Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 41 Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 17:07:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Negotiations? On Wed, 27 May 1998 19:58:44 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004535 > On Tue, 26 May 1998 17:31:16 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004533 > > Molly looks around the group. /Alright, good luck, Roland./ she > sends with a tone of 'It's -your- funeral.' /Since my bargaining > style would be ruined by yours, and you are the leader, I won't > interfere in your negotiations anymore./ > > Molly picks up her chair and takes it down to the opposite end of > the table from Roland, Nemo and Jadis. /I'll just move down here so > I won't be tempted to pass any more notes./ > > Molly places her chair about ten feet away from the table so she can > watch the proceedings of the entire group. Jack wanders over and > grazes on a bit of the grass nearby as Molly sits down and pulls a > walkman and a paperback out of her pocket. Crossing her legs, Molly > settles in to read _Prince of Chaos_ as rock music can barely be > heard from the table. Jadis watches Molly move away from the table with interest, then eyes Roland speculatively. "Something wrong, Phoenix? You're not eating." [Okay, cut and wrap, Roland has his argument/discussion with Jadis, and we go into the one-on-one.} =========================== Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 22:09:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Wed, 27 May 1998 22:24:53 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004540 >On Wed, 27 May 1998 19:41:58 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004534 > > Jadis is silent for a long moment, staring at Roland. He's tried >to be a nice guy and it obviously isn't working. His anger mounts as >he thinks on the unreasonableness of them all. Besides, Roland looked >to be at just about the right frame of mind. He kicks back his seat Molly and Jack look up in unison. [Here we go.] >and advances on Roland, "You want know what I want? _You_ _Want_ _To_ Molly's walkman and novel go back into her pockets. >_Know_ _What_ _I_ _Want_? I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I WANT!" Jadis grabs Molly gets up, her chair toppling backwards. >Rolands collar and pulls them both sideways through a doorway he >creates in the air next to them. Upon going through he throws Roland >so that Roland rolls a bit Molly and Jack start to run toward the table, Molly's clothes start to darken and the material shifts. Jack's body starts shifting as well, bones extending and retracting elsewhere, muscles flexing and rippling. >before standing. Roland is in a dark, stone hall. When Roland gets up >Jadis is not where the doorway was, he's farther back in the darkness >of the hall. Molly and Jack (who looks suddenly like a small white panther) leap on the table, running the length of it. Molly's suddenly black calf-high boots dodge drinks and entrees, knocking suprisingly little over. Jack isn't quite as careful, but at least she doesn't break anything, though sharp claws dig for traction wherever she can get it. > Morgan, sitting in on yet another negotiation session between the >mages and psions of Earth-9, has been half-monitoring the CaoL of like having the TV on with the volume turned low while you're >doing something else>. When Jadis grabs Roland, her breath catches >and she begins paying more attention. > Those still in the glade see Jadis grab Roland and pull, leaving Leaping off the table, Molly and Jack fling themselves on a path that should take them through the doorway. >behind a copy of Jadis. The doorway, (which you all no doubt try to >trace and hold) merely becomes a viewing screen, with no sound and a Molly and Jack (pass through?/bounce off?) the viewing screen. Molly rolls, her black leather jacket and black nylon flightsuit absorbing the cut and scraping potential of her landing. Jack lands a bit more gracefully, a low growl on the female albino was-donkey/now-panther's lips. The scowl on Molly's face echos Jack's sentiment. >slightly blurred picture. Jadis turns back at to the group, "Sorry, >about that, but there was no reasoning with the man. I'm going to let >him work out his aggressions and perhaps then he'll talk more >rationally. I'll return him to you after he heals." {Note: Zia's body >is unrecognizable and mostly out Molly gets up and brushes herself off. Jack stalks up behind her, brushing against her legs. Digging into an inside pocket, Molly withdraws a small skinny cigar and a brass zippo-style lighter. Flicking open the lighter produces no flame, but as the cigar tip enters the air just milimeters above where a flame should be, the cigar tip ignites into a glow of red embers. Molly clicks the lighter closed and stows it. Taking a deep drag, she walks over to watch the battle progressing. Twin plumes of smoke escape from her nostrils, her lips tightly pursed in frustration. She walks up to the screen, Jack padding softly behind her. A small silver embroidered S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem gracing the left arm of Molly's jacket is visible. [Dammit, Roland, you wanted a fight, now you got one. Hope you're happy.] >The viewing screen in the glade fades away at this point. Whether or >not anyone is watching it. Jack growls, her larynx giving a tonal quality similar to a lion. Molly rests a hand against the shapeshifter's side, long, glossy black fingernails stroking the big cat soothingly. /Must be afraid to be seen losing./ Molly sends. /Coward,/ Jack sends in a soft low feminine voice, with a faint trace of feline-like sounds in it. Molly looks to Jadis as if to say, 'Alright, what now?' =========================== Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 01:07:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Thu, 28 May 1998 03:46:53 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004541 > Molly Said > > Molly and Jack (who looks suddenly like a small white panther) leap > on the table, running the length of it. Molly's suddenly black > calf-high boots dodge drinks and entrees, knocking suprisingly > little over. Jack isn't quite as careful, but at least she doesn't > break anything, though sharp claws dig for traction wherever she can > get it. Dhyrclhanc, having remained quiet durring all of that "Negotiations" buisness, has tied with Molly and Jack, as all three come out of the "starting-gate", as it were. At the same time Molly toppled over her chair in haste, Dhyrclhanc exoteleported Redemption into his clenched left hand and manifested his emerald-green-psionic-fire two-handed claymore Psi-sword in his clenched right hand. While the other two bolt towards the portal that Jadis had just, seconds ago, dragged Dhyrclahnc's adopted brother through, Dhyrclahnc flies at the portal at top speed. Or at least what his top speed is when he is inside an atmospere. Also, unlike Molly and Jack, while the previous two stumble through the now intangible viewing screen, Dhyrclhanc sails completly through it. However, as he was traveling at top speed, he is forced to reel around in mid-air. This, even after he has covered quite a substancial amount of distance. As he begins the leg of his flight which will return him to the rest of the CAoL, he sends /#^Nimrod, stand down. For that matter, tell Sythea to stand down as well. There will only be one of us in our little group who will be removing the requisite pound of flesh from this abomination's form and that is going to be ME!^#/ Of course, Dhyrclhanc is smart enough to know that to do this he's going to have to make use of one heck of an advantageous opportunity for him to actually have any kind of effect. Then again, considering the offstage discussions that John/Shadow/Paul and I have been having he might be getting that chance sooner than even _he_ thinks! }>:=87 (very wide, evil _and_ nasy, dragon grin) > Molly clicks the lighter closed and stows it. Taking a deep drag, > she walks over to watch the battle progressing. Twin plumes of smoke > escape from her nostrils, her lips tightly pursed in frustration. > She walks up to the screen, Jack padding softly behind her. A small > silver embroidered S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem gracing the left arm of > Molly's jacket is visible. /^ I like your choice of wardrobe there, my dear^/ sends Dhyrclhanc, dryly.(snip) > voice sounds like the good sorceress in _Willow_ whose speech would > change each time she changed into a new animal.> Obviously, then you aren't refering to Jean Marsh's characterbut the one who was her opposite number amongst Willow and Mad Martigan's forces, eh? > Molly looks to Jadis as if to say, 'Alright, what now?' Something tell me that when speaking to Jadis, or even speaking_about_ Jadis, somewhere there is a list of things that one does _not_ want to say. That question, I am willing to bet, is probably very high on that list! =========================== Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 08:36:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Thu, 28 May 1998 07:05:10 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004543 > On Wed, 27 May 1998 22:24:53 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004540 > >>The viewing screen in the glade fades away at this point. Whether or >>not anyone is watching it. > > Jack growls, her larynx giving a tonal quality similar to a lion. > Molly rests a hand against the shapeshifter's side, long, glossy > black fingernails stroking the big cat soothingly. > > /Must be afraid to be seen losing./ Molly sends. > > /Coward,/ Jack sends in a soft low feminine voice, with a faint > trace of feline-like sounds in it. /Or perhaps he's too busy to keep up the screen?/ /In a moment, it's going to look like I'm some sort of blithering idiot. There's a method to my madness./ /I'd also appreciate it if you would try to monitor the link between the real Jadis and this construct. Even if all you can tell is that there's communication taking place, it'll help./ Nemo starts engaging the Jadis construct in conversation. And trying to make it as abtruse as possible. Oh yes, Oh great GM. Nemo is trying to infiltrate a few more Nemos onto JadisWorld. =========================== Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 18:11:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE: Elsewhere... On Thu, 28 May 1998 14:30:37 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004544 On a small farm in Minnesota a farmer is stting out on his porch one evening when his wife come out waving a rolling pin. "Charles! When are you going to go buy a new well pump? It's forzen up yet AGAIN!!! So? Tell me when are you going to get up out of that chair and do some work mister huh???" He carefully takes the cigar out of his mouth and rests it on the arm of the chair, "I told you darling, as soon as the cows come home." This answer is quickly rewarded with the thunk of hte rolling pin impacting his head, "WE DON'T HAVE ANY COWS!!" Charles rubs his sore noggin, "Well then it's just gonna take a mite longer for them to come home isn't it?" About the same time as the fourth or fifth new lump on charles' head a large boulder comes racing through the yard, crashing into the porch, killing both farmer and wife, and continuing on unabated through the back of the house. A late 50's era pickup stops on the road overlooking the house. "Now there's something you don't see everyday Chauncy." "What's that Edgar?" "A house demolished by a rampaging boulder." "I don't know. Newsmen say Rock and Roll is getting pretty popular these days..." With a lot of moaning groaning and backfiring the pick up continues along its way. =========================== Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 18:12:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Thu, 28 May 1998 17:51:44 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004545 >On Thu, 28 May 1998 07:05:10 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004543 > >/Or perhaps he's too busy to keep up the screen?/ /Could be./ >/In a moment, it's going to look like I'm some sort of blithering > idiot. There's a method to my madness./ /Thanks for the warning./ >/I'd also appreciate it if you would try to monitor the link between > the real Jadis and this construct. Even if all you can tell is that > there's communication taking place, it'll help./ As a Psi Corps emblem, also embroidered in silver thread, appears on her right sleeve's shoulder, Molly takes a slow, deep drag on her cigar, and slooooowly lets it out through her mouth and nose. Her mind calms and she opens herself up to observe/listen to any telepathic communication coming from the Elven Jadis. Meanwhile, she opens her magical senses up to see if there is any magical link from JadisElf to elsewhere. =========================== Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 18:12:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Thu, 28 May 1998 17:51:47 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004546 >On Thu, 28 May 1998 03:46:53 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004541 > >> Molly Said >> Molly clicks the lighter closed and stows it. Taking a deep drag, >> she walks over to watch the battle progressing. Twin plumes of >> smoke escape from her nostrils, her lips tightly pursed in >> frustration. She walks up to the screen, Jack padding softly behind >> her. A small silver embroidered S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem gracing the >> left arm of Molly's jacket is visible. > >/^ I like your choice of wardrobe there, my dear^/ sends Dhyrclhanc, >dryly.(snip) /The twins made it. The fabrics and style of attire shift to what it reads the wearer needs at that moment. This is my preference for its combat mode. The S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem is their idea of a joke./ >> > voice sounds like the good sorceress in _Willow_ whose speech would >> change each time she changed into a new animal.> > > Obviously, then you aren't refering to Jean Marsh's character >but the one who was her opposite number amongst Willow and Mad >Martigan's forces, eh? > Something tell me that when speaking to Jadis, or even >speaking _about_ Jadis, somewhere there is a list of things that one >does _not_ want to say. That question, I am willing to bet, is >probably very high on that list! While it is not quite the wisest thing for Molly to be thinking, her author is wanting a bit of action at the moment as well.> =========================== Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 23:06:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: Hunter, Prey.... On Fri, 29 May 1998 22:43:23 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004549 Warning: Food alert. Disgusting descriptions below. YHBW. >On Wed, 27 May 1998 19:41:58 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow (on behalf of 4 of us) Said As CAoL Message # 00004534 > > [As I said before, _like_ _hell_.] Morgan grabs Aramegil. Deciding >she'd better take the house along, [Never know how long we're going >to be gone on these trips ], she heads out the front door.... > ...Only to find herself facing half a dozen Nephandi with >exceedingly unpleasant smiles. [Oh, bloody hell,] Morgan sighs. > Jadis straightens painfully, the battered and torn mind shields >snapping back into place as strong as they were at they beginning of >the fight, "No, I would say it isn't." He taps Roland on the >forehead. Roland falls unconscious. "Greetings, outworlder," the tallest of the six said, a grin revealing literal shark's teeth. All of the hit-things were dead-white and hairless, but looked otherwise humanoid. They wore trenchcoats of various dark colors, the tall one's in black. "Greetings yourself," Morgan replied with a cool smile. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta go. Be seeing you," she saluted in Psi-corp style, got as good of a fix as she could on Roland, and 'ported.... ...nowhere. "Oh come now," the tall bald figure replied. "There's always time for a spot of tea before rushing off to save a world." He reaches out his hand, palm up...and a bulge forms beneath his trenchcoat, and a sickly green tentacle oozes out of the sleeve, holding a cup of Jasmine, and extends forward to within six inches of Morgan. [Doesn't _anyone_ drink coffee anymore?] Morgan wondered briefly, attempting to get a feel for what was blocking her. Her lip curled up in disgust, but she managed to turn it into a half smile as she pulled back from the proffered cup. "Thanks, but no. I really am in a rush; can I help you," she barely manages to hide her revulsion of the Fallen, "gentlemen?" Three immortals and two sorcerors, near as she could tell, with the 'leader' the one "true" mage in the bunch. The tentacle retracted, spilling a bit of the tea. The tall man sighed. "Well, admittedly, it isn't likely that you can. You _could_ surrender, I suppose, join us, and gain the powers of a living goddess. Or you could die. People like you, however, all too often choose the latter option. I just don't understand that sort of obstinacy." Noting her efforts to find a weakness in the dimension block, he adds, "And you may as well give up on that for the moment. Five of us are layering world-shields against you. You will find no weakness to take advantage of." Morgan sighed, and smiled darkly. "I guess we'll have to do this the hard way, then." She shifts into what is apparently a knife fighter's defensive stance. The tall magus sighs, and begins to fade into the Umbra-the spirit world. "Very well. Kill her." The others advance cautiously, the three immortals pulling their swords out of their extradimensional pockets and the two sorcerors opening portals at each palm; something better left unmentioned waited behind each opening. Morgan leaned back and threw the dagger, apparently _between_ the two sorcerors, who were side by side. They smiled as she apparently threw away her only weapon-which suddenly grew to claymore size as it spun past-and through-their necks. The sorcerors fell over, still smiling, as an ebony oil flowed out of the corpses instead of blood. Centipede-like creatures followed, pincers snapping as they began to pour out of the bodies as well. [Ick,] Morgan shuddered briefly as she recalled her sword. [Thank you, Oberon,] she thought as her hand closed around Aramegil's hilt. Taking a stance that makes it look like she's preparing a physical attack on the remaining three, she instead makes the wyrm-things inside the immortals _stronger._ The immortals scream. "Die, witch!" one cries, and a telekinetic blast slams her into-and through-the door of the house. A mortal would have had most of her bones broken; even Morgan felt _that_ punch. *Split up and surround the house,* the magus commands from the Umbra. *Don't let her escape. If she tries to stall, we can call in reinforcements.* "While she picks us off one by one?" One of the remaining dark psions concentrates, and the creatures within him are crushed by internal 'fists.' "I don't _think_ so. We stick together and go in after her; if she comes out, _you_ can tell us and we'll pick _her_ off." *Impudent Eremites!* the magus rages, but the psions ignore him and go in the front door after Morgan. At which point Roland's psychotronic defenses kick in. While Morgan withdraws to catch her breath, the three intruders clutch their heads and scream again as their minds are filled with telepathic 'white noise.' At the same time, their power levels drop drastically as the psi-jammers kick in. Taking the advantage, Morgan animates the plants in the front hall. Bamboo stalks reach out to trip the psions, while a sturdy vine wraps around the neck of the last of the three. His cry is literally choked off as the plant does an impression of a boa. Of course, since he's an immortal he doesn't _stay_ dead, but neither does the plant let go . "Miserable biomancer," one says, concentrating. The vine begins to loosen its grip-but the shift in focus allows the symbiotes to become parasites again, and he clutches his stomach in pain. "Forcefields up," the other says, and the two remaining warriors shimmer slightly. They begin to move forward as their comrade dies... and comes back... and dies again... TBC.... =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 00:06:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:43:30 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004550 > On Wed, 27 May 1998 22:24:53 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004540 > > Molly looks to Jadis as if to say, 'Alright, what now?' Jadis hides his surprise, and looks around the group, "Well, now we are left with the choices. One: The CAoL will swear never to interfere with me or my works again, and I will return Roland and John to you here and now and we can go our seperate ways. Two: I will return Roland to you as soon as he finishes healing and you will all leave, and we will agree to disagree at some point later on and you will ignore this entire dimension. Or Three: You can continue onward, trying to rescue all the members of your party and defeat me while not losing anyone else to my defenses." He grins, "I would recommend option one, but I'm biased." =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 00:06:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:48:06 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004551 > On Thu, 28 May 1998 07:05:10 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004543 > > Nemo starts engaging the Jadis construct in conversation. And trying > to make it as abtruse as possible. The construct holds up his end of the conversation fairly well, but has to stop and think about things now and then. > Oh yes, Oh great GM. Nemo is trying to infiltrate a few more Nemos > onto JadisWorld. Please, feel free. The selective dimensional blocks have not slammed into place yet. Try not to insert too many though. Each one is met by a Jadis construct shortly after entering. The new ones seem a trifle distracted. =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 00:06:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:52:32 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004552 > On Thu, 28 May 1998 17:51:44 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004545 > > As a Psi Corps emblem, also embroidered in silver thread, appears on > her right sleeve's shoulder, Molly takes a slow, deep drag on her > cigar, and slooooowly lets it out through her mouth and nose. Her > mind calms and she opens herself up to observe/listen to any > telepathic communication coming from the Elven Jadis. Meanwhile, she > opens her magical senses up to see if there is any magical link from > JadisElf to elsewhere. There are no external magical links, but there is a tightbeam communication, scrambled, going from Jadis into the chaos sphere surrounding the group. It also has an unscrambled equivalent of a Danger! sign stuck to it. =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 02:16:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 01:01:14 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004553 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:43:30 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004550 Fuzzy has been wandering aroiund the glade, never quite taking his eyes off Jadis... > Jadis hides his surprise, and looks around the group, "Well, now we > are left with the choices. One: The CAoL will swear never to > interfere with me or my works again, and I will return Roland and > John to you here and now and we can go our seperate ways. Two: I > will return Roland to you as soon as he finishes healing and you > will all leave, and we will agree to disagree at some point later on > and you will ignore this entire dimension. Or Three: You can > continue onward, trying to rescue all the members of your party and > defeat me while not losing anyone else to my defenses." He grins, "I > would recommend option one, but I'm biased." "I'm sure you would, But you have already shown enough of your nature, to make that option about as likely as, Your Good Intentions being Believable. Roland's Choice of actions, and the results of them, is not significant to these negotiations. I do not expect that you would honor such high handed demands, Made by us, Why do you feel you can assume the Right and Ability to Dictate such to us?" =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 06:35:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 05:55:17 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004554 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:43:30 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004550 > > Jadis hides his surprise, and looks around the group, "Well, now we > are left with the choices. One: The CAoL will swear never to > interfere with me or my works again, and I will return Roland and > John to you here and now and we can go our seperate ways. Two: I > will return Roland to you as soon as he finishes healing and you > will all leave, and we will agree to disagree at some point later on > and you will ignore this entire dimension. Or Three: You can > continue onward, trying to rescue all the members of your party and > defeat me while not losing anyone else to my defenses." He grins, "I > would recommend option one, but I'm biased." Nemo speaks. "Would you agree to the equivalent oath? That is, would you swear to never interfere with us, our works and our peoples? If not, there's little point in asking us for such an oath. And therefore, option one is no option at all." "Option two doesn't even restore things to the way they were before this mess started. We do want John back, and I rather suspect that you also have a friend of mine, and if so, I'd like the lady back. Intact." "Option three seems like the best of the choices you've offered, but then there are always the choices I've offered." =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 09:36:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 10:12:22 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004556 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:43:30 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004550 > > Jadis hides his surprise, and looks around the group, "Well, now we > are left with the choices. One: The CAoL will swear never to > interfere with me or my works again, and I will return Roland and > John to you here and now and we can go our seperate ways. Two: I > will return Roland to you as soon as he finishes healing and you > will all leave, and we will agree to disagree at some point later on > and you will ignore this entire dimension. Or Three: You can > continue onward, trying to rescue all the members of your party and > defeat me while not losing anyone else to my defenses." He grins, "I > would recommend option one, but I'm biased." Driss Does a graceful flip up the backside of his chair, sommersaults in midair and touches dow gracefully on the grass a few feet back, drawing his rapier and saluting Jadis with it. "There is another option you haven't mentioned. You return everyone you've taken and promise not to interfere with the CaoL ever again, and we leave this dimention intact. As you've already mentioned, I've already destroyed one entire dimention and just from what I can tell of the sphere around us there's MORE than enough Chaos Energy here for me to do it again." His tone and demeanor are deadly serious, only over the link is the abject fear of implimenting this threat obvious. =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 14:06:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 15:22:27 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004557 >On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:43:30 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004550 > >Jadis hides his surprise, and looks around the group, "Well, now we >are left with the choices. One: The CAoL will swear never to >interfere with me or my works again, and I will return Roland and >John to you here and now and we can go our seperate ways. Two: I will >return Roland to you as soon as he finishes healing and you will all >leave, and we will agree to disagree at some point later on and you >will ignore this entire dimension. Or Three: You can continue onward, >trying to rescue all the members of your party and defeat me while >not losing anyone else to my defenses." He grins, "I would recommend >option one, but I'm biased." /Though I haven't known him for long, I think Roland would likely say: One: Not bloody likely. Two: More unlikely than one. Three: A safe bet./ Molly sends. /Me? Right now, I'll risk three on myself. I won't make promises for others (Meaning Roland and John and Zia, cause I think that was her on that cross, though I am not for sure.) who can't have a voice in the matter. Jack?/ /Three. Maybe Four./ the big cat replies. /What's Four?/ Molly sends, knowing a setup when she hears one. /We eat Jadis for lunch./ Jack says, licking her lips, the cat's features ledgible to all as a look of utter malice. >On Sun, 31 May 1998 02:52:32 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004552 > >> On Thu, 28 May 1998 17:51:44 -0500 >> Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004545 >> As a Psi Corps emblem, also embroidered in silver thread, appears >> on her right sleeve's shoulder, Molly takes a slow, deep drag on >> her cigar, and slooooowly lets it out through her mouth and nose. >> Her mind calms and she opens herself up to observe/listen to any >> telepathic communication coming from the Elven Jadis. Meanwhile, >> she opens her magical senses up to see if there is any magical link >> from JadisElf to elsewhere. > >There are no external magical links, but there is a tightbeam >communication, scrambled, going from Jadis into the chaos sphere >surrounding the group. It also has an unscrambled equivalent of a >Danger! sign stuck to it. Molly projects what she is sensing for the rest of the CAoL. /This is interesting,/ she remarks dryly, /I am sure the warning is for real, though there as much to tempt as advise. I may have to revise my opinion of the little creep. I still say he is amoral, but he definitely has a sadistic streak with the ones he _does_ take an interest in. I'd almost be willing to lay odds Jadis wants that link cut. Or at least us to attempt it. It also may likely lead back to Jadis himself. Decisions, decisions./ /Wonder what would happen if we simply replied, 'We won't negotiate with puppets?' Is our departure worth enough to him to negotiate in person? Probably not, as he said, we would have made him a greasy smear had he shown up without precautions./ /I also wonder what would happen if we didn't answer but just began following that 'string' back to its other end. He'd likely cut it off as the puppet would no longer be useful. Geez, I've got lots of questions, but I'm at a loss for definite answers. Who's next in chain-of-command? Dhyrclhanc? Whatever we choose, we'll probably wish we hadn't anyway, so it looks like the least of a lot of evils. And if the old saying is true, 'Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for they are subtle and see right through the bullshit,'[1] you might be the perfect one to choose./ [1] http://www.clo.com/~sparrow/books/rcquotes.html#consulted Quoted from the above site, who cited it as being from _Wizardry Consulted_ by Rick Cook. Looks like that series and the one by Chris? Gardner featuring Ebenezum are next on my reading list. Just hit me how all my characters are wizardly types of one stripe or another. Pyewackett, the feline sorceror. Mike the Technomage. Molly the Techno-Wizard. The twins are hackerish wizards. Mike is dating Flarn, who is a mage, though she isn't my character and her skills never really came up. Then there is Jack, who sort of acts like a familiar for Molly. Must be some supressed desire. Of what, I probably don't want to know. ;) Also, for those who are wondering, like I was, what the possible similarities between Mike and Merlin of Amber fame are, here are my best guesses: Physically, both tend to like beards, though that is about the only similarity. Both built sentient computers. Merlin has Ghostwheel, Mike has the Twins. Both computers call their creators 'Dad'. Both computers have the ability to transport things and people through shadow/multiple universes. Both men have been fairly well manipulated for a long time, though thinking positively, both are currently out from under the manipulator's thumb. Both seem to have the tendency to want to see the universal power struggles end in draws. Both have ended up in positions of power in their respective home universes. And not exactly willingly on either's part, though neither seems to be adverse to the idea. And if you want to really get weird, the Dreamtime as I envision it is a sort of blending of Amber (rigidly real) and the Courts of Chaos (Reality is extremely malleable) Incidently, Molly's relationship with her Mother and Father (meaning Anna and Mike, not her foster folks), is a lot like Merlin's, though I didn't know it at the time. I'd be curious to see if I missed anything. Anybody else see any similarities? =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 17:06:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 19:45:35 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004558 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 10:12:22 -0700 (MST) > Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004556 > > Driss Does a graceful flip up the backside of his chair, > sommersaults in midair and touches dow gracefully on the grass a few > feet back, drawing his rapier and saluting Jadis with it. "There is > another option you haven't mentioned. You return everyone you've > taken and promise not to interfere with the CaoL ever again, and we > leave this dimention intact. As you've already mentioned, I've > already destroyed one entire dimention and just from what I can tell > of the sphere around us there's MORE than enough Chaos Energy here > for me to do it again." His tone and demeanor are deadly serious, > only over the link is the abject fear of implimenting this threat > obvious. Jadis' smile turns feral, "Go right ahead, Driss." He steps back from the group, stopping next to the gallows, "You have all made your choice then. Guarien, Awaken." The sense of presence in the glade becomes more pronounced. Jadis floats up and slashes the noose. The bones glow and solidify into a blinding being of light. "Kill... him." He points at Fuzzy. A high powered laser blast shoots from Guarien's chest toward Fuzzy. =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 19:35:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 19:31:00 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004560 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 19:45:35 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004558 > > Jadis' smile turns feral, "Go right ahead, Driss." He steps back > from the group, stopping next to the gallows, "You have all made > your choice then. Guarien, Awaken." The sense of presence in the > glade becomes more pronounced. Jadis floats up and slashes the > noose. The bones glow and solidify into a blinding being of light. > "Kill... him." He points at Fuzzy. A high powered laser blast shoots > from Guarien's chest toward Fuzzy. A Flicker of NulGrey from Fuzzy's staff intercepts the laser blast, "Guarien, If Jadis has bound your will, I may be able to break the bindings, Are you able to express a preference?" In the Mean time A Split detaches from Nemisis and heads for Fuzzy, =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 20:05:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE: The Showdown, completed. pt 1 On Sun, 31 May 1998 22:55:48 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004561 ::[Snip everything up until Roland falls unconscious] In a voice of flames and still fountaining replenishment energies, the calmness of her tone is all the more uncanny, as if this sort of happening were as common to her as going to a bar for a beer. "Oh. And I do believe you have QUITE lost your bet. Shall we settle like entities of honor, or do you contend that I have fulfilled my terms?" She inquires. As her aura becomes more her own, taking fire once more from Roland's sparking of it, there is little doubt as to the fact, now, that while she may be of Order, Good is not something she holds as does the Freelance Immortal. "I cannot kill, but you of anyone should know what my power can do, having tasting the remnants of an emptied glass before." Jadis looks around, faking astonishment, "Just because you've survived an attack does not mean the battles over. I don't see where you could even _begin_ to think you've won. As long as we are willing to face the other the battle continues" He faces her warily, shields up, "I must congratulate you on surviving our first meeting, I won't underestimate you again. Still, as you may think you have achieved some small victory I give you these." Jadis tosses a deck of cards and a ring over to Zia. "The ring is Dhyrclhanc's, the cards are yours, with a slight addition." His horribly disfigured face smiles, bits of charred skin fall to the ground, "There are always benefits to any situation however; Now I get to kill you again." Jadis assumes a guard position and waits to see what Zia will do. "Whyever would you want to do that? And here you'd given me the impression of a certain generosity after losing our bet that was actually quite pleasant surprising. So few have a sense of style in their works, I find. Besides which, even you recognize the fact that my victory, your word, btw, not mine... was small. And you've not paid on the true terms of the bet. Unless you want to be a welcher, I suggest you pay up. If you want to continue our sparring match instead, I submit that you'll merely be wasting valuable time that you'd be better off using for other things." "You haven't won the bet," Jadis points out calmly. "You stopped fighting me; that ended the conflict that had been the subject of the bet, Jadis. But if you want to extend it indefinitely, I suppose you feel free to wriggle and split hairs. Although twisting it beyond the time of Knightmare's plot would be incorrect mo matter how you look at it. If you want to go double or nothing, you'd have to offer more to sweeten the pot. And convince me you'd honor terms this time. Not likely." Jadis snorts, "If anything, you ran away and hid." His eyes narrow, "And where did you hide, anyway? By running from me I _could_ argue that _I've_ won the bet. You could no longer face me and ran away, thus I have vanquished you once already. However it is evident from your actions that you obviously don't follow this train of thinking, therefore the fight must continue where we left off. It is the only solution. Unless you wish to concede and cancel our bet?" =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 20:36:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 23:16:58 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004562 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 19:31:00 -0700 (PDT) > Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004560 > > In those rare situations where it is possible to try to > preceive...> > > A Flicker of NulGrey from Fuzzy's staff intercepts the laser blast, > "Guarien, If Jadis has bound your will, > I may be able to break the bindings, > Are you able to express a preference?" Jadis looks at Fuzzy, "Oho, I think not" The ambient mana level begins to decrease as Jadis absorbs it into himself. "I said kill, Guarien." Guarien utters a low tormented moan. Guarien rushes Fuzzy, fists swing, body made of plasma. =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 20:36:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 23:17:11 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004563 << Driscoll Said Driss Does a graceful flip up the backside of his chair, sommersaults in midair and touches dow gracefully on the grass a few feet back, drawing his rapier and saluting Jadis with it. "There is another option you haven't mentioned. You return everyone you've taken and promise not to interfere with the CaoL ever again, and we leave this dimention intact. As you've already mentioned, I've already destroyed one entire dimention and just from what I can tell of the sphere around us there's MORE than enough Chaos Energy here for me to do it again." His tone and demeanor are deadly serious, only over the link is the abject fear of implimenting this threat obvious. >> Hydra responds, "And I don't even need to use the chaos energy to do it. Universes are easy to pop, but hard to build and maintain. Think about it Jadis." =========================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 22:35:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Mon, 1 Jun 1998 01:06:31 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004564 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 23:17:11 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004563 > > Hydra responds, "And I don't even need to use the chaos energy to do > it. Universes are easy to pop, but hard to build and maintain. Think > about it Jadis." Jadis doesn't even bother to look up, "Oh **** ***, you overbearing, overpowered, underbrained wonder. If you're going to do it, go ahead. And if not, sit down and shut up." OOC: Can we say antagonistic? :^) Anyone seriously thought about what effect, if any, destroying this dimension would have on Jadis? =========================== Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 02:06:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Mon, 01 Jun 1998 04:41:19 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004565 Gritting his teeth in desparation, Dhyrclhanc says, "Ring or no ring, Jadis, _That_ was the _Wrong_Thing_ to do. Nobody attacks my Tutor while I am still around to prevent it." His two swords disapear and he extoteleports his Sterling(tm) ultra-tech multi-weapon high-particle energy cannon and varible-load briliant mini-missle launcher into his right hand. Pressing the trigger for the energy cannon, the mutiple barrels rotate and then stop to send a tightly-bound coeherent stream of highly charged sub-atomic anti-particles at the Fallen God of Light and Jadis' Pawn. <^Forgive me, Guarrien. I hope this releases you from your torment and your misery^> In addition to doing litteraly unearthly amounts of combustion damage, the anti-particles will also inflict astronomical amounts of consussive damage and will inflict full damage to Guarrien's form even if he is partialy phased out of this plane of existance. Well, Paul, you wanted to lull the Lensdragon out of inactivity? You got it. =========================== Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 04:37:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Mon, 1 Jun 1998 02:41:09 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004566 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 23:16:58 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004562 > > Jadis looks at Fuzzy, "Oho, I think not" The ambient mana level > begins to decrease as Jadis absorbs it into himself. "I said kill, > Guarien." Guarien utters a low tormented moan. It seems the appropriate time. Nemo reaches out with his abilities and disrupts the construct Jadis has been using. In doing so, he tries his best to deflect the resulting energy release back along that scrambled comm link and away from the rest of the group. =========================== Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 04:37:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Sun, 31 May 1998 23:21:22 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004567 > On Sun, 31 May 1998 15:22:27 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004557 > > /Though I haven't known him for long, I think Roland would likely > say: One: Not bloody likely. Two: More unlikely than one. Three: A > safe bet./ Molly sends. /Me? Right now, I'll risk three on myself. I > won't make promises for others (Meaning Roland and John and Zia, > cause I think that was her on that cross, though I am not for sure.) > who can't have a voice in the matter. Jack?/ > > /Three. Maybe Four./ the big cat replies. > > /What's Four?/ Molly sends, knowing a setup when she hears one. > > /We eat Jadis for lunch./ Jack says, licking her lips, the cat's > features ledgible to all as a look of utter malice. /You'd get a *severe* case of indigestion. I already checked out that option. There's nothing any of us can "use" in this "puppet". And I'd rather not try eating the real thing. He strikes me as the type of meal that's liable to wind up digesting *you* from the inside. / =========================== Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 10:08:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE:E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Mon, 1 Jun 1998 10:46:23 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004569 Driss closes his eyes and begins to concentrate to tap teh Chaotic energies of the sphere around them. Whie the others battle and distract Jadis he should be able to use the very sphere that blocks them from finding John and Roland. But as his mind gets closer and closer to the energy fear builds in him to higher and higher levels. Memories of the pain and bitter coldness when Chaos ripped away Driss's soul are all to present. The feelings are all too fresh to risk the same wounds again. quickly his mind retreted back, away from the Chaos pushing away everything until he felt the grip of Roscoe's mind on his. *Driss! snap out of it. Driss! it's OK it's Ok Chaos isn't here. you're OK.* *I couldn't do it Roscoe. I couldn't make myself do it.* *I saw. it's OK, we'll find a way. but you have to come back first.* *I failed. I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it...* *I know Driss. It's OK. You tried. that's more than anyone had any right to ask you to do. It'll be alright, we'll find them. But right now the others are going to need you mentally as well as physically. You need to come back now.* *OK. OK.* Driss found himself laying in the grass looking at the battle taking place before him. The glinting of the light off his Rapier drew his attention to its location nearby. The ironwood hilt never felt so good under his hand as it did when he gripped it just then. Slowly he got to his feet and looked around for Jadis. Meanwhile The Controller did what he could to help the other face the God of Light. ^Jim, give me a reading on that Plasma form of his and reset my own plasma blasters to a frequency to disrupt his form.^ ^Working on it.^ ^Also set a few of those nanites to reconfigure energy collecters to a wider band collection, redirecting the collected energy to the force shielding.^ ^A cinch. Blasters should be now ready^ The Controller checked his shot to make sure it was clear and fired off two tumbling green balls of plasma at the God-on-the-rampage. =========================== Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:09:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Tue, 02 Jun 1998 04:41:11 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004571 Quoted Section as follows (P.S.: Fuzzy, check your system, I has to "quote" this off AC; I never got this one off the listserver) ____________________________________________________________________ On Mon, 1 Jun '98 Driscoll Said (Snip) Meanwhile The Controller did what he could to help the other face the God of Light. ^Jim, give me a reading on that Plasma form of his and reset my own plasma blasters to a frequency to disrupt his form.^ ^Working on it.^ ^Also set a few of those nanites to reconfigure energy collecters to a wider band collection, redirecting the collected energy to the force shielding.^ ^A cinch. Blasters should be now ready^ The Controller checked his shot to make sure it was clear and fired off two tumbling green balls of plasma at the God-on-the-rampage. ____________________________________________________________________ While the Controler/Iron Man/Justin was training his ultra-tech weaponry upon the rampaging God and the Lensdragon fired charged anti-particles at the same, the WildCATs were also assaulting the fallen deity. Alas, for all their respective powers, skills, and ablities their efforts seem to yeild nothing more than the halting Guarien's movement towards Fuzzy. "I hope one of yuse guys has got a plan that'll put this guy on ice." yells Grifter, over the repeated booms and blasts of the energy cannon, he appearently pulled out from under his trenchcoat, and is firing at the fallen God of Light. =========================== Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 19:37:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Tue, 2 Jun 1998 21:10:56 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004572 >On Tue, 02 Jun 1998 04:41:11 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004571 > >"I hope one of yuse guys has got a plan that'll put this guy on ice." >yells Grifter, over the repeated booms and blasts of the energy >cannon, he appearently pulled out from under his trenchcoat, and is >firing at the fallen God of Light. When the shooting started, Molly and Jack quickly moved out of the way, mentally muttering something in Gallifreyian. They moved slightly behind and to the side of Fuzzy, in a casual covering position and studied Guarien for some time. As Molly thought, the clothing designed by her AI twin 'sisters' reflected her intense concentration, shifting into something more confortable for what she was planning. A midnight blue medieval gown, with small silver stars and crescent moons woven into the fabric in the stereotypical style of a wizard's robe, and a silver satin cord, ending in tassles loosely belted about her waist, replaced the military-styled flightsuit. Silver slippers, silver stud earrings with blue stones, thin-rimmed silver glasses with a faint blue tinge to the glass, a midnight blue velvet pouch with a silver drawstring, a silver dagger with a blue velvet grip, and a silver wand bejeweled with tiny shards of cobalt-blue crystals completed the ensemble. Jack leapt into the air, her form shifting and shrinking and becoming hairless and scaley, and landed on Molly's shoulder in the shape of a pearly white, winged dragon no more than two feet long from snout to tip of the tail. /What do you sssee?/ Jack mentally hissed slightly. /So far, what I saw before, Jadis absorbing the ambient magic./ Molly adjusted the glasses perched on her nose with blue-nailed fingers. /The glasses are for Guarien. I am trying to see what binds him; be it magical, mental, physical or technological. Meanwhile, I am going to try and communicate with him. Perhaps mentally he can speak more clearly to his desires./ As Molly examines Guarien, she sends ^Guarien, would you have us unbind you? If so, can you speak to the nature of the binding and its removal?^ =========================== Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 22:36:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 01:18:57 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004573 << Dhyrclhanc wrote: "I hope one of yuse guys has got a plan that'll put this guy on ice." yells Grifter, over the repeated booms and blasts of the energy cannon, he appearently pulled out from under his trenchcoat, and is firing at the fallen God of Light. >> Hydra looks down at the fight and says /BRACE YOURSELVES./ He then raises one booted foot about 75 feet into the air, and smashes it down ON Guarien. The power to really mess up a planet (Guarien) contends with the power to destroy a galaxy (Hydra). It's an uneven battle at best. The shock wave of the impact, causes the whole area to bounce about as though in a R12 earthquake. =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 04:35:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 03 Jun 1998 07:04:20 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004574 >On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 01:18:57 EDT >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004573 > >Hydra looks down at the fight and says /BRACE YOURSELVES./ He then >raises one booted foot about 75 feet into the air, and smashes it >down ON Guarien. The power to really mess up a planet (Guarien) >contends with the power to destroy a galaxy (Hydra). It's an uneven >battle at best. The shock wave of the impact, causes the whole area >to bounce about as though in a R12 earthquake. Legion levitates herself, surrounding herself with a protective sphere. As the shockwave hits she begins to curse in the most obscure languages she knows... which is probably a good thing as her language is enough to make a klingon drill sargent blush. /HYDRA! STOP!/ Mentally she reaches out to 'touch' the fabric of this reality, checking for damage from Hydra's demonstration. [OOC: I thought the richter scale was a logarithmic scale... so there could be no R12... That it goes to infinity as it approaches 9 or 10 or something... Anyone know for sure?] =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 16:21:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 18:54:35 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004579 > On Tue, 2 Jun 1998 21:10:56 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004572 > >>On Tue, 02 Jun 1998 04:41:11 -0400 >>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004571 > >>"I hope one of yuse guys has got a plan that'll put this guy on >>ice." yells Grifter, over the repeated booms and blasts of the >>energy cannon, he appearently pulled out from under his trenchcoat, >>and is firing at the fallen God of Light. Guarien continues to struggle against all the blasts hitting him, though he is indeed slowed in his advance. Bits of the god are continually pulled away, only to flow back to region the main body. > /What do you sssee?/ Jack mentally hissed slightly. > > /So far, what I saw before, Jadis absorbing the ambient magic./ > Molly adjusted the glasses perched on her nose with blue-nailed > fingers. /The glasses are for Guarien. I am trying to see what binds > him; be it magical, mental, physical or technological. Meanwhile, I > am going to try and communicate with him. Perhaps mentally he can > speak more clearly to his desires./ OOC: Magical/physical. > As Molly examines Guarien, she sends ^Guarien, would you have us > unbind you? If so, can you speak to the nature of the binding and > its removal?^ Guarien's mind is in torment, as he is forced to defile all that he believes in. His mental voice moans, ^Reeeleeeaaaassse. Tied.. to.. this.. place.^ =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 16:30:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 19:18:42 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004580 > On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 01:18:57 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004573 > > Hydra looks down at the fight and says /BRACE YOURSELVES./ He then > raises one booted foot about 75 feet into the air, and smashes it > down ON Guarien. The power to really mess up a planet (Guarien) > contends with the power to destroy a galaxy (Hydra). It's an uneven > battle at best. The shock wave of the impact, causes the whole area > to bounce about as though in a R12 earthquake. Ah yes, step on the being made of liquid light. (more or less, I remember saying plasma earlier.) I'm glad you all had that R scale discussion before I got back. Per the below, I haven't forgotten about Nemo's diruption of the Jadis. That response will follow and take place before this happens, if my timeline is straight. The ground where Hydra's foot came down cracks, opening a 80 yrd long fissure. Guarien oozes out from beneath the foot, the trail left by his essence as it flows together (ala T2) smoking. Jadis fades back into view, throwing his head back and laughing. He seems to be enjoying the spectacle. Then the first aftershock hits. Only it doesn't stop. Super-heated steam shoots out of the fissure as the rumbling increases, followed shortly by a fountain of lava. Dirt, rocks, and magma rain down on the area, all counterpointed by Jadis' mocking laughter. =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 17:13:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 20:06:20 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004581 > On Mon, 1 Jun 1998 02:41:09 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004566 > > Nemo reaches out with his abilities and disrupts the construct Jadis > has been using. In doing so, he tries his best to deflect the > resulting energy release back along that scrambled comm link and > away from the rest of the group. Jadis' head whips around to face Nemo. "You.." He manages to get out as his form flickers and expands slightly before fading away entirely. =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 18:12:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 18:02:52 -0700 (PDT) Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00004582 > On Tue, 2 Jun 1998 21:10:56 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004572 > On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 01:18:57 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004573 > > Hydra looks down at the fight and says /BRACE YOURSELVES./ He then > raises one booted foot about 75 feet into the air, and smashes it > down ON Guarien. The power to really mess up a planet (Guarien) > contends with the power to destroy a galaxy (Hydra). It's an uneven > battle at best. The shock wave of the impact, causes the whole area > to bounce about as though in a R12 earthquake. > When the shooting started, Molly and Jack quickly moved out of the > way, mentally muttering something in Gallifreyian. They moved > slightly behind and to the side of Fuzzy, in a casual covering > position and studied Guarien for some time. As Molly thought, the > clothing designed by her AI twin 'sisters' reflected her intense > concentration, shifting into something more confortable for what she > was planning. A midnight blue medieval gown, with small silver stars > and crescent moons woven into the fabric in the > stereotypical style of a wizard's robe, and a silver satin cord, > ending in tassles loosely belted about her waist, replaced the > military-styled flightsuit. Silver slippers, silver stud earrings > with blue stones, thin-rimmed silver glasses with a faint blue tinge > to the glass, a midnight blue velvet pouch with a silver drawstring, > a silver dagger with a blue velvet grip, and a silver wand bejeweled > with tiny shards of cobalt-blue crystals completed the ensemble. > Jack leapt into the air, her form shifting and shrinking and > becoming hairless and scaley, and landed on Molly's shoulder in the > shape of a pearly white, winged dragon no more than two feet long > from snout to tip of the tail. About this time the Nemisis Split arrives as well, Flowing into a new suit of armor around Fuzzy, This set is lighter and more manuverable that the Cyclone type, and a "SkySurfer" (A cartoon) style combat flight board... As the New armor firms up, Fuzzy's Lens is once again on his wrist, "SkyBoard One at your service Lord Fuzzy." I figure the Shockwave arrives in here some where, "Incomeing Shockwave, I will gain a few meters of altitude." =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 19:36:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 21:21:00 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004583 >On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 18:54:35 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004579 >Guarien's mind is in torment, as he is forced to defile all that he >believes in. His mental voice moans, ^Reeeleeeaaaassse. Tied.. to.. >this.. place.^ >On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 19:18:42 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004580 >The ground where Hydra's foot came down cracks, opening a 80 yrd long >fissure. Guarien oozes out from beneath the foot, the trail left by >his essence as it flows together (ala T2) smoking. Jadis fades back >into view, throwing his head back and laughing. He seems to be >enjoying the spectacle. Then the first aftershock hits. Only it >doesn't stop. Super-heated steam shoots out of the fissure as the >rumbling increases, followed shortly by a fountain of lava. Dirt, >rocks, and magma rain down on the area, all counterpointed by Jadis' >mocking laughter. As the first shockwave hits, the ground moves under everyone's feet from side to side while simultaniously undulating up and down, the P and S waves travelling outward from where Hydra stepped. Being at ground zero of the focus/epicenter of such a large seismic event makes standing upright difficult. Somewhere in the back of Molly's mind she realizes for steam to erupt from a fissure as well as lava, there would have to be a near-surface water table as well as a pocket of lava just underneath. Mike would find that interesting. Molly didn't, mostly because she was in the midst of it. Falling to one side as the fissure opened, Molly barely had time to throw up a force shield before the rain of dirt, rock and magma fell. She quickly checked Jack, the little white dragon was surprised but fine, then turned her attention to everyone else. /Hydra, Do NOT do that again. Restrain, not raze. Guarien would be released, but is bound magically as well as physically. He says he is tied to this place. Fuzzy, I suspect the noose is the key . Or one at least. I am willing to entertain ideas on how to get close enough to remove it. I do not like to imagine what plasma burns would feel like./ =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 21:06:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 20:38:28 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004585 > On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 21:21:00 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004583 > > /Hydra, Do NOT do that again. Restrain, not raze. Guarien would be > released, but is bound magically as well as physically. He says he > is tied to this place. Fuzzy, I suspect the noose is the key And maybe the sign, if that is still around his neck.>. Or one at > least. I am willing to entertain ideas on how to get close enough to > remove it. I do not like to imagine what plasma burns would feel > like./ ^@Possible if he chased me out of the area, Attempting to Obey the instruction to kill me, we could get him out of range of the nexus of the binding... ^SkyBoard One, Do we have any restraints in stock that might work on the Physical structure of the being attempting to assault us?^ Given the way he has reassembled from Hydra's attack, Just trying to remove a spell token, if any, would not be likely to work, he would most likely be bound to the token and dragged along with it. I will give it some thought while giving him the run around...@^ "SkyBoard One, Evasive manuevers, If you please" ^@Molly, Check for indications in the area the noose was attached, And the remainder of the rope, If you can...@^ =========================== Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 22:07:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 23:35:42 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004586 >On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 20:38:28 -0700 (PDT) >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004585 > >^@Molly, Check for indications in the area the noose was attached, > And the remainder of the rope, > If you can...@^ The faint blue lenses of Molly's glasses glint slightly off of some unknown light source and Molly scans the gallows of fire and the rope of water. She also gives the rest of the glade a look. This time searching for the exact nature of what holds Guarien here, the method of its removal, and, on a suspicion, to see if Guarien is what is holding the glade together as opposed to the chaos all around it or if that is Jadis' doing. =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 00:07:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 00:29:38 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004587 > On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 21:21:00 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004583 > > /Hydra, Do NOT do that again. Restrain, not raze. Guarien would be > released, but is bound magically as well as physically. He says he > is tied to this place. Fuzzy, I suspect the noose is the key And maybe the sign, if that is still around his neck.>. Or one at > least. I am willing to entertain ideas on how to get close enough to > remove it. I do not like to imagine what plasma burns would feel > like./ Driss stumbles out of a cloud of steam that had erupted where he stood. his skin is bright red and blistered in several places, turning to Molly he mentally qwips, /Hurts about twice as much as this./ Already the flesh is beginning to heal and shed away as Driss now concentrates on holding his footing. =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 02:35:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 04:04:04 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004588 >On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 00:29:38 -0700 (MST) >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004587 > Driss stumbles out of a cloud of steam that had erupted where he >stood. his skin is bright red and blistered in several places, >turning to Molly he mentally qwips, /Hurts about twice as much as >this./ Already the flesh is beginning to heal and shed away as Driss >now concentrates on holding his footing. Molly barely glances at Driss, though she winces when she does, /I do not like to imagine what *that* feels like either./ The ground inside Molly's shield suddenly drops a foot as a cloud of dust and air shoots out from underneath. She is inside a pale blue sphere submerged a quarter of the way into the ground, with a ring of dirt and grass around it. To any query she'll reply /Just had a sudden nasty fear that the air and ground could be turned against me. I shoved out Jadis' reality so inside here is reality as I control it. All four feet of it, that is. But it's something to guard me while I think. I suppose it is a bit much for a warding spell, but I am more than beginning to find it justified./ =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 04:06:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Thu, 04 Jun 1998 07:00:15 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004589 Legion/Caprice levitates above the destruction, telekinetically lifting any other CAoL members who need to get out of the destruction free. While outwardly she looked calm, what she was sending along the link was a far different story. /HYDRA! Don't you ever think beyond the effect your attack will have on the enemy? You could kill one of us pulling something like that! I doubt that would make your Stardragon happy... what was it you said? Intent matters not./ /The next time someone pulls something like this I'm leaving and striking out on my own. Right now Friendly-Fire seems to be more dangerous to us than Jadis is!/ =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 15:36:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 17:13:27 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004591 >On Thu, 04 Jun 1998 07:00:15 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004589 > >/The next time someone pulls something like this I'm leaving and >striking out on my own. Right now Friendly-Fire seems to be more >dangerous to us than Jadis is!/ /Don't be too hasty, Legion./ Molly sends quite calmly, /According to Dad, this should have stopped after the initial shockwave. While Hydra provided the initial energy, (which I grant, was dangerous) it should have passed after the first second. The fact that it continues implies Jadis is sustaining the effect and-or Guarien can not bring the glade back under control. Instead of dropping a heavy book on a wood table, as Hydra likely expected he was doing, it seems to be more akin to dropping a heavy book on a table of gelatin./ /And may I remind you, 'Friendly Fire' is not the sole domain of the Starspawn. Almost everyone of this group with the power to do so has caught someone unawares in an effect meant for the enemy./ Molly mentally shrugs, /It happens./ =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 15:36:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: Never send a human to do a magnet's job... On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 17:13:30 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004592 Molly sits upright in her protective bubble. /Of course! 'The problem with plasma weapons is they have too many ways they can go wrong.' We need a magnetic bottle! Like a plasma gun uses to contain the plasma!/ Molly slumps back as she looks at Guarien, /Oy! We're gonna need one BIG bottle. Lemme think./ Molly's mental voice changes and for a few moments, it sounds like one of the AI twins, Grep judging by the dry recital, though not as dry as it once was.. /In order for fusion reactions to occur, the particles must be hot enough (temperature), in sufficient number (density) and well contained (confinement time). These simultaneous conditions are represented by a fourth state of matter known as plasma. In a plasma, electrons are stripped from their nuclei. A plasma, therefore, consists of charged particles, ions and electrons. There are three principle mechanisms for confining these hot plasmas - magnetic, inertial and gravity./ /Magnetic confinement utilizes strong magnetic fields, typically 100,000 times the earth's magnetic field, arranged in a configuration to prevent the charged particles from leaking out (essentially a "magnetic bottle"). Inertial confinement uses powerful lasers or high energy particle beams to compress the fusion fuel. The enormous force of gravity confines the fuel in the sun and stars./ The mental voice shifts again, this time to Melissa, /So what you guys want to do, since we don't want to hurt Guarien, is create magnetic fields strong enough to contain Guarien, yet balanced so as not to adversely affect anyone outside the containment field. And preferably not to hurt Guarien inside. Sort of a padded room for plasma beings. With Hydra and Nemo backing you, should be a piece of cake./ Molly returns. /Okay, that sounds doable, guys./ [Thanks, girls.] [No problem. Wait'll you see us, these new bodies are cool! And meet the new addition to the family. You're an aunt!] [You mean Tink is online? Wicked! Can't wait to meet her!] [She calls Dad 'Grump-pa'. It's hilarious.] [Don't tell me he's brooding again.] [Well, he puts on a good face for us, but Tink says he is concerned about something, but won't tell us what. Imagine, not telling her own mothers.] [Easy to imagine, there's a lot I won't tell my mother. Either of them. But it is probably something he isn't sure about the importance of. Remember, Dad obsesses over details. Go talk to him. I'll talk to you later, I'm not exactly safe here. Best have my attention on the here and now.] =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 19:06:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Roland, Jadis and Zia's showdown On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 15:31:04 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004593 > On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 20:06:20 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004581 > > Jadis' head whips around to face Nemo. "You.." He manages to get out > as his form flickers and expands slightly before fading away > entirely. I just realized I never said how many Nemos I was infiltrating. Make it 5 at intervals. I figure if half-dozen of me can't do it, nothing can. When the fight starts, they all make for the clearing at a run. And they proceed to set new records for the 100 meter, and then maintain that speed. It'll take them about 15 minutes to ciover what the group took 3 hours to cover (and yes, that means they are running at about 40 mph) =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 19:06:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 16:06:15 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004594 > On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 04:04:04 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004588 > > To any query she'll reply /Just had a sudden nasty fear that the air > and ground could be turned against me. I shoved out Jadis' reality > so inside here is reality as I control it. All four feet of it, that > is. But it's something to guard me while I think. I suppose it is a > bit much for a warding spell, but I am more than beginning to find > it justified./ /You might say that's my "natural" state. But I override it a lot to "blend in" and thus I'm all too familiar withwhat plasma burns feel like. I still say the ort is being not quyite close enough to a nuclear level blast./ =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 21:38:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 20:12:53 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004595 > On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 17:13:27 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004591 > > /And may I remind you, 'Friendly Fire' is not the sole domain of the > Starspawn. Almost everyone of this group with the power to do so has > caught someone unawares in an effect meant for the enemy./ Molly > mentally shrugs, /It happens./ /It seems to happen more with some than with others. Hydra, do you have a relative named Han Solo?/ =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 21:38:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Never send a human to do a magnet's job... On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 20:07:25 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004596 > On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 17:13:30 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004592 > > The mental voice shifts again, this time to Melissa, /So what you > guys want to do, since we don't want to hurt Guarien, is create > magnetic fields strong enough to contain Guarien, yet balanced so as > not to adversely affect anyone outside the containment field. And > preferably not to hurt Guarien inside. Sort of a padded room for > plasma beings. With Hydra and Nemo backing you, should be a piece of > cake./ /If Hydra will co-operate, we can set up a strong dipole field between us. The only place the plasma can leak out is at the ends. Which means it'd have to leak thru us. I can handle it, and I'd guess that Hydra can too./ /It'll be especially nice as it only takes energy to set up the field. Maintaining it is a zero energy operation./ =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 23:08:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: The Showdown, completed. (final) On Fri, 5 Jun 1998 01:47:00 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004597 "There was absolutely no running away and hiding." She shows him the scars on her wrists. "If I was away, how'd you do this to me, jerk? Hardly my fault if you fell for my trick; don't use your gullibility as basis for trying to claim a win. Folderol! You're being dishonorable - I won the bet, plain and simple. You're simply not man enough to admit that a woman bested you, and your vaunted wits." She sniffs in disdain. "Concede? I'll concede you're an over-weening male who tries to dictate new rules when he can't win by the _real_ ones, that is as far as I go." Jadis practically snarls, "If you had been in that body I would have known! And I couldn't detect you anywhere else in this dimension. So tell me, then, where you where hiding that I couldn't see or admit that you had lost. I've been more than fair about this, do not push me. I recall _nothing_ said about length of contract. Our fight does not end until one no longer wishes to face the other, I would call running away a wish not to face the opponent, wouldn't you?" "If I had run away, as stipulated it would have. I said leave the conflict area, however, and I did not. As to WHERE I was, well, you're the local power, why should _I_ have to tell you? Besides, if you can detect the truth, than you'll know I don't lie. I never left the area of combat." Jadis' eyes narrow as he hears the truth of it. "So, put that in your pipe and smoke it, as you try to say because I'm smart and wilier than you could follow, that makes you win. I don't see how you could possibly tout that argument." She rebuts calmly. "How long are you going to be this ridiculous about this? At this rate, I won't care to bet you any time again. You sure you want to burn that bridge?" Jadis becomes very calm, "Neither of us has left the combat area nor have we admitted defeat. Under the terms then there is no winner or loser yet. Yes, you tricked me. I do not claim to be infallible, merely powerful. But I have _not_ admitted defeat. There is no time limit on our fight, thougd I do admit it would be foolish to continue it beyond the point where one side cannot pay. If that situation comes to pass, our bet is nullified. You set quite good restrictions, remember them. I am not a fool, do not take me for one. "If you were truly smart, you'd pay the bet, send the CAoL against the mastermind of this annoying affair, not only do you gain untroubled time in which to work, but you also get the CAoL busy. Maybe even into some fight which will serve your purposes later. Giving up John can't be all that great a sacrifice; you trapped him once, so it could be done again." "It would be nowhere near as easy," Jadis murmurs. "Of course, Roland will be furious, but if you quote off to him our previous bet, and act to bear it out... do you think he'd still act against you or go after the _true_ mastermind? You've probably made a more intensive study of the man than I have, but I think we'd agree on his likely course." "And, most tellingly, you can't kill me.. That attack you used before might have had the capability before I could study it intensively, but no longer.. We could fight for a long time, get damaged, and eventually you'd win by banishing me somehow, or something similiar. But it would be a Phyrric victory - you'd reamain depleted and the CAoL would be enraged. You'd have no peace until you could kill them all. None of your current work would escape damaging loss of power and timely attentions." "This _is_ my current work," Jadis states. "You call _this_ work?" She returns easily. "Unless you're simply a ravening fool like that Thorne character, I doubt you really intend to carry on. As exampled that you talked instead of blasted, and have listened to this." She just looks at him calmly, "Roland will quickly regenerate himself, as I'm sure you know. Just sparking mine won't serve to seriously deplete his own. So, if we're to agree on a sensible conclusion, do it now. Before you have to hurt Morgan, because after that, nothing will stop him, except himself." Jadis looks down at Rolands unconscious form and half frowns, "I had no intention of doing any of that to Morgan, that I assure you.. It was merely a ploy to enrage the boy scout here." Jadis kicks Rolands side, though without much vigor. "Unfortunately, someone got to him before he could deliver the killing blow. Most galling. And he won't be waking up anytime soon, no matter how much he heals. So I have no need to worry about that." "We'll have to rename you the Sandman, at this rate." Zia quips. "Obviously you didn't - it wouldn't be to your advantage to hurt Morgan in any of the ways you elaborated." She sighs, "Roland has his own... blind spots. But one cannot fault him for THAT one." Jadis looks infinitely weary, "As for the other, I have no choice other than to continue this debacle. I have agreed to slow the CAoL down and I will do so to the best of my ability. Since that means I have further need to keep John captive, I am afraid that I cannot just let you all leave just yet. Still, I have planned for my defeat. Certain things are _very_ predictable. Shall we continue?" Jadis raises his hand, palm out, and proceeds to shoot bolts of force from them in much the same manner as he did against Roland. Zia just looks at him, the bolts somehow dissolving as they near her, in a half-dome around herself and Roland. "Kicking a man while he's down?" She almost sneers, "You really don't miss a trick, do you? My. Are you going to grow a black handlebar mustache and twist it at me while telling me of your further nefarious plans?" The young Amberite suddenly grins, then giggles. She sweeps the foe a floor-scarping curtsy in the Victorian black and silver ball gown that has appeared about her. "Thank you kindly, monsieur, for telling me of your course in the matter. I think I shall find your company far more amusing that the CAoL will." Jadis bows, "But of course. Sadly, however, the mustache won't grow right with this body." He looks at the burn-scars covering all visible flesh, "And I think I'm goint to have trouble growing any hair at all from now on. The sacrifices one makes," he sighs. Zia tsk-tsks with all the understanding of a stage performer for his appearance. "When one plays with the Pheonix; one gets burned. Some sort of natural law." She opens a palm, and regards the flickering flame dancing above it with some bemusement. "How CAN he have transferred that? I shouldn't think it ... oh. Thraggling wonderful... just great. The Pheonix is a Chaos Greater Beast. I forgot. How can I be SO thick at times? Roland thinks of it ordered... sigh. He didn't transer HIS power, you silly twit, he just managed to make you BELIEVE he had... and that's enough for YOUR powers to go nuts. Wonderful. What the heck do I say to Merle NOW?" She tries to think at the Sentinel ring, to see what it can do, but is completely ignored. Before she can do further... Jadis claps, and it begins to rain on Zia. He extends his hand, and a blizzard flies forth, freezing the rain into ice. A sharp gesture and broken masonry begins to circle the room. The masonry flies toward Zia. Not all at once, just several peices at a time. As Jadis does this, she almost misses the true purpose of the attacks. A crystalline holding structure almost forms around her. Suddenly she becomes a bolt of lightning. There is a flash in the room, and then a small woman in a curiously over-formal black and silver gown resolves kneeling at Roland's side. She inertia sheilds both Roland's unmoving body and herself, expecting a kick again, or worse. He makes no overt moves, but the ground, walls, and ceiling begin to melt and flow around Zia. Several former tons of rock which are now mud fall onto Zia from overhead. Straining now, Zia bares her teeth up at Jadis, and mutters tightly, "I always COULD bring the house down." The floor in a tightly described circle about herself and Roland disappears for a hundred feet down, and forty feet diameter. Grimly, she throws everything she can into a teardrop shaped extra shield, letting the tonnage slide over and keep sinking into the newly created hole. Jadis turns the mud back into rock with Zia still inside of it. She doesn't seem to mind the extra barrier between himself and her. She leaves it there for a second, using the respite for a quick mental callout. Outside the rock, Jadis pauses in the midst of his compreesion spell. he very nearly falls over and has to lean against the wall and catch his breath. "Not nice, Nemo. Not nice at all." *@*Nemo! CALLING ALL Nemos! S.O.S. Give me reconition signal, multiple location triangulation, something Jadis can't fake well NOW. In the electrical bands. HURRY!*@* She projects telepathically, over the Lens, and radio wave bands, at the most volume she can summon, figuring that might stun Jadis a half-second, and she can't hurt Nemo. Simultaneously, she pulls Roland into an awkward fireman's carry, barely able to do it at her height. "Why are heroes always TALL?" She complains. Jadis winces, then smiles, "Calling in help? Or running away? Either way you will have abrogated our agreement, leaving me the winner." Jadis begins to pound on Zia's shields with surgical strikes of energy, changing and modulating the energy flavors, looking for a weakness. "Actually, fool, neither would be against the terms. Unless I sent my aid against you, or left your realm of power. Which includes this entire universe. Or are you being idiotic merely in an attempt to entertain me? Perhaps entering a game of wits with an unarmed man was a bit unfair of me..." She taunts, gamely. "Oh? And what is all this with Rolands ring, hmm? You've broken contract thrice over now. _I_ have done nothing against the terms, nor have I stretched them in any way, unlike some." Jadis sniffs. "My luck, sir, " Zia says frostily, "_is_ an internal power. BUT since I wasn't sure you'd understand that, I HAVE been careful not to attempt to use it's abilities against you. As stipulated in the bet. Besides, it doesn't take all my abilties to stay fighting you. I probably can't win, in this your place of ensconced powers, but I can fight you for a LONG time. You have little idea what I'm capable of, as yet. Besides, I'm Ordered, Jadis." Like THAT should explain everything. "I could violate a mere bet, but not without some effort and knowledge that I was doing so. As for not stretching them, NO, you haven't. You prefer it seems, trying to hammer them into some other shape to please yourself. You don't seem to realize that I made no stake offer of my own." She winces slightly. "Hanging around too many punsters, lately." She mutters. "At least, in the bets original terms. You've had all the staking of me you'll be permitted to get. Win or lose, I can only gain by the terms. Or stand even. I think you must have been terribly bored to have agreed at all. But that apathy was a part of my considered risk in making the bet." Her lower class Brit accent becomes slightly stronger as she gets colder in her manner. Slowly, she takes small steps backwards, watching Jadis like you'd watch a bomb ticking. As she is about to step off the little remaining island of rock she was on, she shadow shift with a great effort, managing to get about seventy feet across the chamber to solid rock again. She is starting to sweat with the effort, her face showing the strain of the shifting. "Damn, that is hard here. Place is so messed up. In sight transits only, darling, or you're toast. Might be toast anyway. Where's the ^*&^%% cavalry? Yeah, I know, I'm carrrying the cavalry, this time. You'd think Roland would give up trying to rescue me, pretty soon... it never seems to work. But it I rather nice of him to try it. I get into trouble so OFTEN. Well, yes, it IS Roland, so..." She cuts off to concentrate against Jadis' next series of blows. The precision of his next attacks takes some concentration on her part, but no inordinate effort. Her surroundings blur again, with each step she's another 50 feet or so down the passage. "At this rate, if he keeps pounding... I won't make it. Put the ring on him? No, that won't work. Crap. Whole place is on Jadis' side. Crap twice. Can't leave him here... two captives. Worse." She breaks unto the surface. "Light. At least that makes me FEEL better..." Jadis floats up through the rock, "You're really going to have to move much faster to get away." "Oh? If I were actually trying get away, Jadis, "she says quietly, "I would simply leave this place, and you, and the CAoL to your varied amusements. Since I'm not, you may safely deduce such is not my intention. I do not mistake you for a simpleton; please show me the same modicum of respect." The petite brunette shoots him a mocking smirk, "Well, thank you for the advice, anyway. Quite the helper, aren't we? You HAVE been quite helpful, actually. For that, I'll simply tell you I'm going to meet the CAoL, and hand their leader into their care. Since I'm _sure_ you are watching them, and I'm not leaving the zone where you hold sway, please don't start that bit about my violating the bets terms again. I'll even give his ring into their custody, as well, since it bothered you. Aren't I a generous opponent? Although I'd never have guessed you cared so for the chilvaric conceits." That last barb delivered, Zia looks down at Roland's Legion ring, and suddenly, she and her passenger both become an arc of lightning. As quickly as Jadis can see the change (i.e. speed of light) they're also far, far away. Landing near or on top of the CAoL's position as Nemo gave it. Jadis stares after her a moment, then starts to tap on the gem on his left breast, "John? Oh John? I know you can hear me. There are very few places one can hide in this realm and remain hidden from me. Not talkative, eh? Anyway, here is what you will do... Understood? Good." Jadis rises into the air and races after Zia. When they get back to the group, Zia puts a Lens on to Nemesis, and @Clear some buffer mental capacity, download follows of sensory data of about 60Kbytes in a 3 millisecond encoded squeal, with a feedback check signal to prevent Jadis' monkeying with the data - or disencoding it. I'm not certain even a Lens is secure here, so... And DON'T send to Rhia ANY hint of this - she's tied to John, who is constrained to report any threat to Jadis - so every strategy you've discussed using against him he has been privy to as well.@ @Please re-send at best allowed speed to the rest of the CAoL link as the mentalities can accept. Include this afterword from me, please. Begin Quote: Note that John instructs you to take the paths as directed to face up Jadis. And Jadis states his proviso of slowing you all. I will stay here and keep as much of his attention and power tied up as I am able, if he'll stay and fight. Also, he WANTS and plans to be killed and / or defeated here, no IDEA why. Otherwise, I'll go with you. Shall we try it? Alternatively, I can go, since I'm not part of the CAoL, Jadis' word doesn't bind him to slow ME down.@ About few minutes after Zia arrives, Jadis' form flies into sight of the group. The energy split looks up at Jadis as he approaches, then flies up and merges with him. He looks at Zia, though speaking for the others, "I am here, 'in the flesh', as it were. I'll attend to the rest of you shortly. Right now I have some unfinished business." Jadis launches into an attack on Zia. @Oh, and Dhyrclanc, please come and check this ring that is supposedly yours, and if safe, please take it. I have no idea how to use the silly thing... and not the attention to spare for the learning. Or the teleporting of the thing to you...@ That can be easily understood, given the hard-pressed look she has now, as Jadis has built his assault in force, means, and severity exponentially. Even she looks a bit surprised at how well she is holding out against any force, energy, and anti-energy attacks. Corruption doesn't faze her at all, and neither does aligned to Good power; almost as if both were equally easy for her to handle. =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 23:09:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Fri, 5 Jun 1998 01:51:07 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004598 Molly sayth: >The faint blue lenses of Molly's glasses glint slightly off of some >unknown light source and Molly scans the gallows of fire and the rope >of water. She also gives the rest of the glade a look. This time >searching for the exact nature of what holds Guarien here, the method >of its removal, and, on a suspicion, to see if Guarien is what is >holding the glade together as opposed to the chaos all around it or >if that is Jadis' doing. An image appears to Molly in her searching. A block. A great big Hershey-bar of a block. Thin, long, narrow. But it vanishes before anything can be figured about it (like size, distance, color, the exact perportions, who controls it, if it's an illusion, and other such trivial details). =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 23:09:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Fri, 5 Jun 1998 01:53:26 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004599 > On Wed, 3 Jun 1998 23:35:42 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004586 > > The faint blue lenses of Molly's glasses glint slightly off of some > unknown light source and Molly scans the gallows of fire and the > rope of water. She also gives the rest of the glade a look. This > time searching for the exact nature of what holds Guarien here, the > method of its removal, and, on a suspicion, to see if Guarien is > what is holding the glade together as opposed to the chaos all > around it or if that is Jadis' doing. While Guariens presence in the glade can be felt, the background noise is predominantly Jadis. There is indeed something going on with the noose, but guarien seems to be tied to something beyond that, even. OOC:[For all you super-computer minds looking over Molly's shoulder, it's Guariens basic connection to this universe that is holding him bound. Working hypothesis would likely be, given enough data, of course, that Jadis' control over this dimension is what allows him to dominate Guarien so.] =========================== Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 23:09:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Fri, 5 Jun 1998 02:00:18 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004600 On Thu, 4 Jun 1998, Lizard Tongue wrote: > Shadow wrote: >> The ground where Hydra's foot came down cracks, opening a 80 yrd >> long fissure. Guarien oozes out from beneath the foot, the trail >> left by his essence as it flows together (ala T2) smoking. Jadis >> fades back into view, throwing his head back and laughing. He seems >> to be enjoying the spectacle. Then the first aftershock hits. Only >> it doesn't stop. Super-heated steam shoots out of the fissure as >> the rumbling increases, followed shortly by a fountain of lava. >> Dirt, rocks, and magma rain down on the area, all counterpointed by >> Jadis' mocking laughter. > > level healer type psionic with a few misc. skills as well as see > aura and sixth sense /OOC> > > Does the village where Doc is staying feel any of this? Yes, the shockwave is felt for miles. > If YES then Doc will broadcast a low power, broad band, broad > spectrum TP signal profile he is trying to maintain /OOC> attn: Jadis with a picture of > the village itself dancing and the words 'Did you mean to do this?' > > Doc will set about damage control as best he can without showing off > high power levels and ignore any response from Jadis if he is not > there in person [NOTE: There is no response.] > PS: you can resend the part from attn: to the end of that sentence > to any member of the party that you feel would have been able to > pick it up, it was omni-directional with no specific receiver tuned > in. OOC: I sent most of it, as I'm sure there is probably a Nemo racing by, and he is the one most likely to actually respond out of anyone in the group. There being a half-dozen of him or so. If one does respond, well, now he knows summat of what to expect. [typical rural/low-tech town, though very clean comparitively.] ===========================