Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 3 Chapter 25 Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 19:36:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 19:32:46 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000838 gamer@host.yab.com said: The undead shuffle along the battlements as they walk their patrols. The gate keeper disappears again off to who knows where and the wind picks up slightly, faint scents of the coming monsoons barely traceable in the cool night air. A wave of vertigo hits the group and the world seems to turn upside down. Involentariallys they close their eyes fi just for a moment. When their eyes open again, the city is gone, replaced by an empty silvery plain. Looking around they quickly find out they are not alone. The only other feature of not around them is a large silver throne, upon which sits the figure of a man. Long white hair tumbles down his face and over the arm that holds his head up. He is dressed in sivler robes that seem to have no definable pattern, but instead the embroidery is contastantly changing and shifting giving it a living look. Only leg is thown over the armrest of the throne and is clad in a silver boot. All in all the figure gives the impression of boredom, but the face shows obvious curiosity and puzzlement. "Welcome to my home. PLease, be seated, I am not some Mortal Noble who insists on visitors standing in my presence." Neaxt to each person's horse a seat seems to grow out fo the ground. ti takes whatever shape the character wants. "I already know you are not from this world, which is why I did not notice you and the others until recently, and also why I am able to bring you here without violating the rules of my Challenge with the Harlequin God. What I wish to know is who are you, who brought you here, and why are you here. I believe I have the answers already, I only seek to hear them from you." =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:21:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:17:49 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000839 "P. Campbell" said: On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > > 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. Ak'hasta reaches into a pouch, pulling out a small green vial. `This may be of assistance, lady. This is an antidote to the standard poison used on our arrows or crossbow bolts.' - Xzerrion, who needed to get this character to do something =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:37:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:26:45 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000840 "P. Campbell" said: > On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 19:32:46 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000838 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > A wave of vertigo hits the group and the world seems to turn upside > down. Involentariallys they close their eyes fi just for a moment. > When their eyes open again, the city is gone, replaced by an empty > silvery plain. Looking around they quickly find out they are not > alone. The only other feature of not around them is a large silver > throne, upon which sits the figure of a man. Long white hair tumbles > down his face and over the arm that holds his head up. He is dressed > in sivler robes that seem to have no definable pattern, but instead > the embroidery is contastantly changing and shifting giving it a > living look. Only leg is thown over the armrest of the throne and is > clad in a silver boot. All in all the figure gives teh impression of > boredom, but the face shows obvious curiosity and puzzlement. <* To quote Roland, bloody fraggin' nass! *> > "Welcome to my home. PLease, be seated, I am not some Mortal Noble > who insists on visitors standing in my presence." Neaxt to each > person's horse a seat seems to grow out fo the ground. ti takes > whatever shape the character wants. Xzerrion decides to maintain cover as Khoragh, and does not allow his face to show any surprise. `My thanks, but I prefer to stand.' > "I already know you are not from this world, which is why I did not > notice you and the others until recently, and also why I am able to > bring you here without violating the rules of my Challenge with the > Harlequin God. What I wish to know is who are you, who brought you > here, and why are you here. I believe I have the answers already, I > only seek to hear them from you." Khoragh tries playing dumb. `If you are in contact with your representative in this city, you know why we are here. He sent a message to many assassin's guilds, hoping for someone to rid him of the Golem plaguing his court. The three of us have come in answer to that request. We are in position to do your servant here a favor, if you allow it.' =========================== Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 23:51:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 23:45:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000844 fuzzy said: > On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:17:49 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000839 > "P. Campbell" said: > > On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > >> 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. \Hospital, Administratve Override {}, Data search for Person {Blacky}, Any Referance.\ >> 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. Hospital: \No Referance, neither patiant nor DOA Records exist for that individual.\ > Ak'hasta reaches into a pouch, pulling out a small green vial. `This > may be of assistance, lady. This is an antidote to the standard > poison used on our arrows or crossbow bolts.' "The Hosptial hasn't seen Blacky or his corpse." > - Xzerrion, who needed to get this character to do something '\Nomally it wouldn't report corpses, but Nemisis told me how to get into those records\' =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 06:36:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:30:50 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000846 caprice said: On Mon, 11 Aug 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > > <* To quote Roland, bloody fraggin' nass! *> <* I am REALLY getting tired of handsome godlings... Far too many gorgeous men around. You take the lead. If he's like most here, hopefully he'll not expect much out of a woman.*> > Xzerrion decides to maintain cover as Khoragh, and does not allow > his face to show any surprise. `My thanks, but I prefer to stand.' Caprice has been still this whole time. When she dismounts the movement is fluid, perfect... and over before most mortals would register it. She stands, holding the reins of her horse, once again as still as a statue. > Khoragh tries playing dumb. `If you are in contact with your > representative in this city, you know why we are here. He sent a > message to many assassin's guilds, hoping for someone to rid him of > the Golem plaguing his court. The three of us have come in answer to > that request. We are in position to do your servant here a favor, if > you allow it.' <* Like he's going to believe that... even though we would dearly love to kill the Controller. Is it -our- fault Darath the Black allied himself with some of our old enemies. *> =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:06:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Subject: AAEIII - Taking Back the Night; Dhyrclhanc Style! On Tue, 12 Aug 97 12:02:42 +0100, in Message # 00000848 Roland X said: The Lensdargon (welcome back, Martin! 8^) said: >"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?" Roland, in Blaze mode, stops briefly at the side of this new ally. He eyes her carefully for a moment, then nods as if satisfied by something. "Glad to meet you. Call me Blaze, for now. See those robots?" He points at some of the Rifts forces in the battle. "They're bad guys. Non-sentient, as far as I know. Get rid of 'em." *Hmmph. Typical,* Sil sends, *letting your head be turned by...heavy firepower,* she finishes with a mental hug. *Sorry, Roland, looks like the leadership job's yours.* *You're not sorry,* Roland sends back, exasperated, as he dives back into the battle... (Note: All this, of course, is to be fitted in where/whenever it works back in the Battle of Dibis. ) =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:36:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE:AAE3-Holding tactics & Cloister Bells On Tue, 12 Aug 97 12:12:06 +0100, in Message # 00000849 Roland X said: >On Thu, 07 Aug 1997 22:33:03, in Message # 00000809 > "L.J. Wolfe" said: > ><*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. Roland smiles wearily. *Sure, love. Just one thing.* *Who's Darath?* (OOC: Ain't I a stinker? ) After what I assume is a mental game of catch-up... "I did _that?_ Oboy." Roland sighs, hoping anew that he can somehow get out of being the champion of Quaren. He and Morgan walk out, to find Sil and Synthea outside the door, playing bodyguard and comparing notes... "...wonder if I can get ammo like that for this body's chain gun- ah, Roland!" Sil retracts said weapon and gives the Freelance Immortal a quick hug. "Rejoining the group? Good. They're in trouble, as usual, and can probably use your help getting into more." Roland smiles at her sardonically. "Oh, thank you. Any sign of the Lensdragon?" Synthea blinks. "My brother? He sent me to aid you." Roland chooses this moment to patent a long-suffering sigh. "Great. I've got to have a talk with that lizard." His worried tone belies his apparent lack of concern as he (and anyone else who wants to ) rejoins the group in the mess hall... (OOC: Well, I'm going to be moving _very_ soon, but as my lady fair wishes to rejoin the group, I'll just let her write for me while I'm offline. Any discrepancies can be explained away by Roland's swiss-cheese memory. ) =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 11:06:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Tue, 12 Aug 1997 10:58:00 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000850 "P. Campbell" said: On Tue, 12 Aug 1997, caprice wrote: > <* I am REALLY getting tired of handsome godlings... Far too many > gorgeous men around. You take the lead. If he's like most here, > hopefully he'll not expect much out of a woman.*> <* True, good thing I'm not in my usual form ,eh? You sure you really want me to lead? I've been known to try some strange things when put in charge. *> > Caprice has been still this whole time. When she dismounts the > movement is fluid, perfect... and over before most mortals would > register it. She stands, holding the reins of her horse, once again > as still as a statue. <* And you complain about handsome men about ... personally, I think there's a few too many gorgeous and graceful ladies as well. *> > <* Like he's going to believe that... even though we would dearly > love to kill the Controller. Is it -our- fault Darath the Black > allied himself with some of our old enemies. *> <* I can hope. Besides, he *can* see through my illusion, but he has to know to look for it first. I really don't want to fight him, if I can avoid it. I prefer not to have more than one diety angry with me at once. *> =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 12:06:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Tue, 12 Aug 1997 11:42:05 PDT, in Message # 00000851 "Caprice Davis" said: >> <* I am REALLY getting tired of handsome godlings... Far too many >> gorgeous men around. You take the lead. If he's like most here, >> hopefully he'll not expect much out of a woman.*> > ><* True, good thing I'm not in my usual form ,eh? You sure you >really want me to lead? I've been known to try some strange things >when put in charge. *> <*Either you or Stranger.... I'd rather keep myself in reserve. Being underestimated can be useful*> >> Caprice has been still this whole time. When she dismounts the >> movement is fluid, perfect... and over before most mortals would >> register it. She stands, holding the reins of her horse, once again >> as still as a statue. > ><* And you complain about handsome men about ... personally, I think >there's a few too many gorgeous and graceful ladies as well. *> <*One, I am not gorgeous. Two, even if I was, that might well change next time I change worlds. Three, being graceful is the result of several combined lifetimes experience.> >> <* Like he's going to believe that... even though we would dearly >> love to kill the Controller. Is it -our- fault Darath the Black >> allied himself with some of our old enemies. *> > ><* I can hope. Besides, he *can* see through my illusion, but he has >to know to look for it first. I really don't want to fight him, if I >can avoid it. I prefer not to have more than one diety angry with me >at once.*> <* He's already pinned us as off-worlders... I'd threaten to raise my price to Driscoll, If I was being paid anything... We weren't hired to deal with godlings... just a psychotic Avatar.*> =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 15:06:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Tue, 12 Aug 1997 14:57:50 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000853 "P. Campbell" said: On Tue, 12 Aug 1997, Caprice Davis wrote: > > <*One, I am not gorgeous. Two, even if I was, that might well change > next time I change worlds. Three, being graceful is the result of > several combined lifetimes experience.> Khoragh maintains a straight face, but mental chuckling is heard over the link. > <* He's already pinned us as off-worlders... I'd threaten to raise > my price to Driscoll, If I was being paid anything... We weren't > hired to deal with godlings... just a psychotic Avatar.*> <* Tell you what, next time I see him, I'll demand that he double our pay, OK? *> =========================== Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 19:51:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Tue, 12 Aug 1997 20:45:15 -0700, in Message # 00000858 Gareth L Owen said: > On Tue, 12 Aug 1997 11:42:05 PDT, in Message # 00000851 > "Caprice Davis" said: > >><* True, good thing I'm not in my usual form ,eh? You sure you >>really want me to lead? I've been known to try some strange things >>when put in charge. *> /* Good, makes it more difficult for them to predict your next move */ >><* And you complain about handsome men about ... personally, I think >>there's a few too many gorgeous and graceful ladies as well. *> > > <*One, I am not gorgeous. Two, even if I was, that might well change > next time I change worlds. Three, being graceful is the result of > several combined lifetimes experience.> /* All women are beautiful. */ > <* He's already pinned us as off-worlders... I'd threaten to raise > my price to Driscoll, If I was being paid anything... We weren't > hired to deal with godlings... just a psychotic Avatar.*> /* He knows we're off worlders, and I bet that's all he knows. I reckon he's trying the old, "I know everything already so you may as well confess" strategy. He'll be trying the good cop bad cop routine next. Stick to the story, if he presses us admit we're offworlders, trvelling mercenary/assassins. It might work */ Stranger sits back on his horse, scanning the featureless terrain around, happy to let Xzerrion do the talking. =========================== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:07:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:13:46 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000859 gamer@host.yab.com said: > On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:17:49 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000839 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Ak'hasta reaches into a pouch, pulling out a small green vial. `This > may be of assistance, lady. This is an antidote to the standard > poison used on our arrows or crossbow bolts.' She eyes Ak'hasta cautiously, finally accepting the vial and stashing it in the wide sash aorund her waist. Then bows and Fuzzy speaks up. =========================== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:08:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:16:09 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000860 gamer@host.yab.com said: > On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 23:45:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000844 > fuzzy said: > > "The Hosptial hasn't seen Blacky or his corpse." > > '\Nomally it wouldn't report corpses, but Nemisis told me how > to get into those records\' Kuri sighs. "I had already feared that, but there are initiates searched hte hospital physically non-the-less. He is somewhere. He must be. I only pray to Darath that he is safe adn sound somewhere. I really do not want this possition this way." =========================== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:37:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:35:37 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000861 gamer@host.yab.com said: On Mon, 11 Aug 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > > Khoragh tries playing dumb. `If you are in contact with your > representative in this city, you know why we are here. He sent a > message to many assassin's guilds, hoping for someone to rid him of > the Golem plaguing his court. The three of us have come in answer to > that request. We are in position to do your servant here a favor, if > you allow it.' Darath gestures to the (east??) and part of the landscape changes to a cutaway view of Darath the Black's castle. Darath the Black can be seen in some underground laberatory seemingly conversing with an armored zombie. Perhaps the gatekeeper's messanger. In the dungeons not far from Darath the Black sit a young woman, a girl, and a large muscular man who can only be Miles. In one of the towers is The Controller, seemingly having a fit as he scribbles furiously on archement, then in seeming disgust, crumples up the parchment and disintigrates it with a plasma burst in his palm. "I know of Jerrick's current prblem with the other off-worlder, but it is his onw fault for not listening to the soothsayer I sent with ill profocies of hte new advisor. But I rarely deal in the affairs of my childern. I care nothing for assassinations or any other mortal matters save collecting worshippers. I am not going to help nor hinder you there. But neither am I going to allow you to continue on until I have some answers that satisfy me. I know the Harelequin God somehow learned of the other realities and summoned you. I know he has some sort of plan against me. Something to do with my incarnation perhaps since that is where you are now headed." "I am not an unfair nor unkind God, but I will not be played for a fool either. If The God of Thieves can bring you here, my power can affect you just as well to send you away or outright destory you if I wished. But that would be stupidity. Driscoll is a liar adn trickster. He became a god by stealing his power from me. Now that there is a chance of his losing it to me again, he plots and scemes to get around the rules of hte challenge to attack me on Quaren. But with your help I have a chance to turn the tables upon him. To let the trickster eb revealed for the evil rogue he is." "So I ask you again, in the name of justicec onfess to me. How did Driscoll find out about you, how did he bring you here, and for what purpose so that I may have Magi see Driscoll's deceptions and let things return to normal." =========================== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 17:52:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 21:31:21 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000862 caprice said: On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > > "I know of Jerrick's current prblem with the other off-worlder, but > it is his onw fault for not listening to the soothsayer I sent with > ill profocies of hte new advisor. But I rarely deal in the affairs > of my childern. I care nothing for assassinations or any other > mortal matters save collecting worshippers. I am not going to help > nor hinder you there. But neither am I going to allow you to > continue on until I have some answers that satisfy me. I know the > Harelequin God somehow learned of the other realities and summoned > you. I know he has some sort of plan against me. Something to do > with my incarnation perhaps since that is where you are now headed." <*He thinks we were brought here against him? I'm definately being underpaid...*> > "So I ask you again, in the name of justicec onfess to me. How did > Driscoll find out about you, how did he bring you here, and for what > purpose so that I may have Magi see Driscoll's deceptions and let > things return to normal." <*I'm actually tempt to tell him the truth... except I doubt he would believe it... perhaps that's the best reason to tell the truth.. hrm...*> =========================== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 20:51:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-happiness is a warm rat. On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 20:46:34 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000863 fuzzy said: > On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:16:09 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000860 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > Kuri sighs. "I had already feared that, but there are initiates > searched hte hospital physically non-the-less. He is somewhere. He > must be. I only pray to Darath that he is safe adn sound somewhere. > I really do not want this possition this way." "That includes those bodies that the Streacher Teams saw in the streets, so there is good reason to believe the he is still among the living." The Nemisis Split that remained with fuzzy while the TRansport sequence occured speaks up... "His body was also not found during the reconstruction." =========================== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 22:52:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 22:49:11 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000864 "P. Campbell" said: On Wed, 13 Aug 1997, caprice wrote: > > <*He thinks we were brought here against him? I'm definately being > underpaid...*> <* No kidding, I really don't need this ... *> `Perhaps if you payed more attention to the affairs of your worshippers, we would not have reached this position. Our actions on this world, whatever they may be, have no bearing on you. Indeed, they cannot, as it is no easy task for a mortal to strike at a god in any meaningful way.' > <*I'm actually tempt to tell him the truth... except I doubt he > would believe it... perhaps that's the best reason to tell the > truth.. hrm...*> <* We might tell him the truth, but I'd be real careful about how much of the truth to tell. Besides, there are ways and ways to shade the truth. *> Seeing that Darath has at least penetrated to the fact that he is no native assassin, Xzerrion assumes his natural form to go for dignity instead. `We are in the pay of neither man nor God, my lord, but are here rather of our own free will. We have the ability to enter and leave this reality, without the assistance of anyone. I have no interest in the affairs of Gods, but act instead to protect the mortals caught between their struggles. To that end, we have business in Misern, which you have said you will neither help nor hinder. As for our being from another world, there are those allied with the current rulers of Quaren who are also from elsewhere, indeed, some are from my homeland.' =========================== Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 17:07:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Thu, 14 Aug 1997 23:47:39 -0700, in Message # 00000866 Gareth L Owen said: > `Perhaps if you payed more attention to the affairs of your > worshippers, we would not have reached this position. Our actions on > this world, /* That's it, get on his good side */ > <* We might tell him the truth, but I'd be real careful about how > much of the truth to tell. Besides, there are ways and ways to shade > the truth. *> /* Agreed */ > `We are in the pay of neither man nor God, my lord, but are here > rather of our own free will. We have the ability to enter and leave > this reality, without the assistance of anyone. I have no interest > in the affairs of Gods, but act instead to protect the mortals > caught between their struggles. To that end, we have business in > Misern, which you have said you will neither help nor hinder. As for > our being from another world, there are those allied with the > current rulers of Quaren who are also from elsewhere, indeed, some > are from my homeland.' Stranger says nothing, but pays close attention to Darath. /* Guys , if it comes to blows I'll pass you the D-jump if I can, hit the covered switch on the end and it'll drop you into the next fiction, I'll try and keep Darath occupied. Clearly, this is not my favoured option, but if we can't talk our way out I think you two better run */ =========================== Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 08:07:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Waiting Is On Fri, 15 Aug 1997 07:55:47, in Message # 00000867 "L.J. Wolfe" said: >On Tue, 12 Aug 97 12:12:06 +0100, in Message # 00000849 > Roland X said: > > Roland smiles at her sardonically. "Oh, thank you. Any >sign of the Lensdragon?" > Synthea blinks. "My brother? He sent me to aid you." > Roland chooses this moment to patent a long-suffering >sigh. "Great. I've got to have a talk with that lizard." >His worried tone belies his apparent lack of concern as >he (and anyone else who wants to ) rejoins the group >in the mess hall... Morgan gives Roland a hug. Like the other Callahanians in the Guild Hall (I assume), she's monitoring the situation with Darath, ready to provide what aid she can to her comrads, and wondering what they _could_ do against a God, anyway. > (OOC: Well, I'm going to be moving _very_ soon, but as >my lady fair wishes to rejoin the group, I'll just let >her write for me while I'm offline. Any discrepancies can >be explained away by Roland's swiss-cheese memory. ) He's also not been feeling well :-(, which has also kept him away from the keyboard. I'm sure once he's here in sunny Southern California he'll feel _much_ better ;-). Then, >On Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:16:09 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000860 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > Kuri sighs. "I had already feared that, but there are initiates >searched hte hospital physically non-the-less. He is somewhere. He >must be. I only pray to Darath that he is safe adn sound somewhere. I >really do not want this possition this way." For some reason I can't put my finger on, it strikes me as odd that the assassins worship Darath. The God of Thieves, maybe. And wouldn't He have taken notice of us sooner if we were hanging out with His followers? I'm not entirely awake yet, and it's a minor point, but I thought I'd mention it. :-) =========================== Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 17:03:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Fri, 15 Aug 1997 17:14:46 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000874 gamer@host.yab.com said: On Wed, 13 Aug 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > > `Perhaps if you payed more attention to the affairs of your > worshippers, we would not have reached this position. Our actions on > this world, whatever they may be, have no bearing on you. Indeed, > they cannot, as it is no easy task for a mortal to strike at a god > in any meaningful way.' "Ah but your own words seem to contradict you. If observing my worshippers more closely would have caused me to put an end to your actions earlier, then they must indeed have a bearing on me. Turning three cities of worshippers against my Incarnation with the help of the Incarnation of Thieves certainly has bearing. And a servent of one God on a mission against another with aid and information formt eh first can certainly be a danger to a God. Even a Godling as young as Driscoll must have realized some of the chinks in the armor fo Godhood by now." > `We are in the pay of neither man nor God, my lord, but are here > rather of our own free will. We have the ability to enter and leave > this reality, without the assistance of anyone. I have no interest > in the affairs of Gods, but act instead to protect the mortals > caught between their struggles. To that end, we have business in > Misern, which you have said you will neither help nor hinder. As for > our being from another world, there are those allied with the > current rulers of Quaren who are also from elsewhere, indeed, some > are from my homeland.' A beautiful raven-haired woman in a long gown of the same fabric as Darath's appears witha tray of silver goblets in her hands. She offers one to Darath first, which he accepts, then pulls her towards him gruffly for a Kiss. She deperately tries to balance the tray at first, then gives up dropping in on the ground returning his embrace and kiss. Once finished, she stands, still slightly flustered according to the telltale redness of her cheeks. She closes her eyes a moment and gestures and the tray and goblets fly back up into her hands. She smiles broadly at Darath who striaghtens up a bit to look over the lip of one of the Goblets. "Not bad Beloved, but you forgot to put something back IN them!" She blushes again and gestures filling each witha clear liquid before turning tothe group and offering them each a goblet. As she leaves, Darath watches her go and it takes another moment for him to remmeber the business at hand. "Yes, I know of these others you speak of and informed my incarnation against trusting them, but he was blinded to the signs I sent. And now my pemonitions have come true adn he must deal with them as best he can. I gave him the power so that he could deal with such things and save me from having to. Yet I still want to know where all these world-walkers are appearing from and how you discovered Quaren. The other Dieties and I made a pact on the day we created Quaren that we would have nothing to do with other worlds so that they would have nothing to do with us. And now that seems to be for naught. I want answers abotu why exactly you are here and how you came to come _here_." =========================== Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 23:18:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Fri, 15 Aug 1997 23:16:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000876 "P. Campbell" said: On Fri, 15 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > > "Ah but your own words seem to contradict you. If observing my > worshippers more closely would have caused me to put an end to your > actions earlier, then they must indeed have a bearing on me. `You mistake me. If you observed what your worshippers were curently doing, you would have seen that we are responding to a request from your Incarnation, if not in the exact manner he chose.' > Turning three cities of worshippers against my Incarnation with the > help of the Incarnation of Thieves certainly has bearing. And a > servent of one God on a mission against another with aid and > information formt eh first can certainly be a danger to a God. Even > a Godling as young as Driscoll must have realized some of the chinks > in the armor fo Godhood by now." `As I have stated, I am a servant of neither man nor god. My actions are my own.' > She blushes again and gestures filling each witha clear liquid > before turning tothe group and offering them each a goblet. As she > leaves, Darath watches her go and it takes another moment for him to > remmeber the business at hand. <*Lovely. We have a charlatan before us. *> > "Yes, I know of these others you speak of and informed my > incarnation against trusting them, but he was blinded to the signs I > sent. And now my pemonitions have come true adn he must deal with > them as best he can. I gave him the power so that he could deal with > such things and save me from having to. Yet I still want to know > where all these world-walkers are appearing from and how you > discovered Quaren. The other Dieties and I made a pact on the day we > created Quaren that we would have nothing to do with other worlds so > that they would have nothing to do with us. And now that seems to be > for naught. I want answers abotu why exactly you are here and how > you came to come _here_." Xzerrion looks the God right in the eye. `And if we reveal this, what then, my lord? We are not willing to surrender ourselves to the mercy of your Incarnation and his followers. My main interest here is in removing certain others not native to Quaren from this place. If, once we accomplish what we came for, we leave this world and do not return, would that be sufficient for you?' <* Should I tell him about his incarnation's violation of the spirit of an honorable challenge by kidnapping Driscoll's family? Or do I need a fast breakout if he is dissatisfied with my answers? And Stranger, don't sacrifice yourself to buy us time. I got us into this, I'll see about getting us out. *> =========================== Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 07:33:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 11:26:46 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000877 caprice said: On Fri, 15 Aug 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > On Fri, 15 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > >> Turning three cities of worshippers against my Incarnation with >> the help of the Incarnation of Thieves certainly has bearing. And a >> servent of one God on a mission against another with aid and >> information formt eh first can certainly be a danger to a God. Even >> a Godling as young as Driscoll must have realized some of the >> chinks in the armor fo Godhood by now." <* Perhaps if his incarnation was not mad as a rapid dog... But I'm going to say that... After all, you're spokesman here.*> >> She blushes again and gestures filling each witha clear liquid >> before turning tothe group and offering them each a goblet. As she >> leaves, Darath watches her go and it takes another moment for him >> to remmeber the business at hand. > > <*Lovely. We have a charlatan before us. *> <* How so? That is his wife, Nix... The legend of them meeting is one of the most beautiful love stories of this world. *> Her mental voice is tinged with some emotion... envy, perhaps. Caprice gives a small bow of thanks, but does not drink, as it would mean removing her veil. >> "Yes, I know of these others you speak of and informed my >> incarnation against trusting them, but he was blinded to the signs >> I sent. And now my pemonitions have come true adn he must deal with >> them as best he can. I gave him the power so that he could deal >> with such things and save me from having to. Yet I still want to >> know where all these world-walkers are appearing from and how you >> discovered Quaren. The other Dieties and I made a pact on the day >> we created Quaren that we would have nothing to do with other >> worlds so that they would have nothing to do with us. And now that >> seems to be for naught. I want answers abotu why exactly you are >> here and how you came to come _here_." <* He probably ignored the signs because Darath the Black thinks he IS the god... *> > <* Should I tell him about his incarnation's violation of the spirit > of an honorable challenge by kidnapping Driscoll's family? Or do I > need a fast breakout if he is dissatisfied with my answers? And > Stranger, don't sacrifice yourself to buy us time. I got us into > this, I'll see about getting us out. *> <* Yes, I'd tell him... after all, if he's accusing Dris of trickery... And let me handle the telport out. I've known things that can block a d-hopper. I've yet to find something that can block me. *> Caprice subtly reaches out with her mind, to grasp and hold the shape of Xzerrion, Stranger, and Kitty. Since she has the time due to the conversatio, she's going to use it, weaving her mental grip into a firm grasp that will let her remove them all safely. =========================== Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 11:33:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 11:31:34 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000878 "P. Campbell" said: On Sat, 16 Aug 1997, caprice wrote: > >> <*Lovely. We have a charlatan before us. *> > > <* How so? That is his wife, Nix... The legend of them meeting is > one of the most beautiful love stories of this world. *> Her mental > voice is tinged with some emotion... envy, perhaps. <* I'd appreciate it more if the lovers didn't have us at their mercy, perhaps. *> > <* He probably ignored the signs because Darath the Black thinks he > IS the god... *> <* Point. Maybe mentioning that will get this god more involved. *> > <* Yes, I'd tell him... after all, if he's accusing Dris of > trickery... And let me handle the telport out. I've known things > that can block a d-hopper. I've yet to find something that can block > me. *> <* I hope you're right about this ... *> `My lord, I believe that the challenge has been violated by both sides, not simply by the Godling, as you call him. I really don't care which one of you ends up ruling over Quaren, and I'd suspect the rest of us don't either. However, your servants, including your Incarnation on this world, have chosen to abduct the Godling's family, and I must suspect that this is in order to force his surrender. Let your duels continue from now to the end of eternity for all I care, but let them be between *just you and him.* My people will strike at the loved ones of their enemies, and this is a tactic I abhore. A worthy diety should adhere to a higher standard.' > Caprice subtly reaches out with her mind, to grasp and hold the > shape of Xzerrion, Stranger, and Kitty. Since she has the time due > to the conversatio, she's going to use it, weaving her mental grip > into a firm grasp that will let her remove them all safely. <* Not yet, let him answer, but if he tries to strike, it's time to go. *> =========================== Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 17:34:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 17:40:14 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000879 gamer@host.yab.com said: On Fri, 15 Aug 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > > Xzerrion looks the God right in the eye. `And if we reveal this, > what then, my lord? We are not willing to surrender ourselves to the > mercy of your Incarnation and his followers. My main interest here > is in removing certain others not native to Quaren from this place. > If, once we accomplish what we came for, we leave this world and do > not return, would that be sufficient for you?' "Your being here, your leaving. These are not the points that distress me right now. I look to the future. Quaren has been found. Quaren is growing more and more tainted every day. But to see the symptoms does not mean you can affect a cure. To do that. To prevent anyfurther interdimentional contamination of Quaren, I must know how Quaren was discovered in the first place and with what intents it was entered. I have tried questioning others who came, but have learned nothing that satisfies me. Hence I come to you in an attempt to find a way to preserve my home. And if as I suspect it is Driscoll who has brought about this taint, to see that he is exposed for what he has done and duly punished." =========================== Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 17:48:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 17:58:31 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000880 gamer@host.yab.com said: > On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 11:31:34 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000878 > "P. Campbell" said: > >> Caprice subtly reaches out with her mind, to grasp and hold the >> shape of Xzerrion, Stranger, and Kitty. Since she has the time due >> to the conversatio, she's going to use it, weaving her mental grip >> into a firm grasp that will let her remove them all safely. > > <* Not yet, let him answer, but if he tries to strike, it's time to > go. *> He is silent for what seems an eternety as he just stares at Xzerrion from his throne. Even breathing seems to have stopped as everyone awaits his reaction. Will he lash out, or will he comply? Will he deny it or will he try to repent? Finally his gaze turns from Xzerrion to the scene at Darath the Black's castle. He cocks his head as if listening to some invisible advior, but no one is there, and there is no sound. Nix begins to return, sees her husband and the ntension in teh room and decides against it, disappearing again with the tray of pasteries in her hands. "Darath the Black knows nothing of The Harlequin God's former mortal identity. He knows there are prisoners in the dungeon, but does not realize their signifigance. His mind is even further gone than before. Soon I fear ti shall be gone completely and the time for the next incarnation will arise. I believe in the Challenges. I have not violated nor condoned any violation of their rules. And this challenge is not for rule of this dimention. The Theif God is far too young wiht too few follwers to possibly be a threat to that. it is about honor. The power he now wields was ment to go to my eldest child when she matures. So that she might fight by my side and eventually take my place. But then Ligi sent Mortals to take that power for herself, but a certain thief she sent took the gem and kept it for himself. It was not ment for him. I will not let him keep it wihtout a fight. But to violate the laws I helped create adn I hold dear is unthinkable." Silence looms in the air again but is quickly shattered by another voice. "Allright Darath, these three have other duties they must fofill, they can't sit around here all night with you." Turning around, Magi stands behind the trio, next to a hallway. Darath waves away teh view of the castle and then waves away the Callahanians who are free to follow Magi now. The hallway is a long plain corridor, seemingly made of sandstone. At one point Magi Stops. "Just follow it a hsort distance further, and you will find yourself where you began." His body contorts and shifts into taht of a lion, and the legs become like those of the gazelle. The human head gives a wink and a smile before fading away. Back at Misern, the guards begin the slow process of opening the gates, which begins wiht the throwing of several skeltons over the wall to go dig away the sand from the bottom of them. On top of the wall, the gatekeper yells, "OK OK OK He's gonna see ya. Hold yer organs in. unless ya want me to holds em for ya! heheheh" =========================== Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 22:33:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 22:21:49 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000881 "P. Campbell" said: On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 gamer@host.yab.com wrote: > Silence looms in the air again but is quickly shattered by another > voice. > "Allright Darath, these three have other duties they must fofill, > they can't sit around here all night with you." Turning around, Magi > stands behind the trio, next to a hallway. Darath waves away the > view of the castle and then waves away the Callahanians who are free > to follow Magi now. `Thank you, M'lord Darath, M'lord Magi, M'lady Ligi. Perhaps we may meet again under ... more pleasant circumstances.' > The hallway is a long plain corridor, seemingly made of sandstone. > At one point Magi Stops. "Just follow it a hsort distance further, > and you will find yourself where you began." His body contorts and > shifts into taht of a lion, and the legs become like those of the > gazelle. The human head gives a wink and a smile before fading away. Xzerrion quickly reweaves the illusion of Khoragh One-Eye, taking care to once again disguise any aura of magic surrounding it. > Back at Misern, the guards begin the slow process of opening the > gates, which begins wiht the throwing of several skeltons over the > wall to go dig away the sand from the bottom of them. > On top of the wall, the gatekeper yells, "OK OK OK He's gonna see > ya. Hold yer organs in. unless ya want me to holds em for ya! > heheheh" `Very well. We await an audience with His August Exaltedness with great pleasure, though we are truly unworthy of such an honor.' <* Caprice, do you have one of those spider things handy to let loose and go scouting around once we get inside? *> =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 04:18:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Meditations On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 07:16:08 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000884 Shadow said: While everyone went off to sleep, John made his way up to the roof of the Assasins Guild. He gazed at the unfamiliar sky for a long time, until he heard the sound of booted feet behind him. Without turning he spoke, "The time approaches." Behind him a voice replied, "Yes." After a slight pause it continued, "Will you be able to do what needs to be done? John didn't reply for a while, and when he did, it was haltingly, as if he was trying to pick just the right words, "It does not seem.. real. Some things never do, until they happen. I don't think about it. It may not be needful, there are other possibilities." The other voice was relentless, "Yet only a few will result in the desired outcome. You must play everyone and everything perfectly. It would also be best to set up the transfer now." John almost frowned, no more than a quirk of the mouth, "That would severely limit certain options, commit me to one course." John paused, "The Lensdragon could be a problem. I only met him the once, but somehow I feel as if he doesn't trust me on some basic level." The voice hesitated slightly, "You know the reasons for that, as well as any. You're new to this group, and he is a powerful telepath. Perhaps he sensed something of the dichotomy within you, or of your doubts. You've doubted the wisdom of this since you started." John's voice was icy, "And as usual, I have been left with almost no other choice. Damn you all." His fist clenches tightly, then the anger seems to run out of him. He turns around, "But you are right, if it must be done, now is the time. Give me your hand." A sullen, muted blue glow flashes across the rooftop. "There, it is done. I don't expect to see you again this side of Oblivion. No, don't say anything else, just go. Each of us to his weird." John turns his back on the other person and listens to him leave. A hovertank is silhouetted briefly against the moon before it falls, and John smiles in spite of himself, "Showoff." He remains on the roof, assuming his sitting in the air pose, somtimes just staring off into the distance, sometimes staring at the insides of his eyelids. =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 07:49:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Aae-Hard decisions On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 07:49:21 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000885 gamer@host.yab.com said: Recovering his strength eventually, Roscoe shifts silently into the form of a fly and makes his way out of the guildhall unnoticed. Once on the streets, he proceeded to block off the psi-link. He had things on his mind and there was no need to worry everyone else with them. He landed in an alleyway and shifted into the form of a human. He began walking out of the aley, head down, lost in his thoughts until he heard the outcries behind him. Looking around he realized he was the reason for them. He had shifted into a human form, but forgtten clothing. He mentally rolled his eyes and kicked himself for forgetting such a thing, and give the little mental urge chosng the clothing of a nearby mercant for his garb. He flexes his mental muscles and felt his flesh letterally cralw as it formed. Opening his eyes he looked at his work, and became locked there in astonishment. His skin was the olive dark hue of a native to misern. He just stared at his hands, oblivious to the activites around him as the natives moved away from him slowly, pretending to ignore him, but throwing starled adn worried glances at him. "this... this can;t be. What;s going on? I;m not a doppleganger. My race can't change our colors or furs or facial features. We are what we would have been had we been born that race. What's going on with my powers? First the mental powers, now... now my shapechanging?" He decided that standing in teh street talking to himself wasn't the best place to be. He shifted into a rat and raced down a series of alleyways until he was far away. Once he felt sure there was no one around this time, he shifted back into a human form, taking his old traditional look again, light skin and all. "I have to figure out what's going on. My probe of Ak-hasta went deeper than I wanted it. stranger than I wanted it." He should have never felt it, never realized he had been searched mentally. But it was too large a flow of power, more than he had intended. Too much to control. Then when he tried the link with Matt. His saying that the experience was worse than he had anticipated was an understatement. He hsould have been able to keep himself divided from Matt, watch thigns as a secondhand observer, but as hard as he tried, he felt himself pushing further and further forward, becoming Matt. He looked at himself in a new glass window. "And now my shapecahngeing powers. Why should powers that I have had since birth, had with exactly the same strength begin going crazy now? And am I the only one?" He concentrated with all his might, feeling like a child again learning a new form. Carefully, slowly he tried to shift his face and only his face, picturign the form he wanted. At first nothing, but then it began to bubble adn shift. When he gave up, he had partial success. He had tried for Knytt's old man form, but instead had gotten something that looked like a cross between Mark Twain and George Burns. But it was somethign at least. Now to figure out where his power limits did lie. but how to do that without risking damage to the city? "I see you have begun to notice it. I wondered when that would be." Roscoe whirls aroudn adn saw the Southerner leaning agaisnt a wall, his lizardine eyes watching Roscoe closely. Insticts kicked in and Rosce shifted into hellhound form, his feet melting quickly into the paved road Nemesis had lain not long ago. The Lizardman bowed to him, but did not reach for a weapon nor did he attemtp to cast a spell. "I come not to fight. I know I would die had I done that. But I come instead with the answers you seek. My people wielded the power long before you. we know more baout it that you can expect." Roscoe paused. he wasn;t sure if he could trust his mortla enemey, but curiosity built up in him to dangerous levels. He opened the link again only for a moemnt. Only long enough to send [If I'm not back in an hour, find me] before slamming his barrier back in place. "Ok, you just wanna talk, then let's talk." he said as he shifted into his natural form of a tiny hair covered man. The Southerner shook his head slowly lokoing around. "Not here. you think I want to be seen in public conversing with a Northerner? Follow me." Roscoe paused, then decided, in for a dime, in for a dollar and shifted into wolf form following the lizardman. Down the street, down an alley and into a small room. inside were two other Southerners, adn Roscoe flexes his mind, getting the hellhound form ready at a moment's notice. "Well, what did you want?" he said as he became a Guragach again. The lizardman seat himself at a small table. "You have noticed your powers surging haven't you? You don't know why do you? You don't know how to handle the increased power do you? We know. we can help." Roscoe's silence was enough to confirm the Southerner's qweries. "When Oberon first gave us our power, he granted each a set power level. as our numbers grew however, so did our power. Soon some felt that we could take on Oberon himself. They died for their foolishness, and hte rest of us were wrongly punished, having our power taken from us and given to your kind. But this time Oberon set a block of power. to be distributed evenly. The more of your that there were, the weaker you each would be so he did not have to worry about your trying to overwhelm him by numbers again. Your kind are dead. Save for a small handful, but the power is stil the same block." Things fell into place in Roscoe's mind. Only a couple dozen had returned to what was left of the village. Most of them young, the oldest about 400 years old. Roscoe still had hope for more to come, at least a couple older than he so the title of Clan leader would not be lain on his shoulders, but thusfar, they numbered only about 30. When Roscoe had left as a youht of 160, there were a couple hundred. X/200 compared to X/30... But the power was evenly distributed. Each member had exactly the same amount of power, regardless fo age, whihc ment that... His thoughts were inturrupted as the Southerner went on. "We have tried may route int eh past to wrest back our old powers from yoru kind, and it unfrtunately has lead to much bloodshed. But we have learned new powers in the meantime as well. One fo them is magic. We have figured out a spell that will allow us to be joined under Oberon's blokc of power, re-distrbuting it to more normal levels. But to do it, we need the permission of hte eldest of the Northern clans. And that... is you. "Think the danger of this situation over closely. You are very young, yet now the eldest of the clan. And you have been having troubel adjusting to the higher power levels. Inagine the others. Imagine what could happen if they can't control the power at a critical time. Or if they're still learnign to use the power. You have an adopted son don't you? How will you teach him to safely use the power if even you can't be sure of using it yourself?" Roscoe looked around the room. The glances adn whispers the others were giving each other said more than all the oration of the one seated at the table. Wordlessly, he shifted, not into a hallhound, but into a flea, disappeaing from sight. Slipping througha crack in the wall, he made good hsi escape, adn the form of a cheetah placed more than enough room between he and hte room. He had to think. He had to figure things out. To leave things as they were could be dangerous. They were right. A mistake at a critical time could be fatal, and that blood would be on his hands. And what about Squee? Was he a hope for hte future, or was he doomed to be overwelmed by an uncontrolled power. Often the power is learne dto be used through trial and error. The danger of those errors was now geometrically larger. But could eh really trust the southerners and did he really have a right to make this descsion??? =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:19:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:06:22, in Message # 00000886 "L.J. Wolfe" said: >On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 17:58:31 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000880 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > The hallway is a long plain corridor, seemingly made of sandstone. > At one point Magi Stops. "Just follow it a hsort distance further, > and you will find yourself where you began." His body contorts and > shifts into taht of a lion, and the legs become like those of the > gazelle. The human head gives a wink and a smile before fading away. Morgan, who has been quietly monitoring the conversation with His Lunarness, starts at this. She looks around at her comrads. <*Oh, grife. Was that who I _think_ it was?*> =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:50:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:41:22 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000887 fuzzy said: > On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:06:22, in Message # 00000886 > "L.J. Wolfe" said: > > Morgan, who has been quietly monitoring the conversation with His > Lunarness, starts at this. She looks around at her comrads. > > <*Oh, grife. Was that who I _think_ it was?*> \Well, that depends on Who you Think it was... I don't think it was Yogi Bear. ;)\ \I've been wondering if he was going to get involved.\ =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 17:03:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Friends in Common On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 18:51:38 -0500, in Message # 00000888 Michael Jon Knight said: Pyewackett found Knytt clutching her duffle bag. They ran back to the crash site, Pyewackett explaining that he had nearly been crushed by a big green monster. Knytt looked at the amphibian, pulled him out of the escape pod onto the beach and dug through her duffle bag. She removed the tricorder, set it to 'medical' scanning, and made a few passes over the frog's body. "Is he?" Pyewackett asked. "Dead? No, just unconscious. And he has a nasty broken leg and a couple bruised ribs." Knytt looked at the amphibian more closely. He wore a burgundy pair of coveralls. Over them was a black flight jacket with red fur on the collar. A pilot of some sort. The briefcase was manacled to his wrist. There was an embroidered emblem on his back. It showed an almost cartoonish rocket ship, flying past a ringed planet. There was some strange writing on the background, like a cross between Runes and Hebrew. "That emblem looks familiar...Where have I seen it before?" Knytt scowled in thought, then it came to her in a flash. "Will! Will had a jacket like this! He showed it to me one night on the Jupiter 2!" "Ih? Oo oh ih ahinun?" The frog croaked, barely understandably. The frogman sat up, wincing at the pain in his chest and leg. He cleared his throat, and said again in a deep gravelly voice. "You know Will Rrrrobinson? I haven't seen him in yearrrrrs. Gooooood kid. Damn goooooood fighterrrrrr." "How long since you last saw him?" "Day his family left Rrrrrooooofasa. 7 yearrrrrs ago. When did you meet him?" "About a year after he left. Good kid. He helped a few friends of mine out of a scrape...That leg of yours need attention. And maybe your ribs. Do you have a radio to call for an rescue party?" "No. I have to get this brrrrriefcase to Rrrrroooofasa." "Look," Knytt said, "You're not going anywhere on that leg." "I don't have any choice. I can't call forrrr an Evac and therrrre is ooooonly one way oooout ooooof herrrre, now that my shuttle has gone down. And I am goooooing to need yourrrr help, Miss." "Look, we're on a resort island. Let's see if there is a doctor here to get your leg fixed. Then you can tell me all about it." Knytt put the clothes Pyewackett dropped into the duffle bag, slung it over her shoulder and helped the frog onto his feet, so he could hop alongside her on his good leg. "What is yourrrr name, frrrriend?" "Knytt. And this is Pyewackett. How about you?" "Arrrrnaska. Will called me 'Arnie'. I would be honored if you would as well." "Well, Arnie, let's get you to the resort." --Knytt and Pyewackett +------------------------------------+-------------------------------+ | Since the universe is curved, there| Michael Knight (Alias: Knytt)| |cannot be any truly straight answers.| Companion of the feline God, | | -- J, Michael Straczynski | Pyewackett, Chronicler of the | +-------------------------------------+Musings of Zathras and Keeper | | The DEAD END of the Infobahn! +--------+of the family Zathras| | http://www.idir.net/~mjknight/index.html | greeting card list | +----------------------------------------------+---------------------+ | "I AM NOT A NUMBER I AM A FREE-WHEELING UNICYCLE" -- Kadiatu | |_The Also People: Doctor Who-The New Adventures_ by Ben Aaronovitch | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality." | | -- Jules de Gaultier | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 23:04:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 01:59:01 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000889 Shadow said: > On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:41:22 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000887 > fuzzy said: > > \Well, that depends on Who you Think it was... > I don't think it was Yogi Bear. ;)\ > > \I've been wondering if he was going to get involved.\ From his rooftop, John mentally sighs, <*OK, I'll ask. Who do we think that was? And what does it mean if he is involved?*> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Roslowski pookie@pluto.njcc.com "Because forgiveness, for one like you, could never be an option." Lady Achika - Tenchi Muyo in Love (Dubbed) =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 23:34:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Meditations: The other side of the coin. On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 02:22:27 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000890 Shadow said: Jadis sits on a plush throne, watching several monitors as they show various members of the CAoL at different points in time. 'Damn, there's _very_ little to go from. At least I have my surveillance system already in place here.' The screens change to several scenes of the recent fight in Dibis. Several screens go dark as various cameras are destroyed. Some are obviously magical, as well. One in particular follows the Lensdragon as he fights the mechs. Jadis watches this for a long while, replaying certain bits of particular interest. Finally Jadis tires of this, and puts the videos away for later study and compilation. As he sent copies back to his true fortress, not the little rathole he currently occupied, he voiced one phrase that was to be repeated shortly after, much to his amusement, "The Lensdragon could be a problem." =========================== Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 23:49:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 23:39:37 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000891 fuzzy said: > On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 01:59:01 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000889 > Shadow said: > >> On Sun, 17 Aug 1997 10:41:22 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000887 >> fuzzy said: >> >> \Well, that depends on Who you Think it was... >> I don't think it was Yogi Bear. ;)\ >> >> \I've been wondering if he was going to get involved.\ > > From his rooftop, John mentally sighs, <*OK, I'll ask. Who do we > think that was? And what does it mean if he is involved?*> \We think it is the personification of chaos, as to what it means... Nearly anything, the entity in question is beyond prediction.\ =========================== Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 06:04:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: At the gates to.... MISERN??? On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 09:47:19 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000894 caprice said: > On Sat, 16 Aug 1997 22:21:49 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000881 > "P. Campbell" said: > > <* Caprice, do you have one of those spider things handy to let > loose and go scouting around once we get inside? *> <* Several. And remember the cut away view of the castle Darath showed us? I even have some idea where to send them. *> =========================== Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 20:05:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - I am on a Quest! (Walking down the road one day, doo On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 21:50:11 -0500, in Message # 00000914 Michael Jon Knight said: The table directioned them to the resort. It also called ahead for a medical team that would meet them on the way. They slowly made their way around the other side of the cove. Around the bend, they followed the beach. The hotel was 2 miles down the coast. The medical team met them a quarter of a mile down the way. It was a hovering stretcher with diagnostic equipment attached. Arnaska took the stretcher and Knytt and Pyewackett walked alongside. "In this brrrriefcase arrrre plans forrrr a weapon being buillllt by the Skix'tasis. Heaven is a neuuuutrrrral terrrritorrrry. I met my contact herrrre. When my shuttle tooook off, therrrrre was an explosion. And I went down." "Sabotage?" Knytt inquired. "Absoluuutely. I saw a Skix'tasi near my ship. It got into its own ship, but it had been near my ship. This may be neuuuutral terrrrrritorrrry, but it is not immune to such acts as this." "What will happen when your government finds out?" "Nothing. At least nothing herrrrre. It may intensify the warrrr efforrrrt a bit morrrre, but we cerrrrtainly won't brrrring the warrrr herrrre. Not even trrrroooooooops to investigate. We wouldn't get within a...what did Will call that distance?...a lightyearrrr...of herrrre. They'd have us pinned down and weapons locked on us within a second. I know, we've trrrried beforrrre. When we come herrrre, we follow theirrrr rrrrules orrrr we don't come at all." "So, what do their rules say about a possibly sabotaged spacecraft?" Knytt asked. "Investigate. Find cause of malfunction. If foul play, prosecute guilty parties." Said a distinctly deep digital voice. Knytt, Pyewackett and Arnaska looked up and to the side to the source of the voice. A glowing tennis ball hovered above them. The light flashed in time to the voice. "Investigator 115379-ABD, Aerospace (Bomb Division). Name: Bob." *Bob?* Pyewackett thought, rather amused. "You need not concern yourselves with the crash. Matters are under control." "Very well, then," Knytt said, we will be on our way. My friend needs medical attention." "Yes," Bob replied, "I will have some questions for you later. Good day." Bob shot out over the ocean and plunged into the water. "Is everything on this island a machine?" Pyewackett asked. "Yes," said Arnaska, "We arrrren't rrrreally surrrre who buillllt this place. All we everrrr see arrrre machines. But, they seem to be frrrriendly enough. And they want ourrrr business, so to speak. This is a prrrrime rrrresorrrrt forrrr many worrrrlds." "Interesting." Arnaska and Knytt talked the rest of the way to the hotel. The medical team had reset the amphibian's leg on the trip back and were now exposing it to some form of radiation that accelerated the healing of the bone. Knytt wandered into the gift shop and found a gold-plated hi-tech compass that also functioned as a sort-of global positioning satellite system. Very advanced. Knytt wondered how it worked. She also picked up a canteen with a filter that take hydrogen and oxygen from the environment and convert, condense and purify it into clean water. The package showed the canteen being fired upon with a laser. The cloth wrapping burst into flames, but the metal canteen stayed tight as a drum. And cool, it was being held by a rather attractive lady barehanded. /Neat!/ Knytt thought. She had no idea how she was going to pay for this, she realized, but the automated cashier assured her it could be billed to her room. Then it hit her. "I don't have a room." "Consider it taken care of, courtesy of the Rrrrooofasa goverrrrnment," Arnaska said, hobbling over. "The leg is a bit sorrrre, but otherrrwise fine." As they left the shop, Knytt slipped the compass and canteen in her duffle bag. Pyewackett was sitting next to it. "So, what now?" "Arnie, this weapon...can it really destroy a small country from space?" "I am not surrrre, but if the compuuuuterrrr models are corrrrrrrrect, it can." "Well then, Pyewackett, we go find this cave Arnie spoke of." "Yeah, but Knytt, a portal that will take you to where your destiny lies. To where you are _supposed_ to be? What if we go there, and nothing happens?" "Then we werrrre destined to be therrrre. I did not say it is guarrrrenteed to worrrrk forrrr me, but it is my only ooooption without brrrreaking coverrrr. And, if I brrrreak coverrrr, the Skix'tasis will have me forrrr surrrre." *Couldn't we just open a gate to his world?* /No, I've never been there, and this guy is impossible to mind read. I finally need that ability and it lets me down./ Pyewackett concentrates for a few moments, then mentally sighs. *This guy is either naturally shielded, or dumb as a post.* "Ok," Pyewackett says, "let's go find this Cave of Destiny." "Thank you frrrriends! Now, we just need one thing....a boat." "Awwwww, I HATE water!" Pyewackett whined. =========================== Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 21:49:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Guided by Destiny On Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:41:02 -0500, in Message # 00000918 Michael Jon Knight said: They stayed at the resort that night. In the morning, they checked out, feeling refreshed and headed to the docks. An hour later, they had chartered a boat and were speeding across the Sphere's ocean. They were inside a cabin, shooting across the calm blue ocean at 500+ knots, but they still had to yell over the engine noise. The boat's cabin was only a two seater with room in the middle for a specialty seat, they had rented for Pyewackett. Similar to a baby seat, it bolted on over the cargo compartment where Knytt had stowed her bag. Pyewackett was strapped in backwards and had his head inside a paper bag. "Uuuuuugh, are we there yet?" he said pitifully, sounding every bit as sick as he felt. "Not yet, sweetie," Knytt replied, stroking his fur where she could through the harness. "Don't worrrrrrrry, little one, we will be therrrre sooooon," Arnaska added. "How far is it?" Knytt asked. "About 2,000 nauuuutical miles. We shouuuuld be therrrre in anotherrrr 2 hourrrrs." "UUUUUUUNGH!" "Aww, poor kitty," Knytt said. Two hours later, they arrived in a chain of islands. The boat slowed to a comparative crawl, 20 knots. "Ok, where at?" Knytt asked. "I'm not surrrre. This is the part where destiny must call.........this way, I think." Akasta pointed into the heart of the island chain. Island chain in fact would be an incorrect term. It was more like one large island that had been flooded so that only the larger hills and mountains breached the surface of the ocean. Some of them were simply rock outcroppings jutting out of the ocean like icebergs. Others were large enough to have some flora growing on them. As they drew closer, Knytt could see that the distance between the islands was shortening. As they approached the largest island, Knytt saw that indeed the land had been flooded, or the island had sunk somehow. "Yes," Arnaska said quietly, "This is the place." Arnaska brought the boat and beached the nose. He released his harness and raised the domed cockpit, clambering out and onto the shore where he tied a line to a palm tree. Knytt released Pyewackett, disposed of his motion sickness bag and climbed out of the boat, hopping down onto the sandy beach. "Ok, Arnie, lead the way," Knytt said, putting Pyewackett on the beach. He stood shakily for a few moments, then his legs gave way. Knytt picked him up and gave him some water from her canteen and a bit of cornbread she had packed. He ate it slowly, and began to feel better. Knytt put Pyewackett back down. He walked slowly, but a bit more surely than before. The trio began their trek into the jungle. --Knytt, Pyewackett, and Arnaska =========================== Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:49:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Parting Company On Tue, 19 Aug 1997 01:45:04 -0500, in Message # 00000922 Michael Jon Knight said: A few hours later, Knytt, Arnaska, and a very tired Pyewackett arrived at the base of a sheer cliff. "Up therrrre," Arnaska said, pointing toward the top of the cliff, "That's ourrrr destination." "I'm not climbing that!" Pyewackett said. Knytt replied by picking up Pyewackett and putting him in her duffle bag, using it like a baby carrier, she slung it onto her back, so Pyewackett could see over her shoulder. "Nope," Knytt said, "I'll be carrying you." Too bad not every writer is so kind. ;) > They inched thier way up the cliff without ropes or any equipment. The hand holds were numerous and none required too much acrobatics to get at. This path had been travelled before. "What is inside the cave? Knytt shouted up to Arnaska. "Ourrrr destiny. They say therrrre is a guarrrrdian therrrre also." "Is he dangerous?" Pyewackett shouted. "No, the guarrrrdian is therrrre to guarrrrd you frrrrom yourrrr destiny. Everrrryone, everrrrything, has a destiny in this univerrrrse, but we don't always get to chooooooose it. And we may not like it once we see what it is. The guarrrrdian knows ourrrr destiny. Let us prrrray it is a good one." They continued to climb until they reached the cave. Arnaska helped Knytt and Pyewackett up. The cave was set into the cliff, almost like it had been bored into the rock. Knytt pulled out a flashlight and they walked into the Cave of Destiny. Suddenly a rumbling from above and behind. A large stone was rolling down a ramp from behind them, guided by two ledges cut into the wall. Without thinking, they sprinted forward as the bouldar drew nearer. It was almost on top of them when it ground to a halt, stopped by the cavern walls and ceiling, which had narrowed just enough to halt it's momentum. It was plain what the boulder's purpose was. To seal them in. "Well," Arnaska said dryly, "Ourrrr destiny lies ahead of us." They followed along the tunnel for about an hour as it wound its way into the mountain. Finally, they saw a dim light before them. They walked boldly forward as the light grew brighter. The tunnel opened onto a huge cavern inside the mountain. Directly in front of them, taking up the back wall of a small alcove was a wall of bright orange light. "The Cave of Destiny," Arnaska breathed. "Ah," a higher and equally gravelly voice called out, echoing against the stalagmites and stalagtites, "I was wondering when you would arrive." A small, wisened frog sat in an orange robe before the strange portal. He uncurled himself from the lotus position he was sitting in, and pulled himself up on a stone staff twice as tall as he was. He hobbled over to the threesome. "Normally, I would caution those who enter to go back, but the Cave has decided already you must go forward. Be warned, the future is not always as we plan it to be. I have seen your destinies and know your pasts. Arnaska, go forward and good luck. Your work on Heaven's Sphere is over. Your destiny lies elsewhere. Knytt, Pyewackett, stay and talk with an old man for a moment." "Yes, Guardian," Arnaska said, a bit surprised how easy this was, "Knytt, Pyewackett, thank you for your assistance and comapnianship on this mission. Roofasa thanks you." "You aren't rolling your R's and EW's anymore," Pyewackett said, surprised. "It is impolite in a Holy Place," Arnaska replied simply. He ran over to the protal and stopped just before entering. He looked back and gave them a "thumbs up". "Will taught me that. Good luck, my friends." Knytt returned the sign and Arnaska stepped through the portal. "Knytt, I have seen many come through this cavern. Some left the way they came, some left as Arnaska did. This stone for example. It has a destiny." The Guardian threw the stone through the portal. It reappeared with an orange flash on the ground where the ancient frog had picked it up. "That stone is destined to be here. I came to this cave 500 years ago to find my destiny. When I stepped through the portal, I appeared, just as the stone did, right here in this cave. The previous Guardian got up, bowed deeply, and ran laughing happily through the gateway, never to return. This is not your fate, but I want to make this clear. *I* appeared in the chamber. My clothing did not. On putting on the robes, I found the cavern had made a mental link to me. And I understood why my old clothes had not come with me. They had a different destiny. Normally, the destiny of the person and the item the person is wearing, or carrying, coincide. But not always. And not always as we expect them to. The ancient amphibian had walked with Knytt and Pyewackett toward the portal. Pyewackett put a paw gently on her ear and she stopped. "Knytt, does this mean we are splitting up? Pyewackett climbed out of the duffle bag and over Knytt's shoulder to land in her arms. She held him close. "Guardian?" Knytt asked. The old frog shrugged, "The Gateway knows I am a compassionate man. It will not tell me. But it assures me, no matter the outcome, it will be for the best." Knytt and Pyewackett stood there for an eternity, just hugging. Finally, Knytt stepped forward toward the portal. She cooed in Pyewackett's ear as he purred, trying to sooth each other. "I love you," they said simultaniously. They stepped through the portal. The Guardian hobbled away. He sighed heavily. "I hate lying. I just don't have the heart to tell them the truth." =========================== Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 02:34:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - A Death in the Family On Tue, 19 Aug 1997 04:18:42 -0500, in Message # 00000924 Michael Jon Knight said: > Pyewackett appeared on the dining table in the Guildhall with a flash of orange light. The CAoL noticed a gold collar around his neck. As if that wasn't enough, for the first time they heard Pyewackett's voice aloud. "Knytt! We're back! We made it!" Pyewackett looked around. "Knytt? Knytt!" He leapt off the table and tore through the Guildhall, passing through walls, doors, nothing got in his way. "Knytt! Where are you?" He shouted through the link, *Knytt! C'mon, this isn't funny! Knytt!!!* He stopped in the center of the main room. He reached out through his oldest link, the one between he and Knytt. There! He felt her. He focused in on it, opening up so the rest of the CAoL could hear... ------------------------- Knytt appeared with an orange flash of light in a laboratory. Something stung her wrists as she noticed a sudden lightness about her shoulders. Her pack was gone, as was Pyewackett. She looked at her wrists. Her gateway bands were gone. Red bands of newly healed skin wrapped around her wrists. Suddenly she heard a noise. "Bah! That won't work either," the Controller shouted as he wadded up a sheet of parchment and incinerated it with a blast of plasma. Knytt gasped, and the Controller turned around. Shoving a set of shelves to one side the Controller reached out and grabbed Knytt by the throat. He lifted her several feet off the ground. She kicked and her foot contacted with the Controller's groin, but she only succeeded in hurting her own foot. "Who are you?" "Just a local girl, Mister Golem," Knytt choked. Electricity coursed through her body. "I _don't_ think so." the Controller said as a monitor powered into life. On the screen it showed Knytt in various places around Dibis during the battle. "You're with the CAoL," the Controller said, squeezing her neck tighter. Knytt screamed out through the Psi-Link, but discovered it wasn't there. In desperation, she reached out to Pyewackett. The Controller continued with "Who are you?" "Go reprogram yourself, you cybernetic simpleton," she squeaked. "KnightShift? I thought there was something familiar about you. Well, as a fellow scientifically minded individual, I wonder if you would help me in a little experiment?" The Controller strapped Knytt onto a table. He reached up and pulled a large laser into position over Knytt's head. "I have been modifying this surgical laser and I want to see how I have done." Knytt struggled in her bonds. "You won't get away with this, you silicon son of a bitch!" "Yes, well," the Controller said quite calmly, "Tell me if you experience any discomfort." *Knytt! Where are you?* /Pyewackett! I'm with the Controller! He's got a laser aimed at meeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUU UGGGGGGGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........................../ ----------------------------- Pyewackett screamed, *KNNNNNYYYYYTT!!!!!!* But his cry was met by silence. Worse than silence, nothing. Not even a presence. He began to yowl plaintively, pleading with some higher power to bring Knytt back. But he knew deep down this was it. His oldest and dearest friend in the world was dead. Pyewackett laid down on the floor, his head between his paws and closed his eyes. His emotions ripped apart, he lay there silently. ----------------------------- The Controller examined the scorch mark on the floor under the head of the table. "Still need to turn down the wattage." He looked at the corpse on the table, which had a golfball-sized hole where the bridge of the nose was. The laser had cut through cleanly, but floor tiles were expensive to replace after every use. He sighed, then opened his palm and incinerated Knytt's body with sevral strong plasma bursts. He swept the ashes from the table and gathered them in a bag which he carried to the window and scattered to the four winds. "I still don't know if you were a worthy opponent, KnightShift, but at least the game was never dull." The Controller stood for a moment, contemplating his own future. Wondering if he had just created his future self... --Knytt and Pyewackett ===========================