Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 43 Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 16:14:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 18:41:36 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004642 > On Sun, 07 Jun 1998 22:36:59 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004632 > > Once Roland has Jadis' attention: > *Jadis. To coin a phrase, 'all bets are off.' If you wish to quit > the field for the moment-somthing I highly recommend, while I'm > still capable of dividing my mental image of you with one involving > dismemberment-you may consider this an abrogation of your agreement > with Ziactrice due to external interference. Jadis stares coldly at Roland, "It is not your place to abrogate any agreement between myself and this worthy opponent I now face. However, should she so wish, if our bet is not abrogated in one of the already agreed upon ways, then I propose changing her terms to a period of servitude, say, 80 years, or 1/5 her life span, whichever is less." > *Unless you wish to do something as sensible as returning John to > us. I'm feeling extraordinarily generous; we'll leave without > further incident if you do so. I will categorically NOT forswear any > further action against you; you have said yourself that you are > remorseless and that you fully intend to continue your sadistic > ways. Choose quickly; I doubt my generosity will last for any length > of time...* OOC: Below Jadis is not threatening Roland, but making a statement as to his idea of who, in the long run, is more likely to die. "Roland Phoenix, you are a fool. Your generousity matters not, your wishes matter not. I shall continue on this path, and when you eventually die I shall laugh over your grave. If you wish to leave go ahead, I will not stop you. If you wish to continue, please do. Try not to deviate too far from the script, however. Oh, that's right, I haven't shown you the script." Jadis laughs and walks away from Roland. As he turns away from Roland he drops all his shields but one, which would variably _increase_ any non-physical attacks. > Jadis' citadel. > THUD > "ow..." Shard slowly regains his feet, his Quickening 'blade' > fading from his hands. Bits of the barrier fall to the ground (and > fade if it wasn't material). "Ah, Jadis? I didn't break that > Hadrian's Wall of yours, but I definitely put some major cracks in > it..." A split of Jadis forms out of the aether, "Good. You have weakened it enough that I was able to pull it down. Rest a while, the CAoL will be attacking here eventually, but you have time." =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 16:14:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 18:53:08 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004643 > On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 04:39:07 -0400 > Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004634 > > Dhyrclhanc then sings out, "/In the House of Stone and Light./" and > two huge casms break open separating the four of the from the rest > of the CAoL and making it imposible for Jadis to get away from the > three on foot, in either direction. Jadis rises into the air. > As well as removed, and wisked away, the patch of clothing where the > star-shaped gemstone pin that held John's essence was located. > Dhyrclhanc then TKed the pin and flap of cloth into the hand of his > Freelance Immortal brother. Jadis turns to Zia, "I think we should retire for the moment, until these fools no longer feel the desire to interfere. Fare thee well, Madmoiselle." Jadis pulls apart, leaving a split behind. He floats away from the two interlopers. The split floats toward the group. > /^Roland, If I were you I would get that out of here at Warp 10, > if not faster! ^/ > > Hey Paul }>=8P You ain't seen nothin' yet. =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 17:08:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE:Grudge Match (Longish) On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:00:41 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004645 > On Mon, 8 Jun '98 Driscoll Said > > Jim loks over at Molly then back at the crater and slowly rises. "I > know... It's just not as easy to get going as I thought it would be. > As soon as these dimentional barriers are back down I have to go > though. I'm maintaining the "deadman" link The Controller had to > prevent his next brain from being activated until I can track it > down and finish the work my Father died for." Dhyrclhanc sends to Jim /#In that case, I hope this helps.#/ as he tosses/TKs a metalic object to the "newborn" nanotech entity. As the object lands near Jim, it can plainly be seen as a flat cylindrical prism, half the width and twice the diameter of a hockey puck. If Jim picks it up he will under go a process similar to that of the protagonist in those live action "Guyver" movies. Which, when finished, will leave Jim enmeshed in a duplicate of the "Xenotech"-style "War Machine" Powered Armor. /#Use it in good health.#/ =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 18:26:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:19:15 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004649 :> Dhyrclhanc then sings out, "/In the House of Stone and Light./" and :> two huge casms break open separating the four of the from the rest :> of the CAoL and making it imposible for Jadis to get away from the :> three on foot, in either direction. : :Jadis rises into the air. :Jadis turns to Zia, "I think we should retire for the moment, until :these fools no longer feel the desire to interfere. Fare thee well, :Madmoiselle." Jadis pulls apart, leaving a split behind. He floats :away from the two interlopers. The split floats toward the group. Sera looks up with as near a worried frown as an angelic entity could get. "Well, at least he didn't hang around trying to set up a stake for his side some more. Zia will have to be more cautious. The likes of Jadis calling one a worthy adversary, and suddenly becoming polite makes for unquiet thoughts. That he is also not subjective to appearances is doubly disquieting." She looks back to Molly, "Yes, I may bear two, though only if of a size and bulkiness near human. Though I may be the most dangeous of transportation, should Jadis decide his sport with me be once more of importunity." She turns back to the teen, noting the cylinder dropped by the Sentinel-Lensdragon. "Would that not all momentous decisions were for the heat of moments pressed. Jim, are you familiar with the Chronos Corporation's technology, as stolen from the Adepts of Mars? If not, we might need to make other cares for that, until you are not in need of full concentration for maintaining the lock on the Controllers essence." "Now, if you are ready, I can fly you. Although you likely do not need my help, would not my hand be a harmless comfort?" Sera Or at least someone sounding a lot like her. With the wings. :) =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:37:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 22:09:12 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004650 >On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:19:15 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004649 > >Sera looks up with as near a worried frown as an angelic entity could >get. "Well, at least he didn't hang around trying to set up a stake >for his side some more. Zia will have to be more cautious. The likes >of Jadis calling one a worthy adversary, and suddenly becoming polite >makes for unquiet thoughts. That he is also not subjective to >appearances is doubly disquieting." "Indeed," the four-armed dragon rumbles. >She looks back to Molly, "Yes, I may bear two, though only if of a >size and bulkiness near human. Though I may be the most dangeous of >transportation, should Jadis decide his sport with me be once more of >importunity." "Our reasoning as well, which is why we would rather bear a fighter who will not become airsick, as we will be your guard and will need two hands to fight with. Though in this group, flight rarely seems a difficulty. We may need not carry anyone." The alibaster dragon pauses in thought, "Call us 'Seven', it is our brood's collective name." =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:37:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:24:19 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004651 Roland's concentration on Jadis is abruptly broken as the Controller appears. "Hmmph. Jadis, you just dropped down the priority list. Don't worry, I'll be right back." Roland zooms down. #Hey Justin, don't be greedy, we all want a piece,# Roland sends with a hunter's smile. Then the forcefield goes up. #Justin? Oh LIGHT! Justin, don't be stupid, you don't have to _do_ this-# >BLACK "NO!" Then, Martin said: >As well as removed, and wisked away, the patch of clothing where the >star-shaped gemstone pin that held John's essence was located. >Dhyrclhanc then TKed the pin and flap of cloth into the hand of his >Freelance Immortal brother. > >/^Roland, If I were you I would get that out of here at Warp 10, if >not faster! ^/ Roland crackles with energy that pales before the conflicting emotions roaring around him. He looks at the crystal briefly. [The living come before the dead.] "Stay AWAY from me, Jadis. I don't kill, but there are fates worse than death..." ...and Roland floats down. >On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 09:43:02 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004637 > >:Dhyrclhanc Said :Works for me! };=8)Only what are we gonna >:call ourselves? : "The Phoenix Force"? (snip) >you!)> (OOC: Ugh! Oof! Ng! Hey, it was HIS pun!) >@ It's amazing - if I crossed you people up HALF as much as you >do me, you'd have sided me on the opposition already. It'd be easier >to forgive you if you'd give me a choice, instead of just following >the "easier to be forgiven than ask permission first route" EVERY >time.@ Zia remarks glumly, having skidded to a serious emergency stop >on the edge of the newly made chasm. @All right, plan third for three >minutes...You know, _Jadis_ can fly - I'm the only one you're really >hindering.@ *I'm really sorry, Zia, you have every right to be upset with me, but I have lost enough family to Jadis and the-the-* Roland flickers almost randomly around in mid-air, though it's debatable whether or not that's a tactic or an indicator of his emotional state. *You said it yourself-we _can't_ fight Jadis here, not in the normal fashion. You don't need to prove anything to any of us, you know-you've already done far more than we could have asked, nor could you possibly owe us anything at this point.* Roland pauses, searching for the right words. *It may not have been my place, but you were looking out for me-I felt obligated to do the same. Jadis might very well have killed you-or worse. He already _did_ worse. I won't let that happen again.* His hand tightens around the crystal. >With a solid downbeat of massive wings (yes, if you get a close look, >the wings are compound duals... which means she has four, almost like >the authentic Seraphim) Sera launches into the air. She turns her >gaze on the fight, then shakes her head. "I will not leave yet. There >is a soul in need back there. After that, I will continue Zia's >journey." The very inappropriate black outfit fades as she returns to >the original tea clearing, becoming a simple cord drawn toga-like >garment. be Roland, right? :)> "Sera, I presume," Roland says with a polite nod. (OOC: He's pretty much beyond shock at this point.) "Is Zia all right?" Then Shadow said: >Jadis stares coldly at Roland, "It is not your place to abrogate any >agreement between myself and this worthy opponent I now face. >However, should she so wish, if our bet is not abrogated in one of >the already agreed upon ways, then I propose changing her terms to a >period of servitude, say, 80 years, or 1/5 her life span, whichever >is less." "Well, life's tough all over," Roland replies. "You want to maintain your agreement with Zia, that's fine. _I_ am under no obligation to stay out of it-YOU dragged me in, as a matter of fact." >"Roland Phoenix, you are a fool. Your generousity matters not, your >wishes matter not. I shall continue on this path, and when you >eventually die I shall laugh over your grave. If you wish to leave go >ahead, I will not stop you. If you wish to continue, please do. Try >not to deviate too far from the script, however. Oh, that's right, I >haven't shown you the script." Jadis laughs and walks away from >Roland. As he turns away from Roland he drops all his shields but >one, which would variably _increase_ any non-physical attacks. "Suit yourself. You aren't the first to think me a fool, or to plan dances on my grave. You won't be the last. Be seeing you," Roland says, making a circle with thumb and forefinger and saluting with it over one eye, then turns and flies away from Jadis. ^Sera, would you please inform Zia that the damfool has decided to maintain his agreement with her, and that plan 'A' seems to still be on? And, if you would, send a repeat of my apology,^ Roland sends to the angel (assuming that it wouldn't be an intrusion). He then joins the rest of the group, appearing beside Molly. ^How's the kid?^ he asks gently. >A split of Jadis forms out of the aether, "Good. You have weakened it >enough that I was able to pull it down. Rest a while, the CAoL will >be attacking here eventually, but you have time." "Glad to hear it," Shard sighs as he finds a seat. "I'm going to need the time. What the hell _was_ that Gauntlet I just ran, anyway?" =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 21:09:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: OK, so what kind of death trap IS it? On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:59:13 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004652 Roland floats over to Rhiannon. /Rhia, Dhyrclhanc managed to get this from Jadis. It has John's mental signature on it, but Jadis didn't seem particularly upset about losing it. Any ideas on what it is? /BTW, in case it's not painfully obvious, the thing is almost certainly a trap. You might want to use me as a sort of psychic 'waldo.' IOW, guide me through whatever scans seem appropriate, and hopefully I'll be the only one getting blown to bitsies./ =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 21:36:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 23:15:54 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004653 >On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:24:19 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004651 > > He then joins the rest of the group, appearing beside Molly. > ^How's the kid?^ he asks gently. 'Seven' looks down at him, then to Roland, a sad look in her eyes. ^Jim is holding together better than can be expected of most humans. Jadis is likely preparing for us. We suggest we make best speed for the castle, give him as little rest as possible. But, first...^ The white dragon gently takes Roland's fist with which he is clutching the pin, John's prison, in her own oversized hand. ^How is he freed? We should be certain we have what we are after before we do anything.^ =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 22:43:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 21:38:08 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004654 >On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:24:19 >Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004651 >You don't need to prove anything to any of us, you know-you've >already done far more than we could have asked, nor could you >possibly owe us anything at this point.* Roland pauses, searching for >the right words. OOps! Forgot to add one important line: He looks incredibly vulnerable as he continues: > *It may not have been my place, but you were looking out for me-I >felt obligated to do the same. Jadis might very well have killed >you-or worse. He already _did_ worse. I won't let that happen again.* >His hand tightens around the crystal. =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 22:43:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: OK, so what kind of death trap IS it? On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 00:19:24 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004655 >On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:59:13 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004652 > > Roland floats over to Rhiannon. /Rhia, Dhyrclhanc managed to get >this from Jadis. It has John's mental signature on it, but Jadis >didn't seem particularly upset about losing it. Any ideas on what it >is? > /BTW, in case it's not painfully obvious, the thing is almost >certainly a trap. You might want to use me as a sort of psychic >'waldo.' IOW, guide me through whatever scans seem appropriate, and >hopefully I'll be the only one getting blown to bitsies./ Seven does her imitation of an impatient velociraptor for a moment as she casts her gaze around the glade, all four arms folded across her chest. She sighs, drops her arms to her sides and flaps her wings, stretching them out to gather as much air as possible. Beat-drop, beat-drop, beat-drop, Seven rises first five feet of the ground then drops one to four feet high, up to nine, down to eight, up-thirteen, down-twelve, gradually gaining altitude in a quick but practiced fashion. At twenty feet she glides forward, slightly downward, gaining speed, then with a few more powerful beats, she is circling the glade about thirty feet off the ground. An unexpected "Wheeeee!" comes from the pearly-scaled dragon. "We could grow accustomed to this." =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 23:38:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 00:09:42 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004657 > On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 15:39:40 -0500 > Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004640 > > The dragon extends herself, with an "Mmmf", stretching to a towering > (for humans) ten feet tall. Her tail flicks, catlike, as she swings > her head to look around the glade. Stretching her wings out, > revealing a twenty foot wingspan, the dragon lady vision of an old Daffy Duck cartoon.> settles back down to a more > human level, her wings folding behind her, her upper arms folding > across her chest, the lower pair resting on her hips. Three small > golden horns on her head in a pattern similar to a triceratops and > golden talons on four fingered hands and three toed feet glitter in > the sunlight. The center toe of the left foot taps expectantly into > the dirt, gouging a small hole. > > "All aboard that's going aboard," the dragon growls cheerfully, a > gleam in her pink irised, cat's eyes with a fanged smile that would > either turn the resident Sentinal-Lensdragon's stomach or his head. Jim still stares at the crater though his composure seems to be recovering quickly. His runs his fingers over the cloth of the robe almost absentmindedly. Finally he turned to look at Sera and then at the sky. He doesn't seem to change but begins to float up off the ground slightly. Driss approaches where they stand and clears his throat, "Uh you know Sera _I_ could still use a ride." He qwips while gazing apreciatively at the angel. A second later he's hopping up and down on one foot while holding the other and cursing in several languages. Roscoe just sits where Driss was just standing, trying to look innocent. =========================== Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 23:38:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 00:18:13 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004658 > On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 20:19:15 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004649 > > "Now, if you are ready, I can fly you. Although you likely do not > need my help, would not my hand be a harmless comfort?" > > Sera > Or at least someone sounding a lot like her. With the wings. :) Jim looks from the hopping cursing con man to the dragon gift on the ground to Sera again. Thinking a moment, "The names you gave do not sound familiar to anything I have heard Justin think. But the deadman link does not take our concentration at all really. I have formed a projector to send the singal but I fear The Controller could have come up with another back-up. I guess it's more worry distracting me than anything else." jim floats over to the prism and reaches down to pick it up but it does not activate as he touches it. insstead it seems to be sucked up inside Jim's arm until it's gone from sight. "I'll save this in case it comes in handy later. Thank you. I guess we should go. I can mourn later and I am sure I shall for a long time." =========================== Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 00:37:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 02:35:50 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004659 :>:> Roland Said :>:>>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004628 :>you!)> :Roland: (OOC: Ugh! Oof! Ng! Hey, it was HIS pun!) : *It may not have been my place, but you were looking out for me-I :felt obligated to do the same. Jadis might very well have killed :you-or worse. He already _did_ worse. I won't let that happen again.* :His hand tightens around the crystal. @I was looking out for you because you needed it - you're better now. I said YOU couldn't beat Jadis here - I can certainly force a long fight and eventually most likely escape. He is, unlike the REST of you, completely unfamiliar with me, and has little idea what I am, what I can do. Even after fighting me, and the other things. As far as worse than death, I don't agree. I've been hurt worse than what pain I got from the silly bolts before you healed it MANY times.@ @I don't owe you anything, and I'm not trying to prove anything. I am trying to accomplish the mission in the best and most efficient way possible. That means extracting John with minimal damages to ourselves and John. I appreciate the looking out for me part - you CERTAINLY helped me a lot, and fortunately also that help might have kicked off your own self-redaction. But even if you want to protect me, you cannot. So don't think you have to take an impossible task. _I_ look out for me. But you can't hold me from my oaths merely because it discomforts you to see someone ELSE risking agains the forces arrayed against Civilization. That's not only silly, it hurts you AND your side. Never mind. (she seems vaguely embarrassed) this is hardly the time for religious dogma discussions.@ : "Sera, I presume," Roland says with a polite nod. (OOC: He's :pretty much beyond shock at this point.) "Is Zia all right?" "She is fine, Roland of the Firebird." Sera says agreeably. @Why, did you think a simple shapeshift would hurt me? Or haven't you wondered how so many Amberites could cooperate so well, yet? The only thing stranger than fiction is the truth.@ : "Well, life's tough all over," Roland replies. "You want to :maintain your agreement with Zia, that's fine. _I_ am under no :obligation to stay out of it-YOU dragged me in, as a matter of fact." : ^Sera, would you please inform Zia that the damfool has decided to :maintain his agreement with her, and that plan 'A' seems to still be :on? And, if you would, send a repeat of my apology,^ Roland sends to :the angel (assuming that it wouldn't be an intrusion). Sera just gives him a smile, looking up momentarily from Jim. @Not necessary, Roland. Just FYI, we communicate a LOT, the apology wasn't needed, and she was hoping Jadis would go along. She has ... Trump cards still unplayed.@ Noting that Jim (as expected) can fly fully easily without her, she turns to Driss. Even now, hazy outlines of the robe are slowly beginning to reappear about her still somewhat Raphaelite form. "I would be hap - " Driss starts dancing around, and she frowns slightly, "Happy to assist you, Driss." Giving Roland a glance, as he talks about the pendant, the angel remarks calmly, "Haven't you ever hear the tale of Helen of Troy? Or, more to the point, the Trojan Horse? Although John's will isn't free. And setting him to spy and betray on his friends would be truly diabolical, wouldn't it?" =========================== Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 06:27:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 5: more fun and games On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 23:39:46 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004661 Nemo is going to attempt a covert link with Zia. I *think* she's back on the world we just left, in which case it'll be easy. If not, things will get harder. ^Zia, I think I can be of use to you in your fight with Jadis *without* violating the agreement. There are six of me there, and we are willing to allow you to use them as "candles" at the points of a seal to confine Jadis. Given the power differential between one of my selves and a candle, it should be a rather potent spell.^ =========================== Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 07:36:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE 5: more fun and games On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 09:29:08 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004662 :Nemo is going to attempt a covert link with Zia. I *think* she's back :on the world we just left, in which case it'll be easy. If not, :things will get harder. Hmmm. I can see how that would have been a smarter way for her to do this - but NO doppleganger could have done what the Zia there in JadisLand has been doing as far as energy and mental skills. What to do, what to do. Okay, I'll just have the doppleganger still on Earth explain a little. Zia really is still in JadisLand. As Jadis seems to know. Don't ask me how, tho. :^Zia, I think I can be of use to you in your fight with Jadis : *without* violating the agreement. There are six of me there, and we : are willing to allow you to use them as "candles" at the points of a : seal to confine Jadis. Given the power differential between one of : my selves and a candle, it should be a rather potent spell.^ "Nemo, judging from my condition when I left this Shadow," the duplicate replies, in Zia's tones, having sought out the remaining Nemo still on this Earth to converse, "another Seal would be beyond my current level of personal power. I dragged out all the reserves to protect my home world. As would anyone. Besides, if my intelligence is right, Jadis has much the same types of controls in this place where the conflict currently is than an Amberite in a personal Shadow - if not even more so. I really didn't like the idea of opposing him there." "Which basically means he could simply stop magic, stop the kind of magic we were using, or just simply stop magic in that area. When you have your head in the jaws of the lion, you don't stop to admire the size of his teeth. My plan is to draw him into an honorable disadvantage; a psychological advantage is the only one possible given the depth and scope of his power there. I don't know that it will be enough to see him defeated." "I do know that killing me would bring down FAR more trouble on his head than say, ransoming me back to Amber would. The King tends to take notice of any Shadow-dweller who can kill one of us. This notice would likely not be something Jadis would want. That, and we have no grudges between us, as does the rest of the CAoL. You have no need to repeat his heinuous crimes; just let me assure you I have an uncle who has done worse. And no one in the family minded until he tried to mess with things in Amber. Shadow politics have little interest to the Court, save when they threaten Amber. So, in a way, I have set up my own version of the lose-lose situation. Jadis will bring more trouble on himself killing me than he'd gain peace, and by now the bet, hopefully, has been taken up. As long as I don't make Jadis TOO angry, I think he'll decline to kill me. Although damage I expect." "Since you're here, and again addressing me by name, that means you think I never left this place. I did. But I am a shape-shifter - it just carries more freight than you imagine - those books were written by an Amberite who had no experience with it. Except for being fooled by his father for a rather long stretch. How do you think anyone so familiar as his father could successfully hold the masquerade of Ganelon, a shadow mercenary? And why is taking the forms of being more powerful than yourself so dangerous? There is a physchic component that also shifts. If one of the others seems to have taken my place, it is only me as a different being. I know it doesn't make sense now, but eventually it should. If you think I died there, I assure you that hasn't happened yet, or there would be a Bloodhound squad of Benedict's here on Earth, tracking the trail of my last shifts already. The Trumps bleed when an Amberite is dying. Side effect of the Blood Curse. Of course, sometimes they die without the chance to Curse, too. Or the power to do so." She looks up at him. "But rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated. James would know immediately, and be there as quickly as he could. What else can I give you as far as information? I haven't received any updates from inside the combat zone, as yet." Zia's Doppleganger Locale: Earth - Code Black Death Armageddon Time: Year Approx 2000 Quote: "If puns are outlawed, only outlaws will have pun." =========================== Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 16:07:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 17:29:10 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004664 >On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 02:35:50 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004659 >@I don't owe you anything, and I'm not trying to prove anything. I am >trying to accomplish the mission in the best and most efficient way >possible. That means extracting John with minimal damages to >ourselves and John. I appreciate the looking out for me part - you >CERTAINLY helped me a lot, and fortunately also that help might have >kicked off your own self-redaction. But even if you want to protect >me, you cannot. So don't think you have to take an impossible task. >_I_ look out for me. But you can't hold me from my oaths merely >because it discomforts you to see someone ELSE risking agains the >forces arrayed against Civilization. That's not only silly, it hurts >you AND your side. Never mind. (she seems vaguely embarrassed) this >is hardly the time for religious dogma discussions.@ Molly quirks an eyebrow, but makes no comment, except to think to herself [So, Zia, you're saying don't take on debts you can't repay because of some sense of honor? I might be wrong on that honor debt idea after all, thank Zarquon. The last thing Gary Seven's brood needs is a bodyguard. May as well wear a red shirt to a Star Trek Landing Party.] >: "Sera, I presume," Roland says with a polite nod. (OOC: He's >:pretty much beyond shock at this point.) "Is Zia all right?" > >"She is fine, Roland of the Firebird." Sera says agreeably. @Why, did >you think a simple shapeshift would hurt me? Or haven't you wondered >how so many Amberites could cooperate so well, yet? The only thing >stranger than fiction is the truth.@ Molly smirks, [Can't say that I -had- wondered. Well, she's no common Amberite. Most of them that I know of can't do that trick, except Dworkin and Oberon. Of course, Merlin could, which gives more credance to her spending time in the Courts of Chaos. I am beginning to think her being from Amber isn't quite as true as she'd have us believe. Of course, there's no telling for sure, what with Fiona and Brand being so heavy into Dworkin's lessons. And -he- could manage all that stuff, and then some.] >Sera just gives him a smile, looking up momentarily from Jim. @Not >necessary, Roland. Just FYI, we communicate a LOT, the apology wasn't >needed, and she was hoping Jadis would go along. She has ... Trump >cards still unplayed.@ Seven reaches into a small belt pouch and flicks a peanut at Sera. @Cute.@ >Noting that Jim (as expected) can fly fully easily without her, she >turns to Driss. Even now, hazy outlines of the robe are slowly >beginning to reappear about her still somewhat Raphaelite form. "I >would be hap - " Driss starts dancing around, and she frowns >slightly, "Happy to assist you, Driss." Seven smirks. [That'll learn him not to leer at angels, or at least winged ladies.] [So I should bite you on the leg, too?] [Don't go there, Jack.] >Giving Roland a glance, as he talks about the pendant, the angel >remarks calmly, "Haven't you ever hear the tale of Helen of Troy? Or, >more to the point, the Trojan Horse? Although John's will isn't free. >And setting him to spy and betray on his friends would be truly >diabolical, wouldn't it?" Seven says as she passes overhead, "True, but we should be certain. It will be a calculated risk." =========================== Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 20:45:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Tue, 09 Jun 1998 20:20:15 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004665 >On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 02:35:50 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004659 > >@I was looking out for you because you needed it - you're better now. >I said YOU couldn't beat Jadis here - I can certainly force a long >fight and eventually most likely escape. He is, unlike the REST of >you, completely unfamiliar with me, and has little idea what I am, >what I can do. Even after fighting me, and the other things. As far >as worse than death, I don't agree. I've been hurt worse than what >pain I got from the silly bolts before you healed it MANY times.@ *If you're confident that you can escape him, if worst comes to worst, so much the better. As for my beating him,* Roland 'smiles' mentally, *many others have assumed that my apparent lack of tactical skill makes me an irrelevant factor in battle. Usually to their sorrow. As for the last, point taken.* >@I don't owe you anything, and I'm not trying to prove anything. I am >trying to accomplish the mission in the best and most efficient way >possible. That means extracting John with minimal damages to >ourselves and John. I appreciate the looking out for me part - you >CERTAINLY helped me a lot, and fortunately also that help might have >kicked off your own self-redaction. But even if you want to protect >me, you cannot. So don't think you have to take an impossible task. >_I_ look out for me. But you can't hold me from my oaths merely >because it discomforts you to see someone ELSE risking agains the >forces arrayed against Civilization. That's not only silly, it hurts >you AND your side. Never mind. (she seems vaguely embarrassed) this >is hardly the time for religious dogma discussions.@ *'Religious dogma?' I suppose the Callahanian ideal of looking out for each other could be classified as such, but I'm not sure that's what you mean,* Roland replies, clearly confused. >: "Sera, I presume," Roland says with a polite nod. (OOC: He's >:pretty much beyond shock at this point.) "Is Zia all right?" > >"She is fine, Roland of the Firebird." Sera says agreeably. @Why, did >you think a simple shapeshift would hurt me? Or haven't you wondered >how so many Amberites could cooperate so well, yet? The only thing >stranger than fiction is the truth.@ *Shapeshift? I was just wondering where you 'went;' obviously, you're right there. I'm curious about the implications of the rest of your statement, especially given that you and Sera have existed simultaneously. But it can wait.* >risking 80 years serving Jadis? WHY? Doesn't even deserve an answer - >I think Jadis just did it to save himself face.> (OOC: Well, if Jadis wins, you'll be at his mercy-and he doesn't have much. I think he's offering to make it a specified period, rather than 'until you can escape.' Somehow, I doubt Zia'll accept. ) >Sera just gives him a smile, looking up momentarily from Jim. @Not >necessary, Roland. Just FYI, we communicate a LOT, the apology wasn't >needed, and she was hoping Jadis would go along. She has ... Trump >cards still unplayed.@ *My kingdom for a peanut...* Roland sighs. >Giving Roland a glance, as he talks about the pendant, the angel >remarks calmly, "Haven't you ever hear the tale of Helen of Troy? Or, >more to the point, the Trojan Horse? Although John's will isn't free. >And setting him to spy and betray on his friends would be truly >diabolical, wouldn't it?" *Sounds like Jadis all over. I suspect as much, especially in light of his total lack of concern over losing this bauble. Then again, he could just be covering his mistake with an act. Either way, while I'm no wizard, I'm familiar with some of its principles...including the Law of Contagion. Whatever else this may be, Jadis just gave us a homing beacon...* =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 15:06:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 17:49:59 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004666 > On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:24:19 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004651 > > Roland's concentration on Jadis is abruptly broken as the > Controller appears. > "Hmmph. Jadis, you just dropped down the priority list. Don't > worry, I'll be right back." Roland zooms down. #Hey Justin, don't be > greedy, we all want a piece,# Roland sends with a hunter's smile. > Then the forcefield goes up. > #Justin? Oh LIGHT! Justin, don't be stupid, you don't have to > _do_ this-# >>BLACK > "NO!" The Jadis split watches this with a small smile, "How heartwarming. A family reunion." He continues to follow Roland. > Roland crackles with energy that pales before the conflicting > emotions roaring around him. He looks at the crystal briefly. > [The living come before the dead.] > "Stay AWAY from me, Jadis. I don't kill, but there are fates > worse than death..." "Which I seriously doubt you would inflict upon me. Or do you consider a fate worse than death a more humane option than a clean kill?" > ...and Roland floats down. The split does, however, maintain a discreet distance. > *It may not have been my place, but you were looking out for me-I > felt obligated to do the same. Jadis might very well have killed > you-or worse. He already _did_ worse. I won't let that happen > again.* His hand tightens around the crystal. The Jadis split begins to clap, "Bravo. Very noble. I'm moved, really." > "Well, life's tough all over," Roland replies. "You want to > maintain your agreement with Zia, that's fine. _I_ am under no > obligation to stay out of it-YOU dragged me in, as a matter of > fact." Jadis scoffs, "Nonsense. I dragged you into nothing. The tiff we had was an entirely seperate matter. That I used the body of an opponent I thought defeated as a stage prop is tangential to the matter at hand. You _will_ stay out of it, Roland, or suffer the consequences." >>A split of Jadis forms out of the aether, "Good. You have weakened >>it enough that I was able to pull it down. Rest a while, the CaoL >>will be attacking here eventually, but you have time." > > "Glad to hear it," Shard sighs as he finds a seat. "I'm going to > need the time. What the hell _was_ that Gauntlet I just ran, >anyway?" "That was the combined effort of the forces of light and goodness to prevent me from having mastery over the sphere of time in this place." Jadis smiles, and as his voice continues on it is doubled then the split fades out as the real McCoy walks through the door, "I have been subtly manipulating the time flow around the group and in this dimension. Your master shall as much time I as can manage, though I cannot stretch it indefinitely or stop them in time. That would be noticed. As it is I am skirting the edges of what I can safely do without letting them know. And having to do virtual backflips to keep the communications between them and off-dimensioners flowing perfectly. Not to mention that there are six Nemos running around." Jadis rubs his head. Then he laughs, "And that fool Thorne thought he knew what it was to manipulate time and space. Still, he had not the advantages I have here." Jadis calls for servants, and soon has a small table of refreshments set up. "Do you wish anything?" he asks. OOC: This just occurred to me, so I threw it in. Seeing as how KnightMares getting visited next, and that Jadis is pointing the way, Jadis should stall as long as possible. =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 15:10:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: OK, so what kind of death trap IS it? On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 18:05:21 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004667 > On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:59:13 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004652 > > Roland floats over to Rhiannon. /Rhia, Dhyrclhanc managed to get > this from Jadis. It has John's mental signature on it, but Jadis > didn't seem particularly upset about losing it. Any ideas on what it > is? Jadis floats over as well, and Rhia gives him a look of hatred that would wither a being who cared. /Well, from what Uncle told me once, the only real vulnerability he has is that he is basically an energy form. He said that the consciousnous could never be destroyed but the energy could be harnessed and worn to a nubbin. Then he fell off the bench. It was a lecture on the merits and flaws of taking the 'ghost' shape, he usually starts to lecture me on wierd stuff like that when he's in his cups. I would guess that whatever this prison is, it's unbreakable from the inside, and given what Jadis has already done, can be used to harness the power of the creature trapped in it./ Her mental voice is very neutral, and very controlled. Jadis looks back and forth between the two uncomprehendingly, then smiles, "Now wouldn't I have been an ass to tell John to defend himself and his prison from all attempts to open it." He leans back and begins to whistle a dirge. He stops suddenly, "Or even just to tell him not to allow the prison to be opened under any circumstances." Rhia's hands tighten into fists while is smile grows very large. He floats away from Roland and Rhia, apparently having lost interest. > /BTW, in case it's not painfully obvious, the thing is almost > certainly a trap. You might want to use me as a sort of psychic > 'waldo.' IOW, guide me through whatever scans seem appropriate, and > hopefully I'll be the only one getting blown to bitsies./ /Well, I can think of a few things. In light of that recent pronouncement, do you think we should risk any active probes?/ =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 20:06:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Midnight on the Firing Line On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 19:43:25 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004668 >On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 17:49:59 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004666 > >> On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 20:24:19 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004651 > > "Which I seriously doubt you would inflict upon me. Or do you >consider a fate worse than death a more humane option than a clean >kill?" >> ...and Roland floats down. > The split does, however, maintain a discreet distance. "Depends on the fate, the criminal, and the perspective. A heaven for one is hell for another," Roland replies cryptically, though he _does_ look vaguely chagrined. >Jadis scoffs, "Nonsense. I dragged you into nothing. The tiff we had >was an entirely seperate matter. That I used the body of an opponent >I thought defeated as a stage prop is tangential to the matter at >hand. You _will_ stay out of it, Roland, or suffer the consequences." Roland just looks annoyed. >Jadis looks back and forth between the two uncomprehendingly, then >smiles, "Now wouldn't I have been an ass to tell John to defend >himself and his prison from all attempts to open it." He leans back >and begins to whistle a dirge. He stops suddenly, "Or even just to >tell him not to allow the prison to be opened under any >circumstances." Rhia's hands tighten into fists while is smile grows >very large. He floats away from Roland and Rhia, apparently having >lost interest. "Yes," Roland says simply, "you would have." >> /BTW, in case it's not painfully obvious, the thing is almost >> certainly a trap. You might want to use me as a sort of psychic >> 'waldo.' IOW, guide me through whatever scans seem appropriate, and >> hopefully I'll be the only one getting blown to bitsies./ > >/Well, I can think of a few things. In light of that recent >pronouncement, do you think we should risk any active probes?/ /Hmm...switching to private link./ Roland concentrates briefly. ^Synch with me...there, even Jadis shouldn't be able to break through this telepathic link, shielded and coded. You may not like this, but you'll have to shield your thoughts from John as well.^ Roland pauses briefly, checking for interference. If he finds none, he continues. ^It looks like our best bet is a mental probe; if we can undo John's conditioning, then Jadis' sadistic little trick won't do him a bit of good. Problem is, I don't know John's mind well enough. I'm not sure how good a telepath you are, but I'd wager you know John's thought pattern better than anyone,^ he says with a mental grin. ^Fuzzy's a brilliant mentalist as well, and of course Dhyrclhanc and Zia are Lensed. Between us we might be able to undo whatever Jadis did to John. At that point, we throw the crystal to Hydra and let him use it for target practice.^ ^Joke. It's a joke,^ Roland adds quickly. ^I just mean that Hydra probably has enough power to be able to destroy the prison once John's not trying to maintain it.^ =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 20:06:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Shards of Darkness On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 19:30:13 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004669 Shadow said: >> "Glad to hear it," Shard sighs as he finds a seat. "I'm going to >> need the time. What the hell _was_ that Gauntlet I just ran, >> anyway?" > >"That was the combined effort of the forces of light and goodness to >prevent me from having mastery over the sphere of time in this >place." Jadis smiles, and as his voice continues on it is doubled >then the split fades out as the real McCoy walks through the door, "I >have been subtly manipulating the time flow around the group and in >this dimension. Your master shall as much time I as can manage, >though I cannot stretch it indefinitely or stop them in time. That >would be noticed. As it is I am skirting the edges of what I can >safely do without letting them know. And having to do virtual >backflips to keep the communications between them and off- >dimensioners flowing perfectly. Not to mention that there are six >Nemos running around." Jadis rubs his head. Then he laughs, "And that >fool Thorne thought he knew what it was to manipulate time and space. >Still, he had not the advantages I have here." Jadis calls for >servants, and soon has a small table of refreshments set up. "Do you >wish anything?" he asks. Shard looks at the lavish setting hungrily. "That table ought to be a good start. Mmm. So, what's next? So far, you're the only one besides Darkseid who's kept his, her or its agreement with KnightMare. If you want any more of an edge-as if you need one-I imagine his Shadowness will be happy to oblige. It _was_ expecting a high betrayal rate, but this is ridiculous. Eh." Shard devours a considerable mass of food, and a fair amount of paper goods. He _does_ wait until he's finished chewing to continue, however. (Voracious, but polite? ) "Not my worry, at any rate. I leave the master plans to genuine master planners...or wannabes like Thorne. I bust heads and have a good time." Shard smiles a wide, vicious smile. "Not that I'm _stupid_ about it, mind you. Just a lifestyle. Regardless, KM and that spooky seneschal of his are almost ready. Even if the Defender and his brood 'win' here, you'll do all right." Shard devours another ten pounds or so, then adds, "So, got anything for me so I can keep my hand in? Those two ladies of yours-mine-are great, but I'm starting to get the itch to bust some self-righteous heads, y'know?" >OOC: This just occurred to me, so I threw it in. Seeing as how >KnightMares getting visited next, and that Jadis is pointing the way, >Jadis should stall as long as possible. (OOC: Don't worry; however long this adventure lasts, it'll have been...well, you'll see. ) =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 20:07:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 22:55:47 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004670 << Shadow Said "That was the combined effort of the forces of light and goodness to prevent me from having mastery over the sphere of time in this place." Jadis smiles, and as his voice continues on it is doubled then the split fades out as the real McCoy walks through the door, "I have been subtly manipulating the time flow around the group and in this dimension. Your master shall as much time I as can manage, though I cannot stretch it indefinitely or stop them in time. That would be noticed. As it is I am skirting the edges of what I can safely do without letting them know. And having to do virtual backflips to keep the communications between them and off-dimensioners flowing perfectly. Not to mention that there are six Nemos running around." Jadis rubs his head. Then he laughs, "And that fool Thorne thought he knew what it was to manipulate time and space. Still, he had not the advantages I have here." Jadis calls for servants, and soon has a small table of refreshments set up. "Do you wish anything?" he asks. >> As Jadis reaches for a delicacy, every alarm, attached to an interdimensional detector, in his base activates. A quick glance at the readouts shows that something HUGE, and registering more concentrated power that Hydra even, had brushed up against the dimensional blocks he (Jadis) had established. A "voice" (both mental and sonic) is heard in the room, "Jadis, I am Cerberus. I would speak with you, face to face." The voice fairly drips with menace, but somehow Jadis can sense that the menace is not directed (at least all of it, or even most) at him, and that there is no hostile intent in the message. =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 21:06:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Hunter, Prey (part 2) On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 20:44:11 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004671 (OOC: Food warning. Visceral descriptions below.) >On Fri, 29 May 1998 22:43:23 >Morgan Said As CAoL Message # 00004549 > "Miserable biomancer," one says, concentrating. The vine begins to >loosen its grip-but the shift in focus allows the symbiotes to become >parasites again, and he clutches his stomach in pain. > "Forcefields up," the other says, and the two remaining warriors >shimmer slightly. They begin to move forward as their comrade >dies...and comes back...and dies again... Morgan looks around. [Where to lead these guys....] she ponders. The kitchen has all manner of nifty pointy things, but she'd really rather not trash the heart of her home. Out the back? Getting them out of the house would be good for damage control, but not necessarily the best tactical move on her part. A doorway caught her eye, and she grinned evilly.... "Mental signature," the shorter one says, pointing down a hall. "Watch for motion." "Got it." Carefully, the two moved down the hall, watching the walls and each other. Slowly, they went down a set of stairs. "Basement. Must have some weapons down there...but we're unkillable-at range, anyway-and she cornered herself. Heh. Stupid lunch meat." "That 'lunch meat' took out three of us so far," the taller one noted. "Two sorcerors and Ken the Clueless, big deal." the shorter one straightened briefly. "Ahh. Synchronize your aura to this {} frequency. That'll take care of the witch's effect on our symbionts." The shorter one peered around one slightly open door. "Should we go back for Ken?" the taller one asked. "Nah, let him choke on his arrogance." The shorter one grinned evilly. "Let's show this cow what Eremites are made of." They burst into the room. "What the-" the taller one asked as they stumbled onto a wooden sailing ship with what looked like a blimp affixed to one set of rigging. Above them, the dark sky was full of stars. Below them... ...the dark sky was full of stars. "Oh shit," they both say simply. They looked around; the ship was deserted, and the air was motionless, though the ship bobbed and the wood creaked as if the sea beneath them (had there been any) was moving forward. "Gotta be an illusion," the shorter one said, and punched a mast. "OW! Not an illusion..." "So, what is it? Some kind of dimensional portal? Solid dreamscape?" The taller one asked. "How should I-" the shorter one began. The ship began to rock more sharply. They looked slowly to each side of the ship...to see tentacles, each with a mouth full of shark's teeth at the end, begin to slither over both... The two corruption-sold immortals, baptized in horrors and servants of Oblivion, screamed in terror. The tentacles screamed like a thousand blackboards slashed by a thousand cats, and surged forward, one of the impossible mouths opening and swallowing an immortal whole. The other, seeing death before him, recovered and attacked. The teeth seemed to parry in almost sword-like fashion, and an enormous body, covered entirely in eyes, peered over the edge. "Die, you ugly bastard!" The immortal screamed, and cut off the tentacle's mouth. "Max?" The tentacle asked, and dissolved into the taller immortal. Who was suddenly shorter. "Aw, hell, Sam," the other replied as the Quickening hit. It was short, brutal, and filled with images out of nightmare. Max fell to the deck, limp. [I'm _so_ glad that we programmed the Danger Room to respond to the link,] Morgan thought she stopped looking like a carnivorous squid. She stepped over to the remaining Nephandus, who was still weak from the Quickening. Her face was cold as she looked into his eyes. Several sarcastic remarks crossed her mind, but she decided to let it go. With one skilled stroke, she sent him to the oblivion he served. After her experience with Thorne, she had _no_ desire to have another Nephandus' memories running around in her head. So, while she absorbed his life force, her mental shields blocked what was left of his mind. She briefly regreted that she wouldn't gain any knowledge he had of the Nephandi's plans against her, but the price for that information would have been _far_ too high. [>sigh< Back to the drawing board,] the True Mage thought, fading further into the Umbra and releasing his dimensional shields. /Danger Room, deactivate./ The Skyrigger faded into the holo-suite in the basement of the fae house. The two bodies still lay where they'd fallen. Morgan wrapped a stasis field around them, planning to properly dispose of the remains once she was sure she had the breathing room. [_Definately_ before Roland gets home,] she thought with a wry grin, then stopped cold. Roland. When last they'd been in touch, he was giving a very good impression of losing a battle with Jadis. She _knew_ he was still alive - the telemetry of their private link would have informed her immediately otherwise. ^Roland?^ Roland blinked; he felt like he was playing five games of chess simultaneously, but even so, _that_ voice was a welcome balm. ^Yes, m'eudail?^ Morgan breathed a sigh of relief at his even. ^Just checking in, love. How's _your_ day going? Last I saw, Jadis looked like he was getting the better of you.^ ^He was,^ Roland replied ruefully. ^But he bit off a bit more than he could chew; between Zia-who's a lot better than she looked-and an ace I kept up my sleeve...to quote John Astin, 'I'm feeling muuuch better now.' Things are back to abnormal,^ he quipped. ^'That bad, huh?'^ Morgan smiled. ^I've had a rather interesting day. Mind if I join you guys? I could use the break.^ ^If you're sure,^ Roland shrugs. ^Jadisland isn't exactly a walk in the park, but I'm sure you knew that. He's at turns sadistic, cultured and imaginative, a disconcerting mix.^ ^About what I'd expect. Give me a lock,^ the Highlander sent, and tried to 'port. And failed. ^Damn. Looks like you're on your own, love.^ ^I can't say I'm overly upset,^ Roland said slowly. ^Jadis may be an engaging host, but the same could be said of the Dominion. As in, 'prepare to engage the enemy.' So,^ he added to lighten the mood, ^how _was_ your day?^ ^Well, I would have left sooner, or _tried_ to at least, but I was rather 'engaged' here. Let's just say Oblivion has a few less servants.^ Morgan sent him a few highlights, edited slightly to minimize the appearance of danger as much as her sense of honesty allowed. ^Heh. So, what _did_ you do with the poor sucker choking on the creeping vine?^ Roland asked. Morgan paused, realization dawning on her face... Roland sighed. ^Mor-gan...^ ^I-I-^ Morgan said, half-chuckling, half-blushing, as her hands fluttered about with nowhere to go. ^How about you geas him to prevent him from using his powers, then question him?^ Roland grinned evilly. ^You can play good cop/bad plant.^ Morgan smiled wickedly. ^I like the way you think.^ ^Well, it _is_ our brain,^ he replied modestly. =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 21:37:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 00:12:53 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004673 > On Mon, 8 Jun '98 Zia Said > > She turns back to the teen, noting the cylinder dropped by the > Sentinel-Lensdragon. "Would that not all momentous decisions were > for the heat of moments pressed. Jim, are you familiar with the > Chronos Corporation's technology, as stolen from the Adepts of Mars? > If not, we might need to make other cares for that, until you are > not in need of full concentration for maintaining the lock on the > Controllers essence." "Madam Deva," says Dhyrclhanc, addressing the Angel Sera, "Although I am unsure of wether I recognize what it is you speak of when you refer to these 'Adepts of Mars' of yours, I am aware of which you speak when you mentioned the 'Chronos Corporation'. I assure you that my gift to my "nephew" Jim has no such origins in common with th Chronos Corp., past the fact that I suppose it could be called bio-technology." "In the recent past, Jim's namesake, who exists Elsewhere in what you may refer to as 'The Shadows', owned a powered battle suit of alien/xenotech origins. It was similar to the Guyver suits only as both were sentinent, engineered organisms -- re-assembed from their orginal forms, at their respective molecular genetic levels so that they would closer conform to their original masters' devious plans. What I just gave Jim, however is a Rune-nanomagitech reproduction that will conform the the original xenotech "War Machine" Battle Armor in appearence and in function but neither in composition or actual design." "In short, allow me to allay any fears you may have that my gift may have any melevolent characteristics. At the very least, such an act would be unjust, cruel, and against the very precepts of Civilization that I have sworn my life to defend and uphold." =========================== Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 23:45:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Teenagers, Angels, and Swordplay, oh my! (was: On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 01:18:25 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004676 Sera gives the split a look. "Too bad you weren't moved enough to be out of hearing." Her voice seems composed of equal parts French horn and rumbling kettle drum sounds. Well, you're all convinced THAT wasn't Zia. It was in tune. She smiles, the terrible angelic expression of half disappointment and half stern. Or, rather like a somewhat annoyed mother. Then she sends to Roland, @I am not "many others" and I am not assuming - even Hydra cannot win here, because to win is NOT to defeat Jadis, but to avoid his trap and free his prisoner. But continually he stirs your gall to anger you to move with action rather than consideration.@ > *'Religious dogma?' I suppose the Callahanian ideal of looking out >for each other could be classified as such, but I'm not sure that's >what you mean,* Roland replies, clearly confused. @It wasn't - but what I meant not only isn't pertinent now, it's not something I'd ever convince you of, anyhow. Quite moot.@ > *Shapeshift? I was just wondering where you 'went;' obviously, >you're right there. I'm curious about the implications of the rest of >your statement, especially given that you and Sera have existed >simultaneously. But it can wait.* @Or your curiosity can simply go unsatisfied.@ Sera gives him that timeless, changeless woman-style I'll never tell all my secrets sort of smile/look/expression. > (OOC: Well, if Jadis wins, you'll be at his mercy-and he doesn't >have much. I think he's offering to make it a specified period, >rather than 'until you can escape.' Somehow, I doubt Zia'll accept. >) > *My kingdom for a peanut...* Roland sighs. @Well, you brought it up. And my Kingdom may be the one place, Immortal, that you will never venture.@ Sera nods as if this isn't of much importance, still studying Jadis. > *Sounds like Jadis all over. I suspect as much, especially in >light of his total lack of concern over losing this bauble. Then >again, he could just be covering his mistake with an act. Either way, >while I'm no wizard, I'm familiar with some of its principles... >including the Law of Contagion. Whatever else this may be, Jadis just >gave us a homing beacon...* An angel's tinkling bright unhuman laughter fills the meadow. Her eyes sparkle in what appears to be the most completely open amusement - far beyond the human range. "You could say that," she quips, in triumphantly calling trumpets. Sera & Zia (maybe?) =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 07:36:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Midnight on the Firing Line On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 23:21:36 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004677 I assume the party is moving towards Jadis' "lair while debating what to do about John and his prison. There's one Nemo on each flank, on scouting ahead, one playing rear guard, and a fifth doing "roving patrol" around the group. As well as the sixth who is with the group. All of them are wearing full Pyrran[1] combat gear (medkits, camo suits almost as good as the alien's in Predator, and power guns). [1] Pyrus, aka "Deathworld" from the "Deathworld" series by Harry Harrison. Nasty place. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 09:07:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 10:45:53 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004679 >"In short, allow me to allay any fears you may have that my gift may > have any melevolent characteristics. At the very least, such an act > would be unjust, cruel, and against the very precepts of > Civilization that I have sworn my life to defend and uphold." Sera sighs, joining most of the airborne group, although she keeps an eye open to see if anyone would like her to give them a lift. "That was not my point, Lensdragon. I said momentous decisions are seldom given the time needed, in that I Was Concerned that Jim not react to quickly nor without proper thought to his father's death. Losing family is a hurt that cuts deep, and additional power at this time may not have been the most helpful thing for Jim himself. Although he seems mature and stable enough to handle it." "I was also concerned that it might not be easy to remove later as well; thank you for informing me differently. I had a secondary and more minor concern that donning it might have distracted Jim just enough his lock on the Controller's escape route shutdown might have failed. Can you imagine something more damaging to that young man right now, than to be accidentally the cause of the Controller living, and his father dying despite the efforts made?" "You seem most eager to take umbrage and blame, Lensdragon, at any of my concerns, taking them for personal and objectional slurs upon your own character. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, truly I am." The solemn look of self-reproach on Sera's face matches the tone of her apology, which is sincere. "I wasn't trying to attack your motives. So that is not the case - but neither is it the case that even Lensed entities never make mistakes. I was cautioning for an additional thoroughness of cognition of circumstance, and more understanding of the forces and risks, than judging your actions, or your gift, "malevolent". Trust me, entity, I know when something is malevolent. Not even Jadis is, truly. But the one using him qualifies." @Hey, D.C. (to the Lensdragon). Take it easy on the angel, drakie. She can't function anywhere near top efficiency and "goodness" when I'm still here - we affect each other's perspectives. BE-sides which, she hasn't really hurt anything. Other than your standard-issue enormously overgrown draconic ego.@ (The trailing mental snigger afterward she attempts to conceal, without complete success from the Lensdragon's perceptive mentalism. He might also note with some surprise that he is more than a bit stronger a mentalist - so much stronger one might almost think her handicapped in some way. The mental voice was pure Zia. (On the wide-echo through Nemesis, to the rest of the group, since Zia is consistently refusing ANY sort of permanent mental links, or even temporary setups that allow anyone ELSE to start a conversation on her side without a mental knocking sort of thing first. Yes, she IS paranoid.) @I would try to swap back; this didn't even give Jadis pause. But angels have certain benefits that I cannot even begin to emulate. She is unaffected by certain forces, like time and space. You know the old saw about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, right? Not born nor dying, either. Which means we sort of _really_ need to get going; there are more dangers here than apparent. Sera and I are having difficulty communicating, except by Trump-construed channeling. Considering we're sharing the same skull, I don't like this at all.@ Sera will pick up whomever wants a lift (including Driss, but by now her robe is regrown) and urge the CAoL to move along the path John suggested. Quickly. Sera of the Seraphim, and Zia of the Mystery Ladies =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 11:38:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 12:23:33 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004680 > On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 10:45:53 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004679 > > Sera will pick up whomever wants a lift (including Driss, but > by now her robe is regrown) and urge the CAoL to move along the path > John suggested. Quickly. Driss accepts a lift with a smug look on his face and roscoe accepts one as well to keep Driss out of trouble and getting dropped from a high altitude for inappropriate behavior. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 16:37:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Sleeping in Light (II) On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 17:56:31 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004681 >On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 10:45:53 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004679 > > "You seem most eager to take umbrage and blame, Lensdragon, at >any of my concerns, taking them for personal and objectional slurs >upon your own character. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, truly I >am." The solemn look of self-reproach on Sera's face matches the tone >of her apology, which is sincere. "I wasn't trying to attack your >motives. So that is not the case - but neither is it the case that >even Lensed entities never make mistakes. I was cautioning for an >additional thoroughness of cognition of circumstance, and more >understanding of the forces and risks, than judging your actions, or >your gift, "malevolent". Trust me, entity, I know when something is >malevolent. Not even Jadis is, truly. But the one using him >qualifies." Seven looks between Sera and Dhyrchlanc. Molly's mental voice sends @Is that what this is? Lens-frequency telepathy? I heard it from Dhyrclhanc, then Fuzzy, then Zia, and the twins remember it from Sera. I wondered what it was. Wicked. I'll have to hunt up _Gray Lensman_ sometime. See what it's all about.@ > @Hey, D.C. (to the Lensdragon). Take it easy on the angel, >drakie. She can't function anywhere near top efficiency and >"goodness" when I'm still here - we affect each other's perspectives. >BE-sides which, she hasn't really hurt anything. Other than your >standard-issue enormously overgrown draconic ego.@ Seven frowns, obviously into another internal conversation with Family, but if she were listening to the two 'lensmen', the phrase might fit. [...'Glass houses', that's the term...though I think 'pot calling the kettle black' works better for what you intend...] > @I would try to swap back; this didn't even give Jadis pause. >But angels have certain benefits that I cannot even begin to emulate. >She is unaffected by certain forces, like time and space. You know >the old saw about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, >right? Not born nor dying, either. Which means we sort of _really_ >need to get going; there are more dangers here than apparent. Sera >and I are having difficulty communicating, except by Trump-construed >channeling. Considering we're sharing the same skull, I don't like >this at all.@ Seven sends, (Or in this case Molly and Jack sending in unison.) /You aren't alone there. The link between (Jack/Molly) and I and (Grandfather/Gary Seven), (Dad/Mike), the twins, et al, is sounding a bit distorted, though we are still able to punch through. (I have/Molly has) been checking strategy with (Dad/Mike) and (we've/they've) got to agree Time manipulation would explain it./ > Sera will pick up whomever wants a lift (including Driss, but >by now her robe is regrown) and urge the CAoL to move along the path >John suggested. Quickly. Seven is inclined to agree. If Roland and Company aren't sure they can free John here and now, the personality-merged white dragon woman would suggest tabling it and moving out. It can always be worked on later on. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:36:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Midnight on the Firing Line On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:09:54 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004682 > On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 23:21:36 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004677 > > I assume the party is moving towards Jadis' "lair while debating > what to do about John and his prison. > > There's one Nemo on each flank, on scouting ahead, one playing rear > guard, and a fifth doing "roving patrol" around the group. As well > as the sixth who is with the group. > > All of them are wearing full Pyrran[1] combat gear (medkits, camo > suits almost as good as the alien's in Predator, and power guns). The one out front tops a rise and sees an open town. John's directions called for the group to travel through the center of the town. Mud brick buildings and a mostly agricultural society, from what you can see. Lizard, The people in the town are gathering in the large open air market in the center of town. Also present is someone new, but he looks like one of the 'Chosen Race' that you've heard of. Slightly reptilian features and mannerisms. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:37:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Midnight on the Firing Line On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:17:47 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004683 > On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 19:43:25 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004668 > > /Hmm...switching to private link./ Roland concentrates briefly. > ^Synch with me...there, even Jadis shouldn't be able to break > through this telepathic link, shielded and coded. You may not like > this, but you'll have to shield your thoughts from John as well.^ Rhia looks startled, and almost loses the link, ^John..? What are you talking about? I should know if he was in my mind.^ > Roland pauses briefly, checking for interference. If he finds > none, he continues. ^It looks like our best bet is a mental probe; > if we can undo John's conditioning, then Jadis' sadistic little > trick won't do him a bit of good. Problem is, I don't know John's > mind well enough. I'm not sure how good a telepath you are, but I'd > wager you know John's thought pattern better than anyone,^ he says > with a mental grin. ^Fuzzy's a brilliant mentalist as well, and of > course Dhyrclhanc and Zia are Lensed. Between us we might be able to > undo whatever Jadis did to John. At that point, we throw the crystal > to Hydra and let him use it for target practice.^ > ^Joke. It's a joke,^ Roland adds quickly. ^I just mean that Hydra > probably has enough power to be able to destroy the prison once > John's not trying to maintain it.^ ^I'm willing to try.^ Rhia sends with determination. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:37:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shards of Darkness On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:28:18 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004684 > On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 19:30:13 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004669 > > Shard looks at the lavish setting hungrily. "That table ought to > be a good start. Mmm. So, what's next? So far, you're the only one > besides Darkseid who's kept his, her or its agreement with > KnightMare. If you want any more of an edge-as if you need one-I > imagine his Shadowness will be happy to oblige. It _was_ expecting a > high betrayal rate, but this is ridiculous. Eh." Shard devours a > considerable mass of food, and a fair amount of paper goods. He > _does_ wait until he's finished chewing to continue, however. > (Voracious, but polite? ) Jadis replies, "I will keep my agreement with him to the letter, but I am not his vassal. I would hope he does not expect more of me." OOC: I hope that I am remembering rightly that all Jadis really agreed to was to slow the CAoL down. Roland? > "Not my worry, at any rate. I leave the master plans to genuine > master planners...or wannabes like Thorne. I bust heads and have a > good time." Shard smiles a wide, vicious smile. "Not that I'm > _stupid_ about it, mind you. Just a lifestyle. Regardless, KM and > that spooky seneschal of his are almost ready. Even if the Defender > and his brood 'win' here, you'll do all right." Jadis smiles, "I plan on it. There can be only one outcome if I lose here. And several if I win. My plans have been long set." > Shard devours another ten pounds or so, then adds, "So, got > anything for me so I can keep my hand in? Those two ladies of > yours-mine-are great, but I'm starting to get the itch to bust some > self-righteous heads, y'know?" Jadis thinks a moment, "Hmmmm... These are my plans, if you wish to intervene at any point go right ahead." Jadis proceeds to lay out his defenses right up to a final defense of the castle. > (OOC: Don't worry; however long this adventure lasts, it'll have > been...well, you'll see. ) OOC: Well, this is a way to stall without slowing the story up any. Plot devi.. I mean Time-manipulation. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 22:37:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:30:52 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004685 > On Wed, 10 Jun 1998 22:55:47 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004670 > > As Jadis reaches for a delicacy, every alarm, attached to an > interdimensional detector, in his base activates. A quick glance at > the readouts shows that something HUGE, and registering more > concentrated power that Hydra even, had brushed up against the > dimensional blocks he (Jadis) had established. A "voice" (both > mental and sonic) is heard in the room, "Jadis, I am Cerberus. I > would speak with you, face to face." The voice fairly drips with > menace, but somehow Jadis can sense that the menace is not directed > (at least all of it, or even most) at him, and that there is no > hostile intent in the message. Jadis excuses himself, "This shouldn't take long." He gets up and moves away from the table. He also opens a hole in the D-barrier, "Enter of your own free will. What is it you wish?" =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 04:20:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 03:19:40 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004686 << Shadow Said Jadis excuses himself, "This shouldn't take long." He gets up and moves away from the table. He also opens a hole in the D-barrier, "Enter of your own free will. What is it you wish?" >> A form suddenly appears in front of Jadis. Humanoid from the soles of his feet to his shoulders. Above that however are three heads, with definite canine like features. "What you and Knyttmare are up to benefits ME. But you are facing one of my oldest enemies, Hydra. I do not know if you truely wish to die in this battle, but I would warn you, Hydra DOES know how to confine even a spirit, and if your non-corpeal form happens to be a form of energy, it would be even easier for him. I wouldn't frustrate him too much, he's likely to pop this universe like a balloon. He has both the power, and the knowlege to do it. Unless you object, I will assist you in battling him. I cannot act against those who battle at his side, because The Stardragon would skin me and destroy everything I have worked for hundreds of billions of years for, but HE is not CAoL and I can act with impunity against him. What say you?" Cerberus actually REEKS of death, menace, and POWER. Over at the battle site, Hydra concentrating with 3 heads on the last dregs of Guarien, suddenly all nine heads whip around to look in the direction of Jadis' fortress. A gesture closes the wormholes that he established to catch any escaping energy from the magnetic bottle. He gestures at the sky, and an object comes flashing "around" (in N dimensions) the dimensional blocks that Jadis set. A huge two handed sword, scaled for Hydra's current size. /Cerberus has just entered this world, we must hurry/ he says, as he strides off in the direction of the fortress. The mages (techno and otherwise) in the group can see on the blade, writhing runes of terrible power. Each type of mage, can identify their own (differant) kinds of runes on the blade, and the psions in the group can feel a kind of psionic "heat" radiating from it. Sera (OOC: assuming she is a real angel) can feel a spiritual energy from it. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 04:36:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: Bell Tele-Conferencing... On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 03:02:21 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004687 The hexagon pattern was faintly engraved in the gray floor as well as the gray ceiling and both spread out seemingly to infinity, though they actually vanished in a black mist on the horizon, where the layers of atmosphere itself finally managed to obscure the distance. The light had no source, it just seemed to be there. Molly stood in the center of one of the hexes, Jack was to her right in the center of that hex. Molly looked at herself. She was in a simple black bodysuit, something like what a dancer would wear. Jack was in an ambiguous, vaguely female shape, as if trying to decide what form to take. A sound like a hummingbird's wings beating made them turn around and look. Behind them, with a glowing gold blur of tiny wings, hovered a tiny alibaster-skinned, platinum blonde woman, maybe no more than 20 years old. She was smiling, with short, spikey hair and wore a silver evening dress. Two silver antennae, like a tiny pair of rabbit ears, poked out from the center of the top of her head. They moved just like a TV's rabbit ears, in fact. Molly grinned and spoke without moving her lips. "You could be none other than my neice Tinkerbell. You look like your mothers, with Grep's hair, and Melissa's taste in clothes. We're a touch busy, Tink, how can we help you?" Tink giggled, soundling like a piccalo, then spoke in a voice that reminded Molly of Disney's Snow White. "Actually, that is what Grump-pa, uhm, your dad, sent me here about. He wants you and Jack to come back to the Dreamtime." "What? Why? I'm needed here!" "He's going to take your place. Jadis is far too dangerous. For any of the CAoL. You have got John. The job's done." "No, it isn't." Jack says, "And Dad knows it," Molly adds, "Tink. If it were over, I would be the first one through the door." Tink looks troubled. "Okay," she says, looking a little embarrassed, her tiny hands fidgeting. "He's worried about you and Jack. You aren't used to this sort of thing. Jadis is bad news, Grampa would awful hurt if you two were. He knew Knightmare would be a toughie, but the CAoL've beaten him before. They've never dealt with anything like Jadis that wasn't on their side. He doesn't think it's safe there. You shouldn't go back." Molly looked at Tink's face. The little thing was almost to the point, were she human, of being in tears. Molly cupped her hands and the diminutive Tinkerbell landed. The thumb-sized figure's four wings, arranged in an 'X' on her back, glittered with their own light and were shaped something like an insect's. "Dad didn't put you up to this, did he?" Molly asked, smiling. Tink flopped down, looking forlorn. "No, I did it on my own. I didn't want you two to disappear before I met you, like Flarn." "I know, we all want to meet her," Molly said. "But that doesn't excuse you from fibbing. Your Grampa is very busy. He's on the Council, coordinating our search for Flarn, helping out on all sorts of new sciences the Family didn't know before, trying to raise two daughters and now, one tiny grandaughter. And he still insists on searching himself every moment he can spare. You three may be AIs and genius ones at that, but there is still a lot for him to do. "But, you're right about it being dangerous. Which is why I want you to go home, Jack." Jack looked surprised. Her form quivered, "But Molly!" "Jack, you are a dear friend. And sometimes a deer friend. But you don't know a damn thing about human wars. You have animal instinct, I know, and you are very smart, but we just don't operate the same way. I can't protect you here. And we can't stay merged forever either." "But you are going to need help!" "That's what the Callahan folks are for. It's nothing personal, but the less people in there, the better." "What about flying? You don't know how to do that." "Well, I have an idea on that." Jack looks sad. "So you're going in alone." "No!" Tink squeals, "Don't do it!" "Shh, Tink, it's okay." Molly says soothingly, "I won't be alone. I'll have the Army of Light on my side." She looks at Tink, still sitting in her palms. "How much processing time are you using to maintain that image?" Tink blinks. "What?" She looks down at herself, turning a bit, as if modeling for someone. "This little sprite? Hardly anything at all." Tink giggles, "Just a bit of pixal dust." Molly smiles, "Okay, I know you both want Family there, besides our Callahan family. So what if we do this..." ---------------------------------------- One moment Seven is talking and circling the glade, the next, Seven looks like a pool of water. It splits into a Molly shape and a dragon shape, and the latter shrinks until it is barely visible. The shapes solidify and fly down to the CAoL. Roland might feel a bit of deja vu momentarily, as he looks at Molly in forest green tights, with a small dagger on her leather belt and the cap, shoes and shirt that complete the Peter Pan image. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how one takes such things) Molly is no Julie Andrews and looks decidely un-boyish in the Eternal youth's garb. Sitting on "Molly Pan's" shoulder, is Tink, who beams at everyone like only a five year old, or a fairy no bigger than your thumb, could. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 06:05:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: AOL: Army (of Light) On-Line On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:45:24 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004688 A figure emerges from the ether. It is a man; Fuzzy will recognize him from earlier. Non-descript, black hair, blue eyes, wearing a light brown brown trenchcoat. "Good day. My name is Scott Osborne. I think I may be of assistance." He procedes to hold out his hand. Pins appear out of nowhere, floating above his hand. "These will assist you in communications. They will assist your Lenses and other communication devices in opening up interdimentional communications without involving Jadis. Merely attach them to whatever device you wish to use, and they will cache (to allow normal communications) and put through or recieve the message." And with that, he disappears. (The pins do not, however.) =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 07:37:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: AOL: Army (of Light) On-Line On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:53:09 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004689 >On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:45:24 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004688 > >"These will assist you in communications. They will assist your >Lenses and other communication devices in opening up interdimentional >communications without involving Jadis. Merely attach them to >whatever device you wish to use, and they will cache (to allow normal >communications) and put through or recieve the message." > >And with that, he disappears. (The pins do not, however.) Molly blinks, then takes a pin out of the air and hands it to the pixal sprite on her shoulder, arching a questioning eyebrow to the diminutive artificial being. Tink stands up, holding the pin out in both hands. It's almost as tall as she is. She looks it over, spins it around, looks at the back, looks along the long edge, then looks up at Molly, who had been watching this whole display, and shrugs indifferently, waggling her hand back and forth. Molly's expression seems to say "Eh, can't hurt so we'll keep it" as she slips it in a posmall green pouch on her belt. Tink sits back down, and resumes grinning and looking around. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 07:37:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:53:16 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00004690 >On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 03:19:40 EDT >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004686 > >Over at the battle site, Hydra concentrating with 3 heads on the last >dregs of Guarien, suddenly all nine heads whip around to look in the >direction of Jadis' fortress. A gesture closes the wormholes that he >established to catch any escaping energy from the magnetic bottle. He >gestures at the sky, and an object comes flashing "around" (in N >dimensions) the dimensional blocks that Jadis set. A huge two handed >sword, scaled for Hydra's current size. /Cerberus has just entered >this world, we must hurry/ he says, as he strides off in the >direction of the fortress. The mages (techno and otherwise) in the >group can see on the blade, writhing runes of terrible power. Each >type of mage, can identify their own (differant) kinds of runes on >the blade, and the psions in the group can feel a kind of psionic >"heat" radiating from it. Sera (OOC: assuming she is a real angel) >can feel a spiritual energy from it. Molly 'Pan' arches an eyebrow at the moving form of Hydra. /Watch where you step! And don't squish Sir Robin's minstrels, we may need to eat them!/ she calls after him. Molly adds, /At which time, there will be much rejoicing./ Tink holds a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 09:06:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: AOL: Army (of Light) On-Line On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 09:45:13 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00004691 > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:45:24 EDT > Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004688 > > "These will assist you in communications. They will assist your > Lenses and other communication devices in opening up > interdimentional communications without involving Jadis. Merely > attach them to whatever device you wish to use, and they will cache > (to allow normal communications) and put through or recieve the > message." > > And with that, he disappears. (The pins do not, however.) Roscoe accepts one and shifts into his Jaguar form so that the lens will re-appear so he can add it to the lens. Jim and Driss, who don't have mini-lenses) decline =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 15:07:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Menace from the stars On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 17:56:16 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004692 On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 Dane0R0A wrote: > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 03:19:40 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004686 > > A form suddenly appears in front of Jadis. Humanoid from the soles > of his feet to his shoulders. Above that however are three heads, > with definite canine like features. "What you and Knyttmare are up > to benefits ME. But you are facing one of my oldest enemies, Hydra. > I do not know if you truely wish to die in this battle, but I would > warn you, Hydra DOES know how to confine even a spirit, and if your > non-corpeal form happens to be a form of energy, it would be even > easier for him. I wouldn't frustrate him too much, he's likely to > pop this universe like a balloon. He has both the power, and the > knowlege to do it. Unless you object, I will assist you in battling > him. I cannot act against those who battle at his side, because The > Stardragon would skin me and destroy everything I have worked for > hundreds of billions of years for, but HE is not CAoL and I can act > with impunity against him. What say you?" Cerberus actually REEKS of > death, menace, and POWER. Jadis half bows, "Please, be my guest. Now if you will excuse me, I am entertaining." Jadis turns back to Shard after Cerberus leaves, "Curiouser and curiouser. What say you to these recent events.?" > Over at the battle site, Hydra concentrating with 3 heads on the > last dregs of Guarien, suddenly all nine heads whip around to look > in the direction of Jadis' fortress. A gesture closes the wormholes > that he established to catch any escaping energy from the magnetic > bottle. He gestures at the sky, and an object comes flashing > "around" (in N dimensions) the dimensional blocks OOC: Sometimes I wonder why I bother.... I'd have been happier with through than with around. Good Lord Mahn, You could march a parade through the holes in that thing. > that Jadis set. A huge two handed sword, scaled for Hydra's current > size. /Cerberus has just entered this world, we must hurry/ he says, > as he strides off in the direction of the fortress. The mages > (techno and otherwise) in the group can see on the blade, writhing > runes of terrible power. Each type of mage, can identify their own > (differant) kinds of runes on the blade, and the psions in the group > can feel a kind of psionic "heat" radiating from it. Sera (OOC: > assuming she is a real angel) can feel a spiritual energy from it. The Jadis split studies the blade a moment and sighs. "I don't suppose you all care to surrender now?" he quips to no one in particular. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 15:07:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: AOL: Army (of Light) On-Line On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 18:03:13 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004693 > On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 08:45:24 EDT > Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00004688 > > A figure emerges from the ether. Jadis-1 watches him emerge, "Ah so. Another question settled. Definitely not worth the effort." > "These will assist you in communications. They will assist your > Lenses and other communication devices in opening up > interdimentional communications without involving Jadis. Merely > attach them to whatever device you wish to use, and they will cache > (to allow normal communications) and put through or recieve the > message." Jadis-1 floats over, "Really? How interesting. Would one of you mind using this thing? I want to see how it works." =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:36:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shards of Darkness On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 18:42:10 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004694 >On Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:28:18 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004684 > >Jadis replies, "I will keep my agreement with him to the letter, but >I am not his vassal. I would hope he does not expect more of me." "Huh?" Shard looks up from his plate, confused. "No, of course not. It's just that practically every two-bit villain with more reach than grasp tried to double-cross KnightMare and grab the power for him, her, or itself. Well, Ariel hasn't yet but she's about to. You can get damn near anything you want at this point, is all I was saying." >OOC: I hope that I am remembering rightly that all Jadis really >agreed to was to slow the CAoL down. Roland? (OOC: Yep. That's it. Shard didn't mean to imply otherwise. To be honest, I don't see the implication anywhere in Shard's speech." >Jadis thinks a moment, "Hmmmm... These are my plans, if you wish to >intervene at any point go right ahead." Jadis proceeds to lay out his >defenses right up to a final defense of the castle. Shard grins. "So, can you make that teleportation block... selective?" ===========================