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Here comes a new challenger! (Er, wrong game.)
Posted by Tommy Tanaka on 7/26/2000, 1:10 am
206.230.48.254
James sat in front of his computer, watching it slowly boot up. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 played in the background. As the Windoze desktop came into view, Peter Tuddenham's voice came from the speaker: "All systems are functioning normally." "Thank you, Zen," he responded automatically. Far too many icons appeared on the screen as he thought about cleaning up his desktop again. "Well," he muttered, "let's see how much email I've got today." A couple of minutes later, "Hmm, only 178. Slow day. A hundred new messages on GURPSnet, discussing how to design an Interstellar Colony Ship and how bad the new Tolkien movie will be. Sixty-eight Amber List, Can The Hulk beat Gerard? News at eleven. TikiList complaining about Amber List and discussing minutia of British Law. More PBEM activity, and my Mom wants to know if I've gotten my hair cut yet. Yep, I've got a full life."
He almost turned off his email without reading it when he noticed one message had an attachment. "Oh good, maybe I get to flame someone," he thought to himself. "Odd, it's from Dstar. He usually knows better. Oh, it's that bit of code he wanted me to test for him."
Double-clicking on the file, he had just enough time to think "Wait, that isn't Dstar's address" before his display collapsed into a whirlpool of colors. One bad 80's Hollywood special effect later, he found himself in a forest glade.
Standing up, he ran his hand through his short red hair. "Still not used to that," he thought to himself. He noticed the crowd milling about talking and testing their new toys. "Hello, can anyone tell me what's going on here? I'm feeling rather like Arthur Dent at the moment."
"Welcome, Gamer," came a quiet voice from behind him. Turning around, he glanced down at the balding gnome in red. "Ah, DungeonMaster, maybe you can - DungeonMaster? What the hell?" The content of the other conversations finally registered, as well as the familiar faces. "Er, I'm in the Realm? Okay, either this is a predictable dream brought on by too many D&D Fanfic and those conversations we had at DDCCon -" here he turns around and shouts at the group -"which you all should have been at and we had lot's of fun! -" and turns back to DM -"or I'm really here. Either way..." He paused speculatively and looked at DM.
After DM had gone through his usual spiel, James looked down at himself. He was wearing a Chinese green silk shirt embroidered with gold dragons, simple black pants and soft leather boots, also black. "Hey, I recognise this outfit. This is my most recent description of Tommy's clothing." He looked at his arms. "Shorter than I'm used to. Darker skin, less hair, no freckles." He tries to pull his hair down in front of his eyes. It doesn't reach. "Hey! Can anyone tell me what color my hair is? Red or black?" Several people shout back red. A couple respond "Yes." "That's my line," he mutters. "Okay, that would make me Tamahome Tanake, son of Fiona. Why?" DungeonMaster grins. "That is the current incarnation of your alter-ego, isn't it?"
James/Tommy nods. "Okay, you've got a point. Not a full answer, but a point." He looks at the crowd again. "So, do I get a Weapon of Power too? Or are you going to handicap me like so many other GMs do?" DM chuckles. "Oh no, Gamer. You have your Gift already. It is within you."
"Whatever that means. Okay, this would be the point where you disappear before I can ask any clarifying questions, right DM?" But he is already gone...
