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Holmes: As they approach the kitchen, Chimrea and Kerem both note a mouse there, eating a bit of cheese. It is a huge mouse, proportional to some of the cyclopean inhabitants of the palace. It looks like it might bolt as the pair approach.
Kerem snickers.
Chimrea: "Don't tell me--this is my job."
Kerem: "I don't...listen, I didn't mean for the heroquest to think you were a cat."
Kerem: "I'm, uh. Sorry about that."
Chimrea shrugs. "What's wrong with that? Some of the cat spirits I've talked to are all right." She eyes the mouse speculatively, flexing her fingers at it as if extending claws.
Kerem: "It's just..." he shrugs. "Well, okay."
Kerem: "In that case, yeah, you should probably chase the mouse."
Chimrea: Shooting him a grin, Chimrea draws the knife from her belt and stalks after the mouse.
Holmes: Chimrea moves forward, and it's almost like she can anticipate the mouse's moves. It dodges one way, and goes the other, but Chimrea is already there waiting, and her knife digs deep into it. The mouse drops is cheese, and scampers into a hole nearby. Kerem notes that, if she'd not chased it off that way, it would probably have run into the kitchen, alerting anyone there to trouble.
Kerem: "Nice work." Kerem absently strokes Chimrea's hair as he picks up the cheese.
Chimrea runs her fingertips along the flat of the knife and then touches it to her lips, leaving traces of blood on both. "It's important to take the role the story needs," she says seriously, but then she smiles up at him.
Kerem: "Hmm."
Kerem: "Do you think it's a special mouse?"
Chimrea shrugs. "Were they special harem girls? Animals have their parts, too. If it's here, it's as important as the rest."
Kerem looks at her, unsure how to respond, then kneels in front of the hole and dangles the cheese in front of it. "Hey there. You dropped something."
Chimrea: "If I'm a cat, then let me look ahead for you," she whispers to Kerem, then pads closer to the kitchen door to peek around.
Kerem nods to Chim with a grin.
Holmes: The mouse can be seen just inside it's hole, trying to gauge it's chances to lung forward and get it's cheese back. It does seem to be paying attention to what Kerem has to say.
Kerem: "There's two ways we can do this. The way where you get your cheese, or the way where my cat eats you."
Kerem: "I think the first way has a lot of advantages, and I suspect you'd agree. But in order for that to work, you're going to need to do me a little favor. Nothing big. Just run into the kitchen and cause a little havoc, while my cat chases you around."
Chimrea looks back and licks the blood off her lips, smiling helpfully
Holmes: The mouse makes a most disturbing noise. Chimrea can tell, and even Kerem gets the idea that the mouse is less than pleased with Kerem's suggestion here. In fact, he gets the notion that he's done the spirt some sort of ultimate offense. It disappears deep into the hole.
Kerem: "Hmm."
Kerem: "Well, uh. Plan B, I guess."
Kerem: "What's the kitchen look like?"
Holmes: Peering around the corner of the archway into the kitchen, Kerem sees two giantesses cutting up huge vegetables on the table. There is a fire, and something is cooking in a pot over it. A rather large pot.
Chimrea: "What do you need to do here?"
Kerem: "Pick up Khem's dinner."
Chimrea: "So you need me to make a fuss?"
Kerem: "Uh. If it's not too much trouble. I mean, I don't want to put you in danger."
Kerem: "Are you gonna be all right if you do this?"
Chimrea: "It was easier talking to Alquas," Chimrea mutters. "Just tell me when to start and how long to make it last."
Kerem: "What? What did I do?" Kerem looks aggrieved.
Chimrea: "Nothing. That was a mean thing of me to say--I'm just tired. I'm glad that I can help, Kerem, so please just tell me how."
Kerem: "I...okay."
Kerem: "Yeah, just run in, cause a distraction. Knock stuff over. Bite people. You know. Ever been really mad and just stomped around making a mess?"
Kerem: "Do something like that."
Chimrea: "I think I can manage that." Chimea sits at the kitchen door for a minute, thinking of Kerem and Alquas and the whole situation. The cat's tail lashes back and forth, then she tears into the kitchen on a feline course of destruction.
Holmes: Apparently used to such distractions, one of the giantesses throws her knife in Chimrea's direction, and appears to cut off her cat's tail. Unaffected physically, Chimrea has to immediately retreat, bumping into Kerem as she does so. Which gives away his position as he makes his bid for the supper.
Holmes: The other giantess throws her knife at Kerem who dodges under the table which it sticks into. "I think it's a gnome!" one shouts. The other, knifeless from the start, grabs a frying pan, and tries to use that to whack Kerem, but manages to swing wide, and hit the other giantess instead!
Holmes: In the confusion, Kerem grabs a smaller pot, one he can carry, and fills it with the bubbling concoction over the fire (having to reach up to do so).
Kerem flees for his life, grabbing Chim's hand as he runs.
Kerem: "When we retell this legend, let's not include the slapstick parts."
Kerem: "Are you okay?"
Chimrea: "Deal."
Chimrea nods, though she cranes her neck to inspect the spot where her tail would be. "That was weird."
Kerem: "Yeah. Weird is the word."
Kerem releases her hand to clasp her to him for a moment, then lets her go as they continue running.
Chimrea: "I'm fine," she says, a little embarrassed but also pleased that he's concerned. "What's next?"
Kerem: "The alchemist's laboratory."
Kerem: "The food's ready, but it could always use a little...seasoning." He smiles.
Chimrea: "Do I need to make a mess in there, too?"
Holmes: As the go up the spiral stairs, there's a strange little door just off of one of the stairs. Inside, there's an odd laboratory, with all manner of strange substances.
Kerem: "I dunno. The legend doesn't really talk about this stuff. I'm kind of improvising."
Chimrea: "Let me take a look around. Is there anything I should really avoid stirring up?"
Kerem: "Probably, but nothing the myths mention."
Kerem: "Just, you know."
Kerem: "Be careful."
Kerem: "Not that I'm doubting your ability or anything, just...uh...whatever, good luck."
Chimrea: "I'm always careful," Chimrea says with a sunny smile, padding into the room to look for spirits she can talk to.
Chimrea: As soon as she's in the room, Chimrea-the-cat sets up a pitiful wailing, scampering over to the alchemist to show him her injury.
Kerem saunters in while the alchemist coos over Chimrea and casts a knowledgeable eye over the stores of herbs and chemicals.
Holmes: Considering a number of packets, soon Kerem has found the alchemist's stash of gort. Perfect for this sort of application.
Kerem flashes Chimrea and smile and a thumbs-up and heads out the door.
Chimrea spends a few more seconds with the alchemist, starts purring to convince him he's comforted her, then flounces out in typical cat fashion.
Holmes: As they reach the top of the stair, there's a long hallway. Two guards march back and forth vigilantly in front of a massive portal. One approaches where the pair hide.
Kerem steps out, leading with the Black Sky Diamond, and begins pleasantly speaking.
Kerem: "So, Khem's famous for having the two best guards in all of the world; one invincible, and one incorruptible."
Kerem: "Judging from the way you're eyeing this diamond in my hand, I suspect you're the invincible one."
Kerem: "Which is handy, because it means that if, hypothetically, somebody were to give you an enormous diamond to kill the other guard and then keep quiet for about half an hour, it wouldn't really be a problem for you. You're invincible. He's just incorruptible.
Kerem: "Are we on the same page here?"
Kerem: The guard smiles, and reaches out for the diamond.
Kerem: Five bloody minutes later, Kerem and Chimrea slip into the bedchamber of Khem, Overmaster of Humanity, Jailor of the Gods.
Kerem takes a few deep breaths, nerving himself, and walks over to Khem's bed, setting the pot down with a sharp click on his nightstand and waking him up.
Kerem: "Hello, Khem. I'm A'taal, the God of Thieves and Liberators. I'm here to make you an offer you can't refuse."
Kerem: "Don't bother yelling for the guards. They're already dealt with."
Kerem: "Soup? It's good." Kerem ladles out a bowlful of gort-infused minestrone and plants it on Khem's lap as he sits up and begins to open his mouth to speak.
Kerem: "I had a plan when I came here. I was going to sneak into your bedroom, slit your throat, take the Golden Key and flee for my life."
Kerem: "But I couldn't do it. Because on my way up here I realized something. You may be a god, but you're the weakest and most despised of them all -- because all you do is tend to the wretched human slaves."
Kerem: "You get no respect, no worship, no friends. Just a fancy bed and a promise that the other gods won't sneer directly at you when you walk by."
Kerem: "You're a slave like any other slave. And I came here to free the slaves."
Kerem: "So here's the deal." Kerem holds up one finger.
Kerem: "Give me the Key. Go back to sleep. When they wake you, tell them that you felt nothing. The guard outside will tell them readily enough that I snuck into your room."
Kerem: "They won't punish you. They won't even look down on you. They'll just tell the story of how A'taal, God of Thieves, snuck into the palace of the gods and stole the Golden Key from around Khem's neck. They'll put it down to my grandeur, not your incompetence."
Kerem: "And you'll never have to look at another human ever again."
Kerem: "Do we have a deal?"
Kerem: Khem looks at Kerem for an unnervingly long time. He lowers his spoon into his bowl, takes a spoonful of soup and sloshes it around in his mouth while he thinks...
Kerem: Then, with a muttered curse, he yanks on the Golden Key, breaking the chain around his neck, and throws it to (or at) Kerem.
Kerem: Khem: "Go, animal. Go, and leave me in peace. Take the stairway to the basement, and leave through the sewers, where none will search until you have long fled. Go. And let me sleep."
Holmes: *
Kerem: Kerem stumbles out of the sewers under Thrakelust's estate, crawls onto a mostly not filth-bespattered patch of ground, and kisses it with a resounding smack, before collapsing on his back.
Chimrea follows after him, looking less disgusted--maybe she's just too tired, maybe she's jaded from her experience with Old Man Spider. She sits back on on her haunches and smiles at him, wringing out her skirt. "You did it."
Kerem: "I guess I did."
Kerem sits up and regards her. "Thank you. Thanks for coming. Thanks for helping me. Thanks for everything, dammit."
Kerem: "Listen, I, uh. C'mere."
Chimrea shrugs, a little uncomfortable. "You did it all. I just wanted to bear witness."
Chimrea looks at him a little warily, then scoots closer.
Kerem kisses Chimrea on the forehead, and the key around his neck glows...or perhaps it's just a reflection of the moonlight.
Chimrea looks at the key in wonder. With her head down, he can't see the tears she's blinking out of her eyes.
Kerem draws back a bit and regards her with curiosity and concern.
Kerem: "Are you all right? How do you feel?"
Chimrea: Sitting silent for a long moment as she thinks of several ways to answer that question, Chimrea finally tilts her head and smiles at him. "Proud. You made a great story today, Kerem."
Kerem: "Huh."
Kerem: "Did I make the story?"
Kerem: "I felt like I was, you know. Discovering it."
Kerem: "A'taal gets a pretty bad rap."
Kerem lies back, frowning down at his new toy. "I think I need to figure this thing out more."
Chimrea: "From what I understand, it's a bit of both. When you go on a spirit journey, you're shaping the road as it shapes you." A shadow passes over her face as she thinks of the spider grove, but she's glad that his work seems to have gone more as expected.
Kerem: "So, when I have this thing a little more under control, do you want me to...uh...help you renegotiate with Old Man Spider?"
Chimrea looks thoughtful. "Let me think about that, okay? And thank you, Kerem. I know I yelled at you for running off, but I know you're looking out for me. That means a lot."
Kerem: "I..."
Kerem: "I love you, Chim. I mean, I really like you, and I think you're wonderful, and all that crap."
Kerem: "I don't really know what to do, or how to show it, or whatever."
Kerem: "But I'm trying."
Kerem: "I'm sorry I don't always know how to do right."
Kerem: "I think I might go to sleep now."
Chimrea finds his hand with hers and squeezes it. "You're doing just fine," she says, in a voice that's quiet because it's compressed by the weight of other things she doesn't know how to say.
Chimrea: "Get some sleep. I'll watch over you."
Kerem: "mmkay." His eyes are already closing.
Chimrea: When he's out cold, Chimrea will gently lift up his head just enough to rest it in her lap.

Holmes: As Tez awakes, she looks up to see Agnes trying to fight off her own trip to the land of sleep.
Agnes: "Uh...hi...you OK?" Agnes startles and checks on the praelector.
Tez yawns sleepily and runs her fingers through her hair, then blinks twice as she realizes where she is. "Agnes!" She practically knocks the woman over with a hug.
Agnes smiles and returns the embrace. "What's...up?"
Holmes: The white marble of the hall now seems to have an end far off. A chamber colored red is the only detail they can make out at this distance.
Tez: "I had the strangest dream... Atamka was at my window, like he always is, and we went off to spar... and then he started talking about me blaming him for my parents. And..." she frowns a little, "I don't know. It's strange. I don't know what's real. I remember a lot of things, but some of them don't seem like they could be true." She looks at their surroundings, uncertainly. "Oh, I was hoping this part wasn't real."
Agnes: "Sorry." Agnes looks around and smiles. "So, is this Atamka from your past?"
Tez: "He's... was my best friend. I don't know where he is anymore."
Agnes: "So, ignoring the details, what was the core message of your dream? And was it influenced by outsiders, or was it your mind talking to you?"
Tez closes her eyes, thinking. "It was just me, I think. I guess the message is that I still don't know what in Oblivion happened. I think I need to find him again."
Agnes: "Atamka or your uncle?"
Tez: "...Atamka." She looks at the door. "I'm not sure we should do this. I'm not sure what I want to find beyond the door."
Agnes: "I'll go." Agnes looks into Tez' eyes. "You want me to tell him to piss off?"
Tez: "I don't think you should do THAT."
Agnes shrugs. "Then what?"
Agnes: "Tez, honey, I've said this before, and I hope I'm not too tiring...but I really think you should face this fear you have. You can step up and make a decision one way or the other. If you want to be Akalatan's queen or whatever, then do it. If you don't, then tell him to leave you alone. I'll help you whichever path you take."
Agnes looks back down the hall the way they came. "And we've come so far..."
Tez stares at the door, feeling the echo of power in her veins, and the accompanying madness. "I'm afraid of what I will become. But I feel like I need to do it, that no matter what I do, I will always move towards it. It is already part of me. Maybe you're right, and I should just get it over with."
Agnes: "Or stand up and deny his hooks in your blood. You are _yours_, not his."
Agnes is helping Tez to walk slowly toward the red as they talk.
Tez: "Am I?" She walks up to the door, brushing her palm against it. "Alone, I am too weak to make a difference. If I don't remember, tell Kerem that I'm sorry." She pushes the door open.
Agnes: "Maybe we all are, but we are not alone. We are together." Agnes follows her friend without hesitation.
Agnes looks around for this blood god of Tez'.
Tez: "I hope we can skip the first lesson this time." she mutters.
Agnes grins.
Holmes: *
Holmes: A sound comes from behind them as they get moving forward. Looking back, the faint sound is probably very loud close up, they realize. As there are a mass of flying shades making their way quickly and eerily down the corridor. Apparently the gatekeeper has finally figured out that he was tricked by Agnes.
Tez: "Maybe we should go in quicker."
Agnes hurries along, wondering if they can make it to The Red before the shades catch up. And doubting it.
Holmes: Agnes turns as she arrives in the red room to see if Tez is going to make it, only to see her overcome by the shadowy demons at the last second. Before Agnes can do anything, however, Tez comes bursting out of the mass of wings, bleeding from 100 small cuts all over her body.
Tez slams the door behind herself, and catches her breath. "I don't like them much at all."
Holmes: Tez notes the oddity of the smile on the face of the snake as she comes into the room. A huge serpent which has arisen from a pit in the center of the room behind Agnes.
Holmes: It seems to have just swallowed something. But it still looks hungry.
Agnes: "You're bleeding."
Tez: "You think?" She sucks on her finger.
Tez eyes the snake, for a second, trying to avoid its gaze, "I'm sure I smell extra tasty to the snake now."
Agnes: On impulse, Agnes reaches out, wiping some blood from a gash on Tez' jawline and tastes it.
Agnes: Hearing that, Agnes spins around, smiling at her own oafishness.
Agnes: Eying the snake, Agnes leans close to Tez, "so is this a kill it or bargain with it situation?"
Holmes: The Praelector, havnig been prodded on in the rush, heaves with fatigue. He's fast, but heavy, too.
Holmes: But he has sense enough to at least back away from the serpent.
Tez: "You sort of stabbed the one that was going to tell me how this works, remember?"
Holmes: The serpent bends low towards Agnes and says, "It's a bargain with it situation. For I am the serpent eternal, and I have no end."
Agnes: "She was a bitch." Agnes dismisses her with a hand-flutter.
Agnes: "OK. Well good then."
Agnes: "So what do you need?"
Holmes: The snake hisses, "I need sssssupper."
Agnes unconciously eyeballs the praelector.
Tez: "That's true." She steps forward a little. "I have come to fulfil my destiny!" she says grandly, feeling stupid. She looks over her shoulder at the praelector and raises her brow. "You eat people, right?"
Tez ineffectually presses the bottom of what's left of her shirt against a wound or three.
Agnes helps the praelector out of his armor and offers him some water.
Agnes: "Snake! What is your relation to the blood god?"
Holmes: The snake looks closely at Agnes, only a couple of feet away. It pauses for drama.
Holmes: "I *AM* the blood god."
Agnes looks to Tez. "?"
Tez: "Nice to meet you. I'm... The Chosen One. There are murals about me."
Agnes hopes the snake doesn't laugh at Tez.
Holmes: The snake's eyes turn red. "Why would you assume that I do not know who you are? Why are you so insulting to your god?"
Holmes: "Perhaps I should eat you, send you back to my father, and start all over again," he says.
Holmes: "Should it not be I," it's eyes turn white again. "That decides who is 'chosen' and who is eaten?"
Tez looks down, "Sorry. I've never..done this before." She closes her eyes for a second, then moves in the ritual of prayer toward Akalatan, then looks up at him again. "Go ahead and eat me then. I don't have any descendents though."
Holmes: "See, once again you presume!" the snake lashes out, looking ever so much as if it's going to eat Tez, but instead it smashes into the Praelector, who dies with a quick howl.
Holmes: The snake recoils, and leisurely swallows it's meal.
Tez looks disappointed. "I was going to keep him."
Agnes narrows her eyes at the snake, not at all impressed.
Holmes: Agnes notes that as the snake is swallowing that it seems relatively vulnerable.
Agnes reaches out through the mental link between Tez and Agnes, "Don't you think you can do better than this?"
Tez: "What?"
Agnes: "I dunno, it seems kind of...small. I mean, petty."
Tez: "Hey, don't talk about God like that!"
Tez eyes the snake, "He is kind of small though."
Agnes starts to circle the snake, sizing it up.
Holmes: The snake seems to grin, "That's the chosen one speaking!"
Holmes: The snake begins to rise up from the hole
Holmes: And it continues to rise...
Holmes: And rise...
Holmes: and rise
Holmes: And as it does, it becomes wider, becoming larger than the entire chamber somehow.
Holmes: Until Agnes is lost in one eye, and Tez in another
Holmes: "Now you see my true form!"
Tez stares
Agnes: "See what I mean about petty. It felt like it had to prove itself to us...to us!?! W Ho ? are we to it if it's really a god?"
Holmes: "Tez, descendant of my daughter, Sendil... are you mine? Do you give yourself to me, wholly?" the being asks, ignoring Agnes.
Agnes: Aloud now, "So is this really the best you've got?"
Tez shakes herself, and elbows Agnes
Tez steps in front of Agnes, leaving a trail of blood behind herself. "I am yours, Akalatan. I embrace my destiny."
Holmes: "Then my plan is complete. I have my bride," he focuses on Tez, And then focusing on Agnes, "And my witness who, being doubtful of my nature cannot be doubted in her record."
Tez processes the word 'bride' slowly
Agnes: "Tez, you sure about this? We could still shiv this thing and go home."
Tez just kind of stares at the enormous snake, trying to figure out how that would even work. "Do I get a wedding?"
Agnes: Into Tez' mind, Agnes whispers seductively, "Once you've taken his child, we should destroy him. Think of the power."
Tez now stares at Agnes like she's crazy...though it WOULD be a lot of power...
Agnes: "You would carry a god."
Agnes: ~~With the father out of the picture, you could influence the young god as it grows and find its power.~~
Agnes: ~~You know how men are as they reach the zenith of their passion...it would be easy to destroy him at that moment. It would be easy...~~
Tez: "Easy..."
Agnes: ~~Shhh...don't speak aloud.~~
Tez: "What?"
Agnes: ~~Don't let the fool know your plans...~~
Agnes: ~~You know how to keep a secret. You're better than any of them at that.~~
Tez keeps her mouth shut and thinks really hard at Agnes, hoping she can hear her. What comes over is sort of a mash of confusion and irritation, and no small fear about what exactly being his bride entails - he's awfully big and she liked the small version better.
Agnes: ~~Don't worry, he's done this before, he knows how to make it work. Remember, he's only showing off...it's just a gimick.~~
Tez wonders what her god-baby would grow up to be
Agnes: ~~You should seduce him. Make it better than a mere reproductive act. Draw his mind totally into the act. Allow yourself to be consumed by it. I'll help you to know when to strike. I'll draw you out of your reverie and we shall fall upon him like jackals. Who could doubt that you are chosen then?~~
Tez isn't sure how one seduces a snake!
Holmes: Tez feels herself being lifted up into the aether, and her god begins to fill her.
Agnes burns exotic insence in a small brass brazier and chants the murlogi rhythm of passage.
Tez starts moaning and writhing and telling Akalatan how big and strong and powerful he is, and that she would kiss him if only he had human lips.
Holmes: Agnes can see Tez floating nearby, and the snake all about them.
Agnes keeps track of the snake's form, establishing where she believes it's heart to be.
Agnes: As the divine copulation escalates, Agnes reaches out to the Praelector, soothing him -- dominating him. Preparing whatever remains of the connection between the mind and body.
Agnes waits for the snake's climax and screams ~~Attack!~~ into Tez' mind. She then commands the praelector to convulse and gouge at the snake/god from inside. Once that begins, Agnes helps the terror of the situation saturate the praelector's mind so she can attend to other things...like stabbing the god in the heart.
Tez shudders as she feels her god come within her, her own climax shaking her, and the voice in her mind distracting, like a sour note in the orchestra. Angry, then remembering, the snake sheathed in her body, she draws the Tethium blade from its, and slashes downward, between them.
Agnes: As Akalatan impregnates his chosen 'bride' pain lances out from all directions. It has been time and time since this god experienced this sensation. As the attacks from within and without dissect his immortal being, the last of his life-force flows down and out, into the baby carried by Tez.
Agnes: To the perceptions of those remaining, the world becomes a painful red glow as all is wrong with this place.
Tez whispers the prayer to send him on to the Father, back into the cycle.
Agnes: When The Red fades and vision returns to our heroines, there are stars twinkling in the sky above and the sounds of night-time insects fill the swamp.
Agnes: "Wow." Agnes is smiling big.
Tez cleans her blade and sheathes it, moving her hand to her stomach. In her other hand is the member of the god, dripping from both ends.

Holmes: The scenery outside is quite surreal. The curtains of light seem to drape the world in odd minor effects of magic. And not so minor ones like the tree that's growing at an alarming rate outside the window. Alquas notes that the light creates strange patterns across Chimrea's face, and, just for a moment, there are lines like spider's legs crossing it.
Chimrea: "All right," she says, turning back from where she's been looking out the window. "I'll follow your lead, but I'll be looking for Kerem's spirit tracks."
Holmes: As they near the door, on their way out to the temple, they see that the tree is threatening to fall over under it's own weight.
Alquas: "I think perhaps if we could take a route as far away from the tree as possible?"
Alquas: "Where is this temple, anyway? I don't know Green Lake beyond this tavern and Zhanjiir Ohfkhel's erstwhile abode.."
Holmes: *
Holmes: A bit later, having left the inn by a back entrance, they've made their way around a good part of the lake, heading to the causeway at Northtown.
Holmes: The effects of the storm seem to subside a little here.
Holmes: But from here, a very strange effect can be seen over the remains of the White Wood. Chimrea gets the impression that the colors and such are coagulating there, but in a sort of inverted manner than elsewhere.
Alquas: "odd.. if the effects emenate from the temple, surely a strengthening would be expected..." Alquas is distratced by the phatasmagoria, and has barely spoken two words to Chimrea since they left the tavern, and they were both in response to directions.
Chimrea: "Oh," she says, staring at the woods and tugging his sleeve to attract his attention there. "What does that look like to you?"
Alquas: "Hmm?" Alquas turns to see.
Holmes: Chimrea notes that Alquas is correct, much of the effect of the storm can be seen from her almost to be erupting from the pyramidal temple out on the island in the lake.
Chimrea: "This city was built on a battle between the woods and the lake. But the White Wood is supposed to be safe, now."
Alquas: "Fascinating..." says Alquas, in a bored drawl. "Who runs this temple of yours?"
Alquas: "Surely someone else has noticed these effects. Is there no-one else responding, diagnosing? In Vajaar an event like this in a population center would have magi rushing to the scene with instruments.."
Holmes: They are just passing the Two-Tree Shrine, and Chimrea notes a wolf spirit has "escaped" into the world here. It seems to be howling, as if keening for something.
Holmes: Chimrea is sure that the temple priests are probably scrambling to find a way to deal with he effects of the flowstorm in terms of the gate. But she also knows that they're not really all that effective.
Holmes: The gate really has been largely uncontrolled since Thrakelust's disappearance.
Chimrea looks at him narrow-eyed for a moment before responding. "Governor Thrakelust, before. Probably one of his subordinates, now. And if all the magi of Vajaar are as lost for answers as you were at the inn, I'm sure it's a very helpful experience for everyone."
Holmes: Belnif has some sway with the temple spirits, of course, but hasn't really had time to learn how they relate to the gate.
Chimrea: "Hold on." She cocks her ear at the wolf spirit, trying to hear the sense in its howl.
Alquas: "Ah? Thraa-key-loost. We were to meet with him, but he seemd to have disappeared... perhaps Green Lake is not as impregnable now as she once was? My father is probably planning a new invasion as we speak. If the Praelector hasn't killed him yet."
Alquas pointedly ignores the slight against himself, and does stop walking at Chimrea's word, although his eyes remain fixed on the island.
Holmes: It occurs to Chimrea that Alquas cannot hear nor see the wolf. It's call is as if to another wolf spirit. And the call goes out beyond this world.
Alquas: After a moment, he says "Well, what is it? If we are to be of any use to your people we should press on, no?"
Alquas: "What's the distraction?" He looks around, irritatedly, but compared to the splendour of colours in the flowstorm the landscape seems positively drab and featureless.
Chimrea: "A wolf, might be calling to Kerem's spirit." She frowns. "At the temple, will anyone care what I have to say, or will I be there for hours listening to you priests and academics argue?"
Alquas ignores her. "Such a disturbance in the flows of essence... what could be the cause?"
Alquas: "A wolf, you say?" he responds, eventually tuning in to her half of the conversation. "Hardly relevant, is it?"
Holmes: The wold spirit, at the mention of Kerem's spirit, looks directly at Chimrea in a knowing way. Looking into its eyes, she can see Kerem's wolf spirit wandering the streets of some otherworldly city, with Kerem leading it on.
Chimrea stares at Alquas, blinking once, then a second time. "Well, that answers that question," she says. "If you need me, I'll be off checking irrelevancies, like where my best friend might be in this apocalyptic storm. The temple is that way--you can't miss it, it's the only one on the island."
Alquas: "Oh? Are you leaving?"
Alquas sounds almost disappointed.
Alquas: "I am um.. I am sure your input would be useful. Must you go?"
Chimrea: "That was a pretty weak save, even for you, Alquas. Look, no one at the temple is going to listen to me any more than you do--if nothing else, my parents' history here will see to that. I can't help you, but I might be able to find Kerem. He's out there alone, and I think he's gone a lot farther than the island."
Alquas stares at he dumbly for a moment, and then says, "Oh."
Alquas: "I, ah.."
Chimrea stops in the act of turning to stomp away. "Oh? Was that the sound of me getting through?"
Alquas: "Perhaps it is for the best. You should find Kerem. He may be in danger."
Alquas: "I will... see you again, Chimrea."
Chimrea looks like she's about to ask for an explanation, then bites it back. "You're so frustrating sometimes. Just... be careful, okay? Don't go running off alone, too. I couldn't stand it if both of you got lost."
Alquas almost blushes at the indicator that Chimrea cares.
Alquas: "You should go. I am sorry it is difficult, Chimrea. For what it is worth."
Alquas stalks off toward the island. "Be safe!" he calls out, behind him.
Chimrea smiles, lighting up her whole face, hand raised in farewell for several seconds after he's gone. Then she turns to find the wolf.
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: After making his way around the lake to the causeway, Alquas finds himself standing at the beginning of a causeway that looks to be made of baked earth and runs straight as an arrow out to the island aimed right at the steps that go up the somewhat pyramid-shaped temple.
Holmes: A priest is running his way, "Get back!"
Holmes: "It's not safe!"
Alquas: "What isn't?"
Holmes: The priest looks at Alquas incredulously, "The whole damn island! The spirits are run amok, and the gate is moving things, and nothing is what it should be!"
Alquas: "And your plan is to run? There's a storm over the whole colony!"
Alquas: "Is anyone trying to control this?"
Alquas advances, trying not to let the priest pass him.
Holmes: "The high priest is trying to control things, yes. And a few other priests. But it's not working," he relays. "Let me go by!"
Alquas slaps the man, curtly.
Holmes: The priest is taken aback, and is momentarily calmer.
Alquas: "Get a hold of yourself. I thought that men of the gods were supposed to have faith, and here you run like a coward. You're one of the few people in this whole damned colony who might have the slightest inkling of what's going on here, and you run?"
Alquas: "Go back in. Take me to your high priest."
Alquas: There is something in the mind of a person that bends to authority powerfully expressed, and it is the lot of aristocrats to learn that voice. Using it, Alquas barks the man back up the causeway.
Holmes: As they approach the temple, Alquas can see what the priest is talking about. The magic seems to twist madly all emanating from a point half way up on the temple stairs. They duck more than once, to avoid passing waves of essence.
Holmes: A nearby statue of a scorpion is struck by one of these waves, and comes to life. It snaps a couple of times, seems to look about, and then starts heading towards Alquas.
Alquas: "Oh, of course. And you couldn't have had a statue of a rabbit?"
Alquas readies a potion bottle, noting he's low on Tayallin oil.
Alquas: "What happened on these stairs? Why here? Why now?"
Holmes: Alquas is nearly chopped in half by a stone claw, when another wave of essence turns the statue back into immobile stone.
Alquas takes a few paces back anyway.
Alquas: "You! Tell me what happened here! Everything you know!"
Alquas: "And where is the thrice damned High Priest!"
Alquas does not lower the oil, eyeing the statue warily as he yells.
Holmes: The priest points up the temple to the top of it, "He's up there!"
Holmes: "But there's another way up."
Holmes: Obviously refering to the incredible danger posed by whatever it is that's focusing the essence storm on the stairs.
Alquas: "And this other way? Take me to it!"
Alquas eys all statues warily, potion bottle poised.
Holmes: *
Holmes: After a tiring climb, Alquas and his priest emerge on the top of the temple. There, a rather festooned man seems to be pleading with something invisible in the sky, surrounded by several other priests.
Alquas: "Zhanjiir High Priest! My name is Alquas ei-Qeddim, son of the Seyjji of Ajarrya. I am a mage of some power, and I come to aid you in controlling this flowstorm."
Holmes: The high priest, not having time to spare on arguing, decides to accept what help he can get.
Holmes: Though he does look twice at Alquas, obviously concerned with his Vajaari heritage.
Alquas: "So, what caused all this, Zhanjiir?"
Alquas: "Such a disturbance in the flows of essence is no happenstance, surely. What provoked it?"
Holmes: "The universe is rent! It may be the end of days!" says the priest hastily. He then speaks words to the beings that Alquas cannot see, again trying to calm them.
Alquas: "Can we not control this gate of yours? Seal it shut?2
Holmes: "It's possible to close it for short periods," the priest replies, taking a moment to think about it. "Yes."
Alquas: "Then if it would calm the storm and your.. spirits, is it not the wisest course?" He draws himself up. "What must be done?"
Holmes: The priest nods, and the gate closing ritual begins.
Alquas: As the preaparations are being made, Alquas busies himself in subterfuge. Using his dominated priest as a patsy, he slwoly subverts elements of the ritual. It's all about geometry - the subtle movement of objects a few movements away, taking aritual with one focal poitn and creating a shape with two... one on the gate, and one on him.
Alquas: Alll the while, the priest is watching over. In his best Rhiani, Alquas flatters him. he even asks him if he's doing things correctly, even as he introduces flaws.
Alquas picks up a small bowl, and lights a flame, and gets ready to sing.
Alquas: The priest arer whirling around, waving flames in the air and chanting words in Rhiani in supplication, and Alquas mirrors them... but his steps are slightly different...a movement here or there. Precise, mathematical, shifting the focus. And his flame burns slightly greener than the rest - the slightest trace of Akashic powder. And his words contain the faintest touch of things out of place...
Alquas: It was all about the placement. Diistorting the circle into an ellipse creates to foci... and at the critical moment, Alquas turns, spins gracefully, and leaps into the exact spot...
Alquas: The gate starts to seal, its colours becoming occluded by darkness sealing it from sight... but rather than seal all the way, it tightens to apinhole, and through the pinhole the essence is drawn to a point, to a focus...
Alquas: Light rushes through the flame, its guide, and pours into Alquas via the eyes, nose and throat, until he has had his fill.
Alquas: With eyes that burn with tiny flames, Alquas says "The universe is rent, yes, and I drink from the wound!"

Shadow World

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