Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 45 Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 17:08:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 20:04:50 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004760 > 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". The Jadis-1 floats to where he can look over Roland's shoulder just as the gem begins to emit it's reply. He whispers to Roland, "Did you really think I'd be so foolish as to wear the actual prison when I attacked the group?" As the pounding on the Gem stops, then begins to transmit in Morse, "Fools. At the cast" It breaks off as the Gem explodes, releasing the remains of Guarien in one energy expenditure. Combined with the explosion is a psychic spike, of the headache producing variety, signature yours truly. Guarien's cry fades away, "Free.." OOC: That will be the only time I'm going to use _that_ little trick. Now we can all rush through to the castle. Hope to finish this up by the end of June, if not sooner. =========================== Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 18:08:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: From Earth-9 With Love On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 17:59:23 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004761 Morgan is at some mixer to get the sides talking in less formal surroundings. Through the drifting crowd, she spies a vaguely familiar face in profile. A slim man, almost young, with a vertical scar running white about three inches contrasted to the tanned cheek it marks. He is well-fitted to the tux and looks quite good in it. Too good perhaps; he has apparently has been quite button-holed by several of the negotiator's wives. Morgan, looking forward to the possibility of talking with someone who doesn't think her either a traitor or a mutant, drifts toward him. James smiles at some comment, and replies with something that makes the surrounding force of women laugh collectively at him. "Good evening, ladies." She smiles at James. "I believe we've met?" Blue eyes meet hers, and he smiles. "I do hope I'm not becoming so easily forgettable as that. Would you like another drink?" He offers his arm to Morgan, mostly as a way to get them both away from the crones. "Yes, thank you. Although you seem quite happy to move on," she smiles, recognizing the predicament he was in. "I'm a footloose man, I've been told before." He agrees with the barb with a glitter in his eyes. "What would you like, that drink, or a brief walk in some fresh air?" "Both, I think. Some soda would be nice. I have to keep my wits these days." A brief cloud passes over her eyes, but is gone as quickly as it came. James sets his own emptied martini glass down, and orders her drink from the wet bar. Passing it carefully to her other hand, he then opens and holds the door as they depart the milling area. "Wits are good. But luck can be much more helpful at times." James comments. He gives her a brief apprising glance then offers his arm again, not insisting, but being polite. "I think there is a small walking path that way." He nods in a direction. "Yes. The Verbena of this world do wonders with the gardens around here. Too bad they can't be more open about it. But, it's the same everywhere that the normals outnumber us so." She takes James' arm and they start down the path. James crooks his cold, cruel smile... but not at Morgan. "Zia would at this point be making herself quite a pain with insisting on a definition of normal." He glances back at Morgan, and says as explanation, "She doesn't believe in the concept. Of normality." "Well, there are so many words used by the psions and the mages and others with powers or abilities that most of the inhabitants of this dimension don't have, but most of them seem to pick up a negative connotation over time. It's hard to refer to them collectively without sounding insulting. And we have enough trouble without starting hostilities with them, too." James nods. "Amazing how many folks are willing to fight at the drop of a hat. You'd think, wouldn't you, that they'd have more enjoyable things to occupy their time." Morgan smiles and drops into a brogue. "Ye think _these_ are bad, ye should see where I come from originally. There's those as love te fight just for the fun o' it." She sighs, and drops back out of the brogue. "You'd think, though, that collectively we'd have grown out of it by now." James pats her arm, and sets her on a handy bench. He laughs outright. "I know what you mean. I tend to think of myself as Scot, you know. Or perhaps you don't." He gives her a bit of space by standing across the narrow path and leaning against the trunk of another tree. "Aye? Then ye understand, at least a little." Morgan sighs again. "But here, there's more going on than the obvious. The 'age-old' hatred between the immortal psions and the mages isn't the real fight. Getting _them_ to realize that, though, is an uphill battle." A small smile crosses her lips. "But at least we're starting to climb that hill." "Do they see you as a neutral party, or just someone with a big enough stick?" "Mostly as a neutral party. Roland is unusual among his kind, but the fact that a psion would fall in love with and marry a mage created a bit of a stir. I'm not allied with any of the factions here, mage or otherwise, and except when it comes to my husband they know I don't play favorites. So we're trying to heal old wounds, using our relationship as an example." James nods, looking deeply thoughtful. "Not even a speck on the stir you'd be causing if you had a child, I would gather." Morgan looks thoughtful. "I'm not really sure how that would go over. I suppose it would depend on the child. If he were some combination of mage and psion, it could be very interesting. But immies don't normally breed true, so there's no telling. Not to mention that I'm not same kind of immortal as the 'native' ones." "Oh, the mages would be simply terrified. Of being bred out of existence into psions. Unless the child was a psion mage. Then everyone would split. Fanatics for, fanatics against, and most of the rest confused out of their fool heads." He smiles. "What I _think_ we're finally getting them to realize is that they're not really each other's worst enemies. The flames have been stirred for centuries by the Nephandi, working out of sight. And _that's_ why they're after me. Not only am I getting the others to set aside their differences, the Fallen have no idea how much of Thorn's memories I got. Enough to give them a hard time, for sure, but it's all still settling in. Thorne was my first Quickening, and so it's taking me a while to absorb everything. And sort out the stuff I _don't_ want in here." She motions at her head. "Any possibility you can make the Nephandi do something so public you could really point to them?" "Well, that depends on how bad they want my head," she grins evilly. James nods, in understanding about the Quickening and her troubles, with a bit of ironic smile on the first time also agreeing. "I can help you with that, if you need or want any. Not that I'm immortal, or can deal with Quickenings - I cannot. But I'm a good telepath, and a very experienced psychologist." Morgan raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like you maybe have something in mind?" she asks, interestedly. "No. I just like to help out the people I see fighting on the short end of the stick." James smiles. "Besides, I don't get much chance to help that way. If you think you're buddies back there," his eyes shift back to the building, "can be difficult to live with, keep in mind this. I'd be more than happy to trade relatives, any time. Except that I couldn't do _that_ to a lady like you." Morgan smiles, and blushes slightly "Actually, I didn't even know about Thorne. I came to give you these." He hands her a deck of largish cards. She looks at them quizzically. "Trumps? I don't know much about Amberites, but I have heard a little about these. Interesting." "I don't know how much you know that will hold for my reality. Especially since it's likely based on the Lady Ariel, who isn't from... our Amber at all. So. I'll just tell you the basics. These only work if a Patterned Amberite is on at least one side. There are limitations, in distance, and certain materials which can insulate them to not working. They can leave you open and vulnerable to attacks through them, physical and mental. BUT.. given all of that. They are still quite useful. Zia's is in there - you should know her well enough to be able to reach her. And they can be used for transportation. If the Nephandi happen to pigeonhole you somewhere, give me a call." The young man smiles. "It might be frying pan to fire, but what in life is certain, eh?" "_That_ could be very useful. Thank you." She thinks a moment. "Should these still work if there's a dimension block on me?" "Depends on the nature of the block, and whom you're calling. And if the one you're Trumping is inside with you, or outside. I think Jadis can likely block them, given Ariel's dealings with him." James looks over at Morgan. "I think that's all - oh, and they can be sensed. If you need to destroy them, get them wet. Do NOT burn them - that hurts." James notices a change in the sounds around the glade. A lone stalker, moving in, wary of him apparently; he(?) is circling. He moves to light a cigarette, his hands indicating the one approaching to Morgan's view. The pause is well explained by the snap and flare of his lighter, and puffing to light it. "Well, Morgan, that is about all I had to say. I'll leave you to your thoughts, unless you'd like an escort back to the party?" Morgan listens for a second, then nods. "Yes, I believe I would, thank you. I don't want to be out here by myself." The dapper man in the tux offers her his right arm, again leaving his left free. The rustling sound increases. Morgan accepts the arm. (Leaving her RIGHT arm free...how convenient.) The slick black scabbard of a thin, Japanese style blade is lost against the black of his tux, tied down as it is like a gunfighter's pistol. Aramegil is shrunk down to bodice-dagger size. (Where _else_ is she going to hide a claymore in an evening gown? ) The stalker seems to just be following...readier for an opportunity than before, but reluctant to go two-on-one, apparently. James looks about, trailing the incoming hostile by secondary psi impressions (i.e. every OTHER living thing in the park here). He slowly walks to a more advantageous spot. He also has his psi tuned down to the point where he seems a rather mediocre one at best. When they hit a patch of filtered moonlight, she can catch his grin. "It is a beautiful night, isn't it?" "Yes, quite lovely. I hope the weather holds." (OOC: That's James, all right.) James lets his intentions leak a bit, as he glances towards a nice grassy copse off the way a bit. "I've heard that a few moments of ... meditation ... can do much to improve a lady's concentration." He's making it PLAIN what he really means. (Nudge, nudge) But Morgan can see his face. The glimmer in his eyes is a killer's not that of a lovers despite the tone of voice. Morgan might tell it's a trap.. but no one else would guess so readily he had anything but skirt-chasing in mind. Both James and Morgan can hear the thought: [He's got to be kidding.] Morgan raises one inquisitive eyebrow. "Meditation?" she asks, apparently playing along. "Is that what they're calling it now?" Morgan inquires as she lets herself be led *cough cough* astray. (OOC: Roland, who was typing this, says, "A moment while I pelt my wife with peanuts.") James draws her towards the 'concealed' spot. "Perhaps I could simply demonstrate? If you're.. not satisfied, we can always simply stop and rejoin the party..." He is doing the Don Juan bit. His manner is softly convincing, perhaps even cajoling, but DEFINITELY not begging. Morgan fans herself (conveniently moving her right hand over the top of her...bodice). James is giving a GREAT impression of a WILLING male, but one that will also relent if Morgan disagrees. As convincing as he can manage, given her devotion to Roland. "Perhaps, a back rub would help that headache of yours, lady. I will make no - impositions - that you do not wish to occur." [He's not kidding,] that mental voice echoes again, but it's clearly meant to be a private thought. "That _does_ sound nice. Roland wasn't here to help me...relax...after yesterday." "I am but a poor shadow, my lady, but I will do everything you would ask of me. Here, please." He doffs the tux's coat... and lies it out on the grass for her to sit on. ^What is the plan?^ Morgan sending only to James. ^Lure him close, and kill him FAST. I'll shield you and myself. Do you want to do the honors, or shall I?^ ^Just get him into great sword range.^ Morgan sends a wicked grin. Morgan is close enough to see the concealed pistol in the speed draw holster, now easily to hand.. not even under a coat. (OOC-M: Is that a pistol in your pocket, or...) James seats her with elaborate courtesy, and then walks around, politely not looking-looking as she 'arranges' the dress. "Are you comfortable enough, lady?" "Quite comfortable," Morgan says, an inviting tone in her voice. [Good-you're going to die like that.] The thoughts go silent; the concentration of a skilled...artist...at work. He moves in closer...but not within apparent melee range. "Ah." James comments with the air of someone who is having their plans work PERFECTLY. "Please allow me to take care of this minor headache of yours, then." He kneels, and begins to rub her the muscles of her back and upper neck. ^Morgan, do they like distance weapons?^ As he has already leaned forwards, and blocked the shot with himself, starting to neck with her. Morgan sighs appreciatively at James'...efforts. ^Depends on the individual,^ she replies while pulling a small dagger out of her gown. ^This one is going to be QUITE frustrated with the idiot gigolo who won't get out of his way, soon. Be prepared for a chase if he decides to take a double shot, but I don't think he will.. he's the arrogant type, and two shots are messy.^ Actually, it's starting to look like that's what the assaisin is lining up, especially since it looks like Morgan and James intend to...ahem...BE there for a while. ^Morgan, do you mind if I nick him up a bit?^ A hand slides down her shoulder, like he's starting to remove the dress, but actually goes inside James' own black vest, emerging with three shuriken. Morgan giggles silently. ^Go right ahead.^ [Say 'Goodnight, Gracie.'] You both hear something like a soft screaming...vaguely reminiscent of a Shadow's scream, but much less intense. The man necking in the peaceful night with the beautiful lady in the evening gown suddenly whips around. One arm comes down and around in a pitching baseball sort of motion. Shurikens fly, two for eyes, and one for the sound. Then a SOLID psi barrier clamps down, totally obscuring the area he's in, and enclosing Morgan and James. He's blind and his hand has just merged with a strange, brownish-gun?-wrapped around his lower arm. In one fluid motion, Morgan stands, extends Aramegil to her full length, and slashes through his neck, throwing up her own psi shields as she does so. "Good night, Gracie," she comments. James stands still as Morgan takes the kill. His face set with concentration high and focused. Another set of shields encloses the Nephandi, holding the force of his Quickening within. It bulges and the walls of it writhe a bit, but hold. However, Morgan can see James sweating under the double shielding labor. The assassin tries to scream, but his throat is gone. Then he falls, and it looks like an explosion in a bubble; the Quickening seeks desperately a place to go, but there's nowhere except the bubble. And what's inside of it. As the man dies, _things_ crawl out. Nasty things. Fried things, in very short order, that _do_ scream before they turn to charcoal. Only James can hear the screams, though, and they sound surprisingly...normal. James' mouth smiles cruelly, and the bubble slowly shrinks, becoming stronger. The Quickening doesn't seem to be weakening. It keeps slowly shrinking. "I... think I'll need a permanent bubble on this. You wouldn't have a marble on you, would you, Morgan?" Morgan looks down at the slinky evening dress. "Um, sorry, don't have one." A short, Greek blond man rushes out. "What the hell-?" James stoops, and feels around in the dirt... finding a marble almost at once. "Children are wonderful creatures." Morgan smiles. "Yes, they are. Hello, Jason, lovely night, isn't it?" Jason sighs. "Has there been some trouble?" Never losing the smile, Morgan calmly replies, "Just a Nephandus assassin, nothing we couldn't handle." The Quickening is slowly encased in the marble, and bound behind James' back. He slips it into a pocket. Jason blinks as the Quickening flows into the marble and vanishes behind James' back. "Thank you, lady Morgan." James says gratefully, with a respectful nod at her, like SHE did it. Then goes off to pick up his jacket. As if he's totally unimportant to talk to - and Morgan ISN'T so unimportant. James dusts off his tux jacket, and hangs it over Morgan's shoulders. "Cold, still?" Jason regards them carefully for a moment, while a few (much) younger folx peer out from the double doors leading to the garden. "Indeed." He nods to you both. "Yes, it _has_ gotten too chilly to be out here. Let's go inside." Jason regards you both with interest as you return. The younger set watches in awe. "I wouldn't ... well, if you wouldn't mind taking a student, Lady Morgan. That sort of thing... might be useful to know, if I'm to continue to enjoy your presence." James puts to her, diffidently offering his arm. "STU-cough" One of the younger psions begins, then cuts off as politely as possible. James isn't going out of his way to feel very powerful psionically and his skill is of completely differing origin. Jason's eyes narrow slightly...but the resonance of a Nephandus is hard to fake, and few would _want_ to. James then turns around and looks at the psions rather stupid-inquisitively. "My. Where were all you brawny men when the assassin was creeping up on the lady?" He smiles. "Better work on that precognition. They'll come creeping up on you, soon enough." "OUR kind value privacy," Jason says pointedly. "Too bad you don't value your women." James punts back, with the arrogance only a British man could put into doubting another man's... courage. Meanwhile, only Morgan's powers keep her from bursting into giggles. The students wince almost in unison. "Or... your guest's safety, at the VERY least." Much softer... and VERY much colder. ^Ow!^ Morgan sends with a smile. ^You're welcome.^ James quips to her privately. "We have security measures, of course." Jason looks the grove around coolly. "Obviously, they will need to be improved." "I should think so," Morgan says quietly. James LAUGHS at Jason. Openly scornful. "I would remind you, madam, at _whose_ house we are... discussing... this." Jason turns. "Really. Do you think so." James remarks in a carefree tone in answer to Morgan. Then offers his arm to her once more. He smiles at her. "I think you'd be safer with me." His eyes twinkle with a rogue's merriment. "At least, your life, my lady." Whispered: "Geez, the Phoenix is gonna _kill_ that guy!" James looks back at the whisperer, and smiles his killer's smile. Not worried... and that is clear, James is not shielding very hard. Morgan laughs good-naturedly. "I have no doubt of my safety with you, sir." "That," James says with deliberation, "is because, Morgan, you have _excellent_ instincts. Which match your looks, intelligence and... " He looks her dress over with a roving eye. "Taste in evening frocks. Shall we go dancing?" He asks as they walk off; talking as if he hadn't a CARE in the world. Strangely enough, he even feels happy and light-hearted. It's not an act. "As safe as your wife is with my husband, no doubt. " Morgan says, deliberately just barely loud enough to be heard. "But of course." James replies, as if Morgan had remarked water was wet. And Morgan joins James for a bit of dancing. =========================== Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 18:38:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 18:26:12 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004762 >On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 00:05:02 EDT >Dane 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. /Touche,/ Roland chuckles. /I was just thinking of the collateral damage when the Stardragon itself is at work. Not that it's always a _bad_ thing, mind you,/ he adds, looking at his Stardragon-enhanced form and smiling, /but he is a cosmic infant./ >/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./ /I thought he'd try to avoid said harm to keep the Stardragon from skinning him and sticking his heads on pikes as a warning to anyone else. Obviously, this 'Cerberus' won't spare us out of the goodness of his heart-he lacks both, I presume?/ (OOC: Dane, I am regularly in awe of the complexity of the Stardragon cosmology. Are you coming up with this stuff as you go along, did you work it all out when you became a regular CAoLer, or is this something the AAE threads gave you a chance to show off?) =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 00:42:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entering the village On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 03:38:41 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004764 In a message dated 98-06-18 21:39:01 EDT, you write: << Roland/Morgan wrote: /I thought he'd try to avoid said harm to keep the Stardragon from skinning him and sticking his heads on pikes as a warning to anyone else. Obviously, this 'Cerberus' won't spare us out of the goodness of his heart-he lacks both, I presume?/ (OOC: Dane, I am regularly in awe of the complexity of the Stardragon cosmology. Are you coming up with this stuff as you go along, did you work it all out when you became a regular CAoLer, or is this something the AAE threads gave you a chance to show off?) >> /You are correct, he lacks both. But keeping The Stardragon from killing him will become a secondary thought to him once we join battle. He will be more concerned with preserving his own life. He doesn't have my ability to concentrate on many things at a time. I will do what I can to keep him from killing any of you, but he is far more powerful than I, and I may fail./ Hydra answers. (OOC: 90% +- I generated when I created The Stardragon in AAE 1. A few minor details have needed adding since, like stuff to incorporate the Amber Logrus and Pattern stuff.) =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 08:07:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:36:29 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004767 >On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 20:04:50 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004760 > >The Jadis-1 floats to where he can look over Roland's shoulder just >as the gem begins to emit it's reply. He whispers to Roland, "Did you >really think I'd be so foolish as to wear the actual prison when I >attacked the group?" /So he -does- have one active braincell. Brace yourselves./ Molly sends with a smirk. >As the pounding on the Gem stops, then begins to transmit in Morse, >"Fools. At the cast" It breaks off as the Gem explodes, releasing the >remains of Guarien in one energy expenditure. Combined with the >explosion is a psychic spike, of the headache producing variety, >signature yours truly. Guarien's cry fades away, "Free.." /Good, one prisoner free. Now for the one in the castle./ Molly sends, them adds to herself. [Note to self: Find out who sent the Morse code through that gem.] Molly moves on toward the castle. =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 12:07:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 14:45:47 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004770 > On Thu, 18 Jun '98 Shadow Said > > The Jadis-1 floats to where he can look over Roland's shoulder just > as the gem begins to emit it's reply. He whispers to Roland, "Did > you really think I'd be so foolish as to wear the actual prison when > I attacked the group?" As the pounding on the Gem stops, then begins > to transmit in Morse, "Fools. At the cast" It breaks off as the Gem > explodes, releasing the remains of Guarien in one energy > expenditure. Combined with the explosion is a psychic spike, of the > headache producing variety, signature yours truly. Guarien's cry > fades away, "Free.." Luckily, as soon as the stargem began to explode, Void was able to erect one of her force fields around all those might be caught in the blast. /NO! Not Again!!! NEVER AGAIN!/ everybody hears the psychic shout as Void quickly brings up her shields. Then, when the debris clears, she makes a formal bow in the direction of Roland and anyone else in the close geographical area. "My appologies," she says, "one of the reasons I volunteered was because I had a vaugue premonition that something like this might happen. Also, long ago I swore that no group that I was aligned with shall come to harm from anything that I could've prevented." Marloe comes up from behind her, "I take it then, Roland that our next action is to move on to this Jadis' Stronghold?" =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 13:38:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Have fun storming the castle! On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:28:15 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004773 >Marloe comes up from behind her, "I take it then, Roland that our >next action is to move on to this Jadis' Stronghold?" A hollow voice says "Yes. Yes, it is time to leave this place." "Well then, shall we start moving along, Roland Pheonix?" =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 21:07:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 19:08:10 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004775 (OOC: Possible 'ick' warning, according to my hunny. YHBW.) >On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 14:45:47 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004770 > >> On Thu, 18 Jun '98 Shadow Said >> >> The Jadis-1 floats to where he can look over Roland's shoulder just >> as the gem begins to emit it's reply. He whispers to Roland, "Did >> you really think I'd be so foolish as to wear the actual prison >> when I attacked the group?" "Not really, but I thought it was worth a shot." >Luckily, as soon as the stargem began to explode, Void was able to >erect one of her force fields around all those might be caught in the >blast. Well, except Roland, who's holding the bloody thing. He kind of _has_ to stay inside the shield. Roland also does the forcefield thing, but his only lasts a moment as the explosion kills him. >/NO! Not Again!!! NEVER AGAIN!/ everybody hears the psychic shout as >Void quickly brings up her shields. > >Then, when the debris clears, she makes a formal bow in the direction >of Roland and anyone else in the close geographical area. Roland shudders and returns to the living, his armor healing around the places where the shards of gemstone penetrated. (Apparently, Roland would have survived if not for a particularly large piece emptying most of his skull.) "Ouch. That's twice now." He stands unsteadily, though his psychic signature indicates zero loss of mental capacity. >"My appologies," she says, "one of the reasons I volunteered was >because I had a vaugue premonition that something like this might >happen. Also, long ago I swore that no group that I was aligned with >shall come to harm from anything that I could've prevented." "No sweat," Roland replies, "we try to do the same for each other. Doesn't always work..." He wipes some blood off from under his chin. >Marloe comes up from behind her, "I take it then, Roland that our >next action is to move on to this Jadis' Stronghold?" "Looks that way, yea," Roland sighs, shaking his head and dislodging some bits of gemstone from his visor. "Unless there's something in town we need to take care of." =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 21:07:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: From Earth-9 With Love On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 20:38:57 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004776 >On Thu, 18 Jun 1998 17:59:23 >Morgan Said As CAoL Message # 00004761 > >"Ah." James comments with the air of someone who is having their >plans work PERFECTLY. "Please allow me to take care of this minor >headache of yours, then." He kneels, and begins to rub her the >muscles of her back and upper neck. Roland suddenly does a doubletake-he cocks his head almost exactly like the RCA beagle. ^Ah, Morgan?^ he sends. ^That you?^ ^M-hmm,^ Morgan replies distractedly. ^Ah. I just got blown up, and I wasn't quite sure. That feels like a back rub.^ ^M-hmm,^ Morgan agrees. >^Morgan, do they like distance weapons?^ As he has already leaned >forwards, and blocked the shot with himself, starting to neck with >her. > >Morgan sighs appreciatively at James'...efforts. ^Depends on the >individual,^ she replies while pulling a small dagger out of her >gown. Roland's eyes widen slightly at the added sensations. ^THAT'S not a back rub.^ ^Ah-ahem-M-hmm,^ Morgan replies. ^Sorry, honey, I'm not used to shielding you from...^ her voice trails off. Roland twitches, and his skull finishes regenerating. ^Morgan, is there something you'd like to tell me?^ he asks evenly. ^Honey I'm a little busy right now can we talk later?^ Morgan replies. ^How much later?^ Roland asks. ^Gimme a couple of minutes, would you sweeetheart?^ Her mind is obviously elsewhere. Roland shrugs. ^Ooookay.^ He raises the 'privacy' shield. >A short, Greek blond man rushes out. "What the hell-?" Morgan, suddenly realizing the appearances of the situation, opens the link full with Roland. ^I think you'll want to hear this, love.^ ^What-? Oh bloody nass. The Magdalen Paragon.^ Roland 'frowns.' ^Careful with him, love. The Argonaut is a good man, but he has a short fuse. Tread lightly around him; he can twist mountains into pretzels when he's pissed.^ ^I know, sweetheart,^ Morgan sends calmly. >Never losing the smile, Morgan calmly replies, "Just a Nephandus >assassin, nothing we couldn't handle." Roland boggles visibly. ^A WHAT?!^ ^Here {}.^ Morgan provides her husband with a burst-playback of the preceeding few minutes. >"I would remind you, madam, at _whose_ house we are... discussing... >this." Jason turns. ^Yea, Master Thrun,^ Roland almost snarls. ^I've always had my suspicions about that bastich, and they've just been confirmed-he's barabbi, all right. 'Above reproach,' my immortal tuckus.^ Roland sends a quick burst of data on Thrun-Euthanatos Master and leader of the Glass Eye cabal. _Very_ powerful sorceror. ^His defenses could detect and kill a tick with Lyme Disease at a hundred yards. There's only one way that an assassin with a biogun could get on to the grounds-if Thrun _wanted_ him to. Don't count on that being made public, though-Thrun's got his fingers on a lot of strings. ^OTOH, it sounds like Jason wants a piece of Walter Thrun too-if you can soothe his ego, you might have a _very_ powerful ally in short order.^ >"Really. Do you think so." James remarks in a carefree tone in answer >to Morgan. Then offers his arm to her once more. He smiles at her. "I >think you'd be safer with me." His eyes twinkle with a rogue's >merriment. "At least, your life, my lady." > >Whispered: "Geez, the Phoenix is gonna _kill_ that guy!" Morgan sends a mischevious smile. ^Should I disabuse them of that notion?^ Roland smiles back. ^I never could tolerate abuse.^ Morgan lets the smile come to the surface, and sends in the direction of the whisper (with just a _touch_ more innocence than necessary), *Why? We haven't done anything my husband isn't _fully_ aware of.* >Morgan laughs good-naturedly. "I have no doubt of my safety with you, >sir." > >"That," James says with deliberation, "is because, Morgan, you have >_excellent_ instincts. Which match your looks, intelligence and... " >He looks her dress over with a roving eye. "Taste in evening frocks. >Shall we go dancing?" He asks as they walk off; talking as if he >hadn't a CARE in the world. Strangely enough, he even feels happy and >light-hearted. It's not an act. > >"As safe as your wife is with my husband, no doubt. " Morgan says, >deliberately just barely loud enough to be heard. ^A _lot_ safer than that, I hope, considering where we are,^ Roland cracks. ^Oh?^ Morgan is on a roll. ^Is there something going on between you and Zia I should know about?^ ^Yea-we're actually on speaking terms,^ Roland laughs. ^She can be a real angel sometimes. Maybe that's why her husband is so...protective...of you. Right-protective. That's the word.^ The evil grin crosses dimensions. Morgan smiles back. ^And when are _you_ going to come home and... protect... me?^ she pseudo-pouts, and follows the comment with a psychic kiss that ought to curl his immortal toes. ^Just as soon as we save the universe, dear,^ Roland replies with a calm smile and curled toes. ^Now, if you don't mind, I've been invited dancing, vertical and without swords involved, and I fully intend to enjoy myself,^ Morgan sends, as she and James walk off. ^Well, I'm sure Mr. Bond is better than I am at _that_ sort of dancing,^ Roland replies. ;^) They laugh mentally. ^Have fun, dear.^ Roland quickly sobers. ^And watch your back-the Nephandi are obviously taking you seriously now.^ ^I will,^ Morgan sobers as well. ^At least they don't know I'm an immie yet. I should be ok for a while.^ At which point James spots a likely club, and the immortals say a quick good-night. =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 22:37:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gem Diving On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 22:25:22 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004779 > On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 19:08:10 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004775 > > Roland shudders and returns to the living, his armor healing > around the places where the shards of gemstone penetrated. > (Apparently, Roland would have survived if not for a particularly > large piece emptying most of his skull.) "Ouch. That's twice now." > He stands unsteadily, though his psychic signature indicates zero > loss of mental capacity. Driss looks over at Roland from where Sera is holding he and Roscoe aloft, then looks over to Roscoe. "is that what I look like when I do that stuff? Ewww. Loks as bad as it feels. Of course hanging around angels must be changing my luck. usually I would have been the one to get fragged." =========================== Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 06:35:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Sat, 20 Jun 1998 17:26:00 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004780 [Tink, lead me to the man who waved at you.] Molly thinks to her concealed fae-ish companian, [He sounds somewhat out of character for this sort of environment. And I want to take a look at that reptile from a distance.] [Scanning...there he is. I'll direct a meandering route that should let us blend in with the crowd.] [Good, that should give us ample opportunity to check them both out.] In a sense, Molly's and Tink's personal form of telepathy isn't telepathy at all. Her race all share the same communal mind, so thoughts to oneself are thoughts to everyone sharing that mind. This community mind is not something that floats on the surface mind, it would be too distracting that way, so Molly's surface thoughts don't reflect this mental communication. On Rift's Earth, Molly learned that form of telepathy. It was a simple form, reading the surface thoughts of another person, and broadcasting small bursts, phrases or short sentences, to another mind. She had always been capable of a lot more than that. Her sort of telepathy was always on. Like being able to hear, her foster mother had explained often to others in the community of telepaths called Psi-World, it didn't shut off or require any effort on Molly's part. In fact, since Molly couldn't hear, her mother explained, that was what Molly used it for. Likewise, telepathy was her voice, as the child couldn't speak either. And like speaking, her mother continued, Molly could stick her fingers in her mental ears and still yammer in your mind. Molly's mother often had to assure her guests Molly wasn't prying in their thoughts just because she was 'talking' to them mentally. None the less, it often unnerved people, which was why Molly usually traveled with a pad of paper to write her answers to people's questions, letting her fake the ability to hear when she could use her telepathy to listen, or at least to read lips for those people who could block her, or whose surface thoughts she didn't want to hear (a condition that she found occurred surprisingly often). As a child, Molly often wondered at this difference between herself and the other telepaths around her. Once she began travelling to other universes; first under the wing of her biological mother, Anna, then on her own; Molly began exploring her telepathic abilities and comparing them to other races. She found she could speak to telepaths from many races and dimentions, as soon as someone introduced her to a new type of telepathy, she could use it. She often described this abilitiy like being able to hear a range of frequencies. 'If someone spoke to you in a soprano voice,' Molly would say, 'you could hear it just as easily as someone speaking in a baritone. And, if you have sufficient vocal range, you could reply in kind.' Molly had a wide range of telepathy. 'Of course,' Molly would add, 'the analogy isn't perfect.' Her particular form of telepathy was so ingrained in her brain, it could also be called visual, not only in her abilities to see images projected to her, but in her abilities to view telepathic communication going on, or telepathic 'battles' between two telepaths. The closest similarity to her own abilities, she had heard, were the telepaths from the Babylon 5 universe. In fact, Molly often used the Psi-corps tactic of reciting nursery rhymes, song lyrics, etc, to block her true thoughts from other telepaths. She found it far more effective than an outright block. She could bury her real thoughts below layers of superficial thoughts and other nonsense. Her cybernetic twin 'sisters' called this jokingly, 'burying the Einstein under the Valley Girl'. Tink didn't have to hide her thoughts. As far as telepaths were concerned, Tink had no more thoughts than the average chair. Her telepathy only functioned within the boundaries of the mini-lens-link and the mental link with Molly's race. Like her 'mothers', the AI twins Melissa and Grep, Tink's mind was massive enough to overload the average human telepath, who could lose himself within the planet-sized mind tucked away in its own personal pocket-dimension. Molly had once tried telemechanics on the twins, causing her to pass out immediately from the overload. It was with these tactics against casual scanning that Molly and Tink armed themselves as they passed into the crowds of the marketplace in the center of town. Molly's thoughts superficial; the loveliness of the day, running through a shopping list (milk, bread, eggs, honey, moonpies and RC cola), a children's song she heard earlier; Tink's thoughts nonexistant through sheerly being the thoughts of a machine. =========================== Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:01:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... OOC: There should be enough time for someone to talk to lizard if they so wish. The snakelike humanoid stands on a raised platform in the middle of the village. He is giving a speech on how the people of the village have been chosen, given a special purpose in the gods plan, and that there place with him is assured. 'Shirk not your duty now. Your god calls you, and those whom he calls shall become one with the god, and they shall be eternal.' This keeps up until most of the CAoL enter the village. At that point Jadis-1 floats over to the platform, and the people go down on their knees. "My people," he says, "your devotion is smiled upon. From the moment I rescued your forefathers from the alien invaders of their homeworld, who had bent their will toward destroying or enslaving your race, I have held you close to my heart. These," his hands sweeps in the CAoL, "are those who would seek to oppose my will, poor misguided fools that they are. Roland Phoenix, I ask you, and these others, on these people's mortal lives, to leave my realm." OOC: Can you guess who these people are? =========================== Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 23:30:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:54:49 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004783 At 04:01 PM 6/21/1998 -0400, Shadow wrote: >The snakelike humanoid stands on a raised platform in the middle of >the village. He is giving a speech on how the people of the village >have been chosen, given a special purpose in the gods plan, and that >there place with him is assured. 'Shirk not your duty now. Your god >calls you, and those whom he calls shall become one with the god, and >they shall be eternal.' [What is he talking about?] Tink enquires. [Religion. In this case, Jadis setting himself up as these people's gaud.] Molly replies. [You spelled that wrong, that's like 'gaudy'. Don't you mean 'god'?] [In Jadis' case, 'gaudy' describes him very well.] >This keeps up until most of the CAoL enter the village. At that point >Jadis-1 floats over to the platform, and the people go down on their >knees. /^Figures.^/ Molly sends. >"My people," he says, "My captives." a voice says right above Jadis' head in his voice. >"your devotion is smiled upon. "I am happy I didn't have to kill you." >From the moment I rescued "Kidnapped." >your forefathers from the alien invaders of their homeworld, "Who have been thoroughly trounced, not that I would tell -you-." >who had bent their will toward destroying or enslaving your race, "Which was -my- job." >I have held you close to my heart. "So someone doesn't put an arrow through it." >These," his hands sweeps in the CAoL, "are those who would seek to >oppose my will, poor misguided fools that they are. "I couldn't scare them into submission." >Roland Phoenix, I ask you, and these others, on these people's mortal >lives, to leave my realm." "Please spare me, or I start killing the villagers." >OOC: Can you guess who these people are? /^Well, well, well, that appears to be one more puzzle answered. I was wondering where those purple-sky Earth people went.^/ Molly sends in her normal tone. =========================== Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 14:42:46 -0400 Subject: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market The still stealthed Dhyrclhanc sends the following out to Roland as well as to the Nemos, /^Ah... guys... I don't know how many of you who can see this but in that village up ahead, where Jadis is setting into his "Helfire and Damnations" act. There is this person who's signaling me to land near the cemetary. The trick is he shouldn't be able to see me and, as far as I can tell with my aura sight, he's only a minor psychic who's got most of his powers in the Healing area. What I need is suggestions and/or advice.^/ Then he adds, beaming to the entire known group. /^Oh yeah, while I am on the subject. Anyone have any opinions as to what we are going to do in response to "Jadis' Sermon from the Mount"?^/ To "Scott Osborne"(sp?), one of Dhychlanc's many inborn abilities is that he can "see the invisible"; he can see through physics-type, psionic-type and magick-type invisibility and he can also see anything which would "normaly" be rendering itself undetectable by "straddling" dimensions. =========================== Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 18:27:05 -0400 Subject: AAEIV: Slipping Away Legion watched with a continually sinking heart as events flowed past. The mathmatics of the battlefield were clear enough, if you aren't an asset, you're a liability. What did she have to offer -this- group? She was a decent mage, a fair psionist but nothing that was not easily eclipsed by the others... An excellent swordfighter, yes, but that was not exactly a needed skill. She had an incredibly tidy teleport, and a knack for becoming ill around dimensional twisting... in fact, this whole place gave her a headache for some reason. It was easy enough to slip off the link unnoticed with all the worrying about it being tapped by Jadis. Equally easy to fall behind when the others took off and to the air. Her appearance and actions seldom drew attention to herself until the last possible moment, so it would be a while before they noticed she was gone. [OOC: This probably happened a while back, since I've been watching what has been happening and seeing no place for Legion to jump in... it just makes sense somehow to me. This is my third attempt at sending this post.] =========================== Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 08:43:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAEIV: Slipping Away On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 09:30:55 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004788 (& 4791) At 06:27 PM 6/22/1998 -0400, Caprice wrote: >It was easy enough to slip off the link unnoticed with all the >worrying about it being tapped by Jadis. Equally easy to fall behind >when the others took off and to the air. Her appearance and actions >seldom drew attention to herself until the last possible moment, so >it would be a while before they noticed she was gone. If Molly noticed the absence of the multi-talented, multi-personaed CAoLer she didn't mention it, presumably wishing Legion well on her departure and thinking the gestalt personality wiser than herself, who was still pressing onward, outgunned it seemed, though not outclassed, by the mad mage, Jadis. =========================== Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 08:43:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 09:31:00 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004789 (& 4792) At 03:14 PM 6/22/1998 -0400, Dhyrclhanc wrote: >Then he adds, beaming to the entire known group. > >/^Oh yeah, while I am on the subject. Anyone have any opinions as to >what we are going to do in response to "Jadis' Sermon from the >Mount"?^/ /^Dhyrclhanc,^/ Molly says, still moving a meandering path toward the Doc, /^There is a rather distinguished looking gentleman with gray hair, perhaps in his fifties, who Tink spotted in her scouting around town, and curiously, he spotted her. While this is not impossible, he did wave to her, which presumes, despite her speed, he saw her clearly. I doubt therefore he is simply a town elder and was wondering what you could see from your higher vantage point? /^We were making our way toward him when Jadis' little speech singled us out as outsiders. We had hoped to determine if he is friendly. Though,^/ Molly adds, /^Waving instead of shooting would imply friendliness. Or, at least non-hostility.^/ Ducking behind a row of booths, Molly sends /^At least Jadis singling us out means I can get out of this pointless disguise.^/ Molly emerges in her Peter Pan garb minus hat, with the colors shifted from forest green to blue tights and silver top (which is now long enough to form a short skirt), silver slippers and blue belt with a silver pouch with a blue drawstring and the blue and silver dagger she wielded earlier. Tink flits along beside Molly, who slips her ash brown, shoulder length hair into a pony tail held with a silver and blue elastic band. /^As for what I think we should do here, one hostage or many doesn't seem to change our options any. Also, these folks may be perfectly willing to stay under Jadis' wing. If so, I say let them. I would offer a way back to their earth, though I fear they would feel quite out of sync with the generation we left behind. They are dead on Jadis' whim anyway, whether we stay or go. His attempt to push the blame for this off of himself is simply another tactic on our psyche. Personally, I intend to ignore them since I can't help them, except not to fight here in the village. Which means pressing on toward the castle. As soon as I satisfy my curiousity toward this gentleman.^/ Presumably upon Dhyrclhanc's assurances that the Doc is not up to anything unhospitable, Molly walks toward Doc openly, Tink hovering along just ahead of the tall woman's left shoulder. Both smile pleasantly. *Hello,* Molly sends over an open link to the Doc. *My companian could... not...* Molly cocks her head to one side, listening and looking at the Doc. [Tink, you'll have to do the introductions.] Molly thinks. [What's wrong?] Tink asks. [This guy is blocking me. I didn't detect anyone reading my thoughts, so he shouldn't know I am a teep, but he has a mind block up. At any rate, he can't hear me, so you need to do introductions.] "Hi!" Tink says brightly in the cheerful tone of a five year old. "I saw you wave earlier and wanted to stop by and say 'hello' now that I have time to chat. How did you see me so well? I thought I was going fast enough to be just a blur of light to everybody." [Tink...] "This is my Aunt Molly. She can't hear." Tink chatters on. [-Tink-.] "But that's alright, she can read mi-" [That's -enough-, Tink.] Molly thinks as she cups her hands and catchs the tiny chatterbox quickly but gently out of the air. She smiles as a small bracelet on her wrist glows faintly. "Kids," a Lucy Lawless voice says aloud from the vicinity of the bracelet, as Molly grins sheepishly. =========================== Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:08:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 19:55:05 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004793 Martin Gerster wrote: > The still stealthed Dhyrclhanc sends the following out to Roland as > well as to the Nemos, > > /^Ah... guys... I don't know how many of you who can see this but in > that village up ahead, where Jadis is setting into his "Helfire and > Damnations" act. There is this person who's signaling me to land > near the cemetary. The trick is he shouldn't be able to see me and, > as far as I =========================== Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 19:08:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 21:01:08 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004794 Shadow wrote: > At that point Jadis-1 floats over to the platform, and the people go > down on their knees. "My people," he says, "your devotion is smiled > upon. From the moment I rescued your forefathers from the alien > invaders of their homeworld, who had bent their will toward > destroying or enslaving your race, I have held you close to my > heart. These," his hands sweeps in the CAoL, "are those who would > seek to oppose my will, poor misguided fools that they are. Roland > Phoenix, I ask you, and these others, on these people's mortal > lives, to leave my realm." After Jadis-1 gets done talking, Doc approaches him, says something and then stands there as if waiting for something. =========================== Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 19:37:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:50:08 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004795 >On Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:54:49 -0500 >Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004783 > >/^Well, well, well, that appears to be one more puzzle answered. I >was wondering where those purple-sky Earth people went.^/ Molly sends >in her normal tone. Roland sighs heavily. /All bullies are ultimately cowards. This could be a problem./ Then, >On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 09:31:00 -0500 >Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004789 (& 4792) > >At 03:14 PM 6/22/1998 -0400, Dhyrclhanc wrote: >>/^Ah... guys... I don't know how many of you who can see this but in >>that village up ahead, where Jadis is setting into his "Hellfire and >>Damnations" act. There is this person who's signaling me to land >>near the cemetary. The trick is he is not supposed to be able to see >>me and, as far as I can tell with my aura sight, he's only a minor >>psychic who's got most of his powers in the Healing area. What I >>need is suggestions and/or advice.^/ ^Doesn't seem to be Jadis' style,^ Roland replies slowly. ^If you feel comfortable with it, go ahead and land-Jadis is busy hiding behind helpless innocents again, so he probably won't bother you.^ >>/^Oh yeah, while I am on the subject. Anyone have any opinions as to >>what we are going to do in response to "Jadis' Sermon from the >>Mount"?^/ /What else? Save the day,/ Roland quips, belying a deep concern-Jadis could easily kidnap more victims. >Ducking behind a row of booths, Molly sends /^At least Jadis singling >us out means I can get out of this pointless disguise.^/ Molly >emerges in her Peter Pan garb minus hat, with the colors shifted from >forest green to blue tights and silver top (which is now long enough >to form a short skirt), silver slippers and blue belt with a silver >pouch with a blue drawstring and the blue and silver dagger she >wielded earlier. Tink flits along beside Molly, who slips her ash >brown, shoulder length hair into a pony tail held with a silver and >blue elastic band. /Looks like I'm out of a job,/ Roland jokes. >/^As for what I think we should do here, one hostage or many doesn't >seem to change our options any. Also, these folks may be perfectly >willing to stay under Jadis' wing. If so, I say let them. I would >offer a way back to their earth, though I fear they would feel quite >out of sync with the generation we left behind. They are dead on >Jadis' whim anyway, whether we stay or go. His attempt to push the >blame for this off of himself is simply another tactic on our psyche. >Personally, I intend to ignore them since I can't help them, except >not to fight here in the village. Which means pressing on toward the >castle. As soon as I satisfy my curiousity toward this gentleman.^/ /Unfortunately, it's not that simple. They're here, indirectly, because of us. And while we might not be able to get anything _in,_ we might be able to get _out;_ after all, Jadis wants us to leave. Sil./ Sil, tinkering with a Veritech (she seems to be trying to turn it into 'The Magical Callahanian Hover-Tourbus') looks up, briefly startled. /No. Don't even _think_ it./ /Sil, you've been pretty much tinkering since we got here, and _someone_ should go with them./ Sil sighs. /It's just...astral space is filled with mines, here. I can't do much./ She frowns at Roland. /I hate it when you're right./ ^Hydra, Zia,^ Roland sends privately to those two, trying to 'stealth' the link (since Jadis seems to be able to unscramble anything Roland can come up with 8^P), ^can you two get the villagers out of here before Jadis can kill them? Between your cosmic powers, Hydra, and your shadow abilities, Zia-especially since this lot is from your home dimension-it looks like you two are our best bet.^ While he sends this, he strides up to the assembled throng. "Is this your will, then? Would you rather die for-him-" Roland says, trying not to spit the word out- "than be free?" (OOC: When they answer, Roland scans for any telepathic coercion-he doesn't go into their heads to check for intimidation, but if there's actual mental manipulation, he intends to find it. Not that I expect any. ) >"But that's alright, she can read mi-" > >[That's -enough-, Tink.] Molly thinks as she cups her hands and >catchs the tiny chatterbox quickly but gently out of the air. She >smiles as a small bracelet on her wrist glows faintly. > >"Kids," a Lucy Lawless voice says aloud from the vicinity of the >bracelet, as Molly grins sheepishly. > > (OOC: Okay.) /Molly, anything you can't handle?/ Both Roland and Sil glance over, each expression a mixture of bemusement and understanding. =========================== Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 20:42:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 22:16:00 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004796 > On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 09:31:00 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004789 > > Presumably upon Dhyrclhanc's assurances that the Doc is not up to > anything unhospitable, Molly walks toward Doc openly, Tink hovering > along just ahead of the tall woman's left shoulder. Both smile > pleasantly. ) /OOC> > "Hi!" Tink says brightly in the cheerful tone of a five year old. Doc holds out a bare hand, palm up, for Tink to land on if she so chooses. The rest of his arm is clad in scintillating crystal, which you would swear is mystic armor but for two things: 1) it shows no magic at all and 2) it appears to be supple and molds to the contours of his arm, like leather, while mystic armor is usually some form of plate. > "I saw you wave earlier and wanted to stop by and say 'hello' now > that I have time to chat. How did you see me so well? I thought I > was going fast enough to be just a blur of light to everybody." I just... (interrupted by Tink continuing on) > "Kids," a Lucy Lawless voice says aloud from the vicinity of the > bracelet, as Molly grins sheepishly. Doc grins back and bows, an oriental style bow of greeting, then sends in a faintly heard mental whisper, again broad band, multi spectrum, /I take it that was you that tripped my auto defense mind shield?/ the whisper seems to go everywhere but strangely seems to die for lack of energy before anyone else can pick it up (except maybe Jadis, if he's interested :^) Aloud to Tink, if she is allowed back out, "As to seeing you small one, beauty never fails to catch my eye, and at my age that's about all it can catch." Doc (I take it that everyone has reached the village by now?) =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 02:23:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 23:13:58 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004797 >On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:50:08 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004795 > > /Looks like I'm out of a job,/ Roland jokes. /^Who, me? Replace Roland Pan? I couldn't possibly!^/ Molly sends in mock shock, then adds thoughtfully, /^Although a rabbi of my acquaintence who unsuccessfully tried to get me to go to synagogue considered me one of the 'Lost Goys.'^/ > /Unfortunately, it's not that simple. They're here, indirectly, >because of us. And while we might not be able to get anything _in,_ >we might be able to get _out;_ after all, Jadis wants us to leave. >Sil./ [Zark, has Jadis got Roland pegged.] Molly thinks, [Of course, I only said -I- couldn't help them. Someone else might be able to.] > /Molly, anything you can't handle?/ Both Roland and Sil glance >over, each expression a mixture of bemusement and understanding. /^We're fine,^/ Molly sends soothingly, obviously gently reprimanding Tink as well as assuring Roland and Sil, /^We just forgot to be wary about what we say to strangers.^/ Tink, for her part, has an expression of 'Oops.' /^Sorry, Aunt Molly.^/ /^That's okay, dear. Just be careful.^/ =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 02:23:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 21:29:39 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004798 > On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 22:16:00 -0500 > Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004796 > > Doc (I take it that everyone has reached the village by now?) Nemo should have been there by now, but with the list problems... =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 02:23:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:17:30 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004799 (originally sent Tuesday, June 23, 1998 09:37 PM) >On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:50:08 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004795 > >>On Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:54:49 -0500 >>Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004783 >> >>At 04:01 PM 6/21/1998 -0400, Shadow wrote: >>>Roland Phoenix, I ask you, and these others, on these people's >>>mortal lives, to leave my realm." >> >>"Please spare me, or I start killing the villagers." Sera has made it into the village proper at this point, and on seeing the rest of the CAoL alighting, she settles Driss and Roscoe unto the ground in the empty clearing. Then she gets out the pin, balances it somehow (or mimes balancing it) on the groun. The, one toe is set to the head of the pin, and she twirls in a swirl of red feathered wings. "Those who have faith do not fear the end of mortality, for they know it is not an end, but a beginning. What worth a god who does not have nor engender faith?" She quips, standing something balanced in a stance faintly martial arts looking, four wings spread in some gesture both questioning and welcoming at the same time. >>/^Well, well, well, that appears to be one more puzzle answered. I >>was wondering where those purple-sky Earth people went.^/ Molly >>sends in her normal tone. @Why _does_ every entity who finds power want to play god? It's GOT to be the suckiest role around.@ Zia says, somewhat absently. Her words drag a bit, as if her thoughts were a record being played on a wrong setting that sounded them too slowly. > Roland sighs heavily. /All bullies are ultimately cowards. This >could be a problem./ @Not really. This is just a feint, to waste time and annoy us. Jadis is simply working to make us feel helpless, which means we somehow aren't quite as powerless to interfere as it would seem. Or the stalling of us makes his rather absurdly stupid posturing worthwhile.@ Zia notes. @I don't hold for bargaining with a hostage-taker.@ >Then, >>>/^Oh yeah, while I am on the subject. Anyone have any opinions >>>as to what we are going to do in response to "Jadis' Sermon >>>from the Mount"?^/ > > /What else? Save the day,/ Roland quips, belying a deep concern - >Jadis could easily kidnap more victims. @Nah, I'll let Sera handle the religious fantasies.@ Zia says. > ^Hydra, Zia,^ Roland sends privately to those two, trying to >'stealth' the link (since Jadis seems to be able to unscramble >anything Roland can come up with 8^P), ^can you two get the villagers >out of here before Jadis can kill them? Between your cosmic powers, >Hydra, and your shadow abilities, Zia-especially since this lot is >from your home dimension-it looks like you two are our best bet.^ @Jadis has this place sewn up tighter than a drum, Roland. As if it WERE his own Shadow. I can maintain some of my own integrity of thoughts upon reality, but not much more than just myself. _If_ they chased me, and _if_ Jadis didn't act to prevent the shifting, I could take 'em back. But there is no way I could move them should any resist, or Jadis oppose his will to mine.@ Zia replies, mental voice still distorted. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 02:23:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:02:42 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004800 >On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 22:16:00 -0500 >Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004796 > >Doc holds out a bare hand, palm up, for Tink to land on if she so >chooses. The rest of his arm is clad in scintillating crystal, which >you would swear is mystic armor but for two things: 1) it shows no >magic at all and 2) it appears to be supple and molds to the contours >of his arm, like leather, while mystic armor is usually some form of >plate. Tink flits around like a hummingbird, not landing, but looking at the armor with obvious wonder. >Doc grins back and bows, an oriental style bow of greeting, then >sends in a faintly heard mental whisper, again broad band, multi >spectrum, /I take it that was you that tripped my auto defense mind >shield?/ the whisper seems to go everywhere but strangely seems to >die for lack of energy before anyone else can pick it up (except >maybe Jadis, if he's interested :^) Molly, having reminded Tink they were in hostile territory if not hostile company, lets her go. Tink seems to have sobered a bit, but not much, still flitting about, if a bit less quickly. Molly replies on the same wide-band as Doc, copying the same power level, *Most likely.* She bows in the same fashion in reply to the Doc's. *No harm was intended, I was simply pressed for time and unsure if you knew writtien English. If this method of projection tires you,* Molly adds brightly, *My niece can translate for me. It would help me hide the extent of my telepathy from Jadis.* Molly doesn't need to add 'And yours.' >Aloud to Tink, if she is allowed back out, "As to seeing you small >one, beauty never fails to catch my eye, and at my age that's about >all it can catch." Tink blushes and giggles, buzzing back behind Molly's neck and peeking out to look at Doc, suddenly shy. Molly starts signing, then pauses. Tink says, "What do they call you?" =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 02:23:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 23:09:32 -0700 (PDT) Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00004801 > On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 22:16:00 -0500 > Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004796 > Doc (I take it that everyone has reached the village by now?) Fuzzy is somewhere overhead trying to decide how badly the CAoL would hurt him if he told Jadis exactly what his opinion of the Threat to Bystanders is... Nemisis will have tagged along with the main cluster of the CAoL. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 07:39:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 08:05:56 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004802 >On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:17:30 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004799 > >@Why _does_ every entity who finds power want to play god? It's GOT >to be the suckiest role around.@ Zia says, somewhat absently. Her >words drag a bit, as if her thoughts were a record being played on a >wrong setting that sounded them too slowly. /^It's that 'The universe revolves around my hyper-inflated ego' thing.^/ Molly sends with a smirk. /^They believed the universe revolved around them to begin with, then got the power to actually make it happen.^/ Molly glances at Driscoll. /^The smart ones wise up to the inherent drawbacks.^/ She then casts a disdainful glance at Jadis. /^The idiots think they have everything under control.^/ >> /What else? Save the day,/ Roland quips, belying a deep concern- >>Jadis could easily kidnap more victims. > >@Nah, I'll let Sera handle the religious fantasies.@ Zia says. /^Whatever makes you both happy.^/ Molly sends, rolling her eyes at both Roland and Zia. >> /Unfortunately, it's not that simple. They're here, indirectly, >>because of us. And while we might not be able to get anything _in,_ >>we might be able to get _out;_ after all, Jadis wants us to leave. >>Sil./ /^Well, okay,^/ Molly replies grudgingly, /^They're here because of a series of actions between Jadis and us. I'm just saying the bad kharma for getting them involved isn't on my head, it's on Jadis'. He's the one that did it. I'll do what I can to help, of course, but at the moment, my only two ways to help requires either the willing participation of the villagers and Jadis (Thus why I say I can't do anything, as I don't hold the likelyhood of getting both conditions to be true very highly.), or I press on to the castle and hope the village and it's people stay in one piece after Jadis is gone (Another thing I don't expect to be true.).^/ Molly smiles, /^Believe me, I don't like being this casual about it. I just don't see an option within my abilities.^/ She adds a look that says, 'Your choices are hopefully better.' =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 15:14:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 16:33:40 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004803 > On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 21:01:08 -0500 > Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004794 > > After Jadis-1 gets done talking, Doc approaches him, says something > and then stands there as if waiting for something. Jadis shakes his head and gestures toward Hydra. He says something else in a low voice to Doc. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 15:14:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 16:54:00 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004804 > On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:17:30 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004799 > On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:50:08 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004795 > >>On Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:54:49 -0500 >>Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004783 >> >>>Roland Phoenix, I ask you, and these others, on these people's >>>mortal lives, to leave my realm." >> >>"Please spare me, or I start killing the villagers." There are loud whispers of 'Blasphemy' and 'Lies' among the villagers. > The, one toe is set to the head of the pin, and she twirls in a > swirl of red feathered wings. "Those who have faith do not fear the > end of mortality, for they know it is not an end, but a beginning. > What worth a god who does not have nor engender faith?" She quips, > standing something balanced in a stance faintly martial arts > looking, four wings spread in some gesture both questioning and > welcoming at the same time. Jadis-1 extends his hands, "My people, do you fear the end of this existence? What do the teachings say?" The villagers chorus, "Those who die go to become one with God, to be spun out again into existence when they are needed. Thus death is merely the long sleep between lives. Those who remember past lives should rejoice, for they have been handpicked by the Lord for a purpose, even if they know not what that purpose is." Jadis-1 smiles, "The faith of my people is strong. Their faith makes me stronger still. The bond between God and his people has been established." =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 17:38:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:13:40 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004805 > On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:02:42 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004800 > > Molly replies on the same wide-band as Doc, copying the same power > level, *Most likely.* She bows in the same fashion in reply to the > Doc's. *No harm was intended, I was simply pressed for time and > unsure if you knew writtien English. If this method of projection > tires you,* Molly adds brightly, *My niece can translate for me. It > would help me hide the extent of my telepathy from Jadis.* Molly > doesn't need to add 'And yours.' "Niece? Truly any family with two such beauties in it is surely blessed." > Molly starts signing, then pauses. Tink says, "What do they call > you?" "Most people just call me Doc, I suspect it's because most of my ability is in healing of one sort or another" replies Doc. "As to my other powers they usually only become ascendant when I get angry, not an easy thing for me." "Excuse me there is some unfinished business I must attend to," with that Doc bows and starts walking in the direction of Hydra. From the way he is moving one would be tempted to say he was in his early 20's and in better shape than most olympic level athletes or professional dancers. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 17:38:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 18:07:35 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004806 >On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 16:54:00 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004804 > >There are loud whispers of 'Blasphemy' and 'Lies' among the >villagers. Molly mentally nods, /^Perhpas 'I couldn't brainwash then as I did you' was a better choice of words after all.^/ >Jadis-1 smiles, "The faith of my people is strong. Their faith makes >me stronger still. The bond between God and his people has been >established." As the plans start flowing, the full implications of Jadis' words sink in. Molly turns back to Doc. She gestures rapidly. Tink relays "Aunt Molly says Excuse her a moment." [Tink, stay here. Ask the gentleman about what Jadis meant about past lives.] [Is that important? Many religions have past life beliefs in them.] [But with Jadis, it is probably more like 'this group is kidnapped from earth, given a mindwipe, and for those mindwipes that fail, they use the idea of past lives to cover the error.' If we're lucky, we can get them out of here and back home and the real memories will come rushing back.] As Tink asks Doc about what Jadis meant by past lives, Molly turns to Roland and repeats her suspicions about the villagers being mind wiped to Roland on a surprisingly heavily encrypted, narrow-bandwidth transmission. She concludes with ^If you're going to get them out of here, best do it fast. Otherwise, we better press on before things get ugly.^ =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 17:43:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:38:21 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004807 > On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 16:33:40 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004803 > > Jadis shakes his head and gestures toward Hydra. He says something > else in a low voice to Doc. Doc replies in an equally low voice to Jadis, then turns to Hydra and flinches, he can be seen reaching into his cloak and when he pulls his hand out it appears to be empty but looks as if he is holding something slender in it. He snaps his wrist, for all the world like he is shaking open a pair of glasses and then brings his hand up to his face and pushes at the bridge of his nose. Anyone looking on the physical plane sees nothing there, the astral shows a pair of Raybans(tm) now. And Doc starts walking towards Hydra with a look that indicates this a man on a mission when he stops suddenly. Doc =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 18:05:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:51:03 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004808 Michael Knight wrote: > As Tink asks Doc about what Jadis meant by past lives, Molly turns > to Roland "Have'nt really any clues about the reincarnate part but he does absorb their essences when they die," there is much sorrow in his voice and eyes as if he has seen many examples of this recently. > and repeats her suspicions about the villagers being mind wiped to > Roland on a surprisingly heavily encrypted, narrow-bandwidth > transmission. > > She concludes with ^If you're going to get them out of here, best do > it fast. Otherwise, we better press on before things get ugly.^ Doc (who is trying to get his approach to Hydra written) =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:11:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: Doc confronts Hydra On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:14:09 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004809 When last we left our intrepid (foolish) adventurer: Doc approaches Hydra, stops in front him, and proceeds to say to him, "I am told that you started that earthquake a little earlier" "Fine then you can go close the graves of those that were killed by it. Between digging out survivors, and bodies, and then digging the graves we don't have the energy left to close them." Doc =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:11:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 21:19:04 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004810 << Roland Wrote: ^Hydra, Zia,^ Roland sends privately to those two, trying to 'stealth' the link (since Jadis seems to be able to unscramble anything Roland can come up with 8^P), ^can you two get the villagers out of here before Jadis can kill them? Between your cosmic powers, Hydra, and your shadow abilities, Zia-especially since this lot is from your home dimension-it looks like you two are our best bet.^ >> ^I believe that can be done, or at the very least, if exit is blocked, they can be removed from harms way.^ Hydra answers. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:11:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:05:56 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004811 >On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 18:07:35 -0500 >Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004806 > >Molly mentally nods, /^Perhpas 'I couldn't brainwash them as I did >you' was a better choice of words after all.^/ Roland looks at the villagers evenly. /If they follow Jadis of their own free will, conned into it or otherwise, then they're on their own./ Zia also said: >@Jadis has this place sewn up tighter than a drum, Roland. As if it >WERE his own Shadow. I can maintain some of my own integrity of >thoughts upon reality, but not much more than just myself. _If_ they >chased me, and _if_ Jadis didn't act to prevent the shifting, I could >take 'em back. But there is no way I could move them should any >resist, or Jadis oppose his will to mine.@ Zia replies, mental voice >still distorted. ^If they resist, then I won't force the issue. As for Jadis...^ Roland's concentration returns to Hydra. ^Hydra, can you do something with these people to keep them safe if they really are victims of a mental snow job? Like, say, transform them into energy and hide them in your projected form? Or whatever would work best?^ >>Jadis-1 smiles, "The faith of my people is strong. Their faith makes >>me stronger still. The bond between God and his people has been >>established." (OOC: Ignore this entire post if Roland picks up any telepathic coercion on Jadis' part. _That_ response will be rather more heated. ) Roland shrugs. "That means they follow you willingly. And _that_ means that they are _not_ our responsibility. If you have any delusions that we can't get past them without hurting them, you can undelude yourself now." /Sil, looks like you're off the hook./ Sil smirks. /I'm devastated./ >As Tink asks Doc about what Jadis meant by past lives, Molly turns to >Roland and repeats her suspicions about the villagers being mind >wiped to Roland on a surprisingly heavily encrypted, narrow-bandwidth >transmission. > >She concludes with ^If you're going to get them out of here, best do >it fast. Otherwise, we better press on before things get ugly.^ ^If it becomes necessary. I won't abandon these people if Jadis has mucked with them mentally-there isn't a place in the multiverse he can hide from me if he's done such a thing-but if these people truly believe that Jadis is a god, then their fate is their own. The catch is we need to find out _fast._^ (OOC: Well, Shadow? Have their minds been through the rinse cycle, or are they 'true believers?') =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:37:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE:The power of music. On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:58:18 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004812 As soon as Sera drops Driss on the ground, he brushes himself off and smooths out his clothing. Then he strides confdently towards the square with Roscoe trotting along behind him. As he goes he tucks away his rapier and scabbard as well as any visible knives into his cloak and pulls out a silver flute. Upon arriving in the square he bows towards the people and plops himself down in the middle of the street and begins to play. He plays with the skill of a master and the soft, slow, haunting melody seems to dance about the square with a life of its own. Roscoe lays down next to Driss, who is swaying slwly in time with the music. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 21:35:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 00:02:05 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004813 > On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:05:56 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004811 > > (OOC: Ignore this entire post if Roland picks up any telepathic > coercion on Jadis' part. _That_ response will be rather more heated. > ) OOC: Nope. Nothing but good ol Propoganda and brainwashing. These people have been told all their lives that Jadis is a God. They are 'true believers.' Strangely, there are no athiests or even people who doubt Jadis' godhood in the town. All are _fervent_ believers, even those who were originally the captured humans from Grey Earth. (Reincarnated. The original bodies are long dead.) > Roland shrugs. "That means they follow you willingly. And _that_ > means that they are _not_ our responsibility. If you have any > delusions that we can't get past them without hurting them, you can > undelude yourself now." > /Sil, looks like you're off the hook./ > Sil smirks. /I'm devastated./ Jadis-1 looks out among the assembled throng, "Bow, my people. Cast yourselves to the ground before my Glory." The kneeling worshippers prostrate themselves. > ^If it becomes necessary. I won't abandon these people if Jadis > has mucked with them mentally-there isn't a place in the multiverse > he can hide from me if he's done such a thing-but if these people > truly believe that Jadis is a god, then their fate is their own. The > catch is we need to find out _fast._^ Jadis looks at Roland once the people have finished prostrating themselves, their faces pressed into the dust, "Pity," He says, in response to Roland's declaration. As he says that the Jyhadein behind him clenches his fist. Gun emplacements flip out of all the buildings in the town and begin firing. Laser, plasma, bullets, all built into the walls of the town. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 22:12:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Bullets, Lasers, and Plasma, oh my!! On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 00:02:02 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004814 Shadow wrote: > Jadis looks at Roland once the people have finished prostrating > themselves, their faces pressed into the dust, "Pity," He says, in > response to Roland's declaration. As he says that the Jyhadein > behind him clenches his fist. Gun emplacements flip out of all the > buildings in the town and begin firing. Laser, plasma, bullets, all > built into the walls of the town. Doc turns around to check the villagers, as at the same time he pulls the flap on his hood shut, he now looks like a walking crystal statue, the flap having self sealed all the way around his face. The first plasma hit incinerates his cloak. (it was just plain wool) Seeing that the villagers are safe provided that nothing goes below knee level (his knee level that is) he turns around and resumes his walk (or talk) to Hydra. Bullets just *spang* away flat as a pancake and about as harmful. Lasers are partially absorbed as energy and the rest is reflected back out as harmless rainbows. (ain't scintillating crystal fun?) Plasma actually appears to have an effect on it as burn spots seem to form where they hit and then they regen back to normal within about « sec. Anyone still scanning on psi bands will note that the armor is doing the work automatically. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 22:16:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 22:52:43 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004815 >On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:13:40 -0500 >Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004805 > >> On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:02:42 -0500 >> Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004800 > >"Niece? Truly any family with two such beauties in it is surely >blessed." Molly blushes along with Tink... And back to the original post, where Doc said... >"Excuse me there is some unfinished business I must attend to," with >that Doc bows and starts walking in the direction of Hydra. "Oh, of course," Tink says, then notes the direction he is headed in. [Oh dear.] The little sprite zips over to Molly, who is already aware of Doc's direction and watches curiously while she talks with Roland. And finally... >On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 00:02:05 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004813 >> On Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:05:56 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004811 >> >> ^If it becomes necessary. I won't abandon these people if Jadis >> has mucked with them mentally-there isn't a place in the multiverse >> he can hide from me if he's done such a thing-but if these people >> truly believe that Jadis is a god, then their fate is their own. >> The catch is we need to find out _fast._^ Molly nods. ^I understand. Tink tells me Doc, the gentleman over by Hydra, says he doesn't know about the reincarnation, but Jadis does absorb these people's essences when they die. Sounds like they've been here a while. I may be wrong about that mindwipe idea. Ah well, none of this village makes much sense to me. There's just not enough to go on.^ >Jadis looks at Roland once the people have finished prostrating >themselves, their faces pressed into the dust, "Pity," He says, in >response to Roland's declaration. As he says that the Jyhadein behind >him clenches his fist. Gun emplacements flip out of all the buildings >in the town and begin firing. Laser, plasma, bullets, all built into >the walls of the town. Tink hides her eyes, burying her face in Molly's collar, as Molly just gapes, slack-jawed momentarily, before something kicks in and she dives for cover under a large haycart. Underneath, she looks to determine the target of the guns, already fairly certain of what she'll find. =========================== Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 23:07:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: The Dark Fist On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 01:36:10 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004816 >Jadis looks at Roland once the people have finished prostrating >themselves, their faces pressed into the dust, "Pity," He says, in >response to Roland's declaration. As he says that the Jyhadein behind >him clenches his fist. Gun emplacements flip out of all the buildings >in the town and begin firing. Laser, plasma, bullets, all built into >the walls of the town. ~NO!~ A loud voice echos across the village. The bullets and plasma/laser beams vanish in mid-air. A voice says "Kill Roland Pheonix or his compainions, and risk our wraith." And with that, a projection appears before Jadis. It is a sword, bent so that it is stabbing its own hilt. The sword vanishes, and all is as it was before the violence began. (OOC: I've clued in Shadow via e-mail as to what this means, and I'm avoiding saying anything on the main list so as to avoid spoiling anybody... (But I will answer via e-mail what exactly this is. (Just don't expect a straight answer...)) =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 03:06:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The Dark Fist On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 03:37:54 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004817 >On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 01:36:10 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004816 > >~NO!~ A loud voice echos across the village. The bullets and >plasma/laser beams vanish in mid-air. A voice says "Kill Roland >Pheonix or his compainions, and risk our wraith." And with that, a ^^^^^^ >projection appears before Jadis. It is a sword, bent so that it is >stabbing its own hilt. The sword vanishes, and all is as it was >before the violence began. Molly gets up from her spot under the haycart and dusts herself off. Tink is still gripping to her collar, but now she is looking around surprised. Without a word, Molly is airborne, making a beeline toward the castle at roughly 100 miles per hour, Tink zipping along beside her. =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 06:06:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Bullets, Lasers, and Plasma, oh my!! On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 07:38:34 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00004818 Then Scott Osborne sent: (probably about the same time as mine) > ~NO!~ A loud voice echos across the village. The bullets and > plasma/laser beams vanish in mid-air. A voice says "Kill Roland > Pheonix or his compainions, and risk our wraith." And with that, a > projection appears before Jadis. It is a sword, bent so that it is > stabbing its own hilt. The sword vanishes, and all is as it was > before the violence began. > Doc turns around to check the villagers, as at the same time he > pulls the flap on his hood shut, he now looks like a walking crystal > statue, CORRECTION: it gets about half around when the incoming fire disappears > the flap having self sealed all the way around his face. The first > plasma hit incinerates his cloak. (it was just plain wool) CORRECTION: he still has the cloak on, he drops the flap on his hood and can be seen to mouth OK in a kinda of drawn out manner (as many people do when surprised) > Seeing that the villagers are safe provided that nothing goes below > knee level (his knee level that is) he turns around and resumes his > walk (or talk) to Hydra. he's still headed for Hydra CORRECTION: the following paragraph didn't happen > Bullets just *spang* away flat as a pancake and about as harmful. > Lasers are partially absorbed as energy and the rest is reflected > back out as harmless rainbows. (ain't scintillating crystal fun?) > Plasma actually appears to have an effect on it as burn spots seem > to form where they hit and then they regen back to normal within > about 1/2 sec. Anyone still scanning on psi bands will note that the > armor is doing the work automatically. Doc (who was counting on this fight to help him figure out the CAoL in relation to Jadis) =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 08:37:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 07:59:15 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004819 > On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 00:02:05 -0400 (EDT) > Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004813 > > OOC: Nope. Nothing but good ol Propoganda and brainwashing. These > people have been told all their lives that Jadis is a God. They are > 'true believers.' Strangely, there are no athiests or even people > who doubt Jadis' godhood in the town. All are _fervent_ believers, > even those who were originally the captured humans from Grey Earth. > (Reincarnated. The original bodies are long dead.) Nemo sends *privately* to the CAoL members (and Zia if she deigns to allow the link :-) ^If these people have had the apparent *generations* it would require for the current situation, then Jadis has been monkeying with the time rate in a major way. While we *do* still have off universe links, some of them are acting oddly. Is Jadis pulling an 'Elf-hill' scenario on us? Will it be centuries later when we leave?^ =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 10:38:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 08:05:02 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004821 In mail you write: > Jadis looks at Roland once the people have finished prostrating > themselves, their faces pressed into the dust, "Pity," He says, in > response to Roland's declaration. As he says that the Jyhadein > behind him clenches his fist. Gun emplacements flip out of all the > buildings in the town and begin firing. Laser, plasma, bullets, all > built into the walls of the town. The Nemos will place themselves so as to shield the weaker members of the party. Bullets that hit them stop and fall to the ground. Laser beams that pass near them *bend* to strike them instead of pass by, and are absorbed with no apparent ill effects. Plasma washes over them and is absorbed. If the attack persists long enough, the Nemos will seem to grow a bit larger and acquire a glow. =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 10:39:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The Dark Fist On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 13:15:01 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004822 >>~NO!~ A loud voice echos across the village. The bullets and >>plasma/laser beams vanish in mid-air. A voice says "Kill Roland >>Pheonix or his compainions, and risk our wraith." And with that, a > ^^^^^^ >game, either one is as likely as the other.)> OOC: Yes, as in anger. =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 10:39:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The Dark Fist On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 10:30:41 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004823 >On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 01:36:10 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004816 > >>Jadis looks at Roland once the people have finished prostrating >>themselves, their faces pressed into the dust, "Pity," He says, in >>response to Roland's declaration. As he says that the Jyhadein >>behind him clenches his fist. Gun emplacements flip out of all the >>buildings in the town and begin firing. Laser, plasma, bullets, all >>built into the walls of the town. Roland snarls something unintelligable and erects a forcefield. "Dhyrchlanc-" Roland begins. >~NO!~ A loud voice echos across the village. The bullets and >plasma/laser beams vanish in mid-air. A voice says "Kill Roland >Pheonix or his compainions, and risk our wraith." And with that, a >projection appears before Jadis. It is a sword, bent so that it is >stabbing its own hilt. The sword vanishes, and all is as it was >before the violence began. Roland blinks. "Need a scorecard just to keep track of the cosmics around here," he mutters. >On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 07:59:15 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004819 > >^If these people have had the apparent *generations* it would require > for the current situation, then Jadis has been monkeying with the > time rate in a major way. While we *do* still have off universe > links, some of them are acting oddly. Is Jadis pulling an 'Elf-hill' > scenario on us? Will it be centuries later when we leave?^ ^Well,^ Roland replies slowly, ^between our time travel abilities, and Barry's theories on absolute time, I think I can get us back within a reasonable amount of time from when we left. What worries me is what's been going on in the interim.^ (OOC: ) =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 12:47:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: re: To Market, to Market On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 12:13:34 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00004824 On Wed, 24 Jun 1998, Michael Knight wrote: > Tink hides her eyes, burying her face in Molly's collar, as Molly > just gapes, slack-jawed momentarily, before something kicks in and > she dives for cover under a large haycart. Underneath, she looks to > determine the target of the guns, already fairly certain of what > she'll find. Mandy swore and lunged for the hay cart as well, changing into Raver as they went. "I wanted to be human a bit longer than *this!" As they hit the dirt and peered out, the familiar black plate armor shimmered into place. =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 12:47:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The Dark Fist On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 12:21:08 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00004825 On Thu, 25 Jun 1998, Michael Knight wrote: > Without a word, Molly is airborne, making a beeline toward the > castle at roughly 100 miles per hour, Tink zipping along beside her. Raver scrambled out, their greater mass making them a trifle slower than Molly. She glanced back at the CAoL, /We will follow Molly. I suspect all of this is merely another diversion to slow us down by appealling to what senses of compassion we might happen to have./ In a burst of motion, the Two were winging off after Molly at a good clip. =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 12:53:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE4: To Market, To Market... On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 14:19:56 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004826 :On Thu, 25 Jun 1998 08:05:02 PST :Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004821 : :The Nemos will place themselves so as to shield the weaker members of :the party. Sera takes cover quickly, seemingly none too eager to see if the mortal weaponry could harm her angelic form. :Bullets that hit them stop and fall to the ground. Laser beams that :pass near them *bend* to strike them instead of pass by, and are :absorbed with no apparent ill effects. Plasma washes over them and is :absorbed. If the attack persists long enough, the Nemos will seem to :grow a bit larger and acquire a glow. Sera's form shrinks abruptly, and Zia is left kneeling behind Nemo's cover as the red of wings gives over to the black of her dress/uniform. She looks around intently in the midst of the battlefield. "@Raver? Mandy? Would you be willing to take the lead against this?@" She frowns slightly to herself as her yell comes out edged with a musicality quite out of place for Zia's voice. Stiffly, she manages to stand up, looking around at Jadis and his "followers" with a cold and evil smile. "Neophyte. Every virtue has a corresponding vice. If you would be God, Jadis, who then is the Devil? Humans do not see things as one sided. And here you've gone..." Zia has to stop and take a breath, holding her side from an earlier injury now returned with her own shape. She smiles despite it. Even at this low conversational tone, Jadis can likely either choose to hear her over the firing. Mandy, of course, can read what she is saying, if Zia managed. "And here you've gone and _told_ 'em we're your opposition. Foolish one, that means we MIGHT defeat you. Else why would you come here and oppose us? And if you are an Evil God, then a Good Devil is JUST the "medicine" magic I need." She turns and motions for Raver (or Mandy, if they're still in the incognito shape) to draw near her. "I can exploit this opening, but I think we should still battle through on toward Jadis' stronghold." Conversationally to the Nemo nearest her. "If only to catch up with Molly." She grins, tight and black humored. @Mandy, Raver, I can try to empower you a little in opposition to Jadis' position here, but it will make you a threat, and he'll likely move against YOU with particular savagery. Do you want to take that sort of acute risk?@ : ===========================