RandomWiki | ShadowWorld / Session 50 browse

Isadora tears her eyes away from the new island and looks at Okhfels. "Well... that didn't really go as I planned."
Okhfels: "I thought we were going to die... so I'd say this is a good thing."
Isadora: "That could have happened, but... I suppose I was intending to do something with the crystal and vanish the fog. I'm disappointed that Salast gave me such terrible instructions."
Okhfels: "Ah, you weren't there..."
Okhfels: "You know the ruins on the far side of the lake? There was something there that was fighting against the white woods."
Okhfels: "The white wood is where the fog comes from."
Isadora looks interested. "Are the ruins on the far side of the lake the same sort of these? You mean it might have actually worked?"
Okhfels: "Looks like it to me."
Okhfels: "Look"... he points out over the water. "Even from here, you can see that they're a lot alike."
Isadora: She seems a little less confident than usual, still calming down from the experience in the lake. "Well, then. That's lovely. I, er... oh, hell. I think we might need to ask for mystical help."
Okhfels: "Might."
Isadora: "It's just, you see..." Isadora runs a hand through her hair, looking a bit worried. "I think I went into someone's home without asking, and I don't know how to apologize without being eaten."
Okhfels: "That happens to you all the time. I guess it's only fair."
Isadora gives him a hard look. "I'm not a gigantic badger... scorpion... thing. Damn it, I don't like giving offense by accident."
Okhfels: "Well, whatever happened... they didn't come boiling up out of the water."
Isadora: "That's true." She finds herself staring out over the water again, and turns away. "I don't do spiritual things."
Okhfels: "You do now."
Okhfels: "Thing is, there isn't a one of them that I'd trust, except maybe Haikain."
Isadora ignores the first part of what he says. "They're a slippery bunch. Fahd is grim, but seems to be straightforward at least."
Okhfels: "And only a little crazy."
Isadora: "Which makes him below average, around here." Isadora adds, in a non sequitur, "I can't just run away from here overnight. I have to take care of things."
Okhfels: Okhfels pauses, not really sure how to respond to that.
Okhfels: "There's always going to be things to take care of here."
Holmes: Jilliams strides up looking out at the lake, looking sideways at the pair. "Now there's something one doesn't see every day."
Holmes: Isadora notes that Jilliams wears three feathers in an armband - like some of the Rhiani she's seen.
Isadora: "It's a perfectly nice island," Isadora says to Jilliams, a little defensively.
Holmes: "Oh, quite, m'lady," he says, a note of irony in his voice. "No offense meant."
Holmes: He smiles slightly.
Okhfels: Okhfels notices the feathers. "What's that for?"
Holmes: Jilliams looks down. "Well, I've...it's rather extraordinary."
Okhfels: "Extraordinary happens every day around here."
Holmes: "You may remember that I was initiated into one of their cults? Well, it seemed odd being a member, but not otherwise associated with them. I wasn't one of them," he says.
Isadora watches Jilliams closely.
Holmes: "Now I am," he says simply.
Holmes: He seems profoundly pleased.
Okhfels: Okhfels shrugs.
Isadora: "What will you do when it's time to go back to Kaitaine?"
Holmes: Jilliams looks at her, "I've always been a bit out of sorts in Kaitaine. A person of my particular qualities is often...derided by others. Here I'm respected. I belong here now. I'm not going back."
Okhfels: Okhfels looks over at Isadora meaningfully.
Isadora: "Do you think many of the men feel that way?" Isadora's tone is neutral.
Okhfels: "Mine do."
Holmes: Isadora remembers that Jilliams is an orphan, and has always been...not ridiculed, but not held in the highest esteem. Always promoted out of sheer honesty and hard work rather than the usual politics. "I think that many of the men, even those not in Okhfels group, feel a strange fondness for this place. For what they've forged."
Isadora returns Okhfels' look with a small headshake that says "give me a minute."
Isadora smiles briefly at Jilliams. "Thank you for telling me. That makes my decisions harder and easier at the same time, I suppose."
Okhfels: Okhfels looks at Isadora, and says, "I think I know why. I'm... in no rush."
Holmes: Jilliams holds his hands behind him in a distincly Ikaiti military stance, and rocking back and forth a bit asks, "Have you spoken to Dhazari of late?"
Isadora: "No," Isadora says to Jilliams, "although I need to soon. Is there some news I should prepare for?"
Holmes: "You should speak to Sebastian about it, he can fill you in, I believe," says Jilliams enigmatically. This change in Jilliam's character is rather pronounced.
Isadora: "I thought running with the Rhiani would make you more straightforward, not less," Isadora says.
Isadora: To Okhfels, she says, "I'll move soon. I just need to finish making a few decisions."
Okhfels: Okhfels nods, satisfied. "I think that island needs to be on top of the list, though."
Isadora winces. "I'll get to the island, I promise. But I need a drink first."
Okhfels: "Yeah, me too."
Isadora: "Let's drink, then. Because sometime after the island... I'll have to talk to my mother."
Holmes: Jilliams smirks.
Okhfels: Okhfels smiles. "You talked to gods. How much worse can your mother be?"

Holmes: Just before Isadora's tent, they note Sebastian arriving in the camp from the south.
Isadora waves him in their direction.
Sebastian: Sebastian approaches, walking quickly.
Sebastian: "I was going to head over to the lake to see what the strange sounds were when I realized you might like to come along." Sebastian pointedly doesn't address Okhfels.
Isadora: "Come in and and have a drink with us. I think I'm about to make a momentous decision or two. The lake is... I can explain that."
Sebastian: Sebastian raises his eyebrows. "Ah." and follows.
Okhfels: Okhfels is quiet for the moment.
Isadora: "So," says Isadora after pouring drinks and casting herself into her chair. "I think the situation here is less stable by the day. And Marvars doesn't know about Salast, yet."
Sebastian: "My lady, Marvars doesn't have to know about Salast ever... And... well, have you spoken to Dhazari?"
Holmes: A familiar voice comes into Okhfels head, and moments later, before he can do anythihng, he's in a fight for posession of his own body.
Isadora: "You're the second person to ask me about Dhazari. I hope you can be more specific than Jilliams was?"
Sebastian: "Ah, I'll take that as a 'no'. Basically, Dhazari is uncomfortable about the current state of affairs. His tribe's support of the colony has put him in an awkward position with the nearby tribes and he's proposing an alliance with Kaitaine to keep his people safe."
Okhfels: Okhfels collapses, holding his hands on the sides of his head and grimacing
Isadora is starting to grimace at Sebastian, then leaps to her feet. "Okhfels?"
Holmes: Mental shouts go back and forth across time and space, determined wills battling for Okhfels' mighty frame. In the end, however, Okhfels opens his eyes, and sees Isadora across from him. And that does the trick. The assault ends.
Okhfels: Okhfels manages to grunt, "Rrrrchkkkllllsssss..."
Okhfels: Okhfels chokes up a wad of bile and spits it out. He looks very pale.
Sebastian: Sebastian looks on curiously.
Isadora: "What the hell was that?" Isadora asks, sounding both worried and angry.
Archelaus: >>You left me here, don't you think you should see what it's like?<<
Okhfels: "Archelaus. He... attacked me. From his side."
Okhfels: Okhfels shivers, and pushes himself up to hands-and-knees.
Okhfels: >>Ash and smoke. You're the one who abandoned US.<<
Isadora: "His... side?" Isadora reaches out to touch his shoulder, then pulls her hand back, self-conscious.
Okhfels: "His side of... the door in the White Wood."
Archelaus: >>I'm in your head remember. Would you have left Isadora as a servant of that thing?<<
Okhfels: Okhfels stands up, swaying slightly.
Okhfels: "I have to go."
Isadora: "Go where?"
Okhfels: "Away. Away from here, away from... you..."
Sebastian: Sebastian puts a restraining hand on Isadora's shouler. He speaks quietly, "It might be best to leave him be for a while."
Isadora clenches, then unclenches her fists. "Go, then."
Okhfels: "I'm a danger to everyone... Archelaus was trying to change places with me... like at the ruins."
Okhfels: Okhfels stumbles out of the tent.
Isadora: As he leaves, Isadora whirls on Sebastian. "We have to do something!"
Sebastian: Sebastian looks steadily into Isadora's eyes. "No."
Isadora raises her hand sharply, as if to strike him, but holds it in midair, trembling. "No?" she says quietly.
Sebastian: Sebastian gently pushes her into a chair. "_We_ do not do anything, my Lady. You are not able to think rationally about this. I may be able to do something, but I fear that your emotions will only cause more trouble..." He smiles sadly, almost empathetically.
Isadora: "*More* trouble?" she says softly, eyes glittering.
Sebastian: Sebastian looks at Isadora sadly. "I know, my Lady. It is not easy... Will you wait here for a moment? There is someone I think you should talk to."
Isadora: "I think you need to explain exactly what you just said to me, first." Her right hand keeps clenching and relaxing on the arm of the chair.
Sebastian: Sebastian sighs and pulls up a chair accross from Isadora. "I assume you're referring to the more trouble remark?"
Isadora: "You assume correctly."
Sebastian: Sebastian takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Without looking away from Isadora he pulls out a sheet of paper and begins folding.
Sebastian: The silence between them stretches out for long moments. "My Lady, when your emotions are engaged as they are now you can not make rational decisions."
Isadora: "My emotional engagement didn't seem to trouble you when it was bent to your service." Her tone is even, and her eyes stay fixed on his face.
Sebastian: Sebastian twitches and mis-folds the paper in his hand. He looks at it for a moment, drops it to the floor, and looks back at Isadora as he pulls out another piece of paper. His voice is very carefully controlled, "Would you care to explain that remark, my Lady?"
Isadora: "I mean that when it was your woman on the line, I was willing to tear up every Rhiani tent if you said it was needed, because I do that for my friends. Now that it's Okhfels in need, you've suddenly grown all kinds of scruples I never knew you had."
Sebastian: Sebastian's voice drops almost to a whisper, "Is that really what you think of me? Am I really a selfish, manipulative, odious little man?"
Isadora slashes her hand out in a sudden gesture, knocking her glass flying to shatter against the desk. "Damn it! That's not what I mean. But why? Why are you telling me now, of all times, to calm down and hold back?"
Sebastian: Sebastian's eyes turn to the paper in his hand. "Because, my Lady... I do not want to see you hurt, and I don't see how to avoid it if you pursue Okhfels now."
Isadora: "Because you think I can't think straight? You're only now noticing that about me?" Isadora laughs, bitterly. "Why do you think I'm stationed at the ass end of nowhere, with my own noble house writing me off? I feel, I act! What else do you expect from me?"
Sebastian: Sebastian's eyes blaze and his hand snaps out striking Isadora accross the face.
Sebastian: "You will not insult yourself in my presence, my Lady!"
Isadora leaps to her feet, knocking her chair back. "Don't you ever touch me unless you mean to follow through! Friend or no, if you're going to raise your hand to me, do it with a goddamned blade." She's flushed, breathing hard, so angry she's shaking all over.
Holmes: There's a knock on the post of Isadora's tent.
Isadora is ignoring the knock on the post.
Archelaus is now known as Archie-Aaron
Sebastian: Sebastian's eyes dart to the tent flap and back. He shrugs and walks to the entrance and sticks his head through. "Yes?"
Holmes: At first, Sebastian doesn't see anyone. Then looking down to the left, he sees Agok standing there. "Pardons, sir. I don't know why they sent me. But they did. Some of the soldiers. They, they're building something, and they want to know if it's alright to do it."
Sebastian: Sebastian blinks, "Where?"
Holmes: "Over there, sir," says the polite goblin pointing just east of the supply shed.
Isadora: Within the tent, Isadora stands with one hand resting on her sheathed rapier, still shaking.
Sebastian: "Thank you Agok. We'll look into it." Sebastian steps back inside the tent without waiting for a reply.
Sebastian: He approaches Isadora, "Sit down, my Lady."
Isadora: "I'll stand."
Sebastian: Sebastian's hands extend toward Isadora's shoulders suddenly...
Isadora's hand, already resting on the sword, jerks sideways and clamps down on the hilt, pulling it from the sheath with a reverse grip in a rising arc. It slashes across Sebastian's chest, making a long diagonal cut. She swings one leg back into a fighting stance, reverses her grip on the sword to normal, and then freezes, facing him with clenched teeth.
Sebastian: Sebastian freezes. He stares down at his chest a little shocked. His voice is very quiet, "Was that really necessary, my Lady?" Then his knees buckle and he crumples to the floor of the tent, landing on the flawed paper crane he had placed there earlier.

Holmes: Archelaus stands on the thread of an arch in the midst of the monsterous chamber with the window of asymetrical crystal facets above, and the mind-bending eye nearby. He hears somebody coming out on the archway. Turning, he sees that it is the zombie Fahja, sword still in hand.
Holmes: Fahja's eyes glow with a dim purple light that occludes the rest of their detail.
Archelaus: "Zombie! Who do you serve?"
Archelaus strides directly towards the zombie.
Holmes: A smile comes across Fahja's face. "I serve the dancing goddess of the red night!"
Holmes: His sword seems to faintly burn with a reddish hue, a light that trips up and down the blade.
Archelaus: "Fahja, Some of our former companions, the ones that left us here to be damned..."
Holmes: Fahja tilts his head oddly, listening.
Archelaus: "...are trying to dispell the yellow Fog, the stuff that keeps this world connected to our world."
Archelaus: "We need to stop them."
Holmes: Fahja lifts an eyebrow. "Why do we need to do that?"
Archelaus: "Because I think that if we lose connection with our world, we will also lose connection with our world's sky..."
Archelaus: "Meaning also the moons, meaning Inis...I think"
Holmes: Fahja raises his sword. "That," he says, "sounds like a bad idea to me."
Archelaus: "Exactly!"
Archelaus: "So I'm going to go over to that eye."
Archelaus: "I need you to protect me while I'm there."
Holmes: Fahja looks confused. But he follows Archelaus to the eye.
Archelaus: "If I start acting confused...mmm, more confused than usual, that is..."
Archelaus: "Just follow me around and try not to let me get hurt."
Holmes: "Why?" queries Fahja laconically. "How does that serve the agenda of my goddess?"
Archelaus: "I'm going to try to use some magic to stop them and I may not always be myself."
Archelaus: "I may, reluctantly, be forced to switch bodies with someone...if truth be told."
Holmes: Fahja considers for a moment. Then he seems to be more...normal for a moment. "Will you help me free Alitia if I help you?"
Archelaus: "Mmm, yes, of course."
Holmes: Fahja tilts his head in a gesture of aquiescence.
Archelaus turns to the eye and reconnects his consciousness to its essence.
Holmes: Archelaus, failing in his attempt to take control of Okhfels, backs off of the eye, slightly disoriented.
Holmes: Fahja smiles, "I take it that it went wrong?"
Archelaus stands perfectly still for a long moment. Then sinks quietly to his knees.
Archelaus: "My plans it would seem, have a way of doing that."
Archelaus: "All I ever wanted to do was map the sky, find the patterns, see where the patterns meet..."
Holmes: "So...is it my turn now? Or are you going to try your magic again? Perhaps on somebody or something weaker?" there's a horrible predatory sound in his voice.
Holmes: Fahja waits patiently for an answer to his question. Time is a plentiful resource in the halls of madness.
Archelaus: "I'm going to try something else."
Holmes: Fahja crosses his arms his sword passing dangerously close to one of his own legs.
Archelaus is now known as Archie-Aaron
Holmes: Archelaus puts his attention to the eye, and soon has control of Aaron. Simple, really, given the control lines that run to him from this very edifice.

Holmes: Thomas doesn't have to go far to find Narbin. He seems to be returning from his part of the mission. He looks his usual imbeccable self.
Holmes: "I could use some water, does Egani have any at his house?" he asks.
Sebastian: Sebastian smiles. "Better yet, Egani usually has some tea around the house..." Sebastian leads the way back.
Egani: "Oh, back so soon?"
Sebastian: "Yes indeed, Nabrin mentioned that he was thirsty, and I couldn't pass up an oppurtunity to have a cup of Marcia's excellent tea."
Egani: "Well come on in. I do think we should consider placing an order for more on the next ship."
Sebastian: Sebastian smiles and reaches into a pocket. His hand comes out with a small, tightly wrapped package. "I have already anticipated the need. A good guest always brings a gift." He turns to Marcia and extends the package.
Egani: Marcia, startled, accepts the package with a smile. "Sebastian, you think of everything."
Sebastian: Sebastian gives a little bow, "I do try."
Tamul: <Comes out of a brown study>, come again?
Egani: "So what is the order of business for the day? It feels like the tension level in the camp is rising."
Tamul: "I propose that we diffuse said tension . . . if it exists."
Sebastian: Sebastian gives Tamul an appraising look.
Tamul: "So I suppose our first item is to determine the level of tension in the camp."
Sebastian: Sebastian smiles slightly. "You know Tamul, the person to ask those sorts of questions is Isadora. She is, after all, the one in charge."
Egani: "Four hundred years ago, Arlind II, wrote that without constantly escalating tension, he would never have been able to wage war against the sea demons, preserving peace for all time."
Tamul: "Oh, no. I wouldn't want to bother her."
Tamul: Tamul turns to Egani. "And how did that situation turn out? I'm afraid I'm not quite up on my history."
Sebastian: Sebastian turns to Egani, "You do realize that 'Bringing Peace' wasn't actually written by Arlind, do you not?"
Egani: "Um, everyone died. Well, pretty much. But those that didn't were safe. At least, that's how it was recorded."
Tamul: "Well, history is always written by the living, as the saying goes."
Sebastian: Sebastian turns back to Egani, "So... how is Aaron doing?"
Egani: "Sebastian! You aren't one of those looney conspiracy theorists, are you?"
Egani: "Oh...well, I still have him locked down. More testing, dontcha know."
Tamul: "Is there some trouble with our woody friend?"
Holmes: "I am functioning quite effectively," says Aaron.
Egani: "Yeah, his essential moorings have been tampered with in most ingenious ways."
Tamul: "Well, that's good to know."
Egani: "But I don't think he's a complete thrawl of otherworldly demons."
Tamul: Chucks Aaron under his chin. "Here that Aaron? You're not utterly damned."
Egani: "Well, it wouldn't be like that anyway. He's not exactly a person."
Tamul: "I here folks damning things all the time."
Tamul: "So it doesn't seem to be essential to personhood."
Egani: "It would probably be easier to diagnose his state if the Brotherhood had more members, but I don't think I can wait for it to catch on to keep working on him."
Tamul: "Well how many do you need? Speaking of which, ought I go through some sort of initiation?"
Tamul: "You know, hazing, testing, orgiastic communion?"
Holmes: Suddenly there is a sound, not too loud, but pervasive, like something tremendously loud far off. Like the sound of rushing water. It continues for a while.
Egani: "You already sat down and had yor communion with Aaron, that's all it takes. We're less formal than some groups."
Egani looks out the window.
Tamul: "How exquisitely informal-"
Sebastian: Sebastian steps outside, shakes his head sadly and calls back inside, "Marcia, thank you as always for your hospitality. I hate to just leave, I know it's rude, but I should probably check that out...
Tamul: "Well I'm done with breakfast. Anyone for a spot of cricket?"
Holmes: Aaron stands. "Shouldn't we find out what that is?" he says in his typical quest to accumulate all information.
Tamul: "Let's."
Tamul: Outside he goes.

Holmes: Egani, and Tamul, trailed by Aaron and Marcia, arrive down at the lake.
Egani: "Golly, that's new!"
Tamul: Walks along the shore a bit.
Tamul: "Um, what do you mean?"
Egani notices that there's no rock in the boat and begins dragging it to the shoreline. "That island wasn't there yesterday."
Tamul: "That's novel."
Tamul: "Are we going out there?"
Tamul: Tamul helps Archelaus
Egani: "Uh, yeah!"
Holmes: Many of the Rhiani are looking at the same sight, down the shore to their left. One starts coming over.
Tamul: Tamul takes off his gloves.
Egani looks up and greets the local.
Tamul: "Hail fellow! Well met."
Holmes: "I am Alshor", he says humorlessly. "I am a hunter of the tribe, and a member of your Okhfels' band as well."
Holmes: He seems to be staring intently at Marcia.
Tamul: "Would you like to join our band?"
Egani: "Did this island just rise?"
Holmes: Looking at Tamul for a moment, he simply does not answer. To Egani, "Apparently."
Tamul: Looks at Marcia. Admiringly. Then turns back.
Egani: As Egani gets the boat to the water line, he holds it still for Aaron and Marcia. "You coming Alshor?"
Holmes: "There are spirits there. Great and powerful spirits," says Alshor looking skeptical. "Do you know these spirits?"
Egani: "Not yet."
Tamul: "I find it's best to meet spirits with at least five companions. You'd make a sixth."
Tamul: hack "sixth" to "perfect sixth".
Holmes: Alshor, a look of increasing trouble on his brow, shakes his head indicating he's not interested.
Egani begins rowing.
Tamul: * Tamul's helping. His back is not in it.
Holmes: Tamul notes a strange wake forming in the lake. Whatever is under the water is very large and long. And headed their way.
Tamul gets out my book.
Tamul: "What do you think a wake like that might mean? Could it be one of the snakes that I hear come out of the forest?"
Egani: Staring at the weird colors on the island, Egani responds. "No, I'm sure it's ancient...perhaps older than the crazed mentalist demon over there."
Tamul: "I was referring to that over there." Having stopped rowing, he's now flipping through pages.
Tamul readies the spell contained in the part of the story where Elegon Tarrant is menaced by vicious bat-people. Most people know it as 'Enormous Fireball'.
Tamul watches as the snake, visible through the lake water now, draws ever closer.
Tamul: Bowing to the four winds, Tamul throws several packets of iridescent powders over the water. A moment later,
Tamul: Boom!
Tamul: As the steam clears-
Holmes: The snake seems to proceed unimpeded by the blast.
Holmes: Moments later, Aaron seems to shake strangely for a moment.
Archelaus is now known as Archie-Aaron
Tamul: "Well, shit. I think I've pissed it off."
Holmes: Egani can see the ghostly essence of Archelaus inside of Aaron as he takes control.
Egani: "Hello Archie! Haik's spirits seem to have come forth."
Tamul: Looks at A-Aaron, then Egani, then Aaron again.
Archie-Aaron: "Damn, I hate boats."
Egani: "It's a good boat."
Tamul thumps on the gunwale.
Tamul: "Yep, solid construction."
Tamul: "Snake-proof, I'd wager."
Archie-Aaron: "Ssnake?"
Holmes: At that, the huge head of the snake rears up over the boat, trying to snatch up its occupants.
Tamul: "Like the one over there"
Egani yelps in surprise.
Archie-Aaron: "I'm not sure this was my best idea ever."
Tamul: "What was, do you think?" He calmly sidesteps a snake'-lunge and draws his sword.
Archie-Aaron: "I had a great idea of how to solve the Abaris-equinox eqation..."
Tamul: "You're the originator of the infamous Nielsen quotient? I mean, I'm no expert at astronomy, but everyone's heard of that.
Archie-Aaron: The Golem's mouth breaks into an inhumanly large smile.
Archie-Aaron: The fades a little, "I'm just not sure it still holds up, there's just so much chaos at the base of everything."
Holmes: Egani weaves an essence catching field in front of the snake, and it fails to grasp Marcia, some of the wind taken out of it's sails. Then Tamul strikes in it's moment of weakness.
Tamul: Catching the light on the blade of his sword, Tamul distracts the feckless snake. His offhand stabs through the thing's eyehole, burying it to the wrist. Tamuls fist emerges, clutching something yellow and stringy. As he sidesteps, the snakes ichors jets all over the boat. The snake wavers for a moment, then its head drops limp into the boat and begins sliding off.
Egani: With Marcia safe and the snake out of the way, Egani resumes rowing until the boat pushes up on the shore of the strange, new island.
Tamul: Laying his cloak down on a ichorous thwart, Tamul picks up his oar. "To the island, then?"

Shadow World

Back to Main Wiki

Heroquest Homepage

Pm Wiki