Cyan glances off the palanquet with some concern as Aaron bespeaks Chance.  Seeing everyone slowly coming back to themselves, she returns her gaze to their sometime leader.

He has much to tell her.  A cube, the bargains, the cube's destruction by Luke...though that part is no mystery to them, as Berd has informed them.  But the rest?

Then comes his request, thrumming with alarm.  "Time is of short supply, Aaron," she replies, aloud as always.  Made nervous by his words, she bites a lip, a flush touching her cheeks for a moment.  "It will take me possibly 24 hours to properly forge a palanquet of the fortress - it will need to be a full one, not merely a sketch.  If you can do your work in Amber by then...please hurry, Aaron.  I would have you with us."  whatever their arguments in the past, whatever the current tension, Cyan knows that she fits well with Aaron when things 'go South'...they have had a great deal of practice.

"But I cannot wait for long.  And I cannot have all of the group with us.  This is a small operation, and we should divide our forces to better deal with our various problems.  And some are simply not suited to this task."

WILL Trista be leaving them?  If so, now would be a good time for her to step away.  She glances at the woman, studying her, then calling out.  "Trista - there is no rush, but if you wish, I can send you now."  Topaz eyes shine for an instant.  "Or you may prepare a touch longer."

Berd, for his matter, hovers around Trista.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

The smell of which Beldrin complains had gone unnoticed in the midst of her own odd dilemna, but now she catches the rotting meat scent. With a grimace, she closes down her nose, barely breathing through her mouth. Still disgusting, but not so powerful. Her eyes spy the jerky Berd had discarded. “I hope the whole jar isn't tainted.”

She rises to her feet and picks up the jar from her pack, carefully examining it and every so slightly unscrewing the lid to smell its contents. Then Cyan's question comes and Trista looks up at the woman. “Has Chance accepted? Then I will go if this is the best time though I would like to know what just happened to us.”

Her eyes turn to find Devlin.

Dorian's eyes narrow as the jerky decomposes before them. Not an attack? If dead meat can be decomposed, then why not living meat and flesh? He wanted to trust the others, but he wasn't so sure himself. (Though he believed they were perfectly sincere and honest in their claims.)

The meat had nearly finished its accelerated decomposition, now. He began to break the problem down. No one would target the meat specifically, so it must be an area-wide attack. the whole hut? A bigger area?

Of course, he could cause meat to decompose like that, couldn't he? Acid was one method, but the meat had no acid. Microbes, perhaps, to decompose the meat, was another, perhaps. That might explain the sickness, too.

If that was it, it provided an interesting problem, but not a unique one.

Cyan pauses as a rapid burst of information passes through her, to Berd, to Chance, and back again.  Then she nods, speaking aloud and through the card, simultaneously.  "Yes.  Chance accepts, should you desire.  Devlin as well, if he chooses to go.  I stand ready to send you through to Aaron."

She glances up.  "Berd feels the sickness could have come from Devlin's curing of Beldrin - in expelling it from his body, he pushed it into the room.  Altered."

Perhaps she was not affected because, like Dorian, she is not sufficiently close in nature to the others.

Once again, Dorian and Berd were thinking along similar lines. Sometimes, they could be brothers, except for the obvious differences. He nods and lowers his head and waits.

Devlin follows Beldrin back into the hut.

"I apologize, I'd thought when I said it was not an attack that everyone would assume it was I that caused the... the... I'm not even sure what to call it. But it seems there was no permanent damage to the living.

"Sorry about the meet, I doubt anything organic that was not still living may be entirely bad, at least in the immediate area."

Devlin looks around the room at his companions and continues to explain, "I almost had the... with a little more practice I will should be able to change my mass. I had it right on the tips of my fingers but it seems a slippery trick. My exertions seemed to have cause some minor distortions in this world in my immediate vicinity. Trista and Berd were closer to me, that might explain why she and the meat where effected the most. Beldrin, he's already not up to par and may be why he was effected worst of all."

The man does not make any excuses for his actions. He would not change them. The fact of the matter is that if he could master the ability to increase and decrease his mass that it would be a significant benefit to the entire group. If he could do so to himself it would not take him much longer to be able to effect others in the same way. What would the Archons do if they had an enemy that could match or better them with their own abilities. Devlin wants to go to this Harbonah's stronghold, not only to find out what he was doing, but to study these Archon's more closely... If he could.

"I will ensure that no one is in range the next time I attempt it." He finishes aloud.


After a moment Devlin turns to Beldrin, "I do apologize to you. If I had any idea that my experimentations would have effected you in such a manner, I would not have attempted it so close to others."

He hopes that everyone understands.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Sat 01 Sept 2007.

"Experimenting," Dorian notes. How many times had he done such things in their midst, though his experiments were usually less physical. "Sometimes they go wrong. No matter, no one was injured ... permanently, I mean."

A few moments pass and Cyan relays information concerning Trista's chosen path. The woman nods her head, tosses the jar back in her pack – she'll have to find a place to dispose of it along the way – and begins to cross the room before halting at Devlin's words.

Dorian brushes away concern, as does Trista, “We lived and Berd had to deal with a bit of bad taste in his mouth. Nothing tragic. It sounds like you're on the brink of something very useful.” She remains focused on the man a moment longer.


She gives the man a last smile and turns back to Cyan. The penciled drawing of herself catches her eye and Trista studies it a moment. Looking at Cyan, though not expecting to make eye contact, she says, “That's beautiful, the drawing. As was the card of James. I look forward to hearing you play in your role of Bard, Cyan. It seems you are a true Renaissance woman. Now, I am unsure what to do here, how to go through.”

Her eyes glance to Berd.


She's ready for whatever she needs to do to go through the portal, though a touch of worry still lingers over appearing in the city when some of the guard knows her face as possibly one who freed Beldrin.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Sat 01 Sept 2007.

Cyan nods, slowly, replying aloud, as is her wont.  "It will take me at least a day, Aaron, to forge the palanquet.  After that, I am willing to wait another day more, but we cannot spend a week.  I hope your trip to Amber will be quick - and I hope that you commence it soon, without our usual dither and dally."  That last said with an ironic smile - Cyan knows she is as guilty as the next at procrastination.

"I will send Trista through to you immediately.  And Devlin, should he so desire."

She glances up at Devlin's explanation - some of it goes over her head, but she follows the general gist.  "Agreed - Dorian and Trista are correct.  Experimentation is necessary, nobody was harmed-"  unlike Jack's efforts, which almost sank a ship "-and in the future, you will be more cautious.  I do not envy those with greater powers the care with which they must step...at least with a palanquet I can survey my destination first."  Her smile grows ironic, then fades as she considers the last gate, non-palanquet, that she stepped through with this group.

Cyan chuckles quietly at Trista's compliment, though she reddens as well, and does glance away from the card for a look at the other woman.  "Rennaissance woman...hardly.  I know some art.  But mathematics eludes me, beyond the bases, and machinery?  Ah, that is a mystery to me, as are electronics."  Her hand touches the small MP3 player at her waist, one of a few legacies she has maintained from her time as the Warrior in Jet and Gold.  "This?"  Her voice drops.  "Magic, I confess."

Then she clears her throat, and her amber eyes sharpen.  "Devlin, Trista, if you wish to move to accompany Chance, Aaron stands ready to receive you.  When you are prepared, please come over here."

Berd waddles over to stand beside Trista and looks up at her with his odd, dancing eyes.

"I will be staying here. I wish to see this fortress." Devlin looks quickly at Berd. "It seems to be where I can be of most use at the moment. I will send a friend to accompany Trista.

Evidently Cyan took the term 'Rennaissance woman' more literally than Trista had meant, though certainly she could have been gifted in the other areas, too. The darker woman's eyes drop to the player at Cyan's belt. A smile lifted to meet the woman's eyes, “That sort of electronics was beyond my own world, but I have spent a great deal of time in places with such gadgets. Very convenient. I never cared for utilizing batteries since they seem a hassle, so I didn't pick one up. But certainly a great invention.”

She nods to Devlin with warmth in her eyes and looks down into the faceted eyes of the little dragon. Trista reaches down to stroke the velvety scales of his neck before quietly turning back to Cyan for instructions.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:10, Tue 04 Sept 2007.

Watching Cyan's side of the conversation, Dorian adds, "Some added time is suitable with me, as well. I have certain preparations I should attend: new discoveries. It seems a convenient moment, since Cyan needs to prepare her palanquet."

"Batter...?"  Cyan glances down at the 'MP3' player.  "The accursed thing is supposed to be powered by the sun's energies."  She pops it up, examining it.  Written on the side in odd script is 'MPA7'.  Finally the bard shrugs.  "Berd will find a way," she concludes - as always.  And no doubt he will.  "I enjoy it immensely," she confides to the other woman, her amythest eyes sparkling with amusement.

Conversation swirls around her - from Dorian, from Devlin, and (on the other side), from Aaron.  It is Aaron who addresses her directly, though, and she returns her attention to him.  "I have seen that before...I trust that a few hours for myself will not again translate to a hundred years of suffering for you?"  Concern underlays the arch tone.

Berd stares up at Trista with glittering eyes for a long moment before the woman turns away.  He crawls up Cyan's free arm to rest upon her shoulder, attending the travelling of this woman.



"Touch my shoulder, Trista," Cyan instructs quietly.  "When you see Aaron, truly see him, reach out your hand for him.  Take his, when it is offered.  That is all - you will go to him, instantly."

Concerned she's given misinformation, Trista quickly corrects herself, “Oh, I do not know. The ones I saw were not solar powered, but perhaps yours is. I spoke without knowing the facts; I apologize.”

She nods her understanding and lays a gentle hand on Cyan's shoulder. The portal comes into view, and along with it, the face which James had named 'Aaron,' with a hard life well documented in the scars about his face. Trista's gaze turns to Berd on Cyan's shoulder.


Trista's eyes glance about the room at Cyan, Dorian, Beldrin, and lastly lingering a moment on Devlin before turning back to Aaron. Though her body remains utterly calm, a nervous energy flows down her spine as she stretches her hand forward toward the man, unsure what to expect when he 'pulls her through.'

As Trista prepared to move to the inn through Cyan’s connection Devlin remembers something. "Serena said something about wanting to join us. If everyone thinks she would be of assistance here and it’s not too much trouble?" He says and leaves it hanging there.

The man looks at Trista one more time and then steps out the door of the hut. No need standing around and he has things to do. It seemed they’d wait at least a day for Aaron, plenty of time.

Soon he's back outside, the sun trying to shine through the clouds in places, but he doesn't pay it much attention. Instead he turns his attention to Nightbrand and the immediate task he's set for himself. The gauntlet extends itself in that familiar way to form a short blade which Devlin uses to slice across the palm of his hand. Blood starts to flow and pool in his cupped hand and then he holds his other hand to the first to make a larger area for the blood to pool. He lets the blood flow freely. He even alters himself to keep the blood from clotting or his wound from healing too quickly.

When enough blood has gathered the man begins to concentrate on it...

...


...

... Devlin looks down at his creation, a blackbird very similar to those he's created in the past, and in some ways not the same. "One day I will set you free." He says to the bird. "But for now I need your assistance."

The man holds his hand up, the bird perched on his finger, "Go to her, she's expecting you." Devlin isn't even sure if she's still inside or if she's already at the inn. Hopefully the bird arrives before she leaves the inn. If not she would not go far and these creatures always found a way to locate what he truly wanted...

As the blackbird takes flight and heads toward the city Devlin realizes something. Those creatures he'd sent out to find another had not been able to locate her and yet they always found what he truly wanted. They'd found the copy, not the original. Only now did he realize the truth of it...

But now he needed to eat and replenish the strength drained by his shifting during the night and the stress of creating the creature he'd just sent off. This time it would be fresh meat; fresh, blood filled meat always replenished his strength better than the way most people preferred it.

Shifting once again to his wolven form he slipped into the shadows and was gone.

...

The blackbird flew through what was left of the storm toward its destination. As it did so it thought, not like most birds think, and somehow it knew so. The man had accomplished what he'd set out to do better than he believed he would, and the bird knew that too.

The bird also knew that it had not existed a short time before and yet there were these strange memories of some previous existence. The memories of the man, it somehow knew. It also knew there was some link between them; even now it could sense that link.

The bird did not know what it was, but it knew it was more than a bird.

It was a long flight, but it did not matter as the bird was stronger than any bird it might look similar to and it knew that it'd make it to its destination.

The man had bid him go to the girl and he did so. Even though she was behind the bird now she would soon be where it was headed. The bird did the man's bidding but it knew it needn't be so. If it chose it could do as it wished; the bird was freer than the man thought it was. The man never meant to keep the bird a slave, could never keep another creature that way and the bird knew that. The bird did the man's bidding because there was a bond between them and because the bird needed the man; there was much it had to learn...


This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Sat 08 Sept 2007.

Beldrin sits and waits, patiently, for somebody to let him know what's happening.  There seems to be something going on, though he is unsure exactly what.

Serena found herself in front of a shelter where according to Aaron Devlin was there with Cyan and some others. Suddenly Serena was struck with an atttack of nerves what if Devlin did not feel the same way as when they parted. What if the others in the group did not like her...

Gathering herself Serena opened the shelter door and walked in she was wearing a hunter green riding dress, carrying what appeared to be a large bag and her long auburn hair hung free. "Hello to you all. I am Serena some of you I know." and with that she smiled brightly at Cyanwho she had become to truly like before leaving the group to follow Devlin."I am sure it will be  a pleasure to get to know the rest of yu as well."

Serena wanted to ask where Devlin was but did not want to seem like some girl with a girlhood crush who could not manage without his presence. Hopefully someone would tell her where he was at some point in the conversation.

Cyan brings Serena through and clasps the other woman by the shoulder - the woman had been of great assistance to her in the past, and helped her through what had proven to be one of her worst times.  "Serena."  She gives a little bow, her topaz eyes sparkling.  "It is a fine thing to have you return to us."  She gestures at her book and pens, a wan smile on her face.  "I fear any explanation must wait - I am about to begin the creation of a palanquet which will hopefully take us into the belly of the beast - Harbonah's citadel."  She restrains a shudder, and her smile fades.

Berd, for his part, studies Serena for a long moment, then lets out a cautious chirrup of greeting.

"Devlin is out...I fear I know not where.  He will be joining us anon, though.  Beldrin - should you wish to travel to Amber with the others, now is the time for you to step through to them - I still hold contact with Aaron."

D'Ombra hunted and filled himself as the man inside thought.

Devlin, in some ways, hated what he was doing. He'd wanted Trista to go with Chance, but not to locate this Sephiroth, indeed he thought that would be a dead end, as he thought going to Harbonoh's fortress would be. As was discovered at Charyk, they did not stand a change of combating the Archon, they needed something that could control them. He felt little could be gained by engaging those they sought to defeat.

...But one never knew, he reminded himself. There was a chance they could discover something of use....

He wanted Trista to take that route so that after they were gone he could suggest a path or two that the others had not discussed. Just as he thought it wise to keep secrets from Amber, there were reasons to keep things secret even from each other. It was not, as he'd recently explained to Serena, that he did not trust members of the group, but outside the group they had no idea who could be trusted. There was no way of knowing if something said would end up being discovered by the enemy, better not to have the knowledge in the first place, better there was little chance of the wrong people overhearing.

He was being secretive, and misleading, and plotting to keep the actions of some secret form the rest. He hated himself for what he was doing, even if understood why he was doing it. He was hoping to be a distraction while someone else did something that might truly make a difference. If he could he would go to this fortress himself, send the others elsewhere. He felt that their chance of returning was not good.

And in the end Trista and those that traveled with her might simply reject his idea outright, but he had to try nevertheless.

He waited until he was sure Trista would be gone and then he sent his message to the messenger.

Full, D'Ombra started back toward the hut and tried to think of a way to keep the others out of the danger he was throwing himself into.

He also worked on increasing his mass once again while he was well away from anyone he could injure. Carefully he reached out, avoided touching anything living, and tried to draw the stuff of shadow into himself. He thought for a moment about that, he called it shadow, but it was no less real than anything else, so he was trying to draw the stuff of this reality, this world, into himself. It would cease to be whatever it was. When he succeeded he wondered what would become of that matter when he expelled it again in order to return to his true mass.

He got closer this time, he could feel the material around him begin to dissolve, as the meat had done in the hut. Soon, very soon, he would master it. ...This information too, he sent to the messenger.

Serena grasps Cyan's shoulder giving it a tight squeeze she had missed Cyan and was glad to see her with a wide smile serena replied."I too am greatly pleased to be reunited with you Cyan. I understand that you have work to do and I will wait for the explanations that I am sure will come eventually."

Serena simply nodded when Cyan brought up Devlin and stated "It is good to know he is well now you go do what you do best Cyan." and as she turned she acknowledged Berd with a wide smile and a wink as she found a place to sit and wait patiently.

Devlin stood just outside the hut, his feeble plan in the works. He'd no idea if this would be a dead end like most of the roads they'd followed, or like his plan to waken the Vhuulad, but it was worth a try. Honestly he didn't know if they would follow, he waited for a report from his messenger.

Devlin had put it off long enough, he was sure she was inside now, waiting for him. Not just sure, absolutely sure. D'Ombra had taken a look inside, she was there; he would have appeared there but didn't want to startle Beldrin with the sudden appearance of a wolf inside the hut. Devlin had much to thank Trista for; it was amazing at the revelations one had when talking to a practical stranger in the rain. He wasn't certain of his feelings, but they no longer haunted him as they did not long ago.

But there were other plans now as well, and Devlin kept his own council in those plans. He told himself that the ends justified the means, that the universe was more important than the feelings of a few.

The man opened the door of the hut and stepped inside. He looked around at those present spotting Serena sitting against one wall and smiled at her; he was genuinely glad to see her.

Serena rose as Devlin entered the room and with a smile matching his she walked slowly over until she stood directly in front of him and looked directly into his eyes. Serena knew much had happened to Devlin in their time apart and was unsure if his feelings for her had changed. In addition, having their reunion in front of a group of people was not what Serena felt as ideal, but then not much had been ideal since they had met.

"Devlin, it is good to see you again. It has been to long. Much longer for you than for me of course. I am glad to see you are looking so well. Cyan has been too busy to catch me up on events here perhaps you would be kind enough to do so." Serena was conflicted, although she wanted to hug him, she was unsure of the reception and the watching eyes. She wished she had suggested they take a walk while he appraised her of events. It would be easier that way to find out the truth.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Tue 11 Sept 2007.

Devlin's feelings had changed about many things in many ways, but right now none of it mattered. The darkness of his past was mostly gone, thanks in part to a conversation in the rain, in in part from his own recent revelations.

The man stepped close to Serena and hugged her. He was glad to see her, and he was glad she had returned. There were things to do and Serena would be important to getting them done. "It is truly good to see you again." Devlin says as he holds her.

Cyan had only begun her work, there was still time to kill, time enough to start other things in motion while he waited.

"Perhaps we can go for a walk. The storm has passed and the sun is coming out. We can catch up and discuss what we will do next.

"Cyan and Dorian both have tasks they must complete before we can move on."

He turns to those he just mentioned and says, "We will return in plenty of time."

Without waiting for a response from anyone he takes Serena's hand and begins leading her outside.

Serena embraced Devlin as he hugged her and responded simply,"Then I am pleased for it is mutual." and in the next instant she was only mildly surprised when he suggested the walk. They apparently still thought a bit alike.

There was a niggle of doubt as to whether Devlin was glad to see her on a more personal basis or because of her capabilities. Or perhaps both. Either way she had signed on forwhatever was going on by being transported in so the walk would reveal what was meant to be revealed. Taking Devlin's hand she too did not turn to explain anything to anyone and replied "Then let us walk and talk" and allowed herself to be led outside.

Devlin walks, and continues to hold Serena's hand as they do.

There seems to be no outward sign to tell what the man is really feeling. He needs to start sociably, there was time to discuss what to do about what needed to be done later.

"Can you tell me more about what happened after you left the river people? where did you go? What did you do?"