The scenario: Shandor Cutpurse, Prince of Beggars and an Heir of Skull Craig, is exploring the beachside emporium in Port Cuidad, a settlement in the Wild Lands. He is accompanied by Ezdura Dairen, who is another Heir, and Elmoor the Undying, a Wizard of no fixed ability. They seek the Monks of Krull, who are believed to be hiding within the emporium and who may be able to help Shandor find one of the Things of Memory needed to defeat Mogador. Our three intrepid explorers have found a seawater grotto, which they need to traverse to continue their quest. Shandor activates a mechanism which brings golden blocks rising up to the water's surface - these will allow them to cross the water. Here is an excerpt from the email describing what happened next:
> The cubes rise from the grotto floor. As they do, a red kraken > approximately 60 feet long also rises up from its place of concealment > on the grotto floor... > > KRAKEN: "I am the guardian of the grotto. To cross to the alcove by > use of the cubes you must first answer me this riddle: > > YOU CAN HOLD ME, BUT NOT IN YOUR HANDS. > YOU CAN BURY ME, BUT I WILL ALWAYS COME BACK. > LETTING GO OF ME MAKES YOU FEEL LIGHTER BUT YOUR WEIGHT WON'T CHANGE."
These events, and the subject of the email ("PBEM: In the Grotto"), prompted me to compose the following lyrics (the original is, of course, Elvis' "In the Ghetto"):
IN THE GROTTO As the water splashes On a cold and gray Port Cuidad mornin' A poor little 60' kraken is born In the grotto And his mama cries cos if there's one thing she don't need it's another hungry mouth to feed In the grotto People, don't you understand the kraken needs a helping hand or he'll grow to be a stygian horror some day Take a look at you and me, are we too XP-hungry to see, do we simply raise our swords and hack and slash away
