"Okay.
Mikage says, "Okay."
Dowager Queen Anthy says, "My humor page, Mikage:  http://www.dkcomm.net/rhea/AmberRPG/Humor.html"
"I've read that. What's 19 and 20?
Mikage asks, "I've read that. What's 19 and 20?"
Rod says, "scroll down more, mik"
Rod says, "refresh page"
Dowager Queen Anthy says, "19 and 20 are scenes for COAEG"
"Oh.
Mikage says, "Oh."
"Just how good is exalted extended performance?
Mikage asks, "Just how good is exalted extended performance?"
Rod says, "it's Exhalted."
Rod asks, "what do you think?"
Gideon says, "You can go on and on and on and on and on and on ..."
Eudial says, "Hallelujah."
Rod says, "er... 19 kinda goes by fast, john"
Rod says, "it could use some pacing"
"wait, I meant enhanced performance. ^^;
Mikage says, "wait, I meant enhanced performance. ^^;"
"exalted enhanced performance.
Mikage says, "exalted enhanced performance."
Rod says, "enahnced? hm."
Dowager Queen Anthy says, "Feel free to tinker, Rod."
"ooo, Love Hina manga scans.
Mikage says, "ooo, Love Hina manga scans."
Eudial falls asleep.
Somewhere on the muck, Hotaru has disconnected.
Windir wakes up.
Rod says, "the unknown secret of the worlds.  There's the Unicorn of Pattern, there's the Serpent of the Logrus, then there's the Mokori Weasel of Mack."
Rod asks, "didn't you have something for TR to do?"
"I thought it was the Mink of Mack.
Mikage says, "I thought it was the Mink of Mack."
Dowager Queen Anthy says, "Yes, I do"
Dowager Queen Anthy says, "But I got distracted."
Rod says, "that's okay, it was Mack and Cthulhu :)"
Dowager Queen Anthy asks, "Okay, you ready, Mikage?"
"Sure.
Mikage says, "Sure."
After spending the evening with Anthy, you end up retiring alone to your quarters, where sleep swiftly takes you. [spoofed by Akemi]
Naga wakes up.
Rod says, "driving home, giving ride to co-worker, back in 45"
Rod has disconnected.
>> Hate will never abandon you.  Loathing will never let you down.  Viva Evil.
You awken to find a rabbit jumping up and down on your chest. [spoofed by Akemi]
: tsks and begins to sit up.
Mikage tsks and begins to sit up.
The rabbit says, "You gotta come with me."  It whips out a switchblade.  "Or I'll have to get nasty." [spoofed by Akemi]
You notice there is a large hole in your floor which didn't use to be there, rather like a super-economy size rabbit hole. [spoofed by Akemi]
"OOC Oh no! It's bunbun!
Mikage exclaims, "OOC Oh no! It's bunbun!"
"What is this...?
Mikage asks, "What is this...?"
The rabbit shrugs.  "Just doing my job."  He points at the hole in the floor.  "You have to go jump down that, and then I get to go hang around the dreams of the cast of Baywatch for a while.  So we both win.  Really." [spoofed by Akemi]
Naga falls asleep.
"Dreams, you say?" He scratches his head. "Oh, why not?" He gets up and looks down the hole.
Mikage says, "Dreams, you say?" He scratches his head. "Oh, why not?" He gets up and looks down the hole.
It looks like a long dark shaft down.  Loud Wagnerian Opera drifts up from somewhere below. [spoofed by Akemi]
: shakes his head. "That last glass of rose wine was a bad idea.
Mikage shakes his head. "That last glass of rose wine was a bad idea."
The rabbit shrugs.  "It's all insightful and stuff, or so they say.  Me, I'd rather watch Baywatch while I sleep, but..." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Well, here I go, then." He jumps in.
Mikage says, "Well, here I go, then." He jumps in.
You zoom downwards, past a series of small dioramas, showing various events of Amber's history. [spoofed by Akemi]
You can see Gendo's deathbed, his marriage to Anthy, many battles and other marriages, and then... [spoofed by Akemi]
You plummet out of the hole and into a tree.  This is rather, well...painful. [spoofed by Akemi]
*Crash!  Shatter!  Break!  Snapple!* [spoofed by Akemi]
The tree breaks your fall, and you land on the ground, more hurt in dignity than physically. [spoofed by Akemi]
"OW.
Mikage says, "OW."
You are lying next to a road in your pajamas, and now you hear the clip clop of horse hooves. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Oh, now what?
Mikage asks, "Oh, now what?"
The road is made of odd blue bricks, and the sun shines brightly. [spoofed by Akemi]
A young man, looking perhaps to be in his late teens, is riding up towards you, mounted on a magnificent white charger.  "Hello, traveller!" he says, as he rides closer. [spoofed by Akemi]
The man is well muscled, average in height, with close cropped dark brown hair. [spoofed by Akemi]
: stands up, dusts himself off, and greets the rider. "Good day, sir. Could you tell me where this is?
Mikage stands up, dusts himself off, and greets the rider. "Good day, sir. Could you tell me where this is?"
He looks vaguely familiar, though you can't think of where you might have seen him. [spoofed by Akemi]
He says, "Well, at the last village, they told me this was the road to the Tower of the Sword.  So I'm hoping they're right and I'm not hideously lost."  As he draws closer, you can see he's wearing a grey surcoat with the Unicorn Rampant on it in white. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Tower of the Sword... Mind if I join you? I am known as Mikage.
Mikage says, "Tower of the Sword... Mind if I join you? I am known as Mikage."
He looks around.  "Though this doesn't look like the forest of despair."  Turning back to you, he says, "I would be glad for the companionship.  Long have I journeyed alone through Shadow.  My name is Gendo.  A pleasure to meet you."  He whistles, and a black horse that matches his rides out of the woods.  "A mount for you, good sir." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Thank you, kind sir." He mounts the horse. "For what purpose do you seek this sword? What is this sword?
Mikage asks, "Thank you, kind sir." He mounts the horse. "For what purpose do you seek this sword? What is this sword?"
Gendo says, "Every king needs a good sword, and Father tells me this one has the power to reveal the truth."
Gendo says, "It's name is Justice, and I will be able to use it both to protect and lead my nation."
Gendo laughs nervously.  "My nation...it doesn't even exist yet.  But it will."
"I suppose that probably sounds a little crazy." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Not at all. It sounds like a noble dream.
Mikage says, "Not at all. It sounds like a noble dream."
Gendo relaxes.  "Father is building the city while I gather everything we will need."
The forest slowly becomes more dismal as you ride along, and the sky clouds over. [spoofed by Akemi]
"What do you already have. if I may ask?
Mikage asks, "What do you already have. if I may ask?"
"I fought the Dragon of Hate to gain the Heart of Flame, and wrestled the North Wind for the Bag of Winds, and swam across the ocean to petition Neptune for the Cup of Life.  I need to get my sword, and then I have to find the Seed of Hope, wherever that is." [spoofed by Akemi]
He looks around.  "Now that's more like a Forest of Despair." [spoofed by Akemi]
Voices begin to wail in despair in the distance. [spoofed by Akemi]
: nods. "Indeed.
Mikage nods. "Indeed."
"I wanted to go get the sword first, to use to fight the Dragon, but the Dragon came looking for me before I could find it." [spoofed by Akemi]
A tower can now be seen, poking its head above the trees. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Then I'll have to go out and find people for our city, and then a crown, and then a wife." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Well, there's the tower...
Mikage says, "Well, there's the tower..."
He nods.  "So what is your quest?" [spoofed by Akemi]
: smiles. "I don't know. To bring the world revolution, I suppose.
Mikage smiles. "I don't know. To bring the world revolution, I suppose."
Gendo nods.  "What's that?"
Wolves begin to howl in the distance, and the horses whinney a little nervously. [spoofed by Akemi]
"It's even more vague than your dream, actually. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm chasing the rainbow.
Mikage says, "It's even more vague than your dream, actually. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm chasing the rainbow."
Gendo nods.  "I spent a month chasing a rainbow once, and never caught it.  Then I went home and asked Father why he told me to catch it, and he just gave me that infuriating smile of his."  He pauses.  "I suppose you wouldn't know what that looks like, though."
Akemi pages, "Your psychic senses register some great power ahead in the tower." to you.
"I have an idea...
Mikage says, "I have an idea..."
"ooc of the smile, I mean.
Mikage says, "ooc of the smile, I mean."
"That is the towed that holds Justice, indeed.
Mikage says, "That is the towed that holds Justice, indeed."
"tower, even
Mikage says, "tower, even"
The road bends, then comes to a small river.  A bridge stands over the river, and upon the bridge stands a black horse, with a rider upon it, clad in a red surcoat with a black serpent. [spoofed by Akemi]
Under the surcoat, he wears black platemail with a helm that hides his face. [spoofed by Akemi]
Rod has connected.
>> "Kill them all, yeeees, they'll never know what..... oh.  Hi there."
Gendo glances over at you, "Do you always run into a knight every time you try to cross a river?" [spoofed by Akemi]
: whispers, "I've not had that experience, no.
Mikage whispers, "I've not had that experience, no."
He nods.  "Hail, good sir Knight!" [spoofed by Akemi]
"NONE SHALL PASS!" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo shrugs.  "Would you like the first go at him, Sir Mikage?"
"I... defer that honor, Sir Gendo.
Mikage says, "I... defer that honor, Sir Gendo."
Gendo nods
Gendo gets his lance and shouts, "I accept your challenge!"
"NONE SHALL PASS!" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo shakes his head.  "Not much of a talker."
"NONE SHALL PASS!" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo levels his lance and charges, as does the other knight.  They both unhorse each other, then start to whale away at each other with swords. [spoofed by Akemi]
: sighs and sits back on his horse.
Mikage sighs and sits back on his horse.
Meanwhile, their horses glance over at them, then at each other, and slip off together towards the trees. [spoofed by Akemi]
The two men whale away at each other, unable to penetrate each other's armor, anticipating each other's moves. [spoofed by Akemi]
Meanwhile, their horses are lost in a mating frenzy. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Do you require assistance, Sir Gendo?
And out of the woods, a half-dozen goblins begin to creep towards the horses. [spoofed by Akemi]
Mikage asks, "Do you require assistance, Sir Gendo?"
: draws his sword and creeps toward the horses, himself.
Mikage draws his sword and creeps toward the horses, himself.
Gendo exclaims, "I'm just fine!  Should have this fellow dealt with in just a minute!"
Gendo says, "I'"
Gendo exclaims, "I'd appreciate it if you made sure my horse gets his afternoon tea!"
"I... doubt tea is what it has in mind, sir.
Mikage says, "I... doubt tea is what it has in mind, sir."
The goblins approach the horses, then pause, obviously not sure if they should interrupt. [spoofed by Akemi]
Windir falls asleep.
Whang!  Clang!  Whack!  Parry!  Counter!  Feint!  Thrust!  the knights continue whaling away. [spoofed by Akemi]
The horses finish their business, and the goblins now notice you, staring at you warily. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Say, fellows," adressing the goblins, "what do you intend to do with our mounts?
Mikage asks, "Say, fellows," adressing the goblins, "what do you intend to do with our mounts?"
"Well, uh, we wuz figguring we wuz gonna take 'em to the Red Queen as presents, see.  'cause she like, likes horses, ya know." [spoofed by Akemi]
"The red... queen?
Mikage asks, "The red... queen?"
The second one nods, pausing from picking his nose.  "Yeah, like the Red Queen rules the forest of Despair and all that jazz.  She's like...Red." [spoofed by Akemi]
The third one says, "She makes great poisoned apples too." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Ah. Good of you to tell me these things.
Mikage says, "Ah. Good of you to tell me these things."

He holds out an apple to you.  "Here, have one." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Er.. thank you." He tries to pocket the apple.
Mikage says, "Er.. thank you." He tries to pocket the apple.
You succeed. [spoofed by Akemi]
The fourth one says, "So, like, we'll just be stealing these horses now." [spoofed by Akemi]
"could you steal the black one? We'll be needing the other two.
Mikage says, "could you steal the black one? We'll be needing the other two."
"Well, we wuzn't gonna take yours, 'cause you were still on it." the fifth one says.  "What 'cha gonna do with the white one?" [spoofed by Akemi]
"My friend, the one in white," CLANG! "is going to need it after the battle.
Mikage says, "My friend, the one in white," CLANG! "is going to need it after the battle."
"Hmm.  If you say so."  They take the black one and scamper off, leaving Gendo's horse behind. [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo finally pushes his foe back to the ravine and knocks the knight into it. [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo says, "Now, THAT was a fight," he says.
As the Black Knight falls, it shouts, "Strike me down and I will only return more powerful than befoooooooorrrrreeeee!!!!!!!!" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo returns.  "Time for us to ride on."
: sheaths his sword. "I took care of the goblins.
Mikage sheaths his sword. "I took care of the goblins."
Gendo says, "Thank you, good sir knight."
: nods and mounts his own horse. "Let us away.
Mikage nods and mounts his own horse. "Let us away."
Gendo rides across the bridge with you.  Down below, you can see the Black Knight being carried off by the current.
The ground begins to slope upwards, and finally, you emerge from the forest, riding up a steep slope towards the tower, which stands on a great outcropping of rock which thrusts out over the ocean. [spoofed by Akemi]
A huge serpent is coiled round the tower. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Cheery place.
Mikage says, "Cheery place."
Gendo says, "Well, if the life of a knight was easy...well, it would be easy."
The serpent, which has only one eye, raises its head and stares unblinkingly at you. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Why does it have one eye?
Mikage asks, "Why does it have one eye?"
Gendo says, "Good question." [spoofed by Akemi]
"Must have a depth perception problem.
Mikage says, "Must have a depth perception problem."
"It was stolen from me, children of Amber." [spoofed by Akemi]
The serpent's voice is raspy, but powerful. [spoofed by Akemi]
"And I can smell the thief's blood in your veins!"  Its tongue darts in and out, tasting the air. [spoofed by Akemi]
"What is the Serpent of Chaos doing out here?
Mikage asks, "What is the Serpent of Chaos doing out here?"
"Ah, well. Dreams aren't supposed to make sense...
Mikage says, "Ah, well. Dreams aren't supposed to make sense..."
: places a hand on his rapier.
Mikage places a hand on his rapier.
Somewhere on the muck, Lara has disconnected.Somewhere on the muck, Lara has disconnected.
Gendo says, "It's obviously the guardian of the tower, probably bound by some sorceror"
Gendo shrugs.  "That's how it usually is.  Yield up your treasure, Serpent, or perish!"
Its head moves back and forth, almost hypnotically.  "Answer my riddle, and I will let you pass," it says. [spoofed by Akemi]
"I hate riddles.
Mikage says, "I hate riddles."
Gendo sweatdrops.  "Can we try a chess game instead?"
"Give us the bloody riddle, all right?
Mikage asks, "Give us the bloody riddle, all right?"
"What have I got in my....no wait, I don't have any pockets." [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo sweatdrops.
"ooc This Gendo is a goofy bastard. ^^;
Mikage says, "ooc This Gendo is a goofy bastard. ^^;"
Gideon . o O ( OOC He's young. :) )
"What is the chain which no sword can break, but words can shatter with ease?" the Serpent asks. [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo. o O (Oatmeal...back bacon...very small rocks?  Churches?  The Mason-Dixon line?  No, no no...I should have asked for the...no, wait, I DID ask for the Chess Game...)
Rod says, "ooCLY you're getting lara bartram's Gendo, see......"
Gendo asks, "Do we both get a guess?"
The serpent looks vastly amused.  "Certainly." [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo thinks for a very, very long time.
Gendo finally says, "The chains of one's memories!"
The Serpent shakes its head.  "You can't break memories with words." [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo exclaims, "But it fits the first half!"
"Cut yourself in half and I'll let half of you pass." [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo sweatdrops.
Gendo glances over at you.  "Got any ideas?"
"ooc Sorry, idled, parents arrived.
Mikage says, "ooc Sorry, idled, parents arrived."
Gendo asks, "OOC Okay. You gonna need to stop, or can ya continue?"
"OOC Continue.
Mikage says, "OOC Continue."
"Hmmm.
Mikage says, "Hmmm."
"A promise.
Mikage says, "A promise."
The Serpent sighs.  "Hrmph.  Go on in."  It uncoils and gets out of the way [spoofed by Akemi]
Inside the tower is a large room which reminds you of a church, although it has two altars. [spoofed by Akemi]
Each of the altars has a sword thrust into it. [spoofed by Akemi]
One of the altars has the words 'This Sword Waits for the King of All Colors and None." [spoofed by Akemi]
The other reads, "This Sword Waits for the Ever-Burning Brand" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo scratches his head, then says, "Well, I'm not ever burning, so I won't worry about the other one."
Gendo walks over and pulls out the sword.  A glistening tracery shines along the blade, showing a segment of the Pattern.
Gendo looks thoughtful. He takes his sword out of his sheath and sticks it in the altar, then uses his sheathe for his new blade.
The writing on the altar rearranges itself.  "This Sword Waits for Someone Who Needs a Sword" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo says, "Righto."
Gendo says, "Ready to go?"
Rod says, "OOCly uh oh, Exhalted Parental Attack"
Rod says, "OOCly pity ol' TR o.o"
Gendo says, "OOC Yeah, sounds like it :)"
Juri of Avalon screams "BURNING PARENTAL ALUMINUM FURY!!", and punches Shaft in the back.
Rod says, "Aluminum? O.o"
Gendo says, "Aluminum fires are quite hard to put out."
Rod says, "ah, this is when Shaft pisses off the daughter of a chemist"
Rod processes the first 6 episodes of Ranma.... subtitled.
Gendo says, "Heh."
: OOC "Argh...
Mikage OOC "Argh..."
Gendo says, "OOC Does this mean we're going to die for the night at the hands of your parents? :)"
"OOC No, it's okay. I had to stay with them for their lunch.
Mikage says, "OOC No, it's okay. I had to stay with them for their lunch."
"OOC Back, though.
Mikage says, "OOC Back, though."
Rod exclaims, "OOCly PARENTAL LUNCHEON TIME DRAINING ATTAAAAACK!"
Gendo asks, "OOC Do you need me to repeat the stuff you missed?"
"No, it's okay.
Mikage says, "No, it's okay."
"Who is the the Ever-Burning Brand?
Mikage asks, "Who is the the Ever-Burning Brand?"
"Oh, wait... that would be the Pattern, wouldn't it?
Mikage asks, "Oh, wait... that would be the Pattern, wouldn't it?"
Gendo hrms.  "I don't think the Pattern could come and draw the sword itself, though."
Somewhere on the muck, Mike has disconnected.Somewhere on the muck, Mike has disconnected.
Gendo scratches his head.  "Maybe it's someone named Brand who is always on fire...no, that's too silly."
"
Mikage says, "..."
Gendo says, "Well, you could always give it a pull.  Couldn't hurt."
: nods and steps to the altar
Mikage nods and steps to the altar
You attempt to pull the sword.  Your hand tingles briefly, but it doesn't come out.  However, the sky does crack open, and everything turns a pleasant shade of purple. [spoofed by Akemi]
And then you're standing in a hallway, holding a doorknob. [spoofed by Akemi]
It looks somewhat like Castle Amber, but cruder, all of wood and less well decorated. [spoofed by Akemi]
"Odd.
Mikage says, "Odd."
Beyond the door, you hear a man and a woman having a discussion about whether to use the Bag of Winds aganst some sort of invasion fleet. [spoofed by Akemi]
You recognize the man's voice as that of Gendo.  He sounds a bit older. [spoofed by Akemi]
: presents himself to Gendo. "Sire.
Mikage presents himself to Gendo. "Sire."
You can see Gendo seated with a lovely woman with short cropped brown hair and a pleasant smile, dressed in an expensive dress.  The room is a small study of the type common in Castle Amber, though the furniture isn't as nice as it should be.  "Ahh, good day, Sir Mikage.  Do you bring news of the approaching fleet?" [spoofed by Akemi]
Gendo says, "Ooc  Arrgh, it's 230 AM here, and I'm going to have to stop here."
Gendo says, "OOC As I must sleep so I can rise tomorrow and do work."
Rod says, "OOCly doh"
Rod says, "OOCly at least you have something to game with next time :)"
"OOC Okay. ^^;
Mikage says, "OOC Okay. ^^;"