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13:06, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Karn.

Posted by The GuardianFor group 0
The Guardian
GM, 385 posts
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 01:49
  • msg #1

Karn

VWORP
VWORP
K-CHUNK!


The TARDIS door opens and Trav pokes her head out, expecting to find a disused part of the cave system where the Sisters of Karn dwell and tend the Eternal Flame.

What she finds is something very different.  It looks like the vestibule to an expensively built museum.  The floor is tiled in carved and polished granite, as are the walls.  It's definitely underground somewhere, as there is a telltale cool in the air, but the place is lit from flames burning with a warm golden glow in gorgeously cut crystal lamps.

There's an indefinable susurration that comes to everyone as they look out.  To Trav it seems familar

From ahead, everyone hears the clack of heels against the stone, and from the hallway leading ahead, a woman approaches.  She's dressed in a curve-hugging rust-red sheath dress with matching bolero jacket and knee-high boots; her hair is elaborately coiffed and sigils in henna paint her cheeks, and she wears an Eastern-styled headdress and necklace with hanging beads.

She studies the group for a moment before noting the TARDIS and Trav with a bit of surprise.  "Welcome to Karn," she says, "welcome back to Karn.  My name is Lasca.  What may I do for you?"

The whispering in the background grows clearer:

sacred flame
sacred fire
sacred flame
sacred fire

This message was last edited by the GM at 01:50, Wed 04 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 362 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 02:25
  • msg #2

Re: Karn

Trav has her pistols on her hips. She takes off her hat. She licks her lips a little, finding the Sister who greets them attractive. Back when she was the 2nd Traveller she was always intimidated by the sisters and found Karn creepy and offputting - now, she finds it fascinating. Of course, the Marshall dismissed their religious faith as superstitious nonsense - one uses science, one does not worship it. But having lived a life as a practicing Catholic, the 5th Traveller now understands the sisters in a way that her two prior selves never did.

"Wow, you ladies have fixed the place up since I was last here. Also, *loving* the outfit and fashion sense. You should know who I am." The last time she was here was when she tried to recruit the Witches of Karn into the war effort, but she respected their decision to stand aside. She was literally a different woman back then. "But for the record, I'm now called the Traveller, Time Lord of the Prydonian College, and I respectfully seek audience."

"Pleased to meet you, Lasca. This is Warlock. He's a rather unique case. Your order are the masters of Gallifreyan biological sciences. He is a victim of the Time War and it's consequences, and perhaps our best hope for the future. These are my other companions." She introduces whoever else chose to come along.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Wed 04 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 376 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 03:29
  • msg #3

Re: Karn

Smoke Alarm crept out of the talkiphone box and into the Karn place, outlooking around in wariness. It was all very shiny and icehot, but the Kang wasn't uncomfortable. In all the grandness, she felt like a very small mouse in a very big hall. And there were no windows, no sky. She could tell they were deep downstairs, in a basement. Bad things happened in Basements.

And this one had a furnace of fire. There were fires everywhere, in the lamps, in the fabshion. Sacred flame, sacred fire. Fire was one of the great terrors of the Towers, she knew, all those safety signs warned of it. Fire escape, fire alarm, fire extinguisher, sprinkler system, water hose, drop and roll, duck and crawl. 'Ware fire. And she was Smoke Alarm, the early warning, natural enemy of fire.

She peered out from behind Traveller at Lasca, who looked almost like a Red Kang but dressed like a Rezzie. But brave and bold, Smoke Alarm stepped out and held open a plastic bag for Lasca. 'How you do. Frapple pie?'
The Guardian
GM, 386 posts
Thu 5 Jun 2014
at 02:26
  • msg #4

Re: Karn

Lasca takes the frapple pie from Smoke Alarm gravely.  "'How you do'."  She holds it up in both hands and bows deeply.  "The gift is honored," she intones, "the petitioner shall be heard.  Please, follow me."

She makes a precise half-turn away from Trav and her friends, and begins to move in measured strides back the way she came.

Warlock bends close to Trav's ear and murmurs, "That woman is... something else.  And I thought some of the Fists were strange...."

"Did you, now?" Erysk says mildly.

As Trav and the others follow Lasca farther on, they see that the hallways of the temple, or dwelling, or complex match that first room in immaculate yet understated design.  They pass several other women as they go, who vary in appearance and dress, but all are clothed in some variation of the same hue and the same sort of precise elegance.  None of them hurry; none of them seem notably marked by age, but all of them move with extreme self-possession and dignity.  Although they note the passing of the newcomers, nodding courteously, they make no great sign of surprise.

Lasca leads them to a larger chamber where a dozen Sisters are arrayed in a circle, sitting with their legs folded beneath them on mats, around a thirteenth who sits in the lotus position with her hands folded in her lap.  She wears a wimple of red silk embroided in silver.  Lasca repeats the bow and places the frapple-pie in the woman's hands.

The sisters in the circle have been chanting: sacred flame, sacred fire, but they hush as Herrensas takes the pie.

"Matriarch Herrensas," Lasca says, "I present the one known as the Traveller, of the Prydonian House.  She makes petition for counsel."

Herrensas breaks the pie in two, separates the halves deliberately without spilling any of the gooey sweet-smelling filling, and takes an almost ritual bite which she chews and swallows.

"Daughter of Gallifrey, make your petition."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:31, Thu 05 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 378 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 5 Jun 2014
at 02:44
  • msg #5

Re: Karn

Smoke Alarm watched bemused as the pie was taken with great care and reverence. Why not just eat it? She footed after the others as they followed the red rezzie, but lingered at the back, as she remembered each turn and peered down various carrydoors they passed, remembered how to track back to the talkiphone box.

At the end, she outlooked in awe as the frapple pie was presented to the chief red rezzie. So, they were going to share them out. That was good, Smoke didn't want to give away all her frapple pies.
The Traveller
player, 365 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 5 Jun 2014
at 13:40
  • msg #6

Re: Karn

Trav finds herself rankling at the ritual. Parst of her understands, but there are other parts of her that do not. This brings her home - the life lived in stifling ritual. She's struggling not to judge them, and she has to bite her own tongue. They are not the Time Lords, she tells herself.l She chides herself for seeing herself in them, the stultifying rituals of life she lived before she ran away. At least there's was a living faith.

But, fuck it. She was the Traveller. "Ladies, I was considering being all sanctimonious about this crap, but fuck it. I need your help. Let me introduce Warlock. He was originally a terran named Phillipe, but he has been subjected to the Rassilon Imprimatur, and has regenerated at least once. Please accept his biodata and artron signature." She presents her Ipad. "He bears a device called a TAROT - a living vortex craft even more advanced than any of the type 102 War Tardis variants. It is young, and so is he. This is not my work." She finds herself simmering with resentment. The Doctor died here on Karn.  The Doctor could have come up with something else aside from the Time Lock and the Moment, but these witches meddled.

"All of the people that I know of who could have changed him are dead. However, something from the far end of time is working to influence his biodata for it's own ends - a future that is struggling to be fulfilled. I need to know who did this, and I need to know how to unlock the ciphers that conceal his biodata sequence from me. I want him to be able to decide his own future. He may be the last son of Gallifrey in every sense. If someone who is not a Time Lord somehow accomplished this, I will do to them what I did to the Daleks. If a Time Lord did this, I'll still probably do to them what I did to the Daleks."

She's considering the possibility that the witches themselves may have been responsisble, but the witches were far too crafty to places themselves at the knee of any power, much less any great beast. Only because of what the Doctor told her, all those years ago, is she willing to trust them.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Thu 05 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 366 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 5 Jun 2014
at 13:41
  • msg #7

Re: Karn

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke Alarm watched bemused as the pie was taken with great care and reverence. Why not just eat it? She footed after the others as they followed the red rezzie, but lingered at the back, as she remembered each turn and peered down various carrydoors they passed, remembered how to track back to the talkiphone box.

At the end, she outlooked in awe as the frapple pie was presented to the chief red rezzie. So, they were going to share them out. That was good, Smoke didn't want to give away all her frapple pies.


She smiles at Smoke, whose offering was more important than she realizes at the moment. She winks at her.
The Guardian
GM, 388 posts
Fri 6 Jun 2014
at 01:42
  • msg #8

Re: Karn

The elder Sister hands the halves of the pie back to Lasca, who gives one each to the sisters sitting on either side of the "six-o-clock" position in the circle, relative to where Trav is standing.  In eerie unison, each sister takes a piece to eat and passes the pie around the circle.

Herrensas takes the iPad from Trav and glances over it briefly before handing it back -- too briefly for Trav to believe she has given it proper consideration.  "If giving an answer will set you on a path of anger and destruction either way, perhaps silence is the wisest response I can give," she observes.  "Never mind."

She rises smoothly, and as she does the first two sisters rise as well.  One of them reaches out to take Warlock's left hand and the other his right.  "Come," says Herrensas.  She sweeps out of a side hallway, followed first by Lasca, then by the two sisters flanking Warlock.  Erysk gives Trav and the others an uncertain look as the group follows after.  Something about the procession makes Trav uneasy -- it reminds her too much of a lamb being led to a sacrifice.

The group ends in another chamber with a wide stone table at its center.  Across the room, set into the wall and off the floor, is a door of polished steel about a meter high, and Sisters stand placidly to either side of it.

On the table is a wide silver bowl filled with a slightly iridescent fluid, with a semicircle of six goblets in different metallic colors arrayed behind it.  Herrensas approaches the table and takes up the third clockwise cup, of a green tint, and the fifth one, reddish in color.  She dips a bit of liquid from the bowl with the green cup, does the same with the red, then pours the green into the red.  There's a puff of vapor from it.

Herrensas looks at Warlock, who still has Sisters clasping his hands.  "Step forward."

OOC: Stopping here to give everyone a fair chance to intervene.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:43, Fri 06 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 368 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 6 Jun 2014
at 01:47
  • msg #9

Re: Karn

Trav makes sures that she's always at Warlock's side. She looks like she's ready to punch one of these Sisters, but she keeps her counsel and politeness.
The Traveller
player, 369 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 6 Jun 2014
at 01:51
  • msg #10

Re: Karn

The Guardian:
The elder Sister hands the halves of the pie back to Lasca, who gives one each to the sisters sitting on either side of the "six-o-clock" position in the circle, relative to where Trav is standing.  In eerie unison, each sister takes a piece to eat and passes the pie around the circle.

Herrensas takes the iPad from Trav and glances over it briefly before handing it back -- too briefly for Trav to believe she has given it proper consideration.  "If giving an answer will set you on a path of anger and destruction either way, perhaps silence is the wisest response I can give," she observes.  "Never mind."


"Being peaceable is a more effecient option when others do the fighting for you. The only answers I'm interested is what is in his best interest. If being peaceful will help him, then I'll listen - but I feel responsible for him." She also now remembers the deep, deep differences as to why the Witches left Gallifrey.

The Guardian:
She rises smoothly, and as she does the first two sisters rise as well.  One of them reaches out to take Warlock's left hand and the other his right.  "Come," says Herrensas.  She sweeps out of a side hallway, followed first by Lasca, then by the two sisters flanking Warlock.  Erysk gives Trav and the others an uncertain look as the group follows after.  Something about the procession makes Trav uneasy -- it reminds her too much of a lamb being led to a sacrifice.

The group ends in another chamber with a wide stone table at its center.  Across the room, set into the wall and off the floor, is a door of polished steel about a meter high, and Sisters stand placidly to either side of it.

On the table is a wide silver bowl filled with a slightly iridescent fluid, with a semicircle of six goblets in different metallic colors arrayed behind it.  Herrensas approaches the table and takes up the third clockwise cup, of a green tint, and the fifth one, reddish in color.  She dips a bit of liquid from the bowl with the green cup, does the same with the red, then pours the green into the red.  There's a puff of vapor from it.

Herrensas looks at Warlock, who still has Sisters clasping his hands.  "Step forward."

OOC: Stopping here to give everyone a fair chance to intervene.


Trav grits her teeth. She wants to yell, intervene... but the Witches certainly know how she feels. She keeps her mouth shut, for now. Her eyes meet those of Warlock's.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Fri 06 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 381 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 6 Jun 2014
at 03:23
  • msg #11

Re: Karn

Smoke Alarm outlooked at all the how-you-do and business with the pie, fascinated by the red rezzies' ritual, not unlike a Kang's own how-you-do or scrap-heap chant. But Traveller's discomfort and the way they grabbed Wall Lock kept Smoke wary. It all seemed like they were taking him to the cleaners.

She outlooked to Traveller and nodded slightly, her small face serious. She would track Traveller's lead in this, and would have her back.
The Traveller
player, 370 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 6 Jun 2014
at 11:20
  • msg #12

Re: Karn

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke Alarm outlooked at all the how-you-do and business with the pie, fascinated by the red rezzies' ritual, not unlike a Kang's own how-you-do or scrap-heap chant. But Traveller's discomfort and the way they grabbed Wall Lock kept Smoke wary. It all seemed like they were taking him to the cleaners.

She outlooked to Traveller and nodded slightly, her small face serious. She would track Traveller's lead in this, and would have her back.


Trav, making sure that her eyes do not leave those of Warlock, steps back. She slips next to Smoke, and slips an arm around the blue Kang.

It wasn't often she was scared. She hated asking for help like this, she hated being the dumbest person in the room. A small part of her was praying.
The Guardian
GM, 389 posts
Sat 7 Jun 2014
at 02:17
  • msg #13

Re: Karn

Herresas nods to Lasca, who produces from within her jacket a clean white cloth, and a small-bladed knife.

When Trav and Smoke Alarm and Warlock and the others all flinch in surprise, Herresas fixes Trav with a look that says that she knows precisely who and what the Traveller is and has been and is not cowed by that.  "Biodata," she says sharply.  "You know our methods, Time Lord, and yet you brought him to us.  This is what must be done to delve below the craft that hides the truth of him.  Be calm.  He will not be badly harmed."

Herresas turns to Warlock.  "The choice is yours.  A small bloodletting, only."

Warlock shakes himself free of the Sisters to either side of him and gives Herresas a mulish look.  "Worse has been done to me," he says, holding out his arm.  "Do it."

Herresas draws the blade across his forearm.  It's enough of a cut that blood wells up and sits thick on the knife, but Lasca immediately clasps the cloth over the cut to stanch it.  Meanwhile, Herresas holds the blade over the cup she holds, and there is a drip, drip, drip of red into the liquid.

For a few moments, nothing happens.  Then the room brightens as a small shower of light and energy bursts up from the cup.  Trav recognizes a tiny release of latent regenerative energy -- a trifle compared to the usual regeneration cycle; perhaps the Sisters' concoction is what released it?

As the radiance hangs in the air and slowly starts to fade, Herresas wafts a hand through the space over the cup, inhaling deeply.  "Strange," she says.  "But--"

She breaks off and all the Sisters in the room, and Warlock, stand stock still as Trav feels a raw psychic cry rip through her mind.

The suspended energy seems to ripple with that shock, and words form out of the waves in the pattern:

TARDIS ANGELS,
FLY!

Smoke Alarm
player, 382 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 7 Jun 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #14

Re: Karn

As the knife was pulled out, Smoke Alarm reached for her arrowgun, to shoot it away, but Wall Lock seemed sound-and-safe with it. She watched the rest of the rite in awe, especially as the neon glow-fire burst out. Then it turned into an icehot air-scrawl. Smoke Alarm jumped out of Traveller's arm, laughing and cheering for the sight of it.
The Traveller
player, 372 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 7 Jun 2014
at 03:09
  • msg #15

Re: Karn

The Guardian:
Herresas nods to Lasca, who produces from within her jacket a clean white cloth, and a small-bladed knife.

When Trav and Smoke Alarm and Warlock and the others all flinch in surprise, Herresas fixes Trav with a look that says that she knows precisely who and what the Traveller is and has been and is not cowed by that.  "Biodata," she says sharply.  "You know our methods, Time Lord, and yet you brought him to us.  This is what must be done to delve below the craft that hides the truth of him.  Be calm.  He will not be badly harmed."


"I bet you said the same words to the Doctor, before you made him into the Warrior. But I'll trust you. It's not as if I have a choice."

The Guardian:
Herresas turns to Warlock.  "The choice is yours.  A small bloodletting, only."

Warlock shakes himself free of the Sisters to either side of him and gives Herresas a mulish look.  "Worse has been done to me," he says, holding out his arm.  "Do it."


She finds herself smiling slightly and looking on him like she did when her grandson Little Josh faced down 3 coalition soldiers - him 13, and them a sergeant and 2 Dog Boys. She nods to him.

The Guardian:
Herresas draws the blade across his forearm.  It's enough of a cut that blood wells up and sits thick on the knife, but Lasca immediately clasps the cloth over the cut to stanch it.  Meanwhile, Herresas holds the blade over the cup she holds, and there is a drip, drip, drip of red into the liquid.

For a few moments, nothing happens.  Then the room brightens as a small shower of light and energy bursts up from the cup.  Trav recognizes a tiny release of latent regenerative energy -- a trifle compared to the usual regeneration cycle; perhaps the Sisters' concoction is what released it?


Trav hugs Smoke, and shields her from the blinding glow.

quote:
As the radiance hangs in the air and slowly starts to fade, Herresas wafts a hand through the space over the cup, inhaling deeply.  "Strange," she says.  "But--"

She breaks off and all the Sisters in the room, and Warlock, stand stock still as Trav feels a raw psychic cry rip through her mind.

The suspended energy seems to ripple with that shock, and words form out of the waves in the pattern:

TARDIS ANGELS,
FLY!


The Traveller screams, as she clutches the sides of her head and she drops to her knees. The words burn in her mind!
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