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From: lmaher@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Owner of a Thirsty Heart
Message-ID: <2400072@uokvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 01:06:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uokvax.2400072
Posted: Fri Oct  5 01:06:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Oct-84 05:59:58 EDT
Lines: 71
Nf-ID: #N:uokvax:2400072:000:3503
Nf-From: uokvax!lmaher    Oct  5 00:06:00 1984

I  have a character with a problem, and  I'd  like   to   solicit
the   net's  advice.   If  the  matter   sparks discussion,  even
better. Either post your solutions or send me mail and I'll  post
a summary to the net (really!).

The extremely squeamish may wish to skip  this.   But  then,  how
many FRPers are squeamish?

First, a little background.  If anyone wants further details I'll
be happy to post them.

The characters involved are Danielle  and  Garret,  elven  twins,
raised  out  of  the  company of other elves.  Their only friends
were twin Uruk-hai, of the same age.  Dani's a druid  and  Garret
is  an  Illusionist/Thief.   The  two  Uruks  are  Outlaws (Anti-
Rangers, if you will).  All are more or less 4th level.

The foursome was hired to investigate  bandits  in  the  southern
mountains,  on  the  other side of a huge wall that keeps various
nasties in the south.  Once beyond the  wall,  the  four  decided
instead that the poor Goblin masses only needed proper leadership
to form a very effective fighting force.  They overthrew the evil
human  leadership  of one of the Orc groups, and organized the 60
orcs, 5 ogres, and 2 trolls remaining.   With  this  force,  they
intended  to  start  a  snowball  effect,  culminating in a jihad
against the humans to the North.

Through superior tactics, their force killed  two  very  old  red
dragons,  and  looted their lair.  No casualties, but 5 Orcs were
killed in the brawl for  the  loot.  Garret  killed  one  of  the
Dragons by himself (as a 3rd Level) - admittedly VERY lucky.

The Dragons had earlier slain and robbed  a  heavily-armed  force
that  had  been  transporting  a  black crystal heart.  The Uruks
wanted to find out what it was (they're very materialistic),  but
obviously  Dani  or  Garret  would be a better choice.  With some
trepidation,  Garret placed the heart (which  was  on  a  Mithral
chain)  over  his  head,  and  in  a  few  minutes it faded away,
replacing his own.

It gives  substantial  power  to  the  user,  including  enhanced
strength,  dexterity, constitution, charisma, regeneration faster
than a troll, extended life 100 seconds beyond 0 Hitpoints  (with
no  ill effects if healed back above 0 before the extension is up
- Regen doesn't  work  then,  unfortunately),  The  user  (owner?
bearer?)  is  invulnerable  to  poison  and disease, never tires,
never needs food, sleep, or other sustenance.

It has one serious drawback.  It cannot be removed, and the  user
must  drink  5  pints of elven blood each 24 hour period, or die.
His own blood doesn't count, as it has already been  consumed  by
the heart.  Five pints will seriously weaken and probably kill an
elf, as it would a human.  The nearest elf colony is  across  the
mountains,  several  days march away. It seems very unlikely that
there  are  any  elves  closer  than  that  (with   one   obvious
exception).   Dani and Garret have never met any other elves, but
they know there are elven forests to the south.

So what does he do?  I'm    interested  in seeing any   solutions
or  discussion.   Especially  comments on whether  it  is  better
to  die  than  be corrupted,  or  whether  hope is more important
than  morality, or anything else anyone wants to say.  Preferably
post, but  if  you mail  please  indicate  whether  you mind if I
summarize and post your reply.

I've got several ideas, but I'll post  them  later  on  to  avoid
influencing your suggestions.

	Carl
	{allegra,ihnp4}!convex!ctvax!uokvax!lmaher