Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 3 Chapter 24 Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 11:35:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 97 14:36:28 +0100, in Message # 00000776 Roland X said: >On Fri, 1 Aug 1997 21:44:48 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000764 > fuzzy said: > >> On Fri, 1 Aug 97 23:26:29 +0100, in Message # 00000762 >> Roland X said: >> >>>On Fri, 1 Aug 1997 19:06:16 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000760 >>> fuzzy said: >Nemisis Grabs a couple of pieces of fruit off the breakfast table, >and her hand seems to turn into liquid metal flowing over the fruit >then her hand reforms holding what appears to be a glass vial full of >fluid. "#This, according to the information I was given at my Naming, >is the most powerful stimulant known to a civilization thats major >recreation is Drug use.#" > >She hands the vial to The Silver Phoenix. > >"#There is about 130 ml in the bottle, My information indicates that >5 ml is a standard dose, I am not sure how much you think you should >use.#" Also, Knytt said: >Knytt dives into her belt pouch and withdraws a bag nearly as large >the pouch itself. She hands it to Sil. > >"Chocolate-coated coffee beans. That should perk him up. At least, >it's a start. Matt, I think more of your coffee would be in order." > >> "Damn you, Spider...I thought you were gone with your >> failed conquest..." Silver trails off, lost in thought. > >"So did I." wondering what she's blundered them into... Sil offers Knytt what smile she can as she takes the offered stimulants. "This isn't your fault," she says, taking 20 ml of Nemisis' stimulant, soaks the beans in it, and force-feeds them to Roland, while Morgan holds his head and chants. And Xzerrion said: >`Screw stimulants,' Xzerrion mutters. He places hands on Roland's >temples. `Morgan, back me up, screwing with mentalities and >counteracting the same is one of my specialties, but I need somebody >to keep me grounded in this world. Applying the concepts from some of >his nastier illusion lessons, but in reverse, Xzerrion reaches for >Roland's mind, but building confidence rather than fear, and >reassurance rather than doubt. (OOC: Geez! I knew you folx would try to help, but...wow.) Roland's eyes fly open, bulging. The combination of telepathic intrusion and magick are still within him; though KnightMare's magick skill is not yet the equal to its power (so it seems), its telepathic powers seem to be sufficient to have ripped through Roland's recently enhanced defenses. "Oh Oblivion," Sil curses. Roland jumps up, still wide-eyed, his armor wrapping around him and an energy sword forming in his hand. "Who are you people? Where am I?" Everyone on the psiweb can feel him reaching out with his mind, searching for people who can't be here. *The last thing he remembers is being in the Covenant's bodyguard force, several years ago. Damn, that Spider's good,* Sil sends along the psiweb. "Roland? It's me, Silver Phoenix. Your guide." *Everyone, remain calm and please, no sudden moves and NO MAGIC.* Roland blinks. "Sil?" She nods. "You've suffered a telepathic attack. Several years of memory have been locked away from you." Roland frowns, pointing the sword at the body she wears. "Silver is a spirit. You're obviously not." *Scan me, Roland. You know who I am...* A long, quiet moment passes. "Sil? That is you, isn't it?" Roland takes a step back. "Yes." *Rest.* Roland sways, his body finally succumbing to the many stresses of the past five days. *Morgan, please get him out of here. _You_ he'll remember. And make sure he doesn't do anything noble and stupid, like play the hero again before he's ready.* (Assuming Morgan complies) Sil sighs. "Well. It looks like the Spider-or 'KnightMare,' I suppose-has gotten his way. DAMN!" One cybernetic fist takes an impressive chunk of the table. "I should have SEEN this! A being of that much power disappearing just doesn't happen! At least it doesn't care whether or not we succeed, just that we take our time about it...Knytt? Does that make any sense? A time-traveler shouldn't have to worry about time limits..." (OOC: I'm so evil... ;^) =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 12:50:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 14:38:01 -0500, in Message # 00000777 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Sun, 3 Aug 97 14:36:28 +0100, in Message # 00000776 > Roland X said: > >>On Fri, 1 Aug 1997 21:44:48 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000764 >> fuzzy said: >> >> Nemisis was refering to the trick of 'She opens a planar gate and >>you modify its resonances to route it back to the physical plane', >>for a joint effect of a point to point gate in the physical world, >>Horses led thru that would find it no stranger than any other door.\ /Oh, wait, those are my specialty. I've been doing point to point gates since I came back here. I can even have them form against walls if you like. Just show me where you want to end up on that 3-D map./ > Sil offers Knytt what smile she can as she takes the offered >stimulants. "This isn't your fault," she says, taking 20 ml of >Nemisis' stimulant, soaks the beans in it, and force-feeds them >to Roland, while Morgan holds his head and chants. "Time will tell." > Sil sighs. "Well. It looks like the Spider-or 'KnightMare,' >I suppose-has gotten his way. DAMN!" One cybernetic fist takes >an impressive chunk of the table. "I should have SEEN this! >A being of that much power disappearing just doesn't happen! >At least it doesn't care whether or not we succeed, just that >we take our time about it...Knytt? Does that make any sense? >A time-traveler shouldn't have to worry about time limits..." "I wish. Sounds like it's still learning it's powers. If we finish here too soon, it won't be ready to spring whatever it's planned at us. Which means, since we don't know the time limit, we better play like there is none. We can't react until it attacks anyway. Right now, all we need to concern ourselves with is getting Roland's mental block down and getting back on the job. Worrying about 'Knightmare'," saying the name with obvious disgust, "gets us nowhere." =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 15:35:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 15:31:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000778 "P. Campbell" said: On Sun, 3 Aug 1997, Michael Jon Knight wrote: > > "I wish. Sounds like it's still learning it's powers. If we finish > here too soon, it won't be ready to spring whatever it's planned at > us. Which means, since we don't know the time limit, we better play > like there is none. We can't react until it attacks anyway. Right > now, all we need to concern ourselves with is getting Roland's > mental block down and getting back on the job. Worrying about > 'Knightmare'," saying the name with obvious disgust, "gets us > nowhere." Xzerrion shakes his head. `I hate to sound coldhearted here, but the best thing we can do to foil this so-called Knightmare is to try to proceed with the rest of our plan. The problem is, with Roland down, John and I are the closest thing we've got to heavy artillary. Beyond breaking down this thing's initial assault, I'm lost when it comest to trying to bring back Roland's mind and memories. If there are no objections, I'd like to have Nemesis proceed with bringing in the advance team to scout out Misern and find Miles. By the time we find him Roland will be recovered enough that we can call in the heavies and break him out. If not, I guess the advance team will try to do this covert. Other than that, I guess Morgan, Silver Pheonix, and Fuzzy are most qualified for getting Roland back together. That cover everything?' - Xzerrion, who is suddenly having the _Mission : Impossible_ theme going through his head =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 16:20:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 16:05:38 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000779 fuzzy said: > On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 14:38:01 -0500, in Message # 00000777 > Michael Jon Knight said: > > /Oh, wait, those are my specialty. I've been doing point to point > gates since I came back here. I can even have them form against > walls if you like. Just show me where you want to end up on that 3-D > map./ \This dry wash or canyon right here, if there isn't enough detail Nemisis can pan and zoom the image until you find good referances.\ > "I wish. Sounds like it's still learning it's powers. If we finish > here too soon, it won't be ready to spring whatever it's planned at > us. Which means, since we don't know the time limit, we better play > like there is none. We can't react until it attacks anyway. Right > now, all we need to concern ourselves with is getting Roland's > mental block down and getting back on the job. Worrying about > 'Knightmare'," saying the name with obvious disgust, "gets us > nowhere." "It also sounds like its goal for this attack is to slow us down, I don't think letting it have its way is the best idea we could come up with." =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 16:20:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 16:12:46 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000780 fuzzy said: > On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 15:31:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000778 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Xzerrion shakes his head. `I hate to sound coldhearted here, but the > best thing we can do to foil this so-called Knightmare is to try to > proceed with the rest of our plan. The problem is, with Roland down, > John and I are the closest thing we've got to heavy artillary. > Beyond breaking down this thing's initial assault, I'm lost when it > comest to trying to bring back Roland's mind and memories. If there > are no objections, I'd like to have Nemesis proceed with bringing in > the advance team to scout out Misern and find Miles. "Sounds like a good idea to me" > By the time we find him Roland will be recovered > enough that we can call in the heavies and break him out. If not, I > guess the advance team will try to do this covert. Nemisis speaks up... "I will stay availible incase you find you need a distraction, outside Misern's walls." > Other than that, I guess Morgan, Silver Pheonix, and Fuzzy are most > qualified for getting Roland back together. That cover everything?' "This should work, and seems to cover everything." =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 16:50:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-imprisonment. On Sun, 03 Aug 1997 15:38:45 -0700, in Message # 00000781 Gareth L Owen said: fuzzy wrote: > > A few moments later Nemisis hands him the requested parts > "The diamond pure carbon and perfectly regular of crystaline > pattern, and perfect to within 7 angstroms (1/2 carbon atom > diameter) in the Tetrahedral form. I hope that is close enough for > your needs." "Excellent!" Stranger grins broadly "With a crystal of that quality I can make a really good D-jump. He sits down with the bits spread out on the table in front of him and starts work, humming happily to himself. =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 17:05:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Spiders and Nightmares On Mon, 04 Aug 1997 00:54:37 -0700, in Message # 00000782 Gareth L Owen said: > On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 00:36:37 -0500, in Message # 00000774 > Michael Jon Knight said: > >>On Sat, 2 Aug 1997 17:56:48 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000772 >> fuzzy said: >> >>> On Sun, 03 Aug 1997 01:03:52 -0700, in Message # 00000770 >>> Gareth L Owen said: >>> >>> "Kitty, time to walk the perimeter, I think. Xzerrion! We're going >>> to take a look around outside, make sure this isn't a distraction >>> for anything else. I have a bad feeling about this." >> >>"Sounds like a good idea to me, let me know if you find anything." "OK!" > Having passed the ball to Fuzzy, she decides to play defense, > Grabbing her second blaster and holster and her blaster rifle, she > jogs after Stranger. > > "Hey, wait up you two!" They 'wait up'. >>>street lights and fountains abound.> > > Knytt gapes. "Oh, yeah, we're from around here." "Maybe we should go and get freshly scrubbed to blend in better." Nothing shows up, everything seems quiet, they go back inside. >>> >> lobbing a foe at us we'll do our best to oblige them> > > =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 17:05:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Mon, 04 Aug 1997 00:59:59 -0700, in Message # 00000783 Gareth L Owen said: > On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 15:31:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000778 > "P. Campbell" said: > > On Sun, 3 Aug 1997, Michael Jon Knight wrote: > >> "I wish. Sounds like it's still learning it's powers. If we finish >> here too soon, it won't be ready to spring whatever it's planned at >> us. Which means, since we don't know the time limit, we better play >> like there is none. We can't react until it attacks anyway. Right >> now, all we need to concern ourselves with is getting Roland's >> mental block down and getting back on the job. Worrying about >> 'Knightmare'," saying the name with obvious disgust, "gets us >> nowhere." Stranger and Kitty return from their 'patrol' - presumably with Knytt. > Xzerrion shakes his head. `I hate to sound coldhearted here, but the > best thing we can do to foil this so-called Knightmare is to try to > proceed with the rest of our plan. The problem is, with Roland down, > John and I are the closest thing we've got to heavy artillary. > Beyond breaking down this thing's initial assault, I'm lost when it > comest to trying to bring back Roland's mind and memories. If there > are no objections, I'd like to have Nemesis proceed with bringing in > the advance team to scout out Misern and find Miles. By the time we > find him Roland will be recovered enough that we can > call in the heavies and break him out. If not, I guess the advance > team will try to do this covert. Other than that, I guess Morgan, > Silver Pheonix, and Fuzzy are most qualified for getting Roland back > together. That cover everything?' "Seems to. I'll be ready in half an hour or so" says the Stranger, now back at work on his D-jump. "If we can get to him, I guess we can teleport him out, so long as their are no teleport screens." Kitty gives Stranger a dissapproving look. "OK, so there'll be screens, but a man can dream." shrugs the Stranger =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 20:50:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 22:37:17 -0500, in Message # 00000784 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 15:31:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000778 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Xzerrion shakes his head. `I hate to sound coldhearted here, but the > best thing we can do to foil this so-called Knightmare is to try to > proceed with the rest of our plan. The problem is, with Roland down, > John and I are the closest thing we've got to heavy artillary. > Beyond breaking down this thing's initial assault, I'm lost when it > comest to trying to bring back Roland's mind and memories. If there > are no objections, I'd like to have Nemesis proceed with bringing in > the advance team to scout out Misern and find Miles. By the time we > find him Roland will be recovered enough that we can > call in the heavies and break him out. If not, I guess the advance > team will try to do this covert. Other than that, I guess Morgan, > Silver Pheonix, and Fuzzy are most qualified for getting Roland back > together. That cover everything?' "My sentiments precisely. If delays are what that overgrown arachnid wants, let's not give them to it. We can work on Roland's block while we infiltrate Misern. However, it is pointless to hurry needlessly. Let's just do this as if Knightmare never turned up from under his rock." =========================== Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 21:20:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 23:06:07 -0500, in Message # 00000785 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 16:05:38 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000779 > fuzzy said: > >> On Sun, 3 Aug 1997 14:38:01 -0500, in Message # 00000777 >> Michael Jon Knight said: >> >> /Oh, wait, those are my specialty. I've been doing point to point >> gates since I came back here. I can even have them form against >> walls if you like. Just show me where you want to end up on that >> 3-D map./ > >\This dry wash or canyon right here, if there isn't enough detail >Nemisis can pan and zoom the image until you find good referances.\ /Ok, gotcha./ Knytt stares for a few moments, sending data to the watches. =========================== Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 14:05:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE III: Holding tactics On Mon, 4 Aug 1997 13:57:02 -0700, in Message # 00000786 Lorena Wolfe said: > On Sun, 3 Aug 97 14:36:28 +0100, in Message # 00000776 > Roland X said: > >>> On Fri, 1 Aug 97 23:26:29 +0100, in Message # 00000762 >>> Roland X said: > >>> Sil and Morgan are at Roland's side at once, as his eyes >>> stare wide-eyed at invisible horrors, horrors he has just >>> enough mental strength to shield from the rest of the group. >>> Silver's eyes narrow as she lays Roland on the ground, his >>> body nearly convulsing. "Get me stimulants. Herbs, compounds, >>> anything non-hallucinogenic. ANYTHING to break him out of >>> this trance." Morgan sits, holding Roland's head in her lap, trying to gently break through the mental barriers to help him fight whatever was attacking him. At Sil's request for stimulants she seriously considers kissing him, but senses somehow that it might do more harm than good. > Sil offers Knytt what smile she can as she takes the offered > stimulants. "This isn't your fault," she says, taking 20 ml of > Nemisis' stimulant, soaks the beans in it, and force-feeds them > to Roland, while Morgan holds his head and chants. The chant was as much for her own sake as for Roland's. Part power raising, part prayer, part focus to keep her mind from pondering what sort of psychic injuries her beloved might be enduring. > And Xzerrion said: >>`Screw stimulants,' Xzerrion mutters. He places hands on Roland's >>temples. `Morgan, back me up, screwing with mentalities and >>counteracting the same is one of my specialties, but I need somebody >>to keep me grounded in this world. Applying the concepts from some >>of his nastier illusion lessons, but in reverse, Xzerrion reaches >>for Roland's mind, but building confidence rather than fear, and >>reassurance rather than doubt. Morgan provides Xzerrion his anchor, adding her own loving energies and reassurances to the mix. > (OOC: Geez! I knew you folx would try to help, but...wow.) You expected any less? > "Sil? That is you, isn't it?" Roland takes a step back. > "Yes." *Rest.* > Roland sways, his body finally succumbing to the many > stresses of the past five days. > *Morgan, please get him out of here. _You_ he'll remember. > And make sure he doesn't do anything noble and stupid, like > play the hero again before he's ready.* > (Assuming Morgan complies) Morgan tentatively puts her arm around Roland's shoulder to steady him. He pulls back a little, staring at her in confusion. <*Roland, I know you don't remember me, but check with Sil. You can trust me. You need to rest, to try to recover from this attack.*> She senses Roland reach out to Sil, then relax and allow her to lead him back to their room. > Sil sighs. "Well. It looks like the Spider-or 'KnightMare,' > I suppose-has gotten his way. DAMN!" One cybernetic fist takes > an impressive chunk of the table. "I should have SEEN this! > A being of that much power disappearing just doesn't happen! > At least it doesn't care whether or not we succeed, just that > we take our time about it...Knytt? Does that make any sense? > A time-traveler shouldn't have to worry about time limits..." > (OOC: I'm so evil... ;^) Back in their room, Morgan helps Roland to the bed and sits next to him, still holding his hand. She can see a hint of recognition in his eyes, but no more than that. She very carefully puts a shield around her magical abilities, knowing how most psions on his world feel about mages. One thing at a time. "Roland, do you trust me?" She waits, every second he takes to respond an eternity, but finally he nods. "Something attacked you. I don't know just how, because you managed to shield the rest of us from what it did to you, but what I did feel was - terrible." "It blocked, or Light forbid took, several years worth of your memories. If you'll let me, I want to show you some of the memories we share. You'll be able to tell that they're true. Maybe that will help you find you own. May I?" Again, slowly, he nods. She can tell he's trying to place where he knows her, and remember why she seems to be important to him. Carefully Morgan selects memories of some of their campaigns together. The care is to avoid showing him any of the CAoL performing magic - it's still too soon, she knows, to risk running into his kind's basic distrust of mages. And also, care to avoid him feeling like she's deliberately hiding anything. Not an easy task. What she can't help is focusing on things that led up to their newly blossomed romance. Roland attacking Gaunt when he threatened her, his willingness to share his halo with her when she was feared dead (no need to show him how she _was_ revived, not yet), Gaunt kidnapping her to use as Roland-bait, the two of them in astral form as Roland taught her to better use her new psi powers. She avoids his final battle with Gaunt - that was still a raw spot even before this attack. And last night - _after_ his internal battle with the part of Gaunt he had assimilated - the wonderful 'sharing and growing closer' that had gone on until they had fallen asleep in each others' arms. She watched his eyes carefully, especially during this last part, hoping and fearing his response.... Roland, if I wrote anything that Morgan would have known better than to show him, assume she didn't, and re-write accordingly. Also, she's keeping part of her mind tuned into the link, so she's up on what the rest of you have been discussing. Morgan /|\ =========================== Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 23:51:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Mon, 4 Aug 1997 23:37:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000787 "P. Campbell" said: On Sun, 3 Aug 1997, Michael Jon Knight wrote: > > "My sentiments precisely. If delays are what that overgrown arachnid > wants, let's not give them to it. We can work on Roland's block > while we infiltrate Misern. However, it is pointless to hurry > needlessly. Let's just do this as if Knightmare never turned up from > under his rock." Along those lines, we do still need to obtain a couple horses. Yes, Nemesis will be taking us most of the way in, but we don't want to look like we just dropped in out of nowhere. I still have some untraceable currency for that, as I don't want to borrow any beasts from the guild, in case we need to leave in a hurry. After that, I think we're ready to go. =========================== Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 00:35:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Holding tactics On Tue, 05 Aug 97 01:57:36 CDT, in Message # 00000788 Mike Knight said: >On Mon, 4 Aug 1997 23:37:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000787 > "P. Campbell" said: > >critter with an illusion of it's worst nightmares and left it for >dead back in Arcadia ... I take it the thing recovered somehow? Or is >this another one?> >Along those lines, we do still need to obtain a couple horses. Yes, >Nemesis will be taking us most of the way in, but we don't want to >look like we just dropped in out of nowhere. I still have some >untraceable currency for that, as I don't want to borrow any beasts >from the guild, in case we need to leave in a hurry. After that, I >think we're ready to go. =========================== Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 13:05:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: OCC: observation On Tue, 5 Aug 1997 13:02:45 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000789 fuzzy said: > On Tue, 05 Aug 97 01:57:36 CDT, in Message # 00000788 > Mike Knight said: > > Can Nemisis observe the resonances from the gate, so she can open > her own? She can and will observe, but it will probably be in vain, for now. She doesn't have a PlaneShift Tech, although she will eventually develop one, What she is starting with is the recorded emulation of the Demoness' native ability. With Roland she would only need to identify the changes he would make to her planar gate, and figure out how to make those changes herself. The 'Gateway Bands' (sorry but the term will do... for now.) most likely use an entirely different method. Later she may be able to put the observations together with something else she sees to find a key to the effect generated by the Gateway Bands. > The technology is secret, observing the gate itself would be fair > game, however. If I were him the effect would be as obfusicated as possible. > Oh, the plans in Nemisis's memory are for modified Nanites, designed > to store energy for one dimentional jump. They are no longer the > same thing as the nanites in Knytt's watches. Speaking as a garage inventor, they would class as a derivitive work and under the terms of RS Patent Law would have been covered by the Patent he never got, I think they are probably covered by his security injunction. The energy storage subsystem might be a different issue, If that is not derived from his original work. > Hmmm, the more I skirt over the sword's past, the more I think I > should write it. May not be as dull as I thought. Nothing that can generate that much confusion would have a Dull past. =========================== Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 17:50:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE III: Holding tactics On Wed, 6 Aug 97 20:41:22 +0100, in Message # 00000798 Roland X said: >On Mon, 4 Aug 1997 13:57:02 -0700, in Message # 00000786 > Lorena Wolfe said: >Morgan tentatively puts her arm around Roland's shoulder to steady >him. He pulls back a little, staring at her in confusion. <*Roland, I >know you don't remember me, but check with Sil. You can trust me. You >need to rest, to try to recover from this attack.*> She senses Roland >reach out to Sil, then relax and allow her to lead him back to their >room. Roland leans on Morgan, allowing her to lead him away, somehow knowing he can trust her... >Carefully Morgan selects memories of some of their campaigns >together. The care is to avoid showing him any of the CAoL performing >magic - it's still too soon, she knows, to risk running into his >kind's basic distrust of mages. And also, care to avoid him feeling >like she's deliberately hiding anything. Not an easy task. Roland simply accepts what memories Morgan is willing to show him-the effort it costs her is obvious. >What she can't help is focusing on things that led up to their newly >blossomed romance. Roland attacking Gaunt when he threatened her, his >willingness to share his halo with her when she was feared dead (no >need to show him how she _was_ revived, not yet), Gaunt kidnapping >her to use as Roland-bait, the two of them in astral form as Roland >taught her to better use her new psi powers. She avoids his final >battle with Gaunt - that was still a raw spot even before this >attack. Roland shudders, memories beginning to return unbidden... >And last night - _after_ his internal battle with the part of Gaunt >he had assimilated - the wonderful 'sharing and growing closer' that >had gone on until they had fallen asleep in each others' arms. She >watched his eyes carefully, especially during this last part, hoping >and fearing his response.... Roland's eyes grow wide-and his head flies back, the many psychic injuries of the past few days taking their toll. Memories fill him-his departure from the Phoenix Covenant, finding Callahan's, parts of the battle on Oa, becoming the Pan in Arcadia, killing Gaunt- Roland falls to his knees, looking up at the one remaining constant in his universe. Morgan looks back at him, the concern - and fear - obvious in her eyes. Gently, Roland reaches one hand around her head, leans forward, and kisses her. *I swore that I would never leave you, Little Flower. Whatever my memories, I know that I am a man of my word. *I love you.* =========================== Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 20:35:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Moods, Questions, and Distractions. On Wed, 06 Aug 97 20:12:07 CDT, in Message # 00000799 Mike Knight said: Knytt, still wanting some fresh air after her brief time outside, wanders back outside to stretch her legs. Strolling the streets around the Guildhall, she chats with merchants who are closing up shops for the day. Apparently, sales had been brisk the night before, stall owners seemed to be reluctant to close. But it was mid-morning, everyone was tired and ready to go home. Knytt chatted with a few of them, but the whispers from the back of the stalls was a bit of a deterant. She could understand the talk about her being part of the group of "strangers," but she was NOT running around half-naked. In a society who had seen Drow, Mecha, and countless other oddities, how could they be offended by a woman in a combat suit? She'd even covered up with a big Star Trek dress. Of course, this society still felt women weren't properly dressed until they could barely see through all the veils. As Knytt looked around, she couldn't help wondering if the custom started because of a lack of clothes lines. Gave new meaning to 'wash and wear.' Knytt covered her mouth, trying to hide the grin spreading across her face. The CAoL had been made welcome here. These people had opened up the city and said "Make yourself at home." Knytt leaned against a post. Home, there was a sobering thought. She thought of the TARDIS. Tentatively, she felt through her connection with the Controller's TARDIS. Still there. As Dhyrclhanc had suggested, she had compartmentalized that part of her mind. Setting it up behind a mental two-way mirror. She could see the TARDIS, but it couldn't be made to read her thoughts. The TARDIS could only tell she was alive. She couldn't get details on what the TARDIS was doing, either. But, it kept everyone safe. Still, she thought, staring at the Gateway Bands around her wrists, it would be so easy... The gold of the Bands glittered with rainbows in the sunlight. The mini-mini-lenses glowed a faint pale blue. Which fitted her mood. They could make it so easy to take back the TARDIS. Just a quick gate. She could be there and gone in no time. NO, that is NOT the answer. She wanted to be free of the Time Lords, and they found her TARDIS easily. They yanked it from the pocket dimention it had been hidden in. The recall circuit had been dismantled, but they still found it and took it... /Wait a minute!/ Knytt thought, /They yanked my TARDIS out of hiding easily. Even *I* didn't know where it was precisely. Why can't they do the same with the Controller's? What's stopping them from plucking it out of whatever hiding place Aluminum Arse worked out??? I know that TARDIS inside out, and I still couldn't begin to know how to do that. Tin Pants can't possibly know it as well. He's got help! But from who? The Doctor is the only person who knows my TARDIS as well as me. And I can't believe he'd work with Ol' Rust Bucket./ The mini-mini-lenses shifted color to a firey-red as Knytt tried to work out what edge the Controller had over her. "Hello, Missy! You're gonna die for what you did to me!" Knytt looked up, "Oh, it's you. I thought it was a threat. I see you survived that fall, Sergeant Pig. Fall in a haystack, did you, scarecrow?" The Sergeant plucked the bit of straw from his hair. His hair was dark and stringy, face unshaven, and his clothes fit like they were stolen hurridly. He stood in a wide stance, the left foot slightly behind the right. He gripped a saber-like sword with both hands, eyes flitting nervously between Knytt and some of the merchants watching. For their part, the merchants were quietly making wagers on the winner. "Fight me, you wench!" the Drow demanded. Knytt stepped away from the streetlamp she had been leaning against. "You're not worth the effort," she said, "Besides, I don't have a sword. All I've got are these," she said, indicating her blaster pistols. "I can cut you down before you can draw those...lightning crossbows." Wagers began being doubled. The Drow sheathed the sword. Tossing a gold coin to a merchant, he said. "Throw that apple here!" The merchant complied. As the apple sailed toward the dark elf, he drew the sword, hacking the apple in half as the blade left the scabbard. Wagers were met and added to. "If you insist," she said with a sigh. Taking a couple steps back, she took a quick-draw stance. Sergeant Pig retook his stance. Suddenly, he charged, sword held high in the air. Knytt fell backwards, her blasters leaving the holsters just as the Drow leapt into the air. Her wrists crossed, two shots lanced out of the muzzles, as she rolled out of the way of the onrushing sword. The broad sword buried itself in the dirt as the Sergeant's weight drove it into the ground. He didn't notice. As he landed, his face a mask of surprise, one hand clutching his foot, the other his groin, he made an odd peeping noise. "I warned you. Next time, I will think of something nasty to do to you." Knytt walked back toward the Guildhall as the street echoed with the cheers and moans of gamblers and the odd peeping of one Drow soldier who hobbled off into a dark alley. =========================== Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 18:35:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 18:28:51 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000804 "P. Campbell" said: Now that a tentative plan has been made, Xzerrion leads Caprice and Stranger into the market, still in the form of Khoragh One-Eye. One-Eye returns any suspicious looks with an unwinking stare as he drifts through the marketplace to a horse trader. `My friends and I need horses. Large, strong, and reasonably fast. I have these to offer in exchange.' Khoragh displays a pair of small rubies. The horse trader smiles, looking forward to the chance to earn some extra money after the destruction of the previous night through cheating the presumably simple hobgoblin. `Now, I have fine horses indeed, sir. But fine horses, you must be aware, do not come cheaply. How many did you wish to purchase?' `We require two. These rubies should be sufficient for the finest you have.' His eye sweeps disparagingly over the merchandice, despite being secretly pleased at the quality. `Now those are fine rubies indeed, sir, but I am no gem merchant, to find a ready market for such things. Perhaps if you could part with one hundred silver as well ...' After a bit of haggling, Khoragh purchases the horses for a pair of rubies and a small onyx. He then returns to the front of the guildhall. <* Nemesis, we would like transport to a bit outside Misern, if you would be so kind. *> - Xzerrion `The humans kill what they do not understand.' -Dom Emrys from `Camber the Heretic' by Katherine Kurtz =========================== Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 19:05:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Cloister Bells On Thu, 07 Aug 97 19:50:59 CDT, in Message # 00000805 Mike Knight said: As Knytt enters the Guildhall, her mental shield around the TARDIS link collapses. A deep tolling echoes through the link, which Knytt takes the brunt of squarely behind the temples. She stumbles down the stairs and collapses in a chair. Only one thing could make that sound, and only one of those things was linked to her. Worst of all, there was only one reason to hear it. "The cloister bell. The TARDIS is in immenant danger." She tore through the remainder of her mental defenses, and uplinked to the TARDIS's telepathic circuits. She felt the shields down and the controls set for a destination the star charts listed as a Super Nova. She also felt, at the perifery of her mind, a presence and part of a presence. The TARDIS knew the first presence as Driss, and had come to fear the partial presence of a cyberman-esque being. Knytt somehow guessed it was the Controller. Her mind put it together immediately. Driss and the Controller in her TARDIS about to materialize in the heart of a Super Nova. They would all be destroyed! Knytt tried to get to the control circuits, but something had blocked the path. She guessed the Controller, not knowing what the telepathic circuits did, had simply disconnected them from the control systems. Knytt was powerless to stop the collision course with destruction. Helpless, Knytt sat there, watching her home head for oblivion. She and the TARDIS began to lose the sense of either presence in the ship. She assumed it was the heat destroying delicate circuitry. Eventually, it came down to the TARDIS mind and her's. /We couldn't be together anyway,/ responding to the TARDIS's fear, /the Time Lords took your earlier self. You wouldn't know me now. But maybe you'll take the man who did this to you with you./ Brave resolve. And sadness at the parting. /I will miss you. But, you have to go./ Friendship. /Farewell, old friend./ The silence only absence can create. The TARDIS was gone. Knytt sat there, staring into space. She took a deep, shuddering breath. She pulled out a handkerchief and dried the few tears she had shed. But, it was a parting she had been expecting. She blew her nose and stuffed the hankie back in her pouch. When Knytt spoke next, her voice was completely drained of emotion. "I couldn't feel Driss or the Controller. They may have gotten away. Or those circuits may have been destroyed. Since the universe is still here, I assume Driss made it out. That's if the timeline didn't just branch. I honestly don't know what to think or feel right now. Except, that I am suddenly very, very, tired. If anything, my emotion level has just hit empty. Right now, I just want to sleep. Call me when the roller coater ride is over." =========================== Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 19:50:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 19:38:04 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000807 fuzzy said: > On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 18:28:51 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000804 > "P. Campbell" said: > > accompanying Stranger, assuming the form of a horse. If this is > incorrect, assume, Xzerrion purchases an additional horse for > Stranger. > > <* Nemesis, we would like transport to a bit outside Misern, if you > would be so kind. *> \As you recall Xzerrion, you will need to hold the horses minds, for the duration of the journey.\ Nemisis Teleports to the seleted departure point (Probably the Assassins Guild Stable... Merging with several of the Splits that have finished their phases of the reconstruction of the city. Nemisis Opens a gate to the Etheric Plane... and her shape flows into a roadway several horse lengths in extent \I will flow the rear end to the lead as you go to provide footing, Stay on the roadway, This plane is not normally survivable for humaniods or horses.\ The scouting team rides out on the spellbound horses As they approch the Middle of the road the gate behind them closes and the road behind them start disappearing while the road ahead gets longer, paced to keep them in the middle of the span... After about 20 minutes of travel this way, a gate appears at the leading edge of the roadway \This is that shallow valley or dry wash I showed in the guild hall, Here is a local map of the area from here to Misern.\ Nemisis forms a hand holding a paper scroll next to Xzerrion just before he passes through the gate. \Call, if you have some thing you need or want me to do.\ =========================== Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 19:50:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 - Cloister Bells On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 19:41:29 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000808 fuzzy said: > On Thu, 07 Aug 97 19:50:59 CDT, in Message # 00000805 > Mike Knight said: > > "I couldn't feel Driss or the Controller. They may have gotten away. > Or those circuits may have been destroyed. Since the universe is > still here, I assume Driss made it out. That's if the timeline > didn't just branch. I honestly don't know what to think or feel > right now. Except, that I am suddenly very, very, tired. If > anything, my emotion level has just hit empty. Right now, I just > want to sleep. Call me when the roller coater ride is over." "It would take more than a Super-Nova to violate the terms of Driss' curse, Given the source of that. As for the Controller... We can hope." "But I don't intend to assume that he went down with the ship." =========================== Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 22:36:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE:AAE3-Holding tactics & Cloister Bells On Thu, 07 Aug 1997 22:33:03, in Message # 00000809 "L.J. Wolfe" said: >On Wed, 6 Aug 97 20:41:22 +0100, in Message # 00000798 > Roland X said: > > Roland's eyes grow wide-and his head flies back, the >many psychic injuries of the past few days taking their >toll. Memories fill him-his departure from the Phoenix >Covenant, finding Callahan's, parts of the battle on Oa, >becoming the Pan in Arcadia, killing Gaunt- Morgan does her best to remain calm, inwardly and out. Not so much for herself, but for Roland. > Roland falls to his knees, looking up at the one re- >maining constant in his universe. Morgan looks back at >him, the concern-and fear-obvious in her eyes. > Gently, Roland reaches one hand around her head, leans >forward, and kisses her. She returns the kiss, as relief floods through her and overflows in the form of tears. A single sob escapes her lips as she slides to the floor next to Roland, clinging to him. > *I swore that I would never leave you, Little Flower. >Whatever my memories, I know that I am a man of my word. > *I love you.* <*And I you, my beloved.*> Morgan smiles through her joyful tears. <*But can we stop with the emotional crisis for a little while? Dealing with Gaunt, and then dealing with _you_ dealing with Gaunt, and now this.... Can't we just take on Darath and his army of undead, you know, something simple?*> She kisses Roland again, letting him know that despite her "complaints" she'll gladly deal with any crisis that threatens to come between them. Then, sometime later game-time-wise: >On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 19:41:29 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000808 > fuzzy said: > >> On Thu, 07 Aug 97 19:50:59 CDT, in Message # 00000805 >> Mike Knight said: >> >> "I couldn't feel Driss or the Controller. They may have gotten >> away. Or those circuits may have been destroyed. Since the universe >> is still here, I assume Driss made it out. That's if the timeline >> didn't just branch. I honestly don't know what to think or feel >> right now. Except, that I am suddenly very, very, tired. If >> anything, my emotion level has just hit empty. Right now, I just >> want to sleep. Call me when the roller coater ride is over." Morgan sends some calming energies Knytt's way. <*Over? Every time it's 'over' we get right back on.*> <;-)> >"It would take more than a Super-Nova to violate the terms of Driss' >curse, Given the source of that. As for the Controller... We can >hope." > >"But I don't intend to assume that he went down with the ship." <*If you'll recall,*> Morgan reminds her comrads, <*When Driscoll was brainwashed and trying to take out Roland, he said he'd "been in the heart of a sun as it's gone nova and survived." We haven't seen the last of that Dris. As for the Controller, I'm with Fuzzy. We assume he's still a threat until we can be sure otherwise.*> =========================== Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 22:51:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 22:43:44 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000810 "P. Campbell" said: On Thu, 7 Aug 1997, fuzzy wrote: > \As you recall Xzerrion, you will need to hold the horses minds, for > the duration of the journey.\ <* Well, not exactly, but I won't explain the distinction right now. I'm an illusionist, not a telepath. *> Xzerrion creates an image so that, to the horses, they are riding through relatively barren grassland. > \This is that shallow valley or dry wash I showed in the guild hall, > Here is a local map of the area from here to Misern.\ > > Nemisis forms a hand holding a paper scroll next to Xzerrion just > before he passes through the gate. <* Good, this places us far enough out to avoid being seen, but not more than a half-hour away. *> > \Call, if you have some thing you need or want me to do.\ <* Understood. At the moment, the most I'd expect is possibly needing a quick way out, but plans change. *> Shifting mental gears, Xzerrion enters character as Khoragh. `Great Maglubiyet, it's been a long ride. I hope this Darath character's off'ring us enough t' be worth it.' =========================== Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 00:50:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: RE:AAE3-Holding tactics & Cloister Bells On Fri, 08 Aug 97 01:39:51 CDT, in Message # 00000812 Mike Knight said: > >On Thu, 07 Aug 1997 22:33:03, in Message # 00000809 > "L.J. Wolfe" said: > >Morgan sends some calming energies Knytt's way. <*Over? Every time >it's 'over' we get right back on.*> <;-)> Knytt smiles sadly. "Where's the 'chicken exit' when I need it." ><*If you'll recall,*> Morgan reminds her comrads, <*When Driscoll was >brainwashed and trying to take out Roland, he said he'd "been in the >heart of a sun as it's gone nova and survived." We haven't seen the >last of that Dris. As for the Controller, I'm with Fuzzy. We assume >he's still a threat until we can be sure otherwise.*> "Well, I had forgotten that. What has me worried is, I didn't care whether he died or not. Not maliciously, not selfishly, just *didn't care*." --Knytt > =========================== Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 12:06:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Fri, 08 Aug 1997 12:02:11 PDT, in Message # 00000813 "Caprice Davis" said: >Shifting mental gears, Xzerrion enters character as Khoragh. `Great >Maglubiyet, it's been a long ride. I hope this Darath character's >off'ring us enough t' be worth it.' Caprice remains silent, riding with an ease unexpected in a woman. With her current garb, all is hidden except her eyes, and even those are unreadable. She keeps her slightly behind Khoragh's, letting him lead. =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 06:50:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 06:48:16 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000814 gamer@host.yab.com said: > On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 18:28:51 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000804 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Huge storm yesterday so this si the quickest I could reply. ;-) Standing on a desert dune as even the slighest breeze seems to hurl annoying grit into any exposed skin, You look out over Misern. Once it was probably a magnificent city, par for major cities of dozens of other dimentions, but time and undead have taken their toll. The 30' walls still stand, but many places have had divots eroded away in them from time and sandstorms. Many of htose storms must have come from the south, as sand has piled itself nearly as tall as the walls along that side. Gigantic gates, more than large enough for 10 men to ride abreast Stand closed, with wooden gates that look as if they could barely resist a simple knock much less a battering ram anymore. Little can be seen of the inside save for the roofs of buildings, but judging from what can be seen, they are not in much better shape. The land must rise a bit in the Northern section of the city however, for the castle there that can only be Darath the Black's is easily seen. It does not show the decay that the rest of the city shows, evidence of concern for its repair by its inhabitant. Three square towers rise up over the city, and gargoyles look down unpon it from the castles's walls. Movement can be seen along the walls, both of hte city adn the castle. Undead guardsmen, still walking their posts as if they had never died. Along one section of hte wall, two skeletons are facing each other slouching on their spears, but suddenly snap to attention as a Zombie in chainmail approaches and starts waggling a finger at them both. =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 06:51:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 06:56:01 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000815 gamer@host.yab.com said: > On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 22:43:44 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000810 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Shifting mental gears, Xzerrion enters character as Khoragh. `Great > Maglubiyet, it's been a long ride. I hope this Darath character's > off'ring us enough t' be worth it.' OOC: Since carpice would know this and probably mention it and I forgot to tell her, Quaren is a Copper-standard fantasy world with a decimalized monatray system, so 10,000 silver comes out to 1000 gold. An average person makes 1-2 silvers a month. An average assassination pays 50-100, sometimes up to 1,000 for a dangerous mission. 10,000 is previously unheard of.) =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 10:50:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 10:40:07 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000816 "P. Campbell" said: On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > > Little can be seen of the inside save for the roofs of buildings, > but judging from what can be seen, they are not in much better > shape. The land must rise a bit in the Northern section of the city > however, for the castle there that can only be Darath the Black's is > easily seen. It does not show the decay that the rest of the city > shows, evidence of concern for its repair by its inhabitant. Three > square towers rise up over the city, and gargoyles look down unpon > it from the castles's walls. <* Attractive place. Looks just like home. *> > Movement can be seen along the walls, both of hte city adn the > castle. Undead guardsmen, still walking their posts as if they had > never died. Along one section of hte wall, two skeletons are facing > each other slouching on their spears, but suddenly snap to attention > as a Zombie in chainmail approaches and starts waggling a finger at > them both. Khoragh rides directly to the gates and halts his horse crisply before them. He pauses to wait for an officer, then addresses him as if he sees nothing unusual about speaking to the undead. `Master Khoragh One-Eye reporting to Misern, on a matter of some importance. These are my assistants. We would like admittance to the city as soon as may be conveniently arranged.' =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 16:06:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 15:59:21 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000819 gamer@host.yab.com said: On Sat, 9 Aug 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > > Khoragh rides directly to the gates and halts his horse crisply > before them. He pauses to wait for an officer, then addresses him as > if he sees nothing unusual about speaking to the undead. `Master > Khoragh One-Eye reporting to Misern, on a matter of some importance. > These are my assistants. We would like admittance to the city as > soon as may be conveniently arranged.' The Undead over the gate suddle around a bit and almost seem to be conversing. Finally a gaunt face with bulging eyes, scraggly hair and open sores on his face opkes his head over. "I am the gatekeeper. Whadda want fleshie?" =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 16:20:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 09 Aug 1997 21:22:27 -0700, in Message # 00000820 Gareth L Owen said: > On Thu, 7 Aug 1997 18:28:51 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000804 > "P. Campbell" said: > > accompanying Stranger, assuming the form of a horse. If this is > incorrect, assume, Xzerrion purchases an additional horse for > Stranger. > Stranger finishes his D-jump, and conceals it about his person, before heading out with the others, mounted on a reluctantly transformed Kitty. "Couldn't you have transformed into a more comfortable horse?" "Hey, is it my fault that horses have bones where they do?" =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 16:21:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 09 Aug 1997 21:25:53 -0700, in Message # 00000821 Gareth L Owen said: > On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 10:40:07 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000816 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Khoragh rides directly to the gates and halts his horse crisply > before them. He pauses to wait for an officer, then addresses him as > if he sees nothing unusual about speaking to the undead. `Master > Khoragh One-Eye reporting to Misern, on a matter of some importance. > These are my assistants. We would like admittance to the city as > soon as may be conveniently arranged.' Stranger is following fairly close behind, looking up at the huge walls and taking everything in. "I have a bad feeling about this," he mutters =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 18:20:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Knytt does the Time Warp again. On Sat, 09 Aug 97 19:47:55 CDT, in Message # 00000823 Mike Knight said: Knytt returns from her room, bag slung over one shoulder. With a glance, Pyewackett comes to her side. "This is not normal behavior for me. I need to collect my thoughts. That will take the one thing I have an infinite supply of. Time." Knytt and Pyewackett vanished in a white light. Outside, atop one of the new buildings, loud music pulsed and echoed through the city. Knytt was strutting and dancing to the 110+ decibels coming from a portable stereo. "LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!" the chorus screamed. Pyewackett was bounding and playing with an abandon he had not felt since a kitten. A crowd had gathered in front of the four story building. Knytt danced dangerously close to the edge of the building and seemed not to notice. Most of the crowd beneath believed she had lost her mind. "With a bit of a mind flip, you're into the Timeslip..." A gateway opened in the ground before the crowd. The closest to it backed away, not because of the fear of magic, but because it was about a mile drop to an ocean beneath. Knytt and Pyewackett continued the dance, a wireless microphone in Knytt's hand now. She started singing in a high squeaky voice adding an exaggerated hip wiggle that looked either ridiculous or alluring depending on who you asked. "Well, I was walkin' down the street, Just a havin' a think, When a snake of a guy, Gave me an evil wink." "He shooka me up, He took me by surprise, He had a pickup truck And the devil's eyes." "He stared at me, And I felt a change, Time meant nothin' Never would again." Knytt jumped to the left, then took a step to the right, put her hands on her hips, then locked her knees together tightly, and thrust her pelvis forward. Pyewackett seemed to feel an unspoken change and prepared himself for a leap. His thoughts a feral smile, he spoke to the CAoL. *I don't know where we are going, but we're going to have _fun_.* But something about Pyewackett's 'voice' said that this sort of fun could be deadly. Adrenalin pulsed through the pair atop the building. Somehow everything had been gathered together into the duffle bag on Knytt's back. The stereo was just finishing "Timewarp". As the music suddenly seemed to lose all energy, the two adventurers dove off the building, Knytt falling backward in a Sigourney Weaver dive. The crowd screamed and scattered as Knytt and Pyewackett plummeted. But at the second story the descent slowed, and the pair of adventurers passed through the gate as if they had simply stepped off the edge instead of dove off a four story building. The gate closed behind them. =========================== Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 19:36:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 19:23:16 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000824 "P. Campbell" said: On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > The Undead over the gate suddle around a bit and almost seem to be > conversing. Finally a gaunt face with bulging eyes, scraggly hair > and open sores on his face opkes his head over. "I am the > gatekeeper. Whadda want fleshie?" Khoragh gives the gatekeeper a level look. `I believe I told your bony friends over there that I would like entrance to the city. Beyond that, my business is with your master, not with you.' On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 19:23:16 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000824 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Khoragh gives the gatekeeper a level look. `I believe I told your > bony friends over there that I would like entrance to the city. > Beyond that, my business is with your master, not with you.' The ghoul looks down the the trio and licks his lips. "Never had travelers want in before. Maybe you come, maybe you not. time will tell, time will tell. I send messanger to Darath and we wait. we good at waiting." You notice him rubbing the tips of his claws back and forth across the stone in front of him. > shape and image of Khoragh, so they do not radiate magic. His > blades, on the other hand, do, but what else is expected of a master > assassin? > Noted. =========================== Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:21:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:23:27 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000826 gamer@host.yab.com said: OK, I've ment to write this for a while but haven't gotten around to it. hehehehehe Kuri-neko looks up from her mourning to see a large rat sitting perfectly still a few feet away staring at her. Rats are nothing unusual, but to have one sitting perfectly still showing no signs of fear nor malice certainly is. She looked at it a while and then felt a ticling in her mind as it spoke to her there. [Why are you crying?] The voice was so soft and child-like, yet so full of fear and concern she couldn't help but smile at the soundless sound of it. "Someone I cared a lot about is suddenly gone. Another I care for lies too near death's door for comfort. And, though I am so skilled as an assassin and even as a healer, yet I am helpless to do much but wait in either case. I.... I don't like waiting. I feel so.... Useless. So helpless. To have to sit there and not be able to affect what's happening around me scares me. I suppose it's hard for a rat to understand, even as obviously intelligent and magical a one such as you." Squee tried to sort out the big words, then decided to just ignore them. [I lost people too. My mommy and daddy were taken away by bad men, leaving me all alone. Until Unca Roscoe found me that is. Well, actually I found HIM] he puffs out his chest slightly, [But I still miss them lots. And I still think about them and have times I just want my mommy back to hold me and sing to me like she used to. Or my daddy to come play chase with me in the enchanted forest. Unca Roscoe says that we're going to find them again. I hope so. I miss them so bad sometimes...] Kuri's face was neutral as she let the child's thoughs sink in. She stretched out her arms to him and he came closer so she could hug him close. "We have both felt loss little rat. But neither of us should have to mourn alone in the darkness. You have helped guide me away from a path of possible self destruction. Domo Arigato." They stayed that way for a short while, just feeling each other's warmth drive away the sadness and leave peace in their souls. Finally they arose and Kuri Placed Squee on hr shoulder and walked out into the common room from Blacky's room. =========================== Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 11:06:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:59:22 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000827 "P. Campbell" said: On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > The ghoul looks down the the trio and licks his lips. "Never had > travelers want in before. Maybe you come, maybe you not. time will > tell, time will tell. I send messanger to Darath and we wait. we > good at waiting." You notice him rubbing the tips of his claws back > and forth across the stone in front of him. Khoragh waits calmly, sharpening his longsword (not Frostbite, a different longsword : he has a spare). `Very well, we will wait. Try not to decompose too much while we're waiting.' =========================== Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 11:08:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Subject: AAEIII - Taking Back the Night; Dhyrclhanc Style! (Long) On Sun, 10 Aug 97 14:05:30 PDT, in Message # 00000829 Martin Gerster said: (O.C.C.: As should be immediately obvious, this post takes place around approximately the same time as the "Taking back the night", the "Taking back Dibis" and the "Dawn in Dibis" posts. This is me, attempting to catch-up. -- Martin) }=3D8) As Roland is making a spectacle of himself, and a lion's share of the CAol is dealing with the Earth Elemental, a powerful and sinister faction of the Controler and, asumedly, Matron Drisonel's forces work against them. A, by now *very familiar*, green-tinged B5-style jumppoint/boomtube/X-window/ gateway flares into being above the city. As the attentions of many below are already engaged in the ongoing rebelion, few take notice of the peculiar phenomena. Those that do see the event as a good omen; a sign of the eventual success of the rebelion. Even those who are witness to the event quickly turn their attentions back to the various battles already at hand; none notice as the, even more familiar (to the members of the CAol, at least) form of the, still, "Full-Battle-Mode" Sentinel-Lensdragon(tm) sweeps out of hyperspace and into realspace, above Dibis. However, the appearence of the Lensdragon's ring-generated armor has changed, and it isn't the only thing; the powered combat armor now incorporates a "bird-of-prey" motif that would be familiar to Roland, that is if he was watching. The armor also has what appears to be a saddle at the base of the neck. Riding on Dhyrclhanc's shoulders is a human-sized figure wearing lightly colored pseudo-arabian clothes. By now, some members of the CAoL may have witnessed the Sentinel-Lensdragon's return but if they try to contact him through Psi-web, he doesn't respond; the link has been severed! Also, none of the powerfull psions in the group can conact the figure on his back. Either the rider is *completly* headblind, or possesses _incredibly_ good psi-sheilding. For a moment the Sentinel-Lensdragon twists his head around and he and the figure seem to confer with each other. Then, Dhyrclhanc briefly swoops close to the ground, outside the city, and the figure leaps off his shoulders. The figure then pauses to swing a large, fairly bulky, rifle off its own back and runs towards the members of the CAoL at breakneck speed. As the figure nears, it can be seen as a *very beautiful* raven-haired female human of average height and with flake copper eyes. The rifle is of a "bulpup" configuration and is vaguely remincent of a H&K G11 *and* a FN 90. "I'm Synthea." She intruduces herself, with a silken voice and a slight bow of the head, then she turns to Roland and asks, "How can I help?" (To be continued... ) As always... I remain... -- Dhyrclhanc the Sentinel-Lensdragon, Adopted of the Clan Larestra in Alfandra, Adopted Sib to Roland X and Morgan Greywolf, and Member of the Calahanian Army of Light aka Martin Gerster (c/o ofgerst@pluto.njcc.com) @>-->---- <*> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "That the purpose for Might was to not to make Right but that Might should serve Right." -- Arthur Pendragon, Bearer of the Sword Excalibur, Son of Uther, and Rightfull King of All The Brittians ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The creatures that want to live a life of their own, we call wild. If wild, then no matter how harmless, we treat them as outlaws, and those of us who are 'specialy well brought up shoot them for fun." -- Clarence Day ("This Simian World," 1920) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning. Where the seas sleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke, and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger. Somewhere there's injustice. Somewhere else the tea is getting cold. C'mon Ace, we've got work to do!" -- The Doctor ("Survival") ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =========================== Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 14:36:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3: "Skydiving Heaven" or "Dropping in on Paradise" On Sun, 10 Aug 97 16:11:14 CDT, in Message # 00000830 Mike Knight said: As they twisted themselves into a form of skydiving position. Knytt allowed their plummet to increase in speed. She was feeling exhilarated. Pyewackett managed to glide over to Knytt, his claws digging into her duffle bag. He clung to the pack a strange pair tandem skydiving over an ocean. *You're sure you know what you are doing?* /Nope. Fun ain't it?/ *Uhhhhhh...I don' wanna get wet.* /Don't panic, there is a beach over that way. I'll fiddle with the Gateway Bands to slow our descent like I've been doing to control our fall. We'll glide over the beach so you can land on the sand, while I take the drink. I wanna go for a swim./ The pair disengaged and Pyewackett, and Knytt's duffle bag, landed gently on the beach. Knytt landed in the water with a huge splash. Pyewackett paced the beach, looking at where Knytt landed in the water. Suddenly, Knytt surfaced with a gasp not 20 feet down the shoreline. Her Star Trek uniform clung to her as she flopped down on the beach. Pyewackett strolled over. *What's wrong with the horizon?* "We're inside a Dyson Sphere. The curve is so slight that the atmosphere will obscure the view of the water before any curve can be noticed. So the horizon looks like that. Almost a line, but very fuzzy." *Huh.* Knytt grinned at the feline. She looked around the beach, and seeing no one, stripped and toweled off. She slipped on a white blouse and shorts. Hanging her clothes on a rope she strung from a pair of palm trees, Knytt hefted her bag and led Pyewackett down the coast to a small cove. There they found a solitary, round, white metal table set out on the sand with two chairs. Knytt took one and Pyewackett took the other. *Uh, this doesn't feel very dangerous.* "Not everything we encounter is dangerous. We could have simply stepped through a gate and ended up here. The free-fall was dangerous. This is the relaxing phase. Everything in balance. Oh, slip this on," Knytt added, removing a golden collar from her pocket, "I picked it up in a bazaar on a ship in the horse head nebula. It will translate your thoughts into words, when you desire it to. Just think at it and it will do the rest automagically. I had left it in the Doctor's TARDIS a few years back. Apparently it got confused with a bracelet and was put in the wardrobe room. Try it out." "So what happens now?" Pyewackett asked, his voice becoming audible for the first time as the collar slipped over his head. His eyes got huge and his ears perked in surprise. Knytt grinned. "That depends," said a voice, "on what you would care to order?" Pyewackett started. "Did the table just speak?" "Yes," said the table, "how may I serve you and the lady this lovely afternoon?" "I," Knytt said, apparently completely fine with the idea of talking furniture, "Would love a peach-flavored iced tea. Pyewackett?" "A saucer of milk and a can of tuna, please." "I'm sorry, I don't have those items on file." "Do you have a food synthesis apparatus that can handle molecular data?" Knytt asked, "I have a comprehensive list of Earth foods and ingredients for such emergencies," she added, removing the notebook computer from her duffle bag. The table replied that it do, so she clicked the computer on, the screen flashing to life with a smiley face and a digitized voice announcing, "Hi there!" Knytt raised a slender antenna from the monitor of the notebook. Typing a few keys, they heard a modem connecting. Data scrolled rapidly down the screen. "Ah, thank you. Ooo, and you have recipes too! I'll be the envy of all the other tables on the island! I will have your order shortly." The table speaker cut off, then cut back in again. "Your liquids are ready, the fish will take a bit longer to synthesize." A circle irised open in the top of the table and a glass of tea and a glass saucer of milk rose out on a tray. Knytt took her glass and Pyewackett, apologizing to the table who replied it understood and was fine about it, leapt onto the table to lap at the milk. "So" (laplaplap) "as I was saying" (laplaplap) "What happens now?" "Your fish," said the table as a glass bowl with chunk tuna appeared. "I'm in heaven," Pyewackett said with a mouthful of the tuna. "Yes sir," said the table. Pyewackett stopped eating and stared at Knytt. "Did we die?" he asked, looking at Knytt. "No sir," the table replied, "You are quite alive." Knytt smiled. "Well, with the consistently wonderful weather all over the Sphere, what else would you call such a place but Heaven?" "Well, Miss, Heaven's Sphere to be precise. But surely, Sir has heard the story of the Sphere on his arrival here at least?" "It was a surprise for Sir," Knytt explained, "We just suddenly decided to drop in." Pyewackett mentally grimaced. He whispered to the table, which slid the tray slot open and showered Knytt with peanuts. "There," the feline God said, "I feel vindicated." --Knytt and Pyewackett =========================== Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 21:51:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Sun, 10 Aug 1997 21:37:46 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000831 fuzzy said: > On Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:23:27 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000826 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > They stayed that way for a short while, just feeling each other's > warmth drive away the sadness and leave peace in their souls. > Finally they arose and Kuri Placed Squee on hr shoulder and walked > out into the common room from Blacky's room. "I was begining to wonder where he had wandered off to. Squee, Did you get enough for breakfast?" =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 05:36:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3 : Onward to Misern On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 08:36:34 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000832 caprice said: On Sat, 9 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > > The ghoul looks down the the trio and licks his lips. "Never had > travelers want in before. Maybe you come, maybe you not. time will > tell, time will tell. I send messanger to Darath and we wait. we > good at waiting." You notice him rubbing the tips of his claws back > and forth across the stone in front of him. Caprice sits easily on her horse, still as a statue. The only movement from her is the wind stirring the robes concealing her form. At first this is merely impressive, but as the time drags on it becomes uncanny. (OOC: Posting so people know I'm still alive. ;) =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 10:37:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3: Taking Back the Night; Dhyrclhanc Style -- Part II (Long) On Mon, 11 Aug 97 13:18:31 PDT, in Message # 00000833 Martin Gerster said: Above everyone's heads Dhyrclhanc continues to circle around in the sky, as if he were looking, or waiting, for something. His vigilance is quickly rewarded as a series of low rumbings come from the ground. Over a range of hills just outside the city, a 17 ft. long, black, wedge-shaped armored vehicle pulls up. It is bristing with sensory/weaponry turrets and is also resplendant with death's-head imagery. Accompanying it is a 70 ft. tall, bright silver/white/light-blue, humaniod robot-vehicle with vaugly Shi'ar-looking markings. A large door opens up out of the back of the black vehicle and two, 9 ft. tall, shiny silver, vaguly Sontaran-looking, winged robots fly out on an interception course with the Lensdragon. Finally, a huge door opens up out of the back of the giant silver/white/light-blue robot and four 9ft tall bright silver/white/blue humaniod robots, also with vaugly Shi-ar looking markings pour out. Directly above the Dibis, a loud noise, like the snapping of a piano string, erupts. It is acompanied by a blinding flash of light and suddenly a small bright white/pinkish/maroon humaniod robot appears in the sky. It pauses only for a second and then disappears again, the same way. Only to reappear again, next to the Lensdragon. "Why am I here, 'Lensdragon'?" it says. "Oh good, Nimrod, I was wondering when you'd get here." replies Dhyrclhanc. "I have no time for your flipancy, Dragon." the robot replies. "Nimrod, you and I are a Sentinels, perhaps not in precisely the same way; however we both agree that the innocent must be protected and the wicked punished." "When a wrong is done it must be put right." agrees the robot. "Well all those people fighting below us are innocent. Not only that be they are fighing for they're survival and their freedom against a group of villians who have victimized and subjugated them through the use of superior technology." finishes Dhyrchlanc. "I am needed here. I will help." says Nimrod. Then his entire body rotates and he points a three fingered hand at the incoming vehicles. "What are these?" he asks. "The two flying robots are X-10A 'Predator' Powered Armor, from an alternate future Earth's Germany, the APC is a Coaltion Mk. V, from that same alternate future, the smaller humaniod robots are Consortium PA-10 'Ground Pounder' Infantry Powered Armor, from another alternate universe's galactic hegemony, the giant humaniod robot is a Consortium Battleram Attack Robot, from the same place. I suspect the Naruni have a hand in this." answers the draconic Lensman/Green-Lantern. Nimrod's body rotates back upon the same axis, and now faces the Lensdragon with a questioning glare. "Interdimentional Arms Dealers with no interests of their own, save profit." The adolecent Ruby Fire Dragon calmly replies. "Like 'AIM' from my Universe." "Close enough." Shall we engage them?" "Why not? Left or Right?" "Left." "Right!" (End -- Part the Second) =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 17:21:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Another Unexpected Drop-in... On Mon, 11 Aug 97 19:04:01 CDT, in Message # 00000835 Mike Knight said: As the afternoon went on, the sun stayed high in the sky. But its light dimmed. Pyewackett, who was chasing a small crab across the beach, stopped and looked up. "What's happening?" Knytt walked over, "Nightfall." "Well, shouldn't the sun be going down?" "Uhhhhhh, no. Here, look at this..." Knytt drew a circle in the sand with a dot in the center. "You understand how the days and nights work on earth? The planet spins and faces away from the sun when it is night? Well, here, they have built a shell around the sun. We are on the inside of that shell. Like the circle around the dot. The shell can't face away from the sun. So, they have to dim the sun to make a sort of night. And you didn't understand a word of that." "Not really..." "Ok, let's just say it is like a light in a huge room. For nighttime, you have to turn the light down." "How do they dim the sun?" Pyewackett asked. "There is a second shell around the sun further in. It has force fields that can darken to dim the light of the sun." Knytt looked at Pyewackett. "A dimmer switch," she said with a sigh, "Trust me, the magic works." Knytt glanced at her Gateway Bands. "Still earth time. Better set one for local time." Knytt walked back to the table, muttering "No wonder so many of my friends were computers." "Table, I need a brief run-down on how time is measured inside the Sphere." While she and the table discussed the differences in measuring time, and the table adding a few notes about when local customs were generally done (Apparently the customary time for an afternoon snack was actually half an earth hour before they arrived, but people in the Sphere were flexible about such things.) Pyewackett trotted back down the beach to gather the things Knytt had left behind at the landing site. Having telekineticly folded the Star Trek Uniform and combat armor and coiled the rope into a decent bundle, he levitated it above and just behind him as he retraced his path down the coastline. About halfway back to the cove, an explosion caught the feline's attention. A plume of smoke traced a path of a shuttle which sent up a plume of water as it hit the ocean. A few moments later, something shot out of the water, glided across it and beached itself, cutting a path straight up to 4 feet from the startled cat. It was ome sort of tube, similar to a torpedo. That tube fell open, split down the middle of the long axis and a humanoid creature, similar to a frog, staggered to its feet, clutching a metal briefcase. It then seemed to stiffen and collapse, its head landing a few inches from Knytt's dropped clothes. Pyewackett was bolting terrified down the beach, screaming "Knyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyytt!!!" =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 17:51:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Synthea Notes (Long) (Sorry!) On Mon, 11 Aug 97 20:42:01 PDT, in Message # 00000836 Martin Gerster said: Unless someone would like to take over Sythea I'm asuming she'll just going to stay in the background but still tag along with the bulk of the CAoL (Personaly, I'm just waiting for Roland to respond to that question she asked when I originaly introduced her!). As far as anyone can tell, she's a raven-haired human female of average hight. However, she's so absolutely gorgeous she'd make a young Sophia Loren envious. She will not respoend to any attempts to reach her psychicly; as I said before she's either completely headblind or she possesses some fantastic natural psi-shields. You can't tell what color her eyes are because she wears a pair of mirrored avaitor-style sunglasses. The psuedo-arabian clothes she wears are made of either cashmire or silk, and consist of a robe and sash-belt, a scarf around her lower face, loose pants and a cloak and hood. She also wears a pair of combat boots on here feet. The futuristic rifle she carries is a magnetic accelerator assault/battle rifle. She has four clips for this weapon, including the one currently in the rifle. Two, including the one in the rifle, are HVS, or "hyper-velocity spheriods", the other two are APS, or armor-piercing sabot. The HVS are equivlant to grape-shot; they'll have a lot of kienetic energy and they'll bounce around but they won't do killing damage. APS are sub-sonic, discarding sabot, rounds designed to punch through heavy armor, ther're more likely to do massive amounts of damage and may kill. She'll only use the APS rounds against monsterous, demonic, or heavily armored opponents. If asked what she's doing here, she'll vaguly reply that her "big brother" brought her here because he thought she could be some help. If asked who her big brother is, she'll say it's Dhyrclhanc. If asked, she'll also explain that she'll only take direct orders from Roland. I'll retake direct control of Sythea after Nimrod and I are finished dealing with these "armored robot troopers", but I figure it'll take a little while. Assume that the appearence of Nimrod and the reappearence of Dhyrclhanc is drawing the attention of the "Big Guns" away from the rest of the group. This'll also give me soething to do untill I figure a way to have Dhyrclhanc reconnect with the rest of the CAoL! I'll be interested to see what everyone's official reactions will be to these two new NPCs of mine. Oh, and as far as the combat that Nimrod and I are embroiled in; you ain't seen nothin' yet! =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 19:21:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 19:19:23 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000837 gamer@host.yab.com said: > On Sun, 10 Aug 1997 21:37:46 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000831 > fuzzy said: > > "I was begining to wonder where he had wandered off to. Squee, Did > you get enough for breakfast?" [Breakfast??? Gosh, I forgot about!! Thanks!] Squee makes a leap from Kuri-Neko's shoulder to the thable, shifting into a kitten in midflight. If Kuri's surprised at this, it doesn't show, her face is a complete mask of all emotion. She bows slightly at the wait, hands folded in front of her. "If you have not heard already, Blacky-san is currently missing in action, not having been seen since the battles last night. He did not return here. The initiates are searching teh city for him or his remains now, but until he returns to his rightful post, I am acting as Guildmaster of this Assassin's guild. As Guildmaster, I wish to thank you for your help last night and invite you to stay as logn as you require. Now I must check on my husband who was poisoned by a drow arrow last night." She bows again and begins heading for the bedrooms. ===========================