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Part 14: Gods with feet of clay =========================================================== This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:02, Wed 13 Aug 2003. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack dropped his eyes in shame at the dragons look, but pressed on moving forward to put a hand on her shoulder. “Aaron will live, I saw to that as I- I took care of that. Kalika is a big girl and will call me if she needs me.” He says softly “You are my friend, and you are hurt. Friends do not need apologies, friends do not need thanks, friends help each other. Let me help you, let me tend your wound.” As he spoke softly he reached out for a chair with a foot and slid it over. Now he gently tugged at her to sit down. “Now let me see.” He felt guilt at his words, words she had said to him worlds away. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Sick with shock from the experience and the nearly-inconsequential wound, Cyan merely nods and slumps into a chair, putting her face in her hand while Jack takes her other hand. "My fault," she whispers. "I am sorry, Jack. I misunderstood...EVERYTHING. Then, when the fear hits, I cannot control myself. I lose my thoughts, and something happens to me. I should not have been concerned, afraid, doubted you or Kalika. Fool, and fool's fool." Berd angrily tugs at her hair again with his teeth, but this time she ignores him. "This is not self-pity, Jack, do not think that. I did something terrible, and nearly cost...everything. Aaron his...his hand? And he...did something with that toy he carries. I do not rightly recall. Berd tells me Jen stepped between us. I vaguely recall nearly pulling steel on you. Then it would have been Kalika on me, and...oh, Gods." Slowly she begins to weep, tears flowing from dark, ruby eyes. "I was trying to STOP this, not start it," and Cyan waves her wounded hand at the room, spattering drops of blood on the floor. "As was Berd. We thought wrongly, so wrongly." She shakes her head, and Berd curls around her neck, crooning softly in her ear. "This is nothing," Cyan states, twisting her maimed hand. "NOTHING." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack kneeled down taking Cyan’s wrist in one of his big, bloodied hands and held if firmly “Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh,” he told he softly “You are in shock. . .It’s alright Cyan.” He lies she was hurt, body and soul. He would do his best to help with both. “I am okay, you did not cut me.” He winked at her through a eye that was swelling and bruising from one of Aaron’s punches, turning his head he spat some blood. “This is going to hurt a bit.” he says as he wraps the stump. “They should have the tech here to reattach it, almost good as new.” He glances back at the wolf woman he loves “Kalika, please find her finger, bring me some good booze from one of the tables. We are going to need to take her to the ships surgeon.” “Kalika’s okay if little vexed with us. Aaron will need some Aspreen and he’ll be back to being a pain in the ass in no time.” Jack grinned a bloody grin, his face took on a worried tone. The Girl- She is okay?” he asks not as certain “No one else was harmed?” As he speaks in soothing tones Jack take the tablecloth and wraps strips of it around her hand and over the finger stump. He takes her other hand and places it on the stump. “Please keep direct pressure on this.” And continues to tie it off. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Berd peers over and looks sadly at the wrecked piece of Cyan's glove lying on the floor. Sharp as a razor, the Chunchee blade has taken off the finger and part of the hand, slicing through the fantastically tough silk glove as if through rice paper. The same glove hangs limply on her hand - Jack needs to pull it off, and Cyan absently puts it in her belt, her movement reflexive, mechanical. When the glove is removed, the extent of the damage is visible. The slash was ALMOST parallel with the arm bones. The blade passed between the ring and little finger, the finger joint is cut, not cleanly but THROUGH, as is part of metacarpal four. The wound is over an inch in length, spanning the distance from the joint almost to the wrist. In essence, the side of Cyan's hand has now been reduced to being on a line with her wrist. The Bard blanches when she sees it, the capillaries oozing blood through the muscle of her palm, the vessels spurting slowly, already coming under the control of her body's innate strength. Still, Jack's bandage is welcome. The pain, though, is not, and Cyan grits her teeth, closing her eyes as he wraps the long wound. If it had been ragged, we would at least be able to stitch a flap of skin over it... "There will be no reattachement of that, Jack," Cyan hisses, rocking back and forth as he continues. "It may, in fact, need a cauter." She winces at the sight of his black eye...something to put on her credit again? Unsure, Cyan looks away to Berd. "Berd says that the girl is uninjured. Thank the spirits." She can see the disapproval in Berd's eyes, and has faint memories of Jen standing in FRONT of her. So close... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- "That hurt, you stupid son of a bitch!" ..his brother, laughing at him as Aaron held his hand over his surely broken nose... why had Jadus done that again? "You're weak, you're a bastard, and a stupid pain in the ass!" "Melanie..." ...and then Dewaite had come and said something... and Melanie had run off... and Jadus had roared and Aaron had stood and railed and raged and charged him and had even drawn the Ilse against him, and Dewaite had punched him in the stomach, hard, and even thrown Jadus to the ground just as he had drawn his dagger and Melanie had... "Melanie... Jadus... bastard..." And Aaron groaned, and mumbled something. A woman's name. His brother's name. And he remembered that he would pound Jadus into the earth again, if he got the chance. His broken nose had hurt for ages... until they found that his endurance was better than any of them had anticipated... and it was all so long ago... and she was so long, long gone... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack glanced over at the prone Amber man from where he knelt in front of Cyan, “Something else to deal with soon enough.” He thought. “I just hope he doesn’t come up fighting and listens to reason, he was pretty peeved after I took out his toy.” Jack sighed and closed his eyes for a moment and let out a deep sigh. Opening them back up he looked into Cyan’s eyes with his own deep blue eyes. He sought no mental contact only her honest answer. “I though about cauterizing it, but if we do that there will be virtually no chance of reattaching your pink. I myself would prefer to take you to the ships medical facilities and at least try and put you back together.” He searched her eyes feeling like there was more to this than met the eye. “Cyan, as a friend the choice is your, if you want to try or not. Yet as a friend I must advise you not to do anything lightly or pay a price you do not have to. Either way we it would be best to get you to a med bay to treat this properly.” As he spoke he held he good hand comfortingly. Jack felt so tired right now. . .So very tired. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali realizes too late that Cyan is trying, as always, to interfere. She regrets the wound to the other woman, and sees that Jack has it taken care of. That hurts, more than she thought, but she understands. Hunter trots to Jack's side and deposits a little finger at his side and whines at him. The huge wolf turns his intelligent gaze to Cyan and then licks the side of her face, sorry for the mistake. Meanwhile, Kali, who is still standing by Aaron, wipes her blade clean on the Amberite's clothing. She barely resists the urge to kick him. Her enhanced hearing picks up Cyan's denial of sewing the severed finger back on so she does not get alcohol as Jack requested. Instead she unshoulders her pack and takes out a length of hempen rope and makes short work of hog tying the passed out Aaron. The man had proven himself to be an enemy and when he came too she wanted to make sure he wasn't in a position to do anyone any physical harm. When Aaron grunts and moans the names Kali's eyes narrow in irritation. She tugs on the knots, pulling them extra tight. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "I cannot see how they will put it b-back on, Jack. Even in laboratories I have visited, this is difficult to seal. Every minute that passes, the life dies a little more from the wound." She shakes her head, trying not to look at the hand. "I should...go to the healers here. At least he may be able to seal the damage without resorting to fire." Cyan hangs her head. "I am sorry...Aaron did not deserve to be harmed for my mistakes. Had I not been the fool, this would not have occurred." Hunter moves up and drops the finger/hand chunk next to Jack. Cyan's face goes pale again, and she searches for something else to look at. Then Hunter licks her face, quietly, and the redhead struggles to keep from crying again. "I'm sorry, Hunter. I'm sorry. It was my fault. It was all my fault." Berd, however, is demonstratively NOT sorry in this case. He eyes Hunter warily (but not angrily), climbing down Cyan and picking up the gruesome package. After another moment of staring at Hunter with a critical eye, he relaxes slightly and lets out a quiet chirrup, clambering back up Cyan's leg to sit on her lap and offer the ruined flesh to Jack. His claws, however, hook into the piece of glove left - it's plain he intends to keep the silk. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack makes a decision and moves quickly running a few steps away and grabbing and ice bucket off a table. Running back he tears a square piece off the table cloth, as he fills it with ice and ties it off he glances at Kalika and winks saying “I just think it’s so cute the way she hog ties a prince robbing him of the tattered remains of his dignity.” The grin he flashes her is almost as feral as hers. He hands Cyan the ice and snaps off a command “Hold this on your hand.” He pulls the pinky from the glove letting Berd have it and dropping the remains of the hand in the bucket with the ice. Getting up again he runs to the table and picks up Isle, carrying the ice bucket with him now. Running back to Aaron he stops and leans in to give Kalika a quick kiss on the cheek. When he pulled back he said “Be a dear and help Cyan along, we are moving out to the infirmary now.” He glanced back at dragon “Berd, that man in the uniform, the steward. Wake him up now! Better yet wake them all up, one of the two.” He flashed a last smile at Kali “Promise me my love that later we will take a shower and curl up together to sleep.” With that he slid Isle back in the sheath on Aaron’s back. Stood up and poured some of the water from the ice bucket in his face, holding his hand over the top to make certain he did not drop the finger. “Come on people let’s move!” he called out as he did so. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- ...kill Jack. Oh yes, he wanted to. He had been feigning unconsciousness for the better part of a minute now, which wasn't very hard considering his current physical condition. However, he also knew that he didn't really want to kill Jack. He, honestly, liked the man's company too damn much to actually slay him. And judging from his current state of well-being, he figured the only way he could kill him was to sneak up on him anyway, which took both time and planning, and he didn't give enough of a crap to do either. And besides, Jack was the whole reason behind him being here in the first place. "God damnit, Jack..." he finally states, his voice a sickeningly liquid nasal facsimile of his usual tenor. He did his absolute best to ignore the horrid throbbing in his nose, and reconsidered saying anything else at all. He didn't want to choke on his own blood, after all. He was still on his back. And he realised that somebody had tied him up. When all he wanted to do was get the man's freaking attention. And then the Ilse went absolutely absurd, which had been nowhere near his fault, and should have been impossible... At least he had that with him now, thank God. Had Jack put that back in its sheath? If so, then Jack certainly trusted him more than Aaron gave him credit for. A good sign. He coughed then, also a damp confirmation that he needed a serious physical readjustment. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack reach down and pulled the Amber man up to a sitting position then stood up and stepped back. “Ain’t that somethin’, It lives. . . Ya know where I come from if you draw steel on a man it means you want to kill him, especially if you manage to threaten him in the same breath. That’s the second time you’ve done that to me. At this rate you might actually make me angry. Now you gone and put me in a bind, you being all trussed up like a Christmas goose. I’m gonna have to drag your ungrateful carcass around like bloody Samsonite until she tells me I can untie you, and you don’t have any wheels.” He shook his head. “You know for the life of me I can’t figure out what got into you or Cyan. Of all the self centered show boat moves. . .We are trying to sneak around and find this woman’s trail, covert ops. What were you thinking? I just don’t get you guys? I trusted you by letting you hold my weapon, something I would only do with a friend and you draw down on me and threaten me. Why?” Jack shook his head trying to understand the Amber man. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali steps back from Aaron, pleased with her handiwork. Her smile is more relaxed after watching Jack admiringly for a few moments she snaps back into action. She stares into Hunter's eyes and the wolf's mouth opens into a lupine grin. The wolf then takes up a space besides Aaron, watching him closely, teeth barred. "One wrong move and you are hui traitor" she hisses scathingly to the Amberite, not caring if he is hogged tied or not. She then turns to Cyan, compassion on her face. "Come now, up we go" Kali aids the injured woman to her feet, offering her full support to help her stand and start to head out of the stateroom "to the infirmery with you" she says in the kind tone of a mother tending a sick child. She would clear the air with the other woman after her wound was properly tended to. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron, his eyes half-closed, chuckles, which isn't a very pleasant sound at the moment. Oh, how he wished to spit so bad... but with his nose the way it was, inhaling at all was a definite negative. "You... turned your back on my friend, Jack. I... would've killed you anyway, if you left us... like this. Death or no death, I value all my friend's lives, even when I..." he coughs then, just a bit, "...even when I need to act like a damn fool to get their attention!" Another chuckle escaped him, at the irony of it all. Had his father said something about an Amberites life? Oh yes: "Amberites? Thier lives are nothin' but trials and tribulations! They're gluttons for punishment, boy! Be glad you ain't one!" Was he one? Thinking this way now, when he had thought only of himself mere moments prior? Or, was he thinking of keeping his friends... the most selfish thing he could do? "It worked, didn't it? I got your damn attention, friend." he finally states. And he laughs, a quiet thing, and his bloody smile is as genuine as any of the others he's shown him. "Now untie me. I've just got a broken nose, and I don't feel like killing anything at all. Not yet, anyway. Maybe when my nose really starts hurting." And out of the whole freaking group, I'm the one who gets tied up? Oh yes. Broken nose, weak as water, haven't eaten since I left Amber... what... days ago? And now I'm tied up. Irony indeed. I wonder. Did Lord Corwin go through crap like this? =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Listening to Jack's words to Aaron, Cyan feels a hot rush of shame ripple through her. The pain in her hand has subsided to a dull, burning fire; the pain in her heart grows into a roaring inferno. The one, she can easily withstand. The other...perhaps not. '...what got into you and Cyan...' Madness. How foolish, how mad could she be to even THINK that her friends would do something rash, some insane? Something like what she almost did herself? How could she let herself be driven to such an extreme? She could have killed Jack in her battle fury. And now Kalika is beside her, trying to help her to her feet, her voice low and compassionate. Worse - it is the sort of voice an adult uses when a child is injured. And a child is what I am. It almost undoes her again, where pain could not - compassion is a painful lash in these circumstances. She deserves none. Fumbling, Cyan reaches out with her good hand, placing it on Kalika's shoulder and levering herself to her feet. She ducks her head, slightly; despite the differences in their height, she feels tremendously smaller than the shorter woman. "Yes," she whispers almost meekly. "Thank you." Then Aaron replies to Jack. And a rolling tide of anger threatens to, for an instant, push back the pain Cyan feels. Slowly she turns towards the hogtied man, her obsidian eyes burning. "Aaron," she speaks, her bard's voice echoing clearly in the silent room. "You are a fool. Are you blind? Are you deaf? Did you not SEE me warning Jack off? Did you not see the tension within me? I doubt you are so poor a swordsman so as to have missed that. What COULD Jack have done? Had he not moved back, in my madness I would have k-killed him!" Cyan shakes her head, her voice acid that burns her spirit. "What choice did he have? Jack had as much chance of persuading me to calm as he would have with a rabid dog!" I am nothing more than that. "The only way he might have made things better was to move away, and he DID. If he was confused, angered, disgusted by the situation, CAN YOU BLAME HIM?" Her tone clearly states that SHE does not. "And you." Her eyes narrow. "I take great pleasure in knowing that I am not the only fool in this group. You are like a little boy holding a knife for the first time. You flourish your blade at every opportunity, so eager for others to see your beautiful toy, with its fancy engravings and fantastic abilities. You use it to get attention, you use it to make a point, you use it to fuel your ego! That is a killing tool, not a work of art, BOY, and it should only come out when there is no other choice! There is only one point it can make! When it is drawn, diplomacy will always fail! When you pull steel, it is to kill, and so you should not unless it is absolutely necessary! And to do so on a friend, that means nothing more than you are prepared to kill them as well!" Her voice is laced with self-hatred, searing her own heart, but she continues. "And that thing you carry, you spun past innocents to 'gain Jack's attention', when it is obvious your control over it is not total!" Cyan's voice actually fails for a moment, and she stares at him with disbelief before getting herself under control. "And that you say would kill a man for walking away, for turning his back...at least I can feel comfort in the fact that I would never, EVER do such a thing. I would have killed him in my madness had he not done so, a man who only sought to help a friend, and that will be a knife in my gut for my life to come. MY FAULT." Tears burn Cyan's eyes, but do not fall. "But you...you rationalize, you make claims, you do everything except take responsibility for your actions. Always with a reason, is that how it is, Aaron? Every bad thing that has happened to you is everyone else's fault!" A grimace of disgust crosses her face for an instant. "Do not call me friend. Such a deadly child as yourself, who would endanger innocents with his toys, who would use a weapon against a friend to gain their 'attention', who would slay a man for walking away from death, well...I nearly killed a friend in my madness today, and wronged all of you, so perhaps I no longer deserve friends! But I would not be so mad as to accept such a man were he my only friend remaining! Do not call me so, or use me as part of your flimsy rationalizations! I will have no part of them!" Panting, Cyan stares at the bound man for a moment, the disgust she feels for him twin to what she feels for herself. Slowly the anger drains out of her, and she turns to face Kalika. "I am sorry for making you wait," she says softly, unable to look the other woman in the eyes. "I...we can go." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Berd ----------------------------------------------------------- Berd listens to Cyan's furious speech, noting the pain and self-hatred concealed under the rage. He shakes his head, briefly. Much of the blame for this situation belongs to him, for stepping in when Kalika threatened the boys. She would not have harmed them, he can see, and while it was not an honourable act, or a good one, would have caused no lasting harm. Now, this.... Excessive guilt will not help, though. Sighing faintly, the little dragon exhales a puff of shimmering, dancing mist into the air. In a few minutes, the people here will begin to waken, and will not recall any of the events occurring in the room. All except the children - Pete, the others...especially Jen. Another puff of mist into the air, and the broken chair slowly dissolves, the heavy slash in the floor disappears. With a few, desulatory flaps of his wings, Berd lands beside Jen's head. His tail touches her head. After all, they will need someone to guide them to the infirmary. Better this one than the steward. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack has a soft sad smile listening to Cyan, softly he says “You will always be my friend Bard. That which does not kill us makes us stronger and that which does not kill our friendship makes it stronger. Our friendship is not dead.” He turns back to Aaron hiding the fact that he wipes a tear from his eye. Jack kneels down and smiles a friendly smile at Aaron. He himself had had worse fights than this with his brothers growing up. He even had to kill one of his own brothers, but that was another story. He picks up the extra rope that ties the mans feet and starts walking backwards dragging the man and talking to him. “I would say yes you did get my attention and both our lives would be easier in a way if you were free to walk around. Here’s the skinny Amber man, I like you despite yourself. For the life of me I don’t know why, but I do.” “If I didn’t like you I would have ended it already. You have been a pain in my ass since day one, I don’t know maybe that’s why I like you. Now Why was I beating a retreat? Oh yes, perhaps it was because both Cyan and Berd had told me to. I was gonna go down stairs and steal a black suit, then go find and talk to the captain. It would have taken me a while because I would have had to go through the chain of command. I wasn’t turning my back on anyone. . . Okay that’s a lie I was emotionally, but that’s irrelevant.” “What’s more if I did have to or even choose to leave the group, that is my business. You have your reasons for being here, I have mine. Something would have to shatter my reasons for being here, but if I decided I had to leave at least I know I have to kill you first. So if I were you and Jack turned up missing, I would think he might come back because you are still alive, by your reasoning that is. Just remember, I’ve known Cyan” “I’m not certain what happened because I was occupied with you, but the best I can figure is this. Kali saw us going at it and charged with every intention of Frappe’ing your aspreen, be it because you were at her man or at one of the group. Moot point any way, she would have frapped you and life for Aaron would have really been crappy.” He glanced back at Kalika “You know I’m sorry I never met this Jonnee, he sounds like a neat guy.” Then turned his attention back to Aaron, by listening to Cyan I surmise she felt guilty about all of this and didn’t want to see you frapped. I don’t know perhaps she prefers flambé. Well if I’m correct, being the idiot she is it looks like she put her hand into Kali’s blade to stop her from using it on you. Why do I think this when I didn’t see it you ask? Well Kali is out right good enough that she does not miss. If they were fighting it would have happened back there not over by us.” “So right now we are helping Cyan, you owe her, she lost fingers for you. What’s more your actions from now reflect on both me and Cyan. Why? She chose to save you from frappe and I chose not to frappe you myself. Are you understanding this, are we done discussing things and threatening? I do hope so. . .” “However we have a bigger problem, Kali tied you up. I would happily let you roam free and choose to settle this now or accept that the matter is settled. But since she made the choice to tie you up I have to back that choice. See I don’t want to wind up in the dog house, cause I was kind of hoping for a little quality time with her at some point.” He winked at Aaron “Beside I’m here for her, no other reason, got it? So you are gonna have to sweet talk her into letting me untie you, and you’d better do it quick and real polite like. We are gonna have to take stairs to get off this deck.” Jacks friendly smile grew a little bit “Bumppity bump bumpity bump. So talk to the Queen not me, I’m just the baggage handler.” The smile grew a little more. “Next time you may try ‘Hey Jack!’ to get my attention. It would be more sensible.” Finally he looked over at Hunter and winked “Thanks for the hand Hunter. . . and the finger as well.” Then winces at his own bad humor. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron snorts, frowning quite considerably. However, he understood the woman perfectly, and his dark eyes stared ahead at nothing. "Blind? Probably. Deaf? More than likely. Egotistical and demanding of attention? Oh, a surety my dear Cyan." And so he sighed as well, lowering his head as best he could, what with him being tied up and all. "You have had time to get used to your situations, Cyan, Jack, Kalika. I was, quite honestly, trying my damndest to adapt to my own current state of mind. However, attitudes being as they were, I'm afraid my feeble attempts to steel myself within our travels failed miserably once my comrades began, again, to disintegrate." He turned his head, violently inhaled with a painful groan, spat blood. "Am I guilty of rushing to judgement, of not paying attention? Of course! Yet I have been pushed to the extremes of my limitations since I walked the Pattern, Cyan, and moments ago, I would have ripped every one of you apart if it would have silenced the bickering and let me rest. You have been witness to the ragged edge of a haunted, dying man. Sing your songs of that, bard. Friend." She will see... And then he closed his eyes and shut up. For a good long time. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Listening to Jack, Cyan cannot help but feel that he is being a little too optomistic. Their friendship may not be dead, but it is certainly tottering, having been dealt a vicious wound by her hand. Still, there is hope. At his continuing words to Aaron, she blinks, and says in a quiet, confused voice: "Aaron did not deserve to be maimed for my mistakes...I hoped that my glove might...might resist the blow. It is proof against...but I did not wish to draw steel on Kalika from behind, even in defence. Not with what had happened." Her face hardens slightly. "And there is no debt. I do not wish it, I do not acknowledge it." No debt for saving a man. And certainly, I do not wish any debt with HIM. She stares at Aaron with disgust mirroring her feelings towards herself, listening to his replies. Again with rationalization. 'Poor me,' he says, 'yes, I did this, but it was not my fault!' Shaking her head, she turns away, any number of reponses leaping to mind. But Cyan only wants this discussion with the boy to END. Friend? A friend like you, I do not wish. Jack is far more forgiving than I, when it comes to this. Pulling steel...and refusing to admit his culpability. He will do it again. And again. And there will always be a 'reason'. Berd hisses in displeasure at the poor joke Jack makes, though Cyan does not register it. Then he blinks, ducks his head, and goes back to waiting for Jen to wake up early. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- you knew Yes, I knew. I didn't know the Ilse would... or Cyan or Kali or Jack... but you knew - you knew that would happen - take the consequences - take Cyan's loss But I... NO - how long have you lived - Hundreds of years - Has Jadus and Melanie stolen your past - your understanding - your mind No... I was just so tired... your group too was tired - you alone brought this upon yourself - no falut of Cyan or Jack or Kalika - if you die you die alone - wake up now and remember yourself - Hundreds of years Stupid. I was stupid. Yes. You were. But don't be blinded by your mistakes. Fess up, own up, continue on, and act your age. You were always walking that short path, Aaron. Try walking the long one this time. And if you don't apologize and watch yourself, you'll lose more than friends. "You're a stupid bastard, Aaron. But... you could be much more than that." Be who you are, old and young both, but always remember the wisdom of your age. And never get ahead of that wisdom. Only then will you truly understand what your friends mean, and what that power insde truly is. **** Aaron's eyes slowly open, and the lit room about them somehow seems brighter now. His nose still hurts, and it would for a while yet, but what existed within him burned even more so than that. He had been wrong. So damnably stupidly wrong, and he had been blinding himself to it since... since long before he had even heard of Jack, or the Pattern. Years and years of bad choices and dangerous mistakes had piled up upon one another until they finally exploded on this day. Cyan blamed herself, but he knew that he was the one who set it all in motion. He knew now, that everything before this moment was over and done. All of it, from his sword and Pattern, to the loss of Cyan's hand and her friendship. Everything in that respect, was done. That, he could not change. But Aaron was done as well. The young man had been scoured away, revealing the centuries behind him. Yes, the Pattern had refined him, but that was only an additive to his renewed understanding. He, Aaron, had changed. Aaron would make no extreme effort to show Cyan or Jack how that change affected him. He knew now, that it would move on its own, and it would affect each one of them in turn. And his past? Well, his past could burn and die, but he had learned much since he had met this motley group, and that knowlege would assist him very well. This group was his past now. But for now, for the moment, he simply rested, slowly closed his eyes, and awaited his next requirement. For he told Jack he would help when they had met, and he would indeed help. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- “Ouch, that had to hurt!” Jack said when Aaron spit. Jack had picked up his staff and tucked it into the straps of his pack. Jack had the free length of rope and he began to snap his fingers to a beat as he dragged the Amberite across the floor towards the stairwell. “Lalai.” He called back, snapping out the time “You tied him, your call.” Jack winked at her and he seemed to merrily drag the Aaron towards said stairwell and began to sing making occasional eyes at Kali. He was having fun with this in a warped way, but he suspected someone would end the fun before he had to drag the man up or down the stairs. Besides it was a welcome distraction from having to worry about Cyan. Would she be able to play the harp again? She was truly talented and it would be such a shame. Never know how much I love you Never know how much I care When you put your arms around me I get a fever that's so hard to bear You give me fever when you kiss me Fever when you hold me tight Fever ... in the mornin' Fever all through the night Sun lights up the day time Moon lights up the night I light up when you call my name 'cause I know you're gonna treat me right You give me fever when you kiss me Fever when you hold me tight Fever ... in the mornin' Fever all through the night Everybody's got the fever That is somethin' you all know Fever isn't such a new thing Fever started long time ago Romeo loved Juliet Juliet she felt the same When he put his arms around her He said, "Julie baby you're my flame" Thou givest fever when we kisseth Fever with thy flaming youth Fever I’m on fire Fever yea I burn forsooth Captain Smith and Pocahontas Had a very mad affair When her daddy tried to kill him She said "Daddy oh don't you dare" "He gives me fever with his kisses" "Fever when he holds me tight" "Fever, I’m his missus" "Daddy won't you treat him right?" Now you've listened to my story Here's the point that I have made Chicks were born to give you fever Be it Fahrenheit or cent-i-grade Gives me fever when you kiss me Fever if you live and learn Fever till you sizzle What a lovely way to burn What a lovely way to burn What a lovely way to burn, ahhhhhh He finally stops near the door to the stairs striking a pose, waiting on the girls and dragon. He’s not as good as Cyan, but not half bad. Anything to get in a better mood and to get them moving in a direction. He smiled at Kalika, uncertain if she would tell him to leave him tied or not. He was certain Aaron was not helping his case by not asking Kali like was suggested to him. Personally Jack was hoping for down, dragging him upstairs would be a pain. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- "Yes, yes it did. And I must say, Jack. You're better at hauling the dead than singing. I can judge for both." His voice had a sad kind of amusement to it, and he sighed as he remembered what Jack had told him only moments ago. "Kalika, I assure you, I'm not about to kill anoyone at all, nor do I intend to in the near or far future. Barring any unexpected circumstances. I know you don't care what I'd appreciate, but I would appreciate being untied before Jack reaches those stairs." Although it probably would be a fitting punishment for him, now that he thought about it... especially if he "accidentally" rolled onto his stomach pre-stairs, and was dragged up that way. His nose would get adjusted much sooner than anticipated. As he thought about his situation, he didn't think he could even lift the Ilse right now, and he didn't entirely trust the sword anyway. What had caused it to flip out in such a manner, aside from his own juvenile reactions? Staring up and back at Jack, he wondered. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- The smile slowly faded from Jacks face and it was replaced by a kinder look. The change happened with fluid ease. He knelt down pulling his dagger ready to cut the bonds, yet not doing it yet he awaited Kalik’s word. “Sorry for the mad man act and the singing. I figured one of them would make you speak. Now you have me curious. . . What do you mean by hauling the dead? I gave you no grievous wounds.” Jack watches the man closely studying his mind, if only to ensure honest answers, if only to be certain. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- NPC'd Kalika glances at Jack, puzzled by the strange song, so different from the songs of the Chunchee, which were generally tales about the animals around them, sung so that all would remember the powers and abilities of the bear, or the cleverness of the jackdaw... then she looks down at Aaron. It might be fun to see him bouncing on the stairs, but she knows a better way to punish him. Asking Jack to take care of Cyan for a few minutes, she cuts a lengthy section of rope from the loose end, then rolls Aaron over. She works quickly, making an intricate series of knots, loops and twists. Eventually she runs out of rope and has to stop. Only then does she release the man. "Try to draw your blade." she commands, voice low and dangerous. When Aaron reaches for Ilse, his hands discover not the familiar hilt, but a mass of rope. The weapon is tied into it's scabbard with such complexity that the next time Aaron wants to use his blade, he will need at least ten minutes and possibly an extra pair of hands to unbind it. "In future you will need to think before you resort to steel, and you will have to think even if you decide to use it, because the knots will need to be solved. If you behave, I will teach you the trick of them." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen sits up, her face set in an expression of grim determination. Then she realises that the fight is over. "What happened?" is all she can manage as she watches Berd, this time with a hint of nervousness to her manner. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Berd ----------------------------------------------------------- Berd seems unaccountably shamed, and looks down at the ground. The little dragon looks up at Jen hopefully, his normally glittering eyes dulled and shadowed. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- He finally stands, stretches, and regrets it almost immediately as copious amounts of blood shower him. The change in gravity affected his nose more than the rest of his body. "Ach... hold on a moment..." Unable to take anything save his cloak by hand, he uses it to stifle off the remaining flow of blood from his nose. This takes a moment, but it eventually stops. And yes, judging from the way it looks, his nose is definetly broken. "Ah. Going to have to adjust that when we stop. Won't feel good, but it'll be better than this." He finally looks at Jack. Quite a sight, considering half his face is bloodstained and bruised, even despite using the cloak. "Perhaps you were hauling the dead there for a while, Jack. Perhaps someone has died." And his eyes are old, then, as he shows a slight half-smile. He turns to Kalika, adjusts his sword no matter what its current state, and nods. "I undertstand. And... thank you." Sighing, he turns, looks at Cyan for a second, and proceeds to walk towards the door, his back to the rest of them for now. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- "You need the doctor?" Jen pushes herself to her feet, clearly nervous about what has happened. Her voice is quiet, hesitant, as she says, "'kay. I'll show you where it is, I guess. But if there's any more weird stuff you're on your own. I can't afford to get grounded again." She leads the way to a different door, near one side of the dining room, which opens into another corridor leading back along the ship, this one wide and lined with shops selling strange clothes, perfumes, toy animals. All of the shops are closed and dark within, although the windows are brightly lit behind protective cages. Finally she cuts into a cross way, which leads to a wide circular chamber that seems to rise the full height of the ship, from the keel to the highest deck. Overhead is a glass dome, supported by steel rods and butresses that look too slim to take the weight. At each deck a broad walkway circles the central well, and from somewhere comes hideously irritating music. One quarter of the way around the walkway, Jen turns into an alcove, some thirty feet square, with several comfortable looking chairs and a desk at the far end beside a door, where a woman in a starched white uniform sits reading. She looks up as the strange group approaches, and asks, "Good evening. Can I help you?" A sign on her desk reads "Reception". =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Berd ----------------------------------------------------------- Berd sadly trots along behind Jen, looking for all the world like a small dog who knows his owner is highly annoyed. Cyan stares at him as she walks beside Kalika, then narrows her eyes as they walk. She had forgotten something...not that it was a very big issue. She would simply have to make certain to pick it up after they left. Not a good thing to leave lying around where someone could play with it. When they stop, Berd leans against Jen's leg, trying to get her to pick him up. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron arched an eyebrow in the direction of the horrid music... figuring that there actually was something worse sounding than Jack's singing. When the woman asked if she could help, he got such an urge to lean over her desk, stare her in the face and state "Yes. We need help." However, his better nature overruled quite considerably in that regard, despite how amusing it would have been. He also noted, that the Ilse was quite a bit heavier wtih all that rope on it. God forbid they get in a fight before he learned those knots... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack Moved up and smiled disarmingly at the woman looking her in the eyes. “Yes, we really need to see the doctor now. Can you help us? Please?” The last word comes out as almost a breathy whisper. At the same time he reaches out with his mind, gently and subtly allaying any fears and worries. No questions, just help them quickly. Nothing is strange or unusual about them. “I do so hate waiting around in Doctors offices and it is so important” He adds softly and sweetly. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The receptionist gazes at Jack, "Don't try charming me young man, I'm old enough to be your... older sister, and men making puppy-dog eyes at me lost its effect a long time ag... oh!" she spots Cyan, her eyes widening as she notes the makeshift bandage with the redness oozing through it. She presses a button on a small box on her desk before speaking again. "Doctor, I've got somebody here who's been hurt at the costume party, can I send her straight in, it looks quite bad?" A moment later the door is flung open, and another woman in white comes out. The one at the desk points towards the injured Bard, and the doctor leads her inside the office. The door closes, but not before Jen slips through, saying, "I'm sorry, doctor, my friend is foreign and very scared. Can I sit with her?" =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan pauses, looks down at Jen in surprise, then nods. "Please?" she asks quietly. Her suprised look becomes grateful as she stares at the younger woman. She follows the doctor in, though. Berd, staring at the Doctor and receptionist, makes certain they know he Should Be There and Not Be Noticed, and continues to beg for Jen to pick him up. He's looking rather pathetic now, with big, sad eyes, but isn't using any kind of influence on her. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- “Oh dear,” Jack says softly looking sheepish and embarrassed “I’m loosing it.” He steps up to the receptionist desk holding out the ice bucket looking like a chastised kid standing in front of the class. “Ummm ma’am, Her finger is in here, and could we see about fixing my other friends nose? I think it’s broken.” he points to Aaron then quickly retreats back to Kalika seeking solace for failure by being with her. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- "I'm sure the doctor will see him, after she's dealt with your other friend. And the... dog will have to stay out here." the receptionist replies, fixing Jack with a stare as cold as the ice in the bucket. Even her momentary confusion over Hunter's species, and the sudden absence of the other, smaller "dog", does nothing to soften her tone. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack falls back under her stern gaze. . . At this point Jack knows he should go find a way to get clothes. He knows he should keep an eye out for ships security, he knows there are man things he should do. Instead he sits down with Kali on the couch and lies his head in her lap, the goes to sleep to wait on Cyan and Aaron. He figures Berd will wake him if he’s needed. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack, Kali, the Ilse and myself... could have killed Cyan, now that I think about it. Damnit. This was the line of thinking now that Aaron too had sat down, his hands behind his head as if his broken nose was the last thing on his mind. It practically was, now. time will heal this wound - time - patience - perseverence His eyes stared at the ceiling above, and his thoughts traveled back, to that very strange and frightening outburst that he himself had incited. Something did die. That scream... it was the young Aaron dying. That absurd false creation that had been spawned after Jadus... damnit. But my old self had awakened in spite of the troubles. Can I retain this wisdom? This aged understanding that I lost so long ago? I hope so. His eyes glanced over at Jack. Such an amusing yet powerful man. Surprisingly so on both counts. And somehow, the two of them both reflected the positives and negatives of eachother. Such could be for the good of the group. He would do his best to cultivate that example. And Kali? Well, she was equally interesting, and he'd have to interact with her eventually, if just to get the knots off of the Ilse. Cyan... ah, Cyan. Such a troublesome yet wonderful occurence on this very day. Troublesome, quite considerably... but wonderful? Yes. Wonderful, for it meant that he could give up the actual obfuscation he had been giving to the group since he had first come across Jack. The young lie. He almost chuckled. While the results of the obfuscation were unfortunate, for he hadn't anticipated Kalika's reaction today, it could all work to the good if he made sure his change, his new self, worked on its own. Then the young man, the lie he had subconsciously worked into himself, would disappear for good. Time, patience, perseverence. They would win out in the end. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Nothing here to see.... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The receptionist keeps looking at Hunter with open disapproval, the thought of somebody bringing a dog, no, two dogs, into the doctor's office. And where had the second dog gone to? The one that looked strange in some way that she couldn't quite put her finger on... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan, a more 'professional' dressing on her hand, slips out of the Doctor's room. "Perhaps," she says weakly, "we should go somewhere quiet to discuss things." She casts an emerald glance back at Jen, exiting behind her (hopefully) with Berd in her arms. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan had returned. In the time between her departure and now, Aaron had successfully snuffed the urge to readjust his nose personally. Now that she had returned, he figured he'd be up next. He stood up finally, still a slightly grotesque sight, considering the shape he was in. His cloak slid off of the chair he was sitting in, and the sword at his back made a dull noise as the thick amount of rope behind absorbed its movement. "You all may go on without me. I will remain here and tend to myself." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Ignoring Aaron, for there was no question directed at her there, and she would do whatever the group wished (and cursed meekly, too), Cyan moved to Jack and, sapphire eyes meeting his sadly, slowly took the bucket from him. "I shall be back in a moment." Berd watched her go, sadly. Sitting quietly in Jen's arms, he did not pursue, but his awareness followed within her as she walked away, seeking to comfort in any way he could. Silently she opened the door out onto the deck. Moving to find a railing, she carefully looked down into the water, making certain it did not open over another deck. And that would be a wonderful gift, the redhead thougth with pained irony. Glancing down into the bucket, once, Cyan shivered, then emptied it out over the water. "Perhaps someday," she whispered to a silent question. "But for now, how would we return so quickly? No. I think...that will come later. If ever." Looking at her hand, Cyan shuddered. "A reminder. I would not keep it if I did not have to do so, but in this case, as I have little option, it should serve a purpose." Then she quietly returned to the doctor's office to wait on the pleasure of the others. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron enters the inner office with the doctor, while Cyan goes to attend to business of her own. She returns to the waiting area to find that Aaron has still not come back out of the office. Jen stands talking to Jack and Kalika, cradling Berd in her arms. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack had been catching a power nap when Cyan came out form the Doc’s office, he was quickly becoming a regular trooper learning to catch sleep where he could. He watched Cyan go then lifted his head from Kali’s lap and turned to Aaron, “’Fraid not ol’ boy we don’t leave our people behind, we’ll wait for you. Go talk to the receptionist about getting that nose taken care of.” He then turned to Jen speaking quietly “Jen, I am unbelievably sorry for any problems that we caused here, it shames me that you have seen us at our worst. Still we need help if you are willing. We need somewhere to rest and clean up, something to eat and I need a change of clothes.” He knew they would have to get together once Cyan was back and Aaron was taken care of to figure out just exactly what they were doing here. Jack honestly did not believe that the woman had came this way, it was not on the cube. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron is not in with the doctor as long as Cyan had been, and when he comes out he has a sticking plaster across his nose as a splint to help the bone heal. The doctor follows him out and hands him two small containers, "Pain killers and antibiotics, the instructions are on the bottles, make sure you follow them and try not to get into any fights." "As with your friend, I'd suggest visiting the hospital in Arlan when we dock there tomorrow. They've got much better facilities there than I have." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron returns, noting that Jack had been right, and they hadn't left him after all. Though he wouldn't state it, this was a slight comfort to him. Mumbling something about the "unnecessity of painkillers", he made to toss them into the trash, when his nose sent a right spear of pain through his head. This caused his eyes to go wide for a moment, his teeth to grind, and a strangled sigh to escape him. "Ah... thank you, doctor. Very much." And he remembered again, that he had left his satchel somewhere. Not only that, he was surprised to remember that he even had a satchel at some point. Odd, that. Raising the antibiotics to eye-level, he checked the dosage required, nodded, and lowered them back to his side. His gaze now returned to Jack, who had humbly given to him the broken nose, and smiled. "Well friend, do you have any idea where we should be going to next?" =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Sitting silently by herself, Cyan slowly flexes her injured hand. The pain...is nothing, really. Oddly small, for such a significant loss. It occurs to her that this is fundamentally unfair - losing something so important ought to be more agonizing. Then again, to most people the loss of a little finger isn't exactly of paramount import. Brushing back her hair with her free hand, Cyan nods to the doctor. "Thank you, Doctor. If I get a chance, I will do so." Her own immune system, better than most, should suffice. Sighing, Cyan waits until all eyes are away from her, then pulls out her palanquet deck. Berd simply sits where he is, enjoying the feeling, and giving Cyan the occasional worried glance. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali sits back on the bench, idly running her fingers through Jack's hair, a small smile on her lips as her thoughts wander from annoyance at not being able to claim Aaron's hand, to smugness at the knots she bound his sword with, to fleeting ideas spurned by Jack's eyebrow waggling. She chuckles softly to herself. That should keep his dreams interesting. When he wakes, she kisses his forehead gently. "You are a weird one lalai" she says to him, a hint of laughter shining in her yellow eyes. At her feet, Hunter huffs audibly as if to say this is not a good thing like his mistress thinks. She rises with the others when Cyan returns and pulls her deck of ulez cards. She wonders where the Bard will take them, and hopes an ocean is not an obvious feature of the land. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- “I’m a weird one,” Jack puts on his best sly yet hurt look, hammed up as to be unbelievable. “She who eats spider legs and howls at the moon calls me weird?” He winks at Kali “Okay, so I’m weird.” He shrugs and smiles. “I must be. . . I can’t seem to get this odd dream out of my head. There was a giant severed hands talking down to me with Hunter, disembodied waggling eyebrows and you lalai. . . In your. . .Well you were. . .there was nothing. . .The there was the running through the forest and. . .Ah yea.” He blushed and grinned wickedly while not quite making eye contact. Changing the subject smoothly breaths a beep sigh and looks over to Aaron “Let’s start by getting out of here where we can talk.” He said quietly and looked over at the doctor with a smile. “Then we’ll decide if we are staying here or going. You any good at gambling Aaron?” He stands up smoothly and looks around “Is everyone ready to move?” his hand rests on Kalika’s shoulder. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen stands, still holding Berd cradled in her arms, the little dragon a picture of perfect contentment as she scratches the velvet-soft skin under his jaw. "Um... if you need somewhere quiet to sit for a little while and make your plans... my parents will be at the stupid party for hours yet. You can use our cabin, mine and Pete's. They're in the cabin next door, and they probably won't even look in on us when they get back." She smiles nervously, and adds, "But I want to listen to what you say. I bet it'll be really cool, and I won't interrupt or anything." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron, who had chuckled at Kali's comment to Jack, now cocks his head to the side at the question of his friend. Tossing both bottles of drugs to his left hand, he adjusted both Ilse and his cloak with its opposite number. "Gambling? Ha! Considering the things you've seen me do, don't you think I'm the gambling type?" The man made a slight smirk and moved over towards the door. God, how amusing he must look with that stupid smirk and that daft bandage on his face. "I'm ready to go as long as the rest of you are." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Jennifer, that is a very generous offer," Cyan says quietly. "And, of course, if we are to be your guests, it would be rude of us to exclude you. Of course you may listen. Berd and I...will find a way to keep in touch with you, after this." She smiles, faintly. "It is the least we can do. Perhaps I might be able to show you something of the worlds beyond this one." She stands, wobbling a bit then relaxing. "Please. Lead on...if everyone else agrees?" she asks, looking at Jack and Kallika. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- “Yes thank you Jen you’re kindness is appreciated.” Jack said kneeling down to see if Hunter would let him scratch the alpha wolf behind the ears without biting him. Then stands to follow wrapping an arm around Kali’s waist without thinking about it. “I didn’t Ask if you were the type Aaron, Are you any good at it?” He smiled teasing the other man. “I know if I use my Pattern to cheat it always goes astray, kind of like a monkeys paw wish. I figure with the pure Pattern you can effect the outcome of games of chance without my problems. This is a ship, they are bound to have a casino, we can get all of the money we need for a stay here if it’s what we need to do.” Jack finishes , then looked a little sheepish. “Uhh. . .Just in case I didn’t say it, sorry about the free makeover.” he winces a little. “I lost my temper a bit.” =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- With a decision seemingly made, and Jen still cuddling Berd, the group are led through interminable corridors and down several flights of steps and finally into one of the cabins. A room perhaps fifteen feet square, with two narrow beds, a small table and two chairs, and a two-seater couch. There are also two large wardrobes and a glass-fronted box on a second, smaller table. A plain glass window, about a foot wide and two high shows a view of the storm still raging outside. This cabin though is much closer to the water. Fortunately for Kali's nerves, Jen draws a drape across the window, and says, "I'm afraid it's a bit cramped, but Pete won't be back for a while, he looks old enough that he can get served in some of the bars on here, so he'll like take advantage of my parents being at the party to go get himself a couple or three beers. Take a seat, please." She settles cross legged on the floor next to the glass-fronted box and starts feeding Berd pieces of chocolate chip cookie. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- After following Jen into the room, Aaron found a seat, and continued his conversation wtih Jack. Remembering the apology,and Jack's assumption on the Pattern, he laughed quietly. "Ahh, don't worry about my nose. I was being a massive pain in the ass, and I deserved it. If it wasn't for you doing it..." he paused then, and his eyes seemed to glance to the side, as if he was pondering what to say, before continuing. "Well, let's just say that you knocked more than a little sense into me." He nodded at that, and then cocked his head to the side, his oh-so-often gesture that signified he was considering Jack's other statement. "You mean, could I affect probabilities? I... assume so. However, allow me to remind you that my skill with the Pattern has been seriously lacking as of late. I could simply be attempting things that are beyond my current ability, but perhaps we could give it a try anyway." He remembered a certain exercise he had taken part in, near the beginning of their journey ("beginning" for him, anyway), and smiled. "Yes. I think we should give it a try." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan slips in and looks around slowly, then proceeds to prowl around the room. She studies the workmanship intently, examining everything carefully as if fixing it in her mind. Her face lights up for an instant at the sight of the glass-fronted box, making her suddenly look younger than the host. Her amber eyes flicker over the storm for a moment before Jen cuts that view off. At Jen's request, she sits down on the floor, more towards the corner, eyes flickering from one person to another in the group. Berd, on the other hand, sits in Jen's lap making a noise suspiciously like purring, and contentedly continues to milk attention and cookies from the girl. Cyan glances over, quietly. Disgusting. But she can feel the waves of true affection from the dragon, and respect, and nods, a smile creasing her face again. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali smiles at Jack when he relates his dreams, her eyes gleaming. "I see my thoughts influenced your dreaming" she whispers to him with a knowing smile, before returning her attention to the others. She frowns when the girl child asks to listen and Cyan mentions showing her the other worlds. This frown deepens at Aaron's comment. "Ahh, don't worry about my nose. I was being a massive pain in the ass, and I deserved it. If it wasn't for you doing it..." "Then you would have lost your hand. A suitable price for betraying a companion" Kali responds flatly, her eyes cold. Her gaze flickers to Cyan, her gaze warming up "But she bears the burden for your treachery instead" she looks as if she is going to say more, but checks herself. Instead she moves to another touchy subject "Cyan, about the girl. even having her listen to us is going to make her a liability. Our enemies are far reaching. If they find out that the girl listened in while we planned our next moves and discussed our findings that will put her in danger. And as for 'seeing the other worlds'..." Kali trails off, not wanting to hurt the Bard's feelings by phrasing this wrong "I know you would not be foolish enough to suggest bringing her along" Kali smiles, content at finding the middle ground. In the mean time, Jack reaches to scratch Hunter. The huge wolf's eyes narrow, but he allows the touch, although a growl burrows at the back of his throat. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan spots Kallika's glance in her direction as she speaks to Aaron, and ducks her head, knowing cursed well what the woman had been about to talk about. Had I not been in this situation to begin with, none of this would have happened...how could I be so STUPID? She looks up at Kallika when the woman continues, staring at her with bright emerald eyes, then merely blinks. "Should our enemies be as far-reaching and knowledgable as that, I fear we are vastly overmatched. And would not simply association with us then be sufficient? Whether she knows the situation or not, they will assume she does." Cyan touches Jen on the shoulder. "I do not think we are so worthy of their attention," she confesses quietly. "Yet." Then she hangs her head. "I am...not usually so foolish, no," the Bard whispers in reply. "Despite appearances. I was referring to after this, when it is over." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- By the set of his jaw, one could tell that he was swallowing every word he could have said in response to Kalika, including the absolute truth as to why he did what he had done. But he kept his mouth shut, for those things would be explained once certain things were accomplished. However, he sighed. My hand? I wonder. If I lost my hand, even gave it up to Cyan now... would I simply grow it back? Don't Amberites have endurance that stories are told of? I assume it would take time, but... wouldn't it just be pointless? Better then, that she had taken my hand... Aaron shook his head, and raised his eyes to the current conversation, forgetting all else for now. "Allow me to assume that we would only take Jen along with us in our current situation with the full acceptance of the group. I know we aren't going to take her now, of course." God knows, with our current attitudes... "But let us not get off of the subject. We need to decide just where we're going to go from here. I have been pondering the fact that Cyan mentioned the cube growing. Does that happen whenever you move between worlds?" He had been absent previous to any other time it had happened, as far as he could remember... his mind was pretty cloudy right now, for some strange reason. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack had gone quiet after scratching the wolf, a thoughtful look on his face. “A warning? What does it mean?” he asked looking at Hunter “It seems to happen when we move to worlds where the cube has not been before. The significance of the cube adding this place means that it has not been her and we are off the trail we follow I suspect. I honestly do not know what we are doing in this world so if any of you have ideas I suggest you voice them, I myself vote we retreat to the circle.” Jack answers Aaron’s question and states his own thoughts on the matter “Yes Aaron it would be a good idea for you to try some simple things with you pattern and see what you can still do. I am certain it would help to know we can rely on you in a pinch.” The last words carried the possibility of a double meaning, yet it was light hearted as anything. All of the time he was speaking and dealing with the others his eyes kept going back to Cyan worriedly, yet he said nothing. Jack eyes Kali with a knowing look and whispers back “Ahhh , the girl of my dreams are you?” he nodded solemnly, with the look of a Ultze, then grinned a impish grin. He glances back at Aaron, “If it is any help I do believe she may have taken my hand if I had done the same thing without good reason.” An odd respectful and appreciative look can be in his eyes as he looks back into Kali’s amber eyes. “Could you tell me what this means?” The playfulness melts from him in worried confusion. He watches the Alpha wolf and without looking away from Hunters Amber eyes he asks “Cyan, where is your sword?” =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali nods acceptance of Cyan's answer, a comforting smile on her lips where words are failing her. She doesn't respond to Aaron, partially because she doesn't think he should be still part of the 'pack' and partially because the world walking aspect of things was beyond her reach. She was content to let those more knowledgable in the field work out the intriacies of where to travel to and how to get there. Then Jack asks her to interpret. A large smile lights up Kali's face and she playfully ruffles the thick fur at Hunter's neck. the wolf rolls his eyes, but dips his head in obediance. Kali turns her gaze to Jack, the smile still lighting up her face and eyes. "He says 'Very soon now. The waiting is almost over'" she catches the worry in Jack's face and takes his hand "Nothing to worry about lalai, he just communicates differently. He is alluding to the forming of the Triad. Then you will be able to speak with him" a shadow of a doubt shades her eyes as she continues "and he with you" she finishes quietly. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack Watches the silvery haired woman and the Alpha wolf with a broad smile and curious eyes. “Yes I know he speaks differently, we tried to talk while you were unconscious on the Gathers world. Could you do me a couple of favors love. Could you explain the triad to me?” he sits down on the floor leaning up against the wall “Also what is the matter? You- you looked uncertain there for a moment.” =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan smiles faintly at Kallika, glad to see the other woman isn't treating her as she deserves. Perhaps I shall receive more forgiveness than is warrented, here. Jack's question doesn't come as a surprise, and she merely shakes her head. "Best I get it, now that we are hidden." Clumsily, she removes her palanquet deck with her injured hand, Berd glancing up from Jen's lap as she does so, and begins to sort through it. The Bard hisses once as her damaged hand touches a card - the entire limb seems sensitive right now - but she manages to come up with a particular card. At one time she would have made a show of it. In her current state of mind, she merely looks at the card in her hand, long and hard. The card is simple, much as the weapon within it appears. A scabbarded long, thin sword; the scabbard is of unadorned, polished wood (not coloured or laquered), and the grip is worn and plain, of brass and black cord. In the image, the sheathed blade lies on a grassy bed. Holding her hand over the card, Cyan summons her sheathed blade. It didn't matter that the blade and the sheath were in separate places. No doubt, by now, someone had picked the blade up and likely had been examining it, or brought it to the ship's locker. It was here, now. With a fainly disgusted look, Cyan places the sword down on the ground beside her. "There," she whispers. "Safely out of anyone's hands." She glances up, tentatively offering her own opinion. "I believe...we are off track, myself." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack closed his eyes as he waited on the wolf woman to explain things for him and called on the black well after walking the pattern in his mind. Unseen by all except for those that were gifted with the sight, they could see the blackness well up around him and form across him like some kind of inky fractured aura. A black tendril shot out unseen through a wall of the room. Jack was searching for a male passenger about his size that was fairly close at hand. He didn’t like doing this, but it was time to do some shopping. His way! =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Certain things were settled, they all knew they weren't where they were supposed to be. However, other things needed to be settled as well, between individuals. But before Aaron could do anything, he needed to make sure he could accomplish what needed to be done. He needed to solidify his mind, and scale down, if not entirely eliminate, the things that had been bothering him since his outburst. So the man cleared his throat and raised his eyes, his bandaged face looking old and scarred as he spoke. "My friends, there are things I must attend to. Alone. If you will excuse me, I believe I can take care of myself for now." So he slowly rose and moved to the door. He knew leaving would pretty much defeat the purpose of Jen taking them to this room, but hadn't she said there were others aboard dressed like them? As he stood, he removed the Ilse from his back, taking the time to adjust the straps keeping the weapon in place. The knots would be troublesome, amusingly so, but he'd do his best to work them out, and he wouldn't rely on Kalika just yet. Soon, perhaps. These thoughts seemed to show in his eyes, if anyone payed attention to him as he approached the door, opened it, and stepped through. Jack would more than likely have sensed his feelings. They, and his eyes, were solid, intent, and absolutely unflinching. He knew they all needed to make a decision as to what their next step would be, but he needed to prepare himself first. He needed to solidify himself, and turn his unknowns into absolutes. He left, wondering if anyone would follow him, and actually hoping one or two of them would. Jack, Kali... especially Cyan. But he needed to do things, and he would do them now, while they still had time. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan sags against the seat, slowly relaxing. But it certainly FEELS that way. Aaron gets up to leave, "Alone", and that's fine with her. She isn't up to dealing with him right now, if ever, and her body is exhausted from the strain of earlier. Her hand is a constant, slow burn; there's a missing finger, still connected to her, being held somewhere over a fire. Not true - it has probably been eaten by now, or is still floating somewhere behind them. She looks down at herself: brilliant silk shirt, black leggings, sash...her gear and pack. Except for Berd (really not a problem), she could likely fit in with the people aboard the ship. Not perfectly, but...there's no need to change clothing. Her eyes close for an instant, and when she opens them, everyone has moved slightly. How long was I out? A minute? Likely not more - nobody is commenting, though Berd is staring at her out of the corner of his brilliant eyes. She shrugs to him, then glances around with her sapphire eyes, trying to figure out what everyone is doing. Jack is...focused on something. Aaron has left. Kalika is probably in silent communion with Hunter. Turning to Jen, she smiles in a tired sort of way. "Jen...may I have your hand for a moment? I wish to..." she waves her own, good hand in the air for a moment, searching for the words. "Sense your spirit. It will allow me to create a device allowing me to contact you, later." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- "Um... sure, I guess." Jen sets Berd to one side, silencing his protests by tipping some candy out of a packet onto the floor in front of him. Tiny colorful beads, with the letters WW on them in white. She shuffles across to Cyan on her knees, and reaches out her hand, and for a moment she looks as though she's about to cry. Her voice is barely more than a whisper as she says, "Berd has told me about what you're all doing here, and that this isn't the right place. I'm sorry you lost your finger for nothing." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan's amythest eyes grow sad as she looks at the girl, taking her hand. Pushing off from the seat, she slides down cross-legged in front of her, so that they are more on the same level. Taking Jen's hand with her own, undamaged one, Cyan shakes her head. "Not for nothing," she whispers in return. "Wisdom comes at a price. If the price I pay is a finger, I count myself a lucky woman. Better that than one of the lives of my friends - I have bought this bit of experience cheaply." Sighing, she reaches out, puts her arms around the girl's shoulders and hugs her, ignoring the flare of pain in her hand. "This has been hard for you," Cyan states quietly. "We should not have involved you, but you are here, now. I can only hope to make amends for this, and other things." Releasing the girl, she leans back and cups Jen's face with her left hand. Her spirit reaches out, tentatively, touching Jen's, feeling, hearing, tasting of the essence of the girl. For an instant, an image forms in her mind's eye, and she knows she could draw this one in her sleep. "There," Cyan whispers. "Not so bad?" =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen smiles too, "I was kind of expecting... I don't know... I think I was expecting to feel you doing something to me." She slides back away from Cyan, blushing at her lack of knowledge, and Berd (who has eaten all the candy) flops into her lap, burping a small cloud of smoke that flickers through all the colours of the rainbow as it disperses. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Ah," Cyan says, nodding. "Well, you were doing all of the work, there. I was merely observing you." She smiles, and reaches out, touching Jen's hand. "Let me show you something." Teasing out her palanquet cards, she fumbles through them until she finds the one she seeks. A small glade, in a wood, with a pool of water and a small waterfall, mountains in the distance behind, and a cabin of wood at teh edge of the clearing. This is my land, Cyan sends to Jen, concentrating on the card. She holds it with her injured hand. North-northwest of Eriador, seven steps and a single world between. I only visit now, as Berd and I wander the worlds under his...guidance? Her mental tone is amused. In her hands, the card seems to swim. Then the water falls gently, and the pool ripples. The smoke dies from the cabin's chimney, as there is no fire within. A bird flickers across the vision, stopping to dip its beak in the water. Cyan does not open a gate, however, in case Jen reaches out. That would be a problem, to be sure. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen laughs, pure childish joy, as if she has suddenly lost half her years, "Oh, that's so cool!" Her eyes are fixed on the image, and it is fortunate that she does not have the strength of will to open the gate herself. "It looks almost real enough to touch, like you could just walk into it." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Well, you can," Cyan says. "These cards are palanquet, which means to speak far and wide, over distance. I can use them, if they have an image of a person upon them, to speak to that person. I can use them to view a place, as we are doing now. What you see is no image - it is my actual home. I can also use them to bring the person to me, me to them, or to go to the place in the card." She glances at Jen. "Do not attempt to do so with the card now, though. It takes training, and great effort." Berd rolls over in Jen's lap. Cyan rolls her eyes. "Yes, and you could do worse than Berd...but I think that would have to wait. Things are precarious. This is why I wished to SEE you, as you truly are. I want to make a palanquet of you, so that I may speak to you when I wish, Jen." Berd's eyes narrow slightly, but he puffs out a small cloud of smoke in resignation. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- "Oh wow! That's so cool. You can really talk to people with the cards?" Her smile fades for a moment, the returns, but tinged with a little uncertainty, "Or are you just fooling with me?" =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- As Aaron reached for the door Jack had piped up long enough to say “Quick, he’s leaving lets make a run for it while we can!” in a voice filled with mock excitement and a smirk on his face. Then adds in a warm friendly voice, “Hurry back Aaron, I have some things to do myself but I don’t think we will be staying long.” After Aaron is gone and Jack sits there reading the minds of people shipboard he says. “Do me a personal favor Kalika. . . Cut Aaron a little slack if you can.” Jack’s voice is warm and does not sound like it’s chastising in anyway, if anything he sounds like he feels pity for the man. “I understand how you feel, and why you feel like you do. “He smiled at her “I love you for it. . . However I ask you to look at it like this, Aaron is used to fighting to be the Alpha male in most circumstances. He saw me as the Alpha male, lord only knows why. . . I would think Lazarus or Ares were the true Alpha males. . . He’s just trying to find his place in the pack and he believed I was the one who’s place he could challenge. Which is fine, he can be the party baggage handler and resident fool if he likes. He really wasn’t trying to kill me otherwise his toy would have went through me rather than the bulkhead and I’d be dead. Do you see Lalai? He is a lost cub, a dangerous lost cub. Sill a lost cub. . . Perhase now he’ll think twice before getting into a pissin’ contest with anyone.” Jack stood up. . . “I think I’m going to go collect some supplies now. . . Did you want to come or did you and Cyan need anything while I’m out?” =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan smiles at Jen, warmly. "No, Jen. This is real. I can speak to people with cards and, as you saw, bring things through them. But it's a skill that takes some training to perform, as well as a card aspected to you. That will take me some time to make...but I assure you, I will. And when I do, and this is all over, I will come back here to speak to you again, and perhaps even take you on a little tour." Glancing at Jack, she shakes her head. "No, thank you, Jack. I am well enough," the Bard replies to his question, quietly. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack moves over to Hunter and Kali, leaning down he ruffles the wolf’s fur and kisses the top of the silver haired woman’s head. “I’ll be back Lalai.” He stops and looked over at Cyan as if about to say something, but simply just shook his head and slipped out in the hall off on whatever errand he has. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan watches Jack go, amythest eyes enigmatic, then fumbles around in her artist's pouch. Finding her small sketchbook, taken from a more advanced world she had passed through (Imagine! Hundreds of sheets of paper, all bound together!), it's where her cards begin. Flipping through, she finds the sketch of Lexy, the other musician she had spoken with at great length in Cadingart, but who had refused to come with them on the journey, begging off with previous obligations. Cyan smiles. Perhaps Lexy is availible for discussion. They could do with a fresh perspective. The other woman might be able to offer a fresh perspective. "Here," she states, moving to sit beside Jen. "Watch carefully." Frowning, she pauses. "And...touch my hand, the one holding the book." Slowly Cyan begins to focus on the sketch. It will take some work - the sketch was made more than a week ago, she thinks. But it might function...might. At the same time, her and Berd open up to Jen, allowing Jen to see what is going on with the contact. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- The card grows a bit cool to the touch as the sketch shimmers slightly, then once more resumes solidity. More concentration is applied, and this time the card is definatly cold to the touch, and the sketch melts away. What replaces is a tranquil scene, in a wooded area. A cloaked woman sits astride a white horse, a flute in her hands, and apparently in the midst of being played when the trump contact came. But now the woman sits, the flute held slightly down now, as she looks directly at the pair that looks down at the card. The woman reigns in her horse and is still. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan smiles at Lexy, there in the card. She speaks aloud, so that the others in the room besides Jen (that would be Kallika, and possibly Ares or Lazarus if they're here!) can hear. "And a good day to you, too, Lexy." Her smile fades, eyes shading to dull jade. "I wanted to see how you were, if things were going better for you than us. I fear...many of the people I set off with have been lost, or whisked away by an unknown force. Ares would be the only one you would recognize now. On the other hand, I have sworn to this quest for one of the Princes of Amber; it seems this little disturbance we stumbled upon in Candingart has more far-reaching associations than one might expect." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- As Cyan speaks, Lexy breaks down the flute she was playing, and stores it safetly into her belt pouch. When Cyan finishes, the woman nods, then seems to make a shooing gesture with her hand to someone or several someones behind her. Those listening very intently might make out the laughter of children. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan nods. "Pay attention, Jen, should you wish to know some of our story. Oh, Lexy: this is Jen - someone we have met in this world. Jen, this is Lexy, a fabulous musician and Worldwalker in her own right." For an instant, a pang runs through her, and she frowns. "I shall attempt to be brief." "When we left you, we were heading to Amber. Upon arriving in the legendary forest of Arden, led by Ares, we encountered both Prince Julian and Princess Fiona. They informed us of some kind of a threat when we gave them the pouch we took from Cylla - apparantly someone is attempting to forment hostilities between Amber and the Courts of Chaos. In addition, the T...Trumps they use, similiar to my palanquet cards, have begun to cease to function." She cocks her head to the side, and Berd smirks. "Mine, obviously, continue to be of use to us. They set us upon a quest, and included Kallika and Hunter in our group." "We set out to gather up Ares' armor and weapons, and unfortunately, Otandal...the green-skinned shifter? He was slain by bandits." She frowns, sadly. "Morgan was also forced to leave us on the way, and Duncan was drawn into a hole between worlds, but I will come to that later. Returning to Candingart, we discovered this cube." She holds up the cube, briefly, showing the worlds visible on its faces. "It seems to add another world with each one we enter...yes, that means it has more than six faces. But it remains a cube. You must trust me." She grins, for a moment the old Cyan, sapphire eyes flashing. "Using the cube, we sought to follow Cylla's path to its origin. We travelled through several worlds, picking up Lazarus and Jack, and losing Duncan on the way. I WILL find Duncan, someday. I have sworn this. Finally we reached a world with Standing Stones. These stones supposedly opened into a place where the inhabitants said that beings of power dwelt. The cube opened a gate, there, and we entered to find a dying world. It was being ravaged by a...being of immense power and madness." Cyan's voice stumbles for a moment. "The creature...the Gatherer...was too horrible to describe. We barely escaped it, and immediately decided to assist the few remaining inhabitants of the world to escape. While doing so, we examined a small device that Cylla, apparantly, had left on the world. It was siphoning the energy of the spirit from the Gatherer, and sending it off...elsewhere, in a way none of us could follow. I believe it is an important clue, but...we are no longer there. So the Gatherer consumed, to send it along to this. And from thence, somewhere else." She takes a breath and glances at Jen with a wry smile. "We did indeed discover a place for the people of the world, few that they were. It involved moving back through the gateway, and while we were in the world with the standing stones, they opened another gate, to this present world. We are upon a ship..." her eyes dull, now, and the corners of her mouth turn down. "And there have been difficulties." A melancholy smile touches her mouth. "You will not be surprised to hear that I have been a fool." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali nods at Jack's first request, taking a few moments to gather her thoughts. While she does, Jack makes his second request, to take it easy on Aaron. her face contorts into a frown, she is not happy with the request and her dislike of Aaron is as clear as the finest glass. Jack continues, and makes his analogy. The frown begins to fade, replaced by a slightly confused look while she processes her thoughts. Hunter looks up at her and snuffs loudly. She sighs and smiles weakly up at Jack. "I will try my best my love" she says to him softly. She rises with Jack and takes his hand "I'll come with you" she says with a stronger smile. As they walk through the corridors of the great ship in search of Jack's bargain bin, Kali pauses to kiss him lightly on the cheek. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- On the other side of the card, Lexy listens intently, frowning sometimes at the news. Cyan doesn't deliver much good news, and what little there is is so wrapped up in bad news that it's hard to tell them apart. Lexy shifts on her horse a bit and looks around. Somewhere, a trie'l sings, it's music twining with the roar of a waterfall somewhere in the distance. This is her land, her refuge, her home. A place she always considered safe and inviolate. But latest events have shaken that belief. Lexy begins once more talking to Cyan, and goes on at some length, though not nearly as long as the other girl had. Finaly, she shakes her head once more and seems to come to a decision. Lexy speaks once more, then leans over to pat her horse. She looks around one last time, and her eyes become a little unfocused. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "I can..." Frowning, Cyan glances down at her book, then shifts slightly so that she can take it, very carefully, in her injured hand. "Jen, I will have to stand." Slowly she gets to her feet, noting Kallika's exit. Somehow, it's not surprising. Kallika and Jack have both left, leaving her alone with Jen. So much for finding a safe place...and so much, apparantly, for her friendships. Biting back a sudden rush of sorrow, Cyan managed to keep tears from her clear, topaz eyes, and shakes her head. Fool I have been. I shall apologize; if that is all I can do, so be it. At least I may be able to live with myself. Standing, she extends her hand, slightly. "I can bring you here, now, if you wish." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack smiled over at Kalika as she exited the room and took his hand, part of him worried about her when he was not around to watch over and protect her. He understood that this was probably the biggest joke in the history of the universe, but it was the way he felt. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as she entwined her hand in his. Jack stops in the corridor, turning to Kali with a smile he wraps his arms around her pulling her to him. He kisses her passionately after softly saying. “Of course, yes! Was there ever a doubt?” A pleased excited expression spread across jacks face. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- In Jen's room, only Cyan, Jen, Berd, and the oddly silent Lazarus remain. Cyan reaches into the image and Jen gasps as the bard's arm seems to vanish into a swirling pastel rainbow, then gives what can only be described as a squeak of delight as Cyan pulls, and her gloved hand emerges from the chromatic nimbus clasping a slim bare hand, which grows into an arm clad in palest blue silk, and finally the young woman shown in the image steps through, smiling broadly. Jack and Kalika wander the corridors of the ship, silent and empty at this time of night. Perhaps wander isn't the right word, for Jack seems to be on the trail of something, almost as if he has a sense of smell equal to Kalika's own. Crouched in the gloom beneath the stairs, Aaron seems to almost be lost in prayer, whispering in the darkness, his head pressed against the complex knots which bind his blade. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy is a bit suprised to se the offered hand, but takes it anyways. Much easier this way anyways. Grabbing the hand, Lexy disapears from her world in a shimmer of rainbow, her horse left behind. But Lexy doesn't worry about it. She knows that someone will find him and take care of him until next time. Appearing in the cabin, Lexy looks around quickly. Apparently satisfied, she repaxes slightly and then gives Cyan a grin and a hug. "Good to see you again." she says, then shakes her head. "I guess that would be one of the reasons you called me." she says softly, looking at Cyans wound. She turns her head a bit then and looks at Jen. "And hello to you." she says, a hint of a smile coming back. To Lazarus, she offers a nod in greeting, but until the man speaks, she will not either. "So, how did that happen, and is the fool who did it still alive?" she asks. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "The fool who did it," Cyan says, after returning the hug, "is standing in front of you." She sighs, sitting down. "I did something very, very stupid, Lexy. I doubted my friends. And in doing so, it precipitated a situation where I ended up having to sacrifice this." She raises her hand, then drops it, jade eyes dull. "A small price to pay for wisdom. The blow was meant to sever the hand, I think, of Aaron, another fool, who had attacked Jack for no good reason save to make a point. Kallika reacted...badly...to that. She and Jack are bonded, and in her culture, to attack a friend...well, suffice to say, lopping off his hand was likely the lesser punishment. Knowing that I was the cause of this, I sought to prevent it...I felt my armor," and she indicates her clothing, "would be sufficient protection." "It was not." Then she looks up at the other woman. "But I am glad to see you...even if it will be a great deal of time before I can play music with you again." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy watches Cyan as she talks, and when all is said, she shakes her head. "Aye, you have done something foolish. But don't let that stop you." she says. "Missing a finger does nothing to stop the music that is within you. You handicap can only affect you if you allow it to." Lexy once more looks the woman over. "And I'd say you are letting this affect you quite a bit. What's done is done, and either you can deal with it and move on, or dwell on it, allowing it to consume you and silence the music forever. Deal or dwell, that is your choice. But the choice you make will affect not only you, but those around you that you call friend. So, will you allow this to silence you?" she asks. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "I plan on apology," Cyan says, with a wan smile. "Will that do for a beginning? Best it had, for it is all I can." She sighs. "Unfortunately, it WILL be years before I can play, properly...I plan on working with my harp, but missing one finger transforms a harpist to a fumble fingered fool. Time - time to adjust, to allow four to do the work of five. Not an easy thing, especially when your habits are already more than a score of years old..." She shakes her head. "In any case, they have nearly all left myself and Jennifer here. Aaron..." a spasm of annoyance crosses her face for an instant, "...who knows where; Jack and Kallika search for something. I have been recovering, and speaking with Jen." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- "You forget that I've heard and seen you play." Lexy replies. "And I do not think it'll take you years to recover. No, you will adjust, and be better for it." Lexy then grins. "Unless you have anything better to do, now seems like a prefectly good time to start." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Perhaps as we travel," Cyan says quietly, heartened by the praise, but wary of becoming too optomistic. "Right now, it might be best for us to find our missing people, and introduce them to you." She sighs. "They might be angry with me for bringing you here without talking it over, but...you were here at the beginning. It only fits that you are here at the end." Whenever, however that may be. Her sapphire eyes narrow at the thought. In Jen's lap, Berd's eyes open slightly, glittering, and a thin smile spreads across his serpentine visage. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy nods, deciding to give Cyan some time. And to keep a close eye on her. Well.. closer then usual anyways. "And as for you..." she looks down at Berd. "Don't think you where fooling anyone with your sleeping act, oh great lazy one." She says, shaking her head. "You really should watch over her better. She get's in all types of trouble." Lexy grins and straightens out. "So, we're on a ship, huh? Hope it's smooth sailing. What can you tell me of this place? And this cube you showed me earlier." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- "Where are you now, my dear Ilse?" Aaron mumbled to himself beneath his hiding place somewhere in the ship. Shadowed from prying eyes, Aaron's nimble fingers, used to wielding the sheathed weapon set within his lap, are now focused on a far more patient, logical, and indeed far more sane activity than trying to kill one he considered a friend. This was the knotwork Kalika had placed upon his quiet Ilse. It certainly was impressive, Aaron gave Kalika that, and as he thought more about it, he wondered what else she was capable of. It more than likely wasn't a very good idea to have her for an enemy. He would have to remedy that swiftly and surely. As soon as he was done with this test. Aaron worked on the rope. His mind and body moved in tandem, contemplating every action before he placed his fingers at each spot. He thought of what would occur if he pulled here or there, noting how certain knots became tighter and others looser. However, he never let his emotions get the better of him whenever another knot became harder than before. He worked, and he pondered his previous actions. Better that he be dead, than Cyan lose any part of her body. Better that he be dead, than any of his friends be hurt for his actions. He would remedy that, and do his best to make sure it never happened again, and wouldn't happen to any of them before his own death. The Pattern willing. And as he did these things, he began to think with a much clearer head, and a more solid perspective. This happens if this happens, this could happen if I did this, or this. In turn, I should do this for this. This train of thought guided him, but somehow, it felt old and familiar to him, as if he had lost it some time ago and only now found it after Jack beat the tar out of him. Amusing, that. A sad occurence was his own blindness, but that mattered little now, aside from the fact that it tempered his will even more. He could see now, and he knew who he was and despite his unanswered questions, he would be a voice of logic to the group. So the man worked, as men should, and learned as he did. As men should. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Berd looks at Lexy reproachfully, and then grins. His smile dips slightly when she mentions him watching Cyan more carefully, but his eyes don't lose their burning glitter. Cyan reaches into her pouch and pulls out the cube. "Here. Have a look, but do not concentrate on it - it acts similarly to a palanquet, and uses the same energies." [OOC - The cube is described in the thread, "The Cube". In fact, it's a small cube, about...I don't know, the size of your palm at best, and it has (like all cubes) six sides. But really, it has more, because the more you turn it, the more images it displays. Figure that one out.] "Best that we wait for Kallika and Jack. When they return, I fear I must apologize, and hope for the best," Cyan says, amber eyes shining with annoyance at herself, cursing her own cowardice at not having done so before this. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy examines the cube, finding that it is, indeed a cube, all edges and faces of equal size, all the angles are right angles. As precise a cube as anybody could ever wish to see, just small enough to sit in the palm of her hand, where its behaviour is the geometrical equivalent of perfect gentlemanly conduct. But like many seeming gentlemen, it has a dark secret. By placing the tip of a digit in the centre of each face, Lexy soon finds the cube to have nine of them (the images are listed in the thread "The N - sided cube"). Jen watches in amazement as Lexy counts the faces, and finally gives a small, nervous laugh, "I'd love to show that to my geometry teacher. I never did like him, and he'd pitch a fit if he tried to work that out." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- "Kallika.. the wolf woman from the tent, right?" Lexy says as she takes the cube from Cyan*. She begins to look it over carefully. At first, it looks just like a cube, but it doesn't take long for a frown to form on her face. A cube with 9 sides... this is quite a piece of work. Lexy mutters to herself, flipping the cube over in her hand. "You said it acts like gates? Do you know anything else about this thing?" Even as she speaks, she continues to examine to cube carefully, as if trying to discern some hidden meaning from it, or figure out how this thing could even exists. Maybe it has it's own pocket of shadow? (OOC: *I reread through all the archieves yesterday, so no more recaps needed. And yep, Lexy was in the tent, since Cyan introduced her to Kallika. It would have been that night or the next day that she had left.) =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan grins at Jen. "Yes, there are some people I have met who have gone on and on about science, and I would deeply enjoy passing that to them as well. Though I find that such personalities often come up with...'explanations', to explain everything." Turning to Lexy, she continues. "Yes, that Kallika." Cyan sighs. "I've acted the fool once too often, here." Berd snorts in disgust, but she ignores him. "As for the cube, I can use it like a palanquet; I'm not certain about others. We did have someone with us who seemed more conversant with such things than I, but...he is gone, now. I am not certain where." A slight grimace crosses her face. "Lexy, Aaron might be difficult. He is...arrogant, to say the least, and rather odd at times. He claims to be a Master of the Pattern. I expect this means he is from Amber?" She shrugs, recalling the conversation they had in the Inn. "I wondered if you knew anything about him." [OOC - You...read...ALL...the archives? Pretty impressive. Real dedication here, folks!] =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- After embracing Kalika, Jack pulls free and kneels down and ruffles Hunters fur. “Thanks Hunter. Com’ere ya bug lug.” Jack then has the audacity to kiss the wolf on the head before standing up grinning like a maniac at Kali. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- ((Ahem. It's gonna be a long one, folks! Get ready! :D)) *** The door to the room in which Cyan, Lexy and Jen are conversing opens, and a young-seeming man enters. His hair is dark, probably brown, as are his eyes. Those eyes take in the new stranger before him, and he cocks his head to the side as if in thought. His face is a blank slate. "Interesting." he states, before moving into the room a bit more. The travel-worn brown cloak at his back swirls slightly as he approaches one of the walls and leans against it, his bare arms cross infront of the tunic that covers his chest as he sighs. He just happened to hear what Cyan had stated to the stranger about him. "You are apparently acquainted with this woman, Cyan, so before you state anything else regarding my personality, allow me to properly introduce myself." His eyes lighten slightly. "And then I will explain everything." Lowering his arms, Aaron placed his left one across his waist and sketched a small bow to the woman, slightly extending his right hand out to the side before he rose again. "My name is Aaron. I have caused this group a great deal of trouble as of ever since I met them. Far more so than Cyan would care to admit, considering that her frame of mind must be directed more inwardly than outwardly at the moment." He closes his eyes and sighs. "I can understand that. I originally came here, through Jack or the Pattern, with the absoulte and utter intent to help everyone here. I have failed in that attempt, so far." "I made a grave mistake not very long ago, assuming in my own mind that one of our own was about to leave us. While being far from blind to the current social state of our group, I will heartilly admit that my actions were not only entirely wrong, but more than likely slightly insane." And again he cocked his head to the side as his eyes opened, staring at Cyan now. "Yet it is a curious state that I have been in since I joined this group. I will tell you three right now, that up until Jack bested me in that room, my personal mental state was one of... how can I say this. Well, it was considerably 'younger' than I actually am. That resulted in any number of stupid and rash decisions, even before I came into this group. However, whatever was the cause of the change in my personality had only a miniscule effect on my own decisions." Running a free hand through his hair, Aaron's head lowers. How he feels right now, can't be described in words. "What I am trying to say, is that while every member of this group is guilty of doing something wrong, I was the one to instigate the loss of most of Cyan's hand. And though it would be a useless and feeble attempt, I would sacrifice any form of myself to soothe such a state. Because this is illogical, I will instead do my best to be sure that it will never happen again. No matter what sacrifices need be made, I will die before I see it happen again." His shoulders are slumped, hands hang limp at his sides, his eyes upon the floor. He is, for all intents and purposes, the absolute picture of failure. "I apologize, Cyan, for all the pain I have caused you and my friends. There is nothing that I can do for your hand, or more so, your trust in me, but that does not mean I will not find a way to pay for it. I will." A small chuckle emerges from him. "And for the record, Cyan, I am far from a Master in the Pattern. As of now, I am as useless as... well, as probably all the words I've said so far, which is what you must probably think, despite my true feelings. Take that how you will, friend bard." And so, he slumps to the floor, legs tucked close to himself as his arms wrap around them. His mind is blank, as is what can be viewed of his face. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan listens with a face as bland as Aaron's while he speaks. Her own, dull agate eyes are, for once, empty of emotion. Once he is finished, she turns back to Lexy. "Best if you make your own decisions regarding Aaron. In that way, he is correct - it was wrong of me to speak so to you about him. Had I wished to know of any knowledge you might have, his name and affiliation would have been sufficient. My apologies, Aaron." This last is said flatly over her shoulder. Sincere, but that's where it ends. "In any case, we now only await a few more of our group. Kallika, whom you know, and Jack. And then we are complete. Ares will, hopefully join us again soon." Sighing, she moodily toys with the red cord running from her sword scabbard, the weapon propped up beside her. Berd stares at her for a long moment, then snuggles deeper into Jen's lap. They're going to be leaving soon. He wants to take the comfort while he can. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy sighs as Aaron enters the room, a bit annoyed, and she pulls her concentration from the cube. She'll have to study it when she has more time. Someone invested alot of personal power into this thing, and there has to be a reason. As she listens to Aaron, she hands the cube back to Cyan and crosses her arms on her chest, for all the world giving the impression of a mother listening patiently to the explenation of a child as to why the jar in the corner was broken. Aaron strikes her as brash, hardheaded, irresponsible... and a number of other adjectives. In other words, a typical Pattern brat. But still, he has offered an apology, which may or may not be sincere. But from what she has heard, your typical Pattern brat woudln't even bother with that. "Well, Aaron of Amber, I am known as Lexy, a traveler much like Cyan here, a bard and muscian, entertainer and teller of tales, collector of ancient lore and student of elderitch powers." She smiles and delivers a sweeping bow that almost sees her forehead touch the ground. Then she smiles again as she looks at the man, though there is definatly something unfriendly in the new smile. She draws herself up to her full heigth, and somehow seems to increase her presence in the room. Cyan can easily recognize bard tricks when she sees them. "And if I am any judge of these kinds of things, I'd say your foolish actions will need more then simple words to overcome. Your speech may have been flowery, but in the end, it's all words, tumbling out of your mouth like so many sweet scented blossoms, and equaly as useless." Lexy continues to observe the man, a glint in her eye. "Your childish action have seen grave injury delt this way, in more ways then one. No, Aaron, you have much work to do if you truly seek forgivness from those you have wounded today." Lexy gives Aaron a hard look. "Now if you'll excuse us, I would like to talk to my friend here." There seems to be an emphasis on the word friend as Lexy dismisses Aaron. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lazarus ----------------------------------------------------------- (NPC'd) Lazarus raises his head and speaks for almost the first time since breaking his wing... arm, "I... I will be staying here for a little while, I think. We've been told that the ship will reach a place tomorrow where there is a hospital. I've been trying to heal my arm, but the damage is too severe, more a case of shattered than broken." "I... need to devote more energy to healing it, and I need professional help with it." He smiles, but there is pain around his eyes, "I will be tired, and useless... worse than useless... while I'm healing. I will be a hindrance. So I'll stay here until I'm healed, which will be faster than any normal human, and then I will find you, and return." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Those eyes, empty before, harden to the point of seeming to be dark stone. For a moment, the man listens to the two women as the seemingly brush off his comments. Lexy's little tricks go practically unnoticed by the man. Their responses were far from unexpected. However... Saying nothing after Lazarus' statement, he rises and again moves towards the door. Cyan could say all she wanted about their "group", but he didn't feel very much a part of it. Not at all. Before he reaches the door, he turns to Cyan and, one hand moving up behind his right shoulder, reveals a roll of unbound rope. This, he hurls to the floor at Cyan's feet. Behind his shoulder, is the flickering hilt of the Ilse. "Tell Kalika that I have found what I needed." With nothing more to say, he departs. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Shade ----------------------------------------------------------- From it’s vantage point it watched the young lovers, yet it was safe hidden away where none could detect it. Neither the amazing senses of the mighty Kalika Wolfblade or her bonded Hunter could smell or hear it, both ma and lai were totally unaware that it even existed. Nor was the mind of the cunning Jack any better off, all of that power and no idea. They were all in the dark. ~ It was not, the dark was it's home. It knew them, It knew them as well as they knew each other. It saw them, as clearly as Hunter could. It would come and there was nothing they could do. ~ =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan glances up at Lexy when she finishes. She might wish to make her own conclusions on this, rather than listening to me...I am hardly the paragon of virtue, here. But Lazarus is speaking, and Cyan frowns in his direction, amber eyes flickering with worry. "Lazarus...very well. I am sorry, for you, for this." She indicates his arm. "Perhaps...you can use your abilities to find a world where they might heal you more quickly? Surely as an experienced Walker, you can find such a place." Raising her good hand, she touches his arm. "Return to us soon." Her smile is wry. "We shall require your assistance." Berd's snort belies that comment, but the little dragon doesn't go further, only turning an appraising look at the man. Cyan looks up as Aaron forcefully throws the rope at her feet, blinking once. She stares at him as he speaks, and watches him go, silently. Slowly shaking her head, she picks up the cord and begins to coil it. "How...typical." A sigh, then. "I expect he spent the last time doing nothing but working on the knots until he finished opening up his blade. It seems to be the only thing he cares about, here." Finishing, she drops the rope on the bed. "Kallika will want that. I doubt she put the knots on the blade to actually PREVENT him from using it. Thirty seconds with a sharp knife would have sufficed. Nor did she put it on to present him with a puzzle, I think. As usual, I believe Aaron has shot past the point of this in order to be with his most cherished thing, what he obviously needed more than anything, no matter to what his words referred: that killing tool." And he has proven, once again, to be impatient and demanding. Not immediately getting what he wishes, he storms off in anger. Did he expect that speech to have us welcome him with open arms? Forgiveness must be EARNED. Cyan sadly shakes her head. I truly wish he understood that. I fear...I will be earning my own, soon. And no doubt it will be difficult. And to earn it requires the absolute relinquishing of pride, not merely setting it aside long enough to make a pretty speech. "I hope Jack and Kallika return soon," she says, looking sadly at the other three still left in the room. "I have...quite an apology to make. And, no doubt, a reckoning to receive, for my actions." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy also watches Aaron go, seeing the set of his shoulders, the stiffness in his step. Looks like he is going to go find a corner to sulk in. Too bad for him, really. But Lazaarus speaking brings her attention back to the man. There is talk of injuries, and leaving for a time to find proper healing. That implies this man can shadow walk, and Cyan's comment merely confirm that suspicion. "Interesting group you travel with." she says to Cyan, shaking her head. "I wonder what other suprises I have in store are." she chuckles a bit. "Guess I was a little harsh on him. Maybe I'll have to apologize to the Pattern Brat... if he deserves it." She chuckles again. "Anyways, are you all supposed to meet here, or is everyone wandering on their own onboard the ship?" The she turns serious. "Cyan, you'll always have a friend. Everyone does stupid things from time to time. If you learn from your mistakes, then at least you have drawn some purpous from them. But if you don't learn, then you're doomed to repeat the same mistakes again and again." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan smiles faintly. "Well and good, Lexy...and my thanks, friend." She grimaces. "Trust me when I inform you - lesson learned." A moment's pause, then Cyan glances back up at Lexy with amythest eyes. "I think we were supposed to meet here. In any case, I will await Jack and Kallika, and Aaron, should he choose to return, here." Somehow I doubt Aaron will be returning. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen puts Berd to one side, ignoring his look of disgust and crosses to Cyan. She crosses to where the Bard sits and takes her good hand in both of hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. Then she lets go and hugs the red-haired woman instead. "I'd like to think that we're friends too, and I don't believe you would ever try to deliberately hurt your friends. Oh, and thank you for showing me the magic." She gazes into Cyan's eyes for a long moment, then leans close to kiss her on the cheek, before breaking away, her face colouring red and tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes. Scooping Berd up, she hugs him too, perhaps a little too tightly, like a child desperately trying to draw comfort from a cherished toy. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Berd ----------------------------------------------------------- Surprised and touched, Cyan reaches out and puts her hand on Jen's arm. "Thank you, Jen...I am, truly, honored by your friendship, and your trust. I did not lie when I said I would come back, if I am able after this, and show you something else, outside of this world." She looks downcast for a moment. "Harm through accident or misunderstanding could be equally deadly, Jen. And harder to explain. Were I an evil person, this would be so much easier...but I am merely foolish." Reaching out, emerald eyes gleaming, she brushes the tear from Jen's cheek. "Not to worry. I will survive this, of course." Berd, caught up in Jen's arms, isn't quite certain as to whether he should be gratified by the return of the attention, or be asphyxiated. He settles on crooning gently to Jen, trying to calm her for both their sakes. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack had sent out the tendril searching and was again on the trail of clean laundry. He really wanted a hot shower and clean clothes. The dust and grit of a couple of worlds was chafing, he was sweaty, dirty and uncomfortable. Other than that he had just gotten the best news of his life. It was hard to believe that it had only been two day since he had awakened looking into the Amber eyes of his love to be. 48 hours since he had been found unconscious in the barrens with no memory, dropped there by the trial and error learning process of life. He now knew you did not use his version of the Pattern to teleport from, a lesson learned the hard way. Jack had already known that anything you did with the pattern of cracks was tainted, but had taken the leap anyway after all he had nothing to loose. Long ago he had found the broken pattern of his world on mount Faust and had now been traveling the cracks of reality for over a century off and on. Yet the path that had truly set him to walk the broken pattern and recklessly teleport had been started a couple of years previously. He had been in love before and she was his world, his angel, his princess. That was not saying much since Angelica was a princess. They were leaving for a trip abroad on that fateful night, but Jack had to run back inside to find something he had forgotten. The fireball that the limo became was forever burned into his minds eye. He still awoke at times a scream on his lips. She had died and he had survived the assassination attempt meant for him. Two long years later, his brother that was responsible now dead. Jack had long since retreated to his cabin in the wilds of Mount Faust living a secluded life. A man haunted by the ghosts of his memory. Finally driven by the pain to the desperate act of teleporting from the center of the broken pattern. In the hopes of finding himself again, in the hopes of finding that which is good in life again. Little did he know that the only way he could find himself was to forget it all. So it was that two days ago he opened his eyes and looked into the face of Kalika. He was able to let it all go and enjoy life. He did not know it at the time but she was everything Angel was not. She had made it so easy to be with her and not fear. She was strong and capable, he would not have to worry about failing her because she could take care of herself. Yet he did not know any of this at the time. He simply knew that the more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. It had been so easy to fall again with no memory of the pain of life. By the time he remembered he had already fallen to deeply. The more time spent with her the more he cherished her for who she was, even after he remembered the pain. He had found the strength to continue despite it. The others had each been so great to him as well and each held a dear place in his heart, they made him feel like he belonged. He quickly grew to feel as if they were more truly family than his own blood. He would always count his time with this rag tag group as some of the best in his life, though often he still felt like an outsider. Cyan was like a sister, Berd a brother, Lazarus a crotchety uncle, Ares the stern quiet patriarch. Yet Kali and Hunter were the pentacle you could not care for one without caring for the other. Life had changed again with the coming of the Gatherer, he had swore at all cost to get his memory back. So that he might be there and be of help when Kalika needed him. He had felt that he had let her down so by not being able to help. He could not deal with failing a love again though he could not even remember the other as of yet. When the Gatherer had gotten to his mind, something changed inside of him. He did not know it then, he did not feel the alien forces still at work on his body. Now he could feel it there and almost understood. There was no need to worry the others with this. They each seemed so preoccupied, indeed so wrapped up in themselves that we almost killed each other upstairs. Aaron had came from the bout with the Gatherer, sure Aaron was a pain in the ass. Still he couldn’t help but like the man, he reminded him of his kid brother. One of his few family members still alive. He forgave the man easily enough but the others seemed to be taking his actions rather hard. Especially Cyan, she could be so temperamental but he had finally figured out that she was like the weather, wait long enough and she would change. Usually it would not have to be that long of a wait. It surprised him, those close to him in the group, even Kalika who he was about to become bonded to. They never worried about what was going on inside of Jack or at least they never asked what he was thinking, they never asked about his past now that he had one. He had went from being Jack nobody, to being Jack nobody. He now understood why Ares sat quietly in the background, no one would listen anyway. Jack was shaken from his thoughts as he lead Kali and hunter through the halls chasing after clothing. It was as if he could feel the shadows around him on some primal level. He could feel them lurking. “We had better hurry Kali.” He said a little worriedly. With that he continued on. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- "Well, if we are stuck waiting, why don't you tell me a little more about your adventures? Several weeks have gone by for me since I left to deal with problems back home. You've given me tantalizing hints, and speak of people you met that no longer travel with you that are equaly gifted. Tell me more. And I'm warning you.. from a bard, I expect a good story." LExy grins and steeles in to listen to a long story. (OOC: Feel free to not actually write the whole story this time.) =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "As you wish...it will help to pass the time." Cyan sits up a little straighter, inside bemoaning the fact that she won't be able to play anything to accompany this. Not yet, in any case. Then she slowly begins to spin out the story for Jen and Lexy, creating a tapestry of prose that occasionally delves into poetry for some, important scenes. With the fingers of an expert, she takes up the strands of the tale and weaves them into something far more than it seemed at the time - and yet, all without exaggeration. It will be a long tale - no doubt Jack and Kallika (and possibly Aaron) will be back before it is finished. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Shade ----------------------------------------------------------- It was so close that it touched Kalika yet she would never understand it. It could feel her muscles ripple in ease of movement beneath her tunic. It could feel the warmth rising off of her and it relished this. It knew the sweet taste of her spirit, that spirit that no man could break yet still pressed flowers on a book. Yes it felt desire! It would taste that sweetness and spirit again. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Hunter's eyes widen when Jack lips grace the top of his furry head. The wolf stops in his tracks, a look of absolute surprise on his face. Laughter flows from Kali at the sight and she can't help but to shake her head. Jack's antics were always a surprise, and the wolf's reaction... she had never felt him to be "speechless" before. She keeps pace with Jack, moving silently besides him, content with the silence between them. She had imparted a lot of information and could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking about something. Not wishing to interupt those thoughts, she remained a source of silent support as Jack continued his search. Hunter took pace on the other side of Jack, about two paces behind as not to crowd the man in the hallway. Jack mentions hurrying and she nods, increasing her pace to keep up with him. In the corner of her mind she knew she was still on the terrible ocean, even if she couldn't see it. Jack's apprehensiveness brought her to her guard, and she jumped slightly, brushing at a phantom touch on her shirt sleeve as she looked around for the source of the touch. Her wolven eyes find Jack's. "Please forgive he intrusion on your thoughts, but are we almost there?" she asks him quietly, looking around once again for the source of the touch. Someone else may have thought that they were imagining things, that they were just on edge and tired. But Kali knew she didn't imagine the phantom touch... right? =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack and Kalika, Hunter close behind and seeming very edgy, turn a corner into a new corridor which looks similar to all the others they've seen. There, a few yards ahead of them, outside one of the doors, is something black sitting on the carpet of the corridor. A closer look reveals that it is, in fact, a bag. The top is open, and it's full of clothing. There are only the three of them in the corridor, but they are not alone... Aaron too wanders the corridors of the ship, lost in thought, eventually he passes through a door and finds himself outside, on the storm-ravaged deck of the ship. As the lightning crashes across the sky in a seemingly unbroken barrage he stares down at the waves crashing against the hull of the ship. Gradually a patch of water a couple of yards across, directly below his position, seems to flatten out, becoming calmer. The patch of water seems to lighten in colour, but is constantly endangered by the roiling waters around it. Suddenly his head snaps up and the patch of water disintegrates back into the storm. Somebody is watching him... In Jen's cabin, Cyan and Lexy talk about events since they parted, Jen feeds cookies and candy to Berd, while listening with rapt attention to tales of places and things she can barely imagine. Lazarus... Lazarus leans his head back agaist the wall behind the couch, eyes closed, face pale and sheened with sweat as he attempts to lessen the damage in his arm... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- His concentration was lost, but not without recognizing what he had succeeded in doing to the storm-tossed sea. The Pattern was with him. But no. Something was new here. Someone was watching him, and had been for quite some time. He had been distracted by so much, that he had even failed to recognize the feeling. But oh yes. This feeling was very familiar. What was it? A Trump contact. That's all it could have been. He had left his trumps somewhere back in Amber, before he fled to the chamber of the Pattern, but he knew that his brother had a set of his own, and their friend Dewaite as well. And that contact felt like the former. So, opening himself up to the feeling, the image of a man slowly began to materialize within his mind. His memories were assured at the features of the vision that greeted him. The feelings he felt with that recognition were mixed. He hadn't seen his brother for... at least three years, and their seperation had been less than pleasant. Yet the man had barely changed in physical appearance, aside from... something different about him, that he couldn't quite place. And even then, he couldn't stop the small smile from appearing on his face as a chuckle escaped him. "It's been a long time, Jadus." =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron stands in the teeth of the storm, staring at nothing. Anybody passing by would surely thin him mad or drunk, or possibly both. His clothes whip around him in the gale, and rain lashes his face. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Shade ----------------------------------------------------------- Choices were made by the wings of fate which had brought it and Jack together. Jack was the strongest of them mentally, if it could deal with that the others would not be able to stops it. The shadows on Jacks person deepened, like the man was in a darkened alleyway rather than a well lit corridor. It had begun! ~ =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- The storm was of a considerable state, enough so that Aaron had to take note of it. However, he was more focused on Jadus at the moment. "I've been up to enough, as you yourself can tell." he said, gesturing to the bandage across his nose. "Actually, I had just begun to realize something, and I'd prefer to hear your thoughts about it." he decided to keep his brother guessing, hoping he'd rise to the bait. "Care to join me?" He reached his hand out, towards the man he viewed before him, knowing full well that he was opening a whole new can of worms here. Whether he'd hook those worms, remained to be seen. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Resting a hand on Kali’s shoulder, Jack shares his thought’s with her as they moved through the corridor Jack’s thoughts had turned to the problem of Aaron, he may basically like the man on some level but he really didn’t understand the Amber man. Jack himself was a broken man. With every positive aspect of his powers there were a thousand negatives waiting to strike with each use of it. He could walk between world, but only along the most wretched horror filled paths that you could imagine. He could effect reality and probability to obtain his wishes, but they would only be monkey’s paw wishes, as poison as the power he wielded. For every good he could hope to bring about there would always be a bad, so he could not use his power to help the quest. He had to rely on his own mind instead. He had seen the pure pattern in Aarons mind and it had rejected him, yet instinctively he had known what it was. Aaron could have anything he wanted with little or no repercussions. He could change so much for the better that it was unimaginable. Yet instead of moving the quest forward and helping them as he proclaimed, he constantly fought and found slight in everything and everyone. . .especially Jack. . .Aaron had God like powers , but chose to focus on the toy he wore on his back then the true source of power The pattern it’s self. Yes Aaron had potential but he was unreliable as Jacks own pattern, the man was a monkey’s paw. With the claim of wanting to help them. Yet when asked for help he found insult in the asking. With the claim of friendship he drew steel against the friend. For all of Aaron’s potential Jack had the feeling that he was not capable of friendship or being a true ally. He would not hold anger in his heart for the Amber man. Instead he head pity and disappointment. Jack had decided he would not ask for the Amber mans help again, he would not trust him, he would simply avoid him. The Bard was another matter that weighed heavily on Jack. It seemed she would have struck him down as easily as Aaron would have and he didn’t know why. He still did not understand what had happened with her. The more he thought about it the more wounded he felt by it. Perhaps she considered him no more of a friend than Aaron did after all. Perhaps he himself had done something to that friendship if ever there was one. She had been acting dark, moody and distant towards everyone except Jen since the incident. To Jen she was every kind of wonderful. Obviously he had misjudged the bard and read to much into their friendship. Obviously he was no friend, someone else to keep a good distance from. The pack was crumbling it looked like. Lazarus had fallen into one of his quiet moods and Ares was gone. Aaron and Cyan seemed to dislike Jack enough to kill him, perhaps they were not the problem maybe he was. Was he the one doing more harm than good for the quest? He could not see how he had helped the quest so far. . .If there were such ill feelings towards him that it threatened the group as a whole. . . What choices did he have? Jack was shaken from dark introspective thoughts by Kali’s question, “ There it is.” He said pointing to the bag and quickly picking it up. “We head back now.” He turned and started back along the quickest route. “What do you make of the trouble with Cyan and Aaron.” He asked her honestly looking for what she could add to ease his dilemma. As the shadows thickened around Jack he tensed and she could tell he was resisting something. “Move!” He snapped “Get back to the others as quick as you can!” He himself started jogging towards the room. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron stands with his hand stretched out... =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali openned her mouth, about to reply to Jack's question when he tensesd and barked out his order. Hunter took off like a bullet, heading as fast as he could towards where they had left the others, his keen nose leading him back down their trail faithfully. Meanwhile Kali turned to face the empty hallway, her hand on her sword hilt. No enemy had showed itself yet, but she doubted that one would. The phantom touch.. and Jack resisting something, she doubted her physical force would be of much help. "I stand with you" she replies fiercely. Her looks him straight in the eye, and the yellow orbs are now their fathomless violet "I offer you what support I can... draw what you need from my mind, although I fear it is not much" she follows him down the hallway, matching his pace easily, still alert for any physical signs of danger, =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy listened to the telling of the tale of Cyan with rapt attention. Not the attention a casual listener would give, but the attention of a peer, listening not only to the tale, but how it was delivered as well. She has nothing to worry about.Lexy thinks to herself, watching and listening to the bard. She has learned much, and yet, she has much yet to learn. An innocent in a land of liars and cheats. Lexy had always respected Cyan and her little dragon companion. She remembered that the bard had been seeking Amber, but had not found it. And that was a good thing as well. They would eat her alive there. As the tale wound to a close, Lexy applauds the telling, handing her a small flagon of wine that she produced from under her cloak. "You have been extremly busy. I wonder though at this gatherer. A creature of tremendous power, to be sure. But is it really a creature in that sense of the word? It could have inteligence, but on the other hand, it could simply be so very powerful and overwhelming..." Lexy pauses, thinking. "And the device you found... what about it spared it from being gathered? How is it linked to the gatherer, and more importantly, where is it's energy going? The truly frightening possibly is that other shadows are similarly affected, and the energy there also being sent somewhere." Lexy shakes her head, her earing jangling slightly. "Imagine what all this raw power is fueling." Lexy looks a bit worried now at that thought. "A power source to rival the Pattern or the Logrus, perhaps? Is ot going to the same source as what built that cube?" She let's her gaze slip for a moment to Lazarus. From what she was told, the man was a Chaosite, and he might know more about the logrus then her. But on the other hand, he didn't look particulalry well right now, apparently in some sort of healing trance. She couldn't ask him anything while he was like this. Which left Aaron, assuming he used the pattern on the either the Gatherer or the Device. But he was off pouting somewhere. "But right now, I think the best idea would be to visit the other worlds this cube has visited, and see if perhaps more of these devices are laid out. The course this cube traveled may very well be the key, and one of those images may lead to the source of it's creation. The other option is that this cube is very old, in which case either it has not been to many shadows in it's lifetime, or it deletes old shadows it has visited from it's memory." Lexy stands up and stretches her legs a bit. "Either way, if I'm to travel with you, I'll need something better then a dagger to protect myself with. Life with you seems to not be particularly conductive to a long, peacful life time." Lexy grins. "I have a spell I can use. It'll just take a few moments to get it going." Lexy begins to concentrate, apparently working her spell. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan considers Lexy's words. She sits quietly on the floor, toying with her glove, and slowly takes out the cube. "The Gatherer. It seems to be the pressing issue. Nebulous plots are one thing, but knowledge that this...creature is out there, and capable of falling between worlds...." She shakes her head uneasily. "Who knows to where it will go next? Perhaps someone will come, remove the device, and plant it elsewhere...drawing the Gatherer, inexorably, to that world." She shakes her head at the conjecture about the cube. "Whether or not the cube was created with the power of the Gatherer, the fact remains that it uses the energy of palanquet to function. I believe it may have either been created by a true master of that discipline, or perhaps by a master in conjunction with another greater power." She shrugs. "It means little, I think, save a warning of what we may face. If this...device were created by our enemy, or enemies, for surely we have stumbled over a focused plan, then we face something far more potent than ourselves. *I* could never create this, and I wager that even Kendell, were he still here, would admit likewise, despite his greater skill." Sighing, Cyan looks over at Jen with a wry expression. "There are times when I feel like a bit player. And yet, even a bit player has their turn on the stage," she says, "even if only to be mocked and their actions turned to japery, without their knowing." '...Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead....' A pleasant thought. Shaking off her depression, Cyan studies Lexy carefully with shining topaz eyes. "You will be utilizing sorcery? I have wondered exactly how it was you travelled the Worlds, Lexy. Indeed, I know the methods of Ares, of Aaron, and Jack; Kallika, of yet, I am still uncertain. Lazarus..." and here she stares with concern at the injured man, "Lazarus has openly informed us all of his connection to Chaos. It has proven to be far more useful, I believe, than any of our other powers save that of Ares. Between the two of them, we managed to save the populace of a world." Moving to her companion, she checks his condition, and gives him a few gentle words, then frowns. Moving back to Lexy, she shakes her head. "He is not well - the arm is in terrible condition." Settling back, she watches with interest as Lexy begins...whatever it is she is doing. Part of Cyan's mind, however, is focused on Lazarus. Another part on Kallika and Jack...and what she will have to do when they return. A third is vaguely curious as to Aaron's location. Berd sits up slightly on Jen's lap, and puffs out a small wisp of smoke that rolls and roils. He follows it with another that shapes itself into the image of a large, oceangoing vessel that slowly moves across the first wisp, both melding and dissolving. One eyes, however, remains fixed on Lexy, in curiousity. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack looked into Kalika’s violet eyes, he remembered the first time he looked into her eyes when they were like that. She had come to him as nothing but a woman after their sparring match. “I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you, but I am unbelievably thankful lalai” He said to His hands still held the grit filled blisters from this time, yet he seemed to constantly ignore the pain and just keep going. The past 24 hours seemed to be worse for the wear on Jack, now he bore the nicks and bruises from his scrape with Aaron as well. Something washed over Jack from the shadows for a brief instant, giving him the monochrome appearance of an silent movie. His deep blue eyes become solid black for a moment, the blackness clears like smoke dissipating. For an instant Jacks eyes are a washed out faded blue and he smiles a lopsided smile. Before you know it his eyes are the normal deep blue of Jacks eyes, and he smiles that disarming boyish smile that fits so well on Jack. “There that should just about do it lalai,” He said smiling at Kali as they jogged down the corridor “but let’s make certain nothing happens to you. Just remember love you are never an interruption to my thoughts, communicate with me any time you want.” Jack put his arm around her shoulders protectively. “I have to make on quick stop in the dinning area. It will only be one extra flight up and should only take an extra moment. In the mean time you were about to say something before we were interrupted.” He kept pointed towards the cabin, but mad a detour to the dinning room only to grab a flower from one of the floral arrangements for Kali’s book. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Several minutes pass, as Cyan and Lexy discuss the Gatherer, Lazarus, plots and secrets. Cyan realises, with a little prompting from a half-asleep Berd, that no, the device planted by Cylla could not have attracted the Gatherer, for that living force of nature, more terrible than any storm, had been there long before Cylla's visit. Berd lazily entertains Jen with shapes and phantoms of coloured smoke, but the young girl suddenly gives a gasp of delight as another slim sword appears on the carpet in the room, this one curved, with a circular guard and a hilt long enough for two hands, though the blade is light enough to be used with one. Berd snorts a cloud of smoke the colour of which somehow manages to convey scorn for such petty trickery as producing a weapon out of thin air. Suddenly he sits upright, sniffing the air, fire gleaming in his eyes. A moment later the cabin door opens and Jack and Kalika are there, stumbling into the room. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan suddenly stands, when Berd shows interest, and turns to Lexy. "Good that you did - Berd informs me there is danger-" She stops, instantly, when Kallika and Jack come through the door. With the situation, she is uncertain how best to proceed.... Pragmatism wins out. This time. "Come inside!" she hisses, "quickly! Berd has sensed...." Staring at their faces, Cyan quickly realizes that Berd was not the only one. "Jack? Kallika? What is it? There is danger, here, is there not?" =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack actually enters cheerily a smile on his face as he talks with Kali, the smile fades quick enough as he grows silent. A small-confused frown plays on his lips as he looks between Cyan, Berd and the new comer. Quickly he leads Kali and Hunter into the room. “Nothing that I could not handle, let me check.” Jack closes the door and reaches out with his mind searching for any possible danger and it source. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Shade ----------------------------------------------------------- Interesting ~ The little birdie seemed to feel it, that could be probelmatic. And who was this new bird? It though sizing up Lexy learingly. So sweet, fresh meat! ~ How could it get them to move on? Jack seemed intent on taking a shower, still if the Chunchee woman took one with him that would be <Ahem> enjoyable. Then there was the Pattern Prince still missing. It wondered if it could get them to leave him behind? No great loss there? ~ It laughed a unhearable laugh. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack shook his head still wearing the worried frown not looking at Cyan. . . “Nope, nothing out there. Sorry, I can’t find any danger with either my mind or the lens” With a shrug of his shoulders he said “I’m taking a shower and changing, let me know if you figure out what it is or if the Amber man shows back up so we can blow this Popsicle stand . Jack leaned close and whispered something in Kali’s ear. Jack pulled away from her and moved towards the bathroom door, giving Kalika a playful wink and a secret smile. He didn’t expect her join him, but he was trying to lighten the mood. With the problems between Cyan and him, he could feel the tension in the air. He knew they should get out of there as soon as possible, but he was not leaving before he had cleaned up if he had a say in the matter. Best just to steer clear of her in case she went off the edge again. The question was how long would that last? How long until one of his friends struck him down? =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy smiles as she picks up the blade she conjured forth, and gives it a quick series of maneuvres through the air, and seemingly satisfied, she sheathes the weapon and belts it on, apparently satisfied. She gives Berd a glance and chuckles. "Not all of us have weapons built in, little one." she says, giving the belt a final tightening, so it now hangs opposite her flute case. Just as she's finished, the door opens and two people walk in. Lexy turns to gaze at them, ready to strike out at an intruder. But these are no unwelcomed guests. The woman she recognizes from the tent all those weeks ago, and the man at her side must be Jack, whom she's heard so much about. She relaxes only slightly as she watches the confusion on Jack's face, but the announcement of danger keeps her on her guard, so she keeps her powers ready. "Perhaps it would be a good idea to start thinking about leaving." she says quietly. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- He glanced over at the new woman an eyebrow arched, he did not know her from Jack. Well maybe Jack, but he knew what he meant anyway. Still he would wait and let Cyan make introductions and explain as Cyan was the senior member of the quest. “Normally I would agree madam.” He said as he moved towards the bathroom “We are still short one Aaron though and unless the senior members of this enterprise choose to leave him, then I have time for my shower. The choice is theirs and I shall abide by it though.” His voice is smooth and friendly and his disarming boyish smile is showing. Still it’s easy to tell his attention is on the restroom and getting clean again. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy returns Jack's smile with one of her own. Very interesting lad here. she thinks to herself. But since he all but asked for an introduction, Lexy figures it's time to give him one. "Alexandra's the name, though everyone calls me Lexy." she says, bowing slightly. "I'm a friend of Cyan's. I was there when all this," she gestures vaguely with her hands around her, though it's very easy to get the point. " started. Unfortunatly, I was called away on buisness, and wasn't able to see it through." Lexy shrugs as if it's not important. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Stopping by the restroom door after he had opened it. “Me? I’m just Jack.” He waves off the bow. “Normally I’d be more than happy to accommodate all the bowing and rhetoric, returning it eloquently in kind. Right now you will have to forgive me, I’m tired, I hurt both emotionally and physically, I’m bloody” He holds up a bloody knuckled fist, by his bruised cheek to emphasize the point. “I’m dirty, I’m sweaty and I have the thin strand of hope that life will be better after I take a hot steaming shower. I guess that makes you one of the senior members over all.” There was a small smile there belaying the words and his tone more tired than snappish “So forgive my rudeness when I say you Ladies can make the decision while I take a shower. Other than that. . .Charmed, it’s a pleasure to meet you Alexandra, if only you could say the same about me.” His smile broadened a bit at the last. Then he turned an winked at Kalika, teasing her by making a come hither look and nod of his head as he closed the door. A second later the water can be heard running. A friend of Cyan’s he thinks after the door is closed. . . Reinforcements? Perhaps to deal with Kalika? =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan sags. She supposes the way Jack has ignored and dismissed her is warrented. Watching him go with pained, emerald eyes, she sighes once, then slowly turns towards Kallika. Reaching over, the Bard picks up Kirilinde, and moves to stand in front of the much shorter woman. Slowly she drops down to one knee in front of Kallika, a posture from which a blade can still be drawn and used. Then Cyan drops to her other knee, and kneels, carefully, grounding herself - there is no possible way, even from surprise, that she could attack someone as skilled as Kallika from here. Holding her sword by the scabbard, she plants it, tip on the floor, at an angle, the hilt jutting towards Kallika. "I have committed a grevious act," she says quietly. "I have undervalued my companions, those whom I would call friends. I have allowed my fears to cloud my heart. I have very nearly committed violence against those whom I would call friends. I forsook honor, thinking it had been forsaken. My actions precipitated the very violence I sought to avoid, endangering the innocent." "I was wrong. There are no excuses, and I can see no way to redress this wrong." Berd makes an impatient noise, but Cyan ignores him. The little dragon goes back to giving the shower door a dirty look. There is, however, a certain tension to his movements. "Kallika Wolfblade. I cannot think to make up for this. I can only offer my apologies, and my word that I will accept any punishment you choose to levy against me. I acted as a child, and children should be punished when they commit wrong, so that they may see the right of things." Keeping her gaze firmly fixed on Kallika's feet, Cyan shakes her head. "I...I am sorry. More than I can say." Squeezing her eyes shut, the Bard bows her head. Sorrow follows the deed...better than nothing, but far worse than thought before. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Not able to... well... not a problem. Grinding his teeth at his brother's previous endeavours, Aaron knew of the only thing he required. Reaching behind him, he removed the scabbarded sword from his back and placed it within view of his contact. "This may seem odd, Jadus, but I must know. What is the full name of this sword?" They'll think me off... the rest of the group. More than likely mad, with the way I was acting. But why should I care? Once I open up to this again, I can begin to try to understand all the questions I've been asking. If only to get past this blockade! Then, I will be able to assist them fully... with her help... So he held the familiar weapon before him, hoping his brother knew the answer. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron must look mad to the crewman watching him through binoculars from his lookout position. Who is that fool? he wonders, Must have gotten drunk at the costume party I suppose. The rain'll soon sober him I guess. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali watches the changes in Jack's face with a look of keen interest. He tries to change the subject, to get her to continue her thoughts on Cyan and the like, but she is no so easily distracted. "No, no, it does not work that easily dearheart" she says in a mock chiding voice "First, what just happened? It was odd, your eyes change... and then you were back. Where did you go?" she follows him through the ship and isn't surprised to find Hunter there before them. She returns Jack's eyes about his taking a shower, but she can tell Cyan is anzious looking. She was a storyteller after all. She probably wanted to say something. "Give me a few moments lalai" Kali purrs back at Jack, but there is no wink to allude to a joke. Perhaps she is serious? Kali takes in Cyan's bowing apology with slightly narrowed wolven eyes. She crouches down fluidly and takes Cyan's arm, bringing the woman to stand beside her. The shorter Chunchee woman then looks up at Cyan with a solemn and serious face. "You are not perfect Cyan. No one is. If you were perfect you would not be here, and you would not be who you are. Striving to be perfect will only bring you more pain and hardship" Kali says sagely "All actions have consequences. These consequences are because we are not perfect, we are flawed.." she pauses, searching for a word and when she finds it she says it with a mote of disgust "Shadows. It is dealing with these consequnces that makes us who we are. As myself I acted against one who proved himself to be a betrayer. You acted as yourself when you attempted to stop my actions" the wolf woman indcates the mangled hand "There are your consequences. I have become that which I worked against... a betrayer" she whispers the phrase and looks Cyan straight in the eye "and I will pay my consequences" she vows solemnly. A turn of the head confirms that Jack has closed himself into the bath room. "You have done nothing wrong, and therefore have nothing to apologize for, but if you would like to make amends I would recomend confirming your friendship with Jack. He is.. confused, and needs the support of his friends... all of them" she smiles to show that there are no hard feelings. "Take some time to truly think about who you are. If you acted in truth to who you are then there was no error Cyan" she smiles at the bard and bobs her head to Lexy in a quick acknowledgement "Please excuse me... I have a prior engagement" her smile is devious as she turns and heads for the bath room door. Kali knocks soundly on the door "Jack?" she asks, suddenly feeling unsure of herself. =========================================================== Re: Part 14 - Gods with feet of clay by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Pt 1: Before they were back “My eyes?” Jack looked confused, as he had pulled a flower from on of the arrangements and presented it to her casually yet with flair. “I’m not certain what you mean, but I felt. . . Hmmm, How do I put this? I felt darkness rushing at me, it’s like it was alive. Trying to overcome and change me.” His uncertainty became a smile again “I resisted it and forced it out, then it was gone again. I am sorry lalai (He had not yet seemed to gain quite perfect pronunciation of her words, from him they still sounded flat.) I don’t know anything more than that. Once we are bonded in the Triad, will we be linked like you and Hunter so that if anything like that attacks you or Hunter I can defend your minds even at a distance?” He asked looking concerned for her and her bonded? Pt 2: In the shower There was no glow of amber light from under the bathroom door only darkness. “Yes lalai?” Jack called out to Kali, she could tell that he was at the running water. “Come on in the waters fine!” He said playfully with a laugh. =========================================================== Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Shade ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack’s voice sounded both near and distant to everyone. Yet it was most apparent to Kalika’s keen ears. It sounded hollow as if Jack were speaking through a tube and somehow not. Words alone fail to describe the sound because it was alien in it’s duality. By the time Jack's laughter died, his voice sounded almost normal again. =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "My thanks, Kallika." Cyan whispers the words behind Kallika, quietly. She wonders at what the other woman said, and still feels that Kallika MAY have missed her point. She would do what cost her the finger again, even if it cost her hand. THAT was not her issue. Sighing, Cyan sinks back down. Obviously Kallika has either forgotten their previous argument which nearly culminated in Jack being cut down, or she has dismissed it as inconsequential. More likely the second, and this would not be surprising. To her, words are unimportant, really. It is actions that determine the worth of a person...but to me, while actions are the same, words can often open a window into a spirit. Flawed. Oh, yes indeed. She winces at the word, shadows, when she thinks about it. At least Kallika appears to still think of her as a friend, whatever Cyan's faults. It is a better situation than she has hoped to receive. But...a betrayer? What did she mean by that? While riddles of words might come easily to Cyan, riddles of behaviour are much more difficult for her to master. A frown crosses her face a moment later - to her keen, trained ears, there is definitely something wrong with Jack, something that acoustics alone could not produce. Berd, however, suddenly jerks up when Jack speaks, and turns towards Kallika. After a moment of waffling, he sighs and his head swivels to face Cyan, eyes glittering. Cyan's own amber gaze hardens, and she turns back to Kallika. "Berd...has asked me to inform you that there is something wrong in there," she says quietly to the huntress. "He senses a darkness. Spiritual motion." =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- Damnit. Always a catch. Especially with Jadus... Aaron sighed, remembering his previous exercises in patience, and he nodded in response to his brother. "Well, that's understandable. But... suppose I introduced you to another who could also wander near the boundary of the Dark Well, Jadus? His knowlege may be of a benefit to you." Ooh... that was a catch of his own. While he doubted that any member of the group figured him as sane right at the moment, he hoped he'd gain the ability to prove them wrong before Jadus came calling again. And so I would figure to pay for regaining her company. Understood, but not necesserally liked by myself. Damnit. However, he felt that he would have to get back soon. Whether the group needed him at all was still in question, but... something didn't feel right. He needed to close this deal now. =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaron sighs as the contact is broken, and seems to realise suddenly that he is on the deck, in a downpour that threatens to flay the skin from his face. A glaring flash of lightning shows him a nearby door. Inside he recognises the marker plate on the wall, he was in this corridor before. From here he can find his way back to the others easily enough. He starts walking. Fast. =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy keeps in the background as she wayches Cyan kneel before Kallika. Figuring this to be a private matter, Lexy keeps herself busy by mentally going over everything she has learned here today. Yes, this is a very dangerous game she is getting into here, but the danger adds a bit of spice to the whole thing. Figuring she had yet to have lunch, she helps herself to some of the wine and pulls out a small package from under her cloak, which she unwraps, revealing what looks like orange jerky. Lexy busies herself eating as she keeps half an eye on things. She keeps a very close eye on the bathroom door though, something there not being quite right. But then again, it could be absolutley normal for this group. For now, she watches and observes while looking to be doing neither. =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack starts singing Match Box 20’s Unwell in the shower seemingly unaware of anything at all. The care free sounds feeling better about life. =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Part 1 (before) At the presentation of the flower, Kali positively lights up. She takes the flower with surprsingly gently hands, a huge girlish grin spreading on her face. "Jack.." she breathes "It is.. .wonderful!!" she kisses him on the cheek, and then carefully lies the delicate blossom on the table. She removes a scruffy looking thick leather bound book from her pack and opens it to about a quarter way through. Moving with caution and a delicatecy one wouldn't think possible of the fierce warrior, Kali positions the flower on the page, spreading the petals out in a position and then closes the book tightly. Squeezing it tightly her glowing smile turns to Jack "Thank you... this means..." she shakes her head, unable to voice what she feels. Part 2 (after) Kali cocks her head to one side, wondering if she was hearing Jack correctly. He did not sound right. Her hand is moving towards the doorknob when Cyan relays Berd's warning and without further thought, Kali opens the door and closes it firmly behind her. Her sharp yellow eyes search the room, and she finally settles on Jack, concern painting her face. "Are you ok? What just happened?" She shivers despite the growing heat from the water of the bath and rubs her hands up and down her arms. She looks at Jack with naked discomfort and maybe fear? "I do not like this place Jack. There is something wrong here" she shares her thought with him quietly. Heaving a defeated sounding sigh, Hunter lies down on the left side of the door, intent on keeping as close as he could to his mistress. =========================================================== Re: Sorry, he is not quite feeling like himself today~ by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Part 1 (before) Jack does not press anything at this point, he simply enjoys her delight at such a simple thing. Slipping a hand around her waist after she has the flower deposited safely in the book. He smiles and says “Shhh, It does not have to mean anything yet means everything, simply put I am here for you lalai.” As he lead her on to the room. “I will do what is needed to be here and become part of the triad.” Part 2 (after) The light in the bathroom was off and steam rose from the shower in the back. The brief amber light from the cabin showed Jack before the sink bare chested washing his face. His pack was on the floor with the dirty shirt and cloak half stuffed inside. As he looked up at Kali she could see his face was perfect and unmarred by bruise or scrape. He smiled at first, but as he saw the concern his expression mirrored it “Kali, what is wrong?” He looked right at her in the darkness his eye meeting hers. The only light was a faint band of light cast under the door. “What, what just happened?” he looked confused. “I’m fine my love.” Jack moved up to Kalika and reached past her flipping on the switch, light flooded the room warming it more than the steam from the shower could. Jack put his arms around her trying to comfort her, with a warm yet uncertain smile. “This from the woman that faced down the Big Bad Wolf with Lazarus?” His deep blue eyes looked down into her amber wolven eyes. “I understand you concerns, I can feel it as well. I just can’t put a name to it. If Aaron is not back after we have cleaned up, then we will find him and leave this place for good.” Jack gave her a kiss and held her for a bit to comfort her before finally pulling away to move toward the shower. =========================================================== Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen pushes herself back into the small space at the side of the glass-fronted box, still holding onto Berd like some sort of protective talisman. "Is something bad happening?" she asks the room in general, not really sure if she would like an answer or not. She just about dies of fright when the door opens again, but it's just Aaron, dripping wet and storm-blown. Nobody remembered to tell Kalika and Jack about the rope! =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- "Something's wrong here." That's the first thing Aaron says, soaked to the bone, dripping, but staring at the door that leads into the bathroom. He's got his arms out, his hands supporting his body as he leans into the entire open doorway. He has no idea how he knows, but he just had a feeling. He didn't even know if what was off was in the bathroom. He couldn't place the feeling at all. It was just poking him in the back of his mind. Something just felt... wrong. "Where are Jack and Kalika?" he asks, not demanding, but honestly wanting to know. As if he'd actually get an answer from anyone in the room. Well, he was an Amberite. He better get an answer from somebody. Funny, that. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Kalika Wolfblade ----------------------------------------------------------- Kali relaxes against Jack's chest, and when she looks up at him again, her eyes are no longer wolven yellow, but her natural dark purple. Her smile is small, but sincere nonetheless. "Cyan said that Berd said that something spiritually wrong was in here" she tells him "I was worried" she shrugs and in a practiced motion, removes her swordbelt "But I'm sure there are much nicer things to think about" she whispers, moving to kiss Jack soundly on the lips, and her mind hints to exactly what nicer things she is referring to. After disengaging the kiss, Kali gently lies the belt and sword down against the wall, and soon her backpack joins it. She looks at Jack with a slight quirk of one silvery eyebrow. "I believe you have an offer to fulfill?" she says expectantly, although a smile is tugging at her wind chapped lips. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Nothing bad is happening yet, Jennifer-" Cyan begins to say when Aaron makes his entrance. Well, that puts the lie to my words. Still, the man only asks about Jack and Kallika. Nevertheless, Cyan does not take her hand from her sword, now in its accustomened place, across her knees, as she sits beside Jen. Should Aaron choose to unleash his toy again, in these confined spaces it would prove devastating to all those in the room. Cyan doubts, sincerely, that her clothing would provide any more than minimal protection against the edges of his weapon, and if push comes to shove, wants to have the sword within easy reach to protect Jen and Berd. Lexy, she knows, is more than capable of defending herself. Still, she's wary - Cyan has made a dreadful, terrible mistake recently, by jumping to conclusions, and she refrains from putting a hand on Kirilinde's hilt, and fights down her instinctive concern. "They are in the bathroom," she states in answer to Aaron's question, emerald eyes shadowed. Politeness, as the saying goes, costs nothing. Surprising herself with a flush at the thought of what MIGHT be going on in the bathroom, Cyan turns back to Jennifer. "As you have seen, Jennifer, association with us is not precisely without danger. A favour? Should I ask you to do something, would it be possible for you to do it without thinking? Anything I DO ask you will be intended to REMOVE you from danger, I assure you." Berd turns his head and stares at the teen for a moment. The little dragon's eyes begin to burn like tiny stars. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- "Okay, anything you tell me. I'll do it straight away." replies the young girl, quietly, appearing younger and more vulnerable with each passing moment. Then something seems to wash over her, and she smiles at Berd, before saying to Cyan, this time in a more confident voice, "I'm not scared any more, I believe the two of you." =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan stops for a moment, and shoots a sapphire glance at Berd. Surely he did not.... Berd gives her a disgusted look in return, and she relaxes. The little dragon would never tamper with the mind of an innocent. Remove memories, perhaps. Subdue them, certainly. But remove their right to self-determination? Still, Berd himself stares at Jen with concern for a moment, then chirrups approval, standing up on his hind legs and fanning his wings for a moment in demonstration, rather like a man flexing his muscles. He grins, then turns around on Jen's lap, and lies down again. "Well done, Jen. Be afraid, that is fine and good. But do not allow yourself to be mastered by it," Cyan says, well aware of the irony. As I was, not so long ago. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy looks up as Aaron makes his entrance. So, the pattern brat returned from sulking? He looks half drowned. Lexy grins at the sight. Maybe next time someone will finish the job. "As soon as those two.." she jerks her head to the bathroom door "are done, I think we should give some serious thought to leaving this place. Something just isn't right here." She glances around the room, as if looking for the danger. Her gaze finaly falls on Jen, and her eyes finaly fall apon Jen. "This must be quite a day for you, Jen. You've just found out more about the way things realy work then probably anybody else in this Shadow does." Now, how to say what she has to say without risking Cyan's ire, especially since she seems to have taken a shine to the girl... "I remember once, I took an apprentice from a shadow. She was very talented, a natural touch for stringed instruments, no matter how bizzare or exotic." Lexy sighs, then continues. "We had talked often of various things, including the true nature of the universe. She seemed very eager to continue on her training, even if it ment leaving her home behind. I threw up a gate to my own world, and so it was that I took her to my own home, as I have done with apprentices in the past. Sadly, something within her couldn't take it. Slowly she went mad. Weither from the knowledge she had, seeing that knowledge in play, or something else entirely, I can not be sure. But in the end, I had no choice." Lexy sounds truly regretful about what she had to do that day. "You seem like a strong person Jen, but we have no idea what the consequences are of having dragged you into this." Despite the fact that the words are directed at Jen, Lexy's gaze has shifted, so it now rests squarely on Cyan. "None at all." she emphasizes. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jack staff is already leaning against the wall as he slips out of his boots hoping up and down for a moment to maintain balance. Jack was so focused yet unfocused on the better things in life that he did not even feel Aaron enter the next room. What’s more he was not concerned as long as no one else was in this room. Jack looked confused for a moment. “No, nothing in here that I felt, no worries.” His smile beamed at her reassuringly, only to quickly become uncertain. As he looked at her with a look some how filled with a mix of emotions, passion, yearning, uncertainty, love, hope and even a tinge of fear. “I hope you are speaking of the shower and it’s. . . If I promised something else I am so addle minded by your- your everything right now I can’t think.” Jack reached out and lifted her over tunic, leaving her undershirt on for the moment. He whispers to her as he lightly runs the back of his hand down Kali’s cheek, along her neck and down her scar marked arm. He kissed her deeply again before wriggeling out of his breaches and slipping into the shower. “Hurry up lalai” He held her hand letting finaly her slip through his fingers as he entered the tub behind the curtain. OOC: Feel free to cut scene whenever you like. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan narrows her agate eyes. "It is not my intent," she says carefully, "to drag Jennifer into this problem we have." She shifts slightly, obviously uncomfortable with something. "I only wish to show her a few things - Berd and I both feel her mind is strong enough to withstand the pressure of realizing the state of reality - that there are infinite worlds, each different than the others. I would visit her, here, and have her visit me, in my world." Her voice tightens slightly. "We care a great deal for innocents." Then she laughs, ruefully, and shrugs. "All appearances to the contrary!" Keeping her seat, she leans back, slightly. "However, I am curious as to why you continue to refer to me, Jennifer, and the other people of the myriad worlds, as well as the worlds themselves, as nothing more than Shadows. I have heard the term before - from several in our group, and other Worldwalkers." Her voice is relaxed, casual. "It smacks of...superiority. Perhaps you did not mean it, as such, but I can only say of how I take it." =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- His eyes were still cast upon door to the bathroom, still not paying attention to the fact that he was soaked to the bone as he entered the room and let the door shut behind him. "So, they're both in there, eh? Hm." He moved over towards the wall opposite the bathroom door, leaning against it, and stared across the room. However, another part of him was paying attention to Cyan, and he answered the question posed to Jen. "Every other world that spreads out from Amber or the Courts of Chaos is considered a Shadow of either empire, due to the widespread belief that each and every other world is a reflection of either Amber or the Courts, in an altered state. Those so familiar with such a belief, hold that every world is called a 'Shadow', and those who dwell them are 'Shadowdwellers'. Also, those of us with the power to walk it are known by many names, Worldwalkers being one, as I'm sure you bards have heard, and stated." "As a matter of fact, the mere possibility that there are reflections of either Amber or the Courts is shown in such things as the Broken Pattern. If there are copies of the Pattern, however imperfect, then the belief that every world is merely a reflection of one empire or the other is pushed more towards reality than anything otherwise." It was strange, these feelings and knowlege that he was remembering. He also had the odd occaison to believe that the sensation of danger had come from an outside source, and not from his own attention the the world around him. Could Ilse be the one who had sensed the danger? He wondered, and cursed Jadus' requirement of a fee. "Superiority, Cyan, is shown in the actions of the one who wishes to be superior. Not in any word or turn of phrase." =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy gives Berd a look, and shakes her head. "You didn't bother teaching her that? Oh boy..." Lexy chuckles a bit and then tries to explain. "OK... why are we considered shadows? Why is this place considered a shadow? Well, it's a term used to describe everything that isn't considered real. No substance. Consider this... on one end of what we call reality is a place called Amber. Amber is real, it's solid. On the other end is another place called the Courts of Chaos. It's also real, solid. Each of these place serve as a kind of anchor point if you will. Amber has something called the Pattern. Aaron would be able to explain more, but basically the Pattern is the focal point of all that is real. The Courts also have something similar, called the Logrus. Lazaarus could explain about that. But it also serves as an anchor." Lexy pauses, takes a sip of wine, and continues. "So, you have two 'Realities'. Between them is a space. This is where we exist. These are all 'shadows' cast by two anchors of reality, each one a reflection of sorts of one of the two realities." She gestures around herself. "This is all Shadow. Real enough to us, but to those from one of the two poles of reality, easily maleable stuff that can be warped to their whims, like putty. But the closer you get to one of the poles, the harder it get's until finaly it's impossible to mold Shadow. That is when you know you have reached reality." Lexy chuckles "So yes, it is a sense of superiority. Those from the two poles are real. You, me, Jen, Berd... we are all nothing but shadows to them, easily replaceble, if they would even bother with it. Most of them consider shadows as nothing but a vast playground put there for their own amusment." Lexy finishes with disgust. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Berd gives Lexy a level look for a moment. Cyan makes a rude noise at the explanation. Not to Lexy, or even Aaron, per se, but to the explanation itself. "As much you might say that the places that became the Courts and Amber, where the Pattern and the Logrus were create, came about due to polarities within the worlds. Even infinity must have poles, and perhaps the worlds slid into place along an axis of law and chaos - and there must be an end. Perhaps the places that would become Amber and Chaos existed far before the creation of the Pattern and Logrus, and these things merely corrupted the worlds nearest to them, producing broken copies of themselves in places that were once pristine." She shrugs. "I am real enough. I may be 'maleable' to a greater power, but I am also subject to the whims of magic, and words of power. Does this make me unreal? I think not. Thus, neither does my vulnerability to these things, the Pattern and Logrus. I have seen this attitude you describe, Lexy, amoung Worldwalkers who come from Chaos, or even from Amber. Not all; for example, Ares and Lazarus both do not consider themselves to be innately superior to...shadows," she states, with a curl to her lip. "Such a word. One might as well use the term Chaudatu, or any other racial epithet." She glances to Lexy for a moment. "Not that I suspect you of feeling in such a manner." Aaron's comment about superiority is his own opinion; Cyan does not hold to it. Superiority is an illusion, be it through words, actions, or any other method. Cyan merely despises people thinking that they are somehow better than those around them; she especially despises people who have the power to enforce that belief. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- Lexy tenses for a moment, perhaps expecting some trouble. But whatever she was expecting, it obviously didn't come to be, though she gives Berd an odd look. "You said there was something there before... well, you're partially right. I'll tell you something that I've uncovered in my studies." Lexy takes on all the positioning and gestures of an acomplished storyteller. "Beyond the Courts exists a great nothingness, a void. It is the wellspring of all creation, a denier of life as well as a giver. The first Chaosites came from that place, crawling out of the pit. Eventaully, that First found a region of stability, and created a home. Others soon followed, and eventually was born the Courts of Chaos. They live near the rim of Primal Chaos, a place of ever changing skies, were fragments of shadows are trapped, were laws as you know them are suspended or warped beyond recognition, and in order to survive it's ever changing environments, you need to adapt your body. In this place, the Courts of Chaos grew, and the multitude of shadow stretched out, each one a warped reflection of Chaos. Until one day, one man changed that. Stealing the Eye of the Serpent, this renegade escaped Chaos, and found a small island of stability in a sea of disorder. There, he inscribed the Pattern, the ultimate in Order, a counter weight to Chaos. It was here that reality re-aligned itself into the universe we now inhabit." Lexy winds down. "And that day also saw the animosity born between the lands that would eventually become Amber, and the Courts of Chaos. You ask if there is an end... there is one. The Pit. Is there something beyond Amber? A crystalization of Order? None that I have spoken to know." Lexy shrugs. "But all this happened so long ago as to become legend. Is it true? Not even my master knew. But I have seen The Courts, and I have seen the great Void beyond them. I have even seen Kolvir. And I have seen myriad shadows in between. The universe is a wonderful place. Too wonderful to dwell on such thoughts as weither or not you are 'real'. I believe in my own reality, as do you. In the end, this is what counts. So do not worry yourself overly much. What you are railing against cannot be changed." =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Shade ----------------------------------------------------------- Aaah the old debate of shadow over substance, soon enough it would show them all. Never underestimate shadow! Were the gates powers real? Was the Gatherers power real? Was It real? Hahahaha. Some things even the mighty powers of Amber and Chaos knew not. The big man was proving to be a pain with his natural resistance and the heart bond to the silver wolf. Soon enough he would fall and it would be real. . . It would have substance to it’s shadow. The Jack of Cracks was weakening eves as they debated over reality. It’s time was soon, and they would learn of substance and shadow, oh how they would learn! =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Jen (NPC) ----------------------------------------------------------- Jen looks down at Berd for a second, face serious, then she looks at Cyan and breaks into a grin, which soon becomes a chuckle, then a laugh. Finally she gets her breath and says, "Sorry Cyan, Berd was telling me about a time when you had to sing, and you swallowed a wasp." Berd gives the girl a look which almost screams, "Traitor!" then goes back to sleep, snuggled down in her arms. =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Unreality," Cyan states, sapphire eyes sparking with frustration, "is a sore point with me. For someone to deny another their basic reality, to claim they do not truly exist save as a poor copy of 'the truth'...well, that allows for a great deal, does it not? I have heard stories of these people coming to worlds and using the entire populace for their own desires, for their wars. I have known legends that speak of thousands slain, or enslaved, or destroyed, merely on a whim. All because some being of power decided that it was acceptable to utilize them, because, of course, they were not real." She shakes her head. "Because they, like all of us, are not important." "And so, yes, I worry. Certainly the city of Amber must be wondrous. Certainly its people must be of great power, and I would visit there. I have heard some good things about some of them. But of masters of Order and Chaos manipulating people for their own whims, I have heard much." She sighs. "I merely never truly associated it with Amber until I began this Quest." Then she looks at Lexy sidelong, and grins. "But I grow distraught - this is wasted effort. What do you think of the danger that Berd sensed earlier?" =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Lexy ----------------------------------------------------------- "Ever squash an insect, Cyan?" Lexy says. "Where you racked by remorse afterwards? I doubt it. But you just killed a living being. Heck, depending where you are, you just killed an inteligent, thinking being. But again, you give it no real thought. That's what a lot of worldwalkers see Shadow as. Something to be used at need, and of no more consequence then the swatting of so many flies." Lexy shrugs. "I'm not trying to defend them, but be prepared for it. There are some truly nasty people out there, Cyan. And some of them won't think twice about swatting you or I. And they have the power to do it." Lexy leans back into the chair, and turns her thoughts to Cyans's question. "I don't know." she says at last. "I felt... something. From the bathroom. But I figured that with both Jack and Kallika in there, that would be the reason." Lexy shrugs, not really knowing. "If I had to take a guess, it might be a scrying, or even a trump contact... or it could be games being played by some shadow dweller. Or even another world walker. Whatever it is, I think our best defense would be to get out of here and on th emove. It's a lot harder to hit a moving target." =========================================================== Re: Um... hello... did somebody say danger? by Aaron ----------------------------------------------------------- "Then again, an Amberite is only as important as he believes everyone else thinks he is. If we're tapped out of all of our energy or resources, it's been known that Amberites tend to get a 'screw them all' attitude." Aaron chuckled at that, knowing the feeling. However, he gains a serious look as the door he had been staring at gains an even harder look from him. A more serious look than serious, if you will. "I don't know what the hell is going on in there, and personally, whatever it is must be between those two. But, something's telling me that there's a problem in there. We... ah, I, don't like it." "We?" What "we?" What the hell was that for, and where did it come from? =========================================================== |