From pmoyer@jurai.net Sat Aug 19 20:54:45 2000
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2000 21:17:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Philip J. Moyer <pmoyer@jurai.net>
To: John Biles <rhea@ikkoku.maison-otaku.net>
Subject: Updated Hiko/Juri/Corrine/Etc log...

[[accidentally didn't grab a few lines along the way... this updated
version has 'em.  -- PJM]]

8/19
Hiko the Firechilde turns to look at Juri again.  "Who's my father?"

Juri goes over to a shelf and gets two silver cups and a flagon of wine, 
placing them on the table, then goes over to the portrait.  "This was my 
mother Haruka, and my father Gendo.  They're both dead.  This is Eowyn.  
(Points to the eldest of the children) She drowned in a frozen lake.  This is 
me.  This is Catherine (the third oldest).  The Cimbri war chief Arovisticus 
raped and killed her.  (points to the fourth oldest).  This is Corrine, who is 
still alive and defends Arden.  [points to the youngest]  And this is Haruka 
Minor, who was killed by the Cimbri during truce negotiations."

Hiko the Firechilde nods.  THIS sound like familiar ground.

Juri sits down.  "Many years later, mother was murdered by the Cimbri, so
Father and I killed them all."

Juri continues, "But that opened the door to new invaders the Cimbri had kept
away from us.  The Alans."

Hiko the Firechilde nods, a glimmer of approval in her eyes at the first
statement, a frown at the latter.

Her voice grows more grim.  "Father remarried, a woman named Charlotte.
Charlotte, unbeknownst to us, was in league with the Alans."

You page-pose, "Aerianne appears, and wows at his timing. "well, I'll be idle 
for a while, but I think Corrine's glad to be here in spirit at least...."" to 
Akemi.

"She told them where I had gone to inspect a fortress, so they invaded and 
carried me off, then forced me to marry their chieftan, Ludovicus."

Juri says, "He had me for nineteen years."

Hiko the Firechilde nods.  "And he is my father."

Juri says, "While Charlotte secretly sabotaged all our efforts."

Hiko the Firechilde is beginning to understand...

Juri says, "All those nineteen years, he tried to get me pregnant, but my 
aide-de-camp, Yui, supplied me with drugs.  All the babies were stillborn."

Juri says, "Sometimes they come in my dreams and...I will not speak of it."

Juri says, "But the final few months, Yui ran out of drugs."

Juri says, "Ludovicus had always been careful in the past to make sure I 
couldn't hurt him before he...lay with me.

Hiko the Firechilde 's eyes darken.  Yes, this is familiar ground.

Juri pours herself a glass of wine, and another one for you.  She drinks it in 
one gulp.

Juri says, "But the final night, he was drunk, but came anyway."

Juri says, "And after he was finished, I drove a tent peg through his head"

Juri says, "Then fed him to his hunting dogs."

Hiko the Firechilde takes a sip of the wine, her eyes glimmering with banked 
fire.

Juri says, "Then I took up his sword, and killed the man they'd forced Yui to 
marry.  And then we escaped."

## ^_- ##

Juri says, "I returned to Amber, only to learn Charlotte had convinced my 
father, Gendo, that I'd willingly joined the Alans and was trying to use them 
to conquer Amber."

Hiko the Firechilde nods slowly.

Juri says, "I will always be grateful to Drake that he believe me, and 
together, we led a surprise attack on the main Alan army and destroyed it."

## -_- ##
## H_H ##

Juri pours another glass and drinks it, her hands trembling.

Juri says, "Then we returned to confront Charlotte...but Charlotte had heard 
of the victory, and tried to use her daughter, Nanami, to erase the Pattern."

Juri says, "So Touga forced her to walk it, and it destroyed her utterly."

Hiko the Firechilde blinks.  "You can erase the pattern?  What is this 
pattern?  The old man said I had it in me."

Juri says, "Father had the marriage annuled, and declared me innocent of 
treason.  Then I found out I was pregnant."

Hiko the Firechilde files away the names for latter examination...

Juri says, "The Pattern sits down in the basement of this castle.  Once you 
walk it, the image of it is branded into you, mystically."

Juri says, "It can, however, be damaged by the blood of anyone of our family."

Juri says, "So, Yui and I went off to a Shadow where time flows more swiftly."

Juri says, "I couldn't decide if I wanted to keep my baby or not, but I 
certainly didn't want to have to answer any questions about who the father 
was."

Juri says, "As I grew more pregnant, I decided it would be unfair to punish 
you for what your father had done, and I resolved I would raise you to the 
best of my ability, and try to make Mother proud of me."

Juri stares at her empty glass.  "But then you were taken from me, and I was 
stripped of even the memory of your existence.  If I find that man who did it, 
I will kill him."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "The old man said he was after me."

Juri says, "Call him Fuyutsuki.  That's his name.  He's your 
great-grandfather."

Juri says, "The old man, that is."

Hiko the Firechilde fingers the card in her pocket, but doesn't show it to 
Juri.

Juri says, "I do not know the purple-haired man's name, and even with my new 
abilities, I cannot find him in Shadow, no matter how hard I look.  "

Hiko the Firechilde says, "I have a great-grandfather.  He's dead now."

Hiko the Firechilde also files the "new abilities" comment away for further 
examination.

Juri fills her glass again.  "Hiko, everyone has four great-grandfathers.  
Three of yours are dead, but Fuyutsuki lives."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "The old ma-- Fuyutsuki said that you could help me 
hide so the madman wouldn't find me."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "And now we see Juri's maternal side coming 
out... <<Call him Fuyutsuki.>>"

Juri says, "This is the safest fortress in all of creation.  You will be safe 
here, or you will not be safe anywhere."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly giggles.

Juri says, "And I will not let you be taken from me again.  (Her voice is 
quite firm as she says that).  "

Hiko the Firechilde nods.  A thought strikes her.  "How did I get here?  It's 
not like when I walk through fire."

Juri says, "I have told you my tale.  Will you tell me yours?"

Juri says, "I'm afraid I don't know how you got here, as no one has told me, 
Hiko."

Hiko the Firechilde thinks for a bit.  "I got up this morning.  Went for 
provisions and found the old ma-- Fuyutsuki.  He said that he was looking for 
me and that there was a madman who wanted to kill me.  He let me get my 
things, and then he opened up a door between worlds.  That's it."

Juri looks thoughtful.  "A hole in the air?"

Hiko the Firechilde nods.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Can everyone here do that?  Because Not Dead Kasumi 
pulled him through a hole, too."

Juri stands, and her vision glazes.  One of her hands traces out something 
oval shaped, and then the air rips open in a square.  Through the hole, you 
see a grove of apple trees, and a salt breeze blows through it.

There was no hole when Kasumi did it.

Juri . o O (Not Dead Kasumi?)

Juri says, "This is Avalon, where I go when I wish to be alone."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "I know, but we're using Hiko's frame of 
reference, and remember her BP deficiency..."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "The Kasumi who's not dead. ^_^"

Juri says, "I got Fuyutsuki to teach me how to learn some of the advanced arts 
of the Pattern."

Hiko the Firechilde gazes at Avalon.  "It looks... pretty."

Juri says, "And when I rewalked the Pattern to initiate myself into those 
arts, I regained my memories of losing you."

Juri says, "Avalon is my dream of the perfect land."

Juri says, "Yui rules it for me in my absence."

Juri says, "One day, once you walk the Pattern, you'll be able to do this too."
The window closes, and she sags into her chair.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Are you alright... Juri-san?"

Juri says, "That is a very exhausting thing for me to do."

Juri says, "I'm still learning how to do it properly."

Hiko the Firechilde nods.

Juri says, "So tell me about how you grew up?  Where did you live?  Who raised 
you?"

Hiko the Firechilde gets uncomfortable again.  It is clear that she doesn't 
like to talk about herself much.  "My... mother and father are Ranma and 
Akane, of the Kingdom of Heaven.  I lived there for about twenty years.  "

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly looks for her desc. of Hell for reference.

Juri seems a little surprised by the names, but nods and listens.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "One day, some warriors came through a black rift 
and slaughtered the royal family.  I was the only survivor.  Then there were 
battles between the resistance and the warriors.  I survived those, too."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "This was about 82 years ago."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "That's it."

Juri frowns.  "Did they use this as a symbol?"  She goes and gets a piece of 
paper from another shelf, and draws a sigil on it that resembles a computer 
circuit with a bullet through one side of it.  


Hiko the Firechilde looks startled.  She takes up the piece of paper.  "Yes."

Juri frowns.  "A small fleet of cyberships flying that flag attacked Avalon 
about a hundred years ago.  They did a lot of damage before we destroyed them."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "Did they all die?"

Juri says, "Most died, but some of them managed to escape into Shadow."

Hiko the Firechilde nods.  "They all need to die."

Juri says, "Their leaders apparently had been initiated into a Broken Pattern 
called 'The Circuit' and used it to maraud through Shadow."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Broken Pattern?"

Juri says, "The Pattern is reflected in Shadow.  As you move away from Amber, 
these Broken Patterns develop large holes in them.  By walking through the 
hole, anyone can learn to move through Shadow."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Fuyutuski said I had one of those."

Juri pauses and looks at you, her eyes overlaid with the image of the Pattern. 
 "Why yes, you do."
 
Hiko the Firechilde says, "How did I get it?"

Juri says, "You would have had to walk through a Broken Pattern.  "

Juri says, "But you don't remember doing that?"

Hiko the Firechilde shakes her head.  "no."

Juri says, "Someone's tampered with your memories then."

Juri says, "Because I can't imagine you could have forgotten."

Hiko the Firechilde narrows her eyes.  "I don't like that idea.  Not at all."

Juri says, "Well, there's several ways to fix your memories."

Juri says, "You could walk the Pattern."

Juri says, "Or I could call your aunt Nanami or your Aunt Wakaba, and they 
could try to fix the problem."

Hiko the Firechilde thinks about it.

Hiko the Firechilde nods.  "I think I'd like to meet the rest of my... family."

Juri nods

Juri gets out a deck of cards.  Each has a person or place on it.  She pages 
through them.

Juri puts two down on the table.  One shows an irritated looking blonde woman, 
dressed in yellow.  The other shows a graceful, smiling brunette.  "This is 
your Aunt Nanami.  And this is your Aunt Wakaba.  Pick one."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly recalls Shaft's logs with glee.

Hiko the Firechilde puts her hand on the one with Wakaba on it.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "I choose her."

The card is cool, but then warms slightly.  To your surprise, the world fades 
to translucency, and the woman on the card appears before you.  She is 
standing in a garden, near a dark-skinned woman dressed in red.  She blinks at 
you.  "Hello?" she says, fiddling with a fan.  The sun glints off several 
rings on her fingers and the silver necklace with a unicorn pendant which she 
is wearing.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "Wakaba!  I choose you!"

Hiko the Firechilde blinks.  "Are you Wakaba?"

Wakaba says, "Yes.  Umm...do I know you?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "I don't think so.  Juri said you could help me with 
regaining some lost memories."

Wakaba smiles.  "Ahh, you're a friend of Juri's?"  She turns to the 
dark-skinned woman.  "I'll be right back, Mom."  She turns back to you.  
"Sure, pull me through."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "How do I do that?"

Wakaba reaches out to you.  "Take my hand and pull."

Hiko the Firechilde takes Wakaba's hand and pulls.

Wakaba ends up standing on the table, her foot on the two cards.

She lithely jumps off and straightens her dress.  "So someone has tampered 
with your memories?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "That's what Juri seems to think."

Wakaba says, "Well, I can fix that.  You're going to have to open your mind to 
me, though, or I can't get in to help you."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Do I have to?"

Wakaba says, "If a knife was imbedded in your stomach, I'd have to touch your 
stomach to fix it.  Given the problem is inside your head, there's no other 
way for me to help you but to go inside it."

Hiko the Firechilde nods slowly....  She does not like the idea, but she likes 
the idea of having missing memories less.

Hiko the Firechilde lets down her mental shields slowly.

Wakaba comes over to you, then spends about five minutes casting a spell, 
which you're fairly sure is intended to help her navigate inside your mind.  
Once she's done, she reaches out and touches your forehead.

Wakaba's eyes glaze over, and your head starts to feel heavy and warm.  Lights 
dance about her fingers and jewelry and around your head, and time seems to go 
strange.

Sie_Kensou has disconnected.
Aerianne OOCly returns.

Many half-forgotten memories surface, for good and ill, and then you see a 
wall, stretching across a desert.  Wakaba stands before it, and holds up her 
hands.  Fire, lightning, cold, winds, and many other things erupt from her 
hands, and the wall shatters.

And with that, you pass out.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "D'oh!"

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "We gonna quit here?"

Wakaba says, "OOC No, I just need to pause for a couple of minutes to go to 
the bathroom."

Wakaba says, "OOC I'll BRB."

Hiko the Firechilde giggles.

That's five, folks!

Hiko the Firechilde nods to Rod.  "Whatcha think so far?"
Rod says, "damn, Shaft's gonna be the little boy of the bunch. got a nagging 
feeling everyone's much older than 30"
Aerianne catches up.
Rod says, "unless I misread that statemetn abouve about Hiko and 80something 
years ago"
Rod says, "'Not Dead Kasumi'  reminds me of how princess Mil talks in 'Maze'"
Hiko the Firechilde says, "Naw... Hiko's 102 linearly."
Rod says, "102.  yep.  everyone's older o.o"
Hiko the Firechilde says, "How old is Shaft?"
Aerianne says, "Funky time distortions...."
Rod says, "25 o.o"
Hiko the Firechilde giggles.  "Baby cousin!"
Aerianne says, "See, the thing is, one must be careful measuring wrt. time 
gradients.  Does one measure physical expeirnece, or comparison to the 
baseline? *wg* "
"Now Shaft, be nice to your older cousin."    "... Older?  Wha'the fuck?"
Hiko the Firechilde looks like she's about twenty, though.
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I'd say comparison to baseline... or so."
Hiko the Firechilde is 350 in Amber years, I think.
Hiko the Firechilde says, "Naive young snot!"
"Now now, Baby Shaft, stop pouting."   *grumble*grumble*grumble*
Hiko the Firechilde bitchslaps her younger brother around.
Brother = cousin.
Wakaba returns.
Rod says, "hrm. possible reason for Shaft's irritable nature. sick of being 
the baby in the family."
Rod says, "Hiko won't help :)"
Wakaba hehs.
Aerianne says, "But he's cool!"

As Hiko sleeps, she remembers a day many years ago.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "This outta be good."
You page-pose, "Aerianne is back, for what it's worth... *wl*" to Akemi.

She had just finished downing a deer.  One advantage of hunting using 'Flame 
Sniper' is that it cooks your food for you.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly pauses to let the spoofer finish.

And then a shadow fell over her and the deer, a man's shadow.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "Correction: It's Sniper's Flame."

Doh.

She looked up, readying a spell to flee, and his eyes locked with hers.
He was tall and handsome, darkskinned with purple hair.

He said one word, "Come."  And Hiko came, unable to stop herself from walking 
over and taking his hand.

And then the world moved around them, changing as it did so, even though they 
stood stock still.  Trees rushed by, thinned out and turned into plains, in 
which a village became a town became a city as they approached it.

A lonely mountain thrust up from the plains, and from its southern side, a 
river flowed into the city, which now stood by the side of a lake.
You zoomed down the river, feeling water lap against your feet, and up the 
side of the mountain, still not moving, but feeling the world move instead.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "Hellriding!  Whoo hoo"

You entered the cave from which the river flowed, and then moved through a 
maze of natural caves which periodically intersected artifically carved six by 
six foot tunnels through the rock.  And then you came to a huge great hall, 
with a twenty foot ceiling, the floor filled with gold and silver and jewels.

And upon this mountain of treasure, there was a dragon, red scaled and 
ancient, rousing as you approached.

The man held up his left hand, which held three rings.  One showed a lion.  
One showed a dragon.  And one was a plain band of gold.

The dragon frowned and moved out of the way.

You zoomed past the dragon, and down a spiral staircase, then down a long 
corridor, to an oaken door, locked with a key that hung in the hallway.  The 
man unlocked the door, and now the two of you began to walk.

You walked into the room, which was some hundred yards long and eighty yards 
wide.  He had to bend down because the ceiling was an inch too short for him.

A great sigil burned greenly in the floor, except on one side where there was 
a thirty foot across black blotch.

He pointed to the hole. "Enter there, and walk through the gaps between the 
lines to the center.  Then tell it to send you back to me."

Dumbly, you did so.  With every step, you felt your mind and body being 
assaulted by forces which burrowed their way into you, marking you and 
branding you.  But...when you reached the center, his spell over you was 
broken.  "Take me somewhere safe!" you shouted.

And the world went black, and you found yourself back at home...such as home 
was, a shack in a burnt out ruins.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "Can I wake now?"
Wakaba says, "OOC Just a bit more."

But Cyberwarriors had moved in, so you had to kill them all.

And then the man found you while you wasted time on that.  You tried to fight, 
but he mastered you with a single touch, to your horror.

He invaded your mind, and taught you to use your new powers, but stripped you 
of the memory of them.  Then he left you, saying, "I have marked you, child, 
and one day, I will come for you.  And then you will pay for defying me."

Hiko the Firechilde opens her eyes.  "The bastard."

You're lying in a very soft bed, with Wakaba and Juri watching you.

Wakaba says, "I studied your psychic impression of him.  His name was
'Annadil'."

Hiko the Firechilde rolls the name around on her tongue.

Juri says, "Lord of the Gift?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Lord of the What?"

Wakaba nods.  "He doesn't look Elvish, but that would be the Elven 
translation."

Wakaba says, "The name 'Annadil' means 'Lord of the Gift' in Elvish."

Wakaba says, "And in Bgtzlian, it means 'Pimp Daddy', but I somehow suspect he 
isn't Bgtzlian."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly :giggles.

Corrine OOCly quirks an eyebrow.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "What does he want with ME?"

Wakaba says, "Unfortunately, he didn't say in your presence."

Wakaba says, "I suppose we could try a trump reading."

Hiko the Firechilde 's head hurts, but she wants to know what her role is in 
this.

Wakaba says, "Or we could go to the Shadow Theatre and see if it has anything 
to offer."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "The Shadow Play girls make my head hurt more. 
^_^"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "What do you think Juri?"

Juri says, "I've never been any good at Trump Readings, but perhaps we could 
get Miki to interpret.  The Shadow Theatre would be easier, but it often isn't 
very clear."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "The rat?"

Juri says, "No, your uncle Miki."  She pauses.  "Rat?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Yeah.  He led me down to the kitchens."

Juri blinks.  "Well, you also have an uncle named Miki who is good with 
Trumps.  And an aunt named Corrine who is good with them too.  Corrine is my 
younger sister."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly giggles.  "Oi, Phil.. you wanna play?"

Juri points to the portrait of seven year old Corrine up on the wall.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Who'd give a more accurate reading?"

Corrine OOCly looks wry.  "Corrine would strangle me if I -didn't- join in 
somehow."

Wakaba says, "I'm not sure.  I don't know how to measure skill with Trumps."

Corrine OOCly says, "Either way, I'm good."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "How good? ^_^"

Hiko the Firechilde gets up and walks over to the picture.  "Corrine?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Could you call her in here?"

Juri says, "Yes.  She's the Warden of Arden and a trump artist of some skill.  
In fact, she painted the deck I have."

Juri nods and trumps Corrine in.

Corrine OOCly says, ""Trump Artistry standard package.  Never got time to 
develop the advanced package, since was setting up the Arden Comm Network. 
*wry look* I imagine she knows the general fortune-telling skills.""
Wakaba says, "OOC Yes."

Corrine pauses as she gets trump contact, and after riffling through her deck, 
determine's its Juri calling.  She looks up in surprise, given she was just 
thinking of her... "Juri?  What is it?"

Juri says, "I need you to do a trump reading for someone."

Corrine considers, and nods, biting her lip a bit, but steeling herself.  
"You've got it.  I'll have to return to the castle afterwards... we've got a 
new member of the family who's had a few too many shocks for one day.  Pull me 
through."

Corrine . o O (I'll have my nice little breakdowns -later-.  Job first.)

Juri says, "We're in my rooms in the castle."

Hiko the Firechilde inwardly snorts, the first sign of real personality 
anyone's seen from her today.

Juri pulls Corrine through.

Akemi pages, "The way we'll do this is that you make up your own card spread, 
say what each one signifies, then I'll spoof what cards you get." to you.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Arden Comm Network?" 
(to you)

Akemi pages, "And are you using a standard deck, or one you've augmented with 
rangers, your vacation home, etc?" to you.

Shadra has arrived.

Corrine steps though, a woman in her apparent mid-twenties, wavy 
chestnut-brown hair to her shoulders, looking like she's had a few 
news-reports of her own today, but is toughing it through... and there's 
-something- about her eyes, that strongly implies her relation to Juri...

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "I was about to invite you."

Shadra OOCly says, " ^^; Thanks, I guess.. er.."

You page, "Gotcha, and yeah.  Fyutsuki's standards plus Corrine's Expandeds 
()which include the trump of mom, etc, etc.)" to Akemi.

The portrait of Juri and Corrine and their siblings and parents on the wall 
reinforces that impression :)

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly grins wryly.  "I was about to say that."

Corrine smiles slightly at Juri.  "Well, that'll make it easier to get back... 
who do you want the reading for?"

Juri says, "Corrine, this is my daughter, Hiko.  She needs a reading to 
discover what the man who stole her from me wants with her."

DUH-HDUH-DUUNNNN!

Hiko the Firechilde gives Juri a semi-annoyed look.

Corrine glances up at the portrait, fondly, and then looks back at those in 
the room.  "And hey, wakaba."  She already is reaching for the pouch on her 
hip -- and -stops-, her eyes wide as she takes in Juri's words and Hiko's 
face... *q8 "... so Fuyutsuki -was- right-...." She shakes her head rapidly, 
and opens the leather pouch finally, pulling out a polished wooden box, larger 
than Trumps.

Wakaba says, "He's tall and handsome, with dark skin and purple hair."

Wakaba says, "Calls himself 'Annadil', but doesn't look Elven."

Hiko the Firechilde has a blank look on her face.  "Do you intend to let 
everyone know of my existence?"

Corrine nods offhandedly, and moves to the desk, sitting down and opening the 
box, flipping the lid open and around, revealing a thick deck of Trumps.  She 
immediately starts shuffling the images.

Corrine nods to Wakaba, that is.

Juri says,  Your family needs to know, Hiko.

Juri says, "Or they won't know to protect you."

Corrine OOCly deals the Silicon Valley Tarot... (nononononono).

Juri says, "But if you'd prefer we call you something else in public, we can."

Hiko the Firechilde recalls the name of the boy she fell in love with before 
he was brutally murdered by vivisection.  "You can call me Akemi."

Corrine raps the shuffled deck's edges on the desk to straighten it, and then 
picks up the deck, the Unicorn-backs the only ones visible right now.  She 
takes a deep breath, and starts dealing the images, flipping them over one at 
a time, face-up...

You page, "And 1) Juri/wakaba would recog that as the need to be quiet, and 2) 
I'll state out the cards first in a list, and you can spoof the results after 
that..." to Akemi.

Corrine deals out the cards in a shape that looks like an extended cross, and 
a second vertical line.  She states the cards as she flips them, not looking 
at them yyet, instead clearting her mind to the best of her ability, focussed 
on the task at hand...

Juri nods.

In a page-pose to you, Akemi nods

Corrine says, "Distant past... Recent Past... Purpose... Inner Secrets ... 
Near Future... Distant Future... Destiny... Hopes and Fears... Other's 
Views.... Self-Image...." and then, finally, in the center, one card over the 
other in the middle of the cross... "The Heart of the Matter.... Present 
Conflicts."

Corrine then opens her eyes, and looks down at the cards she's drawn.

Hiko the Firechilde watches Corrine's hands carefully.

Corrine 's hands are strong and sure.. she sets the remainder of the deck 
aside as she studies the cards, trying to puzzle meaning from them.

The Distant Past is Juri, upright.

The Recent Past is Gendo, reversed (upside down)

Purpose: Tir-na'nog, reversed.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Where are you pulling 
these cards from?" (to you)

You page, "Basically, after Corrine got back from exile, and learned Trump 
Artistry, she reeorganized the Forest Rangers (since she'd been absent for 
about a century), and made it more efficent by making sure the command 
structure had up-to-date communications via Trumps she painted.  And she 
pulled them from her trump deck." to Foxtrot.

Inner Secrets: The Fire Pattern, reversed.

Near Future: Catherine.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "I mean are you pulling 
them from an actual deck that you have right now?" (to you)

Distant Future:  Great Plaza of Harad City

Tybalt wakes up.

You page, "Nope, sorry... *wg* I've got a book on it when I bought the Silicon 
Valley Tarot, but haven't opened the deck itself.  I cribbed the layout, and 
John's posing the cards... I'm working on MAKING the deck, though, as 
Corrine's got an expanded, and I'll be drawing stuff (and have an idea of what 
the extras are.)" to Foxtrot.

Hopes and Fears:  Dowager Queen Anthy, Reversed

Other's Views:  Nanami

Self-Image:  Shadow Theatre

Heart of the Matter:  The Pattern Chamber in Tir'na'nog

Present Conflicts:  Makoto
Correctin, Makoto, Reversed.

Akemi pages, "There's your data, now interpret :)" to you.

You page, "Which one's catherine, again? *wg* I forget. ^_^; The rest I knew, 
and I imagine this means Corrine's been to the Fire Pattern to draw it (did it 
get repaired?), if not to actually walk/attune herself fire-gem wise.  And 
right!" to Akemi.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Cool. ^_^" (to you)

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "Okay, how funny is this?  Mom just asked me 
what I've been doing all day and after I explaiined that it was a role-playing 
game similar to D&D, she said, "The one that was connected to the suicided and 
killings?

Corrine OOCly says, "Oh, you get that too? *sigh*"

Wakaba says, "Tell her it's actually been shown you're more likely to kill 
yourself if you don't play RPGs"

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, "Yep.  I'll tell you more 'bout Mum some day."

Wakaba says, "By a factor of about seven."

Wakaba says, "Being a Protestant is a far greater risk factor for suicide.  "

Hiko the Firechilde looks at the cards.  "What do they mean?"

Akemi pages, "Catherine is the one who tried to avenge Eowyn and was raped and 
killed" to you.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly claps her hands.  "People!  Can we get back to 
business?"
Shadra says, OOCly, "of course not!"

Akemi pages, "I'm thinking you've checked it out, but you haven't had time to 
try to repair it yet." to you.

Corrine considers, scratching her chin and pointing to the cards..."Juri in 
the distant past... representing origins... your mother, Hiko."  She smiles, 
slightly.

You page, "Makes sense... FireDemi could have the attunement made elsewhere 
that's got a pattern. *wg*  And I'll start translating now.... ;)" to Akemi.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Where do you get the 
interpretations?  John again?" (to you)

Corrine then points to the second card.  "King Gendo, our father, reversed in 
the recent past... representing recent events and influences... his death, and 
fallout from that, I surmise...."

You page, "Nope!  Trying to figure them out herself.... hey, it's not an EXACT 
science... ^_-;" to Foxtrot.

Foxtrot lowers the cattle prod gingerly and thbbbbpts (to you)

Shadra OOCly says, "Off to read!"

Shadra has disconnected.

Corrine quirks an eyebrow... "Tir-na'nog, reversed, for Purpose... A task or 
something that needs to be done... well, that's the city of dreams in the sky, 
so countering nightmares, perhaps...."

Corrine points to another card... this one of a pattern-chamber.  She pauses.  
"... The Fire-Pattern... reversed while in Inner Secrets... something to do 
with the power of the Pattern, or those Broken-patterns I've heard of existing 
in shadow, based on it... something at the core of your being..."

Corrine points to the next card, and draws in a breath, her expression 
somewhat unsettled. *q* "... Catherine...." She shakes her head.  "In the near 
future, so either her, or events relating to what... happened to her... are 
coming."

Hiko the Firechilde files that name away for further contemplation.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "What does the Q mean?" 
(to you)

Corrine then glances at the next card, this one of a place.  "The great plaza 
of Harad City... the Distant Future.... events will likely lead to there in 
some fasion, or relate to Harad as a whole..."

You page, "*q* ==Quietly. *vq* == Very Quietly.  Etc, etc. *wg*" to Foxtrot.

You page, "WAs there a card for Destiny?" to Akemi.

Akemi pages, "Doh!  Lina is her destiny card" to you.

Juri glances off at the family portrait again, looking thoughtful.  Wakaba is 
writing all this down.

Corrine points to the far vertical line of cards, the top one.  "Lina, our 
court mage, for Destiny.... great magical power, or Lina herself, of some 
form, will figure in the culmination of things...."

Corrine points to the next down.  "Dowager Queen Anthy, reversed, in Hopes and 
Fears... something with the Queenship, or herself in particular, will factor 
as well... all the perks and problems of it, should be something to worry 
about..."  She hehs a little bit...

Corrine then rolls her eyes, then pauses, considersing.  "Nanami, our younger 
sister by Sakura, in Other's views... other's perception of the current 
events, or related to them..."

Corrine points to the image of the Shadow-Theater. "The Shadow-Theater... 
Self-Image, one's view of ourselves..." She scratches her chin... "Do we cast 
shadows, or are we shadows of others, or can we even -tell-..." She shakes her 
head.  "That's -always- been something of a debate, but in one's own image 
it'd relate to questions of true selves."

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "That it?" (to you)

Corrine points to the center of arrangement now, the half-covered card. "The 
Pattern-chamber in Tir'na'nog ... that's the Heart of the Matter, the focal 
point of the current quandry... and again, it's the city of dreams and 
might-have-beens in the night sky.  But with the pattern as a focal-point." 
She taps her chin.  "Could mean the Forbidden Gate beneath it... but that's 
conjecture."

You page, "One more!" to Foxtrot.

Juri says, "Perhaps this bastard believes Hiko has one of the keys to open it."

Corrine then taps the final card, atop the Tir'na'nog pattern, crosswize.  
"Our other younger brother by Sakura, Makoto, Reversed... Present Conflicts, 
forces opposed against you or others in the crisis... again, things relating 
to him or his history will come into play."

Corrine takes a deep breath, and sighs.  "Aaaand... that's it."

You page, "I'll have you know, Corrine's -really- disturbed by that reading. 
*wg* ;)" to Akemi.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Keys?"

Hiko the Firechilde thinks about the present she got on her 21st birthday, and 
squelches the thought.

Juri nods.  "The Forbidden Gate waits for someone with the Four Keys to open 
it."

Juri says, "No one actually knows where they are or what they look like."

Corrine says, "In the center of the Dream-Pattern, there's a ladder to a room 
with thirteen sides, a large door in the floor, and four keyholes..." She then 
nods to Juri.

Corrine says, "You need a trump to get out otherwise, 'cause the way you came 
in vanishes.  Not pleasant."

Juri says, "Unless you wait for the castle to vanish and just let yourself 
fall."

Wakaba says, "Oh, right, like anyone sane would do that."

Wakaba says, "There's runes on the gate that no one can read."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, " "This is the last thing I saw: Wakaba says, 
"Oh, right, like anyone sane would do that."

Wakaba says, "There's runes on the gate that no one can read."

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly got disconned.

Wakaba says, "And a single sentence that can be read: Beyond this Gate lies 
power unimaginable, waiting for whosever finds the keys to unlock it,"

Corrine nods, looking back at the fortune-spread, still somewhat unsettled by 
it, but recluctant to gather up the cards just yet.

Wakaba says, "And a single sentence that can be read: Beyond this Gate lies 
power unimaginable, waiting for whosever finds the keys to unlock it,"

Corrine nods, looking back at the fortune-spread, still somewhat unsettled by 
it, but recluctant to gather up the cards just yet.

Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, " "Okay...

Hiko the Firechilde is starting to get confused again.

Corrine sighs, and runs a hand through her hair.  She looks up, notices Hiko's 
expression, and hehs a bit.  "Confused, I take it?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "You would be, too, if you stepped into someone 
else's family."

Corrine quirks her lips, and then starts giggling, despite herself.  "... it 
appears to be running around today... you're not the only one who happened to 
have their family tree get an express growth..." She manages to calm herself.  
"Sorry, sorry... that was inappropriate." She takes a breath, and lets it out, 
sinking back into her chair.

Wakaba says, "We are a big family.  You have six aunts, six uncles, your 
mother, your great-grandfather, four cousins (possibly more), and that's not 
even counting all the dead people."

Corrine says, automatically.  "Five cousins at least."

Wakaba says, "Shaft, Shinobu, Ramon, and Michelle.  That's four."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "You see dead people, too?"

Wakaba says, "Fortunately, the dead people usually stay in their graves."

You page, "wonder when Juri/Wakaba will notice what Corrine's saying... *wg*" 
to Akemi.

Akemi pages, "She did.  She's contradicting you :)" to you.

Juri says, "Five, Corrine?"

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "I assume you're 
referring to Nagisa?" (to you)

Sie_Kensou has connected.

Corrine says, "And Shizumaru... the young man's room I was watching over... 
makes Five.  He's the son of Touga... and before you ask, -no-, he hasn't seen 
him in years, he left before Shizumaru was born." She flips up his mother's 
trump from her deck.  "This was his mother... and the card, according to Miki 
and Fuyutuski, was painted by -Sakura-."

You page, "Who's Nagisa? ^_^ *innocent look* No clue from this trump artist." 
to Foxtrot.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "I'm askign OOCly." (to 
you)

Hiko the Firechilde looks at the card.

You page, "Right, right.  Yeah, I know of him, but Corrine doesn't yet.  
'sides, he came from another Amber. *wry look*" to Foxtrot.

Juri's eyes widen.  "IT WAS WHAT?"

Wakaba pales.  "But she died centuries ago."

Corrine shows the card to Hiko, Juri, and Wakaba.  "And, his mother's just 
recently gone missing.  Utena kept Shizumaru from being killed by the murder 
she was chasing, and I got called on the scene when it was found that she'd 
had one of Grandfather's trump of --- GAH." She winces.  "That... was my 
reaction too."

Corrine says, "WEll, not as loud, but yes.  And I know." She sighs, rubbing 
her eyes.  "That's why this is disturbing... both of her later kids, the ones 
who figured in her attempt to destroy the pattern, are in the fortune." She 
points to the card layout.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Which two kids?" (to 
you)

The woman shown on the card looks like a red-haired Asian woman, dressed as a 
Lipunese noblewoman in a formal kimono.  She is surrounded by cherry blossoms 
and is smiling sweetly.

You page, "Makoto and Nanami" to Foxtrot.

The frame on the trump is painted to resemble interlaced vines.

Corrine says, "I've tried the card, and it got the same response Touga's 
always made since his exile... but the energy left at the site was tied to it. 
 I think somebody trumped her out, but I can't be certain."

Rod says, "gotta run, someone send me a log?"
Ryo has disconnected.
>> gute Nacht

Tybalt says, "You were letting ROD watch? Isn't he a fellow player?"
Wakaba says, "OOC It's all up to Foxxy as to who she lets watch."
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, " "It's all a part of my plan. ^_^
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, " Besides, he let me watch one of his."
Sie OOCly says, "It's easier to separate IC and OOC knowledge if we just don't 
KNOW ^_^"

Juri says, "I don't like this at all."

Corrine OOCly NODNODNODS.  "Oh, I know THAT problem... though things have been 
good."

Corrine nods, biting her lip again.  "You're not the only one, Juri.  
Something stinky's going down, and it's getting deeper.  The murder Utena was 
chasing? ... he looked like Drake, but with a silver arm.  She thinks he was 
targeting those with father's blood, our children, and went after Shizumaru to 
do so."

Juri says, "Sakura died walking the Pattern.  People simply DO NOT come back 
from that."

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "I suggest that from 
now on, non players don't get to make peanut gallery comments." (to you and 
Akemi)

Corrine nods again.

Akemi pages, "In general, I tend to frown on that, yes." to you and Foxtrot.
You page, "Okay, I'll stop." to Akemi.
You page, "Okay, I'll stop." to Foxtrot.

Juri says, "The one who attacked Ramon.  Yes, there's something rotten in the 
state of Denmark.

Akemi pages, "I think she was thinking more of other people :)" to you.

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Denmark?  Is that another Amber?"

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Another not real place?"

You page, "Whews a bit.  Sorry, paranoid.  Don't wanna misstep. ^_^; ^_-;  How 
has it been going from your pov?" to Akemi.

Juri says, "Yes, Denmark is quite imaginary."

Akemi pages, "PRetty well, so far." to you.

Juri says, "I'll show it to you some day."

Corrine hehs a bit.

There is a knock on Juri's door.

Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Hey, you're playing 
(as an NPC, but still).  You can comment." (to you and Akemi)

Corrine glances over at the door, and then hrms, straightening her back.  
"And... I probably should get back to Shizumaru's room, so he doesn't get 
disoriented more when he wakes up and I'm not there..."  She regards the 
layout once more.  "Any more fortunes needed to be read?" She quirks her lips 
in a smile.

You page, "Ah, okay! ^_^" to Foxtrot.

Hiko the Firechilde shakes her head.

Juri goes to the door.  A page boy stands there.  The page boy says, "Don't 
forget there's a formal dinner tonight,  honoring the new Ambassador from 
Sind."

The page boy continues, "Prince Drake told me to remind you."

Hiko the Firechilde says, "Dinner?"

Juri nods.  "I won't forget."

The Page Boy says, "Yes, at dinner time."

Corrine considers this, quietly, listening.

There's a growling sound coming from Hiko's general direction.  She looks 
around, then dips her hand into a pocket and takes out an apple and starts to 
eat.

Corrine quirks an eyebrow at this, but doesn't comment, instead waiting for 
the page boy to depart, while pulling another trump from her deck.

The page boy bows and leaves.  Juri closes the door.

Corrine nods, and then concentrates on the Trump she's just produced.  The 
trump is that of Drake.

After a few seconds, Drake appears.  He's in his office, kneedeep in 
paperwork.  "Oh, there you are, Corrine."

Corrine smiles slightly.  "Hey there, Drake... getting ready for the big 
shindig tonight?"

Corrine idly peers to see if Drake happens to have any shiny silver arms as 
she talks with him.

Hiko the Firechilde crunches her apple quietly.

Drake has two perfectly normal arms, revealed as flesh from the elbow down.  
His sleeves are rolled up to just above the elbow.  "Well, the Sind Ambassador 
has vanished, several of my actors are sick, Nabiki went on vacation for a 
month, leaving me to hold the fort, and my best horse fell off Kolvir and 
died.  But other than that, everything's peachy."

Corrine says, "...riiiight.  Well, if you need a hand getting folks in line, 
lemme know.  Otherwise, I'll be at the dinner, Unicorn Willing.  Luck to you, 
Drake." She smiles slightly.

Drake nods.  "If you see the Sindhi Ambassador, call me.  His horse is still 
here, so he must be somewhere in the Castle."

Corrine says, "If I do, I will, don't worry.  Take care."

Hiko the Firechilde takes this opportunity to start edging for the door.  All 
these phantom conversations are starting to drive her crazy.

Juri says, "Ready to go back to your room and rest a while, Hiko?"

Hiko the Firechilde nods.  "Yes, Juri-san."

Juri takes you back to your room and we cut here.

Hiko the Firechilde SIIIIIGHS.
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says,  "Damn, that was long."
Wakaba says, "Since you're now ready for the big scene where all the PCS will 
meet...I pray."
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says,  "They always that long?"
Wakaba says, "Not necessarily."
Corrine OOCly says, "Well, they've been interesting all the same...."
Hiko the Firechilde will go through and make edits, then do the first half of 
this 'day's' log...
Hiko the Firechilde is supposed to cook dinner now, so I'm off.
Hiko the Firechilde waves
Foxtrot has disconnected.
>> Byeeee!  It was really fun!
Wakaba says, "And I need to go get food myself in a few minutes."

You page, "And I'll fwd you the log I made as well, with comments.. feel free
to edit them out, etc, like the rest. *wg* Okay for me to Fwd to Amy and
Frob?" to Akemi.
Akemi pages, "Hai!" to you.

Akemi has left.

Corrine OOCly will be lurking here, and working on trumps and stuff, but won't 
leave until whenever.

Philip Moyer----------------Qapla'-------------pmoyer@jurai.net 
"To boldly go where no one has gone before!"-Capt. J. L. Picard
"Roads? Where we're going we don't NEED roads!"-Dr. E. L. Brown
   "If it can be dreamed, It can be done."- ReRob Mandeville
"Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection, The Lovers,
---------- The Dreamers, and Me."- Kermit The Frog ------------