Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 3 Chapter 13 Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 14:29:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Campbell Subject: Re: AAE3-Some direction On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, L.J. Wolfe wrote: > And all four of them suddenly *shift* about 90 degrees from > everything else in Quaren... > She finds herself in a lush English mansion, with blank-eyed > servants bustling about, and her link to the natural forces that > empower her muted to the tiniest of resonance. She is > unceremoniously dragged to a cavernous room with a number of > unsavory toys, and quickly chained to a rack-like device, except > that underneath her are a strange set of rollers, and around her > neck a choker of crystal is clasped. Her resonance cannot be felt at > this point, and even her link to the others is weak. > She tries reaching out to her companions. <#* Roscoe? Xzerrion? > ROLAND? *#> At that point, there is a response Gaunt could not have anticipated, never having dealt with the powers of the House sigils before. <# Morgan? Where? I need more power ... #> Xzerrion drops out of contact momentarily, and reaches back, drawing deeply through his sigil, his eyes flickering red and his face reflecting his struggle to keep the dark magic under control. > Meanwhile, on Quaren... > > *"MORGAAAAN!!"* Roland roars, charging toward the spot from which > she was abducted... > Even through the weakened link she hears this, and knows that her > dear sword-brother won't rest until he finds her. > <*Roland, NO!*> Morgan virtually shouts, using the only portion > of the link Gaunt has left to her. <*It's a trap! He's using _me_ to > get to _you_. Don't....*> She gasps in surprised pain as Gaunt's > mental "thorns" rake across her flesh again. > Unconcerned for herself, knowing that, between her training and > the gift given her by Titania and Oberon, she can withstand almost > torture Gaunt can inflict, her fear now is for her sword-brother. > She knows that Roland will risk any danger, defy any warning, for > someone he loves. > And she knows this is exactly what Gaunt is counting on. <*# Roland, Morgan ... I can ... track in through the sigil link. Morgan ... concentrate on the sigil ... focus through the central gem ... I can follow that. Roland ... follow my line to Morgan ... take me with you ... I've gained more power since we last met, I may be able to help. #*> > <*Brother, I _know_ you're doing this for me, but think how I'll > feel if _I'm_ the instrument of your defeat. You're playing into his > hands! Please, PLEASE, if you insist on doing this, get _help_!*> > She allows the edge of tears to creep into her mental 'voice', to > add weight to her plea. > > Roland stops, his heart breaking. Every instinct screams for him > to run to her, to shatter Gaunt's soul and incinerate this unholy > place. But he also knows that there is a chance he will fail. > *I'll find a way to bring the others,* Roland sends. *I promise.* > His knowledge of the Warping chakra increased since he began his > travels, he retreats into the wound in reality, forcing his will > upon it, slowly undoing the knots in space and time... As the strain increases, Xzerrion drops from the sigil link. <* Roland, I can link back in to find her. Remember the short range transdimensional gates I used to follow Stranger once. If I bring the link back up, I can do that again. Just somebody give me a center to link to, so I don't lose control of this thing. *> =========================== Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 14:35:39 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Campbell Subject: Re: AAE3-Some direction On Mon, 9 Jun 1997, Roland X wrote: > Roland nods, his mind racing with plans as he > begins to concentrate on combining his limited ESP > with his photokinesis. > *Maybe if we turned invisible...no, he'd have > to be ready for that. Teleportation is out of the > question-Gaunt would have prepared for it on the > faint chance the Controller didn't. It's definitely > time for that 'covert' stuff... > *Dhyrclhanc, we could sure use you about now.* > (OOC: This is all before a certain dramatic > entrance, of course.) Xzerrion grins wickedly. `Roland, how much does Gaunt know about my talents? I could play a few games with illusion disguises and extradimensional spaces ...' =========================== Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 14:48:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Campbell Subject: Re: AAE3 -- Be vewwy vewwy qwiet, we're about to go hunting Gauwnts! On Mon, 9 Jun 1997, Martin Gerster wrote: > /Interesting, Gaunt's fled to Earth but he's left a false > trail somehow. I'm reading two presences in 16th or > 17th c. England *and* two presences in Pre-Civil War Southern > America. He's better than I gave him credit for; there's no > way for me to tell which is the real trail and which is the > red herring. The Question is -- which to we try first?/ Xzerrion's eyes narrow. `He wants to play cute, I can do cute. Somebody link in with me, and hold here. I'm going back into the sigil link. Gaunt shouldn't be able to anticipate this one.' Xzerrion takes his house sigil out from under the tunic and focuses on the pattern of gems, his mind going deeper, then deeper still. <# Morgan? I know you can hear me. Concentrate on my voice, concentrate on the sigil. I can find you through this link. #> Xzerrion's face tightens, but this time he doesn't back out of the link, instead drawing deeper into the dark magic than he has gone in a long time. <# Morgan, we're coming. You can resist him, use the power I gave you. Just give me a response. #> Anyone linked with Xzerrion feels a presence at the edge of his mind, something dark and demonic. For the moment, it's being held off, but if this continues much longer, the results are uncertain. =========================== From: gamer@host.yab.com Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 16:44:23 -0700 (MST) Subject: AAE:revisions#3 As the nightstalker in front of Driss falls, Driss's curse has already kicked into first gear to repair the punctured lung and severed intestines. But he hasn't time to pay attention to that as more of the nightstalkers appear behind the first. The smell of blood is fresh and near adn drives the beasts into a rage in their hunger. One stops to chomp on the corpse of its brethern right in front of it, but the other two charge the nearest moving target, Driss. "You know, sometimes it just feels like I'm wearing a big kick-me sign on my back," he quips as he dodges teh bite of the first one by flipping up over its snout and in landing, plants the heels of both boots right between the monster's eyes. It gives out a howl of rage, but is cut short as another nightstalker trying to chomp down on Driss bites into the first nightstalker's head instead. Driss pauses as he lands on the ground and smirks, "Boy don't they just make a grand family picture?" He realizes teh hard way that the pause should have waited as the tail of one of the nightstalkers impacts with his head, shattering bone and sending blood flying. Morgan cries out and begins to move to Driss's aid, but Driss stands and cries out to her, "No! don't do it! You'll be killed. I can handle this! STAY BACK!" It's hard to believe him with the side of his head caved in like that but the choice is taken from her as Roland's fury begins to push back the beasts. Driss plops down on the ground and pants while his head seems to expand adn re-form like a baloon being inflated. Looking up at Morgan he speaks in a soft tone, the cocky overconfidence of a few moments ago gone without a trace, "Morgan, there's things about me you don't know. Things I couldn't tell you before. As you can see, I'm not human. not anymore. I'm am immortal. it's one of the reasons I had to leave. Things... Things like this, "he gestures tot he dead corpses littering the ground, "Happen to me all to regularly. As an immortal, I can cope with this. They can hurt me, but they can't kill me. But if I had stayed any longer with you in scotland, they would have found me, and as a mortal, you may verywell have lost your life. I wouldn't have been able to live with that. It's not the only reason I left but if you'll just give me some time and a chance I'd like to explain things furthur to you." Everyone heads to the meetingpoint: Driss steps out from behind Morgan and Roland as they approach the rest of the group. Those seeing him start for a moment thinking he is the God, but the aire is wrong, the energy isn't there. Driss's eyes move from person to person until in shock they stop on Blacky. Blacky's hand moves in a blur and three daggers plant themselves at Driss's feet. "I thought you might like thossse back sssomeday ssso I sssaved them. You remember them I hope. They were the onesss you nearly killed me with when we lassst met." Driss looks down at the daggers, then studies a particularly intersting bush off to the side. "That was a long time ago Blacky and not a time I'm particularly proud of. I was crazed with power. You and Orag were just doing what you felt was right. I've grieved often for him." "Asss have I. Ssso, what happened Drissss? The Harlequin God on vacation?" Driss looks up again at Blacky, shock and horor evident in his face. Blacky gives out a long hard laugh. "I rode with you for too long for sssuch a thing asss a masssk to hide you from my eyesss Drissss. An Assssasssin who can be fooled by disssguisse is a poor thing indeed." Driss sighs, "Yeh, well, I....give up the power eventually. In this time, the Harlequin still lives." Puzzlement crosses Blacky's face and Driss elaborates, "I'm from about 200 years in teh future. I gleamed bits of the adventure from the minds of Roscoe and Argent when I was the Harlequin God, and the memories of myself being here is what brought me to help. If it doesn't make too much sense, don't worry, it doesn't to me either. I'm just kind of playing this all by ear." =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 00:25:02 -0700 From: Gareth L Owen Subject: Re: AAE3 -- A Dramatic Entrance (Very Long!) (Sorry!) Martin Gerster wrote: > In the midst of his companions-in-arms; the CAoL, > Dhyrclhanc smiles one of his unforgetable smiles and > uses his "Sentinel's Ring" to "blink" his brass > cigar case out of the dragon-sized, metal-weave, duffle-bag > on his back. Removing a cigar, and turning his > ring so the "business-end" is cupped in his > palm, he lights the stogie and places it in his mouth. > > Then, Dhyrclhanc asks, "So, what time do the Fireworks start?" "Nice entry, or should that be re-entry?" The Stranger =========================== Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 20:54:11 -0500 From: Michael Jon Knight Subject: AAE3 - LIMBO (Part 3) + a bit of OOC first. Mike sits grumpily behind his computer, thankful that he has a second account. On a whim, he tries dialing into his normal server, Smartnet, to discover that it is up and running. Checking his email, he sees several posts from the AAE list, plus one he sent earlier from the secondary account as a test to see if this account was receiving mail. Everything seems to have gotten through. He also notices Morgan has kindly forwarded his email to the list. "Y'know," he thinks aloud, "Every time I send Morgan email asking AAE posts be forwarded to my CMSU account, this account gets back on its feet. I think I had better be sure and have all the AAE posts sent to that second account. That way, I can just go in once a week and erase all the mail and still know I have a backup when this one dies...which it seems to do once or twice a month." Mike types all this into an email, and cuts and pastes the final installment to the LIMBO series. "I hope all this skipping back and forth in the story hasn't confused anyone. First came LIMBO, then came the review of the REVISIONS#1, then Knytt giving Crow the Apple Newton with all the behind the scenes stuff on it. Lessee, then came the SOME DIRECTION post, which stuck the DRAMATIC ENTRANCE in near the beginning. OH, and WAY before all of this, before Knytt even arrived in Callahans, there was the BEFORE posts. But those were just to tell where Vincent came from and set up the Mahloy character. I am sure that's as clear as mud, but what can ya do? Anyway, on with the final installment of LIMBO..." -------------------------------------- KnightShift threw a large switch and the drill bit began to spin. Knytt stared in horror as the drill inched its way towards the bridge of his nose. He couldn't move. Will shouted furiously, but Knytt couldn't hear him. His entire world was that drill bit inching closer to his head. He only heard the sound of the motor. He only saw the drill crawling ever closer. Sunddenly, there was an explosion. The rest of the lab became visible to Knytt again. But, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "We are the Borg, You will be assimilated. Resitance is futile. We will use the technology you have developed to further enhance us. We will use the regenerative process to further perfect us." A dozen borg were fighting to break through a line of the robot aliens. KnightShift was screaming for the Borg to halt, that they were under his command. Will was picking the cage lock. Vincent's voice was suddenly in Knytt's mind. /{Sorry to take so long, but the Borg are not very trusting. As soon as the Robot and I were out of hearing range, we managed to take out our guards. In searching for you, we stumbled across the Borg. This is the last contingent. Other than this dozen, the Cybermen and Borg wiped each other out. The Robot and I have managed to secure the command deck. We located an auto destruct for all of KnightShift's guards, Alien, Borg and otherwise. Now, if Mr. Robinson would hurry and get out of the cage, you can be rescued from the machine. Then we can take out the competition in one fell swoop.}/ /{Good work, Vincent,}/ then aloud, "Will, get me outta this thing!" Will finally managed to open the lock and sprinted across the lab to free Knytt from the table. Knytt flung the drill arm away from his face and sprang off the table. Will and Knytt ducked out a side door as the Borg finally defeated the last of the Alienesque robots. As the door closed, Knytt sent one word to Vincent... /{NOW!}/ A dozen charges exploded as the last of the Borg were destroyed, taking the lab with them. The ship rocked as every robot KnightShift had gathered from across the dimensions exploded similtaniously. Hull breaches were sealed quickly as the two robots systematically shut down non-vital areas of the ship. Will and Knytt entered the library where they had first met KnightShift. Will picked up his jetpack and blaster, where they had fallen. Will had not been wearing the pack when he fell into the room, having opted to sling it over his shoulder. Knytt picked up the multipurpose machine gun. They heard a small noise from an antechamber. Opening a pair of mahogeny doors silently, the pair peered into the dimly lit room. KnightShift, minus the holographic disguise, was hunched over a keyboard. "This can't be happening! There was no prediction that said this possibility existed! How could I have been defeated?" On a large monitor in the opposite wall, scrolled the computer's reply: HUMAN ERROR: KNYTT AND WILLIAM ROBINSON SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT THE PLANET QUAREN. THERE WAS NO DATA FOR SUCH A COURSE OF ACTION. THEREFORE, HUMAN ERROR. "What will happen now?" UNKNOWN KnightShift suddenly felt the cold barrel of Knytt's rifle against the back of his head. "I think I know," Knytt replied. KnightShift stammered, "You can't kill me! If you do, there will be no future for you! You will be haunted knowing you can't escape the fact that you will turn into me." "Well," Knytt replied, "There are a few problems with that. First, time is not linear, it can change. You may be *a* me, but you are not *me*. Second, we are both human. Outside of the Time Lords, there is no way a past and future version of the same person could come into physical contact without a massive release of energy. I am no Time Lord." Knytt slams the palm of his hand into the back of KnightShift's head, shoving KnightShift's face into the keyboard. Knytt resumes his stance, gun barrel to KnightShift's head. "And as you can see, there was no release, other than a bit of blood from your nose. Third, you said Vincent and I had been a nuisance to you before we even realized it. Vincent has not left the TARDIS until now. And I have certainly never met you before. There is only one person who we could have been a nuisance to, and I thought he was dead. But you're not, are you Mahloy? Tell me, who hit you with the ugly stick, hmm?" "You finally have it figured out, eh Knytt? As for who made me so ugly, why, look in a mirror. *You* did this to me!" "You were fine when you escaped the Anic. How could I have done this to you?" "You remember a blonde man working with a certain group of Vorlons? A blonde man who you let fall to his death? Well, I survived that fall. I survived the explosion you created afterwards with that nitro-nine. This is the result. I can't heal this. I have held off death for a long time in order to get my revenge. And I can hold it off a lot longer." "Oh? And why am I going to let you live?" Knytt asked. "Simple. I will live because you're going to let me go. Or your sweetheart will die!" Mahloy pointed to a picture on the monitor. Knytt looked at it. "You didn't do your research, Mahloy. That girl and I broke up nearly 240 years ago." Knytt pulled the trigger. Will and Knytt left the antechamber. Inside, Mahloy's corpse lay slumped over the keyboard. The machine gun had taken the back of the head off. Something inside gave off a faint glow. A dark form shifted inside the skull and a black oily leechlike serpant slithered out. It slid down the terminal onto the floor. Gliding across the floor, it slipped under a doorway. The doorway vanished in a now familiar sound of a TARDIS dematerializing... > =========================== Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 20:29:02 -0700 (PDT) From: fuzzy Subject: Re: AAE3 -- Be vewwy vewwy qwiet, we're about to go hunting Gauwnts! On Tue, 10 Jun 1997, Paul Campbell wrote: > Xzerrion's eyes narrow. `He wants to play cute, I can do cute. > Somebody link in with me, and hold here. I'm going back into the > sigil link. Gaunt shouldn't be able to anticipate this one.' \I can handle that, and the dynamic Ballance should help you keep control, as any drift you experiance, I on the other end of the link will drift in the opposite direction.\ > Xzerrion takes his house sigil out from under the tunic and focuses > on the pattern of gems, his mind going deeper, then deeper still. > > <# Morgan? I know you can hear me. Concentrate on my voice, > concentrate on the sigil. I can find you through this link. #> > > Xzerrion's face tightens, but this time he doesn't back out of the > link, instead drawing deeper into the dark magic than he has gone in > a long time. > > <# Morgan, we're coming. You can resist him, use the power I gave > you. Just give me a response. #> > > Anyone linked with Xzerrion feels a presence at the edge of his > mind, something dark and demonic. For the moment, it's being held > off, but if this continues much longer, the results are uncertain. and Xzerrion can feel at the far edge of Fuzzy's mind something as Bright and Glorious eyeing its counterpart with disfavor... Just waiting for an excuse. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE3-Some direction Date: Tue, 10 Jun 97 20:51:32 +0100 From: Roland X Quoth Xzerrion: >> Roland stops, his heart breaking. Every instinct screams for him >> to run to her, to shatter Gaunt's soul and incinerate this unholy >> place. But he also knows that there is a chance he will fail. >> *I'll find a way to bring the others,* Roland sends. *I >> promise.* His knowledge of the Warping chakra increased since he >> began his travels, he retreats into the wound in reality, forcing >> his will upon it, slowly undoing the knots in space and time... > >As the strain increases, Xzerrion drops from the sigil link. ><* Roland, I can link back in to find her. Remember the short range >transdimensional gates I used to follow Stranger once. If I bring the >link back up, I can do that again. Just somebody give me a center to >link to, so I don't lose control of this thing. *> Xzerrion feels a tug...a gentle pulling in the general direction of Morgan. In THIS REALITY. "That way!" Roland says, pointing as Xzerrion begins to get a feeling for where Morgan is... Then the interference begins. "NO!" Roland says, adding his own energy to Xzerrion's efforts, and a center to keep from losing himself. "We _can_ do this..." And in another missive... >Xzerrion grins wickedly. `Roland, how much does Gaunt know about my >talents? I could play a few games with illusion disguises and >extradimensional spaces ...' Roland looks at Xzerrion, his expression mostly unreadable. "I am 'Freelance' because I could not give my alliance to those who hunt others for their beliefs. My kind have baan fighting mages since the beginning of our recorded history. "Of course, that doesn't make my kind _perfect_ at it..." Roland's smile begins to widen. "Tell me what you have in mind..." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE:revisions#3 Date: Tue, 10 Jun 97 21:01:22 +0100 From: Roland X On 6/11/1997 12:44 AM (?) Quoth the Harlequin God: > As the nightstalker in front of Driss falls, Driss's curse has >already kicked into first gear to repair the punctured lung and >severed intestines. But he hasn't time to pay attention to that as >more of the nightstalkers appear behind the first. The smell of blood >is fresh and near adn drives the beasts into a rage in their hunger. > One stops to chomp on the corpse of its brethern right in front of >it, but the other two charge the nearest moving target, Driss. > "You know, sometimes it just feels like I'm wearing a big kick-me >sign on my back," he quips as he dodges teh bite of the first one by >flipping up over its snout and in landing, plants the heels of both >boots right between the monster's eyes. It gives out a howl of rage, >but is cut short as another nightstalker trying to chomp down on >Driss bites into the first nightstalker's head instead. "I know the feeling," Blaze adds, slicing with superhuman speed through the dire beasts. > Driss pauses as he lands on the ground and smirks, "Boy don't they >just make a grand family picture?" He realizes teh hard way that the >pause should have waited as the tail of one of the nightstalkers >impacts with his head, shattering bone and sending blood flying. > Morgan cries out and begins to move to Driss's aid, but Driss stands >and cries out to her, "No! don't do it! You'll be killed. I can >handle this! STAY BACK!" It's hard to believe him with the side of >his head caved in like that but the choice is taken from her as >Roland's fury begins to push back the beasts. Blaze's eyes are lit by St. Elmo's Fire as he thrusts at the animals with raw energy, his sword a blur. > Driss plops down on the ground and pants while his head seems to >expand adn re-form like a baloon being inflated. Looking up at Morgan >he speaks in a soft tone, the cocky overconfidence of a few moments >ago gone without a trace, "Morgan, there's things about me you don't >know. Things I couldn't tell you before. As you can see, I'm not >human. not anymore. I'm am immortal. it's one of the reasons I had to >leave. Things... Things like this, "he gestures tot he dead corpses >littering the ground, "Happen to me all to regularly. As an immortal, >I can cope with this. They can hurt me, but they can't kill me. But >if I had stayed any longer with you in Scotland, they would have >found me, and as a mortal, you may verywell have lost your life. I >wouldn't have been able to live with that. It's not the only reason I >left but if you'll just give me some time and a chance I'd like to >explain things furthur to you." Roland watches this speech warily. An immortal himself, born with the blessing/curse, he understands...but also has told those close to him his secrets. *Your call, Morgan,* he sends. *Just ask, though, and...* Roland's expression vanishes under the facade of Blaze the warrior. > Everyone heads to the meetingpoint: > > Driss steps out from behind Morgan and Roland as they approach the >rest of the group. Those seeing him start for a moment thinking he is >the God, but the aire is wrong, the energy isn't there. > Driss's eyes move from person to person until in shock they stop on >Blacky. Blacky's hand moves in a blur and three daggers plant >themselves at Driss's feet. "I thought you might like thossse back >sssomeday ssso I sssaved them. You remember them I hope. They were >the onesss you nearly killed me with when we lassst met." Blaze's sword is out in an instant. > Driss looks down at the daggers, then studies a particularly >intersting bush off to the side. "That was a long time ago Blacky and >not a time I'm particularly proud of. I was crazed with power. You >and Orag were just doing what you felt was right. I've grieved often >for him." > "Asss have I. Ssso, what happened Drissss? The Harlequin God on >vacation?" > Driss looks up again at Blacky, shock and horor evident in his face. >Blacky gives out a long hard laugh. "I rode with you for too long for >sssuch a thing asss a masssk to hide you from my eyesss Drissss. An >Assssasssin who can be fooled by disssguisse is a poor thing indeed." > Driss sighs, "Yeh, well, I....give up the power eventually. In this >time, the Harlequin still lives." Puzzlement crosses Blacky's face >and Driss elaborates, "I'm from about 200 years in teh future. I >gleamed bits of the adventure from the minds of Roscoe and Argent >when I was the Harlequin God, and the memories of myself being here >is what brought me to help. If it doesn't make too much sense, don't >worry, it doesn't to me either. I'm just kind of playing this all by >ear." Blaze puts his sword away while Roland sighs beneath the heroic mask. "Driscoll..." he stops, breathes in, and begins again. "This is a disaster waiting to happen. I understand the desire to undo past mistakes, but by risking paradox, you can do far more damage than a dozen Controllers." /Wait...something is wrong. /Morgan?/ (OOC: ) =========================== From: gamer@host.yab.com Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 22:06:27 -0700 (MST) Subject: AAE-Dejavous As Gaunt leaves, The Controller studies Morgan with intrest. "So, You are the one who stopped my little retrebutive strike on Arcadia. After I was reformed into this body, I knew it had failed but I wasn't sure why. Well Well well. This _does_ call for soemthing _special_ doesn't it?" The Controller calls for a page adn sends the boy to fetch ten strong warriors to him. When the soldiers arrive, The Contoller has them escort Morgan down to the depths of the dungeon. Inside a small plain cell, she is placed on a metal table. Her hands adn feet are strapped down with nylon straps and if robots could smile, The controller was doing it now. He wheels in a small cart and begins setting up his equipment. Any questions Morgan may have for him go ignored. When he's finished, he turns to gloat. "Oh, I'm quite sure you have already mentally prepared yourself for the most painful tortures I could preform, but I'm not going to cause you a single ounce of pain. Quite the opposite in fact." He begins placing patches with tubes leading from them to a large tank, all over Morgan's body. "These carry a local anestetic that you will begin to feel, or should I say not feel, when I active the switch." Then he hooks up a nosepiece to feed Morgan oxygen and wraps the bottom of her head in tape sealing it closed. "Oh no, I'm not going to suffocate you dear. Don't worry about that." Next he covers over her eyes so not even the faintest bit of light gets through. "You see dear, there are things worse than pain. There are tortures that are not of the flesh whatsoever. How long can the human mind stand complete nothingness before it snaps? No sensory input whatsoever. No scents. No Sounds. No Sights. Nothing to tell you if it's been minutes or weeks. How long can you survive in such limbo before the mind turns in on itself? I guess we shall see won't we?? MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahah" His laughter is cut off by plugs being placed in Morgan's ears cutting off all sound. The Controller activates the quipment, sending anestetic and air to the helpless Morgan, then inserts an IV solution into her arm to feed her before he leaves, humming to himself. =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 00:55:23 From: "L.J. Wolfe" Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous At 10:06 PM 6/10/97 -0700, gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > As Gaunt leaves, The Controller studies Morgan with intrest. "So, >You are the one who stopped my little retrebutive strike on Arcadia. >After I was reformed into this body, I knew it had failed but I >wasn't sure why. Well Well well. This _does_ call for soemthing >_special_ doesn't it?" Morgan, still trying to find a center to start regaining her mental/emotional equilibrium, feels a cold chill at the construct's words. Multiple enemies was bad enough, but now they were tag-teaming. > The Controller calls for a page adn sends the boy to fetch ten >strong warriors to him. When the soldiers arrive, The Contoller has >them escort Morgan down to the depths of the dungeon. Inside a small >plain cell, she is placed on a metal table. Her hands adn feet are >strapped down with nylon straps and if robots could smile, The >controller was doing it now. > He wheels in a small cart and begins setting up his equipment. Any >questions Morgan may have for him go ignored. When he's finished, he >turns to gloat. "Oh, I'm quite sure you have already mentally >prepared yourself for the most painful tortures I could preform, but >I'm not going to cause you a single ounce of pain. Quite the opposite >in fact." Not as prepared for torture as she'd like him to think, and after all Gaunt has put her through, she can only stare blankly. > He begins placing patches with tubes leading from them to a large >tank, all over Morgan's body. "These carry a local anestetic that you >will begin to feel, or should I say not feel, when I active the >switch." > Then he hooks up a nosepiece to feed Morgan oxygen and wraps the >bottom of her head in tape sealing it closed. "Oh no, I'm not going >to suffocate you dear. Don't worry about that." The taping had given her a brief moment of near panic, but his calm assurances did little to ease her growing discomfort. > Next he covers over her eyes so not even the faintest bit of light >gets through. "You see dear, there are things worse than pain. There >are tortures that are not of the flesh whatsoever. How long can the >human mind stand complete nothingness before it snaps? No sensory >input whatsoever. No scents. No Sounds. No Sights. Nothing to tell >you if it's been minutes or weeks. How long can you survive in such >limbo before the mind turns in on itself? I guess we shall see won't >we?? Sensory deprivation. Morgan is suddenly glad that her mouth is taped, because it saves her having to suppress a smile. After what she's just been through with Gaunt , this is the best thing that could happen. She sends a prayer of thanks to her Gods for her good fortune. >MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahah" His laughter is cut off by >plugs being placed in Morgan's ears cutting off all sound. > The Controller activates the quipment, sending anestetic and air to >the helpless Morgan, then inserts an IV solution into her arm to feed >her before he leaves, humming to himself. With ease born from long training she slips into alpha, her mind and body relax, and after allowing a few moments of quiet for herself she starts testing her various links to her companions. At first, there is nothing, and she takes a moment to regain her center. Then she gets a faint touch, someone reaching out with all their heart and soul - her sword-brother. And _his_ sword-brother? She briefly doubts herself. Dhryclhanc? The signal strengthens, and she does indeed feel the lens-dragon's distress at her peril. The rest slowly on the lens come into focus, and Xzerrion through the old link, and soon she has a sense of the entire CAoL focused on finding and rescuing her. Time sense still working on it's own subjective basis, she rests for a while, and hopes that, if the Controller is watching, he mistakes her chuckle at his giving her the best possible gift for a sob at his "terrible torture". Soon, Morgan reaches out again. She's still weak, her sensitivities still recovering from the battering they'd received, but her inner voice is calm as she reaches out to the mind that seems to be reaching hardest toward hers. <*Roland?*> <*Brother, I'm here. I'm o.k. Mr. C. doesn't know it, but he's giving me a much-needed vacation. He's not harming me, so there's no need to rush in haphazardly. Don't take any unnecessary chances.*> She sighs mentally, relaxing in the peace and quiet. She knows her friends are there if she needs them. <*I'll be here when you get here.*> =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 10:45:33 -0400 (EDT) From: Shadow Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, L.J. Wolfe wrote: > best thing he could have done for her. She's been through sensory > overload lately :-).> OOC: Besides, Sensory deprivation is not a horrible torture when the person being tortured merely has to reach out with her mind to talk/interact with the rest of the group. :^) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Roslowski pookie@pluto.njcc.com "A million deaths were not enough for Yueh" "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." "Yeild to temptation; it may not pass your way again." "There's no such thing as 'social gambling.' Either you are there to cut the other bloke's heart out and eat it -- or you're a sucker. If you don't like this choice -- don't gamble" "Natural laws have no pity" =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 10:16:33 -0700 (PDT) From: "K. Ohanlon" Subject: Re: AAE3 -- Be vewwy vewwy qwiet, we're about to go hunting Gauwnts! On Tue, 10 Jun 1997, Paul Campbell wrote: > Xzerrion's eyes narrow. `He wants to play cute, I can do cute. > Somebody link in with me, and hold here. I'm going back into the > sigil link. Gaunt shouldn't be able to anticipate this one.' Crow, still with the Grey One at her side, still fuming at the vanishing of Darath the Black, reaches out and links with Xzerrion. "I think I know what you are planning, and hopefully my connection with the Balance will prove strong enough to counteract that thrice-damned sigil. Just don't try shutting me out again." > Anyone linked with Xzerrion feels a presence at the edge of his > mind, something dark and demonic. For the moment, it's being held > off, but if this continues much longer, the results are uncertain. Crow's face contorts in a grimace of concentration. <*Gods, I hate feeling demons in my mind. Filthy creatures.*> A snorting whinny, almost like a laugh echoes through the link. <*Don't worry, little one. If it decides to try and come out to play, we can handle it.*> As a few of the other CaoL look a bit startled, Crow smiles a rather strained smile. "Folks, meet the Grey One." -Kelley, aka Crow. (OOC: Taking a quick break from studying to try and keep up with AAE, at least somewhat. ;) ) =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 10:24:34 -0700 (PDT) From: "K. Ohanlon" Subject: Re:OOC: AAE-Dejavous Kelley/Crow gawks at the latest development with Morgan. "Wait a minute, he's trying to use sensory deprivation on a Bene Gesserit???" As she pauses for a moment to catch her breath after a giggling fit, she wipes a few tears from her eyes. "A telepathic Bene Gesserit to boot. I"m sorry, if the Controller had maybe done something to try and block telepathic transmissions I can see that maybe working. Even then there is the conneciton through the sigil link. Though doesn't that require that Morgan still have the sigil on her person? Wouldn't Gaunt or the Controller have noticed such a powerful magical artifact and removed it from Morgan's person? Even taking those away, Bene Gesserit can slip into suspended animation, have an internal time sense composed of their own heartbeats, as demonstrated by Lady Jessica, and at worst can keep themselves occupied by either chatting with their memory lives, if full Reverend Mothers, or just practice prana-bindu exercises and practice moving each muscle of their bodies, one at a time..." "Um, sorry to rain on your parade Driss. In anybody else it would be the worst form of torture. For a Bene Geseerit, it's just simple down-time...." Well, I better get back to studying... -Kelley, aka Crow. "Her eyes held endless vistas in them and she felt the flutter of wings in her mind." _Dreams Underfoot_ by Charles de Lint. =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 13:38:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Shadow Subject: Re: AAE3 -- Be vewwy vewwy qwiet, we're about to go hunting Gauwnts! On Tue, 10 Jun 1997, Paul Campbell wrote: > Xzerrion's eyes narrow. `He wants to play cute, I can do cute. > Somebody link in with me, and hold here. I'm going back into the > sigil link. Gaunt shouldn't be able to anticipate this one.' John links with Xzerrion, having drawn deeply on the sigil before and knowing it's taint. > Anyone linked with Xzerrion feels a presence at the edge of his > mind, something dark and demonic. For the moment, it's being held > off, but if this continues much longer, the results are uncertain. And at the edges of John's mind there is the everpresent Other. John feels some amusement from it, but doesn't bother to ask. It also keeps itself hidden from the dark and bright entities. OOC: Man, it's gettin' crowded in here. Xzerrion and a dark demonic presence, Fuzzy and a bright glorious one, John and the Other, and Crow with a connection to the Balance. Gonna let a battle royale start in your mind Xzerrion? :^) Somehow, I feel the demon should be cowed. Or in awe. With a hint of fear. =========================== From: Martin Gerster Subject: Re: AAE3 -- Be vewwy vewwy qwiet... & Some Direction (Long, Sorry!) Date: Wed, 11 Jun 97 14:14:54 PDT For the past couple of minutes after Roland's declaration of what happened to Morgan/Loreena, Dhyrclhanc has been frozen in place; looking like nothing else but a large, multi-colored, stone statue. Meinwhile, "illusionary" holographic display tank shatters into over a milliom microscopic peices which then evaporate into the air. Anyone trying to establish mental contact with Dhyrclhanc while he's in this state will simply recieve a telepathic signal reminiscent of a computer diagnostic program (ala Norton Disc Doctor (tm)). Finaly he comes out of this, presumed, trance. /Ah, Xzerrion, John, everybody? I've just double checked my findings and unless Gaunt is much better that I give him credit for, which I doubt, or I still don't quite have down how to use this ring, which is more probably the case. In any case, those four trails, and I still don't know how I got them, are false leads./ Then, to his "partner" he says, aloud, "Hold it Roland, before we storm into wherever the Controler and Gaunt are holding sword-sister Morgan -- wherever/whenever that is -- with both barrels blazing, I want to try one more thing." The Sentinel-Lensdragon steps back from the rest of the group and then momentarily disapears in a incomprehensibly, and blindingly, bright jade-green flash of light-energy. When the light disapears, and all of the present members of the CAoL have gotten their sight back, the "Full-Battle-Mode" Sentinel-Lensdragon(tm) stands before them. This is similar to the form that Dhyrclhanc adapted to fight the Robot Battle-Scorpion Tanks in Arcadia/Tir Na Nog. Dhyrclhanc is clad completly from head to toe, including his tail and wings, in a dark-green, almost black, suit of, technological-looking, dragon combat armor. Every striking surface of the armor is composed of, wicked looking, cerated edges and barbs. Dhyrclhanc's emerald crystal-flame, twisted-hilt, hand and 1/2 claymore, Psi-Sword is sheathed in a scabbard across his back, which is also an integral part of the armor. However, the sword seems to be somewhow more tactile and solid now than it ever did before. Also, coming over his shoulder is a mechanical support arm/brace at the end of which is the draconain Lensman/Green Lantern's Standish; a semi-portable, normally vehicle-mount weapon. This appears to be a hybrid, "over-and under", 5.56 mm, multi-barreled, mini-gun and South African Armscor semi-autmatic grenade launcher but is realy a combination rapid-fire, charged particle weapon/auto-load, specialty ammo, 15mm cannon/force-shield generator. In short, Dhyrclhanc is now loaded for Bear! /Well... at least that still works! Lead on, Roland, and I'll be sure to follow you!/ (P.S. O.O.C.: No, Dhyrclhanc does not, nor did he ever believe he was a duck! And no, I didn't know that Morgan's RL first name was Lori/Loreena. BTW, the book I used was "Baby Names for the New Century" or someything like that; I'll be happy to forward all the nitty gritty if you want it. The research was as much intuitive as it was deductive) =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 13:20:17 -0500 From: Michael Jon Knight Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous As Will, Sparky and the 'bots work furiously to track down Morgan, Knytt stands in the Imaging Chamber, waiting and straining to find any glimpse of Morgan's mini-lens link through his own. Thanks to the mini-lens, Knytt could make telepathic contact with the rest of the group. It wasn't much, but it was something. That was the reason Knytt was able to contact anyone at all, the lens. Without it, he would be stuck outside of the Universe, unable to tell his friends...hell, thay'd grown closer than friends over the short period...about what he had learned from "KnightShift's" database. The man masquerading as a future incarnation of Knytt, Mahloy, was dead now. Knytt had seen to that. He was amazed it had taken him so long to figure out who Mahloy was. His hologram had had rainbow static eyes. Knytt hadn't had those since he was carrying Kosh. It was an after-effect of trying to imprison the Vorlon inside his mind. Since Kosh had been released back on Oa, Knytt's eyes had reverted to their natural colors, the left dark blue, the right brown. But, Mahloy was meticulous in transcribing every detail he could of the events on Quaren to craft his illusion. Suddenly, Knytt's train of thought was broken as ghostly images appeared in the Imaging Chamber. Knytt concentrated, trying to bring them more into focus, but they started to slip away, so he forced himself to calm down and let the images come into shape on their own. And there, standing before Knytt, was the holographic image of the Controller... At 10:06 PM 6/10/97 -0700, gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > The Controller calls for a page adn sends the boy to fetch ten >strong warriors to him. When the soldiers arrive, The Contoller has >them escort Morgan down to the depths of the dungeon. Inside a small >plain cell, she is placed on a metal table. Her hands adn feet are >strapped down with nylon straps and if robots could smile, The >controller was doing it now. "Will, tell me you have a lock on their position." Will's reply was inaudible, but Knytt's reaction made it clear the answer was 'no'. > He wheels in a small cart and begins setting up his equipment. Any >questions Morgan may have for him go ignored. When he's finished, he >turns to gloat. "Oh, I'm quite sure you have already mentally >prepared yourself for the most painful tortures I could preform, but >I'm not going to cause you a single ounce of pain. Quite the opposite >in fact." "Don't worry, Morgan. Help is on the way." Knytt's image flickered and went transparent. "Will! Give me more power!" > He begins placing patches with tubes leading from them to a large >tank, all over Morgan's body. "These carry a local anestetic that you >will begin to feel, or should I say not feel, when I active the >switch." > Then he hooks up a nosepiece to feed Morgan oxygen and wraps the >bottom of her head in tape sealing it closed. "Oh no, I'm not going >to suffocate you dear. Don't worry about that." "Leave her ALONE!" Knytt shouts as he takes a swing at the Controller's head. Knytt's hand of course passes straight through and Knytt spins and falls down. > Next he covers over her eyes so not even the faintest bit of light >gets through. "You see dear, there are things worse than pain. There >are tortures that are not of the flesh whatsoever. How long can the >human mind stand complete nothingness before it snaps? No sensory >input whatsoever. No scents. No Sounds. No Sights. Nothing to tell >you if it's been minutes or weeks. How long can you survive in such >limbo before the mind turns in on itself? I guess we shall see won't >we?? "You-you-AAARGH!" Knytt screams in frustration. >MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahah" His laughter is cut off by >plugs being placed in Morgan's ears cutting off all sound. > The Controller activates the quipment, sending anestetic and air to >the helpless Morgan, then inserts an IV solution into her arm to feed >her before he leaves, humming to himself. Knytt paces the floor, his hands nearly tearing at his silvery hair. He looks at Morgan lying on the table. "Don't worry Morgan, we'll think of something..." Knytt turns and begins another fit of pacing. "We'll think of SOMETHING..." but Knytt doesn't sound all that sure... =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 13:38:15 -0500 From: Michael Jon Knight Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous At 12:55 AM 6/11/97, L.J. Wolfe wrote: >Soon, Morgan reaches out again. She's still weak, her sensitivities >still recovering from the battering they'd received, but her inner >voice is calm as she reaches out to the mind that seems to be >reaching hardest toward hers. <*Roland?*> > ><*Brother, I'm here. I'm o.k. Mr. C. doesn't know it, but he's giving >me a much-needed vacation. He's not harming me, so there's no need to >rush in haphazardly. Don't take any unnecessary chances.*> > >She sighs mentally, relaxing in the peace and quiet. She knows her >friends are there if she needs them. <*I'll be here when you get >here.*> Knytt, feeling Morgan's relaxed ease about her current predicament and hearing her message to Roland, grins wildly. "I have *really* got to read _Dune_!" Knytt collapses into relieved laughter. =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 16:36:40 -0400 (EDT) From: Shadow Subject: Re: AAE3 -- Be vewwy vewwy qwiet... & Some Direction (Long, Sorry!) On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, Martin Gerster wrote: > Dhyrclhanc is clad completly from head to toe, including his tail > and wings, in a dark-green, almost black, suit of, > technological-looking, dragon combat armor. Every striking > surface of the armor is composed of, wicked looking, cerated > edges and barbs. Dhyrclhanc's emerald crystal-flame, > twisted-hilt, hand and 1/2 claymore, Psi-Sword is sheathed in a > scabbard across his back, which is also an integral part of the > armor. However, the sword seems to be somewhow more tactile and > solid now than it ever did before. Also, coming over his shoulder is > a mechanical support arm/brace at the end of which is the draconain > Lensman/Green Lantern's Standish; a semi-portable, normally > vehicle-mount weapon. This appears to be a hybrid, "over-and under", > 5.56 mm, multi-barreled, mini-gun and South African Armscor > semi-autmatic grenade launcher but is realy a combination > rapid-fire, charged particle weapon/auto-load, specialty ammo, 15mm > cannon/force-shield generator. In short, Dhyrclhanc is now loaded > for Bear! > > /Well... at least that still works! Lead on, Roland, and I'll be > sure to follow you!/ John, having reengaged full silence mode before all this occurred, forget to turn the loudspeaker off. So the group is treated to a blast of "Oh shi" then a hand hits the speaker button. The top hatch off the tank is quickly undogged, and John's furry body hurtles out of it. Stumble-Leaping off the tank he does a forward roll to the feet of the Lensdragon. Standing, he bows, "I am honoured to meet you, Sir Dhyrclhanc, and would like to talk to you a moment before we leave." Directly to the dragon, /*I have need of a favor. I have been told that you have given everyone here their current mini-lens linkage. I have need of a mini-lens, but of one not tied into the surrounding linkage, if that is possible. If not, could you tell me everything you know of the lens and how it works? I had hoped to ask you this at a more private setting, but events keep moving along at a faster and faster pace. I may not get the chance later.*/ Having concluded his talk with Dhyrclhanc, John turns to the rest of the group, "I have also a gift for any who wish it." Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a handful of silver coins. "Using the leap spell earlier, I'll combine it with certain spells of my own devising. It will result in coins similiar to those made earlier, but will appear when you need them in the possesion of your enemies. They will be tied to you and will make their presence known, and a simple mental commmand will activate them. They won't be able to be used to track you or affect you through them in any way. However, I can only make one for each of you, now. You won't get a second chance. If you choose to take one, they will only come when your need is great, and you must choose whether or not to use it. Oh, they won't be active for a period of several days or weeks. My knowledge of what happens is not the most precise." OOC: In other words, they won't be able to be used for most, if not all of what's left of this adventure. =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 16:27:16 -0700 (PDT) From: fuzzy Subject: Xzerrion, Links, John, And Fuzzy On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, Shadow wrote: > And at the edges of John's mind there is the everpresent Other. John > feels some amusement from it, but doesn't bother to ask. It also > keeps itself hidden from the dark and bright entities. > > OOC: Man, it's gettin' crowded in here. Xzerrion and a dark demonic > presence, Fuzzy and a bright glorious one, John and the Other, and > Crow with a connection to the Balance. Gonna let a battle royale > start in your mind Xzerrion? :^) Somehow, I feel the demon should be > cowed. Or in awe. With a hint of fear. The Link Fuzzy set up to Xzerrion is of the Group Working Variaty (John was taught this by Fuzzy), Which means Shared Power, Crow Probably Knows this, as it is commen for team rituals. If John joined Fuzzy's Link, The Other could not actually Hide. If Crow Joined Fuzzy's Link, Then we have Two extremes and a center point. The Fun arrises when the realization that all members of the working link have access to the powers of the Group hits. Due to Fuzzy's Dynamic Balance issue since his return, Fuzzy or the group will have to find use for equal and opposite energy to any biased energies used by the Group. \Well, There is an interesting side effect.\ As Fuzzy starts to leak Blessed energies into the local area. Fuzzy starts shapeing the Blessed Energies into Bubbles that seek and Mutually anihalate with Undead. Of course if the Demon tries to take over it will end up fighting its exact, Blessed Counterpart, Lots of Fun in the area... =========================== From: gamer@host.yab.com Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 16:37:38 -0700 (MST) Subject: AAE-plots and Plans Driss's eyes have changed slightly from their normal sparkle and his tone of voice is now all business. "Ok, We can track Morgan down. We have that covered. Now we have to figure out what we're up against and how we're going to handle it before we go running off half-cocked. Even without as strong a link to her as the rest of you seem to have, My knowledge of Quaren can give me insights in tracking her you don't possess. For instance, if she _is_ still in this kingdom, they would want to place her somewhere well guarded. You've already shown that a noraml gaol is not suitable for imprisonment of one of you." "If we need them, we do have Onan and Rockhead asss well," Blacky puts in, "Onan isss an Elemental Mage. All we need to do isss call out for him into the wind and he and Rockhead shall come asss fassst asss they can." Driss looks around at the assembled group, "This group nearly leveled a city earlier, and now they have a tank and a Dragon adding to their aresnal. Somehow I doubt a mage and a Dwarf would be needed." Blacky sighs, "Drisss, Drisss, Drisss. You alwaysss were overconfident. You should never sssacrifice an advantage or count on a sure victory" Now it's Driss's turn to sigh. "Ok Ok OK lecture over? we have Onan and Rockhead if we need them. But first we need to find Morgan to see if we need them. Like I was saying, they will need fortifications. Misern is probably the hardest city to siege, just because its inhabitents are all undead. Kill them, and they just come back to life. Try to starve them out, and you'll starve long before. But it's also a pretty disgusting place. Now the second choice would be Dibis. It's about 30 miles south,southeast of here and acts as the capital for the government. Because fo that, most of the regular army who isn't on the border at the front lines, are housed there as city defense. The army is mostly the regular motley lot of humans and orcs and such, but there are a few of the greater types of monsters as well in their ranks. I have heard of wvyrens, griffins and even a Dragon. I don't know what to believe, but I think they do have _something_." "If they are in Dibisss, I can sssneak a sssmall non-dessscript group into the city through the assssassssin's guild." Offered Blacky. =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 16:37:48 -0700 (PDT) From: fuzzy Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous On Wed, 11 Jun 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > Yeh, but The Controller doesn't know about the Telepathic link yet. Actually it is worse than that, As long as Nemisis is carring some one connected to a telepathic link She can go straight to any other Linked entity either following by following the link through Astral Space or by teleporting if the location is known. Either way She would arrive in the same room as the destination, unless directed otherwise. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous (LONG!!!) Date: Wed, 11 Jun 97 20:32:50 +0100 From: Roland X Quoth the Lady Morgan: >Morgan, still trying to find a center to start regaining her >mental/emotional equilibrium, feels a cold chill at the construct's >words. Multiple enemies was bad enough, but now they were >tag-teaming. Roland watches anxiously as Xzerrion's spell and Dhyrclhanc's ring-trace combine with his own psi powers. *Nass! If we only knew this world better!* Suddenly he feels a cold chill... >Morgan is suddenly glad that her mouth is taped, because it saves her >having to suppress a smile. After what she's just been through with >Gaunt , this is the best thing that >could happen. She sends a prayer of thanks to her Gods for her good >fortune. Roland suddenly feels a brief, inexplicable relief, but forces it away. His sword-sister is in the hands of the Controller, because of him, and he'll be damned if he rests before she's safe again. >Then she gets a faint touch, someone reaching out with all their >heart and soul - her sword-brother. And _his_ sword-brother? She >briefly doubts herself. Dhryclhanc? The signal strengthens, and she >does indeed feel the lens-dragon's distress at her peril. The rest >slowly on the lens come into focus, and Xzerrion through the old >link, and soon she has a sense of the entire CAoL focused on finding >and rescuing her. *Morgan?* Roland sends, unsure. His part of the trace-effect wavers. >Soon, Morgan reaches out again. She's still weak, her sensitivities >still recovering from the battering they'd received, but her inner >voice is calm as she reaches out to the mind that seems to be >reaching hardest toward hers. <*Roland?*> *MORGAN!* Roland almost sobs in relief as his mind locks onto hers with ferocity usually reserved for rabid pitbulls. ><*Brother, I'm here. I'm o.k. Mr. C. doesn't know it, but he's giving >me a much-needed vacation. He's not harming me, so there's no need to >rush in haphazardly. Don't take any unnecessary chances.*> Roland chuckles through the link. *Unnecessary chances? May I remind you of that little stand you made over my body while we were surrounded by Sensenach and Drow? *Never mind. We almost have a lock on your position. Don't worry, we'll be there soon.* >She sighs mentally, relaxing in the peace and quiet. She knows her >friends are there if she needs them. <*I'll be here when you get >here.*> Roland's astral form flies toward her while he sends more of his consciousness back to his body to deal with the physical end of the rescue... Then my partner in things Oan said: >Anyone trying to establish mental contact with Dhyrclhanc while >he's in this state will simply recieve a telepathic signal >reminiscent of a computer diagnostic program (ala Norton Disc >Doctor (tm)). Blaze has to laugh softly at the idea as the concept filters through the Lensdragon's considerable mind shields. >Finaly he comes out of this, presumed, trance. > >/Ah, Xzerrion, John, everybody? I've just double checked my findings >and unless Gaunt is much better that I give him credit for, which I >doubt, or I still don't quite have down how to use this ring, which >is more probably the case. In any case, those four trails, and I >still don't know how I got them, are false leads./ Blaze frowns. "Resonance, my friend. One of the powers my kind wields. We-they-have been using it to foul mages' use of the principle of Contagion since before time was time, as my mentor would put it. Gaunt took a resonance from each of them and sent them in both hyperspacial directions. Misdirection is that bastard's specialty." >/Well... at least that still works! Lead on, Roland, and I'll be sure >to follow you!/ Blaze grins widely-then frowns with superhuman speed as he realizes he's somehow been stuck with the role of leader again. "Now wait a second-" He sighs. "We can argue this later. Xzerrion-" /*ding*/ the others think/hear as Blaze 'feels' the spell conclude and imagines an oven bell ringing. AND, quoth Xzerrion: >> <# Morgan, we're coming. You can resist him, use the power I gave >> you. Just give me a response. #> >> >> Anyone linked with Xzerrion feels a presence at the edge of his >> mind, something dark and demonic. For the moment, it's being held >> off, but if this continues much longer, the results are uncertain. *Xzerrion, you can quit it now! You and Dhyrclhanc did it! She's-* Blaze studies the holomap confusedly. Her location glows like a star, but the topography is totally alien to the Freelance Immortal. *Where the nass _is_ that, anyway?* And FINALLY *whew!*, Driscoll said: > "...also a pretty disgusting >place. Now the second choice would be Dibis. It's about 30 miles >south,southeast of here and acts as the capital for the government. >Because fo that, most of the regular army who isn't on the border at >the front lines, are housed there as city defense. The army is "That's IT!" Blaze cries, realizing what the future Driscoll said. "Look, that spot's about 30 miles south-southeast, and if my astral self is any indicator, is a thriving city!" His eyes grow hard and burn with a cold fire. "This is the last time, Controller. You've grown too many roots. This time, we destroy the weed for good." > "If they are in Dibisss, I can sssneak a sssmall non-dessscript >group into the city through the assssassssin's guild." Offered >Blacky. Blaze's golden accoutrements turn as black as the rest of his armor. A shadow would make him invisible, and the sword beneath his cloak and the cold stare under his helmet make him look like death's left hand. *It's time for me to try to learn 'covert' myself. Those of you who are less...discreet..." Blaze smiles at the Lensdragon and the hovertank. *...we can cover under Glamours and invisibility. This time, we stay together until the job is done. *Any suggestions or comments should come now. Otherwise, is everybody set?* ((Once everyone has answered in the positive...)) "Very well. Lead on, 'Blacky.'" =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 17:47:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Campbell Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous (LONG!!!) On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, Roland X wrote: > *Xzerrion, you can quit it now! You and Dhyrclhanc did > it! She's-* > Blaze studies the holomap confusedly. Her location glows > like a star, but the topography is totally alien to the > Freelance Immortal. *Where the nass _is_ that, anyway?* Straining a bit and drawing on the group link, Xzerrion holds his trace on Morgan until ... > "That's IT!" Blaze cries, realizing what the future > Driscoll said. "Look, that spot's about 30 miles south- > southeast, and if my astral self is any indicator, is > a thriving city!" <*Finally!*> Xzerrion pulls to draw his mind back out of the sigil, and feels it resist. He reaches for Crow's link to the balance, and is drawn back by Fuzzy's connection to something of the upper planes. His mind returns to his body with an audible snap. Xzerrion shakes his head to clear it, and leans on Crow's shoulder. `Gods, I hope I don't have to do something like that again soon. I can still feel the taint of that working.' > Blaze's golden accoutrements turn as black as the > rest of his armor. A shadow would make him invisible, > and the sword beneath his cloak and the cold stare > under his helmet make him look like death's left hand. > *It's time for me to try to learn 'covert' myself. > Those of you who are less...discreet..." Blaze smiles > at the Lensdragon and the hovertank. *...we can cover > under Glamours and invisibility. This time, we stay > together until the job is done. `No, not invisibility. You said Gaunt would likely be prepared for that. However, I share an ability with the house mage John fought : I can invoke fairly large spheres of darkness. That isn't as blatant magic, so shouldn't draw as much attention, and we found that darkness spells act as effective protection from some types of energy weapons. I could also shift a limited number of people to an extradimensional space, to be recovered when needed, so Gaunt will think you are foolhardy enough to go in alone.' > *Any suggestions or comments should come now. > Otherwise, is everybody set?* > ((Once everyone has answered in the positive...)) > > "Very well. Lead on, 'Blacky.'" =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 18:10:38 From: "L.J. Wolfe" Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous (LONG!!!) At 08:32 PM 6/11/97 +0100, Roland X wrote: > Roland suddenly feels a brief, inexplicable relief, >but forces it away. His sword-sister is in the hands >of the Controller, because of him, and he'll be damned >if he rests before she's safe again. OOC: Aawwwwwww. ;-) >><*Brother, I'm here. I'm o.k. Mr. C. doesn't know it, but he's >>giving me a much-needed vacation. He's not harming me, so there's no >>need to rush in haphazardly. Don't take any unnecessary chances.*> > > Roland chuckles through the link. *Unnecessary chances? >May I remind you of that little stand you made over my body >while we were surrounded by Sensenach and Drow? Morgan sends a mental smile. <*I mean think things through first. Have a _plan_, don't just come charging in.*> <*And _you_ were in more immediate danger then than I am now, brother dear,*> she grins. > Roland's astral form flies toward her while he sends >more of his consciousness back to his body to deal with >the physical end of the rescue... Morgan is briefly confused as her brother makes this split, then understands and holds her link open to act as a homing beacon for the Freelance Immortal's astral self. As she awaits her brother's arrival, something catches her attention and she runs a status check on her body. Heartrate a tad elevated? That's wrong. What.... <*Oh, that bastach is sneekier than we thought,*> she chuckles. Hearing her brother's concerned query, she sends, <*I thought he was taking an awfully simple approach. He's feeding caffine into the IV. Nothing I can't handle right now, but the doses are increasing. No, you still don't need to hurry, but the more attention I need to put on filtering the bloodstream and maintaining my biochemistry, the less I'll have for other pursuits.*> Morgan /|\ <_Now_ the Bene Gesserit training comes into play ;-)> =========================== From: gamer@host.yab.com Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 18:22:04 -0700 (MST) Subject: Aae-Dibis travelog Driss gives a little sigh of relief. "OK. Dibis. It's been a long time but if I remember right..." Blacky very un-eloquently silences Driss by slapping a hand over his mouth. Then with an almost much too wide smile on his face, "If you don't mind, *I* have been to Dibisss recently and think that would make me the better logissstics man ehh? All right then. Dibisss isss the largessst city in Misssern. Asss of lassst week it housssed 2,638 sssoldiersss. If she isss there, they will be on alert waiting for usss I am sure. The gatesss will be heavily guarded and opened only on a cassse by cassse bassiss. Magesss will be actively monitering for any magicasss usssed inssside or near the city and patrolsss will be on the ssstreetsss. However, asss Guildmasster of the Asssasssin'sss Guild of Dibisss I can ussse my infuence and that of the Guild to bring in two or three othersss without any quesstionsss. The Guild sharesss a ssspecial ssstatusss of legal illegality. We are technically outlawsss, but we hold many sssecretsss the nobility would not like revealed, adn they never know when they might need ussss again, ssso we enjoy ssspecial privilagesss. Like any privilagesss howerver,they should not be abusssed too greatly. Once inssside we can ussse your telepathic abilitiesss to coordinate the attack from both inssside and without." Driss, who had been standing silently, if a bit sulkily speaks up, "I'm going. And no one here can stop me. I've known Morgan very well for a long time, and this _is_ _my_ world. Anyone want to try to keep me here?" He looks from face to face with his hand never straying from the hilt of his rapier. Blacky places his hand on Driss's shoulder, "I don't think anyone is going to to try to keep you here. You shall go." Driss seems to relax a bit, then stiffens up. "Is? _Is_?? I've known you for a long time and never heard you not hiss an s!" Blacky's smile grows a bit. "It's usually expected isn't it? At times an assassin must be like a bard and give the audience what they want to see. It's usually easier to stay in character than reverting in and out of hiss." =========================== Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 20:25:18 -0700 (PDT) From: fuzzy Subject: Search Aftermath On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, Paul Campbell wrote: > <*Finally!*> Xzerrion pulls to draw his mind back out of the sigil, > and feels it resist. He reaches for Crow's link to the balance, and > is drawn back by Fuzzy's connection to something of the upper > planes. His mind returns to his body with an audible snap. Xzerrion > shakes his head to clear it, and leans on Crow's shoulder. `Gods, I > hope I don't have to do something like that again soon. I can still > feel the taint of that working.' "Lets put it this way the other side is no more fun, and even less to be trusted." The others can feel Fuzzy's mind examining a structure in the local Magic fields. \Blasted Hi-Planars always interfering... This structure reminds me of some thing... ... A Glider Gun?!?!\ \This patch of wilderness will be creating those Bubbles for I don't know how long, evidently it thought that was a good idea.\ > `No, not invisibility. You said Gaunt would likely be prepared for > that. However, I share an ability with the house mage John fought : > I can invoke fairly large spheres of darkness. That isn't as blatant > magic, so shouldn't draw as much attention, and we found that > darkness spells act as effective protection from some types of > energy weapons. I could also shift a limited number of people to an > extradimensional space, to be recovered when needed, so Gaunt will > think you are foolhardy enough to go in alone.' "Channel that darkness thru Nemisis to add her Radius to yours... Every Little bit helps" > >> *Any suggestions or comments should come now. >> Otherwise, is everybody set?* '\Nemisis, Divide, Hover Cyclone, Buffy, Triel.\' #Confirmed, Divide, Hover Cyclone, Buffy, Triel.# Nemisis separates into three pieces 1) Robotech Cyclone modified for Hover, with Armor for the Rider. 2) Female Human looks like the form Morgan wore earlier. 3) Female Drow looks like High Priestess Triel. Fuzzy puts the armor on. and addresses the Buffy-bot, gesturing at Mischief "Stay close to the kitten and see that no harm comes to it, Priority 1" #Yes, Priority 1: Protect Mischief.# "Xzerrion do you want charge of Triel?" > still has a Klingon Disruptor on him from AAE1 or AAE2? > =========================== Subject: Re: AAE-Dejavous (LONG!!!) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 97 00:08:32 +0100 From: Roland X On 6/12/1997 1:47 AM, sayeth Xzerrion: ><*Finally!*> Xzerrion pulls to draw his mind back out of the sigil, >and feels it resist. He reaches for Crow's link to the balance, and >is drawn back by Fuzzy's connection to something of the upper planes. >His mind returns to his body with an audible snap. Xzerrion shakes >his head to clear it, and leans on Crow's shoulder. `Gods, I hope I >don't have to do something like that again soon. I can still feel the >taint of that working.' Blaze reaches out with his remaining mental strength to offer a steadying force to Xzerrion. *Thank you, my friend. Rest for the moment.* >> Blaze's golden accoutrements turn as black as the >> rest of his armor. A shadow would make him invisible, >> and the sword beneath his cloak and the cold stare >> under his helmet make him look like death's left hand. >> *It's time for me to try to learn 'covert' myself. >> Those of you who are less...discreet..." Blaze smiles >> at the Lensdragon and the hovertank. *...we can cover >> under Glamours and invisibility. This time, we stay >> together until the job is done. > >`No, not invisibility. You said Gaunt would likely be prepared for >that. *slap* "D'oh!" *Good point.* >However, I share an ability with the house mage John fought : I can >invoke fairly large spheres of darkness. That isn't as blatant magic, >so shouldn't draw as much attention, and we found that darkness >spells act as effective protection from some types of energy weapons. >I could also shift a limited number of people to an extradimensional >space, to be recovered when needed, so Gaunt will think you are >foolhardy enough to go in alone.' Blaze smiles ferally. "Perfect. Those bastiches are in for a rude surprise. > (OOC: Yea, RIGHT. 8^) Then, the Lady Morgan said: >> Roland's astral form flies toward her while he sends >>more of his consciousness back to his body to deal with >>the physical end of the rescue... > >Morgan is briefly confused as her brother makes this split, then >understands and holds her link open to act as a homing beacon for the >Freelance Immortal's astral self. Roland's astral form hovers protectively-almost obsessively-around Morgan's form. Using his psychokinesis now would probably bring the entire city down around Morgan's ears, and he can feel the 'port shields Gaunt-or was it the Controller?-set up in the area. No matter; soon the entire team will be in the city. >As she awaits her brother's arrival, something catches her attention >and she runs a status check on her body. Heartrate a tad elevated? >That's wrong. What.... <*Oh, that bastach is sneekier than we >thought,*> she chuckles. *Morgan?* Roland checks to see if he's been 'noticed.' *What's happened?* >Hearing her brother's concerned query, she sends, <*I thought he was >taking an awfully simple approach. He's feeding caffine into the IV. >Nothing I can't handle right now, but the doses are increasing. No, >you still don't need to hurry, but the more attention I need to put >on filtering the bloodstream and maintaining my biochemistry, the >less I'll have for other pursuits.*> Roland nods. *Biorhythm is Gaunt's specialty, but as a Druid, you are familiar with the way the body heals. My kind heal in like manner, only it is constant and natural.* He tentatively shows her, mentally, how his kind open the first chakra, careful not to tamper with her actual biological readings. Then Dris said (sorry, I really couldn't snip much of this): > Blacky very un-eloquently silences Driss by slapping a hand over his >mouth. Then with an almost much too wide smile on his face, "If you >don't mind, *I* have been to Dibisss recently and think that would >make me the better logissstics man ehh? All right then. Dibisss isss >the largessst city in Misssern. Asss of lassst week it housssed 2,638 >sssoldiersss. Blaze nods solemnly. Already considering tactics for the long haul _out_ of the city, he realizes that the _kind_ of soldiers-guardsmen, undead, or more 'golems,' could make a huge difference. >If she isss there, they will be on alert waiting for usss I am sure. >The gatesss will be heavily guarded and opened only on a cassse by >cassse bassiss. Magesss will be actively monitering for any magicasss >usssed inssside or near the city and patrolsss will be on the >ssstreetsss. However, asss Guildmasster of the Asssasssin'sss Guild >of Dibisss I can ussse my infuence and that of the Guild to bring in >two or three othersss without any quesstionsss. The Guild sharesss a >ssspecial ssstatusss of legal illegality. We are technically >outlawsss, but we hold many sssecretsss the nobility would not like >revealed, adn they never know when they might need ussss again, ssso >we enjoy ssspecial privilagesss. Like any privilagesss howerver,they >should not be abusssed too greatly. Once inssside we can ussse your >telepathic abilitiesss to coordinate the attack from both inssside >and without." Blaze nods. "Gaunt seems to have withdrawn from the field for the moment, so I think my abilities will come as a surprise. Only his usual traps-dissonance fields, screamers and the like-should be a problem." > Driss, who had been standing silently, if a bit sulkily speaks up, >"I'm going. And no one here can stop me. I've known Morgan very well >for a long time, and this _is_ _my_ world. Anyone want to try to keep >me here?" He looks from face to face with his hand never straying >from the hilt of his rapier. > Blacky places his hand on Driss's shoulder, "I don't think anyone is >going to to try to keep you here. You shall go." Blaze's eyes light up more brightly. "Okay. First. Either I'm in charge of this little game or not. _I_ want to charge in there and the hell with Darath, the Controller, Gaunt, and the whole lot. But I have a greater duty. I sit here and plot and plan while every instinct I have is to move. If _your_ place is to stay in null space and wait, then you'll sprocking well DO IT!" Blaze catches his breath. "However, your skills lend themselves to this sort of thing. Only the more... conspicuous...members of the group will have to wait in Xzerrion's nullspace." "We'd better get started. Morgan's confidence aside, I don't want her in that...PLACE...any longer than necessary." Blaze sighs. His part is done-until they reach the gates-which means all that's left for him is the waiting. As dark and silent as nightfall, he waits. =========================== Subject: Re: OOC: Re: AAE-Dejavous Date: Thu, 12 Jun 97 00:35:19 +0100 From: Roland X Sayeth the Lady Morgan: >While I'm thinking of it, Crow made a good point. Does Morgan still >have the sigil or not? I don't recall any glamour covering it, so >much as I hate to admit it I can't see any justification for Gaunt >missing it. Then again, I don't recall him trying to take her torc >(which might have created a sticky situation since he _couldn't_), so >maybe he _did_ leave it. Roland, your baddie, your call. Just remembered-he _wants_ Morgan to escape at some point and deny the Controller his revenge! He hid the sigil rather cleverly-in plain sight. It's woven into the dress, looking like part of the abdomen. =========================== Subject: Re: Search Aftermath Date: Thu, 12 Jun 97 00:35:49 +0100 From: Roland X Quoth Fuzzy, the cat-changeling: >The others can feel Fuzzy's mind examining a structure in the local >Magic fields. > >\Blasted Hi-Planars always interfering... This structure reminds me >of some thing... ... A Glider Gun?!?!\ > >\This patch of wilderness will be creating those Bubbles for I don't >know how long, evidently it thought that was a good idea.\ Blaze shrugs. "My apologies. That sort of thing tends to happen around places where the continuum has been snarled so thoroughly. Especially in high-magick realms." And sayeth the Shadow: >Having concluded his talk with Dhyrclhanc, John turns to the rest of >the group, "I have also a gift for any who wish it." Reaching into >his pocket, he pulls out a handful of silver coins. "Using the leap >spell earlier, I'll combine it with certain spells of my own >devising. It will result in coins similiar to those made earlier, but >will appear when you need them in the possesion of your enemies. They >will be tied to you and will make their presence known, and a simple >mental commmand will activate them. They won't be able to be used to >track you or affect you through them in any way. However, I can only >make one for each of you, now. You won't get a second chance. If you >choose to take one, they will only come when your need is great, and >you must choose whether or not to use it. Oh, they won't be active >for a period of several days or weeks. My knowledge of what happens >is not the most precise." Blaze stares at the coin long and hard, weighing the thought of such capricious magick against the potential need of his companions. It is an easy choice. "Accepted, with gratitude, my friend." He watches the coin appear-then fade-before him with a little trepidation, but confident in his choice. =========================== Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 02:01:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Shadow Subject: Re: Search Aftermath On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Roland X wrote: > Blaze stares at the coin long and hard, weighing > the thought of such capricious magick against the > potential need of his companions. > It is an easy choice. > "Accepted, with gratitude, my friend." > He watches the coin appear-then fade-before him > with a little trepidation, but confident in his choice. After everyone who wants one has gotten a coin, John gives an admonishment, "Some advice, though I'm sure most of you don't need it: Forget about the coins. They will not come whenever your in danger, only when your need is great and the probability of you dying/being extremely hurt/etc is high. They won't be active until sometime _after_ Morgan is rescued, and your particular coin may not come into use for years or, in the case of some of us, aeons. Or it could be next month. And they don't remove you from danger, they send the person offering danger to you over 7 miles away. I thank you all for letting me bestow this gift upon you while I may." Somewhat embarrassed by this speech, John walks back to the tank. OOC: Just to clarify, when the time comes the 'coin' may no longer be in coin form. It may have been melted down and used for other purposes, which end result leaves it in the possession of your enemies. For those enemies who would not come near even trace amounts of silver with a ten-foot pole, it may end up in your own or someone else's weapon, which will have a peice break off into the enemy. It will find a way. After use it will just be ordinary silver. Remember, the enemy must have a high probability of damaging you. Your random street mugger could possibly kill you if he got lucky, but it's not real probable. =========================== Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 00:25:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Campbell Subject: Re: Search Aftermath On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, fuzzy wrote: > "Lets put it this way the other side is no more fun, and even less > to be trusted." > Xzerrion shakes his head. `I knew there was a reason I distrusted outer-planar types.' > "Channel that darkness thru Nemisis to add her Radius to yours... > Every Little bit helps" `Can Nemesis do that? I'll see what I can do to work with that, though group workings have never been my strong point. Guess my drow mage instructors were too individualistic. Only thing I did agree with them on ...' > > "Xzerrion do you want charge of Triel?" `Um, not sure if we want another figure wandering around to keep track of. I think this critter is yours.' > =========================== Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 00:41:56 -0700 (PDT) From: fuzzy Subject: Re: Search Aftermath On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Paul Campbell wrote: > On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, fuzzy wrote: > >> "Lets put it this way the other side is no more fun, and even less >> to be trusted." >> > > Xzerrion shakes his head. `I knew there was a reason I distrusted > outer-planar types.' "All of them have their own goals and no regard for anything else." >> "Channel that darkness thru Nemisis to add her Radius to yours... >> Every Little bit helps" > > `Can Nemesis do that? I'll see what I can do to work with that, > though group workings have never been my strong point. Guess my drow > mage instructors were too individualistic. Only thing I did agree > with them on ...' "And too Paranoid, But thats OK better than a lonely Noid." >> > > >> "Xzerrion do you want charge of Triel?" > > `Um, not sure if we want another figure wandering around to keep > track of. I think this critter is yours.' "The idea is to confuse the poor bugers. With Morgan in lockup and Crow on the loose who the heck are Buffy and Triel (if they figured either out in the first place), Oh Well I can have Triel enter the city alone and co-opt the first squad of Drow she sees for a Fried Icecream Hunt... or give her another shape if someone has a suggestion" "Either Buffy or Triel will accept Voice or Telepathic commands from People they Know, as long as Priorities 1 and 2 are not challanged" =========================== Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 02:03:10 -0700 (PDT) From: fuzzy Subject: Re: Search Aftermath On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Paul Campbell wrote: > On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, fuzzy wrote: >> "Channel that darkness thru Nemisis to add her Radius to yours... >> Every Little bit helps" > > `Can Nemesis do that? I'll see what I can do to work with that, > though group workings have never been my strong point. Guess my drow > mage instructors were too individualistic. Only thing I did agree > with them on ...' "Nemisis, Recall Spider Killer" "I've been thinking about that... If you can create that darkness at a distance (I've seen some drow do it.), If you center the affect on any manifestation of Nemisis, She can Amp it or Invert it" The Metal Scorpion arrives "New Form, Bale-Hound, Darkness Default Amp" #Confirmed, Bale-Hound, Darkness Default Amp" The Scorpion reshapes into the kind of hound you might get if you breed a Mastif to a Dire-Wolf. "Xzerrion, Tell her to invert if you find a need for Lightness instead also her Voice would Drive a Baneshee mad." Fuzzy hands the Bale-Hound a fallen Branch, which is promptly chewed-up and remade a a dozen set of ear-plugs. "The Ear-Plugs will filter just enough of the upper and lower ends off the audio spectrum to protect from the Bale-Hound's voice" Fuzzy Starts Handing out Ear-Plugs. ===========================