From pmoyer@jurai.net Wed Nov 22 23:57:11 2000 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 08:31:36 -0500 (EST) From: Philip J. Moyer To: John Biles , Amy "General Chaos" Borden , Chris Angelini Subject: [Amber/TAMD] Hiko, Shizumaru, Shaft -- Bison, Reunions, and Bumps On The Head Juri says, "OOC You're close enough to each other that I think this is a good time for you to finally run into each other." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Cool... I can take him to Arden to help him with the Seed." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "IIRC, I just trumped back to Amber after talking to the RK?" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Hold for logging...." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Cool. I may pause intermittently, as I am on the job. :)" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Okay... I can handle that." Shaft OOCly "Yo." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "How was family day?" Juri says, "OOC Okay, we'll pretty much start with Hiko trumping into the courtyard as Shizumaru is crossing it" Juri says, "OOC Nice and simple :" Shizumaru OOCly says, "Okay. :)" Hiko the Firechilde grins. *** Foxtrot goes IC. *** *** Shizumaru goes IC. *** ====================================== ====================================== Hiko the Firechilde trumps into the Castle courtyard. She looks around, then spies a figure in the distance... "Cousin Shizumaru? Shizumaru walks through the courtyard, looking decidedly happier than he was the last time he was here. He pauses at the sound of his name, and looks about. "...Cousin Hiko? Ah! How have you been?" He changes direction and walks over toward her. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "I'm good. How are you?" She looks him over. "I hear you were having problems with the Seed?" Shizumaru smiles. "I had been, yes...but it is finally back. Kept in a safe place until it is needed...." He pauses. "That may be soon, actually, as I plan to attune myself to it shortly." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Wonderful! I know exactly where you need to go. Want me to take you there?" Hiko the Firechilde smiles. "I've got a friend at the Wood Pattern. I believe you've met him already." Shizumaru blinks. "Ah...now? Well, actually...." He stops and tilts his head. "...why not? I believe I am ready by now." He nods and smiles. "The Green Knight. Of course. Just let me get the Seed, and I will join you." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Time is of the essence, Shizumaru. With all the instability in the kingdom, our enemy can strike at any time." Shizumaru nods. "I will hurry." He dashes off, and soon returns with the Seed. "Shall we proceed?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "We shall. Take my hand." Shizumaru takes Hiko's hand. Hiko the Firechilde concentrates, bringing up an image of the clearing next to the Wood Pattern. An image in her mind, that is. You appear in the clearing at the entrance to the Wood Pattern. The forest is very thick and old here, and quite beautiful in late spring. And then, off in the distance, you hear the sound of...cows? They're mooing loudly and angrily. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "I've already attuned myself to the Heart... what's that?" Shizumaru takes a deep breath, savoring the fresh air. "Ahhh...ah? That sounds like...cows." Hiko the Firechilde wonders how far away they are. You page-pose, "Aerianne facepalms. "... those damn horny bison..."" to Kima. Shizumaru looks around, trying to spot them. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Spotting the cows, Drew?" Shizumaru OOCly nods. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "There's a pun in that..." You can't see the cows, but they're getting closer. "MRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Hiko the Firechilde looks for some trees to climb. Shizumaru does the same. Gosh, you wouldn't find any trees to climb in ARDEN, no sirree... Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Any sturdy enough or tall enough, silly GM." Shizumaru OOCly c.c You both quickly climb up some trees. Soon, the herd of angry bison show up. They begin milling about, looking up resentfully at you. Shizumaru OOCly says, "And one that would provide a good viewpoint." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Hey! What's the matter?" Shizumaru peers down at them curiously. "I do not believe I have offended any livestock lately, but I suppose I may be wrong." Shizumaru OOCly tries to score another point on the quote page. They begin butting the trees with their heads. The trees begin to shake. Hiko the Firechilde cups one hand and shouts. "What's the matter???" The bison continue to moo loudly and angrily. Shizumaru calls out to Hiko, "Do you think you could summon the Green Knight and ask him why they are here?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "I don't think these are your normal herd of bison... I don't think that these bison should be here." Hiko the Firechilde pulls out her trump of the GK and activates it. Shizumaru prepares himself to jump to another tree if necessary. The trees shake more and more. Hiko the Firechilde throws up an invisible shield. Shizumaru starts tree-hopping, using his umbrella to glide if necessary. Hiko the Firechilde points at the ones surrounding her and Shizumaru's trees. "Sniper's Flame! Back, ye beasties!" Hiko the Firechilde takes back that last page. Hiko the Firechilde takes back that last action, I mean. Shizumaru asks, "Any response from the Green Knight?" Hiko the Firechilde is talking to him right now. Hiko the Firechilde gestures towards Shizumaru. Shizumaru settles down on a tree for a moment, and gets his trump of Corrine out, but does not activate it yet. Hiko the Firechilde reaches through and pulls the GK through the trump. Hiko pulls the Green Knight out of the air. The branch he and Hiko are on promptly snaps, forcing both of them to catch a lower branch that puts them ALMOST within reach of the bison, who whack the tree harder. Hiko the Firechilde says, "This is not pleasant..." Hiko the Firechilde points with one hand at the bison below her. "Sniper's Flame!" You fry a bison to ash. There is an awful silence. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "And this isn't the same beast as the Squid I saw recently? Or is that the Ravaging Beast?" Shizumaru yells out, "Cousin!" He snarls, and casts around for a pinecone or something to throw. But he stops after Hiko blasts one of the bison. And sweatdrops lightly. The bisons' eyes turn red. Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "Yeah, and the REST of you might get the same, so back off!" Hiko the Firechilde meeps internally. The Green Knight says, "Ahh, I see, these bison are from another universe." Hiko the Firechilde says, "They can go BACK as far as I'm concerned." The Green Knight says, "Which is why I haven't been able to find them before. I'm afraid I'm powerless over them." Shizumaru blinks. "Another universe?" He thinks back to his recent trip. "I hope I did not somehow lead them through the Cave of Worlds," he mutters. The bison back up, drawing away from Hiko's tree. In the process, they knock down several trees. And then bullfighting music begins to play. Shizumaru says, "..." Shizumaru trumps Corrine. The Green Knight turns to Hiko, "I would suggest doing something to get us OUT of here." Hiko the Firechilde aims at the bison closest to her. "DEEP FREEZE!" Oddly, you don't seem to be able to contact Corrine. You freeze a bison in a block of ice. Shizumaru arghs, and puts the trump away. "Maybe we should get back to the Castle and regroup, Cousin." Sadly, there are several hundred of them. Hiko the Firechilde narrows her eyes. "I need two hands for this next one...." And then they charge your tree, piling up on top of each other in a mad, frothing mass of bison, like something from a horror movie. There is a great crack, and your tree begins to topple. Hiko the Firechilde eeeks! and jumps free. Shizumaru yells, "Trump back to the Castle! Just go! We can come back later!" Hiko the Firechilde unleashes the crossbow and shoots bison as she falls. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Kinda busy here... meet you back there?" Hiko lands on the back of a bison. The Green Knight, not very nimble in his heavy armor, simply falls among them like a rock. Hiko the Firechilde OOCly meeps again. Many bison get shot up, and there are trampling noises at work. Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "No!" Hiko the Firechilde holds on with her knees and aims at a large group. "Rings of Fire!" Shizumaru answers, "All right! But...." He curses, and tries to jump closer, to get a good view of where the Green Knight landed. A group of bison get fried. The ones around the one Hiko is sitting on try to butt her legs. Now the bison are surging around everywhere. Hiko the Firechilde shoots more bison with her crossbow. Like the ones around where the GK fell. Hiko the Firechilde calls up another spell, aiming it at the ones around her. "White Noise!" Bison die in droves. Shizumaru begins bouncing tree to tree, then drops down among the Bison and manages to pull the Green Knight up from among the horde. He is unconscious. Shizumaru yells, "Meet me in the Courtyard!" He uses his trump to escape with the GK in tow. Hiko the Firechilde growls, and calls Gabrielle. Hiko the Firechilde is also holding on for dear life... Jeff-kun OOC waves out. Bedtime! Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Night, Jeff." Autolyca has disconnected. Dancing Ed says, "Seeya, Jeff." There's a *pop*, and Gabrielle appears riding a bison next to Hiko, wearing a cowgirls outfit. "Hiiiiiiii!" The bison keep trying to shake Hiko off. Shizumaru would bogleg if he had the chance to. Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Don't worry, Shiz, before too long you'll likely -get- your chance." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Hi, Gabrielle! I need some help. Can you transport these bison into the sea? They're not playing nice." "I can try!" Hiko the Firechilde says, "They belong to the Beast that first took your mom away." Dancing Ed OOCly says, "OOooooh! Is Gabby channeling me?" "They WHAT?" Gabrielles eyes flare red, and she suddenly morphs into a ten-foot tall pillar of living flame with vaguely female lines. Several bison get immolated. Shizumaru OOCly o.O Esme Pariseau OOCly , in another timeline, facepalms. "Oh, THIS'll improve Arden/Ember relations..." Bison begin dropping through trump gates into 'The Shadow of Bison Stew' Shizumaru OOCly has no idea what's going on. x.x; Where they quickly join billions of other slow roasting bison. Soon, the forest is silent, but smells like nutmeg, rosemary, and roast bison. Rabies says, "Damn it, now I want bison stew." Esme Pariseau OOCly cheers on Gabrielle! "OOOOOO! Taking Mom to another universe was NOT NICE!!!!!!!!!" Giant, flaming Gabrielle looks around for other things to burn. Look at all the nicely burnable trees! Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Hey, maybe one or two were missing from the gating, and they can have a stew later..." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Gaint and falming?" The Green Knight says, "OOC Giant Flaming" Shizumaru OOCly hands Merc an autocorrector. :) Gabrielle torches a giant, ancient redwood, reducing it cleanly to ash. She then reverts to her normal shape, sweating and breathing heavily. "ahhh. I feel better." Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "... at least she's clean about it. You don't want to know what she was like when she was hitting the 2-4 year mark...." Shizumaru OOCly duznae ask. You page, "Right. We're gonna have to collab a bit on what growing up with Gabrielle was like in Ember. :) I don't think I could do her justice anymore. ;)" to Mercutio. Mercutio pages, "Well, see, on the ONE level, Gabrielle is a ten-year old with Flame Powers." to you. The Green Knight says, "OOC Hmm, Trish is having trouble reconnecting to here, apparently." Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Glack." Mercutio pages, "On another, much subtler level, she's the personification of one of the Primal Powers, has existed since the dawn of time, and was broken very badly until recently." to you. You page, "Point. Corrine got more than she barganed for, clearly. But she IS a good mother. And the Red Knight's nice. ^_^" to Mercutio. Mercutio pages, "Oh, I bet he is. *wink*" to you. You page, "[Corrine coughs, and blushes LOTS.]" to Mercutio. You page-pose, "Aerianne can't wait to let "From The Ashes" out, though... hm. Should ask John if it's okay to point you two it, given this is part of Gaby's history." to Mercutio. You page, "Hm. Is it okay to show Merc "From The Ashes", given Gaby's involvement and all?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Go right ahead" to you. Mercutio pages, "What is it?" to you. The Green Knight himself is tall and muscular with dark hair. He reminds you vaguely of your sensei, Haohmaru, despite not looking much like him. You page, "Righto: http://www.jurai.net/~pmoyer/betas/ashes.ember.1.txt and ashes.ember.3.txt . There's no '2' yet since I haven't gotten to that point. And it's the story of how Corrine repaired the Fire Pattern and recreated Ember." to Mercutio. Shizumaru sits and waits patiently for the GK to wake up. Shizumaru also continues to study the Seed while he has nothing else to do. The Seed still has several little metal things with short wires running from them attached to it; you haven't been able to get them off. Probing it with your mind keeps giving you information you can't quite understand, as you keep getting overwhelmed by the experience of the life cycle of plants. Shizumaru gives it a rest. Hm, any chance of finding Rimururu around? She's down posing for trumps with Fuyutsuki right now. Shizumaru hrms. Best wait for that, then. How about Lina? Rod has connected. >> Evil spelled backwards is live, and we all want to live, don't we? Shizumaru OOCly re's,. Shaft says, "froynlaven" Lina should be around. Do you go up to her tower and find her? Or trump her? Shizumaru trumps her. The Green Knight says, "OOC AAAAAAAAA Lag" Shizumaru OOCly patpats. o.o; Foxtrot has connected. >> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now. Esme Pariseau OOCly tries to summon Trish. Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "Yaaaaaaay!!!!" Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "... wow. it worked." Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Didn't even have to pull oyut the GK plushie." Shizumaru OOCly re's. o.o Hiko the Firechilde pats Gabrielle's shoulder again... "We'll think of something," she says, a bit weakly. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "I need to make sure the Green Knight is okay. Can you find Shizumaru?" Gabrielle sniffles a bit more. "Thankyo." She blinks., and looks gratified at something nonthreatening to do. "I think he's in AMber." "We should go; I don't think this place likes me very much." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Why not?" Gabrielle says, "I don't KNOW!" Gabby looks to be on the verge of tears, and keeps opening her mouth try and articulate something she can't quite. Hiko the Firechilde awkwardly gathers the girl next to her in a hug. "Let's go find Shizumaru." Gabrielle sniffles into Hiko's shirt. "'kay..." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Where do we start?" Gabrielle waves a hand despondently, and a Trump Gate opens. You can see Shizumaru and the Green Knight on the other side. You page, "[Corrine sighs, and gives her daughter a long-distance hug.]" to Mercutio. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Thank the gods... are you okay?" Mercutio pages, "Well, Wood and Fire don't have a good relationship. Gabby is feeling the resonance from that telling her to burn Arden down." to you. Hiko the Firechilde says, "All the bison are gone." You page, "Right, point. *wry look* And Corrine's Still Technically Warden of Arden. Hoooboy." to Mercutio. Shizumaru blinks, and looks up from a trump card he has in his hand. "Cousin? They are gone? Ah, good. I am fine. The Green Knight will be all right, as well. He just needs some time to rest." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Is he awake?" Mercutio pages, "Well, it's not a STRONG pull. fire and wood don't get along like Corrine and Kozue don't get along." to you. Shizumaru shakes his head. "No, he is still unconscious. I would rather not wake him prematurely--we should let him sleep and try to figure out what happened, in the meantime." You page, "Aaaah, okay. :) Ie, tolerating most of the time, understanding each other, but sometimes GODS can Kozue drive Corrine up the wall... :)" to Mercutio. Mercutio pages, "Well, sorta. Fire is the antithesis of everything Wood stands for. Which is why they try to avoid each other." to you. You page, "*nod*" to Mercutio. Wasyuu says, "He'll probably wake fairly soon, I think. He seems tough as a log." Hiko the Firechilde nods to Gabrielle. "I need to see him. Please come with me? Maybe ... Grandpa can help us find Corrine." Hiko the Firechilde sighs with relief. Gabrielle nodds sullenly. "'kay." Shizumaru nods, then says, "Please give me a moment," before turning back to the trump. Hiko the Firechilde is clearly at a loss as how to deal with Gabrielle. She pats her shoulder again and nudges her. "Ya wanna come with me?" Shizumaru puts away his trump and turns to Hiko. "What is happening, now?" Gabrielle says, ""Gran'pa is nice," she says. It seems like acquiescence. Hiko the Firechilde picks up Gabrielle and walks through the Gate to where Shizumaru is. Hiko the Firechilde says, "This is Gabrielle. She's Corrine's daughter." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Corrine's been taken to another world, and we have no idea how to find her. That's why she hasn't been answering any Trump calls. I saw her briefly, but we were engaged in battle, and she got taken away again." Gabrielle holds onto Hiko, looking depressed. Wasyuu pats Gabrielle on the head. "Would you like some candy?" she asks. Shizumaru blinks repeatedly. "...oh. I see. Er." His brow furrows. "I should like to help get her back...." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Not so fast, Cousin. You need to attune yourself to the Seed first. That shouldn't take too long." Gabrielle says, "Yes, please." She smiles tremulously at Washuu. Hiko the Firechilde says, "There are so many things we don't know about the Icons. I know how to use mine... somewhat. And I'll be you don't know how to use yours." Shizumaru nods grimly. "I understand." Hiko the Firechilde boosts Gabrielle a bit. "We need to take care of some business here first, but then Cousin Shizumaru will help you find your mother...." She breaks off her sentence, a worried look crossing her face. Wasyuu hands a box of snickers. Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Not the cat, I hope." Meow. The candy bar, not the pet. There's about eighty one inch long mini-snickers bars in it. Gabrielle gets down off Hiko. "Oooooo." The prospect of sugar seems to perk her up. Hiko the Firechilde says, "I wonder if that's what he wants us to do. Scatter, and defeat us one by one." Hiko the Firechilde pauses. "Has anyone heard from Nagisa or Mikage?" You page, "Hm. It's obviously too late for stuff, and I'm coloring Kozue anyway... we want to make a go at continuing the Happy Squid Crew tomorrow evening?" to Akemi, Kima and Mike. Shizumaru shakes his head. "I have been gone from Amber for a number of weeks, out of contact from them." Shaft says, "OOCly A month ago! ^.-" Kima pages, "I should be free, yeah. Mike and I still need to finish Juri's conversation with Angus, although I'm not sure if I have any more horrible revelations to spring on him. ^^;;" to you, Akemi and Mike. Akemi pages, "I will be running Shaft tomorrow, but if Mike runs it, I can run Roderick." to you, Kima and Mike. You page, "Corrine wants to discuss stuff with Juri after she get back, and then start laying groundwork for planning/training/however they'll fill up the two weeks." to Akemi, Kima and Mike. Wasyuu says, "From what I understand, they're off on a mission for Queen Moire of Rebma." Wasyuu says, "Hunting pirates or some such thing." Shaft wanders into the infirmary with a large bruise on his head. Mike pages, "'scol with me." to you, Akemi and Kima. Kima pages, "I've realized that we should probably take Ludwig's Battle Train to fight the squid. :)" to you, Akemi and Mike. Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "Ota-san!" Akemi pages, "That would rock." to you, Kima and Mike. Shizumaru blinks, and turns. "Ota-niisan?" You page, "... Oooooh BOY." to Akemi, Kima and Mike. Gabrielle s-lo-wl-y looks up from her big box of snickers. Hiko the Firechilde blinks. "'Ota-niisan'?" Shaft pauses and stares at the two of you. "Oh.... hey, whasap." OTA-SAN!!! WAIIIIIIIIII!!!! Shaft notices Gabrielle and groans Hiko the Firechilde stares at Ota and Gabrielle. "I take it you've met?" Gabrielle _zooms_ across the room and GLMPS shaft at full speed. Shizumaru glances at Hiko. "Apparently...I am actually Utena's son," he says, sweating a bit. "A long story, which I can relate at another time." Shaft says, "aw Shi-" *WHAM* Shizumaru just kind of stares. o.o; In a page-pose to you, Kima and Mike, Akemi begins singing 'Crazy Train' Shizumaru has not quite registered the fact that Gabrielle is Corrine's daughter, by the way. Gabrielle hugs Shaft's prone form like she's never hugged anything before. You page-pose, "Aerianne tries to remember the music to "Soul Train"." to Akemi and Mike. Hiko the Firechilde says, "I'd love to hear it when we have more time." Shaft says, "Can't.... breathe......." Hiko the Firechilde is sorta gaping and gawking. Shaft taptaptaps on Gabrielle's shoulder Hiko the Firechilde gathers herself and crosses to where the GK is lying and takes his hand. Gabrielle relaxes her grip and looks up into shaft's eyes. "You left without saying goodbye, Shaft." She pouts cutely. "But I forgive you." While he doesn't wake up, he does gently squeeze your hand, perhaps instinctively. Shaft facepalms. Shizumaru OOCly says, "Pause...." Shizumaru scratches his head. "I suppose there have been a few stories that I have missed, myself...." Shaft turns to Washu. "Just gimmie somethin' for this lump an' I'll be outta your way, doc." Shaft stares at Shizumaru for a moment. "Man, don'cha hate it when your mamma spontaneously procreates...." Shizumaru twitches slightly. "...I suppose so, Niisan." Gabrielle is glued to Shaft's arm, smiling happily. Hiko the Firechilde blinks slowly, squeezing the GK's hand. She looks up at Washyuu. "Do you think a healing spell would work? Or does he just need rest?" Shaft eyes Gabrielle nervously. "So, er... what the hell you doin' down here?" Gabrielle says, "Cousin Hiko brought me to save her from Horny Bison!" She smiles. Wasyuu says, "He just needs sleep." Shaft stares at Hiko. "Where's that crazy girl been bringin' you?!" Wasyuu says, "He was heavily bruised, possibly a mild concussion, but my treatment should fix his concussion in no time." Dancing Ed OOCly says, "I bet you're just so glad she did, eh, Gabby? :)" Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Crazy?" Hiko the Firechilde pats his hand gently, then leans down to give him a kiss on his forehead. Shaft patpats Gabrielle's head. "Now if anyone brings ya to animals that're a liiiiittle too friendly, you just tell'em 'no', okay?" Hiko the Firechilde turns to Ota. "Who are you calling crazy? They were pets left from the ravager beast." Gabrielle giggles. "Okay, Ota-san!" Hiko the Firechilde says, "They started attacking us." Shaft nods at Hiko, very slowly. "Okaay, ravager beast, whatever y'say, cousin." Gabrielle exclaims, "Its true!" Gabrielle exclaims, "It was a big, angry squid, with knobbly tentacles!" Shizumaru listens in bemusement. Shaft patpats Gabrielle's head again. "Of course it is. Now Washu, if you can gimmie a magical head-lump remover...." Shaft says, "and Tentacled thangs, Gabrielle, are a no-no." You page, "Right. Christmas present for the Questing Beast. I'm thinking something in the 20-Kiloton Yeild range...." to Kima. Kima pages, "Don't bother. The thing's undoubtedly unkillable." to you. You page, "Well, yeah. But it's still a nice THOUGHT! :)" to Kima. Hiko the Firechilde glares at Ota. "I am telling the truth!" Wasyuu hands Shaft a potion bottle labelled 'Bump Remover'. "Just drink this." Shaft raises his hands defensively. "Hey, I ain't sayin' you're lyin, am I?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "I don't like the patronizing tone in your voice." Gabrielle climbs up Shafts arm and whispers in his ear. Shaft blinks Shaft nods at hearing Gabrielle's words. "Ooooh, okay." Gabrielle drops back down and beams. "It was neat!" Gabrielle says, "Hey, did you know that Hiko has the blood of chaos, just like you?" Shaft turns to Hiko. "I see, I see, glad y'feelin better, Cousin." He then turns to Washu. "Now the last time I guzzled your shit, you had me drinkin' unicorn piss an' mud. TELL me this is-" He pauses at Gabrielle's words. "Say wha?" Hiko the Firechilde sighs. "This is serious, though. Corrine has disappeared, into another UNIVERSE and I've met a woman who looks like my mother but is *not* a Shadow of her." She cocks her head at Gabrielle's words. "My father was from Chaos?" Gabrielle nods happily. "Or your mother!" Hiko the Firechilde says, "You've met my mother, Gabrielle." Shaft elbows Shizumaru. "Y'know, the rate this thang's goin', she'll end up bein' our half-sister." Hiko the Firechilde says, "I know who my father is." Hiko the Firechilde clenches her jaw slightly. Shizumaru shakes his head slowly. "I make absolutely no guesses at this point, because they would likely be wrong." Shaft opens the bottle and sniffs cautiously. Hiko the Firechilde says, "In all my research so far, I never knew that he was a Chaosian... it does explain a lot." Gabrielle claps her hands, and weird magical diagrams of Hiko and Shaft appear. "See? Right here. Blood of Chaos." She points at black squiggles that look just like a bunch of other black squiggles. Shaft blinks. "Wha?" The bottle smells like Pepsi. Shaft shrugs and holds the bottle to Gabrielle. "Tell me what's in this." Hiko the Firechilde nods. "I'm gonna have to check the records again." Gabrielle squints at the bottle, and spouts a long series of chemical codes. Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "After all, when you think about it, Chemistry -is- Fire.... just at the atomic level...." Shizumaru finally seems to realize that he hasn't been introduced to Gabrielle. "Hello...Gabrielle, is that your name?" he says, smiling. Hiko the Firechilde falls into deep thought. Shizumaru OOCly says, "It's about time that Shizu finds out his favorite auntie has a kid. And has become queen of Ember. And a whole bunch of other things. o.o" Shaft stares at Gabrielle for a moment, shrugs, and downs the bottle in two gulps. Gabrielle beams. "Uh-huh! I'm the Princess of Ember!" Shaft exclaims, "AAAAAAAAAGH!" It tastes like Pepsi. Shizumaru smiles and bows. "My name is Hisame Shizumaru. I came from Lipun, and am a prince of Amber." Dancing Ed OOCly says, "Interesting hunch you have now, Shaft." Shaft scowls and tosses the bottle away. "Shit, tasted like PEPSI." Shizumaru OOCly laughs. Shizumaru flinches slightly at Shaft's outburst, but tries to ignore it. Shaft blinks slowly and scratches his skin. Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Clear signs that Wasyuu's a quack. Her alchemical potions taste like bad soft drinks." The bump on Shaft's head starts to shrink. Then Shaft's skin starts to turn purple. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Oh my..." Shaft exclaims, "WAAAAAAAASHUUUUUU!!!!!!!!" Gabrielle giggles. "You're cute when you're purple," she coos. Shaft pulls out a trump, then pulls a large mallet out through it. Wasyuu looks at Shaft, then frowns. "Oh wait, I used that flask to rebottle the last of my Sipping Logrus after it escaped the bottle it came in." Shaft exclaims, "I'm PURPLE!" Shizumaru twitches again. "Ah-ha...so. How do you know Aunt Corrine? I heard her being mentioned while you and Hiko were talking earlier." Shizumaru is doing his best to to be thrown off-track by Shaft's Colorful Adventures. Shizumaru OOCly says, "Not to be thrown off track, that is." Shaft says, "how can I go put the mack on-" He pauses and glances at Gabrielle for a moment, then turns back. "How'm I supposed t'go out like this, woman?!?!" Gabrielle gigles. "She's my mommy, silly! The Queen of Ember!" Shizumaru stumbles. Shaft asks, "an'what the hell is sippin' logrus?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "I've been trying to figure that one out myself, Cousin." Shizumaru asks, "Pardon me...did you just say that you are Aunt Corrine's daughter, and that she is the Queen of Ember?" In the background, Shaft throttles Washu. Gabrielle exclaims, "Uh-huh!" Shizumaru looks very thoughtful. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Something wrong, Cousin?" You page, "I think Corrine's full title is "Corrine I, Queen of Ember, Pharoh of Darah, Princess of Amber, Warden of Arden, Dutchess of Fork", and there's somthing she's a countess of in Harad, but I never did pick what it'd be." to Mercutio. Shizumaru finally says, very slowly, "Yes, I have been missing out on a lot of information, it seems." Wasyuu says, "Sipping Logrus is made by distilling Logrus Tendrils." Dancing Ed o.o's. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Well, unless you have something better to do, we can trade stories at the pub near the castle." You page, "That's in no -partcicular- order, mind. Corrine usually goes with Warden, Princess, or more recently Queen, though she's getting used to that last one. *wry look*" to Mercutio. She continues, "It's slow brewed in fast-time shadows for millenia." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Or at least as much as I know." "And it has hideously unpredictable effects on people who bear the blood of chaos, but haven't learned to shapeshift properly." Shaft's bump is now gone completely. His hair turns plaid. Shaft THROTTLES Washu. "FIX THIS, WOMAN!!!" Gabrielle looks curious. "Did you have the Old One 'eyed Serpent blend, or the more piiquant Thelbanes Tears blend?'" Wasyuu makes gurgly noises. Dancing Ed OOCly says, "Well, plaid probably goes better with purple than pink did..." Hiko the Firechilde tries not to stare at Ota too much. Shaft exclaims, "I cannnot GO to the CASTLE like THIS!" Shaft asks, "How LONG does this LAST?" Dancing Ed OOCly says, "Just tell 'em Washu sent you. They'll understand." Shizumaru is still nodding slowly. "That sounds like a good idea...I will be there later. Perhaps I can bring Rimururu-san along. I need to show her around Amber." Wasyuu says, "You're in the castle, Shaft. Oh dear, the mind-warping effects must be kicking in." Wasyuu says, "Well, I finally get to study the effects of this on a chaosian, so it's not ALL bad!" Shaft suddenly gets an idea. "Hey, Gabby, zap me to your kingdom for ten seconds'n bring me back. That oughta be... what, a couple'a hours?" Gabrielle says, "Okay!" She snaps her fingers. Shaft says, "'least I'll get my tan back...." Shizumaru is just not looking at Shaft, for fear of having his train of thought derailing completely. Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Well, which do you want to do first? Show your friend... Rimururu-san around? Attune the Seed?" Shaft exclaims, "OOCly AAAgh! Shaft not there for nut jokes!" Shizumaru OOCly says, "Rimu's still getting her trump portrait done, right?" Hiko the Firechilde finally succeeds in getting her brain back on track. "Now that the bison are gone, we should be able to do it fairly quickly." You page, "Save that Corrine reset the gradient to 1:1... :)" to Akemi and Mercutio. You page, "(though Shaft can be forgiven for forgetting that fact...)" to Akemi and Mercutio. Shizumaru answers, "Attuning myself to the Seed. Rimururu-san is having her trump portrait done, still, and will probably be a little while longer." Shaft appears again. He now has several bath buckets hanging off him. Shaft says, "don't ask." Hiko the Firechilde nods, then smile at Shizumaru, doing a double take at Ota. "..." Shizumaru says, "Do not worry, Ota-niisan. I will not ask." Gabrielle says, "Oh yes, that's right.... they finished rebuilding it." Wasyuu says, "Hmm. I could attempt to purge you of the Sipping Logrus." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "How is the reconstruction going on?" Shaft mutters, "Guess I'll go find some chicks that don't mind the Dr. Seuss look...." Hiko the Firechilde (don't think about Ota... you'll just blow a brain cell again) You page, "Oh, wait... has somebody up in Ember changed the differential? Or is that still soley Corrine's purvew and capability?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "I assume Gabby sped things up some to aid in reconstruction." to you. You page, "Oh, okay. Corrine I can seen coping with it, as long as things didn't get TOO out of hand...." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Basically so they could fix Ember before any crises erupt elsewhere." to you. You page, "*nod* Which is what Corrine would be doing right NOW, save that she ISN'T there. ^_-;" to Akemi. You page, "I imagine Catherine approved it, then, given she's Regent." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Yes." to you. You page, "[Corrine] I have a -good- staff. :)" to Akemi. Shaft grins maniacally. "Hey, Yumi's a mage, yeah.... she might fix this....." He rifles through his trumps to find Yumi Shizumaru picks up the Seed of Hope again, looks at it speculatively. "So, Cousin Hiko...what will I have to do, exactly?" Shaft mutters something about whooping God-Ass and getting rewarded with plaid..... Gabrielle asks, "Yumi?" Gabrielle says, "That's a womans name." Hiko the Firechilde says, "We need to go back to Arden." She pats the Green Knight's hand again, then gets up. Shaft blinks and patpats Gabrielle. "Why don'cha go help Hiko'n Shizzy there, baby?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "I'll tell you what you need to do when you get there." Shaft says through his trump contact, "Hey, you'll never believe what happened t'me, baby...." Hiko the Firechilde looks speculatively at Shizumaru. "I wonder if you're strong enough.... do you trust me?" Shizumaru moves to follow Hiko. He pauses, then bows to the others in the room in parting. "Very good, Cousin. Let us go." Shizumaru blinks at Hiko. "I...should I have a reason not to trust you?" Shaft says, "hey, shizuie, c'mere a sec." Hiko the Firechilde says, "No... I just--" She looks around. "We should go." Hiko the Firechilde concentrates on Arden, and the clearing. Hiko the Firechilde takes Shizumaru's hand, too. Shizumaru does not hear Shaft, however, as he's already off elsewhere with Hiko. Shaft blinks and looks at Gabrielle a moment, then rolls his eyes as Shizumaru and Hiko depart. "Well, his loss." Shaft pokes Gabrielle. "You didn't cut off my trump, did you?" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Need to do a split scene here, ne?" Shizumaru OOCly says, "What were you thinking of, Rod? o.o" Shaft says, "OOCly I was thinking of a) plaid b) sex c) Dr. Seuss" Shizumaru OOCly says, "..." Gabrielle blinks. "I can cut off Trumps?" Gabrielle smiles innocently at Shaft. The Green Knight says, "OOC Hai, we'll need to split the group." Hiko the Firechilde and Shizumaru reappear in the clearing in Arden. Shaft asks, "OOCly and shaft is done for the night, right>?" The Green Knight says, "OOC Pretty much, yeah, Rod." Shaft OOCly sits in the peanut gallery and watches o.o Shizumaru looks around cautiously for any signs of bison. Just in case. There are no bison here. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Gabrielle teleported them all away to a different shadow... she's got amazing Pattern powers." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Most likely because she IS the Pattern." She holds up a hand. "Don't ask me to explain." Shizumaru sighs in relief. "Ah. Well, no, I will not ask. Too many things to ask about at this point." Hiko the Firechilde says, "To walk the Pattern takes great strength of mind, and from what I remember of seeing you at Kozue's duel, you don't seem to be very strong... Pardon me for being blunt." Shizumaru flushes slightly. "I...understand." He sighs. "I had been meditating in order to strengthen my mind in preparation of walking the Pattern. I hope that will have been enough." Hiko the Firechilde says, "The Green Knight helped me when I walked the Pattern here for the first time. I was hoping he'd be able to do the same for you." Hiko the Firechilde says, "I wonder if I could do the same for you... that's why I'm asking if you trust me." Shizumaru blinks a few times. "Really? Oh, I see...." He nods. "I do trust you, yes. I have not known you for long, but we have already faced a number of things together. I believe we are on the same side." Hiko the Firechilde nods and points at the archway. "There stands the Wood Pattern. We can walk it together. But I think I need to put the Heart away before I walk it. I'm not sure what affect attuning it to the Wood Pattern would have, and I don't think I want to find out." Hiko the Firechilde pulls out her trump of King Tylor. Tylor answers. "Good morning, Hiko." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Hello, your Highness. How are you doing?" Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Are you busy right now?" "No, I'm not busy," he says. "Just eating." Shizumaru waits patiently, regarding the Seed and the Wood Pattern thoughtfully. Let's hope it goes okay. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Could you do me a favor? I need you to hold something for me... put it in the Vaults, even." He nods. "No problem. What is it?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "It's one of the Icons. I need for it to be safe while I do something." "Alright." He holds out a hand. "I'll take it down to the vault after we finish eating." Hiko the Firechilde takes it out. "Could you take this to the Vault?" The Green Knight says, "OOc I LAAAAAAAG" Shizumaru OOCly patpats. o.o;; Foxtrot has connected. >> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now. Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! Shizumaru OOCly says, "Yikes." Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "This sucks." Shaft says, "OOCly wb" Shizumaru OOCly patpats. Hiko the Firechilde takes out the Heart. "Could you keep this safe for me?" "Alright." He holds out a hand. "I'll take it down to the vault after we finish eating." Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Is it lunchtime? Who's there with you?" Hiko the Firechilde OOCLY says, "Maybe deathlagged... I'll let you know in a minute." Shizumaru OOCly ooks. Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Aaaand... it ain't the best Kozue I've done (all one of her), or the best ship deck, or stuff... but hey: http://www.eyrie.org/~aerianne/dld/amber/Kozue.cc.jpg and Kozue.trump.cc.jpg" Meanwhile, somewhere out there, Shaft throttles Washu...... ====================================================== ====================================================== Shizumaru OOCly says, "Keww. o.o" Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! Shaft says, "tsk" Shizumaru starts to daydream about Rimururu. *.* Foxtrot has connected. >> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now. Shaft says, "lads, she's on AIM, the lag's still smacking her" Shizumaru OOCly ughs. Shaft says, "Lads, she surrenders to the lag. cut it here." The Green Knight asks, "AIM?" Shizumaru OOCly awws. ;.; Sana_Kurata falls asleep. Sana_Kurata wakes up. Shizumaru OOCly says, "Instant Messenger." Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! The Green Knight says, "Right. I think we will just quite for the night." Shizumaru OOCly says, "Okay. That was an interesting session." Rabies falls asleep. The Green Knight says, "As I am lagging too much and shouldhave gone to bed two hours ago." Esme Pariseau OOCly says, "Yup. And with Kozue Colored, time for me to thud. G'night." Akemi pages, "The pic is very cool!" to you. Shizumaru OOCly waves. This one's staying up for a few more hours. You page, "Yay! ^_^" to Akemi. Esme Pariseau goes and thuds. Philip Moyer----------------Qapla'-------------pmoyer@jurai.net "To boldly go where no one has gone before!"-Capt. J. L. Picard "Roads? Where we're going we don't NEED roads!"-Dr. E. L. Brown "If it can be dreamed, It can be done."- ReRob Mandeville "Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection, The Lovers, ---------- The Dreamers, and Me."- Kermit The Frog ------------