Date sent: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 11:21:08 -0500 (EST) From: "Philip J. Moyer" To: John Biles , Jeff Hosmer , Andrew Huang , "Trisha L. Sebastian" Subject: [Amber/TAMD] Sunken Rebma, Shaft Patterns, Flawed Constructions Leather Knight Kasumi sends out the Prophecies of the Serpent I've written so far. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Well, while we wait for Hiko..." Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "Drew, what is Shiz going to do with himself while he's back in Ember, waiting for everyone else to return?" Corrine says, "Oh boy..." Gabrielle says, "sned to me to, if not already...." Shizumaru says, "I was thinking that AvJuri might finally get a chance to sit down with Shizu and ask about VENIR 2.0" Shizumaru says, "However, as Alan's about to resume RATGOH, that will probably have to wait." Shizumaru says, "Plus, I'm off work in about 45 anyway. I guess we could start something minor, though." Juri of Avalon says, "Yop. Andrew and I could run it on our own when we get a chance, although Juri also did want to talk to Urd about the 'incest' issues at some point, and she'll have even more reasons to talk to Urd once she finds out VENIR 2.0 was working for the goddesses." Corrine says, "Oh, Foo." Shizumaru nods. Corrine says, "Yup, Serp Prohesey confirms -Touga's- the Prodigal." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Doh, hold on a sec, Merc, will send." Corrine says, "Or supposed to be, anyway." Gabrielle says, "Not your fault. I occupy that weird limbo between PC and NPC." Corrine says, "But Corrine/Shiz welcomed him back... maybe not a BIG party, but.. *shrug* *wry look* :)" Gabrielle says, "He got pie." Gabrielle says, "Everybody loves pie." Corrine says, "And a pardon from Tylor." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Well, given the timeframe, I think I'll work on more prophecies until either Rod or Trish gets on." Corrine says, "And I shall clean up, color, and commentary." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Since Drew will have to run in 45 and Alan is off getting Damask in trouble. As I can't imagine dinner with Devan and Dara being anything BUT trouble...:)" Juri of Avalon says, "What could possibly go wrong? A ha. A ha ha ha." Shizumaru says, "What is Cathuria? o.o" Gabrielle says, "Mythos Ref." Juri of Avalon says, "From Lovecraft's 'Dreamlands' stories." Shizumaru laughs. Shizumaru nods. Corrine says, "(Jeeze, at this rate, Corrine's going to have her -own- book of prophesy commentaries to put with all the rest for future generations...)" Gideon grins. Corrine says, "Of course, by that point, 9/10th of the prophesies in the darn book will be MOOT, but... :)" Gabrielle turns off Inscrutability in EMber, and watches Gideon flash out of existence. Gabrielle also congratualtes John on the Touga prophecies. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Thanks." Shizumaru asks, "Ain't they cool?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "I agonized over them quite a bit." Corrine says, "Full of prophetic yummy goodness." Shizumaru wonders where Trish is. o.o; Shizumaru says, "Especially since we don't want Phil to be staying up too late again." Corrine reads the Prophesy relating to Juri. Leather Knight Kasumi wonders how to magically remove one of the songs from this CD. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Well, really, I need trish and Rod, and Rod won't be on until 10, he told me, so...aargle, baargle." Shizumaru asks, "Are you playing it on a CD player, or with the computer CD-ROM drive?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "CD player" Shizumaru patpats. o.o; Shizumaru says, "Ah. Hm." Corrine goes and THROTTLES the damn Prophesy book. "Where the HELL *WERE* you a MONTH ago???! Arrrrgggghhh!" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Basic problem is that the CD has 10 really good songs, and one total crap." Shizumaru patpats. n.n;; *throttle* *throttle* *throttle* Leather Knight Kasumi says, "It was sitting in every major temple of Chaos :)" Shizumaru says, "I gues you'll just have to get up and hit skip on the player whenever you hit that song." Corrine says, "'Beware the sea'. Good Pyricorn and Unicorn, it's right there and black and white..." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "I know, it just gets annoying." Shizumaru says, "Ah. I should have grabbed a copy when I passed through." Corrine says, dryly. "Oh, We should've snagged a copy from Anno...." Gabrielle says, "Anno's inscutable in the aid he does and doesn't offer like that. Kinda like Fuyutsuki." Corrine says, "Well, shoulda figgered. Generally, it's best not to press, or to guide it out." Corrine says, "Hell, at the time, I just wanted to go HOME, sooo..." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "So he gave you what you wanted :)" Gabrielle nods. "It's the same way with Dworkin. If you try to PRESS the folks like him for knowledge, it usually doesn't work. But you can learn a ton just by hanging around them and letting the conversation go where it will." Corrine says, "Hrmph." Corrine nods. "Corrine learned a lot that formed her later worldview revision from Dworkin." Corrine says, "(as a case in point.)" Gabrielle says, "'They're just toys, Corrine.'" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Of course, you also end up with a lot of stuff that is quite silly :)" Gabrielle says, "Actually, John, I've formulated a theory on this...." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Pushing also tends to lead to them deciding you need a lesson, like being trapped in 'action figure' shadow :)" Corrine says, "Oh boy." Shizumaru says, "Or making everyone else around just as drunk as himself." Corrine looks at Hiko. Corrine backs away, slowly. Gabrielle says, "The folks like Dworkin, Suhuy, Fuyutsuki, Tess, et al. have a kind of specialized 'Mythos Knowledge' thing going on. See...." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "The difference between Derith and Fuy is that Derith could trap you in a shadow where you're treated like babies...while Fuyutsuki, if pressed, will make you BE a baby again :)" Shizumaru laughs. Gabrielle says, "Most people only understand HOW the universe works. How to use the Pattern, how Shadow works, how to manipulate the Logrus, etc." Gabrielle says, "Whereas they actually understand WHY the universe works." Gabrielle says, "Which makes them slightly cracked, because it's hard to comprehenad the metaphysical and the mundane at the same time." Juri of Avalon says, "No it isn't." Foxtrot has connected. >> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now. Juri of Avalon uses his UNLIMITED COSMIC POWERS to DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! Gideon baps Juri. Corrine exclaims, "Trisha!" Gabrielle says, "Dr.F isn't a flake because he's a flake, he's a flake because his head is so full of dangerous, arcane knowledge that if he acted in any other way he'd go mad." Gideon says, "No more kinslaying, you." Corrine hits both Gideon and Av-Juri over the head with Nerf. Juri of Avalon says, "Look, I'll lay of kinslaying when you lay off the ravager-beasting." Shizumaru says, "Oh, hey, Trish." Leather Knight Kasumi exclaims, "Woo, woo, it's Trish!" Hiko the Firechilde says, "It looks good, Phil." Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "You ready to rumble, Trish?" Gideon says, "But it wasn't my fault! :P" Corrine exclaims, "Yay!" Hiko the Firechilde nods. "Ready" Corrine shall ink it when I get the time, then. *** Foxtrot goes IC. *** Corrine OOCly is ready, too. Shizumaru heads out. Back soon. ============ ============ Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "I don't think I need a recap. But I did forget to get teh 'gift' from Travis when I said I would." Shizumaru has disconnected. >> Shizumaru bows, says, "Gomen nasai. Mou ikimasu," and runs off. Corrine OOCly says, "So, Hiko and Corrine were able to convince Madoka to come along (not difficult), and to pack stuff to wear and an an instrument or two, and to meet them in the courtyard later (so that we don't have to have her following all the time until we depart.) So now, we needs must obtain Shaft. Or go to Rebma." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC I suggest you try Rebma first, as we haven't got Shaft yet. He said he'd likely be busy until 10 0r so" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Can we say that I also got the 'gift'?" Corrine OOCly says, "Righto... Onto Rebma!" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC You go back and get it; it's three songbooks." Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "OOC Okay, what's the Rebma going plan?" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "I still have the ship, but aren't there steps?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Yes, there are steps. But they're three days ride down the coast." Corrine OOCly Trump Gate from Castle Amber courtyard to Faellia Bionin steps. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "And do trumps work IN Amber?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC With the ship, it would be only one day." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Righto, Trump gate it is." Corrine OOCly says, "Ready to pull out, of course, if we get the Funky Muzik..." Leather Knight Kasumi asks, "OOC From the courtyard, I assume?" Corrine OOCly says, "The group gated from Kitchens to Courtyard, earlier...." Corrine OOCly says, "Yah." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Check." ========================================== ========================================== You concentrate, and there's no discordant symphony. Instead, a large circular black hole opens, and everything that isn't nailed down starts to be sucked into it. Corrine exclaims, "HELL!" Corrine shuts down the gate, NOW. Wind rushes past you into the void, and Hiko can feel a powerful source sucking her in. You cease to support the gate...but the hole remains. Corrine braces herself, trying to keep Hiko and Funaho from getting sucked in. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "--The FUCK?" Funaho digs in her heels, and Corrine lashes out, barely grabbing Hiko's hand in time. Hiko the Firechilde transforms the ring to a crossbow and fires into it. A servant flies by, into the hole, screaming. Corrine draws on as much of the DemiJewel power as she can here, flipping sight to Pattern to see what the hell this IS.... Shouting begins all around you, and the bells begin to ring. Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "TRUMP DISRUPT!" Akemi pages, "Pattern sight says this does not exist. That nothing is there. Nothing at all..." to you. The crossbow bolt flies into the black void. >From a balcony, you hear Nanami chanting. Corrine stares. "... a total vaccum.... nothingness....by the four heraldric beasts...." And deep within the void, you can see a mass of bubbles, slowly approaching. You page, "not 'nothing is there' illusion, but nada-zero-zip-etc?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Nothing as in 'void', as in something beyond the power of the Pattern..." to you. You page, "... hrrrrgle." to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "It's the card!" Corrine OOCly says, "... do those bubbles, on examination, look like galaxies....." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC why yes, they do." Corrine OOCly says, "ANY options for blocking the damn thing?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC You've never encountered this phenomenon." Corrine OOCly ponders bending over and kissing her butt goodbye. Gyah. Somethign suspiciously like duct tape covers the hole, but begins to buckle inwards, as it is sucked at by the void. Corrine stares, still bracing folks, eyes wide. "... something -beyond- the Power of the Pattern...." Hiko the Firechilde meeps... Hiko the Firechilde holds onto whatever for dear life. Corrine wracks her brain for ANYTHING that might help deal with this, pulling hiko back and digging in as best she can.... Makoto runs into the courtyard. "what in hell?" Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "Makoto! Get Fuyutsuki-san! NOW!" The duct tape is sucked into the hole, and the wind picks up again, though Corrine is able to keep Hiko from being sucked in. Funaho has her eyes shut and is concentrating on something. Corrine exclaims, "Tried to Trump-Gate to Rebma! Got THIS instead! Whatever it is, it's beyond Pattern!" Makoto's eyes widen, then he turns and runs into the castle. The bubble-galaxy being is growing disturbingly closer through the hole... Akemi pages, "It might be possible to get Gaby to open a Pattern Gate and shove the hole back to Rebma where it seems to have come from." to you. Akemi pages, "Beyond that, you're clueless." to you. You page, "Provided it doesn't suck gabrielle through, or cause something boomy, or screw over rebma, since she was aiming for the damn -steps-...." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Well, yes..." to you. Hiko the Firechilde raises her hands. "Rings of Fire!" Corrine would throw something through that hole to drive it back if she wasn't busy keeping Hiko from getting sucked in... she concentrates. Fire erupts from Hiko's hands, shooting into the hole. It is not damaged...but it does glide a few feet back. Hiko the Firechilde pours more energy into her send and fires again. Corrine exclaims, "Dammit, I could have Gaby Pattern-gate that thing, and try shoving it back to rebma, but that'd just screw THEM over!" Corrine exclaims, "Or worse, screw over Gaby!" The hole absorbs the fire, still growing slowly. The bubbles are about to spill out. But now it skitters back and hits the wall, sucking a large chunk of the wall out of existence. Nanami begins cursing from the balcony. Hiko the Firechilde eeps! "Hurry, Great-Grandfather!" The castle rumbles. The ground begins to crack open, as if two giant doors were opening in the very stone floor of the courtyard. Corrine tries to place the epicenter of the rumble, still holding folks, and considering... She fires her crossbow one-handed into the hole, still holding into hiko, shifting from cold-iron bolts to Patternfire bolts if she can. Five giant humanoid, armored beings erupt up from the hole, rising up on some sort of elevator pad. Corrine . o O (WTF?!?!) Hiko the Firechilde BLINKS. They charge at the hole and...get sucked in. But the hole isn't big enough, so they get stuck. Hiko the Firechilde would facefault if she weren't busy trying not to get sucked into a hole. Five giant, cramped, butts and legs hang in the air where wall used to be. Fuyutsuki now rises into sight and steps off the platform, frowning. "Well, not QUITE what I intended those for." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Great-Grandfather! What in the world is THAT?" Corrine OOCly says, "has the vaccum effect died down now that the hole's plugged?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Yes, the vaccuum stops." Corrine relaxes. WEll, not much. 7 Fuyutsuki waggles a finger at Corrine. "Opening holes into the Void isn't something you do where you have to live." Corrine says, "-WELL-. SOMEBODY's screwing up Trumps around here..." Corrine blinks. "I wasn't -trying- for that!" Hiko the Firechilde says, "She was trying to TrumpGate to Rebma." Corrine exclaims, "I was just trying to trump for the Rebma steps!" Corrine takes deep breaths, visibily trying to calm herself down. He goes over to the butts and starts hammering at them with a large bat with the Pattern drawn on it. Corrine says, "I'm sorry, grandfather.... I apologize for yelling... Erm." Corrine just blinks. And slings crossbow. Fuyutsuki says, "It would appear that Rebma has dropped off the face of the earth, so to speak." Corrine says, "....." Soon, he hammers them into what looks suspiciously like the segment of wall that got swallowed. Corrine -stares-. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Oh dear lord... Nagisa... and Rebma sinks into the sea..." Corrine says, "Rebma.... gone.... SHIT." Then he whips out a crayon and draws an Elder Sign on the wall. It glows and sinks into the wall. Corrine watches the Elder Sign being drawn, studying its actions with Pattern Sight. The Elder Sign is full of Colorless Patterny Goodness Corrine -stares-. Corrine sucks in a breath. "... the power of the Primal Pattern?" Corrine asks, "... or something even -more-?" Fuyutsuki says, "Good thing you called me, or we'd have lost half the castle this time." Corrine nods, dumbly. Fuyutsuki tosses the crayon to Hiko. "You can draw on just about anything with this." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "REbma.... GONE?" Hiko the Firechilde catches is limply. Fuyutsuki says, "Well, the other Patterns should pick up the slack, which is what quintuple redunancy is good for, but this is likely to be messy." He frowns. "Hmm, I'd best go see if this had any effect on the Primal Pattern..." Corrine says, "We need to inform Yuriko. Have runners sent. I can inform some of my rangers in Arden to observe over the coast..." She pauses. "Hell, we could try and observe from the Duel Arena...." He tries to draw a door on the wall, then realizes he has no crayon. Corrine looks at Grandfather. "Grandfather. Several days ago, Amber-time, a water-keyed Shadow that Ember was planning to trade with suddenly vanished. Could this be connected?" Hiko the Firechilde smiles, and hands it to Fuyutsuki. Corrine says, "It's name was the Hydros Cluster, I don't know if you've heard of it." Fuyutsuki says, "There are no coincidences." He takes the crayon. "Thank you," then begins sketching a door. "This will likely cause a reduction of the power of water, and a corresponding increase in the power of fire. Which could be messy..." Corrine OOCly says, "Mean 'fire' for the second?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Yes" He tosses the crayon back to Hiko and opens the door. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Especially considering who wields the power over water here." She catches it and watches him go. Corrine closes her eyes. "Shit. The heatwave in Ember, and the droughts in the earthlike Lava Circle shadows." Corrine opens her eyes again. Corrine watches Fuyutsuki go. "Thank you, Grandfather." She smiles a bit. Rod has connected. >> You are the all-singing all-dancing crap of the world. Rod says, "oi" Autolyca has arrived. Fuyutsuki says, "There's a decanter of endless lemonade in my kitchen if you get thirsty, by the way." He steps through the door. "Of course, the new Pattern is also complicating matters..." And then the door shuts and he's gone. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "New Pattern?" Corrine asks, "New... Pattern?" Autolyca OOC Anyone mind me? Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Yes. You're the enemy now. " Hiko the Firechilde turns. "There's a new pattern?" Nanami shouts from the balcony, "New Pattern? Who drew a new Pattern?" Corrine blinks. "Damned if -I- know, Hiko... Ember existed, but was just damaged." Corrine shouts back. "Don't Know, Nanami! Wish the hell I did!" Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "How do you make a new Pattern?" Makoto comes back out of the house and says, "Only Derith or Drake or Juri would have the know how to do that, other than Fuyutsuki himself." Shizumaru has connected. Corrine says, "Presumably... with a True Jewel, or perhaps an elemental shadow of it. I can -repair-, myself.... that's what I did with Ember." Corrine says, "Drawing I think would prolly kill me." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "How many jewels are there, and who has them?" Makoto says, "I'd guess four for the four patterns." Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "IIRC, Corrine in Ember saw Shaft with the flawed demi jewel. " (to you) You page, "Well, yes, but it's -flawed-. Who would be INSANE enough to try to draw a pattern with -that-? ;)" to Foxtrot. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Well... ^_^ Shaft, of course." (to you) Utena comes charging into the yard, leading a squad of guards with Misato. "what's going on here?" Corrine thinks. "Myself, Fire. Derith has Water, dammned if I know. Wood would -- well, who knows. Metal, Tylor had that, but damned if I know where it is now. Air...." Her brow furrows as if trying to think of something. There is a gust of wind, and Nanami floats down. "I believe Tylor normally keeps the Metal Jewel in the Vaults." Corrine pulls out her trump deck, and shuffles through it. "... what the hell. -Anthy's- got Air." She slaps her forehead. Hiko the Firechilde says, "The Vaults have been compromised." You page, "WAs metal in there when they went to retrieve the 'JoJ'?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "No, you don't remember seeing it." to you. Makoto's eyes flare. Utena says, "They have?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "The Jewel of Judgement has been stolen, as was the Seed of Hope." Corrine nods, blinking a bit. "Yeah. Hell, that was what, less than a week ago, here, I think?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "Who knows what else had gone missing. Drake implied the Derith was behind something." Corrine says, "And I didn't see the Metal Jewel down there when Drake, Hiko, Yuriko, and Myself were down there." Autolyca says, "OOC Maybe Fuyutsuki just used the JoJ to go fly fishing again" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "You have no say here, traitor. " Corrine says, "The True Jewel had been replaced with a fake that would have gated in primal chaos if somebody walked the Pattern with it." She shudders. "Fortunately, it's destroyed now." Hiko the Firechilde nods. Several of your siblings shudder. Corrine says, "Shit shit SHIT.... Rebma's all but VANISHED, half the Jewels unaccounted for, Trumps getting screwed up... I do NOT LIKE THIS." Autolyca OOC offers a new Z20 scene to placate the angry fire goddess Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Bribery will get you nowhe-- REALLY?" Autolyca OOC Latest Z20 at http://www.dkcomm.net/jhosmer/z20.txt Makoto says, "I'll go get the Queen." He darts out. Corrine nods, waiting in the group. She hrms. Corrine says, "At least Grandfather was able to plug the hole... looks like that Elder Sign -does- have what it takes." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Corrine... '...free from safety/free from protection/free from all that shields it..'" Hiko the Firechilde says, "We are just one step behind... I am getting sick of this." Corrine nods. "As. Am. I." Shizumaru pages, "Crikey. What's happened now? x.X" to you. Corrine finds a convenient rock in the courtyard, then casually shatters it with her bare hands. Hiko the Firechilde says, "We're going in circles, chasing lead after lead... but getting no where." Corrine takes some deep breaths, and stands up again. "Right. That's put the kibosh on us visiting Rebma, Funaho." Funaho nods. "Well, at least it means they won't be a threat either." Corrine nods to Hiko. "Yeah." She arches an eyebrow at Funaho. "Perhaps, but I would prefer a visible threat than a gaping maw of Void, either. More tangible." She frowns. Funaho says, "I hope that doesn't happen again when you try to get Prince Ota." Hiko the Firechilde says, "We need to take a stand... we need to plan." Corrine says, "I swear, if Derith's behind this, his butt is SO in a sling after I stop spanking him." Nanami says, "If Derith is behind this, his head will be on a pole." Corrine asks, "But he can't be -that- stu--- no, wait, what am I saying?" Corrine rubs her eyes across the bridge of her nose. Nanami says, "And the rest of him will be dinner for the dogs." She thinks a moment. "Actually, the dogs deserve better." Utena frowns. "What exactly is going on?" Corrine sighs. "Plans of revenge and stuff later, coherent action first?" Corrine says, "BAscailly, utena, when I tried to trump us to Rebma, rebma wasn't there. Got a Void instead." Corrine says, "We beleive, that in trying to -protect- Rebma, Derith may have doomed it." Autolyca pages, "Can you send me the log of the discover that Rebma's.... NOT when you're done tonight? I'd like to see that" to you. You page, "*nod* No probs." to Autolyca. Hiko the Firechilde says, "We suspect-- at least I do-- that yes, Derith has done something to remove Rebma from this current plane of existence." Corrine raises her voice to catch the crowd's ears. "Has anybody else around here tried a trump successfully and safely today??" Utena says, "I got trumped by Makoto who said all hell was breaking loose here." Corrine takes a deep breath. "Good. That's reassuring." Corrine says, "we're not TOTALLY screwed then, just -mostly-." Makoto soon returns with the Queen, Anthy, and Vash in tow. Autolyca OOC At least it can't possibly get any worse. :) Hiko the Firechilde says, "Every one else we try and contact, we get nothing but discordant music." Corrine OOCly says, "Would it be possible for folks to see down Rebma-way from the castle ramparts?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC The ocean is hidden by a heavy storm." Corrine OOCly says, "Damn." Queen Yuriko strides over to you. "What is going on? I got this strange story about holes and giant robots and things." Corrine says, "At least from Ember, when reaching out into Shadow past our trade borders." Corrine bows to Yuriko. "My apologies, your majesty. In attempting to trump to Rebma... Rebma was not there. I fear the worst for it and your family." Hiko the Firechilde points to the wall which has robot Butts sticking out of it. The Queen's eyes widen. "Not there?" Vash says, "What, it got up and took a walk?" Corrine says, "Only by the actions of Grandfather was he able to seal the opening to the Void that had been produced, along with the Elder Sign." Hiko the Firechilde says, "We suspect that Derith may have tried to protect it somehow... but every thing's gone wrong." Corrine nods. "A Devil's Deal turned sour." Yuriko nods, frowning deeply. Corrine considers. "And that would have taken the Water Pattern -with- it... -shit-. Good thing we still have Four, though that'll still cause imbalances across Shadow... and I sure as hell don't have the power to bring Rebma -back- at the moment." Corrine thinks in her mind, considering the placement of her usual patrols in Arden, to see if any would get close to the coast of of Amber/Rebma, to be able to observe. Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "And now there's a new pattern... and where's Nagisa? Wasn't he doing research in Rebma?" Hiko the Firechilde shivers. Anthy says, "Nagisa is here in Amber, fortunately." Anthy says, "If he had fallen with Rebma, we would truly be damned." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Oh, thank the Kami... where is he? I'd love to find out if he has his Icon, and what he's learned." Akemi pages, "Yes, they do sometimes come near the coast. Or you could order them to go look." to you. You page, "*(nod* I intend to." to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde blushes. "And to apologize for being so cantankerous the last time we met." Corrine hrms, and pulls out her trump of one of her ranger lieutenants. "Hiko? Be ready to trump distrupt me if this goes Fubar. I'm going to try and contact my rangers, have them observe and report back." Hiko the Firechilde nods. Corrine pulls on her DemiJewel power again. She glances at Anthy. "Dowager Queen Anthy? If a Shadow Storm erupts suddenly, can you neutralize? I'd advise the rest of you to stand back...." Anthy nods. Corrine concentrates on her trump of Fingolfin, the elven lord and one of her seconds in command, holdign her breath. Fingolfin answers. "Hello, Lady Corrine." Hiko the Firechilde restrains a sigh of relief. Corrine lets out a breath, visibly relaxing. "Oh, -thank- the Pyricorn and Unicorn. Fingolfin? We have a situation. I need rangers sent to the eastern side of Arden, observers to carefully explore the coasline near Rebma. We have reason to believe it's vanished, and we -need- to confirm the dissapearance and the range of it and the storm over the sea which may be covering it. Don't take any unececssary risks, and report back to Queen Yuriko if you can." Corrine says, "All reports for the nonce should be forwarded to Queen Yuriko, she has executive power during this crisis, as I may be unavoidably unreachable as a part of it." Fingolfin nods. "I'll send some men to investigate." Corrine says, "Thank you, Fingolfin." She smiles slightly. "We'll await your report." Hiko the Firechilde whispers to Corrine. "Perhaps Harold or the Green Knight may know of what's become of the Patten in Rebma?" Corrine considers, and nods, murmuring back. "We'd best ask, if they can." Fingolfin says, "Anything else, your highness?" Castle doors open and Gil-Galad pokes his head out. "Are we having a family meeting or something?" "Oh, we thought we'd just have an open air picnic," Nanami says, "Nice of you to stop crying into your pillow and come out and join us, Gil-Galad." Hiko the Firechilde looks at the 'missing' brother a bit curiously. "You are Gil-Galad?" Corrine says, "At the moment, no, though if anybody's seen the Green Knight, you can let him know we're hoping to talk with him soon." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Wow, Nanami's a bitch. o.o;" Corrine OOCly says, "Well, yes. She's Nanami." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Heh." Corrine OOCly says, "But she's family, so that's okay. ^_^" Autolyca pages, "Hey, you going to make a drawing of Leather Knight Kasumi? :)" to you. You page, "Eventually, perhaps!" to Autolyca. Autolyca pages, "Should be a fun drawing ;)" to you. Gil-Galad comes the rest of the way out, then bows to Hiko. "A pleasure to meet you, niece. Yes, I am Gil-Galad. My nephew, Prince Ota, liberated me from the dungeons in which I fell prisoner due to my youthful exuberance." "And youthful incompetence," Nanami says. Makoto puts a hand on her shoulder and frowns at her. Utena says, "Stop picking on the poor boy, Nanami." Corrine says, "For the moment, that should be all, Fingolfin. Guard the Forest well... I regret that I cannot be there serving beside you." Gil-Galad winces a bit at being called 'boy'. Hiko the Firechilde gives Nanami a look, not a bad look, just a look, and bows. "That must have been a heck of a story... where were you imprisoned?" Fingolfin bows to Corrine. Corrine nods back, and cuts the connection. Gil-Galad asks, "Are you familiar with the origin of the Elves of Arden from whom my mother came?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "No, I'm not." Corrine then hands the Trump to Yuriko, pops open her deck, and hands several other high-level Arden Command Structure trumps to her. "Here, Yuriko. Since I can't risk anything screwing up if they try to call me while I'm in Ember, I've asked them to forward reports to you." Yuriko takes them. "Thank you." Corrine says, "They'll be sending men out to the east side of the forest to see if they can learn anything." Gil-Galad says, "My ancestors came from a shadow known as Beleriand where they lost a war against a god." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "A mad god?" He continues, "One of my ancestors led them to freedom with a gem known as a Silmaril, which I now belive must have been a shadow at some remove of the Jewel of Judgement." Corrine considers something. "And, while Anthy is here, and Funaho..." She takes a deep breath... "I'll try contacting Shaft again." "Anyway, Father eventually found them and brought them to Arden. Many years ago, I believed I had learned enough of the arts of Pattern to go and avenge my ancestors." Hiko the Firechilde smiles, wistfully, knowing how that feeling can affect you. Corrine looks at Funaho, and Anthy. "Be ready to Trump Disrupt and Storm Nullify if things go haywire, last I knew, he was in a fast-time shadow, but that was earlier today." Gil-Galad pales and stares at the ground. "When one is young, one believes that one can overcome anything, that no foe is too strong. Far worse for the Amberite who is raised to belive himself superior to all mere shadows." Corrine quirks a wry smile at Gil-Galad, and gives him a quick wave, having -been- there at the time of his departure so knowing she doesn't have to fully listen to the story, and having lived some of the lesson through time and through her travels. Anthy nods to Corrine. Corrine pulls out Shaft's trump, makes sure everything is in readiness, and concentrates on it, opening the connection. "There are things in Shadow which can crush even the proudest Amberite beneath his heel. My weapons were shattered, and by means I do not understand, my ability to use the Pattern was nullified. And then he hit me with the hammer." He shudders. "I'm surprised I still have any bones. That's when the centuries..." Visibily shaking, he falls silent. "Morgoth is not kind to his prisoners," he finally says. Hiko the Firechilde nods in sympathy. "How did you escape?" Gil-Galad kicks a rock. "Makoto and Prince Ota and their friends rescued me. They succeeded where I failed." "That's because they aren't losers," Nanami says, shrugging. Gil-Galad looks up at Nanami for a moment, then sighs and winces. Hiko the Firechilde gives Nanami another brief LOOK, and nods to Gil-Galad. "I have had similar failures... mostly recently. But you cannot let that consume you." You page, "Oh, don't worry, in a few minutes, the True Loser will be seen... ;)" to Foxtrot. Gil-Galad says, "I still dream about...the things I've seen sometimes." ==== ==== Akemi pages, "You're crusing down a highway with the Leather Knight when someone trumps you. It's your aunt Corrine." to you and Rod. You page, "[Corrine] Thank the Unicorn! We finally go through to you, Sha--- *BLINK*" to Akemi and Rod. Shaft appears before you, his hair pulled back by the wind, the cheeks of his face flapping from the sheer speed he's traveling at. "Heya, Auntie!" You page, "[Corrine] Shaft! IT's hit the fan, and we're in it deep. Wheever you are, pull over and let us pull you through!" to Akemi and Rod. Akemi pages, "Okay, They slow to safe speed, and then Corrine pulls them through." to you and Rod. You page, "Including LK Kasumi and motorcycle?" to Akemi and Rod. ==== ==== Shaft emerges into the courtyard, riding on the back of a motorcycle. Oddly, Kasumi, clad in black leather bustier and pants is the one DRIVING it. Corrine STARES, letting go of the connection. Corrine does this because she can now see who's driving. Makoto and Nanami stare blankly in unison. Autolyca OOC I think I speak for all of us when I say, "Oh my." Shizumaru OOCly sniggers. Shaft asks, "heeey, y'all, whasa?" Corrine asks, ".... shaft?" Corrine asks, "Who is this?" Gil-Galad seems unsurprised. "Hi, Prince Ota." Shaft says, "You'll never believe the shit I got into, but hey... oh, her? THis is Kasumi." Hiko the Firechilde blinks. Utena stares. "I see you...changed your clothing today...Kasumi." Corrine blinks at 'Kasumi'. She shifts to Pattern Shight. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Kasumi-san?" Shaft asks, "Oh, hey, Gil-man! How's it hangin'?" Akemi pages, "Kasumi is full of Flawed Fire Patterny Goodness" to you. Corrine STARES. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "I WANT that outfit." Gil-Galad finally smiles. "It's hanging well." Corrine shifts her gaze, slowly, to study Shaft. Hiko the Firechilde looks back towards the castle. Makoto says, "Perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised by this wedding." Autolyca OOC And the drawer of a new Pattern IS..... :) You page, "(oh, can Corrine see the full detail of the shape of of the Flawed Fire Pattern in Shaft? :)" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Same imprint on him too" to you. Kasumi says, "Yo, everyone." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Kasumi and Ota-san are getting married?" Corrine asks, very calmly. "Shaft?" Hiko the Firechilde is sufficiently mindboggled... Auntie Kasumi-- Kasumi says, "Damn straight." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Er, congratulations..." And then from one of the balconies, you hear a woman shout, "OTA!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT WOMAN?" Hey, look, it's Kasumi in her usual chambermaid outfit...with Whalekiller as an accessory. Corrine asks, still very calmly, "Why do you have a Flawed Fire Pattern imprint in the shape of an abstract naked Kasumi?" Gil-Galad blinks. Makoto begins to laugh loudly. Nanami looks at Ota, then her eyes widen. "What the..." Hiko the Firechilde BLINKS back and forth between the two Kasumis. You page, "Scanning to see if he's got that Flawed Fire Demi Jewel on him." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Nope." to you. You page, "Ahhhh." to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "HE drew the new Pattern?" Hiko the Firechilde blinks again. Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Hmm, this could be trouble." ==== ==== Rod has disconnected. >> It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything. Shaft says, "OOCly well, that was fun" And then from one of the balconies, you hear a woman shout, "OTA!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT WOMAN?" Hey, look, it's Kasumi in her usual chambermaid outfit...with Whalekiller as an accessory. Shaft asks, "OOCly resume from 'CORRINE turns on her Pattern Sight' please?" Corrine STARES. Corrine shifts her gaze, slowly, to study Shaft. Corrine asks, very calmly. "Shaft?" Corrine asks, still very calmly, "Why do you have a Flawed Fire Pattern imprint in the shape of an abstract naked Kasumi?" ==== ==== Utena says, "_Ota_, WHAT have you been up to????" The Queen looks back and forth and purses her lips. Shaft grins and scratches the back of his head. "Well, hey, I was bored an' had this jewel... and the whole Kasumi thing, I dunno, just my subuconscious, I didn't MEAN for it to...." Corrine then looks at Hiko. "Apaprently, though I was unaware that one could do so with a Flawed Elemental Jewel. But... if he -did-... this could mean complications." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Hiko did a lot of boggling, but when Corrine said what she did, she assumed he drew teh net pattern." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "What kind of complications?" Hiko the Firechilde ducks out of the way. Corrine says, "According to my understanding ---" Shaft says, "OOCly can we please re-set kasumi as she came in just when I reconnected o.o" Shaft OOCly kicks his computer Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Er... that's it... we did lots of boggling, then Kasumi appeared in the window." Shaft says, "OOCly right, kasumi appears at window." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "And then she started shooting... resume action?" Shaft says, "OOCly sure." Corrine ducks and rolls, fluidly, avoiding any whalekiller bolts. Shaft waves at Kasumi. "Baby, you'll NEVER believe who this is!" Corrine continues as if she hadn't been interrupted by Attack of the Killer Kasumi's, "--- One who -draws a Pattern- becomes bound to it. And if that Pattern is damaged, then their own brain becomes flawed." Shaft exclaims, "WHOA! Hey! C'mon! Put that thing down, honey!" Hiko the Firechilde finds cover. "Oh, GREAT... that's just what we need. The Child of Metal, with a flawed brain." The shot impales the motorcycle. Leather Knight Kasumi stares up at the other Kasumi angrily. Shaft ducks for cover as well. "Oh, this from the chick that gave me 'Master My Master'." Corrine says, "Unfortunately, erasing it, so far as I know, would kill the drawer." She winces a bit. "We'll need grandfather's advice on THIS, I think." Shaft shouts out to Shooting Kasumi, "HON! CALM DOWN! THIS AIN'T AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT IS!" Hiko the Firechilde yells back. "I was FAKING IT, Ota!" Leather Knight Kasumi cracks her knuckles. Shaft turns to Hiko. "Oh, yeah, that makes it muuuuch better." Shaft exclaims, "BABY, CEASE FIRE!" Corrine then looks at Shaft. "And this 'Kasumi' would be, Shaft?" Autolyca OOC Quick, someone make a mess so she has to stop and clean it up! Kasumi fires at Leather Knight Kasumi Hiko the Firechilde calls for reinforcements, pulling out her trump of the Green Knight. Leather Knight Kasumi claps her hands together and catches the bolt an inch from her face. Shaft says, "Um... well, she's Kasumi too.... sorta... it's a complicated thang." Hiko the Firechilde says, "...because if she is who I think she is... Knights and Patterns, good god..." Utena and Vash hustle Anthy and Yuriko to cover. Corrine says, "Explain it to me. As Hiko says, I have a suspicion. But I want to hear it from you." Makoto just keeps laughing hysterically. Hiko the Firechilde activates it. Shaft asks, "Um... lemme just stop my fiance from killin' my fiance first, cool?" Nanami gestures and Whalekiller bursts into flames. Shaft says, "OOCLY PAUSE" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Check." Autolyca OOC waves out. Night all! Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC G'nite" Shaft says, "OOCLy unpause." Hiko the Firechilde gets a worried look on her face. Corrine makes a shrugging gesture towards Shaft, as if to say, "Hey, it's -your- neck..." She then looks towards Hiko. Kasumi throws the flaming Whalekiller off the balcony. She now has a rocket launcher. Leather Knight Kasumi bigsweats. Corrine . o O (Oh poop.) Autolyca pages, "Can't wait to see the log of this ;)" to you. You page, "Yup yup... :)" to Autolyca. Autolyca has disconnected. Shaft blinks at the exploding whalekiller. "HEY! WHOA!" Nanami raises a hand, then lowers it and frowns. Gil-Galad runs into the castle. Shaft asks, "OOCly where exactly is kasumi?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC She's up across the courtyard on a second story balcony. Probably right outside someone's bedroom." Shaft asks, "OOCly can i jump up there?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC You can certainly try." Hiko the Firechilde reaches her hands through the trump, but does not go through. Shaft tries to do some errol-flyn-esque stuntwork and leap up to the 2nd floor balcony. Corrine watches Hiko with concern, and then looks back over at the stunts of Shaft, Kasumi, and Kasumi. Leather Knight Kasumi takes cover Kasumi pulls the trigger. Nothing happens. Kasumi curses and drops it off the balcony, onto Shaft's head as he goes for the jump. WHAMMO. He falls to the ground. Shaft exclaims, "OW! Goddamn!" Shaft shakes his head and scrambles into the building, intending to take the stairs.... Corrine winces at that impact. Kasumi whips out a dozen boomerangs and sends them flying at Leather Knight Kasumi in an impresive display of skill. Most of them hit LK Kasumi, who winces and closes her eyes and concentrates. Nanami says, "Where the hell is she getting all these weapons?" Makoto keeps laughing hysterically. Corrine's eybrows go up at this display, still covering for Hiko. She considers, and PatternSights Kasumi on the balcony. Akemi pages, "How odd, she has a Flawed Fire Pattern like the other one..." to you. Shaft continues to run up flights of stairs frantically... Corrine sucks in a breath. Shaft catches up with Gil-Galad, who seems to have had the same idea. Corrine says, "How in the..... good Pyricorn." Corrine says, "Kasumi's got a -Flawed Fire Pattern- imprint." Corrine says, "The same one as -her-," *points to LK kasumi, "And that Shaft now bears." Rod pages, "hrm. i wonder... since thsi happened while kasumi's preggers... what'll happen to her kid?" to you. You page, "Some things should not be pondered until the kid is released." to Rod. Makoto says, "Weird." Then he starts laughing again. Shaft exclaims, "HONEY! HEY! CEASE FIRE, BABY!" Shaft and Gil-Galad charge out onto the balcony just as Kasumi pulls a crate of hand grenades out of somewhere. She turns and glares at Ota. "You! You betrayed me with that cheap biker slut!" Shaft puts on a burst of speed and leaps to tackle Kasumi Leather Knight Kasumi mumbles under her breath. Shaft says, "OOCly boy, if that ain't a fanfic plug......" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "And it's a GOOD fic plug... " Corrine checks to see how Hiko's doing. She hurls a dozen grenades, which would have blown you and her and Gil-Galad to kingdom come...if any of them worked. Instead, you just get a bruise on the forehead, and Gil-Galad takes three to the head and falls stunned. Then you're on Kasumi. Shaft catches Kasumi in a bear hug. "Baby, hey, calm down, c'mon, take some deep breaths..." Shaft shouts at Leather Biker Kasumi, "Hey, can y'all get like, a little equilibrium goin' on here?" She struggles. You don't remember her being THIS strong...but the last time you held her was rather less violent. Shaft says, "ah, what the hell, works for most princes." Shaft cranes his neck forward and liplocks Kasumi Kasumi's eyes widen, and then she calms, kissing you. Hiko the Firechilde releases the trump, a worried look on her face. "He's sick... feeling like he's about to burn. He needs me." Gabrielle OOCly whistles. Shaft says, "OOCly pause" Leather Knight Kasumi begins pacing about frantically. "It is best we not...come too close." She tries to start her motorcycle, but it won't start. She curses and kicks it and it breaks into a dozen pieces. Funaho says, "About to burn? Who is?" Corrine sighs, rubbing her eyes. And winces. "Oh HELL. Without Water to buffer, and an extra -Fire-...." Hiko the Firechilde says, "The Green Knight of Arden." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Oi. Rod needs a pause. o.o" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, Whoops. Gabrielle says, "OOC: If you're lucky, he needs you to 'renew the compact.' Maybe more than once. ^_^" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "I fear it's more complicated than that. And I do that anyway, Merc." Shaft says, "OOCLY damn family o.o" Shaft says, "OOCLy UNpause" Corrine says, "Avatar of the Wood Pattern, as the Red Knight is the avatar of our own Fire Pattern... Go to him, Hiko, you can return here when you can, I'll stay here." . o O (Especially since you're our only route -back- to Ember in a timely fasion....) Hiko the Firechilde nods, and thinks of Arden. *BAMF* Shaft continues to kiss Kasumi. Nanami says, "I suppose a giant Smokey the Bear will rise out of the ocean next to punish us for abusing Arden." She sighs. "And it appears Wakaba is still hiding under her bed. I will return." She strides off. Corrine watches Hiko head out. She then sighs, and stands up. Leather Knight Kasumi jumps up and down on the wreckage of her bike, looking irritated. Corrine looks worriedly towards the direction of the sea. She goes over to LK Kasumi. "Um... Technology doesn't work here, miss... erm, Knight Kasumi?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "I'm the Leather Knight." Shaft seems to be doing a good impression of those 'fresh breath' commercials, the kiss going on, and on, and on.... Leather Knight Kasumi begins tossing the motorcycle parts down a well. "Feh." Corrine manages a smile. "I don't beleive we've been introduced. Corrine I, Queen of Ember, home of the Fire Pattern, beloved of the Red Knight." Makoto says, "Umm, that's not a garbage can." Gil-Galad quietly lies knocked out near Shaft and Kasumi kissage. Shaft releases Kasumi slowly. "Baby... you done hurlin' weapons of mass destruction at me?" Leather Knight Kasumi ignores Makoto and turns to Corrine. "Nice to meet you." She salutes. Kasumi says, "I feel much better." Corrine salutes back. "So... how did you come to be? This was not at all expected..." Kasumi says, "It must have all been a horrible dream." Leather Knight Kasumi shrugs. "The usual." Corrine . o O (To make the understatement of the millenium.) Makoto taps her on the shoulder, "You know, you've just ruined one of our wells with all that motor oil." Corrine says, "Pattern got drawn, and your emplated on a form that was best receptive to your drawer or repairer?" She nods. Leather Knight Kasumi ignores Makoto. "Shaft drew a Pattern, and I champion it." Corrine waves off Makoto for the moment. Shaft says to Kasumi, "Look... um.... there was this little thing with a pattern drawing, an' some weird shit happened, and, well, see that biker chick down there? That's, um, you. If one'a you dies, the other dies, you got this funky spiritual link mojo goin' on. So... um.... don't kill each other." Corrine asks, "With the Flawed Embran Demi Jewel?" Corrine says, "Of Fire, that is." Shaft shouts to Leather Knight Kasumi, "Hey, can you explain this to her? I think I don't got the gist of it!" Shizumaru OOCly says, "And Shaft demonstrates his deep knowledge of the mysteries of the Pattern. o.o;" Corrine OOCly says, "Yup." Kasumi looks down. "Not a dream..." She looks at Ota. "You decided you wanted a biker chick version of ME???" Shaft waves his hands frantically. "NONONOONO!" Makoto says, "Excuse me, but you just wrecked one of the wells which are my responsibility!" Shaft exclaims, "Pops didn't warn me of the side effects, baby!" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "Then you can fix it, kid." Corrine facepalms, sighing. Leather Knight Kasumi ignores Makoto and heads towards Shaft. "I'm like the twin sister you never knew you had!" Makoto glares at her back as she goes. Corrine sighs. "It's not worth it, Makoto. Her worldview's focussed on what's been drawn." She then frowns. "That doesn't excuse shaft's total and utter absence of forethought and responsiblity, though." Leather Knight Kasumi bionic woman jumps up onto the balcony. Complete with sound effects. Corrine says, "..." Corrine looks over at Anthy and Utena, trying to gauge their reactions to all this. Unbeknownst to them all, Shaft takes extreme and detailed note of how the two react to each other...... Anthy/Utena/Vash/Yuriko are all just sort of watching this in stunned silence. Finally, Utena strides forward, "Ota, you have five minutes to explain this, or I'm going to spank you so hard you won't sit down for the next century!" She sounds quite cross. Corrine nods, slightly. BEtter than ... oh, wait, here it comes. They stare at each other. Kasumi says weakly, "I don't understand." Shaft asks, "M-m-ma! Hey, I accidentally blow somethin' up or something?" Shaft says, "Um... Kasumi, Kasumi, wait right here. Mama's callin'" Corrine . o O (Mentioning the fast-timed stag party at the moment would only complicate matters.) Shaft leaps down from the balcony, sadly lacking in bionic sounds. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Yes. " Utena says, "What is going on here? You're gallivanting around with a shadow of your future wife???" Corrine moves over with Utena, staying out of lashing-range. Corrine says, "She isn't a Shadow, Utena." Corrine says, "She's a Pattern Avatar, akin to the Green Knight, Grey Knight, or Red Knight." Shaft waves his hands frantically. "I didn't KNOW there'd be another Kasumi made! An' she was the quickest way I could get back to Amber cos the trumps are all fucked up" Corrine says, "Albeit, apparently drawn from a Flawed Fire Pattern one." Corrine curses. "-Damn-, the Jamming outside the Golden Circle's propagating." Shaft would ask what IS with that funky trump shit, but he's dealing with Angry Momma at the moment Corrine then shakes her head. "Shaft. One question. -What- brought you to trying to -draw- a Pattern in the first place?" Utena frowns. "What did you THINK you were doing?" Shaft scratches the back of his head. "Well... I was bored and Pops didn't tell me it was a bad idea when he guided me through it." Utena twitches. Corrine facepalms. Yeah, she's a Queen now, but there's some things that just call for it. Vash begins to laugh very loudly. Yuriko sighs. Shaft blinks. "Um... there some OTHER unforseen consequences I ain't been told about yet?" Corrine says, "You were -bored-... so you drew a Pattern." Corrine says, "Oh, yes." Shizumaru pages, "I swear, I really think Gendou's pulling a Ganelon, and is actually Vash." to you. You page, "That would be interesting... and he's certainyl got the power, and his notes said "I will become the phoenix"..." to Shizumaru. In a page-pose to you, Shizumaru nods. And something that Shizumaru saw when hanging from Yig persuades me that Gendou isn't dead. Corrine says, "Quite likely, if that Pattern gets damaged, your BRAIN gets damaged." Mercutio pages, "Hey, ten bucks says that's how Dr.F decided to draw the Pattern in the first plce." to you. Shaft stares at Corrine. Corrine says, "Which is part of the reason one HAS Pattern Avatars to protect them when the rest are away." Anthy says, "Yes. Fortunately, it takes great destructive power or the blood of Ota or someone descended from Ota to damage his Pattern." Corrine nods to Shaft. "To my understanding: Flaws in Patterns reflect in their drawers." Shaft's thoughts briefly drift to Saionji and Shiori. Shaft says, "oooh boy." Shaft says, "well, hey, okay, so I get killed if someone fucks with the pattern. Aside from my life bein' MUCH more complicated, no harm no foul." Corrine says, "I don't -beleive- that repair actually follows the same theory, since it's a preexisting pattern... but this is a new one created from scratch, made by your vision ---" Corrine pauses. Corrine says, "Rebma is missing." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "In fact, I should likely go back and make sure no one is trying to pull anything with it." Corrine says, "There is an imbalance in Shadow now, with the Water Pattern Gone." Leather Knight Kasumi kisses Shaft on the cheek, then jumps off the balcony and vanishes. Shaft nods to Leather Kasumi. "You do that, baby. Thanks for the ride." Makoto shakes his fist. "What about my WELL?" Akemi pages, "Someone is trumping you." to you. You page, "True Trump Memory ID." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "It's Hiko." to you. Corrine says, "Fire has gone overkill in Shadow, water-based shadows have gone missing, others are experiencing heat waves, and the Green Knight, defender of Wood, is now in danger." Gil-Galad groans and sits up. Corrine says, "This is 'NO HARM *NO FOUL*'!?!?!?!?!?" Corrine then blinks. Shaft frowns. "See, nobody tells me these things till after I get beaten up, spends 2 months with my fiancee, then draw my own pattern." Nanami drags Wakaba out into the courtyard in a headlock. Corrine says, "Wait a moment, Trump Call. I'll thrash you later." Corrine takes the call. ==== ==== You page, "[Corrine] Yes, Hiko? How is the Green Knight?" to Akemi and Foxtrot. You page, "... allo?" to Akemi and Foxtrot. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Well... I'm trying to answer you, and you haven' said anything." (to you) Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Any reply at all?" (to you) Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "D'oh!" (to you) You page, ".. yes I did! ^_^" to Akemi and Foxtrot. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "Hiko says, "Not well. Because of the imbalance, he, and as a result, Arden in in danger. I need to leave my manifestation ring with him and spend most of the day rigging up a spell that will protect the forest, by drawing the heat away." (to you) Akemi pages, "I think your last page only went to me, Fox" to you and Foxtrot. You page, "[Corrine nods. "Do it, Hiko. I think things here have gone Pear Shaped even more... it's being reflected out in Shadow. Let me know when things have stabilized... I see what I can do about getting messages relayed from the Grey Knight to Harold upstairs."" to Akemi and Foxtrot. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "=:closes the connection after nodding." (to you) ==== ==== Utena sighs. "You need to learn to think before you act, Ota, or it'll be the death of you." Shaft mulls over Corrine's outburst, then frowns again. "Hey, what, my pattern messed up those shadows?" Shaft says, "OOCly I don't like the way Vash laughed just now o.o" Shaft says, "OOCLy but ICily i'm a bit too busy to notice o.o" Anthy says, "With the Water Pattern vanished, it would appear that adding a new Fire Pattern is heating things up." Shaft winces. "Ooooohkaaaay." He turns around and frantically trumps Pops. She says, "It may be somehow contributing to the storms, although I think that must be a side-effect of what has happened to Water." A tiny Fuyutsuki appears in the air. "Hi, I'm trying to ensure the Primal Pattern doesn't go blort. Please leave a message at the *ping*" Shaft exclaims, "GA-DANGIT!" "Ping" Shaft exclaims, "POOOOOOOOOOOOPS!!!!!!!" Shaft asks, "WHY DIDN'T YA TELL ME ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS!?!?!?!?" Shaft says, "peace." He closes the connection then sighs and hangs his head. Vash says, "Man, I wish I could get women like that." Shaft stares at Vash for a moment, then shakes his head. Yuriko rolls her eyes. "Ota, we will likely be needing your services." A brief recall of recent events finally strikes Ota's head. He looks at the shattered bits of Whalekiller and sighs. She continues, "As I fear the loss of Rebma may presage some further problems." She shakes just a tiny bit, then notices Nanami, "Please stop crushing Wakaba's head." Shaft asks, "what happens when you try to walk there?" Nanami says, "I'm not crushing it." Shaft waves at Wakaba. "Hey, auntie W, sorry about bludgenin' your head a couple'a times, you know how it goes." Wakaba waves feebly, and says, sounding depressed, "I understand, Ota." Nanami lets go of her and says, "That well needs cleaning. Ota's new concubine dumped a motorcycle down it." Wakaba boggles for a few seconds, then goes over and starts chanting. Shaft ponders how to comment on the concubine part, but given the circumstances, decides not to..... Queen Anthy says, "I suggest perhaps we should adjourn somewhere a little more private." Corrine gets her focus again as the trump call finishes. Shaft asks, "Hey, do trumps work inside Amber?" Corrine mutters under her breath. "DAmnit." Shaft says, "ah, wait, nevermind" Corrine says, "Only within the confines of the Golden Circle, I beleive." Shaft trumps Bill Vincent. Corrine then looks at Anthy and Yuriko. "With the recent imbalance, Arden and the Green Knight are at risk. Hiko's going to work on a spell to draw the heat away." Corrine says, "However, it will take most of the day, she believes." Corrine looks at Funaho. "Looks like we're going to be staying here a little while longer." She manages a slight smile, and then sighs. "But I still need to get word up to Ember... perhaps the Grey Knight..." She purses her lips. Funaho nods. Corrine pauses, then looks at Shaft, recognizes that he's in Trump Conversation, and sighs. Shaft says, "Hey, bill? I'm gonna need another Whalekiler" Bill nods. "No problem. Have it for you tomorrow morning." Shaft says, "thanks, V. seeya" Shaft closes the connection Corrine considers, thinking out loud. "We may need to launch our assault from here, though given we were able to catch Ota.... Hrm." Corrine looks over. "Shaft? Another question." Shaft asks, "assault?" Shaft asks, "yeah?" Corrine says, "Where -did- you draw your fire pattern?" Shaft says, "basement of my beach house." Shaft takes a moment to mentally curse Pops Corrine says, "Miki's been turned by Annadil, and is responsible for the blockage we've experienced. We have hopes of assulting his Trump Conservatory, which is several hours hellride from his bea---" Corrine blinks at Shaft. Corrine says, "You know. I hope Miki's beach house is -still there-...." Corrine pinches the bridge of her nose again. Shaft asks, "um... and where would it go if it wasn't?" Corrine says, "Shaft? If your mother didn't already have first crack at your backside, I'd gladly put your ass in a sling, tear your arms off, and use you as a hackysack. But that's neither here nor there." Corrine says, "Quite possibly erased or overwritten with whatever -your- vision of reality at that point would be." Shaft frowns. "Ah.... that bad, huh?" Shaft asks, "but if you needed to destroy the Trump Conservatory and suddenly it's gone....?" Corrine says, "But, of course, quickly -checking- is not going to be easy." Corrine says, "No, that would still be in Shadow, most likely." Shaft asks, "just... er.... another beach?" Corrine says, "I'm talking about Miki's Beach House, which grandfather gave as a starting point to -reach- the conservatory. If the Beach doesn't exist anymore..." She groans. Corrine says, "Great, now I'm overreving my brain." Shaft's head hurts. He never did get the whole pattern thing down. Funaho says, "Well, it would be in roughly the same place, correct?" Corrine OOCly says, "Don't Drink and Draw Patterns." Shaft hms. Anthy shakes her head. "It's likely reshaped the shadows around it...from Water to Fire Patterns." Shaft asks, "Well... in theory, could I just remake the entrance to it, since it's in my turf?" Shaft says, "well, was, anyway" Corrine considers. "Point. And with Ota's house still there, then we still have a starting point." Corrine shakes her head. "Grandfather said it would be several hours Hellride." Corrine says, "And Hiko, as far as I know, is the only one who's been there. Save for Miki, of course." Corrine says, "May just have to Pattern Teleport there -after- all... though that carries the risk of getting immediately in Hot Water, metaphorically speaking." Corrine says, "And at the moment, we can't risk Shizumaru near a pattern.... dammit." Corrine pinches the bridge of her nose again. Shaft frowns and tosses his flawed jewel around. "Hey, can I jump there directly usin' this?" Corrine considers. She studies the Jewel. You page, "Given Corrine's experiences, Shaft should now be theoretically capable of makign a fire-gate of his own? Okay, with a Flawed Jewel, and -that's- risky...." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Shaft is holding an ordinary Ruby." to you. Corrine blinks. Corrine says, "No. Given that's just a plain old ruby." Shaft blinks very slowly Shaft says, "Uh oh." Corrine asks, "Uh Oh?" Kasumi says, "Uh oh?" Shaft says, "that can't be right....." Nanami says, "It's a ruby." Shaft stares at the ... supposed.... flawed Jewel Namami says, "A rather large one." Corrine asks, "Was the Flawed Embran Fire Demi Jewel ever out of your possession, Shaft? After drawing or using its powers?" Shaft says, "but the jewel I used...." Shaft says, "Let's see..... stag party? No, I USED it after the stag party....." Corrine backs away from Shaft. To get out of the sudden smite radius. Nanami . o O (He used a Demi-Jewel at a STAG PARTY???) Shaft scratches his head. "Killin' bumpy's dudes? No.... still had it there." Corrine asks, "Shaft? What were the operational parameters of the reality you drew at the time?" Shaft scowls. "Okay.... running from biker chick, climb on the roof, use the jewel, climb down from the roof, kill lots of people, ride back to Amber....." Shaft asks, "Shadow's on fast time, one amber hour is a day, and I turned off magic.... then I turned it back on.... or did I turn it back off after?" Corrine says, "It's not a Shadow, Shaft. Well, not really, yet sort of at the same time. That, I think, is where your rationale got messed up." Shaft says, "..." Shaft says, "ah, shit." Corrine says, "It's effectively a flawed reflection of Ember's pattern, but being still a whole and flawed shape, it has its own power. At least, to my understanding." Shaft asks, "ever heard of a flawed demijewel turnin' into a useless lump?" Corrine says, "Shaped by your will and mind and thoughts while drawing it." Corrine considers. Corrine peers at the jewel, to see if there's any trace of patternlike tracery in it. Shaft says, "cos it did NOT leave my possession after I last used it." You page, "I suspect Corrine would say 'no'... *wg*" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "The ruby has a nifty gold Pattern tracery in it, which does nothing. And you've never heard of one burning out." to you. Shaft scowls at the ruby and tries to focus some willpower. Shaft sighs. "Oh, shit." Corrine hrms. "I've never heard of one burning out. This -doies- have a Pattern tracery -within- it, in gold, so...." Corrine says, "... My -going- hypothesis is that outside of the scope of the Pattern you drew, it's worthless. INSIDE it may still have power, but..." Shrug. Shaft asks, "hey, what'd happen if I walk the pattern down here while holdin' this thing?" Corrine says, "Or I could be totally off-base." She tilts her head, considering this. Utena says, "Well, you'd walk the Pattern." Shaft says, "oh, and somebody get rid of this, it's startin' to creeep me out." He pulls out the tainted spikard, still wrapped in platic. Corrine sucks in a breath. "Where did you get that?" Corrine Patternsights the Spikard. Shaft says, "loppoed off some other Wakaba's arm. This was on it." Nanami takes it. "Hmm, I'll have to experiment on this." Shaft says, "pops said it was one'a annadil's" You page, "Oh, wait, that's one of the Lion Spikards then." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "It radiates a lot of magic." to you. Shaft says, "you wear it, you become Andy's but-toy" Corrine asks, ".... you've been keeping a hold of one of the Lion Spikards?" Shaft says, "I had a bad feelin' someone else would steal it and do Bad Shit, but at the moment I ain't feeling too good about holdin' on to it anyway." Corrine nods. "Similar methods were used on our Wakaba. It's how we figured out that -our- Wakaba would be under the influence." Wakaba quietly cringes. Shaft asks, "oh, that reminds me. Someone got a knife?" Corrine says, "Do NOT wear that. You'll automatically open your mind to him." Nanami says, "I'll dispose of it." Corrine says, "That may be harder than you think, Nanami." Utena whips a knife out of her sleeve and passes it to Ota. Corrine says, "According to grandfather, he tossed -that- into the Abyss." Corrine says, "It came back." Nanami smiles confidently. "Leave the magic to me, sister." Foxtrot lowers the cattle prod gingerly and pokes. "I had one... ^_^ Remember?" (to you) You page, "Right. *wl*" to Foxtrot. Shaft slices his pinky finger, drawing blood. "Thanks ma." With his other hand he draws Justice out. Shaft says, "Just one more thing I gotta know...." Corrine sighs, and goes and hugs Wakaba. Shaft lets a drop of his blood hit the floor, then taps at it with Justice. Corrine says, "Just... be careful, Nanami? I don't want to lose any more siblings..." Corrine then watches Shaft. Nothing happens Shaft drops a drop of blood directly onto the blade. Corrine peers at Justice with Pattern Sight. Akemi pages, "It's a Magic sword." to you. You page, "Right. No Pattern?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "No Pattern despite the Tracery on the blade." to you. Corrine blinks. Corrine asks, "Nanami? Check that sword?" Corrine says, "'cause I'm not getting any Pattern vibes from it." Shaft stares at Corrine. "Say wha?" Shaft stares at the blade Nanami looks the sword up and down. "A convincing fake of Justice. Would fool anyone who lacks my mastery of the arts of Pattern. Looks like someone pulled a scam on you, Ota." Corrine says, "That's a very nice Tracery on the blade, but it isn't Pattern-charged." Shaft says, "It was workin' fine when I left the beach..." It looks and feels the same as it ever did. Shaft exclaims, "SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!" Corrine says, "Something gives me a feeling -soembody- swapped something somewhere, or... hrm." Shaft flings the blade to the floor and bangs his head on the wall. You page, "One can 'feel' for the DemiJewel's elsewhere, right?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "One should be able to try to reach through shadow and sense where your DemiJewel has run off to and draw it to you." to you. You page, "did Hiko ever desc to Corrine the visions she saw at the Fire Shrine?" to Akemi and Foxtrot. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "No, but I assume they talked about it in teh 20 yrs they were in Ember." (to you and Akemi) Shaft exclaims, "just... just..... SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!" Corrine purses her lips, and pulls shaft away from the wall. "I feel it's not -all- lost, Shaft." Shaft asks, "OOCly is there any way shaft can contact biker kasumi?" Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Not that you're aware of." Shaft exclaims, "I NEED SOMEONE TO KILL!!!!" Corrine says, "_generally-, if one is attuned to a DemiJewel, then one can reach through shadow and feel for where it is, and draw it towards you." Nanami sighs. "Just like your mother during her period." Utena glares at Nanami. Corrine sighs. Shaft tries to do some mental link whatnot with the flunked demijewel Corrine looks up at the sun, longingly. Corrine then looks back down, trying to see who's still hanging around the area. Shaft, never one good at meditation... Shaft says, "Workworkworkworkworkworkworkwork" Shaft frowns. "What the...." Shaft closes his eyes. "Workworkworkworkwork...." Akemi pages, "Swirly fire pattern energy around Shaft." to you. Shaft says, "machine.... giant machine.... c'mooooooon baby.... workworkworkworkwork....." Corrine blinsk. "What the... I think it may be working, Shaft...." Pretty much everyone from earlier is still hanging around. Corrine calls on her own DemiJewel attunement and Pattern Sight to try and determine if the energy she sees is good, bad, indifferent... Shaft asks, "workworkworkwork... um.... somebody gimmie a magic boost or somethin?" Corrine OOCly says, "... oh dear." Corrine OOCly says, "OOOOOH DEAR." Corrine OOCly can see this coming. Shaft asks, "OOCly shaft-ed, am I?" Corrine OOCly says, "I suspect Mixed Blessing." And then a voice booms across the courtyard. "I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ!" A giant flaming head appears. Corrine asks, "??" A giant flaming horse head, that is. Shaft's concentration is ruined. Shaft exclaims, "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!?!?!" "YOU CAN'T HAVE MY CPU, YOU NAUGHTY BOY!" You page, "Pattern Sight on the Head...." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Flawed Fire Pattern" to you. Corrine FACEPALMS. Shaft grits his teeth. "AAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Corrine says, "Shaft, stop pully." Corrine says, "Pulling, that is." "THIS WORLD WILL BURN!" And then, there is a hideous grinding and wrenching noise from somewhere down in the city. Corrine looks up at the head. "Please don't, we're fond of it...." Shaft stares at the flunked demijewel. "Um... I didn't bring this fool here, did I?" And you see, arcing up towards the castle like missiles, what look suspiciously like flaming tombstones. Queen Yuriko sweatdrops. Shaft says, "right." Corrine . o O (It's the Second Coming of the Ashen Prince ... erm.) Shaft stomps towards the Giant Head Anthy frowns and gestures, and the flaming tombstones are batted aside, plunging into the ocean. "ALL WILL BOW BEFORE THE POWER OF MORGENSTERN THE GREAT!" the horsehead shouts. Corrine heads up the stairs to the ramparts to see just what the hell is down there. Shaft pauses to pick up the fake pattern blade. A blade is a blade... Vash boggles. Corrine facefalts, now. Ow, on stone steps. That hurt. Corrine picks herself back up, and heads up to the top to see. Shaft breaks into a run towards the Giant Head Nanami says, "Cough up the jewel, or we'll make you into glue." MORGENSTERN says, "You can't have my magic bag!" Shaft wraps the cloak of invisibility around himself. "If this shit flunks out too, I am gonna be SO pissed...." Nanami starts chanting. Looks like one of the city graveyards is rather a mess now, Corrine. Vash whispers to the Queen and they retreat into the Palace. Corrine sighs, and looks back at the flaming head, studying it with Pattern Sight and remote DemiJewel attunement via Manifestation, to see if she can suppres it. Mercutio pages, "On behalf of Julian, I apologize. >.<" to you. Akemi pages, "You think this must be a Flawed construct, which means you could probably banish this manifestation of it with Gaby's help easily." to you. Akemi pages, "Shaft's Jewel must have been built into it ala Gabrielle." to you. You page, "The question is, can Corrine REACH Gaby... well, hell. might as well try pinging..." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Contact works." to you. You page, "Corrine tries pinging Gabrielle, praying to the Pyricorn.... Thank God." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Corrine pings Gabrielle." to you and Mercutio. You page, "[Corrine] Gabrielle! are you getting this? I need your help!" to Akemi and Mercutio. Mercutio pages, "[Gabrielle] I'm getting this, but... I mean... dwah? What should I do?" to you and Akemi. You page, "[Corrine] Somebody built a construct using Shaft's Flawed Embran Demi Jewel, and a manifestation of it appeared! We need to banish it!" to Akemi and Mercutio. You page, "[Corrine] It's Flawed, so you should have easy dominance over it! *pause* I hope." to Akemi and Mercutio. A pillar of flame appears nearby, and a tall, red-headed woman who looks a lot like Corrine steps out of it. "Destroy THIS, Sparky!" Corrine smiles, visibly relaxing as her daughter appears, and she heads down to get closer. MORGENSTERN says, "Ahh, the false angel Gabrielle. Father warned me about you! Watch, Horatio, I'll make you PROUD!" Corrine OOCly says, "....." And then two big mountains of fire slam into each other in the center of the courtyard. Corrine yeeps and ducks. MORGENSTERN begins to sweat as his proves smaller. Corrine OOCly says, "See? Size DOES matter." Shizumaru OOCly says, "...mebbe I should sleep now. I'm seeing funny things in this window." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC No, funny things are happening :)" Gideon says, "OOC It is true, Shiz. It is all true. x.x" Shizumaru OOCly says, "Nevertheless." Corrine OOCly says, "Night, Droo." Gabrielle throws back her head and laughs. It'd be pleasant sounding if it didn't make flames boil out of her eyes. "Flame ON!" Corrine sighs, and relaxes against the nearest, non-about-to-melt surface. Shaft trumps his weapons cache, and hopes his OTHER good sword is still around. MORGENSTERN begins to collapse in on himself as Gabrielle puts on the pressure. Corrine smiles slowly as her daughter kicks up the power. You page, "CLearly, Gaby's hair turned from the strawberry blonde to full redhead as she got older. :)" to Mercutio. Big, flaming wings unfold out of Gabrielle's back as she unloads a very large amount of Pattern-charged flaming goodness into MORGENSTERN. Mercutio pages, "Mmm.....wings." to you. Shaft uncloaks and draws out another blade, which also seems to shimmer with magic. He- hits the breaks very quickly as he sees this Corrine-esque chick filling the general vicintity with fire and backs up a few steps MORGENSTERN announces, "A thousand curses on you! You'll get what's COMING TO YOU! It's the end of the world, and I FEEL FINE!" Corrine quietly, slowly, roots her daughter on. And then the horse head collapses to a point and vanishes. Corrine woohoos! Gabrielle turns off the juice. She keeps the wings, though. Corrine grins. "Nice look dear." Shaft sighs, then looks at Corrine. "Hey, um, tell me I didn't pull that thing through?" Nanami quietly looks thoughtful. Gabrielle wipers her brow. "Whew." She grins. "Thanks, Mom." Corrine then looks at Shaft. "No, you didn't. Somebody swiped your flawed Jewel, and made a construct out of it. But it couldn't hold a candle to my daughter here." She grins, proudly. Shaft blinks at the girl's words. "Mom?" Shaft asks, "daughter?" Corrine says, "Shaft? Gabrielle. Gabrielle, Shaft. I beleive you've already met..." Corrine says, "We've been busy." She smiles. Shaft asks, "say wha?" Shaft stares at Gabrielle. Corrine pats Shaft on the head. "Fast Time, Ota Tenjou." Shaft blinks very slowly Gabrielle flashes a predatory grin at Sahft. "Hello, Ota-san." Corrine says, "We needed to help Hiko heal, and repair Ember, and, well..." She shrugs. Shaft smiles nervously. "Oh... aheh... hey, gabby... um.... lookin' good..." Gabrielle says, "I know." Shaft says, "Nice, um, flame stuff." Gabrielle continues smiling at Shaft. Mercutio pages, "Time to make Rod nervous." to you. You page, "Muahahahahhah! :)" to Mercutio. Shaft sweats slightly. Corrine then looks at Gabrielle. "Gabrielle, relay back to Ember if you can. Rebma has vanished, taking the Water Pattern with it. Shaft drew a Flawed Fire Pattern. This has set up dangerous imbalances in Shadow, but explains some of the odd reports we had." Shaft turns to Corrine, "SO, um, any ..... thoughts on what oughta be done next?" Gideon . o O ( OOC Please, please have Gabby tell me this about the vanishing water pattern. :) ) Gabrielle blinks. "Ummm..... relay to who, Mom. Hey, I can reach here with no interference!" She blinks in surprise. "Cool." Shaft mutters to himself, "Life ain't fair." Corrine says, "The most immediate is to stop the jamming being caused by Miki, which likely requires a two-pronged effort at counteracting the jamming, and taking out his Trump Conservatory. Then, we need to free Miki from Annadil's influence if he makes himself known. Once the jamming's gone, we can lay seige to the keep of the Five Worlds so that we can retrieve the Seed of Hope from the Font." She consders. "I suppose we'll have to retrieve -Justice- now, Too.." She sighs. Corrine says, "Forward to Catherine, Juri of Avalon, and Haruka. They can disseminate the information from there." Shaft blinks slowly. Shaft says, "Oh. A lot's been happenin. Nobody ever tells me these things till it's too late....." Corrine smiles dryly at Shaft. "To put it mildly, Shaft." Shaft frowns at his blade and quickly tests it on the floor. Corrine OOCly should head to bed within 15, but gets a feeling we're near public forkpoint... Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Hai." You leave a gash in the cobblestones. Shaft says, "oh, good, it works." Shaft suddenly cringes. "Ooooh, hope Kasumi don't see that." Corrine considers. "We may be able to use fire-gating with your communcation abilities here, but I still don't trust trump itself for Ember-Amber communication, given our past experiences with the Jamming." Corrine then smiles. "But... I'm glad you're here, dear." Corrine squeezes Gabrielle's hand. Shaft tries to think of something to say to Gabrielle, but somehow his Mack reserves seem to be all gone... Gabrielle beams at Corrine. "Thanks, Mom." Her flame-wings crackle in the breeze. You page, "MUAHAHAHAHAHAH! :)" to Akemi, Foxtrot and Mercutio. Mercutio pages, "We drainedSahft of mack! Woohoo!" to you, Akemi and Foxtrot. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "It was probably all the women in Shamber, Merc." (to you, Akemi and Mercutio) Akemi pages, "Little did Shaft know eh was sleeping on the Comforter of Mack..." to you, Foxtrot and Mercutio. You page, "Oooooh. :)" to Akemi, Foxtrot and Mercutio. Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "He was NOT!" (to you, Akemi and Mercutio) Foxtrot stops prodding inn--- guilty authors and says, "And I'll have you know that my Mack is BACK, thankee very much. Leather pants do the trick every time." (to you, Akemi and Mercutio) Shaft sighs Corrine says, "Oh, and also inform them that we have a possible strike location, at Miki's Trump Conservatory, which is where Miki apparently does his experiments, and is a possible focal point for the jamming." Gabrielle beams, and flickers a bit. "Done, and done." Corrine says, "Several hours Hellride from his house on the Beach, which may or may not exist anymore, though. And I think that's about it." Akemi pages, "Okay, now I have Saionji and Corrine stuff done." to you, Chris, Foxtrot and Mercutio. Akemi pages, "Of the Prophecies, that is." to you, Chris, Foxtrot and Mercutio. You page, "Cooolness. Wanna see. *wg*" to Akemi, Chris, Foxtrot and Mercutio. Akemi pages, "Sent the whole file. They're all in order by birth." to you, Chris, Foxtrot and Mercutio. Gabrielle looks around. "Who are all these people?" Corrine smiles. "Your aunts, uncles, and other various people." She starts pointing out who's who, smiling. "Since you're here, might as well get you introduced." Gabrielle bows and says hi to various people as they are introduced. Corrine looks -damn- proud of her daughter. Shaft recalls the grief he went through when he accidentally mentioned gabrielle and ember, with people thinking he was mentally unstable for a while and just.... mentally sighs again. Corrine smiles apologetically at shaft, and pats him on the shoulder. Mercutio pages, "Phil, what's the URL of hat Trump with Gabriellein the bikini? I want Shaft to see what he passed on." to you. You page, "http://www.eyrie.org/~aerianne/ember/gabrielle/Gaby.bikini.crys.col.cc.jp g" to Mercutio. You page, "it's her with strawberry blonde hair and crystal bikini, but hey." to Mercutio. Wakaba finishes cleaning motorcycle bits out of the well. Gabrielle asks, "OOC: Oh, Rod?" Shaft asks, "OOC eh?" Gabrielle says, "http://www.eyrie.org/~aerianne/ember/gabrielle/Gaby.bikini.crys.col..cc.j pg" Gabrielle says, "OOC: THIS is what Shaft passedon earlier in the game." Corrine OOCly says, "Um, knock off that double period." Corrine OOCly says, "http://www.eyrie.org/~aerianne/ember/gabrielle/Gaby.bikini.crys.col.cc.jp g" Shaft exclaims, "OOCly DOH!" Gabrielle says, "OOC: Coulda been yours, Shaft. Coulda been yours." Gabrielle says, "OOC:But you had to go turn her lesbian." Shaft says, "OOCly i suspect corrine would have a say in the matter...." Juri of Avalon asks, "OOC: Lesbian?" Gabrielle says, "OOC: Yes." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Ahh, Shaft must be descended from Horatio." Gideon snickers OOCly. Juri of Avalon exclaims, "OOC: Whoo! Lemme at her!" Corrine OOCly coughs, politely. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "your NIECE??? Bad Juri." Juri of Avalon says, "Pft. Not my niece. I'm from another universe." Shaft stares at Gabby again, then just stares away into the horizon.. Kasumi says, "What a mess." She starts sweeping up the courtyard. Gabrielle helps the nice lady by having flame-brooms sweep with her. Sana_Kurata falls asleep. A circle of fire opens and Gideon drops out. Corrine whistles. Shaft nudges Corrine. "Hey, who they?" Gabrielle beams, and waves a little "Go Trump!" flag. Corrine blinks. "Is the jamming gone?" She looks at Gideon. Corrine OOCly says, "has Juri of Avalon accompanied Gid?" Gideon grins and nods to Gabrielle. "Thank you. You're a wonderful girl." Leather Knight Kasumi says, "OOC Depends on if Alan is going to bed or not :)" Juri of Avalon says, "OOC: Prolly not, since I'm heading to bed right at this very moment. :)" Juri of Avalon waves out. Corrine smiles a bit. "Shaft, this is Gideon of Avalon. Gideon? This is my newphew, Ota "Shaft" Tenjou of Amber." Shaft says, "oh. more shadow stuff. right." Shaft resumes brooding Corrine says, "No, seperate universe. But don't worry about it." Gabrielle beams again at Gideon's compliment. She beams a lot. Gideon smirks. "I don't know if the jamming is gone, Corrine. I used Gabrielle's connection to trump through after Juri told me about that little problem with a missing water pattern. You don't happen to have an expert on patterns around I could talk to for a few moments?" Corrine says, "That would be grandfather, but he's currently busy checking on the Primal Pattern, and Derith and Drake are missing." Anthy says, "I have studied much of the lore. Perhaps I can be of help." Gabrielle says, "Huh? Oh, no, the Jamming is still there. But so," she taps Corrines bracelet, "Is that." Shaft's head snaps up. "My giant robo." Nanami says, "I too have learned quite a bit, though not as much as Derith or Grandfather." Corrine considers. "Hm, good point." Shaft says, "Where's Pops?!?!" Funaho says, "He's off at the Primal Pattern, as your aunt said." Gideon nods, "Shall we retire to some more comfortable place and talk then, ladies?" Corrine nods. They both nod and head off to a quieter place with Gideon. Shaft exclaims, "damn! My giant robo's supposed to be ready!" Makoto says, "What the ones he used to plug the hole in the wall?" Corrine says, "Well, we did have five robots at one point, but..." Corrine points to the former hole in the wall. Shaft blinks slowly Shaft asks, "what wall?" Shaft exclaims, "AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIEE!!!!!!" Corrine looks at the wall that almost got eaten by that Void thing. ============================== ==============================