Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 44 Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:36:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:13:18 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004695 >On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 01:18:25 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004676 > > Sera gives the split a look. "Too bad you weren't moved enough to >be out of hearing." Her voice seems composed of equal parts French >horn and rumbling kettle drum sounds. Well, you're all convinced THAT >wasn't Zia. It was in tune. She smiles, the terrible angelic >expression of half disappointment and half stern. Or, rather like a >somewhat annoyed mother. Then she sends to Roland, @I am not "many >others" and I am not assuming - even Hydra cannot win here, because >to win is NOT to defeat Jadis, but to avoid his trap and free his >prisoner. But continually he stirs your gall to anger you to move >with action rather than consideration.@ *And that makes 'winning' impossible...how?* Roland replies with a slight grin. *Just because he's nailed me once doesn't mean he'll do so again. I _do_ learn from my mistakes sometimes.* > @Or your curiosity can simply go unsatisfied.@ Sera gives him >that timeless, changeless woman-style I'll never tell all my secrets >sort of smile/look/expression. Roland sighs. *You're all part of the same union, aren't you?* he asks, though the chuckle is evident in his 'voice.' >I can work in?> (OOC: Ow. ow. ow.) 888888888888888888888888888 Also, Mike/Molly said: >> Sera will pick up whomever wants a lift (including Driss, but >>by now her robe is regrown) and urge the CAoL to move along the path >>John suggested. Quickly. > >Seven is inclined to agree. If Roland and Company aren't sure they >can free John here and now, the personality-merged white dragon woman >would suggest tabling it and moving out. It can always be worked on >later on. /We can futz with the thing on the way,/ Roland agrees. Then, Rhiannon sent: >> ^Joke. It's a joke,^ Roland adds quickly. ^I just mean that >> Hydra probably has enough power to be able to destroy the prison >> once John's not trying to maintain it.^ > >^I'm willing to try.^ Rhia sends with determination. ^Then let's do it.^ Roland widens the coded link to include Fuzzy, Dhyrclhanc and Zia. ^Folx, this is your 'fearless leader' calling. Keep this little conference call private, please. I've got a plan, which means I'm probably about to do something stupid. I want to try to contact John and break Jadis' conditioning over him, and I figured that you three are our best telepaths. If I'm forgetting someone, feel free to bring them in. ^Anyway, the plan is for you three to give me a psychic 'boost,' both in power and finesse, so that I can try to reach John and undo Jadis' geas. Since all of you know magic, you'll be able to check for booby-traps of that variety. Rhia, you know John's mind the best, so you'll be keeping a mental 'eye' out for anomalies, though your contact with him, Zia, will make your part in this vital. ^Everyone ready?^ Roland's self-image seems to be covered in thick plates, almost as if he were 'armoring up' psychically. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 22:38:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 00:30:48 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004696 Shadow wrote: > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 Dane0R0A wrote: > >> Cerberus actually REEKS of death, menace, and POWER. Can I feel Cerberus' entrance from the village? >> psions in the group can feel a kind of psionic "heat" radiating >> from it. Sera (OOC: assuming she is a real angel) can feel a >> spiritual energy from it. Is this sword of Hydra's leaking so bad that the psionic side can be felt from the village and will aura sight show the spiritual side when it comes into sight? =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 22:38:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: AOL: Army (of Light) On-Line On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 01:33:05 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004697 >Jadis-1 floats over, "Really? How interesting. Would one of you mind >using this thing? I want to see how it works." Jadis will detect nothing, other then that the signals are going out in exactly the way Mr. Osborne said they would. =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 11:38:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 13:02:12 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004698 >On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:13:18 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004695 >Also, Mike/Molly said: >>Seven is inclined to agree. If Roland and Company aren't sure they >>can free John here and now, the personality-merged white dragon >>woman would suggest tabling it and moving out. It can always be >>worked on later on. > > /We can futz with the thing on the way,/ Roland agrees. After the splitting up of Seven, Molly and Tink take to the air and follow the path Hydra was making toward Jadis' stronghold, Tink with a buzzing of wings, Molly with apparently no more than a happy thought and carrying anyone who needs a lift. Tink is just suddenly holding a tiny pixie-sized CD walkman which starts playing. Molly and Tink's "Xena and Snow White" voices harmonize as they sing "Fly away" along with the walkman as it plays the Lenny Kravitz tune. As they do, any passengers will start feeling lighter weight, eventually feeling weightless themselves. If Molly isn't carrying anyone, she and Tink fly in a manner closer to zero-gee dancing, tossing in some acrobatics for good measure. "...Let's go and see the stars, The Milky Way or even Mars, Where it could just be ours. "Let's fade into the sun, Let your spirit fly, Where we are one, Just for a little fun. "I want to get away, I want to fly away, Yeah yeah yeah..." =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 13:39:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 16:21:54 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004700 << Shadow Said Jadis half bows, "Please, be my guest. Now if you will excuse me, I am entertaining." Jadis turns back to Shard after Cerberus leaves, "Curiouser and curiouser. What say you to these recent events.?" >> Cerberus vanishes, to reappear outside of Jadis' fortress. this time however he is a match in size for Hydra. He is holding a BLACK (to all possible senses and modes of sensing) glave. On its haft and blade are marking similar in nature, and kind, to those on Hydra's sword, but these burn the senses as one focuses on them. =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:36:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: E-ticket ride in Jadisland On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:06:44 -0700 (PDT) Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00004701 > On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 04:04:04 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004588 > 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./ /A Thought occures to me, Everyone should be ready to activate, either the Reality Stabilizer, Which I handed out at our last stop, or A related effect. If Either Jadis' control slips or any other effect colapses this bubble They may be needed. Anyone not so equiped or otherwise covered, Please let me know./ =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:36:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Never send a human to do a magnet's job... On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:06:47 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004702 > On Thu, 4 Jun 1998 20:07:25 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004596 > > /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./ /Once containment is achieved, Nemisis and I should be able to calculate a Reality Stabilizer setting, which would filter Jadis' control out of the volume of the Mag-Bubble./ =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:36:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 00:09:33 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004703 > On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 16:02:50 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004699 > > << Doc Said > Can I feel Cerberus' entrance from the village? what it is just that something mucho powerful has entered? /OOC> > >> > (OOC: That would depend on what Jadis has done to this universe, > Shadow would have to answer that. As for power scale, Cerberus could > squash Galactus like a bug, and beat the tar out of Eternity, mabe > even kill him.) OOC: Given that Hydra already knows that he's here, Jadis hasn't made any effort to keep the entrance secret. > << > Is this sword of Hydra's leaking so bad that the psionic side can be > felt from the village and will aura sight show the spiritual side > when it comes into sight? > >> > (OOC: It's not so much leaking, as radiating, and yes if you can see > auras you could see the spiritual side as a blinding white fire with > white on white runes embedded in the fire.) The radiation extends only so far before being absorbed into the air. _If_ the radiation is along the lines of 'free' energy. =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:36:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 00:12:55 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004704 > On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 16:21:54 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004700 > > Cerberus vanishes, to reappear outside of Jadis' fortress. this time > however he is a match in size for Hydra. He is holding a BLACK (to > all possible senses and modes of sensing) glave. On its haft and > blade are marking similar in nature, and kind, to those on Hydra's > sword, but these burn the senses as one focuses on them. A Jadis forms by Cerberus, "Pardon, but Hydra won't be arriving at the castle for a while. If you wish to wait he will get here eventually, but he still has to follow the same path as the others. There are no shortcuts to reach this place from that area." The emanations from this sword are subject to the same rules as the other one. =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:36:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shards of Darkness On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 00:22:47 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004705 > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 18:42:10 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004694 > >>OOC: I hope that I am remembering rightly that all Jadis really >>agreed to was to slow the CAoL down. Roland? > > (OOC: Yep. That's it. Shard didn't mean to imply otherwise. To be > honest, I don't see the implication anywhere in Shard's speech." OOC: It's not. That was Jadis warning Shard not to expect undying loyalty from Jadis. A not-so-subtle hint that Jadis, while being a being of honor, is out for Numero Uno. Given what Jadis has done, he figures KnightMare might figure Jadis had stabbed him in the back by the time the dust settles. I mean, Jadis has virtually drawn a map for the group to get to KnightMare after they leave his dimension, if they leave his dimension. >>Jadis thinks a moment, "Hmmmm... These are my plans, if you wish to >>intervene at any point go right ahead." Jadis proceeds to lay out >>his defenses right up to a final defense of the castle. > > Shard grins. "So, can you make that teleportation block... >selective?" Jadis smiles, "There is no block. Nothing prevents a teleport from occurring. I have merely folded the space such that the users return to their starting points. I will allow you to teleport as you wish." =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:36:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 00:25:42 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004706 > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:13:18 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004695 > > ^Everyone ready?^ Roland's self-image seems to be covered in > thick plates, almost as if he were 'armoring up' psychically. Rhia sends, ^Yes.^ Jadis-1 again takes an interest in proceedings, and floats back over to the group, "This should be interesting." OOC: Who has the Gem? Roland? =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 22:08:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: AOL: Army (of Light) On-Line On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:42:12 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004707 > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:45:24 EDT > Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004688 > > "These will assist you in communications. They will assist your > Lenses and other communication devices in opening up > interdimentional communications without involving Jadis. Merely > attach them to whatever device you wish to use, and they will cache > (to allow normal communications) and put through or recieve the > message." Fuzzy and Nemisis as usual each snag one and stash it away somewhere... ;) =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 22:08:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:42:13 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004708 > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:13:18 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004695 > > ^Everyone ready?^ Roland's self-image seems to be covered in > thick plates, almost as if he were 'armoring up' psychically. ^A few points to be made first 'O Peerless Leader' as long as we the compulsions are broken, and We make sure that Jadis can not tap him for power at range, All we must have is a good communications channel, Nemisis will supply a 'Waldo' Body for him at present.^ =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 01:05:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 02:53:18 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004709 : *And that makes 'winning' impossible...how?* Roland replies with a :slight grin. *Just because he's nailed me once doesn't mean he'll do :so again. I _do_ learn from my mistakes sometimes.* "It makes it impossible only if you define it incorrectly, is how." Sera's voice seems to vary, now it's light woodwinds and chimes. Her voice seems a bit distorted, the musicality barely making it through a "chipmunk" like speed effect on her force. "I'm glad you'll be more wary of him next time." She gives Roland an angelic smile, "There is a lady who needs you." :> @Or your curiosity can simply go unsatisfied.@ Sera gives him :>that timeless, changeless woman-style I'll never tell all my secrets :>sort of smile/look/expression. : : Roland sighs. *You're all part of the same union, aren't you?* he :asks, though the chuckle is evident in his 'voice.' Sera: "It's more of a disunion." In tickling percussion and violin. Zia: @Sera! Would you cut that out? That joke is older than _I_ am, for crying out loud. And besides, you shouldn't talk about THIS anyway. Especially not HERE, out loud. Or anywhere.@ Sera: "Troubled hearts will reach out, no matter the cost." Zia: @We'll discuss this after we have secure communications again.@ : ^Everyone ready?^ Roland's self-image seems to be covered in thick : plates, almost as if he were 'armoring up' psychically. @As we discussed, yes. Go ahead, Roland. I'm ready for your draw, and have myself ready to react.@ =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 02:05:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 04:37:14 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004710 << Shadow Said A Jadis forms by Cerberus, "Pardon, but Hydra won't be arriving at the castle for a while. If you wish to wait he will get here eventually, but he still has to follow the same path as the others. There are no shortcuts to reach this place from that area." The emanations from this sword are subject to the same rules as the other one. >> One of Cerberus' heads looks at the Jadis, and replies "That may be true, however, even following the same path, traveling many times faster than light, he could already be here if he truly wished to. He is not here yet, because he has some, miserable, plan that requires him to travel at the same pace as his companions." =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:46:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:10:37 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004711 Back at the fight with Guarien... >On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 21:06:47 -0700 (PDT) >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004702 > > Nemisis and I should be able to calculate a Reality Stabilizer > setting, which would filter Jadis' control out of the volume of > the Mag-Bubble./ Roland smiles wickedly. /Hmm...that fits into one of my ideas... Fuzzy, with Hydra and Nemo helping, about how large an area do you think you could 'liberate' from Jadis' control? I know you couldn't get the whole universe, but if we can give Jadis enough fits, he might just _give_ us John to be rid of us./ Then Shadow said: >The one out front tops a rise and sees an open town. John's >directions called for the group to travel through the center of the >town. Mud brick buildings and a mostly agricultural society, from >what you can see. /Hmm. Sil, take my body, would you?/ Sil laughs. /I thought you'd NEVER ask./ Roland blushes (tm). /NO, I mean just grab an arm or something while I work on this gem. I'm going to be giving it my entire concentration, and being left behind _here_ isn't my idea of a good time./ Sil pouts. /Spoilsport./ Then she smiles to let him know that she _was_ kidding. (Probably. ) Then Hydra said: >Over at the battle site, Hydra concentrating with 3 heads on the last >dregs of Guarien, suddenly all nine heads whip around to look in the >direction of Jadis' fortress. A gesture closes the wormholes that he >established to catch any escaping energy from the magnetic bottle. He >gestures at the sky, and an object comes flashing "around" (in N >dimensions) the dimensional blocks that Jadis set. A huge two handed >sword, scaled for Hydra's current size. /Cerberus has just entered >this world, we must hurry/ he says, as he strides off in the >direction of the fortress. Roland looks up, his focus drawing back. /Cerberus? Exactly who-or what-is Cerberus?/ he asks, looking with concern at the 30-story sword forming in Hydra's enormous hands. Back to Shadow: >> ^Everyone ready?^ Roland's self-image seems to be covered in >> thick plates, almost as if he were 'armoring up' psychically. > >Rhia sends, ^Yes.^ Jadis-1 again takes an interest in proceedings, >and floats back over to the group, "This should be interesting." Roland looks up. ^Damn. I'm still going to try this, but be ready for a sudden shift in target and intent.^ >OOC: Who has the Gem? Roland? (OOC: Yep.) Roland begins probing, trying nothing except contact for the moment. ^John? John, can you hear me?^ (OOC: Okay, Shadow, what do I get? John? Jadis? A mind bomb? The Jadisland Daily News? ) =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:46:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shards of Darkness On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 15:57:43 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004712 >On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 00:22:47 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004705 > >OOC: It's not. That was Jadis warning Shard not to expect undying >loyalty from Jadis. A not-so-subtle hint that Jadis, while being a >being of honor, is out for Numero Uno. Given what Jadis has done, he >figures KnightMare might figure Jadis had stabbed him in the back by >the time the dust settles. I mean, Jadis has virtually drawn a map >for the group to get to KnightMare after they leave his dimension, if >they leave his dimension. (OOC: Shard wasn't trying to 'warn' Jadis; he was just running off at the mouth. Having been silent for ten millenia, he'll do that. I knew you wouldn't let me down...this will play MUCH better into what I had in mind for KnightMare than if Jadis had played it 'straight.' KM _is_ honorable, and not just in the letter of the word; the full explanation will come when my scenario begins. Thank you. ) >> Shard grins. "So, can you make that teleportation block... >>selective?" > >Jadis smiles, "There is no block. Nothing prevents a teleport from >occurring. I have merely folded the space such that the users return >to their starting points. I will allow you to teleport as you wish." Shard grins widely. "All RIGHT! I'll just make sure they don't see me 'port in-if they see a successful pop, they might use what they sense to figure it out-and wait for the poor suckers to walk into your trap. It's been an honor." Shard wipes his mouth almost genteelly, then stands. "I doubt that you'll actually _need_ my help, but if you do, just call." He bows, then vanishes. "Hello, ladies," Shard says as he appears in his room. They begin to rise to greet him, smiles on their faces, then look astonished as tendrils shoot out and pin them in place. "I won't be gone long. Sorry about the precautions, but you know how fickle this business can be." He laughs as he fades away... =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 19:41:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 19:20:45 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004713 > On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:10:37 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004711 > > Roland smiles wickedly. /Hmm...that fits into one of my ideas... > Fuzzy, with Hydra and Nemo helping, about how large an area do you > think you could 'liberate' from Jadis' control? I know you couldn't > get the whole universe, but if we can give Jadis enough fits, he > might just _give_ us John to be rid of us./ /No way to know for sure, It depends on how much resistance Jadis puts up. That is, unless Jadis is inside the Field... Then if it works at all it would affect everything./ =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 19:42:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:23:32 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004714 << Morgan and/or Roland Said Roland looks up, his focus drawing back. /Cerberus? Exactly who-or what-is Cerberus?/ he asks, looking with concern at the 30-story sword forming in Hydra's enormous hands. >> /There are 3 communities of Starspawn. The Coalition of Light is led by Aurora. I led the unaligned until Oracle appeared, then he took over, with my gratitude. Cerberus rules what he called the empire, and what Aurora and I called The Empire of Evil. Like Jadis he will do what he feels is necessary to forward his schemes. Also he delights is causing unnecessary anquish, pain, and death to his subjects. He rules with an neutronium fist. I have been fighting him since he began creating his empire, and before the Coalition of Light even existed. He does not follow or serve the Great Adversary, but they are allies and friends, in as much as either of them can HAVE friends. He is perhaps 2 to 3 times more powerful than I am, but I hold my own because I am MUCH older and more knowlegable. The top three Starspawn in power are, Cerberus, myself, and finally Aurora (OOC: The Stardragon isn't a Starspawn remember). Oracle ranks about #7, but he is far more respected than any other Starspawn, and thus he leads the unaligned. I suspect that he (Cerberus) obeys the general laws of all Starspawn, only as much as he has to, to keep his underlings in line, and to keep them from rebeling, and of course to keep The Stardragon from killing him like a bug. You are probably safe from him. If he harmed one of you, There is no place in all n-space he could hide from The Stardragon. A being who harmed one of the CAoL, would die, a HARD death, and that is not in Cerberus' plan I'm sure. I however am fair game for him. Be careful of his Dark Glaive, with it, he can disrupt entire universes./ Hydra answers. =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 19:50:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 21:14:10 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004715 >On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:10:37 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004711 > >Then Shadow said: >>The one out front tops a rise and sees an open town. John's >>directions called for the group to travel through the center of the >>town. Mud brick buildings and a mostly agricultural society, from >>what you can see. Molly and Tink come to a halt at the crest of the hill. "Agrarian." Tink says, to which Molly nods. "Scout?" Tink asks, Molly nods again. The computer sprite takes off like a bolt, speeding around and into buildings, not really bothering to be discreet, though the villagers trying to get a look that is more than a flash of gold light will require better than human eyesight, and returns a moment later to Molly. "It's mostly agricultural, mud brick buildings and such. There's a gathering in the center of town. Looked mostly human, but I noticed a reptilian looking guy (guys?) there too." > /Hmm. Sil, take my body, would you?/ > Sil laughs. /I thought you'd NEVER ask./ > Roland blushes (tm). /NO, I mean just grab an arm or something >while I work on this gem. I'm going to be giving it my entire >concentration, and being left behind _here_ isn't my idea of a good >time./ > Sil pouts. /Spoilsport./ Then she smiles to let him know that she >_was_ kidding. (Probably. ) /Minbari believe three is sacred,/ Tink sends. Molly replies, /I don't think Roland is quite ready for that sort of relationship./ She glances at Roland and Sil, a mischievious glint in her eyes. /Course, I could be wrong./ > Roland looks up, his focus drawing back. /Cerberus? Exactly who-or >what-is Cerberus?/ he asks, looking with concern at the 30-story >sword forming in Hydra's enormous hands. /Defintely someone worthy of a Starspawn's respect./ Molly notes. /Another Starspawn? And not a good guy?/ > Roland looks up. ^Damn. I'm still going to try this, but be ready >for a sudden shift in target and intent.^ Molly and Tink fly down the hill at about 30 mph into the town... =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 21:36:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:47:45 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004716 >On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:23:32 EDT >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004714 >/There are 3 communities of Starspawn. The Coalition of Light is led >by Aurora. I led the unaligned until Oracle appeared, then he took >over, with my gratitude. Cerberus rules what he called the empire, >I'm sure. I however am fair game for him. Be careful of his Dark >Glaive, with it, he can disrupt entire universes./ Hydra answers. /Okay,/ Molly sends, a faint chill going down not just her back but the backs of everyone in the Dreamtime. [... Yes, I have noticed the more powerful the being, the more likely for there to be evil ... Just one more thing for us to watch for and guard against in ourselves ... Why should -I- come back and make speechs? That's your job, not mine, dad ... ...] =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:36:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 01:10:28 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004717 > On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:10:37 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004711 > > (OOC: Yep.) > Roland begins probing, trying nothing except contact for the > moment. ^John? John, can you hear me?^ > (OOC: Okay, Shadow, what do I get? John? Jadis? A mind bomb? The > Jadisland Daily News? ) OOC: Daily News was the scrambled mind link Jadis had going earlier. :^) Roland hits a hard shield. There is no response to his probings, however he can tell there is somone inside the gem, straining for release. Like feeling someone else pounding on a wall, but not able to hear them do it. Jadis-1 smiles, and floats closer to Roland. Rhia is disquieted, she confirms that the sheild is definitely John's work, and that he is holding the entire bauble together, ^Why would he fight his own shields?^ =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 00:41:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 03:35:40 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004719 > On Thu, 11 Jun '98 > Zia Said > > "You seem most eager to take umbrage and blame, Lensdragon, at > any of my concerns, taking them for personal and objectional slurs > upon your own character. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, truly I > am." The solemn look of self-reproach on Sera's face matches the > tone of her apology, which is sincere. "I wasn't trying to attack > your motives. So that is not the case - but neither is it the case > that even Lensed entities never make mistakes. I was cautioning for > an additional thoroughness of cognition of circumstance, and more > understanding of the forces and risks, than judging your actions, or > your gift, "malevolent". Trust me, entity, I know when something is > malevolent. Not even Jadis is, truly. But the one using him > qualifies." Even flying in mid-air, the Lensdragon bows to the lady angel. "Now it is my turn to apologize. Even though the Gods whom I serve know too well that I am often guilty of it myself, one of my pet peeves is mis-communicated information. Combine this with what many may call an overly health curiosity about the nature of the Multiverse, and you sometimes have a potential for... well perhaps not dangerous behavior but at least behavior that can easily be misconstrued as being impolite." "Mu questions were more in the nature of seeking a clarification of the terms you used which were unfamiliar to me, as well as a clarification of the terms which I used which were obviously confusing to you. I assure you that my intent was neither insultory nor condesending, as *I am a Dragon* it is both one of my blessings as much as it is also a curse to sometimes be confusing as well as seeming condesending or easy to take umbrage." > (The trailing mental snigger afterward she attempts to conceal, > without complete success from the Lensdragon's perceptive mentalism. > He might also note with some surprise that he is more than a bit > stronger a mentalist - so much stronger one might almost think her > handicapped in some way. The mental voice was pure Zia. you all can't tell by the phrasing.> Oops! Well, looks like Zia hit a little closer to home with that one. As much as Dhyrclhanc, himself, might deny it -- I am afraid that he resembles that remark. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 01:41:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:02:03 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004720 > On Fri, 12 Jun '98 > Molly Said > > Molly 'Pan' arches an eyebrow at the moving form of Hydra. /Watch > where you step! And don't squish Sir Robin's minstrels, we may need > to eat them!/ she calls after him. Molly adds, /At which time, there > will be much rejoicing./ > > Tink holds a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle. Using his first-ring, the Sentinel-Lensdragon creates a huge, dragon-sized projectile weapon, reminecent of an old LAW-style rocket launcer. He then braces the weapon against his shoulder and pulls the trigger, after aiming at the faux-farie and the female, RIFTS-style, cross-trained mage. The two are almost knocked out of the sky after being pelted by an almost unending stream of... 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 ***Peanuts!!!*** =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 01:41:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:13:22 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004721 > On Fri, 12 Jun '98 > Morgan and/or Roland Said > > ^Everyone ready?^ Roland's self-image seems to be covered in > thick plates, almost as if he were 'armoring up' psychically. /^Whoa there, brother of mine.^/ sends Dhyrclhanc as he readies a "psychic anchor" in the real world, for himself as well as his adopted sib. /^ Mental Probes and Mental Scans are one thing, but if you intend to be doing some serious Mind Diving into that thing then I am going with you!^/ As he sends this, he reaches into his duffle-bag , removes his Eye of Amaggado(sp?), and pins it to the two ends of the volumnious cloak that is part of his Sentinel's costume. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 01:42:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:23:57 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004722 Before Roland begins his intense probe of the seemingly sythetic gemstone holding John prisioner, Void of the WildCATS appears near the group holding vigil over the prison in psychic space and says, /I, too, would like to help you free your friend./ Void's mental abilities are somewhere between Roland's and Dhyrclhanc's but, strangly like John, one feels the presence of Somethng or Someone greater than she is when she makes phychic contact. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 01:42:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:28:29 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004723 > On Sun, 14 Jun '98 Fuzzy Said > >> Roland Said >> >> Roland smiles wickedly. /Hmm...that fits into one of my ideas... >> Fuzzy, with Hydra and Nemo helping, about how large an area do you >> think you could 'liberate' from Jadis' control? I know you couldn't >> get the whole universe, but if we can give Jadis enough fits, he >> might just _give_ us John to be rid of us./ > > /No way to know for sure, > It depends on how much resistance Jadis puts up. > That is, unless Jadis is inside the Field... > Then if it works at all it would affect everything./ /^Correct me if I am mistaken,^/ says Dhyrclhanc to fuzzy /^But at present, the reality stabilizers only work on the personal scale, right?^/ =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 02:36:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 02:06:10 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004724 > On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:28:29 -0400 > Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004723 > > /^Correct me if I am mistaken,^/ says Dhyrclhanc to fuzzy /^But at > present, the reality stabilizers only work on the personal scale, > right?^/ /^That is True of The ones Nemisis handed out previously, Nemisis, and your Computer can configure Stabilizers for area effects, The big Question is, Can we supply enough power to over-ride the Control Jadis has, on a large enough scale to be worth the effort.^/ =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:07:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving (VLong!) (sorry) On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 07:01:52 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004725 > On Sun, 14 Jun '98 Dane0R0A Said > /There are 3 communities of Starspawn. The Coalition of Light is led > by Aurora. I led the unaligned until Oracle appeared, then he took > over, with my gratitude. Cerberus rules what he called the empire, I > I however am fair game for him. Be careful of his Dark Glaive, with > it, he can disrupt entire universes./ Hydra answers. /^Well, if this is the case...^/ sends Dhyrclhanc, to no one in particular. He reaches into his bulky, photjournalist's-style, vest, withdraws his personal reality stabilizer and switches it on. Then he takes out his personal forcefield generator and swiches it on, immediatly being surrounded by a translucent golden-yellow glow. Then his First-Ring once again flares to life and the "'Full-Battle-Mode’ Sentinel-Lensdragon(tm)' Ring-Generated Powered Combat Armor" (pat. pend.) surrounds his draconic form. Below, Maul of the WildCATS sees this and says, "Wow, where can I get one of those?" To which Grifter replies, after looking up and appearing unimpressed, "Take it from me, junior, you'll go far in this business if you learn when to keep your mouth shut." To which Maul just glowers back at him. To those who haven't seen it before, this is a huge, dragon-sized, suit of environmental powered armor which is colored various shades of green. It is most reminisent of the high-end armors that the gurgoyle soldiers of the Gargoyle Empire in the Black Forest of RIFTS-Earth Europe use. Every striking surface of Dhyrclhanc's body, including the upper edges of both of his wings and his tail are now covered with nasty looking sharp blades and spines. Only a few things remain to remind onlookers that this is still everyone's lovable Sentinel-Lensdragon, besides the vaugly dragonish shape of the armor, Dhyrclhanc's Lens remains uncovered by the armor, the Sentinel-Lensdragon's First-Ring is worn on the ouside of the armored gauntlet on the Sentinel-Lensdragon's right hand, Dhyrclhanc's cut emerald crystal psi-fire, hand-and-a-half, twisted hilt claymore, psi-sword can be seen sheathed on the back of the armor, and Dhyrclhanc's iris-less eyes can be seen through the thin slit of a visor on the suit's triangular faceplate. /^So Hydra..^/ continues Dhyrclhanc, as he retrieves his Sterling (tm) dual weapon system from out of his metal-weave duffle-bag and mounts it on an articulated weapon support arm that appears for just that purpose /^Am I correct in infering that this 'Cerberus' has about as much direct relationship to the mythical creature of the same name as you do to the mythical Hydra?^/ If one looks a bit more carefully, Dhyrclhanc's Redemption and Glaive can also be seen secreted on the armor's exterior. Hey Dane, unless you're taking your cues solely from the White Wolf World of Darkness (tm) Books, (Well, there its spelled Klaive, but still...) a glaive is most commonly a polearm with a knife-like, or dagger-like blade at the end of it. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 10:46:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Midnight on the Firing Line On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 07:18:00 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004726 > Then I am I to take it that my inference is correct that the > Nemos are "loaded for bear" (colloquially speaking of course)? Then > again, I suspect that even "unarmed" and "unarmored" a Nemo could > probably take down a Mega-Damage^1 predatory creature. More to the point, such a creature couldn't do a lot to Nemo. At times, and in other circumstances, his "defenses" would be "stealthed" such that attacks would appear to work normally on him, but with somewhat low damage due to random events. But on this sort of mission, there's no point. But the mere fact that he's *carrying* a gun show that he's trying to *limit* damage. The power guns are nice because they have a *wide* variety of loads available, and they are set up so that when you move your fingers to accept the gun, the holster slams the gun into your hand. If I'd wanted a *low* profile, I'd have used spetsdods[1] instead. BTW, the "roving" Nemo is going to check out the village, especially whoever sent us that message from it. [1] spetsdod: a *very* interesting weapon from Steve Perry's "Matador" series. The first book, "The Man Who Never Missed" is a *wonderful* example of guerilla warfare combined with psych-ops. And of the idea that one man *can* make a difference if he's determined enough. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 19:12:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 20:36:31 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004728 Tink's scouting trip shows just one abnormality among the human population, there seems to be only one person over the age of 50 or so in town, he stands with the rest of the population. He looks to be about late 50's to early 60's, hair the color of battleship armor, and wearing a cloak that conceals him from the neck down, he appears to be discussing herbalism with one of the ladies in town. He waves at Tink on her way by. There is also about 7 score fresh graves over at the cemetery. Nemo's look around doesn't show anyone in town to be actively telepathic(although with the description above he can probably deduce who it is 8^). =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 20:16:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 19:20:47 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004729 >On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:23:32 EDT >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00004714 > >I suspect that he (Cerberus) obeys the general laws of all Starspawn, >only as much as he has to, to keep his underlings in line, and to >keep them from rebeling, and of course to keep The Stardragon from >killing him like a bug. You are probably safe from him. If he harmed >one of you, There is no place in all n-space he could hide from The >Stardragon. A being who harmed one of the CAoL, would die, a HARD >death, and that is not in Cerberus' plan I'm sure. I however am fair >game for him. Be careful of his Dark Glaive, with it, he can disrupt >entire universes./ Hydra answers. /Ouch,/ Roland replies simply. /This could be a problem. At least Cerberus isn't likely to be disrupting _this_ universe-Jadis could probably give him a run for his money right now, and besides, if he has that much of a hate-on for you, then he's probably working with the sprockin' SOB. OTOH, the Stardragon's concept of 'collateral damage' probably means that if we get caught in the crossfire, then Cerberus is 'off the hook.' At least I know that I can survive atomization,/ Roland finishes, the last almost to himself. >On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 01:10:28 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004717 > >> On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:10:37 >> Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004711 >> >> (OOC: Okay, Shadow, what do I get? John? Jadis? A mind bomb? The >> Jadisland Daily News? ) > >OOC: Daily News was the scrambled mind link Jadis had going earlier. >:^) (OOC: I hadda ask. ;^) >Roland hits a hard shield. There is no response to his probings, >however he can tell there is somone inside the gem, straining for >release. Like feeling someone else pounding on a wall, but not able >to hear them do it. Jadis-1 smiles, and floats closer to Roland. Rhia >is disquieted, she confirms that the sheild is definitely John's >work, and that he is holding the entire bauble together, ^Why would >he fight his own shields?^ Roland scowls at Jadis-1. *Do you mind? This is private.* The mindshield 'armor' extends around the gem and the assisting telepaths. ^My guess is that Jadis forced him to create his own prison. John can try to escape, but the compulsion forces him to make his shields stronger than his efforts to break them. Typical Jadis.^ Roland frowns. ^That should make the shields relatively easy to break from the outside...except for the possible ramifications for John. I have to give the bastich credit-he's clever.^ Suddenly, Roland sends a smile across the link. But maybe not clever enough. Ladies, does John know Morse Code? And do any of you-I'm afraid I never learned.^ >On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:13:22 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004721 > >/^Whoa there, brother of mine.^/ sends Dhyrclhanc as he readies a >"psychic anchor" in the real world, for himself as well as his >adopted sib. /^ Mental Probes and Mental Scans are one thing, but if >you intend to be doing some serious Mind Diving into that thing then >I am going with you!^/ > >As he sends this, he reaches into his duffle-bag , removes his Eye of >Amaggado(sp?), and pins it to the two ends of the volumnious cloak >that is part of his Sentinel's costume. ^Don't worry,^ Roland sends ruefully, ^no one's diving into this thing just yet.^ He mentally 'gestures' at the shield. ^Any ideas?^ =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:38:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 01:09:50 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004730 > On Mon, 15 Jun '98 Doc Said > > Tink's scouting trip shows just one abnormality among the human > population, there seems to be only one person over the age of 50 or > so in town, he stands with the rest of the population. He looks to > be about late 50's to early 60's, hair the color of battleship > armor, and wearing a cloak that conceals him from the neck down, he > appears to be discussing herbalism with one of the ladies in town. > He waves at Tink on her way by. > > There is also about 7 score fresh graves over at the cemetery. > > Nemo's look around doesn't show anyone in town to be actively > telepathic(although with the description above he can probably > deduce who it is 8^). As Dhyrclhanc, still wearing his "Full-Battle-Mode Lendragon(tm) Ring-Generated Powered Armor", flies over Jadis' real estate, the aforementioned village looms into view. However, before he gets within sight from the village, he sends to no one in particular over the psi-web, /^Well, no sense in spooking the locals just yet.^/ and he and the armor fade out of view. If anyone tries to scan for his presence, they'll only find it using the Lens link, motion detectoion, or high in the psi-frequency ranges. For all other purposes he has dissapeared. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:38:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 01:26:36 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004731 > On Mon, 15 Jun '98 > Morgan and/or Roland Said > > ^Don't worry,^ Roland sends ruefully, ^no one's diving into this > thing just yet.^ He mentally 'gestures' at the shield. ^Any ideas?^ Before pulling his dissapearing act, Dhyrclhanc did respond,/^ Well you did make somekind of comment about "Morse Code", did you not? I know Morse Code, what is your idea. Oh BTW, I'm going to pull a "silent running" schick here for a while or at least until Jadis plays his hand about what is going on with this village we are approaching. If you would like to continue to have me participate in this little discussion you can reach me here {}. The main reason I suggested accompaning you into the "stargem" was, besides that I'm a possibly better trained psion than you are; at least in the areas of technique and finesse, was that if Rhia stays outside then you would need someone else who knew John resonably well. Not to brag or anything, but I fit that bill.^/ Roland will note that the psi-signature frequency that Dhyrclhanc gave him is in the section of the psi-frequencies what would be analogous to the Ultra-Violet range in the EM-light frequencies. P.S.: Anyone who was watching carefully will note that when Dhyrclhanc created his battle armor, the Eye of Amaggado was one of the few things which remained *outside* the armor. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 23:06:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Back at the metaranch On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:56:01 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004732 The Chronos construct. "Retrieval at 90%, Lady Ariel," Chronos said. "Good work, dear," Ariel replied, smiling faintly. [I thought you'd make a good replacement for Roland, handsome, but alas, you're a bit too singleminded.] She traced a sigil on the crystal cylinder. [But you will do nicely for what I have in mind... [Won't you, Byron?] she thought with a laugh, as the body and spirit of Byron Gaunt began to form in the facets of the crystal. The Antiverse. "Morden." Morden stood from his own experiments with an Omnicom. "Yes, Z'On'Dar?" "We're going home." A void appeared within the bubble of phased existence, and the two vanished. Babylon 5-Justice Legion alternate "Man, G'Kar, just _once_ I'd like to bag that dirtball!" Garibaldi snarled, clenching his fist for the tenth time in as many seconds. "Officer Bester is a formidable opponent, Mr. Garibaldi," G'Kar replied with a shrug. "Were I in your position, I would be glad to have the last of his compulsions out of my mind." "Yea, yea, and I'm glad you and Lyta were able to get that 'Asimov' crap out of my head. But he _always_ walks away from this place without a mark on his dirty little hands." G'Kar smiled. "I wouldn't be too sure about that, Mr. Garibaldi. He seemed more than a little 'marked' by the shoulder burn he received from your weapon." Garibaldi chuckled. "Oh. That. Really too bad about that...but it just goes to show what happens when you play with a brain as messed up as mine-" The entire station rocked. "WHAT THE HELL-?!" Garibaldi lurched with the station, trying to regain his bearings. {Garibaldi to C-in-C! What the hell just happened, Susan?!} {Not NOW, Michael!} Susan snapped, then Garibaldi's link went dead. "Great. Just great. Now what?" The Zocolo... *"You should not have returned,"* Kosh said, and a cybernetic protrusion appeared from his angelic form. A woman who seemed carved from obsidian watched the Shadow warily. "Spare me your theatrics, Vorlon," KnightMare said, and glared at the protrusion. A lightning bolt fired from it...then turned halfway between them and melted its own projector. "I am far more than anything you have ever faced." *"You are a memory,"* Kosh replied, and light flared from his chest. The light vanished at the same point the bolt had been redirected. "And save your enigmas for someone they interest. I have need of you." *"You will not take him, Z'On'Dar,"* the woman said, and a blaster formed in her hand from her own skin. "Come now, Lara, _you_ should know better," KnightMare replied, ignoring the beam striking it. "And why a humanoid form? For a Vorlon, it is understandable. They have always feared to reveal truth-any truth. But for one of us, that is-" *"-an expression,"* Lara replied, the blaster becoming a set of claws. *"It involves love. You would not understand."* "Even Lor'I'En does not understand the madness you share with Kosh Naranek," KnightMare replied. "But you need not fear for his safety-I require that he live, and he will only be a temporary necessity. Morden." "I am sorry, Lara," Morden said with surprising sincerity, and bowed. He then tossed a globe at Kosh. Kosh, Morden, and KnightMare vanished. Lara screamed. The entire station winced as one. The people in the Zocolo began to awaken. "Ohhh..." Delenn was the first to rise. "Jeffrey?" "I'm here, Delenn," Sinclair replied. "Lara, what happened? And where's Kosh?" *"He has been taken...by a nightmare, President Sinclair,"* she said softly. Then she turned and walked out with the calm of a First One. "Great, she's starting to sound like Kosh," Sinclair sighed. "Now I _know_ we're in trouble." Once again, the Antiverse. *"Your dream is flawed,"* Kosh said simply. "True," KnightMare replied. "But not for long. Morden, it's time to begin the end." Morden bowed. "Of course, Z'On'Dar. But...if I may..." KnightMare sighed. "Not yet, loyal one. But you may have him before the end." Morden smiled a smile that almost frightened even Kosh. "Thank you." KnightMare tapped a small, iridescent screen. @Brand.@ @KnightMare?! It's about time. I have work to do. You claimed that you could gain me access to Amber. Where is my Fount?@ @It is...safe. But I have need of a Construct made by one of your relatives. She has betrayed me, and while I could deal with her myself, the expenditure of energies would delay me, and worse, might gain the attention of my enemies.@ There was a sensation of contempt. @Pah. Cowardice. Very well. I will retrieve this Construct of yours, and _then_ you will restore to me the Fount which I created.@ Though the 'or else' is not spoken, its inclusion is clear. @Excellent,@ KnightMare replied, and the contact snapped. "Now, Morden, all that remains is to wait for a short while, then things will...evolve...as I have planned." KnightMare leaned back on its many legs to wait... =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 00:21:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving (VLong!) (sorry) On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 21:19:24 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004733 << Dhyrclhanc wrote: /^So Hydra..^/ continues Dhyrclhanc, as he retrieves his Sterling (tm) dual weapon system from out of his metal-weave duffle-bag and mounts it on an articulated weapon support arm that appears for just that purpose /^Am I correct in infering that this 'Cerberus' has about as much direct relationship to the mythical creature of the same name as you do to the mythical Hydra?^/ >> /That is correct for the most part. Cerberus is a class I Starspawn, the discriptive name has a great deal to do with personality, and personal preferance in the forms we take. Aurora for instance usually takes one of two forms: a great winged unicorn that she does battle in, and a more humanoid form clothed in rainbow fire. Unlike me, Cerberus tends to adjust the size of the form to... accomodate... his current purpose. When we begin to do battle, I advise everybody to maintain a safe distance. My sword is capable of the same kind of damage that his glaive is./ Hydra replies. << If one looks a bit more carefully, Dhyrclhanc's Redemption and Glaive can also be seen secreted on the armor's exterior. Hey Dane, unless you're taking your cues solely from the White Wolf World of Darkness (tm) Books, (Well, there its spelled Klaive, but still...) a glaive is most commonly a polearm with a knife-like, or dagger-like blade at the end of it. >> =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 08:08:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 09:51:33 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004734 >On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 01:09:50 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004730 > >> On Mon, 15 Jun '98 Doc Said >> >> Tink's scouting trip shows just one abnormality among the human >> population, there seems to be only one person over the age of 50 or >> so in town, he stands with the rest of the population. He looks to >> be about late 50's to early 60's, hair the color of battleship >> armor, and wearing a cloak that conceals him from the neck down, he >> appears to be discussing herbalism with one of the ladies in town. >> He waves at Tink on her way by. Tink waves back. >As Dhyrclhanc, still wearing his "Full-Battle-Mode Lendragon(tm) >Ring-Generated Powered Armor", flies over Jadis' real estate, the >aforementioned village looms into view. However, before he gets >within sight from the village, he sends to no one in particular over >the psi-web, /^Well, no sense in spooking the locals just yet.^/ and >he and the armor fade out of view. Molly and Tink consider this as they fly down the hill, the ground speeding by four feet beneath them at about thirty miles per hour. /^Good point.^/ Molly thinks. She and Tink turn, their flight taking them into a nearby grove of trees. Tink does a quick scan of the area, looking for any prying eyes, and finding none, Molly shifts her Peter Pan costume to the default, a one piece black full-body suit. [Tailor mode.] Molly thought on the Family's deeply-ingrained and guarded, instinctual telepathic frequency, to which a questioning ping answers in Molly's mind. A few moments later, a tall peasant girl emerges from the grove, carrying a small covered picnic basket. On second look, it turns out to be Molly, her ash brown hair pinned up and dressed in a cream-colored shawl, white off-the-shoulder blouse, and brown patchwork skirt, pinned in such a fashion not only to reveal a cream and white skirts underneath, but to hide the dagger and the old Kirk-style phaser, minus pistol grip, she slips in the pocket-like folds. She turns on sandaled feet, her long skirts swirling around her. /^Not quite what I was after, but at least it isn't horribly flashy or revealing.^/ Molly remarks to Tink and anyone else who happens to be listening, /^But it will do.^/ Molly pulls the shawl over her head, taking a bit of care to position some folds near her face. Tink darts over and slips behind the folds, peeking out from the holes in the knitted yarn. Tink's wings fold down on her back like a bee's and her glow dims down to being invisible in daylight. /^Ready Tink? Let's go to market.^/ Molly sets off toward the town at a brisk, but human, pace. After a short walk, she enters the outskirts of the village, making her way toward the market at the center of town. =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 08:08:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:55:19 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004735 > On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 20:36:31 -0500 > Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004728 > > Nemo's look around doesn't show anyone in town to be actively > telepathic (although with the description above he can probably > deduce who it is 8^). > > he wants to switch to active scanning on the psi bands and start > probing. /OOC> Nemo (rover) switches the blur cloth to something more "normal" appearing and absorbs the powergun. In their place he's got a small rhomboid on the back of each hand, with a small protuding tube that one of his finger would touch if "over straightened" a bit. (ie he's wearing a pair of spetsdods). He'll enter the village openly, and attempt to talk to the "old man". Meanwhile, another Nemo has come thru the "gate" to this universe. He waits there for a Jadis split to arrive. He has a large "egg" shaped force field next to him. It's impenetrable to scanning and is rather larger than it would take to hold a large human. When a Jadis split arrives, the conversation will (hopefully) go something like this: Nemo: "I'm just here to deliver this package, and then, with your leave, I'll depart." "It's a gift for the real you. The field will drop when he touches it. It's not a weapon, and will not do you any physical harm. It might influence you mentally, but only if you allow it to. It's something that I think has a small chance of changing your behavior, but again, only if you let it. You may find it amusing, or you may find it annoying. That is outside of my control. Personally, I'd consider it 'educational'." "Will you accept it and deliver it to the real you?" =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 08:08:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 23:09:41 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004736 > bastich credit-he's clever.^ Suddenly, Roland sends a smile across > the link. But maybe not clever enough. Ladies, does John know Morse > Code? And do any of you-I'm afraid I never learned.^ Nemo (center) sends: ^Which would you prefer? Original, American or International?^ :-) ^Seriously, I expect that if he knows it International is the best bet.^ MORSE . E - T .. I .- A -. N -- M ... S ..- U .-. R .-- W -.. D -.- K --. G --- O .... H ...- V ..-. F ..-- 3 .-.. L .-.- 1 .--. P .--- J -... B -..- X -.-. C -.-- Y --.. Z --.- Q ---. 2 ---- CH (germanic character) ..... 5 ....- 4 ...-. ...-- 3 ..-.. W ..-.- ..--. ..--- 2 .-... .-..- wait .-.-. end of msg .-.-- .--.. .--.- X .---. .---- 1 -.... 6 -...- - -..-. / -..-- -.-.. -.-.- attention -.--. KN(bar) -.--- --... 7 --..- --.-. --.-- M ---.. 8 ---.- ----. 9 ----- 0 ...-.- END OF WORK ..--.. ? .-.-.- . -.-.-. ; -.--.- ( or ) --..-- , ---... : ...-..- $ ........ERROR The in the above are sequences that I'm pretty sure have non-ASCII characters assigned, but I lost the assignments in a disk crash a few years back :-( =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 14:39:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 17:13:43 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004737 > On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 19:20:47 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004729 > > ^My guess is that Jadis forced him to create his own prison. John > can try to escape, but the compulsion forces him to make his shields > stronger than his efforts to break them. Typical Jadis.^ Roland > frowns. ^That should make the shields relatively easy to break from > the outside...except for the possible ramifications for John. I have > to give the bastich credit-he's clever.^ Suddenly, Roland sends a > smile across the link. But maybe not clever enough. Ladies, does > John know Morse Code? And do any of you-I'm afraid I never learned.^ Rhiannon smiles, ^He does. He said it was handy to know several means of non-verbal communication where all you reall needed was to be able to move your head and have something to pound on.... I _think_ he was joking about that last bit.^ OOC: Not that I do. but then you're not going to make me interpret the messages using that other post are you. Right? I am right here, right? Hello? UH OH... :^) =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 14:40:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 17:21:26 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004738 > On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:55:19 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004735 > > "Will you accept it and deliver it to the real you?" The split accepts the package, "Consider it done." The package disappears from view. OOC: I'm tempted to enforce the block, but my curiousity has got the better of me, and Jadis. Now how to rationalize things.... Perfect, the Nemo used the same method Hydra used to bring in his sword. (I hate having swiss cheese for D-Blocks, but apparently that is the case. If Morgan wishes to come through those holes as well, go ahead. Jadis will patch them afterward. Then you'll have to ask him nicely like the bad guys do.) =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 16:40:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 18:20:32 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004739 > On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 01:09:50 -0400 > Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004730 > > As Dhyrclhanc, still wearing his "Full-Battle-Mode Lendragon(tm) > Ring-Generated Powered Armor", flies over Jadis' real estate, the > aforementioned village looms into view. However, before he gets > within sight from the village, he sends to no one in particular over > the psi-web, /^Well, no sense in spooking the locals just yet.^/ and > he and the armor fade out of view. > > If anyone tries to scan for his presence, they'll only find it using > the Lens link, motion detectoion, or high in the psi-frequency > ranges. For all other purposes he has dissapeared. Is he using magic invis or psi-invis? If magic needs to be heavily modified to hide his psi aura from Doc (provided of course that Jadis lets it work in the first place, after all he does control magic in this place :). If psi - then Doc will just look him straight in the eye and motion for him to land in a clear area off to one side (his arm glints brightly in the sun as if coated in mirrors or brightly polished metal) =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 18:36:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 18:18:42 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004741 >On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 04:23:57 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004722 > >Before Roland begins his intense probe of the seemingly sythetic >gemstone holding John prisioner, Void of the WildCATS appears near >the group holding vigil over the prison in psychic space and says, >/I, too, would like to help you free your friend./ ^My thanks, Void,^ he replies, bringing her into the private psi-network. > Void's mental abilities are somewhere between Roland's and >Dhyrclhanc's but, strangly like John, one feels the presence of >Somethng or Someone greater than she is when she makes phychic >contact. (OOC: Hmm...just how _much_ do Void and Sil have in common, anyway? Oh, you might want to check with Shadow about that 'Something,' as it might be blocked.) >On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 17:13:43 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004737 > >Rhiannon smiles, ^He does. He said it was handy to know several means >of non-verbal communication where all you reall needed was to be able >to move your head and have something to pound on.... I _think_ he was >joking about that last bit.^ ^Hmm. Good. Sib, please send the following: 'John, this is the CAoL. Can you make telepathic contact? I am not requesting a physical opening.' Hopefully, that alone won't violate the conditions of his imprisonment that Zia informed us of.^ Roland scowls at the gem. ^Next we need to know if trying to break the shields _will_ hurt John; if not, that's our next move. In such a case, get ready for all hell to break loose.^ >OOC: Not that I do. but then you're not going to make me interpret >the messages using that other post are you. Right? I am right here, >right? Hello? UH OH... :^) (OOC: Despite my wife's sadism, no, of course not. Fear not, she will be dealt with...appropriately. ) =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 22:10:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 20:24:44 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004745 > On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 17:21:26 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004738 > > The split accepts the package, "Consider it done." The package > disappears from view. The Nemo who delivered the package bows, and departs. =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 22:10:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 21:20:57 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00004746 On Mon, 15 Jun 1998, Morgan wrote: > /Ouch,/ Roland replies simply. /This could be a problem. At least > Cerberus isn't likely to be disrupting _this_ universe-Jadis could > probably give him a run for his money right now, and besides, if he > has that much of a hate-on for you, then he's probably working with > the sprockin' SOB. OTOH, the Stardragon's concept of 'collateral > damage' probably means that if we get caught in the crossfire, then > Cerberus is 'off the hook.' At least I know that I can survive > atomization,/ Roland finishes, the last almost to himself. Raver shifted uneasily. The disappearance of Guarien and now Hydra and Roland's exchange had all combined to rattle her. She was a demon. She wasn't afraid of anything. -Except death,- the slow roiling in their gut reminded her. And it was all because of Mandy, whose body she now shared. No, that wasn't entirely true. She might be a demon, but she knew fairness when she saw it. And fairness dictated that she acknowledge the fact that *she* had chosen to climb into Mandy's head. The human hadn't exactly enticed her in, after all. Now she had to rely on a mortal's admittedly secondhand experiences with death. Knowing that she would in all likelihood not be alone in death only improved it marginally... [Now you know what it's like for us mortals, as you put it.] Mandy's mental tone was neutral, with the slightest shading of sympathy. Raver's only response was to shake their head, the equivalent of a mental wall slamming up between them. It provided only the illusion of privacy -- it took only the briefest of 'looks' to read each other's thoughts -- but it was a necessary courtesy they observed. Acknowledging the need for privacy, however illusory it might be -- it was that or go insane. Lips tightening beneath their helm, Raver increased their speed with a few powerful wingbeats, heading toward the village. > Molly sets off toward the town at a brisk, but human, pace. After a > short walk, she enters the outskirts of the village, making her way > toward the market at the center of town. A minute or two after the pair had departed for the village market, Raver landed lightly despite the armor and her dark thoughts. She was about to head after them, but Mandy reached out in an unprecedented action, grabbing control of the body. It wasn't complete control -- more of a complete halt of all forward motion. [What?] Her tone was sharper now, but not totally unkind. [You know, we mortals don't think about death all the time, normally. Save the processing for later -- we've got to concentrate on grabbing this John and getting out alive.] She stopped, hearing the contradiction in her words, and Raver huffed a tiny laugh that was more air than sound. [Very well.] Then Raver paused, and meditatively added, [I wonder...] [James did fix quite a bit of the damage, right?] Without waiting for any real reply, Mandy took over. The familiar metamorphosis was slow, but it gradually sped up. Until a final flirt of power faded and a young Asian woman stood under the trees, grass waving gently around their sneakers. A huge grin spread over their face. /I'm gonna kiss that man, I am./ A mental chuckle sounded as Mandy blushed furiously at the realization that she had just broadcast her intentions over the link. [Hell.] Inhaling sharply, she sighed wryly and shook their head. [Good.] Raver's tone was no longer brooding, and she mentally noted that James deserved a good hearty hug to go with that kiss. A stray thought mused idly how long it would take before the inevitable deteioration overtook the repairs to their geas-bond. Then Raver broke in, [Let's see...] The jeans wavered before dissolving into an indeterminate swirl that recoalesced as dark leather pants, matching the transformation of the oversized T-shirt into a baggy cotton blouse. Finally, the sneakers melted into a pair of leather sandals. Out of nowhere, the massive sword that Raver used dropped into place on Mandy's back, and she staggered with the weight. [What the...You know I can't use that!] [It saves time. I can take over your body in case we are attacked suddenly, especially given the time needed to shift.] [Smaller, Raver, smaller. I can barely move, let alone *lift* it.] Raver shook her mental head, but the sword shrank to a more manageable size. [*Thank* you.] Breaking into a dogtrot, Mandy followed Molly. "Hey, wait up a second..." =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 22:20:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Wed, 17 Jun 1998 00:34:37 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004747 On Tue, 16 Jun 1998, Leonard Erickson wrote: Jadis, sitting with Shard, receives the package out of the Aether. He floats it over to a small table and does some intensive scans on it. Finally satisfied, he reaches a hand out. > When he touches the field, a "note" appears. > > "Dearest Enemy: > > You seem to not understand morality, so I thought I'd provide you > with an advisor/teacher on the subject. > > Sincerely, > > Nemo" > > Then the field goes down. OOC Commentary as follows: > It contains an energy construct much like Nemo. That is, equally > hard to destroy, but without the link to a greater self. It's > intelligent, (well, sort of) and wouldn't harm a fly. It can be > educational and it can be *quite* annoying. It's a sort of > dragonoid. And it will "imprint" on Jadis when he opens the gift. > It's Barney the Purple Dinosaur. Complete with personality. It > *might* reform Jadis (but I doubt it :-), it might amuse him (but >again i doubt it), But it'll *definitely* distract him. > Yes, I'm a devious SOB. And I figured we could use a bit of comic > relief. And I think Jadis and Barney *deserve* each other. I think Jadis may enjoy having it around. If nothing else it would give him something to vent his frustrations on when things are not going well. In any other situation I think he would find it amusing, both when it enlightens him, (he'd get a kick out of knowing just how far off the moral mark he is.) and even more so when it corrects others. Oh, Nemo, One more thing in addition to what I asked earlier. Can that thing be used to locate Jadis? If so, I fear it is doomed to a short life. =========================== Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 01:05:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Wed, 17 Jun 1998 02:54:15 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004748 >On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 21:20:57 -0700 (PDT) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00004746 > >On Mon, 15 Jun 1998, Morgan wrote: > >> /Ouch,/ Roland replies simply. /This could be a problem. At >> least Cerberus isn't likely to be disrupting _this_ universe-Jadis >> could probably give him a run for his money right now, and besides, >> if he has that much of a hate-on for you, then he's probably >> working with the sprockin' SOB. OTOH, the Stardragon's concept of >> 'collateral damage' probably means that if we get caught in the >> crossfire, then Cerberus is 'off the hook.' /I think I misheard, Roland. Collateral damage lets one off the hook with the All-Powerful Toddler? You mean like Jadis is off the hook, Roland?/ Molly sends wryly. > A minute or two after the pair had departed for the village >market, Raver landed lightly despite the armor and her dark thoughts. >The familiar metamorphosis was slow, but it gradually sped up. Until >a final flirt of power faded and a young Asian woman stood under the >trees, grass waving gently around their sneakers. A huge grin spread >over their face. /I'm gonna kiss that man, I am./ Molly glances back and smiles, /Looks like whoever he is earned it. Mandy, I presume?/ > Breaking into a dogtrot, Mandy followed Molly. "Hey, wait up a >second..." Molly slows a bit, letting the other woman catch up, then continues, adjusting her pace to Mandy's. =========================== Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 06:38:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Wed, 17 Jun 1998 03:38:14 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004751 > On Wed, 17 Jun 1998 00:34:37 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004747 > > On Tue, 16 Jun 1998, Leonard Erickson wrote: >> When he touches the field, a "note" appears. >> Then the field goes down. "Hi. You must be Mr. Jadis. Will you be my friend?" says the creature inside. > Oh, Nemo, One more thing in addition to what I asked earlier. Can > that thing be used to locate Jadis? If so, I fear it is doomed to a > short life. Nope. I had no reason to put that in. I suppose someone could try to scan for "Barney" (Let's spell it Bjarni, just to avoid copyright hassles) but he shouldn't radiate much. Such power as he has is devoted to staying intact (or regenerating damage) and trying his best to follow his friend. =========================== Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 20:07:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Wed, 17 Jun 1998 17:58:31 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004752 > (Date Unknown) Roland Said > > ^Hmm. Good. Sib, please send the following: 'John, this is the > CAoL. Can you make telepathic contact? I am not requesting a > physical opening.' Hopefully, that alone won't violate the > conditions of his imprisonment that Zia informed us of.^ Roland > scowls at the gem. ^Next we need to know if trying to break the > shields _will_ hurt John; if not, that's our next move. In such a > case, get ready for all hell to break loose.^ From some unknown location, circling above the village, Dhyrclhanc beams the following down to the stargem prision, using a combination of TK, Telepathy and Morse Code. /^Hi John, this Dhyrclhanc. I am here with the rest of the CAoL. Can you make telepathic contact with us? I am not requesting any kind of physical opening in these shields. Are these *your* shields? Will any attempt to break these sheilds from the outside harm you?^/ Then he waits for a response from inside the "stargem". =========================== Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 21:15:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 00:05:02 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004753 << Molly Said /I think I misheard, Roland. Collateral damage lets one off the hook with the All-Powerful Toddler? You mean like Jadis is off the hook, Roland?/ Molly sends wryly. >> /No! If Cerberus were to kill one of you, trying to harm or kill me, he would face the wrath of The Stardragon, and there would be no stopping it. If *I* were to kill one of you trying to kill Cerberus, *I* would face its wrath, but it MIGHT forgive me, because I am actually trying to help you and it TRUELY would have been an unfortuneate accident. / Hydra explains. /The differance lies in effort. I have made, and will continue to make, as much effort as is possible, without restricting your freedom of action, to PREVENT you being harmed by any action of mine(OOC: and would be successful if people didn't keep jumping into the line of fire, after I have posted). Jadis, faced with a creature he had no knowlege of, actively tried to cause you harm, and killed the Discie as a result. I doubt that Cerberus has any care for your well being and as a result will probably make NO effort to spare you harm./ =========================== Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 15:43:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Conversations on the way (1 of 2) On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 15:36:17 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004757 >On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 02:53:18 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004709 > >Sera: "It's more of a disunion." In tickling percussion and violin. >Zia: @Sera! Would you cut that out? That joke is older than _I_ >am, for crying out loud. And besides, you shouldn't talk about THIS >anyway. Especially not HERE, out loud. Or anywhere.@ >Sera: "Troubled hearts will reach out, no matter the cost." >Zia: @We'll discuss this after we have secure communications again.@ Zia comes back, just to Roland, @It's more of a disunion, speaking mathematically.@ Roland replies with a grin, *Well, you _are_ the mathemagician, so I'll just have to take your word on that.* Zia response breezily, @My word has notable value many places.@ *Would that be a mathematical value?* Roland chuckles. @Now, how much power can you tolerate?@ *Quite a bit, but not an infinite tolerance; too much energy begins to burn out my psychic channels.* Ziactrice replies somberly. @I might be able to channel an infinite amount, but myself I do not contain that much. At least, when not Pattern walking.@ Roland nods. *Understood. What do you have in mind?* He begins coding the mental comm link. @Well, I can find Jadis anytime we want. And can have some effect on his... strength, at least once. And I've spent sufficient time with John to tell a fake.@ *One of my larger concerns. Good.* Roland sighs with intense emotional relief. *Something to keep up our sleeves...and if you make one more Trump pun-!* Surprise shows in Zia's voice. @I thought you guys liked puns. Well, that was more fortuituous accident than planning, on the John part.@ That is ALMOST an untruth; she'd HOPED it would work, but it was a gamble. Roland replies, *Well, yes, but our 'applause' usually involves prodigious amounts of peanuts, which I am sorely lacking at the moment.* @If you want peanuts,@ Zia says, @I can try, but if I work this shadow, Jadis will know immediately. And can twist it far better than I.@ Roland laughs. *I can wait on the peanuts. And I'd rather not risk the P-16 here.* He's serious again. *However you did it, what matters is that you _can_ tell the genuine article from a forgery.* Zia's 'voice' is quizzical. @P-16?@ Roland blushes (tm). *Oh. That. An M-16 rifle, retro-fitted to fire peanuts at a safe velocity. Something of a running joke back in the Place, though it hasn't gone jogging for a while.* Zia manages not to flood his mind with a deluge of weapons knowledge, as her backmind starts to wonder just HOW one could do that. She seems to have a LOT of background in that. She can sense the 'Etherite Science' (read: VERY rubber physics) from the back of Roland's head; if she works at it, she can actually see the specs. Which, Roland imagines, would require some sort of Fright Check in any sane mind. It doesn't even fazze her. Roland notices this, and is VERY surprised and more than a little impressed; in his quieter moments, it scares _him._ @Hmmm, that is rather an interesting way of closing the breach. To load variably sized peanut ammo, of course...@ Roland is surprised. *What-you can make SENSE of that thing? I got it in a _wierd_ place called 'the Gernsback Continuum;' it gives me fits.* Zia sounds amused. @I've done a little work in some of the scientific fields.. in various ways. And the Logrus is a LOT worse.@ She is careful to screen off solidly anything that he MIGHT have sensed. Roland nods sympathetically. *I'll bet.* Zia returns to the subject of channeling energy to Roland for working on the gem. @All right. I'll make a psi construct that will allow you to control the flow. What input directors are you most familiar with? Joysticks, throttle bars, what?@ Roland replies, *Huh. I'm so used to EK interfacing...um, how about a flight stick? Are you familiar with Vipers from the Battlestar universe?* He sends a mental image of a Viper cockpit. @No, but I've flown... well, I've memories of flying everything from Earth from Hitler's autogyro onwards. Let me see it. Want one for the three, with a heads up in colors?@ *I'm fond of this setup. Very intuitive.* Roland looks impressed. *Very nice. Thanks.* Zia's mental image is of a mummer's bow, sweeping the stage with plumed hat. @Anything else?@ *No, that ought to do, for the construct. What I need most from you is that legendary finesse. I'm not a bull in a china shop-quite-but I know my limitations. If you see so much as a blip on the radar, proverbially speaking, let me know.* @Knowing yourself is the first step toward mastering yourself.@ Roland chuckles. *I'm still working on that part.* @You've made great progress today, however. Before, you didn't even notice the disparity in our mental strength, through your dismay over my heritage.@ Zia chuckles, somewhat tried to blot that out, though. Like she isn't sure he'd get she wasn't laughing at HIM. Roland blushes. (tm) *Thanks. I try not to let prejudice color my insight, but I'm...only human,* he laughs. Zia nods. @And I'm not, I know. Appearances can be deceiving - I'm less human than Mr. DC himself.@ Roland says, *Not what I meant. Acutally, you're surprisingly human-at least what I've 'seen' of you. Only you're not vicious enough.* He smiles. @I'm noted for being the least vicious. Not a comfortable role, in my family.@ *Yeah, gotta be a real pain with some of that brood.* Zia is still trying to keep up communication with another mind, presumabably Sera's in the background. And there are several (more than a dozen) strong deep, almost pure open linkages further in. Roland can't see much of them, other than to know they exist. *Problems, Zia?* Roland inquires. @Time distortions - a personal weakness.@ Sil chuckles at the two. *You know, the reason you two are always going at it is because you're so much alike.* Zia returns drily, @Yes, actually, I knew that. Having a shrink for a husband tends to help your self-awareness.@ Roland turns to Sil in shock. Then he looks at Zia, stunned. *You're kidding, right?* @Why do you think so, Roland?@ *Oh, he's in denial,* Sil says with a shrug and thinly veiled amusement. @Nah, actually, he's broken through a lot of that, Sil. You have to adjust to the human scale of honesty.@ *True. He just...hm. Good point. Roland, have you been paying attention to the comments that have set you off the most? Not counting that 'intrusion' thing.* Roland frowns. *Your point?* @Intrusion thing?@ Zia asks. @Heh.. heh... I'm a knight, but not a hero. I don't need that kind of pain.@ Sil sighs. *You're both heroes with something to prove. Zia, he's really sensitive to having his thoughts scanned. That's why I put telepathic 'quotes' around the word; it wasn't an actual mental entry. That it was done-magickally?-hasn't helped matters; though he's not NEARLY as sensitive about magick as most of his kind, it still gives him hives from time to time.* She smiles indulgently. *He's a good kid, though.* @But... Sil,@ Zia responds, @that's silly. I couldn't scan Roland without him knowing - he's better at this than I am. Well, stronger, anyway.@ *That's sort of my point. But it _looked_ like one. Water under the bridge, anyway.* Zia blinks mentally. @Uhm. I haven't done that. It wouldn't have been necessary, anyway. When does Roland think I might have dissed him by scanning under the Rose?@ Roland blinks, deeply confused. *Will someone please tell me what we're talking about?* Sil laughs. *No, no, not that you 'dissed' him by scanning him; it was that trick you and that delightful English fellow pulled. The actual 'dissing'-* she seems to be having fun using that word- *was entirely aboveboard.* @OH! But Roland doesn't get that it was a probability slam, instead of a telepathic trick?@ *I fail to see the moral difference,* Roland sniffs. @Well, one involves me using skill to pull of a mental illusion. Thus requiring only your belief that it was something ELSE than it was, really. And the other is violating someone's privacy. One is trickery, true, but the latter is rude.@ *That's becaise you're only looking at it from one persepctive,* Sil shrugs. @Hmmm, if one falls for a trick, the first time, it is whose fault? The second time, well....@ Sil laughs. *And the former is not? It's just not voilative, which drops it a lot farther down the 'bad' scale.* *'Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me,' is that it?* Roland quotes. @And if I may remind you, Roland had not been more than gracious with his welcome? I can't take slurs on my family, however deserved, with much elan. Call it a personal flaw,@ Zia adds. Sil chuckled. *Hey, I didn't say Roland didn't _deserve_ that.* *HEY!* Roland objected. @You got it, Roland. If it helps, I can take a joke as well as dish it out. I thought it would take my being 'incapacitated' to make sure the welcome by the CAoL who knew Amber wasn't too warm for comfort.@ Sil's laughter became more gentle. *'Talking' in a 'foreign' language to keep others from knowing what you're saying isn't exactly polite either-and that's exactly what you were doing with the link. It's not Zia's fault that she 'spoke the language.'* Sil frowned. *Can't you two just drop it, anyway? I figure you've saved each other's lives about an equal number of times.* Roland shrugs. *I'll admit I wasn't exactly heartened to learn your point of origin, but I do my damndest to give everyone a fair shake. You started out, though, by living up to every stereotype I've learned about Amber.* TBC... =========================== Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 15:43:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Conversations on the way (2 of 2) On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 15:36:38 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004758 Zia grins. @Ah, but if I can't pick on a younger "nephew" what GOOD is life, anyway?@ *NEPHEW?!* Roland blurts. Sil laughs like tinkling glass. @well, okay, DISTANT relation of some sort.@ *My dad's going to be _very_ surprised to hear this...* Roland says, though his voice is amused. @Why? You all know about the Pheonix.@ Zia sounds a bit confused. *I wish! Sil's mom has been more forthright with me than most Primals are with _anyone,_ but it's like trying to understand the universe by eyeballing it-the beast is just too sprocking VAST.* Zia giggles. @The Unicorn, on the other hand, is a tiny thing.@ Roland shrugs. *And if I'm a direct descendant, I'm a distant one. Dozens of generations, if not hundreds.* @Nope, just another tribe of halfbreeds from the Greater Beasts, I'd say. That makes us even, except you have far more generations. Which doesn't really make sense, considering the Immortality.... hmmm...@ *Well, not all of my ancestors are immies. My parents both are, though they're not particularly old by immortal standards-less than a century, unless they're holding out on me. We rarely breed true-that's why I was born with so much power. I'm not very popular back home for that very reason.* @Wow. Heh. Maybe older relative. How old are you?@ Zia grins. *ME?! Heck, I'm under 30. Not for long, but I'm not sweating the mid-life crisis,* Roland quips. @Well... I have about 24 years durational experience... Earth years, that is.@ *eep! Okay, so I _am_ a bit 'older' than you, though you originate from a far older timeline.* @Well..... not really, Roland. It just depends on which me you're talking about.@ Roland groans. *I hate paradoxes.* @Yeah.@ Zia's 'voice' is sympathetic. @It's not that. It's that the others and I weren't always colocational, instead we were linear chronological. OR, rather, one of us 'existed' at a time.@ *oh,* Roland responds in quiet sympathy. Sil grins. *Well. My work here,* she says dramatically, *is done.* She swirls a nonexistent cape around her shoulders. @Oh, don't want to learn any Order tricks, anymore?@ *Who, me? My powers are fairly Pattern-based, at least to hear the Awakened tell the tale. Not the same pattern, mind-the 'pattern' of Order, rather than a Primally inscribed Pattern...* Roland's jaw drops. *Unless a 'Pattern' were inscribed onto our DNA...a self-evolving Pattern? Would that be Order, Chaos, or something more in-between?* @That would be the Blood of a Greater Beast, Roland. That's what I've been talking about - hmmm, I wouldn't try the Unicorn's Pattern, but there is a loophole. I've heard rumors of a Fire Pattern. THAT would make sense for Pheonixi.@ Roland grows thoughtful. *Yes. It would. And it wouldn't be based on any one reality...it would also explain how I 'carry' my reality from world to world...* Zia does the mental equivalent of snapping her fingers. @Oh, it's SIMPLE. So simple I couldn't even SEE it. You're mostly right. Self-based, probably there is a master pattern somewhere... but your elders would hold onto that sucker like ALL get out.@ She SMILGES, smugly. @HEH. No, Roland, it's your silly Aura, remember? I THOUGHT it looked vaguely reminicisent of something familiar.@ *My Halo? That is how my kind generate their powers, but igniting the Halo can be taught, if the mortal is willing to learn. I think. Maybe the Halo is 'split,' and thus shared...* @So? I can loan out MY personal power, too, though most shadow dwellers can't bear much of it at all.@ *Yea, but can you teach someone the powers you learned walking the Pattern or flying the Logrus?* @Hmmm, teach just anyone? No. But some shadow dwellers CAN walk shadow, by themselves. Wild blood? Of some other Beast?@ *Well, I'll admit, the 'base' power level of a newly ignited mortal is pretty low. I've always believed that every being has infinite potential; it's just _getting_ there that's the trick. Energy's pretty straightforward. If you can get the matter-the body-to survive the experience of carrying it, theoretically anyone can do the stuff we do. It's just a matter of not overloading the limited capacity of the flesh or the astral 'self.'* @The Pattern, at least, isn't what I understand to be energy. I am not speculating on the Logrus - that makes MY head hurt.@ Roland blinks. *Well, my experience with both is pretty limited. My only friendly contact with an Amberite, before you, was a brief conversation with a surprisingly nice fellow by the name of Julian.* @_Julian?!?_ Nice fellow??@ Zia exclaims. *His HORSE, OTOH, is a mean sod.* @Well, that SOUNDS like the true Julian. Or rather, his horse sounds true. The rest of it... @ Zia laughs. Roland blinks. *Um...I feel like I just walked in on the punchline.* He slaps his head. *WAIT a minute. Is 'your' Julian married to a woman by the name of Alysande?* @No idea. I spent very little time asking the Elders personal questions. It isn't condusive to your continued health.@ Roland chuckles. *Can't say I blame you.* @And marriages, with children, tend to be highly secretive.@ Roland looks shocked. *Really? I actually saw her at one point. OTOH, as Dante once said, I'd rather try scraping the Swiss Army out of the Matterhorn with a Bowie knife than attack Julian in Arden. (Well, to paraphrase, anyway.)* @Julian is said to be a very good judge of character. And no one WANTS to fight an Elder, for any reason. Which is probably why they are individually and collectively so insufferable.@ Roland laughs. *Yea, godlike power can _do_ that.* He shudders. *Have you ever seen one of his Hellhounds? I'd rather wrestle a Shadow barehanded. Ugh.* Zia quickly SQUELCHES memory of something pretty damn frightening, and fighting, and pain) @Yes, I've seen the Hellhounds.@ She says, shortly. They are... well-trained. I had to kill three. A waste.@ Roland winces. *My condolences. Frightening as they are, the one I saw was pretty civil. Spooked me all the more for it.* He laughs. *I think I would have fainted if it had tried to lick me.* @But they were faster than me.@ Roland frowns. *Okay. I am OFFICIALLY impressed. I _might_ be able to kill them with my powers. With a sword? I'd last about ten seconds. Remember, superspeed is your friend...* @No... not a sword. Repeating crossbow. And a goatsfoot. I wouldn't have wanted to wait for sword range... Brrrr!@ *Ah.* Roland shudders. *Can't say I blame you.* @Julian is likely most upset with me, however....@ Zia ruminates. Roland shudders more voilently. *Oh dear. Nice or no, I wouldn't want him to have a mad-on for me.* Zia shrugs. @I'm pretty much persona non-grata in Amberland at the moment.@ She doesn't seem too concerned, however. Roland nods sympathetically. *Yea, Aeon Covenant has pretty much taken the same attitude with me. It's tough being exiled from family, even if they are jerks.* @I'm sorry for you - but I was not raised in Amber, so it didn't really, and doesn't really matter. I DID manage to save home, though, it did get rather beat up in the process...@ Roland smiles. *I'm glad we could help-even if we tripped over our own feet as often as not. That's us, all right-the most efficient mobile firefight in the multiverse. Or at least the best-controlled natural disaster. I'm not sure which.* Zia blushes, almost. @ Well, Mike managed to keep me from crumbing up REAL bad.@ *Huh? You did good work. We just didn't coordinate very well-and most of the fault for that lies with me. I took leadership of the team-and promptly ignored the responsibility. Besides, I think if the CAoL ever _did_ function smoothly, we'd upset the natural order of things in a week or so.* Roland grins widely. @You cannot expect to ever satisfy my sense of Order - even I can't,@ Zia grins back. *yea, sucks being your own worst critic, doesn't it?* Roland shrugs. *BT, DT.* @My own? Heh. I don't worry too much, actually. I got over that, a couple of life's ago.@ ===========================