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Part 51b: Meredith
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51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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Meredith stands alone, in a small wood, on the hilltop. There is
nobody about, though there is a horse tethered to one of the trees
nearby. From the state of the ground around it, it's been there
perhaps a day or two. A saddle and harness are close by.
From her vantage point, Meredith has a good view of the small city of
tents on the plain below her. It seems smaller than when she was
last here... yesterday? Not a lot, but noticeably smaller.
At various places, she can see groups of men breaking down the tents.
There are definitely fewer troops about, and more Archons than she saw
last time. At least five, no... six, of the burning wheels are in
plain view. She can even hear their harsh voices, a sound like
tearing metal, from this distance.
The perimeter looks to be heavily guarded, with clusters of sentries
every so often, and men stationed in twos and threes in between the
larger groups. Constantly moving patrols move around the edges of
the camp, and along the main paths through it.
Hardly surprising that, after the attack, they have increased their security.
The wind shifts slightly, and Meredith smells something cooking down there.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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... and then she is there. Just like that. The powers of the others
still amazes her. That they would count her among their numbers stuns
her. She would never command power of this magnitude, of this power.
And so she was here. To forge her own path and allow them the time to
find Charyk and whatever secrets may be hidden there. She stays hidden
in the wood, watching the actvities of the camp. She needs to make sure
she enters the camp at right point, with the right guards.
Breathing deeply in the roast scented air, Meredith closes her eyes and
opens her mind. A stray breeze teases an errant strand of her hair,
blowing it gently across her exposed face as she tilts her head towards
the sky, pale skin soaking in the sunlight.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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She's been there an hour or so, observing. There is a change
staring to spread through the camp as the afternoon wears on, some
troops move in towards the cookfires, while others make their way out
to the perimeter.
Discipline seems good, and the guards change over with little in the
way of instruction in evidence. Having Archons about might
account for good organisation, or maybe it is the influence of a much
more human leader. It could be either, as could the absence of
women around the camp.
All the women that Meredith can detect are warriors, or healers, or have other legitimate business there.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith's breathing is calm and even as she mulls over her findings.
Birds chrip in the trees as a decison is made. A surge of grafefulness
towards Lorne swells in her heart. Without him she would be unable to
do this, to be capable to think and decide instead of waiting for
another to do it for her.
She approaches the horse and extends her hand for inspection. After the
other beast of burden takes in her scent and judges her to be
nonthreatening, Meredith untethers the beast and begins to head through
the tree line. She moves as quietly as she is able and does not
approach the picket line... yet. The group of guards she seeks, the
tired ones at the end of their shift are farther down a ways.
The walk is quiet and peaceful. Is this what it was like to be free?
The young woman smiles softly, liking the way the sun feels on her
skin. She should keep her hair back more often. Now her mind was
wandering, straying from her Purpose. Meredith's shoulder tense, a
learned response to a blow that will never fall. Her smile widens. Yes,
this truly was freedom.
She close enough now, and so she focuses, moving in a little more until
she finds the right spot. There was a little, worn hunting track
meandering through the trees and some thick brush nearby. Meredith
finds the minds of the men, slides into them as easily as she would
slide her feet into her sandals, and then she screams. It is surprising
how much sound she can generate. Screaming is something she very
acquainted with and her vocal cords are loose and up to the challenge.
It was one of the reasons why she usually spoke so quietly... the
screams made her throat sore.
As the hellish sound pours from her lips Meredith slaps the horse's
rump as hard as she can, her intent to startle the animal to run away
from the camp, back the way they have come. She then cuts the scream
short and conceals herself in the brush, waiting for the sentries to
come looking.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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The scream, and the sudden movement attract the attention of the nearest group of sentries... how could they fail to.
Their training has been good though... while four of them move forward,
they don't step outside the cleared ground along the perimeter,
stopping short of the brush. The other two stay at their post,
watching as their comrades investigate.
A little to each side, two more groups of sentries become a little more
alert, watching the first group, watching the approaches to their own
posts, watching the sky... The attack yesterday had been bad
enough. The General's reaction had been worse. Traitors had
been dealt with, their underlings had panicked, in case their loyalty
might be questioned, then their underlings... and so it had worked down the chain.
The memebers of the first group continue to study the brush. Then
one of them signals back to the pair still at their post, a hand held
out, clenched, with the thumb extended down.
They move on, a little way to one side, still not entering the brush, and not getting too far out of position.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
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Without any fanfare Cyan materializes in her tent. Left and Right
rise off her, leaving her blade in her hands, and she quickly scans the
canvas enclosure to see who might be waiting...if anyone.
There should be nobody, but one never knows.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Things had not worked exactly as she had intended and for a horrifying
moment Meredith is frozen by fear as she cowers in the bushes. As the
soldiers look around and give silent signals, the fear releases its
grip on her brain. Soon tears are running down the young woman's cheeks
as a new plan takes root. Dropping her clouding over the bush, she
allows herself to cry louder and shake. She stumbles from the bushes
and falls to the nearest soldier's feet, looking up at him with relief
in her tear stained eyes.
"You heard me and came!" she gushes "Thank you so much... there was a man... on a horse... I was so afraid!" she looks down as anothe sob racks her body.
It was easy for Meredith to become such a pitiful sight, and she falls into the role almost too easily.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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A girl! For a moment there is some confusion... she hadn't been there a moment before.
Or had she? Yes, that was it. She must have just been hidden well, in the brush.
One of the guards regards her sourly with his one good eye, and sends
two of the others to take a quick look about, while he keeps his
attention on Meredith. All of the men are armed with spears, but
One-Eye has a sword too, though it remains sheathed at his belt.
A few moments later, and the scouts return; <Green>"Found fresh
hoofprints in the mud, just o'er there, Corp, but di'n't see no
rider. Could be he made it inter that wood, yonder, or he's
layin' low in the bushes somewhere."
The one-eyed leader, Corp (Corporal?), asks Meredith the obvious questions, "Who be ye, Lass? And what do ye here? This place be 'stricted."
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
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Safe. Nobody and nothing. Cyan immediately begins pulling
off her clothing to donning the proper attire for the use of her
armor. She pauses. Ares' armor - before, she had been quite
certain he would approve of what she is doing.
The General shakes her head. There's no time for such
things. "Right - find out what's going on. Get to whomever
is currently in charge and have them report to me." She narrows
obsidian glass eyes. "I don't care if it's one of the eshuranti - unless Harry himself has assumed control, send them to me. Left - hold where you are."
It isn't easy getting this armor on alone, but she manages.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith gasps in huge, shaky breaths as she looks around in a jumpy
manner, taking in the soldiers, their presence apparently calming her.
She gulps down one final breath and wipes the tears from her eyes
abashedly, a light blush coloring her cheeks. When she speaks her voice
is quiet and she looks to the side, giving off embarrassment.
"My name is Helene" she says, using her Saint name "I... I was sent here to serve in the Army. I'm supposed to ask for a.. Sekortis?" she stumbles on the foreign name she looks up at the man earnestly "Do you know of them?" she smiles prettily, fully expecting Corp to believe her and answer her
question... and if he did not? Well she would help him with that should
the need arise.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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Right whirls out of the tent, reducung size in order to do no damage to
the structure. Left moves closer to Cyan, blades producing a
sound like a gentle breeze stirring the grazz of a summer meadow...
Corp, as close to a name as Meredith has for him, leans on his spear and scratches his ear. "Well, now, it be a big camp, an' I doesn't know all the names."
"'ere, Corp, I know a Sekortis. She's in
charge o' those healers camped over next t' them lizard-lookin'
bastards. If that's the one, then yer don't want ter be messin'
'er about. I did hear that the witch's got a temper on 'er.
Week 'fore last she 'ad one of 'er people flogged fer untidy stichin'."
The leader studies Meredith, "Aaah... that be the name, eh? Sekortis?" He laughs, then, "Hashir,
ye know so much about this Sekortis. Ye can take this one over
there. 'ear that, Lass? Ye're ter go with Hashir."
+ YOU WANTED TO SEE US, GENERAL? +
The wheel of flame is simply there, appearing inside the
tent, a move which causes Left to spin faster, the gentle sussurus
scaling up to an angry howl as the Archon moves out to guard against an
attack, while give the General room to move.
Behind the burning hoop, Right slips quietly into the tent, small, hardly more than a glittering insect.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith rises and brushes the dirt and twigs from her knees and the tears from her cheeks. "Yes sir, thank you very much" she bows to him before falling alongside Hashir.
After they start to make their way through the camp Meredith looks up
at Hashir, a worried look in her clear grey eyes and a concern set to
her face "Excuse me.. Hashir? Those things you said earlier... about Sekortis... did that really happen?" she slows her pace and looks up at him with large sad eyes, and
searches for the desire to protect her from the harsh handed healer...
and amphlifies the feeling.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
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"Yes," Cyan replies, fixing her helmet (straps replaced) into
place. "I am curious as to the present disposition of the
Army." She studies the ashuranti out of the corner of her eyes as her fingers work the right gauntlet
into its proper grooves. Finished, she nods with satisfaction and
picks up the left.
"I take it," she begins, pushing fingers into their channels, "that you are in charge of the Army in my absence, my lord ashuranti?
There is no more need for concern in that regard - I have returned, for
the moment." Her eyes swing directly toward the flaming wheel,
and she squints slightly against the light. "I would know your
name - the Army seems calm enough, and it is a small thing to reccomend
you to Harbonah."
Pleasantries, and even a bribe, of sorts. If the Army is in good
repair, certain the Archon deserves it. Better to not make an
enemy, should one have no reason.
Of course, should she finds a reason Cyan will not hesitate to create another enemy for her list.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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Moving through the camp, the man pauses and looks at Meredith, his eyes betraying a certain nervousness.
"Oh, they's true, right enough. At
least... I heard 'em as true. Some grunts from the
three-seventy... somethin' was talkin' 'bout her in the grub
line. They 'eard the screamin' an' thought that the lizards was
'avin' a bit o' fun with somebody."
He starts walking again, gesturing for Meredith to move alongside him,
"Watch out fer them, by the by. They eat's nowt' but meat, an'
they's not fussy where they gets it. You see one o' them 'head o'
yer, then try t' find yerself a diff'rent road."
"Where were I? Oh, right... Yeah, anyway, it turns out that
this Sekortis reckons she's got a god-like 'sponsibility fer savin'
lives an' 'ealin'. An' she 'olds them what's under 'er t' very
'igh standards. If'n an 'ealer does somethin' t' leave a bad
scar, then the 'ealer deserves the same, in 'er book. So yer man
messed up the stitchin' an' she 'ad 'im flogged. Forty strokes, I
'eard. One fer each stitch."
He stops again, regarding Meredith with a concerned expression, "If'n she's t' be yer gaffer, I reckon yer might be better takin' yer chances with them there lizards."
The Archon briefly considers it's options. + WE ARE ISRAFIL, GENERAL. WE WERE ASSIGNED TO WATCH THIS PLACE, IN YOUR ABSENCE, BY HARBONAH. +
There is pride in the voice. + HARBONAH GAVE US FULL
AUTHORITY HERE. WE HAVE MOVED THOSE TROOPS WHO FOLLOWED THE
DISLOYAL OFFICERS AWAY FROM THE OTHERS, AND REPLACEMENTS FOR THEM HAVE
ARRIVED, OR ARE ON THEIR WAY HERE. +
+ WE HAD THOUGHT TO USE THOSE TROOPS WHOSE LEADERS TURNED AGAINST YOUR
AUTHORITY AS THE FIRST WAVE TO LEAD ANY CHARGE. AS SUCH WE ARE
GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL TRAINING, AND SLIGHTLY BETTER CONDITIONS. +
+ OUR IDEA WAS THAT, IF THE TROOPS TOO WERE DISLOYAL, THEN PUTTING THEM
FIRST IN BATTLE WILL SEE THEIR NUMBERS REDUCED. IF THEY ARE
LOYAL, AND WERE MERELY LED BY STUPID OFFICERS, THEN MAKING THEM FEEL AS
IF THEY ARE AN ELITE UNIT MIGHT IMPROVE THEIR MORALE, AND REDUCE
WHATEVER DAMAGE THEIR OFFICERS HAVE DONE. +
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith follows alongside Hashir when he motions and considers his words. She shuddrers at his tales. "That is awful!" something he said rings a bell in her somewhere and so she clarifies "Lizardmen
you say? I healed one of them once... he was very kind. Perhaps we
could go to their camp first? Honestly I would much rather take your
suggestions than serve under Sekortis" Or anyone for that matter, but Meredith kept that thought to herself.
As they continue through the camp she sends her mind out, searching for
the familiar thought pattern of the lizardman whose pain she took as
her own, the same lizardman who once sought her death...
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Re: 51b - Meredith by The Warrior in Jet and Gold
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Cyan's fingers clench tighter at Israfil's first words. She had
given those troops their second chance, their freedom, in order to bind
them more tightly to her. If this...creature...thought it would
use them-
But it continues to speak, to lay out its idea, and the wisdom of it,
if slightly draconic, begins to sink in. The General's fingers
relax, and she slowly begins to nod. Finally, the ashuranti has finished, and the Warrior's feet shift into a more casual
posture. She moves to the small chest, opens it, and removes a
bottle of brandy, thinking all the way.
"Welcome, then, Israfil. These two are known to me as Left and
Right." Brandy flows into a small glass. "That is a fine
idea...a fine idea, indeed," she commends. "Harbonah chose an
adept guardian for the army." So far, she amends mentally. A pause for consideration - could it be that this is one of the younger ashuranti? That would make more sense.
"Harbonah will hear of your perspicasity."
"So." She sits, carefully, the campaign chair more than capable
of supporting her weight in the armor. "What now, Israfil?
Do you stay on with the army? I, for one, would not be
displeased."
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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Israfil pulses, waves of heat flowing out across the tent. In her
time with the Archons, the General has noted such behaviour on a number
of occasions. It could indicate pride, or something else entirely.
+ OUR FUTURE IS HARBONAH'S TO DECIDE, WHICH IS AS IT SHOULD
BE. OUR INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO STAY HERE UNTIL YOUR RETURN.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE RETURNED, WE WILL DOUBTLESS RECEIVE FURTHER ORDERS. +
Hashir shakes his head, slowly, and when he speaks his voice is gentle, "I'd like t' 'elp yer, but I got my orders see. If I take too long over it, then Corp'll 'ave me guts fer garters."
He thinks for a moment, as they walk, then, "But I s'ppose we could go roun' that way, then yer can at least 'ave a look-see, eh?"
He leads Meredith into a side path, following it in a curve away from
the original route. After a short distance they turn again, back
towards their destination, and Hashir murmurs, "Try not t'stare at 'em, on the grounds that it make's 'em irritable, and they're already mean-tempered."
There are two creatures standing guard near a small cluster of yellow
tents. Tall and muscular, scaled centaurs, with crocodilian heads
and long, saw-eded tails. Each carries a heavy polearm, and their
red eyes, glaring out angrily from beneath their heavy brows, are fixed
straight ahead as the flow of humans and other races, much lighter here
than in other areas of the camp, passes them by.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
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Better not to make any assumptions, the General reminds herself.
She remains wary, but within. "Well, then. Best we find out
from Harbonah your new instructions. Will you be returning to
him, or contacting him directly?"
She eyes the archon askance. "I would offer you a drink, but your
form does not permit. Have you a humanoid body?" It would
certainly show where he stood on the matter of other people.
It is certainly growing more hot in the tent - hopefully this is a young one, a shifter into humanoid form.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith nods and takes in the appearance of the lizardmen without
reacting outwardly. Inwardly her heart drops. These were not the same
lizardmen she saw. Still there was a chance, was there not?
She then looks up at Hashir. "Hashir,
it has been very kind of you to bring me this far. Thank you very much.
After hearing your description of Sekortis I am sure to find her. Since
you detoured for me, I would hate for you to be punished. Please head
back now and I will finish the last leg on my own". She hopes the unspoken nudge to do as she says helps to make up the solider's mind.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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"Well... If'n ye're sure. The worst's passed now, anyways. Least ye won't 'ave t' pass them bastards on yer own." The relief on Hashir's face is evident.
"Means I could het back 'jus' fore the duty change, an' I don't 'ave t' deal with yer new gaffer." One habd comes up to point down the path, "Jus' ye follow this way, 'bout fifty yards, an' ye'll see th' 'ealer's tents on yer left."<b>
He turns to walk away, then stops, looking back at Meredith, <b>"Best
o' luck with Sekortis. Lissen... I don't know what she's like t'
work fer, but I do know that the best way t' avoid trouble in a army is
t' not be noticed. Keep yer 'ead down, an' don't look at th'
Ruperts, 'cause th' las' thing ye want's fer a Rupert t' notice ye, an'
think o' ye nex' time they want somethin' doin', see?"
+ WE HAVE A HUMAN FORM. + the Archon starts to melt, shifting
shape, becoming more human, though the eyes burn like small suns.
A human woman, taller than the General, wearing insubstantial orange
robes, which flicker and move as if composed of flame.
+ We agree that it would be best to take instruction directly from Harbonah. +
The voice has changed... still metallic, with tones which sound like
brass, to the ears of a trained musician, but more... human...
now. + We can contact Harbonah, if that would be your
preference, or we can wait here, while you assess the situation that
you have returned to. +
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith nods and smiles up at Hashir "Thank you again for all of your help. Good luck" Meredith takes a moment to decipher what exactly he meant by 'Rupert' and then lets her mind wander, searching...
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
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Cyan nods at the ashuranti's feat, though it does not match the one who shifted into Jen. Possibly an older one, then?
The younger ones, ironically, show the greatest expertise with the
alteration of their forms. "I believe," she notes quietly, "that
I should like to see all of the situation. Not to look
for problems," she continues. "Given preliminary findings, I
would say further examination will only discover additional positive
observations. No, I merely wish to have a full picture before
discussing things with Harbonah."
Her smile grows ironic. "One of the worst things one can say is 'I do not know'."
The General waves her cup toward the ashuranti. "Do
you drink, Israfil? As courtesy, I offer." A frown.
"Have we rescued the troops who detained at Nairans?" She had set
that in motion before she left.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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+ No, General. We have no need for refreshment. +
The Archon's newly-human face shows a brief flicker of distaste as it
glances at the liquid, but it is gone in an instant, as if a mask
flicks back into position.
+ Regarding the troops at Nairans... we have been able to recover
some, who fled the battle. Others are still trapped there, and
something prevents any attempt to reach them. It is speculated
that the Despised One has given the inhabitants the means to defend
themselves, even if it is no longer there itself. +
Meredith starts to walk, but does not stop at the tents of the
healers. A quick glance as she passes reveals rows of cots inside
the structure, where injured men lay, tended by the healers. A
tall, blade-thin, cruel-faced woman, clad in a spotless suit of white
leather, walks among them. Her eyes, as she turns to face in
Meredith's direction, just for a moment, are like chips of obsidian.
Luckily her attention is not on the passing girl, but on one of the
injured. She speaks to the healers, and her parted lips reveal
inhumanly-long canine teeth.
Meredith hurries on.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by The Warrior in Jet and Gold
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Not interested in 'experimentation', either. That likely
narrows it down further. Likely. Cyan mulls over both this
little tidbit and Israfil's words. 'The Despised One'. Berd. You did this. I know your capabilities, and you were there with this...Meredith, I assume.
The General rises, leaving the cup behind on the arm of the chair -
despite the heavy armor, she moves with such smoothness the liquid
barely shimmers. Ares' aegis is a potent tool. Standing, the Warrior in Jet and Gold begins to pace, back and forth. Both of the danioti shiver in the air in agitation, picking up something of her mood.
Their blades change angles, shift as they spin, their ceasless
revolution becoming more aggressive.
"Can you mark any lines of power leading from Nairans?" she suddenly
asks. "Through the Underflow or otherwise?" It is possible,
the General knows, that Nairans is not alone. That it has backers. "Left, send Coil to me. If he is busy, do not disturb him - find another mage." She frowns. Why
protect that region, still? We lost. We were in
retreat. There is no point in returning at the moment, and the
army itself is of little consequence. Well, to the defenders. To her, that is a different story.
"Not to seal the army from me," she mutters. Berd could not have known at that point - of this she is certain. "But because there is something he wishes to protect."
Her eyes snap to Israfil. "'The Despised One'." Her smile
could split a hair. "Tell me of him, please."
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Oh yes, there was Yoli in that woman in spades. The eyes remind Meredith of the general, but the teeth... images of things that prey on the wounded, that heal for a price paid in blood and flesh
flash from the corners of Meredith's mind. She is used to them, these
memories and thoughts from others and allows them to run their course
before continuing on her way. They did not scare her, not anymore. At
least that is what she tells herself... but she can offer no
explanation for why her mouth has gone dry, her palms slick with sweat,
and her heart, racing and pounding like a dance drum.
So she carries on.
The young woman meanders through the camp. The General had a visitor...
one too many Archons were by her tent. So Meredith takes her time,
keeping a low profile, looking for anything Lorne would find of import.
A part of her mind is open and drifting, letting the thoughts of the
camp float by on a sea of raging thoughts and emotions alert for any
bright snippets that may require further investigation. She does not
plan on approaching the General's tent until the third Archon has
departed.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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+ The Despised One is a creature of Power, and it has means to mask
itself from us. We have no inkling where it might be at this
time, and we suspect it has sealed the world in some way.
Certainly there is a barrier, of some description, around the
world. We know that the army was trapped at Nairans, even while
this camp was attacked, indicating that the barrier is
self-maintaining, or driven by some local source. +
+ As you say, General, the army at Nairans was not so significant, to
this force at least, that there would be profit in trapping it
there. It would likely have been easier, faster, to destroy it,
and that is certainly within the Despised One's capability. + Israfil pauses, expression, or lack of one, unreadable.
+ If the barrier is there to protect, rather than to trap, then
perhaps the thing which drives the barrier is the very thing that the
barrier is protecting. A source of Power sufficient to thwart our
efforts to enter a world would certainly be of use to our
enemies. Though we do not understand why they have not simply
taken the item for their own use. +
+ One possible explanation is that our enemies have actually returned
to Nairans, having used subterfuge in an attempt to convince us that
they have moved elsewhere. +
As luck would have it, Meredith is in view of the General's tent when
one of the Archons leaves. The bladed wheel pauses briefly
outside the tent, as if seeking something, and then hurtles off across
the camp at high speed.
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
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Meredith pauses as the bladed Archon exits the tent. Her first impulse
is be grateful for the stroke of good luck, but something is not quite
right. The Archon appeared to be looking for something. It may be back
soon and Meredith does not want to be interupted with Cyan.
So the young woman reaches out oh so gently...
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
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"In truth, he is a sneaky little beast." Cyan takes a sip from
her cup and gives what remains a dark stare. "Finding
him? Not simple. But that is the point. He is mobile."
Her dark eyes snap up to the flickering form before her. "Time
has passed, there. A fair amount of time. Berd would not
remain. Hence, either he maintains the barrier at a distance,
which would endanger him, or there is something else."
Obsidian eyes stare into the distance, through the tent walls, as the
General's mind attempts to find the proper path. "A local
source," she mutters. "As you say. It is the most likely
situation. However, a seige is the most wasteful act possible,
and prone to failure. Unless that shield may be broken, we must
abandon the entire area." Her finger traces a map in the air - an
imagninary one, for it is nearly impossible to actually cartograph the
Myriad Worlds.
"Unacceptable." She turns to favour Right with a glance.
"We will not leave our people there, nor can we ignore such a potent
dagger. We cannot go through the barrier. We cannot go
'under' the barrier." She finishes the cup. "I will break
it, myself. Israfil - whatever holds that barrier in place will
be a mighty force. We require a force of our own. My
special forces, the people you have sequestered...they will suffice for
the physical challenges. But we require sufficient spiritual
strength."
"Do you have enough people here? If not, you should contact
Harbonah immediately. Inform him of the situation, that you and I
have it well in hand, but assistance will be necessary to..." She
ponders, then smiles. "...eliminate such a potent, potential
threat to his plans."
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Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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+ We have already contacted Harbonah. Additional forces are on their way, even as we speak. + Israfil says, managing to look smug, even while not displaying much in
the way of emotion. Correctly anticipating the General's ideas
is, after all, a good way to gain favour and elevate oneself above
others.
+ Since you have returned, and will, presumably, be busying yourself
with the army, do you wish us to take charge of seeking the Despised
One? We have contacts which would enable us to put additional
resources into such a task. +
+ Others are indebted to us. We would, if so requested, make use of those debts to hunt for the Despised One. +
Beyond the tent, Meredith smiles nervously at a group of officers as
they pass by, trying her best to look as though she belongs
there. As far as they're concerned, they know nothing of the
General's interests... he might well have sent her.
Unsure, and unwilling to rouse their commander's ire, after recent events, they ignore the thin, waif-like girl.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
One of the general's eyebrows rises slightly. Left and Right
shrink, and move closer together. Anticipation of her desires is
a fine thing, they know...so long as one anticipates correctly.
This one does not know her. This one has acted, based on
assumption rather than observation.
This one is lucky.
Of course, being fortunate in one's assumptions is a large part of any
endeavor, especially in the military. Cyan slowly nods
agreement. "Good. When they arrive, explain the situation
to them. I place you in charge of getting them settled...and in
good order." A strong hint, there. The ashuranti had best work together. But just in case it wasn't clear....
"There were one dozen ashuranti with the army at Nairans,"
Cyan continues, almost absently. The armored figured bends
slightly, picks up the bottle of brandy, and takes a quick pull.
Then she spears Israfil with a glance.
"One dozen. Without proper cooperation, we will be swept away just as "easily."
+ ASHES TO ASHES + Right's tone holds a low vibration, redolant of smugness. + DUST TO DUST +
+ AND THEN...SWEPT AWAY + Laughter, jagged and and harsh.
"Enough." Cyan begins to pace, and a black mood drifs down atop
her spirit. "Leave the 'Despised One' for the moment. Right
now, our concern is Nairans. By all means, alert your contacts
and allies. Explain to them our search. But then return
your attention to Nairans, and the proper preparation."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
-----------------------------------------------------------
After the group of officers pass, Meredith takes a seat, facing away
from the openning to the General's tent. She sits near a tent and hopes
to blend into the camp. Just another fixture, nothing to worry about or
question.
Meanwhile, her mind continues to wander.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
+ We understand, General. We shall ensure that they understand too. + Israfil says, quietly, perhaps starting to feel uncomfortable. + Focus on Nairans, yes. +
+ We shall not send others to search for the Despised One. We
shall, however, request that if they encounter him, in the course of
their own activities, then they should not engage him, but to simply
report his location to us. +
Outside, a young woman sits, resting on a supply crate. Most people don't see her, and those who do, don't remember her.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Left
-----------------------------------------------------------
Left speeds through the camp like a tiny, lethal coin, following the trail of the man named Coil,
whom to it is a complex tapestry of sight, sound, and psychic
emmenations. Left dodges around tents, slides between feet, and
dances past the spearpoints of marching men. A fire looms ahead -
it zips through without pause, and one man jumps, nearly spilling his
breakfast.
"'Ere, what th'devil was't?"
A second man, grizzled and scarred, looks down the trail of Left's
passage. "That'd be one o'th'General's blades. Prob'ly the
Sinister, I warrent." This catches Left's attention, and it
pauses. After a moment, the danioti begins to circle back. "Ah! Y'see? 'Tis the Sinister."
"How d'ye know?" the first man inquires uneasily. His voice
drops. "It's comming this way," he grates. Left slows the
advance further, realization that the men might be alarmed suddenly
growing within it.
Strange - the danioti has not considered such things before. But if it alarms them, it might not gain answers for its curiousity.
"She stopped, ye'see? Dexter would'a just chugged along, not
givin'a whirl. Woulda been bigger, too. 'E likes 'is flash,
that one."
She. He. Pronouns which have no meaning for the danioti.
But the name.... Left struggled to recall how the General acted
under such situations, and remembered the black-ironed ones.
Begin simply, and without hostility. + GREETINGS. The wheel of blades kept its body small, the size of a dinner plate, and modulated its vocals carefully. + THIS ONE IS CURIOUS. WHAT SIGNIFIES 'SINISTER'? + Left knows the word, of course, but why it should apply to it, and why 'dexter' to Right....
The grizzled man stares up at the danioti - they know what
fear is, and Left sees he feels it now. But he holds it back
remarkably well. Better than the others, who edge away. Edge away.
Right would no doubt bray the witticism to the sky. Left keeps to
her silence, unwilling to be distracted from her curiousity. "'Sa
hand, y'ken? Yer left. And yer right is yer dexter."
Comprehension. Dialects. Word significances. And yet,
the dual meaning amuses her. But Left already has a name....
Wait! Does the General not have many names? Does not the Despised One? "Berd," she has heard the Warrior moan at night, locked in the grip of painful dreams (for the danioti know dreams, and they certainly comprehend pain). Perhaps 'Left'
can be 'Sinister', as well? It studies the man for a long
moment. How would the General/Cyan/the Warrior handle...
Ah, yes. + THANK YOU + The danioti bobs in the air. +I MUST GO NOW. BUT I LIKE YOU + Then it is gone, speeding away while considering its new appellation. Should it inform Right/Dexter?
Behind, the soldier mops his forehead. "Ain't nobody going t'believe that," he mutters.
Another veteran coughs, and shakes his head. "Maybe they
might. I heard tell that the Right said 'Pardon me' to a bunch of
grunts he scared down in the 5th. Thought it was a joke at the
time, but it makes you think, don't it?"
Ahead of Left lies the tent, in which it feels Coil's spirit - the man
is aptly named, for he diffuses around a bright, potent core of power
like an entrapping maze. Sinister darts into the tent, and
pauses. Perhaps it might be time to continue to experiment. + PARDON ME, SORCERER. THE GENERAL REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE +
Surprised, the big man turns away from his table and the card placed
upon it, and blinks. Left considers, then continues along the
same tack. + IF YOU ARE BUSY, FINISH YOUR TASK. +
Coil's eyebrows rise. "Ah...no, Left, isn't it? I'm well,
thank you. Just-" He sweeps up the card, and in that
instant Left freezes in the air. The Dark Man. From the
thundering, gathering place. The one the General named
'Dorian'. Uncertain of its own feelings, the danioti experiments further.
+ YOU CONTINUE TO SEEK HIM? +
Coil gives a nervous laugh. "Not willingly," he admits, moving
from the tent after snatching up his ritual dagger. "From our
brief glimpse of him, I saw enough. Not to mention the fact that
he obliterated a world,"
he continues, grimly. "But the General wants him found, and I
continue to search. We've lost him, though. I think it was
luck we came across him the first time." He toys with the knife
for a moment - the card has vanished into his robes. "How did
things go? Seeing as you're back, and all."
It is the first time one has asked it a question.
Sinister considers the possible answers as it takes up position by his
left shoulder as a tiny, glittering wheel. Confidence.
Discussion. Preparation. Satisfaction. +
THE ENCOUNTER WAS...INCONCLUSIVE. THE GENERAL SOUGHT TO TURN
HIM. HE REFUSED. VIOLENCE ALMOST OCCURRED, BUT WAS
PREVENTED AT THE FINAL INSTANT + Another long pause. + I BELIEVE...THE GENERAL...WOULD BE GREATLY DISPLEASED SHOULD SOMETHING UNTOWARD HAPPEN TO THIS MAN. AMOUNG OTHERS. + Chancey, but Left learned much from the man of that name, as well as the General.
Sometimes you have to give, to get. It's all part of...relationships.
"Interesting," Coil muses. "I wonder if there's more going on
here than-" He stops. "Of course, speculation. And
not my concern," the Sorcerer hurriedly notes.
+ ON THE CONTRARY. TO ALL LOYAL TO THE GENERAL, TO THE GENERAL + Left emphasizes, + IT IS OF GREAT CONCERN +
Coil digests that as the pair wend their way through the camp.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Good." Cyan rubs her forehead. The empty cup lies,
forgotten, upon the ground. The brandy has no effect upon her -
it requires more than she has drank. And the bard has partaken of
quite enough. "Do not mistake me, Israfil. You have done
exceptionally well. This is why I place you in charge of the
others. If you can manage this army as wisely as you have, you
can control them. And they must be controlled, or we will all die."
"As for Berd...." Liar. Deceiver. Bloody-clawed murderer. Slayer of billions.
Her fist clenches. "We will have to be careful. Backed up
by his allies, he is well-nigh unassailable. Without them, he is
ultimately vulnerable, as is anyone in that group. Alone, they
are weak." Something flickers before her mind's eye - an
image. James, in the rain, blood sluiced away from a deep wound
in his arm. Her ears ringing slightly. His sword hanging
limply. Did I do that?
Turning away, Cyan paces. Right floats in her wake, back and
forth, whipping around her body with blinding speed as she turns, to
maintain the exact distance necessary for the draw.
"Nobody understands," Cyan mutters, her dark eyes bearing a hint of
hematite in their onyx depths. "The Lords of Order are stymied,
those of Chaos are in flux. Here is the threat, right before
us. We could destroy it, or use it." Aaron.
James. Dorian. Devlin. Serena. Jonnee.
With these six people and her army....
The Purpose would be many steps closer to completion.
...gather them to you...keep them safe...listen to their words...
She blinks. Yes. She needs them alive.
For the Purpose, of course.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
-----------------------------------------------------------
Outwardly Meredith remains unchanged. Just a young woman sitting on a crate, unworthy of notice.
Inside, she was torn by indecision. Now was not the time to interupt,
not if the Archon had displeased the General and was seeking
compromise... but on the other hand she was here for a reason and the
sooner she began on that Purpose the sooner she could return the
others... but then another possibility occurs to Meredith amd she
realizes that she probably was not the best person to be taking such
action, but while she here she might as well do what she can.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
+ The Despised One (and somehow Israfil cannot seem to utter the other name) has
allies. This is true. If we can locate them, we may be able
to either split them up, or observe them and sieze the opportunity if
split up of their own volition. +
+ Divide and conquer is a useful strategy. +
Outside, and the sun is warm. In the distance, Meredith can see
an Archon, it's blades gleaming in the light, moving slowly along the
path through the camp.
+ Should we arrange this, General? We will stress to our
associates that extreme caution should be used, and no attack launched.
+
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Right
-----------------------------------------------------------
Right follows the General.
This is more than a physical action on his part. It is, in essence, his philosophy. Harbonah - Harry - could give all of the orders he wished. Israfil might prove to
be a perfect commander for the Army. Left can flit from idea to
idea.
Right follows the General.
+ DISTANCE 6.37 Kyzah, Apogee -2.4, TURN COMING +
A litany in its razor-sharp mind, absently calculated second by second
to maintain the precise vectors necessary to remain at the exact
distance. It carries the General's blade.
+ SPEAR-CARRIER + Left names Right, but the danioti takes no insult from the appelation. Duty is important. Someone had to keep their focus, be straight of mind and path. Left
boggled Right sometimes, asking so many questions, poking and prodding
into things outside of their bulwark, sidetracking and struggling to
comprehend the why. To Right, why fell a far, far distant last place to what, where, who, and how. Most especially how.
Left did come in useful at times. Explaining emotions, for
one. It was irritating, though, how Left dwelled on them.
Foolish. Feel the emotion. Accept the emotion. Enjoy
it, or change the circumstances and move on. Why analyze?
But Left had taken the time (without condescention, for a change) to lay out the Why
of Killing The Dorian Would Have Been Bad. For that, Right could
have patience with the other danioti's flighty nature.
It might have hurt to discover the General was lonely, among other
things. But it had not. Concern overwhelmed any momentary
selfishness. Right, flitting along behind the pacing figure of
the General, considers the problem. If the General is lonely, she
should definitely do something about it. As such, the plan to
capture some of her former associates holds merit. She had seemed
more...alive when they had been in the camp. And in the noisesome
meeting place.
Now that had been interesting. The lazer lights had refracted most satisfactorily from Right's new, coloured blades.
Meticulously keeping to the proper distance, Right begins to enumerate
its tasks, official and not. Left will soon return, no doubt
puffed up with triumph at her discovery. Right considers, feels
it likely Left would not be able to wait, and makes a quick bet with
itself . Wager sealed and awaiting conclusion.
+ MAY I REMIND THE GENERAL THAT WE REQUIRE THE ALLIES OF THE DESPISED ONE ALIVE, IF POSSIBLE? + Right's blades hiss in the air. + SECURING ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEAD IS...DIFFICULT +
There. Left had explained the General looked for reasons. Left had then wandered off to consider why. For Right, this is unimportant. If the General requires reasons, they will be provided.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan pauses in her pacing and blinks in surprise. A frisson patters up and down her spine, and she carefully activates the device
she carries, proofing herself against unwanted psychic intrusion.
Her fingers flex, hungry to open the the envelope upon her desk, but
she hangs back, fear growing within. Fear of what she might
find. Condemnation? Agreement? Poetry?
After their last meeting, who can say?
"Yes," the General whispers, distracted, then focuses upon the words of
her advisors. "Yes," she states, more firmly. "If you can,
split them. If capture is possible, do so. As Right has
noted, Lord Harbonah wishes them alive and delivered to me." That
is the truth. "If not, separate and watch. It will limit
their effectiveness severely."
Her lips twitch. Curiousity has built to a breaking point.
"A moment," the Warrior whispers, and moves to the table.
One-handed, Cyan opens the envelope; she sniffs it absently as her
other hand removes and unfolds the letter. Burnt. By what, I wonder? With an act of will, she holds her fingers steady.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Israfil is about to speak again, but the General seems distracted. Then the human picks up something from the table...
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Meredith
-----------------------------------------------------------
Meredith's breath catches in her throat. Harbonah was a stunning sight
to behold. Her eyes, closed still squint from his brightness... She
finds a thought home a place she must locate... but the appproaching man and Archon distract her and her attention shifts.
She really was not the best person for this type of work.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
The paper crumples in Cyan's fist. Her lips compress, and she
stares through the tent wall, at something faraway. "Where is
Coil?" she whispers. Her other hand jerks, spasmodically, and
Right freezes in place, ready.
But she does not reach for the danioti.
"News, Israfil. From my own associates." She is careful to
keep the sheet within her fist, not waving it about. Her aegis should keep the archon from prying. "Prepare your people.
You have done very well thus far - if you can keep the reinforcements
from panicking the troops, I will be well-pleased. Harbonah will,
hopefully, be the same." The crumpled paper changes hands, and
she holds it out behind her with a glance over her shoulder to
Right...and three words, mouthed silently.
The paper drops, to vanish in a blizzard of fine particles.
"Certainly I will tell him of your successes to date. Keeping up
the moral of an army...guaranteeing cooperation...these things are more
important, by far,
than conquering five, ten worlds." She rubs her forehead.
"Was there anything else, Israfil? For the moment?"
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
+ No, General, nothing else. With your permission, we will go
and contact our allies, make them aware of the required actions. +
In deference to the General's wishes, once dismissed, Israfil maintains a human form until outside the tent.
Meredith, seeming to daydream, watches as a woman with burning eyes
steps from the tent, and shifts form as she walks, generating a wave of
heat, becoming a hoop of flame which rises rapidly and moves off across
the camp.
In the distance, the wheel of blades still moves slowly, allowing the man, walking beside it, to keep pace.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Right
-----------------------------------------------------------
Right slowly moves away from the General as she watches the ashuranti leave. It doesn't trust the other Archon - not one bit.
That goes without saying amoung their kind. It has to admit, the
creature seems competent, and willing to cooperate.
But the jury is out.
For now, the glittering, multicoloured ring moves to hang over the
scarred campaign table. An instant later, a ragged piece of paper
slowly floats down. It consists of a series of thin strips,
linked by one, thin bridge of paper each - lines of writing, carefully
sliced from the surrounding paper and left in their original
order. Closer inspection reveals that the trim has closely
followed the edges of the letters...and that the d's, the o's, and so
forth have been hollowed out.
An appalling display of precision. Right is rather proud of it.
+ AS YOU COMMANDED, GENERAL - 'KEEP THE
WRITING'. THOUGH TO PRESERVE THE ORIGINAL ORDER OF THE WORDS, IT
WAS NECESSARY TO LEAVE THE CENTER BAR. +
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you, Right." Cyan slowly sits at the table, staring at the
thin threads of the note. She prods one with a finger, a slightly
amused smile breaking across her sharp features. It fades after a
moment, and she stares down blankly.
For once, there is silence within. Everything is in harmony...in harmony in her confusion.
With a sudden motion, she stands. The chair begins to tip, and
her heel hooks under it, bringing it down. Turning from Dorian's
writing, Cyan puts one foot in front of the other, repeats twice, then
turns on the ball of her foot. Three steps, turn. "What am
I to do?" she whispers. Right, behind her, keeps quiet, having
finally figured out the term 'rhetorical' several days before.
The General finally stops her pacing, and pale fingers clench tightly,
driving all colour from the skin. "He...I cannot risk Dorian
becoming unstable. In that state, he might do anything.
Cinder another world, for example. Perhaps even this one."
Step, step, turn.
"At the same time, I cannot merely bow to pressure. Threats -" it
wasn't a threat, not precisely "- should not stay my hand."
Trembling fingers brush a hair from her forehead. "And...my
people." She spins to face Right, who freezes in place,
recognizing that now is not the time to maintain position behind the
Warrior. "I cannot leave my people in that world!" Anguish
touches her tone for an instant, then she turns away. Right drops
back into place, quivering slightly.
Step, step, turn.
"Curse it! The danger...my people...." She weighs both, then sags.
"I cannot leave my people," Cyan whispers. They are hers, until the End of Time. And she will not abandon them.
...Dorian...I am sorry...
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Left and Coil pass Meredith, where she sits near the tent. Coil glabces in her direction, but doesn't really see her.
The two enter the tent, to find the General alone with Right.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyan spins as the two move into the room. "Left. Good, you
found him." Left spins more quickly, seeming about to speak, but
a quick whine from Right, a low, humming tone, cuts the other danioti off. Instead, Left spins over to hang near the General's head.
Possibly communing with Right - possibly not. One can never tell.
For his part, Coil bows. "General. You have a request of
me?" His tone is urbane - utterly unruffled by the tension he
sees in the Warrior's pale features. Something has happened, but
if the danioti aren't talking, perhaps it's in his best interest to keep things short and to the point.
"Yes." Cyan fingers a bottle of Jack Daniel's, and frowns at the
image of the same bottle in Aaron's hands. "I will crack the
barrier to Nairans as soon as Israfil's reinforcements arrive, and
remove the lost portion of the Army. I expect you and your people
to be ready, Coil - that will be your job."
A lot to swallow in two sentences.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Coil simply nods, once. "We are prepared, General. We only await your order to act."
And that's it... total confidence. Coil is well aware of his
capabilities, and those of his people. While he has been unable
to bring down the barrier, he does know exactly what actions will be
needed if somebody does succeed in dropping it.
Something catches his eye... a ragged piece of paper on the desk.
Interesting, but a glance in the Warrior's direction convinces him that
too much interest might be... imprudent.
Near the General, Left and Right are very quiet. Even the
constant sound of their blades cutting the air is muted. Somehow
they give the impression of whispering secrets to each other.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Good. As always, Coil." Her smile is thin, and while she
notes his glance toward her 'note', she ignores it for the
present. To move, to cover, anything would call attention to
Dorian's letter.
"Then we now await Israfil, and his reinforcements. Take a drink
if you wish, Coil." A standard offer from the General. "And
tell me." Her voice sharpens, and her eyes are obsidian mirrors
as she leans forward. "What do you think of Israfil?"
A necessary question. One she hopes will garner a positive response.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you, General." Coil helps himself to a drink, a small one.
"Israfil is... efficient, competent, single-minded... and, as with most
other Archons," and here, he glances quickly at Left and Right,
"utterly cold and ruthless. If half this army were annihilated in
an effort to recover those troops at Nairans, Israfil would count it as
a victory, so long as the objective were achieved."
"The numbers would not matter. Lose a hundred thousand to rescue
twenty thousand, and Israfil would call it a success. In her
opinion, there are enough people to easily replace the hundred
thousand, and the loss would be of no consequence, compared to the
important matter of doing what she had set out to do."
He smiles then, though there is little joy in it, "I suspect she may
have been planning something along those lines, or perhaps just another
invasion, since she doesn't really care enough to try a rescue, unless
there is a clear tactical benefit in it. My people have been
getting pushed hard, in your absence, to find a way through that
barrier."
"We don't have a way to break it yet, but we do know how to get the army out, once it's down."
"As for Israfil... I believe she is a useful asset, just so long as she
is clearly instructed. Allowing her a little room for... ah... creative interpretation... might lead to unnecessary bloodshed, on both sides."
There is a pause then, and Coil's next words are hesitant, "General...
had you considered that the troops at Nairans might simply be bait?"
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Coil's description sets Cyan's mind to thought. Harbonah has new
duties for her. But can she leave this army in the hands of
Israfil? It...she,
as Coil names 'her', will destroy them. Eventually. To her,
they are nothing more than a resource, to be used until it is gone.
And to push Israfil higher on the ladder of status. The ultimate goal of all Archons.
Can the General decline Harbonah's offer? Dare she do so?
"Rather I would leave the triumvirate in command," she murmurs, pacing
the tent. The reference is to Coil, of course, and his two
opposite numbers within the regular army and Cyan's 'special
forces'. "How fortunate for the army that, up to this point, you
have failed, Coil." She glances up, her obsidian eyes fixing on
his. "I wonder how much of that is due to perceived necessity."
Then she waves the comment away. "No matter. In this case,
I do not wish to know. If you have found a means to succor our
troops, you have my gratitude - that will be sufficient. For
every door, there is a key, and I possess a master." Her smile is
wintery. "We will free our army, and do so now. The moment
Israfil returns. I desire Archons, many of them, in order to hold
a beachhead while you and yours withdraw our troops."
Now she moves back to the table, stares down at the threaded lines of
the note. "I have considered this, Sorcerer. Perhaps it is
a trap. If so, we enter it forewarned. And we shall enter
into this world with little warning, through a backdoor." Two
fingers drum out a rhythm upon the thick wood for a heartbeat.
"They will, of course, see us coming. No doubt they have senses
that can penetrate their own shielding, into the Underflow. It
matters not. We will enter, take back the army, and step back to
observe. We will see how they reseal their shield, and their
responses. But we will not attack, not yet. This land is a
hard point. We bypass the hard, and continue upon the soft."
Her tone grows quiet, almost lazy. "At some point they will have to move, or become an island. Either way, the hard will become the soft." Swinging around, the General stares at both
Coil and Left (Right remaining at her back, at that same, precise
distance). "In defense, one may find invulnerability. But
only in attack lies victory."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Coil places his glass on the desk, and bows, grinning.
"Israfil lacks imagination, General. To her, directness is the
same thing as success. She sees only the frontal attack, not
caring that a flanking attack might prove a more efficient
approach. To her mind, taking the longer route cannot possibly be
better."
"It is good that you come back to us, before she commits this army,
which you have worked so hard to build, to a course of action which
would almost certainly break it."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Left
-----------------------------------------------------------
+ GENERAL. + Left replies, + WE ARE PREPARED, AS ALWAYS, TO DO YOUR BIDDING. WE... +
+ ISRAFIL APPROACHES, WITH TWO OTHERS. THEY SEEM... EXCITED. DO WE STOP THEM? +
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Well, that settled it. Coil had stalled Israfil. Good - the General made a mental note to give
some sort of gift, down the road. "We will see," she says
quietly, "that things will not follow that path, Coil. Well done."
They continually impress her, these people. Her people.
Now her head snaps up as Left breaks in. "Indeed. Swift
enough...but with only two?" Two archons - will that be
sufficient? Hardly the force for which she asked...perhaps
something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"Let them pass, for the moment. Coil - out the back way."
The tear in her tent still exists. "Quickly. If things get
ugly...well, I trust your common sense." She motions, and then
reaches for her gauntlets. They slide into place with faint
ratcheting sounds - Ares' armor is a wonder of an artifice. Then
she reaches back, blindly, as Coil hurries from the tent.
Gurthang awaits within a sea of blades.
"Let them pass," she repeats. "And remain calm."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Moments after Coil leaves, Israfil enters the tent, in the human female
form it had adopted before. Two others follow behind, one in the
guise of a human male, small and slender, clad in red and black motley,
with eyes that reflect the light in the tent a little too brightly.
The second follower can barely be described as humanoid. Large
and hulking, it stands naked, yet its body is covered in metal scales,
barbs, hooks and blades, and those razor-sharp implements slide and
flow across its form in a constant danse macabre,
which seems to bear no relation to the creature's own movements.
It gazes at the general, with eyes which seem to radiate the cold that
lays between the stars.
While the first follower smiles, pleasantly enough, at its first sight
of the General, the second does not appear to even possess a
mouth. One is clearly experienced at mixing with humans, the
other is either less experienced, or just doesn't care enough to try.
Israfil bows, though there is something... wrong... about the motion, as if the Archon is unused to permorming it. + General. We are sorry to intrude upon your time, but this is, we believe, a matter of some urgency. +
+ These two are Jehoel and Soqed Hezi, of the eshurianti and danioti.
They are two of our agents, who have been attempting to locate the
Despised One. Even as we spoke with you a short while age, they
were on their way to meet with us. +
+ They believe that they have located... +
The one named Soqed Hezi interrupts, speaking even though it possesses
no mouth, and earning a scowl from Israfil. The voice is like the
blaring of trumpets and the clashing of steel blades.
+ WE DO NOT BELIEVE. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO FIND THE CREATURE! +
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by The Warrior in Jet and Gold
-----------------------------------------------------------
The General scrutinizes the first of the newcomers, ignoring the more impressive second for the moment. That one knows people. It has experience. She is skilled at this form. She turns to the hulking brute, next, giving it a nod, her eyes flickering over the blades, the empty, cold eyes. This one is a killer. Danioti to the core, and proud. Potent, as they run, to be able to take
on another form. Imaginative, as they run, to choose to so do.
Of the two, the small, subtle eshuranti is by far the more dangerous.
Jehoel. The name gives her pause. She knows that
name, as she knows all of the names of the Seraphim, somewhere buried
deeply within. As she knows the name of Soqed Hezi - but the
Swordbearer pales in significance to Jehoel. Even more warily,
Cyan gives a bow of her own back to Israfil.
"Intrustion becomes necessary, from time to time.
Continue." She waves Israfil on - the Seraphim would not disturb
her unless it were important. She is too concerned with her impression. Not so the other two.
But her interest sharpens at Israfil's words, and she leans forward, heartbeat quickening under the heavy armor. The Despised One. And now it seems they may have -
Soqued Hezi's interruption is a surprise. For one Archon to interrupt another...well, 'he' is danioti,
after all. Straightfoward, and somewhat lacking in
delicacy. But Left, irked, flits up and dances around the
General's head for a moment, still small, like an insect.
Deceptively so. The General would play her own bodyguard against
this monster in an instant. Left is one of the only danioti she has met to show signs of curiousity. Of subtlety.
It makes her dangerous, much as Jeheol is more threatening to the General than the single-minded Israfil.
"You have found him," she breathes. "Good. Israfil?
Have the reinforcements arrived, yet? When they do, we
move. We first open Nairans for the army, and part of the
reinforcements stay there, to hold the gate. Then we and the
others immediately move to engage the Despised One." Her lips are
a slash in a pale face, under her shock of copper hair, and her eyes
are black and smooth like onyx.
"The work of a moment to open for the army," she mutters. "Then
Coil and the Sorcerer's Cadre can break them free, supported by some of
the Seraphim." Her eyes snap to the trio before her.
"Circumstance. Where? What are they doing? What is
the ground, the lay of the land? What are the rules, there?" She stares at them, one after the other, allowing one of the trio to step forward, to speak.
But her eyes return to Jeheol.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Israfil glares at Soqed Hezi, though the danioti shows no sign of noticing this fact. Instead its attention is on Left and Right, for the moment, small though they are.
Turning back to the General, Israfil continues, + The place is
named Charyk. It is a natural nexus - a choke point, if you
will. Many channels converge there, and the topology of the
region causes things to flow towards it. +
+ Even while going to other places, travellers will often find that their course bends to pass through Charyk. +
+ There is evidence to suggest that Charyk may be associated with
Broken God. While such evidence exists for other locations, we
deemed it appropriate to investigate further. On our
instructions, Jehoel and Soqed Hezi arranged for a human agent to enter
the city and find out more. +
+ Later, again following our instructions, they commanded the human to
also keep watch, in case the Despised One arrived in Charyk. The
human has seen it! +
+ THE DESPISED ONE IS THERE GENERAL. ITS FORM IS KNOWN TO US, AND WHILE IT CAN PROTECT ITS TCHO FROM DETECTION AND EXAMINATION, IT IS NOT INVISIBLE TO THOSE WHO VIEW
ITS PHYSOCAL FORM. OUR HUMAN HAS SEEN IT, WITH ITS OWN EYES, AND
RECOGNISED THOSE WHO TRAVEL WITH IT, FROM THE DESCRIPTIONS WE HAVE
GIVEN. + Again the blaring metallic voice, and Left and Right react angrily.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
She doesn’t like the way Soqued Hezi watches Left and Right. No,
not at all. But for the moment, the General sets that aside to
concentrate on the problem at hand...mostly. Some part of her
listens to the voice, buzzing in her ear.
Thank you, Left.
Right, on her wrist, speeds up, his colourful body glittering in the
dimly lit tent. She feels the cold bar between her fingers, lost
somewhere in that space within the danioti. It hurts to hold it for too long, but the likelihood of the General releasing Gurthang before this trio is vanishingly minute.
“Very clever, Israfil. You did well.” While her words are aimed at that eshuranti, she carefully watches the other, and the massive danioti,
with the corners of her eyes. Reactions? Anything?
Thanks to Left, Cyan knows who truly holds sway, here. And it
isn’t Israfil. Whatever happened, did not happen on her word.
“And you found him. Well done as well, Jeheol. And
yourself, of course, Soqued Hezi.” Her free hand waves toward the
front of the tent. “Let us go without, you three, and await
Israfil’s reinforcements there. They will come, and we will have
more than enough to deal with both of our problems – the removal of the
army from Nairans, and the capture of the Despised One and its
comrades.”
She strides from the tent, helmet snatched from the campaign chair in
passing, Left a buzzing bee beside her ear. “For the order to
capture still stands, mind. We need some of them. Information. Power. Possibly even
assistance, with the proper persuasion.” For a moment, Cyan
blinks. Persuasion. What a curious word to use.
…pain…fire in the dark, and blades…
“They can only die once!” she snaps, spinning to face the trio.
“Kill them, and we lose all they might bring. Even the Despised
One, though it may be necessary to destroy it. Remember this,
Israfil! Remember this, Soqued Hezi!” Her eyes snap to
Jeheol, but she says nothing, choosing instead to examine the eshuranti. She has no doubt that one understands; what its plans might be, though, Cyan has no clue. Not yet.
“And so – we begin with Nairans, leaving...ah. Here.” Her
shadow stretches long before her as the slowly fading light undergoes a
resurrection. Screams and shouts of disbelief echo through the
camp, and Cyan turns, raising one hand to shield her eyes. A
golden light suffuses the field, wavering with pulses of sheet
lighting, and the air above howls to the chorus of countless blades.
Staring up at her reinforcements, Cyan smiles. Her teeth, under
her dark, dark eyes, are very white, and very even, but the expression
itself is razor sharp.
* * *
Their passage through the Underflow is umolested. Not
surprising. Despite the occasional glimpse of some brobdenagian
form, few creatures in any world would wish to closely examine such a
train of Seraphim. They are many, and they are varied. Danioti, Eshuranti, and herenethi. They form a glittering train in the shining river of the Underflow, and at their head lies a blotch of darkness.
"Keep your people calm, Coil," Cyan whispers to the Sorcerer. The
man's nod is more nervous jerk than agreement, but he turns to face his
mages, carried along by the power of the Seraphim. The General
glides serenely through the brilliant light, flanked by two danioti, followed by a trio - two eshuranti, one danioti. The former, she trusts. The latter, not at all.
"Remember," she states over her shoulder. In the Underflow, her
voice carries, amplified by Left and Right through to the others.
"Cooperation. Personal feuds are to be set aside, on pain of
death. Harbonah commands this, through me. We will take
back what is our, what has been stolen from us, and not provoke whatever defenses guard this place! That will be for
another time, after we study them. And then, we will move against
the Despised One. His companions are to be taken alive. They will prove of great value."
Slowly the Warrior in Jet and Gold revolves to face Israfil, Jeheol,
and Soqued Hezi. Her eyes are hidden in the darkness of her
helm. She studies them, all three in their turn, then the great
helm cocks slightly. "We will penetrate the shield, and send in
our swiftest people to scout, protected by the strongest forces about
them you can weave. They will locate the army. Once this is
successful, we will move across the Wall Between Worlds to that
area. The Seraphim will establish a beachead, so to speak,
freeing the army if necessary. The Sorcerers will then transport
it away. We will step back across the wall, and retreat, studying
the defenses and patterns of pursuit as we do." There is a long
moment of silence. "I trust that is clear?"
No fear lies in Cyan's heart as she stares at the three. Oh, they
have power. Power enough, quite possibly, to be the end of Left,
Right, and herself. Something is wrong - she knows that for a
fact. Something is terribly wrong.
But fear vanished, long ago. She isn't certain when.
Perhaps, her reassembled, jagged mind considers, when she learned the
truth of her existance.
...and burned away in the dark....
Cyan turns back, just in time for the massive, dancing train to erupt
from the endless river. It rises through the void, a chain of
terrible beauty, toward a singular star, shining among the infinite
number above.
And then they are there, just beyond the world.
Floating in the void, with vast, brilliant globes surrounding
them. The army forms a cobra's body, with the General at the
head. She reaches to the right, into the danioti who hovers there.
+ I BET HE FORGOT IT AT HOME. WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK. +
Furious, Right spins faster, his dancing colours brilliant in the light of the spheres. + I. FORGET. NOTHING. +
"Cease." Cyan looks back at the trio following, then
forward. "And this is as far as we go? No closer?"
She does not see a wall - the void before them is dominated by the
shimmering sphere. It defies description - it is all things, and
nothing. Its own, private universe amoung many. "Very
well," she says, behind her helm. "Send the scouts forward."
Her hand comes forth from Right, now holding the ornate hilt of a
hand-and-a-half blade. Then the glassy edge itself is visible,
for once not flickering with faint, astral flames. Instead, it is
cold and bright, here in the void. "The door is barred," Cyan
whispers. And raises the Iron of Death.
"But I hold a key that fits all locks."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The wall is bright, hard, unyielding. It shares all of those
properties with the blade. Unfortunately, it does not share them
to the same degree.
The edge, sharp as starlight on a clear winter night, touches the
barrier. Passes through it, without resistance. Ripples
flicker momentarily across the surface. And then, with minimal
fuss, it is gone.
The army winks into being on a plain, before a city. The city is
scarred and battered, and a horde of men and... not quite men... works
to repair it. Old, dangerously unsteady buildings are being
demolished, and new ones erected in their place.
One of the workers notes the sudden arrival of the army. He
raises a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. Then he realises
that it cannot be the sun, for it lays in the north, and at this late
hour the real sun lays in the west.
The Army of the End of Time is here to rescue its captured
troops. Within moments, the word has spread, and a cry goes up
from tne city. A mix of triumph and terror, as captive and captor
both realise that only one outcome is possible.
And then the false sun shatters into a myriad howling wheels - fire and steel and lightning, blotting out the sky.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by The Warrior in Jet and Gold
-----------------------------------------------------------
"A beachhead only!" the Warrior in Jet and Gold calls over the terrible
thunder of her army. "We know not the defenses of this place -
respond only to threats, and ignore all else!" Her eyes, black as
pitch beneath the helm, turn to Coil. "You have your opportunity,
Sorcerer - swiftly, now. Spare two of your own to watch for any
sign of gathering magics, of any kind."
The General stares out over the 'battlefield.' A misnomer, it would seem. There is no battle, here.
"Obliterate all resistance to the succor of our people," she states
quietly, counting upon the two to relay her orders. "When that is
completed, pull back and cover the work of the Sorcerers. Relay
to me any signs of burgeoning counterattack."
+ SUCH AS IT MIGHT BE. +
+ SHOULD THEY MANAGE TO DO SO, I AM CURIOUS AS TO ITS DISPOSITION +
+ FOR MYSELF, I AM MORE INTERESTED IN ITS DISPOSAL +
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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"General, I can assure you that we were not
responsible. Your army had all but overrun us, we were preparing
to offer surrender, and then... it was as if the sky fell."
His Serene Excellency, the Mayor of Nairans, Guildmaster Kaliesan
Mogwrevan does not look particularly "Serene" at the moment.
Sweat his pouring down his face, and not all of it is due to the
presence of several eshurianti in the Great Council Chamber.
To one side, the thirty members of the Guildmaster Council, likewise less than serene, nod as one, and mutter their agreement.
"We don't know what happened. An
unseasonable storm appeared, voices roared among the clouds, and shook
the very ground. And then it was over. Your Destroying
Angels were gone, and your army was commanded to help rebuild the city."
"We knew nothing of our saviours... uh... that is to say, those who seemed to be our saviours, and had no awareness of any barrier holding your tr... your unfortunate troops here, against their will. Certainly we did not summon these forces to oppose you."
"We had intended to surrender."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by The Warrior in Jet and Gold
-----------------------------------------------------------
Berd. Of course. On the surface, it seemed a foolish
move - set up the situation where the Seraphim would have to
return. And yet, the World had been blocked. Berd
had no reason to believe, at the time, that anyone would have the power
to easily conquer his wall. It must have felt like the proper
decision.
She wonders if he knows what he has done, now.
"So," the General replies, still standing, facing the
Guildmasters. "You have had no contact with any other
forces?" She knows that a power must back this land. Samhain.
The latticed letter seems hot in the pouch, hanging about her neck
under the armor. Dorian knew she came here. This place must
be connected with his anscestral land. If Dorian is any
indication...they will be ready. And their sorcery will not be
insignificant.
And...she does not wish to face him. Not over a piece of land, his homeland, not where he may be tempted to fight to the death.
"This sheds a different light upon things." She shoots a
narrow-eyed glance at the Guildmasters from under her helm, then slowly
removes it. "Tell us everything you know. Are there any other forces? Are you in contact with any beings outside of your own? Any other
nations, or worlds? You have one chance - tell me now." Her
face is hard, but not cold. "If there are, and you tell me, then they become my concern. If you say no, and I discover otherwise, I
will come through here in the search for them, and no stone will remain
unturned."
+ WHICH WILL BE MOST EFFICIENT, OF COURSE. YOU DO BURY YOUR DEAD BENEATH PILES OF ROCKS, DO YOU NOT? +
Right's clashing laughter fills the room for a moment, from 'his'
position behind and slightly to the right of the General.
+ TRUE. I EXPECT IF SUCH MEASURES ARE
NECESSARY, EVERY STONE TURNED WILL FIND ITSELF PLACED UPON A
BODY. THERE WILL BE LITTLE CLEAR SPACE UPON THE GROUND. + By contrast, Left's voice is almost considering, weighing possibilities.
Probabilities.
But 'she' wonders, watching the General. Wheels within wheels,
metaphorically this time. The letter. The encounter with
the 'Dorian'. Now this.
And that cursed trio with whom they came.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
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"No... we have no contact with those who came
and... and... interfered. We never had any contact with them
before, and none since." His not-so-Serene Excellency replies. "We have no idea who they were, nor how to call them."
He is sweating profusely now. Possibly the first time in his life he has ever been so uncomfortable.
"This is the truth, I swear it. An oath, made upon, or by, anything you require. It is the truth."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by The Warrior in Jet and Gold
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The General slowly nods, and a faint smile comes across her pale, pale
face. She takes a few steps to the side and cocks her head to
whisper. "Left. Something appropriate, but not
lethal. Yet."
For an instant, a silvery trail flashes around the council table with
the accompaniment of a screaming wail; there comes the scent of
flame. Then with a thuderous crash, the massive oak top hammers
down a foot; if the council wishes to use it in the future, they will
have to find smaller chairs. Each leg has lost 12.0" inches from
its middle.
Right gives a hungry, grating snarl at this, but does not move from his position.
The General's Left hand comes up, points directly at his
Excellency. "You fail to answer my question. Those who
aided you are not my sole interest. I ask again - Are there any
other forces? Are you in contact with any beings outside of your
own? Any other nations, or worlds?"
The same questions as before, now delivered in tones of cold
iron. Abruptly that ice shatters, and anger, sharp and hot, boils
beneath her words.
"What secrets do you hide? Who stands behind your world?" she asks.
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I swear to you. I do not know.
Until you mentioned it, I... we... had no idea that there even where
other worlds. If somebody stands with us, they keep themselves
hidden from us."
He drops to all fours, huddling down before the General, and his words are forced out between the sobs which rack his body, "Please... We were going to surrender because we thought ourselves alone."
===========================================================
Re: 51b - Meredith by Cyan
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Warrior stares down at the wreck of a man. She hears his
words. Tastes the emotion. Something spikes her then, like
a knife in her back, and she blinks. Shining, hematite eyes stare
down at the broken man, and abruptly the Warrior waves a hand behind
her.
"Enough."
+ ARE YOU- +
The hand tenses. Left silently pulls back.
Cyan slowly bends one knee and places a gauntleted hand on the
Councilman's shoulder. "I believe you," she whispers. The
hand pats once, then slowly, with remorseless strength...pulls him to
his feet. "I believe you," she repeats, more loudly, holding the
sobbing man on his feet before her.
"You did your duty to your people as best you saw it," she states, her
voice ringing in the chamber. "You sought to save them. I
comprehend. You could not know of what lies within other worlds,
even nearby worlds. How shocked you must have been, caught
between the wars of giants." She falls silent for a long moment,
her eyes catching those of each and every councilman around the room,
daring any of them to show scorn for this one. And she waits for
him to find his own feet, before releasing him.
There is a sideboard - it is a council chamber, after all. Cyan
moves to it, sniffs a crystal decanter. Her head pulls back like
a cat's, and she nods after a moment. One glass poured, a napkin
snagged, and she brings the drink to the miserable man left alone in
the center of the room. "Trying times," The General notes
quietly. "And you have been ill-used."
"Someone's hand lies upon this world. Someone who opposes my
Army. I cannot let this pass, but I can leave your world in
peace. It is them I desire, not you."
Are you watching now, being?
A flick of the wrist brings Left closer. Cyan's voice drops to a whisper. "Tell a group of eshuranti to begin a search for watchers - physical and psychic - about this
world." Then she continues as the tiny ring of blades zips
away. "Ill-used indeed. Where is your protector now?
Having irked my people, he or she vanishes to leave to you bear the
brunt." A disgusted sigh, a shake of the head. Small,
subtle, not gross. With a click, she removes a gauntlet, hangs it
at her waist, and proffers the napkin.
"Wipe your tears. You have saved your people."
For now.
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