From harnums@thekeep.org Thu Jan 11 20:47:14 2001
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 01:43:04 -0500
From: Alan Harnum <harnums@thekeep.org>
To: ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: FoF - Juri Gets Nailed to a Tree

Juri of Avalon says, "Right."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Ah, Princess Wild Dogs of Avalon... I mean,
Juri."

Juri of Avalon exclaims, "Arf!"

As you enter the passage, your vision blurs.

Juri of Avalon tries to grab for the hand of whomever was closest.

You encounter nothing. When your vision clears, you find yourself
seated at a table in a longhouse.

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Great.  Valhalla."

You don't see any of your companions, and you get the impression that
you yourself are somewhat different.

Juri of Avalon does the standard self-check.  Breasts still there?

All around you, fur-clad people are eating dinner, laughing, joking,
occassionally wenching/studding. You appear to be female, but you're
now blond, with a long braid, and are dressed in soft fur and leather.

Juri of Avalon tries to determine just what her social standing here
is, given her position at the table and what she knows of these sort
of warrior cultures.

There appears to be a young couple up at the front of the hall who
have just been wed, and you'd guess the feast is in their honor. You
think that you're own of the rare female warrior types, or at least a
hunter, given the chain coif you wear and the bow and quiver on your
back.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Does anyone look familiar?  And I assume
I'm missing all my items?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "No-one looks familiar in the slightest.
Eternity's Rose is still on your belt, but your other items are
missing."

Juri of Avalon asks, "Who's to my left and right?"

A big man is to your left, a woman with braids and dimples to your
right.

Juri of Avalon leans over and says to the man, "They look nearly
perfect together, don't they?"

He laughs cheerfully. "Don't they? They've been meaning to do this for
ages, but Dann never had the money or the herds."

Juri of Avalon smiles.  "Aye.  But, things change, as they are wont to
do..."

"That they do, that they do..." He winks at you. "When are you and
Thoric going to finally tie the knot, eh?"

Juri of Avalon laughs heartily.  "Oh, I expect we'll get around to it
some day."

Juri of Avalon looks around as though searching for someone.  "Say,
where is that man, anyway?"

He looks surprised. "Isn't he driving the herds?"

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  What would be the cultural context under
which my (I assumed) boyfriend/lover would not be in attendance at
this celebration due to driving the herds, but I would be?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Well, he could be a drover, or he could be
one of the warriors guarding them. His turn on duty."

Juri of Avalon sighs.  "I suppose.  I wish he was here."  She winks.
"It might put the proper thoughts in his mind, you know."

He roars with laughter. "He might, he might!"

Juri of Avalon raises a glass of whatever it is she's drinking and
gulps it back.  Then she stands up.  "I'm going to go shower my
blessings on the young marrieds.  Fare thee well for now."

The bride and the groom kiss up at the front of the room. The crowd
cheers. Your big friend waves a farewell.

Juri of Avalon claps and whistles as she heads for the bride and
groom, keeping up the act while trying to figure out just what the
_hell_ is going on.

Juri of Avalon says, "Blessings on you both; such a happy day this
is."

You approach the newlyweds, who stop staring dreamily into each others
eyes long enough to greet you. "Rowen. Thank you, many thanks."

Juri of Avalon . o O Finally, a name.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Doesn't mean anything at all to me, I
assume?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Not a thing."

Juri of Avalon beams at the newlyweds, then looks around for a way to
get some fresh air.

There's a door at the front of the hall.

Juri of Avalon heads for the door, then.

You move towards the door when, from outside, you hear the blowing of
horns.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Signalling what, I'd guess?"

The crowd freezes for a second, and then the men grab for weapons and
start running for the door.

The Tennessee Shad says, "An attack."

Juri of Avalon draws her bow, nocks an arrow, and follows.

The women start running for arrows and buckets of water.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Do I still feel... Avalon-ey, for lack of
a better term?"

Juri of Avalon asks, "With the standard superhuman physical abilities,
etc?"

You charge out of the longhouse with the crowd. A fair sized troop of
armored men on horseback are riding amok through this village,
throwing burning torches into houses. When they see the emerging
people, they charge.

The Tennessee Shad says, "You feel at the same level you usually do."

Juri of Avalon asks, "Tactical options?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Fight or run."

Juri of Avalon asks, "Fighting options.  Are there any obvious leaders
to put arrows into, etc?"

Not in sight, although presumably there are some somewhere.

The Tennessee Shad says, "You'd guess use arrow til they close, then
use your presuably superior sword skill."

Juri of Avalon says, "Right.  Kill the horsemen by using my Mad
Warfare Skillz to put arrows into vulnerable bits through the chinks
in their armour, and rove about looking for leaders."

You let arrows fly with terrible accuracy. A few horsemen try to ride
you down, but they die fairly quickly. Elsewhere, though, things are
not going so well. There are lots of horsemen, and they have the
advantage on this group, who are A) drunk, B) stuffed, and C) not
ready for battle. You also notice that the horsemen aren't exactly
being discriminating about whether they kill warriors or
noncombatants.

Juri of Avalon moves about grimly, helping out where possible, looking
for any obvious leaders to kill.  Estimation of the probable outcome
of the battle, even with me on their side?

The Tennessee Shad says, "Your bunch is probably going to get wiped
out. Some of the women and children are already fleeing, and getting
arrows shot into them for the trouble. You guess a few will get away,
just because of sheer numbers."

You see two horsemen up ahead who are pretty clearly leaders.

Juri of Avalon asks, "Distinctive in any way?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Yes. One's dressed in orange and white
armor, the other in black and silver."

Juri of Avalon asks, "Oh boy.  Helmeted?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "And they're just now cutting down the
bride... yup, they have helms."

Juri of Avalon asks, "And is this particular scenario bringing
anything to mind from Juri's past, or knowledge of the past?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Nope."

The Tennessee Shad says, "It fits a few dozen Shadow accounts of petty
medieval genocide, but other than that..."

Juri of Avalon says, "Kill them from afar using arrows."

The orange rider parries your first shaft, and takes your second on
her shield. The black one takes an arrow through an ornamental part of
the armor. They turn their horses and charge you, riding down the
groom almost casually as they do.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Oh boy.  They're good.  Possible tactical
options, barring flight?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Well, you could draw your sword and attempt
to stab as they ride by."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Socially, you could challenge one of them."

The Tennessee Shad says, "But given as they're killing unarmed women
and children, you don't know if they'd go for it."

Juri of Avalon says, "Considering that they're indiscriminately
killing noncombatants, what do I think the chances are of their..."

Juri of Avalon says, "Never mind."

Juri of Avalon says, "I'll do the stab-as-they come by thing, but I'll
Neural Disrupt the black-and-silver one's horse at a strategic moment,
so I get a chance to deal with the orange one before black-and-silver
can catch up."

Black and silver's horse goes down. Orange rides up, and slides off
the horse to approach you on foot, sword drawn.

Juri of Avalon draws her own sword.  "Juri of Somewhere, I presume?"

The orange rider removes your helm, revealing your own face. "You know
me, Rowen."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Ack, her helm, even"

Juri of Avalon says, "Of course I know you, for I am you, or a Shadow
or the caster of your Shadow, whomever this body may belong to."

She snorts disgustedly. "Very mystical of you." She moves into an en
garde position. "Will those be your last words, then?"

Juri of Avalon says, "Doubtful.  I am Juri of Avalon, and I will not
be slain by some child-killing parody of myself."

Juri of Avalon studies the stances, trying to gauge the other's
abilities.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  And does her sword look like Eternity's
Rose?"

"We'll see about that, barbarian," your double says coldly, and
attacks. As your swords meet, you can tell that she's very, very
good... not _quite_ as good as you, but better than Joan or Darako or
Cupio.

The Tennessee Shad says, "It's of a similar design, but has no pattern
tracery."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Reminds you of the sword you favored in your
Ohtori days,"

Juri of Avalon asks, "Are you Juri of Amber?  Daughter of Queen Haruka
of Harad and King Gendo I?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "The force behind her blows also indicates
that she's stronger than you, mabye even stronger than Darako."

"You know I am," she snarls, obviously somewhat surprised by your
skill. "Corrine! Circle behind her; she's got some sort of boosting
item."

The black-armored figure, now back on her feet, starts to move to
flank you.

Juri of Avalon asks, "And who do you think I am?  Why do you kill
these people so indiscriminately, slaughtering even children and the
aged?"

"You know your crime," your double spits. "I will not darken my tongue
by repeating it. You can die knowing that, like lice, your people will
be exterminated from Shadow." She presses her attack.

Juri of Avalon asks, "Hold, Corrine of Amber--I am not the foe you
think I am.  I am Juri of Avalon--do you not know me?"

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Revealed opening, then try and wound her
sword arm if she goes for it."

The black-armored figure is moving behind you. "If Juri doesn't kill
you, I will, Rowen. I struck down Thoric this morning." It sounds like
Corrine's voice... no, not really. It sounds like Darako's.

Your double goes for it, and you give her an arm wound. As you do,
Corrine jumps at your back, dagger drawn.

Juri of Avalon exclaims, "I am not Rowen!"

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Go on the defensive."

You smack Corrine a glancing blow as she plows into you.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  How similar were Corrine and Darako's
voices?  Could Corrine potentially sound like Darako if she were, say,
homicidally enraged?"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Yes. Their voices are exactly the same save
for tone and personality differences."

The Tennessee Shad asks, "Are you going to try and skewer her, or use
some other means to deal with her?"

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  I'm going to keep on the defensive and
look for a chance to withdraw from combat."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Corrine is practically bowling you over.
Your options in those two areas are severely limited."

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Neural Disrupt and try to slip free while
she twitches."

The Tennessee Shad asks, "Gonna name her?"

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Yes."

Juri of Avalon says, "Hrm... actually, make it Resume True Form, not
Neural Disrupt."

Juri of Avalon says, "And I'll skewer her, but not fatally."

The Tennessee Shad says, "I point out that if this isn't Corrine,
naming her won't help."

The Tennessee Shad says, "And your psyche is no great shakes."

Juri of Avalon says, "Okay.  Neural Disrupt, name her, and try to get
away.  Original plan."

You neural disrupt her, and she goes dazed for a second. You tear
away, and then your double grabs your from behind, by the neck, and
bashes your sword hand hard enough to make it go numb.

Juri of Avalon says, "Neural Disrupt, stab her through the arm she's
holding me with, and try to get away."

You start to speak the words, then her hand clenches, rendering it
unintelligible gurgles. You do manage to stab her, and thenCorrine's
fist plows into your face, and you pass out.

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Damn lousy Strength monsters."

You wake up in extreme agony, bouncing.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Tied to the back of a horse?"

You're apparently being dragged behind a horse.

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Even better."

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Do what I can to minimize the damage, and
look for a way to escape."

The Tennessee Shad says, "You've been trussed pretty well... you can
try to 'roll with it', and minimize the damage that way."

Juri of Avalon says, "OOC:  Do that, then."

After what seems like far too long, you approach a huge tree. The
horses pull to a halt, and the two riders dismount.

"Awake again, Rowen?" your double asks.

"Juri of Avalon," Juri mumbles through her bruised lips.  "Corrine...
you will rule in Ember... you will have a daughter... Gabrielle... I
am not... Rowen.

"Prophecy already?" Corrine says. "You're not even on the tree. Let me
fix that."

She grabs you, tears the clothing from your back, and hauls you
towards the tree, climbing up it.

Juri of Avalon is far too battered to resist in any way.  "You do not
know what you do."

Your double watches from below, looking grimly satisfied.

Corrine looks at you. "I do."

She takes out stakes of sharp iron, and drives them through your
palms, into the tree.

"Annadil... Gate of Revolution..."  Juri gets cut off by having to
scream in pain.

"...they will come... as through a mirror darkly... your family, but
twisted... you told me..."  Juri valiantly tries not to pass out from
the pain.

Juri of Avalon says, "...please believe me... Corrine... don't..."

Corrine nods in satisfaction. "Hang there and rot on your sacred tree,
and know that the Cimbri will die as you do. Your prophecy is nothing
but ash in the mouths of the dead." She starts to climb down. "I like
birds. Even crows and ravens. I think you'll be getting some shortly."

Juri of Avalon asks, "...who... are the... Cimbri?"

She nods to your double. The two of them start to mount their horses.

You double laughs. "Generations will ask that very question."

They start to ride off.

"...please.  I can't... Corrine!"  Juri expends the last of her energy
in the desperate saying of Corrine's name, and starts to lose
consciousness again.

Juri of Avalon struggles to stay awake, still pleading with Corrine
long after she's out of sight.

You drift in and out of consiousness, then wake as you feel the claws
of a bird land on your bare shoulder.

Juri of Avalon gasps and weakly raises her head to glare at it.  "Not
dead yet.  Go away."

It looks irritated. "How long you going to take, then?" it says.

Juri of Avalon would do a doubletake, but is too weak.  "Dunno.  Tough
bitch.  S'what my brother said.  Juri of Avalon, but everyone seems to
think I'm Rowen of the Cimbri.  Who're you?"

A second bird lands on your other shoulder. "Dibs on the eyes."

"She's not dead yet, Dickenson," the first bird says.

"Oh, bother." It looks at you. "Look, we're very hungry. Could you, I
don't know, sort of die faster?"

Juri of Avalon looks from one bird to the other and starts weakly
laughing.  "Heckle and Jeckle... I get to die in someone else's body
with fucking Heckle and Jeckle for company..."

Juri of Avalon says, "Shit.  This really sucks."

Juri of Avalon says, "Sorry.  No.  Hang on to the end, and all that.
It's a pride thing."

"Eh? What's that?" says a voice from below.

Juri of Avalon looks down.

A man in red and green and yellow is looking up at you irritably from
his reclining position beneath the tree.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  Familiar in any way?"

"Zounds!" he says, surprised. "A bare maid is dying over my campsite.
IT must be an OMEN!"

"Hello," Juri says weakly.  "I'm Juri of Avalon.  Or Rowen of the
Cimri.  I'm not really sure now."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Nope."

Juri of Avalon says, "Could you possibly get me down from here, and
make sure I don't die?  I'd be very grateful."

"Of Avalon?" he beams. "So am I! We have something in common!"

Juri of Avalon asks, "It probably depends on which Avalon.  Who're
you?"

"I'm..." he pauses. "Gads. That's a good question. HECTOR!"

"Yeah, guv?" says the first bird.

"Who am I again?"

"A fruitcake."

He beams. "I'm a fruitcake."

"Did you know it usually takes something like three days for someone
to die from crucifixion?" Juri says vaguely, half-closing her eyes.
"And that's normal humans.  Which I'm not.  Then again, I've been
pretty badly beaten.  Do you think you could get me down?"

He stands. "The question, by the lord Harry, is what sort of omen you
are." He blinks at you. "Get you down?"

Juri of Avalon says, "Please.  I'd be most grateful."

He looks doubtful. "I think that might spoil the omen."

"Worse," Hector says. "She might live."

Juri of Avalon says, "I am not, to my knowledge, an omen.  Please get
me down."

A loud lowing is heard in the distance. The two birds take to the air,
cawing frantically.

Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC:  This sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

"ZOUNDS!" the man bellows. "NOT AGAIN!"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Ayup."

He waves to you. "I'm afraid I've got to run! I don't suppose you know
the way to Avalon?"

Juri of Avalon says, "Not from here, I'm afraid.  Thanks for nothing."

"My pleasure!" he beams. Then he strides off in a half run. "Confound
it! LOST AGAIN!"

He vanishes into the trees. The birds give you a wistful look, then
follow.

Juri of Avalon goes back to dying in bitter pain and loneliness.

You pass out, then wake up. Someone is climbing your tree.

The Tennessee Shad says, "It's dark now."

Juri of Avalon looks up again.  "...hello?"

"I've decided to kill you quickly," Corrine's voice says in the
darkness. "I'm not sure why."

Juri of Avalon says, "Corrine... you came back... I knew you would...
look into my mind.  I won't bar you.  _I'm not her_."

Juri of Avalon says, "I don't understand any of this... I wish I'd
talked to you more... then I might be able to convince you..."

"I have no desire to look in your mind," Corrine says coldly. "You're
getting a swift death. It's more than you deserve. The Tree was more
than you deserve."

You see her draw back a hand, and the dim outline of a dagger.

Juri of Avalon says, "I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better... the
future you.  I liked what I saw."

Juri of Avalon hangs her head and waits.  "I've said all I can.  Your
future, I think, will tell the truth of what I have said."

Juri of Avalon begins suddenly, weakly, to laugh.  "How strange... did
I meet you just so I could come back and prophecy?"

"Juri's will be disappointed. I'll have the body fed to the hogs; that
might make up for some of it." You see the hand descend, feel a stab
of pain.

Juri of Avalon dies.

You feel yourself die, then have a brief glimpse of something that
passes your understanding.

The Tennessee Shad says, "And we pause while I try to get a sign of
life from Phil."