There appears to be a window in the wall of the cavern, and beyond it patterns of stars move and shift as constellations form and reform.  An entity stands among the stars and watches Luke.

And there is a small version of Banglen-Yp.

There comes a long moment of silence.  Information passes with stunning rapidity between Luke and Berd, and from Berd to Cyan along their particularly 'private' channel.  It is, after all, almost as if Cyan and Berd are the same being in a way.  The private channel, unbeknownst to Cyan for the longest time, is nothing but Berd's 'command level protocols', as he once described them.  Information is transmitted in a way that cannot be blocked, for it is as if the information spontaneously arrives in her mind, fully formed.

Their conversations have always transpired at dizzying speeds, and this is the one function of the 'strings' Berd continues to use...with Cyan's agreement.

She bows.  Low.  "DeMontford," Cyan quietly states.  "Keep your men back.  And watch.  There should be witnesses."  And then straightens.

"I am Cyan, of No Place in Particular.  And I greet you."  Her hand rises to indicate.  "With me are James of Amber.  Lord Harbonah of the Seraphim.  Left and Staosha of the danioti.  Barkiel of the herenethi.  Shalgiel of the sencathi.  Simon DeMontford of King Random's Highway, and his men."  Berd opens his eyes.  "And this is Berd."

"We come to speak in hope of peace."

Banglen-Yp turns around and waves, then says, •• He is here too •• and she gestures towards a figure lurking in the shadows to one side of the cavern.  Dworkin!

•• We don't like him •• We have heard bad things about him ••

The stained-glass Archon shifts, becoming a stained-glass unicorn, which stands in front of Dworkin and laughs at him.

•• This represents all of us in this other space • which is our home •• and a brilliant smile.  •• Luke has already spoken to them • and they are prepared to listen •• If you speak to them • then we will try to clear up any misunderstandings and confusion between the two parties ••
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 19:14, Fri 18 Mar 2016.

Cyan nods to the ancient Dworkin, cautioned by Berd.  "Elder," she quietly greets him before turning toward the two parts of the same vast being.  With fascination she observes the alterations in Banglen-Yp, shaking her head to clear it of the unearthly sight.

"I would welcome discussion," she continues.  "We have come because we understand you might have a solution to our issue, a solution that might benefit you as well.  If Luke has given you the details, I shall merely sum up.  This may be a touch simplistic, but I am certain my associates can correct me on the particulars."

With a wave of her hand, she indicates the tiny, orbiting rings of the Archons.  "The Archons are a race of immense power and longevity.  They continue to spawn through the ages, and look toward a time where there will be no place left for them in the Myriad Worlds.  Therefore, to avoid strife within their race they have set forth to conquer the Myriad Worlds of this place so that they will have all of the space necessary."

The bard's lips thin.  "Without that space, they will fall upon one another and war for territory.  A war stretching into eternity."

Another gesture to indicate the terrible, shining unicorn.  "Banglen-Yp has offered a solution: that they join you in your own existence.  That they become something new, something not-you inhabiting that space.  With this, they will have the freedom to grow, to find their own path to peace without requiring the war against other inhabitants."

A bow to both parties follow, and Cyan straightens.  "Have I touched upon the particulars, Lord Harbonah?  Left?  Others?"

Berd shifts uneasily, and keeps his burning eyes upon Dworkin.  His head bobs once, as if in greeting.

There is a general roar of agreement from the Archons, their voices sounding like the clash of swords on some battlefield.  Harbonah grows in size and brightness, until he is the size of a wagon wheel and burns like a sun.

+ WE REQUIRE SPACE TO LIVE.  WE HAVE NO MEANS, OTHER THAN WAR, TO CONTROL OUR POPULATION.  WE CAME TO THIS REALM FROM ANOTHER, WHERE WE WERE IMPRISONED.  WHEN WE ESCAPED WE SOUGHT TO CONQUER... TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD NEVER AGAIN BE CONFINED.  BUT THIS REALM IS NOT ALTOGETHER SUITABLE FOR US.  IT IS OCCUPIED BY CREATURES WHO ARE LEARNING TO DESTROY US, AND THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WE DARE NOT GO, BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF WILL KILL US. +

And all through the Archon's speech, Banglen-Yp speaks rapidly, in what sounds like a chorus of a hundred voices, each of them speaking independently.

+ WE HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST, AND ALONGSIDE ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE, AND WE DO NOT WISH A WAR AGAINST YOUR KIND, FOR WE HAVE SEEN THAT YOU ARE STRONG.  WE WISH ONLY A PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE.  IF YOU WILL GRANT US PERMISSION TO ENTER YOUR REALM, WE WILL LIVE AS NEIGHBOURS AND ALLIES. +

The stars beyond the portal start to move, flickering and pulsing as the entity who stands before them absorbs the information and sends it out to them.  New constellations dance, fleetingly, across the sky.

And through it all, Dworkin is silent, though he turns away from the glass unicorn, which prances before him and mocks him quietly.

Banglen-Yp. the humanoid one, turns to Cyan and smiles, •• I think it is going well • so far •• We have not yet stepped through the portal to eat this world • which means that the majority of our conciousness finds the proposition interesting ••

Elated by how well things appear to be proceeding, Cyan nonetheless pauses at Banglen-yp's approbation.  'Eat' this world?  It would be a commonplace thing for this being?

Has it opened portals to other worlds before?  Other universes?  Made them part of its 'one'?

However, Harbonah makes a fine case, and his sincerity seems to be without reproach.  He makes no attempt to speak to altruism or changes of heart; no, instead he speaks of their difficulties with continuing their work, difficulties in no small part linked to the group of which Cyan has been a part.  This is, at the end, a matter of pride for her.

"With your help," Cyan replies, "we have a chance to end this.  To make of this something better - a better end not simply for one side of the war, but for both."  Her smile is tremulous - this is not over yet, and there are questions about the entity that now rise within her - but nonetheless, hope continues to grow.  "A war of survival that has the potential to leave both sides alive, with the hope of a better tomorrow."

She heaves out a heavy breath.  "This...this is a rare thing," Cyan admits, her eyes ruby-dark.  Turning, the bard faces the portal.  "Do you have thoughts regarding what you have heard?" she queries the entity.

The entity transforms... one moment it is a more or less humanoid shape, though the details and the size of it are unusual.  The next, it is a whirling ring of dust, rocks and flame.

•• Yes • this is all interesting •• The prospect of other beings • beings that exist separate from ourselves • but in the same realm •• This is something we find intriguing •• To speak to another without knowing automatically how it will respond •• We would welcome this ••

The Archon-like shape laughs, and the dust transforms into a circular stream of water.  Then, in the blink of an eye, the rock, flame and water are each rotating about a separate axis.

•• This is enjoyable ••

It's fascinating and terrifying simultaneously observing the entity, and its thousand changing forms.  Cyan finds herself half-hypnotized by the constant shifts.  Even at his greatest, Devlin could not have reproduced this constant metamorphosis.

It is everything, in that place.

"It..."  She falters, then recovers.  "It might be difficult from time to time.  Things will not always proceed as planned.  That could be frustrating.  But that is a factor of dealing with beings who are not part of oneself.  It creates random elements, and one does not always achieve the desired result."

Her palms rise in a helpless shrug, Berd caroling irritably on her shoulder.  "It is a factor of growth."

Her topaz eyes study the doorway for a long moment.  "How...will it be possible to maintain some kind of bridge between our two...our two...realities?  If so, will there be a danger in that?"

Banglen-Yp, the first one, acting as an interpreter, raises a hand and smiles at Cyan.  •• We will be the bridge •• If we are near to the portal then we can talk with the others • and they with us •• With some of our people on both sides we can hold it open • or open it again after it has closed ••

She crouches to pick up a fist-sized stone, and shows it to Cyan.  •• Watch ••

And then she stretches out her arm... extending it through the portal and into the realm beyond, where she drops it on the ground,  There is a flurry of activity in the other space, and there are suddenly several creatures clustered around the stone, no two of them alike.

•• Luke could not have done that •• The barrier has been changed since Dworkin's visit • to block uninvited visitors ••

•• That stone is the first new matter to enter our world in living memory • which is a very long time for us ••

Interesting.  Cyan notes the change in Banglen-Yp's speech almost immediately - it's part and parcel of her training, after all.  Now, the 'woman' speaks of 'our people'.  Separation creating a sense of independence and self, perhaps?  Meeting 'herself' again and seeing the differences between 'her' and 'them', now?

Whichever, it's a fascinating thing to observe.

"I see."  The various 'beings' clustered about the stone - all part of the overall universe, itself - must be fascinated by this piece of material that is not them.  "So the gate itself will be fully protected - only you and your people will be capable of letting things through?  And without you, nothing can pass?"

The bard chews on her lip for a moment before nodding, her sapphire eyes relieved.  "Good."  She's not foolish enough to believe that means it is impossible; but 'difficult' will do, most certainly.  "That holds a great deal of promise."

She waves to the Archons.  "Is there any danger to the Archons entering your universe?  To you or them?"

A pause, and Banglen-Yp smiles as the figures beyond the gate pass the stone from one to another.  Running their hands over the surface, feeling the weight of it, smelling and even licking it.  One of them glances in Cyan's direction, and becomes, in a moment, an exact duplicate of the bard.  Another becomes a copy of Berd, and perches on the shoulder of the first, eyes burning like revolving stars.

•• They like the two of you •• They say that you are like them • separate things that are the same thing •• Luke too • but he is not so tightly tied as you two ••

•• The Archons would be welcome here as new minds •• New experiences • just as the pebble is •• They would not be in danger from the gestalt • nor could they harm it in any way •• Even if they kill a part of it • the rest will retain its experiences • and its energy and matter will return to the gestalt •• While they could have destroyed this universe • in that place the universe is alive and aware of their actions •• It can act to protect itself • and the Archons • from the consequences of those actions ••

•• And no • nothing can pass without permission from one who is part of the gate •• My people • as what you might call the living soul of their universe • are naturally part of its gate ••

Berd sits up at Banglen-Yp's pronouncement, and peers at his duplicate with a jaundiced eye.  With a snort, he curls up again, but his eyes remain open and gleaming.  Cyan, for her part, twitches slightly at the comparison, but holds her irritation inside.  It's clear that the creatures do not fully understand herself or Berd, or that she misunderstands them: for all that the bard has sprung from Berd's power, she is her own being.  Even Berd's now-unused 'Command Level Protocols' are a method of control rather than a resumption of oneness.  It is possible the analogy was only meant in a shallow manner; either way, Cyan resolves not to take offense.

But...  The bard grimaces.  She appears so much older now.

Enough of that.  "It sounds as a perfect situation, then.  The Archons can flourish as they wish, and your gestalt receives something new, something random, something of interest to observe.  Observation will not bind them to your will, and allow them to continue to be random."  She rubs her hands together.  "And you have protected the portal.  You are, in essence, the portal."

Turning, she glances at James, and for an instant her amber eyes gleam with unshed tears.  "It seems...we have reached a turning point.  Is there aught I might have missed?"

•• Random • yes •• and Banglen-Yp laughs •• I had to explain that to them •• It is a new idea for them • this idea of a thing which is not fully controlled ••

James chuckles at Cyan's grimace, "You know what they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery."

"If anything has been missed, I think it might need to be left up to them to work it out now.  I expect that there'll be some rough spots - Harbonah doesn't speak for all of the Archons, for instance.  Or even a majority for that matter.  Both sides seem willing to try this, at least."

"Flattery?"  Cyan turns and studies herself again.  "Is that a perfect...I look like that?"  She had noticed the hair, but in a more impersonal way.  Now looking at 'herself' with a more critical eye, with James' words ringing in her ears, she blinks several times.

Another blink of emerald eyes, and she looks back to James.  "T-true.  True enough, James.  There are representatives of all Archon types here.  There are some affiliated with the nephillim, there is the lord of the Seraphim, there are the sencathi."  Staosha.  Barkiel.  Shalgiel.  Harbonah.  "I will leave them to it."  She casts a dubious glance toward Luke, figuring that one will continue to watch.

Stepping forward, Cyan addresses the Archons, Banglen-Yp, and the being from beyond.  "My lords, ladies, great beings - it seems you have begun proper discourse, and I shall leave you to it.  I require rest, sadly.  I am certain there are many ways you can contact me, not the least of which is..."  A small sigh, and she indicates Luke.  "Through him."  A bow to Harbonah follows.  "Lord Harbonah, I hope to speak with you again, anon."

Straightening, Cyan offers a small smile.  "Left...you are free to join them, of course.  Or, should you desire, you can join us in taking a small break from these delicate circumstances."  Blindly, she reaches out, takes James' arm.  "Away from here," she whispers.  "If none object."

None of those present object, and as James, Cyan and Berd leave the chamber, accompanied by Left and the stained glass Banglen-Yp, who has reverted to her Archon form, the discussion seems to be going well.  Even Dworkin seems to be interested, while not becoming involved, this latter possibly due to the presence of a number of Archons of different sorts, and the original Banglen-Yp.

As the group makes their way back up to the castle, guided by James, the glass Archon speaks to Cyan.  It's voice is a close approximation of the real Archons', but there are noticeable differences.

•• WE SAW THAT YOU SEEMED UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF THE ONE CALLED LUKE CONTACTING YOU •• WE ARE • OF COURSE LINKED TO THE REST OF OUR GESTALT • AND WILL KEEP YOU APPRISED OF THE SITUATION •• SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED • WE CAN CARRY YOU BACK DOWN THERE VERY QUICKLY INDEED ••

James seems to have a destination in mind as he moves up through the network of tunnels and caverns.

Finally released, Cyan moves from the chamber, pleased to see Left has chosen to follow.  "Thank you, Left.  Your company is much appreciated," she whispers once they have vacated.  She's more than happy to follow James, moving up beside him and hooking her arm through hers to lean slightly - a spiritual and emotional support more than physical.  "By heaven, James.  We may have actually succeeded!"  A wild laugh follows that incredulous statement, and Cyan fights against a sudden surge of emotion that brings tears to her amethyst eyes.

Banglen-Yp's artistic form provides distraction, and the bard cannot help but laugh.  "I would be grateful.  I know not why Luke plucks at my nerves -"

Unnoticed, Berd stirs on her shoulder.

"- but he does.  No fault of his own, I suspect.  I much appreciate the offer, Banglen-Yp, both of communication and transport."

Raising an eyebrow, she glances up to meet James' eyes.  "And where do we now walk, James of Amber?"