THE GATE

The trip through the portal into N'Ferra proper and to The Gate is
uneventful. Arriving at the city of Farpoint, the crew disperses. Do you
want to stay on the ship, explore on your own, or go with someone else
on the crew (please say who if you're going with a crew member)?

Explore a bit.

The cargo the ship is picking consists of books, seeds, and high-bulk
products.

During the time in town the captain purchased a new map, and intends to
use it instead of one of the common routes to get through the
constellations and into the inner sphere.

After walking around for a bit you are approached by an attractive young
woman who offers to sell you some information about protecting yourself
from thieves in this city. She says the information will be worth what
you pay for it.

I say "I don't have anything worth stealing on me, other then a small
amount of pocket money. No thanks"

She says, "Suit yourself," and walks off.

After wandering around for a while, nothing more interesting has
happened. (Unless you're looking for something in particular.) Late the
next day you depart Farpoint, and the captain informs the crew that he
picked up a map which should cut travel time through the constellation
sphere by 10%.

Would you like to do anything at this point?

No.

A half-day's travel through the constellation, the ship runs across
trouble.

Without warning, the ship slows to tactical speed. The captain orders
the lookout to find where the body is that slowed them. After a few
minutes, the lookout reports, "Small bodies at 12 . . ." and then six
Lon burst over the rail from below, "o'clock."

Flame shreds the sails, and a lightning bolt strikes the gun crew down.
The ship lurches and three more Lon (wearing chairs on their backs!)
plunge from above, one of them grappling the lookout on the way down.

What do you do?

I hide, and try to avoid trouble...

You try to hide yourself under a pile of rope, and yourself lifted into
the air by your collar.

You're twisted around to look into the face of a light Lon. She smiles
(you make your fright check), and tightens a metal band around your
wrist before dropping you.

After a short while the Lon have completely conquered the vessel. Though
a couple of the crew are injured, there weren't any deaths. Two Lon (one
of them the Lon who captured you) remain aboard the vessel, directing
the helmsman. The remaining Lon are left behind. The ship's crew is (and
you) are chained in the hold until you arrive at your destination (about
36 hours).

Once out of the hold you can see you are in a tight cluster of small
earth and fire bodies. The local temperature is warm and you notice new
scorch marks on the sides and deck of the ship. There is an established
dock, but no other ships. You and the rest of the crew are taken off the
ship, where you are separated from the other crew members.

A Nurha leads you to a room on the main asteroid, saying nothing,
regardless of what you do. In the room is a chair, and a Gennen seated
behind a desk. The Gennen speaks to you. "Please be seated. It is my
duty to find out how you may best fit into our community. So please
answer my questions fully. Do not try to lie, you will not enjoy the
results."

"Is there anyone who would be willing ransom you?"

"Not really."

"What is the nature of your skills and training?"

"I'm trained as a Bard."

"How old are you?"

"I stopped counting at 14."

"Have you been tested in capacity for magic? Psionics? Meta-powers?
Initiation?"

"Yes, and no, I don't have any of that. I'm just a git."

"Have you been trained in any of those areas? What about Alchemy?"

"Not really. I know bits and pieces about them, but I'm not trained in
any of them."

"Why were you aboard the captured vessel?"

"I was headed back to the inner sphere."

"What were your duties?"

"To never stay in one place. I'm a git. If you mean on the ship, nothing
in particular. I was a spare hand, brought on as a general hand."

"Where have you traveled in the past?"

"All over the N'Ferra. I'm a git, as I said."

The questions are barked out quickly. The first time you pause, the
Gennen says, "Unresponsiveness is not good." and moves on to the next
question.

After the Gennen finishes writing down the answers to your questions, he
looks at you and says, "You are now a member of the hoard of Vanklyesee.
Please her and you shall prosper. Displease her and you shall die. Walk
warily until you understand the ways of your new home."

"I will now answer a few brief questions from you."

"Mostly, I'd like to know how long my term of service will be; I'd like
to leave this as soon as is possible without offending you; remember,
I'm a Git, and I've got an Oath to never stay in one place."

That is up to your Mistress. When she determines you are trustworthy,
you may go.

If you have no further questions, here are the instructions for reaching
your Mistress's abode.

(When you go outside, you are greeted by a rain of flower petals, and a
bunch of people looking at the sky in astonishment.)

I just move along.

The town is made of several small asteroids linked by living vine
bridges. Most of the people tend to be very subdued, except for the Lon
who are even more arrogant than normal. All your possessions other than
your clothes were removed when you were captured.

You have instructions to reach your "mistress's" home. What do you do?