Date sent: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 12:17:37 -0500 (EST) From: "Philip J. Moyer" To: John Biles , "Sebastian, Trisha" , Andrew Huang , "Amy \"General Chaos\" Borden" , Chris Angelini , "Eric A. Burns" , Matt Gerber Subject: [Amber/TAMD] Hiko, Corrine, Shizumaru, Juri of Avalon -- Circles, Seas, and Amber Roundabouts. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Okay, dinner done" Shizumaru nods. Corrine nods, and considers how to summon Trish. Player Name On For Idle Doing... Jon 00:09 7m Being bored. 21 players are connected. (Max was 39) Rod exclaims, "IA! IA! MANWICH! MANWICH!" Rod exclaims, "HAHAHHAHAHA!" Rod exclaims, "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHHAH!" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Looks like Rod knows the secret." Corrine asks, "?" Player Name On For Idle Doing... Foxtrot 00:00 1s Nothing atm. Jon 00:09 7m Being bored. 22 players are connected. (Max was 39) Corrine says, "... -woah-." Corrine says, "That's... -woah-." Corrine says, "Oh MAN." Gabrielle says, "I'm scared, Phil." Autolyca has connected. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Hmm. Gonna have to give you 1 character point for that, Rod. That was just too cool :" Corrine snrks. Autolyca pages, "Hi!" to you, Akemi, Foxtrot, Hotaru, Shizumaru and Zen. Rod pounds the desk laughs out loud Shizumaru says, "That was cool." Shizumaru says, "Someone log all of that." Autolyca OOC What was xool? Rod exclaims, "THAT goes in the quotefiles, baby!" Rod exclaims, "HAHAHHAHHAHAH!" Shizumaru says, "Eh, I'll do it." Corrine says, "I can retroactively add it. :)" Foxtrot has arrived. >> A portal opens up and out pops a fox-woman. Corrine says, "Admittely, I'm just observing the WHO from here...." Corrine exclaims, "Trisha!" Hiko the Firechilde says, "Phil, darlin? Put me on wf." Hiko the Firechilde says, "that way you know when I come online." Corrine asks, "Hm?" Foxtrot is currently online. Adding Foxtrot to your permanent watchfor list. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Type 'wf Foxtrot' and you'll know when I'm online." Corrine says, "ahhh, so ka." Rod asks, "now you know wyhy I was laughing, phil?" Shizumaru says, "And turn the watchfor proggie on. wf #on" Corrine says, "Oh yes." Watch turned on. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Anyway, care to recap for me?" Corrine OOCly says, "Righto." Corrine OOCly clears his throat. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Since we have Prophecy Girl here, we'll start after you've done repairs on Gabby and had the chance to eventually hold a 'study the new collection of prophecies' session :)" Rod says, "gents... let kasumi meet the leather knight on her own." Rod says, "er, let Trisha" Rod says, "wag" Hiko the Firechilde smiles.... I think I get it. Rod says, "tsk, I gave it away" Corrine OOCly says, "Several Ember days have passed since getting back with Shizu from Frostspire. Hiko's been presumably training with the Heart/learning spells/processing prophesies. Corrine's had dinner with Shizu and JuriAv, and talked about stuff." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Actually, Rod did." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Er, John did, with the alias." Rod says, "it's a night of mis-naming" Hiko the Firechilde asks, "I think I also wanted to contact Shaft, to bring him into the planning. How did that go?" Corrine OOCly says, "Later, Corrine tried contacting Moire and Yuriko to get status updates (after Shizu had gone to get his seedbag)... the trumps propduced discordant music, courtesy of Miki... and -shadow storms-." Rod coughs and tugs his collar Corrine OOCly says, "Can't do trumps realiztically past Lava Circle until the Jamming's gone." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Shadow storms? Ick." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC You currently aren't having much luck with trumping people, as Phil just pointed out for me." Corrine OOCly says, "The storms could be neutralized, but Corrine's office is now location non grata." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Oh?'" Corrine OOCly says, "Juri of Avalon tried trumping Gideon, and didn't make it thorugh much, but Gideon was able to call back long enough to let him know he was coming." Corrine OOCly says, "Corrine set the time gradient back to 1-1 to give Gid time to get to Ember... he got there, courtesy of the Logrus... and the -Sign- of the Logrus, which talked smack to Gabrielle, wondered WTF Urd was doing there, and then blipped out after leaving a copy of 'The Prophesies of the Serpent'." Gabrielle says, "OOC: Stupd Sign of the Lgorus..... it thinks it's sooooooo big...." Corrine OOCly says, "Gradient was set back to fasttime -- the group went to read the Prophesies, which have 14 chapters, one for -each member of the living amber elders of Corrine's generation-." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "that does not sound fun." Corrine OOCly says, "So, they decided to read the Miki chapter, for hints on how to free him from Annadil/Outsider control, and the thought of establishing a counterpoint harmony to neutralize the jamming (also hints of needing to get Madoka, the Cow(or Kozue), and Miki's first crush to help break him of the control) was introducde." Corrine OOCly says, "Corrine got a brief report from Gideon that things were Not Good down in Amber, and that contact had been lost with Juri-Amber's fleet... Gabrielle tried to get in touch with her, and the interference/storm/whatever backwashed down the manifestation, traumatizing Gabrielle's machinery. Corrine, to put it bluntly, is Not Happy." Gabrielle says, "OOC: Oh, that'll be hard. 'Hey Kozue, we need you to seduce Miki for his own good.' 'Oh, thank you, God....'" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Which leaves us WHERE now?" Corrine OOCly says, "So, with the GM's recognazance, it's now several days-weeks-whatever since that, since Corrine's thrown herself into repairing gabrielle. We are fortunate that 1) Gaby's original design was modular, so anything damaged could be easily replaced, and 2) Corrine kept all the specs/notes/blueprints/etc, and 3) we have the majority of the original construction team around." Corrine OOCly says, "This effectively leaves us with Gaby on the recovery trail, but doing better than she was, and Corrine getting a group back together to go over the new prophesies again. That sound good, John?" Hiko the Firechilde OOCly doesn't even want to THINK about Gabrielle as a 'thing' so she wasn't involved. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Sounds cool ta me." Corrine OOCly says, "No probs. Corrine fluxes on her thoughts, anyway... more daughter than machine now." Gabrielle OOCly congratulates Phil on his MAd Recap Skillz. Juri of Avalon says, "OOC: Awww. That's like Juri with Julian. :)" Corrine OOCly says, "She's just a daughter with a different sort of 'body' than the rest of us. ^_^" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "So where are we now? How many more days to the full moon?" Shizumaru OOCly says, "In Amber time, an hour or so at most has passed since we left Frostspire.." Corrine OOCly says, "What day is it in Amber, john? Corrine regular-timed to allow Gid to arrive, but that was only a few amber-hours." Corrine OOCly says, "Once Gid got back, fast-time again. Doubly-so with the need to repair/heal Gabrielle." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Oh, well, that's a blessing. Still in fast time, then?" Corrine OOCly nods. Corrine's likely to need to head to Amber proper soon, with Hiko, to grab madoka and Fuyutsuki, and take Lonz and Funaho down there, so that point would be normal-timed, but hopefully only a few hours. Patternwalk and Teleport, your friend and mine. Corrine OOCly says, "Shizu, to give him something to do, has likely been tasked to help consider options for Keep assault (the small team), and buying up seeds from the Bazzar. :)" Shizumaru OOCly says, "No, I'll have the magic seed bag from Funaho by now." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "so shall we start with Corrine and Hiko going to Amber?" Corrine OOCly says, "Need trump jamming cleared to move troops. Need troops to help assist amber assault the keep. Need to assault the keep to get the SoH." Juri of Avalon says, "OOC: Juri will have been spending most of her time playing with her miniatures. :)" Corrine OOCly says, "Yes, you've got the magic seed bag.... but the Ember military catapults don't. :)" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC We're now into early day 69." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Ah." Hiko the Firechilde OOCly giggles at the numbering and er. aha... Corrine OOCly says, "Appropriate, in its way, I suppose." Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "OOC Okay, so what's the plan?" Corrine OOCly says, "I was figuring prophesies first, then getting folks moving." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "So still with prophecies? I hate all this book larning..." Shizumaru OOCly says, "And trying to figure out the Cow of Atlan Tepes." Gabrielle will loll about the palace recovering from being stoopid. Corrine OOCly says, "Hey, these seem to be more timely and relevant...." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "It's in my possesion. I'll leave it with Shizumaru to study." Corrine OOCly says, "Good call." Shizumaru OOCly says, "As I am very unfamiliar with magic stuff, I'm probably not the best person to study it. o.o" Corrine OOCly says, "So, ahve folks rendevous in Corrine's sitting room for Prophesy Reading 2000?" Corrine OOCly says, "There's Mia and co who can study it, too." Rod says, "sounds good, go forth" Hiko the Firechilde says, "But you've got the strength to be able to handle it, should it go haywire." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Oh, right. I'm sent to consult with them, right." Corrine OOCly says, "Yuppers. Be glad, Shizu. Mia's labs have big refrigerators." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Yep. that works." Corrine OOCly says, "So, we good? let's get a movin'?" *** Foxtrot goes IC. *** ============================================= ============================================= Hiko the Firechilde groans. "More prophecy reading, Auntie?" The whine in her voice is slighlty querrlous. It's clear that Hiko is not in the best of moods right now. Corrine sighs, and nods. "I've been busy the past few weeks, helping Gabrielle... can't be helped." She manages a wan smile. "Fortuantely, all the damage's been taken care of and healed..." She shrugs, and goes over to the sitting room wet bar, washing off a few remaining bits of machine oil on her hands. She's in sleeveless Jacket/slacks combo, as she's been in for the past few weeks, eschewing the skirt for the repair needs. Hiko the Firechilde looks tired, almost haggard from reading, worry, and stress. Corrine looks almost the same way, a few age lines on her face that haven't been there before. She pours two glasses of plasma for herself and Hiko, and sits down next to her. Juri of Avalon is studying a map and occasionally moving miniature figures about, somewhat subdued. Hiko the Firechilde looks at the plasma askance, like she does EVERYTIME she is served it, and pinches her nose before drinking. Roderick looks to be in quite good spirits, dressed in local styles of clothing and enjoying his heaping mug of plasma as he looks over Juri's shoulder at the map. [spoofed by Akemi] There is a knocking from without, and then the door opens to admit Shizumaru, who peers in. "Am I late?" he asks, sheepishly, before entering, bearing the Cow figurine with him. Gideon sits off in one corner, his nose buried in a book, surrounded by other books as he tries to catch up on knowledge of this universe. Corrine drinks her own plasma, the drink still somewhat effervescent, but otherwise normal and flavorless. "Nah, you're just in time, Shizumaru." She smiles a bit. Shizumaru takes an open seat and lays the figurine on the table in front of himself. "Well, this should be very helpful, if we use it correctly." Corrine asks, "Oh?" Hiko the Firechilde asks, "What did you find out from it?" For the record, plasma is also subtly warm, and gives off its own light. For those who haven't encountered it before. Juri of Avalon looks at the figurine. "What does it do?" Shizumaru nods. "Mia-dono determined that it will summon a creature from far out in Shadow, which will then be obligated to perform three tasks, at the command of the one who bears the figurine." Shizumaru says, "It combines Pattern and Magic." Corrine raises her eyebrows. "Interesting. Wonder why Miki and Drake were afraid of it, though... though then again, such things tend to come with their own prices." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Miki said, when I first asked him about accompanying me on this mission, that it was rather fond of him." Shizumaru nods. "It can be summoned again, but must be used by another person. Any one person can only summon and give it three commands once." Corrine ahs, and nods. "Still, useful." She scritches her chin, and then drinks her plasma, allowing its warmth to soothe her nerves. Corrine asks, "The question just ends up being, what tasks to give it... any limits?" Shizumaru scratches his head. Hiko the Firechilde says, "The last one should be to obliterate the Keep... use it as a last resort weapon." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Hold on, consulting GM. n.n;" Corrine's eyes narrow slightly. "Yes." Shizumaru tilts his head. "It is difficult to gauge what its abilities are, but the cow is likely very strong-willed, given that the control spell on the figurine is very powerful." Shizumaru says, "As far as Mia-dono could ascertain, the Cow will do anything you command it to that is within its power." Corrine nods. "Right." She hrms. "Perhaps we can ask Madoka what the cow did last it was released, to get an idea of how powerful it is. If Miki talked about it to her." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Or maybe the first would be to go to Miki and carry him and Tsuwabuki away?" Corrine nods. "Get them to a place where they can be cleaned and deprogrammed." Corrine says, "Which would be either Ember or Amber or Rebma, though the timing would need to be split-second, depending on how much potential the cow has." Corrine rubs her brow. "Anyway." Shizumaru nods, and then leans forward in his seat, arms crossed on the table, head pillowed on his arms. He stares blankly at the cow, looking very much like a lost young child. Corrine mmms, and reaches over, running a hand through Shizu's hair, gently. Hiko the Firechilde sits down next to Corrine. "Still no word on Mother yet?" Shizumaru's lips quirk slightly in a smiling fashion, but does not otherwise react. You page, "None at all? *wl* Not expecting any... and oh, Corrine would have put Funaho on seeing what was up with those new Calromen, check them out undercover through the spy net, see what was up." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "The spy net tells you they went around the city, traded their goods, bought some maps and geography books, then hopped on their boat and sailed away." to you. Akemi pages, "Fairly normal first contact behavior for traders. But also for spies :)" to you. You page, "Takes one to know one, eh? *wry look* Right, we'll keep things in mind." to Akemi. In a page-pose to you, Akemi nods. Juri of Avalon stares at the Cow. "I'm not sure how effective it will be," she muses. "I mean, against the kind of powers that are present in The Keep." Not moving from his position, Shizumaru answers, "We must use anything we can. But it would be wise not to depend on this to do exactly what we want to do without some forethought. It is...a support item, I suppose." Roderick . o O (As long as it doesn't turn into a train...) [spoofed by Akemi] Corrine chuckles a bit at Shizu's reaction, ruffles his hair, then moves her hands away. And then she sighs, deflating a bit and sinking back in her chair. "None, hiko. The manifestation she had was damaged, we've gotten no more response from it... then again, we're also fast-timed up here, so..." She shrugs, helplessly, looking lost and frustrated. Hiko the Firechilde looks like a lost child herself. "I feel so useless." Corrine says, "We -need- that jamming broken. To do that, we need Miki out from Annadil's thumb. Everything else follows from that." Roderick says, "A sorceress is never useless." He juggles small balls of flame. "If nothing else, you can always be the life of the party." [spoofed by Akemi] Corrine reaches over, and squeezes Hiko's shoulder, gently and hoping to be reassuring. Hiko the Firechilde nods. "I suppose we could go back... but isn't that like walking straight into a trap?" Corrine hehs a bit, looking over at roderick, though her expression is a little sad. "We're going back eventually, to get the seed... but no, we need to draw him out." Corrine says, "Either have the Cow grab him and tsuwabuki and drag him back here, or... or, for all we know, he may not -be- at the keep, though I think he'd need to be there to boost his power that much." Hiko the Firechilde says, "To affect Trumps on such a scale? I think so." Corrine quotes: "For his three loves still roam free/They hold the keys/To set him free/From chains forged of music/into the land/where the shadows are..." Corrine says, "We need those three. Madoka, whoever he had his crush on, and... Kozue? The Cow? I'm not sure on -that- one." She purses her lips. Corrine OOCly says, "[Corrine] We're getting the band back together." Shizumaru OOCly is reminded of the Fistful of Village People, and beats Phil down with a mace. Gabrielle says, "OOC: I need to cut out for ten minutes. You probably won't need me." Juri of Avalon asks, "Kozue loved her brother, in her way. At least the one I knew did. Who was his crush on?" Corrine says, "That... I don't know." She sighs. "-Maybe- Madoka would know, or Queen Rei. Kozue, perhaps." Roderick says, "Someone 'he couldn't have'. Which could be a pretty huge range of people." [spoofed by Akemi] Hiko the Firechilde nods. "Perhaps we should contact Madoka, and bring her back here." Juri of Avalon says, "But there's no easy way to do that, with the trumps blocked." Gideon says, "If you want to blow up another part of the castle in the process," without looking up from his books. Corrine nods. "Which makes getting down to Amber a higher priority, so we can get a full update..." She considers. "Not 'easy', but not impossible, either." Roderick says, "Well, someone could walk the...no, you wouldn't be able to get back." [spoofed by Akemi] Hiko the Firechilde smiles. "Perhaps I could teleport there... and back" Corrine says, "Hiko and I can walk the Pattern downstairs... or I can just walk it, trump the folks locally that I need to have come to Amber, -then- when down there, walk a Pattern to get back." Hiko the Firechilde muses over this... Corrine says, "Or magic." She smiles a bit. "Which I admit isn't -my- forte' by far." Shizumaru buries his face in his arms, and says, slightly muffled, "Walk the Fire Pattern here to get to Amber...walk the Kolvir Pattern to get back here." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Are you alright Shizumaru?" Corrine says, "Pattern teleports look like they'd be able to go through the Jamming regardless.." She nods to Shizumaru. "Hell, that was how we got up here -through- Gabrielle's jamming to deal with Fido." Shizumaru answers, "Merely tired." And he sounds it. Not frustrated, just tired. Hiko the Firechilde says, "I can get from here to Arden... getting back is the problem." Corrine nods. "If or when we do this, I suggest that we defer actually going until tomorrow after a full evening's rest... we're -all- strung out." She considers. "because of the fire aspect? Are there locations in Castle Amber proper you're familiar with?" Corrine considers, and mumbles something under her breath about wondering if Carl would be willing to forward a message 'downstairs' to Amber and the Grey Knight. Hiko the Firechilde says, "No... it was the boon I'd requested of the Green Knight: to be able to teleport to Arden instantly, from wherever I was." Corrine says, "Ohhhh." She considers. "A -very- handy escape route for yourself." She hehs a bit. "I suppose you can't take others with you..." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Plus, with my link to the Heart, I can teleport ANYWHERE there is a fire." Corrine quirks a smile. "Well, there's plenty of fire -here-, Hiko..." Hiko the Firechilde says, "I have." She nods to Shizumaru. "I brought him to the Wood Pattern in Arden." Corrine considers. "That sounds our best, safest bet, then. You and I and Funaho and Lonz head down to Arden, I trumpgate us to amber, we trade info, leave Lonz there to do the diplomatic thang, then head down to Rebma to repeat the process with Moire and Funaho. Then come back up here via teleport. And if you're feeling exhausted, there's also a Pattern walk and trumping others to the center." Corrine allows herself to smile more fully. "So. It's -not- helpless. Not instantaneous, but it lets us move around on a personal level." Hiko the Firechilde says, "However, I can carry only one person if we go the Arden route." Mercutio pages, "How will you Trumpgate from Arden to Amber? There's interference anywhere outside the Lava Circle." to you. You page, "Corrine's suspecting that in Amber/etc, they've got a similar "nowhere past the * Circle restruction."" to Mercutio. Corrine ahs. "That leaves out Lonz and Funaho, then. Hrm. Perhaps pattern teleport is still the best alternative." Shizumaru mumbles, "Have Cousin Hiko take Lonz to Arden and then Amber, while Aunt Corrine goes to Rebma with Funaho-dono." Corrine hrms, as a thought occurs. "Hm. Gideon? Were there similar problems with the trumps past the Golden Circle down in Amber? But still all right, locally?" Hiko the Firechilde smirks. "I could transport one at a time, like a ferry service." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "We all meet up somewhere at a prescribed time (don't look at Shizumaru) and then I take you back?" Gideon says, "The first I knew of this symphonic problem was when Juri trumped me." Corrine chuckles a bit. "Just as long as you don't get worn out..." She then nods to Gideon. "Which would have been outside the LC/GC for her and you.... perhaps the Patterns are somehow managing to drive back Miki's blocking? Past the trade circles, it's still in effect, but closer in...." Gideon says, "If it uses the power of the Outsiders, and the Patterns help to repeal/seal away that power, then that would make sense." Corrine says, "WEll, Funaho and Lonz would be staying at their respective assignments. This is mostly to get them down there to be diplomatic and form alliances so that if we -can- send troops down to Amber/Rebma, we won't be stepping on anybody's toes." Hiko the Firechilde says, "We need to get a hold of Ota-san as well. I've heard he has his Icon now, too. And we could use his tactical abilities." Hiko the Firechilde says, "I can do that. It wouldn't tire me out." Corrine nods. "Agreed. And get information on where the Hell Nagisa and Mikage have been." Corrine raises an eyebrow at Hiko. "Several thousand troops? Fleet ships and support?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "Er, I was speaking of Lonz and Funaho... " Corrine says, "Ah, right." She smiles a bit. "-That-, I figured was in your abilities." Hiko the Firechilde looks askance at Corrine, then frowns and starts doing calculations. Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "I don't think I could do a whole ship, much less massed amounts of troops" Corrine considers, and while Hiko's doing calcluations, what the hells, and moves that Prophesies of the Serpent book around so she can read the chapter on Derith (and to see if there was anything left of the Miki chapter. And then after Derith, read about Kozue.) "Mmmm. Figured. For something like that, we'd need the trump jamming removed and gabrielle to gate them. Some of our ships can handle shadow-travel themselves, but they'd arrive too late." /They said he had/his father's eyes/to see what could be/and make it so/ /They said he had/his mother's hands/to shape the clay/and work his will/ You page, "Hm.. this continuing the Miki chapter? Or Derith?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "The Derith chapter. You read all of Miki that's relevant." to you. You page, "Gotcha." to Akemi. Corrine considers these, and nods. "Sounds about right... Derith's certainly got the brainpower and willpower and studies to shape Reality and Shadow..." Corrine keeps reading. /Student of the ancient lore/weilder of the ancient blade/seeker of the ancient secrets/bearer of an ancient eye/champion of an ancient city/wedded to the sea/ Corrine hehs a bit. She murmurs, "That's derith all over..." Hiko the Firechilde mulls over numbers again, half-listening to prophecies. /He turns his back on the past/and gazes into his future/to see a vision of the world made clean/of his city freed from slavery/and so he turns/to find the key/ Corrine purses her lips a bit. Hiko the Firechilde frowns at that bit. /But he sees chains where none exist/ghosts behind him/phantoms before him/he sees all/yet sees nothing/ Corrine hehs a bit, softly. "Oh derith... if only..." She sighs, and shakes her head. "... damn." Juri of Avalon narrows her eyes. /What is to become of a liberator of those already free?/If no chains existed, it would be necessary to invent them/They shall sell him the rope with which they will be hung/ Corrine frowns, murmuring under her breath. "...damn annadil... damn him and his promises and his 'revolutionized world'..." /He passed the test of the gate/into that madness he will not fall/but there are many doors/and many staircases which open the way to them/ Corrine raises her eyebrows at that passage, and scratches her head. Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "Test of the Gate?" /Blood betrayed him/The land of his birth betrayed him/And in the end, his lore betrays him too/ Corrine says, "But how would he have opened it... unless this was something long in the past... oh hell." /He raises his hand and grasps the eye/he raises his hand and gazes above/he grabs the world/and makes it his garment/he grabs the world and bends it to his will/He shatters the chains binding his love to the world he hates/ Shizumaru has raised his head up once more, and has been staring bemusedly at the cow while the prophecy reading has been going on. Hiko the Firechilde OOCly runs for a drink of something cold. /And so he sets it free/free from safety/free from protection/free from all that shields it/ Corrine purses her lips. "Eye of Water... and his mastery of pattern and presumeably the Jewel of Judgement...." Corrine sighs again, head in hands. "Oh -derith-...." /His dream is come to full flower/but how long the dream/that turns not into nightmare?/Is his strength enough?/Is his vision keen enough?/Is his arm long enough?/ /Or is the chasm at world's end/to forever bar the way/to fair Cathuria?/ Corrine says, "Hoooooooo -boy-." /The answer is not to be found/in ancient lore/and that may yet be his bane/ End chapter. Hiko the Firechilde snorts. "'The answer is not to be found in ancient lore...'" =============== =============== Corrine OOCly says, "pause? Text editor became unrunnable." Corrine OOCly says, "Need to reboot." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Okay, I pause." *** Foxtrot goes OOC. *** Hiko the Firechilde says, "And the Prophecy story time continues...." Rod lights a cigarette Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Itsa zesty prophecy :)" Autolyca says, "John and I spent some time deciding what Derith's future will be... what do you think? :)" You page, "Man, poor guy." to Autolyca. Rod says, "lotsa oregan and chives." Shizumaru says, "Death." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC I have another nifty bit for when we resume...:)" Hiko the Firechilde shudders. "Death? Most likely betrayal by his allies that MAY result in death." Dancing Ed says, "I'm having trouble thinking of something suitably poetic for Derith. :p" Dancing Ed says, "And at the same time, having trouble not feeling at least a little sorry for him. " Rod asks, "hey, doesn't he have a pattern blade?" Shizumaru says, "He lent it to Miki, who was captured by Annadil." Tybalt wakes up. Rod exclaims, "Doh!" Gabrielle OOCly curses his system. Mercutio pages, "Did I miss anything beyond discussion?" to you. You page, "Nope, jsut prophesies, and SEVERAL alternate ways to get dow to Amber safely, and back up to Ember." to Mercutio. Rod says, "my, everyone fell silent" Corrine OOCly returns, finally. But wait a sec for me to catch up in backscroll? Gabrielle asks, "Did EVERYONE lock up at the same tiem I did?" Rod says, "no, they just went idle" Hiko the Firechilde says, "Verily idle." *** Foxtrot goes IC. *** Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC I was working on notes while waiting for Phil returning." Corrine OOCly returns. Fully now. =================== =================== Eyes still on the cow, Shizumaru murmurs, "Uncle Derith has been a fool. And misled by Annadil or not, I do not know if I could forgive him even if we triumph." He slowly tilts his head to the side, so that it is his cheek resting against his arms. Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "OOC Okay, which section will you be looking at now?" Corrine OOCly says, "I was thinking Kozue next." Hiko the Firechilde murmurs. "You were misled, too, Shizumaru. Have compassion on him for at least that much?" Shizumaru says, "My mind was controlled. His is not." Corrine purses her lips, and sighs. "Know the feeling, Shizu. Really. Ever since coming to power here in Ember..." She shakes her head. Anyway. /Pity the child/whose parents could care not/if she lived or died/ Hiko the Firechilde blinks at that first bit. Hiko the Firechilde looks at Shizumaru, but says nothing. /Pity the child/born to apathy/raised to derision/matured unseen and uncaring/ /Pity the child/who shouts at the world/when the world is silent/ Corrine rubs her brows again, sighing a bit. "Well, fuck." /The rage of the ocean/is hers to command/and the allure of the seas/is the sword in her hands/ /She knows why sailors abandon all/to know the embrace of the sea/to feel the water beneath them/the waves the mother who rocks them to sleep/ /Middle child she is/Music draws her to the land/Understanding draws her to the sea/Only they understand/ /But the tides pull in different directions/Blood calls to blood/But what can one choose/When blood divides?/ Corrine says, "Ooooh boy. Here we go again." She groans. /She is the wolf who hunts/she is the hound who protects/she is the sea/which gives life/and takes it away/ Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Again?" Corrine says, "Miki's prophesy had a similar theme. Though in his case it seemed to be either choose Madoka, or choose rebma." Corrine says, "Here, it's either Music to the land.... hrm. Miki in Amber? Or to the sea in general, since she's been a naval sort." Corrine says, "Or perhaps even Derith, given his sea-focus on Rebma." /The edge of a blade/slices the ties/and drives the wolf out to prey/until she is ready/to avenge her loss/ Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Derith is her other blood brother, is he not?" Corrine nods. "The younger, after the twins, yes." Corrine says, "So, choose Miki. Choose Derith. Either way, somebody gets hurt." She then artifically smiles, speaking in sing-song. "And Oh -look-, they even managed to get in a reference to the Rose Duel..." Corrine rolls her eyes. /Betrayed by her own blood/her course is chosen for her/but it is not the course/they think they chose for her/ /She will have vengeance/she will extract blood/the price will be paid/a thousand fold/ Corrine says, "Oh dear." She sighs. "-That- ain't gonna be good. And if she comes back by sea, it's gonna turn red, I just know it." /But can she escape/the whirlpool of fate?/Mother and children alike/slowly circle/into the jaws of Leviathan/ /But one light yet remains/for there is no taint/which cannot be purged/there is no wound/which cannot be healed/And the fruit of her sin/may yet be her redemption. ======== ======== Foxtrot has connected. >> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now. Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "OOC Damnation. How much did you miss, Hiko?" Corrine purses her lips at that latest verse. "Whirlpools again. -Definitely- need to meet with Rei, then. And hrm?" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "243 secs worth." Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "OOC What was the last thing you saw?" Gabrielle says, "OOC: John assuming you arne't just astoundingly good at making stuff up on the fly, it might be easier just to email us each the entire book, and then say in-game that we each read it all." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Vengeance, price pay a thousand fold." Gabrielle says, "OOC: thus saving much time." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "This makes sense, but we'd need time to digest it as well, so we could discuss it in game." /She will have vengeance/she will extract blood/the price will be paid/a thousand fold/ /But can she escape/the whirlpool of fate?/Mother and children alike/slowly circle/into the jaws of Leviathan/ /But one light yet remains/for there is no taint/which cannot be purged/there is no wound/which cannot be healed/And the fruit of her sin/may yet be her redemption. Corrine OOCly says, "We can assume that they've been discussing it, but yes, having it brought out like this also works, since it give IC reactions. It's either-or...." ========== ========== And then the window shatters as a huge flaming bird flies in. Corrine exclaims, "GAH!" Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "What in the--?" Shizumaru snatches the cow with one hand, this umbrella with the other, and vaults backward over his chair. Hiko the Firechilde gets up. The bird flies down and lands on the table. Corrine jumps out of her chair, and then stands. "Yes?" Corrine looks at the bird with Pattern Sight, and sensing for Trump, etc. Shizumaru stands up, staring at the bird over the back of his chair, which rocked slightly when he went over. It explodes in a mini-explosion, and then the flames collapse in on themselves, forming into an egg and a piece of water-soaked, blood-stained paper. Hiko the Firechilde approaches the paper carefully. Corrine moves the prophesies out of the way, and then looks at the paper. Corrine then pauses. Corrine says, "Holy -shit-. That has to have been a phoenix." Hiko the Firechilde picks it up and reads it. Rod says, "OOCly er... messenger phoenix? O.o" Shizumaru OOCly says, "Apparently" Corrine OOCly says, "Expensive, but hey, you can get a return message...." The paper reads, 'Sister, I pray this message will reach you and that my long lessons with Fuyutsuki have, for once, been worth something. Since the token you gave me shattered, the storms have grown worse. Much of the fleet is gone, and now we are trapped, slowly being sucked into a whirlpool. My efforts to bend shadow to my will have failed, and it seems there may be no escape for me' Hiko the Firechilde trembles as she reads silently, then passes it to Corrine. 'And yet, I retain one last hope to save us from the maw of the deep, though it is a longshot. I have never liked longshots' Corrine reads the note. Corrine says, "...... oh unicorn.... oh god....." Corrine stares in shock. Juri of Avalon asks, "What is it, Corrine?" Corrine trembles a bit, and sits down heavily on the nearest seat. ".... sis.... -noooo-...." Hiko the Firechilde's lip trembles. "It's from Mother." Corrine tilts back her head, and yells. "NOOOOOO! I WILL not let this HAPPEN!" Her head tilts back forward. "We need to read sis's chapter. NOW." 'It is strange. Though doom stares me in the face, I have not felt such peace in centuries. If I do not return, take care of my daughter, and pass on the phoenix's egg to her. It will one day serve her well' There is then a line drawn across the paper. Juri of Avalon puts her head in her hands and lets out a long, long sigh. Hiko the Firechilde sits down, but does not react for a long time. Corrine looks down at the paper again, managing to read it through slightly tearing eyes. Shizumaru pages, "Might there be decorative wooden knobs on the backs of the chairs, or something like that?" to you and Akemi. Akemi pages, "Makes sense to me." to you and Shizumaru. You page, "Some of 'em, yeah." to Akemi and Shizumaru. Beneath the line, it reads, 'To my daughter, Hiko. I do not know the right words to say, for I know not for sure if this is the end, or just another long wait like the last. I have lost you, and now you must lose me for a time. But if I live, I will return to you, and things may finally be as I long hoped, but never dared to dream' Roderick puts a hand on Juri's shoulder and looks somber. [spoofed by Akemi] Shizumaru stares at this in silence, and then, reaches out, snaps off a decorative wooden knob on the back of the chair he was sitting in, and starts chewing on it. Completely blankfaced. There is, however, the sense of a tremendous level of frustration roiling around in his mind. 'Carry me in your heart, as I carry you in mine. Though I may perish, I will remember you to the last moment, and my final thoughts will be of you. I will not forget. Never again. Never AGAIN. Your mother, Juri.' There is more writing on the back of the page. Juri of Avalon puts one hand over Roderick's after a moment. Roderick squeezes it firmly. [spoofed by Akemi] Corrine nods at those last lines. Corrine murmurs under her breath. "... never again.... never forget. we're going to -make- your miracle, juri, even if I have to spill out my life's blood to do it." There are two messages on the back of the paper: Corrine manages to calm a bit, and turns the paper over to read. Shizumaru quietly crunches, waiting for more news. 'To my other self--Perhaps this was the working of destiny. That when one fell,another might arise to take her place. I know you not, even less than I know my own child. Yet I must trust you to do what is right. To be the support for them that I cannot. For there are things I thought that only I could do, yet I will not be there to do them. Perhaps you will succeed, where I could not' Under that is a line. Lost in thoughts, Hiko does not hear that previous bit. Juri of Avalon lets out another long sigh. Corrine trembles a bit at that one. Corrine murmurs, again. "...oh no, sis... don't you all go fucking fatalistic on -me-.... -i'm- the one who's supposed to be doing that." 'To Miki, my brother--You taught me more than you could ever know. I hope that I have taught you enough. You have my blessing, for whatever that is worth. I salute you. May your new life with Madoka be long and joyous, when you guide your vessel to this crisis' end. PS--I hid your wedding present in the library. Ask Travis for it.' Hiko the Firechilde doesn't hear this bit as well... Shizumaru almost chokes on some splinters, but regains his stony-faced composure. Roderick whispers to Juri. [spoofed by Akemi] Corrine quirks an eyebrow at -that- one. "I do not think that I have your strength, other self, but I shall try," Juri murmurs. Corrine manages a soft laugh. "knew she was rooting for 'm..." She then sighs, closing her eyes. "...right." Gideon says, "You know, there's absolutely no proof that's actually from Juri and not the bait for a trap." Juri of Avalon squeezes Roderick's hand tightly. Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "Doesn't make it any less sad," she snaps. Corrine purses her lips, and sighs. "Wether or not it is or not, Gideon, at the moment, we do not have a sure ability -to- get to her in time TO do so." Corrine says, "We need that damnible trump jamming stopped. We -need- Miki out of Annadil's power. -Everything- else follows from that." Corrine . o O (And a way to double-check if trap or not... check to see if Travis has stashed any wedding presents lately.) Autolyca pages, "Whoa, Corrine's gone "Linda Hamilton Terminator 2" on us" to you. You page, "Her "Inner Darako" has come out, yes. Or is very close to it. ;) Sometimes she can be as hoopy froody as Tylor, some times as intense as Derith...." to Autolyca. Autolyca pages, "And here I thought she cared about Derith :)" to you. You page, "Oh, she -does-... She just is having fun dealing with all this news." to Autolyca. Autolyca pages, "I take it you've guessed that Derith, with all his intelligence and knowledge, has gone and done something stupid? :)" to you. You page, "YUP! :)" to Autolyca. Gideon says, "I will be working on a way to deal with the Jamming while you all attend to other business. It is my area of specialty." Hiko the Firechilde gets up suddenly. "All the more reason for me to make my trips to Amber now. When would Lonz and Funaho be ready?" He continues, "I've got several ideas, although the Logrus related one would be too dangerous to implement this close to a Pattern." Corrine thinks. Akemi pages, "Whenever you tell them" to you. Corrine says, "They're ready to go whenever I give the word. Either you can go yourself, or I can accompany (though in that case, I'd best adjust the gradient again), or Shizumaru can go, or us both. I think 5 maximum for transport, whomever goes." Hiko the Firechilde says, "I can only take one safely. More may be risky." Her voice is curt, almost military sounding. Corrine asks, "Though I beleive you were talking about 'shuttling', earlier?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "I will teleport them, one at a time, to Amber, then return for the other." Corrine says, "Yes."