Date sent:      	Fri, 21 Dec 2001 17:23:16 -0500
From:           	Alan Harnum <harnums@thekeep.org>
Subject:        	Motoko - Log 84
To:             	rpm@thekeep.org, ranma@KU.EDU

The funeral has wound down, and almost everyone has left except
for your crew of people, Shizumaru and Rimururu, who have
vanished into their personal suite, and the Black Watch Guards
who are keeping an eye out to both make sure Shizumaru doesn't
run away and to ensure that no one tries taking a whack at him
either.  You've gone to take a bath before bed, expecting Drake
will probably contact you in the morning.  Not too surprisingly,
you find Moonshade is here in the baths, half-asleep.  A bit more
surprisingly, as you thought she'd gone, you find Yumi here.

Kanna OOCly says, "And oh yes =
http://www.eyrie.org/~aerianne/dld/Neko4/Beowulf.cc.jpg"

Motoko douses herself with cold water and slides into the bath
with a pleasurable shiver.  "Good evening," she says softly.

John exclaims, "Sweet!"

Moonshade mumbles incoherently.  Yumi says, "How are you,
Motoko?"

Motoko says, "OOC:  Finally, the presence of clunky old-timey
radios in Ancient Egypt is established."

Motoko says, "Drained, Yumi-san."  She sighs and slips into the
water.  "It was a very long day."

Yumi nods.  "Yes.  Well, House Formorian has been purged, as of a
few hours ago.  Their Outsider-corrupted leadership was fingered
by Prince Mikage and a sting run by Kuonji, and royal forces
moved in while the bulk of the house was at an anti-Danaani
concert, which turned out to have been set up by Danaani to lure
them out.  The Lion Spikard of Winds is now in Anno's hands."

Motoko blinks.  "Well.  Excellent news.  I knew there was
something funny about that concert."

Motoko says, "And now the Lion Spikard can't be used to threaten
Cathuria, as Aunt Juri requested."

Motoko asks, "How is Cousin Nausicaa?"

Yumi says, "Nausicaa suffered some nasty injuries while fighting
several Outsider creatures, but she was able to heal most of them
and is currently resting at one of House Danaani's holds,
recovering."

Motoko frowns slightly.  "If it's anything very serious that
can't be healed by normal means, I would be able to help her
using my new higher-order Pattern magics."

Yumi says, "You might wish to trump her then.  I understand she
got sprayed by some sort of nasty acidic blood of one of the
creatures."

Kanna OOCly says, "Ahwell, going to try bed -before- midnight for
once."

Motoko says, "OOC:  Night, Phil."

Beowulf OOCly applauds. "Sleep well, Phil."

Aerianne has disconnected.

Motoko says, "Acidic blood..."  She looks thoughtful.  "Sounds
the sort of thing you'd need regenerative magics for.  I'll rack
one and then trump down to her."  She closes her eyes and smiles
slightly.  "I've always rather liked weaving spells together in
the bath, ever since I was a child."

John says, "OOC G'nite, Phil."

Yumi says, "It's a nice relaxing place, which helps, though I'm
afraid Jacqui once..."  She pauses.  "I think I will not think
about that time."

Moonshade says, "Did she turn all the water cold?"

Motoko says, "I suspect she froze it myself."

Yumi says, "She accidentally cast her fleet-crusher spell."  She
sighs.  "It was not pleasant."

Motoko winces.  "Worse than I imagined, then.  She froze the
bathwater once when my mother was giving the two of us both a
bath when we were very young, and... I think I will not think
about that time."

Moonshade winces.  "Ugh."

Yumi says, "Thankfully, her control has become much better of
late."

Motoko nods and smiles slightly as she carefully puts the
regeneration spell together.  "Jacqueline has grown up a lot."
She then sighs.  "Perhaps a little too much, and often because of
ugly twists of circumstance, but..."

Motoko says, "I never imagined she'd be the first among our
generation to have children, particularly under such
circumstances."

Yumi nods.  "I know."  She sounds a little sad.  "She has as many
children as I do, now."

"It is heavy burden for one so young."

Motoko says, quietly, "It shows her true strength that she has
accepted Random so easily.  If I had a child under such
circumstances... I am not sure that I could bear to keep it with
me.  I would look at it, and think only of the means of its
conception."

Moonshade says, "Yeah, and she isn't even going to have time to
spend with 'em for a while."

Motoko says, "But just watching her... I can see how much she
loves that child."

Yumi says, "Jacqui has a very compassionate heart.  It has caused
her to be hurt many times, but it is also a source of great
strength for her."

Motoko nods.  "To be kind or trusting is always to risk hurt and
betrayal.  Grandmother taught me that."

Yumi nods.  "Exactly.  It takes a special kind of strength to
maintain that ability to trust in the face of a world that often
betrays trust and destroys hope."

Motoko says, "I have been fortunate, perhaps, in that I've
generally been wise about whom I put my trust in."  She laughs
softly.  "Or so it seems so far."

Yumi nods.  "Yes, the family has become rather more trustworthy
over the years, which I don't think anyone is likely to complain
about."

Motoko says, "Memories of the last great crisis still linger, and
the disasters that happened because some pursued their own
agendas.  If we have a long peace after all this is finished, it
may be we will fall back into our own ways."  She shifts a
slightly, trailing her fingers briefly through the water, then
raising them up as though to pluck at invisible strings.  "Amber
is getting crowded, and is likely to get more crowded still... it
is one of the reasons I increasingly think I will spend my time
in Chaos, even if not an official capacity."

Yumi nods.  "Well, Chaos is rather crowded in its own way as
well."

Motoko says, "Not with Amberites."

Motoko smiles slightly.  "Perhaps it's just my ego.  I don't like
feeling like one face among many, and in Amber, I'm in so many
shadows whatever I do."

Yumi smiles. "This is true.  From my own perspective, it is
overrun with my own people, while Amber is quite free of
Chaosians."

Motoko frowns a little.  "I do wonder if it was Mikage who nearly
blew up Moriya and myself while we were riding in that Formorian
blimp."

Yumi sighs.  "I don't know, though you could ask him.  But he
likely wouldn't tell the truth if he had."

Motoko says, "No.  Likely not."  She is quiet for a moment, then
asks, "Did you hear the latest development with..."  She looks at
Moonshade for a moment, and lowers her voice somewhat.  "With the
Olympus matter?"

Yumi says, "No, I don't believe I have."

Moonshade begins to snore.

Motoko explains about what was uncovered recently about the House
Alars/Stagger Lee situation, Hercules being the Hydra-releaser,
and all.

Yumi frowns.  "Right.  I'll have to see what I can pry out of
Hercules, then."

Motoko says, "Be very careful.  It may be he's been corrupted or
tainted."

Motoko sighs.  "Justice must sometimes be slow and sure.
Infuriating, but..."

She nods.  "I am sure he has, if he was not impersonated by a
very skillful aura shifter.  But I believe I can handle him."

Motoko sighs.  "I don't know if we'll be able to deal with them
fully before the Day of the Dead.  If we can't, I pray they don't
take us in the back."

Yumi says, "Well, we have two weeks left.  I hope to get enough
evidence so they can be moved against."

She says, "But as always, we'll have to see."

Motoko says, "I'm not sure how much help I'll be able to offer
given my own schedule, but... if I can, I will aid you."

She nods. "I expect you will be busy helping Drake, although if
that finishes quickly enough I will call you in."

Motoko puts the last touches on her regeneration spell, and
stands up.  "Well... I go to Cousin Nausicaa, then, unless you've
further need of me."

Yumi says, "No real business as such.  I will probably be here
another half hour, and then I'm off to spend some time with my
daughters."

Moonshade mumbles something about manly arms in her sleep.

Yumi says, "And I will make sure Moonshade does not drown
herself."

Motoko nods and gets out of the bath, then pauses.  "How is
Mitsune?" she asks quietly.  "I always... it is not always easy
for me to tell how she is feeling."

Yumi says, "Mitsune does best when she has something to distract
her.  I suspect she will fall apart tonight, since she doesn't
have to put up a brave front for everyone any more.  But Lily and
I will be there.  Lily is already with her, in fact."

Motoko looks at the ground for a moment.  "That is good.  I am
very shamed by my conduct in the wake of Moriya's death.  I
abandoned her and Davros to turn in upon myself, when they both
needed me."  She sighs.  "But what is done is done.  Goodbye,
Yumi-san; I will see you later."  She looks at Moonshade for a
moment with open affection.  "And yes, please ensure she wakes up
before she slips under the water.  I shan't be long, I hope."

Yumi nods.  "I will.  Goodbye for now, Motoko."

Motoko dresses quickly, then goes to tell Davros where she's
going.

You find Davros is out in the courtyard, meditating.  He says,
"Alright.  I'll see you when you get back, then."

Motoko trumps Nausicaa.

Nausicaa takes the trump, lying in a bed with bandages over a
fair swathe of her body.  She smiles at you weakly. "It has been
a long time, cousin," she says softly.

Motoko says, quietly, "Yes, it has.  Marches since I saw you, and
only shortly after that when last I heard news of you."  She
looks her over.  "You are still wounded.  If you will pull me
through, I will do what I can; I have come farther in my studies
than when last we spoke.  Little but death lies beyond my ability
to repair nowadays."  Her voice catches slightly on that last
sentence.

Nausicaa holds out her hand to you.  "I would be most grateful."

Motoko takes her hand, not too tightly, and comes through.
"Yumi-san told me you had been attacked by the acid of the
Outsiders.  I imagine that does not heal easily."  She looks
around the room.  "You will become very hungry when I do my work;
I assume someone may be summoned to provide food?"

Nausicaa reaches over and rings a bell.  A servant comes in.
"How may I help you, lady?" she asks, being a humanoid dog.
Nausicaa says, "Please bring a substantial amount of food."
"Yes, my lady."  The dog-woman runs off.

Nausicaa says, "I shoved a tornado down the throat of one of the
Lords, and he exploded all over us."  She frowns.  "It was quite
awful."

Motoko winces.  "It sounds like it.  I would like to hear as much
of the story as you can tell me.  We've all been very curious
about what you and your father were up to."  She sighs.  "There
is also much news I must tell you; I am not sure how good your
information has been while you have been doing all this
undercover work."

Nausicaa says, "We heard of some events, but we were largely
focused on our mission."

Motoko asks, softly, "Did you hear about Moriya?  And Lian?"

Her eyes widen.  "No, I did not.  What has happened?"  There is
an undercurrent of fear in her voice.

Motoko says, with only a hint of a tremble, "They have fallen.
Moriya in a terrible battle that saw many others nearly die, and
Lian in an ill-advised misadventure that earned her the wrath of
the Abyss Monks."

Nausicaa stares in shock.  "Moriya..."  Tears run down her face.
"Poor cousin.  Who slew him?"

Motoko says, "Hemingway, a creation of Annadil's, the master of a
trap laid long ago, back during the events leading up to the
Second Day of Darkness."  Bitterness creeps into her voice for a
moment.  "He led Uncle Beowulf, Mitsune, Lily, Shinobu-chan and
Keitaro-san into the trap, looking for a Logrusfoil to help him
regain Withywindle.  But he died with the utmost bravery."

Nausicaa stares down at the sheets, continuing to cry.  "I'm sure
he did.  His poor father.  It has been ill for his family of
late."

Motoko hesitantly puts a hand on Nausicaa's shoulder.  "They have
suffered terrible misfortune," she agrees solemnly.  "If I did
not know better, I might have thought them accursed of the gods.
But..."

Nausicaa shudders a little.   "Perhaps.  I would not be surprised
if Annadil had cursed the five Children of the Elements who
thwarted him.  Ota has perished, Shizumaru has lost his son and
been imprisoned, Hiko is now a slave to House Alars and nearly
lost her daughter, Father and I almost perished, and...well,
Uncle Nagisa hasn't done too badly."

Motoko says, perhaps in an attempt to be comforting, "Well, his
daughter did get flung to Chaos, where she became a warrior
hussy."

Motoko asks, "May I remove your bandages to examine the wounds,
Cousin?"

Nausicaa smiles very faintly.  "Yes, but I can't put that in the
same category."  She sighs.  "Yes, you may remove them.  Just be
gentle."

Motoko very carefully removes the bandages.  "Well, it was rather
a shock for Uncle Nagisa.  And for everyone."

Motoko examines Nausicaa's wounds carefully while waiting for the
food to arrive.

The wounds are extensive but not hugely deep, many pits etched
into her skin, especially around the left side of her torso, and
on her left arm.  They are rather hideously scarred, and
currently coated with purplish salves.

Motoko winces, then says, gently, "I will have you good as new
soon enough, Cousin.  Looks like you have quite the time."

Nausicaa says, "It was a very ugly battle.  I had to duel against
the head of House Formorian with the Wheel of Winds, and I came
very close to losing."

She says, "Fortunately, Father was able to take him by surprise
while he was engaged with me."

Motoko asks, "Lord Balor?"  She sighs.  "I suspected from the
Black Heart Prophecies that he held it after I met him.  What
about his wife?"

Nausicaa says, "I don't know what happened to his wife.  I saw
her briefly, but then she was swept away, and I'm not sure if
they caught her or if she perished."

Motoko frowns, then lets her hands hover above the scarred
wounds.  "Well, I can start things off now... hopefully, that
food will arrive soon."  She casts the regeneration spell.  "The
last I heard of you, you and your father and Falme-san had
defeated the Black Crown.  What happened after that?"

Nausicaa says, "It began with a trip down to Chaos.  Father
acquired an artifact during the Annadil Crisis which enables him
to burn roads through shadow.  We went to burn some roads for
House Danaani.  At the time, I thought that was all it was.
However, it soon developed that Father had deeper plans.  Forces
of House Formorian attacked the roads, trying to destroy them,
and enabling Father to capture several members of that house.
 From them, Father learned enough for us to attempt to infilitrate
House Formorian."  She frowns.  "We had to ambush two members of
the house, then take on their forms with the help of House
Danaani's shapeshifting experts.  It was very unpleasant.  I do
not like ambushing people."  She sighs.  "Then we infiltrated
House Formorian and spent a very long time gathering evidence and
trying to find some way to get Lord Balor into a trap, once we
were sure he had the Lion Spikard."

Motoko nods.  "And all this going on while on the upper level,
Uncle Miki and I were doing our great diplomatic mission."  She
looks just slightly unhappy.

Akemi has disconnected.

Akemi has connected.

John says, "OOC AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Motoko nods.  "And all this going on while on the upper level,
Uncle Miki and I were doing our great diplomatic mission."  She
looks just slightly unhappy.

John asks, "OOC What did you last see from Nausicaa?"

Motoko says, "OOC:  The long pose ending with the statement about
getting Balor into a trap."

Motoko says, "OOC:  To which that was my response."

Sana_Kurata falls asleep.

She says, "From what I could tell, your diplomatic mission seemed
to go quite well."

Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help)

Motoko nods.  "For the most part, it did, although I fear that
some of the Houses, such as Formorian, only pretended to put on a
friendly face."

Nausicaa says, "Father and I were quite fortunate that House
Danaani knew we were in there, as otherwise, we likely would have
been blown to bits if they had followed the original plan for
what ended up becoming the purge we conducted."

Motoko asks, "Yes.  I heard Kuonji-san was involved."  Pause.
"Did he... she... use the torpedoes again?"

"There was originally some sort of plan involving a giant bomb,
which House Danaani vetoed because they didn't want the two of us
to be blown to bits."  She frowns.  "I'm not clear on how it was
to be powered."

"As it was, they were unable to alert Father and I about the
purge without risking giving the plan away."

Motoko frowns.  "Yes, it can be inconvenient when you are kept in
the dark, even if it seems necessary for a greater end."

"We ended up levelling much of Formorianways in the battles which
followed."

Motoko sighs.  "There's been a lot of purging lately.  For the
best, I suppose, in the long run."

Motoko pauses.  "Oh, Jacqueline has two daughters now."

Motoko frowns and looks around.  "Just how long does it take to
get food around here, anyway?  You should be feeling very hungry
very soon."

Nausicaa's eyes widen.  "She has two daughters?"

As if on cue, the dog-maid returns with a tray full of food.
"Here you go, my lady," she says.

Motoko says, "Yes.  The circumstances are rather complicated in
both cases."  She rubs her temples.  "I'm really not one for
family gossip, but you've been out of the loop for some time, and
a lot has happened.  My parents have another child now."

Nausicaa begins eating.  In between bites, she says, "My
goodness.  I didn't know your mother was pregnant."

Motoko says, "Given what happened during her last pregnancy, they
went to an extremely fast-timed Shadow to have the child in
safety as soon as they realized."

Motoko says, "She is a very sweet if somewhat naughty baby."

Nausicaa says, "I look forward to meeting her when I return to
Amber, then."  She stuffs her face, surprised by how ravenously
she's eating.

Motoko says, "What else, what else... Jacqui redrew the Shamber
Pattern, and Fuyutsuki-sama walked it, which caused Amber to have
to be temporarily evacuated due to swarms of, err, lustful
Patternghosts.  You've probably heard the news about Tremere.
Merehallow was finally taken to Juri.  We had another battle with
the forces of the Black Unicorn, and this time hopefully
destroyed them.  Kuonji-san gave me the third Key, and I acquired
Hoard of the Dragon, which I gave to Lian-san, which was
apparently the spur for her to go mad and destroy herself and the
spikard in the Abyss."  Sour frown.  "Jacqui and Mutsumi and
Thoric are all dating each other, and it all came out in a rather
ugly way at Moriya's funeral..."

Motoko says, "Well, needless to say, quite a bit."

Motoko asks, "How is your father?  What is he up to now?"

Nausicaa's eyes widen in shock.  "Thoric, Mutsumi, and Jacqui are
dating each other???"

Motoko says, "Yes."  She fidgets.  "You will undoubtedly hear
this elsewhere, but he is the father of one of her children.  My
parents were... displeased."

Nausicaa stares in shock.  "Who is the father of the other
child?"

Motoko says, "Err, Jacqui.  The mother is the Logrus."  Pause.
"They dated briefly."

Nausicaa's jaw drops.  "She...she..."  She turns to stuff more
food in her mouth, and focuses on that for a while, then says,
"It's strange how fast people can change when you're not
looking." She sighs.  "Has anyone else changed beyond
recognition?"

Motoko says, "Well, Aunt Michelle got a new harem boy.  He's very
strange."

Motoko says, "And Naru stayed with Aunt Juri in Cathuria...
Sumire-san turned out to be Uncle Drake's daughter..."

Motoko says, "Shinobu-chan and Keitaro-san are dating...
Grandmother is finally taking the step and marrying
Grandfather..."

Nausicaa says, "Oh, Aunt Michelle is always getting new Harem
Boys.  Is he as strange as the fellow who thought fish were
watching him?"  She pauses to stuff her face more, then smiles.
"I will have to give them my congratulations."

Motoko says, "He's stranger.  I think he scared Aunt Kozue with
how strange he was, and I didn't think that was possible."

Motoko sighs.  "She lost a lot of her, err, men to Serpent's
Horn... I'm not sure how much you heard of that matter."

Nausicaa says, "We heard quite a bit about it."  Stuff face,
stuff face.  "I understand Jacqui and her sister were both hurt
very badly, and so was Moriya and some others."

Motoko says, "There were many injuries.  It was a very great
battle."  She looks at Nausicaa's wounds, to see how they are
doing.  "It was in the wake of that that I began my research into
the higher levels of Pattern Sorcery, particularly its use in
healing and regeneration, as Isil--Moonshade had lost her arm to
Justice or Merehallow--I'm not sure which one--and would not be
able to regain it for centuries if something wasn't done."

Motoko says, softly, "Moonshade has become the new Sword, now
that Moriya has fallen."

Trying to say something with a bagel in her mouth and failing,
she finally scarfs it down.  You can see the scars are beginning
to fade as she continues to glut herself.  Finally, she gets her
mouth clear enough to ask, "What exactly does that entail?"

Motoko manages by sheer will to avoid blushing, and gives a
lengthy and detailed theological explanation of the role of the
Sword in the triad.

Windir falls asleep.

Nausicaa nods and asks various clarifying questions as you go
along.  Finally, she says, "So what is she like, anyway?  I have
heard a few stories about her, but I've only actually seen her
briefly at Marching."

Motoko smiles slightly.  "She once said to me that she was
worried she was basically her father with breasts.  It's not
quite like that, but... she has many of Uncle Ota's qualities,
and some of his flaws, and some things that are hers alone.  I
think she is rather more sensitive than her father was, but she
tends to hide it."

Motoko adds, quietly, "I see much of the good in her that I
should have seen in Uncle Ota, but that I was always too blind to
understand."

Nausicaa says, "I must admit to my shame that I was never very
good at seeing past Uncle Ota's surface either.  But he was a
good man, and I will miss him."

Motoko says, "Right now, we are preparing for the retaking of
Rebma, with Uncle Drake now assisting Lucien now that the Kanawa
Candidate is finished."

Nausicaa says, "I'm sure Uncle Drake will probably have no
problems at all dealing with the Bloc.  He's quite the general,
from what I've heard.  Although also rather rude."  She frowns,
then stuffs herself some more.

Motoko says, "He has always been civil to me, though he is not a
man to mince words or hold from speaking his mind.  I had great
success working with him on the Kanawa operation."

Nausicaa nods.  Her scars continue to fade away.  "Father has
told me a few stories about him.  He's quite good at what he
does.   I suppose a thousand years of defending Amber could make
anyone a little cranky, though."

Motoko says, "As could spending forty years strapped into an
Outsider cultist's machine."  Pause.  "Though from what I've
heard, it actually apparently improved his temperament."

Tybalt falls asleep.

Nausicaa says, "Well, suffering can sometimes instill greater
compassion for the suffering of others."  Munch, munch, munch.

There are soft footsteps at the door, and then Mikage says, "Good
evening, daughter."  He turns to Motoko.  "Good evening, niece."

Motoko looks up.  "Hello, Uncle Mikage."  She rises and bows.  "I
have been hearing some of the story from Nausicaa.  Sounds like
you have had quite a time."  She fidgets a little, obviously not
completely comfortable around him.  "Have you heard about Moriya
and Lian-san?" she asks quietly.

Mikage says, "I have heard of Moriya's death, though I am not
clear on the exact details."  He frowns.  "I am all too aware of
Lian's death, unfortunately."

Motoko asks, "Because of what she was trying to do, Uncle?"

Mikage says, "For a long time, I have been preparing to
eventually get the White Knight out of the Abyss.  In that time,
I have made certain contacts, through whom I have learned at
least how the Abyss Monks view what happened with Lian.  I would
like to hope she was not so pathetically stupid as to do what
they say she did, but I fear they are probably mostly telling the
truth."

Motoko nods and looks very unhappy.  "As far as Anno-sama and I
have been able to confirm, their story is what happened.  What
they have done to her body and possibly to her soul are very ugly
things, but not less ugly than what she did.  It was a very great
wrong, in itself, and because of the damage it does to Amber's
cause."

"Yes, exactly," he says.  He shakes his head.  "It is very, very
easy to become hypnotized by one's own power and to come to
believe one can do anything one can get away with, forgetting
that in the end, things catch up with you."

He continues, "For while the universe knows nothing of justice,
it knows much of _revenge_."

Motoko nods.  "There are always reactions to equal our actions,
even if we do not understand them at first."

Mikage glances over at Nausicaa, who continues to eat
frenetically.  "Daughter, I do not believe the food is going to
run away before you can get to it all."

Motoko says, "Selfish though it is, I feel especially betrayed,
as I entrusted her with Hoard of the Dragon, and she, in her
foolishness, betrayed the trust I gave her."  For a moment, her
expressions twists in an ugly way.  "I will be more careful in
the future whom I entrust power to."

Motoko blinks.  "Ahh... she needs the food, Uncle; I have used a
regeneration spell on her to repair the last of her wounds."

Mikage nods.  "Ahh."

Mikage says, "One must always be very, very careful before giving
away power.  I trust Nausicaa with my life, which is why she
bears the Wheel of Winds.  There are few others I know would
wield it wisely."

Nausicaa says, "You are too paranoid for your own good, father."

Mikage says, "One who never trusts is trapped in a box of his own
devising, one who trusts too much allows all comers to box him
in.  But I would rather err on the side of too little trust than
too much.  One can always give power later, but it is very hard
to reclaim power once given away."


Motoko nods.  "Especially when it detonates deep in the Abyss."

Nausicaa says, "Well, at least it did not fall into the hands of
our enemies."

Mikage says, "Perhaps better if it had, for then Lian might still
be alive, and both could be recovered instead of neither.  But
what is done is done."

Motoko sighs.  "Yes.  I seem to say that so very often these
days."

Mikage looks Motoko up and down thoughtfully.  "So who will stand
in Moriya's stead when you face the Serpent of Darkness?"

Motoko asks, "Moonshade has become the new Sword."  She frowns.
"Though I have not heard of this Serpent of Darkness.  Where did
you hear of it?"

Mikage says, "I suspect the Serpent who serves Hel will not sit
idle while you try to bring life to the World of the Dead, Bride
of the Dragon.  I long studied many sources of lore in my younger
days, and while I have forgotten most of it, recent events have
brought some things to mind. "

Motoko looks intrigued.  "Go on.  I know the Serpent of that land
falls under her dominion, and pulls her chariot alongside the
Unicorn; and I have suspected we might have to face him."

He continues, "In my younger, more foolish days, I delved into
sources of lore rather more dangerous to the user than to his
enemies, as I came to understand.  The darkness too has its
prophecies, and it hungers to see them fulfilled.  I had
dismissed many of them as the rantings and wishful thinking of
self-important, drug-using fools.  But many years later, I read
in the Red Book of Malin words I had seen long ago in the
Revelations of Glaaki.  'Phoenix Flies on Wings of Dream / Wolf
Delves through Caverns Deep / Hanged Man Climbs the World Tree's
Branches / Elemental Songs Open a Door / Ferryman Demands a toll
/ Double-edged Blade Slices Open and Seals Shut/ Death Calls to
Death / And Life to Life'.  It is rare to see prophecies of light
and darkness match up so well."

Motoko frowns.  "Indeed.  Some of those I can match.  I am the
Phoenix.  Davros is the Wolf.  I do not know the Hanged Man.
Elemental Songs... Hel's plan to use her Jewel of Judgement to
open a gateway between the two Keeps, I believe.  The Ferryman, I
know not.  The Blade... the Knife, currently held by Kanna.  The
latter two verse seem more general than anything else."

He continues, "The Revelations went on to speak of how Wolf would
bring down his doom upon his own head, for only by calling upon
the Serpent, could he find his way through Caverns Deep to the
Many Jewels beyond.  But by doing so, he was tugging the tail of
the Serpent of Darkness, and drawing down his own doom upon his
head, for the power of the Logrus cannot be hidden from the
Serpent."

Motoko's eyes widen.  "The Cave of Worlds, and the Logrus... the
Many Jewels..."  She blushes slightly.  "Ahem.  I think, then,
that it might refer to different ways of passage between the two
worlds."

He says, "Very few have ever made it through the Cave of Worlds
alive and sane and returned.  Davros is one such.  I know few
others who could lead a small party, or an army, through them,
yet I can see Glaaki's point.  For by doing so, you would draw
down the Serpent of Darkness's single eye of purest night."

Motoko frowns.  "I must get to the Temple of the Serpent when the
time comes.  But I will admit I have yet to truly consider the
logistics of doing so."

He says, "Has he ever spoken to you of what a trip through the
Cave of Worlds is like?"

Motoko shakes her head.  "No."

"I suggest you read the Book of Worlds, if you can find the time.
It is a collection of stories told by those who have walked it
and survived.  You will be tested and tempted and given the
chance to destroy yourself.  I fear you will face the sister of
your imagination there, and whatever other fears and darkness may
lie within you."

He says, "I have never dared pass into it, myself."

Motoko looks rather uncertain.  "Is the Cave the only way, then,
or the way we must take?"

Nausicaa continues pigging out.

Mikage says, "It is the only way by which an army can be taken,
unless perhaps the Knife has finally surfaced from wherever it
has vanished to all these centuries."

Motoko OOCly points back to what he had Motoko say about Kanna
currently possessing the Knife.  :)

John says, "OOC Doh.  Hold on..."

Mikage says, "It is the only way by which an army can be taken
that I am sure of.  The Knife may be able to cut a large enough
hole, but I fear it will not be able to reach across the Void
until the very conjunction is upon us."

Motoko says, "Loewen will need some way to get there, as will
Jacqui... as will we."  She frowns and paces a bit.  "I fear we
may have no choice but to try the Serpent of Darkness's Eye.  If
the worlds are in conjuction, our own Serpent should, I think, be
not without influence."

Motoko says, "And I will admit my understanding is probably
wrong, but the route through the Cave of Worlds may be shorter
because of the conjuction.  But I do not know that for certain."

Mikage says, "If the Jewel of Judgement is to be borne through
the Cave, as I suppose it must, it should have enough power to
repel the Serpent of Darkness, if wisely wielded.  Unfortunately,
I do not see Jacqueline as being a very wise wielder of it."

Motoko says, somewhat defensively, "Jacqui has grown up a lot
since last you saw her.  When we worked together with Drake on
destroying Kanawa, she did everything exactly right."

Mikage says,

Mikage says, "I will believe it when I see it.  I fear that will
likely come soon enough."

Viluy wakes up.

Eudial wakes up.

Motoko sighs.  "All things in time.  Jacqui is the Bride of the
Jewel.  I know she has the strength to do this."

Mikage says, "Prophecy is not enough.  There is no room for error
here."

Mikage says, "But then, sometimes we must work with the tools we
have, instead of the ones we desire."

Motoko says, tightly, "I know better than almost anyone that
prophecy is not enough.  Prophecy did not tell me that my first
Sword would die away from myself and my Soul, on a fool's errand
driven by an egotism which I should have done better to check
than I did.  But what Jacqui has to do is going to be hard enough
without everyone telling her they don't believe she can do it.  I
have seen her strength, Uncle, and how she has grown.  They will
be enough.  They _have_ to be enough."

Mikage says softly, "Passion is at the heart of Chaos / Passion
seeks to master Chaos / It puts the Bride to the test / It
strains the bonds between the three / Friend against friend /
Lover against lover / Both ends against the middle / For Passion
can be a chain / But who is it who locks these bonds? / And for
what purpose?"  More loudly, he says, "Well, my own generation
consisted of a lech, a wallflower, a madwoman, a fool, and
myself, and yet we somehow triumphed.  She will have to do."

Motoko says, "She will do."

Nausicaa says, "If I am not needed elsewhere, I can go with her
and lend the strength of the Wheel of Winds to her defense,
Father."

Motoko sighs.  "After we have finished off the Rebmaquois, I will
worry about these things in more detail.  We must cross the
stream before we cross the river."

Mikage nods.  "I intend to go and see if Sarah has properly
prepared the army I told her to raise.  Hopefully, my forces will
be ready for when the Day comes."

Mikage continues, "Am I correct in understanding that Tharkold
and Rebma are the two main problems left to deal with on our side
of things?"

Motoko nods.  "That we know of.  We also have some evidence of
further Outsider activities in Chaos."

Motoko says, "And the concerns arising because of Lian's folly."

Motoko says, "But dealing with the Rebma situation is key for the
moment, as is finishing off Tharkhold.  I fear what it may have
grown to, left to lick its wounds as it was."

Mikage says, "I suspect it is hidding for fear of its life."  He
frowns.  "Hmm, I may take a hand directly in that, just in case.
Who is in charge of dealing with Tharkold?"

Motoko says, "Aunt Kanna and Uncle Beowulf are collaborating, I
believe, with help of Mitsune and Lily."

Mikage says, "Hmm, yes, they may have need of me, then."

Motoko says, "I am sure they would appreciate your help."

Nausicaa finishes eating and healing.  "Poor Mitsune."  She
sighs.  "I hope this helps her get her mind off Moriya's death."

Motoko says, softly, "It will be good for her to occupy herself.
It is how I am getting along.  After I helped rescue Jacqueline's
daughter from House Tremere, I felt much better.  It feels almost
strange, how easy it is to go on."

Mikage says, "Did Mitsune really slay the person who killed
Moriya in single combat?"

Motoko nods.

Mikage says, "I am impressed.  I would not have thought her
capable of defeating myself with a sword, let alone someone
capable of slaying Moriya."  There's as much respect in his voice
as he ever conveys.  "For while I am no slouch with a sword, I
cannot pretend I would have lasted more than perhaps five minutes
in battle against Moriya with a sword."

Motoko says, uncomfortably, "I believe she was mentally shifted
into Aunt Juri at the time."

Mikage says, "Her shapeshifting skills have grown quite
considerable, then."

Motoko nods.  "She is very skilled.  I have been learning a
little myself, from Davros, but I am nowhere near the level of
either of them."

He says, "How good is he?"

Motoko says, "Not quite so skilled as Mitsune, though I believe
he knows a trick or two that she doesn't."

Motoko asks, "Why do you ask?"

Mikage says, "I know little of him, though from what I have heard
of you two, I expect we'll be seeing more of him than in times
past.  And anyone worthy of prophesies is worth knowing more of."

Motoko coughs and looks both embarassed and happy.  "Yes.  You
shall be seeing much more of him in the past."

Mikage smiles slightly.

Nausicaa says, "Love certainly seems to be in the air for a lot
of people."

She smiles broadly.  "I'm glad you finally found someone special,
Motoko."

Motoko coughs and turns red and mumbles.  "Yes, well, yes, good
things come to those who wait, so they say."

Mikage laughs gently.   "It is always strange, after so long
alone, to find the person who makes you complete.  To realize
there were holes which they fill that you didn't even know
existed.  May you long be happy together, niece."

Nausicaa gives her father a bit of an odd look.

Motoko says, softly, "I'll have time for happiness once this is
all over.  Until then, I'm trying to keep it in check."  Her
mouth twitches.  "Admittedly, not always with success, but you
know what I mean."

Mikage nods.  "Voluntary celibacy is always harder than
involuntary."

Motoko coughs and blushes furiously.  "You have obviously done
much reading," she mumbles.

Mikage says, "To the seeing eye, the smallest turn of phrase has
meaning."  He pauses.   "Also, you're doing the hand thing."

Motoko hurriedly folds her hands in her lap.  "What hand thing?"

Mikage says, "You can tell when someone has been fasting sexually
by certain hand gestures they make."

Nausicaa rolls her eyes, "Father, we all know better than to
listen to you when you get like this."

Motoko mutters something in Lipunese about having a hand gesture
for him.

Mikage says, "The hands are far more a mirror of the soul than
most people realize."

Motoko mutters, "Times like this, I wish I wore pants with
pockets."

He continues, "But you have always been very self-disciplined,
Motoko, so I expect you will hold out.  But enough of that, as
I'm sure you have no desire to discuss your sexual desires with
me.  So, you have chosen Moonshade as your new Sword?"

Motoko says, "My desire to discuss my sex life with you, Uncle,
though slightly higher than my desire to discuss it with Uncle
Saionji, is nevertheless, indeed, not very high."  She nods.
"The Serpent chose her.  I asked her.  She accepted."

Mikage says, "I see much of her father in her, for good and ill.
But I believe she will serve you well.

Motoko nods.  "I trust Isillome with my life."  She sighs.  "I
shall try to do better by her this time than I did by Moriya."

Nausicaa says, "I'm sure you'll do your best, Motoko."

Motoko asks, "I hope so."  She gets up.  "How do you feel now,
Nausicaa?"

Mikage says, "Learning from our mistakes is what makes us more
than blind beasts."

Nausicaa says, "I feel a lot better."  She smiles and flexes her
arm.  "Like new, though a little sore."

Mikage says, "Thank you for helping my daughter, Motoko.  Her
injuries were quite grave."

Motoko smiles.  "My pleasure, Uncle.  I am very glad of your
success and safety.  And, of course, I was very curious what you
both had been up to all this time."

Mikage nods.  "Well, now we no longer need hide since it is over.
Congratulations on your recent venture against the Kanawa
Construct."

Motoko asks, "I shall see you both back in Amber, then."  She
bows.  "Will you be remaining guests at House Daanani long, or
returning soon?"

Mikage says, "Well, since Nausicaa has recovered, we will mostly
likely return within a day or two."

Motoko nods.  "Till then, then."

Motoko trumps back to the Keep.  And cut here, as Alan must
sleeeeeeeeep.