Handing the last cup to Gallus, Quintus fills it with wine. "You may find there are no masters nor slaves here. Fealty is a think of desire here, I offer you respect for living and allowing me to. That is the extent of things around here. As to where we are? Who knows. Only Jupiter knows."

"Jupiter?" He takes the cup and gives a nod of thanks. "Why would they know better than Terra, or even Mars? The Machine Cult keeps all of those things monitored." He seems to become more curious. "Where are you from friend?"

     With a confused look the Roman soldier offers this explanation, "I am Spanish by birth though my lands were lost during drought and we were sold into slavery. I have lived in Rome for  three years, as a gladiator, before being granted my freeman's status. I have served in Caesar's army for 3 years attaining captain's rank. What would Mars god of war know that the mighty Jupiter would not." With definite confusion the attention is finally drawn away from the powersuit.

Attempting to answer both questions Eric responds.

"First off, from what little I have been able to glean thus far this place appears to be a verge or nexus of somekind.  It appears be an intersection of temporal and spatial planes with cross section about the size of this Tavern beyond which the pathways start to fray."

He then pauses to take breath before continuing.

"As to who I am, I am Eric Swanson.  I was born in the early 21st century as we reckon time on my world.  I am what was called a nova, mutant, exomorph, or an aberrant depending on whom you choose to listen to, I am a human capable of channeling the fundamental forces of the universe through thought and will alone, and I am one of many.  Pleasantly enough none of that seems to work here, which is really quite a nice change.  I do not believe there was any technology or technique as of yet discovered upon Earth which was capable of dampening my abilities, which of course was part of the problem."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:13, Sun 01 Feb 2009.

As soon as Eric gave is explanation Gallus's head turned quickly and the big man stared down the smaller. "You are a Witch! Psykers are the bane of my Chapter! But if you say this is neutral ground I will respect it. I am Brother-Sereant Gallus, of Novus Squad, 5th Company, Crimson Guard Chapter. I am a Space Marine for the Holy Emperor of Man!" With that he made the sign of the Aquila with his hands before continuing. "I became separated from my squad when we were scouting head for the Thunderhawks to land. I have served four hundred glorious years in the service to the Emperor, but never have I ever seen a place such as this." He takes a slug of wine and sets down the glass on a nearby table. "As for Jupiter, it is all but mined for gasses, so I have heard. I personally have never been anywhere near Sol or Terra, but I assure you that Jupiter is no more."

     Abashed at the vehemence in the Sergeant's voice and demeanor, Quintus stepped between the unarmored man and the soldier. "I am glad to hear you accept the neutral ground. Now, please, help me understand how you "mined" a god?"

Upon Brother-Sergeant Gallus's vituperative outburst, Swanson simply sighs appearently disappointed.  "I am pleased that you are at least willing to respect neutral ground, though I must say I hope you represent something beyond the future for which my continuum is destined.  Though it is enough to give one some perspective, I suppose this is the first time I have ever been comforted to think about the fact that Mal could torch a whole planet if he really wanted to.

As for Jupiter perhaps I can help translate.  The planet Jupiter was named an ancient God from early in Terra's history.  I believe Quintus here is from a different time well before mine just as you are after mine.  So to you Gallus I say he refers to an ancient god widely worshiped in his time if it does in fact resemble the historical records my people have of such a time.  And to you Quintus I say that in A future a distant location is named for Jupiter, and I suppose it could concievable be mined."

Her jacket was in her hand, and she slipped it over her shoulders once more as she stepped out onto the porch, looking across to where Quintus was talking to another man and a.. She had nothing.

"Okay, I've seen a lot of strange things in my time, but what the hell are you?" She asked, looking at Gallus.

Even as she asked she was reaching into a pocket on the inner lining of her jacket, out came a cigarette that she put to her mouth and lit.

     Hoping to disarm the current situation, Quintus greets Amanda. "Lady Raines, I hope you brought your cup, the wine is there on the table. Please help yourself. Gallus was it, perhaps i could top off your cup as well?"

"Gallus stepped back at the words of Eric. "Explain 'your time'? I too was alive in the 21st century, it was only two hundred years ago, yet I know know nothing of this man's people, nor of yours. You say you know of Terra's history, but that is impossible. Know man, save the Emperor, knows of a time before the Golden Age of Man. The Emperor has only been on the Golden Throne for over ten millennia now and even records only go back maybe five millennia before that." He looks at the woman with a relieved expression, more at her cigarette than anything else. "It is good to see something familiar. Would you happen to have an extra lho-stick? It has been a rough day. My name is Brother-Sergeant Gallus, a Crimson Guard Space Marine."

"Oh god it must be open day or something." She said, listening to what Gallus had to say.

She'd been here before, plenty of times, and had her share of explaining where, when and what this tavern was, but to find so many people coming across it on the same trip, well that was a new experience to her.

"Not for me thanks, Quintus." She replied to the Roman, "I'm a rum girl."

She turned her attention back to Gallus.

"One of these? Sure." She said, holding out the packet to Gallus.

     "Now I am confused, you speak of not knowing Jupiter, yet you worship he who sits on the Golden Throne, and name your places of abundance after him. This is very confusing. I need to rest for I fear a head quake. Can I have your word, that you both will ensure I can speak with you tomorrow? Jupiter willing? If I can I believe I will go to take my rest."

After taking a cigarette from the woman, he lights it and takes a long draw, killing it with one breath. Sitting with his back against the wall of the tavern, Gallus looks at the group and nods as the Roman leaves." I too must rest, so to speak. I will speak when my trance has ended."

Eric pauses for a time running through Gallus's words again and again.  Then speaks once hoping to catch Gallus before he enters his trance.

"Well I suspect it has to do with the nature of this place.  I suspect he is from something very much like the Roman Empire in my world’s history.  That does not mean that it is the same past which led to my world, it might have an entirely different future before it, just as my world may have a future that does not lead to an Empire of Mankind, and I may never existed in the past of your Universe.

Still there seem to be some similarities in history and geography between the different worlds.  Given the differences in time and location I am merely trying to act as a bridge so that you two soldiers can better understand one another.  As for my time, mankind has only just ventured to the moon within the last century and no human has yet set foot on mars, Terra is still composed of separate self governing nations.  The transition was recently made from the Internal Combustion engine to the Hyper Combustion Engine.  The emergence of what you would term Psykers has led to social upheaval and though many have tried to coexist, conflict seems inevitable.  If this is different from your 21st century then either dating conventions have changed (wouldn't be the first time such has happened) or our time lines are wildly divergent."

"You have my word Quintus."  He turns to face Gallus unsure of rather his mind is still active or not.  "I hope to speak with you further as well, it seem we all draw near a time when rest must come."

With that he spots a comfortable chair on the porch, takes a seat, leans back, and begins to doze himself.

     "It is good to see the peacebonds again,"  Quintus relaxes visibly, moving towards the door.
     "My apologies Lady Raines, it would appear as though I have tired myself beyond polite company. The years in the arena, and the military would likely offend after a time in any case. I do hope that you are still speaking Roman when I see you next." With that the Roman begins unbuckling his breastplate as he heads for the counter and to secure a room.

Gallus eyes the man. "I understand what you are trying to say, yet one question will make it apparent. What millennium are you from? Mine is the 41st. Let me tell you, if we share the same time space, know this. In the dark future, there is only war. Man spans the galaxy, yet not as much as he once did. He is assailed on all sides by enemies. The mutant, the alien, the heretic, all must perish if Man is to survive. I am the Emperor's will, his force to complete that task so that Man is once again the dominant force in the galaxy. Countless men on billions of planets swear fealty to the Corpse-God of Man, I among them. So hear me, and be warned." He keeps his eyes open just a moment longer to see if the man had anymore questions.

Amanda drew back on her cigarette again, taking a step down the porch to be a little closer to Gallus, a little further from Eric.

"I'll see you later, Quintus." She said, nodding to the soldier as he withdrew back into the tavern.

"As for you," She said, looking at Gallus. "Myself, and by the sounds of it, this gentleman here, we're from the second millenium. Well, the second millennium by the Gregorian calendar. It's complicated. Point is, we could be from anywhere."

With these two heading off to sleep for the evening, she shrugged, stamping out her cigarette and making her way back inside as well.

Gallus rose out of his healing trance with a smooth motion. He was dissapointed to see that his surroundings have not changed. Seeing that he was alone on the porch, he donned his armor once again and headed to the forest to see if there was a way back.


To---Forest

Once outside, Amanda lit herself up another cigarette, leaning against the wall of the tavern. With the bottle on the table, the glass next to it half full, she pulled one of the Colt revolvers from the holsters at her hip and began to give it a quick once-over. She knew well enough the dangers of having the guns not function properly, especially at critical moments.

One leg was bent, her boot resting flat against the wall behind her as she closed her eyes taking a deep drag of the cigarette, flicking the ash into an ashtray on the table and looking out over the clearing that surrounded the tavern, and then the depths of the forest behind.

She gave a nod of acknowledgement to those who were coming up, particularly to the dark haired man. She'd only met him once, and couldn't remember his name, but she did definitely remember his face. There were always people coming and going from this place, most of them only showed up once and then either avoided the way in again, or were unable to find it.

Standing there, though, she waited for anyone else to come and join her.

A few minutes later Peter joins Amanda on the porch, however he has changed into clothes more suitable for a battle zone.  He wears a thick leather jerkin, carries a small axe at his belt and bears a green shield with a white saltire.  A number of belt pouches complete his costume.

He seems surprised to only see Amanda on the porch.  "I would have thought the others would be here already"  however he shrugs that to one side and continues, "But tell me of these daemons."

Meriwether walked out & his eyes went wide in surprise as he looked upon Peter "I say sir! You look much different in that dress. I am glad though, that you chose to join us."

Then turning to Amanda "Yes Miss Raines, do explain what we all may expect. Joseph handles surprise with agitation you see."

He cocked an eyebrow at the ole cowpuncher "Just a jest ole chap but knowing you, I would think you would want to know & all what?"

Aalyssa stood next to the others as they waited for Amanda to answer.

Joe smirked at Meriwether. Just like the Englishman to use them fancy words. It didn't really bother him but he reacted to it just the same.

"I don't neither react to surprise with agi..agi...," he said. "... I handle surprise okay. Be nice to know numbers and strength is all, though. So as we can plan tactics and such."

"I learned along time ago that it is often best to dress for the occasion" Peter says with a slight twinkle in his eye, in response to Meriwether's statement, "Although I am still not sure whether I will be accompanying yet.  I was waiting for a fuller description from Amanda here, before I make a decision.".