Part 4 - Interview with the King
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Part 4 - Interview with the King by The Dream (GM)
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One by one the cats pass through the opening, and into the home of the King of the Cats.
As they srep through, each of them immediately notices the heat, then their eyes take in the other details.
The interior of the cottage, which serves as a palace, appears to have
only a single room... or at least there are no doors to other
rooms... Even the door behind them is gone, leaving the small cat
door set into a wall instead. One wall has a huge, antique
fireplace, while the other three each has a large window, and each
window shows an entirely different environment. Beyond one is a
dense forest, where brightly coloured birds dart among the trees.
A desert of red stone and sand lays through the second window, and
small mice scamper over the rock faces.
Strangest of all, is the third window, which is directly above the
entrance, and seems to look into deep, blue water. Bizarre fish
move about in the depths, dimly seen in the faint, shimmering light
which filters down from the surface.
The interior of the room could best be described as cluttered. It
is crammed with expensive furniture, interspersed with narrow nooks and
crannies, ideal for lurking in, and every item looks to have been used
as a scratching post by hundreds of cats. Every surface is
covered with cat hairs, and there are cat toys laying all about the
room. The drapes, framing the windows, show clear signs of having
been climbed.
There is a fire blazing in the hearth, the source of the heat in the
room, and close beside it stands an old armchair, where a cat
sits. A white cat, with green eyes, and a jewel laying upon his
brow. He stands, as the visitors notice his presence, and it
becomes apparent that he has nine tails.
"Welcome to my home,
cats. I am, as you will have realised, the King of the
Cats. Please, make yourselves at home. There is food and
water, or cream, if you prefer, upon the table there. Refresh
yourselves, and we shall talk of why you are here... the important
matter of a new Secret Name."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Mister Pig (NPC)
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Mister Pig starts to speak, and realises that he is thirsty. He
leaps to the table, and starts to take a little water, and something
catches his attention, just in the corner of his eye. He turns to
regard it, a small olate, with some tuna on it, and starts
purring, albeit a little uncertainly, "That
is my blue dish, with the pictures of fishies around the edge. It
was broken ages ago, when I was still a kitten. How can it be
here?"
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by The King of the Cats (NPC)
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"Yes. The dish was broken... but that is not the end of the story, is it Mister Pig?"
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Mister Pig (NPC)
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Mister Pig looks quite dismayed at the King's words. If he were
human, he would be blinking back tears. Since he is a cat,
instead, he starts to wash himself, "I would rather not talk about it, if it's all the same to you."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Antonio
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The cheerful, carefree Antonio shifts as he comes through the cat door,
and drops back into the rear of the group, looking around with eyes as
big a saucers - admittedly, very small saucers - at every aspect of the
room.
It was nothing like where he grew up, hiding in boxes and behind skips
from the weather, living of whatever he could catch or steal from the
trash. He feels a bit out of place, almost, and looks around from
where he sits, barely inside the door. Perhaps, just perhaps
someone has left some of those tasty bits that the girl in the pizza
place steals away for him when she can around here somewhere.
He sees the King and the nine tails, but it seems to natural, and
beside, he can not stare at the King, so he listens instead. A
blue dish, broken. He has seen many broken things, and is unsure
what is so important with a dish, but he waits and listens.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by OGMO
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OGMO looks a little bit amused, settling to lay down, arms laid flat in
front of herself and tail curled along her side. "Speak in
comfort," she suggests. "What happens in Tir-na-nog'th, stays in
Tir-na-nog-th."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by The King of the Cats (NPC)
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The King of the cats sits, and studies Mister Pig for a while, before saying, in a gentle tone, "But
the blue dish has a lot to do with why you are here, does it not?
Why not simply start at the beginning... how was it broken?"
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Mister Pig (NPC)
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With a sigh, Mister Pig stops washing, and stares down at his paws for
a while. Finally, he raises his head, and starts to
speak... "When
I was a kitten, I had three dishes, The best one was the blue
one, with the fishies. The food always tasted nine times better
from that dish than it did from any of the others, and Robyn only ever
served my meals in the blue dish."
He glances towards the blue dish on the table, and sighs again, "One
day I had been playing a lot, running and jumping, and I was very
hungry. For the first time, I managed to work the Dinner Dance
Ritual. Robyn started to prepare my dinner. I was so
excited that I climbed the scratch post, and then jumped to the
counter, instead of waiting on the floor."
"AS Robyn started to lift the dish down to me, I collided with it, and
knocked it out of her hand. My beautiful blue dish fell, and
smashed on the floor!"
The cat issues a long, disconsolate wail, "It
is because of the blue dish being broken that we are here. In a
dream, a bird offered me a spell, in exchange for my not hunting
it. It told me that if I went to a certain place in the Dream,
and said my Secret Name, and the name of a lost thing, then I could get
that thing back. So I did it, and I... I must have talked in my
sleep, because the Boggins... they... they knew... the Boggins knew my
name."
"To make matters worse, I never got the blue dish back. The bird must have lied to me."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by OGMO
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OGMO starts up a comforting purr. "Kittens," she says softly,
"Make mistakes. I remember a day in my own youth, when my Simon
was still young himself. I," she sneezes a laugh, "Was large even
then, but here, in Dreams, gravity has less hold. Sometimes, I
would forget in which world I walked. Upon the day, I found
myself halfway up the curtains, when gravity...took hold. My rear
claw caught in the fabric of it, and I was falling backwards; a twist
pulled me out, and I landed myself upon the tallest thing I could
reach."
She's pauses, and then admits, "That thing was Simon himself, and in my
kittenish panic, my claws had come out without my knowing. He
still carries a scar just below his eye, which I would do much to
erase. 'Tis my luck the Boggins tipped their hands in choosing
you to tempt, and not I. I am sure we each have a matter we might
have been compelled to seek."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by The King of the Cats (NPC)
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The King of the Cats nods approvingly at OGMO, after her tale.
"I concur, Mister Pig.
There is no need to blame yourself for an error you made while so
young. You have already been punished, by the loss of the blue
dish. There is no need to heap further blame and punishment upon
yourself. The blue dish exists in the Dream, now, and it will always be here for you. You can find it at any time, without resorting
to magic, just by looking in your dreams, and the magic of the dish
will never fade away. Food will always taste better from that
dish."
"Now, I do not believe that the bird was deliberately trying to find
your Secret Name. I think it was just an ordinary dream, but the
Boggins were quick to take advantage, as they often are. I say
this to demonstrate to you all that there is no need to fear that the
Boggins have devised such a cunning plan. It was merely
coincidence, which the Boggins siezed upon. Is this clear to all?"
The nine tailed King looks from face to face, his expression calm.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by The King of the Cats (NPC)
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Around the room, there is a flicker of motion, and the view from each
of the windows changes. A long strip of sand, with a wide expanse
of water to one side, and a rolling plain to the other; a strange stone
tower, draped with vines and brilliant crimson flowers, in a dense
forest; a grassy hillside, with a light snow fallinf; a normal street,
like the one where the visitors live, with playing children, and a
ginger cat laying in the sun on a porch.
The King of the Cats, satisfied that all understand his assurance, gives another one...
"For those who are worried
about it, the Boggins have not acted yet. Since you entered the
Dream, and crossed the entire distance to see me here, only five
minutes have passed in the Waking World. The Boggins have had no
time to do anything."
He considers for a moment, and then says, "So...
we come to the matter of finding a new Secret Name. This will
involve a quest, as you might expect... and a difficult one at
that. Far from here, to the west, is the Sea of Flame, where the
sun sets in the Dream, just as it does in your world. Close to
the coast is a hidden valley, wherein lays the Well of Names."
"All Mister Pig needs to do is sit upon the parapet, and whisper into
the Well. When he does this, he will hear a new name whispered
back to him."
"What must I whisper, oh Wisest of all Cats?" asks Mister Pig, tearing his gaze away from the blue dish.
"Whatever seems appropriate, my dear Pig. When you sit upon the parapet, you will know what to say."
Another pause, then, more sternly, "This
is most important, though... you must exercise caution, stealth, and
skill in your journey to the nameless, hidden valley. No
nightmare or Boggin must ever discover the location of the Well of
Names. You will need to use everything in your power to ensure
that they don't."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Antonio
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Sitting quietly near the door, Antonio looks and listens. Nice
view out of the windows, but it cannot quite compare to being out
there, he believes. Still, most cats seem to have someone they
not only guard, but also live with, unlike him. The girl at the
pizza place is the closest thing he has to a protégé, even if he guards
the whole place against the lurking boggins.
Sea of Flame. Sounds like a place with hot water. He almost
cringes as the King urges Mister Pig of all cats to exercise stealth
and skill. It is a good thing he has Puss in a Boot by his side
indeed, poor Mister Pig.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Mister Pig (NPC)
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"Goodness!" exclaims Mister Pig, looking a little shocked. "It certainly sounds very dangerous. Not a quest to be undertaken lightly."
He thinks for a little while, before continuing, "But undertake it, I must, if I am to claim a new name and regain the ability to hunt down the foul Boggins."
"However... I cannot force my friends to join me on such a
mission, which is, after all, for my benefit. So, I will ask you
all, and I will think no less of you, if you decline. Who wishes
to continue with this? Who will walk beside me on my quest?"
Sitting up straight now, he regards his friends, "Speak now."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by OGMO
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OGMO, too, plays out some amusing internal images of Mister Pig
exercising stealth and skill...though `caution', she must admit, seems
to be a strength of his.
After a moment's consideration, she withdraws her sarcasm, and acknowledges that it really is a strength of his.
She blinks, as she sees him sitting up straight, looking very serious,
surveying the room...and, more particularly, those within it. It
takes her just a moment to remember what he had actually just
said. Then she nods, solemnly. "I will walk beside you,"
she promises.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Antonio
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Antonio seems to be rather caught by surprise that Mister Pig actually
meant what he said, and it is not until Ogie replies that he is shaken
back into reality - pardon, shaken back into the Dream.
"Whut, let ya' go on widout me? Let ya' gots
all de fun and win de hearts uh all de ladies wid yo' sto'ies about
heroic deeds? Fo'get it, ah' won't let ya' snatch all de credit," he chortles, evidently not being all serious in the exact words even if the spirit of the message is clear.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Miss Kitty
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Miss Kitty's eyes drooped with sadness; in truth she thought The King
would simply bestow a new name on her friend. She misses Jane. The King
provides a beautiful array of kittenish food, but there's nothing like
what Betty gives her.
She pads up to Mr. Pig, unusually looking contrite, “I think I need to
wake up and go home. I've done nothing to help you here, anyway. The
others are better guards and better at figuring things out.” Her face
suddenly brightens and she winks at him, “But I'll never admit that
outside the Dream!”
She reaches forward to rub noses with Mr. Pig and lick back toward his ear. “Take care.”
Slowly, she fades from the Dream.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Leon
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Leon watches, a little sadly, as Miss Kitty departs. Though it
means that Mister Pig will have less support on his way the the Well,
it also means that there is somebody awake to keep watch over their
bodies.
This is, potentially, a good thing.
He takes a deep breath. "I will stand with you, Mister Pig, at the Well of Names."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Syd
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Syd, who has been busily eating, looks up from a platter of tuna. "I will go with you too." he adds his own assurance to the series of confirmations.
"I have come this far, after all, and I would like to see this Well of Names."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by The King of the Cats (NPC)
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The King of the Cats nods approvingly. "Good friends make the best allies, Mister Pig. They will aid you well."
He stands, arching his back into a long stretch. Then he looks at each of the room's windows in turn. "That one, I think."
The window with the normal street shimmers. The view is of a
city, still, but it doesn't look like the same one. And the scene
is outside the city, looking down on it from a hillside. A dusty
road leads up the hill from the city, and past the window. Though
the sun sits just above the horizon, there are a few stars showing
faintly, overhead.
The window opens, admitting birdsong, and the smell of grass and
wildflowers. In the distance, a dog barks, to be joined, a few
moments later, by a second.
"That will take you part of
the way there. Just step out of the window, and follow the road
away from the city. Remember, make sure that nothing follows you
to the Well. Or, if it does, it must not be allowed to give away
the secret. If Boggins, or Nightmares, find the Well, then no cat
will ever be able to change its Secret Name again."
"Good Luck, to you all."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Syd
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Syd sniffs the breeze from the open window, catching only the scent of
tuna. Licking at the backside of his forepaws, he takes a moment to rub
the oils from his face, relishing in the lovely sheen it added to his
coat. He rises from his plate, leaving only a small portion of the meal
untouched.
Approaching the window, he stops at the sill, sniffing the air again
before stepping over the threshold and walking boldly to the road. It
is there he stops, sitting once more and smelling the breeze as his
keen eyes scan every shadow within sight. At this point, he is on a
full blown Boggin Hunt, and fully hoping one or two of the little
creatures would even attempt to follow, for it would be the last steps
of their twisted little lives...
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Leon
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Leon joins Syd at the window, sniffing at the air.
After a brief consideration, he turns to face the King of the Cats. "Thank
you for giving us some of you valuable time, Majesty. We
understand that you are very busy, and we do appreciate that you spared
the time to see us."
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by The King of the Cats (NPC)
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The King of the Cats bows his head to those who came to visit him, "I would not turn any cat away. It is my duty to serve the needs of all, and here, in the Dream, my time is limitless." His gaze turns to Mister Pig, last of all.
"Good luck to you, Mister Pig. Remember what you were told, and trust in your friends."
"Thank you, King of the Cats." replies Mister
Pig. Then, with one last look at the blue dish, he springs to the
window sill. before leaping down to the road outside.
There, his friends can clearly see the puzzled look on his face, and hear the worry in his voice, as he says, "From out here, the house isn't there! Can anybody hear me?"
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by OGMO
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OGMO considers waiting silently. She can't help it. The
idea of Mister Pig right there, so close to her yet so far for
him...well, it's not a common opportunity.
However, the matter is serious, and time is a consideration. So
she joins the other two on the windowsill. Her whiskers extend,
her eyes grow large, and then she, too, hops out, feeling about her as
she goes, curious to how the trick is done.
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Re: Part 4 - Interview with the King by Antonio
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Antonio only sot of half bows to the King, feeling a lack of words, and
is happy to leave the unfamiliar place for the open area outside the
window, something he is much more used to. Indoors is off limits
to him in most every place, whereas outdoors is his home, in as much as
he at all have one.
"Of course ah' can hear ya'," he enlightens poor Mister Pig almost before he finishes the sentence, and looks back even before he lands.
No house.
"De point uh no returns ah' snatch it," he exclaims, sounding oddly cheerful, and watches to see what it will look like when the next cat comes through.
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