When even the second attempt to use the Seein Stone failed, Sun fox removed her hand from it with a certain tiredness to herself; she cleaned her forehead from sewat, and then sat down on the rock, turning toward Sun Snake.

"So... what do we do now?"

It was clear that she had no idea on how to react to the discovery that the most powerful magic item currently in their possession had suddenly turned useless.

"We press on.  Not much more we can do at this point, anyways- we can't abandon the mission now just to run back home."

She pushed her Sixth Sense as far as it would go down the next passage and looked over at Sun Fox.

"I know you're worried... blazes, I'm worried too.  But we've got a mission to finish- and I would think that a monastery full of Kai can take care of itself until we all get back."

"Yea we need to keep going. We have to trust the others have it under control, like they trust us with this mission"

Sun Snake's expression did not change from his worried look, but he did gesture to the path that led onwards.

Sun Snake will take the Seeing Stone back unless anyone says anything.

Also, just a reminder Sun Snake will refuse the food earkier unless pushed.

So you Lose 3 END for lack of food, Sun Snake; make sure to note it.

Sun Fox nodded, and then the group moved forward in what turned out to be a very long, descending tunnel; silence weighted heavily over the five Kai, as they reflected on the implications of their failure to contact Blue Snake, and what it could mean for the Monastery.

Eventually, it was Alyne the first to break the silence, turning toward Sun Snake and asking, her tone thoughtful:

"Master, I know this will sound like a stupid question to you, but... why is it so bad that your Master didn't answered your call? I mean, couldn't he just be... occupied, or something?"

It was clear that her question was moved by something more than just curiosity.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:03, Sat 23 Mar 2013.

Sun Snake looked across from considering the path ahead. "I would hope that our reports so far have not been frivolous. We have discovered much that required checking and care to be taken. If this were the first time we had tried to make contact and failed, I would not be so worried. After all, there could be positive matters that take Master Blue Snake's attention." Sun Snake looked quickly to Rain Feather, as if recalling something she had said earlier.

He then looked back to Alyne. "However, I would hope that by a second communication, we might take priority." Sun Snake shrugged. "I cannot say how the stone truly works, but Master Blue Snake has come at the call of the stone before, even when he has seemed busy."

Sun Snake looked ahead. "Still, we have a mission to do and we will do it. Of this I am sure. We do not need the aid of the monastery, the five of us together are strong enough to do what needs to be done. I just fear the consequences of not relating what we know." Whether Sun Snake believed the words or whether they were simply to assure Alyne and himself, Sun Snake's demeanor did not change and he still seemed to have a sad worry.

"Perhaps when we emerge to the light," he said at length, looking to the others, "we can attempt to commune with a suitable messenger, if there are birds around this place that have any love and loyalty of the Sommlending still."

Sun Snake seemed to recall something, and looked to Alyne again. "Did you know that Animal Kinship was the first Kai Discipline I manifest? Well, of course you would not. And it was not the first one I ever mastered. I did not master it for a long while, in fact. And yet it was what made people suspicious that I may have the gift." Sun Snake gave a melancholy smile at the forgotten memory, and then shrugged and looked onwards again.

"...we have to put it out of our minds for now.  If we keep focusing on what may await us at home, we may not get home.  Let's just push on and finish our own mission... and we can worry about what awaits us at home on the way back."

She turned to the tunnel ahead, and stretched to loosen up.

"Let's get going.  It's better than standing around and worrying."

Alyne nodded, and then she too lapsed into silence.

The tunnel the group was into had a slowly, descending incline, and turned out to be the longest they'd had to walk through yet - they progressed through the monotony of it for what seemed like hours, until, eventually, they reached a natural stopping point.

A large, deep fissure opened in the earth in front of them; seeing the bottom was impossible, but they all could see that the tunnel started again on the other side; the only problem was that the fissure in between was over eight meters from side to side, making such a jump an incredibly hard thing to attempt.

However, if just one person could get through the fissure, it shouldn't be then too hard, with a rope at hand, to build some sort of makeshift bridge that would make the crossing easier... but, of course, that would require jumping through the fissure first.

That jump is a DC 12 Hunting roll. Also, if whomever makes the jump has a working bow to use once on the other side, that might make sending the rope back a lot easier... just a suggestion. ^_^

How high is the tunnel? Maybe we can swing and release someone across if DC12 is too risky for Sabre Fox's Huntmastery?

Or at the very least, can we use part of the climbing equipment to anchor a rope in the ground, so a miss will simply mean the jumper falls and is caught buy the rop, and the rope is automatically braced across the fissure on success.

We could maybe have two ropes - one on the side of the tunnel, one on the ground. So we can perhaps anchor those two and have a hand hold and foot hold to shimmy across. Maybe double or triple up the foot rope  for stability.

Those are interesting alternatives, yes; you can do anything you can think of, so long as you hve the means to... just suggest a way you're going to do that, and I will tell you the difficulty and whatnot.

In this instnance, if Sabre Fox were to tie himself to the rope, assuming you can fix it securely enough (which will require for you to tell me how you're fixing it, and perhaps some Hunting checks) then that would mean that he doesn't die on a failed roll, yes. For your other suggestion, you'll have to tell me how you're getting the rope across; throwing it by hand is a DC 22 Hunting check.

Feel free to discuss this; IC or OOC is the same in this instance, I think.

"I'll make this clear right now" Fox said suddenly. "I arent jumping over that!" he exclaimed

Sun Snake made a face at Sabre Fox, then made it again, but in the direction of Sabre Fox's pack. "You have the climbing equipment. We can secure two separate ropes to the side wall and to the floor with pitons. Sun Fox and yourself could even use Nexus to boost a jump across. If you fail, we'll be holding the rope and it will be anchored to the tunnel. And if you succeed, we'll have a dual rope line you can attach to the floor and wall on the other side. If you can hold at least one of the ropes across there, we can all inch our way across the fissure." Sun Snake gave a small smile. "I daresay a tale or heroism that might get some appreciative looks back at the order. But an endeavor that should be safe in execution."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox, then the rest, to see if his idea had merit.


Bah, where's our leading man and gosh darn bravery when we need it! Oh, and if Rain Feather has Brotherhood magic, then does levitate work on other people? Either way, that's an alternative too.

Sun Snake will man up and attempt the jump - with some Nexus assist x 2 and any magic that can be spared - otherwise, but I suspect I'd burn through WP and FPs and maybe still not have Sun Snake manage it.

"Oh well, when you put it that way then I'll have a go" Fox smirked

I'll wait for preparations before a roll

Now that's creative thinking! I approve. ^_^

You might remember Wol-Dumar casting a group Levitation back on Toran? Of course, none of you is as powerful as him, but as long as it's just taking a single person along, somebody with Levitation would be able to cross safely - although they would need to spend one use of the spell for each back-and-forth journey across the chasm.

As for Nexus and Mind over Matter, they can both, indeed, help; spending one Nexus push would add an extra +2 to the roll. As for using Mind over Matter to manipulate the rope across the chasm, that can be done easily, but it would not include securing it, so you'll still need somebody on each side to secure it.

Inching across a rope spread over the chasm would be a DC 8 Hunting check; securing the rope by tying it solidly to a rock is a DC 4 Hunting check.

Any other ideas you want to suggest?

Also, Sun Snake, you might roll for a jump made by somebody else if you want, as you can read here:

Sun Fox looked in disbelief at Sabre Fox's sudden show of hesitation, then laughed and said to Sun Snake, with a chuckle:

"Don't worry, Sun Snake, if Sabre Fox doesn't feel like doing it, I will; and using Nexuys to push somebody mid-jump is something both me and Sabre Fox can do... although the maximum strenght of the wind is indipendent by the number of people who're raising it, so just one between me and Sabre pushing would suffice."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

"No one gets my humour" Fox said sadly. "No, if its the best option I'll be the one to make the attempt"

Ive made a roll for the casm jump or whatever it will be, lol, but ill keep it secret until the prepartions are complete
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

Seems Sabre should also secure the two ropes first, if they are hunting rolls.

Sun Snake can make a Pathsmanship/Divination attempt to get a feel for the most secure and least dangerous spot to stake pitons. Let me know if you need a roll, and if it would cost anything.

Nah, that seems something you can gather without any excessive effort; if you're using Sabre Fox's climbing equipment, you can just describe yourself as doing it, and I'll accept the place you picked to fix the rope is solid. I still want somebody to make the DC 4 Hunting check for securing the rope, though.

Sun Snake looked around while awaiting Alyne and Rain's input, then crouched on the ground. His hands slid across the floor and then the wall, moving oddly with the contours liek the snake of his name. His eyes did not seem to focus on the rock too much, even though his hand seemed to understand the form of it well enough. His eyes seemed unfocused, as if he was as usual weighing choices and thinking things through.

This time, he was listenign to the land around him as it spoke to him, in its way, letting him know the weaknesses and strengths of itself. And meanwhile he allowed his mental senses to intuit a feel for danger. Methodically he tested the strongest seeming points, his two senses overlapping in his mind like seeing the vibrating sourse of a noise. The paths of probability stretch out before him, and he picked the two safest seeming places, ones his senses of danger seemed calmed by.

"Here and there," said Sun Snake to Sabre Fox, pointing to a spot on the wall and a spot on the floor. "I presume you will want to ensure the fixtures are secured yourself, like any climber. But I believe those two spots should be the best."

"I'll take a look then" Fox said. "But you know me and climbing. It's all about the instincts. And anyone got a bow and arrows to lend me? Will help returning the rope"

Rolled a 'refill' roll or reroll it should have said of 9 :)

Don't you have the best bow in the world in your backpack, Sabre Fox? ;P

I do, but I recall it being in pieces :( unless someone can fix it?

I don't think I've described the idea well enough. We're trying to create a rope bridge with you jumping with the rope, ends tied on this side. If you tie them off the other side, then we have a rope to stand on and a 'handrail' to hold. The fact the secured lines would also stop you falling to your death was purely a unintended byproduct :p

The bow idea would have been good to not encumber you with two strands of rope on your trip across, but with a 9 rolled I assume it's not an issue :)

Yeah, I too think there would be no problems - Sabre Fox's backpack isn't the kind that increases the difficulty of Hunting checks, and even for those who have it, it would only do so if it's full - so everything should proceed without troubles. I just wanted to point out to Sabre Fox that he do had a bow; it seemed a funny thing to do. :)

Well if anyone has the ability to fix the silver bow, then I need to borrow one as Alyne has Fox's

At the idea of a bow, Rain's ears perked up.

"You know... I might be able to fix that bow you have in your pack... or I can give it my best, I guess.  I picked up a little something back there, something that might be able to do something about it. WE may not have the Sommerswerd, but the Silver Oak Bow I may be able to get into working condition again. I was going to try and fix Snake's old dagger with it, but if I can get that back to its usual shape..."

She put one hand to her chest and looked over at Sabre.

"I could give it a try, if you really want me to- if we have the time."

"If it means we can snipe the enemy at 20 miles then I'm all for it" Fox said reaching into his backpack. "Give it a whirl" Fox said handing her the pieces

She knelt down and set the pieces in front of her, arranging them as they were meant to be. Then she would close her eyes and concentrate.

Every single Kai who could shoot an arrow dreamed of being given the chance to fire a flight from the bow in front of her. She'd had the chance to watch him do it, when she was first learning how to shoot.

The Grand Master had told them the story behind it- how he'd won the bow at a simple country fair, on the trail of the first Lorestone.  It had been claimed to have been made by the bowmakers of Duadon, out of white oak that seemed to lend an otherworldly power to the bow.

One hand went to her chest, and she laid her hand upon the fragments of the bow, and began to weave her power, hoping for the best.

As Rain Feather's hand touched the bow, the broken wood seemed to stretch, slowly but surely reattaching itself, the cracks being reabsorbed into the body of the bow itself in a gradual process that eventually left the bow looking as if new.

A soft, silvery shimmer surrounded the weapon now that it'd been returned to its original, proper form, while a small light lingered for a moment around both of Rain Feather's hands for a moment before slowly dissipating.

The Silver Bow of Duadon grants a +3 on any bow rolls, just as it did in the books... and now it needs to be carried as a back weapon, as it would no longer fit inside a backpack the way it did back when it was broken.

So, who's carrying it? Also, Sabre Fox, as Sun Snake pointed out, you won't need the bow to send the rope back - since you're tying the rope to yourself, you just need to describe your character making the jump and then securing the rope on the other side.

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Mon 25 Mar 2013.

"Now that's the kind of magic I like" Fox said smiling at Rain's work. "And as much as I'd love to use it myself, I don't think I can carry it around with me despite being a good shot after training so much with Sparrow"

:) We can go on whenever you make a post of yourself jumping, Sabre Fox.

"How about who makes death defying leap carries it? Then me me me!" Fox smirked

Securing the rope firmly around his waist to the point of almost cutting off his circulation, Fox ensured that his run was ready before leaping across the chasm. In midair as the wind of his speed flew through his air, he sommersaulted and landed with a roll nimbly on the other side.

"I win!" He shouted back

Looking around, he found a rock formation on the other side to tie the rope to, and ensuring that it was tight, he tested the line a few times for strength before shouting back

"That good enough for you all?" He shouted

Sun Snake looked suitably awed at the bow being recovered. If he was taking it as a sign of hope in other matters though, he did not say. Instead, he looked around to the others, stopping at Alyne. "Dawning Blade? You would never give you your sword for another, would you discard the bow you took before for another? The Silver Bow has legendary properties. If we do face Acolytes, you may feel better being away from close fighting. And indeed, possessing the ability to put an arrow throw a leg with precision to end a fight without needless death?"

Just throwing the idea out there, no preference as a player on where it goes.


Sun Snake looked to the rope bridge formed. He looked at it with all the practicality of a quartermaster, looking for the hidden frays and and nicks. However, his eyes quickly lost focus as he appeared to consider the nature of the scene once more.


I presume this is no more than narrative, but if I can somehow use a complicated danger sense to allow a reroll or add a bonus to someone's roll while we cross, I'll go for it.

Hey Rain, you got enough magic to float yourself and someone else across the fissure?

Sensing the danger would hardly help you cross the rope bridge more easily; it is, after all, just a physical effort, hence why the DC 8 Hunting check. You could probably halve that DC if you were supernaturally strong though, I suppose.

Additionally, the last person to make it through coul just untie the rope at this end and just swing over the abyss - that woul only be a DC 3 Hunting roll.

If you have anyother suggestions though, I am more then willing to listen to them. :)

More the idea of telling someone to slow down or stop if his senses twitched to show they were about to miss their footing or if the rope was starting to move to much in a way that might swing them off.

Still, if Sun Fox can power jump across, Rain and Alyne can float across, then Sun Snake would be set up quite easily to swing at the end, right?

Put like that, I guess your idea would help - but only yourself; being shouted "be careful!" when over a Large abyss would more likely broke someone concentration than help, don't you think? ;)

Anyway, you get a +1 to your own roll only, for the well argued position. Having said that, you might want to wait for Rain Feather's answer before you make any rolls and/or decisions... ^_^

Shhh, you'll give away my sneaky assassination technique!


And yes, if Rain Feather can tie us all up with rope and float us over in one big lump, I can see this will all be redundant :)

My only problem is I don't have levitate...

Do you want to be the one who swings at the end then? :)

Yeah, I'll swing across last, then.

If you have finalized the order in which you're going, then, you should roll and post, Sun Snake. :)

Rolled a 0, re-rolled to an 8

Sun Snake carefully shuffled across the chasm next, after almost making himself fall checking what the others were doing.

He ensured he was slow and methodical, and wasn't afraid to pause when he felt the two ropes start to quiver in harmony, a move his senses warned would get worse if did not arrest it.

Once Sun Snake made it through the chasm, Alyne quickly followed, apparently emboldend by her master success; there was a determined light in her eyes through the entire distance; once she was on the other side, though, she went to her knees and let out a long, tired breath, and was shacking slightly.

Sun Fox, who had checked the entire group as they moved through, turned to Rain Feather and put an hand on her shoulder before saying, in a comforting tone:

"Rain, I think you should just swing over the chasm; if you tie the end of the rope around one of your wirst, you Shouldn't fall - and I can stay on this side to susbtaion your movement through the air with Nexus if you want; that way, you'll have an easier time of it."

That would mean getting a +2 bonus to your roll, Rain Feather, if you agree with Sun Fox's proposal.

"I can make it on my own.  I'm not that out of shape, you know... just go ahead and get across, and I'll swing after you're across.  It shouldn't really be a problem."  She looked at the gap and judged it.

"You can make it, I'm sure of it.  I'll be right behind you, I promise!"

Sun Fox nodded, and added, a note of concern entering her voice:

"Just be careful, ok?"

Then, she grinned and added, with a wink:

"As for me making it across... that was never in doubt."

And, suddenly, she flipped so that she was standing on her hands rather than feet, and started to move that way, pasing from the stone to the rope with barely any hesitation; She made it across the chasm that way, using her hands to keep herself upright over it as some street performers Rain had seen once, and then made a backflip at the end, landing on the rock on the other side with a wide grin before bowing to her friend across the chasm and shouting back, in a amused tone:

"Your turn now!"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 09:30, Tue 26 Mar 2013.

"It's easy, she says... and then she dances across the air like an errant seed, skimming across the wind like it wants to cradle her and make sure she gets across safely.  At least I can play pirate and swing across, I guess..."

She wrapped the rope around her wrist and made sure it was as tight as she could possibly get it, before backing up, and pushing off with her foot to try and get across.

Roll is a 9.

It seemed like the same spirits ensured she would get across as well- twisting her arm to release the rope as she reached the other side, landing on the stone with a quiet click of her boot heels as she kept hold of the rope in her hand in case Sabre wanted it back.

"Guess you're rubbing off on me after all.  That was actually easy."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:23, Tue 26 Mar 2013.

Sun Fox chuckled at the comment.

"Well, better that way, isn't it?"

As the group moved forward along the tunnel, she then continued, her voice curious:

"You know, Rain, I thought only a masteer Craftsman could do what you have, repairing the Silver Bow like that... did you learned craftsmanship when I wasn't looking?"

Sun Snake nodded to Sabre Fox and watched with trepidation as the rest crossed. He made no move to comfort Alyne but did not her distress, and clearly Sun Fox's own antics to cross were as terrifying yet captivating as watching a street performer. Once all were across safe, Sun Snake looked intently yet with his curious lack of focus onwards.

He still kept half an ear open to hear how Rain Feather had accomplished her feat.


Yay! We didn't die!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Tue 26 Mar 2013.

"She must have done" Fox smirked "And now we have a powerful weapon against our enemies, one to do our leader proud"

"Well, I had a little help..."  she started, before she started tugging at a chain at her neck.  After a bit, a pendant appeared- it was shaped like a pyramid, with small jewels set in it.

"I wasn't kidding when I said it was a new beginning for me.  The old version of this, well... it gave me a few weapons that I put to use before I knew any better.  The scream that killed that Gourgaz, back in the tunnels?  It granted me that power, but at a cost of a little of what I am, if you will.  I guess I'm a little more blind around a campfire now... because of what it used to be.   It was something gifted to me by Black Beaver, from the Kai's very own forges.  But back in the cave...  I decided that what it represented was not the person I was.   So I disposed of everything- pendant, rings, weapons and all, in the water in that place, so that they cannot be used by anyone to hurt anything ever again.  I took a moment, and then... I was given this.  I think it's something that tells me that someone up there, perhaps... perhaps they're happy with what I've been doing, and where I've gone in my life.  I used a little power that it granted me, and well... I was able to restore the bow."

She slipped it back under her armor, and straightened the chain around her neck.

"It doesn't feel like a yoke anymore- or a noose, like the old one used to.  I might have to have a little talk with Beaver about what he's been producing in the forges, lately...  because I doubt that the Kai should be using the same relics and things that our enemies use.  Besides, maybe I might have a knack for Craftsmanship, too.  Perhaps one day I'll make you all something special, yes?"

She stepped forward again, easy smile on her lips.  Ideas were already coming to mind.

If Sun Snake's expression was tempered by Rain Feather's reference to Black Beaver forging tools with properties of the enemy, he still showed joy at Rain Feather's explanation. "As I said, He made that place anew. And all of us, too, if we wished it." He did not just look to Sun Fox and Alyne when he said that.

Clearly, dwelling on his own direction in life and thoughts, SUn Snake grew almost confused and retreated in to himself, still keeping an unseeing eye on the forward path.

"well in that case..... Pop quiz!" Fox said reaching into his backpack producing items. "I took these from the enemy in the ruined city. Can you tell what they do?"

They are the Emerald Ring and Snake Amulet Fox took previously with hidden effects.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:27, Wed 27 Mar 2013.

"I'm not that good yet, Sabre... I don't think that's the kind of thing I can figure out until I get some more practice in... I can only fix something like that every so often... and this was special.  If the Kai are as fractured as the Silver Bow, then we've got to put the parts back into one working organization.  But I guess I could give it a shot..."

Her eyes closed for a second as she started probing the two items with her Sixth Sense.  It wouldn't be much, but if she could identify them, she might better understand how they were made.

Yeah, I wonder what these items taken by the corpses of cener druids could possibly do... ^_^

She looked up at Sabre, looking a bit concerned.

"I'd toss the ring, if I were you. I'd know that feeling anywhere- it's right-handed.  It allows you to put up a barrier, or even use it to smash a foe like a boiled potato.  It's a dangerous thing to have, and I worry that someone may be able to bend the power of it back on you.  As for your fancy little amulet there, well... about all I can get off of it for now is that it might give you a little boost.  I can't tell what school it is, though- it's not left or right, and I think you would have known if it was Battle Magic..."

She bit her lip.

"I hope you know what you're doing with it, though.  Right-Handed magic has a tendency to try to push all other forms of power away, and then convince you that you need more of it."

"Don't worry" Fox reassured. "I haven't used them and don't plan on using both untested and potentially dangerous things. Though the barrier might be useful against magic attacks perhaps, even still I think it best to keep hold of them to take home for analysis. After all, working put and countering the enemy's abilities has to be good for us right? Either way thanks Rain" Fox smiled

Nothing further from me! Ready to move on

Sun Fox nodded, apparently liking Sabre Fox's point... and then she stopped when the tunnel they were now walking through ended up opening into what looked like a veritable hub of caves: a single, round room of rock from which eight different roads departed, all with different directions and different inclines.

The Kai Lady let out a surprise whistle at the sight, before turning toward the older member of the group and asking:

"So, Snake? Which one do we follow?"

Sun Snake looked up for his internal deliberations, as if the odd cave represented the manifestation of possibilities and paths.

"We can ignore all the paths but those two," said Sun Snake, pointing to two of the exits over on the far left hand side. He pointed to the second of the two. "That was is shorter, but it feels...dangerous. I can't sense anything special it in, yet it feels dangerous."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox as if the man's sharpened senses could see, hear or smell anything from that place. He also raised an eyebrow to Dawning Blade to see if she knew any hidden dangers of the Maakengorge.


Will see if I can divine more, but you guys might want to throw in some help in making sure there's nothing weird that can sneak up on us from the other pathways, and maybe figure out the best of the two paths out of here. Might be something magical or deliberately hiding.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:48, Wed 27 Mar 2013.

Is part of your post missing, Sun Snake?

Edited!

Fox understood Snake's look straight away, and let his senses flow out towards the tunnels that Snake had indicated.......

That would be 2 WP.

Me or Sabre?

Sabre Fox. :)

Hmmmmmmm

"That way...." Fox said, his expression and eyes seemingly glazied for a moment. "The one you said had danger..... You might be right. It felt like I was looking down a chasm and was scared of heights you know. I felt all woozy. Perhaps it would be egged to goths other way after all"

Something was up.

"Hold on... let me see what I can find out about it."

She would pause and close her eyes, attempting to find out more about what had rattled Sabre.

"I... I can't sense anything down there at all, Sabre.  Are you sure you felt something that way?"

She would take a few steps to Sabre's side, and put her free hand upon his shoulder.

"...what did it feel like?  Could you show me in your mind?"

"Well I've no idea how to go about doing that, but if you can then feel free" Fox said as he recalled the memory and feelings he had felt

She kept her hand on his shoulder, and closed her eyes, sending her mind out into Sabre's.

"All I sense from the other way is flooding. Nothing we could not negotiate, but it would put us at a disadvantage if there is anything or anyone hidden form my senses."

Sun Snake stepped forwards, and put his hand on Sabre's should and Rain Feather's, scanning Sabre's mind and trying to leave his own as open as possible to Rain Feather's mind.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:26, Thu 28 Mar 2013.

The moment they were connected to Sabre Fox's sensations, both Sun Snake and Rain Feather for a moment felt a sense of vertigo that almost made them stumble; theyquickly regained their balance, but the sensation of it being not completely under their control still lingered on them.

Sun Fox watched the results of Sun Snake's experiment with a bemused expression, and then asked, her tone curious:

"Found out anything interesting?"

PM!

Sun Snake pulled away to fully recover from the sensations, and addressed Sun Fox's question while looking to his compatriots for insights. "It's like one of our master's riddles in class. What is innocuous yet is dangerous, what can you not see nor smell yet when you hear it, it makes you dizzy?" He said it with a small smile but was clearly concerned as to the answer.

Sun Snake considered for a moment. "I do not know how my senses negotiate the surroundings, I think it is a connection to the land. I know trying to follow a trail in water with my mind is difficult to impossible. Perhaps there is a chimney or strange air funnel in the other path? One that would catch us off balance or pull us?"

Sun Snake looked to Sabre. "It is certainly your sensitive hearing that is reacting. And yet I have felt weakened structures and fissures before." Sun Snake shrugged again. "Still, I did fear my senses were not something to fully rely upon. I would council going the route of the flooded corridor, if we protect our perishables from a swim. We may need to find a method to dry ourselves off later."


Wondering if the danger is worth figuring out, as it might buy us some time.

Edit: Or, of course, there's just a narrow walkway somewhere. Sorry, colds are making me slow.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Thu 28 Mar 2013.

"Im very wary of going the vertigo way" Fox said. "But then again, if there is water on the other path, there may be more creatures or we could even be washed deeper into the caves. I really can't say which I prefer here"

"I do not get a feeling of minds nor a fear of drowning from the water soaked path. I think tactical considerations, time and the more mundane issues of traveling wet are all we would need to fear down that path."

"If you say so" Fox said with a nod. "I'll just have to be wet and cranky"

"Not if Sun Fox offers to carry you on her shoulders," said Sun Snake with a smile.

"Now that you put that idea out there!"'Fox said beaming. "I can travel in style"

The girl laughed at the comment, and then said, in an amused tone:

"Only if you let me knock you out first, Sabre Fox... that way you'll also be easier to carry, don't you think?"

She chuckled, shooking her head at the thought, and then turned toward Rain Feather.

"What do you say about it, Rain? Any magic in there?"

"Awww! I won't be able to keep prodding you then asking 'are we there yet!?'"

Sun Fox chuckled to Sabre Fox and said, with a smug grin:

"You thought I would let you?"

"I never said you had a choice" he winked in return

"Yet he never asks me to carry him... it figures."

Rain shrugs and allows herself a small smile.

"So, which way?  We don't have a lot of time- the sooner we get there, the sooner we get home!"

Sun Snake looked to Alyne for any insights and Sun Fox for a final say, but was clearly contemplating going the flooded route.

Sun Fox shrugged, then nodded to Sun Snake.

"Let's go the flooded way, then; no sense risking some kind of maybe-magical-maybe-trapped-nobody-can-tell road when the alternative is just getting a little wet."

She smiled, then looked to the group, as to make sure they all were ok with that choice.

"Ill get over getting wet then" Fox said

Alright, I'm going to assume everybody is ok with going the flooded way, so...

The group, lead by Sun Snake, entered a gallery whom slowly descending slope quickly turned steep, forcing them to watch their steps until, eventually, they reached a place where the cave was flooded. Luckily, the water did not reached the ceiling, so there was no need for any of them to hold their breath while making it across, nor any risk of drowning - except, of course, if one wasn't capable of swim.

That, though, clearly wasn't the case for Sun Fox, who grinned to the group and commented, with a carefree smile:

"Well, at least we'll get a bit of this dust off, right?"

She winked, then quickly unlatched her cloak, putting it into her backpack, which she then placed on the rock, alongside her weapons, before quickly diving into the water.

The girl re-emerged in a matter of moments and shook her head, getting the water out of her curly hairs before commenting, sounding happy:

"It's about twice my height in deep - that shouldn't be too much, right? We can't walk, though - swimming is clearly the only way across."

And, having said that, she lunged for her stuff, keeping it over her head with one arm while she used the other and her powerful legs to swim across, clearly at ease in the water.

Alyne, meanwhile, turned toward Sun Snake and said, in a worried tone:

"Master, I... I don't think I'm very good at swimming... I thought we would just have to walk through a deep pool, not... this..."

She trailed off, pointing at the water in front of them.

Alright, I want a hunting roll to swim it across, DC 5. Failing the roll will result in heavy fatigue, meaning a -2 CS loss.

Sun Snake, you must roll twice, once for yourself and once for Alyne - be sure to label each roll, since you can apply the hunting bonus only to your own. Also, you have a choice; you can substaing Alyne through the swimming portion - which will resoly in a -1 penalty to both of you - or you can let her swim on her own, which would mean no penalty to you but a -3 penalty to her. Be sure to let me know, and whichever your decision, make sure your post include yourself explaining why you took it to Alyne. :)

"Swimming... I could always just magic my way down there... is there anything down there, Snake?"

She closed her eyes and let her Sixth Sense penetrate the pool.  If there was anything down there, she'd do her best to find it.

"I did not detect anything," said Sun Snake to Rain Feather, looking across the flooded area.

He looked back to Alyne and raised a concerned eyebrow. "Don't be afraid to tell me anything or ask anything. What might be small to you, may be important. And now you know your instincts are fueled by a gift, do not be so quick to dismiss thoughts or fears you have. You can only tell the difference between those and the small voice of your sixth sense or tracking skills by learning and experience."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox. "Could we rig up the same rope again across the cave, skimming the water?" he asked, gesturing back to Alyne.


Is that something we can do, have a guiding rope so Alyne can effectively pull herself across or at least get confidence for swimming?

Sun Snake will guide Alyne unless the above idea means she won't require it, basically by swimming beside her and trying to help her by basically pretending he is merely keeping her backpack out of the water.

"Well if you think it would work" Fox replied "I'll give it a go"

Rolled a 2 for swimming. But that's still a 5 with Huntmastery :)

The rope is a nice idea; you will have to wait for Sabre Fox to reach the other side before it can be used, but I see no problem with it. :)

Well Foxy will do that then :)

Yay!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Sun 31 Mar 2013.

"Mmmm... as much as I'd love to join in the fun, I think I'll just walk."

With a gesture and a few words, she dove into the water and walked across the bottom, keeping her eyes peeled for anything.

It didn't took long for the group to cross the flooded area and emerge, dripping water everywhere but otherwise unharmed, on the other side, where Sun Fox was waiting for them with a grin.

"Well, that was refreshing. You didn't have any problems, did you?"

She looked particularly at Alyne, who quickly shook her head, replacing her slightly tired expression with a soft smile. Sun Fox beamed at that, then nodded to the others and started to move forward, clearly satisfied that everything was alright.

The group continued to move onward at the usual speed until the tunnel ended in a enormous, circular cave. The ceiling was so tall that they could not see the top, and great pillars were strewn through the area; and everywhere were green crystals that left out a soft glow, bathing the entire room in a soft, warm light, and making the many puddles that could be seen around the room look almost alive; the entire place had an almost magical feeling to it.

Feel free to make your own reaction posts here.

She almost reeled as she stepped into the room, casting her eyes about.

"There is magic at work here... both Kai and Right-Handed.  Be on your guard."

Alyne didn't seemed to notice the panicked tone Rain Feather had been using, while instead she nodded along, looking at the green crystals.

"Yeah... it makes everything look so pretty, doesn't it?"

"I feel it...... Power like something else...... It's almost inviting"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

"Do not allow yourself to be lulled... I get the feeling we're being invited into a trap of some sort."

There was right-handed magic in use here, she was sure of it!  But how could she go ahead and counter it...?

Sun Snake looked around the place. "There are hundreds of exits - or entrances - from this place that infiltrate the deepest parts of the Maakengorge. The only useful exit for us is on the opposite side of here - it will take us three hours to reach. We should probably camp at the exit once we know it is secure."

Sun Snake looked to Rain Feather and then to Sabre and Alyne in turn. "Sun Fox," he said sideways to the last Kai, "do you feel any indications from the crystals? I feel no effects from it."

Sun Snake quickly looked to Rain Feather. "I sense power here, but no intent. Nothing feels explicitly dangerous. Whatever Alyne and Sabre are sensing, it does not feel as if it wishes any harm either..."

Sun Snake stood in front of Alyne, putting a hand on her shoulder and turning her to face him. "Dawning Blade, look at me for a moment," he said with an odd sigh. "Something about this place calls to you, doesn't it? Is it some place you have heard of? Or a place you have been before? Some place the Acolytes come for rituals? This is one of those times when even the least bit of information or intuition you have may be very important."

Sun Fox nodded to Sun Snake's request, explaining:

"The crystals are magical, as far as I can tell; it's clearly Old Kingdom magic, but more than that, I can't say."

Alyne, meanwhile, seemed to be shook out of her sort-of trance by Sun Snake's trance, and then quickly shook her head.

"No, Master, I've never heard of a place such as this being hidden here in the deep caves - I would remember if I had. As for the magic, is not like I can sense it, it just... called to me, you know? Like it wanted to know who I was. It was... strange."

She assumed a thoughtful expression, as if trying to put the emotion into words, and then said, hesitantly:

"It's like... like I am part of the magic too, I think... it's hard to explain."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

"I see something" Fox said "trapped in the green crystals, it looks like living flame. It might be worth a look"

Sun Snake gave some form of small smile, as if he had figured something out...or at least had an idea to try out. However, when Sabre Fox spoke, suddenly Sun Snake's expression fell, and there was a swift spasm in his face.

"Stop!" he warned, holding out his hand as if to pull Sabre Fox back. He paused for a moment, clearly trying to piece his thoughts together.

"The place is just power - power calling out to power. It seems to be a kin to it all, our Kai gifts, the Left and Right handed magics, Old Kingdom magics. Those of us with greater defenses are not hearing its call - infact Rain Feather, I can feel your defenses tightening even now as you have most to connect with it. Sabre, you can feel the old Kingdom part of it just as Sun Fox would, but it can touch you through your Mindshield. I think the fact you know it is magic is meaning you are now being compelled by it."

Sun Snake looked to Alyne. "I think that it is connecting to you in the most pure way because it can only speak to your internal gifts, not any secondary magic. Just as it would me if I lowered my defenses." Sun Snake then looked to Rain Feather. "And perhaps you could connect to it most powerfully, given all you know. Perhaps thos cpuld be something we could connect to to create a powerful or a holy weapon to our cause. Except..."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox. "You mention flames? I recall the Grandmaster's tales of Kalte. And the M'Lare bowls. Flames everburning, that were trapped demons from another place."

Sun Snake looked to the group. "My senses, I would hope, would warn me if there were something as dangerous as demons trapped here. And yet... my mind suddenly drifts that way."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox and Rain Feather. "Rain Feather, you are the most protected of us but with the greatest connection. You could approach one of the crystals, while I bend my mental senses and Sabre bends his practical senses to see if the flame reacts in a way that is ..living."

He looked back to the group as a whole. "Otherwise, I think I could act as a pure contact if this place can be swayed to a holy cause. Or act as a good conduit for either Alyne or Rain Feather to try to tap in to or commune with the power that is here."


Scary crystals are scary!

"I'd agree with what happened to the Grandmaster" Fox echoed. "But he didn't detect power like this that was familiar. We may be over thinking this"

"True, but the M'Lare bowls were lesser spirits, and not clustered in this quantity. Still.."

Sun Snake looked to the others for their instincts, clearly agreeing with Sabre that he could be overthinking the matter.

"Snake, the last time I got curious about something around here, I nearly died.  Or do you not remember that thrice-damned Agarashi?  I think it's a good idea if we just hurry on through and not touch anything.  Call up your Psi-Screens or Mindshields and let's just go.  Whatever it is, just ignore it."

She looks around, and starts walking towards one of the exits.

"You know I remember," said Sun Snake sadly, clearly having never shaken the memories of the mental connection to the creature, nor the shock of Rain Feather's near death.

"Wait," said Sun Snake, without any tone of command in his voice, just weariness. "In the case of the Agarashi, I knew what was there but the group moved too fast for me to give a warning. Even with the HElghast back near Toran, the group played its hand faster than I could tell you all the web we had around us. I am not saying you are wrong, Rain Feather, but this cave will be our surroundings for hours. One way or another we should test this place and not be taken unawares. I can query it one more time, but I would prefer that you were watching and able to use your own psychic defensive abilities in case something stops me from using my own."


If we want to move off without testing the crystals at all, then Snake can maybe still point out the safest route to the one real exit from this place.

And Rain Feather, in case you missed it earlier, the only safe way out of here that's not going in to the depths of the Maakengorge is a single exit at the far end, slightly to the left, of this place. About a three hour walk away.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Wed 03 Apr 2013.

Sun Snake can most certainly point out the best way to reach exit - whereas none of the others would be able to found it on their own. :)

Drawing his blades, Fox quickly looked towards Sun Snake

"Im all up for testing these in a controlled enviroment if you can Snake"

Sun Snake smiled. "No need for violence, I hope. Simply keep watch for the crystals doing anything, anything at all, while Rain Feather ensures that I do nothing at all."

Sun Snake looked to Rain Feather and Sun Fox to see if they would agree - and to ensure Sun Fox was looking out for more mundane dangers around.

"...then let's check them near the exit.  If we try something and it ends up potentially collapsing the cavern, we could block the way through and potentially give ourselves away.  If we were to do it at the exit, we might be able to make them think we're progressing slower than usual."

She still didn't want to touch those crystals, but if they were going to anyways, well... at least she could try to help protect them.

Onwards!

Sounds good to me!

Sun Fox nodded to the others' decision, and then followed along as Sun Snake lead the group through the cave, in what turned into a very long walk admist the crystal pillars and under the eerie green glow they spread through the room.

Eventually, after a walk just as long - if not more so - as Sun Snake had said, they reached an area of the cave where the forest of pillars started to dwindle, and the ceiling lower, until they ended up in an area of naked rock with all the pillars behind them, and the cave in front of them slowly shrinking until it tapered out into a new, clearly ascending tunnel.

Once there, the group stopped and Sun Fox commented, with a smile:

"Well, the place was not really that dangerous, was it? We crossed through without anything happening to us."

Then, she turned, looking where Sun Snake was preparing for his scan of the area by placing an hand against the ground and closing his eyes...

Oooh, this is a very impressive thing Sun Snake's seeing. Not sure if I'll convey it correctly. Maybe you all should have taken Divination earlier and not rushed for your other shinies :p

Sun Snake staggered back after a moment, unsteady on his feet. "I'm...I'm alright..." he said, to reassure those he seemed to slowly recall were around him. He looked around with greater awe at the pillars all around, looking both up and downwards too. Again he seemed unsteady, as if feeling a strange vertigo as before when reading Sabre Fox's mind.

He looked around to the pillars intently with some new respect for them. While Sun Snake usually took a moment to come to a point, it did seem that this time something rare had happened - the man was lost for words. And this was a man who had touched with his mind the region his god had blessed.

"The pillars go all the way up, through this cave to touch the land above us, curving in to each other like the support of a dome's roof." Sun Snake seemed to say it matter of factly, clearly building up to the other factors. "Below us..." again, Sun Snake paused. "The pillars go down, perhaps as deep as the core of this world, drawing on the magic deep down there." He drew a circle. "This is a spherical cage, I believe formed for one great purpose." Sun Snake pointed to the pillars, awe clearly in his voice, dropped to a respectful hush. "The crystal is alive. Or at least, it possesses life. Millions souls dwell in them. Perhaps millions of million - certainly a greater host of souls than walk Magnamund right now. The multitude seem to act only to contain a small minority, a minority of malevolent ones that try to escape. One in particular so powerful that it takes the efforts of most of those benign souls to occupy it...one who seared my mind for just being near, a thing as close to the avatar of death as I have ever felt."

Sun Snake looked slightly pale, and turned to the group as if to distract himself as much as to inform them. "If I had to make an educated guess, I would think the majority of the souls in these crystals are those who have volunteered to give up their afterlives to contain something terrible. A duty they have performed for millennia already. I have no doubt whom they trap. I have no doubt what this is that we are seeing here."

Sun Snake gestured to the crystals once more. "This is Vashna's prison."

Fox's grip tightened on his blades at Snakes last words

"Then it looks like all manner of magics are being used to keep him from escaping." Fox said. "Do you think we could tap into their powers? Since if it were up to me I'd raise the bastard to kill myself, but i realise that's not something we can be doing now"

"I wouldn't recommend it, Sabre.  This prison's done its job for as long as it has- any change in the balance of power could give those imprisoned a newfound hope of possible escape."

She looked around.

"Honestly, it would make me feel better if we put this place behind us."

Alyne nodded along with convinction to Rain Feather's suggestion, then turned to Sabre Fox and said him, in a scolding tone:

"I think Master Rain is right; honestly, no matter how good you are at fighting, Sabre, I think even you would find yourself outmatched if you had to face the Supreme Archlord."

"I think Sabre would charge a position holding a dinner knife for a weapon and a plate for a shield.  But she's right, Sabre- Vashna is locked away, and the world is safe from him.  We already have the Deathstaff to worry about- let's not unleash something worse."

Sun Fox chuckled at seeing Rain Feather's and Alyne's combined effort to keep Sabre from trying to find a way to fight the darklord and then commented, sounding amused:

"It sounds like you're outvoted, Sabre Fox. What are you gonna do now?"

PM!

Sun Snake looked to the group. "I presume Sabre is joking," he said with a questioning eye to his fellow Kai. "The entity in that prison does not fear death anymore - he is death. It is taking more lifeforce than is currently walking this planet just to keep him in check, a lifeforce united in a common purpose. That means if Vashna is allowed to be freed - even if every person in Magnamund bend all that they were to stop him - they would not succeed. And we as a world are anything but united." Sun Snake shifted, as if easing a burden. "That is the task we have here. We must stop the Deathstaff from being used, no matter the cost. For if it is not paid now, there is no price high enough the world can pay later to stop him."

Speaking to Sabre directly, Sun Snake answered his question. "Rain Feather is correct - I do not think we wish to attempt to disrupt or interact with the magics here. Vashna has minions trapped too that might notice us even if Vashna does not. And I would hesitate to even contact one of the goodly souls in that place. It would be tempting, for who knows who is in there who could give us their wisdom - and yet think about it. We would petition them for aid to stop a possibility. Whereas they have had millennia with no focus but on a single certainty. We might ask for help, but it might be us - faced with the sheer scale of their task - that ends up being pulled in to service in that place."

Still, Sun Snake's eyes perhaps took longer than they should to disengage


Sun Snake looked to Rain Feather. "Your...concern...did not go unnoticed..." he said cryptically to her, although it was perhaps clear how the concern of a gifted psychic might manifest, "but I can assure you..." Sun SNake stopped reluctantly, as if perhaps acknowledging to himself words said and Rain Feather's own talents. "Perhaps it is a good idea to make sure that nothing un-toward has occurred after my mental encounter with the prison. However, I do not wish to open my mind close to this place. We should move off in to the tunnel first."

If everyone is ready to go, are we setting up a camp inside that tunnel anyway? I'm losing track of time.

"I wasn't joking" Fox said resolute. "And had I the means to attack him then I would, but right now I don't, so I guess we move on"

"You said 'I' three times times there. No matter your means, you would be defeated if you stood alone. And the world would fall. The Grandmaster told us - told you and Sun Fox - exactly how to defeat the most powerful enemies. Acting as one. We already know the Sommerswerd - our most powerful weapon - is not enough to defeat Vashna. Believe me when I say that it is a powerful demonstration to feel exactly what it costs to keep evil even just in check. But a hopeful one, knowing that acting as one an enemy can be held no matter his strength."

Sun Fox nodded, uncharacteristically somber, at Sun Snake's words, then spoke.

"Let's go find a better place to camp at, shall we?"

Meanwhile, Alyne, who had assumed a thoughtful expression, moved closer to Sun Snake and asked, clearly feeling somewhat shaked at the thought:

"Master, do you... do you think that, when I heard that call... it was... it was them asking my help? Or... or the Darklord's follower?"

"I believe it is the power of the prison reaching out to power," said Sun Snake quietly, "and so I think it more likely the call of those who protect Vashna. I think they keep him and those fallen with him occupied so he cannot act."

Sun Snake then regarded Alyne closely. "I did not probe too closely exactly who the souls were. They could be that which goes unnoticed by us, life in its many forms. They could be that which was never allowed to roam mMagnamund. However, it is also possible that many who once walked Magnamund now dwell here. If that is true, the numbers are certainly not just the Sommlending and the other champions through the years." Sun Snake looked to see if she understood his point. "It could be that those who once served Vashna's cause - Drakkarim, Vashintes - can now see his true nature, unshakled by mortal concerns. It could be what you feel is their call, as alike as you are, with power too." Sun Snake looked around then back to Alyne. "If I am right, and if those here could understand that...perhaps they would have a more worthy cause for their devotions?"

After a moment, Alyne answered, in a wondering tone:

"I... I think I understand... and... its nice, to think that we might all manage to overcome our differences in life by working together for something when it ends..."

She trailed off, clearly thinking over what she'd just learned.

"So if 'I' as you put it, or perhaps you in the 'I' sense was stood defending the king of Sommerlund, or even the Granmaster himself, would you wilt in Vashna's prescence if you had no one else around? No Snake you would not, I acknowledge you as a warrior and a Kai even if you don't take a full on approach like me, that was my point, even if you could fight and indomitable enemy on your own ground, like everyone else here, I know you would do your best, and die by such conviction. That was my point"

Sun Snake nodded to conceed the point. "Perhaps you misunderstand the reason for my comments."

Sun Snake turned to address the group. "We are moving towards the Deathstaff. We have no idea what its powers are, just it is a comparable power to the Sommerswerd. What we do know is that it is what the Acolytes wanted. I do not know if the Deathstaff is intelligent, nor if it can sway the wielder, but if it can, we may well come to possess exactly what was just mentioned - the means to raise Vashna. And something that could purport to be a means to defeat him."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre again. "We're already dealing with enemies who have taken our greatest strengths, and whispered words to us to turn those strengths against us and what we would hold dear. Your greatest strength Sabre, is your willingness to do whatever you can to protect everyone else. I know you would face down Vashna even if it meant your life as it meant Ulnar's before, and I would stand by your side without hesitation. But I do not believe that would defeat Vashna. At best it would only allow his imprisonment once more."


See, Sun Snake's just scared because he can sense the evil GM's ability to give us evil choices that seem like a good idea at the time. You know, like pet Agarashi and Vordak screams that auto-kill enemies :D

Anyway, Sun Snake won't say anything else if Sabre wants the last word. After all, we might actually get to kill Vashna. Anything's possible in a post-LW world!

"One thing I will say about the staff that Fox will no doubt agree. Just being near it for a short period of time was enough to make me ill........ We will have to be careful"

"I guess it must reek of right-handed magic, then. We may just have to deal with it on the spot instead of bringing it back for study. Not that anything like it should be allowed into Toran. That's the danger of these sorts of things... you learn how they built it, and you convince yourself that if you changed just a few things about it, you could use it for good. Then you just further the cause of Darkness, and weaken yourself."

She looked at the crystal prison and shook her head.

"This is the kind of power that shouldn't exist on Magnamund."

Sun Fox looked uneasy at the comment and answered, her voice uncertain:

"I... I don't know if we can. When we tried to cut it in two with the Sommerswerd... it didn't just failed to work; the clash of powers was such that it caused an explosion - it blasted the entire Drakkarim unit across the room, as well as me and Sabre. And if the Sommerwerd itself - which we don't have at the moment, by the way - failed to do the deed... then how are we supposed to destroy that thing?"

It was clear that Sun Fox was not happy about this - but, at the same time, she seemed pretty certain of her own words.

"Nothing is unbreakable" Fox said. "After all, the Sommerswerd can be destroyed easily in the wrong hands"

Fox got to thinking on that point

"Sun Fox, we failed because we clashed them directly. But what would happen if the Deathstaff was nulled? Think about it, the Grandmaster kept his blade in Korlinium to hide it's power, and at the same time, it contained it's strength. Perhaps we need something like that for the Deathstaff"

Apologies if I've misremembered Blue Snake's orders. can't find the thread.

Edit: This new RPoL feature that warns you of double posting is cool.

"The mission as told to me by Master Blue Snake was that we take the item back if we could not destroy it. I do fear that taking it back to the Order or the Brotherhood might give some the opportunity to take it and be tempted by it." Sun Snake then looked to Rain Feather. "And yet I can think of no other person more suited to taking it, and ensuring it will never be used that way, than you. I do not think we need fear recovering it."

Sun Snake then looked to Sun Fox. "I daresay the Elder Magi themselves can be trusted, and Banedon trusted to work with them to find a way to destroy it or secure from evil."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox and nodded. "That would seem logical." He turned to Rain Feather. "Do you know of any such devices? After all, it appears Right-Handed items have been hidden in the order already. Is there a trick we can use to accomplish that?"

"Not really.  The thing about right-handed magic is that it's meant as a purely destructive force- it doesn't honestly have a protection spell.  I'm thinking of perhaps sending it away somewhere where it can't hurt anyone any more, and... there's only one place I know of that could do that."

A wan slime creased her features as she closed her eyes.

"Either find one here and toss it through, or take it to Toran and dump it in, but the only real way I know of to get rid of this thing- even if it's just for the time being- is to toss it in a Shadow Gate and banish it away."

"Shadow gates aren't full proof sadly" Fox said. "After all, the Grandmaster returned, and even worse we can't simply cast it somewhere for someone to then find and use it"

"Indeed, if I recall wasn't the secret of the Grandmaster's escape the very power of the Lorestone Gnaag trapped him with?" Sun Snake considered the matter for a moment., "Perhaps nullifying the Deathstaff is to balance it temporarily with an equal amount of positive magic - such as Old Kingdom and Left-handed? To disguise it and dampen its effects until we can take it to safety?"


Are we saying all this while leaving the caves, or does Rain Feather need to give us one of her patented 'let's get moving's now? :)

I'd suppose there would be no problem in having this discussion while you're walking - which, at this point, would mean you've likely already out of the crystal pillars room. Remember, though, you have to set camp if you are to sleep for the night... which would include you all also procuring food for yourself.

Sun Fox looked a bit troubled at the entire discussion, before speaking up.

"Wouldn't it be better to just worry about getting the Deathstaff, and leave the figuring out how to destroy it to when we can contact Guildmaster Banedon and Lord Rhimoah?"

She didn't seemed very convinced of her own words, though...

Not trying to shot down your discussion or anything - just explaining why Sun Fox isn't contributing; after failing in destroying the Deathstaff, she doesn't feel confident trying to do it herself again, and is trying to dump the responsibility onto someone else's shoulders.

"That is the wisest course of action. I think Sabre's ideas of managing to temporarily nullify the power may have merit if we wish to be near the thing and move around with it and remain undetected. But anything beyond that is, perhaps, best left until we are away from this place."

Are we still in the same type of area for Hunting food rolls? Rolled a 4 +3 = 7 so not sure if thats enough still for a solo effort

"All I know is that things like the Deathstaff shouldn't exist.  That's the sad thing about people- you can't trust the ones that are so ambitious and stupid that they'll ally with anything or use any methods to try to make themselves stronger.  For them, well... they might look at the Deathstaff and think of it as an easy way to gain power over others, when in reality, it's just spreading Naar's influence.  There will always be people that think that their goals always justify the costs.  There are people ahead who would happily use the Deathstaff to fill their goals, no matter the consequences to anyone else.  It's like... it's like the Acolytes.  I understand that they all feel wronged in some way, but if they free Vashna, the whole world's going to pay for it.  From what I know of history, he might just throw the lot of the Acolytes into the gorge, followed by the rest of humanity.  Just because we think something is going to happen if we do one thing doesn't mean the second, third, and fourth things might happen, too."

She sighed and looked back at the crystal.

"I just wish we could talk it out with the Acolytes.  There have to be a lot of them who aren't in this for the bring-Vashna-back, but they might just be in it because there's nobody else who they think is looking out for them- you know, spend your life getting dumped on, live under a lord who's more concerned with himself than his people, I can understand why they might join up.  There's a difference between people just looking for a group that understands their daily struggles and those who want to bring back an incarnation of evil."

"But I still think that we should just toss the thing in a Shadow Gate and be done with it.  I don't trust taking it back home- can you think what Valador would do with it if we brought it back to Toran?  He already wants to spread right-handed magic... this might make him unstoppable."

Sun Snake looked to Rain Feather. "You yourself proved there is always hope when you started a dialogue with Vyctar. Just as we have seen things here that might suggest there is a way forwards in the future, where the Acolytes turn away from a false saviour." Sun Snake subtly indicated Alyne to Rain Feather, as if to show the very person that Sun Snake had pinned those hopes upon.

"I have hope that we are all, in the end, simply people. It gives me hope that one day we may be able to put aside our differences, or at let those differences be dictated by our own internal natures alone. More than ever, I hope it shows the importance of our fight as Kai's champions. Not to conquer anything for good, but merely to drive back Naar so others can seek peace."

"As for keeping the Deathstaff from Valador. I agree, he cannot have it. But throwing it in the very place he has access to - and perhaps only he has the drive and power to get to - might not be wise. Ww may buy ourselves eight years of peace, but at the cost of his triumphant return with power from the Daziarn. Vonotar finally returned, as it were."

Sun Snake tried not to look troubled. ""We can only believe in those back in our order, and in our allies, that they will make the correct choice."


Sun Snake might be less inclined to refuse food this time around, but I do not think there is any food on offer, right?

Yep, no food for anybody. Searching for food costs 1 WP, and the DC for a single meal is 8, while the DC for "enough meals for the full group" is 10, just as it was last time. Which means that your search for food for yourself failed, Sabre Fox.

Remember, once you've tried to search "for the whole group", no more searches can be attempted, even if you fail... Jusr thought it was important to point that out. :)

Miserable failure to find food. Rolled a 2 :(


"Dawning Blade," asked Sun Snake when he realised the scarcity of food, "do you know of anywhere hidden that might harbour food? Any edible fungi or tell-tale signs of a small creature in this place?"

Alyne shook her head and answered, apology in her voioce:

"Not really; we... I mean, the Acolytes never reached this deep down the tunnels, the mining was being carried out much further back. I'm sorry, I can't help; I don't really know the area all this well. Normally, the Acolytes import food from the surface; in the central temples there is always enough in store to last for over four months - should it ever get to less than that minimum, the High Priest would consider it to be us running low, and punish the ones responsible."

Can Sun Snake try a combined Divination/Pathsmanship scan to get a feel for the area? And then open his mind up enough to allow Sabre Fox to piggy back off of that and use his Huntmastery to sense something that might be around?

Or does Sun Fox have Huntmastery too if Sabre has used up his 'go' that way?

Sun Fox has Huntmastery too, and if you ask her and roll the result, she will look - however, the "for the group" roll allowed is only one PER GROUP, not per player.

Since each search for a sinlge meal costs 1 WP, I'll have no problem with Sabre Fox looking for food for each of you one at a time, once he declares that he was looking for food for one person only with his last roll... or you could, since the 8 is a result you can make on your own... but, each roll will be more wasted WP, so really, it's up to you to decide.

On the other hand, if you're looking for food for the full group (as Sun Fox would) then I want it written in the dice roller when you make it, since if it's failed, then you can't look for anything anymore; failing the "group" roll means that there simply isn't enough food in the area for the whole group to eat - whereas failing a single meal roll might just mean that the hunter didn't focused enough.

I hope that clear's everything up? I'm considering Sabre Fox roll a "single meal" for right now, since that's the most forgiving way to see it.

Sabre actually said 'solo roll' and Sun Snake won't be burning WP for hunting.


Was there any firm decision on whether Sun Snake could boost Sun Fox/Sabre Fox's searches by letting then feel his mental scans of the area?

He can't. :)

It's not that I want to be obnoxious or anything - but if I started letting unrelated disciplines enchroach on territory held by other ones, that would make taking the disciplines that are being replaced worthless, and I don't think anybody wants that, right?

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:00, Tue 09 Apr 2013.

Fair enough, though my idea was Sun Snake being an amplifier if they wanted it of their Huntmastery - or rather another sense for them to hunt with - not that his disciplines were replacing theirs and not that the hunting effort was his.

After all, you want us to work closely as a team so the sudden but inevitable betrayal is all the more evil, right? :D

:) Yeah, I do want you all to work together, but what you suggested is exactly what I was explaining about Disciplines contamination which I want to avoid. If I let you share your enhanced sensitivity with the others when hunting, then why should they not have access to it in other, more deadly situations too? And if I let them do that, what reason would they ever have to take Divination, if they can just piggyback off yours? Hence why I can't allow it. I hope that clears it up! ^_^

"If we have to miss a meal or two, then that is okay.  It'll just make the next one that much better. If it worries you that much, draw on your Healing to sustain yourself.  We don't exactly have a lot of time to worry about finding something to eat.  If we have to, we'll see if the next bunch of Acolytes are carrying any.  We must be getting close to their main encampment, so we'll just have to see if they're willing to share."

She looked around for the next tunnel, and began walking towards it.  Hunger or no hunger, she was willing to press on.

Before Rain could put too much distance between herself and the group, Sun Fox moved closer to her, putting an hand on her shoulder to stop her friend's movement as she said, her tone a pacifying one:

"Come on, Rain, there's no need to be that harsh. Also, even if we fail to find anything to eat, I think we should stop to sleep by now - we'll be of no help to anybody if we get into the fight tired and sleepy."

She smiled, and added:

"Beside, you really think that, between me and Sabre, we'd let you go onward on an empty belly? We can find food for everybody if needed, I'm sure of it!"

The girl grinned brightly, clearly trying to lift Rain Feather's morale with her words.

Quick check in, burning fp's for a 9 group roll

Hero!

That was a nice showing, Sabre Fox. Feel free to post yourself showing up with food whenever you want. :)

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Wed 10 Apr 2013.

"Bah!" Fox said. "I can do this blindfolded! Won't be long" he said before disappearing.

Around ten minutes later he returned, several items wrapped up

"Good news I found food, bad news they are slugs and mushrooms. But once they are cooked we can fill our bellys before we sleep"

Sun Snake nodded appreciatively despite the sound of the food. "Did you se any larger signs of life moving around these tunnels?" asked Sun Snake with a raised eyebrow.

She looked at the food, and then at Sabre.  She'd eat her share (even if it was more mushrooms than slugs), but still...

"...Sabre, if we make it back to the monastery, I'm never insulting the cooking again.  But I think the first thing I'm buying when we get back is a pack full of food."

She eyed the food, but the thought, well...

"Everyone always remembers the stories of the Kai lords beating back the darkness at every turn.  Nobody ever hears about the time they all had to sit around and eat slugs in a cave.  Just... please tell me we'll cook them, first."

"By the time we get back to the monastery, the slugs will have been 20 foot monsters valiantly defeated for their nourishing flesh," said Sun Snake with a smile to Sabre Fox.

Sun Snake then looked to Rain Feather. "Did you wish to scan my mind for signs of damage?"

"If it's not too much trouble, and with your permission, I will.  You came into contact with what may be one of the greatest evils to ever walk the planet, Snake.  I just want to make sure that you aren't walking away with something you don't want tagging along."

Sun Snake nodded. He knelt down, and indicated for Rain Feather to take a hold of his jewelled sword even as he did.

"Since when do you start making fun of my meal offerings?" Fox sniggered to Snake. "and nah, didn't see anything, and I would have imagined you would sense them long before I sniffed or saw them anyway"

She took a deep breath and called upon her mental powers as she grasped the sword.  If there was anything she could find, she was going to try and fix the damage. If there was anything hiding, she was going to root it out and destroy it- hopefully, they could face whatever it was together.

Seeing Rain concentrate, Fox knew what she was doing and he very calmly walked beside her and laid a hand upon her shoulder

"I'm here for you too in this, take my strength"

Both metaphorical and a possible help to stabilise Rain there

Trap! It's all a trap for Sabre to scan Snake's mind and discover the secret plans we all made to bump Sabre off! Don't fall for it, Rain!


"I'm starting to see your point of view and realise life's too important to take too seriously, I suppose," said Sun Snake in reply to Sabre's original comment, though it was tinged with a melancholy that belied those words.

Sun Snake noticed Sabre Fox coming forwards, but did not adjust his posture. His shoulders had dropped just like his face, as if he were a lifeless statue, slowly falling in to itself. Clearly, he was dropping whatever defenses he possessed, his mind becoming more present even as his body implied anything but.

Awwww, it's such a nice mental image to imagine the three of us standing together all concerned one of the other. It makes you hopeful it might be tens of posts before we start stabbing each other :)

I don't think you have any psychic skills that could help, Sabre Fox, but I'm sure Rain will appreciate the emotional support. :)

It was odd, being in someone else's mind without the intention to do damage. She progressed slowly, not wanting to proceed too fast, lest she miss something.  She would search out the darkness, and do what she could to drive it away.

PM!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Fri 12 Apr 2013.

For the longest time, there appeared to be no movement from anyone.

Move along, nothing to see here...

No downfalls being plotted here :D

Is that so? :)

She would suddenly remove her hand from the sword, and immediately mutter something under her breath that would have set hands to mouths as she scuffed her boots on the cave floor.

Sun Snake opened his eyes slowly, and then looked to Rain Feather with a raised eyebrow. "Something wrong?" he asked, with only a hint of reserved worry.

"I know how it injured your mind.  I can tell you how it injured your mind- the only problem being that I can't seem to actually do the fixing yet.  Pretty much it's like your hand, all over again."

She sighed, and turned away.

"I'm sorry, Snake... it seems that all I ever do is let you down.  I can't fix your hand, I can't fix your mind... one of these days you'll ask yourselves just why they wanted me to tag along.  I'm just tired of not being able to help my friends when I want to.  It's just... frustrating knowing that I could have had the ability to heal you if I hadn't been so blind to the fact that I was being molded... but I promise as soon as I have the ability, I will do it."

"You're too harsh on yourself, Rain."

Sun Fox raised her head from where she was preparing their food, locking her gaze with her friend, and continued:

"Three years ago, both of us would have died if we'd been thrust into the same danger we succesfully defeated in the last days; but that doesn't mean we were worthless back then - just that we're stronger now. So you can't do something? Well, I'm pretty sure that Dawning Blade here would have twice as harder a time doing it... not to mention, you can do things none of us can manage."

She then lowered her gaze, an hint of sadness entering her voice as she concluded:

"If... If I have to find it within myself to... to forgive myself for my mistakes... then... then you too should try and do the same, Rain."

Then, adding nothing else, the girl returned to her cooking.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:51, Thu 18 Apr 2013.

"We all have to progress Rain" Fox said speaking up. "The Grandmaster is exactly that. He never gave up and always moved forward. That's what we all have to do"

A smile crossed his lips for a moment

"You know it's almost like having the team back at the outpost. Your so like Sun Nightingale Rain. So gentle and caring, always willing to help others. You Fox, you remind me of Storm Ash. We like a laugh yea, but Ash was more an aggressive rival than we are. But I'll give him and you this, you both know how to wield a blade. And then there's you Snake, the stalwart blacksmith who gave me the kick in the first place to lead and take back that outpost........ I miss them"

For the normal Fox who wouldn't be affected by things like this, it was clear by the expression on his face on his last words that speaking of these people had made an impact on him

"Damage?" asked Sun Snake. Clearly whatever had affected his mind he had been unaware of, or at least not realised it was something serious. "Interesting..." he said in a thoughtful way.

Sun Snake nodded to the sentiment of the others. "Indeed, Rain, the fact you sre even in a position to practise such advanced techniques is the success. Seeing the path and knowing you can walk it is no failure, it is quite the reverse. Remmeber you are the same rank as two who came a generation before you in training."

Sabre Fox's reminder of the previous generation - of the second batch that Sun Snake and Sabre Fox had served with, and a vast majority of whom had not survived - brought a sombre expression to Sun Snake's face. He nodded in aggrement and respect to Sabre's strong feelings. The kai himself started to play with the blue, frayed edging on his Kai cloak, and lost himself in thoughts of younger, darker days.

"I guess I'll get it some day.  I want to make sure that I can live up to what everyone expects out of me... including myself.  I'm aiming for the top- I guess I want to prove that someone can step out of the darkness and rise to the light.  There are others like me- Dawning Blade is one.  We just have to find them."

Alyne raised her head when Rain Feather spoke her name, and after a moment, she moved closer to her and said, her words taking on a kind tone:

"I... I think you're right, Master Rain... we can change things, both of us. And... and I think you are a great Kai; you showed me that true compassion does exist, that our past doesn't mean our path is fixed. And... I believe a lot of the Acolythes would need someone like you to show them the same; and I will try to be that one, but... I would like your help with that."

"Never forget that you are the sum of your parts, Rain Feather. What you already possess in wisdom from your previous life is just as important as the knowledge and power you seek to obtain. Never let a narrow focus make you downcast on your own abilities."

Sun Snake looked to Alyne. "As with you, Dawning Blade. You may be lower ranked in the order, but your years and experience put you level with us. You have inspired the Acolytes in one direction, and been entrusted with missions just as dangerous as the one we undertake now. As a whole person, you already have all the talents you need. You can only improve. And I believe with Rain Feather's help you would be unstoppable."

Sun Snake looked across to Sun Fox, sadness in his face, perhaps regarding her as someone who had once been an untainted beacon. Although there was no flavour of anything other than respect in his face, as even now the wisdom from her fall was making her burn in a different way, perhaps one that would last. "And Sun Fox, you have devoted yourself to taking every lesson and excelling. I can already see that even these worst experiences you are finding ways to push yourself ahead. I believe you have the courage to find what you seek inside yourself." Sun Snake paused for a moment, and looked to the hand that had the crossed cuts on it. With great reluctance, and a small voice, Sun Snake said, "I forgive you, at least."

Sun Snake lifted his head up after a moment. "We can all be better than we are now, and we should all aspire to greater things, but already we are as powerful as Sun Fox says. I have faith that we are as powerful, together, as we need to be to succeed in the missions placed upon us. All of them."

Sun Snake nodded to Sabre Fox, perhaps to reassure the man that Lone Wolf and the Sommerswerd, too, would be returned. Or perhaps to reassure the man that such loss as they had once experienced would not be the cost this time.

"You know you have us all here Dawn" Fox said to Alyne. " We are all together in this with our own speciality to make us better" Fox smirked before looking at Sun Fox

"Are they ready yet? I'm starving!"

Sun Fox raised her head from the roasting slugs and turned an amused gaze to Sabre Fox.

"What am I, your cook? You're an Huntmaster too, you could well come here and give an hand instead of staying there, keeping company to Rain and trying to look all mighty and heroic. It won't work, you know?"

She smiled at her own joke, then motioned for the group to come closer as she said:

"Yeah, it ready - we can eat it now. You will find the taste is strange but not bad - halfway between fish and meat, really, and at least it's tender. The Grand Master said he's met people who actually enjoyed it, though I can't guess where that would be."

And with that, she pulled out the sticks she'd used to roast the slugs and started to pass them around alongside slices of mushrooms, even as she sat down more comfortably near the fire to start eating.

Since you've found a meal for everybody, you need not worry about losing END tonight. If you want, you can have some more chat around the campfire - otherwise, we'll set up the watches rotation for the night and you'll get your chance to recover some more END and WP, which you're going to need very soon indeed... :D

This message was last edited by the player at 12:53, Fri 19 Apr 2013.

"The word there being Hunt" Fox smirked "You know for a fact that I usually end up making a mess inthe kitchens! Let's not even start with the story of how I set fire to milk!" Fox laughed

"Burn milk?  I've heard that you can scorch it, but outright set fire to it...?"  She cocked her head.  She was willing to chance the slugs, but more likely than not, her portion was going to be more mushroom than slug.

"...how many here think Sabre owes us a nice dinner at an inn after we get back?" she joked as she got ready to take her portion.

Sun Snake was still slowly - very slowly - chewing the food he had been given. The slowness did not seem to be a sign of him savouring the food, if the grimace on his face was to be understood correctly. At Rain Feather's question, Sun Snake raised his spoon and nodded, even as one of his eyes twitched and closed in reaction to a new and exciting taste explosion.

Sun Fox chuckled at Rain's words and said:

"I'm in favour! It's only right for Sabre to pay us back for our effort in keeping him fed, right?"

She winked, then took another quick bite out of her food, and after swallowing it continued, in an amused tone:

"As for setting milk on fire... well, it's just a matter of accidentally spilling oil over it and then trying to train one's Nexus skills into how to control flames at the same time. In fact, you'd be amazed how much damage those who're trying to master the fire dominion without succeeding could do."

Sun Fox grinned at her own words - everybody knew she was considered the best user of the ability in the entire Monasteery, having taken to it almost as soon as she'd learned to control her basilar Nexus powers - which had been her first learned Magnakai discipline.

"Hey! I knocked over a lamp alright?! And it sort of took a bit of the kitchen with it. Including the milk" Fox pouted

It was then he allowed himself a mischievous grin as he took a piece of the fire wood in his hands. Looking at the flame, it seemed to rise in intensity for a moment before dying to an acceptable level before he put it back

"Another Fox is catching you up" he said with a wink

Sun Fox chuckled, then gestured toward the fire and a flickering flame separed itself from it, twirling and spiraling all around her arm without burning anything to then raise around her shoulder, assuming a form that vaguely resembled a fox, and started to spun around Sun Fox's head, the flickering of the flame almost making it look as if a minuscule fox made of fire was running around the girl's head, trying to catch its own tails.

She smiled softly as she looked at her creation of a fox trying to do the impossible, then clapped her hands and the flame exploded into a minuscule firework, the glowing embers then falling back into the fire, and she looked up to Sabre Fox with an amused smirk.

"Getting closer, maybe, but catching up? That'll take you a while yet."

"Maybe so, but I can at least understand what your doing. But in how you just made that look like a Fox. That's a tricky one, psychic projection maybe?"

Sun Fox chuckled at that and replied, still smiling:

"Come on now, you can't ask a girl to reveal all her secrets, now can you?"

"A psychic projection? I don't think so, it's still behind you," said Sun Snake having finally finished his fungal gastropod.

Sun Snake gave Sun Fox a quick wink.

As the others followed the direction Sun Snake had pointed in, they for a moment thought they'd seen the tail of a fox disappear in the shadows, although after a moment they realized there actually was none.

Sun Snake had an unaccustomed smirk on his face, though it faded when his tongue caught an aftertaste of slug.

"So, how does the resistive portion of Nexus work?" asked Sun Snake to Sabre Fox and Sun Fox. "I've had theories, but it was never an area I've investigated personally."

"Sun Fox can answer that one" Fox sniggered. "I haven't got that far yet. A blade man I am"

Sun Fox turned toward Sun Snake, eyeing in a thoughtful manner before answering:

"Well, it depends on what specifical application of Nexus you are referring to. What are you interested into, Sun Snake?"

"Using the mind to resist physical elements. It seems to go hand in hand with the application of using your mind to move the world with greater finesse, even though the two seem to be completely separate aspects of the gift. I never understood the link, and and I think that oversight in my mental abilities might not be wise. "

Sun Fox seemed to consider the question, and then nodded.

"I think I can explain how that works; it's really much simpler than it would seem."

She paused, then looked at the others and added, with a friendly smile:

"However, that might be a long explanation, one that Sabre Fox doesn't really need and that might well be boring for the others. Why don't the two of us take first watch, Sun Snake, so we can speak of it at lenght while the others sleep?"

Seems like this would be a good place to get you all to go to set up a watch order and tell me how you're going about recovering WP or rerolling CS and such.

Sun Snake would have no issue with that.


As a player and character I'd go WP recharge, an imp of the perverse is sitting on my shoulder telling me to re-roll CS just for the sheer devilment of it, since I can't see me ever doing it willingly.

"Nexus always reminded me of a combination of Psi-Surge and a little Mind Over Matter.  It operates on the same basic level- the manipulation of some form of energy- wether it be fire, wind, or whatever- but the creation is what frustrates me.  I have a little luck if there's fire to work with, but..."

She took a bite and grimaced- that had been more slug than mushroom- but swallowed it down.

"Ill do the last watch tonight so i can be fresh for the morning" Fox smiled

WP here this time!

Sun Fox nodded, then turned to Rain Feather and asked, with a smile:

"So, Rain, are you goig to take the middle watch? Or leaving that to Dawning Blade and taking up the last watch with Sabre Fox again?"
Rain, I need to know your choice on your recovery - if WP or CS reroll, as usual.
Lastly, I wanted to say that I really liked your roleplay over this whole sequence from the Crystal Pillars cave onward, so you all get 1 FP for the good roleplay so far. ^_^

This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Sun 21 Apr 2013.

"I guess I can take either.  Depends on who doesn't mind staying up with me.  I'm happy with either one."

WP, as usual for me.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Sun 21 Apr 2013.

Alyne looked up at that, then shrugged and said:

"Same here; I have no preferences."

I guess that leaves it up to Sabre Fox to decide.

"Well I'll still go last. Whoever wants to join me us more than free" he smiled

Sun Fox chuckled at that.

"So, you're not picking any of the two beautiful maidens to keep you company? Why, Sabre Fox, I'm surprised... or are you scared to enrage one of the two?"

She let out a soft laugh, then shook his head and said to Rain Feather:

"I think he deserves to keep watch all alone now, don't you agree, Rain?"

So, watches will be Sun + Sun, Rain + Alyne, and Sabre Fox last. Is everybody ok with that?

"Hey, picking favourites never normally goes well for me! ....... Usually ends up with having stuff thrown at my head" Fox sniggered

Last for me then :)

That's fine for me.

"It may be an idea for the two of you to speak together," said Sun Snake with a nod to Rain Feather and Alyne. "Just be sure to poke Sabre back awake if Sabre's snoring wakes you up later."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:58, Mon 22 Apr 2013.

Alyne chuckled at Sun Snake words, then nodded and said, in an amused tone:

"I'll be sure to do so, Master."

Then, still laughing softly, she pulled out a blanket and started to get ready for sleep.

So, I believe you have enough blankets for everybody, but no tents, right? So, in addition to your choice of WP or CS, and your normal END recover (or WP for any who has Meditation and wants to use it in place of END recover), you also get +1 WP and +2 END. Do remember that.

This message was last edited by the player at 11:18, Mon 22 Apr 2013.

Sun Snake sat near the small fire as the rest settled down, awaiting Sun Fox to settle down and resume her discussions regarding Nexus.

There was a slight discomfort in sitting with Sun Fox alone. He had not lied about forgiving her for her transgressions, but the import of that - that he was still in some way broken rather than healed if he could do that - weighed on his mind.

Sun Fox sat down more relaxedly, crossing her legs while moving closer to the fire so that her clothes could better dry from the drenching they'd took when going through the flooded tunnel.

"Alright, Sun Snake, I'm sure you've heard at least something from Nexus from Master Blue Snake - after all, while Moon Shadow is the best user in the Monastery and I'm probably the second best, he's still got to be pretty skilled at it. What do you know, exactly, of how Nexus works, and what are you uncertain about still?"

Sun Snake nodded, and took his time to enunciate his question correctly. "It has not been an interest of mine, really. Although Master Blue Snake has spoke of it, it was not really an area of mental ability I was studying, nor grasped. It only came to mind recently when I used the gloves of... the Laethian gloves." Sun Snake pulled them from where he had stowed them, the damage they had received visible.

"Putting my hand in fire there was no sensation. For the first time I realised that perhaps Nexus was not using your mind to force your body to resist. That perhaps the conscious mind had nothing to do with Nexus's resistive powers at all. An odd digression." Sun Snake then pointed to the fire. "It only came back to my mind now when you played with the fire. Nexus is both the ability to resist harmful elements and yet use them. Yet it seems such an opposed set of skills that are somehow intricately linked. I am partially curious, but I also worry that if my mind cannot see the connection, then I am lacking somehow in my understanding of our powers. A poor oversight if I am to teach Dawning Blade, and a worrying one if you are all relying on my psychic empathies."

Sun Fox listened intently, then assumed a thoughtful expression before nodding to herself, and focusing her gaze back toward Sun Snake.

"Alright, I think we can start slow, and build up from there. You know how Mind over Matter seems something, but it's actually something different?"

She pointed her finger toward one small, flat stone, making it raise and stand upright for a moment.

"To people, it looks like we use the power of our mind to command small items, and we also name it that way, but in reality, our will just permits us to control small air currents... and most Kai never get past that."

The twirled her finger, and the stone started to slowly spun on itself, almost in a dancing movement of sort.

"So, what is wind, what is an air current? It's not really a thing, after all - what we really do is moving air itself. Pushing and pulling, mostly, and with barely enough power to make it noticeable."

The stone's speed of rotation started to slowly increase, the spin turning quicker and quicker to the point that, very soon, it almost started to give off the illusion of a solid stone, as spinning disc can often do. Sun Fox then continued, inesorably:

"And for many, the difference between Nexus and Mind over Matter is just a matter of scale; we just become more piowerful, and that's all there is to it."

Suddenly, the spinning stone exploded outwards, with more power than any arrow Sun Snake had ever seen in his life, piercing through the rock on ceiling of the tunnel and embedding itself there. Sun Fox glanced at it for a moment, then she said, turning her eyes back toward Sun Snake:

"Of course, the point of my speech is that it is not, in fact, like that at all. You know how Weaponsmastery works, how you need to really become one with your weapon, to feel it as if it was your body, its mind and the steel fused into one. With Nexus it's the same... but it's not wind that your mind must connect to."

She raised an hand, and a small breeze started to flicker around their feet as Sun Fox explained:

"We move the air, but even that is just part of the all; air moves through the world, we breath it in, and so does everything, be it rock, or fire."

The breeze moved through the cracks on the ground, making a whistling sound that seemed almost musical, before then swiftly entering the fire, making it raise in a sudden blaze for a moment. It lowered quickly, and Sun Fox looked at it with a soft smile, before continuing:

"It is life, running through us and everything at once, in every place and none at all at the same time. The gift of Nexus that we have, there is a reason it carries that name; it is the fulcrum of the power Kai gifted us with, our connection with life itself, which allows us to ask it for help, to fuse our will it its own, and guide its actions."

There was a clear light in the girl's eyes as she explained, then she turned back toward Sun Snake and asked, her excitation subsiding and an amused smirk forming on her lips:

"So, Sun Snake, I've more yet to explain, but tell me, does this helps you understand what, and where, the connection is?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Mon 22 Apr 2013.

"A little better, when you say it like that. So it is not mind over matter nor mind over body at all. If is mind connecting to the ephemeral, as it were? Interesting, my powers have been developing connecting my mind to the earth beneath us. It is - for the moment - blocked by where I cannot travel though, such as through a body of water. However, because there is no real form to the atmosphere that we exist in, I did not think of it as a medium we already negotioated."

Sun Snake looked thoughtfully around for a moment, letting a hand stretch forth and fingers play with something that gave no feel nor resistance. He then looked back to Sun Fox. "Go on..."

Sun Fox nodded, then paused and added, in a uncertain tone:

"I'm... not really sure how Divination and Pathsmanship that you clearly have mastered ties in with Nexus, exactly - I've not mastered Spirit or Solaris yet - so I'm not sure how the two concepts are connected. But, I do have mastered a different Lorecircle... perhaps I can help you by explaining that."

She turned toward the flames in front of her, and then, with a determined look an her face, she trust her hand inside it, the fire licking her fingers and enveloping them without causing any form of damage.

"You already know the key principle behind the Lorecircle of Fire, of course - fire is sun's destructive aspect, the force that blast and incinerates, and mastering that aspect of the spec of sun inside ourselves is the path of the warrior, gifting us with the power of taking down our enemies, just as the sun would burn down everything in its path. But, of course, knowing the meaning of the Lorecircle is not the same as understanding the why."

Her hand closed into a fist, and she moved it outside of the campfire, before opening it to show a small flicker of flame dancing over her palm.

"With Weaponsmastery, you let your mind within the weapon, let it guide itself, turn your thought into instinct so that the speed of reaction is combined with the complexity of the though; that much you know. With Huntmastery, you don't just achieve your body's level of physical perfection - it is the same process as with a weapon, but instead it's bones and muscles and sinew that you fuse with, reaching a sense of unity, a knowledge and mastery of your body that lets you go beyond the limits you unconsciously place on yourself. And that deep level of connection, that supreme knowledge of yourself, it is similar to the way you can draw from the energies withing you body, and manifest those raw energy on the outside, as the Old Kingdom magic is meant to do. All three require the same concept, a concept that Nexus completes and identifies: the concept of life."

She closed her fingers slowly, and the flames slowly compressed themselves into a burning globe, as she went on, staring at them:

"And Fire, it is life: energy, vitality and strenght, the very core of our beings made manifest in the world. Life is the unifying concept, what all the Disciplines in the Lorecircles are connected by, and Nexus is the most important of them all because of the way it works. In Weaponsmastery and Huntmastery, you give new life to your weapon or your body, and in the end understand them all to be the same thing; and that same life you bring forth when you call upon Battle Magic, taking it from yourself and pushing it to interact with the world outside. Nexus instead call upon the life already there, and sinchronyze your own with it, making them one; so that in the end, your life and the world's are tied as one, flowing together into each other, making it comply to your desires even as you bend yourself to its own."

She paused, as the fire globe levitated upward from her hand, and she followed it with her eyes as she continued, her voice somewhat whistful:

"Perhaps that's the reason that Nexus is a Discipline that comes so much more easily to those with a more energic, carefree personality, like me and Sabre... but then again, if you want that fire to follow your heart, you also need to tame it, don't you? To put that energy you have, always bursting out, ready to be unleashed, and instead keep it contained, guide it's destructive power so that it can burn at the same speed as your own heart, a slow and steady beat that keeps us safe and warm, protecting us from the darkness while allowing us to use it to cook our own food."

Sun Fox opened her hand completely, and the globe of flames slowly lose its coesion, almost exploding, escept that it did so at such a slow pace, the two magnakai could see every single wisp of flame as they moved, and nothing was armed by the soft touch of it, as the fire reached the rocks and petered out on them.

The young Kai Lady turned her eyes back toward Sun Snake, and concluded:

"So, you see, it's not a matter of controlling the elements, or resisting them... I guess you, as a mind master, would better understand if I compared it to a mind? Do not think of the air or fire as two separate things, or even as things at all; they're all a single, massive living being that is embracing us all, with a mind of its own. Why would it arm you, why would it not help you, if you, as its brethen, speak kindly to it? It understands; if you can speak his language, the world will speak yours, and as long as you can do that, you have nothing to fear from it."

She smiled, and then looked up with an interested glance at Sun Snake, as if curious to hear what his opinion was about her explanation of the concept.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Mon 22 Apr 2013.

"Hmm." said Sun Snake, looking to the fire for a long time, lost in thoughts and not even picking up on the fact that Sun Fox was waiting for a comment. "Nexus has always been the joining factor between the circles of Fire and the Spirit. And it is always known that the gift is really one gift. It seems we learn it in parts, and then increase our understanding, until slowly but surely we can master each part well enough to knit those parts back together again. That second part I did not appreciate until recently, of course."

Sun Snake looked to the fire again. "If Nexus to you is learning that everything is alive, and seeing that life echoed everywhere, and learning to accept that everything is connected to you by that life... Hmm, then the other side would be recognising that life as looking back. I suppose I am used to seeing only the high points of life - people - without appreciating anything else. But it could well be the source of the danger sense also associated with Divination. You are not querying nothing, nor telling the future. Simply getting a sense of the surroundings that connects us. Learnign to hear the voice of it, even if you do not appreciate where it comes from. Perhaps?"

Sun Snake looked to Sun Fox. "If that were true, then that may help you if you sought to progress your own powers of Divination. You already acknowledge what is around you and ask it for what you want. Perhaps you need to start listening to it too, and asking it what it wants of you?"


Sun Snake gestured around. "As for my senses using Pathsmanship and Divination - if that is how it comes - together with Invisibility it just seemed to be obvious how the world around us reacts to us. How we clash with it, how we are steered by it. It can be like a song, or more like a dance. You can simply ... tell... you place in the rythmn of it. I suppose it had not occurred to me to question what was providing that rythmn."

Sun Snake looked to Sun Fox, to see if any of what he had said made sense, or could be correct compared to the his fellow Kai's understanding of what she had mastered.

Sun Fox looked surprised for a moment at Sun Snake's comment, before smiling.

"I had never thought about it that way... I'm trying to master the Spirit Lorecircle, but Divination is sort of a roadblock for me. Thanks for the suggestion, Sun Snake; I will try and see if I can make use of it."

She paused, as if to make sure she'd grasped that concept, before going on:

"So, I guess that, for you, the best path toward a full understanding of Nexus would be to, as you said, seeing it as an alternative way to feel the world outside you from Divination. The way you describe it, they really do seem connected that way."

Sun Fox really seemed to be considering that point, before returning her gaze to Sun Snake and going on:

"I am not sure exactly what the unifying concept behind the Lorecircle of Spirit is, and I think that's one of the reasons Divination is so hard for me... Psy-Surge, Psy-Screen and Nexus all focus on imposing our will on something, the way I see it; Nexus by connecting us with the world outside and working in tandem with it, Psy-Surge by overpowering it and forcing it to bend, and Psy-Screen by completely severing that connection, putting us so far away from everything, nothing can reach us. Your take on Divination is interesting, and you obviously understand it better than I can, but I still can't see how it ties in with the rest..."

She trailed off, then shook her head and focused again on what she had been explaining in the first place.

"Anwyay, I think your idea on how to go about Nexus is sound, in my opinion. If you focus on it the same way you go about Weaponsmastery, making the world around you a part of yourself in the same way you would with your weapons, I have few doubts you would master it quickly enough."

Sun Fox paused, lowering her eyes to look at the fire again, and then asked, a note of sadness entering her voice:

"How... how it is, using Divination? I mean... it helps you understand people... feel their life, you said... is it beautiful, to... to always know what the right thing to do is?"

Sun Snake looked to the ground and then his sword for long moments, not only assimilating what Sun Fox had said, but also apparently looking to think of what to say to her in return. And perhaps feeling the edges of a question not quite asked.

He did not look at her at first, as he spoke. "I have not mastered the Lorecircle myself, although perhaps with your insights, it is something I may understand better than I did before."

Sun Snake tapped the sword point for a moment. "My Master, Master Blue Snake...I think he embodies the Lorecircle. How could he not? He does not strive for personal glory, he does not push himself forwards. He has quietly answered the call of the order. He is connected. And yet it is not without emotion. He makes dispassionate decisions, but I know now that there are only two ways to make those. To be so invested emotionally that it hurts to make emotional decisions, or to be so invested you will do what you know is best. And he does not mae them alone, he makes sure he is balanced by Starfire's love of life, and White Mantis's emotional empathy."

Sun Snake looked across to Sun Fox. "You say your Psi-screen cuts you off from the world? It does not. Your screen feels as if you are far away, not gone. Or perhaps it is a trick of your mind becoming small and quiet. However, you do not seal yourself off. Rain Feather can create what seems an impenetrable shell, and perhaps in the past she tried to cut herself off, but even then - her sixth sense will any moment blossom to Divination itself, and she has time and again placed her trust in us. She is the master of Psi-screen, and has most reason to seal herself away, and yet by being a master of psychic powers she is open to those around her. Looked for the good in others such as Dawning Blade. And you."

Sun Snake took a moment to look to his sword again as he thought. "My own Psi-screen happened spontaneously, different from how I tried to train it, tried to understand Rain Feather's defenses and even your own. Instead, it came from my trusting the world with my mind - pushing all my emotions and everything but my core in to the world, so only the smallest, most defendable pin point of myself remains." Sun Snake looked up again and smiled. "Perhaps that is the secret of Psi-screen. The life around us, as you describe it. Perhaps when we can join with it completely, no force can pinpoint us in the mass, nothing is strong enough to hurt so much life around and reach us. Just as Vashna is blocked by the souls that stop him..."

Sun Snake looked for any indication he might be on to something as he spoke. "I have felt the edges of Psi-surge. I think if I do not seek to slow my gifts and take the time to understand them, it might spontaneously manifest aswell. However, perhaps your talk of Nexus and life shows me the final piece of that too. I have always sought to impose my own feelings on an enemy - my fears, or pain, or the pain I knew had happened to others. As a small Mindblast, it works, just as a receptive mind with Sixth Sense can hear the echo of my thoughts briefly if I concentrate. However, to truly push an image or formed thought to the conduit I should petition. And so perhaps you are not pushing your own will on an enemy. Perhaps the life you tap in to is providing you the access, proving its support once more. That, it seems, may be the unifying concept of the Lorecircle of the Spirit. Not empowering your own spirit, and making it distinct. But realising that it is so connected that you are one aspect of a greater spirit. That you can petition it, not wield it like a weapon. And if you allow yourself to be accepted and to listen."

Sun Snake almost stopped there, but felt compelled to make one further clarification. "A sense of right, though?" Sun Snake shook his head. "No, nothing so easy. Perhaps...perhaps it simply makes me more aware of those around me. Reminds me that everything I do has consequences. That every action I take I must justify not only to myself, but to those around me." Sun Snake looked to Sun Fox, slightly hoplelessly. "I do not feel a sense of right though. There does not always seem to be an easy answer. People seem to be able to justify anything if thye focus inwards. Haxadrom, Valador..." Sun Snake did not carry on, but his gaze turned to quickly away from Sun Fox, and seemed to instinctively turn to Dawning Blade.

He finally looked back to Sun Fox. "You are a driven person, and it makes you excel. But never let it push you away from everything. You are connected to the world in so many ways - your gifts, those who look up to you or respect you - and those are perhaps the only indicators we ever get to hint if we are right or wrong in our actions. And even then, that voice seems so small..."

Sun Snake turned back to the firelight again, thinking on his own decisions over the last week.


Was going to do this fresh tomorrow, but decided to post tonight to ensure we didn't slow down. So sorry for the rambling! Sure, it's perhaps normal, but I meant to tighten it up, honest!

Sun Fox remained silent for a long moment, as if taking in everything that Sun Snake had said, then let out a long, pained breath.

"Sun Snake... I can see the truth in what you say, but... even if it's true... how can I claim that my connection to life makes me worthy of respect, when in the moment of greatest danger, when I faced the hardest test, I failed so miserably?"

She looked down at her own hand, as if seeing them different from what they looked like, and then asked, sounding defeated:

"You met Valador, didn't you, Sun Snake? When he spoke to you... could you see it then, what he was inside? His words, I... I believed him, in that moment... that he really wanted to do something good... was I really so... so disconnected from life... that I saw something that wasn't there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Thu 25 Apr 2013.

Sun Snake raised an eyebrow. "That is why I say there is no way to determine right, in a way. Haxadrom clearly knew what he was doing, and yet did it anyway. And Valador...yes, I spoke to him. I felt unworthy even trying to project his drive as anything other than misguided, certainly I was embarrassed to draw any comparisons to how Vonotar may have sounded."

Sun Snake took a moment to formulate his thoughts. "It is a far gone person who does not think they act for good. And even then, they have to be further gone still to not need to justify such actions in some way." Sun Snake almost stopped speaking, but reluctantly pressed on. "You yourself know that." For once, Sun Snake hurried on. "But look to the connection. Haxadrom painted himself as the villain, yet everyone whom he sought to help would clearly reject what he wished to do. Valador - in the words he told me - was looking to create a beacon of hope, And yet he is calling the fight against Naar doomed, and laying down on behalf of everyone else. Did anyone ask for him to do that, and to replace it with hopeless distraction while awaiting Naar encroachment?"

"Divination does not help me know if someone is false in their actions, for many think themselves fair. Only if they are false compared to myself. Lying to me, or a danger to me. No, I think to even approach right, we need more viewpoints. A person who acts for right - yet cannot gain support or tolerate speaking the truth to those they serve - they cannot be acting for a greater right. If they cannot gain respect or understanding from those who oppose them - then their cause cannot be respectable nor understandable."


Sun Snake looked with sadness but compassion to Sun Fox, after looking to his own hands for a moment. "You only fail if you do not learn the lessons. We cannot be perfect. No hero is. A hero is one who can overcome their own failings and try again. You are not the person you were before. And you are not the person you will be after your next test. And the next. But you are the person - right now - that can decide their direction of growth. We all believe in you, Sun Fox. Kai has shown you are forgiven, and still his vessel. The order needs you more than ever, someone who could inspire, who can rise above baser things. If Kai could beat Naar directly, he would. Instead he needs those who are the vessels of balance - both Naar's essence and Kai's combined - to choose to be Kai's champions. If it feels a difficult path, but if all around you are looking for you to take it - perhaps that makes it more right than other paths."

Sun Fox let out a sad chuckle, and then answered, her voice dejected:

"That's so beautiful, it really is... but I'm no hero. A hero doesn't kill her charges just because a madman promised her something only he can give... not even if it's the one thing she's wanted for all her life. And not knowing he was a madman cannot be an excuse."

She looked at the fire, her eyes dark, as she continued:

"And the worse thing is... even now... even if I've rejected that path... I can't help but thinking about it. They showed it, that their promise was not empty; the Gourgaz they'd created really were intelligent creatures, capable of being commanded and trained. They too trusted me... and I killed all of those, too, just like I killed the Kai whom life I'd been entrusted with."

Sun Fox looked up at Sun Snake, and even if she was not crying, desperation was etched into her features.

"How can I, Sun Snake? How can I do what the others expect of me, when all I'm good for is letting down those under my command, betraying their trust, causing their death?"

Sun Snake visibly blanched as Sun Fox's words washed over him. He blinked more than he should have, and his eyes drifted downwards to both his sword and the fire as he spoke. His body visibly caved in on itself, his face twitching to a frown each time a new thought rolled through him.

"Sun Fox," said Sun Snake in a quiet voice heavy with sadness and a desperation equal to her own. "not two days ago I would have run you through for your words. The only way my gifts could help me were to cut me off from those emotions. All Kai could do to aid me was invert that anger to pain. He could only set me on a path I hope is to heal me. Nothing more."

Sun Snake looked to Sun Fox slowly, all the certainty and life bled out of him. "I...have faith. In Kai. In you. That is all. Faith is not an answer, Sun Fox. It...it's the reverse. It is a question itself. And it is all I have. If you cannot find a truth in what I say then... it is just words. Only words. I...I have nothing."

Sun Snake looked to the fire again, and then back to his fellow Kai. "If you cannot find your way back, after what you did, then can Shining Peacock? Can Rain Feather stay true? Can Dawning Blade? Can the order find their way?"

Sun Snake sounded lost. "Sun Fox, I left ... the Grandmaster and the Sommerswerd are with one of our greatest enemies because ...they were the only choice I had. If...if we cannot make this right...if we cannot rise to this mission... what have I done, Sun Fox?"


Sun Snake looked at Sun Fox for too long with no further words, and then wiped the back of his hand across his eyes. "Forgive me, I am tired..." he said, still very quietly, as if far away. "I have pushed myself too hard. Perhaps you can keep the first watch. I need to...to rest."

Sun Snake staggered up, starting to move away from the fire.

Seeing Sun Snake get up, fear suddenly entered her eyes, and she suddenly got up, shouting:

"Sun Snake! Please, wait!"

She had almost moved to grab him, but had stopped well before the movement could be completed; slowly, her hand fell to her side and she also lowered her head, looking down as she said, her voice starting to crack:

"No, I... it's not... I just... it's that you looked so strong and I just... I wanted to... to have your same strenght..."

She trailed off, as if unsure what she should do.

Sun Snake swayed dizzily, trying keep to his feet.

"I'm sorry. I am...just tired. That is all," said Sun Snake slowly, rubbing his fingers in his eyes and slowly composing himself. He planted his sword in the ground, and stood firm, looking to Sun Fox with a renewed resolve.

"Now you know the truth. I do not have some mystical strength. No one truly does. If you see strength in me, and my words, it is because they are a reflection of those around me. Of Sabre Fox, of Rain Feather, of Dawning Blade. And of you."

Sun Snake gave a small bow. "You have seen the power of certainty. Yes, Valador has it. Haxadrom had it. And yet we know their course will be doomed to fail. For they did not question. They sought to bow others to their will, or cut themselves off from the judgement of others. You know the power of certainty, and yet what separates us from them is being able to take a step back, balance it with doubt and questioning. You were right to voice your concerns, and I was wrong to react how I did. I am sorry to have failed you."


Sun Snake sighed. "You should not be made to feel unworthy for your questions, because that is what will allow you to act with certainty. You have done it before, when you trained with your gifts. You can do it again now. Believe in yourself. We will be here with you. I will be here with you. You can ask me the questions in your mind, express the doubts in your heart. And I promise not to fail you again. I promise to tell you of the answers I know are within you."

Sun Snake pointed to her. "You know you are more than your failure. That is why you are afraid. You are not afraid to fail again. You are afraid to succeed. You know you will succeed at what you set your mind towards. You know you have the strength to do what needs to be done. Do not be ashamed of your doubts, but have faith in my words, Sun Fox. Just as I have faith in your actions. Do not let your fear hold you back from being great."


Sun Snake looked around finally, perhaps to break the strangeness of the moment. "I was going to scan the area to ensure nothing had tried to enter my mind. I think I know how we can answer the questions we asked earlier. I know you have used Nexus as part of your Battle Magics. Our talents are stronger the more we can treat our gift as the whole it should be. I think I can show you that you are not alone, that you are always connected. And you can confirm to me my hypothesis, that we may both advance in the mental disciplines."

Sun Snake made to sit down again, but sitting facing Sun Fox with the sword on his legs. "You know you can use your powers of Nexus while your Psi-screen is active, you do it all the time in battle. So try to use your Nexus through your Psi-screen. You say you speak to the life around, then you should be able to feel their reactions and replies - small as they may be - to such contact against your Psi-screen. Simply try to reach out with your powers of Nexus without a reason - like letting your hand move through a river without trying to scoop that water out. Meanwhile, I can conduct my scan. You should feel the pressure of it on your Psi-screen. Yet perhaps, while you are making your psychic connection to the outside world, you may find your Psi-screen is sensitive enough to feel its to that aswell, assuming it is the conduit. You may feel the echo of my Divinating scan ringing through your Nexus and Psi-screen. If so.... if so, we may have found the unifying element of the Lorecircle of the Spirit. An element I can learn to speak to, and one you could learn to listen to."



And I'll leave it there and collapse exhausted in to bed :D

Sun Fox Had raised her head at Sun Snake's speech, clearly having been impressed by his words; after a moment, she nodded at his request, sitting down in front of him and closing her eyes, slowing down her breath to match the rythm at which the flames were rising and falling...
Suddenly, Sun Fox opened her eyes wide in surprise, as she said, in a whisper:

"I think I felt it... it was like... a looping sensation?"

She paused, looking for a mnoment uncertain, then the third generation prodigy turned her eyes toward the second batch veteran and asked, her brows furrowed:

"But... Sun Snake, what do yopu think it to mean?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Fri 26 Apr 2013.

Sun Snake paused for a second, but then nodded with a small smile. "Indeed. My scan was directed back towards myself. I could feel your mind throuhg your Nexus use, and yet it was as if I was reading my own. As if we shared one mind."

Sun Snake took a moment to look around the air, as if seeing it and the possibilities for the first time. "And so there you are. It appears the supposition is correct. Or at least, is correct enough for us to be able to move our minds forward, even if there is a deeper way to understand this. And I hope you now feel the unification of the Lorecircle of the Spirit."

Sun Snake gestured back to Sun Fox. "Your Psi-screen does not disconnect you from anything, even though it will hide you mind's uniqueness in the mass of life. And while you have been imposing your will with Psi-surge, commanding with Nexus, both are far more subtle mechanisms to communicate with the wider world. I would suggets if you use all three together in study - Psi-surge and Nexus as tools to push your min in to world without your normal dominating focus, through your Psi-screen and allowing yourself to feel the psychic responses and echoes of that interaction in return....I imagine that you will find Divination. And I believe you will have mastered the Lorecircle of the Spirit."

Sun Fox smiled softly at those words.

"I... I thanks you, Sun Snake; I will try to follow your suggestions as much as I can."

She made a small bow to show her appreciation for his teachings, then looked up at him and asked, clearly appearing more relaxed:

"Tell me, Sun Snake, why did Blue Snake sent you to search for me and the Sommerswerd?"

She paused, then her eyes widened as she seemed to realize something and she hurriedly added, looking a bit awkward:

"I don't want to insult your skills or anything like that - you're clearly more than capable of seeing this mission through, you've proved it more than once already - but... considering the importance of the mission, why didn't he send Summer Wasp, who is our best tracker? You are good, but you are more of an administrator type... and beside, you're Blue Snake's favourite disciple, he usually prefers to keep you in the monastery so that you can be close at hand should he need your help. Or at least, that's what he'd said to the Grand Master..."

She trailed off, a shadow passing over her eyes, but she quickly pushed it away and conclused, sounding clearly curious:

"So... why you?"

Sun Snake was surprised at learning of what his Master had said of him, but was more surprised with the question.

Sun Snake gave a half smile, but it disappeared as he thought on the seriousness of the answer. "The fact you ask the question in that way shows you most likely already guess the answer. So I presume I am only going to be speaking the answer you realise. With the Grandmaster's disappearance, with...with the possibility he was...truly gone... the order has reacted in different ways in their grief. The common theme is the same though. To ensure the new leader of the order, to keep stability in an uncertain time. However, the Grandmaster never officially announced the succession. And so we are left to the old rules, where any of Principalin rank and above can contest. Moon Shadow. Golden Sparrow - although I suspect he would support Master Starfire. Shining Peacock. Summer Wasp." Sun Snake paused for a moment. "All of them wish, in their way, the best for the order. And yet all, I believe, would wish to use the recovery of the Sommerswerd as a means of securing their position. A position that would cause a division in the order."

Sun Snake looked to Sun Fox directly. "And so that is the first reason, I believe. Summer Wasp could not be sent alone any more than any of the others. Already, our divisions make us weak enough that the best option would have dire consequences. That is why, I believe, a group of us have been sent instead. So we can be a united order acting as one. That is most likely why I was given the lead and it not entrusted to someone such as Sabre Fox. Sabre Fox's success would be Golden Sparrow's and Starfire's success. A success that would be just as divisive. Master Blue Snake has not indicated anything other than happiness at how I have conducted this mission, open and united. That is why we need you back, Sun Fox. That is why I need you to trust you can lead us as a group. We need our greatest symbol of the Sommerswerd held by someone who is above the politics. Who is as driven as our Grandmaster was to do what is right. To remind us to unite and serve Kai first. To allow us all to heal in to something greater as an order, in whatever manner that will be."

Sun Snake gave that a moment to sink in, before stating his next reason. "Secondly, though, I believe there is a greater reason not to send Summer Wasp." Sun Snake frowned. "This mission is of great importance, and yet the pool of us available was split in two. Swift Fox and the others went seeking our missing brothers in Toran. I believe that while the general location of the Sommerswerd was known, and while your absense could have been as much to do with discovering the Grandmaster as something sinister - we did not know why Silver Rain and the previous Kai went missing. If Swift Fox and the others could not succeed, I believe Summer Wasp's talents would be needed there. And I doubt she would go alone."

Sun Snake felt deep unease for the Toran team. "We know now of Valador's trechery. Whether he is the pawn, the instrument, or the mastermind of that which dares to strike out at us from inside our own lands, we know the situation is grave. Dark forces turn us against each other. I hope Swift Fox and the others can succeed, but I fear for our abilities to vanquish such dark forces utterly while we are so divided along so many lines."

Sun Fox nodded slowly, taking in Sun Snake's words.

"I see... well, if things are really that tense, I can see why Blue Snake would want to assign this mission to someone who he could be sure to trust."

She paused and added, with a smile:

"You're really just that stalwhart, aren't you? I sort of envy you that - being reliable is really not something I can claim of having ever been... ever before."

The girl grimaced at that, but then shook her head and went on, her expression turning thoughtful:

"So... what do you think Shining Peacock is aiming for? I mean..."

She glanced at the sleeping form of Rain Feather for a moment, before going on:

"...Rain thinks he's doing something evil, but honestly, so far we only know he encouraged her to pursue her dark powers and made some copies of the Seeing Stones; the first could just have been a test, and she simply failed it - I know that happened to me a lot of times with the Grand Master - and the second is a bit of rule bending, but hardly a mark of evil, right?"

Sun Snake looked sadly on. "It might have taken a tragedy to show you the dangers of being detached and driven, but Kai has shown you forgiveness. You have an anchor now. I will trust Kai and trust you, knowing you will be reliable and not waver from repaying an impossible debt."

Sun Snake moved quickly on from the comment, not wishing to dwell too much on it for many reasons. He looked across to Rain Feather, speaking softly to Sun Fox. "Rain Feather said that Shining Peacock would cover for her, if she came back with the Sommerswerd...alone." Sun Snake's frown deepened, as did his expression of sadness. He gave the comment a moment to settle in to Sun Fox's mind. "You better than any of us know if someone is redeemable from that path. But it is a dark path he is set on, if this is true."

Sun Snake stirred his memories for anything else. "As far as Rain Feather knows, Shining Peacock is making a deliberate attempt at the Grandmaster's position. His reason? I do not know. Was it a test of Rain Feather, or a distrust so extreme of my master and Golden Sparrow should Sabre or I do likewise? Who knows. If the man has practiced with the black arts, perhaps his mind is clouded. The man I know was professional, the rumours of his excesses simply that - rumours. He did use questionable means to obtain his goals, that never sat well with me - yet it was always for the order." Sun Snake shook his head.

"If he did follow us here, I am not sure how successful we could be finding him. I...I have ideas on how to confront him, if he should come. But...I do not know what to think. Kai should not be set against other Kai. We should not fight him."

Sun Fox nodded, her expression darkening considerably.

"Yeah, that wouldn't do. Already too much Kai blood has been spread for this... but we can hope that Rain perhaps just misunderstood his words."

The girl paused, then let out a long breath and continued:

"And beside, if he's just lost the way, like I had... perhaps we can help him find the right one again, just like you helped me find back my own. I also never found Peacock to be anything more than a gallant diplomat; it might just be the stress of the Order's current situation that is pressing him to act rashly, and that's something that can be handled easily if someone with strong morals slaps some sense into it, I'm sure of it."

She looked up, an hopeful smile appearing on her lips, as she continued:

"And you're just the kind of person we would need to carry that on, isn't it? Stern but fair, and with more wisdom than one would guess... or a bit stuk-up, as Sabre would say."

The young Kai Lady chuckled at her own joke, and then added, in a more friendly tone:

"You know, Sun Snake, this talk to you... it was just like the one time I had the chance to discuss my development in Psy-Surge with Blue Snake; he had no much time for me, but he did pointed out to me the right way to better myself, and now you're done the same. I think... I think you're more like him than most realize, and I can see why he spoke so highly of you. That was a lot of help you gave me, Sun Snake; thank you."

And at that, the girl offered her hand to the slightly older Kai in a clear gesture of friendship.

"Nothing has been acted on, certainly. And Rain Feather has put aside both those suggested orders, her past, and the magics he inflicted upon her. I would hope she is an example he can follow, especially given her powers are already increasing with her new focus."

Sun Snake seemed surprised at Sun Fox's words, but managed a smile at her 'stuck up' comment. "Well, Master Blue Snake always liked to say he was far from perfect. And so in that regard I would accept the compliment, but I think I have many years yet before I could even hope to have his patience and wisdom." Sun Snake gave a small bow in thanks anyway.

Sun Snake seemed a little embarrassed to hear that his master had praised him, and so was caught off-guard by Sun Fox's final gesture. He gave another bowing nod to her, and took the offered hand.

Awwwww, Sun Snake's finally making friends with his sticks in the mud behaviours :)

:) So, I think we can end the first watch here, as Sun Fox has discussed everything I wanted her to by this point.

So, rest of the team, feel free to post with yourself getting up whenever you want to. ^_^

Sun Snake kept a vigilant watch despite the reassurance of his senses. However, clearly his talk with Sun Fox had given him much to think about, and he ended up drifting to sleep rather than engaging upon a meditative stance.

Sometimes Rain was a heavy sleeper- so heavy that it was almost necessary to drop a ladleful of cold water upon her.  At least this time, that wasn't necessary.  She would slowly wake after being prodded, taking the time to stretch and feeling joints pop back into place.  After which, she would work on stowing her bedroll and making sure that everything was stowed away.

A quick bit of practice with Breakwater and running up her Psi-Screen, and she was ready to go.

"So, am I the last one up or did I actually beat Sabre out of bed ?"

"I was already up!" Fox said, he was busy practicing with his swords

"Didnt think I'd sleep on my watch did you?" he sniggered

Sun Snake awoke stiffly having actually rested on the ground. He looked speculatively to the remains of the campfire. Whether he was hopeful or fearful of slug remains for breakfast he did not betray.

"Anything happen during the night?" he asked as he looked around to see how the others were.

"Nah. I spent most of the evening training for today. I have a feeling it will be eventful"

GM EDIT: your post was a bit confused, Sabre, so I edited it for clarity. If I misintepreted anything, feel free to re-edit your post again whenever you want to make it better match your original intention! ^_^

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Tue 30 Apr 2013.

Sun Fox awoke slowly, before offering an half-sleeping smile as she slowly got to her own feet.

"And what makes you think that, Sabre Fox?"

"Because today we accomplish our target and take the Deathstaff before going after the Drakkar. Nothing more simple than that!"

That's sort of the aim I was going for in the two posts

Sun Fox chuckled at the comment, and answered quickly:

"Well, if you're really going to make it that easy, I'll be glad to just stay there and watch!"

That said, she eventually got up and moved to Alyne, gently shooking her awake as she said, softly:

"Wake up, Dawning Blade; we have to go now."

Then, while the older woman in the group awoke, Sun Fox turned toward Sun Snake and asked him, with a grin that seemed to imply a greater degree of trust between the two:

"So, oh wise councilor, counsel me: what choices are we to make as we walk into the darkness of these caves? What lies in wait for us on the mysterious path we'll have to walk through?"

Raising an eyebrow, Fox smirked

"I see you two bonded during the night!"' he sniggered "Then again, it's not like I'd question Snakes abilitys even if I wanted to!" Fox laughed

Sun Snake gave a slightly embarrassed but nevertheless warm smile to Sun Fox. He took a knee, closing his eyes and placing a free hand to the ground even as he dug his blade in to steady himself.

"We have a few hours of travel before a decision point," said Sun Snake at length, still apparently distracted with pushing his mind forwards. He frowned and paused for a moment. "The fastest route feels the most dangerous, which is the branch that leaves our current course. We will be traversing above a huge cavern, with the narrow path there occasionally merging to the ceiling."

Sun Snake frowned and his head tilted to the side, as if working out with his mind something. "The slower route twists through more caves, with difficult paths and even breaks in the path to negotiate. There is a waterfall, some areas weakened by the acolytes' mining, and I can even sense some animal minds we would have to negotiate. Still, my senses make the short, direct route the more dangerous one. And I certainly would not relish negotiating it, but we can probably be certain no one would see it as a route to get to the camp."

Sun Snake stood up, and gave a half smile at Sabre Fox's comments. "If you did not want to get your beauty sleep and practise alone, you could have joined us."

Sun Snake turned a little more seriously to Sun Fox and Rain Feather. "Rain Feather, Sun Fox is also trying to hone her Divination. And I have always sensed you were on the cusp of manifesting it. Both of you may be very well served attempting to cultivate it together. Especially just now, I cannot tell you if my senses are telling me the path is dangerous for us, or simply dangerous for me. Having more points of view might let us know if together we could negotiate something I could not alone. I do not like the feel of the shortest route one little bit, and yet Sabre's grace and some combined magics may well succeed. Or of course the route is simply too dangerous objectively. I would presume the latter, but it is just that - a presumption. The short route would get us to the closest acolyte group directly within six hours. The long route has many hazards and would take double that."

Sun Snake looked around to Alyne. "Dawning Blade, do you know what animals could be close to the camps?"


I want to trust Divination and take the longer route, but it does seem to be more hoops to jump through and so forth. And it's an interesting thought - is Divination telling the future, or just letting you know about personal place in the world? Who knows!

Also, we probably need an ultimate plan of attack as we get closer. Are we being stealthy and skirting around, or sneaky and walking through? Before we even start we should probably take one last chance to contact Blue Snake, and also start triangulating where the Deathstaff is - we still ahve the Magnetic magnet after all.

I wonder if we need to play the Alyne card, and have the Maiden of Sacrifice get us as close to our objective as possible. A bit of a gamble, being so visible, but also probably burns less resources than using all our skills and WP to get that close.

Well, what you want to do is up to you all! ^_^

Alyne seemed surprised at the comment, then seemed to think it through and answered, uncertain:

"There's not many things that can live in this places... lizard, snakes and insects mostly. Perhaps rats too, but I'm not sure - exterminating those is one of the things that the High Priest wants taken care of, as they could easily dent our... I mean, the Acolytes' provisions, which is something the High Priest is always worried about."

"Well that at least gives us an option" Fox spoke up. "It will probably mean that those areas are clear of Acolytes for the time being while they are concentrating on those current objective..... But you know me! I'm easy enough whatever way we go. So I'll follow the crowd"

Don't worry about Fox, he will go wherever fthe group decides best

"The only problem is that any of those minds could be something like that Agarashi if we're not careful. But I think that if we take the shorter path, we will be able to get in quicker and get our mission done faster."

Sun Fox nodded at Rain Feather's consideration, but then added, her tone thoughtful:

"What you say is true, Rain... but then again, Sun Snake's point is that, if the short path is dangerous enough, we might well never make it through in the first place. Let me think a moment..."

That said, the girl closed her eyes, a frown forming on her features as she seemed to consider what decision to take.

Sabre Fox, given that Rain and Snake have a different opinion, I would want to ask you to give us a vote... of course, if you're really sure of your neutral stance, just say so, and I will roll to make Sun Fox decide. It's just that I'd prefer it if the road you took was a player decision, that's all. :)

"It's only quicker if we can make it through. Otherwise, it will be hours lost backtracking - assuming we can make it back. If we take the shorter route, we will need to gather together what items and skills we have to ensure we can secure ourselves over perilous climbs and around difficult paths."

Sun Snake did not seem overly keen on taking a short cut, as opposed to a longer yet more sure path - as was his nature - but he also seemed to be resolute in allowing Sun Fox to lead the group as she saw fit.

"Well between me and Sun Fox, we can get across heighs and chasms, and we have you guys backing us up. That might be the best route"

After a moment, and Sabre Fox offering his opinion, Sun Fox nodded and turned to Sun Snake.

"I was thinking that we should at least check out the short route; perhaps that way we'll understand why you felt it to be so dangerous and, if it seems like we can't make it, we can always backtrack, right?"

This is to say that I'm counting Sabre Fox's post as a vote for the short and dangerous route.

Also, Sun Snake, you said you wanted to try and contact Blue Snake again; are you still of that idea? And if so, do you want to try doing it now, or to wait until after you've bypassed the obstacles on the short route?

Sun Snake still looked dubious, but nodded. "The way feels trecherous, but more in terms of passability. Together we may be able to conquer the dangers far easier than a set of atheltic hurdles. At the very least, I will keep my senses focused so we do not get surprised, and you all will be able to examine it too."

Sun Snake looked around to Rain Feather. "Do you still have the Seeing Stone. I wish to try and contact Master Blue Snake. We have much to tell the order, and this may be our last chance."

She nodded and worked on pulling the Seeing Stone out of her pack, handing it off to Sun Snake.

"Do you want to try it alone, or would you like me to help, Snake?"

She dropped the stone into his palm, but kept her hand on it.

"...it might be wise to run through the list of everyone you think you can trust at the Monastery, in case we don't get Blue Snake... is there anyone else you trust there?"

I should point out that, even if you can find someone within range of the Seeing Stone, for them to contact you back they'll need to have mastered either the Lorecircle of Spirit or the Lorecircle of Light, as well as being in possess of the "Spirit Walking" Divination improvement. Those are the prerequisites to actually talk through the Seeing Stones... and of course, the person in question would also need to be within range of the Stone for it to work.

"Well I'd say we can trust Starfire. As much as I love the man, politics like this are not his thing, but then again I doubt he has the skills to use the Seeing Stone regrettably"

Sun Snake bowed his head, apparently forced to say something consciously that he not realised until now. "If I reach Master Blue Snake, I will need to tell him of the Grandmaster. No matter how much he has prepared himself for such news... I do not think he would want an audience for that."

Sun Snake seemed sad and lost for a moment at Rain Feather's other consideration, but then his face hardened. "Everyone," he said with determination. "Things are becoming too important to act otherwise. If we cannot trust those in the order to be their best selves now, then we are lost. Even Shining Peacock must be given that chance."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:01, Fri 03 May 2013.

"I hope that there is still some small part of him that can understand that the order needs no more strife, not at this time.  But we also need to realize that , in a way, we're being tasked with choosing the next Grand Master. Kingmakers, if you will. Whoever returns the Sommerswerd to the Order will more than likely become the candidate everyone chooses simply because they think that the sword infers Lone Wolf's blessing upon his chosen successor. If we present the sword to one of them, they had better have the order in mind instead of their own glory and power."

She finished a stretch, and looked ahead.

"Well, we should get to it, then... We have a big job ahead of us..."

"That is why Sun Fox must return with it, with us behind her," said Sun Snake, looking to Sabre Fox instead of Rain Feather or Sun Fox herself. "She is Lone Wolf's chosen pupil, yet ineligible for Grandmastery."

Sun Snake then looked to Rain Feather. "Perhaps if there is no king being made, perhaps if there is only a symbol and hero above the politics who can still go out in to the world for no other reason than doing what is right, the rest may be forced to form a republic, if you will."

Sun Snake looked back to the Seeing Stone. "Still, one thing at a time. We have to find Vyctar's men, circumvent the Acolytes, take the Deathstaff, and recover the Grandmaster and the Sommerswerd. I think the seniors of the order can forgive us if we do not also help them work this out. As long as we do not provoke the situation, we must have faith that those who once saw the value in each other will see that value once more, no matter how powerful each has become."

Sun Snake concentrated on the Seeing Stone as he had before, clearly heeding Rain Feather's call to move quickly so they could get underway.


Busy this weekend, will answer as I can!

"On that note" Fox said his voice taking a serious tone "I'm going to be the one to duel Vyctar one on one. The man is honourable and I wish to give him an honourable death should it come to it....... And thats not for discussion. I gave him the Sommerswerd, and I'll write my own mistakes and be the one to reclaim it"

Sun Snake raised his eyebrow at Sabre Fox's declaration, but sopke in more general terms. "Vyctar was once a man who left an enemy he respected alive. I hope he is still that man. I would prefer an honourable enemy, or even him be something more one day, that the next Magnaarn. Or to have to remove him and await the next Magnaarn."

Sun Fox nodded sadly at Sun Snake's words as she said, her tone somewhat depressed:

"Yeah... if there is no other way, it's better if we at least try to stay neutral."

Then, she added nothing more, letting Sun Snake to focus on using the Seeing Stone...
This message was last edited by the player at 08:53, Sat 04 May 2013.

Sabre Fox wants to get all stabby with Vyctar then grab the Sommerswerd! I have a feeling Swift Fox may need to avenge our deaths! I have a feeling she might do that even if we are all alive anyway :(

Well, it happens, isn't it? ;)

That same feeling again... Like their call had been absorbed by the darkness...

"Snake... something's wrong. Either he's busy, or he's in a place that he can't sense the Stone... I think we'll just have to keep going and report when we can. There's no sense in worrying about it now... We'll keep going and once we're on our way back, we'll try again."

Sorry, have a visitor this weekend, that might slow all this down!

Don't worry, Sun Snake, we can wait for your post if you need us to. :)

It took some minutes, but the Seeing Stone in Rain Feather's and Sun Snake's hands suddenly started to shine of a bright, green light, and it seemed to almost shook in the two Magnakai's grasp, the surface trembling slightly.

Wait, when did Rain Feather have her hand on the Seeing Stone? Did I miss something? Sun Snake had asked for privacy, in his way.  I didn't think Rain Feather was touching the stone too, I assumed her sense of nothing happening was just psychic sensitivity.

If I missed it and didn't react or say anything stronger, sorry, I've been distracted.

I believe you're right; I overlooked that detail of your request, and since Rain Feather didn't explictly mentioned removing her hand from the Stone, I didn't realized she woud have complied. That said, after you failed to reach Blue Snake, she might well have put her hand back on the Stone to take it back just as you made your second try... I'll wait for Rain to give some clarification on what she's going to do and afterwards, depending on her answer, you can tell me how you would have gone about things.

It's probably easier to just carry on with her touching it, I just missed that the drop of the stone hadn't released it, and she also mentioned stretching later as if she was standing around waiting so I didn't pick up on anything afterwards.

Post in the evening when I get back!

Actually, I have a tiny window of time just to keep things moving...


"A friend", Sun Snake said quietly, in reaction to the chaos of the sphere's actions.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Mon 06 May 2013.

That's nice to hear. :)

After a moment, the Seeing Stone stopped shaking, and the glowing light coming from it dulled somewhat, although it was still perfectly visible and much brighter than the dull glow the magical globe would have when not in use.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 10:07, Mon 06 May 2013.

"My name is Rain... I'm a Kai... We didn't steal this stone, it was given to us by a man named Blue Snake... He's Sun Snake's mentor... We fear that something has befallen the monastery in our absence, and were trying to get ahold of him to find out what had happened... when we tried to contact him, we got you, instead... "

It took a lot to get Rain ruffled, but well, this did it. Catching her off guard would do that, but if this voice wanted to try and challenge them, she'd do her best to prove she was who she said she was.

"But that leaves the question of just who you are... if you have access to a stone, there's a very good chance that you're a friend... but these days, it seems enemies can easily look like friends. At least let us know who you are so we aren't wasting time- it's not like the Acolytes are going to wait forever..."

Sorry for confusing you both. I'll try to make my posts a little clearer in the future.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Mon 06 May 2013.

No problem - now it's just a matter of waiting to hear if Sun Snake would have done the same thing as he had or would have acted different - or if he would have insisted on you leaving it to him, depending on what he wants to do.

It's ok, it was my fault for missing the very first reference on Thursday. Seems easy to assume Rain Feather could touch the stone again the moment there appeared to be nothing happening, and given what is going on Sun Snake would not realise Rain Feather was in contact with it again until now.


Besides, Sun Snake the character can do something reckless, it's probably good as a player to have more players involved, right? :D So Snake can have someone to slap him upside his head!


Sun Snake visibly relaxed, and then tensed as he realised Rain Feather was by his side. The tension subsided, though there was a frown of consternation that gave way to embarrassment.

"Guildmaster Banedon," said Sun Snake aloud, apparently as much to Rain Feather as to acknowledge whomever he had made contact with using the Seeing Stone. "It is indeed Sun Snake, and I apologise for this unorthodox communication. But you might realise my unease that this has succeeded, and so my reticence for revealing who I am without knowing who I had truly connected with. The Seeing Stone I possess has been able to contact you. Master Blue Snake said there was a possibility the stone could be retasked, and I have exercised caution with the stone, but I see now my desperation has proven that any of these stones can be perverted from their structure, and our allies contacted if one falls in to foul hands. If you wish me to, Guildmaster, I will destroy this device once we have spoken. This was my fear of them when we last spoke face to face."

Sun Snake then paused, collected what seemed terrible thoughts for his face clouded and his shoulders slumped as if from a weight. His words were lower. "And I fear I am not truly a friend at this time. I must impart information that is not pleasant, nor perhaps should come from me. Again, I ask your forgiveness."

Sun Snake too a deep breath. "Grandmaster Lone Wolf has..fallen, Guildmaster," said the Kai, his voice low enough the creak was disguised unless you knew to listen for it. "There is a powerful artifact being fought over - called the Deathstaff - that seems to be Naar's version of the Sommerswerd. Its exact powers are unknwon, except it can resist a blow from the Sommerswerd, and it will be used by the Acolytes to raise Vashna. The GRandmaster buried it, and ...and Kai's grace allowed his and the Sommerswerd to be buried too. The acolytes and Cener and the Nadziran of the Darklands have been fighting amounst themsevles and forming strange alliances. The Acolytes have only recently refound the Deathstaff, and we are on our way to intercept them. This may be the last time we can communicate before we engage with the enemy."

Sun Snake paused again, clearly the weighed of the next words heavier still. "With all those here seeking the Grandmaster's...the GRandmaster for their own purposes, I...I made the decision to allow a group of Drakkarim to take ...to leave with him and the Sommerswerd. A Colonel Vyctar led a mission here, for this reason. His purpose is to contact the Darklands and make an exchange. The man is..was..honourable and has no immediate plans. In an insane situation, such an honourguard was the only way to gain us time." Sun Snake sounded as if he recognised he was justifying the decision, and simply stopped.



There's about three different things to tell him, I guess one at a time rather than a super wall of text would be better.

The glow of the Seeing Stone dimmed somewhat, but it was still strong enough to show that its magical power was being used.

Sun Snake seemed to stop, as if listening for a moment. "Guildmaster, we have not been able to raise Master Blue Snake. Not yesterday, and not again this morning. He has never failed to answer a call before...and the connection feels...non-existent..."

Sun Snake's expression spasmed, and he seemed to distract himself with answering something else quickly. "We are on the edge of the Acolyte camp deep in the Maakengorge. This may be our last chance to tell what we know unless...unless we should go after the Sommerswerd?" There was almost a note of pleading, one that Sun Snake controlled with an abashed look, and continued without comment. "Though it should be in your power to track the general direction of the Drakkarim by the Sommerswerds new movements. If you can communicate in any way with the Skyrider, it is sitting hidden outside of the Maakengorge awaiting us."

Sun Snake then recovered himself. "Meanwhile here, the Cener backed by one who can control warriors minds across vast distances have tried to wrest the Deathstaff from the High Priest himself. And the acolytes are backed by at least two Helghast, or perhaps a Helghast and Nadziran. I fear there are powerful minds here who might detect the stone if we try to communicate again closer. And I now fear if we fail there are minds powerful enough to take advantage of the stone to sew discord...?" Sun Snake left the question hanging.


"I have two more piece of news that cannot wait. Three if...if Master Blue Snake's absense means something." Sun Snake sighed and pressed on. "We have evidence that the two - Vakeros and Nrotherhood mage - that Swift Fox spoke plotting in Toran were not fakes, and we not minor players. The Vakeros was a man named Haxadrom, he was powerful and once good but came after us, had turned from his path. And he was allied with a Brotherhood mage. A mage who has tried to bribe one of our order with black magics, in order to resurrect the Grandmaster - though who knows the true effect that was hoped for. Haxadrom and this mage have combined their magics to create beasts of all three magics, I fear an experiment to create something far worse. The brotherhood mage was positively identified. It is Valador."

Sun Snake's brows creased. "I would not say this unless I was sure. For all our orders are being attacked by those seeking divisions. If I cannot tell my Master, I did not know whom else to trust yet who would understand the dangers of revealing this information. Risking more divisions, or risking terrible danger in tipping what is known."

The Seeing Stone kept glowing with the same light, steadier and controlled.

Once more Sun Snake sagged. "From least to most, Guldmaster. I spoke to Valador alone before he teleported Swift Fox's group from the Skyrider. He revealed that he does not beleive the war against Naar could be won. That instead he would seek great knowledge to inspire the world. At the time his speech made me fear echoes of Vonotar, and yet I had no real reason to fear him. Valador also took that opportunity to offer me a magical device - a magical magnet - that would aid in locating the Sommerswerd. I had thought it was a true offer, couched against his arrogance. I foolishly thought he was seeking to do what was right without seming weak, that he was trying to ensure that he would not be indebted to me for some politicking that I ensured was invalidated by Swift Fox being informed of it aswell."

Sun Snake sighed. "Instead, a twin of that magnet was in Haxadrom's possession. The magnets could locate each other. Haxadrom had stalked us. He had caputed Rain Feather, and intended to kill one of us then fall back to lure us to a trap, co-ercing Rain Feather to betray us, revealing his plans and Valador's involvement to her. When she turned on him, and when I proved I could read his intentions, he instead decided to kill us all. His plan - with Valador - was to turn us in to the Nadziranim in exchance for more power in the black arts. I do not doubt it was Haxadrom, for the man was powerful in the old kingdom arts. Powerful enough that he was more than a match for us, and only together with luck did we beat him. I am afraid it was life or death, we had no choice nor ability to capture him." Sun Snake pursed his lips for a moment before continuing. "The man had an echo of Valador's vision, and was himself yet commited to his dark path, even as he painted himself a martyr doing necessary villainy. And he possessed an item that - I presume - only one such as Valador could forge. Or perhaps Haxadrom forged for Valador, but clearly Valador knew what he had given me."

Sun Snake then paused. However, after being still for one moment - as if stopping himself from acting - he continued. "Lastly, the Kai in question who was approached with the offer was Sun Fox. Directly by Valador himself. He told her of black magics to raise the Grandmaster. The vision I allowed in to my mind when you first confronted me was of an area her actions - through Kai - purified, when a dark creature in Maakengorge threatened us. She is not false. And I do not believe she is mistaken. That is my chain of evidence, Guildmaster. I am aware that it is not foolproof to external view, especially coming from the Kai alone, and given the tragedy of Haxadrom's fall. And yet I know each link is sound, Valador is either an instrument of something worse that is trying to lure our greatest to betray us all, or Valador is the mastermind himself. The creatures Swift Fox and her group encountered. The missing Kai. The Darklanders that act within Sommerlund's borders. They are all connected, and somewhere in that web is Valador."

Sun Snake was shaking as he finished speaking, although rather than anger his face just showed exhaustion.

More of the stone shining normally as usual.

"About the only thing we have linking Haxadrom to Valador is the fact that he was trying to get us killed... Haxadrom had an identical magical magnet that he was using to track us, and I had to unfortunately play along with him... though I do remember he said that Valador is looking for someone skilled with right-handed magic to help him with a plan... Haxadrom suggested I could do it, but I refuse to aid that chunk of smiling Xargath-bait with anything.  That part of my life is behind me.  It almost sounds like the only thing that we have linking Valador to the monsters is plenty of people he could simply claim were in your pocket, Guildmaster... unless we or Toran team find anything seriously linking him to the goings on, I might have to go undercover to find enough to catch him."

She swallowed almost audibly.

The Seeing Stone keep on glowing.

"I understand, I would council the same," said Sun Snake, even though he did not sound happy regarding that notion. "Everything I have said would play in to Valador's plans if acted upon. He could topple yourself and anything said by the Kai could easily be returned to fracture us and drive a wedge between the order and everyone."

Sun Snake actually broke contact for a moment to speak to Rain Feather directly. "You have moved away from that path. Valador will most likely see you coming anyway. and simply use your sacrifice to his own ends. Even if he didn't, it is too dangerous to you personally, and worse the man is too politically agile to not still use your apparent fall as a weapon. Indeed, even turn you in to the villain he would need to raise the Brotherhood up and cast the order down."

Sun Snake resumed communicating, with apparent reluctance regarding the Drakkarim. "The leader is a Colonel Vyctar. He is part of the Hammers of Blood. He...he seems...seemed...different, from how I would imagine other Drakkarim. He valued the lives of his men and his opponents, showing he would accept the defeat rather than the death of his enemies. He appears to have plans to take the Darklands for the Drakkarim, yet he did not hold Warlord Magnaarn and Magnaarn's methods in any regard. The man even had a Helghast accomplice, but one that he was trying to teach, in his own way, humanity to. A strange man, perhaps singular enough that we could have found a way to build some form of understanding. Or at least, a man whose fall wto darkness hen acquiring power would be much, much slower. Unfortunatelely Haxadrom's actions resulting in the man losing himself in grief for a loss. Still, at the very least the Colonel is honourable enough ... guard what he has for the moment. And independant enough to make directly for his own stronghold, whereever that is, first. But that is as much time as we have. Especially now, I do not believe he can be swayed from his plans to trade with the Darklanders for the start of his power base. It will be - for the moment - the only thing he has left. Still, Valador made one mistake. Vyctar knows Haxadrom and Valador are linked too. And I doubt Vyctar will forgive nor forget Valador's indirect responsibility for his loss."

Sun Snake paused for a second, and said, very quietly, almost resting his head on the Seeing Stone, "I am sorry. In my grief I tried to act only to what was logical. I fear I did not do what was right."

Double posting, but I can't correct anything as 've already extended through my lunch, plus people keep asking for things!
This message was last edited by the player at 11:58, Tue 07 May 2013.

Don't worry, I feel that it works perfectly fine as-is. :)

This message was last edited by the player at 15:14, Sat 11 May 2013.

Sun Snake addressed Rain Feather again. "You may find that being incorruptible may be more of a lure to Valador. He may overextend himself towards you, not believing your turn away from the powers he scrambles for. Let us not seek him directly, but use our own strength against him."


I think Sun Snake's sort of winding down here, so I'll let Rain Feather drive any more revelations or questions towards Banedon.

"...I just fear for Sommerlund should he succeed.  Right-handed magic is not something to toy with- and the last thing I wish to see, both as a Kai and personally, is its spread across the land.  I have no desire to see another Vonotar... or another Aieta... in my lifetime."

She was clearly apprehensive- did he know?  And if he did... did Valador?

:) Interesting question you have there, Rain... I guess it would depend on how much you tell him, wouldn't it?

This message was last updated by the player at 20:46, Tue 07 May 2013.

Lol, oops, that last comment by Sun Snake is a little bit of a clue if Banedon was otherwise clueless! Umm, maybe Sun Snake could have moved his hand. Still, it seems in character with both character and player to say something like that and not noticing :D


Anyway, going out, but I wanted Rain to weigh in anyway with any questions, etc. Sun Snake will otherwise give a finishing 'bye bye' with a couple of parting bits.

I assumed you had your hand removed, since you did so earlier when wanting to adress Rain specifically; we'll say that Sun Snake's Divination prompted him to remove the hand even if he wasn't paying attention, so Banedon hasn't hear the parts that were reserved for Rain Feather only. :)

"We'll try to contact you in three days... but if you do not hear from us in a week, then assume the worst has happened.  We will do our best to finish everything, but if we do not, then things must be ready to combat the things we miss."

She changed her tone, trying to steel herself.

"We'll do what we can- if we can accomplish everything, well, we'll try to get back to Toran."

The green light shining through the Seeing Stone slowly started to reduce itself, until only a dull glow remained, sign that the conversation had ended.

Sun Snake relaxed slightly after the session ended, although his face had a deep frown. He turned to Rain Feather. "I did not expect that to work. While it is good that it did, it also shows all my fears were very well founded. The safeguards on this item are easy to bypass by any with psychic skill. We could have been Helghast or the High Priest or any other with enough will planting information. Worse, perhaps those of the Right-Hand could find ways to attack through this device. No more cavalier mentions of our ability to communicate to the monastery. And we must always be placed to destroy this device if it appears we will be captured or fall."

Sun Snake paused for a moment, then handed the stone back to Rain Feather. "You will be on the second rank, most likely. This will be safer with you...and do not hesitate to hide or break it the moment trouble occurs."

Sun Snake paused for a moment again, as if considering something else, and whispered something to Rain Feather.


Don't worry, we'll stand and let the others know what's going on in a moment....maybe...

"why do I get the feeling that didn't go we'll?" fox spoke up

Sun Snake turned to regard Sabre. "Probably more positive than negative," said Sun Snake with a light tone, but his frown hadn't receeded. "Master Blue Snake still has not answered. I was, instead, able to direct my thoughts to Guildmaster Banedon. That m,eana the safeguards on the Seeing Stone are not strong enough to prevent abuse by a psychic user of my level nor above, even though I have far from the mastery to truly control this device."

Sun Snake quickly moved on. "Guildmaster Banedon now knows of the fate of the Grandmaster. And he knows of Vyctar now. Apparently the man must be second in power to the Baron. So meeting him here is....very peculiar. However, Banedon also feels that the man will not be quick to act on his plans, so we should have time to accomplish our mission here and still move onwards. More importantly, Banedon now knows of Valador's trechery. Of course he cannot act, but at least he can be appropriately cautious. Unfortunately, that caution means he can only use mundane means to check on Master Blue Snake's lack of response. It will be three days of travel my Master Halmon before Banedon will know if anything unusual has occurred."

Sun Snake looked as though he wished to say something further, but looked to Rain Feather firts with a raised eyebrow.

Sun Snake then shrugged, though his frown deepened. "Also, Swift Fox had contacted Banedon by falcon. Her team has discovered a lead. And I believe that Dusk Rat's seeing stone is still intact and on her person, even if she has not - understandably - answered it. So there is great hope that the Toranese mission continues."

Sun Snake sighed. "So all in all, it could have gone far worse. We may not have contacted the order, and the news we may have imparted may have been far from pleasant, but we seem to have the support of Guildmaster Banedon. And at least someone in power now knows what we have done, and what occurs here, should we not be able to communicate again." Sun Snake left it unspoken the reasons for that. "Guildmaster Banedon only asks that we do not casually speak of Valador's actions except to Master Blue Snake and himself, until it is safe to act. Given how easily Valador could use the opportunity of that accusation to wipe out our and Banedon's opposition to his plans, I must reluctantly agree."


There is a trailing question Sun Snake has asked Rain Feather that might mean we could try something else. Sun Snake's occasionally impulsive, but I believe he'll actually discuss it with the rest of the group first if Rain Feather agrees with the risk. Otherwise, I guess we'll need to head onwards to dangerous short cuts! :)

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:15, Sat 11 May 2013.

"Maybe the Baron isn't the only one with designs on the lands of the Drakkar, when you think about it... I would imagine that sooner or later, the Baron and the Colonel may end up at odds.  I would imagine that there will be more war among the former Drakkar nations before the year is out."

She brightens a bit at the news that the Toran mission seems to be going smoothly.

"I hope nothing's befallen them.  We need everyone we can get to stay at the monastery right now... and Banedon is right about Valador's actions.  If word gets back to him, it would only give him time to start to counter it."

Sun Snake nodded at something Rain Feather said, clearly encouraged, and looked to the rest again. "Our communication with Banedon proves one thing. We can contact other Seeing Stones, if the person at the other end is familiar enough with the stone's operation to create the connection." Sun Snake paused for a moment. "Dusk Rat was given a stone by Shining Peacock. And he is a master psychic. Therefore, it is very likely that if we attempted to contact the man, we would be successful.

Sun Snake looked to everyone in turn. "It is dangerous, for Rain Feather would be our best bet for a strong mind against the man, and he could get passed her defenses. The man could know what we know quickly if we were not careful, and if he was false. Still, if something is happening at the monastery, one way or the other we might gain knowledge from the man. Or if the man is following us, we may well find out. And we have enough enemies as it is, perhaps it would be best to know once and for all where Shining Peacock truly stands..."

Sun Fox nodded at Sun Snake's suggestion.

"That sounds like a good idea; if we're lucky and he's not as far gone as we think, we might find in him the best possible ally in this endeavour."

She paused, before turning a hesitant expression toward Rain Feather and adding:

"Of course, Rain, you're the one who knows him, and the risks of contacting him, better than everybody else... if you think we shouldn't do it, I won't push on the matter."

"I guess... I guess it could be worth contacting him.  I will do my best, but if it comes to it, and I seem to be acting strangely, knock the stone from my hand to break the link.  I will hold out as long as I can, but I cannot hold out forever.  I hope he is still interested in keeping the Order safe, but if this brings him here faster, it's not what I hoped to happen."

She took a deep breath and held the stone, looking at the others for confirmation.

"...are you prepared, then?"

Sun Fox simply nodded at Rain Feather's question, both to agree with her and to say that she was ready for it.

So, who's calling? Sun Snake, Rain Feather, or both at once? You two are the ones with Psy-Screen, so you're relatively safer than the others in doing it...

Sun Snake was offering to do it because of his ability to perhaps have a different flavour of Psi-screen, but if Rain Feather is offering to do it, Sun Snake can step aside. This is more the player thinking it's more fun to let someone else have a go :)

Sun Snake looked shocked, as if he had expected to make the call. However, he simply nodded. "Do not worry, I will keep a close eye on you." Sun Snake actually knelt down and stabbed his sword to the ground. He placed a hand on Rain Feather's shoulder rather than the stone, clearly wishing to monitor things without tipping off his presence to the stone itself. "Keep it simple, and do not lie. At worst the news will reach the order, now, in a few days. We need to know his mind and the state of the order more than we need to be the ones to tell the order what occurs here."

Ok, so I will wait for Rain to post herself starting the call now.

Good luck! ^_^
 

I'm on my phone!

"This is why us non psychics miss the fun" Fox said smirking to Alyne. "Want to scout ahead with me while these guys are busy?"

Just keeping Foxy busy

Alyne looked up in surprise at Sabre Fox.

"Uh... I suppose that would be fine... unless I'm needed here?"

She glanced at Sun Snake, clearly wanting to see if he would give her leave.

With a deep breath, she began to focus her strength into the stone.


"...Master Peacock... are you there?  I have an urgent update on the mission..."

Slotting this in before Rain's post...

Sun Snake shrugged. "I have taken it upon myself to be your teacher, but there is a higher ranked Kai who should weigh in on more tactical decisions. Personally though, I cannot see the harm in it..."

Sun Fox just shrugged at Sun Snake answer and said, with a smile:

"If you're ok with it, Snake, then it's fine by me."

After a brief moment, the Seeing Stone started, once again, to glow with its full power in Rain Feather's hand.

She took a deep breath.

"Many things trouble me.  I have much to tell you- I will try to make it quick and concise."

She assembled the things that had happened in her mind, and began at the beginning.

"The group still yet lives.  We made it to the Maakengorge with little trouble, and contact was made with... your agent.  She explained the situation, and we have been fighting towards that goal.  Sun Fox has been found, but the rest of her group... perished in battle.  We also found evidence of the Grand Master- at first, we found his pack, and the fragments of the Silver Bow... but... we found him.  The Grand Master has passed into the arms of Kai and Ishir."

She paused for a moment to let the news sink in.

"Unfortunately, we do not have his body, or the Sommerswerd.  Those both lie in the possession of a Drakkar colonel by the name of Vyctar- the Drakkarim have sent troops here as well, to try to stop the plan of the Acolytes to raise Vashna.  He had, in his employ, the strangest being- a Helghast he'd convinced to take the guise of a young human girl.  The Helghast was killed by someone who followed us here from Toran- a man by the name of Haxadrom, who is in the employ of Valador.  As you know, he is one of the three that rule the Brotherhood currently, along with Banedon and Wol-Dumar.  Haxadrom was sent here, to the Maakengorge, to eliminate us.  Valador not only set us up, but is likely in league with these people- he has been trading the Kai brought to Toran to the Nadziranim for their foul experiments.  Valador does not believe that the war against Naar can be won, and seeks instead to parley with them, to spread his teachings of right-handed magic through the Brotherhood and to any who would wish to learn.  That cannot happen- I will not have that much power in the hands of those who know not how to control it.  But there is one more thing to tell you."

She paused again, collecting her thoughts.

"Sun Snake has been trying to contact Blue Snake at the Monastery.  As we both know, Blue Snake practically sleeps with the Seeing Stone, and will usually come if called.  But he has made remarks that he has not been able to contact Blue Snake in the last few hours.  That does not bode well for the Monastery.  We instead managed to contact Guildmaster Banedon, who is sending people to the Monastery to see what has befallen it.  There is something bigger at work here than our idle dreams.  The Monastery has not been attacked since... since the destruction of the First Order.  I fear that even if I return with the Sommerswerd- if I can wrest it from Vyctar or the Foxes- there may not be a monastery or an Order to return to.  I seek direction- what is more important, keeping the Order sound or pursuing the Sommerswerd and the Deathstaff?"

Sun Snake visibly paled and opened his eyes wide as Rain Feather conveyed everything to Shining Peacock.

The light of the Seeing Stone seemed to almost fluctuate as Rain Feather kept it in her hands, somehow conveying that a great deal of emotions were fluctuating through the item as the conversation went along.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Thu 16 May 2013.