of the common room. "PLEASE, kind sirs, listen"
44 A few heads turned, and saw that the old man was holding a book in his hand. "I believe I may be of assistance, sirs"
45 "If I may have complete silence for but a moment, kind sirs..."
46 The Inn fell silent, save the crackeling of the fire, and the rising and falling of labored lungs.
47 Then, there was the barely heard resonance of drones, wailing and fading, coming and going, as if the source of the
48 sound was wandering in circles, seeking release from a whispy and nebulous dimension.
49 Those who watched the old man were suddenly shocked, as the hooded figure blurred and shimmered, and then faded
50 into nothingness. Voices whispered softly. "He's gone. Where...?" "It was the gas. It's taken this strange old man, too"
51 someone suggested. "I wonder who he was?", another guest wondered aloud.
52 The whispering grew into an uproar as speculations abounded, and the guests grew more restless as the minutes passed.
53 Suddenly the fire in the great stone hearth burst forth flames and smoke filled the common room. Sparks danced
54 upward and outward, across the bar and flitted into the corners. Eyes blinked closed as a flash illuminated the great
55 room, and silence gave way to a cacaphony of voices intertwined with the screech of a chanter and the coughing they
56 had all heard but moments before. The great common room was filled with dense clouds of accrimonious haze that
57 assaulted the eyes of the guests, bringing tears to their eyes and shouts to their throats.
58 The stout young guest who had helped the now vanished old man leapt to his feet, and feeling his way to the door
59 flung it open. The air whistled past him as the clouds of accrid vapor were whisked outward, and into the night sky.
60 Papers were swept away in the malestrom and linen napkins danced ghostlike in the air. Ripples swept across tankards
61 of ale, whipping the surfaces into mineature storm tossed oceans, and then, as suddenly as the end of a summer
62 storm, all was quiet.
63 The piper walked calmly to the bar, and drew a flagon of the Inn's best ale, the Innkeeper close behind him. They
64 took seats at the table near the door, and drank deeply of the ale. The piper broke the deafening silence. "Friends
65 do we have a story to tell" The Innkeeper nodded in agreement.
66 At a table, near the back of the common room, the old man with the hooded cloak sat silently, waiting....
67 *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* Lysias *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* *=* *=*
68
69 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\39
70 The fat man was laughing, long and wheezing, despite his pain and the gun that was still planted in the center of
71 his bald spot. "Not so easy as it looks, is it, Outsider?" He laughed some more.
72 James counted forty-one guns trained on him and Tariya at this second. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "I
73 don't suppose you know any force-field spells, do you?"
74 "No." She looked up at him. "Can't you do something?"
75 "Nope." he sighed. "Too wasted. That's why I grabbed his gun." He looked down at the man. "All right, already. I
76 apologize for trying to steal your car. Would you please call off the neighborhood and we could discuss this
77 calmly?"
78 That set off another fit of laughter. "Discuss all you want. Looter or Outsider, you're still just as dead." Tears
79 were rolling down his cheeks. James silently vowed that if they were dead, so was this turkey.
80 "I don't understand." Tariy cried, "Theft has never been a capital offense in Shai-Kahn, except during a major
81 disaster or... war."
82 "You got it, missy." The laughing man answered. "But you don't have to worry abot dying. You were just an
83 accomplice and besides, target practice is a hell of a waste of good woman flesh. I got two sons that will enjoy
84 making your acquaintance."
85 "No." she whispered, holding on tighter to James. "You've got to do something!"
86 But James didn't answer. His heart was pounding and his mouth was dry. They were trapped. The bulk of his fear was
87 not for himself but for Tariya. Had he been alone he would have gone for broke and shot it out, perhaps even escaping.
88 But there was no way he could protect Tariya and the thought of endangering her was more than he could bear.
89 The laughing man stood up painfully, still chortling. He said, "Now, before he hold a summary execution, how about
90 giving us your names for our records."
91 "Screw you." James snarled.
92 But Tariya was given to a little more dignity than that. She drew herself up with a pride and nobility that James
93 had never guessed she had. "I am Tariya dal-Silmarilyn, last daughter of Marannon Quoasis xennon-Silmarilyn and sixth
94 princess of Shai-Kahn. If any harm comes to us my mother's armies will grind this wretched city to dust!"
95 The man chuckled again, but didn't sound very amused. "Missy, you should count yourself lucky we don't believe
96 that, or you would be executed beside your companion. Speaking of which," he turned to James, "your last chance, boy.
97 Do you want to die unremembered?"
98 He took a deep breath. Might as well. "My name is James Forster Mandell. Some people call me the Destroyer." He
99 prodded the laughing man in the stomach with the rifle. "But you can call me Sir!"
100 Suddenly the laughing man wasn't laughing anymore.
101 Excited whispers came from the windows. The people and rifles began to dissappear. Doors opened and the began to
102 walk out slowly, hesitantly. Most of them had left their rifles inside. The laughing man had now become the pale man
103 as he regarded James with a mixture of awe and terror. From the approaching crowd they could make out the words "The
104 Destroyer!" and "He has come at last!" over and over again.
105 Then they were surrounded by people, all talking at once. A few tried to touch him, and then jerked their hand
106 back, as if touching a leper. Or a savior.
107 James turned to an equally confused an astonished Tariya and said, "Remind me to give my P.R. man a raise when we
108 get out of here, OK?"
109 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
110
111
112 ....Shades of " The Sleeper has Awakened "....
113
114
115 #######################################################################
116 Now wait a minute! I don't apreciate having an adventure nipped in the bud
117 like that. Shall we just ignore it? Sheesh how can you expect to have an
118 adventure if someone wraps it up before it even gets started?! I intend
119 to ignore the entry and continue on with the story.
120 ############################# The Innkeeper ###########################
121 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
122 From Prometheus
123 From the looks of the entry that nipped this adventure in the bud, it was
124 intended to calm everyone down a bit. Since the vanished had returned with
125 little or no wounds, the story can continue in third person.
126 It would be nice to relate the goings on of the Inn, from moment to moment
127 and I am in favor of it. I am sure there are a few characters out there who
128 are also, so let us give it a try for once, and see what happens, alright?
129 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
130
131 SageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSag
132
The Sage opened his mouth and poured a little more of the drink down
133 his throat. It soothed him and yet, it made his thirst even greater still.
134 His eyes were almost shut with dried tears, and bloodshot for fatigue.
135 Still, he poured more and more of the drink into his stomache. It offered
136 no relief to the Sage and only served to irritate his desires and thirst.
137 The Sage heard a question and did not know who had asked it of him. It
138 wwas an important question, and the Sage found it difficult to answer, for
139 his alcoholic stupor. His head tipped back and drank the last of his drink
140 and he almost tipped back and off his chair.
141 A pair of hands grasped the fabric about the collar of the Sage and the
142 question came again. It was still difficult for him to fathom, and try as
143 he might, it was beyond his poisoned mind right then.
144 Seated again, someone replaced the drink in his hands with a heavier
145 one. A deeper fill of liquor, a far more potent drug, indeed.
146 Once again, the Sage poured it into his throat and waited for the
147 relief that would never come from it. In desperation, he poured more down
148 and the relief evaded him. The drink would never provide it but the addict
149 would never know that, as the Sage imbibed more and more of it.
150
151 SageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSag
152
153 de 146, 147, 148, 149
154 *******************************************************************
155 Prometheus: If you had paid attention to the developing story line,
156 and if the aformentioned person had as well, you would have seen that
157 a number of individuals were working to insert themselves into the
158 story line. I did NOT want the story to be just Piper and me. A multi-
159 author story is of no use with only two authors. After a long dry
160 period we had finally gotten a good fantasy story line going here,
161 and even gotten some writers interested in lending their input who
162 have never really written anything here. And in one fell swoop they
163 are told that they can't join the adventure because it is over with
164 I am not going to tell the story in third person. I am going to ignore
165 the entry because this was intended to be a multi-author story.
166 I worked damn hard to bring it to the point that it was, and I don't
167 appreciate having it destroyed with a "poof everything is back to
168 normal" type entry. I intend to ignore it, and I hope that those
169 who wanted to join in the adventure will do so. This was not to be
170 a private adventure between the Piper and me. It is intended to be open
171 to all those who want to try their hand at it. If I'm to be stuck
172 with just the Piper, it is pointless to continue, because the story
173 line is destroyed. If I had intended it to be a two author story I
174 would have directed it that way instead of opening it to all the
175 patrons. As far as I'm concerned the entry did not happen unless nobody
176 else cares about the adventure, in which case I'll go slink off into
177 my corner and forget about the whole damn thing.
178 ************************* CISTOP MIKEY ******************************
179 (((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
180 Thank you Mikey!!!
181 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
182 Being quite the paranoid creature that I am my first insinct is to
183 dissapear and find a high perch somewhere safe where I watch what is
184 going on and maybe help. I watched the old man in the corner cast his
185 spells. Something looked very familiar in the motions he was making.
186 It was something I remember doing in my earlier days. Yes it was it was
187 an illusion spell of some type. If this is true then that means either
188 that when Piper and the Innkeeper walked back into the in it never really
189 happened or two strange people just walked in as part of the spell. If the
190 second is true how do I convince the others with out engaging the wrath of
191 the old man in the back of the inn. I flew down staying invisable and landed
192 on the Juggler's shoulder and whispered "It's a trick!!! Those two how just
193 walked in aren't as they seem to be. Don't give away my position I have an
194 idea." Juggler shook his head and seemed to agree so I flew off to start my
195 plans.
196 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
197 I hope this helps point things in the right direction again
198 (((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
199 Delta V: You have overlooked two major problems.
200 1. Fallout/firestorms & other secondary blast effects will kill far more
201 than the Primary blast effects (heat/blast/etc).
202 2. A major attack *would* destroy most if not all of our 'support systems'
203 Transportation, communications, medical.... These tertiary effects
204 would be as bad (if not worse than) the secondary effects. Do you have
205 any idea how long a modern city/town/etc can last without power and
206 without outside supplies (gas, spare parts, medicines, *food*,...)?
207 ______________________Leonard_JD 2446464.4435____________________________
208 The apprentice entered the Inn. As he glanced about he noted the
209 strangers. He turned toward the old man. "Milord, this is a fine
210 illusion thou hast cast. But where have the Innkeeper and Piper
211 gone?"
212 He paused, "And who be these strangers that thou hast cloaked
213 with their guise?"
214 ........................the apprentice............................
215 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
216 seems i missed a lot on the last disk...hmmmmm...morrissey
217 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
218 Leonard. You are right. I am wrong. Everyone will die. The world will be totally destroyed. End of argument.
219 While my entry does not fit into what everyone seems to have decided is 'proper' for the Inn, at least when I come along
220 things happen. Someone above has what *I* think is the right idea ( as far as writing goes) which is to create a way
221 of changing something (make it into an illusion eg) instead of bitching.
222 Well, anyway, after this response I think I will stick to being DELTA FIVE, and Lysias will find another watering hole.
223 He doesn't need this ----.
224 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi...
225 "Wait friends, Ripple is right! What we see as Piper and the Innkeeper are
226 merely aberrations; simple constructs that have been instructed to act like
227 the real Piper and Innkeeper. They are throwing off all sorts of mixed up
228 psi signals. And... I have only seen this sort of pattern once before. It was
229 on Castle Hille, on old earth, when I travelled there many years ago. If
230 Hille is still around and is responsible for the disappearances, Piper and
231 Innkeeper are in big trouble!"
232 CRAGMORE
233 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi...
234 ****************************************************************************
235 Ripple: It is I who should thank you! Thank you for your assitance in
236 converting the disaster to something else.
237 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY ***********************************
238 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi...
239 "Wait friends, Ripple is right! What we see as Piper and the Innkeeper are
240 merely aberrations; simple constructs that have been instructed to act like
241 the real Piper and Innkeeper. They are throwing off all sorts of mixed up
242 psi signals. And... I have only seen this sort of pattern once before. It was
243 on Castle Hille, on old earth, when I travelled there many years ago. If
244 Hille is still around and is responsible for the disappearances, Piper and
245 Innkeeper are in big trouble!"
246 CRAGMORE
247 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi...
248 ****************************************************************************
249 Ripple: It is I who should thank you! Thank you for your assitance in
250 converting the disaster to something else.
251 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY ***********************************
252 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
253 From Prometheus
254 Cistop Mikey, I had no idea you were trying to establish
255 another of the stories which have more than one author. If I
256 had known, I certainly wouldn't have defended the entry to you.
257 The response you sent me was so strong and adamant on that
258 point, that no mistake could be made now. If you please, will
259 you accept my apology?
260 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
261
262 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
263 A moment or a millenium later (time is such a relative thing!), Milchar found
264 himself deposited on a very large, flat rock in a desolate spot on an alien
265 world. Perhaps this was an example of the beauty this world had to offer,
266 but Milchar didn't believe it. He peered through the thick yellow atmosphere
267 at the surrounding territory, which promised to be every bit as dull as the
268 patch he occupied.
269 After getting up and brushing himself off, Milchar searched for the portal
270 he had come through. Several minutes later he gave up. "No where to be found,"
271 he muttered to himself. "I wonder if anyone saw me leave."
272 Since the rock was not producing answers, and Milchar had no guarantee that
273 either Piper or the Innkeeper whad been deposited at the same place, Milchar
274 saw that he must choose a direction to walk. Again Milchar shuffled through
275 his packet of 3x5 cards; this time, however, he failed to find a suitable
276 finding-spell. He shrugged and put the cards away, then began at a brisk pace
277 in the direction he faced. He noted his breathing-spell was still working
278 well, but occasionally Milchar would get a whiff of the vile gas surrounding
279 him. The thought of the Innkeeper and Piper breathing the poisonous stuff
280 caused Milchar to move faster. Perhaps, though, the special properties of
281 Piper's instrument would aid him.
282 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++ 10:12pm, 2 Feb 86 ++++
283 *+**+**+**+**+**+Gee, I know I have been drinking, but I didn't think I was
284 that drunk! I mean, just for a moment, although I have only read this disk
285 once, I thought I had read it before! Very wierd!*+**+**+**+**+**+**+**+
286
287 #######################################################################
288 Prometheus: No need to apologize. I may have reacted a bit strongly, but
289 I was a bit upset to have the story terminated just as it was getting
290 underway.
291 #######################################################################
292 The rotting stench was overpowering, so much so that it drowned out
293 the burning, seering atmosphere. <cough> Stench? I am still alive! I can
294 breath! Where ever I am there must be oxygen in here. I lifted my hand
295 to wipe the tears from my eyes, but stopped short when the smell of the
296 muck that covered it came near my nose.
297 I can't stay here, the acid this stuff is generating will start to
298 digest me too soon. Off in the distance I head a horrid screeching
299 noise. It sounded like a pig being strangled... Piper! He was around
300 here someplace. Maybe there is a way out of this mess yet.
301 I started to crawl towards the opening of whatever I was in, my
302 hand slipped on a round object. Odd, I wonder what this is? It seemed to
303 be a hard solid ball of some sort. Trying to get a look at it in the dim
304 yellow light that filtered in I could have sworn it was getting smaller.
305 As I watched it did get smaller within a matter of seconds it
306 disappeared completely. Very odd. Thinking nothing more of it, I headed
307 towards the small opening ahead hopefully to flag down the Piper.
308 As I pried open the entrance the foul yellow atmosphere rushed in
309 causing me to gag. At the same time a voice spoke in my head #Ahhh...
310 intellegence at last...#
311 ############################# The Innkeeper ###########################
312 *************************************************************************
313
Does anyone remmember the "hallway of life"? It is a long room with many
314
doors each with a sign above it like "love" or "greed" or "desire" ect.
315
There is a machine in the center of the room that dispenses what I call
316
a "escape", the "escape" will bring you back to the hallway when you use
317
it. All kinds of different paths to choose from here, just like life.
318
And what looks good today? Hmmmm, "disorientation" looks "fun". Here goes.
319
I walk to the machine and carefully take my escape, placing it in my
320
pocket. Since I have already made up my mind, the door to "disorientation"
321
flies open and I see a wonderful landscate, mountains and my favorite of
322
vices, SNOW (yahoo).
323
I plunge through the door to find myself up to my knees in some very
324
heavy snow and a stiff wind is blowing and me in a sweater and jeans. I
325
can see that the sun is heading for the hills and I need to survive the
326
evening, I wade through the snow to a drift and start digging with my hands.
327
Scrape scrape, One nail down, nine to go, strangly enough I find the remains
328
of a snow caveand go about making it usefull again. I crawl inside and pull
329
down the snow over the opening to seal me in for the evening.
330
After a rather cold period of time, I believe that it is day and try to
331
find a way out, the exit I have made for myself seems to have blended in
332
and I'm not to sure which way is out. My clothing os now very wet from the
333
evening and I'm miserable to be sure, but I plod on scratching in the snow.
334
More snow and more, Ive created quite a maze of little tunnels and they
335
all seem to lead back to the same place.
336
Ok, I think to myself, this is "disorientation" since I have been digging
337
where I think "out" ism then maybe I should dig where I think "out" isn't.
338
This logic seems to work as I dig down and find sunshine and more snow.
339
I'm really in poor condition now, But I want to find the answer, if there
340
is one. I head down the mountain. Traveling is slow, and the snow is getting
341
deeper as I head for the valley and tree's. Tree's, hey that's the answer
342
as I climb up one, tearing my soggy clothes in the process, I can't seem to
343
get high enough to see anything different. It all seems the same, But at
344
least Im out of the snow.
345
The sun warms my back and my clothes begin to steam and all I can see
346
is trees and snow and wolves. (what? Wolves?) Matter of fact, lot's of
347
wolves, wolves uder every tree, howling up at me. So here I sit in a tree,
348
surrounded by trees that all look alike, growing up out of snow that all
349
looks alike and being drooled over by blood thirsty wolves that of course
350
all look alike. And a helicopter flies over, I wave and shout and hear a
351
echo of myself shouting, wait... tha's not a echo, its' other people all
352 waving and shouting from the trees around me, hold on a second, they
353
(the other people) all look like me, se we have a million people in a million
354
trees being drooled over by a million wolves in the snow. That's enough
355
I say to myself as I pull out my escape, and of course a million other
356
people pull out their escapes too.
357
I feel the branch break and I hear the wolf smaking his/her lips and
358
aa million branches break, the wolves won't be hungry tonight. As the
359
helicopter flies off with the footage of tonights news.
360