Before Rufus could answer, Ghzarbanan cut in. "Hey, I've once heard of this book entitled the
Fiend Folio. It's supposed to be a catalog of all the monsters and non-human creatures that inhabit the inner and outer planes -- their temperaments, how they like to attack, how their special attacks will affect you, and so on. Perhaps it can tell us a few things about this Dreadnought thing and then we'll hopefully have a better idea what has happened to dear brother Rufus -- though of course we'll need the book first..."
"The
Fiend Folio, you say?" remarked Jah'zuer. "I know that book! You can find it in the Astral Library, just at the opposite side of the great hallway! And there are many other books there which you may find useful as well!"
"Let's go, then!" said Chun-Li. Jah'zuer led the group across the hallway to a large door which opened into a hall as spacious as Jah'zuer's shop. Again large shelves could be seen lining the walls, but this time they were all filled with books instead and there were also several tables and chairs, evidently used for reading. A sign could be seen:
The Astral Library.
"We might indeed be able to learn a lot of useful things here," said Chun-Li. "Maybe even some new spells!"
"Yes," said StoneRock, "but right now it's more important to find out first what might be happening to our friend."
Sir Morgeruat looked around the place. A thick book in a nearby shelf caught his attention. "Hmmmm... J R R Dolkien's
The CEO of the Rings..."
"Oh," said Jah'zuer, "it's just a silly fantasy novel about this imagined future world in which magic has ceased to exist and all people care about is material wealth and political power.
But if you'll excuse me..."
"What a dreadful scenario!" exclaimed Sir Jorlon upon hearing what Jah'zuer said. "To think someone would imagine that people would eventually forget all about virtue and about the power of the gods, and just care about gold and worldly power! I certainly hope it will just remain that --
fantasy!"
Jah'zuer searched at a shelf and took hold of an exceptionally large and thick tome which he laid on a table nearby before motioning to the party to come over. "Here is the
Fiend Folio," he said as he flipped through the pages, on which strange creatures of every variety were depicted, from birds of flame to floating giant eyeballs. "Ah, and here's the entry on the
Dreadnought!"
A full-page illustration was seen which showed the terrible creature -- just as they saw it earlier. Turning to the text on the opposite page, Jah'zuer ran his finger down the entries --
Name, Genus, Hit Points, Armor Class ...
Jah'zuer stopped at the
Special Characteristics entry. "Hmmmm...
'The substance of the Dreadnought's saliva is a special variety of concentrated ectoplasm which, when applied on one's physical person, induces transient sensations of tingling caused by its alchemical reaction with one's astral substance. This reaction eventually results in the formation around the person of an etheric field, with all forms of matter and energy passing through the field being subtly altered in favor of the person's survival...' "
"In other words," remarked Magnus, "the Dreadnought's saliva
permanently increases your luck!! Rufus, you lucky boy!!" Rufus grinned happily -- and the tingling also began to subside... (ooc: Remember, the tingling sensation is transient -- though the luck effect is permanent.)
[ 08-22-2002, 09:30 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]