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Mike Holmes Artanis thinks back to what Archelaus had told him in their earlier discussion, as he walks along the lakeshore. The most stunning revelation of which was that Lana was still alive, and, even more unlikely, that she was supposed to be arriving here at Green Lake at some time in the near future. Apparently there had been some sort of deal made between them.
Mike Holmes Apparently Archelaus possessed none of Altynaruk's inhibitions, either, having freely admitted that he was of Dyari descent - in fact the brother of one of the assailants who'd killed *Artanis' friends.
Artanis is pondering on what to do. His mind keeps coming back to same idea: get all the info he can, meet Lana, kill his prey and be the hell out of this place.
Mike Holmes Walking the other direction at the moment is a human woman, *Artanis notes. But as she closes with him, she seems familiar. Perhaps it's the tears that fall from her eyes.
Artanis Artanis stops walking and observes the woman as she sits down on a big rock, her feet dipping into the cool waters of the lake. He suddenly recognizes her as Lana, but something is wrong. His heart is racing
Artanis stops walking and observes the woman as she sits down on a big rock, her feet dipping into the cool waters of the lake. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Lana. His heart is racing.
Artanis plucks up his courage and walks up to the woman.
Artanis She is looking far out over the lake with tear filled eyes and does not seem to notice *Artanis at first. He then notices she is human, but the resemblance to Lana is still unsettling.
Mike Holmes When Laura looks up at *Artanis, she has a reaction to seeing an elf. Not the typical one, however. Most people are shocked by the novelty. But for Laura there seems to be something else in her expression.
Artanis is startled by the deep look she gives her, and he blushes as he realizes that he just broke her intimacy.
Mike Holmes She averts her eyes, and for a moment *Artanis notes that this is due to some realization.
Artanis "I beg your pardon, milady. I have mistaken you with someone else. I will leave now..."
Mike Holmes Laura looks back at him and after a moment to stall his leaving she says, "Are you...is your name, by any chance *Artanis?"
Artanis "I am," he replies as he turns around.
Mike Holmes "The artist did a great job of capturing your...ephemerality," she says enigmatically.
Artanis frowns. "Which artist? What do you mean?"
Mike Holmes "I...it's odd. I'm sworn to secrecy. But here, so far from Sel-kai, it seems pointless to keep such a secret. Especially when I can guess the reason why you're here," she goes on, still not being clear.
Artanis "Please go ahead". *Artanis comes nearer to the young woman.
Mike Holmes "You're here to see Lana, aren't you?" she says. "Somehow you knew she was coming here."
Artanis is taken aback by the question and just stares at her. "How...?"
Mike Holmes She clears the tears from her eyes, stands and offers her hand to *Artanis, "Nice to make your aquaintance, my name is Laura. I'm Lana's sister."
Mike Holmes "Well, half-sister, anyhow," she admits.
Artanis takes her hand. "I did not know... I'm at a loss, but I'm pleased to meet you. I feel hope returning."
Mike Holmes Laura frowns, "Hope returning? Why do you say that?"
Artanis "I did not know Lana still lived."
Artanis "but I'm ashamed to talk of that, when you are in sorrow. I'm lacking manners terribly."
Mike Holmes "No, not at all, it'd be nice to forget about my problems for a while," she says. "Why would you think her dead? She's not in trouble, is she?"
Mike Holmes "Might explain why she's coming here, though," Laura murmurs.
Artanis "Lana and I where on a patrol with some comrades when we where ambushed by a Dyari raiding party. I immediately lost conscience, but when I woke up everybody was either dead or missing."
Artanis "Since then, I have been actively searching a way to avenge Lana and my comrades."
Mike Holmes Laura looks shocked by this, "When was this? How long ago?"
Artanis "A bit less than a year."
Mike Holmes "Hmm," she ponders, "OK, that's not a problem then. I've heard from her since then, in her letter saying she's coming here."
Artanis is relieved, but suspicious at the same time.
Artanis "Why did she never tell us?"
Artanis is thinking aloud.
Mike Holmes "Well, if I had to guess, it probably has to do with why she was coming here," she says. "That is, she was pretty secretive about it, but I think she was looking for a meeting place far away from...anywhere."
Artanis "Of course, that makes perfect sense..."
Mike Holmes "So I figure that she thought she'd mix a visit with me, with whatever business she has," Laura speculates. "You don't know what she's involved in, then, do you? Perhaps something to do with the people who attacked you?"
Artanis shrugs. "I'm afraid I do not have the faintest idea."
Artanis "May I ask why you left Sel-Kai, Laura?"
Mike Holmes "I'm supposed to be on an assignment. But I got myself posted here in part so I could...uh...I..." she starts to look like she's going to cry again.
Artanis "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
Mike Holmes She holds back the tears, and waves to *Artanis to say that she's fine - though obviously it's still a tenuous thing.
Artanis reaches his arm out towards her shoulder.
Mike Holmes She's startled slightly for a moment as the elf makes contact, but then accepts the friendly touch.
Artanis remains silent, but rubs her back gently.
Mike Holmes After a moment of this, despite a wonderful touch, the situation just collapses in Laura's mind, and she completely loses it, starting to bawl loudly, hiding her face in her hands as she stands to detach herself from *Artanis' touch.
Artanis abruptly stops singing the song he had begun and steps back.
Mike Holmes Laura looks back at him, and for a moment *Artanis thinks she might apologize for her retreat. But she simply puts her hand over her mouth and flees towards the camp.
Artanis kicks a stone into the lake and clenches his fists and teeth.

Mike Holmes Okhfels follows Alshor to the shore of the island, the temple not far off behind them. "It came flying from the temple, and then landed. I didn't think much of it, other than that I'd never seen one of the birds from the White Wood near here before. But then it began to write in the sand. The sort of runes that are from the city, I think. Can you read them?"
Okhfels "Some of them. They're like the writing we use at home. If I had the time to study I'd know them better."
Mike Holmes Okhfels notes that Beliria is wading in the shallow water on the shore of the island, wet from head to toe. It looks like she may have swam out. She doesn't seem to notice Okhfels.
Mike Holmes It occurs to Okhfels that Beliria is well educated, and probably knows the runes better than most from Teth hold.
Okhfels Okhfels walks over to Beliria. "Nice day for a swim."
Mike Holmes She nods. "Longer to get her than I thought. I've never swam that far, what with most of my experience being in the river."
Mike Holmes She, of course, refers to the river and it's captured pools in Teth hold.
Lxndr 'Where is this place? What is this place? How long have I been trapped? Is there nobody who can understand what I say?'
Okhfels "Would you like to see something odd?"
Artanis I don't quite see what I could narrate in scene 1, do you have more info about the deal? perhaps something to do with the Dyari? that'd connect with some of *Artanis's abilities
Mike Holmes Beliria holds up her hands in a gesture that says, "Why not?"
Lxndr I imagine that last bit I'm scratching as she walks up, out of sheer frustration
Okhfels "Come on... Alshor says that there's a bird that's writing runes not far from here."
Mike Holmes Beliria follows Okhfels, and looks at the scratchings. "Fascinating," she says. "But it's just gibberish, all question words, and no referents."
Mike Holmes She shrugs.
Okhfels "Hunh."
Okhfels Okhfels looks over at the bird. He holds out his hand to it, in invitation.
Mike Holmes Alshor's eyes involuntarily narrow when *Okhfels does this, apparently not trusting this sort of bird.
Lxndr The bird looks curiously at the hand, then hops over towards Okhfels. "Tweet?"
Okhfels "Come on, I won't hurt you."
Lxndr The bird hops back a little bit. "Tweet!"
Artanis Is that ok?
Artanis *Artanis stops walking and observes the woman as she sits down on a big rock, her feet dipping into the cool waters of the lake. He suddenly recognizes her as Lana, but something is wrong. His heart is racing
Lxndr The bird scritches something else in the sand.
Okhfels Okhfels examines the writing. He shakes his head. "I'm sorry... I don't understand." He looks up at Beliria.
Mike Holmes Beliria shakes her head as if in disbelief. "Speaking with birds, Okhfels? Come now."
Okhfels Okhfels stands and makes a "now hold on there" gesture with his right hand. "There was this wizard... he died before you got here. Archelaus. He could transfer his mind into other creatures."
Lxndr '...MNIT START LISTENING TO ME!...' Okhfels is startled for a moment by a mid-sentence alien thought in his head.
Lxndr '...can you <understand/comprehend> this?...'
Okhfels Okhfels blinks and shakes his head. He turns and looks down at the bird.
Lxndr "Tweet!" The bird cocks its head. "Tweet?"
Okhfels <<Yes>> He kneels down again, looking at the bird.
Okhfels "What are you trying to ask us?"
Lxndr '<Where/When/What> is this <place/locale/situation>? <Time passed> since <prison/trap/crystal> long time?'
Okhfels "Uhh.... This is Green Lake, and a very long time has passed since anything happened on this island."
Lxndr '<image of a city in its prime, but Okhfels recognizes only from ruins> <query: where?> <how/what> is its <health/well-being/status>'
Okhfels Okhfels points out over the water. "Ruined. Abandoned. I want to rebuild it, though."
Lxndr '<much sadness> <home>'
Okhfels "Did a sorceror do this to you?"
Lxndr <sorcerer/magician/self> <sorcerer/other/betrayal - white wood> <anger/sadness/rage>
Okhfels "A sorceror in the white wood did this to you?"
Lxndr "Tweet!" <affirmative/yes>
Mike Holmes Okhfels happens to glance down at the sand during this conversation, and notices one rune in particular that leaps out at him. He'd have seen it before if he'd looked just a bit farther along the line of scrawled symbols. It's his family symbol.
Sebastian has quit IRC (Disintegrated: Today is a good day to chat.)
Okhfels Okhfels says, "You and I can do a lot for each other, I think," says Okfhels. He points down at the symbol scratched into the sand.
Lxndr <self/me/you?>
Okhfels "This is my house," he says. "And we can talk, sort of. And our paths cross. I have no love for the white wood, myself."
Lxndr <bird/weakling/body> <frustration> "Tweet!"
Okhfels "I can't do anything about that," says Okhfels. "I'm no sorceror myself."
Lxndr <more frustration> "Tweet?" <have/possess/know> <enemies/worthless people?>
Okhfels "I can bring you back to our camp, though. Maybe Egani can help you. He's a little sane."
Okhfels Okhfels offers his hand again.
Lxndr "Tweet." The bird leaps up onto Okhfels's hand.
Okhfels Okhfels transfers the bird to his shoulder, and then starts making his way towards the raft that he and Alshor had used to cross the short stretch of muddy water from the ruins.
Lxndr "Tweet Tweet. Tweedlydeedlydeet."
Okhfels Okhfels smiles. "Beliria, would you like to come back with us? There's enough room on the raft."
Mike Holmes Beliria nods, and watches Okhfels and the bird carefully as they go.

Mike Holmes As Thomas approaches Isadora's tent, he hears Egani inside, apparently having beaten him there. Just before entering he hears Egani say, "and if you restrain him while I use the magic, then I'm sure I can adjust his mind to stay here."
Mike Holmes hack Thomas to Sebastian
Sebastian Sebastian hesitates just outside and continues to listen.
Artanis Is that ok?
Artanis Artanis stops walking and observes the woman as she sits down on a big rock, her feet dipping into the cool waters of the lake. He suddenly recognizes her as Lana, but something is wrong. His heart is racing
Mike Holmes Isadora seems on the verge of charateristically telling Egani that he's crazy for even thinking such a thing, mumbling a few syllables. But then she stops. And from just the way she stops, Sebastian can tell that she's actually mulling over what Egani is proposing.
Mike Holmes "It's for his own good, Isadora," says Egani. "And, yes, ours too."
Mike Holmes "It's a simple little procedure, and he won't remember a thing."
Mike Holmes "Well?" he presses her after a while.
Mike Holmes "Don't push me, Egani, this isn't an easy decision. My first impulse is to say no, that it violates our trust with Sebastian," she pauses and then continues. "But just give me a second."
Mike Holmes "I don't think you understand," Egani continues. "If it's really in his own best interest, how can we be doing him harm?"
Sebastian Sebastian decides to say his goodbyes to Marcia before trying to deal with Egani. He fades into the shadows near the tent.
Mike Holmes Just as he's leaving, Sebastian hears Isadora say, "Where is he? Do you think he's leaving immediately? Let me find Pallos and send him to find where he's gotten to."

Mike Holmes As Sebastian heads south, he sees Haikain coming towards him from the direction of the lake. W Ith ? him is Suteh, the water mystic, and a large well-covered up woman.
Mike Holmes Her garb is odd, given the heat of the evening.
Mike Holmes "Have you seen Isadora, Thomas?" says Haikain.
Mike Holmes hack Thomas to Sebastian
Sebastian Sebastian puases for a long look over the group. He raises an eyebrow, "She's probably in her tent at this time of day."
Mike Holmes "Well, as long as I have you," he says, "I'd like to introduce you to a new member of the camp."
Mike Holmes He gestures to Orca and Sebastian, saying, "This is our camp...director? Well, Sebastian, anyhow."
Sebastian Sebastian offers a bow, "Welcome to Green Lake, lady. I am Sebastian."
Orca walks slowly, looking constantly about, clutching her seal-tooth necklace. She glances at Sebastian a moment and then returns his bow, awkwardly.
Sebastian Sebastian takes a long moment to study her.
Mike Holmes Haikain takes a moment as well, but to look closely at the necklace.
Orca is completely wrapped in white linen, which is muddied around her ankles where it has been dragging across the ground. Only her dark grey eyes and a hint of pale skin peaks out from her face. Her seal-tooth necklace is worn over her linens.
Orca belly clearly bulges. She is clearly pregnant, though not immediately imminent.
Orca shifts from one foot to the other, a bit uncomfortable under the gaze of these men.
Sebastian Sebastian offers a gentle smile. He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small square of starkly white paper. His hands flash briefly and he extends a precisely folded paper seal to Orca.
Mike Holmes A bit away from all of this, near the barracks building some soldiers are making commentary about Orca, not intending to be heard, but being too unsubtle to accomplish that. "No, not even Rhiani women are that big. I bet she's an ogre under those wrappings."
Mike Holmes There are some chuckles.
Orca stares at the seal.
Orca glances at Sebastian.
Orca smiles broadly.
Sebastian Sebastian's smile grows almost imperceptibly.
Orca cups both her hands together and holds them out to catch the seal.
Orca "Very... beautiful."
Sebastian Sebastian blinks, no one has ever thanked him for a paper sculpture before.
Orca flicks her finger across the paper seal's tail, making it swim.
Sebastian Sebastian gives another nod. "Welcome again, lady. Do not let me delay you on the way to speak with Isadora. I fear I must move on. It has been a pleasure to meet you."
Mike Holmes "Sebastian, one more thing, do we have enough rice in the stores for Isadora's project yet? Important for appeasing certain of them. I have some ideas on how we can get some other things that'll be important," he seems to be starting a long discussion here...
Orca nods back, "Thank you."
Sebastian glances at Haikain, "I thought you were going to go see Isadora. I think she would be the person to ask about that..."
Mike Holmes "Yeah, gotta be an ogre!" laughs one of the soldiers who has obviously been into the grog rations.
Mike Holmes This time too loud for anyone to conveniently ignore.
Mike Holmes Haikain looks paralyzed by the situation.
Sebastian Sebastian mutters to Orca and Haikain, "Please excuse me for a moment."
Sebastian Sebastian walks calmly toward the cluster of soliders.
Orca 's eyes follow Sebastian to the soldiers..
Mike Holmes The wobbly soldier watches Sebastian's approach.
Sebastian Sebastian looks over the soldiers, "Are you not on watch?"
Mike Holmes Heading for Egani's house from the lake, Okhfels passes by with a small bird on his shoulder, and decides to stop and watch what's going on.
Mike Holmes The soldier rolls his eyes, and the body language of the other soldiers says that they're not impressed by Sebastian's display.
Sebastian Sebastian sighs, shrugs, and shoots Orca a look of apology.
Orca makes the paper seal swim through the air.
Orca walks over to the soldiers, the paper seal "swimming" along beside her.
Mike Holmes The mind controling the bird on Okhfel's shoulder senses a familiar presence nearby as this scene unfolds. Yes, right over there, by the barracks building, in that other little dingy building. It's the she-devil from his recent dreams. A servant of the sorcerer's. Incarcerated in that building.
Orca Leaning against her spear, she bends over and drops the seal in the grumpy soldier's lap. Smiling broadly at him. "Gift," she says.
Mike Holmes The soldier gets a slanty look on his face that says, "what the heck?"
Tweet The bird alights off Okhfels's shoulder and darts towards the dingy building at its fastest speed.
Orca This soldier obviously doesn't understand. Orca makes a swimming motion with her hand in the air, showing how the paper seal works.
Mike Holmes Okhfels watches as the bird lands on the window between the bars. Sure enough, inside is the one he felt, Aysha. The shade that the sorcerer has been plaguing the land with of late.
Mike Holmes Outside, the soldier says, "Whatsis? That's some sorta insult it is, I tellyawhat! Take it back, ogre woman!"
Mike Holmes He throws the seal at her with a ridiculous amount of force for such a small object.
Mike Holmes The small bird notes that the guard with the key stands just outside the door of Aysha's prison.
Tweet The small bird concentrates on Aysha, trying to steal what she knows. If he damages her mind in the process, it's just the tool of his enemy - no skin off his beak, so to speak.
Mike Holmes Outside, Orca visciously swings her harpoon's non-buisiness end at the offending soldier, and makes solid contact knocking him down. A sober man would now be unconscious...but as the drunken state sometimes does, his non-resistance to the blow means he has rolled with it and simply shakes his head as he comes back up amongst his comrades.
Mike Holmes The soldiers let out a collective growl, and bear down on Orca, a few drawing weapons.
Orca 's normally soft eyes narrow disturbingly. She switches to the pointy spear end.
Tweet The small bird concentrates intently on the sorcerer's shade, wanting to know what it knows - willing to tear its mind apart to get at its knowledge of the sorcerer, and of these lands, so changed from what they once were.
Tweet It is dreadfully easy. The sorcerer's magical fingerprints are all over the shade, and where they touched, they burned holes. The mind inside the bird learned the sorcerer's tricks when he was at his peak, and his rival was lazy with Aysha. Obviously, it did not expect him to ever return.
Orca The soldiers leap on Orca, but she manages to plant the spear head in their leader's chest within the first few moments of the skirmish. After that, most turn to run and the stragglers end up with cuts and a few painful-looking gashes. Sebastian throws a few to the ground, knocking the wind out of them and keeping them from flanking Orca.
Tweet The mind inside the bird changes strategies. It would be a waste to tear apart such a useful tool, when it can be twisted to its own ends. Like an open book, the mind takes the knowledge it needs, the knowledge it wants, and binds the shade's mind. All its new experiences will also be shared. It now has another set of eyes... and a body, whenever it needs one.
Tweet But better to keep this in reserve, an ace kept close to the vest. The bird flies back to Okhfels's shoulder as Aysha reawakens, unaware of what's been done to her.
Tweet The only thing she feels, puzzlingly, is the pleasant tingling of afterglow.
Orca breathes heavily and sits down on the ground, holding her belly with both hands as if comforting the child within.

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