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The Questorian

March/April 99 Vol. 5, Issue 3

(A recreation of the mind tickling excitement of this last convention)

February '99 Convention

By: David "Dingo" Bleecher

When I sat down to write this story, I had to bring myself back to this past convention. Just to reminisce on it makes me feel a little bit dirty. It started off chaotic as they all seem to, but this one had attained an original quality, a bad aftertaste all its own.

Friday Night: Zack and I arrive earlier than normal with Mike, beaming with happiness over his new truck, following closely behind. Zack went to the front desk to get the crash space given to us for all of our work at the con. We go up to it to put our crap away, open the door and are greeted with what was to be our new room. It was nice to see that the previous occupants had found it in their hearts to leave us with a lovely meal of Chinese food laid out on the floor. They were also obviously very excited about having provided such a charitable service, so much so that they spewed erratically over all the bed sheets. I personally thought it was a rather sweet gesture to leave behind something that could keep us all warm and gooey on cold nights. Unfortunately, Zack didn't see all the work that went into the previous occupants' gesture and told the manager of the hotel how he felt about it. Strangely enough, the manager echoed Zack's feelings on the whole situation and gave us all an executive bedroom on a higher floor. I felt that that was too bad, and teared up momentarily as I thought about how much I would miss the truly unique odor of the fourth floor.

After we were all situated in the new, unadorned room; Zack remembered that he forgot something... in Burbank. So, I put on my Lion outfit, Mike put on his Dorothy outfit, Zack put on his Scarecrow outfit, and we all got into the Tin Van to hit the yellow stained road again. The rest of the night was spent in this quest for materials. We came back tired and cranky. Not even singing choppin' broccoli could bring Zack out of the slump that encompassed all of us. It is then that God lets his sense of humor shine. I step out of the van to a burbling, hissing sound. I look under the vehicle and see a veritable fountain of fix o' flat shooting out of a three-inch gash of the inner wall of my tire. I get the joke, smile sardonically, and go to sleep.

Saturday: I wake up at 8:45 a.m. and stare at the fuzzy ceiling of my van, and think of ten reasons I do need to get up, and ten reasons that I don't. The do's win, so I grumble and bitch, then head off to run my paranoia game. I'm lucky and don't have to run due to no shows. It seems my luck also spread to Joey and Tony, neither of which had to run either. It looks like the con might be all right after all. Then, I remember my van, leaning to one side like a wounded Wildebeest.

I decide to put it off and go find Louie. He's at the battletech table downstairs. So, Tony and I join him, and spend several hours bitch slapping our competitors around the table. I feel good. After getting something to eat, it's back to the G.M.'s chair. I run an In Nomine game and frighten the bejeezus out of two of my players. I paint an extremely graphic picture of what happens to a vanful of babies when it flips over several times. I savor each word passing my lips with a vulpine grin as one of the players at my table seems to be experiencing blood loss from his face, and makes fish-like motions with his mouth. It's good to be king I think, as I trick that very same player into killing the last surviving child.

To celebrate, I go and find my friends. Wait... where the hell did my friends go? I go up to the room and find Zack buzzy, singing choppin' broccoli, lying in bed and talking to Alex. Not exactly a party atmosphere, so I garnish information from them on the whereabouts of everyone else.

"That was some faulty-ass information," I think as I step out onto the rooftop bar area and notice that it's completely shut down. I spend the next half-hour hunting my friends down and find them in the lower bar surrounding their drunken prey with two other stray dogs (guys) that I don't know. The prey looks around with her glazy eyes, but doesn't give in to the kill. I think to myself, "C'mon, you've got these claws and razor sharp teeth, and your just batting the bunny around. You don't know how to kill it." Anyway, lets just say that the bunny got away well played with, and I got buzzy. Yay.

(from left to tight: Zack "O.G. Grouch" Infanger, David "Smack Yo Biznitch Up" Bleecher, Matt "Mad Skillz" Alcala, Louie "Tip Da 40" Day, and Dom "You Best be Steppin" the Fiiznuck Back" Infanger)

Sunday: I wake up at 8:50... shit. I'm late. I am not prepared to play today. I arrive at the table laboriously schlepping my fogged mind along with me. I imbibe a coke, swallow the smile along with a Vivarin and invoke the ancient power of the wild Dingo and scratch myself. Ready as I'll ever be, I greet my players and run a good Paranoia game. Everyone laughed, and everyone died. Perfect.

Mike and I take the tire off of my van, drive to around for about three and a half hours to get it to Mexicali tires. We get back exhausted, and I finish putting the tire on. Good thing too, because it's now time to run my next game.

I arrive in the room at almost the same time that the smell does. That's when I knew that this game would be truly exciting. The stench was frighteningly wrong and all seemed to be coming from this group of four people at my table. I thought I knew the butt crack crew, but I had now been introduced to its leaders. I had a blind man, a fat red head (Ed., there's always one... it's a BCC law), a gap-toothed unwashed dork who had the mind control power of "Summon Fat Whiny Autistic Woman". Oh, the humanity. I needed back up, so I asked Louie and Joey to play. Misery loves company. How should I explain the game? Seven words: Now I understand why lemmings commit suicide.

We all go back to my van (sans the Stinky Ones) and get blind stinking drunk. I don't remember much else of that night.

Monday: Very, very painful.

I hope the next con doesn't hurt so much or smell quite so bad (Ed., yeah... right). A boy can wish, can't he? (Ed., no).

President's Address

By: Zack "Bear" Infanger

First I’d like to say hello to all my friends in Quest Club. I’d also like to ask you to please give me your attention by reading through this article and applying meaningful thought to what I have to say here. Afterwards, please let me know if any of this matters to you, how so, and what your thoughts are regarding it. Thanks very much for your time and I appreciate it.

There have been over a hundred members in Quest Club at one time or another during the ten years we have been active in Burbank. Some have left due to necessity. Others have left due to choice. More still remain to this day and, new members join us often. I have made life-long friendships with some of you and have good relationships with most (if not all). I like to think that I am doing an adequate job as your president and that I am satisfying your needs within our club. I have enjoyed the last ten years more than words can do credit and I hope that our club will continue to grow and thrive for many years to come. Still, there is something missing. An element that I have not yet been able to introduce into the mix.

Many of you have asked me the question "What is Quest Club for?" in one way or another over the years. I have tried to answer this in many ways but the problem has always been that our club – for all it is – isn’t much. At this time in our history we aren’t much more than any other RPG club out there. So I often ask myself – "what makes QC special?" "What can I do to bring QC into greatness?" Sometimes I wonder if that is even possible or, if that is even what my members want. It’s times like those that I look into the QC photo album. There I see the records of all the events and games we’ve had over the years. In those pictures I see so many of you, both past and present, that have found priceless moments through QC. It is inspiring to me and I realize that we are special and we can make anything happen.

I know that there are some of you out there that look to QC for nothing more than a game. Then there are others (like Dom, Chip, Dingo, others and myself) who seek to gain more out of it. All the talk about "breaking up the clicks", improving unity, stamping out flakiness of members (especially officers), and stopping the drifting away of members, has prompted me to think real seriously about the direction of Quest Club. So, to borrow from the movie Jerry Maguire, think of this as my "Mission Statement".

When I started this club all those years ago, I hoped to build a brotherhood. I wanted to belong to something. Not someone else’s ideal of fraternity but my own. So I set out to create Quest Club – an organization that revolves around my favorite pastime – role-playing games. I hoped to attract other people that not only shared in my love for gaming but also wanted to share in my vision for a great organization. I hoped that in ten years I would be the president of a large social club that has it’s own clubhouse, van or bus, lots of money for incredible special events, tons of tangibles, and a sense of brotherhood that rivaled college fraternities. As you well know I have failed to attain that stature thus far.

I contribute much of that to faults of my own. For one thing, I haven’t dedicated enough to making it happen – I’ve been lazy. For another, I lack the business sense and knowledge to make the money we need to attain this goal. Finally, I haven’t seriously sought out others who do have that knowledge and determination to help me gain those lofty goals. In addition, my failures have permeated a sense of apathy and melancholy that has thus far blocked any opportunities that may have already come knocking at our collective door. I’d like to change that now.

As president of this club it is my duty to oversee the operations of all aspects therein. It is also my duty to make sure that each and every member of QC is dedicated to, contributing to, and benefiting from our collective works. As of today I plan to make those two directives substantial. My first action towards this commitment is to ask all Quest Club members to consider what it is I am aspiring to and ask yourselves if this is what you want as well. Since this may be the defining statement for what I hope is our club’s future I feel the need to clarify my goals.

I want all Quest Club members to cherish the brotherhood we have. I want every member to make it a top priority in his or her lives. I want every member to do all they can, use all the skills they have and all the resources available to build QC into a thriving organization comparable to other major clubs (such as the Kiwanis Club, the Masons, or at the least a big college fraternity). I want to exclude anyone who does not feel comfortable with these goals, does not want these things, or is "just looking for a game". In essence – I feel that Quest Club is ready to move beyond the phase of being a simple gaming club and enter into being a real solid force.

I do not yet have a plan of how to make this happen but I want to work with those who agree with me on figuring a way out to get these things for us. I want to recruit new members who have skills, talents and other resources we can use towards these ends. I want to examine our current membership to determine which of us have these kinds of resources and how we can best use them. It is my hope that if we all make a solid commitment to Quest Club, we will be able to come together and accomplish our goals by next year. The benefits we could harvest from such an endeavor could be phenomenal.

This is not a power trip and I do not want to be the overlord of Quest Club. I want to see my club prosper – no matter what it takes. To stress how serious I am about this, I want to make it known that I am fully willing to step down as president of Quest Club and act as a board member if someone else steps up who can lead us better. In turn I expect all of my fellow officers to be willing to sacrifice their positions in the same manner. That’s what I believe it’s all about – commitment and sacrifice for the betterment of the club.

You now know where I intend to take this club. The rest is up to you. Is this what you want or am I completely off your line? Are you willing to do what it takes to belong to this club or will you be leaving us? I know that there will be some of you that say "this isn’t what I signed on for – I’m not into Quest Club this much" – I understand. It is thinking like that that has allowed this club to remain mired down in obscurity for ten years. I don’t fault any of you for it. It’s my own fault for allowing the club to slip this far away in the first place. Still, this would be a perfect time for you to look for a new gaming group to play in if that is the way you feel. The Quest Club I envision will not cater to lax attitudes such as that. However, I also know that there are some of you that feel the same way I do and are willing to work for this, our common ideal for Quest Club. Those are the people I want to be associated with. Then there are you others who will continue to hang on but do nothing. I am confident that as Quest Club grows and matures you "hangers-on" will either fade away or be jolted into action and truly become part of our club.

Our club has gone through many changes just as all of us have done. For all the changes we still have not attained solidarity. I truly hope and fully intend for this motion I am making to become the makeover that launches Quest Club out of idleness and into greatness. I hope all of you will join me in this and really take a hand in YOUR club’s future. I look forward to hearing from you on this. Thank you for your attention, time, and consideration.

Sincerely,

Zack Infanger – President of Quest Club.

Q.C. News

By: David "Dingo" Bleecher


(Samurai and Geisha girl and my wannabe Japanese writing)

Live Role-Playing, Bushido Style

By: David "Dingo" Bleecher

We've had a bad track record of them lately, but I'm looking forward to the next live role-playing game with anticipation. The reason? It's based on feudal Japan, my favorite part of history. There was a far more interesting power structure than most European societies, and an interesting caste system. From top to bottom the society had a place for everything. The most famous of the codes was the Bushido. Most people involved in this game will have to follow this code closely.

Bushi means "Warrior" and Do "the Way". Bushido was the Code, the Way of life of the Samurai. The Samurai were warriors which used to practice Bujutsu (Bujutsu = all fighting methods of the Samurai). Bushido was for years the most important part of the education and studies of the Samurai. Budo developed itself gradually taking its resources in the mortal war techniques of bujutsu. Later on, in a trial to group all Bujutsu principles to a more easily understandable system, the code of the Bushido was summarized to the five following main requirements:

Fidelity (Chûgi)
- fidelity towards master (lord) and fatherland
- respect towards parents, brothers and sisters
- assiduousness, steadiness

Politeness (reigi)
- respect and love
- modesty and correct etiquette (formality)
Virility
- valour, courage and bravery
- hardness and coolness
- never lose self-control
- patience and endurance
- promptness (always be ready to fight)
Truthfulness/Veracity (Makoto)
- sincerity and straightforwardness
- sense of honor and justice
Simplicity
- simplicity and purity

With a code already in place to base your fighting characters upon, this should be a very good live role-playing game. I look froward to seeing what Brian and Kevin come up with to honor the rich Japanese setting.

Teresa’s Birthday List

By: Teresa Infanger

Hi there guys, this is Teresa wishing each of you a happy birthday.

March

Chris White 3-3

Markie Infanger 3-16

Matt Alcala 3-24

Teresa Infanger 3-31

 

April

Wade Harlan 4-5

Dom Infanger 4-18

Lewis Day 4-22

Special Events

By: Dom Infanger & Zack Infanger

March 25th: Sorry to do this to you but I need to schedule a board meeting for Thursday night, the 25th (2 days!). The meeting will be held at my house at 7pm. It is being held to discuss some direction issues, collect dues, handout Player's Tourney modules to GMs, and hopefully hand out the newsletter. I NEED Kevin, Dom, and Dingo there. I'd like it if Brian can show as well but understand if he can't. The rest of you are expected as well but proxy is acceptable. The meeting should be wrapped up by 8pm.

March 28th: Sunday; Players tournament at 'We Be Games' $0 for members and $3 for non-members. This should be a hell of a good time.

March 29th: Kevin's running a 1 nighter (Rifts I think from 6pm-12am), give him a call.

April 2nd: We are going to have a fund raiser, I think it's going to be another taping call Kevin for details.

April 10th: Brian's running a GM training session, you know what to do :)

April 18th: Sat picnic from 10am till whenever. bring friends and family and stuff to eat.

April 27th: I'm starting a new game, runs every other Sat from 12pm-6pm or so. D&D if interested call Dominic.

May (21st - 24th ): This will be the first con held at the new hotel. Quest Club will be attending this con as usual. I need at least four GMs to volunteer to run games at the con. If you are a QC GM or are aspiring to be a GM, this is a good opportunity to get some play in. Also, it is a good way to support QC. All GMs who volunteer will get a free badge, crash space, and a QC only Game room. In addition, I will pay each of you 1 million dollars.

If you're interested in helping out and going to this con, please contact me ASAP with your confirmation, the types of games you want to run, how many games you want to run, and what times/days you want to run them. Thanks for the support.

PS: If you are interested in being on "Team QC" for the tourneys at the con, please contact Brian and/or I as well. There may or may not be a team at the con depending on member interest.

 

Campaign Updates

The next newsletter will come out on May 15th . GMs, please be sure that your new updates are in by May 1st at the latest. Those who don’t will be given a campaign update from the twisted side of my imagination.

 

"Soth"

By: Dom Infanger

This journal is being kept in case I do not make it back to my people in the ‘Azure’ forest. I am called Hulk the by humans and until a week ago I only knew a simple life with my mother the Forest and my father the Sun. I was the watcher of my people and we did not know about this place masked in ‘Mist’, only the life of the forest and an occasional group of treasure seekers and hunters. While chasing a fire bringer out of our home I noticed the smell of the common fog changed and become cold and unnatural. As I slowed my pace I lost track of where I was going and as the fog cleared I found myself standing on a beach with rolling grass plains and a small forest in the distance. I felt the earth was no longer my friend and soon saw several crickets hopping around the plush grasslands, but this did not make sense and no other creatures (not even birds) were within my sight. I soon found that the crickets would explode in fire if touched and that would bring even more crickets to the noise.

I swiftly headed for the forest and tried to find out where I was and how I got here. After two days a small group of strange ‘humans’ came to me for help in killing a man. I am normally peaceful, but this knight called Soth spoke of a way to get me home. He seemed to know his way around and I just had to try any way I could. Through there Pagan magic we flew for several days. I saw that there were many lands other then the one I first found and each one seemed very different than the others. We met someone called Magnus and he seemed to not like Soth but was still willing to help us as he hated the man we were after. Even with the extreme lack of leadership qualities this ‘Soth’ shows, we were able to make it to a town that should help us get to this man we must kill. I have many misgivings about killing a creature without knowing it’s guilt and from the looks of Soth’s men I don’t know who should be punished. After much searching (and bickering within the party) we found the hide out of this evil man. For if he were not evil he could not truly survive here. Marching through his maze like castle we found our way to the main chamber. Much like a thrown room but with less taste. The egos flared as we came into the room filled with wizards. I noticed all of them begin casting as we entered and began to find a better place to stand. Unfortunately my ‘friends’ were not that fast (which seems to be only one of their problems).

Magic the likes I have never seen were unleashed upon the poor souls, however they were all still standing as the smoke cleared. I was most impressed (and a little let down to be honest). The battle carried on for almost an hour as we tried many things with little success. Our ‘noble’ leader, Soth, merle tried to hack his way through the room with as much success as kissing them (which he may have preferred). I was able to get to Soth and offer some advice, at which point the battle turned for the better. We began to team up on one wizard at a time so as to limit the spell choices of his teammates and more quickly achieve our goal.

Trying to get to the master was as hard as picking a flea from the middle of your own back. We did finally catch him off-guard, and with luck, stop him from getting away. After a little clean up (and much healing to those able to still stand) we found our way home and were granted prizes of great fortune. However I happily turned them all down to just go home and be rid of the sick and perverse beings I was forced to travel with for almost 2 weeks. It is a hell I shall never forget. May this simple journal help goodly creatures to never suffer the pain or mental drain of knowing those I have spoke of .

--The Mighty Hulk

 

Evander’s Journeys Visits:

Taj Teblaw

(Realm of the Knife)

"Did I ever tell you about the time I spent on the other side of the coin? In a land where the humans, elves, and the dwarves are not dominant? No? Perhaps then, this story will interest you. Come. Sit by the fire and bring your wine. I will tell you of the Orc world of "Taj Teblaw" – the Realm of the Knife. Who am I you ask? I am Evander; scribe, mage, explorer. Born of a world long gone, destined to travel the multiverse in search of epic adventures to record.

"I was first drawn to Taj Teblaw by songs I had seldom heard before – those of the Orc nation. Yes, it’s true that many realms in countless worlds have heard the rough and rugged, almost revolting "dis" harmonies of orc tunes before but none like this. For the first time their songs declared victorious order. For the first time, harmony flowed along with the words. These were not the ignorant voices of barbarian hordes for which most Orc races have come to be known throughout existence. No, these voices sang of greatness and treasured history. When I parted the fog shroud separating me from this intriguing new realm, I had entered a place where Orcs had long been the dominant race. Humans, Elves, and Dwarves it seemed, were the interlopers. They were invaders of this new land. The Orc race has risen above others and has created a well-organized, efficient militocracy. The Orc military rule is absolute. Most crimes are punished by death and those not of the warrior class are looked down upon. As with many other Orc nations, the strong shall survive. The strongest of all becomes "Tavo-Sa" (Leading General of the Realm). In this age, Dekkell the Humanfoe is Tavo-Sa of Taj Teblaw. Dekkell attained the title recently by defeating the previous leader – Grotan.

For the last twelve years, Grotan had ruled Taj Teblaw. As Leading General of the Realm, Grotan saw his share of war. Most notable was his campaign against the Glocklan Dwarves. That war secured hundreds of prisoners and captured the Gnome city-state of Macbelly which, had been previously allied with and protected by the dwarves. The three-year campaign included as many subterranean engagements as it did surface battles. When it ended, the dwarves were beaten and forced to retreat into their mountain home, where they remain today.

After the war, Grotan spent most of his time fortifying the borders against possible incursion from the humans or the elves. In his time he came to be known as "The Stonemason" due to the back-to-back building projects he managed. Grotan used dwarven prisoners and gnome slave labor to build the Lur-Dech Wall - an intricate and colossal stone ring that surrounds and protects the Orc capitol. He also increased the empire’s naval forces five fold, used dwarven and gnomish skill to develop firearms, strengthen fortresses, and maximize the advantages of siege engines.

While I am sure that Grotan’s efforts have created priceless advantages for his nation, others such as Dekkell were not. Dekkell led a sizable party of officers and their troops against Grotan in a bloody civil war. Dekkell’s faction claimed that Grotan had grown weak and feared to return to war. That, they said, was the reason he spent all his time building instead of crushing the humans. Maybe, but I don’t think so. When the civil war broke out, Grotan fought as hard as any other on the field. The war was violent, costly, and quick – having ended abruptly when Grotan was cut down at the battle of Chun-Dab. Having lost their leader, the Imperial forces suffered a major hit to their morale. When the priests of Larthan (the Orc’s God) refused to raise him, the war was over. From that day on, Dekkell was Tavo-Sa of Taj Teblaw.

Dekkell immediately declared war on the humans and elves when he became Tavo-Sa. Despite the ravages of civil war still affecting his country, Dekkell has moved against the enemy, mostly by sea thus far. The humans have responded by attacking sporadically along the borders. Ironically, it is the defenses built by Grotan that have repelled all assaults to date.

Orc offenses have been minor, consisting of pirate attacks on human and elven ports and raids on border towns. Dekkell has realized that his forces need time to recover and has called off a full offensive. Dekkell truly hates humans though and a full-scale invasion is eminent. The humans are aware of this and looking for ways to prepare. Talk is of sending a small team into orc territory to gather information. I intend to follow that group and see how they fare against these most unusual adversaries – the Orcs of Taj Teblaw.

JUXTAPOSITION

By: Corbin Ebert

The encampment remains still and quiet, just as it has these past three weeks of traveling. The few human guards on watch make the only sounds that erupt from the forest of tents that spring up every night. But inside one of the tents, a slightly human form stirs and tosses in it’s only version of sleep. Sweat flows in beads from his forehead down the creases of his aged face. Expressions of fear and curiosity race across a face accented by pointed ears. If only someone else were in the same tent, seeing the private battle raging in the adroit mind of Xixlin. If only they were there, they might notice that something was wrong. If only...


The gentile hiss of a spear zooming by jars me to attention, and I find myself standing in a clearing with my magical staff in hand. With the quick look required for battle, I see the scurrying of marauding orcs. A small smirk comes over my face for I've faced these predators before, and I know their weaknesses and their strengths. Something nags in the back of my mind; something about not bringing my magical staff on this expedition and also about what I was doing before the spear came at me. I whisk away those thoughts; I’ll pay attention to them after my business is done.

Power surges through me as I expel missiles from my fingertips. That warm feeling of power tingles through my body and half of me feels exuberance as the missiles unfailingly connect and fell four of the prey. The others from the troop are still fighting nearby, but they all appear hazy. So hazy I cannot identify them. What’s this?... Why am I standing still? Am I being paralyzed by some magic? What in Smoska’s insanity is happening??? I can think and see, but why can’t I move? Now I see my holy symbol glow a warm blue hue. Iklun is here. My body now moves in a steady stride toward the fallen orcs. I fight with all my might to regain control. To make my body do what I want it too... Why am I fighting? This is my God. He saved me from the doom of the tower; he is my salvation. I must not fear him or fight him. He will lead me to the greatness. With that thought, I opened my body and soul to Iklun. My new self gets to the orc bodies and inspects the four. I see my body pick up two of the orcs. The others are dead, but these are still breathing shallow. I can only observe as my body drags them off to a private clearing. I begin setting up, and in seconds, everything is in place. Again, the nagging in my mind tells me this preparation should have taken a half-hour. But, my mind is still racing to observe exactly what my body is doing.

Inside the makeshift pentagram carved into the dirt, the orcs were laid down. My hand reaches into the folds of my robe and pulls out a wooden dagger. I’ve never seen this before, but this is my workmanship...

The dagger is beautiful... The whole body and “Blade” is made out of teak and gives off a majestic burgundy hue. But, the shaft is what really grasps my attention for I’ve carved a half moon into the shaft and a skull as a counter weight. With Iklun’s dagger in hand, I plunge it into the chest of the first orc and give it its last breath. I’m startled at the brutality of this, and again I fight. I have no control as my body pulls out yet another dagger of the same design and the glowing symbol of Iklun. Again I plunge the dagger into the heart of the other orc, and I leave it there just as I had done before. Then I place my skull holy symbol within the pentagram with the skull’s eyes staring at my victims. With that, my ritual is almost complete... Now I ignite the wood surrounding the bodies and quickly the blaze consumes the flesh of the dead... All while my symbol glows fiercely.


The daily bugle rings through my ears and snaps me out of meditation. I instantly feel the sweat on my face and back, and realize I’ve tossed and turned myself away from where I originally bedded down. I immediately scramble for the holy symbol within my pack, just in time to see it’s already faint glow dim into the cold metal it had always been.

 

Crimson Cutlass

"Stories from Terra Firma"

This episode:

The Word of God

Miguel angrily snatched up the bamboo stick lying on the table beside him and worked it under the bandages on his leg for the seventeenth time today, vigorously scratching at his irritated skin and mumbling vulgarities all the while. "Maybe I could scrape just a little more out of that salve jar", he thought. Perhaps, but Miguel had long since thrown the empty bottle across the room. His physician and shipmate Jean-Claude, should have been here two hours ago.

"Regina!" he howled. "Any word from Jean-Claude?"

"No. None. Do you want me to go find him?" His wife answered.

"Yes! I’m out of ointment and my leg is killing me! If you can’t find him, bring someone else for Christ’s sake!" He whined.

The sound of the villa’s door closing indicated that she was off. Miguel went back to scratching his infernal leg. "If I had only moved a second faster" he thought, "That cock-eyed turk would have caught the bullet instead of me!" Miguel continued to whine and moan for another half-hour until he heard the door and knew his wife had returned with help. Regina entered Miguel’s room accompanied by a tall man dressed in a well to do waistcoat and pants ensemble.

"I couldn’t find Jean-Claude so I brought this man from the Cordova Inn" Regina explained. "He says he’s a doctor from Madrid."

"Madeira actually" the stranger corrected. "My name is Antonio Scappelli and I am a trained physician sir."

"Great, do you have any salves that stop itch?" Miguel asked.

"Ah, yes. Let me take a look and see what I can do."

Doctor Scappelli carefully removed the bandages from Miguel’s right leg and inspected the wound. The doc was obviously startled a little when he saw it.

"You have been shot, sir!"

"Really? I thought a mosquito had bitten me." Miguel mocked. "Are you a doctor or what? Haven’t you ever seen a gunshot wound before?"

"Well yes… I mean, no…" Scapelli stuttered. "What I mean is – yes, I am a doctor but no, I have never seen a gun shot wound before. I usually treat simple bumps and bruises. I work mostly with a higher class of people in Madeira-"

"What in the hell do you mean by that you fop?!" Miguel scolded.

"I, uh, didn’t mean anything. I just… well… didn’t expect-"

"It’s allright." Miguel assured the doc, "I’m not offended. I wouldn’t want to be counted among the aristocracy you’re use to anyway. I got money. I got fame. But I worked for what I have. It wasn’t handed to me by anyone."

"My deepest apology… what should I call you, sir?" The doc asked.

"My name is Miguel Alonzo".

There was a brief pause as doctor Scapelli looked at Miguel with a sort of reverence.

"What?" Miguel queried.

"Oh, I’m sorry about that, it’s nothing." Scapelli said and then quickly returned to his work on the leg.

"Careful doc!" Miguel whipped, as Scapelli accidentally jolted the leg. "The bullet broke my leg when it hit."

"Oh! Sorry about that El Mago- I mean, Mr. Alonzo." Scappelli stammered.

"So, you’ve heard of me." Miguel stated with a sort of smug contentment.

"Only what they have told me down at the Inn, sir."

"Please, call me Miguel. What are they saying about me at the Inn?" Miguel asked.

"They tell me that you are known as ‘El Mago’ because you have slipped out of certain death time and time again. They said you have just returned from fighting the Turkish pirates out in the Mediterranean Sea. That you and your crew are bold and brazen privateers."

"I see." Miguel replied.

"Excuse me sir but is it true?" Scappelli asked.

Before answering, Miguel looked around his room for a moment reflecting on how he had come into all this wealth over the last couple of years. The glass doors to the terrace were open and a pleasant breeze began to blow through the room, offering welcomed relief from the otherwise hot day it had been thus far. After taking in the pleasant air, Miguel returned his attention to Scappelli, answering his question with one of his own.

"Are you a religious man, Scappelli?" Miguel asked.

"Of course, isn’t everyone? I go to church every Sunday and sometimes on Saturdays as well." Scappelli answered. "Why?"

"Have you ever questioned?" Miguel added.

"What do you mean?" Scappelli asked.

"Have you ever wondered if the church really knows God’s will? Haven’t you ever wanted to know if what you are doing is what God wants you to do or if it’s just the way things are thanks to man?"

"No. I would never question the church." Scappelli answered plainly.

"Antonio. You don’t have to watch your tongue with me. What we say here stays here, right?" Miguel assured and, at the same time informed Scappelli.

An obvious moment of doubt ran across Scappelli’s face as he thought about Miguel’s questions and, his honest answers. Speaking out against the church could be considered as heresy and treason. If either of them was to tell the church of this conversation, they could both end up in the hands of the Spanish Inquisition. Scappelli was apprehensive to answer but realized that his manner had already betrayed his true beliefs. So he threw caution to the wind and openly answered Miguel’s question.

"Yes, I suppose I have questioned. Who hasn’t?"

"That’s what I thought you’d say." Miguel added with a wry smile. "And, since I know now that you won’t go running to the church with my sins on a silver platter, I’ll answer your question."

"What you’ve heard is true. I am ‘El Mago’ – the Magician. I am the pirate people talk about here in Cadiz. I have sailed all over the world and have always returned here. The people of Cadiz are my people. They care for me and I for them. When I return with a ship laden with gold – they get a share. When the Barbary Corsairs raid the coast – I protect Cadiz. I have been out to sea for more years than I have ever been on dry land but now I think it’s time to retire and live like those rich bastards you’re use to caring for - especially after my last voyage."

"Your last voyage?" Scappelli asked.

"Yes. My last voyage was dark and treacherous. A journey of the soul as much as it was of the sea. Do you want to hear about it?" Miguel offered.

"I would be honored to hear such a tale!" Said the wide-eyed doctor.

"Well then, let’s move downstairs and have a bit of dinner while we chat. My leg feels much better – thank you. Give me a hand on the stairs, would you doctor?"

So, off they went to the dining room where Regina laid out a spread of Olives, cheese, fresh breads, sweet meats, and wine. Regina always loved to hear her husbands’ stories of the sea. As night was coming up fast, Regina lit some candelabra and the three settled in – filling their bellies as Miguel told his story.

 

A New Era

A Star Wars Campaign

By: Brian Hudson

 

Unfortunately, Brian did not submit a Campaign update. But, he was warned of the consequences in the last Questorian. Now, behold the wrath of Dingo's Sick and twisted imagination:

I am called Slobber Boy, and this... is my story.

Raised by a pack of six wild lesbians in the wild forests of Endor, my childhood was one of frustration and bitch slaps. I was forced to watch the debacle of lesbian lovemaking well through my teens, which as it happens, is the time that I earned my name. It was either that or "Little Tampon"... but I don't want to go into that story.

At the age of 18, or thereabouts, as no one knew my true age, I was exiled from the pack to find my own way. Outside of going down on my various mommies when the others were out hunting, I had no survival skills. I was scared and alone, I cried a lot, then masturbated, then cried some more.

On my second day out, I was lucky to stumble upon a small two-legged furry creature. All I had to kill it with was two partially used suppositories and a pointed stick. But, upon seeing my arsenal, the creature surrendered. That night, next to my custom made rotisserie, I had my first amazing taste of the succulent food that is roasted Ewok. A slightly disturbing observation came to me as I chopped the little critter into bite-sized pieces. It's feet looked quite a lot like mine. And also, though my nose isn't quite as flat as I noticed its' was, I had the same type of facial features. "Oh well," I thought to myself as I sawed off its right hand, "it's probably nothing."

After many weeks of hunting Ewoks and growing stronger on their tender flesh, I was becoming complacent. This couldn't possibly be all that life had to offer... there had to be more. It was time to explore the world, and maybe find out more about my heritage in the process. For I am Slobber Boy, and my name will be known to all.

Out on one of my weekly Ewok hunting excursions, I stumbled across a strange structure. It looked somewhat like one of my mommies' breasts when she was lying on the ground, but without the nipple. Well, my mommies' always told me, "Never let a good boob go unexplored." And, by ItchieCoochie, Goddess of the Underbrush, I wouldn't!

After avoiding the shiny white creatures around it, I climbed to the top of the big black boob. At the top, I found that there was a nipple, if a very small one, poking out from the center of the big boob. I tentatively licked at it, and was surprised to find that it tasted like metal. Running my tongue along the length of the metal-like nipple, I almost jumped out of my skin as the side of the nipple moved and a little red button popped out. "Strange," I thought, "That's definitely not where that's supposed to pop out of."

Coming to the realization that I was dealing with an alien species of lesbian, I did what any good lesbian would do, I licked with strong pressure against the aroused red button. Then something really weird happened... the side of the nipple opened up completely. I knew that I was in risky territory now since my mommies always bitch slapped me if I ever even contemplated coming inside, but I didn't see any hands coming for me. Was this a test? I decided at that moment, it was time to prove my manhood and defy my mommies' hard-learned lesson. I went all the way into the hole. It slid closed behind me. This wasn't anything like I thought it would be. It wasn't even sticky... "I will soon change that," I decided while grabbing my "evil-bad-yucky-man-stick". Until...

Red lights started flashing, and a screaming sound, not unlike my mommies' in the middle of the night but a lot louder, erupted all around me. " If this is what happens," I contemplated," no wonder they never let me come inside". Right then, a rumbling permeated the inner chamber of the alien boob, so I sat down and didn't move. I felt an extreme pressure for a long time, and then I seemed to be floating.

I was amazed and flabbergasted... I was in the middle of an alien lesbian multiple orgasm! This is how my mommies always explained it was like, too. I just stopped being able to think for a second when I got an orgasm and felt really weak, and they said, "That's because you're a weak and pitiful man-thing that can't ever experience a real orgasm, now lick my butt crack clean Slobber Boy!" Well, who's in the middle of a multiple orgasm now, huh? Oh sorry, got sidetracked there for a second. When the feeling of movement seemed to dissipate, I jammed my thumb in my butt, and thanked Wowicantbelieveitsnotbutter, Queen Goddess Extraordinaire of Multiple Orgasms.

Many days past as I sat inside the big nipple waiting for the orgasm to completely subside so that I would be allowed to pull out. I survived on the scraps of Ewok that I had left and drank from the water in my wet sack. Out of nowhere came a hard pressure that slammed me into the inner wall of the nipple. I could barely move. It seemed to go on forever, and Smackypaf, Goddess of Playful Restraints, knows that I can't take another orgasm. All of a sudden it stopped, and the nipple opened up again.

Light poured in and I was momentarily blinded. I heard the sounds of alien voices and slowly started picking out the shadowy shapes looming over me, and I knew that I was about to receive the biggest bitch slap of my entire life...

 

 

To be continued (unless of course Brian gets his act together)...

-David "Dingo" Bleecher

 

 

The Role-play world news:

This section will try to highlight some of the stories circulating around the world regarding our role-playing games. It is hoped that you will write in response to these stories. If you do, we will publish your answers in the following issue.

The Matrix vs.

Johnny Pneumonic vs. Neuromancer vs. Shadowrun

By: David "Dingo" Bleecher

Just by the title of this article, you may have figured that there is a definite similarity between all of the above. In case some of my readers don't read much science fiction (unlikely as I know that is), William Gibson is the premiere writer of cyberpunk novels. The following terms were coined by him and then by everyone else.:

AI- Artificial Intelligence. Completely freethinking. Restrained only by the laws of the Matrix.

Chiba City- A city based completely on the technological black market. Very much like a futuristic vision of Hong Kong. Also known as the "Sprawl."

Black ICE- An extremely dangerous artificial intelligence security system around protecting classified information of only the military and the richest of the rich.

Decker Cowboy- A person who is extremely good at hacking into different networks, taking pride in the ability to slide past ICE. The more complex, the better.

Derm- A strong drug administered by sticking it to the skin.

Doll- A hooker who rents her body to a whorehouse and has her memory turned off through cybernetic implants during the actual work period.

Flatline- A human psyche basically Xeroxed onto a hard drive. Usually done to high ranking company officials. But sometimes to less desirable members of society (i.e., cowboy deckers).

ICE- Information defense systems used by companies and banks to keep hackers out. Sometimes deadly.

ICE breaker- A program, usually military, made for the express purpose of sneaking past, and sometimes destroying, ICE.

Jacking In- Plugging into the matrix, usually through cybernetic hardware.

Matrix- The futuristic version of the internet. Instead of being type commanded, it is completely visually driven. It is home to all of the information in the world, in constant motion.

Street Samurai- A person, who through extreme cybernetic implanting, has amazing strength, reflexes, and hidden weapons all throughout their bodies. Usually used as bodyguards or hitmen.

Although there are many other terms, you will see these popping up through all of the titles listed above. Unfortunately, the writers of Hollywood have nowhere near the talent of William Gibson in creating or even recreating pieces in his universe. The role-playing games touch on the visceral, unreal quality of it all, but are only as good as the G.M.'s running them. The Matrix is opening on March 31st with the unfortunate mishap of a broken condom named Keanu Reeves in the lead role. Try to count the number of times that these terms come up and just remember the richness of the universe that they've stolen from when you watch this, and remember the originator of it all.

 

 

 

Movies a la Dingo

By: David "Dingo" Bleecher

 

Ravenous

This movie is set in 1846, near the end of the Mexican-American War. A cowardly soldier has just been promoted to major after accidentally ending up behind enemy lines and taking decisive a base single-handedly. At his honorary dinner, he has flashbacks of drinking the blood of his fallen comrades as it falls into his mouth whilst he played dead. The look of his steak combined with his appetizing memory cause him to puke.

Somehow, this is considered to be a career ending act by the general, and he is exiled to a fort far out to the North. Then the movie gets stupid, backed by one of the worst soundtracks I have ever had the misfortune of being within a ten mile radius of. If I ever feel the need to torture someone to the point of self-cannibalization, I now know two notes on a banjo that can do it inside of two minutes.

I won't lie, I enjoyed some of the scenes in this movie with glee, but they were few and far between. There were holes through this film so large that I thought that John Holmes had been reborn and was cornholing the editor throughout the cutting process. Bottom Line: See in a matinee, but only if "Little Princess and the Magic Silver Dildo" has sold out.

Beatnik’s Corner

Somewhere in Hell's Kitchen

The change is over, The Task complete

Then why can't I stand this heat

Not even in hell's kitchen, where could I be

Sometimes it's hard not to be blind when you don't want to see

What to choose, what to lose

Which is the option I would not abuse

As my own, I am alone

Being so lost, can I find my way home

The path is so dark, but I paved it that way

But if I sit to long, I will decay

Forage forward, it's your move

Why am I paralyzed, I have nothing to prove

This is all so secondary, what must I do first

Find myself, my tension threatens to burst

Leave the lost, find the found

Losing life, Homeward bound

It is always so complex in its simplicity

Not as simple as this conformity

I don’t want to be abstract to this work of art

But I can't paint my life unless I start.

-Matt Alcala

 

Night Well Spent

Sinuous spin begins thoughts of past sins Sensuous skin, seductive grins, sultry thighs and the promise within.

Fantasies beckon by the second, offering more than reckoned

Sad to see them kept in, willfully repressin’ and learning my lesson

But that’s the way of it with fantasy keeping me constantly intrigued

Who’s to say what will be intrinsically conceived by my mental relief

As I pour words like verbal chords falling from the mouths of bardic lords

Spilling on the floorboards of my primal core, opening the restrained door

Primal I may be by eventuality and teasingly letting the beast free

But the ladies I see moving sexually before me have always held the key

Eyes sharpened like knives, cutting away thoughts of wives and stressful lives

Wallets empty in ones and fives, dead passion revives itself in their thighs

It's hard to watch dreams stream by and almost seem

To want me … raising my self esteem and deeming me part of the dream

It's a pleasant part of the suction of seduction and the reduction

Of the junction that brought me to this induction of inflection

The heart never beats slow at Hollywood-A-Go-Go, it just flows

From want to need, from show to show, getting trapped in emotional undertow

And lovely ladies smile with their lovely masks, and I bask … never ask

Or take them to task; I just drink of their cask taking them in flask to flask.

-David "Dingo" Bleecher

 

Blind Mask

Send the servant, and the pain

Pain the tyrant, finish the reign

Rain of filth, guilt the sword

Sword pierces soul, breaking the ward

Ward against evil, vile damnation

Damnation of morality, sick violation

Violation of purity making amends

Amends with my enemies, enemies friends

Friends of the faithful, ending the strife

Strife seems eternal, rebegin life

Life is naught, more than he must

Must be divine, humanity is just

Just another trial all must pass

Pass into eternity, shattered like glass

Glass, transparent is the soul

Soul of the lost, heart stole

Stole the mind, reap the fear

Fear the knowledge as it draws near

Near the goal press the task

Task begun, time for a new mask

-Matt Alcala

Quest Club’s Bargain Basement

Yet another Battle Mat wanted!

Seeking: ¼" square grid mat, with or without numbered squares (prefer numbered squares). Willing to pay up to $25 if in good condition (maybe more for numbered mat). Call Zack at (818)-559 – 5377.

My bookcase has fallen and can’t get up!

I am looking for bookcases, couches, tables, and other second hand furniture. Willing to pay fair price but money is limited. Will trade magic items and experience points J . Please call Zack at (818)-559 – 5377.

Un-Stuff the QC "Bag O’ Stuff"!

The Quest Club "Bag O’ Stuff" is bursting with RPGs, computer games, tapes, books, CDs, and more! We must make room for the new 1999 stock so come on down and make us an offer! We’re practically giving them away! We must be CRAAAAAZZZZY! First come first served, almost all offers accepted.

Desperately Seeking Susan… Wong

Beautiful Asian woman wanted. Must be intelligent, sexy, and like buku big men! MONEY IS NO OBJECT (at least for now). Willing to marry for green cards. If interested please call Dingo at (213) 813-2316, **50 and number.

That’s a Wrap!

That’s it for this issue of the Questorian. I for one, hope you have enjoyed it and found it’s contents useful. If it has been worthwhile for you, please contribute to the creation of the next one and, help us to increase its readership (the more eyes on this – the more on QC). Leave Dingo (me) a voicemail at (323) 769 3799 or email submissions to me at dingo773@ix.netcom.com

Tell Us What You Want!

If you would like to see anything in particular posted in your Questorian (like chicks), please let us know. If you have any ideas on how we can better the newsletter (like with chicks), increase readership (like nude chicks), or decrease efforts / costs (by getting chicks to write it). Send those to us as well.

The Questorian

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