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<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa's eyes open, red pouring out of them dimly in the wan light. Knowing that they will only respect a quick response, he says, "I am ready."
<Mike_Holmes> Leaping to his feet, he tries not to show how groggy he really is.
<Fried_Wookiee> Ordalg grunts. "We will see."
<Fried_Wookiee> Nordalg gestures towards the light. "We told you what to do. Now go do it."
<Fried_Wookiee> Ordalg claps Lukirawa on the back with a meaty paw. "We'll wait until first light at the village with the tiny ones. After that... we will sing your life."
<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa nods, and waits patiently trying to subtly clear his eyes of the sleepiness that still inhabits them. It slowly starts to dawn on him the importance of this day.
<Fried_Wookiee> They shuffle away, towards the trail that will lead them back to the village.
<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa quickly dons his armor and his naginata, and checks everything over. Not precisely hesitating, but not hurrying.
<Mike_Holmes> Then he closes his eyes for a moment, in a way falling back asleep for a second. But then he opens them back up again, ready to face what's in front of him.
<Mike_Holmes> He trots off down the path towards the light.
<Fried_Wookiee> Lukirawa picks his way towards the Clearing at the World Wall. He passes the old, overgrown foundations of the buildings which used to stand here, now just inert piles of stone.
<Fried_Wookiee> Then, he passes the last bit of vegetation, and stands on the Stones.
<Fried_Wookiee> Nothing grows inside the stone ring that surrounds the pillar.
<Fried_Wookiee> An expanse of sand, four or five strands in radius, stands around the crystal pillar, glowing softly in the darkness.
<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa looks up at the glowing pillar in awe.
<Fried_Wookiee> *strands/strides
<Fried_Wookiee> An expanse of sand, four or five strides in radius, stretches around the crystal pillar, illuminated by the pale glow.
<Fried_Wookiee> A shadow falls as a figure steps around the pillar.
<Fried_Wookiee> The figure is neither tall, like Lukiwara's brothers, nor small, like his sisters.
<Fried_Wookiee> It's the same size as him.
<Fried_Wookiee> It's dark, silhouetted in the glow.
<Fried_Wookiee> "Who are you?" it asks, in the Immortal Tongue.
<Mike_Holmes> "I am Lukirawa, born in light, life in the dark, warrior of the village, and learner of the ways of Round Round ?," he responds, as he's been given to understand he should.
<Fried_Wookiee> "Why are you here?"
<Mike_Holmes> "I am here to proclaim that I am for Round Round ?, and his spirit brothers. I revere his ways, and give myself to revering him," he replies.
<Fried_Wookiee> "By what right do you come?"
<Mike_Holmes> "By the blood of my ancestors, who have worshipped before me, and the tradition of my tribe, and the word of the spirit-talkers who have said that I am ready to pass into this brotherhood," Lukirawa says proudly, standing a bit straighter.
<Fried_Wookiee> "Your ancestors do not stand here. Your tribe is safe in their village. Your spirit-talkers have sent you here alone." The figure shifts, and you can see that it is carrying a club... a big one. Long enough to stretch from its elbow to the ground. It looks like a big thigh bone.
<Fried_Wookiee> It raises the club to its shoulder. "By what right do you come?"
<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa squints to see if he can get a better view of the man. His night vision actually puts him at a disadvantage here.
<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa realizes he needs to respond quickly.
<Fried_Wookiee> Lukirawa remembers what he was taught... that there are guardians around the pillar, guardians who do not always judge gently.
<Mike_Holmes> He realizes something and raises his naginata, "By right of arms, and their cyclical use!"
<Mike_Holmes> He begins to twirl the naginata, ready to attack.
<Mike_Holmes> His foe comes at him suddenly from his left, having left his former position unexpectedly. Reacting fast, the naginata is there warding off the club attack well before it lands. The dim light reflects strangely from the crystal blade of the weapon.
<Fried_Wookiee> Slowly, Lukirawa drives the creature back. As he passes the pillar, the light changes, and he can see it more clearly. It is a man, a mortal man, like he has been told sometimes comes in from outside the Wall. The man has black hair, and wears a cloak that shrouds his body and shadows his face. His defense is good, but not good enough. He has to steadily give ground to keep from being struck.
<Fried_Wookiee> The man's heel catches on the stones of the circle, and he stumbles backwards... and evaporates into shadows and fog.
* Joins: Scrofa
<Mike_Holmes> Lukirawa looks around, trying to find where the man left, but soon realizes that he's probably looking foolish and that the man is not likely to be found anywhere in this world. He straightens up and tries to figure out what to do next.
* Quits: Robostrife (Disintegrated: )
<Fried_Wookiee> The pillar silently waits.
<Mike_Holmes> Striding up to it, Lukirawa plants the butt of the naginata in the ground near him, and begins the chant that Norgar has taught him, the one that will speak of his devotion to Round Round ?.
<Mike_Holmes> Suddenly a whim takes Lukiwara, and, despite it not being how the ritual was described, he begins to do his kata, and chant along with the movements.
5} <Mike_Holmes> He goes slowly and steadily, prepared for the long run.
<Mike_Holmes> He moves and chants for what seems like hours, his limbs becoming numb with the effort.
<Fried_Wookiee> Finally, he can chant no more, and his voice fails, and he collapses against the pillar, sure that he has failed.
<Fried_Wookiee> The hourly pulse comes once more, but instead of being just a brief flare of light, it seems to last, too long, and envelops him in brightness.
<Fried_Wookiee> A voice comes from the brightness.
<Fried_Wookiee> "Silly creature," it says. "Silly, silly creature."
<Mike_Holmes> Lukiwara squints upward looking to see what's going on. He stands back up as the voice speaks.
<Fried_Wookiee> The forest seems to have disappeared. Instead, in the brightness, there are lines, lines and curves of stark sharpness. "Sleep and wake, creature, sleep and wake. The simplest cycle there is."
<Fried_Wookiee> Shadowy forms move about, but Lukirawa has trouble assigning meaning to them. He understands now why his teachers found it impossible to describe the Spirit's world.
<Fried_Wookiee> "I have many things to teach you, Silly Creature, says Round Round, but they will wait. You have a flexible mind, a mind unlike any I have touched in a very long time. This is good. You will need it."
<Mike_Holmes> Lukiwara tries to indicate his gratitude at the kindness the majestic spirit offers him. He tries to indicate his reverence as well.
<Mike_Holmes> He is also scared, not knowing how he'll get home, not knowing anything about this place.
<Fried_Wookiee> The spirit he had defeated earlier becomes visible. Round Round says, "This is Today Tonight. He is from beyond the Wall Around the World, and knows many things that will help you. He is bound to you now, as you are to him."
<Mike_Holmes> Lukiwara bows (or the spiritual equivalent) to both Today Tonight and to Round Round ?. "Again, I am honored beyond my capacity to indicate it sufficiently."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Now you must awaken, Silly Creature," says Round Round. "For your destiny is at hand."
<Mike_Holmes> And Lukiwara greatfully does so.
<Fried_Wookiee> The bright whiteness fades to the more ordinary skylight, Lukiwara sees a man in gleaming, reflective armor standing over him. "I don't think it's dead, milady... just sleeping." The man is holding his hand out in your direction, but rather than friendship, it seems to be in forbiddance... as if the crystal embedded in the palm of his hand might offer some kind of protection against you.

<Fried_Wookiee> Black finds himself standing before the great gates of the Polimet Polythaumic University. It's quite impressive; not as tall, perhaps, as some of the palaces and towers that are scattered around the city, but in sheer baroque audacity it is unmatched.
<Fried_Wookiee> Gargoyles leer from every cornice. Every stone seems carved in its own eloquence, in a cacophony of styles.
<Fried_Wookiee> Noone guards the gates, and the great iron doors stand open as black-robed students pass in and out.
<Fried_Wookiee> Mostly, he is unnoticed, as usual, but here and there someone makes eye contact, briefly, before sliding past.
* Joins: Lord Smerf ?
<Fried_Wookiee> One stops, a questioning look on his face. He almost looks like he might ask you something.
* Joins: Mike_Holmes
<iLikeSpoons> Black looks the man over, searching for any sign of rank or postition before adressing him
<Fried_Wookiee> He appears to be a student. He's good-looking, striking even, with a blue rune looking like it's tattooed on his forehead.
<Fried_Wookiee> "You're.... Senjo, aren't you?" he asks.
<iLikeSpoons> Black's eyes go wide for just a split second, before he regains his composure.
* Joins: Scrofa
<iLikeSpoons> "Excuse me? Why would you say something like that?"
<Fried_Wookiee> He smiles briefly. "Come have some tea with me," he says, nodding his head at a shop across the street, "I'll tell you."
<iLikeSpoons> Suspiciously, Black's stance changes, preparing to either run or fight. "Why don't we talk here, like this?"
<Fried_Wookiee> He looks around at the students around them. "They might forget you... but they won't forget me, or anything I say. This isn't exactly a private place."
<iLikeSpoons> "Very well... let's slowly walk there." Looking to see if anyone is paying attention to them he nods. "You first"
<Fried_Wookiee> "Okay," he says, "That's fine."
<Fried_Wookiee> He starts walking, goes into the shop, and finds a booth in the back.
<iLikeSpoons> Sitting across the table from the stranger, Black looks at him gloomily. "So, who are you? What do you know?"
<Fried_Wookiee> When you sit down with him, he looks a little surprised. "You... you're Senjo, aren't you?"
<Fried_Wookiee> He doesn't react with the usual fear associated with realizing what you are.
<iLikeSpoons> Black shrugs at the stranger. "Who else could I be?"
<Fried_Wookiee> "Indeed. Can I get you some tea?"
<Fried_Wookiee> He beckons one of the waiters over to the table.
<iLikeSpoons> Black orders the tea, with no intention of touching the possible poison.
<Fried_Wookiee> The Arcane gentleman smiles slightly, and orders two cups.
<Fried_Wookiee> He says, "Have I... invited you here?"
<iLikeSpoons> Smiling, Black repeats his earlier question. "Well, that really depends. What is your name?"
<Fried_Wookiee> "My name's Heldoran Karso." He nods familiarly. "Of Babington," he tosses off matter-of-factly.
<Fried_Wookiee> Black knows that "of Babington" means that he's formally employed by the Noble House, but not an actual member of it by blood or marriage.
<Fried_Wookiee> The tea arrives, two steaming cups of black liquid, both in front of Heldoran. Silently, Heldoran holds his hands out on either side, inviting you to pick one.
<Fried_Wookiee> *Babingham
<iLikeSpoons> Black smiles and takes one of the cups, putting it in front of humself. "You have invited me here, Heldoran. We have things to talk about."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Oh, good. Listen... I'd like to ask your help. I'm sure you already know, but I'm not actually a student at the University. Well, I am, but not JUST a student."
<iLikeSpoons> Black opens his mouth to speak and immediately closes it as he is interrupted.
<Fried_Wookiee> "I'm looking into some strange... goings-on."
* *Black* nods
<Fried_Wookiee> "I'm not sure what kind of favor I could do for you, but I would appreciate it if you could look into it."
<iLikeSpoons> "Ah, you can do me a favor, be sure of it. But, we will speak of that later, now, I'd like you to go over the entire situation, from the beginning, just to make sure I don't miss anything."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Alright... there's this club. They call themselves the 'Furies'... bullies and rakehells, mostly, but there's a few of them with sense. They're from merchant families, mostly, but their parents have money, so they can get away with almost anything.
<Fried_Wookiee> "The weird part is... they don't. Get away with things, that is. They push people around, and act rude and pick fights, but they don't go out drinking and whoring, they don't get into trouble."
5} <Fried_Wookiee> "Ordinarily, these folks wouldn't be of much interest to my House, but one of the Younger Sons fell in with them... and then disappeared. Poof. No note, no nothing."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Owenall, his name was, Owenall Babingham. The Duke wants to know what happened to him. I've been trying to find out, but they seem to be leery of anyone with the runes." He touches his forehead briefly with a gloved hand.
<Fried_Wookiee> "So I haven't been able to get close."
<Fried_Wookiee> He fills you in on the clique's membership, and what facts he has been able to gather about each of them, where they can be found and which ones are dangerous in a fight.
<iLikeSpoons> Black listens to everything, nodding. When Heldoran finishes, he smiles. "Very well. A simple search and rescue thing. I presume you will be at the University if I need to contact you?"
<iLikeSpoons> While speaking, he pulls out a piece of paper, writes down something, scribbles "Black, house Senjo" under the text and gives it to Heldoran. "This is a reminder that I will be coming back."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Indeed. I live in Ulwert Hall."
<Fried_Wookiee> (reverse those two)
<Fried_Wookiee> He takes the note, and nods.
<Fried_Wookiee> *
<Fried_Wookiee> *
<Fried_Wookiee> *
<Fried_Wookiee> Black's attempts to gain admittance to the University have not been fruitful. While his Mysterious attunement works well for evading most human watchers, the golems who guard most of the buildings seem unaffected, and quickly move to block them. They don't care who he is, or whether they've seen him before... he's not getting in without permission.
<Fried_Wookiee> It's almost impossible to arrange for an interview.
<Fried_Wookiee> Finally, he resorts to making his application by means of letters, as if he were applying for membership from back in Fanarion.
<Fried_Wookiee> Finally, a week later, the day arrives that he was to meet with a senior member of the faculty... someone who could be expected to have a sharp enough mind to be able to remember him long enough to get the proper passes arranged...
<Fried_Wookiee> He goes to the appointed building at the appointed hour, and finds the directed room.
<Fried_Wookiee> Inside, an envelope is waiting, with the name "Master Black of Fanarion" written on the outside in curly letters.
<Fried_Wookiee> Full of expectation, he opens it, and reads...
<Fried_Wookiee> The door opens, and a pair of golems clump in on their heavy stone legs, their staring graven eyes seeing him no more than anyone else's do.
<Fried_Wookiee> They are not gentle in ejecting him from the grounds.
<iLikeSpoons> Black gets up on his knees after being thrown in the dirt by the golems. His eyes are narrowed, his cheeks red with anger. Standing up, he spits in the direction of the building and then walks off, brushing the dirt off of his cloak.

<Fried_Wookiee> Scrofa finally reaches the top of the stairs that spiral up from the forest floor. It's a lonely trip; few of his kind are invited up into the canopy, and of course the winged Pirkas only need it when they are injured or infirm, and that almost never happens.
<Fried_Wookiee> He takes moment to catch his breath, and ventures a look over the edge of the stairs. In any other domain, the drop would be impossibly far, hundreds of feet, but here in Lorenai all the trees grow like this. Steeling himself, he turns and follows the curve of the tree around to the platform where Camlin and several of his courtiers are waiting for him.
<Fried_Wookiee> Camlin is wearing the glamour that he always seems to wear when dealing with Scrofa, the one that makes him look tall and majestic, sitting on his throne out by the edge of the platform.
<Scrofa> Within their sight, Scrofa stiffens into an "atattention" posture and powers his gaze deferentially
<Fried_Wookiee> Some of the courtiers have imitated him, of course, though not quite as tall or majestic. One strange thing catches Scrofa's eye, however. It's a cage, a sphere, made of bent and knotted branches, about five feet in diameter. There's some kind of creature inside, smelling of sweat and moaning quietly. It sounds like it might be in pain.
<Fried_Wookiee> Camlin says, "You took your time," disdainfully.
<Scrofa> "My apologies, Magestic one, that my poor legs serve so inadequately."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Yes. Well, we certainly cannot punish you for handicaps you cannot... ever... hope to help. To your left is an unfortunate creature that claims its name is 'Ben'. It claims to be a 'merchant'." Camlin uses the word with an air of distaste he usually reserves for you alone.
<Scrofa> Scrofa peers into the cage, trying to discern better the creaturwe within.
<Fried_Wookiee> The man inside the cage is dressed in filthy clothes that look like they might at one time have been quite nice. There's something wrong with his skin, though, it seems to have black blotches on it. "One of our patrols found it at firstlight yesterday, a few yards off the Road. One of them touched it, and now the affliction has been transferred. Needless to say, we have extended the hand of mercy to this poor creature, but we are told that this... plague... is a 'wizard's thing."
<Fried_Wookiee> "A mere touch seems to be enough to spread it."
<Scrofa> Scrofa's eyes go wide at the horror that such an affliction could be spreading in the forest, but says nothing.
<Fried_Wookiee> "You will escort this creature to the laser bridge, and deliver it back to Polimet, from whence it had come. At that point, you have two choices; you may, of course, go to Polimet and find the wizard that created this affliction, and bring back a cure, or... not. Either way, I will have made measure of you."
<Scrofa> Scrofa goes to one knee and upagain in a curt gesture. "It is my fervent wish that I will not. . .disappoint, Lord."
<Fried_Wookiee> "You are dismissed."
<Fried_Wookiee> Camlin rises from his throne and flies away slowly, leading the courtiers behind him.
<Scrofa> Scrofa approaches the cage, cautiously. "hello. . .yousaid your name was. . .'Ben'?"
<Fried_Wookiee> The creature inside looks up at you with red-rimmed eyes, sunken from lack of sleep. "Yes... please, let me out... Oh, it hurts..."
<Scrofa> "I. . .I cannot do that, or it will spread. . .I. . .my name is Scrofa. . .I am to help you. If I can." Scrofa turns his head, wincing at the creature's misery.
<Fried_Wookiee> "Please!" he cries. "I won't touch you... I won't touch anyone. I _promise_!"
<Fried_Wookiee> "Just let me get out and stretch my legs!"
<Scrofa> Scrofa looks about helplessly, fearing to make the wrong choice. "Well. . .I am to return you to Polimet. . .and they said nothing of how I was to transport you to the forest floor. . ."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Don't roll me! They've been rolling me all night and all day. I can't take any more of it."
<Fried_Wookiee> His hoarse voice cracks.
<Fried_Wookiee> You hear a familiar beating of wings, and Aithne zooms up from where she had been hiding, behind a branch. "Scrofa! Oh, Scrofa, you can't do this! You don't owe him allegiance, tell him you won't. Please."
<Scrofa> Scrofa's eyes are immediately downcast in her presence, but it is of a different character entirely than his posture toward her father. "Aithne" he whispers. Then louder: "I. . .you do not understand, Princess. I must protect the forest, from enemy or from disease. it matters not that the task is grim."
<Fried_Wookiee> "Don't you understand? He wants you to CATCH the plague! Then he can banish you... for the good of the Domain. Noone would invoke the Elderflower Law, then."
<Scrofa> "I will take all the care I can. But shall we leave the plague here? And this poor man is suffering, and those he touched! What is my life worth to that?
<Fried_Wookiee> Aithne says, "Well, if you're going, I'm going with you!" And darts towards the cage. You try to stop her, but she's too quick. She swerves, loops, dives, and slips into the cage.
<Fried_Wookiee> <Fried_Wookiee> She shrieks once, and is silent. Peering into the cage, you see that she has fallen unconscious, and is lying in Ben's hands.
<Scrofa> "Aithne, no!" Scrofa gapes in horror ather unconcious form.
<Fried_Wookiee> <Fried_Wookiee> A tear comes to Ben's eye. "I'm sorry," he says.
<Fried_Wookiee> Aithne groans, and comes around. Already, you can see a tiny mark on the back of her hand. It looks, more than anything else, like a little rune or glyph. As you watch, it suddenly moves, scuttling up her arm, and under the gauzy silk of her dress.
<Scrofa> "Aithne. . .why? You have a life here." Scrofa gazes with saddened eyes, feeling responsible for her fate.
<Fried_Wookiee> "Now... now you have to take me with you," she says.
<Scrofa> "but. . ."
<Scrofa> Eyes downcast: "I can never face your father now."

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