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Part 21a: Idyllic retreat
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Part 21a - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
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There is no rain here, though the grass is damp, sparkling in the sun
like a field of diamonds strewn across the glade by a careless
jeweller. The sky is a rich cerullean, with scattered white
clouds scudding across it on the breeze. Over the rustling of the
forest canopy, and the singing of numerous birds, water can be heard
faintly in the distance.
Even with the breeze, it is not cold on the hilltop, just pleasantly cool.
One end of the roughly circular clearing is open, giving a view down
into a forested valley, where the roof of a small house can just barely
be seen among the trees...
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
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Cyan stretches, then winces almost immediately as muscles and wound
protest. Kirilinde snaps back into its scabbard with a faint
click. "Home," she says, quietly. The Bard sways for a
moment, eyes closing, and Berd nips at her ear. "Ah! Yes,
yes...I fear the wound will need some treating, but it can wait until
we come to my cabin. It is small, but should suffice."
There is a small, well-worn path leading out of the clearing, down the
hill towards the cabin. Cyan waves to it with her uninjured arm,
pointing with the plain sword-hilt. "That is the way. It is
not a difficult walk, but is somewhat lengthly. Would that the
cabin had been built closer to the hill! I should have used the palanquet...."
Slowly, the Bard begins to limp towards the path. “Leonardo,” she
says without looking back. “An interesting story you tell.
Fascinating that you made the discovery of…Trump,”
she continues, rolling the word around on her tongue with interest,
“without any formal instruction. Impressive, to say the
least.” The Bard doesn’t comment on his use of the word, nor his
reference to the denizens of both the Courts and Amber as
‘sophisticates’. There is really no point in arguing. “Berd
noticed an odd weapon you possess – have you much skill with the
blade? Does it hold other properties, arcane or mundane, than
merely that all-too-pedestrian quality of killing?”
Reaching the edge of the forest, she looks down. “There may be
bears, but I doubt they should approach near to such a large group…no
doubt Berd and Hunter will give sufficient warning should they smell
the beasts.”
The path is strewn with pine needles and old leaves, forming a soft
carpet on which to walk. Here and there a small rock juts out
like an iceberg from the sea of fallen greenery. The trees are
old, forming a huge canopy overhead, much to the delight of small
animals and forest birds. A chipmunk bolts away, and in the
distance there is a faint, rapid, knocking. A woodpecker, no
doubt. Chickadees flit from branch to branch, calling out their
curious song.
“Full truth,” Cyan say, beginning to walk slowly down the path, minful
of both her growing weakness and Kallika’s blindness. “We do not
require the ages of your life, of course. Merely your identity,
your skills, what arcane powers you possess, any hidden strengths…I
realize that such trust may come with difficulty to you.”
Recalling Lexy, Cyan nods thoughtfully, pausing to stare out into the
forest. Was that a fox? “As to why you must be
first...well, you are the one who wishes to join with the many, are you
not? Certs you can see the logic. But I will bow to your
suspicions, and begin. Then, should you have forgotten any
pertinent details, you may continue.”
The Bard taps a finger on her lips for a moment, considering.
“Very well…I am, as you know, Cyan. I have no patrynomic, nor
family that I recall. I am certainly not of noble blood – please,
as Kallika requested for herself, refrain from titling me. I
understand the politeness, but it makes of me that which I am not, and
I grow uncomfortable.” Giving a quick smile over her shoulder,
the Bard continues down the path, Berd chewing on the end of a lock of
her hair. “I am a World Walker, like the others and yourself, I
assume; I am skilled in the use and creation of the palanquet,
what you term Trump, though I am but a dabbler in painting. Born
to this world, I was trained as a Bard at the Academy in Cattashford,
the Acadamy lies many leagues to the West. My skill with the
blade...I have been trained by many persons of skill, and I appear to
have some small instinct in this arena.” She shrugs. “There
have always been those more capable than myself, though I’ll wager I
meet more who are not than who are."
For a moment, her face darkens. "And, of course, there is my
manner when I draw steel...but I am certain you saw enough of that back
at the camp to guess. I fear I am not always fully under my own
control, when blood is spilled," Cyan says, uncharacteristically
short. Berd stirs uncomfortably, then settles down again.
After a long moment, the Bard continues.
"I am strong, too, far stronger than many denizens of the Worlds, and I
can go for long periods without sleep. My Will has Awakened,
allowing me to communicate by thought alone, and bend those of lesser
strength to my own, though that is something that both Berd and I avoid
doing." She grimaces. "None of this is the norm for the
people of this land - Berd theorizes that it is exposure to the
energies of the palanquet that have worked this upon me, and I feel no need to contradict
him. At the risk of arrogance, I say now that I have an eye for
detail, clever fingers, and no small skill in speech and song.
Knowledge of the legends of several worlds is mine as well, though to
be frank, all others in this company are of far greater experience with
the Myriad Worlds than myself.”
Eyes sparkling like topaz, Cyan pauses again as a chickadee flits down
to land on the trail before her, waiting for it to fly away before
continuing to walk. “With the palanquet,
I can, of course, speak and see those whose cards I have worked across
great distances, even worlds; I can go to them, and to places depicted
in the cards, as we have done now. I may also use the palanquet to defend myself from sorcerous workings. Artifices that I
carry…none so glorious as our friend Aaron, here. My blade is
forged of ithilinaur, by the smiths of the halls of Menengroth;
Berd and I have instilled it with the power of the cards. The
combination has created a blade that is near unbreakable, and that will
cleave steel like rude tin. My clothing , as well, has been
treated in much the same fashion; it repels blades, blunts impacts,
despite its fragile appearance, as effectively as the mail of
Belegost. I carry, of course, a deck of my palanquet.”
The path ahead is broken by a series of large boulders; Cyan hops from
one to the other, grinning like a child for an instant before
sobering. “Berd; now that might take us well into the
night....” Berd glances up with some irritation, forgotten hair
dangling from both sides of his mouth. “Berd is my guide, my
mentor, my friend; he has always been there for me, and I have no doubt
that he will always remain at my side.” Mollified, the dragon
goes back to chewing on the long, coppery strands. “He brings me
through the Curtain Between Worlds, in a meandering course, to be sure
– of the two of us, he is the true Walker. His Will is strong
enough to lay upon the world around us, and work his desires; magic,
you might say, though he would argue that.” Cyan shrugs.
“It is one and the same to myself. There seem to be few limits of
what he is capable, given time. That self-same Will manifests in
different fashions; he communicates, on occasion, and can read the
shifts in the flow of the world around that might twist to
threat. Berd’s spiritual eye, as it were, is always open.”
In the distance, there is a rushing noise. Kallika, for one,
could almost certainly identify this as the sound of a small
waterfall. It begins to grow louder, slowly, as the company
proceeds.
“I shall not speak of my past, except to say that it has been short,
thus far, with little of the grandeur of my companions. As for
Berd…this one continues to surprise me, every day. He was once
something far greater, I think,” she states half-fondly,
half-thoughtfully. Berd merely chews on her hair more. “I
believe he is, as one might say, growing into the knowledge....”
Her voice trails off, and she frowns. Berd blinks, and Cyan does
the same.
“However, this is no long tale; I do not speak at length of
myself.” The Bard grins, a little shakily. “I fear my face
would colour to match my hair...the more often I speak of this, the
short my tale becomes. I should make of it a habit.”
Walking backwards for a moment, she looks at Leonardo, giving him an
appraising glance. “And now you cannot say the scales are not
balanced; more than balanced, in fact, for you have said nothing of
your weapon.” Giving him a mock bow and a smile, Cyan returns to
her forward march through the deep forest.
"So! Will you tell us more of yourself, or is there naught else to offer?"
OOC – Page 5 of Interlude in Brendiant puts it much better. :)
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
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Jack let out a sigh after the
transfer, he reached down to ruffle Hunter’s fur. Though something drew
him up short and he stared at his black hand in the autumn sun. He
flexed the black appendage looking at it intently, as if seeing it for
the first time. With a cough he dismissed unthought worries and
knelt down to scratch the Alpha wolf until he found Hunter’s tickle
spot making his back leg thump on the ground.
Jack stood following Cyan, but now he watched the
world around them looking for something. Finding a small spring
fed pool by the path he dropped down by it reaching to cup water,
but again stopping midways. Is stared into his inky refection seeing
the ghost of the man he was for an instant. Not the fresh Jack they had
found in the barrens, instead a haggard haunted man somewhere beneath
the blackness of the Dark Well. A flock of what he thought may be small
birds banked and wheeled over head in seemingly random patterns. Jack
watch them with every fiber of his being.
A pattern to everything if you know how to look, signs and portents everywhere. He tore his eyes from the birds en mass dance across the heavens and picked up two pebbles. A pattern in signs, or is it the signs in the pattern? He asked softly of himself and cast the pebbles into the still pool, one at each end.
There he leaned in to watch the cause and effect in the ripples, the pattern in the play. He saw his failure and his fall in the ripples, and knew he was not the
right man for the job. He saw the betrayal of the group and the
end of the universes as they knew them. Yes he would fall, he could see
the blinding light striping the darkness from him, he could see himself
left as a man, charring and burning under the flames and the heat. And
then darkness. . . Jack locked the vision away inside himself, no
he was not the one. His destiny was a smaller part in it all. He hoped
he had helped them all enough, he prayed Aaron hand grown enough and
wept silently inside for Kalika. He would be betrayed, they the seekers
would be betrayed and pay the price for it. Well there was nothing he
could do for it, but he could finish the job he started.
Kalika, guard my back and witch me through the link Lalai he
sent to her with his love. She had been pulling farther and father back
from them all. He only hoped she would go on and find her strength.
He stood from the pool Cyan open the gate for me, I must finish what I started. I must do it now. Before time catches me He hid the last though from all.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
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Jack had set him down some time ago, and he now walked beside Cyan, limping only slightly from his injured leg.
He smiled at certain points in Cyan's explanation, took in a serious
tone at her mention of his artifacts, and raised an eyebrow in
Leonardo's direction at her request of him.
But as Jack strayed off, Aaron stopped also, and watched as the man seemed drawn to something.
Both Arianne and Arvais were keyed upon something, he felt, but they
told him that they weren't sure what was wrong. Arianne had more of a
sense for the mental and spiritual of his group, and Arvais was not yet
used to the others to gain significant feeling, but Aaron too felt that
something was amiss.
He reached out, touching Cyan on the shoulder, giving her a look to say they should pause and consider Jack's request.
"Jack, what troubles you?" he asked quietly, his eyes showing concern.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
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"Aaron...this is rough ground, and we do not wish for your leg to be damaged anew...."
Cyan pauses in her questioning, and her voice takes on a much more
serious tone. "The cabin lies only a short ways on, Jack.
Perhaps another few hundred feet - I have allow my mouth to run on for
far, far too long..." Pausing, the Bard turns and stares at her
companion. "Jack?" she asks, even as Aaron does so, in eerie
counterpoint. "Is there aught amiss? Can it not wait?
I am...injured, and need to have the wound bandaged if I am to
safeguard your return."
The dark, shadowy man stares back at her, and Cyan can see something in
his eyes, as his ebony gaze meets one of deep ruby. Exhaustion. Jack is...all but broken under the weight of a tiredness both physical and spiritual.
"Jack," she says quietly, "can it not wait until the cabin? We
can pick up the pace, cease our discussion until then. I was
merely talking to pass the time...." Her arm aches abominably,
but Cyan merely shifts the pack on her other shoulder with a grimace.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
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Jack looks at them and the dark mood
vanishes in an instant before his shadowy, monochrome knowing smirk. “No your tales are always a delight Cyan, excellent descriptions yet direct and to the point.” Jack grinned easily and seemed to relax, though his voice resonated eerily as ever in this form. It’s
just the worries and ill portents of a man that walks the broken
pattern, nothing but superstition. It was rude of me to interrupt
your tale, I am just over eager to be on with my mission before
something else happens. The cabin will be fine. .
.You can rest and have Aaron patch you up while I take care of
this little jaunt. Leonardo will watch over me and you can take over
for him once Aaron has you fixed up.
I just don’t want to loose the darkness in the other world, and every
moment we let slip by is another circuit they have done in their
construction or another world drained into a lifeless husk. If the
magic is gone from your world Aaron, how long until they tap the
Chunchee homelands or here? We can not say for whom the bell tolls.
Though I will die fighting to stop it’s toll of need be. The mission go
on
<b> Aaron can you get
word to the Amber Prince of everything that has happened so far? Cyan
can fill you in on what I have found. Send messenger beings? Call a
friend or your brother? Anyone in case this fails. <b/> Jack had chosen his words carefully, though that was the one dead give
away. Jack must be desperate to suggest using Jadus whom he did not
like at all.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
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The group had barely reached their new destination when Cyan began her
tale without warning. Leonardo had in fact just been opening his
mouth to continue his own story when he was once again
interrupted. With a sigh and a shrug, Leonardo closed his mouth
and listened carefully to Cyan's tale.
Her repeated inferences that he had somehow left something out of his
tale despite not having been given any time to finish only confirmed
his worst suspicions... no matter what he did, this group was
determined to find fault with him! He frowned at each subtle or
not so subtle hint that he had held things back... it seemed she had
only told her tale so that she could turn the tables on him and accuse
him of breaking their foolish "full disclosure" rules.
quote:"So! Will you tell us more of yourself, or is there naught else to offer?"
Leonardo crossed his arms and paused for a moment staring at Cyan
through his shades before saying in a calm and neutral tone with just a
hint of hurt feelings, "Cyan...
please note that I left out any titles to your name. First let me
say that I am sorry if my use of titles offended thee, on Escher it was
considered rude to be overly familiar with people one did not know well
and some form of title of address was always used. I merely
wished not to give offense.
However I fully respect your desire to be called Cyan and
nothing more. In fact on Escher as on many Shadows, it is
considered the height of ill manners to deliberately address anyone by
an incorrect appellation. In fact should any of the rest of you
wish me to use a different form of address, please let me know and I
shall honor your wishes. I know that Kalika has made it clear that the single name unadorned is what she desires to be called and I shall do as she requests.
For myself, as a denizen of Escher, I usually requested that strangers
address me as Master Cezanne or Mister Cezanne. However we here
are more than strangers as we all shared a common friend in David Ares
and we now confront a mutual enemy. As such, I am more than
comfortable with you all addressing me by the familiar given name of Leonardo.
But... back to the issue at hand, Cyan... I feel you have not been
completely fair and just in your veiled insinuations that I have held
back information. Also I did not demand that anyone provide their
details first as it should have been clear that I was divulging my
personal information without undo hesitation before our departure.
Indeed... the only reason my commentary was halted in mid-tale was due
to the sudden and urgent demand of Master Aaron of Amber that we leave
the previous Shadow post haste. In fact as I remember, it was you
Cyan who requested that I delay the telling of my story until we had
reached our new destination. I acquiesced to your request but
upon our arrival you proceeded into your own story.
Now please do not misunderstand me, I am most grateful for the sign of
trust you have shown by speaking your tale.... but I think it
uncharacteristically ungenerous of you to hint that I have withheld
information when I have not had the proper amount of time to finish my
tale, which I started prior to our departure. I do thank you for
your own tale and a fascinating one it is as well... indeed I look
forward to hearing Master Berd's side of the story from his own unique
perspective."
Leonardo uncrossed his arms and adopted a more relaxed tone and expression as he took up his tale once more, "Still... the issue has been put before me, if perhaps slightly unkindly, that I have yet to address the subject of my weapon as you put it... though indeed I feel that is an ungenerous
classification but I'm sure no real offense was intended. This is
a subject I had just been about to touch upon when Master Aaron of
Amber demanded our immediate departure and it is now that I shall put
the subject to rest.
I had last been speaking of my mentor and friend, Samuel. In fact
I should add at this point that Cyan did me too much honor in saying
that I had developed my talent for Trump solely on my own without
training. This is not completely true as I mentioned
earlier. I had merely developed the initial principles of Psychic Artistry but I had not delved into its multitude of functionality. It was
Samuel's arrival on Escher and with his guidance that allowed me to
fully realize the power of Trump.
I should also point out that there was a reason I had been able to pursue Psychic Artistry to the level I did prior to Samuel's arrival... I had graced by the
Creator with considerably stronger mental abilities than most people
had on my world. Psychics were nothing new to the Shadow of
Escher but prior to the Second Renaissance there had been a Dark Age of
purging which had nearly eliminated the bloodlines of the
Talents. I can only assume that somewhere in my pedigree, I was
blessed with the traits of one of the surviving Talents.
As I had mentioned before, I was an artist of great renown and I began
a pilgrimage all over my world in search of a new artistic movement
that I could develop and lead. It was during my travels that I
came upon a location hidden from the mainstream travel, in a valley
between two large mountains. It was there that I first saw... The Break.
I did not know what it was at the time but it was unlike anything I had
ever seen before. I knew I had to paint it and so I did.
However I soon realized that no one else could clearly see the break except for a small handful of fellow Talents. But they were
weaker than I and could not properly sense the break and as such only I
could properly paint it.
It was during the time of my intense study of The Break that I first
met Samuel. He was surprised and pleased that I was able to sense
this break and he then began to tutor me in the fine art of
Trump. He later explained that what I was sensing was something
called… Broken Pattern. It seems that travel of a sort is
possible along this Broken Pattern but I can attest from personal
experience that such travel is potentially quite perilous.
Whenever possible, Samuel strongly suggested that I travel by Trump… of
course that is not always possible if one lacks the needed image."
Leonardo had been slightly lost in reverie as he told his tale but his
eyes regained their focus and a slightly sheepish smile came to his
face as he looked down suddenly upon the gauntlet which still encased
his left hand.
With a small sigh, Leonardo continued in a more lucid and perhaps slightly wistful tone, "However… Cyan’s demands were for information regarding my… artifact and I have yet to speak of it but fear not for it is next in my
tale. When I had finally mastered the basic principles of both
Trump and Broken Pattern, I was determined to seek out new experiences
and possibly experience new ART!
However Samuel warned me that many of the Shadows, a term I first heard
used by Samuel to refer to different worlds, that many of the Shadows
were quite dangerous and their inhabitants hostile. It was then
that I created my final masterpiece and indeed it was my last work of
art completed in the Shadow of Escher… Pièce de Résistance. Pièce de Résistance was created using the knowledge and talents I had gained from Samuel and in fact he aided me in its final construction.
While I had developed my mind and focused my mental talents on art, I
had not fully developed my physique to the necessary levels Samuel felt
I would require for my journeys. As such, Pièce was made to compensate for those weaknesses. Granted, my
endurance and strength were often superior to men twice my size… Samuel
insisted that they would pale in comparison to many of the creatures I
would face.
So Pièce would be designed to protect me from harm and aid
me in recovering from injury as well as being tough enough to deal
damage to most foes I would meet. However Samuel felt that such
an item would attract too much attention if I constantly carried the
same easily identifiable artifact. So Pièce was designed
to shield its presence and mine from probing minds while also being
granted the ability to assume different shapes as the need arose.
I should point out at this point that I did not know of all the function Pièce possessed from the start. As the need arose due to some new dire
situation, more and more functions became apparent. It is
entirely possible that Samuel worked in even more powers than I have
uncovered thus far. I say this because I do not wish you to feel
I have kept something from you should Pièce demonstrate
abilities I have not described… no doubt at such time as they reveal
themselves, should they exist… I will be as surprised as any of you."
Leonardo pauses for a moment and lets out a mournful sigh before adding in a solemn and reflective tone, "Finally
you have asked whether I have any skill with the blade I carry… this
innocent question becomes a sad reminder of why I am here. Before
my travels, I had as much use for a weapon as I did for secrecy and
deception… namely none at all. I was as the old song went, "A lover, not a Fighter!"…
however I now stand a man ready to fight for what he loves. The
reason I can stand here at all with blade drawn is due to the training
from David Ares.
Samuel introduced him to me during a trip to a hunting camp where David
was on safari. I was content to paint and draw as always but
David felt that anyone who kept his company should engage in the hunt…
for only through the thrill and trial of conflict could a man truly
know himself. It was David who trained me in a new artform... the
art of war.
While I would not dare to begin to draw comparisons between my meager
skill and that of David’s superior martial prowess… I must admit that I
have taken lives in self-defense and I have been of some use in foiling
the odd criminal assault from time to time. Certainly Pièce has facilitated what limited training I have in matters of combat and allowed me to live to tell the tale.
And that… is really all there is to say about my own personal
abilities, talents and past history. I have "World Walked" as
Cyan puts it and traveled many places both by Trump and by Broken
Pattern… I can certainly say the former have been more pleasant trips
than the latter.
Through Samuel’s teachings and friendship, I have learned valuable
lessons about Amber, the Courts of Chaos and a hint of the true nature
of the vast multitude of Shadows which lie in between those two poles
of creation. While I have traveled to and lived in the grand city
of Amber for a time… again I believe an error has been made regarding
my origins for I would not dare to declare myself an Amberite. I
can claim no direct kinship, at least none that I know of, to either
David Ares nor to Master Aaron of Amber.
Well… that is my story and to the best of my recollection I have left
nothing out nor deliberately omitted or obscured or been misleading
about any of my personal information. I trust this baring of my
soul and stripping of my protective defenses will go some way to
proving my ernest desire to join the fight against the Enemy who killed
my dear friend David. Is there anything more that you require?"
For a moment he looks around at the others in the group and then suddenly he looks down at Pièce as if a new and startling idea had just popped into his head.
When he looks up his face seems to show his conflicting emotions and
his tone seems a bit uncertain, "Perhaps….
perhaps there is one more thing. You would not accept my art as
compensation, which my Escher bred ways demanded was due for your
generous hospitality in initially welcoming me to your fire.
However many of you are injured and my constant companion Pièce de Résistance possesses an aptitude for healing. While I would be stripped of
my defenses and made quite vulnerable by its absence, I now offer you
the gift of healing if you will accept it.
By placing Pièce de Résistance in contact with your flesh,
it will work its healing power upon your wounds and they shall be cured
at a rate which would astonish even the most hardy of Shadow
Travelers. It will be my gift to you until you are healed, I
shall lend my Pièce if you will have it."
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
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Unfortunately for Leonardo, Aaron had to block the man's conversation
with Cyan out of his mind for the moment. He felt a piece of Arianne
was committing it to memory, however.
They continued on, and Aaron looked ahead, while his attentions were diverted elsewhere.
I do have a friend or two in Amber, but I fear I do not yet know
this Prince that yourself and the rest of the group met, Jack. I am
also not sure what the response would be in Amber, if the royal family
found out I was of Amber blood. There was obvious caution in his thoughts, there.
As for Jadus... he began, and his silver eye narrowed, I will only call on him if we have absolutely no other recourse. I feel something was amiss when we last met.
Aaron's walk took on a certain determination, his eyes matching.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
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Aaron could feel part of Jack
mind break away with a practiced ease, sliding along the broken
pathways of his minds pattern. A tendril searching the world around
them for something, a lens looking over Cyan’s home world. Another part
of Jacks mind is quietly listening to the conversations of the two
artist, noting things for future use. Yet another part deal
with the conversation with Aaron with a graceful ease that would lead
you to believe he is not mentally doing half a dozen things at once in
a surreal juggling act of multitasking.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
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“As you wish, Jack,” Cyan replies to Jack, merely raising one eyebrow at his acknowledgement of the source of his power. Odd, that he would do that in front of a man he still considers a stranger.
Something was certainly up. “Indeed, as you say, we will not back
down from this, for it threatens all of us, and more.”
The Bard continues to walk, emerald eyes thoughtful. Something was up, but cursed if she knew what it might be. Jack will be Jack, she reminds herself. He cannot be anything but. The thought brings a faint smile to her face.
Leonardo’s rather…lengthly discourse erases that smile. The man
begins by pointing out his own World’s methods of appellation – all
well and good, though perhaps in far, far too much detail. Cyan
makes note of the etiquette – it could come in useful in the future.
Then Leonardo leaps into a long complaint about how she was insinuating
that he had deliberately hidden some facts. Cyan raises one thin,
copper eyebrow, but remains silent. Best to let this storm blow itself out, she reminds herself. Berd yawns, rolls over on her shoulders, and
promptly falls asleep, beginning to snore. At Leonardo’s mention
of his name, and subtle hint that he tell his own side of the story,
Berd snorts, awakens briefly to raise one eyelid for a moment, then
falls back asleep, a thin coil of brilliant green smoke rising from his
nostrils. He certainly takes the long road to any point, Cyan notes as she listens, eyebrow rising higher as Leonardo continues to pile on his grievances.
The use of the word Trump does not disturb her – everyone has their own
name for that particular force. She has heard many different
explanations and names throughout her short life, and had little doubt
that there were thousands more. His constant use of ‘Shadow’ she
finds most aggrieving, but lets it pass...for now. Until he uses
it regarding the present, or herself, there is little she can say
without being rude. If it is his custom to think of the Worlds as such, then so be it. The revelation of his skill with the Broken Pattern, as he puts it...well, that comes as a bit of a surprise. I
was under the impression that such people were quite rare, and yet on
this journey, we seem to be meeting them time and time again.
His discussion of the item of power he carries is worth consideration; Cyan cannot help but draw parallels between that and Ilsefravnir.
Both are artifices of might surpassing anything that she carries, both
are capable of growth, both carry a multitude of uses. Very
interesting…I wonder how many of these…artifacts as he terms them, are
scattered throughout the Worlds. Leonardo says he made his, and
Aaron’s are his own by right of birth, it seems. It stands to
reason that such things have a destined creator, or wielder. She cannot help but glance at Aaron, labouring beside her, seeming lost in thought. Reflections upon reflections.
“Well,” she says when Leonardo has finally completed his ‘speech’,
“that should sufficiently answer most questions. I meant no
offense by my earlier words, nor was I hinting at any deviltry on your
part. Seeing as you took my words as such, I should apologize,
and do.” She considers his offer. “I thank you for the
generous offer, Leonardo. Aaron, of course, is far more injured
than myself – the wound I bear is superficial, and will likely cease to
bleed by the time we arrive…well, perhaps not.”
Ahead, the trail opens into a large glade. The source of the
waterfall noise becomes apparent – the glade is backed up against a
small cliff, down which flows a stream into a small, clear pool,
surrounded by rocky sides. Cyan pauses staring at the pool with
faraway eyes for a long moment, then turns from it towards the small,
but well built cabin at the other side of the glade. There is a
garden to the side, overgrown with now-wild vegetables. Carrots
make war on beets, and the bean plants battle against a creeping
tomato-vine menace. The door of the cottage shows signs of claw
marks – presumably the bears in question – but has not been breeched.
A thin plume of smoke suddenly rises from the chimney.
“Here is home,” Cyan notes absently. “Hopefully some of the food has survived its long stay in the larder.”
Berd brings his head up, and the door gives a slight creak, opening
slightly. “Aaron will bind my wound, Jack, as you desire.
Perhaps he might take Leonardo’s artifice, to aid his leg. Jack,
Kallika, Hunter, you should make yourselves as comfortable as you
wish. There will be some bread in the larder, along with jam and
honey, and possibly some salted meat and pickled vegetables.”
Cyan shrugs, then winces again, moving to the door and pushing it open.
The cabin inside is small – there are likely only two rooms. One
large one, with a table, chairs, and two small, wooden couches with
what appear to be down pillows for comfort. All home-made,
obviously. An easel stands in the corner, beside a small, rude
cabinet. Locked. The room is split by the large wood stove,
obviously used for cooking as well as heat, sitting in the center, the
rough iron tube leading up towards the roof and chimney. There is
a counter on the other side of the stove, and home-made drawers and
small cabinets. All are mismatched, obviously made at different
points of someone’s life. A small door obviously leads down to
the larder. Another door opens into a half-seen bedroom, complete
with hammock which, no doubt, also fits on the pair of iron hooks an
astute observer would have spotted outside on two of the trees.
There are small pieces of art on the walls, hung up – most of them are
landscapes. Green, rolling hills, deep forests, the coastline and
an ocean at night, with something shining far out over the
waters. A cave, with tunnels leading from it, covered in tiny,
sparkling lights like stars, ethereal figures dancing on the floor in
the dim light. Others clearly illusrate stories, or
perhaps...history? There is a burning-eyed dragon, wingless, its
evil eyes filled with agony as it writhes around the black sword driven
to the hilt in its belly; a man crawls from a ravine nearby, his wild
face and burning eyes filled with rage and hate. A marsh battle,
where hordes of dark creatuers fall upon a single man who burns with
fury, cleaving them down with the murderous axe held in both hands
while his shining companions flee, reluctantly by the looks on their
inhuman faces.
The remaining paintings are portraits, of men and beings who are not
human. Two shining figures of light, a man and a woman, holding
hands while the trees grow tall around them. A grinning, raggedly
bearded man, with twigs in his hair and an irreverent look in his
eyes. A single pair of portraits have the most detail – a softly
smiling, sharp featured person, with deep grey eyes and dark
hair. The tips of his ears are slightly pointed; from that, and
the alien cast to his features, he is certainly not human.
Another man of the same race, but with heavier features and an ironic
twist to his smile graces the painting next to him.
Excellent work, but not spectacular. Cyan, obviously, is no daVinci or Monet.
Moving over to the cabinets in the ‘kitchen’ area, Cyan roots around
until she comes out with, oddly enough, a modern first aid kit.
It seems identical to one that might find on Earth, save for the rather
obvious red swastika* on the side, rather than the cross. The
wording appears to be in chinese, rather than english.
“Aaron, could you give assistance?” Cyan asks, pointing to one of the
rather crude couches. “If you would, of course,” she finishes
with a crooked smile.
*OOC - The swastika was, originally, a buddhist symbol.
Apologies for the long post, but there was description involved.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
They continued on, and Aaron was still lost in thought.
Having entered Cyan's home, he acknowleged Cyan and followed her to the
couch. Taking the first aid kit in hand, he gazed at the symbol on its
cover as he sat down, a small chuckle escaping him.
"I am reminded," he began, "of a story entitled Mugen no Jyuunen,
the 'Inhabitant of Infinity.' The story was of a feudal warrior, cursed
to live his life forever, due to the death of his sister. The only way
he could return to mortal status, was to kill a thousand evil men."
He pointed to the symbol on the kit, before he opened it up, and extended his hand so that Cyan would allow him to begin.
"This symbol, known as the 'Manji' in this particualr story, was the
symbol the warrior called his own. That story is a particular favorite
of mine, for its depth, complexity, and absolutely ravaging portrayal
of combat."
Smiling slightly, he glanced at Cyan with a shrug.
"Ah, I blather on. Let's get you patched up, shall we?"
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack led Kali to a comfortable spot in which to sit, debating Aaron’s last words. Concern yourself not with my recent travels Jack had not been concerned with them until he heard that phrase. He
had only been wanting to exchange events so that each may have been
seen in a fresh perspective. Two heads were better then one. Jack knew
he could see things Aaron missed. Now he had at least minor cause for
concern, but he let it go.
Jack gave Kalika a gentle hug then moved to the cupboard where he snagged a bag of shelled nuts Protien, does the body good.. Just what a growing boy needs! He walked back to them pouring his find down his gullet and spoke as he
crunched them hurriedly. “Cyan, if you would loan Leonardo, my card for
the moment. Let him make contact with me so I know he can and then open
the gate so I might get on with this.” Again he pressed to be about
the business of reconisance.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Blather? Hardly, Aaron." Cyan grins as she sits down on
the couch, facing away from Aaron. Glancing over her shoulder,
the Bard stares at him for a long moment, topaz eyes appraising, then
nods. "You should know," she continues, turning her head forward
and sweeping her hair off her injured shoulder, to the other side,
"that I appreciate all stories. That one sounds as if it would be
a fine one for me to add to my repitoire."
Berd hops off Cyan's back, floating gently over to the wood stove and
lying down atop the grill. Steam begins to appear around him, and
the drake sighs. His head comes up, and his glittering eyes fix
on Jack for an instant, before he settles his head down, uttering the
small chime that passes for sardonic laughter.
Cyan's head twists again, and she pauses in her unbuttoning of the
shirt. Reaching back, with a wince, she comes up with the pouch
holding her palanquet deck and tosses it to Jack, almost carelessly. "You will find
your card in there, Jack," she says with a smile. "Hunt yourself
down, and return to me the cards." Then, growing more serious,
she slips her shirt from her injured shoulder, holding it up over her
breast to preserve modesty, while exposing the wound to Aaron's sight
as he sits behind her. Her head drops, turning away towards her
other shoulder, hair falling forwards to partially obscure her face.
Berd, on the stove, rolls over and coughs a cloud of mist that floats
through the air, settling momentarily on Cyan's wound before
fading. A shiver runs through her, goosebumps appearing
momentarily, and her breath trembles. Then the bard sighs.
"I am prepared, Aaron...though you would do well, yourself, to take
Leonardo up on his offer. The wound in your leg is a puncture -
though I opened it before stitching, the damage may take some time to
heal. And it is in the back of your knee - ligaments, tendons may
be damaged. While I do not doubt your recuperative strengths,
this might save you days of discomfort."
The cloud has cleared the streaks and smears of blood from Cyan's skin (and the shirt, incidently).
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack snatched the cards out of the air and
flipped through them with the practiced ease of a of a professional
card shark. His life back on his home world had been as much about
gambling as it had been about hunting. His life before everything had
fallen apart. That was one of the thing him and his brat pack buddies
of idle rich kids had done for fun while larking about. Jet setting,
parties and gambling. Then a myriad of the worst wolds anyone could
imagine later, traveling in his own way. Now he was a different man,
and soon there would be no more hard trails for him to follow. He would
be able to move a free and clean path much as Aaron.
Curious, there are no Orbs, stone circles or Gatherer
like beings on this word, my world or the Chunchee homelands. I would
need more time to find out about others Jack pealed off his card and handed it to Leonardo Are you ready, willing and able to do this Leo? Lets see if you can contact me without opening a gate. Jack handed the rest of the deck back to Cyan.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Once he finished his origin story and the tale of his talents, Leonardo
resumed his quiet study of the others in this group. When Cyan
made her apology, Leonardo simply bowed his head in acknowledgement and
replied in an emotionless tone, "I
thank you for your apology Cyan, perhaps I took your words harsher than
was your intent. However after the repeated warnings that failure
to divulge all would not be tolerated, I was perhaps overly sensitized
to even non-threatening implications that I had deliberately withheld
information.
I see that it is going to take me some time to become accustomed to the
social nuisances displayed by the various personalities of this
group. However I shall endeavor to learn all that I can so that I
may avoid further faux pas."
When they reached the cabin, Leonardo took a moment to briefly examine
the artwork displayed but his own reaction was a slight twitch of his
eyebrows... whether a response to the artistic style or to the contents
and subjects displayed was unclear.
Leonardo then removed Pièce de Résistance from his left arm. As he held it in his right hand, Pièce transformed into a length of bright white bandage with the words: "The
Power over Life and Death hath been given me, if one's heart be true
and pure the bloom of health one shall see, if one's spirit hath fallen
to the lure of darkness another tortured soul shall be set free!" written in crimson in the center.
Leonardo moved towards where Aaron was tending to Cyan and placed the
bandage on the floor before them saying in a resigned if slightly
regretful tone, "May it serve you as well as I over these long hard years. For now, please allow me to grant you Pièce... at least until the body heals if not the spirit."
Leonardo stood back up and walked over to Jack with his hand outstretched saying in a businesslike tone, "Well
then... I suppose we had best establish my usefulness to this group,
the sooner the better I suspect. May I please have the Trump with
your likeness engraved up it?"
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack typed:Jack pealed off his card and handed it to Leonardo Are you ready, willing and able to do this Leo? Lets see if you can contact me without opening a gate. Jack handed the rest of the deck back to Cyan.
Child's play... then again... when in Rome. Still despite all
my claims and the fulfillment of their foolish "full disclosure"
policy... STILL they doubt my abilities and motivations... and worst of
all ME!
Besides... if one can open a gate, why would he think that same person
could not simply contact the "trumped" person? Perhaps... perhaps
Cyan has not "fully disclosed" how Trump really works? Or
maybe... she doesn't really know... hmmm.
Oh well... let's get on with this, the sooner the better.
Leonardo smiled slightly as Jack handed him the Trump Card and he replied in a polite tone, "Well
Master Jack, I shall endeavor to perform the task you have set before
me. I do hope my humble skill with Trump is sufficient to
accomplish your desired goal."
Leonardo turned the Card over and took a moment to study the
image. With a slight raise of his right eyebrow and a narrowing
of his eyes, Leonardo began to concentrate on Jack's Trump portrait.
~~~ Testing... testing... 1, 2, 3... this is
your co-pilot speaking, DJ Leonadro... coming to you LIVE and In Person
from the Trump Towers. Let's hear it from all you listeners out
there in Shadow Radio Land... and remember to extinguish all smoking
materials, raise those trays to the upright position and fasten those
seatbelts.
Umm... sorry about that Master Jack, just a brief flashback from
another Shadow and my own odd sense of humor catching up to me... must
be the stress and strain I guess. Anyways... on a more serious
note, are your receiving this mental transmission 5-by-5 Master
Jack? Please respond. ~~~
A small cryptic smile briefly showed upon Leonardo's face before a more
serious demeanor fell back into place and his expression was once again
serious and No Nonsense.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Interesting." Arianne commented, and he felt her scanning the bandage for any signs of threat or possible, hidden force.
"A flowery tongue invites disaster."
Aaron chuckled as he carefully tended to Cyan, examining the wound and bandaging it accordingly.
As he did so, he told the story.
"I should have known you would be interested. In my more saner times,
you would be pleased to know that I was a poet. That shouldn't surprise
you, though." he said, and chuckled again.
"The man who was cursed to live forever, took the name of the symbol on
his back, Manji. Taking this long, bloody walk along with him, was a
young girl named Rin, who 'hires' him to help avenge the deaths of her
parents, whom died at the hands of a powerful group of former students
of the sword."
He continues, speaking of the many battles that Manji and Rin have to
fight, the great cost for not only Manji and Rin, but also for their
enemy, a young man named Anotsu.
He tells of many warriors, such as the insane poet, Kuroi Sabato, who
would remove the heads of his female victims, only to have them
taxedermied and placed beside his own, covered on his shoulders, so he
could view their beauty for all eternity. He tells of Rin's mother, who
ends up in such a sorry fate.
Of the powerful artist-spy, Sori, whose amazing, explosive talent with
the sword save both Manji and Rin not once, but twice, and whose
esoteric artistic endeavors cause comedic agony for his daughter and
their numerous landlords. After all, one can only paint in blood for so long before it starts to annoy others.
Of the deranged madman, Shira, who took the most perverse pleasure in
dismemebering and torturing his victims before killing them. Eventually
becoming bested by Manji after the most grandiose of battles.
Of Makie Otono Tachibana, a streetwalker and whore, who takes it upon
herself the burdens of an assassin, in the name of the man she loves.
Her past and history begins to haunt her, until the day she takes up
her amazing, inborn skills, and sets out on her own, in a fight against
Manji that nearly kills him.
Of Anotsu Kagehisa, a genius weaponsmaster at only 20 years of age, who
embraces, not form and style, but necessity and adaptation, which
causes an uprising amongst the schools of war, and brings the mad, the
insane, and the powerful to his side. Whose curse it is, apparently,
not to lead, but to love as well.
Of Rin, the childlike young girl who is thrust into a much more adult
situation, after the death of her parents by Anotsu's group. Who first,
clings to Manji like a crying child, only to eventually swallow her
sadness, own up to her weakness, and become a powerful warrior on her
own.
And finally of Manji, the cursed immortal swordsman and killer of 100 men, fed a bundle of kessen-chu,
the holy bloodworms, by an 800 year old nun. He feeds off of death,
until his only sister dies as a result of his manhunting. In a daze, he
meets Rin, who is looking for him to avenge her dead parents, and who
vows to help Manji kill one thousand evil men. Thus begins their
amazing, violent and powerful journey, from dusty street to sacred
wood, through heartache and hell.
With a sigh, Aaron finishes, and seems to contemplate the story.
"There are many characters with whom I can relate, and that is why the
story is a favorite of mine. The artist of the story was a man of
amazing talent, as well, and it was his poetry, and the poetry of
another, whom I aspired to reflect."
He chuckled and shook his head.
"I should check my leg, and then get to watching Leonardo and Jack."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I wish you the best of luck, Leonardo," Cyan states, in answer to the
artists' cold words. "But this group, to use your word, can be
more than a little difficult at time. I fear," she finishes with
a sigh, "that I have not yet become accustomed to it, myself. But
is not life more interesting that way?"
As Aaron bandages her, Cyan listens to the story with great
interest. It is only the bare bones, of course, but it is more
than enough to convince her that she must, must read this.
Somewhere. "I shall have to locate this tale," the Bard muses,
quietly, when Aaron finishes. "Perhaps you can lend aid with that
task...someday. I did see, before, that beneath your somewhat
flip exterior lurks a the heart of a poet, Aaron; truly, I would have
been blind to miss it!" Smiling, Cyan shrugs back into her shirt,
and buttons it up. The silk, as always, is cool against her skin,
the cool feeling of a palanquet.
"I would be curious to see which characters strike a chord of
understanding with you, Aaron. With a cast so vast and deep," she
finishes, musing, "one must be certain to find something sympathetic,
in at least one personnage." Dead parents.
Cyan wonders a little at that and, not for the first time, considers
her own parents. Where are they now? What are they doing?
Who are they?
Berd, on the stove, yawns crackingly, eyes glittering brightly as he
does. Cyan shrugs; slowly, she stands, shrugging her shoulder,
and wincing. "It is good," Cyan states, happily, smiling at
Aaron. "My thanks. You might consider that," she continues,
pointing at the 'bandage' on the ground. "Since I am, obviously,
of little use at the moment, I shall prepare some food. Guests,
after all, should be treated well."
Moving to the larder, she begins to gather the proper ingredients for a stew.
It becomes obvious that Cyan lives on stew. And, apparantly, so will everyone else as long as she does all the cooking.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Run silent, run deep!
That fit so much of Jacks life right at this
moment, everything was just ducky. He grinned, his knowing grin
that everyone so knew was just Jacks way, his defense more then meaning
anything special. A smile was Jacks shield and armor. And he was
about to be running so silent and deep as he entered the enemies world.
A chuckle escaped his lips at the break from character for Leon, as the levity was much appreciated. We
got you loud and clear Leonardo, 4 by 4 and out the door. Just let KBAM
keep the home fires burning and make certain it doesn’t sign off. The last was less of worry or threat then levity it’s self.
Jacks mind was an interesting thing to feel in action. The parts Leon
could seen and feel were moving in many different directions, following
so many trains of thoughts as to be a confusing kaleidoscope of meant
action. It gave the feeling of sores of TV’s tuned to
different channels in the background. Beyond that everything was lost
in a strange mixture of ever changing and adapting guards. Sometimes
solid as Ares armor at others so quicksilver as to be unable to grasp
mentally. Jack mind gave the distinct impression of a strange and new
city, active yet you had the feeling that you could get lost or worse
if you left the main streets where he allowed you to be. No telling
what went on in the back alleys of that place.
Cyan, if you would be so kind as to open the gate for me. As he walked to her ready for the transfer there was a subtle change in
his being. It was the difference between black and black, negligible by
any visual standards, but all of the difference in the world for where
he was about to go. He was careful to stand out of the suns light, in
Cyan’s own shadow.
So Leonardo, what do you think of our little scout and strike squad so far? He asked through the trump connection as he waited for Cyan to open the gate.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Giving Jack a crooked grin, Cyan produces the Cube. It's
noticably larger now, and she realizes that, sooner or later, it will
produce a 'new' side. With a bit of effort, she locates the side
where their Enemy lies...at least, one facet of the Enemy.
Turning to Jack, she summons the power of the palanquet, slowly nodding as the image cools, and begins to stir under her fingers.
"Do you wish to pass over the Curtain during darkness, Jack? I
have no idea if it is night where you would travel...yet." With a
nod of her head, she motions to Aaron. "Aaron, attend when you
are finished. You should look upon the Enemy with your own
eyes...at least, the creatures we believe to be the Enemy.
Leonardo will be observing through the palanquet he holds. Kallika, might Hunter observe as well, to facilitate your understanding?"
In truth, there is a touch of jealousy that Leonardo will be holding her palanquet of Jack, but...needs must, Cyan notes silently to herself, sapphire eyes on the shining cube.
Needs must.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Night would definitely be for the best Cyan, no need to give the enemy any advantage we can avoid. Jack said a easy note in his eerie voice Once I make it back I would like to have you help me examine the other
worlds we have not explored as of yet without opening a gate. He was ready to cross as soon as she knew the conditions were right.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
Stretching out his wounded leg, he winced in pain as he felt the wound behind his leg protest.
Reaching down to the "bandage" Leon gave him, he carefully wrapped it
around his leg, removing the old bandage and replacing it with the odd
one the newcomer had granted.
He felt Ilsefranvir, distracted, Arianne busy elsewhere.
Arvais, however, was monitoring everything, and Aaron trusted him to keep an "eye" out.
Satisfied with his situation, he moved towards everyone else, limping slightly, and nodded to Cyan.
"I'd like to see what we're dealing with."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack typed:So Leonardo, what do you think of our little scout and strike squad so far? He asked through the trump connection as he waited for Cyan to open the gate.
Jack replied initially in a serious tone via Trump, ~~~
David always said that one should never predict the outcome of a battle
until AFTER it was won. I think it's too early for me to provide
an accurate and precise assessment of your group... or our group if I've been judged to pass muster yet. ~~~
The tone then switched to something more friendly, ~~~
I tell you what Master Jack, why don't you ask me that question once
again after you have returned safe and sound from your recon?
Oh... and don't worry about the station shutting down, we're open for
business 24/7 and this upcoming program strikes me as quite
interesting... so there should be no need for channel switching.
Bon Voyage et Bon Chance! ~~~
Leonardo continued to concentrate on Jack's Trump but his eyes wandered
around the Card and he had to restrain himself from assessing the
artwork while his mind was still linked to Jack. Something told
Leonardo that Jack would not be understanding of any professional
critique he made of Cyan's artwork. Instead Leonardo tried to
open his mind to Jack's surroundings which he could sense through the
Trump contact.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan, with a certain amount of trepidation, opens the cube to contact with the other world - the world of the machines.
It is night.
With a sigh, she turns towards Jack. "Well...should you be
prepared, Jack, the way is open." Carefully, the Bard brings the
image closer to them, and then, reaches out a hand to Jack, preparing to usher him
through. "And there you are," she whispers, staring at him for a
long moment with sapphire eyes. "Spirits wish you safe journey."
Berd glances up with some amusement evident on his features, then lays his head back down.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Moments later, and Jack is gone. The light in the house is brighter without him, almost as if he "glows" with darkness.
Cyan shifts Berd of the stove and stands a kettle of water in his
place, heating it for coffee. The drake snorts in disgust, then
flits across to flop down in Kalika's lap, since she seems to be the
only one not too busy to tolerate him.
After a few moments the blind girl starts talking to him in a sing-song
language that none in the cabin can understand. Berd's eyes
glitter from beneath half-closed lids.
Leonardo keeps up a running commentary on Jack's progress, but after a
few minutes his speech starts to slur, and the furrows in his brow
deepen...
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
The smells of Cyan's stew were beginning to get the better of him. He
was no longer as tired as he had felt previous, but he was almost
certain that he was nearly starving.
He figured it could wait, however, and he sat down upon the floor to
monitor Jack's journey in his own way. Aaron took a deep breath, slowly
let it out, and let his concentration expand around him.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan jerks, slightly, her concentration on Leonardo's monologue breaking and her attention sliding towards Aaron.
Berd's head comes up, and he stares at her in concern.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Warned by Berd that something is wrong, Cyan stares at Aaron, a worried
expression on her face while Kalika seems to be struggling with
something inside her own mind.
Hunter lurches to his feet, a snarl rumbling up from deep in his belly. The big wolf makes it clear that nobody is to approach Kalika.
Kalika suddenly tilts her head up, sightless eyes locking unerringly on Aaron as her hand rests on the hilt of her blade. "I am here Lalai" she whispers, then adds, louder, "Betrayal and sneak attacks are
considered dishonorable among the Chunchee. Above all else, I am Chunchee."
She rises to her feet smoothly, and guided by Hunter, moves to stand near Leonardo.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"What goes on?" Cyan's voice is sharper, now, and she stands, Kirilindë coming into her hand - not yet drawn, but still....
Kallika stands by Leonardo. Her stance, her posture...all of it indicates that it is Aaron who she considers the threat. That, coupled with the feeling of
danger threatening (and with what Aaron has told her*)....
Her hand comes up, tipped with brass, and she points her blade's pommel
at Aaron, the wooden sheath lying flat along her arm. "Stand
where you are, Aaron of San Anyn. This is my Home. I would
know what goes on before any precipitous actions occur." To any
ability to sense danger, there is a growing feeling of threat from Cyan
- not action about to happen, but preparation. Her eyes have
become shards of obsidian - hard, mirrored, dark, and razor
sharp. Never taking her eyes off the man, she quickly moves to
stand beside Leonardo as well. Her hand comes up, and she places
it on Jack's palanquet. It's a gross violation of ettiquete, but Cyan is more concerned about a greater violation at the moment.
'Forgive me, Leonardo, for this intrustion - I would not do it, save for your own well-being.'
Cyan's mental voice is extremely contrite, and tense at the same
time. There is no threat to Leonardo in her - if he has means to
discern that, it would be obvious, even in her psychic voice.
Then the inner voice changes. 'Jack, what are you and Aaron doing? Your presence is required. Now.'
The voice is now burning with all the strength she can muster, a wave
of purpose with confusion buried beneath, and Cyan extends her
hand. She cannot DRAG Jack to this world, but she can give him a
choice.
Return, or disregard her completely.
Berd, wincing, flaps up to a beam and stares down at the confusion,
slowly shaking his head. He gives Aaron a wry look for a long
moment, then glides down to land on Cyan's shoulder. The Bard,
obsidian eyes fixed the palanquet, does not pay him any heed.
*Assuming that actually occurred.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
It was just like the world of the Gatherer. Just like it has
been, all along. Cyan can feel Jack's hesitation to listen, his
immeditate checking with someone else to figure out what is going
on. It doesn't matter what she has said, what she has requested,
what she advises.
Jack simply does not trust her judgement.
'Do as you wish, Jack,' she replied, confusion gone from her inner voice leaving only the iron purpose and mounting frustration. 'You
always do. But I suspect that Leonardo will release you to your
own purposes if you do not return, as he will have other things with
which to concern himself.' All of this fully audible to Leonardo, of course. 'My
apologies for this interruption, Leonardo. I do suggest you stay
behind Kallika and myself, and bring Jack, should he so decide..'
With a snap, Cyan breaks the contact, removing her hand from the palanquet and spinning back to face Aaron. Berd, on her shoulder, chimes a
protest, then falls silent, his eyes burning with far greater intensity
than the norm.
Cyan, her own eyes dark mirrors, turns her head and looks at him
suspiciously for a moment, but Berd merely gazes back. The Bard
returns to her study of Aaron.
"Aaron of San Anyn - what transpires here?"
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
"That is a very good question, my dear Cyan. I'll honestly say that I
have absoultely no idea why you're reacting so." Aaron responded, his
eyes still closed, but his senses extremely attuned. There was obvious
concern in his voice.
"However, it pains me to see that you and Kalika consider me a threat,
considering just how much we've all been through together."
With that comment, Herzkrieg suddenly flowed around Aaron's body,
encasing his entire form in a nearly impenetrable mass of reflective
metal. The hilt of Ilsefranvir seemed to flow through the armor behind
Aaron's right shoulder, until it protruded upwards.
"Forgive me, Cyan. It is my position to protect the
Master of the Sjardring. Do not take this as a sign of hostility,
rather, a defensive action on my part."
Within the armor, Aaron let out an audible sigh.
"And forgive me, Cyan, for allowing Arvais to do it at all. I don't believe it's necessarry, but it will allow me to concen..."
Suddenly, Aaron's hands flew up, and he grabbed his head in pain as a
yell escaped him. Herzkrieg shivered on his body for a moment, before
swirling and sliding off of his body and back into Ilsefranvir. Arianne
let out a yelp of surprise.
"Jack! No!" he yelled, and he rose, stumbling on his bad leg, his eyes finding Cyan before he moved to Leonardo.
"Leonardo! Can you feel Jack's contact?" he asked, urgently.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
As the room explodes with commotion, Leonardo focuses his thoughts on Jack's Trump as he feels the contact slipping away.
What in the name of the Creator is everyone doing... this is
lunacy! Do these blasted meddlers actually WANT me to lose my
bloody concentration! Damn it... I'm not going to fail because of
these foolish people!
Suddenly... there is another mind in the mix as Cyan establishes contact.
Cyan typed:'Forgive me, Leonardo, for this intrusion - I would not do it, save for your own well-being.' Cyan's mental voice is extremely contrite, and tense at the same time.
~~~ Well... it isn't as if I have much choice
at the moment. Still... I suppose it is your Trump Card after
all. As I'm rather busy at the moment trying to maintain my
connection with Master Jack, I don't suppose you would mind telling me
what the bloody hell is going on? Sorry for the rough language
but this isn't exactly child's play anymore. ~~~
quote:'Do as you wish, Jack,' she replied, confusion gone from her inner voice leaving only the iron purpose and mounting frustration. 'You
always do. But I suspect that Leonardo will release you to your
own purposes if you do not return, as he will have other things with
which to concern himself.' All of this fully audible to Leonardo, of course. 'My
apologies for this interruption, Leonardo. I do suggest you stay
behind Kallika and myself, and bring Jack, should he so decide..'
With a snap, Cyan breaks the contact, removing her hand from the palanquet and spinning back to face Aaron.
As Cyan breaks the contact... ~~~ What...
wait... WAIT... damn it woman get back here! Oh Merde! Just
bloody great... now I'm left holding the damned bag and I don't even
know what the hell is going on! This is what I get for lending
out Pièce de Résistance... real trouble just had to wait until I was defenseless!
Well Jack, it seems it's just you and me again... though for how long
I'm not sure. Don't worry... I'm not planning on cutting you
off... though if this is betrayal from Master Aaron of Amber, I might
not have much say in the matter. You had best come bac..... ~~~[
quote:"Jack! No!" he yelled, and he rose, stumbling on his bad leg, his eyes finding Cyan before he moved to Leonardo.
"Leonardo! Can you feel Jack's contact?" he asked, urgently.
With Jack's Trump still clutched in his left hand in a death grip,
Leonardo's body was pushed backwards as his right hand went up as if to
fend off some attacker as he let out a terrified yell, "Aahhh!!
What in the name of twisted Chaos is that Flaming thing and where in
Hades did it come from!! Jack.... Jack... JACK!!"
Leonardo opens his eyes and realizes he is lying prone with his back
against the floor. As he lowers his right hand from it's
defensive position, Leonardo notices that his left hand holding the
Trump is trembling. It takes a moment and a few blinks of his
eyes for him to get his bearings.
As he slowly and painfully rolls over and pushes himself back to his
feet, Leonardo says in a worried and regretful tone laced with fear and
pain, "I've
lost him... the Trump contact was broken like a bloody toothpick!
He was bathed in light and it was eating away at his shadow... and
then... some kind of... Flaming, Burning Wheel! It felt like God
looking down upon me... ready to end my existence with but a flick of
his finger! I... I can't sense Jack at all!"
Leonardo stumbles and limps towards Cyan as he reaches out his left hand with the Trump and says in a pleading and sad tone, "Cyan
please... take Jack's Trump... try to locate him. This is your
art, your Card... your connection should be better than mine. I
can't think clearly... I don't know if my failure to sense Jack
represents some damage done unto me or whether I am being
blocked. Please Cyan... Jack is in great danger and I do not know
him well enough... you are the Artist for this task!"
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Aaron's sudden reaction...Leonardo's fall...his sudden desperation,
desperation every bit of experience Cyan has tells her is
real...his stammered words of a flaming wheel...terror strikes Cyan's
eyes into white jade, and she takes Jack's card, opening her mouth to
speak-
And freezes. Her hand is on the card, as is Leonardo's.
Both can clearly feel the card slowly begin to warm, the omnipresent
coolness of the palanquet fading.
"Jack?" Cyan whispers, her mind reaching, reaching...into
darkness. Her eyes fix on Leonardo's, fear flickering in their
depths. She shakes her head, copper hair haloing her pale, pale
face.
"No."
"No!"
"JACK!"
Cyan's despairing scream seems to split the Curtain Between, but it
isn't until she raises her other hand, burning like a star with the
Cube held high, that it becomes obvious what she is doing.
Aaron is wounded, exhausted. Leonardo is weaponless, Kallika is blind. Cyan's hand falls from the palanquet to her pouch, tearing her deck free and slapping it into Leonardo's
hands as she blurs across the room at such speed that she nearly
vanishes from view. Berd shrieks in fury, falling from her and
striving to stay in the air as one lopsided, crippled hand, thin wooden
sheath held in the palm, closes around Hunter's fur -
"WAIT, OH WAIT, JACK!"
- and Cyan is gone, taking Hunter with her*.
Berd trumpets rage and fear as he sweeps through the space left by the
Bard, claws clutching only rainbow, and the little dragon banks, to
land on Kallika's shoulder, hissing fury.
Cyan's deck of palanquet lies in Leonardo's hands, coolness seeping through the leather as Jacks' card falls, fluttering, to the floor.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Kalika Wolfblade
-----------------------------------------------------------
(NPC'd)
"JACK!!!" Kalika clutches at her head for a moment, her starmetal sword
dropping to the floor. Before she can gather her senses and
react, Cyan is gone, Hunter too.
She regains her composure as Berd lands on her shoulder, the drake
glaring at Aaron and Leonardo in a manner which clearly states that if
they try to harm the girl they will need medical attention.
Flames burn blue around his snout, and he somehow seems much larger, as
if the drake in the room is only a tiny part of his true form.
Kalika calms enough to speak, but first she stoops to find her
blade. "I... I don't think he is dead. I think I would know
if he was." she says, although her voice is filled with uncertainty.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
A moment of clarity amidst the storm of misunderstanding, and Aaron reached up and out, yelling Cyan's name before she vanished.
Something was very, very wrong. Not only with the situation, but with him as well.
I demand an explanation, damnit! What is going on around here?!?
But there was no response. Not from Arvais, not from Arianne.
Arianne was silent. Very silent. He couldn't even sense her. It
reminded him of the time when Jack had given her a mental slap back on
the ship, during Aaron's time of madness. He couldn't feel her, and
that was disturbing.
The other disturbing fact, was that he couldn't remember just what transpired in the last four hours.
Not so much the actions of the group, he remembered passing out, coming
here and talking with the group, but other things weren't so clear.
For one, he knew that he had talked with Jack, Kali and Cyan... but he didn't remember speaking the words.
And for the life of him, he didn't remember how he had communicated at all.
Jack was gone, Cyan and Hunter were gone. Kali was blind and he was
wounded, doubly so, now that Ilsefranvir was silent. Add to that, he
was exhausted and he felt the beginnings of a collossal migraine on the
way.
Something was very wrong.
And there was nothing he could do about it.
Yet.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Berd
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd sits on Kallika's shoulder, his mind open to hers to allow her
access to his eyes. Burning, glittering eyes, that shine more
brilliantly than the flames flickering around his muzzle.
Berd considers, and the world begins to respond.
...a pack of wolves, less than a mile away, raises their
heads. Something tickles at their thoughts, nothing more than a
hint for now...
...A hornet's nest, buried beneath a rotten log, suddenly becomes a
literal hive of activity, as the vile creatures begin to gather
together...
...the massive shape of a bear, snuffling about at the base of a tree, pauses in its activities, and tastes the air...
...the clouds above begin to roil, slowly, like water in a heated pot, clouds, where there were no clouds before...
A sudden surge of heat in the room, and the stove's temperature rises slightly.
Berd can taste the danger hanging in the air, a spoor of blood, waiting
to happen. To anything capable of sensing such things, he,
himself, is not a threat. Yet. His stance is preperatory,
reactive...and seemingly unconnected with the small changes happening
in the world around the cabin.
The sharp smell of ozone wavers in the air for an instant, there and gone.
Berd stares at the two men with ancient eyes, all laziness and childish
fury gone, and studies them carefully. Leonardo is visually
probed, then Berd's gaze slips from him without further concern - that
one is currently occupied and desperate. Not harmless, but not
threatening.
His gaze then falls on Aaron, standing furious and mute, armored and
ready. The source of Kallika's statement earlier.
Unpredictable. A confused look in his eyes.
Berd considers, and waits to see what will be done next. There
will be no precipitous moves on his part. He knows full well that
he is outmatched, here.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Aaron stands dazed, exhausted and confused, unable to remember what has
happened to him since he arrived in this world, and even before
that. Carefully, so as not to annoy the angry drake, and the
angrier woman, he takes a step back and leans against one of the
support posts while he tries to work out what happened.
Leonardo desperately shuffles through the Trump deck for the third
time, and this time Cyan's card almost seems to pop out of the deck of
its own accord...
Kalika relaxes slightly as Aaron leans back, then says to Berd, "Can
you take me to Jack?" A moment's pause as the little drake
regards her, then, "Why not?"
Pause.
"But I need to go!"
Pause.
"Cyan can't... "
Pause.
Pause.
Kalika hangs her head, and her voice is quiet and filled with
resignation, "Very well. Can you take me home? Back to my
people?"
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Berd
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd blinks. This is not a request he had considered.
Already, the little drake's mind is shifting, strugging to find
thoughts, patterns...patterns of possiblity, rather than reality.
If he...and she...and Hunter...then they....
Not...impossible.
Berd's head snaps towards Leonardo. As the man holds Cyan's card
in his hand, he feels another card, lying against the back of it.
Fanning the two reveals...a clever, glittering-eyed dragon, grinning
out of the palanquet.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
Aaron attempted to collect his memories.
For the first time in a long time, his mind was totally silent. Totally his own.
He remembered travelling to San Anyn.
He remembered Rab. Aaron almost smiled at that memory.
He remembered the museum. The House of the Sjardring.
He remembered summoning the power of Herzkrieg.
Then... fog.
He remembered coming through Cyan's trump.
He rememberd being excruciatingly tired.
And pain. He remembered pain. Deep pain.
But for what? For whom?
Again, fog.
FOG!
... and... laughter? Mocking laughter.
Aaron banged his head against the post upon which he was leaning.
Something, for some unknown reason, was testing him.
He didn't understand anything.
Not about the Sjardring.
Not about Arianne and Arvais.
You never asked about my history...
Not about Jack's disappearance.
Not about this mission that Cyan has taken up, at the cost of so much and so many.
Not about the Pattern.
Finally, Aaron, armorless, Ilsefranvir literally hanging off of his
right shoulder, moved off of the post and proceeded to the door.
His leg ached.
"I'm leaving." he said, and reached down, removing Leonardo's donated "bandage" and tossing it to the floor.
"Thanks for your help, Leonardo. Tell Cyan that I'll be back when I'm prepared. And..."
He paused, and glanced over his shoulder at the man. The pain, hidden
even from his memories, was so deep it was visible in his eye.
"Just tell her that I'm sorry, and that no amount of power, no weapon or armor, is ever free."
"Kali, just because you're blind doesn't mean you are."
"Berd! Keep Kali and Leonardo safe. I know you're stronger than even
you or Cyan think you are, even if you need to concentrate to be so!
I'll return when the time is right!"
With that, the man clothed in blue, with mismatched eyes and spiritual
blade, left through the door. He would not abide argument or commentary.
He needed to learn and gain strength, to understand. If he was to help his friends, he needed to leave them alone.
So he did.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Leonardo barely had time to register Cyan's actions... instead of
taking Jack's Trump, she instead was throwing her entire pack of Trumps
back to him! Leonardo was caught off guard as this was not the
expected move and he had barely enough presence of mind to take the
pack without dropping it. Leonardo couldn't quite suppress the
sudden thrill that went up his spine as he beheld another person's
Trump deck in his hands... in his power.
But his sudden slip into his baser thoughts of power and control meant
that he was just looking up from the Cards trying to think what she
wanted... when Cyan disappeared!
Oh... bloody... hell! Merde! This was NOT what I had in
mind damn it! Well now... that was certainly an unexpected
move. So now what... back to babysitting again from the
sidelines? Well let's see what she has in her deck... maybe
there's something of use in it?
Leonardo begins to get frustrated at not finding the one card he felt
had to be there... in fact its presence within the deck was the only
logical reason Leonardo could think of for Cyan giving him the
deck. However somehow... on the third time through, he finds what
he is looking for.
Well how in the hell did I miss it the first two times around...
it's not as if Cyan looks all that similar to these other people.
Hmm... I wonder... just who are all these other people...hmm...
NO! Stop that... keep you bloody mind focused on the job at hand,
for once... just put that curiosity of yours on the damned back
burner! Although... what exactly did Kalika mean when she said
she could feel Jack was still alive? I don't sense any Trump
ability in use... could she be using Berd for a connection... WAIT...
what's that she's saying?
quote:Kalika hangs her head, and her voice is quiet and filled
with resignation, "Very well. Can you take me home? Back to
my people?"
Leonardo looks shocked and is just opening his mouth to object when another bombshell is dropped....
quote:"I'm leaving." he said, and reached down, removing Leonardo's donated "bandage" and tossing it to the floor.
"Thanks for your help, Leonardo. Tell Cyan that I'll be back when I'm prepared. And..."
............
"Berd! Keep Kali and Leonardo safe. I know you're stronger than even
you or Cyan think you are, even if you need to concentrate to be so!
I'll return when the time is right!"
They're mad... that's it... they've all gone completely out of their
freaking minds and now I'm left behind to pick up the damned
pieces! What the hell is going on here... was Jack some kind of
cosmic social glue! Without him this merry little band falls
apart faster than a house of cards on a windy day! Who's next...
Jack leaves, Cyan leaves... with Hunter, Kalika is getting ready to
leave... with Berd, AND now... Aaron is going to leave!
Did I or did I NOT just sit through a long, repetitive and insultingly
condescending diatribe about how "we don't go off and do our own thing
without telling people what we're doing!". Is this what "group
unity" means... oh bloody hell... no freaking wonder David is dead!
Wait a second.... don't tell me... I'm the bloody linchpin
all of a sudden!!?? I just got here... and just like that I've
become the hub for this merry band of nut cases! All roads lead
to Leonardo... damn... when I said "when in Rome" earlier... I didn't
bloody well mean this! Well... at least Pièce de Résistance has been returned, I suppose I should be grateful for the small breaks in my favor!
Leonardo moved over to Pièce and picked it up off the
ground with a slight annoyed grimace at the way his precious
masterpiece and valuable gift had been so casually tossed to the ground
by Aaron. Shaking his head at the manners displayed by his new
"fair weather comrades", Leonardo wrapped Pièce around his left
arm where it changed shape into a dark brown leather vambrace.
Immediately the fatigue and strain that Leonardo had not even been
fully aware of was lifted and he felt invigorated once more!
Leonardo concentrated on both Berd's and Cyan's Trumps in an effort to
establish a "conference call". Leonardo figured it was better to
allow Berd to discuss Kalika's new travel plans rather than being
forced to play an even more of a middleman role than he was now.
~~~ Nanoo, nanoo... this is Mork calling Orson,
come in Orson. Damn that sense of humor of mine... always when
it's least appropriate!
Sorry about that Cyan, I hope you can hear me. This is Leonardo
back at the cabin and boy do I have some unsettling new developments
for you. As if Jack's dilemma was not enough, it seems that both
Kalika and Aaron have decided to follow your rather rash example of
dashing off without much ado.
Actually in truth only Aaron has actually run off as yet but Kalika is
thinking about it. Aaron said he would be back when he was
prepared and the time was right... whatever the hell that means!
He also asked me to pass on a message to you, "I'm sorry, and that no amount of power, no weapon or armor, is ever free." Again I reiterate my previous critique... whatever the hell that
means. I guess this "full disclosure" policy is not nearly so
well developed nor so faithfully followed as I was led to believe.
But... that's neither a here nor a there for the moment. Whatever
the cause and whatever the reason, Aaron of Amber is no longer
here. However Kalika is still here but from the sounds of it...
not for much longer. She apparently wanted to go join you and
Jack but Berd wouldn't allow it. Now she is requesting that she
be sent back to her world with her people. I'm trying to split my
concentration between you Trump and Berd's Trump so you can speak with
him directly... hold on a moment while I connect you.
Is this Mr. Berd, I have a collect call from a Miss Cyan holding on the
other line, will you accept the long distance charges? Ahh...
bloody sense of humor again! Sorry Berd, look maybe you want to
discuss Kalika's vacation plans with another travel agent before
booking any flights. Here's your buddy Cyan on the other line. ~~~
I wonder if Ma Bell is still hiring... looks like I could make a killing as a switchboard operator at this rate!
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Berd
-----------------------------------------------------------
After the short conversation with Leonardo, Berd rouses himself on
Kallika's shoulder. He shoots a quick look after Aaron with his
glittering eyes, and then relaxes slightly. The heat slowly
begins to fade from the wood stove. Outside, the unnatural
movement of the clouds pauses, then the forming storm slowly begins to
break up.
The call falls silent, throughout the world of Outerlands.
With a sigh that shoots a brief gust of flames out of his mouth
(startling even himself), Berd glances at Leonardo, then seems almost
to shrug. Leaving the man to his connection with Cyan, the little
dragon turns his head to regard Kallika's sadly blind face.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Aaron
-----------------------------------------------------------
He paused, only for a moment, outside of the door to the cabin. He was listening to Leonardo's conversation with Cyan.
So he got through to her. That was good.
Aaron resisted the urge to return to the cabin. It was a very solid
urge, but he clenched his fists and began walking away from Cyan's home.
Aaron knew his mind was his own, now. But something else was bothering him.
He could hear voices.
It wasn't like the madness he had known; not like Jadelynn's
blabbering. Aaron felt that it was the memories of the innumerable
warriors that were drawn into Herzkrieg.
He didn't just feel it, he knew it.
Aaron also had a feeling, that the fog in his mind was a result of the
magic of the Sjardring. He wasn't sure, but he felt that he was pretty
close to the truth.
The memories spoke about many things, but there was more silence than
conversation in his mind. He made them be silent. That was good. It
meant he could concentrate.
And concentrate he did.
I need time. A great amount of time. More time than that which
passes on this Shadow. I need years to pass there as days pass here.
He focused, and the farther he got away from Cyan's cabin, the more he
began to manipulate his surroundings. He let most of his instinct to
the alteration, but he had an idea as to how to do it now. The Pattern
was in his blood, his very being.
Change the trees from green to gray - the land from rolling hills that rise to pinnacled mountains that steeple the horizon...
And so on and so forth. He hoped he would reach his destination with at
least silghtly more correctness than he had upon the 400-year-old San
Anyn.
An echo... a blur of memory.
A form? A voice? Something about combat?
He wasn't sure about anything involving the magic anymore.
So Aaron pierced the veils of Shadow, as was his birthright.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Kalika Wolfblade
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I believe I know of somebody who can help me... help us. That is
why I must go home. Berd can take me, and I will send him back
when I get there."
The drake hisses indignantly at Kalika's statement, nobody will send him anywhere. He will go where he pleases.
Kalika reaches to her shoulder to scratch him, then continues, "Hunter
will find his way home. He can follow a trail across worlds if he
needs to."
"I will see... return as soon as I can. Tell Cyan to find Jack for me."
The Chunchee woman turns and walks unerringly out of the cabin door, Berd draped across her shoulders like a bejewelled scarf.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
~~~ Drake/Watcher/Berd Stranger/Artist/Leonardo will guard/watch/advise
Cyanfriend. Luck/Speed on Trip/Journey/Return to
Wolfbonded/skintwister homeland/birthplace. Glad/relieved when
Drake/Watcher/Berd return to home/rest/gallery of Cyanfriend.
~~~</purple>[/i]]
quote:"I believe I know of somebody who can help me... help
us. That is why I must go home. Berd can take me, and I
will send him back when I get there."
The drake hisses indignantly at Kalika's statement, nobody will send him anywhere. He will go where he pleases.
Kalika reaches to her shoulder to scratch him, then continues, "Hunter
will find his way home. He can follow a trail across worlds if he
needs to."
"I will see... return as soon as I can. Tell Cyan to find Jack for me."
Leonardo barely registers Kalika's words as she makes ready to depart
since most of his mental faculties are concentrated on his Trump
connection with Cyan.
Leonardo makes a wave/shooing motion as he says in a lazy detached tone, "Yeah,
yeah... ok... gotta see, gotta leave... I got ya. Goin' ta see a
man about wolf eh? Umm... well.. Bon Voyage then I guess." * sudden shift to a harder tone * "Oh... and I don't think Cyan needs to be told anything regarding finding Jack." * slips back into more jaded and amused tone *"Now y'all come back here real soon ya hear, we's always open fo' business."
Leonardo then returns to his inner silence as something apparently has
grabbed his attention through the Trump contact but there are a few
whispered words in a concerned tone, "Oh dear... this could be trouble."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Berd
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd's eyes narrow for a long moment, then they widen comically, and he
blows a silent raspberry at Leonardo, long tongue coming out like a
cartoons and waving in the air.
Turning his head, he submits to Kallika's scratching...of course.
It will be a long journey; might as well make it a pleasant one.
The Drake's eyes harden, though, as they leave the cabin, turning to
face the direction of travel and with their glittering beginning to
increase, both in frequency and intensity, tiny points of starlight
dancing in his crystal orbs. It has been long since the dragon
has done this, and perhaps...perhaps he has grown complacent? Too
reliant on the others, and Cyan's palanquet?
Perhaps.
Kallika walks across the long grass surrounding the cabin, past the
overgrown warzone of a garden, and towards the path. Berd's mind
hunts, seeks the roadmarks, finds them.
Perhaps not.
The World begins to twist as the Drake concentrates, laying his will
upon reality. Between one step and the next, Kallika
fades...another step...gone, leaving only a fading puff of rainbow
smoke and an echo of chiming, draconic laughter.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Alone in the cabin, Leonardo pulls together enough concentration to
close the door and get himself comfortable for what promises to be a
long stretch...
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Leonardo relaxed as well as he could and drew comfort from his longtime companion Pièce de Résistance.
He was seeing new and strange things that he had never viewed before
during his travels. His left hand itched to reach for a pen and
pad but he knew he could not risk diverting his attention enough to
draw properly. Had things been different, perhaps he could risk
it but he had already lost Jack... he would NOT lose Cyan!
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
A glitter in the air....
Space warps, twists, and with an explosion of rainbow light, Cyan
staggers into view, holding Jack in her arms, Hunter beside her, a
bizarre, metallic spider crawling out to fall to the ground.
"Leonardo!" she yells, her voice raw, as she staggers towards the door
of the cabin. Jack's screams run as a terrible counterpoint to
her shout, cycling over and over again like those of a man in the
depths of hell.
Please, Jack, please...It is all right, we are safesafesafe, please, Jack, please....
The Bard desperately attempts to relax the man, bombarding him with
soothing mental signals, sensations of security, comfort, and other,
warmer feelings. It's almost too much for her - Jack's mind is
potent, even damaged as it is, and threatens to overwhelm her with its
terror and agony.
She doesn't even try to control him - that's the last thing on her mind at the moment.
Reeling, Cyan reaches the door in the space of seconds. One foot
comes up, and she kicks it, the door slamming back against the
wall. The Bard stumbles into the room, eyes a dull jade in
colour, and almost falls onto the couch, holding Jack by the back of
his head and his hips, now, trying desperately to avoid the savagery of
the wounds in his back. Her eyes rove the room, hunting for
Leonardo.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
As Jacks agonizing scream of terror
wound down he began to writhe in Cyan’s arms that the sruggle weakened
with each step. Though he did not have the strength to break
free in his current condition There was a feral edge to his weak
struggles that made if far from easy to carry him. His eye wide and
pupil dilated he spoke for the first time.
“Burning flame, my soul to claim.
Wheels of fire, fortunes dire.”
He repeated that phrase over and over as she carried him, his
struggles growing weaker and his voice softer the closer she got him to
the cabin and the couch. As she at t him down he winced in pain and
then in the softest of voices said.
“Drink of the well and go to hell.”
The deep blue eyes seemed to look directly
into Cyan for just a moment the swam father and farther out of focus as
if looking into infinity. his struggles stopped again and he just sat
there rocking slightly.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan typed:"Leonardo!" she yells, her voice raw, as she staggers
towards the door of the cabin. Jack's screams run as a terrible
counterpoint to her shout, cycling over and over again like those of a
man in the depths of hell.
Her eyes rove the room, hunting for Leonardo.
Leonardo had barely gotten more than 20 feet away from the cabin when
he heard two sets of shouting. One was clearly Cyan calling his
name and the other.... a scream of terror that chilled Leonardo to the
bone.
Ye gads! Can that be... can that be Jack? What under the
sky above could those flaming wheels of done to the man to elicit such
a horrific reaction!?
More importantly... what in the name of the 9 levels of Dante's Inferno
is Cyan doing HERE!!?? Did she... or did she not... instruct me
to leave her cabin as soon as I sent her Trump Deck?
Maybe.... maybe Jack has made her come here... maybe she's already
under his influence just as he is under the influence of the
Archons!? If Jack's been "turned"... then there's no hope for
this group.
But... if he still retains some control, he may have valuable
information. At the very least... I have to.... I have to offer
my apology for my Failure! Whether he be friend or foe now, I
made a promise and I failed to live up to my end. I must set the
record straight or my soul won't rest.
Of course... there's nothing to say I can't have a handy escape route already prepared... just in case.
With his left hand reaching into his coat to grasp the Amber Trump,
Leonardo hurried back to the cabin... well hurried back while at the
same time keeping a very alert watch for any uninvited guests which may
have accompanied Jack and Cyan.
Just as Leonardo opens the door to the cabin, he notices Cyan first as
she seems to be looking around for him... and the he sees the state
Jack is in and is visible taken aback.
In a shocked and concerned tone, Leonardo responds, "Good heavens... is that really Jack? What did they do to him... what... what did he give them to make them stop I wonder?
Cyan, I thought you told me to get going after I sent your Deck.
Your fortunate that I was too busy recently to form a coherent
departure itinerary... or you may have been looking in vain.
So... did your detour work, are the spiders safe...... My Word!
You've brought one of them back with you!? Well... he's certainly
going to be inconspicuous on most other Shadows. Then again... if
Berd doesn't shock people, why should a mechanical spider?"
Leonardo moves over to Jack and begins to check the man's injuries as he waits for Cyan to reply.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan gently runs fingers through Jack's hair, trying to keep her
composure. "Jack, it is all right, now." His words send a
chill through her.
Emerald eyes jerk towards the door when Leonardo rushes in, and Cyan
relaxes...somewhat. Shrugging off the question of Jack's
breaking, the bard shakes her head. "Can you help him, Leonardo?"
she begs, sagging now that there is another there to assist her.
"I apologize...I fear my plans changed with the wind, and there was
little time to inform you. It was my only chance. I shall
endeavor..." Cyan shakes her head, red hair swaying back and
forth. There is nothing else she can say.
"T-this is...THX 1138," she states, slowly, waving towards the spider,
her voice returning to her full control. "I do not know if they
all are safe. And this," she says to it, in its turn, "is
Leonardo Henri Cezanne."
Her hands remain on Jack's head, as Leonardo examines the man. Jack...please, rest. Stay away from the Dark Well.
Obviously the Broken Pattern has had an effect upon him, in additon to
the torture of the Archons. The only question is, WHAT effect?
Poor Jack...
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Leonardo was kneeling by Jack, examining the injuries on Jack's back
but it was the somewhat blank and unresponsive look in Jack's eyes that
really unnerved him.
Leonardo was conflicted, his highly refined sense of self-preservation
kept telling him to get the hell out of Dodge ASAP! On the other
hand, in his current condition.... there was no way for Leonardo to
issue a proper formal apology for his Failure.
While Samuel might suggest just saying it to the barely conscious form
and be done with it... Leonardo knew that just making the apology for
"forms sake" wasn't going to be good enough. If Jack was not
cognizant to understand and accept Leonardo's apology... then the words
might as well never have left his lips.
quote:"T-this is...THX 1138," she states, slowly, waving towards
the spider, her voice returning to her full control. "I do not
know if they all are safe. And this," she says to it, in its
turn, "is Leonardo Henri Cezanne."
Leonardo barely acknowledged the introduction as his focus was on Jack
but he did manage to raise his head enough to nod in THX 1138's general
direction before returning his gaze to Jack.
quote:"Can you help him, Leonardo?" she begs, sagging now that
there is another there to assist her. "I apologize...I fear my
plans changed with the wind, and there was little time to inform
you. It was my only chance. I shall endeavor..."
Leonardo waved away Cyan's explanation for the change in plans saying in a distant and distracted tone, "Yes, yes... "the best laid plans of mice and men..." or as David would have said, "A battleplan never fully survives intact following the initial contact with the enemy.". Don't worry about it... I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it just as I'm sure it won't be the last time."
Leonardo looked down at his left arm and then back at Jack's back
before dropping his head to his chest. For a moment he remained
still... and then with a deep soulful sigh, Leonardo touched the bracer
around his left arm. Once again the bandage, which had been seen
earlier and used by Aaron, appeared as the bracer transformed.
With a rather hesitant and reluctant movement, Leonardo gently wrapped
the bandage around the wounds on Jack's back. With the bandage
firmly secured to Jack, Leonardo sighed again and sat back on his
haunches to see what effect if any his "mission of mercy" would have.
In a soft and barely audible tone, Leonardo whispered, "Well then... let's see what this does. I sure hope Samuel was wrong... I really don't feel like being "killed by kindness"."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by THX 1138
-----------------------------------------------------------
The mechanical spider clicks and chatters to itself for a few minutes
after entering the cabin, huddled on the floor, eyes dim. They
brighten for a moment when Cyan says its name, and it moves across
hesitantly to sit near Hunter.
One leg reaches out to touch the wolf, who flinches, then tolerates the contact.
Once Jack is treated, it speaks, "Zyan... I... am alone. I have never been alone bevore. I vind it... unzettling."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan hunches over miserably, watching Leonardo look over Jack, her
fingers gently pressing against the tormented man's skull. She
flinches, once, at Leonardo's words, and nods. "No...likely not,"
the Bard agrees. I am a fool.
The redhaired woman watches with dull, jade eyes as Leonardo works upon Jack, eyes that spark for a moment when the Piece is placed upon the silent man's body, and that turn with worry towards
Leonardo. Something is going on, there, and the Bard isn't
certain what. Is giving that somehow dangerous to him?
Her head slowly turns to the mechanical spider, and her mouth droops at
the corners. Cyan had not considered the effect that leaving
his...hive? might have on THX 1138. She holds out one
hand. "Come here, if you wish. I share minds with Berd,
often. We are all alone out here, I fear, but it is something
that can be remidied with speech, and friendship." Uttering a
sad, little laugh, the Bard beckons the glittering creature over,
noticing how, already, dust and dirt have smeared the metal surfaces in
places. Will he be able to go back, after being touched by the world? she wonders.
"But I would be glad to share minds with you," Cyan finishes,
quietly. "I cannot all the time, but...sharing or no, you will be
with us. It may seem like being alone, after what you know, but
it is not."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Time passes as it always has, too fast for some, too slowly for others. Those in the cabin fall into the latter camp.
Jack's physical wounds seem to be healing quickly enough, but his eyes,
when they are open, contain nothing. If, as has been said, the
eyes are the windows of the soul, then jack's soul is a derelict
house...
Leonardo watches, ensuring that the bandage is still doing the intended
job, and wonders what he has fallen into the middle of...
Cyan watches, wondering what Jack got into, and if he will ever be the
same man she knew and had grown to... she tries to suppress that
thought...
THX 1138 watches, pressed against Cyan's hip and clicking, almost purring, accepting warmth and contact and a trickle of thoughts from the bard...
Hunter watches everybody, pacing and grumbling deep in his chest.
Rushing forward every time he thinks there is a change in Jack's
condition...
There is a flare of light in the air, sending shadows fleeing into the
corners and conjuring fears that the Archons have found this place, but
it is Berd, returned alone from his journey.
Hunter throws his head back and howls...
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Berd!" Cyan's glad cry cuts the silence of the cabin with
Hunter's howl as the little dragon banks and swoops, abruptly fanning
his wings and pulling back, staring with some consternation at the
mechanical creature next to Cyan. Eyes glitter faintly, and the
dragon seems to relax, gliding to land on the Bard's shoulder.
The redhaired woman stares at him with grateful, topaz eyes.
"Yes...we have Jack. We succeeded. Kallika? Good,
good." Cyan sighs, patting Hunter on the shoulder. "I
suppose Hunter will be leaving us...my thanks to you, Hunter, and glad
I will be to see you and Kallika again. Soon."
Another sigh. Her friends are leaving, joining others fallen away
from the quest, through choice or circumstance.
Kallika...Hunter...Aaron. Cyan's face hardens on that last name,
and Berd coughs out a small, grey cloud of smoke that suspiciously
resembles some kind of donkey. "None of that," Cyan
whispers. "We have no time for such things. Jack...Jack is
not well," she manages.
Understatement of the year, actually.
Berd cocks an eyebrow at Leonardo, then at the Piece, and
chimes with amusement. Amusement fades, though, as the little
drake studies the wounds upon Jack's back, the wounds fading to nothing
more than scars, and then crawls down Cyan's arm to lay his tail across
Jack's leg.
"This is THX 1138," Cyan notes, abruptly. "Apologies, THX 1138;
this is Berd, my companion, and sometime mentor." She doesn't add
the usual jokes; right now, her sense of humor appears somewhat
crippled.
Cyan wonders if it will ever recover, if this is how Lazarus became the crusty man he is. Life.
"Jack has-" she begins, then cuts off, sagging slightly. The
little dragon goes back to his examinations, uttering small cries of
distress as he does. Cyan glances to Leonardo, a twisted smile on
her face, and shrugs helplessly, one hand fisting (gently) in Hunter's
fur, the other seeking reassurance in the cool, smooth planes of THX
1138's body.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd studies Jack for a while, then clambers back to Cyan's shoulder, where he sits gazing down at the man.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"He...is fragmented. Utterly," Cyan says quietly, staring down at
Jack with pearly eyes. She shakes her head, glancing at Berd for
an instant. The drake shuffles uncomfortably, and droops his own
head, looking abashed, and ashamed. Silently, he waddles back
down her arm to sit atop Jack's shoulder, staring into his blind, open
eyes.
Cyan carefully goes to get some water, and dribbles some in Jack's mouth. Patiently, she ensures that he swallows.
Berd's eyes glitter, faintly.
Cyan, carefully washing the bloodstains from Jack, turns to
Leonardo. "Berd believes...it may be possible to assist him in
regaining his mind. Perhaps through the Broken Pattern.
Perhaps, and he is hesitant in suggesting this, through the use of the palanquet.
We have one of Jack. It contains his essence. A copy, if
you would. It may be possible to use it to stimulate his own,
fragmented self..." Cyan closes her eyes. "I do not know."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
He had sat there for long hours, still and devoid of any reaction.
Still and staring off into nothing.In the blink of an eye all of that
changed. As Cyan closed her eyes and Berd sat on his shoulder.
"+HAOURR NAAACHOCHT HESH NABROLIN VERRICHT+” Jack shouted both
physically and mentally, his psyche attempting to copy the feel
of the push that had went with it. Did anyone around him even
feel it? Who knew, he certainly didn’t and didn’t care. The need to
move and run was all that mattered, to escape the pain still in his
mind if not his body.
Jack when from stop to all out go in the blink of an eye. One
second a man sitting there with a blank expression. The next a feral
man scrambling across the cabin with a guttural half growl and half
roar. No darkness, just a man in sudden motion. Pure reaction, fight or
flight. . . Survive. . . A broken hurt animal.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd is blown from Cyan's shoulder by the psychic eruption, staggering
the poor little dragon and sending him into a careening flight that
slams him into a wall, leaving him dazed on the ground.
Cyan's reactions, however, are impossibly quick. The backlash of
psychic might hits like a lash, staggering her, catching her off her
guard, but it doesn't stop her - her defenses protect her from the
worst of it, and while it makes her lose precious time, her speed is
more than sufficient for her purposes.
A powerful headache building behind her eyes, the Bard leaps after
Jack, far more quickly than he...and knowing that things could be very
bad when she reaches him. Never grab hold of a drowning man, she knows. And now, that is precisely what she is about to
do. Grip a hysterical, maddened man...who is, possibly, several
times stronger than she.
Cyan has seen Jack's skill at handfighting, witnessed his casual
handling of Aaron abord the ship. She knows very well where this
will be leading. Somewhere very painful; the thought echoes through her mind as she throws herself upon him, trying to drag Jack down.
All the while, Cyan's spiritual self is screaming at Jack to 'stop!'
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan typed:Cyan, carefully washing the bloodstains from Jack,
turns to Leonardo. "Berd believes...it may be possible to assist
him in regaining his mind. Perhaps through the Broken
Pattern. Perhaps, and he is hesitant in suggesting this, through
the use of the palanquet. We have one of Jack. It
contains his essence. A copy, if you would. It may be
possible to use it to stimulate his own, fragmented self..." Cyan
closes her eyes. "I do not know."
Oh bloody hell.... the Broken Pattern!? There's a reason it's called the Broken Pattern... I've never considered it a tool for mending or fixing anything. Well if Berd thinks this... then maybe Berd can take the risks!
Still... an interesting idea I must say. Using the Trump as a
backup copy of a person's personality. Sounds like something they
would do on that AEarth TV show... "Star Tracks" or whatever it was
called.
Leonardo spared a moment from staring at Jack to look at Cyan. He
gazed back and forth between Cyan and Berd with a forlorn and troubled
expression on his face before shaking his head slightly and letting out
a deep sigh.
In a tension filled but soft tone, Leonardo responded, "The
Broken Pattern is a VERY dangerous and unstable element in the fabric
of the Universe. In fact it can be quite deadly both to its user
and to those around the user. If it were not for the extremely
rare but valuable use as a means of inter-Shadow travel... no one would
seek out knowledge on how to use the Broken Pattern.
Even then... I sometimes wonder if its uses outweigh the dangers.
To use it in conjunction with Trump... very interesting if perhaps
quite dangerous. The Broken Pattern twists everything so that
between a choice of possible outcomes, the one with the most ill
effects is most often favored.
There is also the question of what would be returned to Jack through
the Trump. What if his mind was restored... but only up to the
point the Trump was actually created? While its true that the
Trump maintains its contact with the person regardless of change...
what if the spiritual essence captured is more of a static snap-shot of
the soul rather than being fluid and adaptable?
Also what if the Broken Pattern subverts our efforts so that only
Jack's darker, baser and less pleasant personality quirks are
transferred? We all have our dark side... but it is usually
balanced by the better angels of our nature, which makes us tolerable
to others.
But if only the dark side was conferred through a Trump-Broken Pattern
transfer... Jack could become very dangerous to us and neither you nor
I could contain his talents if they were focuses against us.
These are issues to be considered before trying something so
drastic. I don't suppose Berd has something more detailed in mind
for how we...or I... would go about using....."
quote:"+HAOURR NAAACHOCHT HESH NABROLIN VERRICHT+" Jack shouted
both physically and mentally, his psyche attempting to copy the
feel of the push that had went with it.
Jack when from stop to all out go in the blink of an eye. One
second a man sitting there with a blank expression. The next a feral
man scrambling across the cabin with a guttural half growl and half
roar. No darkness, just a man in sudden motion. Pure reaction, fight or
flight. . . Survive. . . A broken hurt animal.
As Leonardo was kneeling only a few feet before Jack and was between
Jack and the door... Jack's frenzied motion literally knocked down and
overran poor Leonardo.
"Bloody Hell... Jack stop this nonsense! Get back here you bloody thief! Pièce de Résistance... stop him, bind him!!"
Leonardo had managed to grab ahold of the bandage around Jack as the
man fled in panic. Jack was much stronger and managed to drag
Leonardo towards the door as he fled. However Leonardo sent a
mental command to the piece of Pièce which he held onto desperately.
Pièce changed swiftly in response. It first wrapped
securely around Leonardo's left hand and wrist forming a solid glove
and cuff. It then widened enough to slip down from Jack's back to
his legs before tightening again in an effort to constrain Jack's legs
so the man couldn't move. During this Jack would notice, if he
still could, that the accelerated healing of his back had ceased as Pièce once again bonded to Leonardo's will and granted Leonardo its power.
I hope this works... I hope Cyan can calm this oaf! Damn it...
why now, why all of a sudden... and what the hell kind of language was
he speaking just before this bloody maniac run!?
In a soft barely heard tone, Leonardo spat out between his gritted teeth, "Damn you Samuel... why do you always have to be right!?"
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack is fast, but Cyan is faster. She manages to dive at Jack and
grab his legs as he goes past her. He goes down, but she can't
hold him. She does manage to slow him down though, and in the
scramble, Leonardo retrieves Piece.
Jack breaks loose, Aiming a kick at Cyan's face which the bard just
manages to block, though it leaves her left arm numb, but before he can
get to the door he comes face-to-face with Hunter.
The big wolf steps forward, forcing the man back, eyes locked on his and teeth bared.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Berd
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd shakes his head and lets out a chiming sound of distress that is
lost in the confusion. His eyes, dull, stare about himself at
nothing...then focus, begining to shine.
Looking up, he stares sadly at Jack while regaining his feet, all four
of them. The air around the little dragon ripples for an instant,
as if in a heat haze, then stills.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
They were lucky, so very luck. Jack still
had strength though he did not know how to use it to it’s fullest
extent. He had Psyche again without knowledge of how to make best use
of it. It could have been a lot worse, they could have had to kill him
to take him down. Then again it might come to that as of yet.
Jack froze for a moment when confronted with the large bared teeth of
the Alpha male. Of course any hesitation is enough to give someone an
opportunity. The primal fear of predators won out and suddenly Jack
changed course running for a window, shuttered or not. Coiling
even in motion to dive through it.
Wordless, thoughtless, fear and pain pressed him on like a
wounded animal caught in a trap. It was only through Cyan's and Berds
calming mental work, not to mention Piece's bodily healing that they
had not gotten blind rage. Yes they were lucky.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan spots Jack's intention before he jumps - it's not hard, he's a
creature of brute power and no finesse at the moment, and reading his
body language is ridiculously simple.
DOING something about...that's another matter, entirely. Right
now, Jack isn't trying to kill them; it's a plus. Right now, Jack
is reacting. That's a plus.
Unfortunately, his reaction isn't one with which they can easily deal, without hurting themselves, or the man.
Cyan's eyes harden to dark amber. This is going to hurt. Her, most likely.
As Jack charges towards the window, she intercepts him from the side,
hammering into his more powerful form with a simple, but precise,
shoulder block, taking him off-line enough that they both slam into the
wall. As she does, the woman frantically locks her arms around
one leg, high, so that he can't simply stamp on her, and uses the
contact to open her psyche to his. No compliance locks or
attempts at a submission hold - her entire purpose is to calm him, not
give more pain, more fear of being trapped.
Jack! JACK! JACKDOMENIQUE! PLEASE, WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS! HELP YOU! KEEP YOU SAFE!
The Bard hopes, desperately, that her conscious, focused strength will
not drown in the maelstrom of Jack's roiling emotion and maddened power.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Again Jack never saw Cyan
coming until after the fact running in wild eyed fear as he was.
Normally even if someone would have gotten the drop on him with a body
check, he would have rolled with it and still came out on top. Neither
of these things happened as Jack plowed into the wall with a thud
and a grunt that shook the timbers.
Whimpering he twisted and writhed in Cyan’s grasp and a his momentum
carried him down, scuttling along the floor crab wise using his arms
and free leg he drug Cyan along with him. At least until he had made it
under the table. With
Jack mind shied back from them hiding as the man his under the table,
but hea was at least seteling down even if the fear was not subsiding.
They could feel a flood of broken memories pouring though his mind
spurred on by the fear and psychosomatic pain. Everything
twisted and taken out of context.
A red headed woman singing a lullaby to his soul as he sat lost in
pain. Though he could not under stand it at the time. All of the
tenderness and caring he could ever imagine embodied in her.
His mind being thrust into the broken pattern, warping it! Breaking it
into a countless myriad of pieces. As if to drop a porcelain cup from
the top of the Empire State building.
Cyan sits at the fire, still holding the palanquet in her bandaged
right hand, her concentration split between it and the stranger. What
foul timing this is...or is it enemy action?
"+WHERE DID YOU COME FROM+"
"+WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE+"
A red headed woman singing a lullaby to his soul as he sat lost in
pain. Though he could not under stand it at the time. All of the
tenderness and caring he could ever imagine embodied in her.
Jacks hand unclenched reveling a poor mangled and now slightly charred thistle in it. The man looked down at the thistle.
A bunch of people stand around Jacks grave monument each have a thistle.
Fire and Dark locked in life or death struggle.
A young silver haired woman naked and surrounded but a halo of
sparks. The feeling that she owned him, that he was a slave to her.
Just as Jack reached the door, the front of the Ilse slammed into and
passed through the doorframe with no little amount of noise and hardly
any effort at all. The first blade spun, slammed backwards into the
wall at Aaron's yank, and stayed there.
The resulting image is thus:
Aaron, standing a distance away from Jack, staring at his back, and
clutching the flickering hilt of his Pattern-etched blade with a
shaking, angered fist. The sword itself, eight blades of silver and
blue metal, each piece glowing blue-white with a portion of the center
of the Amberite Pattern, reaches the entire distance between Aaron and
Jack, and seperates Kalika, Cyan and the rest of them from the man. The
first blade on the whip cannot be seen, as it has passed through the
wall, and become lodged against the other side. Aaron's cloak, flaring
out behind him at the final apex of his previous motion, comes to a
halt behind him and causes what little dust there is upon the floor to
settle in a circular pattern.
And his eyes, oh his eyes, flaring, burning bright against the light of
the room as his mind screamed for the Pattern. He reached, grasped,
demanded that it come to him. Strangling the hilt of his sword, he
concentrated on the bond within the blade, and desired it with all his
being. With everything apparent within him.
"Jack, if you leave, you will die. There is no question. Perhaps not by
myself, perhaps not by Cyan or Lazarus or anyone else, but you will die
eventually. Will you leave now, knowing that you left your 'friends' to
perish without your help, knowing that if you had not left, you could
have done something to stop our deaths?"
Aaron's laugh is cold, hard-hearted. All trace of amusement, joy, is
gone from him for now. It is the laugh of a man who has taken life and
liked it. The laugh of a man who, for a moment, does not give one bit
of a damn.
A massive ship, the red head standing no a few feet from him holding her dread sword readt to stike him down.
A red headed woman singing a lullaby to his soul as he sat lost
in pain. Though he could not under stand it at the time. All of the
tenderness and caring he could ever imagine embodied in her.
The silver haired woman beating the tar out of him in some barren land as the red head and wold watch in amusement.
Looking into the feral grin of the silver haired woman and the wolf grinning down at him his head hurting.
The red had standing one foot planted on his back as he lay in the sands as if she owned him.
The blond man by the fire drawing one hell of a big swords, ready to cut him down.
The man with dark hair and a goatee that simply watched it all amused.
A red headed woman singing a lullaby to his soul as he sat lost in
pain. Though he could not under stand it at the time. All of the
tenderness and caring he could ever imagine embodied in her.
And that was just the tip of the ice berg, memories warped and twisted
in their worst possible way. He sat trying to hide in the shadows
of the table attempting to understand it all. He looked into the face
of the redheaded woman who had both tormented and been kind to
him and asked “Who?”.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
She aches. Even through the armor, hitting Jack was like hitting
a wall; one with knobby bits, like knees and elbows. Then there
was the true wall, the one into which his enormous strength had
propelled them.
The crawl across the floor, his knee hammering into her head, feet
digging frantically into her belly, hadn't helped. Cyan just
tried to protect her face as best she could. All the while his
broken whimpers tore at her like no blade ever could.
Now he sits, gasping, under the table. Cyan, both arms still
hugging his thigh, breathes in and out, trying to get her
bearings. Her right hand howls pain at her, but she ignore that -
there are worse problems. Not only is her head ringing from the
buffeting, but her mind swirls, lost in the insane flow of
memories. Swirling, swirling, down the leaky drain of Mad Jack's
mind.
And the thistle, in his hand. Broken. Burned. But still...held.
Cyan lets go with one arm, and digs in the sash at her waist. And
there it is - twisted from its stay. A thistle of her own.
Fingers trembling, her three fingers and one thumb, she holds it out
towards him in her oddly shaped, crippled hand. "Y-yes," the Bard
manages, eyes shining like liquid opals. She winces, as she can
'see' the memories, catch the occasional one, and knows that he is
seeing them through the eyes of a third person, the context
incorrect. But still....
Her sword lies by the couch. No song to be cut, here.
Berd lands, a good ten feet distant, and stares at Jack with burning,
glittering eyes. The drake warbles a friendly greeting, a
tinkling, soft song of pleasure.
"Cyan," the redhaired woman says quietly to Jack, laying her
thistle-bearing hand on his. "I am Cyan. Of...no place in
particular. And you are Jack."
In their hands, the thistles no longer seem dry and cracked, merely
sadly bedraggled and, in Jack's hand, burned. All of that...but
not broken.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
As Leonardo picked himself up off the floor with a grimace of pain and
a huff as the wind had been knocked out of him, he looked at the shell
of a man formerly known as Jack hiding under the table.
Well... that didn't work as planned... so much for trying to restrain this maniac, at least I got Piece back. He really has gone off the deep end... serve me right for
getting involved with a group of nut cases and eccentrics! Well
what are we going to do now I wonder? I don't much relish the
idea of playing nursemaid to a man with a shattered mind.
A wound of the body heals at a steady rate... but an injury of the mind
may never fully heal. What's more... the mind's natural healing
process can be as damaging and dangerous as if the wound were left
untreated. How in the name of Chaos did I get mixed up in
this.... Samuel had better appreciate my efforts on his behalf!
Seeing that Cyan has the situation under some limited control, Leonardo
moves cautiously and quietly over to the cabin's door. He makes
sure it is closed and then he sits back down gingerly with his back to
the door while staring from Jack to Cyan.
Leonardo knows that Cyan has a much longer and deeper connection to
Jack and she will be in a better position to reach him than he
is. Leonardo takes out the Trump for Jack that is still in his
possession and then crosses his arms in front of him bringing his knees
close to his chest in a huddled position.
Well if she can't keep him calm... I certainly won't have any chance
at doing so. Once again I am faced with a matter of brawn and
physicality for which I most ill suited and poorly trained. I am
NOT a bloody sword swinging, punch throwing fighter-for-hire damn
it! I am an ARTIST... so how am I supposed to deal with this sort
of situation? I'm certainly no "shrink" nor do I play one on TV
for that matter... I know nothing of mind healing.
I may have been intrigued by Berd's concept before of using a
combination of Trump and Broken Pattern... but this hectic episode has
soured me on that idea! The last think I want to do is link my
mind to this paranoid lunatic and then channel the Broken Pattern into
the mix just for good measure! I have no wish to go mad myself...
there are already enough indications that my previous travels have had
their ill effects on my psyche as it is.
With Jack's Trump Card in his left hand, Leonardo makes a point of not
looking at the image but instead keeps his gaze upon the pair trying to
re-establish their bond of camaraderie. Leonardo has decided that
silence is the better part of valor in this situation and will remain
silent unless called upon... this time it is NOT his fight.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
“Jak”
He said softly with a hard “K”, repeating the name. “Sea-Anne”.
He held the hardy thistle flower he carried in his hand up to the on in
hers. “Why Sea-Anne? Why?”
He sat there the few images he could
remember at this moment exhausted, they began to repeat
themselves. His eyes pulled away from the purple flowers and met
hers before drifting over to hearth flames. She could feel fear
bubbling up in him as his eyes locked on the dancing fire. The fear was
becoming hate as his face contorted. Fear and hatred of the flames, a
burning hate for the burning.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Relaxing ever so slightly, Cyan closes her eyes, briefly. When they
open, they are ruby, and she smiles at Jack's naming of her. "You
gave them to us, Jack," she reminds him, gently. Holding his
hand, she reaches for a memory, finds it.
They stand before a cairn of rocks, and the body of a dark-haired
man. Deep sorrow emmenates from Cyan, from whom the memory
comes. Jack, to the left, hunts among the weeds and grasses until
he discovers something. A grimace touches his face for an instant
as he pulls a single sprig from the small bush, then plucks six more
flowers. Carefully, he fiddles with the flowers for a moment,
then walks back to the group about the body.
Kallika, blind, standing beside Hunter.
Aaron, silent in the face of Ares' death.
Lexy, her youthful face aged wtih sorrow.
Berd, perching atop the stones, gleaming eyes dim.
And herself, of course.
The three separate flowers, he splits between himself and Aaron. Two for Aaron...why? 'One for you, and one for the lady of the blade, Arianne.'
Ah. Lexy garners one of the six from the bunch. Then Jack
stands before her, and the memory blurs as the sorrow rises to a peak,
Jack's face dissolving slightly as Cyan takes the flower with fumbling,
crippled hands.
When she is again able to look up from her feet, Berd has one, though
where he will keep it, she knows not. There is one in Hunter's
fur, and another in Kallika's hair - Jack's hands are just now moving
back from it.
That hurts, as always. But she says nothing.
One more to Kallika, and then Jack took her hand, leading her to the body of Ares, the dark man. 'Still
waters run deep, old friend; never had I seen a person calmer or with
more depth than you, Ares, my friend. Rest well; your memory will
live on.' His eyes turn to Cyan. 'Your songs sung, and tales will live on.' A thought, a purpose comes to her again, that she will, she will find the story of this man, Ares, and make of it a song. And it will be sung, as Jack has said.
'A man of peace as much as war, I would like to think.'
The memory fades...into Jack.
"Thistle," Cyan says, holding the thistle-like flower. "Common,
yet beautiful. Strong. Hardy. Prickly. Like
us. You chose it, Jack, for us, for Ares, a friend of ours who
fell." Reaching back, she fumbles with her palanquet, pulling one out by feel. Easy enough to do, for her, even with her forshortened hand.
"You," the Bard states, holding the card out to him, placing it, cool
and smooth, into his hand. "Look upon yourself, Jack."
Carefully, she moves her body to sit between him and the fire.
"That is Leonardo," the Bard says, to distract him. "Leonardo
Henri Cezanne, of Escher." Berd, moving back to sit down on the
couch, glances at the fire. There is a faint flicker in the air
and it slowly dies, down to burning coals, then nothing.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
“Give a little Thistle.” Jack said in
a melodic voice as he sat there watching the scene unfold tears
well in his eyes but not because he remembers it the way Cyan has show
it to him. What little bit he remembers is an odd parody of that at
best. Yet the raw emotion touches him. More pain, is that all
that he has lived is pain? Is that all he has been?
He looked down from Cyan, to the card and then back to
her. Reaching down to her He gently pulls her under the table beside
him “Hide. . .” He glanced at the man a way away “Leonard Onri
Sea-Zane De Es-Chair, hide.” He looked back at Cyan looking into her
eyes and then back down at the card. He reached out to touch it
“Jack. . . I am Jack?” he watched the card his finger tracing the dark
paths on it. “The fires come for Jack, more then he can count. The
world of fires in the sky. Why?”
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Scooting under the table with Jack, Cyan gives Leonardo a miserable look. He must think us absolutely insane, the lot of us.
But right now, her focus is Jack. She meets his eyes with her
sapphire ones. "Yes. That is you. Hold the card,
Jack," she says, putting it in his hand along with his thistle.
"We'll hide, here."
Sighing, Cyan puts an arm over Jack's shoulders as he studies the palanquet.
"The fires...I saw them. They took you, because you are their
enemy. I came to get you, with Leonardo and Hunter's help, and
brought you out, here. We should be safe, here." She
glances at Berd - the little dragon, she knows, is currently walling
the world off, brick by brick. For now.
Palanquet should not be affected, though.
"You were there, looking around, looking for the Enemy. But they
found you." Her arm squeezes tighter for a moment.
"Jack...hold the card. Look into it. Study yourself.
Can you do that? Can you feel...yourself, in the card? It
is a magic card, a palanquet. It is what I used to bring you out, from the Enemy."
Berd sits on the back of the rickety couch, slowly building walls, and surveying the vast world from behind them.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack took the card and lifted it
close to his eyes studying it deeper and deeper. As he did so he spoke
softly though with an intensity “Fires pain , fires hurt. . . hurt bad.
. .Must be extinguished.” He traced the outlines of the card with a
finger staring into it. Drawn by it. In a soft whisper he asked “Cyan
help to stop pain, cyan friend? Leonardo and hunter friend?”
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan typed:"That is Leonardo," the Bard says, to distract him. "Leonardo Henri Cezanne, of Escher."
Leonardo nods silently towards Cyan and Jack in acknowledgement of his name.
Well at least the formal introductions are being gotten out of the
way... I wonder if any of that is really sinking in though? Well
I had best hold my tongue, there's no point in confusing the poor
lad. Let's see just how well Cyan does at explaining the
A,B,Cs... with luck it won't be unlike re-learning to ride a
bike. Then again... perhaps Jack fell off his bike often as a
child, hmm?
quote:"Hide. . ." He glanced at the man a way away
"Leonard Onri Sea-Zane De Es-Chair, hide." He looked back at Cyan
looking into her eyes and then back down at the card. He reached out to
touch it "Jack. . . I am Jack?" he watched the card his finger
tracing the dark paths on it. "The fires come for Jack, more then he
can count. The world of fires in the sky. Why?"
Scooting under the table with Jack, Cyan gives Leonardo a miserable
look. "Yes. That is you. Hold the card, Jack," she
says, putting it in his hand along with his thistle. "We'll hide,
here."
Leonardo notices the look from Cyan and raises an eyebrow but then
turns to look at Jack under the table. With a small sigh of
resignation and a small shrug, Leonardo nods his head in agreement and
replies in a soft gentle tone, "As you wish Jack... yes, I shall hide as well along with you and Cyan... under the table where it's safe."
Maintaining a neutral expression on his face, Leonardo doesn't bother
to rise from his seated position against the door but just crawls over
to where Jack and Cyan are under the table. He keeps a small
personal space between him and the pair as much as is possible under
the limited space of the table. He keeps his eyes shifting
gradually back and forth from Cyan to Jack but remains silent.
quote:In a soft whisper he asked "Cyan help to stop pain, cyan friend? Leonardo and hunter friend?"
Again Leonardo nods and replies in the same soft and gentle tone with a hint of tension, "Yes Jack, I'm your friend. We're all friends here."
As a couple of thoughts strike Leonardo, his eyes light up slightly and
he focuses his gaze on Cyan. There is a slight strain of
concentration as Leonardo tries to use his Psyche to establish a gentle
mental contact with Cyan.
~~~ Easy Cyan, this is Leonardo. Sorry
for intruding on your thoughts but I felt it best to keep these topics
just between us for the moment. First... despite his current
mental state of disarray, Jack brings up an important point.
Safety... is this cabin actually safe anymore?
You used some type of ploy to distract the minions of the Archons in
order to draw them away from Prime... but might you not have drawn them
here? How much time can we risk staying here... even if the
Archons cannot travel the Shadows, who can say if others who serve The
Enemy can?
Secondly... where should we go next? You once spoke of travelling
to Amber to make a report... might that not be a sound idea?
Perhaps there are those in Amber who could led aid in healing Jack and
would be inclined to as repayment for our service in warning about The
Enemy?
Thirdly... Trump and the Art of Healing... it has occurred to me that
one might attempt to make a new Trump Card for Jack as he is now.
What do you think would happen if a new Trump were created for Jack...
AS he holds the old Trump of his old self? Do you think it would
be possible to blend or merge the old Trump of Jack's old self with a
new Trump of Jack's new self? Suppose one were to create this new
Trump as another is contacting Jack via his old Trump?
Again... perhaps there is someone in Amber who would be more
knowledgeable about the possible uses for Trump and could assist us in
our efforts to restore Jack. I present these three issues to you
to ponder. I am remaining silent for the moment and allowing you
a free hand in dealing with Jack. You have the stronger
connection and the fewer voices and stimuli the better... it would not
do to have Jack get confused again. ~~~
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I will help," Cyan says softly, still holding Jack's hand. He needs contact now, support. Kallika...why did you have to leave, now? It isn't because she doesn't want to offer him what he needs; quite the opposite, in fact.
And that's the problem.
"Yes, we were trying to put the fires out. They must be dealt
with. But that is for when you feel better, Jack. Right
now, we need to help you take away the pain. Help you feel more
like yourself." She glances over at Leonardo, coming closer, and
Hunter, meeting his amber eyes with a near-identical set. "Hunter
and Leonardo are friends. And that," the Bard continues,
indicating, "is Berd. Over there is THX 1138 - his people are
slaves to the fire, Jack, and they wish to be free, just as you do."
Briefly, she hopes that none of THX 1138's people were involved in
Jack's torment. If they were, Cyan will have to work even harder
for Jack's trust.
"And yes," she whispers, "I am your friend, Jack. So you said, many times," the Bard murmurs, closing her eyes. Though I must say at times I did not deserve it.
"We will help you stop the pain." Her arm stays across Jack's
shoulders, her other hand on his where it holds the card.
'Leonardo, you are correct - this cabin is not safe. Berd thickens the borders of this world, but they will not stand fast against a
determined assault. We need to fly, but until now, I have been
occupied with Jack.' A sorrowful mental note, there. 'We
require a World that is both safe and calm. Not one filled with
bustling activity, nor wild danger. I would suggest one, only
Lexy is not here to bring us, and I have no palanquet for that world. The Cube will suffice to bring us to a reasonably safe place...but I am open to suggestion.
Regrettably, I have no means of achieving Amber, outside of Berd, or
the Cube. The Cube can remove us to one of the Worlds of the
Golden Circle, about Amber. Berd's method of travel is far, far
more lengthly...and we are quite some distance from Amber, I might
add. In addition, Amber, when last we spoke to one of the
Royalty, was under some kind of subversive assault - their palanquet had failed. I see no coincidence, there. Have you a palanquet for Amber?
I agree that Amber is a fine idea for a place to seek healing for
Jack. If we can flee to that refuge, we should...but only if we
can survey it, beforehand. I would not wish to leap through a
gate, only to find myself surrounded by rubble, with Archons dropping
from the skies...your other idea holds merit, I believe, but will
require us to be somewhere safe. Unless, of course, you have
developed a method for the creation of cards within a day? For
now, I seek to reacquaint Jack with himself, through the card he
holds...but please, give me your opinions on a safe refuge, I fear my
thoughts are most dispersed at the moment.
"Jack," Cyan whispers. "Study the card. Can you feel the
cold? Look on the man's face. Imagine yourself as being
him, for that is your face, there." Fumbling behind herself, Cyan
comes up with a mirror as Berd whistles innocently - it's hand-sized,
and bears a suspicious resemblance to one swiped from a lady's
compact. Cyan holds it before Jack's face. "You see?
That is you, there, in the card. Hold the card, and feel.
Reach out, with your mind, in the same way I</i> am speaking to
you, now,'</i> Cyan finishes, gliding gently into the mental
contact, no surprises, only a smooth, blending. Again, she
enfolds Jack in feeling of comfort, warmth, and care, trying to hold on
to the feeling of security he is developing. Please, let this work.
It likely will not, but she has to try. Even if it gives Jack a sliver of understanding, it will be a help.
As one of her friends, an enigmatic man named Sam, once said, 'An inch of meditation, an inch of Buddha'.
'Touch the card with your spirit, Jack. Feel it.'
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Listening to Cyan Jack glanced at
the mirror with a frown, taking a moment to look between the mirror and
card. Teaching up to feel his face as he looked in the mirror. He
took the mirror for the moment. The frown deepened as he focused on THX
1138 and he looked curious at Berd though perhaps a little fearful
still of Hunter. Looking back the card he stared into its depths
and reached out to touch it with his mind curiously.
Cyans calm soothing words and mental contact guiding him. . .Reaching out curiously. . .Seeking.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
The card grew cool beneath Jacks
hands as he stared at it. He began to see a pattern in the lines
of the card that no one else could have seen. Each looked to be nothing
more then a line or brush stoke in the painting. Yet in his mind they
formed a pattern and the dark paths of the crossroads formed the cracks
on which the image of him on the card walked.
The next thing he knew he was standing in the setting of the card at a
place that would have been near the start of the pattern. The sun and
wind on his skin, the scent of fresh are. He turned in a circle taking
in the world around him feeling somehow at home and safe. Behind him
where he had just looked someone cleared their throat noisily. Spinning
to face whoever was back there he found himself face to face with
himself. Blue eye’s meeting blue eyes his doppelganger said “You have
certainly made a mess of things this time you big oaf!” There was
a blunt edge of impatience to his others voice
Yes we certainly have! An eerie voice came from
behind him and he found himself looking into a shadowy version of
himself setting the shade of a tree. Don’t stand there all gaping and agog man, what are you going to do about it?
“Hmmmm” The other Jack said “I would have suspected Berd would have
been here for this. Perhaps it’s for the best that he is not, he
probably would be to easy on you.”
--------------------
Back in the cabin Jack sat there staring into the depths of the card.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Still keeping an eye on Jack, Berd wanders over to the forlorn THX and
looks it up and down, in a not-unfriendly fashion.
More...interested, than anything else. He utters a single,
chiming noise, then cocks his head to the side.
He's also ready to leap clear if the favoured food source of large, metallic spiders is 'little dragon'.
Cyan stares at Jack with dark, sapphire eyes, then looks around. "Something's happening," she whispers. Please, let it be something good. With her hand on him, she can at least monitor his level of emotion.
Berd glances over, then looks at THX, taking a few steps towards the table.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Leonardo maintained his gaze upon Cyan but briefly looked over to Berd
when Cyan mentioned that Berd was directly affecting the current
Shadow. With a small sigh, Leonardo concentrated his thoughts
again, ~~~
Well... as a matter of fact I do have a Trump for Amber, though it has
been sometime since I was last there. I had not heard that Amber
was under attack; this is certainly news to me. Although... I
also happen to have a Trump for the other end of reality, though again it has been some time and I'm not certain if the somewhat chaotic environment would be best for Jack.
While I do have Trumps for other Shadows... there is one possibility
that springs to mind. Still... it has been a VERY long time since
I was last there and I'm not entirely sure how things may have
changed. Also... well... I must admit that I am a bit wary of
bringing our troubles to that Shadow as it has a special place in my
heart. I am of course speaking of the Shadow of Escher from which
I originated.
It was a world focused on peaceful pursuits and a renewal of the soul
and spirit. There were new revolutions in the Art World almost
every month. The place I have in mind would be even better
because it was almost completely isolated from any major urban
area. I suppose it would do for a short while... though I would
desire that we not stay too long lest our Enemy track us to Escher.
The only other way I know of... is the Broken Pattern but in Jack's
current fragmented mental state... the risks are simply much too
high. As a final last minute no option escape... perhaps, but if
we have alternatives then we are best off looking to those before we
agree upon the Broken Pattern.
Still... whatever we decide, I suggest that we do so without delay and
make haste for our departure. If the Archons send their minions
or worse come themselves, we will not be able to fend them off long
enough to escape ourselves... much less defend Jack who will almost
certainly shatter at the first sight of them. That is as far as
my thinking currently takes me, what do you suggest? ~~~
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere calm would be good, Cyan agrees, ruby eyes burning in the dim sunlight, leaking into the room through the closed shutters and door. But I understand about not wishing to bring trouble to your World, she continues, deliberately eschewing the word 'Shadow'.
Even had Leonardo not admitted to it, she would know that he had plenty
of experience dealing with those from Amber, and their peculiar
prejudices.
Unfortunately, I am loathe to move Jack at this time. He is fixated upon his palanquet,
and something...I know not what...occurs within him. The contact
I have with him allows me to sense that, if nothing else. I will
not pry further, but...I think that disturbing him at this juncture
would be disastrous. I know not how long it might take - moments,
minutes, hours. But I am willing to take the risk. Berd has
raised tall ramparts about this World, and I believe it will be
safe...for now. But it might be best to choose a location of
retreat.
I have the cube, of course. There is a world inscribed upon it to which we might go. Cyan slowly nods. It
is, much like what you describe, an idyllic place. Lexy brought
us there, once. You did not meet her. The place is a ruin,
on an island far, far from land and any peoples. It should
suffice, and may bring back... The Bard grimaces, rocking back and forth uncomfortably for a moment. ...pleasant memories for Jack. For myself, that is where I completed Jack's palanquet<i>.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Still looking at the palanquet Jack leaned a little close to Cyan and asked “Why are we hiding under
the table?” in a soft voice. His head turned to look at her, deep blue
eyes meeting her own. He blushed brightly and slid out from under the
table in casual move, then reached a hand down to help her up.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Startled sapphire eyes meet Jacks brighter ones for a long moment, then
Cyan blinks as the man slips out confidently (but...blushing?) and
stands, holding out a hand. Cyan takes it, slowly, staring up at
him. "J-Jack? Are you...?" Getting to her feet, she
brushes a lock of hair from in front of her face, staring at him in
befuddlement.
He looks... Like Jack, of course. Only moreso than recently.
"Are you..." 'Well' is such an incorrect word. "...Do you
remember?" she asks, leaning forward slightly, daring to hope.
Berd, sitting near the table, raises an eyeridge and lets out an interrogative peep.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
An uncertain pained look crossed Jacks face and he
shrugged noncommittally “Don’t know what I remember or if it’s
true.” Looked around between them his eyes meeting Berd’s for a
moment. “I’m rain as right Bard.” He answered the Drakes peep.
The knowing smirk made it had to tell if that was a flub or if he was
joking. Hopping up in the table he drew his legs up tailor
fashion and from where he sat started to stretch a ham mad under
the table to help Leonardo out. Looking Back to Cyan “You are
Cyan? He is Leonardo? If that's right I'm batting a touchdown.”
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Jack!" Grinning, Cyan jumps forward and grabs him by the
shoulders, her amethyst eyes sparkling in the dim light. She
doesn't know what he's talking about - what IS a touchdown, anyways? -
but the humor is purely his. Perhaps...perhaps things aren't
right, despite his comment, but at least he is on the mend.
She hopes.
Refraining from hugging him (he's seated on a table, after all), Cyan
settles for a quick shake (which, given Jack's overpowering strength,
moves him not at all) and hops backwards, smiling brightly.
"Well...you..." She sighs happily, rubbing her face, then grows
more serious. "I am very pleased, Jack, to see you speaking...but
how much? How much have you regained?" the Bard asks, worry
creeping back into her tone.
What he went through was...appalling.
Berd narrows his eyes speculatively, then sits down beside the mechanical spider, continuing to observe the 'restored' Jack.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack laughed Cyan she shook him, her
excitement catching a bit. Then a small confused frown found it’s place
on his face again. “How can I judge how much I have regained Berd? Is a
forgetful man a good judge of what he remebers? In a mad man a good
judge of his own sanity?” He asked looking at Cyan his brows furrowed.
Without waiting for an answer he asked “What is
<I>Lalai</>? Does it have anything to do with broiled
spiders legs?” As he asks he cocks his head to one side
looking at the mechanical spider by Berd.
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I'm Cyan, not Berd," Cyan replies, frowning, eyes deepening to dark
ruby. "But you make a good point...and maybe you've always been a
little mad, Jack. Then again, you are far wiser in your 'madness'
than most 'sane' people I have met." She sighs, then stiffens
slightly at Jack's next bout of questions.
"Lalai...that is a word you used to call Kallika. Do
you recall her? A small, silver-haired woman?" Cyan smiles,
hopefully. "You and she...you were bonded, somehow, with Hunter
as well. You cared for each other, very much," the Bard
continues, glancing over at Berd, then at the floor. "You loved
each other. It was...a full, deep love, from what I could see,"
she manages to say, somehow giving Jack a smile.
Her voice drops to a whisper, and the Bard fumbles for the right
words. "Her...she was blinded during an attack upon us.
She...when you were captured, Berd tells me, she was desperate, and
unable to assist due to her blindness. Berd took her to her
World, or close by, and she left him to pursue another means of
assisting you. I...have no palanquet for her, but, but, I believe Berd could find her. Hunter
certainly could," the Bard finishes, laying a hand on Jack's arm gently.
She gives THX 1138 a reassuring look. "Those spiders were different spiders. I shall tell you about them, someday."
Pausing, Cyan stares at Leonardo for a moment. "Leonardo has
suggested moving to another World, for safety's sake. His World,
or another...I know of one, as well."
===========================================================
Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Leonardo
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Jack typed: Still looking at the palanquet Jack leaned a little close to Cyan and asked "Why are we hiding under the table?"; in a soft voice.
Leonardo turned to gaze a Jack with a skeptical raised eyebrow and replied in a wry tone, "Hmm...
either it's because some suggested we do so... or a storm was coming
which prompted a general mutual lack of trust for Cyan's roofing and
waterproofing technique. However... it seems that particular storm may have passed... for the moment."
Leonardo casually waves off the hand offered by Jack and instead picks
himself up off the floor... something he has become distressingly adept
at since arriving at the cabin.
quote:"You are Cyan? He is Leonardo? If that's right I'm batting a touchdown."
Leonardo smirks slightly at this and replies in a casual tone, "Well I am Leonardo but whatever game your referring too... it simply isn't cricket, though I suppose we've had enough googlie eyed behavior for the time being. You certain had a wicket bad time lately."
quote:"How can I judge how much I have regained Berd? Is a
forgetful man a good judge of what he remembers? In a mad man a good
judge of his own sanity?" He asked looking at Cyan his brows furrowed.
With a small sigh, Leonardo responded in a dry tone, "Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise or perhaps you might prefer In the land of the blind, the one-eyed Jack is King? I shouldn't worry too much about sanity, from what I've seen... it's highly overrated.
Besides one man's lunacy is another man's brilliance, it's a fine line
between insanity and genius.... a line we each have chosen to walk in
our own way. The fact is you're lucid and coherent which is a
vast improvement, we can always build on from there... though perhaps
at a slightly later date?"
Leonardo turns to look at Cyan with a raised eyebrow of expectation...
quote:Pausing, Cyan stares at Leonardo for a moment.
"Leonardo has suggested moving to another World, for safety's
sake. His World, or another...I know of one, as well."
In a casual tone with just a hint of edge behind it, Leonardo replies, "Well...
I do think it unwise to remain here much longer. Berd may be
doing a wonderful job of erecting defenses... but that in the long run
may only aid in singling this location out to our foes.
Regarding location alternatives... well this peaceful island by the
lake sounds promising. As I mentioned earlier, I would prefer to
keep Escher free of any sticky unwanted entanglements for the time
being. As an emergency refuge, I might relent but if we have
alternatives... by all means let's explore those.
Of course... I wasn't aware that anyone is this group possessed a means
for travel besides Trump and Broken Pattern... or in Lord Aaron's case
the true Pattern. Still I suppose an explanation can wait until
after our trip, however I will be most interested in hearing a full
disclosure regarding the unique properties of this Cube you mention. I do believe detailed references to it and its
abilities must have been postponed due to the sudden unexpected
emergency circumstances that occurred.
So Jack, would you be amenable to traveling to this destination that Cyan has in mind?"
Leonardo has a cryptic smile on his face but it does not reach his eyes as he makes a point NOT to look at the "Cube".
Well that's done it then! I think it is safe to say that the
vaunted "Full Disclosure" policy is about as valid and honored among
these people as it would be in the heart of the City of Amber!
Really... what a nebbish I was to play along... and to do so in full,
or close enough there about as to count for full! I wonder how
many other things I am NOT be told about?
Why do I get the feeling that my inquires will meet with reluctance and
stalling even on the other side? Bloody hell... even if they do
freely offer information at this stage... why should I believe that
they are not holding even more back? After all... one always
shows the empty hand as a sign of trust, while the other hand holding
the dagger is well concealed behind the back!
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
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Cyan answers Leonardo's arched eyebrow with one of her own, and produces the cube from the pouch at her waist.
It's the same one she held before, during her abrupt
leave-taking. Given the rainbow pyrotechnics at that point, it is
obvious that the device functions as a palanquet, of sorts.
Uncertain as to why Leonardo is beginning to display hostility, she
holds the cube up for inspection. On its faces are images, within
its crystaline structure. Oddly enough, as she turns the cube,
the images do not repeat in any set pattern - new images come, old ones
reappear on 'different' faces....
"This is the cube. And yes, detailed references to it HAVE been
postponed...due to violence, desperation, and the inability to tell the
whole tale." Suddenly she realizes exactly WHY Leonardo is so
piqued, and nods. "The cube is at the heart of the story,
Leonardo - it is not mine, nor is it any other's in our company.
In fact, the cube is, I believe, a device of the enemy's that we
discovered." The Bard grimaces. "I am certain you would
agree that we have not had time to tell the story itself - if we can
get a moment's peace, I will tell it to you."
"That seems to be my lot," the Bard mutters, sapphire eyes aggrieved. After a moment, she continues.
"It might assist Jack, as well, in regaining more of himself.
Hence, I suggest we retire to the land in question, where I will
finally be able to sit down and relate to you the entire, sordid story,
and where you may examine the cube at your leisure. Myself and
another artist of palanquet have done so - perhaps with your knowledge of 'Trump', you may discover
something we missed." Meeting Leonardo's eyes squarely, Cyan
nods. "And then you will have everything. As
promised. Time has not permitted, but that excuse will be void if
we can find a place of safety...which I believe this island will be."
She gives the other traveller a tired smile. "And then you will
also understand more of your friend David's place in this."
Glancing around the cabin, she locates both her pack and Jack's.
Moving to them, Cyan hefts hers, and passes the other to Jack, all
business now. "Perhaps you might hunt through that when we arrive
at the island - it may aid you," she says to the blue-eyed man on the
table.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
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Jack raised the thistle flower and looked at it. “I am sorry, I thought
you were the. . .” he let is go unsaid and stared at the flower for
long moments as they spoke.
A petite silver haired woman smiled down at him with a feral
grin where he lay. Standing over him with a large wolf in front of her.
He had felt intimidated and strangely attracted but refused to show it.
The same woman in the barren sands, dressed
in next to nothing. She had bested him with her dread sword, beating
him with the flat of her blade when ver he was careless. Leaving his
beaten and bruised.
The image of a silver haired man standing over him
and mocking him with venomous spite as he lay beaten and bruised in
shame and defeat.
The silver haired woman, Lalai, Kalika sitting nude
with him in a circle with Hunter, each glowing sparks and tendrils of
light jumping between them as he was bound to them.
Himself studying burning her image into his mind,
Kalika and him asking what he was doing “Remembering you So that
I may never forget.”
A manor and a limo ha had left her in the car to
run back into the house for something. Kali was gone, consumed by a
fireball in the blink of an eye and a blast that sent him
sprawling to the ground.
A tear rolled down Jack cheek, “She is alive? But I saw her die with my
own eyes.” he said softly. Unfortunately he is to emotional to
keep up with the banter.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan jerks, startled, staring at Jack. His
memories must be...must be what? Puzzle pieces, still not fitting
together properly? How else would he think she is dead?
Frowning, the Bard ceases discussion of the cube and touches Jack,
carefully, on the shoulder. "Jack," she says quietly, emerald
eyes sad, "Kallika is not dead. She lives, and is searching for a
means to help you, to save you from the Enemy. She could not know
that we would succeed without her. I feel certain that, with
Hunter's help, she will find you again." Giving him a lopsided
smile, Cyan continues. "You are, after all, bound together, all
of you."
The tear puts hollowness in her stomach, and Cyan reaches out, wiping it away. "She will come back."
I hope. Please, Kallika. Come back. Jack needs you.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Jack
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack wiped an arm across his eyes
and said “Kali lives.” he was quiet for am moment more a soft
smile finding his lips. He looked at Leonardo “Yes, yes of course. . .I
suppose we need to go. . . Then let us go. And Leon. . . Thank you.” he
looked back at Cyan “Thank you all, Bard and Hunter as well.” He nodded
to the drake and the wolf.
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Re: Part 21 - Idyllic retreat by Cyan
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The Bard touches Jack on the shoulder again, smiling a quick smile,
then turns away, the smile fading as she walks across the room to the
entrance. "Hunter, I think, would prefer to find Kallika," Cyan
states quietly. She opens the wooden door for the wolf, so that
he does not need to break down the wall to track his bonded
friend. "But I shall leave the choice to him."
Then she returns to the centre of the room. "Those who are to
come, gather around. THX 1138, come here please?"
Shouldering her pack, she motions to it. "Climb on the back of my
pack." It isn't hard for the spider to grip the pack and raise
itself up; Cyan shifts her balance to adjust. Berd alights on her
shoulder a moment later, considerably lighter than the mechanical
creature. His gaze falls on Jack, and he grins toothily.
"So. Those who will come, take hold - I would leave no trace, and will thus not employ a gate. We shall simply pass to the next World."
When everyone who is coming has joined them, Cyan holds up the cube, concentrating on the face in question. She reaches...
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